Epilogue

,

　In the sky, swarms of red light dance wildly.

　It is the massive horde of the "Correction Force."

　They were devouring the sky. Every time they swam past the night sky as if grazing it, the indigo veil was torn, and a void of "nothingness" eroded the sky like a lesion.

　Those who fight, those who flee, those who are at a loss—

　While the Academy City is engulfed in chaos, Everett alone lies sprawled in the VIP seating, popping fruit into her mouth.

"Oh boy. You should try to hold out a bit longer."

"With so many weaklings, I guess this academy will only last two or three days."

"...And I finally found a world that looked comfortable to live in, too."

"Can you stand, Noel?" "Yeah. I got bitten here and there... but I'll manage."

　Thanks to "Invariant," there isn't a single scratch on Noel's body. 　However, her torn clothes and the blood splattered on her told the story of the intense carnage she had waded through over the past few hours. 　Helped up by Leo, she raises her head. 　She could see Everett's silver hair dancing in the night wind as she lazily stretched her legs in the VIP seats.

"............You're going, right?" "I..."

　Noel hesitated there. 　She glanced at the rifle lying beside her—Arbiter II. I am a reporter. I am one who records facts. 　That is what she had told herself. 　She decided not to get deeply involved in the "students'" affairs and to leave everything to them.

　Even after unleashing her abilities so unreservedly, she still couldn't cross that final line.

　Does the academy need me?

　Shouldn't I leave everything to them?

　Would my choice interfere with their "freedom"?

"Hey, looks like my time is up too."

　Noel, lost in thought, snapped out of it and looked up. Before her eyes, most of Leo's body was crumbling into smoke.

"I don't know why you're agonizing so much. But one last thing—I haven't told you anything about my 'Law of Retribution' yet." "Why... tell me now?" "Because I thought you needed it. It's super simple and easy. Clean out your ears and listen up. Got it?—"

"'If they hit you, hit 'em back twice as hard.'"

　Noel,

　Noel froze right there.

　His "rule" was incredibly primitive, even barbaric.

　But to the current Noel, it was ridiculously clear.

　—Am I going to stay silent while the academy is devoured? 　—Am I going to let my freedom be trampled and still make excuses about it being "for everyone's sake"?

　There's no need to decide someone else's freedom. 　There's no need to choose the academy's future for them.

　I'll just shoot because I don't like it.

　I can at least decide that much for myself, can't I?

"Hehe... Leo. You really are something."

　When she looked up, he was already gone. 　Noel bit her lip and stood up. She tasted iron. Iron. Blood. The taste of retribution and counterattack.

"That's right... Since when did I become such an old fogey that I'd stay quiet after being spat on?"

"...Everett."

"This academy doesn't need a ruler."