Karasuma POV

“Don’t take your eyes off them! Predict the target’s movements! If everyone predicts, that alone will cut off the target’s escape routes.”

As we enter the fourth month since training began, the number of students with real potential has increased…

Among the boys, Isogai Yūma and Maehara Hiroto stand out.

They both have excellent athletic ability and when the two of them work together, there are now more cases where they manage to land a knife on me.

And then there’s Akabane Karma.

At first glance he seems carefree and slippery, but his combat power is a clear cut above the rest of Class E.

Among the girls, Okano Hinata, who comes from a gymnastics background and can move in unpredictable ways and Kataoka Meg, who has reach and stamina on par with the boys.

These two are extremely capable as attackers.

If things continue like this…

“And then there’s Koro-sensei. He’s the very image of the ideal teacher. Killing such a noble person would be unthinkable.”

“Don’t fabricate other people’s thoughts without permission! Get lost, target!”

There aren’t any other students who particularly stand out, but looking at the class as a whole, their abilities have improved by leaps and bounds?!

Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming chill behind me and instinctively swung my arm, knocking my opponent away.

“Guh!”

“Sorry! I blocked a little too hard.”

“Ah, I’m fine.”

The other students laughed, saying it was because he wasn’t paying attention properly, but what exactly was that unknown presence I felt in that instant… Shiota Nagisa, huh…

As I was thinking that, a familiar voice reached my ears.

“Yo, Karasuma!”

“…Takaoka.”

“Hey there! Starting today, I’ll be working here as Karasuma’s assistant! The name’s Takaoka Akira! Nice to meet you, Class E!”

* * *

Ayanokōji pov

The man who introduced himself as Takaoka is currently handing out sweets, saying it’s to help everyone get along.

I got one too.

It was sweet and tasty.

Takaoka has already blended in with everyone and seems to be chatting away happily.

“Even though you’re colleagues, you feel very different from Karasuma-sensei.”

“Well, that guy’s pretty stiff, you know. So I want to get along even better with everyone in his place.”

Saying that, Takaoka slings an arm around a nearby student’s shoulders.

“You’re more like the neighborhood dad than an instructor, haha.”

“What’s wrong with that! A dad’s fine! If we’re in the same classroom, we’re basically family, right?!”

He’s an unusually easygoing man, but honestly, he’s the type I’m bad with.

People who go on about wanting to get along with everyone usually have something shady going on.

“Alright! Break time’s over! From here on, it’s training time! It might get a little tough, but once it’s over, I’ll treat you all to lots of good food! Let’s do our best together!”

“You’re only saying that because you want to eat, right? Haha.”

“Well, yeah. Anyway, with the overhaul of the training program, I’ve drawn up a new timetable.”

What Takaoka showed us was a training schedule that ran all the way until 9 p.m. the tenth period.

“This much is only natural! If you can keep up with this curriculum, your abilities will skyrocket. Now then, let’s get started right away!”

“Hey, wait a second! There’s no way this’ll work! If we only study this much, our grades will drop and we won’t have any free time either! There’s no way we can do this!”

Maehara protested against the schedule, but the very next moment, Takaoka’s knee drove straight into Maehara’s solar plexus.

“It’s not ‘I can’t.’ You’ll do it. I told you, we’re family and I’m the father. What kind of family doesn’t obey their father’s orders? If you want to quit, you can quit… but you’re all precious family to me and as your father, I don’t want to lose even a single one of you. Hey, you get how I feel, right? Let’s save the Earth together, as a family!”

As he said that, Takaoka closed in on Mimura and Kanzaki.

I see. So his creed is domination through fear.

“You’ll follow your dad, won’t you?”

“I-I… refuse! I want Karasuma-sensei’s classes!”

Kanzaki honestly spoke her mind.

But that way of thinking is something I taught her.

As the one who showed her that path, the responsibility falls on me.

In the instant a slap is about to strike Kanzaki, I call out to Takaoka.

“I agree with her. I can’t approve of your methods.”

If I deliberately act insolent, Takaoka will bite.

For someone who believes in ruling through fear, being looked down on is unacceptable.

Just as expected, Takaoka approaches me with a smile.

I use that opening to signal Kanzaki with my eyes to stay calm.

“You shouldn’t talk to your dad like that. I’ll re-educate you.”

The moment he said that, Takaoka’s backfist was already flying toward my cheek.

I take the hit and get blown sideways.

“Looks like you still don’t get it. You obey your father’s orders without question. There’s no answer other than ‘yes.’”

Just as Takaoka raises his fist again, Karasuma-sensei and Koro-sensei come running from the school building.

“Stop it, Takaoka! Are you okay? Any pain in your neck muscles?”

“I’m fine.”

“What about Maehara-kun?”

“I’m fine too.”

“I was holding back, Karasuma. They’re my precious family. Of course I was careful.”

“No. They are not your family. They are my students. What have you been doing while my eyes were off them?”

“Got a problem, monster? P.E. is under my full authority as the subject instructor. And that punishment just now was well within the bounds of proper education. Or what, are you going to attack a man who hasn’t even laid a hand on you just because our educational philosophies differ a little?”

“…”

“It can’t be helped, right? We’re creating assassins capable of killing you in a short time. Of course things are going to get a little harsh. Like this!”

Saying that, Takaoka raises his fist toward Kurahashi.

But before his fist can come down, Karasuma-sensei stops it.

“That’s enough. If you want to fight, I’ll be your opponent.”

“Karasuma, I figured you’d butt in about now. I told you, this isn’t violence. It’s education. I’ve got no intention of fighting you with violence. If we do this, it’ll be… as teachers.”

“Karasuma, choose one student you’ve trained. If that student fights me and manages to land a knife on me even once, I’ll admit your education is superior to mine. But the weapon we’ll use is this…”

With a pasted-on smile, Takaoka points a real knife at us.

“A real knife? They haven’t been trained or prepared to kill people!”

“Relax, Karasuma. Even a grazing hit will count. I’ll be barehanded, so that’s more than enough of a handicap, right?”

“…”

“Come on, stop hesitating and pick one. If you don’t, you submit to me unconditionally.”

* * *

Karasuma POV

To be honest, I’m still hesitating.

To raise assassins who can save the Earth, perhaps ruthless education like his really is necessary.

But is it right to expose even the few students with that potential to such danger?

Ever since coming here, I’ve done nothing but waver…

But as long as I’m working here as a teacher, I have to find the answer myself.

“Nagisa-kun, can you do it?”

* * *

Nagisa POV

Karasuma-sensei stood in front of me and said that while looking straight into my eyes.

I like this man’s eyes.

No one in my family looks at me so directly when they talk to me.

Given our positions, there are surely many things he has to hide from us… and I don’t even know why he chose me.

But… if it’s a knife handed to me by this teacher, I can trust it.

And I can’t forgive what he did to Ayanokōji-kun and Maehara-kun.

“I’ll do it.”

“Picking a brat like this, Karasuma? Looks like your eyes have grown cloudy too. Well, fine. Come on.”

Karasuma-sensei told me this match was just a show of force for Takaoka-sensei, but for me, it was assassination.

There was no need to show strength.

Facing Takaoka-sensei, I could tell right away that I had no chance of winning head-on.

The man in front of me was that skilled.

But it doesn’t matter if I can’t win…

‘If I kill him, I win.’

So I smiled and walked toward him normally.

Just like walking down my usual route to school.

And the moment I reached him, I swung the knife up.

Only then did Takaoka-sensei realize he was about to be killed and his stance collapsed.

But by then, it was already too late.

His center of gravity was leaning backward, so I grabbed his clothes, knocked him over and went in to finish him.

From the front he’d block, so I circle around behind him and for certain—

“Got you.”

* * *

Ayanokōji POV

I’m witnessing an unbelievable sight.

Right in front of me, Nagisa has a knife pressed to Takaoka’s neck.

I always thought he was good at hiding his killing intent, but this far exceeds my expectations.

A talent that would never be unearthed in ordinary life.

The talent to approach while hiding killing intent.

The talent to intimidate with killing intent.

The talent to not flinch in the real thing.

So this is the talent for assassination…

“That’s enough. The match is decided. Letting students handle real knives is completely insane.”

With Koro-sensei’s words, the match ends in Nagisa’s victory.

With this, Takaoka should be gone…

“Y-you little brat! You defied me, your father in all but name and you’re happy with a fluke win?! One more time! I’ll break your mind and body completely!”

“That’s enough, Takaoka-sensei.”

A familiar voice comes from behind us.

“D-Director?!”

“I was a little curious about the abilities of our new teacher, so I observed part of the lesson. Takaoka-sensei, your class is boring. Normally, I’d fire you on the spot, but I suppose I can overlook a single failure from a teacher.”

“Director! If you were watching, you know Takaoka’s methods are wrong!”

“It seems you are mistaken, Karasuma-sensei.”

“Mistaken?”

“Yes. I never said his methods were correct. Everyone has methods that suit them. However, I have no need for incompetents who fail twice and produce no results. And don’t forget, the authority to appoint teachers here does not belong to your Ministry of Defense. Everything is under my control.”

With that, the director casts a sidelong glance at me, as if testing whether I can do something about it and leaves.

* * *

Right after that incident, Takaoka left somewhere with flames of vengeance burning in his eyes.

After school, the students headed home while imagining the hell that would start again tomorrow.

I still had things to do, so I stayed behind in the classroom, when Kanzaki approached me.

“Ayanokōji-kun, thank you for protecting me back then.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just couldn’t agree with Takaoka’s methods. It’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“…You’re kind. And is your cheek injury okay?”

“It’s nothing. He was holding back, it seems. The pain will be gone by tomorrow. More importantly, you should go home early. Judging by how he was acting, Takaoka probably still plans to do something.”

“Okay. What about you, Ayanokōji-kun?”

“I still have a little to take care of.”

“I see… then, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”

A little while after parting with Kanzaki, I heard her scream from the shoe lockers.

The gods really did her dirty with men…

When I rushed over, I saw Kanzaki with her arm being grabbed.

“What do you want, Takaoka?”

“Look who it is. This girl’s got bad luck too. She tries to call for help, but you’re the only one around, haha.”

“What’s in that bag?”

“This? It’s packed full of bombs. I’ll blow up the school building and make it impossible to hold classes. If they can’t study, all they can do is train, right?”

“I see. So what are you planning to do with Kanzaki?”

“Hmm, maybe I’ll beat her half to death and leave her next to the burning school. So that everyone who comes tomorrow will fear my violence and despair, haha.”

“…Run, Ayanokōji-kun.”

“Don’t worry, Kanzaki. Hey, Takaoka, can I ask you one thing?”

“Huh?”

“It’s true that people submit before violence. I don’t deny that logic. But to carry that theory through, you have to always surpass your opponent’s strength. Do you understand that?”

Takaoka frowns, unable to understand.

“Since you don’t get it, I’ll make it clear. ‘You can’t stop me.’”

As I say that, Takaoka shoves Kanzaki back and swings his fist at me.

I catch his wide, slow right punch with my left hand.

“Takaoka. If you’re going to fight, you’d better do it seriously.”

I give him one warning, but even with his punch stopped, he still doesn’t seem to get it.

I tighten my grip on his right fist with my left hand.

Takaoka’s expression slowly stiffens.

Sensing something wrong, he swings his left fist at me.

This one has speed. It’s probably his serious punch.

I could have deflected or dodged it, but I deliberately take it head-on with my right palm, accepting some damage.

A loud, heavy crack echoes around us.

“For a pro, even if you’ve fallen… that one hurts…”

Shaken by the fact that his serious punch was stopped, Takaoka goes in with a kick.

I evade and create distance.

Then he charges again with his powerful body and swings his arms.

I took the first one on purpose, but from here on, I can’t afford to keep taking hits.

After dodging his right punch, I decide to go on the offensive head-on.

I counter and drive my fist into his abdomen, but Takaoka is an elite.

Judging by his trained body, the damage is shallow.

Deciding that a straightforward takedown would take too long, I shift to targeting the human body’s weak points.

I immediately go for his solar plexus, but sensing it instinctively, Takaoka twists his massive body and avoids it.

Just as I expected.

Anticipating that move, I thrust a knife-hand strike into his throat.

A voiceless sound leaks from Takaoka as he freezes for an instant.

I don’t miss that moment.

I spin in place and slam a kick into his jaw.

With his brain shaken by the blow, Takaoka collapses from the waist down and silence falls over the scene.

…

“Are you okay, Kanzaki?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine, but are you really Ayanokōji-kun?”

“Yeah. Sadly, it’s me. Sorry for making you go through something so scary. I’ll contact Karasuma-sensei, so you should go home now.”

“O-okay.”

After seeing Kanzaki off, I call Karasuma-sensei.

About fifteen minutes later, he returns to the school.

“Did you do this?”

“Yeah. More importantly, in exchange for me getting Takaoka fired, I want you to help me.”

“Is that even possible? You shouldn’t underestimate the director.”

In response to Karasuma’s doubt, I take out my phone from my chest pocket. It’s still recording.

“Here is footage of Takaoka committing violence and making threats against Kanzaki. If we add Kanzaki’s testimony to this, even the director won’t be able to avoid firing Takaoka.”

“…I understand that Takaoka can be dismissed. Let’s hear your demand. What exactly do you want me to do?”

“From now on, I want you to share all assassination plan information coming into the Ministry of Defense with me, without hiding anything. I don’t believe you’re really going to leave the fate of the Earth entirely to a bunch of middle schoolers.”

“Understood. I won’t question how you use that information, but keep it to yourself alone. That’s the condition.”

“Agreed. Then we have a deal. Please take care of the cleanup.”

As I turn to leave, Karasuma calls out to me.

“Wait. You have the power to subdue Takaoka head-on, so why do you hold back during training? And just who are you?”

“There’s nothing to gain from standing out in this classroom. It only raises the target’s guard and increases the risk. But I’ll make you one promise. I will kill that target. No matter what methods I have to use.”

The next day, Takaoka’s dismissal was announced and the class was filled with cheers.

Amid that, I close my eyes under the suspicious gazes of two people.

* * *

Kanzaki → Wants to talk
Karasuma → Who are you?

Kanzaki ← Unintentionally showed part of my strength
Karasuma ← Information source