With the help of Problem Solver 68, the Make-Up Work Club girls and I moved unhindered through the slums along the Gehenna border.
Most delinquent students imdiately stepped aside after hearing Aru's na, the few who relied on their brute strength couldn't withstand even a few rounds against Problem Solver 68 and were quickly defeated.
Even the heavily modified "Helt Gang" armored vehicles couldn't survive a single shot from Aru after she amplified her firepower with mysterious ans.
"These people are really impressive," Azusa, who had been instructed to conserve her strength and watch silently, comnted. "Especially the one claiming to be the president. Even in guerrilla warfare, I wouldn't be confident I could defeat her."
That said, Azusa seed strangely eager to test herself.
I, however, recalled Hina's words from a few days ago and began to suspect that Aru might really be a master who leveraged her natural intelligence to conceal her true strength from .
"Hehe∼ Didn't expect Hifumi knows such a strong Gehenna student∼"
At this, Hanako chuckled as if she noticed sothing, hinting at it.
Hifumi forced an awkward smile: "Ah… ahaha… we've only t a few tis, that's all…"
In short, thanks to Problem Solver 68's assistance, we quickly left the lawless zone dominated by delinquent children and entered the Gehenna area under the Prefect Team's control.
Estimating the number and strength of enemies encountered along the way, I felt confident that even without Problem Solver 68, the Make-Up Work Club, with my guidance and support, wouldn't have been delayed too long. The main difference was the amount of energy we could conserve.
No matter what, once we reached this point, it was ti to part ways.
"Hehe, sensei," Aru said with a light laugh. "You should know that even if you're our business advisor, our help isn't free. This ti, you owe us a favor… Hm… let kindly remind you, our favors aren't cheap to repay."
I froze, not expecting Aru to say sothing like this at our farewell.
Is she trying to take advantage of the favor and force to do sothing strange to her?
No, maybe it was soone else's idea. Perhaps all of Problem Solver 68 secretly had ulterior motives toward !
"Ku-fufu∼ Aru-chan ans that because this favor is so valuable, it doesn't matter if Sensei and Hifumi make us do more, right?"
Aru's expression instantly panicked: "W-wait!? Mutsuki!?"
I see… of course, that's the real Aru.
Hanako watched with amusent: "Ah? How interesting∼"
In the end, I politely declined Aru's generosity, waved goodbye to Problem Solver 68, and continued toward the exam site with the Make-Up Work Club girls.
Though it was late at night, there were surprisingly few pedestrians on the streets. In the distance, the faint sounds of gunfire suggested sothing was happening.
"Hmm…" Hanako checked the map on her phone. "The only way to the destination is along this road… let's go take a look first."
At this point, there was no other choice.
Just then, my phone vibrated. I pulled it out, frowned, then put it away with a neutral expression and said to the watching girls:
"Wait for a mont."
"Is sothing wrong?" Koharu asked sleepily.
The other Make-Up Work Club mbers were considerate enough not to ask; only this little scatterbrain would ask such a thing.
"Just taking care of a biological need," I paused, then added before she could scold : "I'm going to the bathroom."
With that, I briskly walked back the way we ca, rounded a corner, and saw Kayoko leaning against a wall, wearing a hoodie with her white-and-black hair partially covering her face.
"Kayoko, is there sothing wrong?"
I knew that in such a relatively urgent situation, if Kayoko sought out, it must be important.
Kayoko nodded: "Sensei, I'll keep it brief. On the way to the destination, even if the Prefect Team chases you, do not deviate toward the city center."
After a mont of thought, I asked: "May I ask why?"
"Mm. In short, there might be a dangerous person active there… the president of the Hot Springs Departnt. It's possible this is false intel, of course. But if sensei gets targeted by her, it will be difficult to reach the destination within the ti limit."
"The president of the Hot Springs Departnt…?"
I had already heard of them and even witnessed them conducting targeted explosions under the guise of "developing hot springs" in busy streets.
Even in talented Gehenna, this club could be called one of the most dangerous. Their president, I knew, was a wanted criminal.
Kayoko continued her warning: "She's an unpredictable, willful, almost 'embodint of chaos' kind of dangerous person. Sensei will encounter her eventually… but if you're careless, sothing bad could happen."
Even just the club's goals and the fact they were wanted in Gehenna were enough to prove how dangerous they were.
I didn't ask Kayoko how she obtained this information. As the most mysterious mber of Problem Solver 68, she naturally had her own sources.
However, I still have one question: "Wouldn't it have been better to discuss this on momotalk?"
"Well…" Kayoko mumbled, "Should I call this part of my experience so far? Let's just call it a reflex, that it happened to be this way, I guess..."
I see… she just wanted a chance to be alone with !
…Hmm, though she still knows how to gauge priorities.
"I understand," I said with a smile. "Thank you, Kayoko. I appreciate your concern."
"Don't misunderstand, okay? I just want to repay the favor I owe you."
After saying this, Kayoko paused, sighed: "But I do hope you can return safely. Well, it's not to the point where I absolutely insist you must return… Alright, I've already delayed you enough, that's all I have to say."
For so reason, today she was speaking more ambiguously than usual, more tsundere than normal.
Perhaps because the Hot Springs Departnt president was so unpredictable?
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
After parting with Kayoko, I quickly rejoined the Make-Up Work Club girls and pressed forward along the only available road.
As we reached a bridge, we saw a group of Prefect Team mbers setting up a roadblock at the far end.
"Is that… an inspection…?" Hifumi murmured.
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