Before Jill could even turn around, Noin and Lutiya had ducked down into the nearby shadowed awnings of a corridor.  She felt strangely moved at seeing them exchange glances and then look up at the roof of the opposite school building.

“The school is completely surrounded.  Cease resistance and surrender i—mmediately.”

The voice was incredibly monotoned and completely lacking in motivation.  Yet Noin and Lutiya began to seriously analyze it.

“Isn’t that the man Jill-sensei fought at the venue?  Wait… that’s—”
“This teacher is a schemer who tried digging up information to help you all.”
“Huh!?  Ain’t that Roger-sensei?  Wait, he got caught?”

Hades was one thing, but Roger was unexpected.  Jill hurriedly hid as well and looked up at the opposite school building.  She could make out a few human figures.  They were probably a squad.  Hades held a loudspeaker in one hand, and with the other, restrained Roger, whose mouth was covered and was tied up with a rope. 

—And, in Jill’s eyes, there was one more thing.

“Oh, Little Miss, found you, he—y there! A—ll right, from here out I’ll be providing secondary commentar—y!”
“If you don’t surrender, we’ll dro—p this teacher from up here. I’ll count down from te—n, and then drop him.”

“Keep the students inside, Little Miss, and catch this uncle ni—cely and take him inside.”

“Te—n, ni—ne, ei—ght, se—ven, si—x, fi—ve, fo—ur, thr—ee.”

Hades’ flat tone and Rave’s sloppy explanation made her feel like she was losing her mind.  But for now, Jill restrained the two who were leaning forward, Lutiya and Noin.

“I’ll rescue Roger-sense.  You two stay here.  I’m entrusting the supplies to you.”
“I explained the plan and passed some messages to this teacher, so make su—re to ask him!”  (Rave)

“Tw—o, o—ne.  Unfortunately, no one chose to surrender.  How disappointing, fa—rewell.”
“We’re leaving the rest to yo—u, Little Miss.”

This was too unreasonable.  To catch Roger, who had been dropped from the rooftop, Jill kicked off the school wall and leapt up.  The soldiers, startled by her appearance, hurriedly raised their weapons.

Jill’s eyes met those of Hades.  She fully expected to see his usual sarcastic grin, instead he looked sulky.  It took the wind out of her.  His thin lips moved.  Thinking it might be a message, she strained her eyes to read them.

I, li, ke, yo—, u

—I like you?

“Haa!?  Wh-why are you saying something like that…!?”

A strike flew at the flustered Jill from Hades.  The magic power infused slash struck the worn-out school building, sending up smoke.  Jill hid herself in that smoke and returned to where Noin and Lutiya were.

Hades voice called out.

“So you we—re hiding, you remnants.  Listen well, we will commence a full-scale assault in three hours, so prepa—re yourselves.  Alright everyone, break time, disperse for now until the fu—ll assault.”

“Jill-sensei, how’s Roger-sensei!?”
“Don’t worry, he’s alive.  sensei, wait for a bit, we can talk once we’re somewhere safe!”

Despite what Hades said, it would get difficult if a follow up attack came.  Apologetically, Jill slung Roger, still bound, over her shoulder and dragged his feet behind her as she ran.  Noin and Lutiya followed along, carrying the supplies.

“Ah, Jill-sensei, Lutiya, and Noin are back!  What happened— wait, Roger-sensei!?”
“Let us in, and don’t forget to close the entrance behind us.”

She felt sorry for the students who were worried and confused, but first she untied the rope binding Roger’s hands and then removed the gag. 

Gasping, Roger exhaled deeply.

“—That bastard!  He seriously tossed me off the roof!?  Even after I took a bullet for him!?”
“Ha?  What are you talking about?”
“Not now, Lutiya.  Roger-sensei, will you tell us what you heard?  About the assault?”

Roger returned to his senses as the students began whispering around him.  His tone lowered as he spoke.

“Oh, right, I suppose that comes first…  But still, why tell Jill-sensei of all people…”
“It’s fine.  We don’t have much time, so please tell me.  I will understand.”

Prompted by Jill’s firm declaration, Roger glanced around.  Then, having made up his mind, began.

“Then, I’ll relay it word for word.  ‘I’m going to launch a full-scale assault, so get annihilated for me.’”
“Annihilated…!?”
“Quiet down, everyone.  There’s more, right?”

Roger nodded at Jill’s urging.

“Yeah, ‘Do that and Laica will declare war on Rave.’”
“The hell does that mean?  This is gonna turn into a war!?”
“There’s more.  ‘Also, go ahead and occupy city hall, too.  I’m counting on you.’
—That’s the message…”

Everyone who had been straining themselves to listen fell silent at that final sentence.  They all wore expressions that showed they didn’t understand what had just been revealed.  Roger seemed to feel the same.  Jill shoulders slumped.

“Got it.”
“You’re serious, Jill-sensei?”
“In short, it means: the annihilation of the military academy’s students is intended to be propaganda for provoking the Rave Empire into declaring war.  So, unless we appear to be annihilated, the enemy won’t act.  However, once they do, we’ll have them.  Then, if the supposedly annihilated students take control of city hall, everything will become nice and easy to understand.”
“That makes no sense!  What does it even mean for us to be annihilated!?”
“We make it look like we’ve been eliminated during the full-scale assault in three hours.”
“He said they were going to level everything…”

Roger’s hesitant query was met with a nod.

“We’re underground.  I’ll erect a barrier to withstand it.  Fortunately, we’ve got enough food for two or three days and medical supplies.  Space will be tight, but we’ll manage.  As irritating as it is, His Majesty will probably go easy on us.”
“…He gave me this.  It’s a map of the whole city.”

Roger pulled out a map from inside his coat.  Then his eyes narrowed.

“Now it all makes sense.  You call him, ‘His Majesty.’
—You’re the Dragon Empress.”

The students gasped.  Jill gave a wry smile and stood up.

“There’s no time to explain.  Noin, Lutiya, while I’m holding them off, I need you two to draft a plan for seizing city hall.  Also, take care of Roger-sensei’s injuries.”
“…B-but, sensei, dragons burn magic.  There’s no way you can do this alone.”

Though flustered, Noin still offered his opinion.  In response, Jill feigned indignation.

“How rude.  Are you saying the Dragon Empress would lose to a dragon?”
“…So you really are the Dragon Empress?”

Lutiya asked in a quite voice.  Now that she thought about it, she would be his sister-in-law.

“Right now, I’m your teacher.”

“But that,” Jill added with a smile, “Is something we can talk about after we overcome what’s coming.”

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