The school building of the Fischanatica School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was white, and the long corridor that broke through was also white.
　It was as if they were declaring their innocence, and with that thought in mind, there was a sectioned student walking down the corridor.

''Kida-sensei........''

　The student spoke to the back of the teacher who could be seen in front.

''Quill-kun, what's wrong with your attire...''

　Quill thought the surprised look on the faculty member's face was as simple as if it had been made and tacked on.
　It was typical for a faculty member to feign despair, Quill thought, but he didn't let his expression show what he thought.

　Quill's head and clothes were soaked.
　His sewage-covered cutout shirt was smeared with black stuff and covered in trash.
　His hair was covered in eraser shavings.
　He was wearing a pair of boots, but only his left foot was off, and he held it in his left hand.
　Quill had the bottom of his jacket facing forward so that Kida could see it.
　A few studs were visible.
　But Kida couldn't see them.

'Go to the infirmary and change your clothes. You must have fallen into the pond or something, I told you to stay away from that place because it's dangerous.'
No, it's not...

　In between his conversations, Kida was exchanging "good-bye" good-byes to several students as they passed by.
　Three of them.
　Quill glanced sideways at the group of students.
　Their expressions were downcast and frightened.
　On the other hand, the expressions on the students' faces as they walked past were big smiles.
　Little does Kida know that even in that moment, a relationship is being built between him and them.

'Stay warm when you get back to your dorm today, or you'll catch a cold.

　Kida said, smiling kindly with the eyes of one who would watch over him.
　But to Quill, it looked like a Noh mask.

　Quill was terrified of this taut smile.
　Two eyes that looked like a crescent moon arranged with the inside facing down, and a mouth that was also a crescent moon, this time arranged with the inside facing up.
　It's a simple look with no other features.
　The main culprits of the bullying that passed by also have the same shape stuck to their faces.
　A small black spot with three white eyes peeks out of the crescent moon's eyes.
　Quill was frightened by the people's gaze.

''Sir........''

　Quill was about to say.
　The words.

'....What's wrong?

　Kida smiles and asks.

'....Goodbye.

　But Quill couldn't say it.

'Yes, bye.'

　Quill's eyes are dark and cloudy the moment he turns his back to Kida.
　It's because the outer part of his eyes are slanted and the space between his upper eyelids and lower eyelids is narrow.
　It casts a shadow over the eye and gives the impression to the surrounding area.
　But the slant and the width of the eyelids are an indication that he does not want to see the world any more.
　Quill now sees the gray schoolhouse and the long gray corridor that has been tacked on.
　Gray floors, gray skies, gray students coming and going.
　Turning around, Kida's expression in the distance had gone from a crescent moon to one that looked like it had been messily erased with an eraser.



*



　Turn off to the side from the main gate and go through that narrow path to reach the courtyard.
　It's rarely popular after school.
　There, the pond Kida had mentioned is in the corner, and the surrounding flowers decorate the central square.
　There is a food service center beside it, and while there are people there during the day, there are no people there now.
　Behind it, there was a place that was just a blind spot.
　There was nothing there, so no one would have any use for it.
　No one would be able to stop by, nor would they be visible to those playing in the courtyard.

　The quill was hammered against the white wall leading from the main gate.
　The red that popped out of Quill's mouth clung to the unusual ore wall made by the senior architect.
　It immediately rubbed against Quill's back and the color stretched.

'What were you talking about?'

　The student looked down at Quill, who was falling on his ass and shrinking back against the wall.
　Black spots peeked out of the crescent moon.

''Guh!''

　The student kicked Quill in the shin with his toe.
　Quill holds his leg and falls to the side with a look of grief on his face.
　They are watching the scene behind them, eating snacks and laughing with their mouths wide open.

'Joshua, don't hurt us too much, we won't have a problem.

　Said the student who was monopolizing the pastry.

'I won't, teachers are blind creatures. Hey Quill, you know, you don't call for help, you know, you know, so you couldn't say anything to Kida earlier.

　Joshua kicked him in the shin again and Quill screamed in pain.
　Taking the snacks from the student who was accompanying him, Joshua poured the rest of the snacks over Quill.

'Treats from us,'
"Hey, Joshua, that's expensive. It's organic.
I'll buy it for you later.
You heard the man. You must get it, okay?

　Joshua ordered the students to bring a blue bucket from the bathroom.
　Scooping water from the pond, Joshua stepped over and brought it over Quill's head as he brought it over.
　His borrowed clothes, freshly changed in the infirmary, were stained and wet again.
　Joshua took a drawing pin out of his pocket and lined it up on the ground with the needle facing up.
　He took his jacket from Quill and pushed it over the lined studs.

'I put them on for you, don't take them off,'

　Then he threw his jacket to Quill's head.

　The students laughed.
　They laughed aloud.
　But this was a dead zone, and it was after school now, and no one could hear them.
　So no one would come to Quill's aid.
　No one can hear Quill's silent cries, either.

　Quill thinks.
　If only there were a vein of mercy in his blood.
　Quill hopes that the blood of the Mercy is in his veins.

　--And their cry is this: "Let the oppressed seek us out, and the oppressors hide in fear.

　Quill looked to the benevolent bloodline for help.
　Clenching his hands together to form a fist, he raised his thumb and opened the sensation in his palm slightly.
　He thrust it against his chest and formed a prayer.

　Noticing, Joshua turned his disgust on him, "What the hell are you doing?" he said.

　The students laughed in their bellies at Quill's actions.
　That form of hand was popular years ago, when they were still very active.
　So Joshua and the others could see what Quill was up to.

'This guy finally got his head knocked off!　You want that kind of imaginary thing to help you?

　Joshua and the others repeated their silly laughs.
　They were laughing so hard that their voices were turned inside out.
　They were drooling and laughing with their tongues hanging out.

'Hahahahahahaha! --

　Suddenly, there was enough laughter to drown out Joshua and the others' laughter.
　It came from right behind them.
　Joshua and the others reflexively stopped laughing and slowly turned around, frightened.

'What, you've had enough laughing, join me. You want to laugh with me - hahahahahahahahaha!

　Quill's eyes have changed color.
　The slant of his eyelids has disappeared and he is now wide open.
　The cloudy eyes are clearer.
　From the tip of his gaze--.

''Ankh........Amadeus.......''

　Quill muttered.
　There was a white deformed figure there.

''This is a found object. I wonder if Zephyr remembered this kind of feeling when he found me...'
What the f*ck, man!

　Joshua and the others kept their distance and got into a war footing.

'As expected of a student of Ficianatica, you're upset, but you're still in a fighting position. He has grown up since I was there. I wonder if the lessons I used to teach in Heilkwaite are making their way here as well.
Where are you from? You're trespassing!
What is your name--

　Masamune ignored Joshua and the others in front of him and called out to Quill, who was lying on the ground out of the corner of his eye.

''........Quill. Quill Stephan.''
Okay. So, Quill, I have to ask you, are you happy with the situation?
Full foot?
Yes, I'm satisfied. What do you think of these guys in front of you, that's what they've done to you. Do you want your oppression to continue?
I don't want to!
I know, but what do you want to do?　The abyss doesn't do what others say, you have to decide for yourself, you can choose now or later.
This is a good time.
Are you sure?　You only get revenge once, you should think twice about it. But if it's not worth spending so much time on these guys, then so be it. Really, now is the right time, isn't it?
Now is good, but it has to be now!

　Quill had stood up.

''--《Corpse Spirit's (Corpse) Mad Banquet (Fiesta)!

　The white variant - Masamune exercised his magic.
　From his feet, a huge red-black magic circle was deployed to envelop the entire courtyard to the surroundings.
　The sky, which was clear and blue, clouded over red and the vision turned red.

''Wha, what the hell is this!

　Joshua and the others pulled their faces together and were frightened.
　They froze in one place and huddled together.

'So, Quill, shall we send them through the thirteen steps to the executioner's table?

　The next thing he knew, a modest wooden platform had appeared in the center of the courtyard.
　Quill was puzzled as to when it had appeared.
　There was a hanging rope for three people on the platform.
　The ropes were sturdy and sturdy, making a loop at the end of their suspension.

　Suddenly, the ropes began to move and moved like a snake in the air, stretching out and binding Joshua and the others.
　The three men were taken to the platform and each stood in place.
　Each had a rope around their necks and could not move.
　They were desperately trying to undo the ropes around their necks.

'Come on, Quill, you can kill me now.
What, me?
Of course not. Who does?　You thought someone else was going to do it for you, that's why, so these guys take advantage. You have to do it yourself, as you will. Now, show me your abyss.
Abyss?
'You know what it is. You whisper the words from within and they become a chant and the will materializes.
I don't know what that means. I've never heard the word 'abyss' before.
Then what is it?

　Masamune pointed to Quill's right hand.
　Quill said, "What? He looked down to his own hands.
　Then he was astonished.

'Whoa, what the hell!　Whoa!

　Quill slipped away in a hurry.
　It was because there was a red-black shadow tangled in his right hand.

''Hahahahahaha!　That's the abyss, that's the unmistakable abyss!　For some unknown reason, you are in the abyss. And now you have me in front of you. Quill, this is an opportunity, nothing more than an opportunity.

　Quill stood up slowly.

'What am I going to do...'
'Chant, you already know your magic. I've told you, it's now or never, right?

　Quill approached the gallows with an uneasy expression on his face.

'Ta, help me!'
Quill, get me down from here! --
Quill!
Put it down now!

　The three of them turned to Quill, who was at hand, for help.

'Hahaha, that's a predictable response. Quill, what do you think, do you want to help these guys?

　Then a few faculty members could be seen.
　At the front of them was Kida.

''This, this is...!

　Kida noticed Quill.

'You're slow, you're a teacher. That's why you are always dying first," he said. You can't save anything, because death is far better. You can't save anything, because death is far more powerful.

　Kida recognized the person in front of him as Ankh Amadeus.
　He recognized the white figure and the mask immediately.
　He saw the three figures struggling on the platform.

'Or, let them go!　They are still children what have they done!
I won't do anything. More importantly, don't you know what they've done to the faculty?

　Kida wondered.

''Well I see, you're a teacher. Well done. Quill, it seems that Kida-sensei over there doesn't even know that you're not just suffering from bitterness, but that you're being sprayed with sewage by these guys on a daily basis.
'I know, I know, the doctor is always just making things up.

　Masamune laughed out loud at Quill's words.

'Hahahaha!　This is a masterpiece, the students know more than Kida-sensei!　Kida-sensei, what's the meaning of this, you're not a teacher, you're a teacher!　How can you not know for a fact that this boy was being bullied?　Are you going to tell me that you weren't aware of that fact!　Show me your regrets!　Hahahaha I'm laughing so much I'm steaming in my mask.

　Masamune said, and took off his mask.

　Kida was speechless.

　The expression on Kida's face at that moment showed only a faint smile on Masamune's face.

''Did you know that this day would come?''
Hidaka...?
Mr. Amadeus, are you acquainted with Dr. Kida?
I'm a classmate, I'm from another world.
...Is that right?
'Kida, I don't understand. How does someone like you end up in a position to teach people things? You used to abuse me, just like the three of us here. Are you going to teach me how to torment you, too?

　Quill looked at Kida in exclamation.

''What........Kida-sensei is bullying you?''
No, I wasn't bullying him!
So that's how it works. But you know what, Kida? I don't care one way or the other, you know. Did you hear about Saeki?

　Kida gave him a curious look.

'I see, so the information is still being withheld.
Did you do something to Saeki?
He didn't do anything. But he's lost his beloved and his limbs. That's all.

　Kida gave him a frozen look.

'What does that expression mean--what does it mean, say it again?　He's still the same old fuddy-duddy.

　Masamune was joking.
　He was too lazy to have a serious conversation.
　Quill was looking up at such Masamune next to him.

'Listen, Quill. You have to choose the best you can and act on your own will, otherwise nothing will change. It's not a matter of whether you can do it or not, it's whether you want to. I wanted revenge, and I wanted to know how to get it. And now, Kida, I feel fine, because of you. You know, I don't care about the rest of them, we're going to kill you and be done with it. Well there are still a few of us left. I would have preferred to wait for you to be happy, but I've waited six years. There's no way I'm going to wait any longer. I don't have the patience for it.
Mr. Amadeus, I wonder if I can do that.

　Masamune looked into Quill's eyes and said.

'I told you, if you want to do it, you can do it.

　There was a pause before Quill responded to the words.
　He needed time to think.

　Walking to the platform and up the thirteen steps, Quill turned and said to Amadeus, "I'll do it! I said with a smile.

'We'll be watching over you. Quill, why don't you say something to Kida-sensei, we're going to watch you grow up.
Yeah!

　Quill nodded with a lively expression and turned to Kida.

'Quill-kun, don't do it. He's lying.
Sir, I can do it!
Quill!　Listen to your teacher, he knew you were being bullied, but that's because you are weak. If you were strong, they would not have touched you. Have a strong heart.

　While Kida was trying to persuade him, Masamune twisted his body, holding his hand over his mouth, and was laughing and crying.

　To Quill, who had been silent for a while, Masamune said.

'Quill, Kida-sensei has given me some grateful words that make me tremble, why don't you say something back, or I don't mind if you reply with silence.

　Masamune knew Quill's mind through Emotional Sensing.
　Quill was furious.
　He desperately pushed it down and maintained a sense of normalcy.

''You say it's okay for weak people to be bullied.
That's not what I meant...
You say that you should be bullied until you're strong, sir!
Quill!
'Well, you're saying that strong people have the right to abuse weak people, right, right? So what I'm going to do is a good thing, too. Because I'm stronger than these guys, so...

　At that moment, a red-black wave leaked out of Quill's body.

　It exploded and scattered around him, instantly enveloping his body as it danced back to Quill.
　It wiggled and twisted around like the legs of an octopus.

'Quill-kun!
Goodbye, doctor.

　Masamune muttered after Quill--.

'Goodbye, everyone.'

　Quill gave a big smile and pointed his finger as he turned his body to the three of them.
　At the end of the finger's point was Joshua's figure, with a red magic circle lighting up from underneath his feet.

　Suddenly Joshua realized.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see that something is appearing above you.
　But he can't check it because he has his hands full refusing to accept the rope that is trying to strangle him.
　Then water falls from above his head.
　Above my head was a simple bucket.
　A huge amount of sewage poured out of it.
　Joshua shouted something desperately as he was covered in the water.
　The two men next to him pulled a face as they wondered if they would be the next to be doused.

　The magic circle floating at Joshua's feet was not a circle, but a square.
　Reddish-black light framed the square formation, making a side, and the light became a cube that trapped Joshua.
　The sewage water pouring from the bucket filled it and filled Joshua's body.
　The sewage did not escape to the outside.

　Masamune was curious about the similarities to his own magic, but he realized that it was fundamentally different in meaning from his own.

'Is that ... an imitation of a private toilet?

　Quill's magic was more candid than Masamune's.
　What had happened to him so far was embodied in magic as it was, without exaggeration.

　While Joshua was drowning in the sewage, the one next to him was stabbed to death by a needle thrust up from under his feet.
　It was a small disc with a long, thin needle in the center.
　--It was a thumbtack.
　Countless drawing pin needles extended from underneath his feet and made multiple holes in the student's body.
　Against the last one, Quill used yet another magic trick.
　He took an eraser out of his pocket, shredded it into small pieces and threw it at them.
　The spot it hit had a large hole in it that looked like a spear had pierced it.
　Quill shredded and threw the eraser again and again.
　He created countless cavities in his body and bled to death.

'It's hard to realise what you can do. Many of the oppressed do not know what they can do. Most of the oppressed do not know that they can do it, so they die without even realizing it, even if they have an abyss in them. Quill, that's why you're so lucky.
'What did you do to Mr. Quill, he couldn't have done this kind of magic...'
It's his own.

　Masamune said, covering Kida's words.

'Kida, you guys are nothing more than preservatives to keep Saeki fresh, I don't know what it was six years ago, but I knew you guys had become more united while I was away. Originally, you weren't supposed to cross paths with each other, but I guess that's the way it is, although it's a common thing to say that you were forced to cooperate when you got into a tight spot. If I kill you guys, Saeki will be eager to find out why. But he needed to think that he was free to live his life, and that he and his classmates were free to sail along afterwards. It's the everyday life that is built on peace that has value. I wanted to destroy the new value that had been created there. Otherwise there would be no point in acting.
Saeki is........alive? No way.
He's alive. But I'd rather be dead.
What have you done?
'I really wanted to kill him with a single thought. Or it would have saved me, too, and would have filled me with exhilaration, like Quill does now. I still think it would have been better that way.

　His mind was starting to clear, "What about everyone else, no way, you killed them all?" he wondered about the heroic society.
　But Masamune didn't explain.

'Quill, you can follow me. Or you can stay here.
I'll follow you.
'Mr Quill, do you know what you're talking about? He's a terrorist, you know?
All I can tell you is that staying in school is a waste of time.
...Oh, I see.

　At Quill's blank expression, Kida gave up.

'I've kept you guys alive for nothing, ending the loss of the last six years. Let's have you follow me, Kida-sensei.''
"No more crap, Dr. Kida, let's kill him right here!

　Several teachers who had been standing behind him went into a state of readiness for battle.
　They each held their weapons at the ready.
　Quill on the stage was frightened by this.

'Quill, stay still for a moment there. You needn't be frightened, we will eliminate all harm.
Dr. Kida!

　Urged by those around him, Kida made up his mind - "You're under arrest, Masamune Hidaka!

"You are under arrest, Masamune Hidaka!

　As Kida's angry voice sounded, the entire faculty raged at Amadeus.