I head towards the first year’s classroom, ―to where Koneko-chan and others are. At the corridor, in front of the classroom. It has been destroyed violently, there are holes at the window-side of the building, and it changed so much that you can view outside. The wind breeze comes in. There is one girl who seems to be Koneko-chan’s classmate sitting on the floor. The other first years are looking at the situation of the corridor from their classroom’s door fearfully. I walk towards one of the first year student sitting on the floor of the corridor, and then speak. “Are you okay?”
This girl is looking with daze as if she has just experienced a very terrifying moment, and she has her body stiff. It seems like my words haven’t reached her ears. ……She must have gone through a scary experience by being attacked from the magicians. I shake her shoulders, and then look towards the classroom……but I don’t see Koneko-chan, Gasper, and Ravel. They escaped? It will be good if they did…… But, that probably isn’t it. It’s those kids who think a lot about their comrades. They will take actions to protect their comrades. Even though she hasn’t come to her senses, the first year girl mutters. “……I was caught by suspicious looking people……and Koneko-san, Gasper-kun, and Ravel-san, saved me and……”
――! Koneko-chan, Gasper, Ravel! So this girl was taken hostage and……! “Koneko-chan and the other two were covered by lights along with those weird people who were cosplaying as magicians, and then disappeared!”
A student who is observing the situation of the corridor from the classroom’s door tells me. ……So they were taken hostage and got taken away……! BANG! I banged my left fist at the corridor while having ill feelings. ……Shit. Protecting her my ass……! I couldn’t even protect Ravel while Rias is gone……! I bite my teeth with frustration……! After a while, my comrades and the Student Council members appear. It seems like everyone besides the first year trio are safe. ……Those magicians, what are they planning to do with my juniors……!? Evening—
We, the Occult Research Club, and the Student Council members are gathered in the old school building. The [Bishop] Kusaka-san from the Student Council is on standby in a different room so she can exchange information with the staff from the alliance. Shinra-senpai gives her report to everyone. “The repair of the damage done to the school will commence now. All students have been sent home. Regarding the ones who attacked this school, the staff from the Three Great Powers who are working in this territory are searching for them now.”
Kaichou speaks right after Shinra-senpai. “……The device that Azazel-sensei left behind which can control the memories of the students came in handy. The memories of the students who have been attacked by the magicians have been changed into the fact that “trespassers came onto the campus, and the school has been suspended temporarily”.”
So it’s the device they used to alter the memories of the students when 300 of my doppelgangers were going wild on the campus. In that incident, we thought it may not be a good idea to leave those memories in the students, so we used the special device from the Fallen Angels to alter them. The Fallen Angels have the technology to erase the memories of commoners who get involved with abnormal powers and other beings. Just like how they erased the memories about Amano Yuuma, Raynare, from Matsuda and Motohama. Except, using that often will have a negative influence on their memories, so it’s better to use it while having certain restrictions to it. That’s why we changed their memories to “trespassers came onto the campus”. “How about the memories regarding the places that were destroyed?”
Xenovia asks Kaichou. “We have altered the memories of the students and made it so that the sudden repairing construction happens to overlap with this day. ……It was fortunate that there wasn’t a single person who left the school even though we had such crisis. It also seems like we can do something about those who took recordings of this incident on their mobile phones with the Fallen Angels support.”
That means the identity of the other beings—the truth of this academy hasn’t been revealed. But Shinra-senpai puts on a frustrated expression. “Except, the hearts of those students who went through such shock during this incident won’t be completely healed. I’m sure the memories of “encountering something terrifying” will remain with them for eternity. Thinking that they will spend their life without knowing the cause of it…… the ones who attacked us, I won’t forgive them!”
The female student who was used as a hostage……
The memories about the magicians have been altered. But the trauma of being attacked by a scary person might remain in her heart. And she will spend the rest of her life not knowing why that is……
It’s the fault of the magicians. But, isn’t it also our fault? ……It’s because we couldn’t stop them…… To begin with, this school itself is—
Saji rests his hand on my shoulder. He is shaking his head. “Hyoudou. Are you perhaps thinking that “This school itself is operating while deceiving common people”? I understand your feelings, but right now I’m more concerned about Toujou Koneko-san and the other two who were abducted. Right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
Yeah, rescuing those three who were abducted is our first priority. But……I can’t hide how shocked I am. The Kuou academy at noon, which I thought was absolutely safe. There was a time when Kuou academy became the battlefield in the fight against Kokabiel at night, but I never thought I would encounter terrorism during my normal school life. ……With a little mistake, there was a chance that Matsuda and Motohama may have become victims. Since they are related to us who are Devils, I come to realise once again that they are standing next to the possibility of danger. That’s why I thought about the Kuou academy itself once again……
By the way, I tried to tell Kuroka and Le Fay who are at the Hyoudou residence about this case……but I couldn’t contact them. I thought I should inform them about Koneko-chan who was abducted, but the one who answered the personal communication magic-circle in our house was Ophis who is looking after the house, and according to Dragon God-sama—,
“Kuroka and Le Fay, they returned after being called by Vali.”
That seems like what happened. They sure aren’t present at crucial times, those half-lodger girls! ……Huh? Called by Vali? Did something happen? We got assaulted, and they got assaulted as well? No, it can’t be…… Actually, Vali isn’t important right now! When I tried to calm my mind, Xenovia says this next to me. “So are the culprits the “Stray Magicians” who are targeting those related to the Phoenix together with those from the“Khaos Brigade”?”
“Must be.”
Irina says. Yeah, I also think the same. “What do you think, Rossweisse-san?”
I try to get the opinion of Rossweisse-san who is a magic user.