"We can't allocate our forces for something that hasn't happened yet."

The Legal Department head stated firmly.

This was about the incident they discovered while patrolling with drones recently—a story concerning a group organizing a protest to demand the establishment of a new department within the Human Resources Department.

Elki suggested taking preemptive action to suppress the protest by eliminating the leadership beforehand.

However, from the perspective of the Legal Department head, it was an excessive measure. Moreover, this was not a matter for the Punitive Squad to be concerned with. Organizing a protest was not necessarily breaking the law.

If they followed Elki's approach, it might be interpreted as overstepping their bounds.

In such cases, it was best to leave matters to the Disciplinary Committee. They would handle it appropriately.

"Elki, I know you care deeply for that member of the Disciplinary Committee, but he should be able to manage this situation fully."

"..."

Elki looked at the head of the Legal Department with a sullen expression.

"I just don't want to push him too hard..."

Elki said, awkwardly maintaining a formal tone.

The reason Elki became diligent was that she wanted to be a proper senior. She didn't want to burden the junior who was hospitalized in the infirmary.

‘She's really grown.’

Although the Legal Department head was proud internally, she didn't show it. She simply continued speaking in an even tone.

"It's not too much—not for that kid, at least."

The Legal Department head asserted confidently.

If it's a simple protest group, they just need to eliminate the leadership.

It's natural for a disorganized group to collapse if it loses its head.

It's hard to imagine that two members of the Disciplinary Committee won't be able to handle this.

However, understanding Elki's feelings, the head of the Legal Department made a small concession.

"If you still want to disperse it yourself, I won't consider it a problem if you act on your own."

"Won't consider it a problem if I act on my own..."

In the end, she couldn't secure support, but she did gain the head of the Legal Department's consent.

As long as she operated within legal means, she wouldn't be held accountable for using the Punitive Squad's name.

Elki turned on her laptop.

The ringleader is currently organizing the protest.

[Mano]

The purpose for which she created the protest group.

Her personal goal. And... it was time to find a flaw that could justify her detention.

[Training Complete 4000/4000]

[Reward: Increased Reload Speed, Increased Attack Power, Increased Health]

Training complete.

The rewards seeped into my body.

Training had become routine.

Every time I finished, I felt as if the rust built up in my joints was being scraped away.

"Am I finally becoming... useful too?"

Originally, the Shotgun was just enough to stop a superhuman.

These days, its power has become quite formidable.

And the shield had also become pretty sturdy.

Now, I could somewhat fulfill the roles of both a tank and a dealer.

'Though it's still a bit uncertain.'

The goal was to be the Academy's top dealer and tank line.

Someday, there would come a time when the Academy would need a strong force.

Two hours.

I was allowed a training time of two hours.

I finished my shower in time and headed to the infirmary.

In the meantime, I met a familiar-looking woman.

A person with pink hair reaching down to her waist.

It was the Operations Commander.

"Oh~ How have you been?"

Grinning.

Her long arm wrapped around my shoulder.

Even though I'm not short, she easily draped her arm over my shoulder.

Rather than shoulder to shoulder with a woman...

"Act like we're close, act like it."

It felt like I was being dragged by a thug.

"...What brings you here?"

I asked quietly.

The Operations Commander glanced around before speaking.

"Has nothing been going on lately?"

"Not really, it's been peaceful."

"Really? Hmm, the head of the Legal Department asked me to check up on you."

"Hmm?"

The head of the Legal Department checking on me?

We're not close enough for that.

Could something have happened? I couldn't help but feel anxious.

"Well… It doesn't seem like a big deal, but you know, the Disciplinary Committee members are absent these days."

"Yeah, they're probably taking care of things on the uninhabited island."

"Originally, when the Disciplinary Committee is absent, our Operations Department has to allocate personnel for patrols, you know?"

"…"

"But because we failed to maintain vigil this time, they're increasing the number of guards, and now we're short on staff…"

Were patrols not being done?

Why didn't I know about this?

If there aren't enough patrol personnel, I should have been assigned.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee and Laurent didn't say anything, so I didn't know.

“Ahem.”

The Operations Commander cleared her throat and continued speaking.

"In place of them, an operator from the Legal Department is doing patrols now."

"Ah, Elki Senior."

"Yeah, it looks like there's some issue over there… Anyway, I'm sure there's a reason the head of the Legal Department wanted to check on you. If anything big happens, contact me. I'll help you as much as I can."

The Operations Commander saved her contact on my device.

Her profile picture showed a stern face.

Hmm… It's just like the game.

'More importantly… issues arise when the Disciplinary Committee is entirely absent…'

I thought as I watched the busy Operations Commander leave.

There are many enemies who would aim for such a time.

Some of them appear later in the story.

The early-stage enemy, the Cultists, have already been cleared.

So, what's left…

"Only the Club Establishment Alliance, Bu Seol-ryun."

I began to move quickly.

The head of the Club Establishment Alliance, Mano.

She was strolling down the corridor when she noticed a couple walking together.

The two were arm in arm, whispering quietly to each other.

'...What are they doing, making everyone uncomfortable?'

Mano tried to pass by while fanning herself, but their attire caught her attention.

One of them was wearing the Disciplinary Committee uniform.

Upon closer inspection, it was the familiar committee member.

It was Gardner.

"Huh?"

Why is he there?

He should still be in the infirmary.

While she was pondering this, her eyes met with the woman next to him.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously, as if wary of something.

Mano naturally redirected her gaze and hurried her steps.

'...That person is the Operations Commander.'

With long pink hair and a tall stature.

Her dress shirt was unbuttoned, revealing her chest, and her skirt was torn at the side, fluttering.

She claimed it was for ease of movement, going around like that.

Only the Operations Commander would do such a thing.

As Mano walked away quickly, almost as if fleeing, she thought.

‘…Are they close?’

That could be troublesome.

While regular members of the Disciplinary Committee aren't intimidating.

A Disciplinary Committee member who is close to the Operations Commander is frightening.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee isn't vindictive, but the Operations Commander definitely is.

If you did something that might catch her eye, she'd make things troublesome.

Mano had no intention of opposing the Operations Commander.

She was already on the Human Resources Department head’s bad side, so getting on the Operations Commander's bad side and then the Head of the Disciplinary Committee’s too?

‘What on earth is going on?

Am I some kind of public enemy?’

As it seemed like this situation might become larger than anticipated, a wave of fear hit her.

Should she back out now? Or...

‘...Maybe I should just throw the protestors under the bus.’

Mano's goal was to establish the Banquet Club.

As long as she could create a club eligible for support funds, she didn't care what happened to the rest.

She could approach the Human Resources Department and propose dissolving the protestors in exchange for establishing the Banquet Club.

That way, there would be no protests to clash with the Disciplinary Committee.

And she wouldn’t get on the Operations Commander's bad side.

Killing two birds with one stone.

“Am I a genius?”

Of course, she felt a little sorry for betraying the club leaders.

But then again, hadn't she done things to feel sorry for more than once?

Besides, she wasn’t afraid of clashing with the lazy students at the Academy who just wanted to mess around and take it easy.

Mano organized her thoughts and headed to her dormitory.

A little while later, Elki, leading various drones, followed her inside.

The next day at 9:00 AM.

"What are these guys?"

Punitive Squad Operator Elki.

The people she had been monitoring started to move.

Their identity was the Club Establishment Alliance.

Elki had already rendered the head, Mano, incapable, and she had used her terminal to dissolve the alliance.

Yet, the alliance moved without its head, like a snake whose head had been severed.

Who on earth was pulling their strings?

“Is it just because it's a place full of strange people?”

She theorized that since they weren’t normal, they could move even without a head.

But that couldn’t be it—it was too convenient an explanation.

Elki concluded that there might be another leader.

'Someone is moving the Club Establishment Alliance for their own selfish purposes.'

Elki searched the teachers to find the second leader.

She witnessed a scene.

Gardner was quickly running somewhere.

A junior, whom she didn't want to push too hard, had caught the scent of an incident.

"...Darn, I'm late."

The Club Establishment Alliance.

There are two heads.

The founder of the organization for the establishment of sub-clubs.

Head of the Club Establishment Alliance, Mano.

And the person who participated with interest in that Mano's story.

The Player, Hiro.

While wandering around the entire Academy, I recalled my memories from playing the game to locate Hiro.

As I entered the building with a good view of the Club Establishment Alliance's gathering spot, the Player, Hiro, spoke.

"The Head of the Alliance suddenly told us to disband. It seems there was some kind of pressure..."

I thought the Legal Department would handle the head, Mano, effectively.

It appears to have been well-managed. It was wise to target this direction.

She looked directly at my face and raised the corners of her lips.

"I've made ample preparations for this. Even if the head succumbs to some form of pressure and concedes to the establishment, the protest will proceed as planned."

"…Why are you going so far just to stage a protest?"

Even though I already knew, I asked to hear it directly from her.

"Reason?"

Hiro laughed wickedly.

"It's obvious, isn't it? To establish a club filled with beautiful girls who are fond of me."

"…"

Just then, loud noises came from outside the window.

"Listen up, Head of the Human Resources Department!"

"Abolish the arbitrary standards that hinder the establishment of clubs!!!"

"Why is there a Literature Club but the Manga Club is rejected? Explain!!!"

"Rejecting the establishment of the Cat Club and Dog Club is animal abuse! Stop the abuse!!!"

"It's started! What are you going to do now? You don't seem to like that protest, do you?" Hiro said.

Outside the window, numerous students came into view.

They were shouting in unison.

Currently, the only members of the Disciplinary Committee inside the school were me and Laurent.

It seemed nearly impossible for the two of us to disperse that many people.

"…Well, I have my own way."

With those words, I reached for the device at my waist.

The device was connected to a call with someone.

That someone was none other than:

[ Head of the Disciplinary Committee, Alcatraz ]

[ In Call ]

A powerful figure who could change the current situation.

It was the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

The call with her had been connected even before entering this building, and she had heard everything Hiro was saying.

A voice filled with suppressed anger came from the device.

[ ...I understand the situation well. ]

Hiro froze upon hearing the voice coming from the device and opened her mouth.

"You, you!!! What on earth are you doing!!!"

[ Hah... A protest for such a reason? Unbelievable. ]

Hiro instinctively tried to snatch the device, but there was no way she could stop the words of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

[ As it's considered an emergency that could disrupt the Academy's order, ]

[ I will request support from the Student Council, so take them all down. ]

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