...Where exactly did things go wrong?
Wasn't the Decagrammaton only supposed to affect AIs?
No, was the scene before my eyes really related to the Decagrammaton at all?
Could it be that Gematria had once again performed a "copy"...
According to the records, the birth of the Decagrammaton had originally been tied to Gematria.
But that had been the ancient Gematria.
The Gematria I had encountered in the present was merely a group of outsiders borrowing the name of an organization that had long vanished into history.
Still, that did not rule out the possibility that modern Gematria had inherited the legacy of ancient Gematria, along with its connection to the Decagrammaton.
Or perhaps, even if they had not, why could these two organizations, both hostile toward me, not cooperate on the same matter?
My thoughts were a tangled mess, countless ideas continuously surfacing only to leave me without answers.
The only thing I could confirm now was that the current situation absolutely had some connection to the Decagrammaton.
The symphonic music emanating from the silver ring was the clearest proof.
But just what exactly was happening...
"The Commandments are the tutor unto enlightenment. Thou shalt be justified through faith."
The cold and rigid murmur sounded as though it were answering my many doubts, yet it only plunged me into even deeper confusion.
"Th-this is..."
Saori stared uncertainly at the transformed Justina Council and attempted to control them.
However, the Justina Council completely ignored her actions.
Including the moment after her failed attempt, when she and her companions raised their weapons in caution.
Dozens of eyes hidden behind lenses turned toward me all at once.
Then, in perfect unison, they released shrill screams utterly unlike anything human, filled with endless hatred:
"Anti... Christ...!"
I had to admit a fact.
The plan had succeeded, yet at the same time, it had failed.
It seemed the Justina Council no longer targeted Trinity and Gehenna as "destroyers of the Commandments," meaning the crisis that could have dragged both academies into ruin had temporarily been resolved.
But in exchange...
Looking at those white-clad nuns who had changed targets beneath the brilliant sunlight, I drew in a bitter breath.
Every single one of them was coming for me.
"...Strong."
Hoshino, who had noticed the abnormality here and rushed back in time, briefly exchanged blows with one of the Justina Council members seemingly influenced by the Decagrammaton before frowning and making her judgment.
Then she turned back and warned me and everyone else.
"Careful! Compared to before... these things are on a whole different level! Also, they seem to be targeting Sensei specifically. And with this number..."
After thinking briefly, she said:
"Anyone, just take Sensei and get out before they form an encirclement."
...So in the end, I had to run away again?
Once more, students would have to pay for my carelessness and mistakes. Students would stay behind to cover my retreat while I escaped under their protection?
I clenched my fists, and the wound in my abdomen that had yet to heal began hurting again.
The lighter and happier I had felt earlier when I believed everything was over, the more regret consumed me now.
"Sensei, let me lead you through the breakout."
Azusa tugged lightly at my sleeve and volunteered herself.
Since noon yesterday until now, when the sun of the next day had already risen, she had been fighting and running nonstop outside. She looked dusty and exhausted, yet her eyes remained incomparably bright.
Looking into those pale violet eyes, I felt my heart suddenly tighten.
Then I looked around.
Although everyone wore grave expressions and was shocked by the sudden turn of events, their determination had not wavered.
Only me.
What a worthless piece of trash.
Could I really only handle battles where everything went smoothly? Could I not even endure a minor setback? Was I really inferior even to these students?
Before the plan had even started, I had already prepared myself for the possibility of failure.
And yet the moment I thought I had succeeded, I relaxed?
This was far from the time to give up!
I cursed under my breath and forcibly threw away all the negative emotions that should not be affecting my judgment right now.
Besides, two things were different from before.
First, Arona was by my side, giving me enough confidence.
Second, if the current Justina Council truly had me as their sole target, then as long as I proactively moved into a defensible location that was difficult to attack...
For example...
"Huh?"
At that moment, Azusa suddenly noticed a figure in the distance moving alone against the flow of the Justina Council, firmly heading away.
"That's... Saori? That direction is...?"
Beneath the ancient cathedral.
...
Turning back the clock to not long ago.
Unlike the situation on my side.
"...C-Captain, what do we do now?"
Hiyori asked carefully.
"We can't control the Justina Council anymore... if that's the case, then our mission...?"
However, after a moment of thought, Saori instead asked:
"Do we even need to control those things?"
"Huh?"
"That's right. Sensei was only ever a tool to fulfill the hatred in my heart... nothing more..."
Saori calmly made her judgment.
"Those idiots who believe in some Happy End won't abandon the Sensei who's fought for them this whole time. Even though they've changed forms and can no longer be controlled, Trinity and Gehenna are still enemies of the Justina Council!"
She raised her now spirited eyes.
"The tide is about to turn in our favor!"
"But with our current manpower and condition..."
Misaki said,
"And that woman's orders were to capture Sensei alive if possible."
"It doesn't matter!"
Saori declared decisively.
"There's still the tactical weapon created by that dollmaker underground! As long as we release Hieronymus, everything will turn out alright!"
With her resolve set, she identified the direction and sprinted away.
...
Bang. Bang.
Deep underground beneath the ancient cathedral, irregular heavy thuds echoed through the empty darkness.
"Damn it, why the hell?"
Accompanying them was an irritated stream of curses.
On the ground lay something wrapped in red cloth patterned with golden markings and traces of scorching. It was being repeatedly kicked, motionless, like a pile of ruined rags.
Nearby were two enormous golden staffs, both melted nearly in half down the middle.
"Why the hell do I have to stay in some dark, damp shithole like this where there isn't even any warm sand baked by the sun!?"
As she spoke, the mechanical snake tail behind the pale-skinned, golden-eyed, short-haired girl swayed back and forth, as though reminiscing about some wonderful treatment she had enjoyed not long ago.
"Damn Anti-Christ..."
Grinding her teeth, the girl hissed hatefully:
"It's all, all your fault... no matter what reason you had... I'll never forgive you...!"
At that point, she kicked even harder and faster, as though she were kicking someone else entirely.
Until an icy female voice suddenly sounded beside her.
"Do you have a problem with that?"