On the upper-deck hall of the Golden Fleece.
Perhaps because it was nearing dinner time, there were not many people around.
When we had boarded the ship, the sky had only just begun to lighten. By now, it had turned a dusky yellow, and the ship's lights were gradually turning on, reflecting together with the sunset glow in the clear water of the swimming pool.
It felt like only a short time had passed, but in reality, an entire day had already gone by. In an environment of indulgence and luxury, it was easy to lose track of changes in the outside world.
But more importantly, Koyuki was just too good at running away.
Even though Neru was not in a hurry to capture her and was instead toying with her a bit, Koyuki, driven by her survival instinct, had managed to unleash potential beyond her limits.
In intelligence.
I only learned on the way here that Koyuki had just forced the guards who refused to help her into building a barricade out of bundled stacks of cash, trying to use it to stop Neru's advance.
The result of that plan was, in my opinion, already self-evident.
Neru, who had gotten fully into the game, had of course forgotten our earlier agreement. In an instant, she simply turned her submachine gun and shredded all that money into fragments.
"Those were just tokens anyway," Hatsune said lazily while watching the surveillance feed on her tablet. "Well, since it's Sensei, we can just make Millennium pay for ink, paper, and printing costs∼ I guess?"
I did not refuse and simply nodded.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you."
Every Odyssey student on this ship clearly held feelings of admiration toward me.
If I rejected their goodwill, would that not be treating them as unworthy?
Besides, I had already given them a return that would satisfy them and keep things balanced.
Yuuka really should thank me for the suffering I was enduring on behalf of Millennium.
"Oh, perfect timing. The route prediction was completely accurate. So lucky∼"
As soon as Hatsune finished speaking, I saw a disheveled figure, gasping for breath, stumble out from the stairwell on the other side.
"As long as I reach that place.... AH, I'm finally here!"
Just as she cheered for having escaped, Koyuki noticed us.
"Huh? Sen-Sensei? Why are you here…?!"
"Koyuki, stop this!" I tried to persuade her earnestly. "There's nothing but C&C outside!"
After being chased for so long, Neru's anger must have already been mostly vented. If Koyuki surrendered now, maybe Neru would go a bit easier on her.
Koyuki still looked shaken, but because it was me who spoke, she hesitated.
However, the next moment, a violent explosion came from behind her, dragging her back into panic.
From the smoke and dust, Neru stepped forward in a good mood.
"Haha! Finally found you, you little brat."
"Eek!?"
Koyuki immediately bolted another dozen meters away.
Neru only cracked her knuckles with a cruel smile.
"Well, you've done pretty well. You even helped me stretch a bit. So what now? Are you done? You can resist a bit more if you want."
Then another bright, energetic voice came from the side.
"Oh, found you, Koyuki! Yoohoo, sorry to keep you waiting!"
It was Asuna. According to the surveillance, she had already been on the upper deck for a while, just wandering around.
But that was not all.
In the next moment, Karin and Akane appeared at the last remaining entrance of the hall, sealing off all possible escape routes.
"You have nowhere left to run. Please give up."
"Hehe∼ That's right∼ Come on, surrender already∼"
In an instant, the rabbit had all three burrows sealed.
Yet in this absolute dead end, Koyuki stepped back a few times, scanned her surroundings, and suddenly calmed down.
"Hmm… one after another… but you all seem to be misunderstanding something. I'm not cornered at all. You're the ones who've lost!"
She put her hands on her hips and smiled smugly.
"If you were going to catch me anyway, you should have done it without all that talk. Now it's too late to regret it∼ What∼ a∼ shame∼ nihahahaha!"
Her arrogant laughter echoed through the hall, mixing strangely with distant seabird cries, making me sigh and hold my forehead.
Seeing this, Neru hesitated.
"…What's wrong with her? Did her brain finally break from exhaustion?"
Akane nodded.
"Yeah, I really can't understand what she's saying…"
Karin sighed.
"It's probably because the captain was chasing her while laughing so creepily…"
Koyuki immediately snapped back.
"My brain is not broken!"
Well, it was true she had always been a bit strange to begin with.
In other words, it might not be a recent development.
Under everyone's gaze, Koyuki smiled proudly.
"You didn't think I came here without any preparations, did you? I already predicted this kind of situation…"
She pulled back the curtain behind her and revealed a large box, from which she took out a massive rotary-wing drone.
"Ta-da∼!" she announced excitedly. "Single-person escape drone!"
C&C stared at her secret weapon in confusion, all of them momentarily frozen.
Taking advantage of that opening, Koyuki quickly strapped herself in, secured several buckles, and activated the drone, lifting herself into the air.
"Hahaha! While you were all stunned, I've already equipped myself! Nihahahaha! Idiots! You're all idiots! As long as I escape into the ocean, even you senpais can't catch me! Just stand there and watch helplessly!"
From a position literally above them, she mocked her senpais triumphantly, then turned her tear-filled gaze toward me.
"Sensei! Sensei! After I escape, I'll definitely find a way to contact you again! Please don't forget me!"
I was actually somewhat happy that she trusted, respected, and admired me like that. Especially after seeing her actual spending records… no, that was still an absurd amount of money, it was just the contrast that made me think that.
But even setting that aside…
Since when did Koyuki start thinking she could actually escape?
"So this is goodbye for now! Nihahahaha! See you later, senpai!!!"
Watching her flying figure, Neru simply called out calmly.
"…Karin."
"…Understood."
The dark-skinned girl calmly raised her anti-materiel rifle, aimed, and fired without hesitation.
The bullet pierced the drone's rotor with perfect precision.
"Wahhh!?"
Koyuki spun wildly in the air, flames and smoke trailing behind her as she screamed and fell into the sea, sending up a massive splash.
Difficulty 10, execution 10, landing effect 0.
Then, in the water, a figure desperately surfaced.
"Gluah! Wait! Cough! Hah! Wait! Help me! Sensei and everyone! I can't swim—cough! Sensei!? Senpai!? Security guards!? Help me!"
In just a few seconds, she had swallowed multiple mouthfuls of seawater, still entangled with the drone that had now become dead weight.
Watching this, Akane sighed.
"Why didn't we anticipate this outcome?"
I think the real issue was that Koyuki never gave herself an exit when she talked.
Karin lowered her rifle.
"At this distance, there was no way to miss."
"Sigh…"
Neru looked utterly unmotivated.
"To think we've been dealing with someone like this all this time… feels kind of pointless."
Feeling slightly guilty at Koyuki's miserable state, I suggested,
"Rather than this, we should get her out of the water first."
We could deal with interrogation or punishment after everything was settled.
"Oh∼ speaking of that∼" Hatsune said casually.
"The wind out at sea is pretty strong right now, you know∼? And that girl is drowning while still strapped to a drone∼ If someone jumps in without preparation, even a strong swimmer could be in danger∼ right∼?"
As she said, the sea was indeed rough, far from the calm of a pool.
Asuna, who had been about to jump in immediately, turned around and ran off shouting.
"I'll go get help!"
"…So impatient," Hatsune murmured.
She walked over to a waterproof-covered box and lifted the tarp.
Inside were a life ring and what looked like a white surfboard with yellow markings.
"Hehe∼ perfect timing. Heroic rescue time∼ Sensei, how about you do it?"
She smiled at me.
"Even though she's just a child, she's still one of your important students, right∼?"
"Huh? Me?" I hesitated. "But surfing…"
"No problem∼ this one is electric, with automatic balance and guidance systems. No experience needed∼ go ahead∼"
That's definitely not reassuring!?
Before I could protest further, she had already strapped the life ring and surfboard onto me with surprising strength.
"Hey," Neru frowned, staring at Hatsune. "Why do you feel like you're pushing Sensei into this?"
"Is that so∼? Or maybe you just don't want Sensei to steal the spotlight?"
"What did you say!?"
"Alright, alright!"
I quickly intervened.
"If Hatsune trusts me this much, I'll give it a try. Worst case, I'll just have to rescue another person later too. Koyuki is already running out of time."
Neru looked at me for a long moment.
"Please be careful."
Then I climbed over the railing and jumped.
As I fell, Shittim Chest's protection activated, and the impact was almost completely negated. The seawater only reached my ankles.
Perhaps triggered by contact with water, the surfboard's engine automatically started, carving a white wake across the sea as it shot toward Koyuki.
In moments, I arrived within ten meters, without even moving.
Before I could react, the board automatically slowed and stopped perfectly in front of the flailing pink-haired girl.
Wait, this is that smart?!
Just as I was marveling at Kivotos technology, I faintly heard Neru's roar from the ship.
"Is this thing fucking remote-controlled?!"
…Well, that explains it.
As I thought, Hatsune's goal was probably just to give me a heroic rescue moment.
But the problem was, I already had that authority with Koyuki…
I sighed and handed her the life ring. She grabbed it immediately, coughing violently, still tangled in the drone, then looked up at me with a bright smile.
"Hehe∼ Sensei! I knew you'd come save me! You're the best!"
Still smiling, huh.
I wanted to scold her, but in the end I softened and said,
"Hurry up and undo the straps. Do you want me to do it for you?"
I could only stand there holding position on the board.
"Got it, got it!"
I looked up at the sky. Before I realized it, it had already darkened.
When I turned back toward the Golden Fleece, a powerful spotlight hit me, making me squint. Koyuki let out a scream.
"Waaah!? Why is it so bright!?"
A searchlight.
["His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light."]
What nonsense. Anyone would look like that under a spotlight.
Then the light shifted slightly, allowing me to see again.
I activated my authority and listened to the voices on the ship.
"Who's that?"
"Sensei! That's Sensei walking on the sea!"
"Wow! Amazing! As expected of Sensei!"
I froze for a moment, then smiled wryly and shook my head.
Their filter really is way too strong.
Still… it doesn't feel bad.