You’re Right, They’ll Expel Me if I Run into the Store with a Weapon!! - Chapter 51: Has My Character Been Messed Up Lately?

“What on earth are you doing?!”

A voice, still not fully recovered from confusion, was directed at the principal upon being suddenly shown a cruel image.

“Was it not clear? Then, allow me to summarize.”

“No, wait.”

“Hiroki, a student, achieved a total victory over the tenth rank. He won against her in the virtual space in less than thirty minutes without a scratch.”

—By Hiroki’s hands

—In less than thirty minutes

—Unscathed

In doing so, he achieved victory against a ranked opponent.

Everyone present understands the strength of Shiori Himeji.

Thus, the one who produced this result—having been just an ordinary person until a month ago—is utterly

“You!”

“Are you intending to say ‘Such a dangerous person’?”

While cutting off the speaker, the principal clasped his hands in front of his mouth.

“It’s contradictory. Isn’t he the capable existence you all have been seeking?”

“You dare produce such an outcome!”

“A complete victory over the tenth rank is a joyous outcome, I believe.”

“That’s not it!!”

Contrary to the calm demeanor of the principal, another branch’s director raised his voice.

“The issue is sending such a dangerous person to create that scene!”

“A dangerous person, you say… Amakusa-sensei.”

“Yes.”

The principal shifted his gaze from the man to the female teacher beside him and spoke.

“Pardon me, I am Amakusa Ai, the operation’s leader.”

She bowed deeply with her hands together in front of her belly button and slowly raised her eyes to look around the round table once.

“If the ‘dangerous person’ remark is based solely on that image, I humbly ask for its withdrawal.”

“How dare a mere teacher say such a thing! That alone is enough to understand his danger!”

“To say that someone who could create such a horrific scene is not dangerous—is there a blind spot in the judgment of the Japanese branch teachers?”

The barrage of verbal abuse shifted from the principal to Amakusa-sensei. However, standing before the high-ranking officials, the female teacher’s dignified face remained unwarped.

“Are you suggesting the Japanese branch teachers have a blind spot? Do you believe you’re in a position to make such a claim?”

The female teacher emitted a sharp tone, a side unknown to her students. She shattered her gentle image and let out her concealed self.

“It seems it wasn’t reported—or rather, it was deliberately concealed.”

With her words and the dark aura she emitted, the directors began to feel an emotion similar to disturbance.

“Let me tell you what the teachers you dispatched to the airport told him.”

It was nothing but Amakusa-sensei’s contained anger.

—You brought a useless person

—He has no right to be here

—Get rid of that kid from here immediately

The words uttered by the teachers from various branches were revealed, but it didn’t end there.

“And what did they say to him after he saved the unit?”

—Why are you here?

—Did you join the mission on your own?

—You’re in our way

—A useless kid jumped in

As the dignitaries turned pale, the female teacher coldly laid out everything.

And from the expressions of those who heard, it was implied they were not informed about these incidents.

It proved that the teachers had not reported the facts.

“A dangerous person? What did he, scorned from beginning to end, do?”

That was the entire reason why Hiroki Ogino was not a dangerous person.

“He jumped into danger, saved the entire unit, and didn’t turn his spear against the abusive teachers.”

What the story tells—

“Everything he did and didn’t do is the absolute proof of his safety.”

—Is the evidence.

With her resolute statement, the surroundings fell completely silent.

“…I apologize. That is all from me.”

After pausing momentarily, the female teacher stepped back behind the principal.

“No, it’s clear that the Japanese branch has competent teachers.”

The coordinator landed in front of Amakusa-sensei.

“Certainly, it’s proof. Rather—”

His gaze then turned to the round table.

“It seems there was a problem with the instructors you dispatched.”

His words chilled the hearts of those silenced.

“They hurled abuse at him for being powerless. I can’t ignore that.”

“But that’s because his abilities were hidden—”

“But it’s the truth.”

The coordinator was stern against the teacher’s rebuttal, yet there was a point in that argument.

“Still, hiding his abilities is concerning too. Could you tell me about that?”

“…We were testing.”

“Testing?”

The principal spoke.

“He has a habit of testing people. Hence, I, too, was caught off guard.”

“…Trying to see through, only to be seen through.”

“Exactly, Coordinator, you’ve understood already.”

“Ah, and I’m satisfied.”

With that scant information, the coordinator understood everything.

“Can we also evade his ability assessment… What was his reaction?”

“He was very stern with me. And for the first time in a while, I felt the generation gap.”

As generations change, fighters evolve. Despite the generational gap, the principal’s strength is acknowledged by all. However, this conversation also proved that someone had surpassed the principal’s abilities.

“So, he was testing teachers all over the world. Ah~, this is serious.”

Returning to the initial atmosphere, the coordinator resumed his light tone and floated in the air.

“Did he say anything?”

“He didn’t say anything… but perhaps that is the answer.”

“I see.”

The floating coordinator seemed satisfied, understanding Hiroki Ogino’s thoughts without question and further words.

“We’ve spent a lot of time on him. And the branches probably want some time as well.”

…

“We will temporarily adjourn this briefing; further communications will come directly from headquarters.”

The coordinator stated.

“Then, we’re dismissed. —See you.”

With those words, the floating figure disappeared as if dissolving, and so did those seated around the round table.

◆

“Ah~~ It’s all finally over~~~!”

“Good work, Principal.”

“No, no, Amakusa-sensei, you did well too.”

The principal let go of his stern facade, and Amakusa-sensei relaxed her dignified posture.

Especially for the principal, who felt a significant weight lifted off him, having discarded his heavily constructed facade.

“Ah~~”

He let out all the air in his lungs, leaned on the round table, and buried his chin in his arms.

“What did you think of my performance?”

“You really didn’t fit the part.”

“That’s not an answer~~.”

Expecting an evaluation, Amakusa-sensei received a comment instead, which made her smile wryly in a different direction.

“The principal I know couldn’t be imagined making such a face.”

“Is that so? By the way, ‘such a face’… Did I seem like a villain earlier?”

The principal pondered over the unexpected term from the gentle Amakusa-sensei.

“Yes, you were entirely the bad principal. The principal I know is kind, funny, and a bit of a scatterbrain.”

“…Yeah, I could do without the last part. Scatterbrain… really not necessary.”

He didn’t deny being kind and funny. Those were aspects of himself that he liked, elements that endeared others to him.

“I’ve been aiming to be a principal full of warmth, but… I really let loose this time.”

Amakusa-sensei glanced sideways at his childlike exuberance.

“I don’t want to see that again.”

“I won’t do it again.”

Shifting his weight from the table to the chair’s back, the principal looked up at the ceiling.

“I wonder why…”

“What do you mean?”

Amakusa-sensei was puzzled by the faint words that slipped out.

“Yet, in the end, we did protect Hiroki-kun, didn’t we?”

“Yes, he won’t be burdened with troubles this way.”

“That’s it.”

The principal leaked some thoughts sparked by Amakusa-sensei’s words.

“Not to burden him… When exactly did we begin to take on the role of his protectors? That’s the question that’s been on my mind.”

“…Um… Principal?”

“Hm? Did that not make sense?”

Amakusa-sensei showed a troubled expression, to which the principal softly inquired.

“No, it’s not that.”

Amakusa-sensei responded with a single line.

“Isn’t it only natural for teachers to safeguard their students?”

“…”

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing the principal suddenly go silent, Amakusa-sensei showed eyes full of disturbance. Then she slowly turned her gaze towards him.

“Ah-yeah, that’s right. Exactly.”

His expression mirrored a cloudy sky in a painting—recognition and resignation mingling as if he had known all along yet chose to overlook it.

What followed was an agreement. Acceptance. There was no room for argument.

But his eyes were clouded.

“But by acknowledging that, aren’t we also admitting to the burden we’ve placed on them with these dangerous missions?”

“I’m sorry…”

She apologized. It was due to the guilt always carried in her heart.

“Why do we have to resort to using children’s hands…”

“I’m sorry… It’s a complex burden we carry… Truly…”

Shadows fell on their faces. The principal’s voice darkened as if he was reminded of something.

“Originally, adults should have taken on those missions…”

“If only I had the power…”

“It seems it won’t return…”

“There’s no sign of it returning… Why…”

Amakusa-sensei’s words were heavy with bitterness, and the principal felt their weight.

It was a sorrow that seeped out from her.

“You’re a victim. And I’m glad you returned without dying. That alone made me happy.”

“I lost my power…”

“Life is precious. If you die, nothing remains.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder, comforting her.

“And now, we’re still searching for “it.” Almost all of the few adult fighters in the world are.”

“…Yes.”

The principal articulated the present circumstances.

Then, withdrawing his hand from her shoulder, he looked at her with gentle eyes.

“We should be able to take it back if the power of ‘that’ is as the headquarters interprets.”

“…If it’s Hiroki-kun.”

Imagining a certain boy at the principal’s words.

“If we ask Hiroki-kun, maybe.”

“Could he possibly find it?”

A glimmer of hope sparked within their hearts. In the current stagnant situation, there was an irregular presence in the branch that had never been before.

Then, an experienced former combatant harbored the belief that he could be the one to overturn this situation.

“I’m sorry, but.”

However, that hope was soon forced to be abandoned.

“I’d rather not drag Hiroki-kun into this. If they sense Hiroki-kun, they will show up—and then.”

He verbalized the reality he did not want to imagine.

“If his power gets ‘eaten,’ we might not be able to do anything anymore.”

“…I…”

She, who knew the meaning and pain, was shaken.

She was distressed with herself for harboring weakness and wondering what she had been thinking.

“Let’s put an end to this topic!”

A cheerful voice was launched into the space to avoid further touching upon Amakusa Sensei’s wounds.

“Let’s rejoice that we were able to save a precious student like Hiroki-kun. You should be proud that you could save him, right?”

“…Yes, that’s right, yes. We were able to save a precious student!”

The heart-stained black was cleared.

While it was close to false cheerfulness, she did not like that self and created a brighter self.

Indeed, we have triumphed.

Against combat schools around the world.

So, let’s rejoice in that now.

“It somehow went according to ‘order.’ There probably won’t be any resentment towards Hiroki-kun now.”

“If we had shown the picture at the beginning, they wouldn’t have listened to us anymore.”

The “scheme” and the true nature of “a certain truth.”

Hiroki created the gruesome outcome.

It was to prevent the disgust and hostility from being directed towards Hiroki.

Data that would be found over time.

If that image data had been available, the world would probably have recognized Hiroki as dangerous and captured him. In the worst case, he could have been used as a lab rat.

Therefore, using this operation and briefing session, everything was smoothly resolved.

During the operation, to demean, save, demean again, exploit weaknesses, and silence.

In the briefing session, to make precious, view as dangerous, exploit weaknesses, and silence.

In summary, they softened the impression of Hiroki himself due to the gruesome outcome.

The principal and Amakusa Sensei showed relieved expressions at having been able to achieve this.

“Well, I’m going home because I’m tired. Weeks of fatigue have accumulated.”

“Yes, I will also go home and rest.”

“Ah, there’s one more order before you go.”

“An order? What could it possibly be…”

“…Eh?”

Startled by the unexpected voice of an interloper, both the principal and Amakusa-sensei caught their breath in surprise.

“…The chief… How long have you been there…”

“Uh, well, I made a U-turn right after disappearing, so leave it to your imagination.”

That answer was simply equivalent to being there from the beginning.