Chapter 11 – The Fox’s Question (1)

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Why did I decide to become a hero?

To be honest, there wasn’t any grand reason. Just a simple, almost flimsy thought—Since I’ve been reborn here, why not change the story?

That was it.

But as I continued my hero work, I started feeling something else.

Like when I saved civilians and received their gratitude, or when people cheered just at the sight of me appearing in the chaos.

In those moments, an inexplicable thrill would spread deep in my chest—a sense of accomplishment and exhilaration. The same as when I first took down Kaiser PMC and heard the crowd’s cheers. Every time I felt myself becoming more than just a student, but a hero, I was reminded—

I made the right choice.

That’s why, when the question was finally thrown at me, I could answer it surprisingly easily.

“What is your goal?”

Why do you do this? 

Why, in these chaotic times, do you run around the city acting purely out of goodwill? 

Do you really expect nothing in return?  No reward, just responsibility and duty?

“I don’t believe it. That someone like you acts solely out of kindness and duty. So—I’ll prove it myself.”

The girl—known as the Fox of Calamity.

Kosaka Wakamo glared at me and shouted:

“That you’re no noble hero—!!”

Her question to me.

At the same time, the question I had asked myself.

Am I a hero, or just someone pretending to be one?

The answer had been decided long ago.

Maybe that was the very reason I had been dropped into this world.

But let’s save that story for a little later.

There’s still something else to address first.

***

It all started at an arms depot.

BOOOOM—!!

Late at night, when most of Kivotos was asleep, a deafening explosion shook the city.

Flames roared into the sky. Screams filled the air.

And then—another blast.

By the time I arrived, the scene was pure chaos.

“…Damn it.”

The situation was this:

A sudden explosion and fire at an arms depot owned by a Kaiser Corporation subsidiary. Four or five employees were still trapped inside.

Valkyrie and firefighting crews arrived quickly, but the flames refused to die down. Instead, the inferno raged, threatening to consume everything in its path. Attempting a rescue was risky—no one knew what was stored inside. A reckless entry could lead to even greater disaster.

But then—

“Help! There’s someone in here!”

A scream from inside the warehouse.

The firefighters’ faces twisted in frustration.

“We have to go in now! If we don’t—!”

“Don’t act rashly! If we charge in blindly, we’ll die too!”

“Then what?! Just stand here and do nothing?!”

A heated argument broke out.

Their duty was to save lives—but that included their own. They had to stay calm, even when every instinct screamed at them to act. But in this moment, they could only seethe at their own helplessness.

Kaiser refused to share critical information, leaving them blind. No way to predict what lay ahead. Could they even fulfill their roles as firefighters in this situation?

Just as despair began to set in—

“I’ll go.”

A voice—familiar yet strange—cut through the tension.

The firefighters turned to see a masked girl stepping forward. Without another word, she fired a web-line and swung into the burning building.

FWIP—!

In seconds, she reached the trapped civilian.

She shattered a window, pulled the person out, and returned—all in the blink of an eye.

The firefighters stood stunned before murmuring her name.

“…Silk?”

“She came all the way here… at this hour?”

Inspired, they tightened their grips on their hoses.

“Focus! Put out this fire, now!”

“Yes!”

If Silk is here—we can trust her.

She’ll save them.

With that faith, Kivotos’ other heroes threw themselves into their work.

***

[This is everything we’ve uncovered about Kosaka Wakamo’s movements.]

Days earlier, I’d asked Himari to investigate Wakamo.

The results confirmed my suspicions—every Correctional Bureau escapee’s attack had been orchestrated by her.

More than that—

She was targeting my patrol routes.

Always ensuring civilians were caught in the crossfire, forcing me to take risks to save them, leaving pain and suffering in her wake.

[See? I told you it was her. Hehe~ Can you feel it, junior? The brilliance of Millennium’s greatest genius, the delicate and beautiful hacker—]

“……”

[…Are you even listening? Hello?]

I ignored Himari’s self-praise and kept thinking. The evidence pointed to one thing, and that was  that Wakamo was after me.

But one question remained:

Why?

Why go through all this trouble just to mess with me?

Why not confront me directly?

“…Guess it’s not time yet.”

[N-Nanashi? You’re, uh… kind of scary right now…?]

Hah.

A dry laugh escaped me. Anger boiled up. My teeth clenched. My brow furrowed.

‘You think I’m some kind of toy?’

[Eek!]

Honestly? I didn’t care if she came after me. As a hero, I knew enemies were inevitable.

But.

“Using civilians as tools? Terrorizing the city?”

That I couldn’t forgive. Whether she was a Blue Archive character or not—in my world, I wouldn’t let someone like that run free. That was my conviction. My duty.

I knew I’d fight Wakamo eventually.

But now?

Now I have to prepare.

“Himari-senpai.”

[Y-Yes?! Wh-What is it, junior?!]

“I have a request.”

[O-Okay…?]

Why’s she acting so jumpy?

I tilted my head but continued.

My request was simple:

“Can you ask Veritas for help?”

[Veritas? Why them…?]

“It might be reckless, but I won’t let Wakamo keep playing games with me.”

I needed Himari to hack into everything about Wakamo.

With that intel, I’d turn the tables—I’d hunt her.

This tied back to what Himari had promised when recruiting me. That she will be my support for my hero work. She agreed, but the real challenge was the other allies I’d asked for.

[Hmm… Not sure if they’ll agree.]

“Will it be difficult?”

[Sigh… Fine. For my cute junior, this genius beauty senpai will go all out.]

“Thanks, Himari-senpai.”

[Hehe~ If you’re grateful, how about calling me ‘nee-san’—]

I ignored the rest.

In the end, they agreed.

…

…

…

And that’s how we ended up at the arms depot fire. 

Thankfully, the outcome was good.

After rescuing the civilians, I helped the firefighters extinguish the blaze. No casualties. And I’d earned the Fire Rescue Club’s trust. But beneath it all, I was furious.

At Wakamo.

‘Whatever game you’re playing—let’s see how you like it when I flip the board.’

In the dead of night, under the dim neon glow of Schale Tower’s disabled signs, I made my decision.

Fists clenched, mask adjusted, I declared:

“Guess we’re destined to clash. Wait for me, Kosaka Wakamo.”

There, a hero vowed to bring a villain to justice.