Volume 6, Epilogue  

One week before Takeru and others escaped from Magic Academy.

The Pureblood Party's "Kantō border-line invasion".

The Valhalla. Pureblood Party's elite magic troops: 500 members. Ancient Wizard special forces, 50 members.

The Inquisition. "Spriggans": 1000 members. "Dullahan": 50 members. Zeroth Unit's Dark Riot Police: 3 members.

The 35th Test Platoon: 3 members.

"Haa…haa…haa…!"

Saionji Usagi held an anti-material rifle of a similar length to her own body and dashed through a road full of debris.

She wasn't dressed in an uniform, she wore gray hooded camouflage clothes. On knees she wore a protector and in her backpack there was a large amount of ammunition.

This place, was the Grey City which was the closest place to Sanctuary, it has turned into a den of vagrants and criminals.

However, right now those people, ostracized by society were driven out.

The Grey City has already turned into a battlefield.

She hid herself, and after making sure she was safe Usagi started running again. By repeating that, Usagi arrived at the main street that was her destination. In the boulevard that would have been a down-town before Witch Hunt War, there was a battle between Spriggans and Pureblood Party ongoing.

Usagi hid in the shadow of the building and dropped down on one knee.

"Ootori, I have arrived at the location… the building is in too bad a state, so I cannot climb up, but I can shoot from here."

《"So you weren't able to get up high… how about you Suginami?"》

A sound from the radio sounded in her ear.

《"Sentry bot is on the wait in the sky. I see everything."》

《"Connect directly with Saionji's goggles. She'll be able to grasp the enemy's positions."》

《"Roger that. But don't over-rely on it. It's a prototype, and since the bot's defensive capabilities are extremely low, it can be shot down any time."》

《"I have no intention of prolonging the battle for that long. If Dragoon forces arrive it will be easy to overwhelm them. However, there's a possibility of Magical Dragoons or Ancient Wizards appearing so we can't act relieved."》

While listening to the conversation between Ikaruga and Ouka, Usagi placed her barrel on top of debris and peeked through the scope.

"Preparations complete. Ootori, I can't tell your position because of camouflage magic. Please report."

While calmly watching the battlefield's scenery reflected in the scope, she looked for Ouka's figure.

《"——Abandoned building north-northwest of you, rooftop."》

As she was told to, Usagi turned her barrel in north-northwest direction. On top of the building there was something which looked like a distorted space.

The distortion turned to its original state momentarily and the person standing there could be seen clearly.

Dressed in crimson mantle and armor, it was Ootori Ouka's appearance——.

"…………"

With her eyes narrowed, Ouka overlooked the battlefield.

…it's been a week already since we were thrown into the battlefield.

With two enormous handguns "Vlad" in her hands, Ouka spat out a deep sigh.

Three weeks have elapsed since Pureblood Party has taken total control of the Grey City.

After Takeru disappeared, large forces of The Pureblood Party appeared through transfer magic and spread throughout the Grey City and conquered a part of the border. Inquisition was surprised and built up a line of defense in a hurry. And until this moment, they continued to suppress enemy forces.

These kinds of large-scale battles haven't happened ever since the time of the Witch Hunt War.

Because there was no official announcement as to where the enemy forces appeared from, the general public's anxiety was on the rise and the locals have already begun evacuating.

Although the battlefield was limited to Grey City, Ouka had already resolved herself.

The war, has already started.

"We will suppress the enemies right now——with my attack as a signal, Saionji will aim at the armor-wearing magical knights and the enemies stretching out protective barriers."

《"Roger that."》

"Suginami, continue reconnaissance with your sentry bot. If as much as a shadow of new enemy appears, report immediately."

《"Yes yes, rog?er. "》

The 35th platoon was on the battlefield's frontline.

For a student's test platoon to enter battlefield was inconceivable.

However, Inquisition's Chairman Ootori Sougetsu had them take responsibility for Kusanagi Kiseki's escort convoy operation's failure and ordered them to enter the battlefield.

No matter how much they tried to excuse themselves by saying that if not for them, Kiseki would have been taken away by Valhalla, but since Takeru and Ouka have escaped from prison they couldn't overturn the decision.

The 35th platoon definitely did not wish to be on this battlefield.

"…you guys, we're going to survive no matter what. Until Kusanagi comes back!"

As a provisional captain, Ouka was leading the 35th platoon to battle.

Kusanagi… where are you right now…

Worrying about Takeru's safety, she plunged into the futile battle.