Inside Schale's hangar.
"Let me explain it to you!"
Kotori grabbed onto me, brimming with enthusiasm. "If we're talking about electromagnetic cannons, then we should start from the history of electrical engineering and the evolution of artillery weapons…"
Listening to her chatter away beside me like a small bird with a clear, lively call, earnestly giving me a science lesson, I secretly wiped the cold sweat from my temple.
To be honest, I did not mind listening to her explain some related knowledge, and I had indeed agreed quite happily earlier.
But normally speaking, would anyone really start from such an ancient point?
After talking nonstop for quite a long while, Kotori suddenly stopped.
I thought she had finally realized her explanation was getting overly long and complicated.
Who would have guessed she paused to gather her thoughts and then said, "After all, if we're going to talk about the evolution of artillery weapons, we can't avoid mentioning the development of materials science. Did you know, Sensei? Bronze was the earliest alloy in the history of metal casting…"
…Why did it go even further back!?
"I-Indeed."
The corner of my face twitched, and I felt like I was about to lose the smile I was forcing myself to maintain.
"Alright, Kotori." After being busy for quite some time together with Hibiki, Utaha seemed to have finally finished her work. She straightened up and interrupted her junior. "If you keep going like this, you won't finish even by nightfall. Save that enthusiasm for next time."
Kotori looked reluctant, but still nodded helplessly. "Okay. Sensei, next time there's a more suitable opportunity, I'll explain it to you then."
At first, I felt a bit troubled, but when I thought about it carefully, Kotori's talent for nonstop talking, if applied to certain other situations…
Suddenly, I felt that I had many doubts, urgently in need of her explanations.
Looking at this lively and adorable girl, all kinds of thirst for knowledge burned fiercely in my heart.
"Alright! Next time for sure!"
I agreed immediately.
"Hibiki, please explain it to Sensei," Utaha said.
"Okay."
The gloomy girl with dog ears and a dog tail, awkward in speech, showed me a shy smile.
"According to Sensei's request… we carried out a reversible modification on [Sword of Light: Supernova]. By adding several detachable components, when the next charging cycle is about to complete and the weapon enters the launch preparation stage, it will automatically stop further power supply… in other words, the first shot will definitely be a 'dummy round.'"
I nodded in satisfaction, just about to thank her, but then I could not help recalling the Engineering Department's usual style. The words that reached my lips changed shape.
"This… it won't explode, right?"
"Um, b-because Sensei emphasized it repeatedly, we absolutely did not install such a function."
After hesitating for a moment, Hibiki looked away and muttered despite herself, "And besides, the Sword of Light is Arisu's weapon. We already did something like this behind her back, so there's no way we would go any further…"
From her words, I could hear her lack of understanding toward my request.
And she was not the only one who thought that way.
"…Sensei, please forgive my bluntness." Utaha, who had been thinking deeply with her eyes closed, opened her shining purple eyes. "Although asking this after completing the modification is a bit too late, may I ask if you can tell us your reason for doing this?"
I could understand their confusion.
In the academy city of Kivotos, weapons were standard equipment that every student was assumed to possess. Even if they were not regarded as life itself, they were not far from it.
This reminded me of how I had seemingly easily taken Hoshino's shotgun from her back then. In reality, however, she had almost completely fallen into self-abandonment at the time, and had taken that opportunity to hand the gun over to me herself.
Otherwise, given her actual grip strength… even if she truly had been intimidated, there was no way I could have seized it successfully.
In short, a personal firearm was extremely important to every student, and tampering with someone else's weapon without permission was also a very serious matter in Kivotos.
If it were not for my sufficiently good relationship with the Engineering Department, and the fact that this could still be considered harmless, plus my guarantee that I would contact them to remove this concealed mechanism before returning the Sword of Light to Arisu, they would never have agreed to my request.
"It's very simple," I answered honestly. "It's to prevent Arisu from using the Sword of Light without permission during this period, nothing more. As for the deeper reasons, please forgive me for not being able to tell you for now."
After a moment of contemplation, Utaha nodded. "I understand. Thank you for being willing to tell us the truth."
In an instant, the tense atmosphere caused by Hibiki's unintentional remark eased considerably.
"It's what I should do."
After that, I politely extended an invitation. "By the way, would you be willing to stay overnight at Schale?"
After a brief silence, three uncertain voices sounded at the same time.
Looking again, the cheeks of the three Engineering Department girls were all flushed red.
I then gave the reason I had already prepared. "I'm inviting you to try staying in the guest rooms. You see, Schale has so many guest rooms, most of which are unused for long periods. The Game Development Department and C＆C are also planning to stay, along with a few other students…"
To be honest, this reason was somewhat forced.
But whether it was forced or not did not matter. As long as it barely passed, it was more than enough.
I saw Utaha, Kotori, and Hibiki look at one another, a hint of eager excitement gradually appearing in their eyes.
I knew it. These science girls who seemed obsessed only with mechanical engineering clearly harbored designs on my good looks.
Utaha spoke first. "Sensei, please take good care of us today."
Then Kotori said, "Don't worry, Sensei! After trying the stay, I'll properly explain the experience to you!"
Finally, Hibiki hesitated for a long time before squeezing out, "M-me too!"
Having obtained the expected result, I calculated quietly in my heart.
With this, the audience was fully prepared.
Arisu…
Were you really, as I feared, nothing more than "AL-1S" from the very beginning?
If that were the case, no matter how unwilling I might be,
I would have no choice but to end it with my own hands.
With a heavy heart and a faint glimmer of hope, I shook my head and temporarily cast these worries aside.
Returning to the living room together with the Engineering Department, Arisu and the remaining members of the Game Development Department were playing games in trembling fear.
Because a certain tiny maid had forcibly joined in.
As for the other C＆C members, they were carrying out a major cleanup across all of Schale.
After confirming with Saori that Arisu had stayed here the entire time and had not left, I took a deep breath.
And quietly waited for the moment to begin the plan.