The Legion of Students

Who is the villain now? There is a saying, isn't there? That a single high school girl possesses the combat power of a tank. But these girls… they don't just have the power of a tank; they have the power of an entire legion.

“Teacher!!”

The students came running, calling me Teacher. My heart ached at the sight of them—my former students—all grown up so well. I remembered how my back had nearly broken from the cost of crafting their Unique Weapons. A student wearing a white mask stepped forward and set down her MG3.

“Thanks to you, Teacher, we’ve been doing well.”

True to the game title Comprehensive Academy: Masked Classroom, they were all wearing their own unique masks. There was a setting where the masks would only come off once you reached 100% affinity. Thanks to that, I had poured in… no, I had poured my deep affection into them.

The students, each equipped with their unique weapons and masks, aimed their barrels toward the angels and demons swarming from all sides.

“This time, we will help you, Teacher.”

The sound of an orchestra playing echoed across the battlefield. It was her unique ability, a skill that could be learned through a Secret Manual, playing a BGM that fit the battlefield. It wasn't a buff or a debuff, but a skill used purely to raise the morale.

Thump.

With that sound, the Leader of the Gang reached out her hand.

“Gang, sortie.”

With that command, the students scattered in all directions. Their unique weapons spat flames, sending angels and demons alike into nothingness. Their individual abilities were so overwhelming that the opponents didn't stand a chance. Coupled with the stylish BGM that fit the situation perfectly… kuh, the rush was real.

Even other Transcendents acknowledged the ability. Kyaa, how could anyone resist such a stylish BGM?

***

The BGM echoed across the battlefield. Even though it was a skill without buffs or debuffs, the students—no, the Transcendents—were sweeping through the field.

Instead of an answer to the question from the Heavenly God, the ruler of the heavens and a Transcendent, a grenade flew in.

Kwooooom!

“Anyone who blocks Teacher’s path is an enemy of our gang.”

As she took off her mask, her red eyes stared down the Heavenly God.

“The enemy of the gang is the enemy of ‘Comprehensive Academy’.”

Dududung! Just before the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠climax of the music, she snapped her fingers. The ring I was wearing glowed, and a crack formed in the air. New students appeared from within.

Dozens of students aimed their unique weapons at the monsters.

“The enemies of Comprehensive Academy have no right to live and breathe.”

Because of the additional students—the Transcendents—the battlefield turned into chaos, and the only monsters left alive were the Heavenly God and the Demon God. Even they were on the verge of death.

“Any last words?”

Bang! The Heavenly God turned into a brilliant white light. I aimed my gun at the Demon God next to him and replied.

“I didn't say I would listen.”

Bang!

***

“Yes….”

I cleared the many windows floating in front of me with one hand and looked at the dozens of students, meeting their eyes one by one. My students… you’ve been doing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well.

The money I poured in… no, the affection I poured in was immense, so I was just relieved to see them doing well.

“Teacher.”

The Leader of the Gang approached me.

“I was so happy to see you again.”

A brilliant white light enveloped them, and they began to vanish from their toes up.

“Everyone wanted to see you, Teacher, so I called them all, but we can’t stay long. See you next time.”

With those words, they were swallowed by the bright light and disappeared. I hadn't even had the chance to say it was nice to meet them or thank them. I’d see them again, right?

“Achievement Enhancement.”

With those words, a yellow window appeared.

With this, I could now have a total of four Transcendents with me. I clasped my hands together, praying that the fourth one would be a normal Transcendent, when a message popped up.

…No, I’m not.

***

The next morning. I finished the morning service with the Saint and tried to check my phone, but it was off. Had I not turned it on yesterday? I pressed the power button and waited a moment. It turned on, and I had… what, 500 missed calls?

From my old boss to the media and unknown numbers.

Thinking I should change my number soon, I turned off my phone and sat in my computer chair to check the posts. It was chaos because of me. Was it because the Hall of Fame record for the 30th floor had been updated?

The posts and the news were on fire.

Looking at the posts and news, I felt a little embarrassed. Was this something worth praising to this extent?

“Ahem, don’t look at me like that.”

I was going crazy. Why was the Guardian of All Things acting like this again? The messages kept popping up. I wished someone would stop her. …Wouldn't the other Transcendents stop her?

They were both the same. “Let’s go do today’s homework.”

“Enter.”

My vision shifted in an instant, and a giant tower appeared before my eyes. I approached and opened the door.

When I opened my eyes, I had been moved to the middle of a desert where sand dust was blowing, and a giant pyramid stood before me. They wanted me to protect that for an hour. Protect it from what?

At that moment, a bizarre voice echoed from all sides. “Kruuuuugh….”

I looked in the direction of the sound, and countless mummies were emerging from the sand. …Was this a defense mission now?

“Help me.”

Was there a character with an epithet like that? A crack formed in the air, and a figure emerged. A woman in a military uniform appeared, her black hair fluttering. She had a somewhat familiar face….

She landed on the ground, adjusted her hat, and raised one hand, and the sound of tanks echoed from all sides. “National power lies not in defense, but in invasion… but for this once, I will respect you.”

…Huh?