Chapter 9 Episode 2: The Shadow Lurking in the Old Schoolhouse 1

Narration begins with a prophecy being relayed to us: “This is your final destination and your residence. Here lies your eternal paradise.” Then it starts talking to us, saying “thou cannot escape this paradise,” with paradise meaning land surrounded by walls.

Camera then tunes in to what’s listed as being in Tokyo’s East District, the Tokyo Cathedral. There, a cyborg is present. As Algernon walks in, someone thanks him for his work as a Cleaner. It’s Michael, along with Amaterasu and the girl from earlier. And next to them are three artifacts separated from their owners.

Algernon stops walking as the helmet lights up, and the AI in the helmet starts talking, asking how they did. Michael says they did as well as expected, so Algernon asks him to sign some papers so they can leaves and glances at the two nearby. He also asks if that girl protected by the transcendent from Utopia is the guild representative.

The girl stays quiet as Algernon seems to notice something while looking at her and her bodyguard. Amaterasu speaks up and him them to not concern themselves with their silent guildmaster. Michael compares her to a decoration and says she works as his stand in, then signs the paper and gives it back to Algernon.

Amaterasu says that as subjects of Utopia’s remodeling experiments they probably have their own opinions, since they gave their body to work for the girl. She starts talking about how there are other bodies besides theirs and the girl’s who have been modified, seeming to balk at the subject as she turns to look at Duo.

Duo says nothing, and Algernon says that both of them are fine with the end results of the modding, but adds that what happens afterwards is another thing. Due to the time control feat, their perception of their wish has accelerated as they seem to have hit the limits of their life. They don’t seem to regret it though, as the AI says it gave a city rat that was supposed to just up and die a pretty good life.

No one laughs, though the AI thought they would. They figure they didn’t study enough and apologize for anyone getting their mood dampened. But anyways they decide to excuse themselves there and says to call them again if they have another job for them.

After they leave, Michael brings up that  Surtr’s and Azathoth’s removal as World Representatives has been settled. That’s going along as predicted since they’ve done that every time. Michael still says it’s surprising that they would turn out like this as he and the others looks at the artifacts nearby on the desk, various emotions written on their faces.

The artifacts were collected by Algernon after the battle at the end of Chapter 8, where the owners used themselves as shields and fell. There’s Surtr’s black helmet, Harlot’s chalice, and Azathoth’s throne. Michael says the Genociders were all reduced to systems, and Amaterasu asks if that means they fulfilled their roles. She understands why Surtr and one other did it, but she’s curious as to why That Other One did too. She wonders what wish they fulfilled before cutting herself off and says she’s talking to herself.

Amaterasu mentions that as far as her Pillar’s Memory knows, this has never happened before. If that’s the case, this loop has some sort of change that wasn’t present in any other loop. Michael points out that’s she’s talking quite a bit when normally she’s shutting herself away. Amaterasu says she’s always afraid, and that she seeks tedium and constancy. She’d also prefer to not go out and fight in a battle like this.

Also, she seems surprised her foolish littlest brother would see this savage land’s pillar and be worshiped. There’s something about how her humble heart will have to fight to the end, and she ends up fainting into the lion standing next to her. That happens to be Oz, and he asks the student council president if she’s okay.

Amaterasu thanks him and says that whenever she thinks about that brother she’s just ready to tumble off her feet. Oz says she should just stand in place for ten minutes to recover from pushing herself so hard. She thinks that’s a bit much and says she should go hole up in her portal soon.

Michael sends her off, and she hopes that this paradise will be filled with kind people. He in response says that he’ll probably work with her this time too, then says he’ll be counting on the other four people in the guild. When she goes he comments on the “filled with” thing she mentioned.

Koropokkur comes in at this point having returned from whatever, then asks what’s wrong with Amaterasu. Michael answers that she went back to her place, then asks Koropokkur how the situation is with “the warmakers in the west” and “the invaders in the south.” Koropokkur says he’s found out things and prompts Michael to come under his leaf.

Michael complies as Koropokkur holds out his Pillar, and when Michael touches it the memories within start flowing into him. Even while this is happening Michael has his own thoughts running through his head. Despite being Eden’s Representative, he still doesn’t have his Pillar with him. The Tree of Life and Knowledge still hasn’t been summoned to Tokyo. As such, he has to ask the other Representatives to forward past memories to him. That’s his handicap for this go around.

Additionally, every Pillar is only able to carry over the memories their possessors have seen themselves, meaning Michael can’t carry over his own. No one can argue it isn’t a handicap, but even so, Michael says that if Eden has decided something then there is no choice to go against it.

Michael also declares that he has no intentions of protecting the other archangels from this battle. While Surtr and Azathoth are down, Michael thinks the other 21 are probably thinking the same thing. He says anyone would appear for the right bait here in Tokyo. Now they’ve been split into three guilds and battling it out.

Seven people have each split into three guilds endlessly vying for supremacy. One is them, the ones in the East trying to install That Vessel in the seat that would be God. The second is the southern guild, who intend to take That Vessel and make it their own. The third is the west guild, who wish to fight against That Vessel forever.

Michael says he understands their feelings, but it’s because of that he finds it hard to hand over. All three guilds disagree on how to treat Shaytan’s Vessel, on how the world should be, and pretty much any other sort of principle. Also, Michael seems to pity us for having descended to being a trophy.

Michael talks about how this place is a paradise devised for your sake, a system with you placed in the center. The ends of the world for someone with nowhere else to go. Deeper depths await you whether you obey or rebel. Deeper depths await you further in the system as the empty loops get layered on.

Whether you laugh or cry or hate or love, he believes in the end you are the one wishing for the loops. No matter what you do, there is no escape. There is someone who loves you and someone who hates you, which means you can continue killing others. In doing so, the other foolish Representatives stay involved in the endless system.

Koropokkur tries talking to Michael, and he apologizes as he snaps out of his thoughts. Koropokkur however says he likes how Michael’s eyes were. Cruel and harsh, like the children that he likes so much. Michael doesn’t seem impressed and changes back the subject, saying it seems the Kitezh representative has appeared with the others at That Portal. Koropokkur nods, so Michael says he’ll go out too.

Narration (or Michael) says this is how the Representatives end up continuing to fight a battle they don’t know will ever end. No one can let their guard down. Not Amaterasu, not Koropokkur. Never mind the opponents they fight, everyone has their own ideas on how the system should run. No world/paradise can be made without sacrifice, because the first paradise was created by determining what was needed and what was not.

Even people from the same world can’t agree as to what is needed and what majority should be protected. After all, the only thing shared between all 23 24 worlds is the system of majority rule. Michael has a moment where he comments that God must be laughing. He asks that they continue smiling even as the world controls the resources, the planet’s yokes, and the inheritance of memories.

Though the world still can’t find a natural reason that surpasses majority rule...Michael stops there as he thinks about someone’s back. He thinks about the ring possessed by the man who built the Millennial Kingdom, then comments that it wasn’t an answer.

Scene shifts to Shinjuku during class time as Mononobe is handing out guidance packets about post graduate life. Some people might know what they want to do, and some might not. And then there are people wondering if they even should move on. Mononobe however says there’s no need to worry too much. Life doesn’t really present that many choices that you can’t do over.

There are some of course, and there will be regrets, but the teachers are there to help figure out your choices. He invites all the students to come talk to them to find their future happiness. You think about the point about choices that can’t be undone, and Jinn notices you don’t look well.

You start flashing back to the Genociders as Jinn attempts to get through to you, even trying to clap your cheeks a few times. Triton is concerned too as Shino flashes through your mind. The rest of the class starts murmuring as Mononobe tries to settle everyone down and has Jinn look after you. Jinn continues trying to talk to you, and you do tune in a bit, if barely hanging on.

Jinn says he’ll take you to the nurse’s office and holds you in his arms. Mononobe voices his acknowledgment and Triton says he’ll handle the class. Your head lies against Jinn’s chest as your head swims in memories burned into you.

Eventually you wake up in the nurse’s office, and Jinn is glad to see you’re okay. He asks if you skipped lunch. You face has regained its color, and Jinn tells you everyone was worried about you. Triton shoves him aside, agreeing and asking if Jinn was rough in his carrying of you.

Jinn takes offense, then asks what’s going on with Mononobe and the class. Triton says class just ended so he walked as fast as he could, and Jinn asks if he was racewalking. You laugh, then apologize for that since you couldn’t help from seeing them act as they did.

Both teachers relax as they see you. Triton says you’ve finally smiled, and Jinn says you’ve been out of sorts for the past few days. It’s probably because of that that the rest of the class seems off too. Triton says Mononobe was worried about you, and that you should see him when you get better.

Jinn asks if you’ll talk to them since no one else is around. You aren’t able to say anything, so you apologize. Triton is understanding since everyone has their secrets. Jinn says he intended to accept anything for his students’ sake, and Triton says he won’t force you to talk. Jinn agrees saying you should call them when you feel like talking. If you feel you can’t do anything, you should rely on them.

Both of them then say in synch that if you don’t want to tell the other one you can also just talk to them individually. You assent to it, and sometime after they leave someone knocks on the door. Shirou shows up explaining himself to the nurse or doctor or whatever, only to see no one is in, so he asks if you’re okay.

Shirou tells you he put the guidance papers from class into your bag. The rest of the gang is worried about you, but since they all can’t go at once Shirou’s come in everyone’s place. He asks again how you feel and if you want to rest. You either tell him you were dizzy but you’re okay, or that you want to rest a bit more. Going A he says you shouldn’t push yourself, and that he’s postponed the guild meeting to tomorrow morning. He’s told everyone, including Them, so it’ll be okay.

Shirou says you probably need time to sort out your head since it hasn’t been long since everything that’s happened. You either say yeah or apologize for worrying him. Shirou says he’ll tell the gang you’re resting for now, then asks you to contact them over the app whenever. You thank him or say you got it.

Shirou says you don’t need to be the only one to carry what’s happened, then excuses himself. Outside, other students are getting on with their daily lives. One girl suggests going home together after club activities. Another invites the others to go shopping for clothes in Shibuya. A third wants to go try eating out at some new place. And yet another is being called by their boss.

You comment on the usual bustle, and how it’s like nothing ever happened. Another flashback of the Hakkenshi occurs, and then you hear some students talking outside the office. They’re so carefree that you almost wish it was all a dream, and then you start hearing stuff about a rumor.

That rumor concerns the old schoolhouse. Some people have said they see strange phantoms over there, and one girl says she heard something from her senpai. At night, if you go in, you can see the ghosts of people you shouldn’t be able to see anymore. You keep listening out of interest.

Some girl mentions that the old schoolhouse is that one building in the back, the old run down one closest to Chuo Park. It’s been blocked off since it’s dangerous and closest to the Shinjuku Gate. A girl suggests checking it out, but another votes against it since the senpai became ill and was hospitalized. They wonder if that’s why the place isn’t torn down, like it’s the wrath of an angered spirit.

You wonder about the old schoolhouse rumor as another thought of Shino’s passing flicks through your head. Some time later Shirou comes back to bring you your things, only to find you gone as the episode ends.