Humanity Salvation Academy Episode 2: 'School Violence' i

【Previous】

i.

A sharp flash of lightning pierced the dark sky, carving out a crack like a scream. The wind shook the windows. The rain was lashing down violently.

Humanity Salvation Academy was now in the midst of a storm.

It was a sight that foretold the ominous events to come. Something was about to happen. Along with the exhilaration, the boy let out a soft sigh.

He was all alone by the window, in a room of the library that looked like an old castle on the edge of the academy. Dressed in a long purple robe, his slightly wavy silver hair swaying, a thrilling excitement welled up and shook his tall frame.

"How wonderful this is..."

As if to welcome the storm, the boy spread his arms. Then, slowly, he placed his left hand on his chest and pointed his right hand toward the dark sky. He looked up at the heavens. "Ah..." From his parted lips, sonorous words were spun.

"Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, how shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you from seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en too little care of this! Take physic, pomp; expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, that thou mayst shake the superflux to them, and show the heavens more just!"

Lightning flashed. The boy, illuminated, looked just like an actor performing on stage. The lines were from Shakespeare's King Lear. Even in this vast academy, he was likely the only one who knew the author's name, let alone the name of that tragedy. With a sigh of "Ah...", a new memory flashed through his mind.

"I see, this premonition... the new head of the disciplinary committee, Byodoin Hoomaru, is it?"

He repeated the name as if to confirm it.

"...Byo-do-in, Hoo-ma-ru."

The boy chuckled. The boy was the master of this library.

Library Committee Chairman, Hankashui Chugu.

"Hehe. Hehehehe. 'That was just the prologue; from here on out, it's your turn and mine.' ...Ah, I would love to meet you. To escape this prison-like place and go to you..."

Lightning illuminated his smile.

"To you, who are just like this tempest."

It was an ecstatic smile.

"I want to go and meet you."

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Humanity Salvation Academy
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Episode 2: "School Violence"

The storm had passed by the next morning. However, Humanity Salvation Academy was in total chaos.

"W-what is this..."

The students who arrived at school were all equally bewildered. In key locations throughout the academy—the schoolyard, entrances, stairs, hallways—"they" were standing in an intimidating line.

They were the Public Morals Committee members, wearing white high-collared uniforms.

"This is a proclamation from the new Public Morals Committee Chairman, Hoomaru Byodoin! Until the 'Emergency Student General Assembly' to be held the day after tomorrow, the academy will be managed under a provisional system led by the Student Council Vice President! From now on, the maintenance of public order in the academy will be entirely handled by the Public Morals Committee, and school regulations and activities will be partially restricted! For details, including the purpose of the Emergency Student General Assembly, check the proclamation!"

And then the students learned.
The shocking news of the arrest of Student Council President, Rushana Kondo.

"Huh...? Does this mean... a coup d'état?"

Everything had changed completely.

"Ah, ah..., in this way, the so-called student council officers are, generation after generation, passed down to the next generation, you see... with some exceptions... when an officer drops out midway and a break occurs..."

A 3D image was being projected inside the dimly lit classroom. What was being shown was the glorious history of the student council. An elderly woman with a hunched back continued to speak in a slow, relaxed tone while pointing at it with a pointer. This old woman was a teacher at Humanity Salvation Academy.

Her name is Majo Gokuraku.

The expressions of the students taking the class were all equally dark. Their eyes darted around as if afraid of something. At the end of the gaze that the students feared and were wary of... was Hoomaru, sitting with his chin in his hand, pouting his lips and looking thoughtful.

He, too, was participating in the class. From outside the classroom, angry shouts, screams, and the sounds of things being broken could be heard. Each time, the students' expressions would stiffen, and they would shrink their shoulders as if cowed.

"Hmm. Hmmm..."

Right now, skirmishes were breaking out all over the academy. The school was like a conflict zone. In particular, incidents of the Public Morals Committee being attacked by students, centered around the Beautification Committee, were occurring frequently. Many students had been transported to the infirmary. Or, they were being dragged off to the Public Morals Prison. And then...

"Ah, uh..., in other words, since the mid-term replacement of officers is exceptional..., huh?"

It was the very moment Shinnyo raised his eyebrows. Clatter! With a deafening sound, the classroom sliding door was thrown open.

Second-year, Tomoharu Wanibuchi! Sanitation Committee member!

A student in a red uniform shouted.

Houomaru Byodoin! Get expelled!

Along with the angry shout, the student in the red uniform... Wanibuchi, threw a gleaming object. It was a metal dustpan! Spinning through the air, its tip, which had been sharpened to a razor's edge, traced an arc through the classroom, emitting a guillotine-like glint of murderous intent. In an instant, every gaze in the classroom was fixed on one point.

Houomaru.

At the same time Wanibuchi threw it, Houomaru, while still resting his cheek on his hand, didn't even move his eyes, and let out a bored sigh. Then, he gracefully extended one hand. "!" Wanibuchi's eyes widened.

It was beautiful. It was a casual, magnificent movement, as if he were plucking a flower. He grabbed the handle of the flying dustpan. He flicked his wrist. He threw it back.

Hii!? The dustpan thrown back embedded itself right beside Wanibuchi's face. Houomaru, still resting his cheek on his hand, moved his index finger as if conducting, clicking his tongue.

Your security is sloppy... Take him away.

Immediately after, Wanibuchi was pinned by the disciplinary committee members. "Ugh..." Wanibuchi screamed as he was dragged away.

The big sister... Kagami-san, she wants you expelled, Houomaru!

Hahaha.

Houomaru laughed without changing his expression.
It was a dry laugh.

Tomoharu Wanibuchi, was it? I'll remember that. You'd better be prepared.

The entire classroom fell silent. The students looked at Houomaru with pale faces, as if in awe. Gokuraku Shinnyo also frowned as he stared at Houomaru.

U-uh... Student Houomaru?

Yes.

Can we... continue with the lesson?

Yeah...

Houomaru smiled and nodded. Then, he held out his hand as if to urge him on.

"Go ahead. Continue."

Ding-dong, ding-dong...

Before long, the class ended, and Houomaru waved at Gokuraku Shinnyo, saying "See you," before walking out into the hallway with a smile. Behind him, the disciplinary committee members followed with a rhythmic thud, thud, thud.

Leading them, Houomaru strode dashingly down the hallway. Students gave way in fear, or turned on their heels and ran away...

"Hmm?"

Houomaru narrowed his eyes. While everyone else was avoiding him, there was a figure standing in his path.

"...Oh my?"

It was Gokuraku Shinnyo. He was wearing an eerie smile and staring straight at him...

"Hmm."

Houomaru tilted his head. "Huh, that's strange," he muttered, and looked back. In the direction of his gaze was the classroom he had just come from. "Hmm?" He opened the door to that classroom... and another Gokuraku Shinnyo came out.

"Hmm, hmm?"

He looked forward again. There was a Gokuraku Shinnyo. "Hmm, hmm, hmm!" He looked back. There was another Gokuraku Shinnyo. And then, from the right side of that Houomaru...

"A transfer student is... a sign... of calamity!"

"Whoa there?"

Yet another one. It was Gokuraku Shinnyo. Shinnyo passed by Houomaru's right side and walked forward.

"When a transfer student... appears...!"

This time, from behind on the left. It was the Shinnyo who had just left the classroom. As if to overtake Houomaru, this Shinnyo also walked straight ahead. The Shinnyo on the right and the Shinnyo on the left spoke in unison.

""The academy... will be visited... by disaster!""

The two Shinnyos stood side-by-side with the Shinnyo in front of them. The three Shinnyos spoke simultaneously, as if delivering an oracle.

"""Therefore... Student Houomaru..."""

The three figures began to overlap.
And Shinnyo became just one Shinnyo.

"I am warning you... make sure you do not... forget your duties... as a student... otherwise..."

Houomaru laughed through her nose.

"Otherwise?"

"A situation... beyond your imagination... and terrifying..." Shinnyo's skin-and-bone finger was pointed at Houomaru.

"Will befall... this academy..."

Gokuraku Shinnyo. She is the only... teacher who dwells in Humanity Salvation Academy.

"Hahaha."

While placing her index finger on her chin, Houomaru wore a cold, condescending smile.

"Well, well. Thanks for your concern."

【Continued in ii】

"Humanity Salvation Academy"is scheduled to be updatedat 7:30 PM from Monday to Friday (tentative)