Head of the Disciplinary Committee, Alcatraz.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

A member of the Punitive Squad was preventing her subordinate from completing his task.

If it had been an ordinary student, it might have been merely an annoyance.

But since the obstructed member was Gardner, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee suspected an ulterior motive.

‘Could the Legal Department be behind this?’

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee recalled the expression the Legal Department had shown at the Student Council meeting.

It was as if Gardner was already under their control.

‘Could it be... that such actions were anticipated?‘

It was not about listing the benefits of the Punitive Squad but rather asserting its authority.

An unspoken threat that if he didn't join, he would be opposed.

If this is how things were going, Gardner wouldn’t be able to refuse.

Gardner was merely an ordinary member without any power.

‘The fact that I said I wouldn't stop them from taking him doesn't mean I will overlook such actions...’

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee took the situation seriously.

Just with that thought, a menacing aura began to emanate from her.

She looked at the Punitive Squad's operator who was obstructing Gardner and began to speak.

"It seems the Legal Department has misunderstood me..."

-Srrrng...

Black Blade.

One of the unique weapons of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee—a fearsome sword.

As it revealed itself, it began to be drawn from the void into the Head of the Disciplinary Committee's hand.

-Aaaaaaaah!

The Black Blade created a piercing wail as it scraped through the air.

With it, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee's threat began to take shape.

The light that had been shining through the window dimmed, the air turned oppressive, and a stifling atmosphere clutched at the students' chests.

In a place where no one dared to speak, a single low voice resonated.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

She spoke.

"I said I would respect his wishes, not that I would allow coercion in the name of the Legal Department and the Punitive Squad."

"...Th-this isn't about that..."

The Punitive Squad operator also refused to back down, speaking up despite the pressure.

She had a resolute spirit, even if she appeared timid.

However, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee was in no mood to let her continue speaking.

She imbued the Black Blade with an intent of confinement and pressed it against the operator's neck.

The sharply honed blade barely grazed her skin.

"I saw everything with my own two eyes, so don't even think about making excuses."

"...Hic."

A scruffy-looking kid with black hair.

Though her abilities were outstanding, her lack of confidence and vitality rendered her nearly helpless.

Now, faced with death at her throat, she could only hiccup repeatedly.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee looked down at her now-pale face.

Thinking the warning had been sufficient, she sighed.

She couldn't go too far.

After all, the one who orchestrated this was the Legal Department...

"Haa… I will be watching."

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee threw the Black Blade aside.

With that, the Black Blade dispersed and vanished, and the ominous energy that had filled the corridor dissipated as well.

‘So this is the power of the Head of the Disciplinary Committee...’

It was my first time seeing it in person.

As I stood there, stunned and full of admiration, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee spoke.

"Gardner, you had business with the Human Resources Department, right?"

"Oh, yes."

I looked up at the sign for the Human Resources Department and replied, "I was going to submit an application for weekend reconnaissance."

"Reconnaissance? There's no need for members of the Disciplinary Committee to accumulate additional contributions to the school."

"I'm doing it as part of my training and to gain more experience."

"You're very diligent."

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee looked at me with satisfaction.

‘That's a look I've never seen in the game...’

In the game, she always appeared either angry, calm, or depressed...

‘I wish I had a camera...’

At that moment, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee spoke again.

"Once you're done, come to the Disciplinary Committee office. We have something to discuss."

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee left, and after I submitted my documents to the Operations Department, I followed her.

Left behind, the Punitive Squad operator, Elki, stood up and wiped her tears.

Realizing she had no way to stop Gardner any longer, she headed toward the Legal Department.

‘I guess my only option now is to lie on the floor and throw a tantrum in front of the Legal Department.’

‘I’ll have to beg with all my might to stop Gardner from going outside...’

Elki, who hated troublesome matters more than death, begrudgingly accepted her fate.

"The operational terminal hasn’t come out yet for you, has it?"

"Oh, yes it hasn’t."

In one corner of the Disciplinary Committee office, there was a table set up.

I sat at that table, facing the Head of the Disciplinary Committee as we conversed.

"I'll make sure to get it for you from the Logistics Department around next week. You'll need it soon."

The operational terminal.

A portable electronic device with a status similar to modern smartphones.

It can be used for communication, radio transmission, taking pictures, and limited hacking.

Normally, it is given during the middle to end of the semester after completing mental and security training, but there is one exception.

Key Human Resources.

In other words, individuals who are deemed crucial to the operation of the academy.

The Human Resources Department, Intelligence Department, Operations Department, and Logistics Department make up four departments.

The Disciplinary Committee (Security Department) and Legal Department (Punitive Squad) make up two departments.

The Secretariat (Student Council) is one department.

In total, there are seven departments under the Student Council, whose key Human Resources are given the terminal in advance.

For such a terminal to be given to me... Could it be?

“Congratulations on being officially promoted from Acting Commander to Second Squadron Commander, Gardner, First-Year.”

“Wow! Is that really true?!”

I couldn't contain my joy and jumped up on the spot.

No matter how rigorous my training had been, at best, I was at the peak of Star 1, just starting to enter Star 2 in terms of combat ability.

But to be appointed as the commander in a squad full of 1 Star to 5 Star members!

‘...Now that I think about it, something seems off. Why me?’

There are several people in the squad stronger than me.

Even though I did achieve something significant during the cultist attack, I knew very well that my skill level wasn’t high enough to warrant a command position.

I voiced these concerns to the Head of the Disciplinary Committee.

The Head, seemingly puzzled, replied.

“It's not like you’re lacking in ability, is it? Right now, in the first-year Disciplinary Committee, the only one stronger than you... would probably be Laurent, the First Action Leader."

There seems to be a misunderstanding between the Head of the Disciplinary Committee and me.

Where did this discrepancy come from?

It is true that there are people stronger than me.

Although most of the 5-star individuals have already transferred to the Punitive Squad and Operations Department...

There were still outstanding 5-star members like Sirius and Antaterica within the Disciplinary Committee.

Even so, saying I'm strong...

‘Could it be a difference in training?’

If a 5-star character hasn’t been properly trained, a 1-star character could be stronger.

At least, statistically speaking.

However, once a few conditions are met, a 5-star character should be much stronger...

Such a disparity in power would only be temporary.

‘Becoming an Action Leader isn't exactly something to celebrate...’

Right now, I’ve just filled an empty spot.

The wider the gap between me and the 5-star characters, the further away I’ll be from the position of Action Leader.

It’s an unstable position that could be taken away at any moment.

Daily quests... they’re my only lifeline.

That's the only thing I can rely on.

Come to think of it, that dream I had a few days ago, the one that increased my shotgun attack count...

Having that dream again might be one way to get stronger...

How can I see that dream again?

If I could dream about 10 more times, I think I could reach the level of a quasi-4-star character...

As I was pondering seriously, the Head of the Disciplinary Committee loudly drew everyone's attention.

“Anyhow, congratulations on becoming a 'core' member of the Disciplinary Committee.”

She emphasized the specific word as she spoke.

The Head of the Disciplinary Committee stood up and extended her hand for a handshake with Gardner.

Gardner, overwhelmed with emotion, forgot all his worries and grasped her hand.

She shook it lightly a few times.

A drop of cold sweat ran down her cheek.

But Gardner, believing that the Head would never show such weakness, didn't notice.

‘…Now that I’ve become an Action Leader... there’s no way I’d end up in the Punitive Squad, right?’

He had no idea that all these actions were part of her cunning plan to keep him from leaving the Disciplinary Committee...

Saturday morning.

9:30 AM.

We should have completed Human Resources reporting and been dispatched for reconnaissance by this time.

Instead, I was sitting in a post, grazing on grass with a senior from the year above me.

“That’s water parsley. Tasty, right?”

“…I think it would be really delicious with some meat.”

“If you eat it thinking it’s with meat, it’s bearable.”

-Crunch crunch...

The reason we were grazing like cows was because my supervisor hadn’t arrived yet.

"Oh, this is shepherd's purse, and this is mugwort, and..."

-Chatter, chatter...

While she rambled on, a figure resembling my supervisor entered the post.

A short girl with unkempt black hair that dragged on the ground—she was like a disheveled room embodied in a person.

Elki, an operator from the Punitive Squad.

She mumbled with a pitiful expression.

"...Please let me go home..."

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