Momoi looked at me, then at Asuna who was clinging tightly to me, and showed an expression of complete confidence.
"Sensei, if you are being threatened by her, then… then just take a breath, okay?"
I was stunned by her oddly brilliant idea and didn't know what to say for a moment.
After calming myself, I said, "I'm not being threatened. It is just that, right now, there is no longer any need to fight."
I pushed Asuna away and pointed out the window. "C＆C Code 02, Karin, should have already reached the high ground. Having to deal with Asuna while also avoiding sniper fire, that situation can already be called a dead end."
"Hahaha, that is exactly right."
Asuna then asked curiously, "But how did Master know?"
I answered without changing expression, "I guessed. Looks like I guessed correctly."
Of course, it was because another maid who liked to call me Master on her own initiative secretly told me.
Probably in order to avoid being disturbed and focus on enjoying the fight, Neru had unilaterally blocked communications, but Akane had been paying attention the whole time. After hearing Eimi mention me, she immediately sent a message, advising me not to struggle futilely and to have the Game Development Department surrender as soon as possible.
All I can say is that it gave me a perfect excuse to end this farce early and avoid causing even greater losses.
"Ugh, so unfair!" Strong reluctance showed in Momoi's eyes. "We have not even fought yet, how can we just give up like this!"
The expressions of Midori and Yuzu also gradually shifted from hesitation and unease to determination.
I was deeply moved by their unyielding spirit.
Then I grabbed Asuna's left arm, looped it around my neck, and took a deep breath.
"Ah, I have been taken hostage. If you keep up pointless fighting, I might get hurt. What should we do about that?"
The atmosphere on the scene suddenly became strange.
The fighting spirit that had just ignited in the girls of the Game Development Department was instantly extinguished.
Asuna blinked and played along. "Hehe, that is right. Master has become my captive now."
The people opposite looked at one another. In the end, it was Midori who asked hesitantly, "Sensei, which side are you actually on?"
What kind of question is that? Are they suspecting me? Even if I really were a mole, that would still be too hurtful!
I let out a long sigh. "I just don't want you to get hurt. With Neru here, the plan is already very difficult to carry out. Besides, even without the G.Bible, as long as everyone works together, you can still make a good game, right?"
I looked at their faces sincerely. "I believe in all of you."
Especially that I believe Rio would be willing to give the Game Development Department some compensation for this covert exploitation.
After a brief silence, there came the sound of metal being placed on the floor.
Yuzu was the first to respond with action. She shut her eyes tightly. "I… I still don't really have confidence that I can make a game that people genuinely praise as fun, or even one that can win awards in competitions… but I am willing to believe in everyone, and in Sensei… even without the G.Bible it is the same… I-I already have the courage to walk out of the school building too."
I thought that since Yuzu's knot in her heart seemed to have been untied, I should try to learn in the near future why she had always hidden in lockers before.
"…I-I am also willing to believe in Sensei."
Midori followed up right after.
In the end, Momoi had no choice but to do the same, though her lips were pouted high, clearly unwilling.
"Sigh, it is such a pity that I cannot fight with such cute juniors."
Asuna shook her head regretfully while taking out the handcuffs she carried with her and cuffing the girls of the Game Development Department. "Although this isn't bad either."
I casually informed Akane of the situation. Just as I put my phone down and was about to walk over, I noticed with sharp eyes that the handcuffs Asuna was using looked subtly familiar.
Hmm… Akane didn't actually treat this as a tool for sting operations, did she…
I decided to pretend I knew nothing.
After comforting the still sulking Momoi and the suddenly gloomy Midori for a while, Asuna, who had been obediently waiting beside me, suddenly received a communication.
"Ah, looks like the captain's side has also finished."
Momoi's expression grew heavy. "So it is completely GAME OVER..."
I rubbed her head. "It's fine. You just focus on doing your best, Sensei will think of a way."
"Master, shall we take them over to the Seminar first?"
"Mm. Let us go."
At my call, the three girls consciously lined up and took the elevator back to the top floor, entering the Seminar Operations Command Center in a form they absolutely didn't want.
The moment I entered, I saw Arisu, her uniform in tatters, lying peacefully on the floor. Neru, also disheveled, was squatting beside Arisu, her face full of irritation.
Eimi was nowhere to be seen. It seemed she had successfully escaped, or perhaps Neru had deliberately let her go.
As the head of C＆C, Neru more or less should have known some of the inside story.
"What did you do to Arisu!" Momoi glared angrily at Neru.
"Puhahaha, Neru, how did you get beaten into such a sorry state by a junior!" Asuna mercilessly laughed at Neru.
Neru roared, "So noisy! She fired a light cannon right in my face without caring about her own safety, what was I supposed to do!"
That sentence was both an answer to Momoi and a protest against Asuna.
Akane translated instead, "So in other words, you let your guard down."
"Bastard, what are you saying, do you want to die!"
Compared to appreciating Neru's flustered rage, my attention was more on the fact that Arisu had actually used such a mutual destruction tactic.
Pushed to that extent, and still there was no appearance of… perhaps the Kei was no longer inside Arisu's body.
At that moment, Yuuka, who had just finished explaining matters to Noa, strode over with fierce momentum. Her face and tone were frighteningly gloomy.
"You lot actually dared to attack the Seminar. Your courage has grown quite a bit. This time, don't think you can escape punishment so easily."
After speaking to the Game Development Department, Yuuka looked at me. Her voice softened a lot, but still carried some dissatisfaction. "Sensei as well, you actually went along with them in such nonsense. I will be submitting a formal complaint to Schale later."
No problem, go ahead. I will have Rio reply for me.
For some reason, Momoi again looked like she was barely holding back laughter.
In any case, the joint operation between the Game Development Department and the Veritas Department and Engineering Department was declared a failure at the very first step due to Neru's early return.
The sight of the arrested girls being escorted toward the detention room was so bleak and pitiful that even I, the biggest mole of all, almost could not bear to watch.
So I turned my gaze to Neru, who had walked up in front of me.
"Go out and talk?"
Neru asked.
I nodded.