Mash Burnedead, advisor to the Federal Investigation Club Shalem, saved Arius from the root of all evil—Beatrice. Through the Eden Treaty's signing and the Paradise Mechanism's establishment, he transformed Trinity and Gehenna's relationship from bitter enmity to friendly rivalry.
But now—
"Why did it come to this?" Mash muttered.
In a room at Trinity District's general hospital, under the Relief Knights' jurisdiction, Mash lay shackled to a bed. Bandages wrapped his body, and surveillance cameras loomed overhead, making him look like a caged beast or monster.
"Ngh… No good. Can't move at all," he groaned.
Normally, Mash could snap iron chains and escape with ease. But the toll of Unlimited Physical Mode left him with crippling muscle pain, his body so stiff he couldn't twitch a finger.
The Unlimited Physical Mode unleashed his full strength, bypassing self-imposed limits. But pushing his already battered, exhausted body to its maximum caused severe muscle strain, locking him in agony.
After the battle with Beatrice, Mika carried him to the hospital, where he passed out from exhaustion. When he awoke, he was bound to the bed, in this state.
"They said, 'We'll treat you,' and then this… some kind of penalty game?" Mash wondered.
"The restraints are to limit your movement, Sensei," a voice replied.
"Mine-san? Uh, I'm already immobile, you know?" Mash said.
"To be blunt," Mine said, "I restrained you to keep you from thrashing during the painful treatment."
Mine, leader of the Relief Knights, approached Mash's bedside, preparing for treatment.
"Let's skip the 'pain' part… How long was I out?" Mash asked.
"About three days," Mine replied.
"Three days?! The hearing, Arius, everyone—"
"No worries there. With the help of key figures, everything's been resolved."
"Resolved…?"
"Well, not entirely. There are still issues, which I'll explain. But first, we must treat your muscle pain."
"Muscle pain heals that easily?" Mash asked skeptically.
"We're using Kivotos's cutting-edge therapy, typically not for non-mystic users. But given your recovery ability, we believe it'll work."
"Kivotos is wild," Mash said.
"Here we go," Mine announced.
Rolling up her sleeves, Mine did light stretches, channeling strength into her arms.
"We'll now perform a massage. It's dangerous, so please stay still." CRACK, CRACK, CRACK!
"…Got it," Mash replied weakly.
Mine delivered a brutally painful massage to Mash's muscles.
Minutes later, Mash barely endured. Overwhelmed by pain and lingering fatigue, he sprawled on the bed, barely conscious.
"That was… insanely painful," he panted, sweating buckets.
"Well done staying conscious," Mine said. "Most students pass out in seconds from the pain."
"It was that intense? I'm impressed I held on," Mash said.
"How's your body?"
"The pain and fatigue are mostly gone, but my arms and legs feel… stiff."
"My apologies—that's my limit," Mine said.
"No, no, you've done plenty getting me this far," Mash reassured.
"Then I'll reapply your casts and bandages," Mine said.
"Please."
The massage alleviated much of Mash's pain and fatigue, but his fractured arms and several broken ribs still needed time to heal. Weight training or cream puff baking was out of the question.
As Mine rewrapped his bandages, she explained what happened during his three-day slumber.
"First, about Mika-sama and Arius. Mika-sama has been expelled from the Tea Party."
"As expected…" Mash said.
"Or rather, she requested expulsion herself, saying, 'A sin is a sin, and I'll atone properly.'"
"Hm."
"But with no successor yet, she'll remain a Tea Party member for now, mandated to perform volunteer work as her current penalty."
"And Arius?"
"While you were unconscious, they were held in Trinity's cells. Their sins stem from Beatrice, but sins are sins—they must atone eventually. However, you prevented most of their crimes."
No signing ceremony occurred that day, and beyond those directly involved, no real harm was done. Though Sanctus and Paters factions in Trinity still clashed, Filius, Sisterhood, and Justice Task Force maintained peace. Gehenna reported no significant issues from the attempted attack.
"The hearing concluded they're guilty of attempted terrorism, given probationary release. Honoring your wishes, the Federal Student Council moved former Arius students to Shalem's staff dorms. Relief Knights are providing mental care, helping them heal quietly."
"That's… good to hear," Mash said.
Post-trial, all Arius students, including captives, transferred to Shalem. Weapons and devices were banned, and they're under strict conditions—but compared to Beatrice's reign, their environment is undeniably better.
"Now, the problem," Mine said, her expression darkening.
"Huh?" Mash blinked.
Meeting his gaze, Mine addressed the current crisis.
"Those you've worked with across academies are in fierce conflict over Arius's treatment."
"What…?" Mash said.
"The sins Arius committed against you—some push for forgiveness and rehabilitation, others demand impeachment and harsh punishment, seeking to overturn the verdict. The academies are split."
"Seriously…?"
The situation was far graver—and crueler—than Mash imagined.
While Mash awoke and received Mine's treatment, the academies tied to him fractured over Arius's judgment. Two factions emerged: one respecting Mash's call for mercy, the other demanding justice.
At a representatives' meeting, the air crackled with anger and doubt from those seeking harsh punishment for Arius. Their voices drowned out calls for leniency, and ironically, the Eden Treaty—meant to foster harmony—sparked internal conflicts across academies.
Gehenna was no exception. Students split between supporting Mash's mercy and social reintegration for Arius or demanding their transfer to the Federal Corrections Bureau for severe punishment, locked in a cold stalemate.
"…You all," Hina said.
"Sorry, Chairwoman, I can't agree no matter how many times you ask," one said.
"I'm with her," another added.
"I… since Chairwoman Hina approved, I'll forgive them… but the others…" a third hesitated.
"Well, it's expected," Hina sighed. "It's almost abnormal for Sensei to forgive Arius after all that."
"Sorry, Chairwoman Hina… we're on this side," another said.
"Sorry," added another.
"…" Hina faltered.
That day, in Pandemonium's council chamber, the Prefect Team and Pandemonium leaders—closely tied to Mash—debated Trinity's final verdict on Arius.
Hina, who fought alongside Mash, and Makoto, who supported him against Arius, entrusted Arius's fate to Shalem per Mash's wishes. But many Prefect Team members and councilors opposed the decision.
"There's been a lot, but… I'm grateful to Sensei and Chairwoman Hina," one said. "Thanks to Sensei's efforts, Gehenna's safer, with real school life. Before he came, no one could eat in the cafeteria without chaos."
"Delinquents and troublemakers quieted down because of Sensei," another added. "Even Handy Squad, Gourmet Research Society, Hot Springs Club—he stopped them when we couldn't. Gehenna's peaceful now, thanks to him and Hina."
"But those two, always working hard, got hurt like that—and we're supposed to stay quiet? Impossible!"
"It's not over for us!" another shouted.
"I looked up to Chairwoman Hina and even admired Sensei's strength a bit… thought I could be kind like him. But they suffered so much—told to forgive because it's 'resolved'? No way!"
"…You all," Hina said.
"Sensei and Chairwoman Hina were the first to truly accept me and Juri," another said. "Thanks to them, Gehenna's dining halls are peaceful—no more explosions. But those two faced life-threatening danger, and Arius tried to destroy our peace. As Catering Club leader, as someone saved by them, I can't accept Arius."
"I agree with Fuuka-senpai," another said. "Sensei and Hina worked so hard, but Arius tried to ruin it, putting Sensei in danger. It feels like their efforts are being mocked—it's too sad. Bread-chan agrees."
Mash transformed Gehenna's lawless chaos, teaching students a peaceful school life. Many felt gratitude, but not all shared the same view.
"Sensei forgave them, so I won't pursue it further," Hina said. "You all felt the same, didn't you?"
"I did want to save Arius—back then!" one replied.
"But seeing Sensei and Hina suffer changed my mind," another said.
"Call it flip-flopping, but—"
"We can't change our minds," another finished.
"…I see," Hina said softly.
Looking sad, Hina turned to the window, gazing toward Trinity, where Mash recovered, her thoughts with him.
(…Sensei.) Clench.
Hina wished this conflict wouldn't drag on.
"Please, Serika, listen—" "No!" Serika snapped.
"I've said it a million times—I don't want to hear their excuses!" she yelled.
"Serika, please," Hoshino urged.
"Stop it! No matter what you say, I won't forgive Arius! I won't change my mind!" Serika insisted.
"Serika…" Ayane sighed.
"Sorry, you two… I'm with Serika-chan," Nonomi said.
"Me too… this time, I just can't…" Ayane added.
"Nonomi-chan, Ayane-chan… this is tough," Hoshino muttered.
The same conflict erupted in Abydos. Shiroko and Hoshino respected Mash's stance, but Serika, Nonomi, and Ayane questioned the verdict. Their savior, who saved their school from corporate exploitation, was hurt—anger was natural.
"I get Arius were victims too—I'm not that dumb!" Serika shouted. "But that's separate from this!"
"Sensei says he's over it, forgives them," Shiroko said.
"I can't just get over it! Why can you two forgive them?! Didn't you hear Regro-san?! Don't you care about Sensei?!"
"Of course I care," Hoshino said. "Regro-san can't forgive them either. But Sensei begged us, 'Give those girls a chance.' They were targeted by bad adults, like us in Abydos… so…"
"So you forgive them? Sensei—shunned from birth, living alone with Regro, dragged to Kivotos, thrown into Abydos. I said awful things, Hoshino-senpai too, but he saved us—over and over, beating Helmet Gang, Kaiser, everyone! Our friend, our age, almost died because of them!"
"…" Shiroko faltered.
"I heard—Sensei was pushed to the brink, body and soul," Serika continued. "He carried burdens adults should, fighting alone. Yet he reached out to Arius, and they slapped his hand away—again and again!"
"They're different now. They took his hand," Shiroko said.
"Too late! Way too late… for everything!" Serika cried.
"Serika-chan…" Ayane murmured.
Tears streaming, Serika slammed the desk. Nonomi and Ayane nodded, unable to fully deny her words. Shiroko and Hoshino couldn't either.
"This talk's done. I've got a shift soon—don't want to worry the boss," Serika said.
"Serika-cha—" "I'm not kind like Hoshino-senpai or Shiroko-senpai!" she interrupted. "I can't forgive someone who nearly killed someone precious!"
"…" Hoshino stood silent.
"Wait, Serika…!" Shiroko called, chasing her out with Nonomi and Ayane.
Left alone, Hoshino surveyed the clubroom—once lively with cream puff parties, now hollow. Wanting to honor her savior's wish, angry at those who hurt him, and anxious about the growing rift with her juniors, Hoshino felt crushed. Regret over pushing away her own senior echoed, warning her not to repeat the mistake. In the heavy silence, she sank into a chair, trembling, head in hands, stifling her voice.
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