EPILOGUE

“So…you’re saying that Gustave’s client was your father?”

Claudia bowed her head to her astonished friends. “Yes. I’m awfully sorry about it all. I never thought he would resort to that level of violence.”

Three days had passed since Ayato had returned to Asterisk. As soon as the others had all settled back, Claudia called the four of them to the student council room to lift the curtain on the incident in Lieseltania.

“But why would your father do such a thing…?” Kirin asked.

“It’s simple, I’m afraid. He would find himself in a difficult situation if I were to win the Gryps. Or rather, Galaxy would find itself in a difficult situation,” Claudia answered flatly.

“…But if that’s true, then they must have other ways of trying to stop you…”

“Galaxy will still be trying to work out how they want to deal with me, and measuring up the costs and benefits of doing so. My father probably wanted to put an end to it before that. He understands better than anyone what might happen to me if Galaxy decides they want to really put their minds to stopping my participation.”

Julis stared at her. “Do you understand what you’re saying, Claudia? If you make an enemy out of Galaxy, that’s the same thing as making an enemy out of Seidoukan Academy itself! And on top of that, you can’t know that you’ll even win!”

“You’re right to call it a bad idea. But I’ve no intention of giving up on my wish,” Claudia said, staring back.

Julis’s expression quickly softened. “I did think you were a bit smarter than that, though.”

“I’ve only done what was necessary.” Claudia, too, relaxed, smiling in return.

“But you won’t go up against them empty-handed, will you?”

“Of course not. I’ve been preparing for it ever since I became student council president. Anyway, there isn’t anything I can do if Galaxy gets serious about it, but I should be able to gain more time before that. What happened in Lieseltania will certainly help in that regard.” Claudia paused for a moment, frowning. “But I wouldn’t be able to call you unreasonable if you all wanted to press charges against him. Especially you, Julis, considering all the damage he caused to your country.”

“…”

Julis sat in silence for a while, deep in thought, before eventually shaking her head. “No. I can’t say I don’t want to, but you’re going to need all the bargaining chips you can get, aren’t you? Especially from here on out.” The intensity of her gaze seemed to suggest she wasn’t talking just about the Gryps.

“…I don’t mind either,” Saya added.

“I’m okay with it as well.” Kirin nodded in agreement, but she raised her hand nervously, as if something were bothering her. “But what is your wish, Claudia?”

“I can’t tell you that until I hear your answers to our conversation the other day,” Claudia responded, glancing around at everyone. “And like I said, joining my team might mean making enemies out of Galaxy. I can’t say that it’s a particularly good plan from any normal point of view. So if I was in your position, I would probably turn it down right away, I suppose.”

“…But you’re still inviting us?” Julis flashed her an astonished, yet at the same time amused, smile. “Oh well. Putting the circumstances aside, and looking just at our overall fighting strength, I think there’s definitely an appeal to it. I’m in,” she declared flatly.

“M-me too! I’ll join, too!” Kirin nodded with excitement. “I’ve wanted to fight alongside you ever since I saw you in the last Gryps…!”

“Thank you, you two. Thank you so much,” Claudia said, before turning her gaze toward Saya. “Miss Sasamiya, what will you do?”

“Hmm… To be honest, I’m not very interested in the Gryps… I’ve already helped my father out, and it looks like those puppets from Allekant won’t be able to participate either…”

The use of sentient machines as proxy fighters had been a special provision only for the Phoenix, and the majority of commentators seemed to be of the opinion that they wouldn’t be permitted again this time.

“…So my decision depends on Ayato,” she finished.

All gazes swung to him, who had been sitting in silence and not uttered so much as a word.

“Ayato… You’ve been acting a little strange recently. Is something wrong?” Julis asked uncertainly. “Your sister was okay, wasn’t she?”

They all knew why he had returned to Asterisk early, and he had told them almost everything that had happened at the hospital.

What he hadn’t told them was what had come after.

“…Julis, can we talk, later?”

“U-uh… Okay…,” she said, looking at him warily.

With that, Ayato once again strengthened his resolve, and turned to Claudia. “Okay. I’ll join your team. But on one condition—let’s make sure we win.”