Episode 35: Senior Suo's Resolution

"Ah, Suo has arrived. As always, right on time."

After school.

In the same practice preparation room as before, Instructor Shindo awaited with a sly grin. Today was the scheduled day for the periodic report that Instructor Shindo had designated.

"How did it go?"

"Just like this..."

As Suo extracted a file from the envelope tucked under his arm, Shindo's smile grew even broader.

"Well done. Show it to me right away."

"Before I report, may I ask one thing?"

Instead of handing over the file, Suo returned it to his side.

"What is it?"

Shindo's voice mixed with a slight irritation at being put on hold.

"How does spying on Kamiya serve this country?"

"I do not take kindly to those who pry into the details of their assignments, Suo."

With his usual, pasted-on archaic smile, Shindo refused to respond.

"Only those with a backbone called a sense of duty can silently carry out the dirty work."

"You're being tiresome, Suo."

Shindo's expression and tone turned sour, as he attempted to dominate the atmosphere by intimidation.

"Give me a grand cause! Then perhaps..."

"I said you're being tiresome!"

Suo's face twisted at Shindo's shout of frustration.

And then, suddenly, his expression blanked...

"Hahahahaha!"

"What's the matter, Suo? Have you lost your mind?"

Suddenly bursting into loud laughter, even the previously furious Shindo was taken aback.

"No, I just thought there might be some grand scheme that a novice like me couldn't fathom, but it turns out there's nothing of significant consequence behind this matter after all."

"What..."

"Laughing at how I overly complicated things and made a fool of myself. So, that's how it is..."

Perhaps due to laughing too hard, Suo wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

"This was your last chance. It seems the burden was too great for you."

Concluding that Suo was no longer of any value, Shindo straightened his suit and prepared to leave the practice room.

"Wait, Instructor Shindo. I haven’t finished here yet."

"Reports from someone who can't maintain their composure are useless. As are you."

Despite this, Suo continued to smile serenely.

"In fact, I am quite calm. Moreover, this is of great importance to you as well. I used the school’s complaint hotline system the other day to send a detailed form email about this matter."

Hearing this, Shindo snorted.

"Is that so? And you thought that would unsettle me?"

"Aren't you afraid? The principal will hear about this directly."

"Such a system hardly works as intended. It’s certain to be suppressed midway. You’ve completely misunderstood the basics, kid."

Mockingly, Shindo laughed at Suo, treating his trump card as a mere act of desperation.

"So, the principal hasn’t received the information..."

"That's right. Besides, some old man crawling around on the ground at the scene can be manipulated anyway."

"Ah..."

"Your actions, though incomplete, are a clear act of hostility against the faction. Not just you, but your sister too—I'll send you both to hell."

With that parting shot, Shindo walked past Suo, bumping his shoulder against him as he passed through the door of the practice preparation room.

(Door opens)

"Oh, Instructor Shindo. Were you giving a student guidance? My apologies."

"No, Principal Takami. No worries."

Just as he was about to leave, Principal Takami entered through the door, forcing Shindo to quickly resume his role as an instructor.

"It’s impressive how someone with your private sector background is so dedicated to teaching. I hear good things from the students."

"Not at all. Having been in the education sector before, I simply hope to contribute my knowledge to the school."

While chatting skillfully, Shindo was internally panicking.

The arrival of Principal Takami was completely unexpected.

Given Suo's current, visibly unsettled state, it was conceivable he might directly appeal to the principal.

As he conversed with the principal, Shindo glanced back at Suo, who appeared calm and composed.

For the first time, Shindo felt a significant unease.

Why was Suo so composed?

Having just realized that his last resort was futile, it would not be strange if he were in utter despair. Yet, there was an unsettling calm about him, as if watching a movie whose ending he already knew.

"By the way, Instructor Shindo. I heard an interesting thing recently."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Casually starting a conversation, Principal Takami didn't notice Shindo's subtle annoyance as he nodded along.

"It seems there are those sniffing around Major General Kamiya within the school."

"Ah, yes. Indeed, just the other day, some instructors suddenly stopped coming."

Due to the martial law imposed around Major General Kamiya, Shindo had refrained from immediately relaying information to his faction, anticipating capture.

As expected, those who acted rashly were swiftly rounded up.

"Ha ha! Yes, but those clever mice are too cautious to catch, even with the finest bait."

"Yes, indeed."

"And now they’re using even the students as pawns, without choosing means."

"..."

Sweat beaded on Shindo’s neck.

"Well, you understand what I’m getting at, right, Instructor Shindo? Or was the old man's explanation too difficult to grasp?"

Shindo, as if struck, sprinted not towards the practice room's door but towards the window. Crossing his arms in front of his face to shield himself, he crashed into it.

(Crash!)

The sound of breaking glass followed as Shindo attempted to escape through the window...

But couldn't.

As if an invisible wall was there, Shindo’s body was bounced back into the practice room.

Outside the window, an unseen barrier spell had been deployed.

The shards of broken glass did not scatter outside but fell inside the practice room, embedding themselves painfully in Shindo's body.

"Since it was intentional damage, you'll be responsible for the full cost of replacing the window. Deducted from your salary... no, that would be against the labor laws, wouldn’t it?"

"If you lay a hand on me, my faction won't stay silent..."

Struggling to rise from the floor, panting from the impact and the pain of the embedded glass, Shindo was desperate.

"No need to worry about that. The military's special operations group has likely already smoked out your nest."

"Special operations group?! For something as minor as industrial espionage at a school?"

"That's just how serious it was, touching what you shouldn't have. Well, you'll likely end up knowing nothing."

"Major General Kamiya... I suspected something, but I never thought..."

At that moment, as if Shindo had just realized something, the door of the practice room opened.

Several members of the special operations group stormed in, quickly covered Shindo with a large sack, and swiftly carried him away.