Chapter 342 - The Awful Use of Wealth and Power
Wearing a bug and a tracker is incredibly uncomfortable. As I made my way to the club building, I tried to focus on the fun of pranking people later rather than the annoyance. When I entered the Magic Doll Club room, I found more people than yesterday, including some familiar faces. I was a bit surprised, but I didn't show it.
"Good afternoon, Evilbanshee-sensei. Thank you for your guidance today. We just finished our warm-up."
Today's club president seemed more motivated than usual. Impressive, impressive.
"There are more people today."
"Yes, some returning members and new exchange students have joined us."
Five more people had joined. Two of them were my sister and Harriet. I hadn't expected them to join this club.
"Anyone with the drive to join is welcome. This brings us closer to a full team."
"Yes. Especially the exchange students, Sigurdnaught-san and Harriet, who are expected to be immediate assets. Would you like to see their skills?"
Of course, that made sense. Harriet is an assistant to the Kikyo Society's executive board, so her magic perception and manipulation skills are far beyond the average. Even operating unfamiliar magic dolls, she would outperform the club members. My sister, too, has gained experience at Anastasia Union. I had given her a bit of training before, and while she's not as skilled as Harriet, her foundational abilities are solid.
These two have already surpassed the student level. It would be unfair to let them compete in club matches, but they are invaluable allies for my mission to rebuild the club.
I had thought Valeria might join my club, so it was a bit of a surprise.
"Show me the abilities of all five new members. After that, we'll continue with the usual guidance. Until then, everyone, keep practicing the basics."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Their response seemed more spirited than usual.
The new, capable members seemed to inspire the others, who were more focused on their new teammates' potential than on jealousy.
Since my sister and Harriet and I arrived at school in the same vehicle on the first day, I didn't pretend not to know them. Someone might have seen us at the hotel or on the way, and the students are likely aware of the Anastasia Union's internal issues and my sister's background. It's better not to hide anything suspicious. I try to minimize lies and avoid unnecessary details.
My tone conveyed that we were acquaintances, and I deftly dodged any curious questions from the club members. My sister and Harriet also handled themselves well, as lying and evading questions are second nature to us.
After an intense club session, I approached Harriet, who was helping with the cleanup, and casually slipped a note into her pocket. She noticed immediately and, once I was out of sight, pretended to read it casually.
The note explained that I was being bugged and tracked when I wore my tracksuit or my ring. I instructed her to be cautious and to check if she and the others were also being monitored.
Being restricted is a nuisance, but it can be useful for misleading and lulling the enemy. I decided to use it to my advantage.
I wanted to talk to my sister and Harriet, but I held back for now.
A few days passed as I continued my daytime guidance and nighttime patrols.
Despite the trackers, the ring had an unexpectedly strong effect during my guidance. The more arrogant students were particularly submissive to the Student Council emblem. The guidance was going smoother than I expected, almost too smoothly.
But this was a concern. They weren't following my guidance; they were just afraid to defy the Student Council. They might even mistake me for an obedient agent of the Student Council.
I had intended to use this to my advantage, but it seemed I shouldn't.
The night patrols were also problematic. I saw no students out late, according to Layla's reports, because rumors of stricter enforcement were spreading. This was likely orchestrated by the Student Council.
Even Edith Ribbonstrat, the curly-haired troublemaker, was avoiding late-night activities, either due to my incident at the dance hall or the rumors.
On the surface, the Academy seemed peaceful.
In just a few days, it looked like I had achieved remarkable results. But it was utterly boring and, in reality, meaningless.
If the Student Council wanted the students to behave, it should have happened before I arrived. This was clearly temporary.
Their roundabout approach felt like a challenge.
They might be saying that no matter what I, a teacher brought by the Headmistress, did, everything would still be under the Student Council's control. A fool might mistake this for their own achievement, but I wasn't about to be underestimated.
"Evilbanshee-sensei, I've heard the atmosphere in the Academy has improved. It's all thanks to you."
"Are you serious, Headmistress? I haven't solved anything. I've just revealed my true colors. The real work starts now."
"…It seems Grand Master Granzo's recommendation was well-founded."
After the club activities, being called to the Headmistress's office was ridiculous.
If I had boasted about my success, I might have been fired from my guidance role. They all underestimated me.
"I won't let this go. I have a few leads, and once I gather more information, I'll get serious about straightening things out."
"I look forward to it. How is the Magic Doll Club doing?"
"Practice is going well, but we need better equipment. Ultimately, it's the Student Council. I'll try to push them."
"I won't interfere since I've entrusted this to you, but please try to keep things peaceful."
"Sure, I'll take it slow. You can count on me."
These clever kids were more trouble than I expected.
I declared war on the Student Council right in front of the Headmistress. Let them be prepared.
With the Student Council's interference, night patrols were pointless. Still, I went to the bustling district for dinner and information gathering.
I headed to a familiar restaurant. As I became a regular, the owner and other customers seemed more relaxed around me. I often heard useful information, and today might be no different.
I walked through the noisy main street to a secluded restaurant. As the crowd thinned and the noise faded, I carefully checked for any signs of a tail.
"...No doubt about it."
I had noticed it since entering the bustling district. I was being watched and followed.
I could ignore the tail, but today's presence felt different.
I had two suspects.
One was the aftermath of the dance hall incident. It had been a few days, so this was less likely unless the culprit was particularly persistent. If they were going to act, they would have done so sooner.
The other was the Student Council. They knew my location through the tracker. They could give instructions to their agents from a distance or provide them with a device to track me. There were plenty of people who could be bought. However, their movements suggested they were amateurs, so I wasn't too concerned.
I had just declared war on the Student Council, so their quick response wasn't surprising. They might have been preparing for this.
My routine made it easy to plan an ambush.
I welcomed the opportunity to vent some frustration. I was more than willing to engage.
I veered off from the restaurant and headed into a deserted area. I knew the layout from my patrols and found a secluded spot.
Good, the fools were still following.
I walked a considerable distance and entered a promising alley, then removed my sunglasses and put on a black mask. The skull mask, with its deathly visage, was quite intimidating. This time, I wore it more to hide my face for future activities. I wasn't sure if my identity was already known in the city's underworld, but it was better to be safe.
A group of about a dozen people split up to block the alley's exits and finally revealed themselves.
They were a group of young men, armed and confident. They were likely thugs or low-level criminals, not professionals.
They looked at me suspiciously, their confidence wavering slightly.
Of course, they wouldn't expect the woman they were about to attack to be waiting for them.
"Ugh, what's this? Wearing a skull mask?"
"Creepy."
"Ah, this isn't what we were told... Is everything okay?"
Those were reasonable reactions. It's wise to avoid danger. They could back off, and I might let them go.
"Hey, don't get cold feet over just one woman."
"The mask doesn't matter. Heh, I heard she's a big catch."
"Right. She's still a woman, even if we can't see her face. If you're scared, you can leave. Actually, let me handle this alone."
"Cut it out! We're not letting you have all the fun."
Their desires were obvious.
It seemed their goal was to assault me. They might have been hired for this.
Even with a mask, my figure couldn't be hidden. Unfortunately, it might have aroused their base instincts.
I would deal with the obvious fools quickly and try to get information from the more cautious ones. I didn't expect to find direct evidence of the Student Council's involvement, but I wouldn't let them go without a fight.
I might as well talk to them before knocking them out. They might slip up.
"Idiots. I'll ask you once. Who hired you?"
People who are full of themselves often slip up. It was worth trying to get information before a more thorough interrogation.
"…Heh, it's—"
"Shut up, you moron! Don't talk!"
"Ow, you bastard! You, don't kick me in the confusion!"
"Shut up, you're in the way!"
They were a sorry bunch. I couldn't help but be amused by their ridiculous charade.
"Heh, it's a race to the finish."
One of them broke away from the group, arms spread wide. He had been looking at me with a lecherous gaze, clearly planning to tackle and overpower me.
I decided to use a knife for this round. Attacking a single woman with a group deserved a harsher punishment. They would make a good example.
I was feeling a bit bloodthirsty tonight.
I pulled out two small knives from my belt. They were tiny, with blades no longer than a fingernail. They looked like toys.
But my equipment, no matter how small, was top-notch. These knives were razor-sharp.
As the fool approached, I thrust both knives into his shoulders, stopping him in his tracks. I then cut through his clothes, slicing his chest and abdomen, and finally slashed his face, gouging out his eyes.
He didn't have time to scream. He collapsed in confusion and pain after being blinded.
The others were either screaming and rolling on the ground or frozen in shock. I wouldn't let any of them escape.
I moved swiftly in the darkness, using my small knives to target their legs and magical devices. I destroyed their equipment and took away their ability to run. I also used a modified fog spell to obscure their vision.
The fog was dark and carried a mild paralyzing poison, not a glowing healing potion. Protected by my Purifying Engraving, I could move freely while they were blinded. Even if someone was watching from a distance, they wouldn't know what was happening.
I cut and slashed.
The small knives wouldn't cause immediate fatal wounds unless they hit vital points. They would realize the mistake of attacking me.
"Damn it!"
One of them managed to escape, likely due to some preparation, skill, or determination. I wouldn't let him get far. I cut down the others, one by one, following the magical signatures of those who tried to run.
Within seconds, I had finished with the group. The last one had hidden in the next block, probably thinking he was safe.
I felt like a cat toying with a mouse. Hiding from me was impossible unless they were highly skilled.
I moved quietly, thinking about how to interrogate him. He wasn't a professional, so he wouldn't be too tight-lipped.
"...An abandoned building. Not a good sign."
The mouse had hidden in a dirty building. I cautiously checked for traps using my magical senses.
It was unlikely he had set up a trap in a place he had just entered, but it would be foolish to be careless. I took my time, ensuring everything was safe.
The target was on the third floor. The lack of stairs near the entrance suggested traps in the corridors. There were no obvious magical signatures, but non-magical traps were possible. I could jump to the third floor, but I decided to be thorough.
As I considered my options, my earring buzzed.
"—This is Layla. Can you hear me, President?"
"I can hear you. What's up?"
Her tone was urgent. Had my sister been attacked?
"President, are you in the bustling district?"
"Yes, I'm here. I'm busy, but it's nothing serious. What is it?"
"Sure enough. I'm also in the bustling district, and I've seen a large number of Bluecoats heading southwest. They might be heading your way."
"Southwest... Hmm, that might be my direction."
"It's too much of a coincidence. A confrontation with the Bluecoats would be bad. You should consider retreating."
I switched to a broader magical scan.
Indeed, several vehicles were heading this way, to a less crowded area. There didn't seem to be any commotion nearby, but it was dangerous to be optimistic.
Maybe someone had reported the earlier fight. It was too quick, and there shouldn't have been anyone around. As Layla suggested, it was unlikely to be a coincidence.
"Got it, I'll move."
I considered staying to observe, but they might have advanced magical devices. I didn't want to be discovered and cause trouble. The worst-case scenario was the Bluecoats tracking me, in which case I would destroy or abandon the ring.
Damn, I hadn't interrogated the last one or had dinner yet.
Still, the sequence of events—surveillance, ambush, and the timely arrival of the security forces—was too orchestrated to be a coincidence.
Without my skills, I would have been badly hurt or captured.
Well done, Student Council.
I would show them who they were dealing with. Instead of backing down, I would counterattack.
Don't think you'll sleep well tonight.