《Toaru Majutsu no Index: New Testament》 Volume 1, Prologue: The People Who Became the Protagonists by Some Kind of Mistake. War? Volume 1, Prologue: The People Who Became the Protagonists by Some Kind of Mistake. War? Quenser! The same guy from last time appeared again! Its an Object! That strange weapon really exists!! What do we do now, can anti-tank shells work against it!? Isnt that obvious, Heivia? We can only do that!! Okay...Hey wait!! How did you end up with that conclusion? Anyone can tell that its stupid!! The enemys a monster with a main body larger than fifty meters and has over a hundred cannons of all sizes! Besides, thats not a machine that can be stopped with one or two direct hits from a nuclear bomb! That thing will destroy everything just by walking whether we shoot at it or not!! You know the main cannon? Its that stupidly-huge lower-stability-type ion cannon. The inside of the cannon is completely hollow, and the heat it produces will blow it off if a magnetic field isnt used to protect it... so youre telling me theres no way? A way to interfere with the inside of that main cannon!? Oh? I suddenly thought of something good. Im great! Wait, am I a genius!? What now, Heivia? Perfect. This is absolutely perfect!! If we do this, Quenser and I will definitely be saved!! Just hurry up and say it!! Go into the battlefield and act dead. Go get stomped to death, you bastard!!![1] ... Staring at the large screen, Hamazuras hand that was holding a popcorn container inadvertently shuddered. He had made the wrong choice. This stupid movie wasnt meant to be watched with a girlfriend. Well, its just a Kinuhata-style movie that Kinuhata recommended. The one who said this was his girlfriend beside him. Her name was Takitsubo Rikou. Even though it was an occasion like going out to watch a movie in a cinema, she was still wearing a pink sports jacket. She would most likely wear this even to a wedding ceremony or a funeral. To Takitsubo, the most important thing about choosing clothes was comfort. However, Hamazura honestly wished that a sexy swimsuit or a bunny suit would replace her sports jacket. Rikou, with a look that showed that she had lost half of her patience with the movie, said, Hamazura, what do we do next? Unfortunately, they didnt have much time left after the next meal; they had to meet up with Mugino and Kinuhata. They had something they needed to get done no matter what. Nevertheless, Hamazura thought. His mind wasnt focused on the battle scene on the screen in front of him, but the "real" war that he knew of. ...Somehow managed to survive World War III. He did not yet know who would become the leading protagonist. Notes 1. The above is from HEAVY OBJECT, another series written by the author of this series. Volume 1, 1: A Peaceful Academy City Without "Him". City. Volume 1, Chapter 1: A Peaceful Academy City Without "Him". City. Part 1 Academy City. This was a place that was developed from the undeveloped land of western Tokyo. It was one-third the size of Tokyo, and there was a tall wall surrounding it. Eighty percent of its population of 2.3 million consisted of students. Besides being the pinnacle city of academia and the ubiquitous all-around study of science and technology, there was another side to it - the esper development institution that was achieved through artificial means and scientific processes. Targeted at the students, the "powers" developed would differ into many types according to each persons scenario. Each ability would then be sorted according to the abilitys value, power, and practicality, into six different levels: Level 0 (People with No Powers), Level 1 (People with Weak Powers), Level 2 (People with Unusual Powers), Level 3 (People with Strong Powers), Level 4 (People with Great Powers), and Level 5 (People with Super Powers). As a side note, Hamazura Shiage was a Level 0. Strictly speaking, he had no power that was visible to the naked eye, though he might have a very weak power he wasn''t aware of. It seemed like the vague existence where the Level 0 espers stood. But it was too early to despair just like that. This man had the rarest experience of passing through the most intense area during World War III. Also, he had the experience of beating the #4 Level 5 by himself. He managed to live through the battle and chaos in the world for the girl he loved, so right now, he had slightly surpassed the status of being an ordinary high school student. The man who protected a village in an intense warzone from being overrun by Russian forces, fought back several assassins from Academy City, and returned from the battlefield with great rewards. But for this End of the Century Emperor Hamazura to return to ordinary everyday life... "Hamazura!! How long do you need to buy that sports drink!?" The girl whose shout echoed throughout the restaurant caused Hamazura Shiage, who had several glass cups in his hand, to jerk his shoulders suddenly. (...Nothing, nothing changed at all!! Even though all that happened, my life hasnt changed one bit!!) Though the End of the Century Emperor complained as he was converted back into a mess boy, this was life. No matter how much battle experience he gained, a minor character could only move on as a minor character. As a side note, the one who prompted for a drink was Mugino Shizuri. It would take a long time for us to discuss her story, but anyway, she was the #4 Level 5. She was a girl with a tall and slender figure to go with her soft brown hair. One-third of her face was artificially treated with cosmetics, and one of her eyeballs was fake. There were two other girls sitting around the table. One of them was Kinuhata Saiai. This short, short-haired middle schooler was wearing a woolen dress. She was a girl that zealously believed in revealing her thighs, often researching ways to unknowingly but definitely reveal them. The other was Takitsubo Rikou, the girl who had gone out to watch the movie with Hamazura just now. If one really had to define her characteristics, it was her black shoulder-length hair and the pink sports jacket that she would always wear. Kinuhata seemed to be viewing a forum through her cell phone, but quickly got bored of things like "reconstruction of the warzones in Russia and Academy City is deploying troops". She tossed her cell phone away and focused on the French fries on the huge plate. Kinuhata then tossed a fry into her mouth and used her other hand to gently stroke the special makeup on Muginos face. ...I super cant tell even when were so close right now. Forget about the wound; I cant even see the eye bag. What kind of unique cosmetic surgery is this? Its just like it got photo edited; I cant even super tell the difference! Since I wont sweat, my pores wont change normally. The skin color wont change according to temperature, and there wont be any goosebumps. I can already feel the difference just by staying around in normal environments. Even if its too refreshing, its not something that one can feel close about...Wait, why were you rattling on about special cosmetics? Well, in this era that uses CG effects to super add moles or scars or wings or horns, its amazing that they can even use special cosmetics to create such an effect. My burning passion movie fan blood is past boiling point already!! I can already feel my blood super burn up by watching those old slasher and splatter movies! (...I dont really want to approach them...) Hamazura thought honestly, but if they kept that up, a certain person may really tear off her makeup and become a homicidal maniac. However, when he delivered the drinks... Youre too slow, Hamazura!! And whats this!? Put ice in it properly! Wouldnt the drinks not remain chilled when you brought them over!? Its a basic beverage rule to redo it!! Ah, dont be like this. Hamazura is super Hamazura, after all. Besides, itll take quite a while to redo it. As adults, we have to super endure it, you know. Seems like I got bad-mouthed heavily. Hamazura sighed and turned to look at the only girl who was not attacking him. Since they have so many things to grumble about, regarding that, my princess who isnt complaining at all is still my best partner, right, Takitsubo? Takitsubo? Hamazura looked like he was searching for the final straw of life as he said that to his girlfriend. But right now, her eyes were wide open and not moving at all. ...Shes sleeping... S-sleeping!? The date that lasted until just now must have made you tired, right!? Well, since she went out with Hamazura, it super cant be helped, right? Itd be weird if she didnt feel bored. "It''s because you recommended that movie! You actually recommended such a stupid movie!!" At the climax right before the end, the super huge image of the Indian elephant jumping together with all the members was the super best. Right, Hamazura? Thats the hardest part to understand... The nonsensical crazed movie fan Kinuhata seemed to be unable to understand Hamazuras feelings as he cupped his head. She took a sip from the drink that Hamazura had brought over, and said with 100% dissatisfaction, ...Like what Mugino super said, this temperature far exceeds what a drink should be. I unhappily super propose a punishment game. After that, Mugino gently picked the tableware beside her that had deep-fried butter salmon (sort of like a metallic frying pan), and said in a ridiculous tone that sounded like one selling a cute cat, Then~ How about we take turns slapping Hamazura-chan on the face~? "Stop using such a sickeningly scary voice!! Anyway, I''m severely affected by just that icy tone of yours! You''re making me all chilly in the back!!" Hamazura inadvertently shouted out in agony, but in contrast, Kinuhata just sighed slightly. No way. Thatll just super praise Hamazura. That guy will only be thinking of making people wear naked aprons or anything super sexually stimulating. "This is such a terrifying household!! You two, I''ll get goose bumps if I have to hear the word ''family'', got it!? Besides, it''s extremely difficult to even think of a naked body in that situation!!" Sitting opposite, Kinuhata covered her ears with an irritated expression on her face in response to Hamazuras roars. But maybe because her elbow touched it, the third-rate movie ticket that was placed on the table fell down Kinuhatas knee, and landed on the floor. "Super Hamazuuurrrraaa!!" Why is it my fault again!!? ...Got it, got it, Ill pick it up, Ill pick it up, okay!? So please dont go about using your Level 4 powers at will inside this shop!! Mr. Laborer Hamazura Shiage sighed as he got down below the table. He spotted the target, the thin ticket, immediately. There were the words "Wildmans N Zombie Escape Madness". Was this the original title or some randomly translated gibberish? Not interested in this movie at all, Hamazura looked away from the movie ticket. And then, it was right in front of him. The scene of Kinuhata Saiai''s thighs that had the mini-woolen skirt and the cute piece of cloth covering the base were right in front of Hamazura. It was right there. A man who could live both his personal and work life to the fullest and could handle anything unexpected could probably touch someone else''s thighs and play it off as a joke. But Hamazura was super Hamazura. With unlimited shock, he jumped upwards. Kinuha- Owww!! With a crash, the idiot banged his head against the table, knocking it upwards. The victims were Mugino Shizuri, who was carelessly holding her drink with one hand, and Takitsubo Rikou, who was sleeping with her eyes wide open. The more accurate way to describe it was that the drink in Muginos cup drenched Takitsubo. Takitsubo widened her eyes and gradually gathered her focus. ...Hamazura...? She didnt manage to collect enough information, and she doesnt look sleepy at all. Seems like shes thinking of me as the culprit no matter what. Why must I have these things happen around me? Shakily standing up after getting the ticket from under the table, Hamazura witnessed something shocking. Takitsubo, completely drenched, muttered something as she took off her sports jacket. Under the sports jacket were two hills forced down by a single undershirt. (...As expected, theyre big.) (...No, in the overall sense, my super body figure is better.) (...Oh, no, got to calm down.) Only Takitsubo was looking around with those blurry eyes of hers. Without any emotional expression, she said, Its about time we leave, isnt it? Yeah... well. We finished the small bites; were about to enter the super main point soon. Mm. Mugino looked somewhat bored, replying simply with a voice that didnt fit her personality. Hamazura stood up. So, you know where the place is? About that, I super checked it before. But speaking of which, it super only exists in District 10. Then lets go, shall we? said Mugino in a cold tone. Hamazura carefully probed the tone. Is it all right? Yes. They were originally members of a small group called "Item", however, the team was no longer complete. One person who was supposed to be there was missing. As if she was trying to emphasize the peace with this absentee, Mugino murmured softly. ...Let''s hurry and visit Frenda''s grave. Part 2 The moment they met again, she first gave him a fierce punch. After that, she hugged him tightly. The strongest Level 5 who came back from the heated warzone of World War III, Accelerator, was treated with such a feeling. As a side note, the one who punched him and hugged him was the female teacher in sports attire called Yomikawa Aiho. Accelerator was currently residing in her apartment. His unique white hair did not have any color in it, and his abnormally red eyes had the presence of a beast. His thin, line-like body was supported by a modernistic cane, but it was unlikely to contribute to the "skinny" impression that Accelerator gave off. His body was thoroughly trained through the latest of scientific influences, he was a weapon called a Level 5. No matter whether it was punching him or hugging him, there were likely only a few people in Academy City who could do such a "human" thing to him. There were some examples of those people inside the spacious apartment. For example. Ah!! Why is there an attack of intense distorted light from front, back, left, right, up, down, all directions!? says Misaka as Misaka is trembling on seeing this terrifying stereo!! The girl who looked about ten, Last Order, shouted some strange words as she grabbed onto the gamepad tightly with both hands. Kukuku, the lasers are Misakas final trump card to prevent you from running around... Large Laser!! That was Misaka Worst. She was a girl whose appearance was that of a high school student and had a similar face as Last Order, though she looked like a darker version. ...Is that another clone that was produced in a plan I didnt know of...? Looking somewhat surprised by Misaka Worsts presence was the female researcher Yoshikawa Kikyou. Speaking of which, because of several things that had happened, Misaka Worst''s arm was fractured. Even so, she was holding the handle of the gamepad with one hand as she continued to swamp Last Order who was holding the gamepad with both hands (the disadvantageous L and R toggles were ignored). This was the solo performance of Misaka Worst, who for some reason was wearing a pink-white ao dai[1]. Ohh, if so, Misaka will use the Misaka Network created by the Misaka brainwaves to issue a command! says Misaka as Misaka tries to, but why isnt it working!? Fufufu, the Third Season project had all sorts of mechanisms put inside Misakas body to resist your command. Both of them continued in their own conversation. Speaking of which, where did you get that ethnic costume? asks Misaka as Misaka tries to inquire. ? Really? Is this Misakas memory not stored inside the Misaka Network because of the command resistance? I gave it to her. The researcher Yoshikawa replied for Misaka Worst who didnt look like she intended to answer given the evil look on her face. I won it in a lucky draw, but the measurements dont really fit me. So that was why Misaka Worst, who had that evil and mocking look on her face, had this pink and white clothing. But that wasnt what Last Order was complaining about. ...And shes showing off an adults chest, says Misaka as Misaka tries to remain alert. Im not talking about that; Im talking about all the factors, including the waist and the hips. Speaking of which, if were just talking about bust, isnt that childs bigger? Last Order then looked away from the gaming console screen and silently stared at the girl in the ao dai beside her, Misaka Worst. She then said, Lets hope so, says Misaka as Misaka tries to clench her fist. No, Misaka was created from the Third Season project, so the growth accelerant should be different, right? Last Order angrily slammed the gamepad, but her character in the screen continued to be pummeled. Seeing the two girls talking to each other disharmoniously, Yomikawa frowned. She turned to Accelerator, who was lying on the sofa, and asked, So, whos the high school girl? Is she the kids elder sister? No. The one who answered wasnt Accelerator, but Misaka Worst. While waiting for the outcome of the game battle, the girl turned her head to where Yomikawa was and closed one eye. Using a tone that seemed to indicate that she was treating everyone as an idiot, she said, "The question is, will Misaka become that kid''s younger sister?" ? Part 3 Parameter List. It was a database that safeguarded Hamazura Shiage, who clashed against the dark side of Academy City, and the people around him. Hamazura considered how much damage it could cause to Academy City if it were used differently, but at the same time, he knew that he couldnt get away with it. Originally, there was a two or three decade gap in technology between Academy City and the "outside", and there was a lot of information that the research institutes didnt want to release within the city. Even if one were to collect information, the system would definitely pick up extremely sensitive information. Besides, Hamazura didnt intend to. His goal wasnt to take down Academy City, but to live a peaceful life there. In order to ensure his own safety, he even had the option to leave the city. But right now, he wasnt ready to make that move yet. The girl whose life was more important than his own, Takitsubo Rikou, had to undergo treatment in Academy City because of a certain incident. Now. There were many equipment and facilities in Academy City that other cities didnt have. There were wind-powered electrical generators, security and cleaning robots on patrol, and food production factories meant for livestock and agriculture everywhere in the city. However, there were other differences as well. In this city, there were overwhelmingly few cemeteries. Eighty percent of the population staying here were students who had left their parents to stay in the dorms. Even if they were dead (because of cremation disposal, it was impossible to guarantee a DNA verification), their corpses would normally be returned to the parents. In other words, there was no basic requirement to have a graveyard here. The only graveyard in Academy City was located in District 10, and its shape was similar to that of an elevator-equipped multi-story parking garage. It was a structure that used the power of elevators to automatically pass the miniature tombstone that had the cinerary casket within it. For this to work, the input of a number was required in the small space that was separated by the clapboard like a shooting range. As long as the thick waterproof tray allowed it, any flowers and gifts were allowed. But when the system detected any microbes, once it passed a certain limit, it would be dumped into the trash automatically. As was mentioned earlier, it was rare to find the ashes of students here. In other words, it was likely that the dead who were placed here had no name at all. Criminals, abandoned ones known as Child Errors, and those involved in the dark side who had been erased from the "surface". ...That Mugino is so slow. muttered Hamazura. They hadnt entered the "graveyard" tower, but were sitting at the bench near the entrance, which didnt carry any sentimental feeling. Most likely, it was a place to let people smoke, but the ashtray that no one was using increased the loneliness. Mugino was the only one who had entered the graveyard. The one person who had personally killed Frenda was Mugino herself. Most likely, there were a lot of words to be said. There was no intention to listen to what she had to say, nor was there an intention to peek at her face. Hamazura lazily looked up at the sky and said, What did Frenda like when she was alive? Mackerel. The one who answered was Takitsubo, who was sitting beside him. Kinuhata also sighed. She super liked to eat canned mackerel. She used to not worry about money. There was still a little uncomfortable feeling about describing someone in the past tense. Did they wish for this to disappear, or not? Hamazura was still too immature to decide. Part 4 The video game ended in Misaka Worsts overwhelming victory, and Last Order was left pouting as she put the gamepad down. Last Order, who had the appearance of a ten-year-old, rolled about on the floor. She pointed at a certain part of Misaka Worst and said, Those breasts diverted Misakas attention, says Misaka as Misaka tries to analyze the reason for her defeat. Hey, mocking other peoples features to vent your own anger. Misaka really feels that the commanders one of the Misakas. Your personality is so dark, so dark Even though Misaka Worst was taunting her, Last Order didnt mind. She turned to the cloning researcher beside her, Yoshikawa Kikyou. Please tell Misaka what Misaka has to eat to grow that big, says Misaka as Misaka wants an open report. Everyones eating the same thing, theyre all made by Aiho. Aiho, who was also the owner of the apartment, was the PE teacher, Yomikawa Aiho. Though she was a not-so-glamorous-looking middle-aged woman wearing a green sports jacket...to Last Order, there was no need to look at any other parts when a woman had huge breasts and could be considered as having a nice body. Its unreasonable... says Misaka as Misaka is amazed that nutrition is unable to explain the difference. Oh, my, this is the result of everyone eating the same thing. Doesnt this give you the same possibility? ...!?!? So theres no need for you to worry. Youre already growing at a different rate from ordinary humans. Once time passes to make up for it, Im sure that youll grow up to have quite the lovely body. Yoshikawas words made Last Order reveal a look as if she was bathing under a healing light. At that moment... Something fell out of Yoshikawas arms. It was a strange-looking health product. It was an item that used something similar to a belt to wrap around the body, but on the surface, it looked like something designed to change a part of the females body forcefully. In other words. The thing looked like a breast enlargement machine. ..................... Having seen the dirty side of an adult, Last Order showed a dejected look. Then, she trembled as she opened her small mouth. ...You just said something about naturally growing a lovely body just now, right? asks Misaka as Misaka tries to confirm. Ho, hohoho. Actually, no, this is just something that my university friend asked me to check, since Im a researcher. Seems like this things a fake product of science... "Misaka won''t be tricked by the lies of an adult!! exclaims Misaka as Misaka tries to reach for that thing!!" No, you cant, Last Order!! Thats a dangerous machine thatll blow up the chest if its not a mature woman using it!! "Which is why Misaka will not be fooled by those words!! exclaims Misaka as Misaka tries to stop you! If you have a mature woman''s body, you don''t need that device!!" Being left aside, Misaka Worst spoke to Accelerator, who was lying on the sofa. Biology researchers are unexpectedly attracted to those suspicious goods. Speaking of which, is it all right not to stop them from creating such a ruckus? How irritating... His first concern was the irritating noise as he went to sleep again. Then, seemingly as a mediator, the huge-breasted master of the house, the teacher Yomikawa Aiho, stepped in between Yoshikawa Kikyou (who was joking about) and Last Order (who was arguing about being tricked). All right, all right, cut it out. Isnt this something that Kikyous complaining about not working? Speaking of which, theres also that slimming machine that can cause the body to change. Its about time for me to step in and deal with those messed-up habits of yours. After saying that, Yomikawa took away the breast enhancement device that both of them were fighting over. "The one person who doesn''t need this took away the light of hope!! exclaims Misaka as Misaka shudders!" No, you cant, Aiho! If your breast level is enhanced with the machine, this world will collapse-Ah!! But the situation developed in a way that they did not expect. ...Eh? I didnt do anything, so why is smoke coming out without warning? Maybe the remaining breast power went in reverse, says Misaka as Misaka trembles in front of this unknown phenomenon!! Is this unscientific... suuu!?!? How is it possible!? But if its Aiho, or that!! Yoshikawa was wavering in her belief of science due to this shocking scene. As a side note, among the females, only Misaka Worst wasnt interested in the machine. Accelerator continued to maintain his sleeping position and asked, Youre not joining in? "I''d be interested if you''d get big breasts if they attached it to you." Part 5 District 10, in front of the cemetery in Academy City. Just as Hamazura, Takitsubo, and Kinuhata were having their rather hollow conversation, the door to the graveyard opened. Hamazura and company turned to see Mugino walking towards them. Her expression didnt change. There was no sign of her crying, and her eyes didnt look red. Even so, something had definitely happened inside. And as for what had happened, she didnt want Hamazura and the rest to notice it. Is it over? Facing Hamazuras question, Mugino just gave a simple answer. Its over. In reality, nothing may be over. But Mugino still said it. It was like she was trying to isolate it. On a side note. Though it was not suitable to reveal that they were remaining quiet, the land in District 10 was the cheapest in Academy City, and it was because this place was famous for having the worst security. The only graveyard was located there because many companies refused to set up shop there, and finally, after a long turnaround, it settled in this backdrop. Thus, since he looked like he was bringing three youthful girls there (actually, it was the other way around), Hamazura Shiage-kun naturally became the bull''s-eye for the delinquents gathered around. Which one would be faster: bus or train? Just as Hamazura was talking to them, five guys appeared in front of them, blocking them. If this were a team of troopers, this group of delinquents would look like some hero fighter. The only guy facing them, Hamazura gave them a threatening look, probably to dampen their enthusiasm or gain the right to talk or something. Hooooollllld it right there, money kid. Were working right now, so can you please help us? Our work is just to beat people up badly and settle the debt, thats all. Whether you say anything or not as you hand your money to us, well beat you up good; whether you run or beg for mercy, well still beat you up. You understand the situation now? (Damn it... This is a huge problem.) Though they were teenagers who were only treating death as something trivial, Hamazura himself wasnt some superhero, so his body trembled inadvertently. The second one was especially dangerous; from the way he looked and how he was squatting down, it seemed like he was a professional at this. To fight on the road, where there was no referee or soft mat, he was even more dangerous right now to toss people, strangle the enemys neck, or wring the joints than those stupid amateurs who would use blunt weapons or knives. Hamazura understood that from firsthand experience. Even so. On the other hand, Hamazura was rather relieved. Since they relied on fighting techniques, it was likely that this group of delinquents were like him in that they became delinquents because they had no ability. If they werent dirty people who could manipulate gravity such that they would increase the effect to ten times that of a wrestlers throw, they couldnt be considered the scariest kind in Academy City, right? Besides, forget about Takitsubo; Mugino and Kinuhata, who were also with him, were of the scariest kind in Academy City. Mugino was the #4 Level 5, and Kinuhata was a Level 4 who could even handle a sniper war. The delinquents were basically fighting against a stationary tank or bomber jet. No matter whether the enemy was the number one foul freestyle wrestler, or a judo master who could toss man-eating bears aside, they wouldnt even be opponents for Mugino and Kinuhata. Thus. ...Hey, dont be like this. Hamazura was honestly trying to advise the delinquents who were looking to cause trouble as he said that with agony. Naturally, he ended up in End of the Century mode as he continued. Kids. Im sincerely saying this for your own good, so remember everything that I say, or else I cant guarantee that youll remain alive... In this world, there are certain realms that you cant interfere with. Youre already one step away from that guy. One more step, and that distance will doom all of you. If you can identify that person, hurry up and scram! However. For some reason, Mugino and Kinuhata exchanged weird looks with each other. My. How terrifying~ Save me, Hamazura. The meaning behind these charming voices was unknown. Then, Mugino and Kinuhata grabbed onto Hamazuras arms, seemingly about to clamp them for some unknown reason. Knowing what they intended, Hamazura suddenly felt goose bumps. However, the five delinquents and Takitsubo Rikou seemed to believe in the performance, not knowing whether it was true or not. The girl in the sports jacket also seemed to get competitive all of a sudden as she grabbed Hamazuras neck from behind, causing Hamazura to end up lifting her. ...Don''t take him without permission. Hamazura is mine. At that moment... Hamazura Shiage definitely heard some important brain circuits snap. They belonged to the five delinquents. Uh-oh. After a while, a certain delinquent whose mouth was half-open in shock said, "Ooohhhhhh!! What are you trying to pull here!? What are you trying to do by acting like a playboy, you bastard!?" The shout he let out was somewhat like a seal or an otter, but it was obvious that the enemys anger had reached its peak. He closed in and was getting read to personally beat Hamazuras face in. At that moment, Mugino, who was deliberately holding Hamazuras wrist down through a delicate movement, twitched her body slightly. Because of the pain coming from his elbow, Hamazura had to follow Muginos movements and turn around as if he was turning a door. Thus, the delinquents strike that was aimed at his head missed. It ended up hitting his shoulder. And the five fingers that he reached out just so happened to be in a grip state. "Yaaaahhh, it hurts, damn it!!" Kyah~ Hamazuras super~ cool~ Mugino let out an even sillier-sounding voice as she grabbed Hamazuras wrist, which stopped midway through, and kicked him in the waist. Hamazura was sent flying into the middle of the group of delinquents. On the other side, Kinuhata beautifully "pressed" Takitsubo down just as she was sticking to Hamazuras back. W-what...? Before he could understand what was going on, it seemed like the delinquents realized something. "It''s time to get serious, eeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" "You should say something to that demonic woman, eeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!" Hamazura had only one choice. Escape. He decided to scatter some soil from the flowerbed to obstruct the fallen delinquents'' view, and used that opportunity to get away. Part 6 The smoking breast enhancement device was confiscated by Yomikawa, and Yoshikawa went back home to set the pre-recording time for the time being. There was currently a live telecast on the TV inside the room, and Yomikawa noted that she wanted to record the drama that she wanted to watch. It would be great if theres a television receiver that could air multiple channels at the same time, muttered Yoshikawa. The TV was airing such a show. Most likely, the host and the production crew couldnt even smell the front lines. ...Despite the fact that World War III ended in twelve days, after the war was over, there were a large number of eyewitness reports regarding supernatural phenomenon. Experts have called this a third war syndrome. This is a common group psychological problem that occurs due to the stress created by the warzone environment, similar to the phenomenon that occurred during the British Halloween incident that took place during the political crisis in England. Some experts feel that they should be rewarded handsomely, and as soon as possible. Accelerator was just lazing around. He was lying on the sofa, feeling that there was a sense of something being out of place. On closer look, Last Order had snuck into the small sofa. ...What are you doing? Misaka wants to sleep, says Misaka as Misaka explains clearly. Hey. ... Before the #1 could complain, the ten-year-old-looking girl was already sleeping. Accelerator clicked his tongue, and another voice came from somewhere else. How do you feel about taking back your peace? ...What are you trying to say? Nothing. She used a tone that clearly implied something. In the past, there was the existence of "darkness" in Academy City. It had tremendous power, but for certain reasons, the people involved in it would find it hard to reintegrate themselves into society. At times, in exchange for their own survival, they would use their friends as shields, offer things like books or information or even their status, or even be in charge of several "jobs"...It was that kind of world. Accelerator had also been a part of it. But that system had been destroyednot by anyone else, but by Accelerator at the end of World War III. Tsuchimikado Motoharu. Musujime Awaki. Unabara Mitsuki...Or whatever his name really was. Accelerators ears heard the voices of the commentators who enjoyed that boring peace. ...Between this, its unknown whether there really is a supernatural phenomenon, but basically, theres evidence of a huge golden ring and a bone-like thing left behind in cities all over the world- no, its not so accurate to describe it as golden. The United Nations threw the piece into some parts of the Pacific Ocean that lack oxygen, and even though they did process it, used it to change the oxygen supply in the ocean, and also revived the supply of fish and other kinds of seafood, I do think that there are other motivations for them to throw them without investigating them... As for the other members of Group, who once worked as a group of four in the darkness, how were they right now? Accelerator wasnt really clear about it, but it was likely that in this bastardly city, they would work hard for their "stability". However, there was something lacking. He felt that something was lacking. After the war, Accelerator had cut off all links to the darkness; thus, he wouldnt be able to access the necessary information regarding the dark side of Academy City. Of course, there were means to eavesdrop; it was just that he didnt want to get involved with the darkness ever again. Thus, no matter whether it was a blessing or a curse, he wouldnt be able to ensure the others safety. Among the people who had taken part in that war, who could be excluded? Did "that guy" who had been in the deepest part came back safely? ...Also, its worth being happy that Academy Citys side incurred zero casualties, but Academy City also exposed all technical expertise and military risks. Regarding this, Academy City has expressed... There was no need to look forward to that TV program that was uttering gibberish. But if so, who could be trusted? Part 7 There was once a cloning program that used the cells of the #3 Level 5, Misaka Mikoto. In terms of results, it was a failure. Unable to create the necessary specifications, it was ended. However, this cloning technique was used for another experiment, creating a mass number of clones. The Sisters. Last Order was the commander of the approximately ten thousand remaining Sisters, and Misaka Worst was created after that through the unorthodox Third Season project. The massive brain that was formed by the electronic network of almost ten thousand brains formed the Misaka Network. The network linked all the information that the Sisters had, and the network also worked for a "certain purpose". There was Last Order, who was created as a "human interference commander", and Misaka Worst, who had "evil thoughts and feelings" embedded in her for some "certain purpose". Thus... Go buy something? Accelerator, who was lying on the sofa, asked in shock, and the female teacher in the sports jacket, Yomikawa Aiho, nodded her head. I dont care whether you came back from the battlefield or some other place; since you came back, you better start acting like a member of society and live on. So youre talking about doing such a boring thing? Huh? Yomikawa acted like she was confused and pondered for a while, before continuing. In human society, the most painful thing is being unable to help others and not being needed by others, right? Cheh! Unable to say anything, Accelerator got up. You dont have to come up with some twisted introduction to psychology, you damned teacher! No way, I have no intention of going into life counseling. Basically, Ill settle any problems that appear with this iron fist of mine. So, what do I have to buy? Food. Those that I circled in red on the list. ...That kind of thing again. Doing this really doesn''t match who I am. In that case, work hard and get used to it. Spurred by Yomikawa, Accelerator reluctantly grabbed his crutch and stood up. Thus, Last Order, who had gotten sick of the spaceship game (she had woken up after the nap to challenge Misaka Worst again), looked up at Accelerator. Misaka wants to go!! Misaka wants to go!! exclaims Misaka as Misaka wants to be your assistant since youll feel uncomfortable being alone!! Youre so noisy!! Stop trying to predict the future! Aside from Last Order, who was shouting "Misaka wants to go, Misaka wants to go", Misaka Worst seemed to be a little edgy for some reason. Actually, to her, there was another battle other than the computer battle. It was a real battle. It was mentioned before that Misaka Worst had a strong sense of ill-intent thoughts and feelings added from a "certain aspect" of the Misaka Network. This could be expressed not only through anger and hatred. But also jealousy. She was envious of Yomikawa, who was always talking to Accelerator. She also wanted to go along. Last Orders thoughts spread to all the Sisters. As there was an interference with the "certain aspect", it affected Misaka Worst as well. Misaka Worst, who normally wouldn''t take orders from the commander, Last Order, would inevitably be affected. For that reason... (...Uwaah!? I want to go. I want to go shopping!! Damn it, Accelerators none of my business, but the network, the networks giving an unbearable emotional wavelength, Uuwwwwaaahhhhhhhhhhh!! Nononononononononononononononono!!) Misaka Worst tried her best to resist the surging force, but she was still unable to withstand it in the end. The reason was that though she tried to draw that evil intention out, Misaka Worst still couldn''t handle it. A short-circuited Misaka Worst stood up, and rushed at Last Order who was tugging at Accelerators pants, knocking her away. Misaka, Misaka, too! Misaka wants to go shopping together!! A few minutes later. After getting a wallet from Yomikawa, Accelerator asked a very simple question to Misaka Worst, who was lost in her own thoughts: What the hell were you doing just earlier? ...Misaka doesnt understand it herself... Part 8 In order to get away from the delinquents, Hamazura was running randomly. The method may vary depending on the target and the situation, but for running away on foot, the most important thing was to keep changing between roads and alleys. One had to make a decision when it was impossible to use a car or a bicycle. More importantly, if it was someone like Anti-Skill, one had to look for a place where there were few people. As for delinquents who ignored the law, it was a more practical to choose somewhere crowded. The setting was also one of the reasons to use the surrounding people, view, and common knowledge to block the pursuers. After considering that, it was important to avoid running away in a straight line. Even if it was the tiniest angle, by running around multiple times, it was easy to cause the pursuers to lose sight. Those methods were effective in shaking off pursuers, but there was one thing to note. (...Damn it! Im unfamiliar with District 10!! Am I running north!?) There was a risk of getting lost if one ran and made turns on unfamiliar grounds. Even if he wanted to run away, there was a chance that he would make a U-turn, and he could end up running back to his pursuers. In order to prevent that, as a tactic, he would decide where to run, and then turn with minimal angle. It should be effective for him to continue running in the same direction. Even still, though he had a clear mind, he was currently being chased by delinquents, If he could let his body obey his mind while he was sprinting at full speed, it wouldn''t be so hard on him. Ha!! Ha!!...Damn, damn it. Mugino and Kinuhata...Ill make them remember it. Those girls, Ill spank their butts a hundred times after this. And if Takitsubo takes off her clothes, that would be a great feeling. As he was running at full speed, his thighs started to hurt, and his breathing was rough. Hamazura stopped and looked around. He couldnt find his pursuers now. He saw the sign nearby; it was District 7. It seemed like he had crossed districts. For a moment, just for a moment, Hamazura thought of Mugino and the rest, but the worry quickly dissipated. The delinquents had all been chasing him, and even if they headed for Mugino and the rest, it was impossible for a Level 5 and Level 4 combination to fail. (Should I message them that Im all right?) Hamazura pondered about the situation that was worth praising. (No, no, if they know that Im all right, Ill end up in some ridiculous thing again. Better act like I nearly died...) Hamazuras shoulder knocked into someone. It was a middle-school-looking girl with short brown hair. S-sorry. Hamazura consciously bent down and apologized, but the girl didnt reply. With an uneven pace, the girl vanished into the crowd. (...What was that? Thats a Tokiwadai Middle School uniform, right...?) Hamazura looked in the direction where the girl had vanished. (Seems like something major happened to her...Well, its none of my business anyway.) Even if he were to continue to worry about her, he couldnt help her anyway. Originally intending to send a message, Hamazura slipped his cell phone back into his pocket. He was looking around to get a cold drink to quench his thirst. Hey, Hamazura. Whats with you? A voice came from beside him. Adjusting his breathing, Hamazura looked over. It was a face he was very familiar with. ...Hanzou? Between the Lines 1 The name of the entire group was Skill-Out. It was a group of teenagers gathered together after they were eliminated from the esper development program that formed the basis of Academy Citys school curriculum. Truthfully, the name Skill-Out was like a mafia or a motorcycle gang; they werent really an organization, but rather a collective term. The groups would go against each other, and they would also work with each other; it was a complicated group. But to the outside world that didnt know of the truth, they were just guys who were useless at school and who caused lots of trouble. In truth, that was a wrong impression. No matter where they had been born, no matter what they did, they were all moral activists who would fight society. Wanting their own place of belonging, it became a home for them. Among all the Skill-Out gangs, the ways to decide a leader, leadership capacity, and management means differed. In the past, one of the groups had a certain boy as its leader. His name was Komaba Ritoku. A boy who died back in October. Notes 1. A traditional Vietnamese dress, now the countrys national costume. Volume 1, 2: What Lies Ahead, What Should Be Chosen. Dream. Volume 1, Chapter 2: What Lies Ahead, What Should Be Chosen. Dream. Part 1 Hamazura and Hanzou entered a set meal restaurant where everything was worthy of complaint other than the price. They settled down at a table in one corner of the restaurant and Hanzou ordered a bunch of food that was seasoned so that it felt like it needed some beer with it to be complete. When Hamazura had been in Skill-Out, he, Komaba, and Hanzou had gone to that restaurant together frequently. A flat-screen TV was set up in a corner of the restaurant. Hamazura idly watched a talk show that was going on about a reorganization of the Roman Catholic Church that included the top position of pope changing from Matthai Reese to Pietro Yogdis. Hanzou then started speaking. Arent you going to order something, Hamazura? I actually just ate at a family restaurant, responded Hamazura and only ordered a few skewers of salted yakitori. ...You always order Japanese food, dont you? And you dont seem to care what kind of restaurant youre in either. Do I really? Youre the kind of guy that would order fish at a yakiniku restaurant. After the food arrived, Hanzou focused on eating for a bit. It seemed he hadnt had any lunch yet. Hamazura disassembled the skewered chicken and ate the pieces one by one after carefully removing the skin. As Hanzou continued to chow down on his food, Hamazura looked at him questioningly. Whats with you? Did you not have any breakfast? Oh, Ive just been busy lately, so I havent been able to eat a proper meal in a while. I just dont have the time, so Ive been eating things like jelly and beef jerky. Its been a while since Ive been able to sit down and eat. ? Hey, I havent been able to get a hold of you recently, Hamazura. Where have you been? Im the End of the Century Emperor back from the battlefield. Ahn? Now it was Hanzous turn to look puzzled. Following that, Hamazura and Hanzou started exchanging information that could have been things they had actually seen and could have been mere rumors. One was about the customer that got so pissed at the stingy settings of a pachinko parlors slot machines that he plowed into the parlor with a dump truck. One was about the strengthening of security on ATMs that made even going around and destroying vending machines a better means of gaining money. Hehh. So youve got a girl, Hamazura. Well, yeah. ...But to be honest, Im a little uneasy about it, said Hamazura as he stabbed the removed chicken skins with a skewer. Ysee, with the way Ive always done things, I can attack, but I cant protect. I dont want this to be a relationship that ends in a few months. And so I finally have to think about things long term when I act. Money problems? ...I was thinking of maybe using my lock picking skills. Not to steal stuff from cars, but to have a road service where I open peoples doors for them when they lock their keys in the car or whatever. If I can strengthen my stealing skills in that direction, I can use them to protect, too. Nee ha ha, laughed Hamazura in embarrassment. He pulled out a small reference book that looked like it was for a correspondence course from his pocket and put it on the table. I dont think that getting my skills up to a practical level will be easy. I tried reading a magazine that talked about security, but I had no clue what the stuff about electronic locks was about. ...Well, at least you know what area youre interested in, right? Like with choosing between the fine arts and the sciences, you have to choose what youre good at. At the very least, theres no way it could end up being wasted effort. All the work you put in will add up. Im not so sure. Hey, youre the guy who had the heavy machinery we needed to steal an ATM up and running in two minutes. Id say going down the path of locks is a good decision. That was when a cell phone started ringing. Hanzou pulled his cell phone from his pocket, looked at the screen, and then put it away. He grabbed the bill and stood up. Hamazura looked puzzled. What is it? A money making opportunity, Hanzou said with a bitter smile. But this is what you were calling an attack. You cant protect anyone with this. Theres nothing in it for you now. I see. Well, I have to hurry. See you, Hamazura. Hey, Ill pay for mine. Didnt I just tell you this is a money making opportunity for me? The foods on me. Finished speaking, Hanzou turned his back to Hamazura and headed for the register. Hamazura felt a little left out by not being invited along, but then... ...Oh? The cashier isnt here. I can make a dash for it!! You bastaaaaarrrrddd!! Dont dine and dash leaving me behiiiiiiind!! He then drowned his faint feelings in Worcestershire sauce. Part 2 They went to buy the groceries for dinner at a nearby supermarket. ... ... Accelerator and Misaka Worst stood listening to the outdated pop music that made one wonder, Why the hell did they choose this? They felt as out of place as someone who went to a baseball game and accidentally ended up sitting in the seats by the third-base where the opposing teams cheering squad sat. Is this an attempt to line you and Misaka up next to normal people in order to find out just how twisted we are? asked Misaka Worst as she pushed the rattling shopping cart with one hand. Accelerator responded sounding even more displeased than her. ...Theyre trying to get us used to peaceful scenes. It may have sounded like a ridiculous idea, but there was actually nothing more important for people who had returned from the battlefield. If they werent able to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling there and werent able to adapt to the empty peaceful days, they would end up distancing themselves from the peace they had returned to and would only be able to live in constant battle. Up until then, Accelerator and Misaka Worst had been at the center of evil created by various people. They had been covered in filth crawling around in a world where blood being shed was the norm and outsmarting the established rules in order to live on was necessary. They had gained a type of strength from those experiences, but they also held the risk of distancing themselves from peace. Monsters. Targets of fear. Those who were found worthless if they could not kill someone. If they didnt want to become those things, they had to take in that out-of-place atmosphere. They had to get to the point where that kind of place was the norm. But... Hey, hey, Mr. Honor Student. Shut it. That sales advertisement doesnt matter. Its free if you steal it all. ...Do you want me to punch you? Why? Anyway. Theyre careful to make sure people dont take anything from the store at sweets shops, but doesnt it seem like they havent thought of the idea of eating it all in the store and sticking the empty wrappers between the shelves? You really are rotten to the core, arent you? Actually, Misaka cant believe that people actually go through the process of paying the amount on the price tag to get things. Isnt getting everything as cheaply and easily as possible the foundation of business? It isnt business if you arent paying for it. Oh! How about we eat some samples and then pretend to get food poisoning? If you do that, Ill fucking eat you alive. As he complained, a quizzical expression came to Accelerators face. (...How the hell did I become the one with more common sense?) This did seem very out of place for him, but, at the same time, it wasnt really. It was true that informing someone else what common sense dictated was out of place for him. However, he decided that being immune to common sense was hardly something to brag about. Part 3 After leaving the set meal restaurant in District 7, Hamazura felt the cell phone in his pocket vibrating. He pulled it out and looked at the screen which displayed Takitsubo Rikou. However, when he pressed the connect button and put it to his ear, it was not her voice he heard. Hamazuraaa! Youre super slow for someones whos just supposed to be doing odd jobs! Where did you super run off to!? Ugh, who cares; I was thinking of killing some time by kicking those idiots asses, but all those delinquents ran off after you. And since you are taking forever, itll be night before you get back at this rate. Well go find you instead. added Mugino. I-I see. Well, Im No, no, Mugino interrupted him for some reason. Im bored, so I was thinking of making the Hamazura Search into a game. ? Itll be a punishment game where Kinuhata, Takitsubo, and I will search for you and whoever finds you first gets to punish the last one to find you. Lets see, the punishment will be... Itll just be making the loser wear a super bunny suit, right? What!!!??? Hamazura reacted. Hamazura, youve been super gloomy lately and its making me wonder why Takitsubo-san would stick with you. ...Dont worry. Hamazuras good points lie elsewhere... (Huh!? She ignored the bunny part!?) Hamazura started trembling as he sensed a rising danger, but he didnt ask for details then. He swore in his heart he would talk with her alone about it later. Okay, the super Hamazura Search competition is about to start. Ready, go! With a click the line was severed. Hamazura stared down at his cell phones small LCD screen. He may not be able to go down the same path as Hanzou. He may not be able to return to Skill-Out. Even though he had overcome World War III, Hamazura was still an underling who could do nothing but run when regular, everyday delinquents came after him. Except he still had connections to other people. With Mugino, with Kinuhata, and with Takitsubo. Frenda may be gone, but Hamazura and the others had regained the connections that came with Item. There were people who would come searching for him if he was missing. That wasnt very extravagant, but it helped to support the depths of Hamazuras heart. He had realized all that once again. (...I cant just continue to run away.) Battles in that peaceful world would not be decided with the result of a fist fight. And he couldnt forcibly take victory from someone else. Instead, he had to become someone who could protect those who were important to him. That would solve everything. As Hamazura was seriously thinking about all that, he had another thought. (...Huh? Takitsubo and the others said they were searching for me, but what am I supposed to do?) Could he move around doing whatever he wanted or should he stay where he was? The game had started without any detailed rules being explained. As such, Hamazura couldnt go on, couldnt go back, and was stuck timidly where he was as if he was an idiotic piece of art. Oh? A voice called out to the timid objet dart titled Hamazura. It was a girls voice. He turned around and saw...a difficult to describe girl. She was wearing an oddly short mini-yukata (?), had brown hair, wore thick makeup, and had accessories all over. She felt like the result of asking an old man who had never seen a city high school girl to describe one. He knew her. He didnt know her family name, but her given name was Kuruwa. The chain wrapped around her shoulders, torso, and legs rattled as she approached him. Oh, Hamazura-shi. What are you doing here? Im the End of the Century Emperor Landmark. ? He was a hidden goal point, but he gave a light smile instead of explaining further. What are you doing, Kuruwa-chan? Looking for Hanzou again? As far as Hamazura knew, Kuruwa had an unfortunate obsession with everything ninja and he thought she had been chasing after Hanzou in various ways. Whether it had anything to do with that or not, she seemed to have had some kind of inner change as she was speaking much more politely than before. No, no. Hanzou-sama seems to be rather busy right now, so Im doing something else. Really? Yes. If I were seriously chasing after Hanzou-sama, I might use my seductive techniques to get all the information you have, Hamazura-shi. Seductive...techniques....? That may have been something he would normally love to hear, but his breath caught because he had been caught off guard by one of those very techniques once. (Hearing Kuruwa say that is a dangerous sign,) thought Hamazura as he put himself on guard. Kuruwa must not have liked the look on his face, because she looked a tad offended and moved her hand to her kimonos obi. You look like you dont believe me. Perhaps I should show one to you now. W-wait!! Dont strip!! Keep your clothes on!! Using seductive techniques with no goal is nothing more than an endless erotic hell!! Kuruwa must have sensed something from Hamazura as he trembled in fear, because she removed her hand from her obi. I want to be with Hanzou-sama very much, but I dont want to get in his way. Oh, yeah. He did say he was doing something. He seemed really busy and even said he didnt even have time to eat. Hanzou-sama did? I saw him just a bit ago at that set meal restaurant. As usual, he was ordering nothing but cheap Japanese food. Well, he is the kind of person that would order normal fried vegetables at a Chinese restaurant. Or fish at a yakiniku restaurant. The two laughed at their shared view of Hanzou and gained a tiny bit of a kindred spirit from it. So did you hear about what was going on from Hanzou-sama? A little. He said it was a money making opportunity. Hmm. That doesnt sound like what Im working on. What are you working on, Kuruwa-chan? Oh, its just a matter Hanzou-sama got involved in that Im sticking my nose into. But would he really start working on something else while still involved in that? ? Well, youve already heard about it, so I can talk about it with you. About what? Oh, you know. The thing about... Part 4 Accelerator and Misaka Worst put items in the shopping cart according to the marked items on the advertisement flyer. Furikake, nori tsukudani, whitebait, mentaiko, and umeboshi... Misaka may not be the best person to say this because shes only ever had synthetic foods, but isnt this too many things to put on rice? Shes just trying to cut corners. This is definitely better than nothing but frozen foods. Misaka would call even frozen foods a luxury. After that, Misaka Worsts frivolous speech came to a stop. Accelerator had stopped moving with an item not marked on the flyer in his hand. The cap on the top of a bottle of furikake had a bonus doll of what must have been the mascot. If that had been Accelerators tastes, bursting out laughing would have been the only appropriate response, but the god of laughter wasnt smiling on Misaka Worst that much. However, that didnt stop her from getting a sneer on her face. A little chick mascot sure is clichd... Sir, is that a present for Last Order? That brats tastes are really damn straight-forward, spat out Accelerator as he lightly shook the furikake bottle. ...As part of the Misaka Network, youre under the influence of its one large will, right? So your tastes must be pretty much the same, right? Yknow, Misaka may receive some interference from the Network, but its specialized so its only the evil intentions and dark portions of the network. Misaka would rather you did not treat her like that na?ve little girl. ... Misakas settings are more to trample that underfoot in order to more effectively damage you. Misaka would think you had painfully figured that out on the snow plains of Russia. Misaka simply has no interest in such a worthless masco Accelerator silently swung the furikake bottle to the side and Misaka Worsts gaze followed it. He swung it back the other way and the ao dai-wearing girls gaze moved back in that direction. You havent taken your eyes off this chick mascot this entire time. Kh!! Misaka Worst seemed oddly dismayed. ...M-Misaka cant believe you would want to look at her the same as Last Order in order to play with the imbalance between body and mind... According to the numbering, youre actually the little sister. Part 5 Accelerator and Misaka Worst finished shopping and left the supermarket. They had one item that was not marked on the flyer: the furikake. Ahh, Misaka encountered something unknown that she did not imagine would happen. Peaceful days are much more tiring than Misaka predicted. ... Accelerator couldnt just laugh off Misaka Worsts words. Was this really okay? A simple shopping trip had worn him out this much, so could he really get along with this world? It was easy to write off this lukewarm peacefulness as something that just wasnt for him. He had once subconsciously glorified that method of dealing with it as making him really cool. But what was he supposed to do after that? If he turned his back on it, was there something that shined even brighter waiting for him elsewhere? If he wanted to become a monster that had no value beyond killing, he should just continue on down that path. But that was not where Accelerator wanted to end up. The more he wrote off peace as not for him, the farther he became from what he wished for. Could he really do it? (...What is he doing?) A certain Level 0 boy came to his mind. That boy had most likely been fighting in an even deeper part of the world than Accelerator who held the title of Academy Citys strongest. And of course, that boy had his own place. Had he returned to that place? Did he feel out of place? If he was constantly switching between the farthest limits of the battlefield and calm, peaceful days, he would be much more amazing than Accelerator who continued to be stuck in the darkness. For a bit, Accelerator surrendered his body to the fatigue, but then Misaka Worst began tugging on his sleeve. He looked up with a puzzled expression. What? Lets go buy some sweets and then eat them right away. Misaka has heard that that is the foundation of being bad. ...You certainly get negative aspects from a lot of different places, dont you? Well, she gathered up the negative aspects of the entire Misaka Network, so Last Orders desires would be in there too. And so, mostly at the insistence of Misaka Worst, the two of them bought ice cream at a stand made from a van. Should Misaka use her tongue seductively as she licks it? Who are you trying to please by doing that? Yourself? Well, there is that. If it would be devastating to your relationship with Last Order, Misaka will let you touch her tits and ass, but doing it now would seem rather pointless. Say what you like, Im not fucking listening, responded Accelerator fed up with how she was acting. Ice cream in hand, he casually looked over at the crowd of people and suddenly froze. He saw a silver-haired nun wearing a white nuns habit. Fatigue and impatience could be seen in her face and it looked as if vitality had been scraped from her well-featured face. (Her...?) Accelerator recognized that face. However, her atmosphere was quite different from when he had met her before. A few seconds later, she had disappeared into the crowd. (Lost sight of her. Well, I have no reason to frantically go searching for her. And getting her involved with me could even send her life in a much worse direction.) The girl with an unfriendly look in her eyes sitting next to the #1 didnt seem to notice. Misaka just cant get used to it. Misaka Worsts candid feelings slipped out as she licked the surface of the vanilla ice cream. Misaka cant get used to the two of us walking home in the sunlight licking ice cream. It just isnt right; it isnt normal. Dont you feel uneasy because nothing is happening? It just feels like the harbinger of some huge event. Do you want something to happen? Who knows. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Misaka doesnt think anyone accurately knows their own mind. Even when a psychologist does his own test, he gives a softer estimate on himself. If there was someone who could fully and perfectly understand their own mind, that person would be crazy in their own way. Misaka Worst smiled. How about you? I dont care, responded Accelerator halfheartedly. I took back everything I needed from that war. I now have everything I need. And if its needed to keep those things, Im willing to do things Im not used to. Misaka thinks that finding out what exactly it is we cant seem to get used to is at the center of it all. Ahn? Is it the peaceful atmosphere itself or is it being stuck inside boundaries laid out by someone else. ...What are you? Some little brat? Misaka feels this isnt something to laugh at. Misaka thinks that we should experience just how inadequate it is to be trapped in boundaries laid out by some else. Then we should tear away everything that isnt necessary. Arent our personalities at odds with the mere idea of being trapped within boundaries laid out by someone else? Just change the way you think. There was no turmoil in Accelerators feelings. Someone is thinking that we cant do that. Someone is thinking that beasts like us can only live within a sea of blood. In that case, isnt successfully living inside the boundaries laid out by them a way of showing our defiance to them? Ah-ha. Misaka likes that. Misaka Worst continued licking away her vanilla ice cream and chomped at the unneeded portions of the cone. But dont you smell something bad around here? ? Misaka would even say its a nostalgic smell. ... Hearing her words, Accelerator narrowed his eyes. Holding his cane, he looked around the area again. A tranquil and casual cityscape stretched out around him. For that reason, something seemed out of place. Its color and form perfectly blended in, but it was still clearly different. It was an unexplainable intuitive differentiation like seeing an alien wearing human skin. At the other end of his gaze was... That tourist bus. Yes, it could be a disguised undercover vehicle, said Misaka Worst smiling. Academy City is the same as ever. Oh? But this is odd. Misaka thought a certain someone had gotten rid of the citys dark organizations by having them do away with the dirty jobs they forced people to do by using people and objects as shields. ... We have two paths we can take here. Misaka Worst presented her fluttering index and middle fingers in front of Accelerator. To eliminate them accepting the danger that brings in order to ensure our safety or to safely overlook them here in order to avoid danger. The answer is obvious, spat Accelerator in response. We take them out here. They broke their end of the agreement. I need to give them a warning about that darkness thats still hanging around. I dont like sticking my nose in other peoples business, but its a completely different story when it involves the dark side of the city. Misaka Worst whistled. Well, now that the darkness has begun moving, a certain someone would surely get hurt and her life would be in danger. It seems #1 is a good little boy who just wants to help out others. ...Dont act like you know what youre talking about. So what are you going to do? Misaka will of course choose the more dangerous route. It sounds more fun. Part 6 Hamazura Shiage pressed his back up against the wall. He slid down and sat on the ground. Kuruwa was gone. The conversation he had with her replayed in the back of his mind. Oh, you know. The thing about Hanzou-sama sheltering a small girl. The truth was, Hamazura Shiage was not in a position where he could brazenly enjoy his life in Academy City. When he had left the city and gotten caught up in World War III, he had been on the run because it had been determined that he was an uncertain element that knew too much about the dark side of Academy City. During the war, Hamazura had gotten ahold of a certain piece of data. It was known as the Parameter List and was enough to shake Academy City at its core. But it wasnt perfect. He had managed to balance the scales, but if the scales tipped past a certain point, the very depths of Academy City would be sure to put together a means of eliminating him. I dont know the details, but it seems that girl is being targeted by the upper levels of Academy City. Its as if she would be killed if she walked around the area for half an hour. At best, the scales were exceedingly unstable. If they received another large shock, they could be moved in one direction or the other To prevent that, it was best to lie low. He needed to take time to see whether the scales were tipped far enough in his favor to risk his life on it. Basically, he had to not cause any problems. He should abandon Hanzou and abandon the girl who was being targeted. Ah, I cant quite remember her name. Most likely, that reasoning wasnt wrong. If he was to ensure his safety, that was the only option left. He had sworn to protect Takitsubo Rikou. He wanted to keep danger from her as much as possible. He wanted to avoid having her swallowed up by the citys darkness at all costs. So the decision to abandon them wasnt wrong. It wasnt wrong. But... I think it was...Fre...Fre...mea? ...Yes, it was Fremea Seivelun. Shes about ten years old and has fluffy blonde hair. She was emotionally attached to Komaba-shi, wasnt she? Crouching in the alley, Hamazura gritted his teeth. Komaba Ritoku was the Skill-Out leader who had once fought the citys darkness for the sake of a great number of Level 0s and died for it. Fremea had been the girl Komaba had fought until the very, very end to protect. Hanzou was most likely sheltering her to carry out Komabas dying wish. Fremea was a harmless Level 0 with no connection to Skill-Out. That harmlessness may have been one of the reasons Komaba had tried to protect her. Also, Hamazura Shiage knew the family name Seivelun. Up until then, he hadnt known the family name of the girl emotionally attached to Komaba. Even Komaba, the person closest to her, had merely called her imported because that had been his first impression upon hearing the name. However, Hamazura couldnt fool himself any longer. Now that he knew this, he had to face this. ...Frenda Seivelun, muttered Hamazura. There was a short pause before he continued speaking. So she was her little sister...!! Frenda had been one of the main members of Item who had fought alongside Mugino Shizuri, Kinuhata Saiai, and Takitsubo Rikou. He did not know the details of how she had come into contact with the citys dark side and become part of Item. It was possible Frenda herself had enjoyed fighting. But... It was possible it had all started with Fremea. Was there really nothing wrong with abandoning her? His friend Hanzou was currently fighting with the citys dark side. Allowing Fremea to die would be the same as trampling on the feelings of Komaba Ritoku and Frenda. With all that, was there really nothing wrong with abandoning them? (...Thats right.) There isnt anything wrong with it, Hamazura muttered. He had given voice to his thoughts in order to solidify his view. His voice gradually grew louder. Theres nothing wrong with it. Theres no way theres anything wrong with keeping danger away from Takitsubo and the rest of Item!! I overcame all that war. I may have been covered in filth, but I finally grabbed this new life with my own two hands!! Like hell I could let that slip away. I will protect what Ive obtained on my own no matter what!! Still crouched in the alley, Hamazura grabbed his head with his hands. Thats right. When he thought about it rationally, the most effective way of protecting himself, Takitsubo, and the others was to abandon Hanzou and Fremea here. That option held the least risk and allowed him to protect those he cared about the easiest. That was what he should choose if he truly wanted to protect those he cared about. When he let the callousness sink in, he knew he should just let the problem approaching before his eyes go on by him. He would choose. He had to choose. Now. Hamazura clicked his tongue and clawed at his head. Fuck!! Like hell I can abandon them!! He put his hand to the wall and stood up once more. He ran towards the shadows in the depths of the narrow alleyway that symbolized the citys dark side. He ran to save his friend who was facing a deadly crisis. He ran to protect the feelings of the dead. He didnt contact Takitsubo and the others. This was Hamazuras problem. As long as the balance of the scales was unstable, he couldnt get those girls wrapped up in this. He ran in order to ensure that he would return. Hamazura Shiage dared to run into the depths of the darkness. Between the Lines 2 Komaba Ritoku. Many people trembled in fear when they first met that large, muscular boy, but he personally did not like any kind of conflict. When he had become the leader of Skill-Out, a gathering of Level 0s who had dropped out of the schools esper development programs, he had tried to drive some morals into the group little by little. He had them avoid unnecessary violence, not specifically target the weak, and no longer merely commit crimes that Anti-Skill and Judgment would overlook. He instead wanted them to secretly protect those who couldnt even ask for help. Of course, the actuality did not turn out so lovely and tear-jerking. As always, they had used the fact that they had been ostracized by Academy City to justify doing all sorts of horrible things. They would say they just wanted a place to belong and do all sorts of completely unrelated things. However, it was true that Komaba had caused a certain line to bud. To those who had been victims of Skill-Out, it may have sounded like nothing more than an excuse, but it was true that something like morality had been born there. It provided an opportunity. Something happened that influenced their fate. Perhaps it was like placing a large snowball at the top of a hill and having someone give it a push. This was nothing as calm as a slow change or a natural growth. What it actually was had been horribly simple. One after another, Level 0s were being attacked by powerful espers. Volume 1, 3: A Slight Margin and an Omen That Connects to the Next. Girl. Volume 1, Chapter 3: A Slight Margin and an Omen That Connects to the Next. Girl. Part 1 This way. Hanzou beckoned and a girl of around ten followed him. They were headed for the entrance to an underground mall. The difference between the delinquent boy and the doll-like girl was at the level of ordering coffee with sushi. The girl, Fremea Seivelun, was dressed very peculiarly. Her clothes were mainly white and pink and they were very fluffy and full of frills and lace. Her lower half was very plain in comparison with only a miniskirt and thick, wine red tights. She looked like an idol, but not a real performer; she looked more like the kind of idol one would see in a video game. She gave the impression that those clothes were what were forced upon her by those around her based on her appearance and not what she wanted to wear herself. In other words, she had the features to match those clothes. Her slender arms and legs, her fluffy blonde hair, her white skin, and her transparent blue eyes all added to the impression that she looked like a doll. Simply put, it felt like anything she wore would then become a popular thing to wear. In peaceful times, these features would clearly have been positive traits. But that was not so at that time. When on the run, traits good or bad that made one stand out worked to ones disadvantage. Hanzou understood this. Even for someone in the delinquent group of Skill-Out, he was especially skilled at blending in with others. The reason he was taking someone who stood out as much as Fremea to the underground mall was clear. It was because Fremeas pursuers had found out where she was. Originally, Hanzou had plenty of hideouts. You could even say that was his hobby. He would prepare hideouts in his spare time. From cardboard box houses to high-class apartments, he would prepare places to spend the night all over the city, he would search for internet cafes that were usually empty that he could use to gather information, he would hide cheap bikes and cars around, and he would prepare many different identities. The more he had of those things, the better. Having too few could be a problem, but having too many couldnt. At least, that was what he had thought... (I fucked up.) That was Hanzous frank conclusion. (They picked up on my periodic maintenance of the hideouts and tailed me from there. Dammit. That completely defeats the purpose of everything I had stored up!!) Whether it was a high-class apartment or a cardboard box house, it would fall into disrepair if he left it alone for long periods of time. To keep that from happening, he would periodically visit them, but the pursuers had spotted him while he was doing so. He didnt know how much these pursuers had researched him, but it was best to think that he could no longer use any of his many hideouts. As such, Hanzou and Fremea were not running for the underground mall in order to reach another hideout. In fact, Hanzou had no clear destination in mind. Hanzou had a cell phone in his hand, but he had altered the inner components quite a bit so that it could now also pick up electromagnetic waves other than the ones intended for phones. For example, he could pick up the radio signals from Anti-Skill, the teachers who were trained to and went on patrol to protect the peace of the city. (Theyre checking down below so they can transport a major criminal. If we go in here, those people from the darkness behind us will have to fall back!!) Hanzou may have been too na?ve in his thinking. If their pursuers had been delinquents, that method would have been enough to get rid of them. And if he could cut off their route they were taking, their chances of losing them would have been fairly high. However... The underground malls roof suddenly collapsed and their pursuer promptly came down through it. They werent up against someone who paid Anti-Skill any heed. A large cloud of dust flew into the air. The pursuer that had fallen down about three hundred meters from Hanzou did not have a human form. (What is that...?) The silhouette he could see through the dust looked like the top section of a large insect with the upper half of a human attached to the top. And it was huge. Its height alone brought it almost all the way up to the underground malls ceiling. Its smooth movements brought the image of a living creature to Hanzous mind, but he realized what it was shortly thereafter. It was a powered suit. It had eight legs and no head. The lenses and sensors were put directly on the body. It looked like the waist portion could rotate 360 degrees. Hanzou had no idea how it was operated or how the movements of a humans limbs were linked to its movements, but, since the suit was over five meters tall, the pilot was most likely in a space in the torso portion. However, the suits most characteristic portion was its arms. Its left and right arms were different sizes. The left arm was about twice the size of a human arm while the right arm was more than four times as large. Also, both of the arms were cylindrical below the elbow. Near the ends, separate wrists were attached like bayonets. The left arm held a machine gun. The right arm held... A smoothbore gun!? That was a type of gun used for the main guns of tanks. As Hanzou yelled, a flash burst from the barrel. He didnt even have time to push Fremea out of the way. The shell hit the wall a slight distance away from them and a shock wave exploded out. A split second later, the sound struck Hanzous ears. He had thought the shock wave had destroyed his sense of hearing, but an even greater noise attacked him even further. However, he didnt have time to complain about every little bit of pain. His body was blown a few meters through the air before he finally hit the ground. He then truly lost consciousness. And three seconds later, he had regained consciousness. The reason for this was clear. (...Looks like the Shield AED that automatically applies an electric shock to my chest in response to the level of my brain waves actually helped me.) Gah...gfh....!! F-Fr-Fremea...!! Hanzou couldnt get up due to a concussion and he looked around the area with dim eyes. A large number of students were running screaming for the exits. Their high-pitched voices and thundering footsteps sent pain pounding into Hanzous head. Anti-Skill seemed completely dumbfounded for a few seconds, but they soon began moving. They fired their handguns at the eight-legged powered suit, but, once they realized their bullets were merely ricocheting off of the armor, they changed their tactic. They worked to keep the casualties as low as possible by quickly evacuating the students. It was admirable that they were doing more than just getting taken out, but it was still too much to expect them to protect Hanzou and Fremea. The Anti-Skill group there could do nothing more than urge the people to evacuate, so they would be easily defeated if the eight-legged suit seriously attacked them. (Wheres Fremea! Shit!!) Crawling around on the ground, Hanzou continued to search for the girl. The wall had been greatly destroyed and the shockwave had shattered the surrounding pillars and glass. He saw a small form lying amid the rubble. It was her. She was ten meters away. He couldnt tell if she was okay from where he was, but she at least seemed to be in one piece. They were in a much better situation than they could have been because the smoothbore gun had miraculously been unable to aim properly. The sound of a few more blasts pounded Hanzous ears. The eight-legged suit was firing to hold Anti-Skill in check. With each shot, the no longer needed bottom disk of the shell was expelled and the smaller left arm would load a new shell. It seemed to be taking the shells from a backpack-like area on its back. It wasnt directly aiming for Anti-Skill; it was dropping the shells on the floor in front of them. Perhaps this was because the pilot had a conscience and only wanted to attack those he was after or perhaps targeting humans with anti-armor weapons was a pain, so he was just attacking with a shower of fragments. Anti-Skills protective vests and other protectors guarded against the shower of fragments, but they didnt do anything about the shock waves. The supposedly strong Anti-Skill members lost consciousness one by one almost as if they had been hit by a stun gun after pouring a bucket of salt water over their heads. The right arm of the eight-legged powered suit expelled a metal disk from its elbow area along with some cinders. It was the bottom portion of the shell that was not needed now that the shell had been fired. Uuh... Fremea, who had been taken out by a shock wave, let out a groan in response to the loud noise. She had regained consciousness...or, more accurately, she had been forcefully shaken awake. Strength finally returned to Hanzous arms and legs. (Before hitting the target, the parts hit the walls or ceiling... Are the shells its using APFS...or whatever its called. The one thats a bunch of letters from the alphabet. The type that uses a large amount of pressure to pierce armor instead of explosive powder. And this has a multilayer structure. After it pierces the armor, it sends shards and a shockwave inside.) It was a shell that was not intended to be directly used on people. It was meant to be fired at a tank or other armored vehicle and kill the people inside. The destructive force of the shards and the shockwave was greatest in a sturdy closed box. That may have been why Hanzou and Fremea hadnt been killed. ...Fremea. Can you stand, Fremea!? ... The girl moved slightly but didnt give a proper response. Hanzou ran over to her staying low to the ground. The powered suit responded. It used its eight legs to approach and mercilessly turned the gun on its right arm towards them. Hanzou approached Fremea by sliding across the floor covered in fragments of building materials, grabbed her in his arms, and disappeared around a corner of a passageway. The blast came. The mass of death flew towards Hanzou faster than sound and it struck the wall between him and the powered suit. But it did not end there. The shock wave from the shell hitting one side of the wall passed right through the wall and scattered out in a radial pattern on the other side of the wall. The building itself shook like a giant speaker. A tremendous blast reached Hanzou and Fremeas ears. Bhhh! Ghoh!? They were knocked to the ground. The wall was unable to bear the vibration and small fragments a few millimeters across broke off and pierced Hanzous skin. He felt that the way he immediately held Fremea in close to protect her was in the top five plays of his life. (An adhesive non-lethal air stun gun...!?) Hanzou gave more priority to the question before his eyes than to the fact that he had survived. (It changed what kind of shell it was firing? So it can change out between various types of shells!!) Recent smoothbore guns could use shells and anti-aircraft missiles with the same gun, so it was possible that powered suit could use guided weapons. (No, speaking of recent ones...) Hanzou thought while he sluggishly stood up and checked to make sure Fremea was safe in his arms. (An Academy City smoothbore gun can hit a target five thousand meters away with greater than 95% probability even while firing rapidly and moving. Just because were a small target is no reason that it shouldnt be hitting us from this distance...) Of course, the pursuer had no reason to hold back. And there was no way that powered suit had worse specs than a normal tank. There had to be something there. There had to be a reason it had failed to kill two flesh-and-blood humans who were only three hundred meters away in an underground mall. (...An underground mall...) So thats it. Hanzou raised his head. (It uses an electromagnetic signal for its precise aiming. Thats fine in an open battlefield, but it cant compensate for an environment full of complex electromagnetic signals being reflected everywhere.) In that regard, that model of powered suit would have trouble in urban warfare. It had most likely been modified during World War III with the areas of little cover like the wide plains of Russia in mind and now that was working against it here. If that was the case... (If I had something I could use to purposefully reflect its signal or something that could send a powerful electromagnetic signal at its receiver, I could almost eliminate the threat of that gun.) This was either a chance to turn things around or a chance to try for too much and make everything a lot worse. Hearing the eight legs approaching, Hanzou decided to just get away from there for the time being. He didnt know if he could lose that military suit even if he had a car, but he might be able to use its large size against it. (Circling around brings in the possibility of getting shot by that machine gun on its left arm. That thing has to be adjusted to be used against human targets.) Either way, he gained nothing by letting it get near him. Passing through a narrow path would have been the standard strategy, but, as long as that smoothbore gun could force open the path, it could hardly be called absolutely safe. (An exit...) Hanzou held Fremea in his arms and slowly stood up. (If only there were a non-standard exit I could trick it into letting me near...) Of course, a solution wasnt just going to come out of nowhere. The various exits Hanzou had previously prepared in the underground mall came to his mind. He ended up choosing the option that would be most easily foreseen by his enemy but also required him to move his legs the least. And then... Strength suddenly left Hanzous knees. He fell to his knees and wasnt able to support Fremeas small body. He somehow managed not to fall completely over, but he could no longer walk straight ahead much less escape the military powered suit. The cause was simple. The two blasts he and Fremea had received hadnt been enough to kill them, but the two had still been damaged. The shockwaves had robbed Hanzou of strength from his very core and thrown his sense of balance out of whack. (Oh...shit.) When he tried to inhale, Hanzou realized that his jaw had frozen up. (I didnt even notice the damage to my own body? Talk about a yellow light.) The stairway out of the underground mall a few meters in front of him seemed oddly far away. He couldnt get away. He could only move about as fast as a caterpillar, so he simply couldnt get away from the powered suit. Thinking of how it had attacked Anti-Skill so calmly, there was no chance of it giving up even if he managed to get to a public place. This pursuer was determined to kill Fremea. Hanzou heard the sound of the eight legs moving. Crushing the fragments of building material underfoot, a gigantic figure appeared from around the corner. The way it moved in a human-like way as if it was staring at his face caused a chill to run down Hanzous back. Of course, no words were exchanged. The powered suit merely accurately aimed its left arm at Hanzou and Fremea. Instead of the smoothbore gun on its right arm, it was using the machine gun on its left arm that was for use on human targets. (Kh...!!) Honestly, there had been no need for him to stick with her this far. She was the girl Komaba Ritoku had wanted to protect. But that was nothing more than a sentimental reason. Nothing was forcing him to do this. According to his usual logic, he should abandon all conditions that lowered his odds of survival. However... He knew it was useless against a machine gun with a caliber of at least 18mm, but Hanzou immediately threw himself over Fremea. Why had he done that? What was that supposed to accomplish? He didnt have time to ask those questions. Shortly thereafter the powered suit opened fire with its machine gun. Accurately. Mercilessly. But it wasnt aiming at Hanzou or Fremea. With a crash, a four-door car slid down the stairway that led out of the underground mall. A caliber of 18mm was larger than the bullets for large anti-armor rifles. Fifty rounds were fired in ten seconds, so there was no question about what became of the family-use four-door car. By the time the car had gone down the stairs far enough for its front wheels to touch the floor, its hood was crushed, the engine was cracked, and the oil caught fire. It exploded all at once. The car didnt make it far enough to reach Hanzou, much less the powered suit. All that reached him was heat, smoke, and a gust of wind that he felt on his skin. (What fucking idiot was that!? What kind of meddlesome suicide was that!?) However, the car continued on as a mere metal frame. Its previous speed kept the now-tireless wheels spinning. The eight-legged suit silently prepared its smoothbore gun. Even if the car directly hit the suit with its current speed, the damage wouldnt reach the person inside the suit. The pilot was being cautious on the off chance there were explosives in the car. The suit fired unhesitatingly. With a flash, the shell flew above Hanzou and Fremeas heads and blew up the remains of the car yet again. The car was not going to move forward any further. The explosion held enough force to blow the remaining metal frame to pieces. The explosion caused enough of a blast to send Hanzou rolling further as he lay on the floor. The destruction was enough to make him want to cover his eyes. He was afraid to imagine what had happened to the driver of the car. However... (...What...?) In the burning remains of the car, he could see no human form in the area where the drivers seat had been. At first he thought the person had merely been blown to pieces in the blast, but that wasnt it. (There was no one inside...?) The flames started to burn even brighter and the hot air caressed Hanzous cheek. He instinctually turned his face away while lying on the ground. That may have been the only reason he noticed it. Hanzou just so happened to turn away from the exit and toward the powered suit. And there he saw another form approaching behind the suit. It was Hamazura Shiage. The boy was carrying Anti-Skill equipment and sneaking toward the powered suit. Normally, the eight-legged suit would gather information from all 360 degrees around it and know how many people were approaching and exactly where they were no matter how silently they moved. It would easily detect vehicles or people. After all, they were in an age where wirelessly-controlled vehicles packed with rockets that were only a few dozen centimeters big and attacked from within the grass were in use. The eight-legged suit was set up to accurately detect freely moving landmines the size of a large bento box, so no one would think an amateur high school student could approach it undetected. However, there was one exception. There was an instant where none of the sensors were working. (The recoil and shockwave...just after firing the shell...!?) That was what the empty car had been for. It had created an opportunity for him to get close to the powered suit. Also, in Hamazuras hands was a piece of equipment he had most likely snatched from the Anti-Skill group that had been taken out in the underground mall. It was called an HsLH-02. It was a linear hammer used to destroy steel doors. At first glance, it looked like a bazooka, but inside was a giant stake with a flat end. Hamazura swung it back like a pendulum once and struck the powered suit with the muzzle. There was no need for a trigger. The shock applied to the muzzle area struck the target with the giant twenty-kilogram-stake at subsonic speed. A tremendous noise of metal striking metal rang out. Hamazura had aimed for one of the eight legs. Specifically, the leg that had been lowering to the floor in order to support the weight of the suit as it moved. The horizontal blow essentially swept the suits leg out from under it causing it to lose its balance. The right half of the suit sunk down, but it avoided falling over. That was when the second strike came. Hamazuras linear hammer mercilessly struck the elbow area of the smoothbore gun that would normally have been too high to reach. A horrible noise that sounded like something inside the device had been twisted was heard and the giant gun wobbled like a fishing rod. But that was all. The gun didnt break to pieces or bend. (No good!?) Hanzou gritted his teeth. The linear hammer was made to smash, not to pierce. The end of the stake was flat so that it could apply force to an entire door and break it open. That was good enough for breaking open a door, but it wasnt a good way to pierce armor. The powered suit turned its smoothbore gun towards Hamazura in order to fire back with much more force than had caused its right arm to wobble. But then it stopped moving as if it had realized something. Its right elbow. The spot Hamazura had hit it with the linear hammer. That was where the opening to load a new shell was supposed to be. It was normally protected by a sliding door, but that protective door had been slightly bent. It may have only been slightly, but the bent door could no longer slide which meant it could no longer open. If the suit could not load a new shell, it could not fire its smoothbore gun. Even if there was still a shell remaining inside, the gun could blow apart if it wasnt properly airtight. The powered suits shoulders moved up and down irregularly. Clear anger resided behind that motion. But Hamazura did not remain quiet. The suit aimed the machine gun on its left arm towards Hamazura at about the same time Hamazura threw a box-shaped ashtray he had in one hand into the air and hit the bottom with the linear hammer. The ashtray was made fairly heavy to keep it from being stolen and it was crushed as it was fired at tremendous speed. It struck the powered suit on its left wrist and averted the aim of the machine gun. The short burst of bullets destroyed a wall instead of destroying Hamazura. In that space of time, Hamazura operated the linear hammer to bring the twenty-kilogram-stake back inside the muzzle. He then swung it in an upwards arc. The electromagnetically powered uppercut struck the lower portion of the suits body where its sensors were located. Its fine-tuned and important radar receiver was crushed more than anything else. That was the limit. One of the eight legs swung upwards and struck the linear hammer from below. That was all it took to knock it from Hamazuras grasp and have it stick in the ceiling. The powered suit used its electronic control to accurately control its stance and moved its useless right arm once more. The smoothbore gun may have been unusable, but it was still a giant hunk of composite armor that could be swung around with the might of a machine. Hamazuras body doubled over. The attack had been more of a twisted lariat than a punch and Hamazura struck the ground multiple times before he stopped. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!! Hamazura!! Geh...bh....Run. Hanzou, we can get away now...!! Hamazura had been knocked over near Hanzou, but he still stood up, grabbed Hanzous arm because Hanzou was still sitting there, and started moving. Hanzou realized that Fremea was about to slip from his grasp. Hama...zura. Take...Fremea. Damn it!! Youre getting away too!! They ran through the burning hot air without flinching as they passed by the destroyed car and headed for the staircase out. The powered suit moved its left arm. Its 18mm machine gun began firing. However, it couldnt use its electromagnetic signal to aim and the hot air from the burning car prevented it from using its infrared equipment. Its optical aiming that relied on visuals wouldnt work either because of all the black smoke. In the very end, they were mostly saved by luck. Hamazura, Hanzou, and Fremea ran up the stairs and above ground. Part 2 The pilot checked how the eight-legged powered suits right arm was doing and then headed for the exit staircase in order to begin pursuit. He then received a transmission. Youre done, Silver Cross. Was that really enough? You accomplished your objective. Hey, hey. I thought only the two were necessary. The pilot gave a doubtful expression to the words of the person on the other end of the transmission. It was supposed to be Fremea Seivelun and Hamazura Shiage. The third isnt needed. Letting an unneeded protector survive could lead to things getting off track again. You did enough. I dont think theyll become separated again now. The person on the other end of the transmission exhaled in what sounded like a scornful laugh. Being the person whos supposed to get taken out is tough, isnt it? Youve got that right. I could have ended it all in one blow if I had used a canister shot. Isnt the model youre using unfit for this kind of battle? It uses wide area electromagnetic signal targeting because they had the plains of Russia in mind, so its accuracy falls in the city. It must have been tough not to kill them with that much firepower. Making an impact was important. This model, the Enemy Blaster, is perfect for that. And Im the kind of man that knows how to do the right thing at the right time. He gave up on restoring the powered suits right arm. Im heading back now, but hows the other side of the issue going? If that side doesnt move, this isnt going to go anywhere. Dont worry. Hearing that, the pilot contacted the support personnel waiting above ground. He couldnt exactly stride through the streets in that powered suit. He would use a special vehicle disguised as a large tourist bus in order to blend into the scenery of the city. But when he did... Respond. What is it, Chameleon? Respond. ...Damn it, what happened? I told you not to worry. The other side has begun to move. The person on the other end of the transmission sneered Being the person whos supposed to get taken out is tough, isnt it? What do you think? muttered Misaka Worst. About two hundred meters away, dark smoke was rising from the entrance to an underground mall as if the entrance were a chimney. However, she wasnt looking at that clear sign of an incident; she was looking at the large bus right in front of her. Technically, it was an undercover vehicle for the citys dark side. The vehicle had been taken care of in no time at all. Accelerator and Misaka Worst looked at the now powerless vehicle. At first glance, it looked like a tourist bus with dark sunlight protectors in the windows. However, the inside was mostly empty as if to transport tanks, and it had the engine and suspension needed to carry around that much weight. A couple of men in work clothes were collapsed on the ground, and inside the vehicle were specialized tools, a few different types of shells, armor plates, large battery packs, and other similar things. It seemed the vehicle was meant to carry something large because various latches were installed on the floor, walls, and ceiling so that its contents would not topple over in transit. From the look of those latches... A powered suit, Accelerator said under his breath. Of course, this was not an Anti-Skill powered suit. They would have no reason to hide theirs. He looked at the men he had defeated and at the black smoke rising in the distance and clicked his tongue. ...Looks like things are getting to be a problem again. Uuh... He heard a groan. One of the men collapsed inside the undercover vehicle had uttered it. This wasnt because the man had exceptional strength; it was only because Accelerator and Misaka Worst had purposefully let him remain conscious. I thought the darkness had been demolished, Accelerator addressed the man. The hostages and negotiation materials that were tying down all the personnel were supposed to have been dealt with at the end of the war. I made sure of it. So who are you people? ...The Freshmen. Ahn? Youll find out soon enough. Strength left the mans arms and legs after saying that. His eyes were still open, but he had clearly lost consciousness. Misaka Worst cackled and then spoke. He has scars on his head. A chip must have cut off his consciousness. Its an anti-torture method. If we forcefully shook him, we could probably bring him back. What should we do? Leave him be. So its time for the permanent marker? It seemed Misaka Worst was ready to turn the unconscious man into a Hoichi the Earless covered in words that werent allowed on TV, but Accelerator ignored her. He turned to the wall of the undercover vehicle. A few maps were displayed there and some buildings and streets were marked with a highlighter. It seemed they had been investigating someones activities. Accelerator tore off the maps and the photograph stuck to the wall next to them. The photograph had been printed on expensive printing paper used for photographs and it showed a girl of about ten with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her name was written in marker next to her face. It was Fremea Seivelun. Part 3 Hamazura and the others had cut back and forth through narrow alleys again and again. That had been a counter measure for the powered suit, but they had no real proof that the suit had stopped following them. They had only stopped because they didnt have enough strength to run any further. The three of them were breathing heavily. Hamazura... Hanzou called his friends name in a low voice. Hamazura gave a weary smile in response, but Hanzou grabbed his collar and pushed him against a wall. What the hell!? Why did you show up there, Hamazura!? Why did you get yourself involved in this!? Hanzou gritted his teeth. He wasnt mad at Hamazura. He was mad at himself for getting Hamazura involved. He was thinking that speaking with Hamazura and going to the restaurant with him had all been a mistake. ...You had gained what none of us in Skill-Out had been able to gain. Hanzou had been restraining his voice to a certain extent, but he lost control and his voice exploded out. You had a girl! You were thinking about what to do in the future! You were going ahead on an honest path!! You were studying to open a road service!! So why did you come here and come back into contact with the darkness!? You...you may have destroyed your own dream!! Do you understand that, Hamazura!? ...I dont care... There was no clear determination in Hamazuras eyes. He just shook his head weakly. I didnt want to get involved in this. He didnt try to act tough. This showed that the words tumbling from his mouth were how he truly felt. But I couldnt abandon you. ... When I heard you were in a bad situation and that Fremea Seivelun was involved too, Leader Komabas face came to mind and...and there are a lot of complicated issues with the family name Seivelun... That wasnt the end of his thoughts, but Hamazuras words cut off there. He finally gave up on expressing his view nicely and repeated just the most important part. ...I couldnt abandon you. Dammit, spat out Hanzou and he let go of Hamazuras collar. His back still to the wall, Hamazura slid down and sat on the ground. He looked up at Hanzous face and asked a question. What are we going to do now? Its best to think that none of my hideouts can be used anymore. If I call Kuruwa, she can probably get us something, but we need somewhere safe to stay while we wait for her. ...Hamazura, do you know somewhere we can hide out just for a short time? You mean the kind of hideout that a delinquent might want...? As he spoke, Hamazura suddenly had an idea. Wait, I know. Where? Hanzou asked. Hamazura Shiage had connections with one non-delinquent organization. Item. The group wasnt working as Academy Citys pawns at the moment, but some of their old connections still existed. One of the places Item had used as a hideout was... A private salon in District 3. Its a bit expensive, but we can probably use it. Part 4 Accelerator and Misaka Worst searched all through the undercover vehicle, but they didnt find any more information. They found nothing on who owned the powered suit or what organization used that equipment. The two of them exchanged words after leaving the vehicle. Misaka Worst waved around the photo they had acquired within the bus. It looks like they were plotting to attack this brat. Well, thats none of our business. ... (This girl is...) Accelerator recognized the girl in the photo. He had seen her in an image on the cell phone belonging to Komaba Ritoku, a man he had eliminated in the past as an enemy who was threatening the peace of the city. Komaba had bared his fangs against Academy City in order to protect a large number of Level 0s from violence. There had been one person he had fought to the very end in order to protect. Why would they bring out a military powered suit in order to kill one little brat? Misaka knows the danger someone represents doesnt always match how they look in this city of esper powers, but then there should have been a report on her power and how to deal with it in there. This just feels like shes a Level 0 and they were just being extremely careful. ...Hm? What is it #1? You go home without me. Accelerator handed the shopping bags to Misaka Worst and looked at the maps covered in highlighted areas they had taken from the undercover vehicle. Im going to go after her. Hey, now. Misaka Worst sighed in exasperation and shook her head. She showed the #1 the photo of Fremea Seivelun. This girl that we assume to be a Level 0 isnt Last Order. So what? Accelerator spat out. Its true I have no real reason to protect her, but thats no reason to just let her die. Change that look in your eyes, you pervert!! Youre just protecting her because shes small!! And yet you broke Misakas arm with no problem!! ...The composition of the citys darkness has changed in some way and I cant figure out whats going on. Also, I dont like the sound of the Freshmen that piece of shit mentioned before. Theres a chance theyll bare their fangs at us, so I need to look into it. Are you really the kind of idiot that needs every little thing explained to her? Well, we at least know the darkness is large enough to bring out a powered suit. Misaka wonders why theyre targeting that Fremea brat. I dont know, but Im sure Ill find out when I look into this. Accelerator walked off with his modern cane. Misaka Worst rearranged the contents of the shopping bags in order to make an empty one, walked up behind Accelerator, and put the bag over his head in order to restrain him. Wait up. Gmmh!! Sorry for turning you into a robber from the Showa era with panty hose on his head. ... Accelerator hit the switch on the choker-style electrode around his neck. Throughout normal life, he didnt have enough power to walk without a cane, but, when he hit that switch, he could use the strongest esper powers in Academy City. He used the truly terrifying power of being able to manipulate the vectors of every kind of force to tear apart the plastic bag restraining his head from the inside. ...Do you want to meet the same fate as that plastic bag? Hehh. When you transcend good and evil, you can actually be pretty funny. What do you want? Do you have any reason to do this much? asked Misaka Worst with a large grin on her face. As I said before, Fremea Seivelun isnt Last Order. Are you a fucking moron? spat out Accelerator. My objective is to assess the level and target of the threat. I dont give a fuck what happens to that brat. Of course, if its necessary in order to eliminate the threat, Ill make some use of her. Ha ha. How kind of you. And what are you going to do? Ehh? Misaka would prefer it if everything got ten times worse. What would you do if Misaka said she was going to purposefully help out the enemy? Id give you a hundred spankings. For some reason, she responded to this by bringing a hand to her mouth and wiggling her hips back and forth. ...And what if Misaka said she would be okay with that even if it was in public? Accelerator ignored her and began walking. Accelerator went off to find a refrigerated coin locker to put the groceries in and Misaka Worst frantically ran after him. Part 5 Private salons were one aspect of the service industry characteristic of Academy City. Simply put, they were something like a fancy karaoke box. Customers could rent the rooms based on time and have fun or throw parties or do whatever else they wanted inside. Eighty percent of Academy Citys residents were students and most of those lived in regulated student dorms. Being under the eye of adults during classes and after school could be stressful. Private salons were a bit like secret hideouts that could be bought. This setup had the danger of being about a step away from becoming a hotbed for sexual crimes, so it wasnt something to be completely admired. However, the very act of selling an area of freedom was an effective symbol of the social psychology of Academy City. The numbered rooms in a large building had become something to be sold. Hamazura and the others had fled to a room in one of those large buildings. ... Hamazura lowered his gaze to the screen of his cell phone. He had the numbers of Takitsubo, Kinuhata, and Mugino programmed into it. Those three would surely be more help against an unknown enemy than the collection of Level 0s they currently were. Item of course did not know what was going on, but they were out searching for him in a game, so (despite having to redo their game), if he told them the solution, they would all gather. However... (...I just cant get them involved in this.) He gritted his teeth and then turned off his phone. Fremea Seivelun was Frendas sister, so it wasnt as if this wasnt any of Items business. Yet this had to do with the citys darkness, and that changed things. Hamazura didnt want to get them involved in order to protect himself. Then Hanzou spoke to Hamazura ignorant of the issues he was thinking about. Hamazura, if youre going to make a phone call, use a dummy SIM. Ive got a few of them if you need one. No, thats fine. Hamazura shook his head. He looked over at Fremeas back as she operated the large TV with the remote control. He spoke to Hanzou in a low voice. What are we going to do? We know Fremea is being targeted by the dark side of the city, but why does she have to be attacked by such dangerous people? I actually dont know any of the details, said Hanzou in a stiff voice. It isnt anything about her herself. The schools System Scan has her as a Level 0, so she doesnt have any huge value as far as a DNA map goes and I dont think shes had a chance to contact the real darkness out there. All I know is that she had a point of contact with me and Leader Komaba. ... So Im assuming it has something to do with Skill-Out or its former leader, Komaba Ritoku. As you well know, thats just a group of delinquents. Fremea was flipping through channels a bit away, but it didnt look like she was finding a show that she liked. The talk shows were just going over serious news about most countries accepting Academy City even though its belligerent interactions had been one of the things that led to World War III. This was because Academy City had paid out large amounts of money to pay for reconstruction after the war. Is there something those at the very top of Academy City, the ones that hold the administrative power, want enough to take someones life to get? As Im sure you know, when Leader Komaba led Skill-Out, he had a large-scale plan in order to revolt against Academy City. I played a major role in creating the plan. Of course, it ended up failing. It seemed Fremea was not interested in a commentator going on about a conspiracy theory about Academy City altering the balance of power in how they regulated the balance of the funds they gave out. The conspiracy theory was quieted as she flipped through the channels. Its possible Leader Komaba prepared a spare plan back then. One that dealt with a vulnerability in the city other than the one we were using. Then... Those at the top would want to deal with that, right? And Fremea was under Komabas care. They might be thinking that he gave her a hint just in case. But the main plan was destroyed so easily. If this spare plan was so great, why didnt he use it instead? They dont care about our plan. They just want to utterly destroy any vulnerability in the city. That was assuming it had to do with Komaba Ritoku. However, Hamazura knew of another point of contact with Fremea Seivelun. Frenda. And the group Frenda was part of, Item. That group contained a Level 4 effective at battle, one of the seven Level 5s, and a girl who was said to have the possibility of becoming the eighth. They were a skilled organization that had been prepared by the dark side of the city in order to eliminate the elements of unrest within the city. Since Fremea was Frendas sister, it was possible this had to do with Item via Frenda. (Frenda was a member of Item, but I didnt know what they were doing 24/7. Could she have been working on some other project on the side?) He didnt have enough information. Why was she being targeted? How large was the organization after her? How serious were they? If he knew what they were after, he might be able to put together a way to survive. ...Fremea has no clue what it could be, but theres no mistaking that the darkness even brought out a powered suit to target her. We have to look into this while staying on the run. Well fight back once weve ensured her safety, said Hanzou as he headed for the exit. Where are you going? Im going to contact Kuruwa. I wouldnt exactly call this place safe. This will be our relay point. Well use Kuruwas network to find a safe hideout to move to. Is it safe to contact her? I already told you. Im going to put a dummy SIM in my phone. Even if theyre monitoring my number, they wont be able to trace my call to the antenna its using. Hanzou grabbed the doorknob as he spoke. When he opened the door, he turned around. Hamazura. What? You really saved us back there. Im not happy with what you did, but Ill admit that much. Before Hamazura could respond, Hanzou had left the room. Hamazura felt a little awkward and his gaze wandered around the room until his and Fremeas eyes met. This was the girl Komaba Ritoku had risked his life to protect. She was also the little sister of Frenda, one of the main members of Item. Long time no see. When Komaba had still been alive, Hamazura and Hanzou had spoken with her. They hadnt even known her name at the time. Do you remember me? Yes. In the first place, youre one of the people with Komaba-oniichan. Hamazura smiled slightly at how she remembered him. He could no longer think of Komaba except in the past tense. But he couldnt let her know about the painful things that came with the passage of time. Thats right. Im Hamazura Shiage. Nice to meet you again. Im Fremea. Fremea Seivelun. Hamazura felt as if he should have learned of her family name sooner, but he didnt say anything about it. Things got a bit rough back there. Are you okay? Are you hurt? Im fine. My ears were hurting a bit ago, but in the first place I''m fine now. Nyah. (...Where in Japan did she learn nyah?) He didnt recall her saying that when he had spoken with her before. That raised a question in his mind, but asking about it wouldnt help anything there. He was lucky enough she knew Japanese. In the first place, what are we going to do now? Hanzou is calling a friend, so you dont have to worry. Wheres Komaba-oniichan? Fremea looked up at him with her blue eyes. I havent seen him in a while. He doesnt answer his phone and I havent seen him on the roads I usually see him on. In the first place, do you know where hes gone? Hamazura tried to keep his voice from catching in his throat. He wasnt sure if he succeeded. Hes, well... He managed to put on a smile. But her blue eyes saw through him better than a lie detector. He isnt a very smart person. I know it isnt right for someone like me to say that, but he really isnt. So hes been stuck in supplementary lessons at school. If he doesnt do that, hell end being held back. Can you keep that a secret for a while? ...Yeah, Fremea said with a slight nod. Her voice sank, but it was only at the level of someone breaking their promise about coming to play on a day off. In the first place, I understand. Fremea plopped down on the sofa that was much too big for her. Mh. ? My stomach almost growled, but then it didnt. She leaned back in the sofa and put her small hands on her stomach. Hamazura frowned. ...Do you want something to eat? Fremea gave a small nod in response. Just like in a karaoke box, the private salon let you order food over an inner line. There was also a large refrigerator in the spacious room. Hamazura didnt know what kind of food Fremea liked, so he decided to order various things over the inner line. While Hamazura was talking into the phone on the wall, Hanzou returned. Kuruwa will be here before long. ...What are you doing, Hamazura? Ordering some food. We just ate. Its for Fremea. Oh, well order some satsuma age while youre at it. It took about ten minutes for the food to get there. Instead of main dishes, it was mostly side dishes such as French fries and vegetable sticks. ...The satsuma age just doesnt fit in with the rest. Shut up. Im going to eat them all myself, so it doesnt matter. Hamazura and Hanzou moved some food from the large plates onto their smaller plates, but Fremea was acting oddly. She put some kanitama on her small plate, but, when she noticed the green-colored bean-like objects that were in it, she passed her small plate to Hamazura. Green peas, she said. W-what? Why are you passing me a bunch of peas? Fremea was precisely removing the green peas and giving them to Hamazura. I see. So you dont like green peas, responded Hamazura. Nyaaoohhn But youre too old for that. You need to know that the world isnt always so kind. Have your green peas back. Fgyaaaaaaaahh!? screamed Fremea now that she had a mountain of peas twice the size it was before. After that, Hamazura got in a fight with Hanzou when Hanzou put salt directly on the large plate of fries and there was a dispute over whether the vegetable sticks should have mayonnaise or dressing on them, but the dark atmosphere was mostly swept away. They had just been attacked by that eight-legged powered suit, but it didnt look like Fremea was in any kind of emotional shock. It was possible that the feelings just hadnt caught up with her yet. Part 6 Meanwhile, there were other people who found Hamazura and the others actions to be odd. Mugino Shizuri and the rest of Item. They had split up to search around the city for Hamazura, but they had each caught scent of the familiar smell of the darkness. Take Mugino for example. She was leaning up against a wall in order to gather information. More precisely, she was connected to the buildings security cameras with a long, thin cable stretching from the fake eye built into her eyepatch. Of course, she had no interest in the building itself; the camera was just a gateway. Through it she entered the security companys network and went through the footage archives to see if Hamazura was in them. Her flesh-and-blood brain was directly connected to the mechanical eye, but there was additional meaning there. It meant she could directly receive information from the machine. Of course, it had to be translated into information a human could detect, so it wasnt perfect and she mostly relied on images through the fake eyes system. However, she could do things that were impossible with a normal interface. While an image search was being carried out at high speed behind her forehead, Mugino used her spare hand to operate her cell phone. It was in Chat Mode where it could communicate on multiple lines at once. A powered suit went nuts in an underground mall in District 7. In a few hours, the higher ups will probably have revised the footage and debunked the rumors so that it didnt happen. I found that super fast by intercepting Anti-Skill radio. Originally, a boy and a girl were being targeted. Later, another boy super joined in. The three of them super got away from the powered suit and ran off above ground. Did the cameras get any of their faces? The first two werent him. The guy who came later is...I cant tell. The smoke gathered around the ceiling, so I can only tell there was someone there. But, Mugino added, I think the original boy is someone Hamazura would talk with. And the girl looks somehow familiar... Oh, so you even super looked into all the people Hamazura knew? Yanderes can be super scary. ...Kinuhata, I can see the things around you. Could you grab that thick thing over there and shove it up your ass? Im super not interested in size and thickness, so no thank you. Anyway, lets continue the super Hamazura Search. Hee hee hee. Lets see what finds the super right answer faster: security cameras or radio information. Ahn? At this rate, wont Takitsubo be the punishment bunny? When Mugino asked that frank question, the rabbit girl Takitsubo Rikou spoke up for the first time in the conversation with a trembling voice. ...A signal is coming from north-north-east... I sense that Hamazura is flirting with another girl...!! Mugino, Im most afraid of that super vague medium. We need to go all out so that we dont end up being a super unsightly bunny in front of that idiot. Part 7 Kuruwa sure is taking her time, said Hanzou as he leaned back in the private salons sofa. Hamazura and Fremea were checking out what was inside the spacious room. There were card games and board games on some shelves and a video game system was installed next to the large TV. It seemed the TV could also be used to browse the internet. It also had a satellite connection, so there were more than three hundred channels to choose from. This meant that it would take a long time to find something to watch even if there was something you wanted to watch on. Fremea had given up on finding something to watch and the TV was left on news about the end of World War III. It was something about the weapons not needed now that the war was over being transported to Districts 2 and 23. Hamazura quickly gave up on the TV, sat down on the sofa, and started looking through the road service reference book, but then someone grabbed the edge of his clothes. He looked up and saw Fremea looking bored. At her request, he started looking for a multiplayer game. Because of the type of facility they were in, there were a lot of party games that could be played with a lot of people. It might have been imprudent to turn towards hobbies and time-killing devices at a time like that, but it might have been a defensive reaction of their minds. If they sat still and went crazy, they would have lost everything. They would win by safely returning to their everyday lives. That eight-legged thing wasnt a part of their fates. Hamazura, in the first place I want to play that. Fremea stretched out her hands, but she couldnt reach her target which was on the top shelf. The shelf had video games lined up on it. This? No. Not something that''s in the first place as boring as that. Then this? To the right. To the right. Farther right. No left. In the first place, there. Hamazura moved his finger along the shelf as he listened to Fremea, but then he felt something heavy on his back. Fremea was using him in place of a ladder to get her small frame up to the shelf. This, she said as she pulled a game from the shelf. ...No, thats... I want to play Blood & Destroy. What kind of title is that? That just makes it sound like its full of horrible things! Look, the screenshots on the back of the package are almost all blood red!! It looked like a shooting game where a grim-faced guy shot lots of zombies. It practically screamed For the foreign market!! When he carefully read the instructions, it seemed the protagonists were the ones doing the chomping. The tagline was Lets drive back the allies of justice!! Hamazura carefully chose his words. L-look, doesnt this one with the fluffy pets look fun? Blood & Destroy. What about A Stroll with the Mermaid Princess? Blood & Destroy. The Meadows of- I want to play it!! Fremea held the blood-red package in her hands, hid her mouth behind it, and stared up at him. Hamazura paused for a second. ...Im not going to let you, but can I take a picture of that? Gyaaoohhh!! The two of them got all worked up and Hanzou stood up from the sofa. ...Kuruwa is taking too long. Im going to try to contact her again. While Fremea looked over at the cell phone screen, Hamazura gestured to Hanzou with his fingers. The gesture was saying that they couldnt stay there much longer. I know that, muttered Hanzou in what was almost a sigh. I know that. Part 8 A certain gigantic dump trucks drivers seat was higher than the second floor of a building. The back was the size of a pool and seemed to be full of black stones, but that was just a disguise. The outside of the inner domed space was made to look that way. On the inside it was a maintenance area. A maintenance area for a powered suit. The sound of chemical springs creaking could be heard. Those springs were inside the powered suit and it normally creaked like that whenever it did anything. It was sort of like the rustling of clothing, but there was a rumor that it had an effect on the minds of people who werent used to hearing it if they heard it for long periods of time. Silver Cross Im ready, but isnt this a tad indirect? At this rate, there are too many lines. It would be best if we cut down a few more branches. Kuroyoru, does that mean...? Yes, Ill be heading out. If were limiting the lines, wouldnt it be better if you started with crushing Item? Crushing things one by one in order is the fastest way. Also, you failed last time. Having the direction the branches are growing in change would be a problem. I thought you had urged for retreat regarding that. Even without, itll be fine. Things werent exactly perfect from the get-go. Dont forget the purpose of pruning. I know. The foundation of pruning is to choose the thickest, strongest branch. In that way, that branch is the thickest and yet easiest to handle. So youre saying bloodshed and danger will become water that makes the branches grow. Lets recheck our plans. Ill be heading for Hamazura Shiage. You support me with the bees. We can leave Accelerator alone for now. The fewer risks the better. The other side has begun moving. Once the moat is filled, itll all naturally connect like a magnet. Is this really okay? It would be safer to take out Item first with a surprise attack. Once Hamazura gets involved due to the attack on Fremea Seivelun, its likely theyll show up. I dont mind if that happens. It saves me the effort of finding them. Kuroyoru. Silver Cross, are you worried about Mugino Shizuri? Or is it Kinuhata Saiai? Its the Dark May Project. Hmph. Kinuhata? Dont worry. Youre getting worried over nothing. In what seemed like the person on the other end of the transmissions habit, she responded with a bit of scorn mixed in. After all, I was above her in attack power from the very start of that project. The girl spoke quickly. And now Ive gone beyond the frame of a mere esper. Is that so? Arent you being a little more subdued than before? Even if youre just my support, you havent used a two-legged one in a while. Like I said before: Im the kind of man that knows how to do the right thing at the right time. The powered suit responded with the creaking of its chemical springs. I got results, didnt I? This is the same. It isnt about which ones the best. There are times to use Enemy Blaster and there are times to use Bee Launcher. So well go ahead as planned? Yes. Fremea Seivelun it is. The person on the other end of the transmission gave praise with words of scorn. That brat really is quite useful. Between the Lines 3 The reason Level 0s started being attacked was Skill-Out. It was them who first started attacking espers. That said, they didnt actually get into fist fights. It was more like slight arguments. However, as Skill-Out grew larger, the delinquent side grew stronger. But the revenge for that did not stop with just Skill-Out. If a Level 0 was walking around the city and the espers didnt like it, that Level 0 would end up being the target. The brunt of the damage did not fall on the armed groups of Skill-Out. It fell on the truly innocent Level 0s. It went from elementary school students to college students. There was no discrimination in the targets. And the attacks were gruesome. The violence spread in no time. A call for Just Revenge was given online and it gathered half-serious responses. As the situation escalated, a large number of powerful espers announced they were taking part in it. It no longer had anything to do with the original people. It was just a desire to act violently and hit people free of risk and free of guilt. It was a means of relieving stress. Just for that, a large number of people began being attacked out of nowhere. And amid it all, there was one post on a BBS. I found an idiot school. All the students are Level 0. Its because of schools like that that everything is getting so violent. We need to bring a hammer to this incarnation of evil. I need people to help me take out the trash. The indicated school was the kind of elementary school you could find anywhere. The students that attended the school had no connection to Skill-Out. But that kind of logic didnt get through to the attackers. All of them just couldnt get over the fact that they had been made a fool of by Level 0s once. By that point, the attackers themselves didnt even really know who it was they were attacking. Komaba Ritoku did not like conflict. But... For that very reason... He decided that they had to take responsibility with their own hands. Volume 1, 4: The Right to Become a Good Person and the Right to Reject It. Black. Volume 1, Chapter 4: The Right to Become a Good Person and the Right to Reject It. Black. Part 1 Theyre late... muttered an annoyed Yomikawa Aiho in a room of her apartment that was too high-class for a teachers salary. How long does it take to get groceries at a nearby supermarket? Theres nothing wrong with messing around, said Yoshikawa Kikyou, a former researcher who was sprawled out on a soft sofa watching a rerun of a drama. They are kids after all. Well, yes, but... Mmhhh. Unlike the two languid adults, Last Order seemed quite upset. She was pacing back and forth between the window leading to the balcony and the TV. ...Misaka has a bad feeling about this, says Misaka as Misaka thinks deeply about it. ? The new Misaka is always getting in the way around here and who knows what she could be doing to him right now...Ah, could Misaka be having her scenes taken from her!? says Misaka as Misaka expresses her shock!! Kikyou, what do you think of this? You mustnt underestimate the brain before the formation of the secondary sexual characteristics, Aiho. Broadness and discontinuity of thoughts arent the norm then. But Misaka has no intention of inheriting those pitiful aspects from the original! says Misaka as Misaka quickly takes action!! Misaka is ready to find a solution at any time!! A metallic slam reached Yomikawas ears. It took her a second to realize it was the sound of the door being opened and closed. ...Huh? The small girl had disappeared. When the two women headed to the entrance and saw that the small shoes were missing, they frantically began the search. Part 2 Odd. Hanzou lowered his gaze to his cell phone in annoyance. No matter how many times I try and how many different ways I try, I cant contact Kuruwa. Hey, does that mean...? They know I ran off with Fremea. They may have picked up everyone that might help me. We should try to find her. How? Hanzou responded. We arent likely to find her if we just randomly run around. Also...we dont even know if shes still alive. Then...!! Hamazura said as if to interrupt him. Then we should search for her now. Just because you cant contact her doesnt necessarily mean that Kuruwa-chans fate is sealed. This could be the critical moment. Maybe shes too busy dealing with them to answer the phone. Whatever it is, we need to do something. If we dont do anything, her odds of survival arent good. But how exactly were they supposed to find her? Hamazura slowly paced around the private salon thinking. Do you have an idea where she would go? Like a store she often goes to. If she really is in danger, she would avoid that kind of place. There has to be something we can use to find her... GPS, security cameras, security robots, anything. Is there any kind of system we can use? Kuruwa always walks around choosing routes that wont be picked up by those kinds of things. Thats it! Hamazura spread a map out on the table. Paths that arent picked up by anything are actually pretty rare. Especially with the security robots. Hanzou, draw some lines on the map with a marker. Well have much better odds if we search around certain lines rather than searching the entire city. Even if there arent very many, its like the holes in a net. It wont be that easy... The security robots patrol according to a pattern. Depending on the times, the holes in the net are closed up. When I saw her before, Kuruwa-chan was in District 7. If we mark the safe paths in District 7 and the surrounding districts, we can then look at the security robot schedule to mark off the paths that were unusable at the time. I get it. I get it, said Hanzou as started drawing lines on the map. Fremea looked at Hamazura and Hanzou with an anxious expression, but they didnt have time to care for her then. Hamazura looked down at the marked map. What do I need to do? No. Hanzou shook his head. You stay here. Fremeas safety comes first. But you need help, right!? We cant leave her alone! And taking her out into danger along with us is out of the question! The two boys glared at each other for a bit, but Hamazura finally averted his gaze. Dammit, he spat out and looked around the room. ...We cant stay here for too much longer. Im leaving now. Take care of Fremea while Im gone. This floor has three exits. Hamazura, if it comes to it, take her and run. I will. I promise. Hamazura nodded. You make sure you bring Kuruwa-chan back with you, okay? They lightly hit their hands together and Hanzou left the private salon. After the door closed, it felt like silence began oozing into the air. It gave Hamazura a vision of them disappearing one by one. Part 3 Kuroyoru Umidori was a girl that stood out quite a bit. She was about twelve years old. Her black hair came down to about her shoulder-blades, but it was accented so that the hair near her ears was bleached blonde. For clothing, she wore a white coat with only the hood over her head. Her arms were not in the sleeves. Below that...could perhaps be described as punk. Her small frame tightly fit inside clothing made of black leather and studs. Her clothes looked more suited to someone on stage than someone walking around town. The plastic dolphin doll under her arm went in a completely different vector than her odd outfit and it just felt out of place. She didnt sneak around. She walked openly into the private salon building through the main entrance. She got on the escalator to the second floor. She approached the reception counter that was much like the front desk at a hotel and asked the young man working there part-time a question. Im looking for some people. Hamazura Shiage and Fremea Seivelun. I know theyre using this facility. I want to know what room of what floor theyre using. Miss... At first, the young man put on a fake smile, but, once he saw that Kuroyorus expression wasnt changing, he thought back to the manual for these kinds of situations. Our facility has a duty to protect the personal information of our customers. Im very sorry, but I cant reveal information regarding to the usage of the rooms. This was the very basic of the business especially because the private salons were secret hideouts used to be free of being observed by adults. If they gave away the information on what people were doing, it would defeat the entire purpose of going there. However, Kuroyoru merely smiled. Thats fine. They probably rented it under a fake name, but I thought Id ask just to be sure. I-I see. The young man was conflicted over whether he should confirm or deny that possibility. Then Kuroyoru continued. Whether the answer is here or not doesnt change what I must do. ? The young man didnt have time to express his question. Directly afterwards, something shot directly by the side of his face at high speed and struck the wall behind him. It was an obsolete pay phone that had been set up in case of emergency. It shot by at such high speed that the phone was smashed to pieces and a large dent a few centimeters in was made in the tough wall. That had been enough force to put a humans life in danger had they been directly hit. Ee... The young man was confused, but he knew that the girl hadnt thrown it. The other customers didnt panic. They couldnt panic. The dangerous aura emitted by the girl and the unusual phenomenon had sealed their movements. Something strange floated up behind the girl. It was a ring-shaped machine about seventy centimeters in diameter. Inside the ring was a propeller shaped similarly to a shampoo hat. It provided both lift and propulsion. A chainsaw-like blade was surrounding the outside of the ring. Objects would get caught on the protruding parts of the blade and build up centrifugal force. Then the objects could be thrown with great destructive force if released with the proper timing. As if to explain how it worked, the machines blade grabbed a metal trash can and began rotating it at high speed. In a few seconds, it was moving so fast it could only be seen as an afterimage. However, the young man didnt have time to scream. From directly behind him, the horrible noise of gears meshing together could be heard. No, that wasnt what it was. Technically, it was the sound of numerous chainsaw blades tearing through the wall. Tearing. It was more destruction than it was cutting. Wh-wha!? He wasnt even allowed to turn around. Before he could, chainsaws came from a few different directions and stopped a few millimeters away from his neck. Because he had four of those killer disks surrounding him and aiming for his neck, he couldnt even carelessly collapse. He was a sneeze away from decapitation. Dont kill him yet, said Kuroyoru in a bored sounding voice. It sounded more like she was talking to someone controlling the machines than to the machines themselves. (Now then, I suppose I should make this as easy to understand as possible.) Kuroyoru arbitrarily decided to kick a metal magazine rack about as tall as she was. The metal fixture came to pieces and she pulled a rod-like piece from the various parts. She lightly tapped it against one of the killer disks that were next to the young mans neck. E-eeee!! A pathetic scream escaped his lips, but the killer disks didnt move. They must have had some way of maintaining their position, because the chainsaws were as stable as one bolted to a stand. The rod-shaped metal part Kuroyoru held let off sparks and a slicing noise was heard as part of it was sliced cleanly off at a diagonal. She stuck the end that was now pointed like a bamboo spear between his eyes. You seem to be mistaken, so Ill correct you. This isnt the kind of torture scene youve likely seen in movies or TV dramas. This isnt a situation where I absolutely must get the information here by any means necessary. Sweat was pouring from the young man due to tension and fear. From up in the floor above, he could hear screams and trampling feet. Disturbances were occurring elsewhere, too. The killer disks could fly through the air and freely cut through the walls and windows, so they could directly enter the upper floors. Whether you talk or not, I can still get my answer. Kuroyoru spoke calmly. Whatll you do? Either ways fine. Are you going to choose to die needlessly? Not only did he look up the room number, but he also lent her the employee master key. With that so-so result, Kuroyoru tossed aside the metal rod and left the counter in a good mood. She took the plastic dolphin doll from under her arm and tossed it above her head. It must have had some Velcro on it or something, because it stuck to the coat on her back. She spread out her now empty hands. Now then. I suppose its about time I really got down to business. With a slight noise, colorless and transparent spears shot out of her palms. This was the weapon known as an esper power given only to the students in that city. Part 4 Mugino Shizuri was stopped in the middle of the street. It was partially due to having very few hints to help her with the Hamazura Search she had made a humiliating punishment game out of with the other members of Item. However, there was a more immediate reason. A girl around ten years old was grabbing at her coat. The girl had short light brown hair. She had a vigorous-looking face. (...I feel like Ive seen her before. Where was it? I think it was in some report...) What? Stop that beeping, says Misaka as Misaka gives her request. Its a faint signal to begin with, so that just makes it even harder to find, says Misaka as Misaka explains the situation. ...? Muginos eyebrows lowered in a puzzled expression. It wasnt because she didnt understand what the girl was talking about. (...How does she know about my artificial eye and artificial arm?) That beep beep beep beep! No more beep beep beep beep! Mugino was getting fed up with having her coat tugged on, so she switched off her artificial eye. Her field of vision narrowed a bit and she lost her depth perception, but it wasnt enough to be an impediment in everyday life. The mysterious mini-girl moved her head to the left and the right slowly as the ahoge on the top of her head swayed in the wind. Okay, Misaka has it, says Misaka as Misaka captures the location of her target. Really. Scanning for someone who doesnt have a proper network account is hard, says Misaka as Misaka says something controller-like. (Does she have a search-type power like Takitsubo?) However, Mugino was not at such a dead end with the Hamazura Search that she would recruit the girl for help. Instead... ...Thats an amazing coat you have there. Woah, whats this? Its covered in thick fur. Hee hee hee. It was made in the Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations, says Misaka as Misaka boasts about her coat. But your coat looks pretty warm, too. Thats the type of super lightweight cold-resistant fiber that traps air in tiny tubes, isnt it? says Misaka as Misaka acts like a know-it-all. Last Order had grabbed the edge of Muginos skirt along with the coat and she was swinging them up and down like flapping wings. She then realized something. But your underwear looks chilly, says Misaka as Misaka expresses her surprise. Thats because theyre see-through. Being in charge of the sexy side of things has its hardships. After that odd back and forth, the two parted ways. They were both in search of someone. Anyone who had known the #4 as she once was would have been astonished at this, but it was just yet another change in the personality of the person known as Mugino Shizuri. Part 5 It had been a few minutes since Hanzou had left the room. A type of discomfort was ever so slightly stabbing at Hamazuras nerves. After thinking about it for a short bit, he realized it was due to a noise. The room was soundproofed pretty well, but he could hear what sounded like a number of people making a racket. And it wasnt just from a single direction. It sounded like he was surrounded by the noise. Hamazura. Its fine, he responded to Fremeas uneasy voice. He had no proof of that of course. He grew very conscious of the presence of Takitsubo and the others numbers in his phone, but he stifled his desire to call for help. He couldnt get them wrapped up in a problem this big. Hanzou is out getting someone who will help us out. Once shes here, the situation will turn around. So its fine. Surely Hanzou would find Kuruwa safe and sound and bring her back. She had plenty of hideouts Hamazura and Hanzou didnt know about, so there was no reason to fear their pursuers. They didnt know how to win in their situation and it wasnt even clear what was required to win, but, whether they would just continue hiding or counterattack, having a safe place was a major step in the right direction. As such, they could change the situation for the better if they could only meet up with Kuruwa. That was how Hamazura saw the situation, but a sudden noise tore at his ears. A loud noise like giant gears tearing at the wall came from the other side of the private salons wall. It didnt sound like some kind of machine moving in the hallway. The door itself was clearly vibrating. Wh-what!? What in the first place is going on...!? Get back!! Hamazura immediately yelled and moved in front of Fremea, but he couldnt think of anything else to do. He wasnt even sure what was going on. However, the situation advanced regardless. It advanced in a way that helped their opponent. With a loud crashing noise, the door collapsed inwards. It hadnt been opened; it collapsed. Hamazura realized the two hinges and the deadbolt near the knob had been sliced off once he saw the things that flew inside the room through the door. A noise pounded the air that sounded like the sound of a bees wings amplified a couple thousand times. And the grating noise of gears and chains was mixed in. The sources of the noise were disks. They had a radius of about seventy centimeters. The inside of their metal border contained two sets of propellers that looked like shampoo hats. These propellers provided lift and propulsion. The center axis of the propellers was completely hollow. A single stake may have gone through that portion of them when they were stored. They were unmanned scouting devices that were either remotely or AI controlled. If that was all, it wouldnt have been so bad. The problem was with the border. The source of the noise of gears and chains was the chainsaw surrounding the circular border. The name of the machines printed on the top of their borders, Edge Bee, gave Hamazura a really bad feeling about how they could be used. Fuck!? Three of them flew into the room. Instead of continuing on like bullets, they stopped in midair and then slowly floated around surrounding Hamazura. The action was similar that of hornets capturing their prey. Even in Academy City, a city flooded with cleaning robots and security robots, one didnt often have a chance to see machines that dangerous. There was really only one possibility that came to Hamazuras mind. The pursuers...? But how did they find us? Then he realized it. (Was it from Hanzou leaving to go find Kuruwa-chan? They took the images of Hanzous movements through the city from the security cameras and robots and traced where he came from!! That means the Kuruwa-chan thing was fake. They didnt need to go to the risk of capturing her. They probably just blocked our transmissions!!) Of course, doing that wasnt exactly easy. They had freely used the citys video surveillance network and communications network and they had found the specific cell phone their targets were using and blocked only it. They were most likely using the unmanned scouting devices to cover for the areas the surveillance network didnt. Their pursuers had to be people who had the consent of those at the administrative level of the city and they could clearly use the facilities of that level of the city. I-in the first place, what are we going to do? Run away, of course. We gain nothing by playing with toys this dangerous. These were killer weapons that could freely fly through the sky and use their chainsaws to cut right through doors and walls. Hamazura wasnt stupid enough to think he could destroy them in a fair fight. Facing them would do nothing but get himself injured. (...The exit.) Hamazura looked around the area. (...We have to get out of this room!!) The private salon only had one door, but one of the Edge Bees was hovering near it, so they couldnt approach it. They might not be able to get past it when the machines attacked. They may not be able to run away, much less win. (These unmanned scouting devices use contra-rotating propellers to maintain their position and to provide both lift and propulsion. That means their weakness is...) Listen up, Fremea. When I give the sign, you run full speed for the exit. But... Dont worry. Hamazura looked over at a floor lamp while keeping the movements of the Edge Bees in his peripheral vision. Their chainsaws continued to rotate making an ominous noise. Ill draw them in. So you head straight out the exit once that disk leaves it. Understand? Fremea gave a slight nod. Hamazura slowly approached the table and reached for a plastic glass. Now!! As he yelled, Hamazura threw the glass at the Edge Bee hovering near the exit. The glass struck the wall next to the Edge Bee, but the Edge Bee still reacted. All three of them immediately took action in what seemed like an overreaction. They moved to slice Hamazura. Run!! But...what in the first place is going to happen to you!? Just go! Ill make sure to catch up with you!! Hamazura grabbed the floor lamp with both hands and Fremea ran out the exit as if she had been pushed out by his yelling. After ensuring she had made it out, he turned his gaze back to the approaching weapons. He threw the floor lamp at the Edge Bees as hard as he could. This time, the object hit one of them, but that was all. As Hamazura had expected, it didnt take the Edge Bee out. In fact, the lamp stuck to the chainsaw surrounding the machine. Wha? Hamazura looked on in surprise as the lamp revolved at high speed. It was gaining centrifugal force. And then the blunt object was accurately fired back at him. Its speed rivaled that of an arrow. Hamazura twisted his body with all his might and just barely managed to avoid it. The lamp struck the wall and pierced into it like a spear. (The way the blade is set can be changed to either grab or cut!!) When he thought about it, he realized that the cuts to the door hadnt been all that clean. It seemed less like the door had been cut by a normal saw that ripped with numerous sharp claws and more like it had been torn at by numerous fingers. Hamazura grabbed a nearby ornamental parasol, but he didnt carelessly throw it. The three Edge Bees did not wait. They may have been intending to defeat Hamazura first because he was actually attacking, because the killer disks aimed for him and attacked. Hamazura restrained his faltering heart and just barely managed to rush forward. The Edge Bees moved much faster than he had imagined from when they were just hovering. It was nowhere near the speed of the lamp one had thrown, but it was faster than a rock thrown in a sling. They were moving fast enough that he would probably need an ambulance if one hit him and that wasnt even taking their special chainsaws into account. If one directly hit him, his flesh would be torn to pieces and the possibility that he would be chopped in two couldnt be denied. It was important how they had cut through the door when they entered. The issue wasnt with how clean a cut they had made. The issue was that they had taken time to do it. That meant... (Whether they hit the wall or have something in their chainsaws, they dont lose their balance in midair. They must use gyros, image analysis, ultrasonic waves, or something to help ensure their position.) It was possible he wouldnt even be able to take one out if he threw the parasol he was holding at them. And it was possible they would slightly evade it or even throw it back. However... As long as they had their contra-rotating propellers, they still had a weakness. (No matter how high performance they are, they have to fall if the propellers stop moving!!) Hamazura! Watch out!! yelled Fremea from the exit. The Edge Bees simultaneously attacked Hamazura from three different directions Just before one of the quickly rotating blades reached him, he ducked down. That wasnt enough to avoid the Edge Bee. However, before they could correct their trajectories, he stuck the end of the parasol up the middle of the Edge Bees as if he was stabbing it. He was attempting to obstruct the two propellers rotating in opposite directions. The horrible noise of the parasols metal frame shattering could be heard. However, the Edge Bee wasnt unharmed. Orange sparks shot out, the propellers broke, and, most importantly, it stopped moving. The sudden obstruction of movement had a negative effect on the motor and gears inside. The Edge Bee flew to the floor without having its momentum stopped. The machine bounced and struck one of the other Edge Bees coming in to attack Hamazura from a different direction. The propeller had stopped, but the chainsaw was still functioning. The two Edge Bees blades caught each other and the two machines flew into different corners of the room like billiards balls. Hamazura used the opening this created to run towards the exit where Fremea waited. The final remaining machine aimed for his back, but he stuck his foot under the door that was lying on the ground and forcefully kicked it up. He grabbed the side with both hands, turned around, and swung it full force. He swung it down. He wasnt just trying to swat the machine down with brute strength. As had been previously established, the Edge Bees used their contra-rotating propellers for lift and propulsion. That meant that they couldnt fly if the artificial wind they blew down was obstructed. This could be accomplished by blocking it with a giant board over the propellers. After knocking the last one to the ground, Hamazura jumped up on the door covering the Edge Bee. He jumped up and down a couple of times using all of his weight to smash the collection of delicate machinery underneath. Of course, military weapons were built to be tough, but, if the delicate propellers were bent even slightly, that was enough to deprive it of lift. Okay, now... Hurry!! Hamazura, run!! He ran out of the room and met up with Fremea. That was when the sound of a chainsaw came to his ears. When he looked back in the room, he saw the first Edge Bee with the destroyed propellers getting up from the corner of the room it had been knocked to. The outer edge of the disk was pushed up against the floor and it was keeping its balance. The Edge Bee then started rolling towards Hamazura using the chainsaw as a tire. It moved with tremendous speed. (Shit!! What kind of position maintenance systems does that thing have?!) Hamazura stepped back out of instinctual fear, but he hit the corridor wall. The impact on his back caused his feet to slip from the floor and he fell on his ass. That was when yet another threat attacked. The wall to his back was sliced diagonally. A spear that appeared to be made of compressed air and was around three meters long appeared. It sliced through the wall and destroyed the advancing Edge Bee as well as the floor around it. However, this did not make Hamazura happy. That attack had only helped him because he had happened to fall on his ass. If he had still been standing, it definitely would have sliced right through his chest. Hamazura, no!! The wall is collapsing!! Aaaahhhhh!? He hurriedly rolled to the side at about the same time as the wall collapsed into the corridor. A single figure appeared on the other side of the dust. The transparent spears in the figures hands blew the dust away. Tch. Silver Cross, make sure you match your actions to mine. That was an unnecessary cost. The figure was a girl of about twelve, but Hamazura felt a kind of slime within her at first glance. She had the atmosphere of someone used to killing and mayhem. She smelled of the darkness and didnt try to hide it. She was a different type from Hamazura or Hanzou. She was an outstanding darkness. Hamazura stood up breathing erratically. The spears coming from her hands that allowed her to easily damage the walls or floor with a slight shake of her hand looked familiar to him. That power... Oh. Its Bomber Lance, a spear made of nitrogen. Does it look like the power of a friend of yours? The girl smiled thinly as she swung the spear lightly and sliced the nearby wall further. Its more or less the same as an APFSDS, one of the types of shells Silver Crosss Enemy Blaster uses with its smoothbore gun. It cuts objects using enormous pressure. Theres something to think about. The girls words lacked any tension or even hostility. And yet her spears held overwhelming destructive force. Is this really any time to be focusing on me? There are still more than thirty of Silver Crosss Edge Bees flying around. Or do you not mind if that brat is nothing but a hunk of meat next time you see her? !? Fremea, escape through the north emergency staircase!! ...Hmm. The Bomber Lance girl turned her head halfheartedly and spotted the small blonde doll of a girl hiding behind a pillar. Thanks for telling me where she was. I had thought you two had split up once she had gotten out of the room. (...Its just like when they purposefully let Hanzou go so they could find this place...!!) Just go, Fremea!! Hamazura put the fact that he was up against a twelve year old girl out of his mind. He jumped straight up. He grabbed onto the edge of the fire shutter as if he was going in for a slam dunk. He put all his weight onto the shutter to force it down. It headed down for the girls head like a guillotine. She looked up at him. The metal shutter burst apart like a sponge packed full of gunpowder. It was due to Bomber Lance. Just by lifting her hand up, she had destroyed the thick blunt weapon. The spear itself didnt directly hit him, but metal fragments flew off and struck Hamazuras body knocking him back. Ghah!! (No good. This isnt someone I can face without a proper weapon!!) Hamazura!! Go, Fremea!! Hurry!! Fremea tried to run over to Hamazura, but her shoulders shrunk down at his shout. She hesitated in the middle of the corridor, but she finally turned her back to him and ran for the emergency staircase. Seeing that, the Bomber Lance girl gave a concise comment. Silver Cross. !! Hamazura immediately tried to jump at the girl, but she coldly swung her arm multiple times before he could. With just that, the corridors floor was cut into a block and fell to the floor below. The opening prevented Hamazura from approaching like a cliff. Doing that hadnt been necessary. With that much destructive force, the girl could kill Hamazura by directly aiming for him and then focus on finding Fremea. She was clearly playing with him. I suppose Ill chase after her for now. If I dont find her, Ill switch to a scream tactic. Watching you flounder sounds more fun than just killing you. Dammit!! Hamazura cursed and the girl turned her back on him. He had to take a detour in order to meet up with Fremea and he needed a more powerful weapon in order to face the Edge Bees and the Bomber Lance girl. Part 6 Every street of every district had blank spaces. A powered suit was in a square area in the sea of buildings that was District 3. It was an area where a building had been demolished and nothing else had been built. Maintaining an old building cost money, but the owner must have wanted to keep just the land until the lands value changed so he could make a profit off of it. The powered suit Silver Cross was in this time had a giant sensor dome for a head, two arms, and two legs. Its appearance was rather subdued for his tastes. However, there were twelve metal poles extending from its back. There were over ten Edge Bees stored on those poles. Ten of the machines fit on a single pole, so the suit would have been able to hold over a hundred of them in total. Over half of those were away from the suit. The metal poles were both the Edge Bees hive and high precision antennas. The powered suit was a reconnaissance suit that specialized in gathering information. Even then, it was receiving video information from the many Edge Bees, intercepting the signals from cleaning robots and security robots, and cables stretching from within the armored suit were directly gathering information from the underground communications network. His objective was clear. Now then. I think Ive cut off all their escape routes. Of course, the plan had been to capture Fremea Seivelun inside the private salon, but he had deployed Edge Bees around the building and was acquiring information from nearby security cameras to defend against the small possibility that she would get away. From the size of the building and the number of customers using it, he had expected to cause quite a panic, but he wasnt about to miss his targets face among all the people. (Either Kuroyoru will catch her first or itll fall to me. Either way, this is the end for Fremea Seivelun.) Because Hamazura Shiage was in the building, the possibility of Item showing up came to mind, but that would just mean it was time for his overwhelming but easy-to-understand power. (Maybe I should switch from a reconnaissance suit like Bee Launcher into a battle suit.) The owner of the powered suits didnt get fixated on a single suit. His motto was that not insisting on sticking with a single weapon and choosing the one that was most suitable for the situation was the most effective course of action. As such, he saw no meaning in arguing over what weapon was strongest and he didnt blindly believe that a certain weapon could do anything. (No, if the target moves during that time, Ill lose sight of her. That would be getting my priorities backwards. If I did that...) As he thought, the powered suit trembled slightly. He had picked up on a threat via the great number of Edge Bees deployed out in the city using the reconnaissance suit. He noticed his thoughts accelerating. In other words, he was panicking and he couldnt stop it. (This is bad.) This was someone who was completely unaffected by direct power and that was what he specialized in. Normally, this would be something Kuroyoru Umidori would handle. (Item is nothing compared to this. My methods are just too incompatible!!) Part 7 Hamazura Shiage was running down the southern emergency staircase. He was still split up from Fremea. He needed a weapon to save her and the private salons were used by rich boys and girls in the upper echelons of society who lived in a different environment from him. As such, the building offered services that seemed a bit odd to him. Like an indoor shooting range. Of course, they didnt have a collection of real handguns and hunting rifles there. However, they did have a variety of projectile weapons that didnt violate Academy City regulations. They had crossbows, longbows, blowguns, and bolt action rifles that fired rubber bullets. Hamazura looked at the sign on the wall and ran out of the emergency staircase and into the corridor of his target floor. Unlike the other floors, this one was not lined with evenly spaced doors like in a hotel or a karaoke box. The large floor was split by corridors in a cross shape making four large rooms. The four rooms contained a bowling alley, an indoor shooting range, and other such facilities. However, Hamazura was not able to arrive at the shooting range so easily. An Edge Bee appeared in the corridor in front of him. He just had to hurry up and get in the shooting range. He just had to obtain a proper weapon and fight back. But Hamazuras mind had passed its limit. A large shiver came over his entire body and he couldnt stop trembling afterwards. Ahhh... Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! The disappearance of the immediate need to put up a strong face in having to protect Fremea who was weaker than him had helped him reach this point. He felt a full-on fear of death. He saw an image of his flesh and bones being ripped and torn by the crude chainsaw. Hamazura lost strength in his limbs and his thoughts were thrown into chaos. Despite what he had experienced, despite how clever he could be, and despite the fact that he had been on the front line during World War III, deep down he was still a high school student from Japans Academy City. He wasnt a professional soldier who had been trained to kill for years. With no foundation to rely on, it would have been odd if he hadnt felt fear with true danger staring him in the face. (Why...?) It was taking all of Hamazuras strength just to remain standing. (Why? Why does this shit always happen to me!? The war is over. These kinds of tools arent needed anymore!! What could possibly make someone aim one of these things at a flesh-and-blood human!?) However, the Edge Bee did not wait. It plunged straight towards Hamazura in order to slice his body in two. Hamazura immediately grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher. Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He swung it horizontally. The fire extinguisher struck the chainsaw and exploded. All the gas leaked out through a different spot than it was supposed to which caused the metal remains to shoot off like a rocket leaving white powder behind. It stuck into the ceiling. However, the Edge Bee was knocked away. It had struck the fire extinguisher while its chainsaw was still in cut mode and some of its own power may have sent it flying off. Its position maintaining system used image processing, so the powder from the fire extinguisher may have lowered its ability to determine which way was up. The Edge Bee tried to regain control, but it struck the wall. More specifically, the pole of a decorative flag diagonally sticking out of the wall pierced through the shampoo hat-like contra-rotating propellers. The propeller blades it needed to move broke and a further cracking noise could be heard from within the machine. Hamazura looked at the Edge Bee hanging on the wall like a hat and gulped. (I did it...?) That was when the LED next to the Edge Bees camera changed color with a beep. Fuck!! Hamazuras face paled. He opened the door to the shooting range and jumped in. Immediately afterwards, there was an explosion. The noise put great pressure on his eardrums. Also, it wasnt just the blast that spread out. A sharp pain ran up Hamazuras arm. Tearing through his sleeve and into his arm was the kind of fishing hook that was often used for lures. It was made of three J-shaped hooks. There had been explosives and hundreds of fishing hooks inside the Edge Bee. It wasnt unusual for nails or metal balls to be put inside to increase the damage done, but using fishing hooks was just cruel. This was because fishing hooks had a reversed area at the end making them hard to remove. And with three hooks together, it couldnt be taken out the other way either. ~ ~ ~!! Hamazura held a handkerchief in his mouth to make sure he didnt bite his tongue and then forced out the hook while holding it between his thumb and forefinger. A pain that felt like the tip of the hook was tearing directly at his nerves ran up his entire arm and sweat covered his face. (This isnt normal...) He wrapped the handkerchief around his wounded arm and unsteadily walked over to the shooting ranges counter. A great number of projectile weapons were set up behind it. Normally, an employee would be managing them, but there was no one at the counter due to the uproar. (Their cruelty isnt like the darkness Ive seen before. They arent thinking about what will be advantageous to them and maintaining their power. Theyre thinking about what will make us suffer and deploying everything they have...) He climbed over the counter and looked at the lined up weapons. He wanted to arm himself with as many weapons as he could, but all of them were over a meter long. Either a certain size was necessary to be powerful and yet not be against the regulations or large weapons were popular among the customers. Either way, he could only really carry around one of them. He wanted the strongest on there, but he also wanted something an amateur like him could use. After a short period of indecision he finally chose... (...An electrically assisted blowgun.) The blowgun was about 110 centimeters long and had been improved for sports use. It was made of the same type of plastic used in knives and airplanes. Normally, a blowgun didnt have enough power to injure or kill someone. It used an arrow that was no more than a needle and used the human lungs to propel that arrow. Certain tribes could capture large beasts with them, but that was due to poison on the arrows instead of the destructive power of the projectile itself. However, this one was electrically assisted. When someone blew into the pipe, sensors picked up on it and sent out a blast of compressed air created with a compressor. Forcing the human to blow into it when it could easily be left completely to the machine must have been a method to get around the Academy City regulations. The arrow was propelled by the breath amplified dozens of times, so it could pierce through a piece of plywood a couple of centimeters thick. A laser pointer was used to help aim, so aiming was fairly easy. Hamazura grabbed an entire box of the arrows that were stabilized with tails much like darts. The weapon had not stopped his trembling. His determination to carry the weapon had brought strength back to him. (This doesnt guarantee I can defeat those Edge Bees and Im not even sure I can scratch that Bomber Lance esper with it. Even so, having it makes a big difference. At the very least, I can use it to allow Fremea to escape!!) That was when he heard a clattering noise. He immediately crouched behind the counter while he opened up an area about forty centimeters from the hole to blow in and put in an arrow. But then his hand stopped moving. The noise hadnt been caused by an Edge Bee or an unknown esper. It had been caused by a middle-aged man. He was wearing a worn-out suit and his tie was crooked. Sweat caused by tension and fear was soaking his face and his dress shirt. Hamazura stood up from behind the counter and spoke. ...You dont look like an employee. Are you a customer? Academy City was a special city with 80% of its residents being students, but that still meant that 20% of its residents were adults. Hamazura didnt know whether an adult would want to rent a secret hideout, but there was no reason they couldnt use the private salons. Hamazura grabbed a longbow from behind the counter and threw it towards the middle-aged man. If you dont want to die, you should get out of here. They can destroy doors and walls and theyre searching through every single room. They may not be after you, but youll still get attacked if you stay here. And those killer chainsaws seem to have explosives inside of them. You should get the hell out of here if you can. ... The man slowly reached his hand over to the longbow. It looked more like he was just picking up something that had been thrown in front of him than like he was prepared to fight. Frankly speaking, there was no independence in his action. The mans gaze slowly moved from the longbow to Hamazura. ...Wh-what are you going to do? the man asked. Run away, of course. This place isnt right. There are killer chainsaws flying all over the place and some even more dangerous esper kid is swinging around spears that look like they can slice through steel. If I stay here, Im sure to be killed, so Im going to run away even if its pathetic. Hamazura pulled some arrows for the blowgun and stuck them behind his belt. He was rushing and his hands were shaking, but he didnt have time to allow himself to relax. But before I do, I have to rescue a girl called Fremea. I dont think I can win in a fight against that monster, but I at least have to help that girl escape safely. Why? The man shook his head like a child. With an uproar like this, Anti-Skill is sure to come. Even if theyre searching through every single room, this building must have hundreds of rooms! If we stay here, theyll use up all their time. Someone will come to save us in that time!! Moving around isnt going to save us; hiding here is!! That may be true. That assumed Anti-Skill had the power to resolve the situation. And it assumed the enemy wouldnt use their dozens of flying cameras effectively. And it assumed the enemy would respond to failure by letting them go home instead of with an explosion of anger. But it may not be true. And, as I said before, I have to let Fremea escape this building. Shes only around ten years old. Shell clearly die more easily than us. Theres no guarantee shell have the support to live on. I cant leave her alone. If I do, Im letting death rush towards her. So I need to draw that death away from her as much as I can. ...Why...? muttered the man again. Hamazura wasnt pressuring the man to help. Sorry. Im not telling you to come along. Its your life. You should decide what to do with it. But, if you decide to hide, you should find somewhere else. When I came here, I destroyed an Edge Bee. A replacement might come, so you need to at least go to a different room. No. Not that. The man shook his head repeatedly. Hamazura realized the man was shaking due to something more than just fear. How can you think about the things around you in a situation like this...? The man was muttering, but then his voice grew louder. I came here looking for my daughter who ran away from home. I dont know the details, but she was trying to resolve a dangerous situation where she couldnt rely on Anti-Skill or Judgment. She didnt want to get the rest of the family wrapped up in it, so she was using a private salon as a secret hideout. I desperately searched to figure this much out. I was prepared to do anything. I worked so hard determined to bring my daughter back before she was caught up in trouble that she couldnt come back from. He spoke as if he were about to vomit up blood. But my real self was different. When I was faced with danger, it all broke away. I could only think about myself. After that, I cant imagine that I could use this bow for my daughters sake! No matter what is in my hands, I can only imagine that I would think only of how I could use it to save myself!! ...How can I become like you? It isnt so simple. When my real self saw what was going on, I couldnt think about anything around me!! That was an inevitable fear that came from life. That was distorted thinking meant to avoid that fear. That defeated man had tasted the depths of the earth with his hearts tongue and he now sat there silently trembling. ...What are you saying? But Hamazura Shiages face did not display an expression of contempt. You used your own power to get a wife, created a proper household, and frantically worked to protect all that. You had enough money for your daughter to use a private salon daily, because you worked for your family. You didnt just get on the rails and amass it all solely because everyone around you was. When your daughter disappeared and your household seemed like it was falling apart, you acted to save your family even if it was breaking your own rules. Those were not words of comfort. They were not soft words intended to not hurt. Everyone has things I dont. No matter how much I struggle, I just cant obtain them and yet I still have a final goal that I want to grab no matter what. Longing. Because of his genuine longing, Hamazura bared his heart here. Be proud, hero. You are what I long to be. The middle-aged man looked down and remained silent for a short while. He reflected on what Hamazura had said. Finally, he stopped his bodys trembling. That once-defeated man raised his head and spoke. ...Ill go, too. Doing nothing isnt going to help this situation. Are you really okay with that? Just like you have to let that Fremea girl get away, I have to save my daughter. Do you know where your daughter is amid all this chaos? Shes a lot like me. She most likely hasnt moved around and I know what room she was in, so Im going to head there. I see, muttered Hamazura. He picked up the blowgun again. Then Ill draw the attention of the Edge Bees as much as I can. If you know where youre headed, its simple. You just run there. Draw their attention...? Do you know what youre saying!? Even with a weapon, you arent invincible. If a bunch of them fly at you at once...!! Its my fault, Hamazura said cutting the man off. This chaos, the swarm of Edge Bees, and the strange esper destroying walls are all here because of me. Im not strong enough to resolve it all. I can only do so much. But let me do it. I can only do so much, but let me do what I can!! Hearing no restraining voice, Hamazura left the indoor shooting range and walked out into the corridor. At the exact same time, the Bomber Lance girl destroyed a different wall and came through. Just meet up with Fremea already, so you lead me to her. ...!! Or should we do the opposite? If I made you scream so loudly it could be heard throughout the building, would she come here or get scared and run away? There was no need to listen to her words. He had a weapon now. Hamazura held the blowgun up with both hands and centered the red dot from the laser pointer on the girls body. He then blew as hard as he could into it. The electronic compressor amplified the power of his breath dozens of times. A thick noise rang out. It wasnt the sound of it being fired. Just like with bows, the sound of the blow landing was much louder than the sound of it being fired. However, it wasnt the sound of the espers flesh being ripped either. Nor was it the sound of it being reflected with her power. The girl had twisted her body slightly and the dart-shaped arrow had hit the corridor wall behind her. Her expression remained calm. But Hamazura had learned something. She had dodged the arrow instead of repelling it. That meant she had determined that she would have been damaged had it hit her. She had decided she couldnt block it, so she had avoided it. That esper could only create spears of nitrogen. She couldnt create an unbreakable wall in every direction around her. In other words... (I can win this if I hit her!!) In order to fire a second shot, Hamazura opened an area forty centimeters from the hole to blow in and put in one of the arrows from his belt. Then the Bomber Lance girl made her move. She created spears from both hands and moved at high speed towards Hamazura while slicing up the walls on the left and right half for fun. (Shit, can I shoot in time!?) Before the girl could get to him, Hamazura finished reloading and closed the open part of the blowgun. But by the time he had raised it up, the girl was in killing range. She got rid of the spear coming from one hand and covered the end of the blowgun with the same hand. How about I blow through the wrong end? !? Hamazura immediately let go of the blowgun and swung his head forcefully to the side. Immediately afterwards, a spear of nitrogen appeared and pierced straight through the inside of the blowgun. Along with an explosive blast from the destroyed blowgun, the spear grazed Hamazuras cheek. Sharp plastic fragments gave him light scratches. The shock knocked him down. On the ground, Hamazura pulled a dart-shaped arrow from his belt. He had intended on throwing it back at her, but the girl stepped on his arm before he could. Gah!? Her small foot came down on the area between his wrist and elbow, pinning it to the ground. Then she held her palm down towards his chest. The very same palm that could create a deadly spear. Fremea Seivelun, she said bluntly. Should I try having you call her here with a scream as planned? But then... Kuroyoru. The girl didnt seem to have a cell phone, but a staticky voice came from her pocket. We have a problem. Break off and get outside. Ill take over inside the building. Has Item come? No. Its much worse. My brute force will be no help in dealing with this problem. And dealing with him was supposed to be left to you. I see. The girl removed her foot from Hamazuras arm. Excellent timing. I was just getting into too good a tempo. Gh... Hamazura put a hand on the wall and desperately tried to stand up so he could stop her. However, the girl did something he hadnt expected. She sliced a nearby wall with a spear, walked through it, and then broke through a thick window with a tackle. With the high-pitched noise of the window shattering, her small body was thrown out through the window. The floor they were on was quite high up. However, she did not fall. She spread her hands out horizontally and the spears of nitrogen coming from them held her in place. Her spears didnt just have destructive power. She was manipulating the air currents with them to create swirling currents on her back. You mentioned Item. Hamazura dragged his hurting body over and desperately questioned the girl who was stopped in midair. Answer me. And not just about Fremea. Are you planning on doing something to them? Dont be in such a rush. Whether you want to or not, youll know soon enough. After saying that, the girl stopped emitting the spears and fell straight down with her back to the ground. Of course, she was intending on landing, not on crashing. She was most likely going to stop herself with the spears again near the ground. Dammit... Hamazura thought for a bit and then headed for the emergency staircase. It seemed the Bomber Lance girl had temporarily withdrawn, but there were still tons of Edge Bees wandering around the building. Part 8 Kuroyoru Umidori landed on the ground. The uproar inside the private salon building had led to a lot of people pouring out of the building and a lot of onlookers gathering around the building, so there were quite a few people in the area. As part of the dark side of the city, she was unconcerned with that uproar. Her expression was calm. A student playing a game on his cell phone out of boredom would have had a more serious expression on his face. Tch. Silver Cross. You said they had problematic reinforcements, but where? She looked around, but didnt see anyone like that. The only people out of the ordinary she saw were some of her subordinates who caught sight of her and moved in tentatively to protect her. Kuroyoru sat down in a seat at a nearby open caf, set her plastic dolphin doll down in an empty seat at the round four-person table, and ordered what seemed to be the cafs recommended black tea. She brought the teacup that was given to her to her lips. (...Im sure someone somewhere is at their wits end over this. Well, doing things in such a showy way is perfect for having the roots meet.) Of course, the residents of the city saw the swarm of Edge Bees flying through the sky and the private salons being attacked. But no one actually did anything to stop the crime. Even if it seemed odd, they just couldnt keep up with the ever changing situation. They lived in a different world. The darkness couldnt function as the darkness if it wasnt stronger than the surface. (Now then, I have to make sure no reinforcements get in the way until Silver Crosss Edge Bees corner Fremea Seivelun. I wish he would have at least told me where the bastard I most need to stop was.) That was when she heard a footstep. A wicked grin appeared on Kuroyoru Umidoris lips. She could smell it. This was the smell of someone who wasnt on the level. This was the smell of someone who was trying to mix in with the people passing by and clearly failing. Simply put, this was the smell put off only by people who were soaked with darkness. Oh? Kuroyoru said at about the same time as a piece of paper slipped onto the table. A single photograph now accompanied the seemingly popular tea on the table. The photograph was of Fremea Seivelun. ...Apparently that report about you being here was accurate. You werent actually supposed to show up until a bit later, Kuroyoru called out to the other side of the table with a grin on her face. She was addressing a Level 5. Dammit, and the #4 would have been so much simpler. Yes. It was the #1, Accelerator. Accelerator had tossed the photo of Fremea onto the table and watched the girls reaction. He had made it nearby from the marked map and by referencing some more information, but the biggest factor had been the explosion and the many unmanned reconnaissance devices. If he hadnt been passing through that area, he probably would have headed for the building or the origin point of the unmanned reconnaissance devices. It had been a coincidence that he had stopped and looked over at the open caf. The girl had been incredibly easy to spot. All Accelerator had to do was notice the idiot who stank of darkness and was relaxing with a number of subordinates blending into the surrounding area. How about you take a seat? asked the girl with a thin smile and a dangerous look in her eyes. This is the cafs recommended tea. Its called...nnn...I dont remember. It was a pretty long name. Anyway, how about you try some? Although it isnt very good. Accelerator sat in the seat opposite the girl and ordered a different type of tea from the recommended one. It wasnt any good either. ...I guess there was no avoiding it. Thats life for you. And who are you? Do you really think Im going to introduce myself? Youre Kuroyoru Umidori. ...Tch. You were just asking to verify it. She looked around and noticed two or three of her subordinates were missing. They werent important enough to her to remember their names or what they looked like, but it seemed they had been dragged off somewhere. In their place, a woman wearing an ao dai and with a cast on one arm waved at her. There was nothing but scorn in the womans smile. (An incredibly simple trick, but its admirable that they managed to pull it off without me noticing.) Kuroyoru gave up and spoke. Correct. ...Did you chop off a few fingers? We threw him in an automated kitchen waste disposal device in an alley and asked whether he wanted to talk or be turned to fertilizer. Eh? Thats all it took to get him to talk? I guess I need to cut off a few of his fingers then. But it wasnt enough, Accelerator said as if he were cutting her off. We didnt get much information. Really all we got was your name, Silver Crosss name, and the term Freshmen. ...Oh, and given how much ridiculous pride he had in this Freshmen thing, it must be pretty important. He told us your names, but he wouldnt say anything about that. ...Maybe I need to cut off his legs as well as all of his fingers, was Kuroyorus disturbing comment as she puffed up her cheeks. She used her hand to stroke the plastic dolphin doll in the seat next to her in what may have been a way of letting out some of her stress. So what are you doing here? Thats my question, spat out Accelerator. The darkness should be gone. I eliminated it. I abolished the structure that bound the citys dark organizations together. At the end of that annoying war, I made it happen. I had the people being used by the upper levels released. So why are people so obviously part of all that like you doing here? At the end of World War III, he had said this to a messenger of the upper levels: "Dont send out any more orders to use that brat or the Sisters as shields. Freeze the Third Season project. Dont play with their lives for your own purposes, be it about killing them or making more of them." And: "Release everyone else in a similar situation to mine. I wont let you use anyone or anything as a shield to force people to do your dirty work in the world of darkness. If I catch even one instance, Ill bare my fangs towards you. I will brutally crush you as many times as it takes." True enough. Kuroyoru brought her cup to her mouth and smelled the tea, smelled it again, smelled it yet again, and then looked puzzled at her inability to tell the difference from normal teas. There was a notification. All the hostages and conditions functioning as chains were done away with. Maybe there were even some people that celebrated. Although the whole thing felt less like it was due to the higher ups being afraid of you and more like it was them rewarding you for carrying out your proper role in the war. I guess your achievements in the war made up for your debt. ... There was something I wanted to ask you if I ever met you. I had actually completely forgotten about it, but I remembered it when I saw your face. So I guess Ill ask you now. Kuroyoru closed her eyes with her cup still in her hand. Then she opened them. And she spoke. ...Do you really fucking think everyone in the world can just get along? Immediately afterwards, the table was sliced in half with an explosive noise. Accelerator swung his head to the side slightly. The cup near his mouth had been sliced in two just like the table and the liquid inside was flying through the air. He was Academy Citys strongest esper, but he had a weakness in his inability to use his power if he didnt hit the switch on the choker-style electrode on his neck. So he dodged the first strike. He didnt need to for the second strike. As he used his empty hand to hit the switch on his neck, the cheap-looking black tea hit his upper body and was repelled. There were no burns left on his skin. And Kuroyorus second attack met the same fate. Namely, it was reflected. Kuroyoru forcefully stood up knocking her chair backwards and twisted her entire body to the side just barely managing to avoid her own attack. The cup in her hand was sliced. Only the handle remained in her hand and she threw it to the ground. In its place, she grabbed the plastic dolphin doll. With the tea, the table, and his opponents seat gone, Accelerator sat comfortably in the sole remaining chair. ...That manner of speaking...No, that calculation pattern... Oh, so you realized it? I suppose you would, wouldnt you? It is a portion of your own pattern planted and strengthened, after all. The Dark May Project. Accelerator gave a scornful laugh. That was one of the inhuman projects that had been carried out in the dark portions of Academy City. They had analyzed the citys strongest Level 5s thought patterns and forcibly inserted a portion of it into others. In exchange for a bit of stability in their personalities, those people had received a rapid increase in the strength of their powers. Youre just some little kid with a portion forcibly planted inside you and Im the real deal. Are you really so god damn stupid you cant figure out whos stronger without actually going through with it? Maybe I am, you fucking brat. This is a trigger. Accelerator tapped his chairs armrest with his index finger. If I stand up from here, youre dead. Do you really want to make me stand up? Its true that I dont have much of a chance in a straight-on fight. Thats why I was putting off dealing with you. However, Kuroyoru added, terms of victory here arent those of a straight-on fight. ... Your power is great for destroying, but its not so great for protecting, right? Its the same for me!! As she yelled, Kuroyoru horizontally swung the hand of the arm without a plastic dolphin doll under it. She swung it towards the people watching the sudden turmoil from a distance. She used the power that had sliced a table in half in the direction of flesh-and-blood humans. At the same instant, Accelerator jumped up from his chair. The attack was similar to wind. Accelerator got in between Kuroyoru and the onlookers and immediately scattered the attack that was also much like a spear or an arrow. That was a trigger. He struck her chest with his bullet-like words. And you pulled it. Now accept your fate. Kuroyoru Umidori smiled. Pieces of the tables and road surface she had blown away were flying through the air. She pointed towards a photograph floating amid it all that had been sliced in half. Shes here. Who is? Fremea Seivelun. Academy Citys strongest monsters eyebrows twitched ever so slightly. Lets have some fun, #1. ... That brat is nearby. Lets play a game. If I can chop off her head like in that photo, I win. And then... Part 9 Hamazura Shiage ran out of the private salon building. Things had been crazy inside the building. It had been a hell of multiple Edge Bees destroying and flying through windows and doors whenever he let his guard down, but he had still managed to make his way out. As long as you didnt falter at the sight of the chainsaws around the disks, there were a number of ways to deal with them. You could throw a spray can into the shampoo-hat like propellers, you could smash their camera lenses with a fire extinguisher, and you could stick a lit cigarette near their batteries and then hit them with a bottle of whiskey. The Edge Bees could catch objects, accelerate them with centrifugal force, and throw them, but that could be dealt with by throwing things at them from angles the chainsaw couldnt reach or using bottles that would break when grabbed. He was lucky that they only self-destructed when they stopped functioning in any other way. If they detonated at any opportune time, Hamazura wouldnt have been able to even approach them. (Wheres Fremea!? Is she outside already? Or is she still inside!?) Hamazura pushed through the onlookers who had gathered after hearing the uproar and searched around the area for the girl, but he then got an odd uncomfortable feeling. Something was off. It didnt make sense. It had been complete luck that he had been able to make his way through the large swarm of Edge Bees and outside. It wasnt that he hadnt wanted to make it outside. He had been fighting desperately hoping to do just that. But... He honestly felt that it had been too easy. Even if he did have a motley collection of experiences, Hamazura was still just a delinquent boy. He couldnt use the kind of special power that was needed to get through this kind of situation. These were killer weapons; they were specifically designed to kill people and getting killed was the obvious result of running into one. There was no way he should have gotten past them. One or two could maybe fall under the category of a miracle. But Hamazura had run into more than ten Edge Bees and there had to be a lot more of them spread out throughout the building. How had he survived? Was it just a coincidence? Or had someone purposefully intervened to make it happen? Fremea!! Are you there!? But he didnt have time to think too deeply about it. He had only managed to escape from the swarm of Edge Bees. They hadnt been destroyed. Not to mention that they were only unmanned reconnaissance devices. If his conjecture was correct, the true threat behind them was much worse than the esper girl or the powered suit he had seen before. That was when Hamazura heard a familiar girls voice as he looked around the area. ...In the first place...!! Over here, Hamazura...come...!! Fremea!! He franticly turned around, but there were simply too many onlookers. It didnt help that Fremea was fairly short. She may have been completely hidden behind all the people. He couldnt find her. He couldnt meet up with her. His panic grew causing his ability to find someone amid all that confusion to fall. And as he moved about in confusion, the next disaster came. With a great noise, a giant powered suit appeared kicking a car away in the parking lot. The suit looked very alien in the cityscape. That out-of-place feeling led to Hamazura picking up the same scent from it as the one in the underground mall despite him having no proof. It had two arms and two legs. Compared to the eight-legged one carrying a smoothbore gun, this one had a very subdued design, but it was still just too huge. A persons arms and legs simply couldnt be in the analogous parts of the suit. There had to be a space opened in the body. It had a number of narrow pillars on its back that held Edge Bees on them. The onlookers stared blankly at it. They knew that Academy City could create things like that suit, but they didnt often have a chance to see one with their own eyes. On the other hand, the powered suit did not hesitate. It did not care that there were witnesses. The giant suit headed straight for its target paying the onlookers no heed. In other words, it headed to crush Fremea Seivelun. ...!!!??? A number of screams, both male and female, rang out. Ignoring the panicked people attempting to escape, the suit headed straight on. Hamazura couldnt move. For one, he still didnt know exactly where Fremea was. But the bigger factor was that, unlike with the Edge Bees, the overwhelming and chilling negative feelings that came over him penetrated his skin and caused it to tighten up so he couldnt move. This was the killer intent of a living being. A mere machine could not emit this. While Hamazura was completely frozen up, the powered suit knocked a car in the parking lot into the air. It made three flips in midair before heading back towards the ground. Hamazura looked in horror at the spot it was headed for. Fremea Seivelun was there. She must have been knocked down while the other onlookers tried to escape. She was collapsed face down on the road. Near her was an abandoned stroller. Either the parent had panicked and ran off or the stroller had been separated from the parent in the confusion. In the stroller was a baby young enough that it was difficult to tell if it was a boy or a girl. Hamazura finally managed to free his legs from the fear. He started running in Fremeas direction. But it was too late. He yelled at her to run. Fremea looked back and forth between the car approaching from above and the stroller. That slight hesitation brought her tiny odds of survival straight down to zero. The car fell. The baby in the stroller must not have understood the situation. It stretched its innocent little hands up towards the side mirror that was reflecting sunlight as the car spun through the air. Immediately afterwards, a sound of destruction could be heard. Momentum, heat, electricity. The sound was caused by the boy who could control all these vectors, Accelerator, when he knocked the car horizontally with a flying kick. Accelerator had shot over at tremendous speed, but he remained stationary in the air for a short second. Meanwhile, the car that had received all the energy from his movement was knocked away accurately in a direction with no onlookers. Like in billiards, the momentum had been transferred. Accelerator almost floated down and landed lightly near Fremea. The loud noise must have finally caused the baby to think it was in danger, because it started crying loudly. Accelerator did not turn towards it. The powered suit. Kuroyoru Umidori. Keeping an eye on the locations of the direct threats, Accelerator spoke. He spoke the words as if they were words of praise and they were directed towards Fremea who had been unable to run away in the very end. (...This is supposed to be that damn Level 0s role, not mine.) What the monster said could be applied both to himself and the girl. Youre just not fit to be a hero, you fucking brat. In that instant, Hamazura Shiage was bewildered. Why had Academy Citys strongest Level 5 shown up there? Level 0s like Hamazura and Fremea were practically the polar opposite of the Level 5s who reigned from the very top of the esper development program. Hamazura knew it was ridiculous, but he didnt think a Level 5 would save a Level 0 in that city without a really good reason. He didnt feel that they had enough value to do so otherwise. Of course, he was thankful Fremea had been saved. The problem Hamazura had now was that the situation had passed the point where a Level 0 could get through it by coming up with a great idea. He had met Accelerator in the areas of fiercest fighting during World War III like Russia and the Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations. Accelerator was a person who could overpower the latest weapons of both the Russian army and Academy City barehanded. It would be immensely reassuring to have his help. However, Hamazura remembered something unpleasant. It was the same as when he had luckily escaped the swarm of Edge Bees. (...Can I use him?) The #1 had protected Takitsubo from terrorists in the past, but Hamazura had a bad impression of him for a different reason. But he wasnt in a position where he could be picky. (...Anythings fine as long it gets us out of this situation. Hes the horrible person who killed Leader Komaba, but that in itself is a reason for him to fight for Fremea!!) In that instant, the powered suit received a delighted transmission from a comrade. Here we go! Here we gooooo!! Silver Cross!! The connection has been made. Just one more push and the line will be set!! Its possible theyve figured out what were after. They cant do anything about it even if they have. Thats what the half-dead Fremea Seivelun is for! After coming this far, the flow cant be changed. They cant stop it!! If we use her, itll be set. This is checkmate, Silver Cross!! The sound of someone clicking their tongue resounded throughout the inside of the powered suit. He was the kind of man that knew how to do the right thing at the right time. God damn it. This model isnt suited for battle!! he cursed and the powered suit moved forward. The guard rail and fire hydrant in the way were knocked away as if by construction equipment. At that same time, Kuroyoru was at a distance watching Silver Crosss giant powered suit attack. It may have been a custom suit, but it couldnt defeat Academy Citys #1. (...That wont be a problem.) The loud noise of metal being smashed could be heard. The powered suit had moved to pick Fremea up off the ground with its steel fingers that were tougher than heavy machinery and Accelerator had used his power to completely bend them. The shock of the attack crept up like roots and the broken arm tore off, cracks ran across the outer shell, and great damage was done to the machinery required for the powered suit to move. Normally, it would have been over there. But this was different. (...Wins and losses here arent determined by strength alone!!) Silver Cross Alpha was wearing the thick powered suit. That meant... Suddenly, the front of the powered suit opened up even as the suit was being destroyed. This allowed Silver Cross to get out. However, it wasnt a flesh-and-blood human who came out. It was an exceedingly small powered suit constructed from rounded armadillo-like armor. It must have used some kind of equipment or sensors to carry out its attitude control. The armadillo kept its momentum from leaving the giant suit and rotated in midair. It passed over Fremea upside down. No, the armadillo actually grabbed her by the back of the neck with one hand. Kuroyoru yelled forcefully into her radio. Silver Cross!! Run off with her! Thatll end this!! Accelerator had thought it was over when he had destroyed the larger suit, so he was a little late in reacting. The next move came. Along with some screams, the crowd of people in the area split to the left and the right. A powered suit had a giant propeller on its back and it slid through the gap in the crowd. It was a model meant to travel at high speeds and it could slide with its four legs at 800 kph. The end of its legs could emit a liquid known as Slip Oil that let it travel smoothly, but the highly volatile Slip Oil did not leave any hint that allowed it to be tracked. Its movements were very monotonous, but this meant Silver Cross could have this personal suit move automatically based on a program. A thick hatch opened on the front. Silver Cross half-rotated once more while still holding Fremea and went inside the four-legged model. The bank vault like hatch closed. The transfer was complete. He was a man that knew how to do the right thing at the right time. In other words, he had looked at the situation and used the model that allowed him to get away as quickly as possible. The propeller on the back increased speed. It created an explosive wind. The powered suit began accelerating all at once before Accelerator had a chance to grab the armor. His hand met only air. By that point, the suit was already cutting through the streets like a bullet. Kuroyoru Umidori hid her presence and mixed in with the crowd. We win, she said into her transmitter. All that was left was the crying of the baby in the stroller. That voice was provoked by a humans primitive emotions, but it did not reach the darkness. Part 10 He didnt have time. After seeing what happened from start to finish, Hamazura Shiage grabbed a broken metal pipemost likely a piece of the destroyed powered suitfor self-defense and ran towards Accelerator. He would use anything he could to increase his power. Unlike with Takitsubo, Mugino, or Kinuhata, he had no reason to not want to get that #1 wrapped up in this. Now that Fremea Seivelun had been captured, he couldnt put it off any longer. Accelerator had killed Komaba, the person who wanted to protect her. That gave him a reason why he had to protect Fremea. Kuroyoru Umidori snickered as she walked through the crowd of people. (Fremea Seivelun has no use herself. Shes just a Level 0. Normally, there would have been no reason to get her involved in this citys darkness.) #1!! Hamazura yelled, but Accelerator did not turn around. Hamazura didnt know what it was that made Accelerator more of a monster than Mugino, but he held up the broken metal pipe regardless. We dont have time. Work with me. We should be able to find her much faster if we work together than if we work separately. If you have even the slightest desire to save that girl, then work with me!! If you dont know who she is, Ill tell you. Once you know, youll know you need to help her. Shes... ... Accelerator lightly waved his hand. The second his hand touched the metal pipe in Hamazuras hand, the situation reversed. With a dull noise, not only did the metal pipe fly from his hand, his body was slammed to the ground. Accelerator hit the switch at his neck and bent over towards Hamazuras collapsed body. He was leaning over in order to completely incapacitate him. At the very least, he was going to dislocate both of Hamazuras arms so he couldnt fight at all. There was no rule saying the enemy of your enemy was your friend. In fact, they both had completely different mental driving forces making them save people and continue to act. Kuroyoru rechecked the progress of the plan while the white coat held on only by its hood swayed back and forth. (...Those personal connections are what are important. Fremea has a connection with Accelerator because he killed Komaba Ritoku and she has a connection with Hamazura and Mugino of Item through Frenda Seivelun.) (...I underestimated him...) Hamazura gritted his teeth while lying collapsed on the ground. Accelerators hand reached out for his neck. If Accelerator constricted Hamazuras carotid artery, he would lose consciousness right away. Hamazura couldnt imagine how much worse the situation would get if he lost that much time now that Fremea had been taken away. He had to turn the situation around somehow. (...I just need something. Anything. It just has to get him away from me...!!) He felt around blindly with his hands and felt something hard in his right hand. It was a handgun that had fallen to the ground. It had mostly likely been dropped by an Anti-Skill member during everything that had been going on. But that wasnt enough. This was a monster that had destroyed a giant powered suit with one hand. Hamazura doubted firing a 9mm bullet straight on was going to do anything. Kuroyoru took out her handheld device and checked on the disorderly exchange between the higher ups. (Thats right. Hamazura Shiage and Accelerator. Its important that those two points connect creating a thick line.) Suddenly, Hamazura felt a change in Accelerators gaze. He wasnt looking at Hamazura anymore. No matter how unimportant he was, he doubted Accelerator would normally move his attention away from the person he was in the middle of taking out. Still lying on the ground, Hamazura looked over at the target of Accelerators gaze. It was someone in the crowd. It was a small girl. Hamazura didnt know, but the girl was called Last Order. (...Can I use this...?) He felt the weight of the handgun in his hand once more. The #1 was truly a monster. But the ability to protect oneself and the ability to protect others were two different things. If that girl was someone he knew, it was possible Hamazura could use her as a hostage. Even amid the crowd of onlookers, Hamazura had a clear shot at the girl. She was about twelve meters away. If he carefully aimed, he could definitely hit her. By threatening her, he could negotiate with that monster. (...What should I do?) There was no way he could deal with that monster using normal methods. And every second counted if he was going to save Fremea. (...What should I do?) Hamazuras right arm twitched. But before he could make any definite movements, Accelerator counterattacked. With a dull noise, a dull shock ran across Hamazuras arm from the wrist to the elbow. Accelerator was crushing the bones of Hamazuras right arm under all of his weight. Kuroyoru was satisfied because it seemed the higher ups were feeling just as much danger as the scenario had predicted. (Well, of course they are. At the end of World War III, both Hamazura and Accelerator negotiated with the upper levels of Academy City. Theyve gotten pretty indecisive about that. Even though hes such a danger and even though hes such an eyesore, they cant interfere because of the negotiations.) Gah....!? After confirming that the handgun had left Hamazuras fingers, Accelerator reached a hand up to the electrodes switch. ...The second I hit this switch, all the blood in your body will reverse its flow and youll die, Accelerator informed him in a coldhearted voice. But answer me one thing first. What? Why did you hesitate? You had enough time to aim for that brat and fire. ...Although, you may not have hit her. Of course, if that had happened, he would have mercilessly killed Hamazura. Whether Hamazura had hit or not, Hamazura would have been a dead man the instant his finger had tightened on the trigger. Hamazura didnt even look over at the gun that was now out of his reach. He stared Accelerator straight in the eyes. ...I had no reason. What? I only have business with you. That girl isnt involved. I had no reason to get her involved. And how am I involved in this situation? Komaba Ritoku. Accelerators eyebrows moved slightly when he heard that name. Hamazura continued speaking regardless. What that man you killed wanted to protect down to the very, very end was Fremea. ...You should know why Leader Komaba was fighting Academy Citys darkness. Thats why you once fought for a Level 0 you had no connection to. But that isnt enough. If you truly understand what Leader Komabas dying wish was, then you have a reason why you must save Fremea. An email arrived on Kuroyorus handheld device. The same email had most likely arrived at Silver Crosss powered suit. (Thats why were overthrowing this stable state things are in.) Tch, Accelerator clicked his tongue. He removed his weight from Hamazura, stood up, and muttered something. He wasnt talking to someone from the past. He was talking to the person who had come up with the strategy he was now caught in. ...Not just my own judgment, but Komabas dying wish? Fuck, so thats the trick. Kuroyoru looked over the characters on the screen. They spelled out the decision made by the higher ups. (Hamazura Shiage and Accelerator. When they were acting separately with their own factions, Academy City could simply go along with their negotiations. Thats why they let the two of them go even if it was temporary. But what if those rebels joined forces? What if they become a single rebel faction? The higher ups would no longer be able to just let their negotiations stand. There would be too much risk for them to sleep soundly at night without utterly taking out those rebels. Those two would no longer be just observed; they would be killed.) What...? Hamazura looked puzzled, but Accelerator didnt give a proper response. They couldnt stop the flow of events. At that point, they had no choice but to act exactly as Kuroyoru Umidori and the rest of the Freshmen wanted. They had permission to attack. She had held some slight doubts about the process, but the current threat level was clear. Accelerator, Hamazura Shiage, and the people, funds, and emergency stores they both had were to be quickly demolished. Permission to use deadly force if necessary had been given. That simple order had been exactly what Kuroyoru had wanted from the higher ups. (Hamazuras an idiot, but Im sure Accelerator has figured it out by now. Right!? But you cant stop it now!! It doesnt matter if you know. Whether its a trap or not, Fremea is going to be killed before your eyes!! You have no choice but to come running. And thats exactly why itll piss you off so much, you overly optimistic Graduates!!) Heh heh. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Kuroyoru burst out laughing completely forgetting that she was mixed in with the crowd. The people around her focused on her wondering what was going on. This is a greeting from the Freshmen, Kuroyoru Umidori muttered under her breath ignoring the people around her. Make this enjoyable, Graduates. And so Accelerator used his cell phone to send an email to Misaka Worst. The email said that he knew what the enemy was after and that it was possible the enemy would even target Yomikawa and Yoshikawa and so she should take Last Order back to the apartment and protect all of the good people. He muttered something after seeing the words saying the email had been sent. ...Fine, Ill play along. Destroying things straight on was that bastards way of doing things, wasnt it? Part 11 Hamazura wondered how many cars this made it he had stolen. He had left the area in front of the private salon building and had just unlocked a two-door sports car that was parked in a parking garage. There was a bit of a trick to starting the engine, but he was well versed in that kind of skill. Get in!! Hamazura called from within the car and Accelerator climbed into the passenger seat in an annoyed fashion. They quickly drove off in the car. ...So the attackers werent after Fremea. They were trying to get us to join together in order to increase the danger we presented to the upper levels of the city, muttered Hamazura as he recalled the truth that the #1 had told him as he stole the car. Accelerator practically spat out his following words. They were trying to stir up the upper levels of the city. This incident isnt something the higher ups wanted. This is being carried out by the battle-crazy bastards who returned to the darkness even when given a chance to escape it. Theres something wrong with them... I cant feel any kind of a sense of comfort from them. The problem isnt how fucked up they are. Its highly likely that theyre including people other than us in this single rebel faction. In other words, once the higher ups recognize that our line has been formed, they might attack an apartment belonging to someone I know. Of course, they would also attack the people you know. ...Are Takitsubo, Mugino, and Kinuhata being dragged back into this again? This is all-out war. We cant compromise. Since we dont know how far this will spread outside of us, we have to completely obliterate them before the damage spreads. Hamazura took out his cell phone as he drove down the zigzagging slopes without slowing down at all. If his expectation was correct, Hanzou and Kuruwa would be fine. Before the Edge Bee attack when they had lost contact with Kuruwa, the line hadnt been formed yet, so, at the very least, they wouldnt have the foundation ready to kill her. The ones the enemies would go straight for were Hamazura and Accelerator. Their enemies. The Freshmen. Hanzou, where are you!? he said quickly once the phone connected. The sports car had made it out of the parking garage. I managed to find Kuruwa somehow or other. But its odd. Kuruwa wasnt captured or even attacked. She just had her service cut off by the phone company. Hey, Hamazura, whats? Fremea was captured. Because they had no time, Hamazura ignored Hanzous question. For the moment, he drove off in the direction the four-legged powered suit had gone, but he didnt have any clue if he was on the right track. She was taken to the east of the private salon in District 3! But I dont know specifically where. Hanzou, where are you now? Can you cut ahead of them!? What did they look like? It was that bastard in the powered suit. This one has four legs and a giant propeller on the back. But I really doubt he would go all the way to his hideout in that thing. He must have a trailer or some large vehicle to store it in. So a large specialized vehicle instead of a normal car. ...We might still be able to track them down. What? There are plenty of ways. The second he had heard that Fremea had been captured, Hanzou had breathed a heavy breath. This was because he had realized why Kuruwas phone had been stopped. Kuruwa was sobbing into her hands over having been used by the enemies. H-how could I, a ninja descendent, have been tricked into informing the enemy of a small girl''s location...? This is a world of fool or be fooled, so the odds of a real ninja being fooled are about 50/50, really. No!! A ninja is supposed to...yknow, be a master of splendid intellectual tricks! A ninja group needs to be an elite group that can trick an evil prefectural governor guarded by ronin and bodyguards at every turn!! Ninja was already an outdated occupation by the time the prefectural governors came into power during the Edo period, responded Hanzou. He brought his hand behind his back and pulled a thirty-centimeter-squared piece of thick paper out from a gap in his jacket. It was waterproofed like the spoons that came with one-hundred yen yogurts and it had lines on it to show where to fold. He folded the thick paper and it became a rather tricky-looking paper airplane. In a couple of places, he stuck on a couple of motors about the size of the nail on his pinky, added on some small flaps and a rudder, and taped on a camera and transceiver to the bottom. It was an MAV, a micro air vehicle. There really is no place for a ninja now that you can make one of these things with objects bought at a discount shop, Hanzou exaggerated in self derision and tossed the MAV into the air with just his right arm. The remotely-controlled ninja of justice flew through the air to save Fremea. Hamazura. Ive sent a flying radio-controlled camera your way. Im sending the footage live to your phone. There shouldnt be too many vehicles large enough to carry the powered suit and it should be fairly visible from above. A toy plane, huh? Hamazura was holding the steering wheel and he set his phone to speaker phone and threw it to Accelerator. He was still pressing the gas pedal down as far as it would go, so it wasnt the time to be driving with only one hand. How fast can the camera plane go? 150 kph. If theyre tuned like an F1 racer they could lose me, but Im not restricted by the roads. I can send it on a straight course regardless of the terrain. Found it, muttered Accelerator as he stared at the screen of the cell phone in his lap. Its five kilometers ahead. The powered suit is racing along next to a giant dump truck. The truck is empty. It looks like its full of iron ore, but thats fake. It most likely has a large maintenance area inside. Theres a tunnel ahead of them. It looks like its going to enter the truck on the go. Hanzou gave a puzzled silence in response to the new voice that suddenly cut in, but he started speaking again shortly thereafter. He must have realized that it wasnt the time to ask. That isnt good. The MAV observes from the sky and the signal is meant for a toy, so it wont reach that far. You need to catch up to them soon. Everything is lost if they get away. Hamazura briefly looked over at Accelerator. ...I know its not my place to ask since I got you wrapped up in this, but is that kid okay? Who are you talking about? It feels like Ive been dealing with no one but brats lately. Umm... Hamazura pictured the girl he had seen at the scene before in his head and tried and describe her. She looked about ten, had short brown hair, and looked completely thoughtless...or maybe even a little stupid-lookin-ghwhf!? Hamazura suddenly uttered a weird noise because Accelerator had grabbed his nose and slightly twisted it. ...You dont need to worry about that brat. I had someone else with me back there. U-um, sir? Dont you realize Im trying to drive here? Accelerator clicked his tongue and let go. A tunnel, huh? You have the strongest power in Academy City, right? Wont this be easy for you to take care of? ... Accelerator didnt want to reveal unnecessary information, but he decided Hamazura most likely already knew since his leader, Komaba, had fought knowing his weakness. He pointed at his choker-style electrode. If I wanted to, I could chase after a fighter jet, but theres a danger that damage to the signal could cause me to lose control of my power. I dont like the idea of that tunnel. The greater the power I try to use, the greater the reaction if I lose control. (...I caught a glimpse of what he could do in Russia, but just how far does his power go?) He was a person that shoved Mugino Shizuri to fourth place. He had to have some kind of crazy power. So youre saying we cant rely on your power? ...I just said I didnt like it. Same thing. The tires squealed as Hamazura merged into a large bypass. Well just have to catch up to them with this!! With a further squeal of rubber, the sports car accelerated. As the car cut between the family cars crawling along at the legal speed limit and cut further and further ahead, they saw their targets. They saw the giant dump truck and the four-legged power suit. Theyre going in the tunnel, announced Accelerator as their targets slid into a large cave made of reinforced concrete. With a lag of a few seconds, Hamazura and Accelerator followed them. Their vision was filled with orange lights. Accelerator trembled slightly in the passenger seat. He seemed to be enduring something. Hamazura started to look over at him, but Accelerator stopped the trembling with a hand. ...It may be empty inside, but that truck is still ten times heavier than us. Yeah, if we hit it head on, wed just get blown away. Do you know how to stop it? Yes, although it isnt really something worthy of praise. The back of the dump truck opened before their eyes. It wasnt that its cargo of ore opened or that the giant container on the back did. A crack appeared across the entire thing at a ridiculous point and it opened up from there. It looked something like a trompe loeil. The dump truck and the powered suit matched their speeds and the loading process began. When one of the suits four legs was placed on the inside of the dump truck, Hamazura moved forward with the sports car. It was true that a mere two-door would do nothing if it slammed into a dump truck ten times its weight. It would literally just be repelled and the car would be done for. However... No matter how large the dump truck was, it still only had four points of contact with the ground, gained its power from the wheels rotating at high speed, and, most importantly, was moving forward. This of course meant that not every direction you applied force from would have the same result. For example, the dump truck was a weapon of steel moving at 200 kph, but the four-legged powered suit had matched its speed and succeeded in softly laying a leg on the truck. Question time: What change would the two-door car cause if it rubbed up against the dump truck from the diagonal back corner? The squeal of the tires rang out. The dump truck had been moving with as much stability as a roller coaster that was supported by rails, but it suddenly stuck out of its lane by quite a bit. Hamazura had not struck the truck with pure force. Instead, he had matched its speed as much as he could, slowly gotten right up next to the trucks metal body, and then pushed it. This was the kind of driving trick Anti-Skill used to forcibly stop out-of-control vehicles. The reason Hamazura knew how to do this was simple. That Anti-Skill woman with the jersey and the giant tits used to do this to me all the time!! He didnt need a huge amount of power. The dump truck provided that for him. Just by slightly shaking the flow of that power, it would lose control on its own. If this were in the middle of the city, there would be the possibility of secondary damages, but there were only thick concrete walls on either side in the tunnel. Sparks flew. The dump truck had lost control and was scraping up against the wall. The powered suit was only just getting inside the truck and it had to go back out on the road due to the shaking. This is our chance!! The giant powered suit was running alongside them so close it felt like they could touch it if they reached out the window. Look inside the glove compartment, #1!! If you find something to write with in with the maps, break the marker in half and break open the ink!! If you can cover its lens, it wont be able to run anymore!! ...It doesnt look like thats going to happen. Accelerator pointed and Hamazura couldnt believe his eyes when he looked that way again. The driver of the dump truck that had been scraping up against the wall had turned the steering wheel as hard as he could as if fighting back in the trucks death throes. A wall of steel approached them. Knowing that the car would lose balance, Hamazura slammed on the brakes. The giant mass crossed right in front of them and their bumper was torn off, but the car itself survived. Hamazura and Accelerator had just barely survived. But their car was not the only thing that had lost its balance. Having suddenly swung its giant mass around, the dump truck was now completely out of control. The truck was now moving diagonally in the straight tunnel. Even from outside it was clear that the driver attempted to correct the trucks trajectory by frantically turning the steering wheel as if he were trying to drive in a giant S shape. However, its front wheels were already in the air. The giant truck completely collapsed onto its side in the tunnel. Even though Hamazura immediately slammed on the brakes, it was clear which of the two vehicles was decelerating faster. The two-door cars wheels were still spinning and the dump truck was scraping up against the wall and the ground. They were going to hit it. Hamazura turned the steering wheel planning on hitting the truck with their side. He naturally chose to have the passenger side hit the truck and Accelerator put his hand to the electrodes switch preparing to shove the vectors to Hamazuras side even if that brought the danger of losing control. Tch!! You fucker. Did you factor me into your decision!? What? That four-legged power suit will be stopped by this as much as we!! Hamazura trailed off and swallowed his words. There was a space between the collapsed dump truck and the ceiling. A normal vehicle had no way of getting through that area, but the four-legged power suit jumped through it like the truck was a hurdle. Youre kidding... muttered Hamazura dumbfounded. The dump truck and the two-door car collided. Their speeds had been matched to a certain extent due to the brakes, but the shock had not been brought down to zero. Even though it was the side of the car that struck the truck, the steering wheel exploded and the airbag shot out. That completely cut off Hamazuras vision and the movement of his hands. The two vehicles continued to slide. They slid out of the tunnel. After continuing on for a few dozen more meters, they finally came to a stop. The air started leaving the airbag and Hamazura struck it with his fist to speed up the process. He then yelled to Accelerator. Go after him, #1!! ... Were out of the tunnel. Your signals fine now, so nothing can stop you now!! The passenger side door was crushed up against the dump truck, so it couldnt open properly, but that didnt stop that monster. He touched the switch on his neck. A loud impact could be heard. Academy Citys #1 tore off the entire roof and chased after the fleeing powered suit. Part 12 Yes, yes. Thats correct. It seems there was an accident near the exit of the tunnel. Hah? Yes, yes, its fine. Nothing really happened here. Were just stuck in the tunnel. We cant go forward or backwards. A middle aged maintenance worker was talking into his cell phone while he leaned up against the side of a large trailer and scowled at the orange lights and the smell of exhaust. A small embroidery on his chest gave his name as Jousawa Michihiko. The trailer behind him was not a giant container. It was made only of the metal framework, so the cargo could be seen from outside the box-shaped frame. I think its going to take some time to get the cargo in. Well, its a three-lane road, so bikes have been driving on between the other cars. If I only had permission to take it out directly...I cant? Yeah, thats what I thought. He was definitely going to be late due to the traffic congestion, but Jousawa didnt seem that irritated by it. In fact, he almost seemed to welcome the delay. He hung up the phone and grabbed the radio hooked at his waist. He was contacting the driver of the large trailer. Ive informed them of the delay. They just said they want us to change the transportation route a bit. Yeah, it doesnt matter that much to them, spat out the driver. Thisll never be used again. Actually, I guess it was never used in the first place. Itll be sealed up completely airtight and then given eternal sleep in some warehouse. Later it might be taken out for some derivative research, disassembled, studied, and then put back to eternal sleep. Its like an insect specimen. Theres no real reason to rush this. Theyd just laugh it off even if we were late by half a year. Listening to the driver, Jousawa looked at the contents of the trailer he had been riding on previously. A vehicle was thoroughly bound with a number of metal fixtures and reinforced rubber belts. Isnt it a good thing it didnt have to be used? he said. Well, its a good thing it didnt have to be used in the war. It was the HsSSV-01 Dragon Rider. It was the ultimate monster of a military bike that had been scheduled to be brought into World War III. As the war had ended sooner than expected, that new model had lost its chance to be used in combat. It had been all over the news that the weapons that were no longer to be used in the war were being transferred to large warehouses in Districts 2 and 23. But surely there was some other way it could have been used, added the driver. The Dragon Rider was originally supposed to be Anti-Skills new patrol bike, after all. Instead, it was confiscated for use in World War III, spent the entire time of the war being remodeled, and now its going for eternal sleep within a warehouse without ever having been used. Im sure you people didnt develop it for this to happen. Those two had no way of knowing, but Silver Crosss collection was a crystallization of the technology of the citys dark side while the Dragon Rider was created by the citys surface for an ally of justice to use. Bikes are a different genre, but does it make you mad as a driver? How do you feel as one of the people that created it? Its top speed was 1050 kph. The large bike within the box-shaped frame trailer had a jet engine put in as if it were sticking straight through the body of the bike, linear engines installed inside the wheels that were completely protected by circular armor, wing-like arms stretching back from the left and right of the front wheel area, and boosters that both gave auxiliary power and forced steering. Well... It also had gyros for stability, completely electronically controlled anti-shock suspension, and wings on the back to keep the machine on the ground aerodynamically. All of these devices were needed to ensure the machine moved along the ground properly when driving at full speed. As you said, I didnt really want this to be used in war. Its specs had been solidified with the idea of being able to freely fly across the wastelands of Russia at over 1000 kph and to climb cliffs with a slope of 70 degrees at over 300 kph. The biggest problem in its development had been how to keep the monster on the ground when it would fly off into the air if you didnt do anything to stop it. I dont care how. I just want it to be useful to someone at least once. The driver briefly remained silent after hearing that. He finally asked the maintenance worker another question. Did they tell you why they want us to change our transportation route? Dont change the subject. I know youre mad. I bet the darkness has made another move. The same darkness that is taking this and not letting anyone use it even once. They said some kids been abducted. Hah. They tell us that and yet tell us to keep the road free for them. Jousawa had heard some of it from his talk on the phone, but the driver must have been contacted by an official over the vehicles radio. Complaining about it wont solve anything, responded Jousawa with a bit of self derision. Im in charge of the weapons maintenance and youre the driver in charge of transporting it. Were the ones that fortify Dragon Riders place. We cant hope for the position of the hero who gallantly appears riding it. That was when Jousawa heard a clunk. It sounded like something had struck the outside of the trailer. When he went to check, he saw a person. A boy who looked like he was in high school was propping himself up on the metal frame. Jousawa assumed he must have either been in the accident that was holding up traffic or he was feeling unwell from being stuck in the tunnel for so long. He was wrong. The boy was actually climbing up the frame. He then suddenly spoke. Ooh, this is nice. Let me borrow it. Hah? That bike. Hey, hey, Jousawa muttered under his breath. The high school boy knelt down next to Dragon Rider while it was strapped to the metal frame with numerous reinforced rubber belts. It looked like he was trying to find the bikes keyhole. Jousawa had been a bit on guard, but he relaxed when he saw that amateurish action. Give it up. You cant start something like that just by sticking some wires in. Oh, I got it. I got it. Hey!! What are you, part of a security team!? Im studying to work in road service. This is well beyond that level!! To prevent electronic hacking, it used an extremely elaborate analog lock. However, it wasnt something that high school kid should have been able to deal with. The boy straddled the Dragon Rider while it was still strapped in by the reinforced rubber. Like I said before, Im going to be borrowing this bike. Id rather not explain the details, but I can assure you that you will be helping save someones life if you help me here. Are you delivering a pregnant women whos about to give birth to the hospital? Jousawa had said that as a joke, but the response he got was completely serious. ...Its more serious than that. I see. Jousawa pointed towards the reinforced rubber. But those restraints and bolts holding the Dragon Rider in cant be removed with your bare hands. You need special equipment and at least two large adults to do it. And a student like you wouldnt know how to use the equipment even if I gave it to you. ... The boy grabbed a reinforced rubber belt, started to say something, stopped speaking, looked troubled, and then finally started speaking. ...Did you see the four-legged powered suit that was running through this tunnel a bit ago? No. This bypass tunnel is three kilometers long. How would I see something that was ahead of me in the tunnel? That suit abducted a little girl. Jousawas eyebrows twitched when he heard that. He had heard why the transportation route had been changed. Shes about ten years old. She was abducted as a warning. Theyre going to kill her in as cruel a way as possible in order to stir up our anger. Enough that we join together. The reason they didnt kill her back there was most likely to give us the disgrace of having had her completely slip through our fingers. Theyre going to take their time in killing her now. What? But he hadnt heard that much. Jousawa hadnt been informed that the girl was going to be killed. Maybe theyll send her back to us stuffed into a plastic bag later or maybe theyll send us a live broadcast. I dont know exactly how theyll do it. I dont want to think about it. So I need to chase after them again before weve completely lost them. Jousawa heard a bit of static coming from his radio. It was the emergency confirmation sign. If he didnt respond to it, it would be deemed that something was wrong and the driver would take action. And the driver was carrying a sawed-off shotgun in order to protect the military secrets. Wait. However, Jousawa purposefully pressed further when the situation would have resolved itself with his silence. No response came from the radio. The high school boy turned around. What? Tell me that girls name. Why? Just do it!! That will solve everything!! Its Fremea! Fremea Seivelun!! Shes about ten years old, has fluffy blonde hair, and blue eyes! Is that enough? Do you want more!? Should I also tell you that shes extremely interested in games full of blood spurting everywhere and she hates green peas!? The boy was yelling in confusion. Please. I need to borrow this to save her!! I know you may not be able to follow this crazy story, but she really is going to be killed if I dont do anything!! That girl who was smiling just a bit ago will go cold and never open her eyes again...!! But Jousawa smiled. Information from the darkness wasnt an easy thing to get. And this boy knew Fremea Seiveluns name and a bunch of other information on her that wasnt in the documents and that made it sound like he actually knew her. He was truly a part of this. Unlike the maintenance worker or the driver who just worked on the outside, this boy could avoid a tragedy with the Dragon Rider. Thinking about it that way, Jousawa made his decision. Wait. You cant get on it like that. You dont think Im about to go through all the official paperwork, do you? Its something simpler than that. You cant control that dark horse on your own. ...I dont have time to get pro sports training right now. Thats not what I mean. Even the top ten legendary road racers wouldnt be able to have the grip or endurance to drive that. Jousawa pointed towards another machine lying in a corner of the trailer. It has to be used along with that special powered suit. The HsSSV-01 was developed as a new model of powered suit. Its design did away with the requirement of looking like a human body. In other words, it wasnt a bike created for powered suits to ride; it was a powered suit that included a bike. It was intended to maintain overwhelming mobility in all weather and in all environments and to suppress enemy forces with swift deployment. It was meant to drive at over 1000 kph in wastelands, not just on a finely maintained circuit. It could drive up thirty-meter cliffs at a slope of seventy degrees in what seemed like off road bike acrobatics and could clear twenty-meter-wide rivers. The machines power reinforced ones physical strength and had thorough electronic control to maintain balance, so it was possible to let go with one hand to use a Gatling gun or smoothbore gun even at high speed. If it had actually made it to the war front, it might have completely changed the history of war. Not bad, right? Jousawa called out to Hamazura Shiage who was changing behind a wooden box in a corner of the trailer that was fixed to the floor. The powered suit gives you the strength, endurance, and oxygen intake you need to operate the Dragon Rider. That suit itself is no monster. Its more or less human-shaped so your center of gravity wont shift and it doesnt have much weight of its own. Well, you can always put module armor on for various uses. Hamazura opened and closed his hands to check it out. The entire thing was exceedingly small. Unlike the models that looked like thicker versions of Western armor, this one was more like a riding suit with a full face helmet attached. It was gray with black protectors attached where needed. The suit wasnt that much bigger than a human, so Hamazuras body stretched throughout the entire suit including the ends of the arms and legs. ...It feels weird because it fits almost too perfectly. Hamazuras voice was muffled because the helmet entirely covered his head. There were no transparent portions on the helmet. Vision and all other information was acquired with electronic devices and displayed on the inside. Even so, it didnt feel odd and he almost felt like he was seeing everything with his own eyes. It almost made him afraid he would never be able to use his normal vision again if he used it for too long. Youre going to be driving at high subsonic speeds on obstacle covered terrain. The speed will feel many times greater than in a fighter jet, so you wouldnt be able to control it without equipment like that. ...Seriously? Dont worry. Theoretically, you should be fine even if you bring out its top speed. The driver who had been watching that exchange finally spoke. Is this really okay? You helped release the Dragon Rider from its restraints, didnt you? Arent you just getting carried away on the idea of saving this girl? A written apology and a bit of docked pay is well worth saving someones life. ... Jousawa ignored the drivers silence and turned back to Hamazura who was now straddling the Dragon Rider. Promise me. Ill try to bring it back undamaged, but it may be difficult to keep it completely unscathed. Use its specs to their fullest. If you end up scrapping it, thats fine. Also, lets see... Jousawas expression suddenly turned serious and the atmosphere cooled as if his previous appearance had been a lie. Make sure you save that girl. ...Oh, I will. The Dragon Rider carefully moved down the ramp from the trailer to the tunnel road. It sped up from there. With a loud roar, the Dragon Rider began speeding between the cars stopped throughout the tunnel. Jousawa laughed as he watched the flame of the jet engine roar away. He hadnt cared how. He just wanted it to be useful to someone at least once. ...Granny. Our cute grandkid is finally off saving someone. The result will give this meaning. Just going off to try to save someone isnt enough. Part 13 To be completely honest, Hamazura Shiage wasnt able to control the Dragon Rider how he had expected. In fact, his vision became distorted the second the bike accelerated. Gah....!? He couldnt tell what was going on ahead of him or behind him. He was going so fast that he couldnt keep up with the processing of the visual information. By the time he had figured that out, the tunnels smooth wall was approaching from the side. Fuck this. Theres no way in hell I can control this thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggggggg!! His vision darkened. All sound disappeared. His throat went completely dry. But... Huh? Hamazura was in complete disorder, but he hadnt crashed yet. His body, his arms, and his fingers were moving on their own. (...What...?) Instead of feeling relieved that he wasnt going to die, Hamazura felt an indescribable uneasiness creep down his back. (...This is just going too smoothly. I dont even know that much about bikes. Is something controlling my movements from outside...!?) The powered suit Hamazura was wearing used motors and chemical springs to enhance the persons movements. Normally, it would move in response to Hamazuras will, but it could of course do the opposite. In other words, the powered suit was guiding him by supporting his movements. This led to the body of Hamazura Shiage moving in top form. At first glance it looked convenient, but... (Ohhhh!? Th-this is like driving a bike in a ninin-baori!! How the hell am I supposed to relax!?) His body and mind were separated. The discord caused by other movements taking precedence over the movements he wanted to make brought fear. It could be mistaken for doing something amazing, but it made him feel like he was trapped in his own body. Shit!! This feels wrong. First the weapons in Russia and now this! Why am I always surrounded by these crazy machines!? Jousawa had said the bike forcibly inserted artificial feelings. The Dragon Rider didnt need to be operated in any complicated way. The basics of controlling it were closer to that of a scooter than of a bike. Hamazura just had to move his fingers within the handlebars that were completely covered in armor. There was no concept of gears or a clutch. It only had a throttle and a brake. In other words, it could only be accelerated and decelerated. Both could be controlled from both grips on the handlebars, so controlling it one handed was no problem. The bike had a jet engine, auxiliary boosters, and linear engines, but these various driving forces were controlled automatically to achieve the speed required. However, even all that wasnt enough for someone to perfectly control it the first time they grabbed the handlebars. There was no way it was that much of a monster. The Dragon Rider had a jet engine piercing through its main body and the front was pointed to reduce friction from the air. It was a large and heavy bike, so driving it should have been fairly difficult. And weaving between cars in a traffic jam would send the difficulty level soaring up. Getting a bike that big through the cars would have been difficult even for a driving instructor. And yet the Dragon Rider was slipping between the stopped cars. When Hamazura looked down at the displayed speed, he choked. He had already exceeded 400 kph. For a normal car, it wouldnt have been surprising if the meter had shaken off at that speed. Of course, Hamazura was not that skilled. It may have been impossible even for a professional stunt driver to carry out such delicate maneuvers. (...Come to think of it, a powered suit is a tool to reinforce human capabilities from outside.) Powered suits werent just machines used to increase the strength of ones arms and legs. That suit was made in Academy City. It did help him externally with the motors and chemical springs, but the odds were it didnt end there. Normally, he would have been in a complete panic at that speed. He would have been too afraid to think at all. He wouldnt have been able to think about what to do next. That wasnt happening. Hamazura found it to be a bit disturbing, but he was giving the powered suit orders and the machine was calculating what the rider wanted and what would best carry that out. Hamazura was simply too calm for all that was going on. Most likely, the suit was helping him out internally, too. The suit had ways of connecting the human to the machine by applying electrical stimuli and distributing the temperature of the brain. There was also the hectically changing information coming from his five senses. His vision was especially badly blurred. Everything looked like an aggregation of curves that looked like the laser beams from a shooting game. Even so, Hamazura was obtaining information from it. He wasnt seeing it in slow motion; he was getting information from the flowing lines. He wasnt seeing single objects frozen in place either. He actually felt like he was the resident of a world where things were always flowing by. His cognizance had changed. Perhaps it could be said to be similar to language. An alphabet looked like nothing but weird designs to those who didnt know it, but those who did know it naturally picked up meaning from it. His senses were being modified inside and out. His thoughts may have been moving even faster than when he was sitting at a desk studying. He was a a single centimeter error away from crashing, but he was still able to perform those bike acrobatics. The Dragon Rider left the tunnel. Hamazura opened up the throttle all the way. Immediately afterwards, he felt a shock. The arms for the auxiliary boosters that had been folded up on either side of the front wheel opened up. The noise increased exponentially and a shock wave was formed as the energy created by the internal-combustion engine threw him further forward. This was the bikes true form. The speedometer jumped up to the 900 kph line. At this speed, a flesh-and-blood human would have been unable to breathe in oxygen or even open his eyes and it wouldnt have been unusual to be burned by the frictional heat. This was a world where one would strike an object 250 meters ahead after a single second. The cars around him had to have been moving fairly quickly, but they didnt even look like they were standing still. It looked like they were flying towards him. He forcibly carried on by using the corrections provided by the powered suit. Even then, a fear great enough to interfere with the movements of his mind or body did not well up within him. Just like the machine he was riding, his thoughts moved only forward. He knew exactly where every little pebble and empty can on the road was and avoided them with the least possible movement. He ignored several traffic lights and just cut through the intersection as the Dragon Rider continued on. However... He had a sense of the outer motors and chemical springs correcting his bodys movements and he could tell the suit was interfering with him on the inside, too. It was helping him out, but it felt like his awareness of where the center of his being was would be destroyed if he used the bike for a long period of time. (...My phone.) He was wearing a military vest over the powered suit that could have various objects put it in it. His cell phone was inside it. He started to consider whether it was okay for him to let go with one hand in his condition. (...If I dont get a look at the data from Hanzous MAV, I wont know where my target is.) Before he could even complain in his heart, something changed. At the edge of the images that constituted Hamazuras vision, a small window appeared. Needless to say, it contained the data from Hamazuras cell phone. (How is it forwarding the data!? I didnt do anything!!) Academy City-made military weapons were as abnormal as ever. From what had just happened, Hamazura decided that conspiracy theories about machines spying on your mind may not be something to laugh at anymore. The distant view given by the cell phone data had pretty much lost sight of the target. Something indistinct was moving deep in the image, but the shapes of the moving object was indistinguishable. It looked like it would be easier to look for a nearby building or billboard to use as a landmark. (It looks like Hanzous MAV isnt going to be much more use...) It had gotten too far away. If he let the enemy do what they wanted much longer, there would truly be no way to guarantee Fremeas life. (No.) Wait, Hamazura mumbled. He looked up while racing along at high speed. The sky filled his vision. In the jumbled cityscape, it was difficult to spot things two hundred meters ahead, but the sky was different. There were no objects to obstruct his view and nothing was hidden behind the horizon, so he could even spot things that were a great distance away. Even if he couldnt spot the four-legged powered suit that had abducted Fremea, he would be able to find it if he could spot something that was chasing after the suit. Of course, he couldnt exactly spot an MAV that could be as far as ten kilometers away. Even with the powered suit reinforcing his senses, searching for an MAV the size of a paper airplane was no small feat. But Hamazura was following something else. Academy Citys strongest Level 5 could chase after a fighter jet if he wanted to. Part 14 Silver Cross Alpha was on the run. The plan was supposed to have been complete. The targets, Hamazura Shiage and Accelerator, had joined together to protect Fremea Seivelun. Now that they had become a force that the upper levels of the city couldnt ignore, Silver Crosss objective was mostly complete. All that was left was to kill Fremea in such a way that the force that couldnt be ignored would bare their fangs in revenge against the dark side and upper levels of Academy City. It didnt matter whether they would truly oppose the city. It was like attaching a detonation fuse into a large pile of gunpowder. Whether anyone truly wanted to detonate it or not, it had to be defused. As such, the Graduates would have to be exterminated. That was how it was supposed to go. So why could he still not get to a safe area? The four-legged powered suit did not have a human form. As such, the lenses that acted as eyes were not installed only on the front. One of the lenses on that model had spotted his pursuer. #1. Academy Citys strongest. It was a white figure called Accelerator. (This isnt normal.) Silver Crosss breath caught in his throat from shock when he looked at the speedometer. 750 kph. He was near the limit for vehicles that raced along the ground. And yet that monster was still right behind him. (Hes at the level of an airplane.) That monster!! I knew he was a monster, but I never thought he was enough to rival the Highway Cheetah!! Silver Cross was looking up. Twenty meters up. His pursuer had four whirlwinds on his back and was literally slicing through the air after Silver Cross. Silver Cross. I cant do it. I cant lose him even with the speed of the Highway Cheetah. A couple of undercover vehicles come to mind, but I can only use them once Ive lost my pursuer, so theyre useless now!! His powered suit was not a car. By folding up and unfolding its legs to match the ground, it could race across areas with large ups and downs and even down extremely narrow passageways. And yet he still couldnt get away. His opponent was the size of a human after all. Even if his four-legged powered suit could slip into various gaps, it was hard to find a place that the suit could go but the human couldnt. If she gets taken back now, this was all for naught. Should I dispose of her now? Dont assume youre going to lose. You cant be losing your way. Kuroyorus voice so calm it sounded like she didnt care about the situation. That may have been the case. Accelerator has great power, but why didnt he go all out from the very beginning? When he first came after the vehicle disguised as a dump truck, he rode in Hamazuras stolen car. Think about it, Silver Cross. In a situation like this, he wouldnt have done that without a reason. ...I see. Within the thick powered suit, Silver Cross sat within the smaller armadillo-like model and chuckled. Signal interference...the tunnel!! Now that he had figured it out, the rest was easy. Silver Cross moved over to the subway line running alongside the road. In order to reduce the noise, it was an area one step lower than the rest of the area sort of like a river made of concrete. Of course, further along was the complex group of tunnels for the various lines. The layout of the tunnels was reminiscent of a spider web. The suits lens caught Accelerators lips moving in a curse. Shortly thereafter, the sky was covered by thick concrete. He had entered the tunnel. Of course, just a tunnel wasnt enough to completely seal Accelerators movements. If so, he would have been assassinated long ago. The interference was only something that may happen. That meant his power could end up being weakened by some unknown amount. However, if he lost control of his power even for a few seconds while surrounded by concrete and chasing after someone at over 700 kph, he would be dead. Scraping up against the wall would be enough to turn him to mincemeat. He couldnt continue the chase. If he was willing to destroy and rip off the top of the tunnel that was also part of the city, he could continue, but he most likely wouldnt do that. If he was a complete villain, he might have done so, but sadly the #1 was no longer that far down that path. Simply put, he wouldnt sacrifice others to carry out his own goals. Even when refusing to do so put the life of the person he was protecting at risk. Kuroyoru. Ive managed to escape. This tunnel is shared by a number of lines. A great number of routes connect here to save time on construction. They wont be able to track my escape path from the air now. The #1s power is maintained by the battery of the electrode around his neck. We dont know the exact time limit, but I doubt hell keep using it at full power when he has no clear objective. Hes sure to turn it off at least for now. Get some distance between the two of you while hes stuck there. ...Theres also the matter of them. We cant be delayed at this stage. Understood. Now that Ive lost him, everything can go ahead as pla Silver Cross trailed off. It was odd. He felt something overpowering from behind him. The tunnel was dark. Unlike a tunnel for cars, light wasnt needed for trains to avoid a sudden curve because they had set tracks. The evenly spaced fluorescent lights were of little use and a seemingly impenetrable darkness stretched before him and behind him. However, this didnt matter to the four-legged powered suit. Its numerous lenses allowed it pick up information even in that almost complete darkness. Silver Crosss face stiffened when he looked at the window displaying the revised footage. What...? It wasnt Accelerator. A giant mysterious bike was approaching from behind. As if the bike were saying it had caught sight of Silver Crosss lenses, a number of boosters lit up. With a roar, the darkness was wiped away. Other than Accelerator, there was only one person who could possibly be chasing after Silver Cross to protect Fremea Seivelun. It couldnt be...!! Part 15 A great roar surrounded Hamazuras body. The subway tunnel had only just barely been made so the construction workers could walk through it. Efficiently constructing the track had been the priority, so the ground was covered in bumpy concrete tiles. Normally, driving through there at a few hundred kph would have been suicide. But that didnt matter. Hamazura twisted the throttle lever releasing all three means of propulsion without hesitation. (I can do this...The Dragon Rider simply has more speed!!) The problem was how to stop that thickly armored powered suit and rescue Fremea from it once he had caught up. Somehow breaking the propeller blades might work, but... If youre short on firepower use the auxiliary boosters, said the voice of the trailers maintenance worker. If things are looking bad, theres a mechanism to eject some of the fuel in order to reduce the damage. If you do it right, you create a 3500 degree explosion. However, you can only use it once on either side. Wait. I dont know how to do anything special like that... You do. While youre linked with the powered suits information controller, you can borrow the needed knowledge and skills. He shivered. Before he knew it, Hamazura had learned how to do an emergency eject of the rocket fuel. It was less like he had memorized a thick book and more like he had learned how to ride a bicycle. In other words, the slow accumulation of experiences one gained after having practiced again and again had been overwritten into him in a concentrated manner. He felt that life would be much easier if school lessons and studying road service skills were that easy. But it also scared him. He had no idea what could have been added to his head without him knowing. He decided that learning things on his own was best. (I dont have time to think about this too much now.) Hamazura consciously pushed away his questions and focused on the target ahead of him. (I have a method to save Fremea. Thats enough!!) The auxiliary boosters were a type of arm and could change their angle depending on the situation. However, they were still primarily used to point back and provide propulsion and moving around parallel to the sides of the bike was as far as they went. They couldnt point forwards. Which meant... (I have to at least get next to him in order to get him wrapped up in the explosion!!) That was when a change occurred with the movements of the four-legged powered suit running ahead of him. The back right leg suddenly moved as if it were kicking up like a horse. Some lighting equipment had fallen to the ground and the suit was firing the remains back at Hamazura at high speed. ...!! It was a hunk of metal with a weight of about three kilograms. He didnt know how durable Dragon Rider was, but he couldnt let any unnecessary loads destroy its balance. He steered out of the way of the remains of the lighting equipment and between the pillars on the side of the track putting some horizontal distance between them. Dragon Rider was faster in pure speed. If there were no obstacles, getting alongside the powered suit would be simple. But then Hamazura noticed something unusual. Directly in front of him, a bright light came from the darkness. (A subway train...!?) A chill ran down Hamazuras spine. A huge mass sped towards the Dragon Rider. As the huge mass passed through the tunnel, it caused a great wind, a loud roar, and a violent vibration. The train operator must have seen him a moment before. The train braked and a horrible noise rang out as the metal wheels scraped along the rails, but it was too late. With a shower of sparks, the train slid another three hundred meters. The four-legged powered suit calmly passed by to the side. Perhaps because the powered suit was not a normal vehicle, it almost looked like joy over its pursuer being eliminated was radiating from the suit. But then Silver Cross saw the large bike on the other side of the train through one of the gaps between cars. It was the HsSSV-01 Dragon Rider. Hamazura had stuck the bike in the tiny space between the subway train and the wall. He raced along at high speed just barely managing not to hit the wall. As said before, the Dragon Rider was faster in pure speed than the four-legged powered suit. Now that the obstacle was gone and his opponent had let down his guard, there was no reason he couldnt catch up. Tch...!! Silver Cross decided to slam into the Dragon Rider himself. In other words, he would use the difference in weight to knock his pursuer to the side. But Hamazura was faster. There was a difference between someone who immediately reacted and someone who was already prepared. The auxiliary booster arm moved to the side and a large amount of rocket fuel was ejected. When it dispersed in a great wind, it scattered out a bit from the booster and created orange sparks. There was less than a tenth of second between the ejection and the ignition. The fuel exploded. All sound was drowned out and a shock wave exploded out in what seemed like a transparent wall. The left auxiliary booster got wrapped up the explosion it had caused and was torn from the Dragon Rider. The large bike that perfectly maintained its balance using electronic controls slid to the side oddly. The four-legged powered suit didnt get off easily. It had been showered in the rocket fuel before the explosion. The explosion didnt manage to destroy the propeller blades, but the large suit was knocked a few meters to the side and it struck the tunnel wall. Orange sparks were created as the suit attempted to continue to run forward. But something was wrong. The damage from the extremely high heat and the shock wave had been too much to ignore. The two right legs werent moving properly. They could still glide properly, but they had lost the function to alleviate the shocks by conforming to the land. If it continued to run like that, the great shocks would cause the internal workings of the suit to break. I see. An unfamiliar mans voice suddenly reached Hamazuras ears. It was a transmission. I was wondering how you managed to chase after me, but it seems the answer was simple. That isnt a bike made for powered suits to ride. The bike is part of the powered suit. That is one idea of how to overcome the joints in the human body. ...I never thought I would come across model from the same series. That must have been why they were able to communicate. As he controlled the large bike, Hamazura quietly but clearly spoke. Youre going to give Fremea back. And if I refuse? Then Ill create another explosion. Dragon Rider had lost one of its auxiliary boosters and some of its balance, but the four-legged powered suit had even more damage and had lost some speed. The suit could no longer get away. In response, Silver Cross gave a slight smile. I have the hostage with me. Do you not realize that I hold your victory in my hands? You cant do anything to her, Hamazura plainly denied him. That isnt an automobile or a tank; its a powered suit. I dont know how everything is divided up, but every movement of your arms and legs is directly linked to the powered suits movements. If you make any unnecessary movements in there, it will have an outward effect. If you really wanted to hurt Fremea, you would have to stop the powered suit and get out. In fact, you must have taken away her consciousness so her movements dont have an outward effect. Am I wrong? The theory itself was Hamazuras, but the foundation of knowledge supporting it came from elsewhere. He didnt even have time to consciously think about what he wanted to do. A deeper portion of his mind was read and the machine searched for the information in an offline database and put the needed knowledge in his brain. How smoothly this process went and how much confidence in the accuracy of the information he had made him shiver, but he was in no position to worry about that. True, briefly responded Silver Cross. Even so, Hamazura didnt think Silver Cross was just going to hand over Fremea. He had to have something else up his sleeve. Hamazura focused in all directions. He didnt know how it worked internally, but the machine was most likely revising and amplifying this. Its true that this isnt a good situation. Im at the disadvantage here. As such, I suppose I will ensure my own safety even if it requires changing my plans a little. ...Because of them, I cant allow myself, one of the Freshmen, to be lost. Simply put, I am going to flee no matter what it takes. Luckily, this Life Armor gives me the durability to do just that. Immediately afterwards, the front hatch of the four-legged suit opened and the small, armadillo-like suit came out. Fremea was still inside the four-legged suit. And the suit was still moving along at over 500 kph. You...bastard!! Hamazura yelled, but the armadillo had already curled up into a ball and moved in the opposite direction while it absorbed the shock. The thick front hatch on the four-legged suit closed again. Without a pilot, the suit was sure to end up in a fatal accident eventually. Is this any time to be focusing on me? Out of respect for her determination, I removed the impromptu chip. But the Highway Cheetah doesnt have two arms and two legs. She wont be able to properly control it. Basically, he had awakened her so she would panic. He sounded like he was sneering in his transmission. I dont like letting go of the line binding you and Accelerator, but having her die here will settle that. The order is a bit different from the plan, but this will still lead to the upper levels of the city treating you Graduates as a target. Fuck!! Focusing on the armadillo wasnt going to help. He had to get the four-legged suits front hatch open and save Fremea as quickly as possible. He didnt know how the maintenance worker was monitoring him, but the worker spoke to him again. Your suits arms are just made to control the bike. They arent strong enough to force open the hatch. Then what am I supposed to do!? Are you saying I just watch!? Scrape it off. The maintenance workers response was brief but precise. Even more so than the computer that supplied knowledge and experience to Hamazura. The four-legged suit is being pressed up against the wall, right? Push it diagonally so that the edge of the hatch contacts the wall and keep it like that. If it looks like its going to leave the wall, just kick it back or something. Even if the bolts holding the hatch on are made of tungsten alloy, the hatch should be scraped off after about seven kilometers of that. ...!! Hamazura readjusted the Dragon Riders throttle to match the suits speed and followed the instructions. Without Silver Cross at the controls and with the suits sliding characteristic, turning it diagonally was simple. It continued forward even in that state. The four-legged suit had been contacting the wall that whole time and it was both making a horrible scraping noise and creating a large band of orange sparks. However, its legs that maintained its balance were acting oddly. They began to move up and down unnaturally. (I guess it cant deal with the unevenness of the ground anymore.) The powered suit shook greatly. With no pilot, that slight movement was enough to make the suit begin to leave the wall. Still straddling the Dragon Rider, Hamazura used one leg to forcefully kick the body of the suit. The push from the bottom of his foot moved the giant suit back to the tunnel wall. The tremendous scraping noise continued. (Its working.) He had no proof, but Hamazura was sure. It may have been due to knowledge he was being given from outside. The bolts holding the hatch closed would scrape off soon. Then he could rescue Fremea from within. But then something unexpected happened. One of the legs that had gotten caught in the explosion from the auxiliary booster suddenly sank down. It was reminiscent of a shoulder dislocating. The large explosion and the vibrations caused by the continued contact with the wall had greatly damaged the machinery within. Its balance suffered greatly. Hamazura couldnt support it on his own. In order to avoid being taken down with it, he temporarily moved the Dragon Rider away. The joints for the front and back right legs broke and began dragging across the ground. The suit continued on creating tons of sparks along the ground and the ends of the legs stopped making contact with the ground. If that slowed the suit down, it was a good thing. Since the ends of the legs werent contacting the ground, it would decelerate to a certain extent. Even if the suit didnt come to a complete stop, Fremea would be safe if it slowed down enough that it could safely run into a wall. But then... (Youve gotta be kidding me....!!) As Hamazura watched, the tough hatch began shaking unnaturally. The vibrations had scraped away the armor and it was clear the thick bolts were about to break. The hatch was going to open and Fremea Seivelun would be thrown out. The suit had finally started to decelerate, but it was still going somewhere between 300 and 400 kph. If a flesh-and-blood human fell out of there, they would be pulverized like a shredded radish. Fuck that!! yelled Hamazura as he opened up Dragon Riders throttle again. His only option to save Fremea was to get on the four-legged suit himself. He brought the bike right up the front right leg of the shaking suit. He grabbed the legs armor with his hand and slowly stood up from his seat. If he moved over to the suit, he would lose the bike. He hesitated for an instant, but soon made up his mind. He grabbed the leg with both hands and moved his legs from the bike to the suit as it continued on at high speed. Having lost its driver, the bike fell to its side and got caught between the ground and the back right leg of the suit. A tremendous amount of orange sparks flew out. Hamazura moved across the armor on the front right leg. He was moving towards the front of the suit. He was moving towards the one place where the four legs connected. (Please make it in time...) Hamazura forcefully grabbed the handle on the hatch. Normally, he would have had no chance of opening it. However, the thick bolts holding it shut were about to break. Open, damn you!! He used all the strength of the suit he was wearing and he heard something break within the four-legged suit. The front hatch opened wide. If he hadnt done anything, Fremea would have fallen out and onto the ground. But Hamazura was waiting in front of the hatch and caught her small body in one arm. They had only been separated for about half an hour, but he felt relief strong enough to take the strength from his entire body at their reunion. ...!? Wh-what!? In the first place what is!? Fremea couldnt see his face, so she must have thought he was someone suspicious. (...Well, at least I kept her from falling to the ground. Now I just have to hold on until the suit stops.) That was when a new problem occurred. The engine that moved the propeller that provided the four-legged suits speed started spewing black smoke. It was probably due to the explosion or the vibrations afterwards. It was also possible it was a self-destruct function. Either way, he couldnt wait around for the suit to slow down now that it might blow up. God damn it... However, the suit was still moving at 300 or 400 kph. The Dragon Rider suit might have been able to withstand it, but Fremea wouldnt make it. If he fell to the ground with her, he would pulverize her. What the hell am I supposed to do!? Part 16 Accelerator had landed at the entrance to the subway tunnel. Just a few minutes before, his feet hadnt been touching the ground. He had created four whirlwinds on his back and been using their power to fly with tremendous speed. However, he couldnt use that power inside the tunnel because of its strong electromagnetic interference. He had only lost a few minutes, but that had to be a pretty major loss given the speed of the powered suit he was after. (He has to exit the tunnel somewhere, but there are too many options. A lot of subway lines use this tunnel, so he could move to almost any part of the city through there.) Accelerator could fly along the shortest course ignoring speed and road layout, so he had the option of randomly going to each of the possible exits, but that would eat up his battery. His power would be his greatest trump card when it came down to rescuing Fremea Seivelun. He couldnt deny that using it all up on the problem currently before his eyes could lead to worsening the situation down the road. He thought for a bit and then pulled out his cell phone. He called Misaka Worst. Hows that brat doing? Misaka supposes that is the first thing her father would ask, isnt it? Weve made it back to the apartment. Were being questioned by Yomikawa, the landlady. Yomikawa was part of Anti-Skill and she was the type of person that would act beyond what the manual said. She may have caught a glimpse of the problem on her own despite the darkness attempting to control the information. Have you seen any sign of the Freshmen? Two groups of four. But they didnt feel like the main force. They were most likely just lookouts. Perhaps they were planning on abducting their targets for some psychological warfare in case you worked a little too hard and got in the way of their plan. But Misaka already took them out. Set up sensors and cameras around the area and prepare a number of escape routes, but dont let on that anythings wrong. If you try to move to a hideout unprepared, theyll target you en route and you cant let Yomikawa catch on. If those two groups are still alive, threaten them with a knife. Make sure they keep reporting that nothings wrong at their designated intervals. Is that all? Misaka has already done all that. She tied them up in a sheltered area with their radios and remote traps next to their mouths. Misaka may not look it, but shes the type who finishes her summer homework early. Accelerator ignored her joke. ...While somehow not letting Yomikawa or the others pick up on whats going on, I need you to get all the information you can on the third shared subway tunnel. The powered suit that abducted that brat called Fremea Seivelun is running through there and I want to know what exit hes going to come out of. Somehow, huh? How far can Misaka go? Is punching them out an option? ... Hey, dont get all silent on Misaka. Fine, fine, Misaka gets it. Shell hide it with peaceful means. Misaka Worsts voice was devoid of tension and it made one imagine that she had a smile in her eyes. But is which exit hes going to come out of really enough? You know full well that the darkness were from is merciless. Its possible hell give it all a bloody end while hes still in the tunnel. No one can deal with 100% of the possibilities. In fact, the odds I would fail if I just blindly charged into the tunnel are quite high. Also, a different powered suit on a bike went into the tunnel after I got there. If its who I think it is, the bastard wont give him a chance to touch Fremea. Oh, youre relying on someone else? How rare. Misaka Worsts words were filled with sarcasm. But then wouldnt it be faster to directly ask the guy in the tunnel whats going on? Do you really think we exchanged numbers? Dont we just have to get his number some other way then? Dont focus on that. Its possible the signal wont reach him in the tunnel. Its better to have multiple sources of information. Youre free to order Misaka around, but surely youll be working on gathering information too, right? The strained atmosphere continued until he hung up. Fighting wasnt simply rampaging around. Getting a grasp of the state of things was part of the fight. Part 17 As Silver Cross Alpha headed into the depths of the tunnels darkness while wearing the powered suit with the armadillo-like armor, he heard an explosion. He chuckled and exited to the surface through one of the exits for construction workers instead of one of the subway stations. Obviously, his suit had been a military secret. There were measures to take once it was severely damaged and about to fall into the hands of the enemy. The important bits of machinery and circuits were dissolved with a strong acid and then the suit was detonated by igniting its fuel. A screen in the armadillo suit displayed the level of damage to the four-legged suit. It wasnt to the extent of that large bike with its jet engine and rocket boosters, but Silver Crosss four-legged suit didnt use normal gasoline. And its fuel had been completely ignited. The suit most likely no longer had its original form. It wouldnt have very many properly functioning circuits left and the icons for ways to dispose of them to keep them from being captured were lined up on his screen. (Its over.) Silver Crosss genuine feelings leaked out. (The only question is whether Hamazura Shiage died along with Fremea Seivelun or not. Even if they both died, Accelerator can still easily be made a big enough threat to require immediate action. If we just stir up Mugino or Kinuhata of Item and have them contact Accelerator, it should work.) Silver Cross started to open a communications line connected to Kuroyoru Umidori in order to report what had happened. Before he could, he froze. He had seen something. He saw it remotely through one of the camera lenses on the four-legged powered suit that wasnt functioning properly anymore. A figure was standing in the blaze. That figure was holding a small girl in his arms. Hamazura Shiage...!! Silver Cross hadnt realized something. Hamazura had stood on the Dragon Rider bike that had been caught between the four-legged suits broken back right leg and the ground. He then used all his strength to lift up the broken leg a few centimeters and had partly surfed on the bike as it separated from the four-legged suit. But Silver Cross couldnt believe it. (How? How did he survive? And thats Fremea Seivelun. Unlike Hamazura, she didnt have the benefit of any armor!!) He wanted to get more details on the figure standing in the flames and the four-legged suit wasnt any help, so he directly connected his armadillo-like suit with a cable to the subways security network so he could use the security cameras. That backfired on him. Youre there, arent you? A voice stabbed into him. A gaze turned in his direction. The image on the monitor and the voice coming from the speakers accurately pierced straight through Silver Cross. (Did he compute it from the communications equipment in both the powered suits? No, that isnt it. This is...!!) A cable was stretching from Hamazuras arm as he stared directly at the lens of the security camera Silver Cross was using. He had stood in front of the security camera for show and spread out his electronic net and then waited for Silver Cross to make his move. Of course, this was beyond the level of a mere delinquent. But Silver Cross knew that the missing knowledge and skills would be forcibly reinforced giving the boy the proper level of experience. He brought his hand to the spinal area of the armadillo. (...Hes getting mind support from the powered suit just like me!!) It was all temporary. Once he left the powered suit, he would lose it all. But as long as he continued to wear the suit, that knowledge and those skills were his to use as he pleased. The figure in the flames moved. Another person appeared who must have entered the tunnel either through a subway station or through a construction entrance like the one Silver Cross had exited through. It wasnt Accelerator. It appeared to be the delinquent that had been used to track down Hamazura and Fremea when they were hiding in the private salon. Hamazura handed Fremea to the boy. She was alive and, if she was handed over, Silver Cross and Kuroyorus plan would end a failure. But he didnt have time to worry about that. He had something else to think about that took priority. He had to survive. When had he ended up in a situation where he had to seriously consider that? ...Im sure I dont have to tell you what Im going to do. With those words, the security camera was destroyed and the image was replaced with static. At the same time, the voice transmission cut off. In that instant, the positions of chased and chaser were reversed. Part 18 Takitsubo Rikou, a girl wearing a pink jersey, was standing blankly in front of a roadside vending machine. She wasnt just holding a normal drink can in her hand. She had the authorized iced tea of a famous tea shop. At least it claimed to be. It had a lot of milk, sugar, and honey put in by default, so the flavor had been lost. Its sweetness was on the level of strawberry milk. (...My feet hurt. Im tired of walking.) Takitsubo was there for a very simple reason. The three members of Item were still on the Hamazura Search that they had made the humiliating bunny bet on, but, unlike Mugino and Kinuhata, Takitsubo had no real basis with which to search for Hamazura. And since she had the ability to sense others AIM diffusion fields, she gave her intuition a lot more importance than she herself thought. To fully use her power, she had to use the Body Crystal powder that had powerful side effects, but she could still vaguely sense the weak power that espers subconsciously emitted even without it. However, since it was just a vague sense, she couldnt tell what kind of power it was, who was using it, or where they were. It really wasnt that useful. As such, the invisible power that was backing her up, the thing that her actions were based on in the end, was really just vague and uncertain intuition. Since she had managed to make it through Academy Citys darkness safely with that intuition, it might have been something worth researching. Nn... Takitsubo looked vacantly up into the air. (A signal is coming from the north east...That way, I think.) Then her cell phone started ringing. While she walked along the street, she took her phone out of her pocket with her small hand. It was from Kinuhata Saiai. Yahoh. Have you super found Hamazura yet? Nnn. Mugino ran into a problem with controlling the security company and getting video data got super hard for her, so I guess Im going to be super first. Kinuhata, do you know where Hamazura is? Well, yeah. The voice coming from the phone dropped a tone. But I spotted someone super annoying nearby. Part 19 Incidentally, Silver Cross Alphas face had been burned as a punishment in the past. He had experienced firsthand how useless the nonsense about what is inside a person being important was. Ever since it had happened, he had spent his life attempting to regain his face. As he completed various jobs, various bits of Academy City technology had been used to repair his face bit by bit as if it were a lump of clay having details added. It was like a horrible game of fukuwarai[1]. But he realized something when he had finally regained his former graceful face. Even though so much money and technology had been used to perfectly bring back his face, the disgrace he felt when his face had been burnt away continued to warp his looks into something unsightly. Consequently, Silver Cross fundamentally had no sense of aesthetics towards his own body. His habit of switching between numerous powered suits was largely due to the fact that he had arranged his mind so he held no attachment to his outer appearance, his features, or his form. To control a four-legged powered suit, he had to become a four-legged animal. To control an eight-legged powered suit, he had to become an eight-legged animal. Even if some of the controls were left to a program leaving simplified controls for him to use, in the end, that was what was required to truly control a powered suit. In fact, getting used to everything going smoothly due to the program made the problem worse. Obviously, the behavior required to control an eight-legged form with a two-legged form were of no use when walking with your own two legs. If he got used to the method for eight-legged walking, he would forget how to walk with two legs and his commands would be thrown into confusion. And thats just talking about the legs. It should be clear how severe the problem would be once it spread to the entire body. What is the true form of my body? How do I move it? Everyone knew those things and had no problem with the answers and Silver Cross could analyze those things in his mind each time. He overcame the reason that power suits beyond the shape of a human hadnt become mass produced. That man who had abandoned his own body had a sudden thought. He was watching the man who stood up amid the burning flames holding Fremea Seivelun. He was looking at that scene and the spot the man stood in. He thought that he might not ever be able to stand in a place like that no matter what model of powered suit he used. Chasing him was simple. Hamazura had lost the Dragon Rider bike, but it was still much easier to move in the powered suit than with nothing. He was running through the subway tunnel. He couldnt avoid the loss in stamina caused by moving his own limbs, but he was glad that he could move faster than the speed limit on those two legs. Searching for him was simple. He had used the powered suits data to spread out an electronic net and Silver Cross had gotten caught in it. He wasnt far away. With his machine-assisted legs, Hamazura could catch up to him very soon. Reading his movements was simple. Silver Cross had two options at that point. First, he could run away as quickly as he could, meet up with his comrades, and change into a more powerful suit. But he wouldnt choose that. The biggest weak point of a powered suit was in the instant of changing from one to another. Since he didnt know when Hamazura would catch up to him, Hamazura doubted he would make contact with one of his mobile bases. Therefore, Silver Cross would choose the other option. He would give up on changing to a better suit and attempt to capture Fremea Seivelun as quickly as he could using his current armadillo-like suit. It was a self-evident truth that Fremeas life could be used to keep Hamazura and Accelerator in check. And, using the security camera, Silver Cross had seen Hamazura in the powered suit hand Fremea over to Hanzou who didnt have a suit. He also knew that Hamazura had split up from Hanzou and Fremea in order to chase after Silver Cross who was far away. Silver Cross was sure to think this was his last chance. If he could sneak past Hamazura, attack the defenseless Hanzou, and abduct Fremea, he could still turn the situation around. Because of this, getting a surprise attack on him was simple. Silver Cross was certain to use the tunnel again in order to get Fremea back as quickly as possible. And since he wanted to sneak past Hamazura, he wouldnt use the shortest path. He needed a path that was a detour but still allowed him to get Fremea back as quickly as possible. He would be second. Once Hamazura had worked all that out, he just had to wait for Silver Cross to arrive in his armadillo-like suit. With a crash, Hamazura jumped from cover and struck the back of the armadillo with a flying kick. The armadillo was knocked to the ground and bounced five or six times. The model finally stopped when it struck the gently curving wall and then slowly stood up. He had succeeded in his surprise attack, but Hamazura still felt impatient. (...I used the best timing and hit him with all my weight when he was off guard and he can still move. He really is tough.) The armadillo had unhesitatingly jumped out of the four-legged suit that was running at over 500 kph and it still kept its normal specs. It must have been guaranteed to protect the life of its controller. It didnt seem like it was just that its armor was tough. It may have also had some kind of electronic control mechanism that let it escape the shock. Hamazura was wearing the control suit for Dragon Rider, a crystallization of official technology that had originally been created as a large Anti-Skill patrol bike. Silver Cross was wearing a part of his collection that was a crystallization of the technology of the dark side of the city. They each had to defeat the other, and they stared each other down. The control suit and the armadillo suit did not exchange words. The first step was taken before they could. Their fists crossed. A loud creaking noise rang out. It wasnt the sound of a flesh-and-blood body being hit. But it wasnt simply the sound of the powered suits armor striking each other. Hamazuras right fist had parried Silver Crosss fist. He had struck Silver Crosss lower arm from the outside to forcibly alter the trajectory of his fist. Hamazura threw a punch with his left fist in response. It was an uppercut. The armadillo purposefully moved its shoulder towards the fist in order to keep the damage as low as possible. Of course, these werent Hamazura Shiages techniques. Nor were they Silver Crosss. The computers inside the powered suits were searching for knowledge and skills and reinforcing the two of them. They were using that to its fullest in this exchange of punches that were stronger than a standard shotgun. They were predicting their opponents moves, calculating the trajectories of their fists, parrying, and then beginning their own attack. And this process was being carried out at a speed of three times a second. The motors and chemical springs were correcting their fists momentum vectors to create destructive forces on the level of a gun. As Silver Cross was controlling a weapon in the shape of a human instead of a machine that reinforced human actions, he could most likely produce the most destructive force. The noises of strong blows and sparks flying continued on and on. (...Just plowing our tough armor into each other isnt going to do anything. Both these suits were created to be indestructible. A frontal attack is just a waste of time.) Hamazura was thinking while he controlled the suit that was amplifying his fist to the point that it could plow right through a car door. (But these arent tanks or armored cars. Theyre just powered suits that match the movements of the body within and amplify the momentum. Thats a weakness I can use to stop his movements.) In other words, he had to stop the soft human inside not the tough powered suit on the outside. Hamazura didnt bother to avoid the armadillo suits fists while it was focusing on his face most likely in an attempt to destroy the sensors there. Hamazura restrained Silver Crosss arm by wrapping his two arms around it. The arm of a powered suit was different from the arm of a mere machine. A human arm was inside the powered suit arm. That meant if one used his weight to break the arm at the shoulder and elbow, the human arm within would break, too. Of course, Hamazura wasnt versed in joint locks. He didnt know how to break someones joint when they were still standing and on their guard. It was all due to the machines reinforcement. It felt like pushing a rail car and looking down the rail. His limbs moved quickly and he broke his opponents arm more calmly than he normally would have been in that situation. Gaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!! Judo and wrestling sure are scary, huh? I wouldnt want to deal with them in a street fight with no referee!! A powered suit was made up of machines and could alter the degree of freedom its joints had. It may not even break if it was bent completely backwards. But the human arm inside was different. And since the powered suit operated by matching the movements of the human, an injury to the human greatly decreased the types of orders that could be given to it. (I dont need to break both of his arms and both of his legs. If I can just break one leg, he wont be able to move anymore...!!) That was when he heard an odd noise. The right arm of the armadillo suit that Hamazura had supposedly broken began to shake unnaturally. It was as if it was changing modes of some kind. Dont underestimate meeeeeeeeee! !? Silver Cross used the power of his left hand to tear off the portion below the elbow of the broken right arm that Hamazura was still grabbing. Hamazura lost his balance and Silver Cross delivered a strong kick to his gut. Hamazuras back struck the concrete wall and thin cracks raced along the wall. Gah!? Then came a second hit. And a third. ...!!!!!! Even while wearing a powered suit, it was enough to knock the wind out of him. As he was struggling to breathe, he let go of the armadillo suits right arm. That wasnt normal. Of course, an attack like that would damage Hamazura, but the pain of having ones arm ripped off should have been greater. It wouldnt have been surprising if someone bit their tongue in shock when it happened. Hamazura looked straight ahead with his dim vision and saw something unusual regarding the armadillo suit. Its armor was crumbling away as if it were mud. ...You were wrong if you thought you could stop a powered suit by breaking its contents. Some kind of viscous black oil and something like a belt-shaped piece of rubber stretched out and began wrapping around the arm that had fallen to the ground. Then the supposedly severed arm was forcibly reattached from the outside. It looked more like a black arm with a captivating unevenness to it than it did armor. (...Its just like a crabs shell. He used the shell to connect the torn off arm...!) As the armor left his face, Silver Crosss voice became clearer. His voice was as beautiful as a bell. Once a powered suit goes past a certain point, it essentially becomes the same as a cyborg. Its just the difference between being reinforced from without or from within. With a water-like sound, Silver Crosss shell transformed. Inside was a young man with long hair and a graceful face. The shell changed so that it looked like he was wearing a dirty cape. He didnt look at all like the robot surrounded by thick armor that had been there before. Half of Silver Crosss body was covered in the artificial muscles that forcibly reinforced him from without, but they looked like a half complete design. The writhing fibers of the chemical springs were directly visible. On that somehow captivating unevenness, the model name, Emergency, was displayed in red letters. Therefore, destroying the body inside is pointless. It can still be reinforced by the shell. If you destroy the bones and muscles of my arms and legs, destroy my blood vessels so I lose blood, or even damage or stop my internal organs, the suit can bypass all of that and allow me to continue to fight. Even... A noise that sounded like creaking gears could be heard and a number of long and thin but warped arms with pointed ends shot out of the part of his right side of his body that was covered by the cape. My brain. A chill ran down Hamazuras spine. His knowledge and skills were being supplemented by the computer. ...This power was supposed to be for using against them, so of course it isnt going to be something normal Hamazura didnt know how much damage the suit could bypass, but the fight had clearly gone beyond the point of a battle between two flesh-and-blood humans. The battle could no longer be settled by putting a bullet between his opponents eyes. Realize that and then we can enjoy this. Ill show you just how repulsive it is to go beyond being human. In actuality, Silver Crosss tactic had begun before he had changed the suits silhouette, before the armadillo-like suits right arm had been torn off, and even before the fistfight on the level of shotgun blasts had begun. It had started the instant he had been hit by the surprise flying kick. It came down to a difference in experience. Silver Cross Alpha had been using all sorts of powered suits for a long period of time, so he knew what was important in a powered suit battle and he knew what to do to defeat an enemy when they showed up. He knew the most important thing. It wasnt the armor or exterior joints and it wasnt the battery or the motors either. There was something that had to be grasped first before those surface things. (The reinforcing and supplementing of knowledge and skills by the computer.) No matter how strong the punch, it was meaningless if it didnt hit. No matter how solid the armor, it was meaningless if an attack could get through a gap. (Neither of us are experts in battle or in martial arts. The readjusted thoughts calculate the most effective attack pattern based on your level of experience. ...So if you can figure out what the reinforcement script is, you can pull of a cross counter with 100% accuracy.) For that reason, Silver Cross had put the camera mode to high speed and started analyzing from the second the battle began. He was fighting Hamazura and having the computer work at the same time. And he had gotten an answer. The infinite possibilities had been narrowed down to finite options. Obviously, Hamazura Shiage had an almost infinite number of attack patterns he could freely use. But he only had five patterns for a first move. Silver Cross was preemptively crushing the explosively spreading possibilities that were held in 0.1 seconds. If he created a situation where he could pull off a cross counter for every single first move, his victory would be assured. That was why he had changed his suits silhouette. The seven warped arms with pointed ends were prepared to pierce through a gap in Hamazuras armor at the armpit and into his lungs and heart and to also destroy the computer on his back. The arms were prepared to do this for every move Hamazura could take. Hamazura did not realize this. That was why he took the last step forward to attack Silver Cross. He had no idea that act would lead to his chest being pierced. (...So hes going for the barrier of pursuing destructive power.) Hamazura was in a cage called possibility. His future was a dead end. (Come face your prepared death, Level 0!!) A dull noise rang out. It was the dull noise of a human body being destroyed through the gaps in the joints of a powered suit. In that instant, the seven pointed arms had accurately captured all five possible first moves. They were to intercept every single one of Hamazuras possible actions, pierce his heart, and destroy the computer controlling his powered suit so it couldnt bypass his heart. And yet Hamazura slipped past them. The seven arms missed. Hamazura sent his fist at Silver Cross Alpha with tremendous force in an attack that wasnt any of the preset five first moves. (Wha?) Silver Crosss breath caught, but then he realized what had happened. (He turned off the computer reinforcement at the last second to go beyond its breadth of options.) ...!? He immediately swung the seven arms in, but it was too late. Those weapons had been deployed so that they could apply their maximum destruction within the range he had set. They werent going to intercept Hamazura successfully now that he had left that range. The pointed ends lightly tore at Hamazuras suit. But that was all they did. They didnt stop him from moving and the fist that could plow straight through a car door slammed into Silver Cross. Hamazura rotated the strike to the side and hit Silver Crosss torso. It hit the battery and the computer. A grating noise was heard and all of Silver Crosss movable parts stopped. His state-of-the-art weapon had become nothing more than expensive shackles. ...So you... Silver Cross couldnt move his arms and legs and he was stuck bent over forward. He could only just barely move his mouth. ...read that I was reading your attack pattern... What the hell are you talking about? spat out Hamazura in response. He still truly didnt know what Silver Cross had been trying to do. I just realized that this was something I had to do on my own. Part 20 Silver Cross Alpha had been defeated. He seemed to still be conscious, but his control computer had been destroyed, so all of his joints had frozen up and he couldnt even take off the suit himself. He was trapped inside the partially collapsed suit. Hamazura checked to make sure of that and then leaned his back up against the tunnel wall. He gave a sigh of relief. The last half hour had been intense. A horrible sweat caused by the danger he had been in was still coming from his entire body. Hamazura!! Hanzou came running over from farther down the dark tunnel. Are you okay? Somehow or other... As he spoke, Hamazura opened and closed the powered suits hands. But this suit is shot. It cant amplify the momentum of my actions anymore and its thought reinforcement is based on having that power. If I tried to follow what it told me to do, I would just end up destroying my bones. ...Its really just a riding suit now. He was just glad that it hadnt frozen up like Silver Crosss suit had. And it was still tougher than normal clothes even if it couldnt amplify the momentum of his actions. He took off the helmet and breathed the air directly before asking a question. Wheres Fremea? Nearby. It seems she mistook you for a transforming superhero. Hey, if I could get away with anything just by having my face hidden, Id give it a try. They heard a creaking noise and turned their eyes towards the darkness. Deep in the dark subway tunnel, they heard a slight noise. It wasnt a natural noise. It sounded something like the creaking of a thick spring. Hamazura put his helmet back on and switched it to night vision mode. He stopped breathing once he did. ...Oh, fuck... What is it, Hamazura? What can you see? Masses of metal. Crawling legs. Cold lenses. Powered suits. Didnt you just defeat the powered suit guy!? This isnt just two or three. There are more than ten of the damn things. It wasnt just Silver Cross!! So thats it... muttered Silver Cross while he was still frozen in place inside the broken suit. His voice was tinged with self derision. That girl is sending my collection out of my hangar without my permission. Looking at the threat, Hamazura took a step back and Hanzou moved even further back pushed by an imagined fear of what he couldnt see. Then the two started running. The relief and sense of release from before was gone. Lets meet up with Fremea! You said she was nearby, right!? I left her with Kuruwa. She has a hideout nearby, so lets head there! But we cant deal with a bunch of powered suits like that. What are we going to do, Hamazura!? That should be obvious... He couldnt use his suit anymore. The enemy kept sending in more and more forces making their strength seem infinite. The end was nowhere in sight. How far did they have to run? Could they continue to run? Was running even the right thing to do? Hamazura was being chased again, but he stared ahead and gave his answer. We have to forestall them in order to save Fremea!! Between the Lines 4 They would temporarily paralyze the citys communications so reports couldnt be sent to Anti-Skill or Judgment and then attack as a group to incapacitate the targets on a list of dangerous espers. The plan was moving ahead nicely. Skill-Out was made up of a number of groups, but they had been contacted and each one had approved of the plan. People, money, materials. Komaba and the boys and girls around him could tell they had gathered enough of those things to carry out the plan and they rejoiced. But, at the same time, Komaba Ritoku had a thought: It wont be that easy. Even if they surrounded the powerful espers with large numbers, it didnt guarantee that they could defeat them. And defeating them once didnt guarantee that they would be incapacitated. Most importantly, they were causing the battle between Level 0s and espers to spread even further. Also, the higher ups of Academy City were powerful enough to keep the city running and they would probably take actions to obstruct Komaba and the others plan. Another step was needed. He needed to create a situation where the attacks on Level 0s would stop whether the plan succeeded or failed and no matter what other result it brought. But he couldnt come up with such a step. While he was trying to do so, it all began. The higher ups of Academy City had sent the worst possible assassin to stop Skill-Outs plan. He was known as Accelerator. He was Academy Citys strongest Level 5. He was fighting to protect the city from a completely different angle than Komaba. After seeing him and fighting with him, Komaba Ritoku finally smiled slightly in his heart. He had found that last step. He had found the final piece needed to solve the problem of the Level 0s being attacked whether the plan succeeded or failed. I win. That was the last thing he muttered in his heart towards Academy City when the battle ended. He was thankful that he had been fortunate enough to come across someone he could entrust his feelings to. Notes 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuwarai Volume 1, 5: Even If He Does Not Become a Hero. Knight(s). Volume 1, Chapter 5: Even If He Does Not Become a Hero. Knight(s). Part 1 Kuroyoru Umidori was standing on the roof of the apartment. If she used her ability, her movement wouldnt be affected even if there were no roads. Though she couldnt fly straight like a plane, it was convenient enough if she was just moving from one roof of a building to another. She was heading towards her workplace. The underlings of the Freshmen had tracked down Hamazura and Fremea, and had confirmed that they were hidden inside the abandoned building. She only stopped midway through because she realized that the phone in her hand was ringing. With only the hood of her white coat hanging on her head, Kuroyoru Umidori grabbed the phone. She placed the inflatable dolphin doll beside her feet and stepped on it, making squishy sounds. Yes, thats right. Bring over the hidden treasure from where Silver Cross is. Its the critical moment now. That guy is already useless. Its a waste of money to save that treasure. Its time for them to show their stuff. The one on the other side of the phone was someone working under Silver Cross. The person was in charge of activating the powered suit. Under automatic control, the movements will become abnormally simple, its extremely easy for the enemy to see through. Its all right if the enemy does not have enough firepower to pierce armor. We can rely on numbers here...besides, if we dont use that thing, the treasure will rust. ... With science continuing to advance, this is the perfect specimen for a basic standard in cutting-edge technology. This is facing us Freshmen. If you understand that, hurry up and send it in. As for Silver Cross, no need to care about what he likes, just send it. But that model is... I see, thats the only one without a completely automated AI, right? Is that a unique attribute of a powered suit? It feels like a computer driver that inputs specified algorithm into a human brain to increase the capability. Kuroyoru thought for a while. Well, cant be helped. So are we not firing the Five Over? On the contrary. Stuff the dead Silver Cross inside Five Over. That can act as the algorithm code, we just need a neural code. Such cold words. As if it wanted to crush all rhetoric. Then, lets confirm it. Most of the powered suits are automated. With Silver Cross inside, Five Over will be activated through the pre-installed procedure...since it doesnt have a consciousness. And under automatic control, the movements of that thing will be extremely simple. Also, we cant execute the minor adjustments and complex battle operations. In other words... So you cant guarantee whether Fremea Seivelun will remain alive? Kuroyoru snorted. No problem, its all right to kill her. The higher ups have already assumed that Hamazura Shiage has some sort of contact with Accelerator, and that theres a power formed. That brat''s mission is complete. Even if we kill her, I wont be required to bear responsibility...hurry up and settle it so that we can deal with them. She hung up the phone and reached for a chocolate bar from the pocket inside of her coat. It was the kind advertised to be able to replace a breakfast. (And, so, now, we managed to go all this way for Hamazura and Fremea. The main point is still Accelerator, huh?) She ate the little chocolate chip snack that was mixed with honey and whipped cream. (Though that guys reflection can resist a nukes attack, the principle behind it is just a simple operation of vectors. There was this example of someone in the past that used this attribute to pull his attack back right before the punch connected, and used reflection to attack Accelerator directly...and right now, through the Dark May Project, I can do a bit of that thinking process. In other words, I got the timing in my mind.) With that thought, Kuroyoru inadvertently looked up. Really...this is too sweet. This is already way past the amount of sugar the brain needs for daily activities. Isnt this making a fool of a health brand? As she said that, she deliberately amplified her voice, obviously trying to let someone hear it. We seemed to be brushing past each other nowadays. How about trying this? I mean, whether its eating or waiting for someone, its troubling when no one appears when you need them, isnt it? Smirking, Kuroyoru turned her head around. Kinuhata Saiai-chan? Hearing her words, Kinuhata wordlessly walked forward. She was not holding anything in her small two hands, but for her, the most reliable things in a battle were her bare hands. Those slender wrists contained power capable of lifting a car. Really, to meet a troublesome person just as I was super looking for Hamazura. I suppose you super understand why I came here. The timings not too good, but Im grateful that youre able to come here. This explains that complicated network of yours. Its good to be able to get this Item that you, Mugino, and company formed, since youre related to Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage. We got a famous large group, and as the higher ups have specially ordered, its about time to exterminate. You can super do whatever you want, I Kinuhata-chan. Kuroyorus voice of contempt overpowered whatever Kinuhata had to say. Im sorry, but Im having fun talking to myself. Honestly, you dont have any privilege to speak up, you know? Privilege. You dont understand this simple word, do you? Freshmen... Kinuhata inadvertently muttered. Are you that happy to join a new group? I said it before already; I dont expect to talk to you. Well, thats about it. Im not really happy or anything, just that Im back to where I was before. This is where I should exist. So, I want to destroy, I want to kill. Kuroyoru wasnt agitated at all. There was nothing to hold her back. Though I say this, the adjustments that the higher up made seemed to be forced by the situation. Why would they take action? Oh yeah, what I''m talking about doesnt refer to Hamazura Shiage or Accelerator and company. They are a threat from outside...in other words, theyre people with different laws from us, so we cant control them. For this, we reorganized ourselves. However, its unlikely for Kinuhata-chan to understand this when she didnt get called up. ...A lousy student who had terrible grades still has the unwarranted problem of exaggerating what never happened. Huh? Are you talking about the Dark May Project? Laughing and deriding it, Kuroyoru kicked the inflatable doll. It was unknown what caused the dolphin to stick onto the back of her white coat. Im an individual closest to the element of attack. Well, since my power was so great that it overflowed, I ended up killing those researchers and caused the project to go bankrupt. To the dogs that want to stay in good condition, those were inferior students, isnt that right, honor student Kinuhata-chan? Suddenly, her tone changed. With it, an explosion occurred. Kuroyoru extended her arms out, and Bomber Lances three meters long each shot out from her hands. When she saw that, Kinuhata slowly closed and opened her eyes. ...A super weak bastard who can only shoot from her palms, do you think that you can beat me? Her tone had also changed. It was as if Kuroyoru had dragged her hidden, violent side out. There was no such gorgeous physical phenomenon as with Kuroyoru, but the nitrogen around Kinuhata did form a wall. Her Offense Armor would be able to defend 360 degrees around her, even against rifle bullets. They had one thing in common. The Dark May Project. It was a project that increased an espers ability by implanting a portion of the calculation processes possessed by the strongest Level 5 in Academy City. In a certain sense, the project which trampled on an individual''s personality had given these two girls power. However, though their powers were of a similar kind, they were different. They formed an idealized version of the #1s calculation ability. The spiritual nature of "where to cut and where to implant" caused the details of the abilities to be different. One was aggression. The other was protection. They were both Level 4s that manipulated the nitrogen in the air, and there was a clear difference between Kuroyoru Umidori and Kinuhata Saiai. But was that all? Or were they already thinking of different things as they licked their wounds, right before their mindsets changed? These two that had managed to survive through the nightmarish experiment didnt intend to talk to each other and look for a way to avoid violence. They just needed to beat the one in front of them. Each one was an obstacle to the other''s goal. A roaring sound exploded. This was caused by the compressed nitrogen colliding with each other as Kinuhata and Kuroyoru had a frontal clash. However, when it came to offense, Kuroyoru had the advantage. The right hand and the left hand; the Bomber Lances that shot out from both sides passed through the gap in Kinuhatas wrist and stabbed her chest and abdomen. The thoroughly directed attack had enough force to pierce through a tank. But having been hit by the direct attack, Kinuhata just took a deep breath, and smiled. ...Im super skilled in defense. The Bomber Lances were deflected aside. They had been deflected by the blocks of nitrogen surrounding Kinuhatas fists. After that, it was a torrent of hits. Kinuhata-chan! Lances on one side, fists on the other. Looking at it like that, it was obvious that Kuroyoru had the advantage. Though Kinuhatas power was strong, she could only cover about several centimeters around her fists. In contrast, Kuroyorus lances were three meters long. If Kinuhatas fists could be described to rival a close-ranged Gatling gun, then Kuroyorus lances were like miniature cruise missiles. The biggest output of the attack wasnt the piercing ability, but the explosion as it aimed to turn the landscape into a mountain of rubble. However, since she was only in the development phase, it was very hard for Kuroyoru to control it even though she specialized in attack. However. "Super pitiful." Putting down the fists that could crush a car into scrap metal, Kinuhata snorted. "The winner was already super decided in the first moment where you couldn''t kill me. My defense is 360 degrees and it activates automatically without me having to want it to. No matter how much you try, you can''t pierce through my armor. No matter what the method or angle is, you won''t even hurt my super soft eyeballs...the method of using a large amount of nitrogen to pierce through a target like wet paper can work if it were ordinary steel, but it''s super weak when it goes up against my armor, since it''s also made of nitrogen." Kinuhata paused. "Even though you are super focused on offense, your defense is lacking. All the power is gathered around your two hands. Your flesh-and-blood body will super get crushed if I land a direct hit. The super question of who has the advantage doesn''t exist...I''ll show you how super big of a difference there is with my fists." Kinuhata knew. She did not need to stop. Even if she got attacked from all directions through different means, she was safe even if she didn''t take action, since no hit would be fatal. Kinuhata Saiai would not stop until she crushed the enemy in front of her. "Hihahaha, you haven''t changed at all, Kinuhata-chan." "Do you have something super different?" "I do." While waving her hands, Kuroyoru however revealed a mocking expression, even though her hands were the only ones strengthened. "I''ve changed, I''ve changed, I''ve changed, Kinuhata-chan. Actually, I''m more surprised that you''re still at this level. You should have changed, there were so many chances for you to do so, so why haven''t you changed at all? Why can''t you step out of the basic of basics that espers need to use their ability to fight?" "..." "Do you think that the secret of an esper is the ability? And figuring out their ability allows you to figure out their attack patterns and weaknesses? Do you really think that understanding that will allow you to control the battle? That is outdated. Let me repeat this, Kinuhata-chan. If you had the heart, you could change any time you want. Just like me." Immediately, Kinuhata became alert, wary that Kuroyoru had another weapon other than her ability...for example, a handgun or a bomb. In a certain sense, that was correct, and in another sense, it was wrong. Suddenly, a change happened. The inflatable plastic dolphin doll that was stuck on her white coat exploded. A large number of hands extend out from within. The hands climbed up Kuroyoru''s body, still attached to the upper right side of her body. Though they were hands, they were as small as a baby''s. In a certain sense, they were things that didn''t have any balance. But the arms were about a meter in length. The feeling was like polyethylene or a petroleum based product, and these hard and sturdy objects could actually move without ball joints, or that was the feeling that they gave. Skin that was colored like a human, glossy, hard and shiny like a man-made item. These contradicting terms completely collapsed. The numerous hands with curved tube-like things attached to them seemed to follow Kuroyorus will as the palms were aimed at Kinuhata. Of course, it couldnt be something learned in biology. And then at the same time, Kinuhata remembered. Kuroyoru Umidori was an esper who could fire Bomber Lances from her palms. A strong impactful explosion rang. A large number of Bomber Lances were produced, and they all gathered at one spot. The transparent spears had great devastating power, and they sent Kinuhata, who was guarding herself with both arms, flying backwards several meters. Kinuhata looked at the cuffs of her damaged sweater. Although it was only slightly, her Offense Armor had been pierced. Artificial arms...powered suit...no, this super is not like it. This is...!? A cyborg that goes past a certain level isnt much different from a powered suit, Kinuhata-chan. The reverse is true as well. The numerous slender arms on Kuroyorus body were moving about. They were not complete tubes; there seemed to be several short bones attached, giving people a sick feeling of it being forcefully moved with all those fractures. Youre sort of right when you mention that, but right now, they still havent found a way to use processed metals to create humans, and they still need to use something organic. Itll be even more quaint if they use bacteria and other microorganisms to make the detailed parts. Itll be as scary as making bread without yeast. A man-made...enhanced, super esper... machine...!? The latest model was just updated, you know. The cyborg itself was being researched as usual by the Kiharas, but this is even a step forward from that." Her mocking tone was present with her words. Even if it was established, this technology normally didnt have a reason to appear. Too twisted. It was so twisted that the highly corrupted higher ups would hide it for fear of social unrest. However, is this really something worth being shocked over? It was already hinted at a long time ago. Like that brain-crippled Accelerator using an external network to help him calculate, Musujime Awaki using a low frequency therapy apparatus to stabilize her mind...theres no need to stick to just the human body. The technology of transferring power from an external machine to a human body was already established. For me, its the opposite. Im not using an external power, just outputting my power to something artificial. Kuroyoru Umidori was an esper who could fire Bomber Lances from her hands. A human had only two hands, so she could only produce two lances. Then, it was just a matter of increasing the number of hands. When she increased the number by ten or twenty and gathered all of them at a single spot, the damage would drastically increase. And then. A noisy atmosphere surrounded Kinuhata. This wasnt created from a machine, but the "presence" that a human had. My body can have as many as it wants. These things that are ''me'' arent just limited to these ones. Something happened on the four corners of the roof of the building. Something crawled out from there. They were all the same "arms" that were attached to Kuroyoru''s body. It was like a giant waterfall of slow moving snakes. There were hundreds, if not thousands of them. All those machines attached to Kuroyoru Umidoris single "body", and had the capability of firing Bomber Lances. The arms hidden inside the dolphin are remote controls...They attach to my body and work like an antenna. These slaves are normally controlled by specific programs, but now, they follow the signal given by the master, and thus becomes my body. I suppose I dont need to explain what a slave is, right? Kuroyoru seemed like she was unable to hold back her laughter. Now, what will you do next, Kinuhata-chan? ...!! Your defense is based on Accelerators reflection, and my offense is based on Accelerators vector control. The lances range is only three meters, but after overlapping with each other, I can create a larger, longer and more powerful lance thats so powerful that the destruction is unimaginable, do you know that? No matter whether they had any chance of winning, the situation of a battle was everchanging. Kuroyoru Umidori didnt wait. And Kinuhata Saiai didnt have time to think. Several thousand shots were fired at the same time, causing the landscape of the roof to change drastically. Kinuhata wanted to settle this with a punch, but she didnt have any space to move forward. The lances that were able to cleave the entire rooftop sent Kinuhatas little body flying away. The sound of impact could be heard. Kinuhatas body slammed into a water tank on a building several hundred meters away, and the large amount of water replaced the storm as it scattered all over the place. Kuroyoru peered at the damaged water tank. Cheh. For some reason, my visions getting rather bad...time to change it. Well, I cant really tell, but with just this, she should be barely breathing. A large number of arms followed, and Kuroyoru stood on the edge of the roof in order to get over to the next building. Kinuhata-chan. Im going to kill everyone related to Accelerator and Hamazura. Do you think that therell be any disruptions? There was no emotion toward Kinuhata in her tone. She was basically just talking to herself. Just to satisfy herself. Its true that I cant surpass a Level 5 like Mugino, but that will change when I use these tools. A martial arts champion cant possibly beat a fighter jet. Silver Cross Alpha''s powered suit. The cyborg Kuroyoru Umidori. Though the concept behind the application of power was different, they both had essentially reached the same level. Thus, when they combined, the pros and cons were all "linked" with each other. And, so, then, lets continue on like this. It was supposed to be Silver Cross collection taking care of Hamazura, and I was supposed to take care of Accelerator. Despite all that, even though she lost one part, she would not change. Just like the way she had swept Kinuhata Saiai aside. That was why she was a villain. She would not hesitate, just for the sake of earning the trust of the higher ups. How troublesome. Lets kill off Hamazura before tuning Accelerator up, shall we? In a certain sense, she was harder to handle than Silver Cross. In a certain sense, this monster that had Academy City flair all over her stepped onto the conquering path. Part 2 Hamazura stepped out from the staff entrance of the underground subway and onto the surface. It was District 19. It seemed like he had unknowingly come there all the way from District 3 as he was being pursued by Silver Cross. District 19 was a district that failed in development. The large number of buildings arranged side by side were all desolate, the doors of many shops were all boarded up. But on the other hand, technology that couldnt be seen in the market today was being re-researched here, like the vacuum pipes and steam engine. It had nothing to do with the latest technology at all...the source of this thinking was that ever since the district had become isolated, it was rumored that this place was a research facility for old technology. Hamazura, Hanzou and Fremea were hiding inside a building in this district that had been provided by Kuruwa. It had originally been a supermarket. It had a large number of shafts and elevators. The products had been removed, and the dust-covered shelves were still around. Hanzou said sternly, There are too many exits...its impossible to block them all. We escaped to this place because there are more options to choose from. Wearing a mini-yukata, Kuruwa retorted. Compared to that, if we stay here, whats the chance of us winning? The basics of defending is to stall for time. Its rare to use this to method to get out of this. If we stall, what are the chances of us making it? ...Accelerator. Hamazura squeezed out that word. We cant do anything, so if its that monster, any powered suit will be swept aside no matter how strong they are. This is the reason for us to stall. We can ensure that Fremeas alive. Though I dont know where that guy is, hell come rushing over once we contact him. Forget about us, that guy has enough reason to save Fremea. Hamazura!! Hanzou shouted with a look of disbelief on his face. But that guy, that monster...!! Before Hanzou could continue, Hamazura shook his head. There was a reason why the delinquent group Skill-Out would be against the #1 Level 5. That monster seemed to have some history with Komaba, and they couldnt let Fremea hear that. Right now, Fremeas our priority. ... Though Hanzou remained silent, it seemed like he was unable to accept it. Fremea looked rather uncomfortable as she looked around at Hamazura, Hanzou and Kuruwa. Kuruwa spoke up for Hanzou. Then, Hamazura-shi, do you have the way to contact that #1 Level 5? Do you think were so familiar with each other that were willing to exchange numbers with each other? Hamazura tried to act casual. However, it seems like that guy has his own independent network. Speaking of which, I have no idea how on earth that guy got involved in this. Maybe something happened on the street and that guy just so happened to get involved naturally. Itll be good if we can do something to shake up this building. Should be simple enough if were to go to the roof and light it up or something. Add something more; A code that anyone can understand. Hamazura pondered for a while, and then took off the miniature powered suit helmet. He passed it to Kuruwa. Place it near the fire. Anyone whos spying through satellite surveillance or tapping the lines can identify it...so at least this is the latest way of testing it. Understood. Kuruwa took the helmet and stroked it enthusiastically. The weapons are stashed at the coin deposit box on the east side of the third level. The locks were changed but, with Hamazura-shis skills, theres no need for a master key. Thanks. Also, sorry for getting you involved in this. Not really. Its awesome. Not for money or fame, going up against some huge unknown authority just for the sake of a kids life, this is already a ninjas way of living in those dramas! Hanzou. I got it!! No matter what, its the same whether we move or not. I have no intention of dying here like this. Kuruwa headed to the roof to send the message to Accelerator, while Hamazura and Hanzou headed off to the coin storage machine on the east side of the 3rd level. Though Fremea had nothing to do, it was scary for her to be alone, so she timidly followed behind Hamazura. Normally speaking, a mini coin deposit box was about two mailboxes, and a larger one could accommodate cleaning tools that were placed upright. Like what Kuruwa had said, the lock was a lot more complicated than how it looked, but it was not like it couldnt be opened with a few needles. After opening it bit by bit, guns dropped out from within. ...This isnt like a ninja at all. A samurai should be using a matchlock gun. But those weapons didnt look like they would be able to break through a heavily-armored suit. How about these? Inside the largest cabinet, there was an automatic rifle that was even wider than Hamazuras back. Hanzou read the words engraved on the gun. Metal Eater M5...an anti-tank automatic rifle, huh? It was originally the MX, only with modifications done to the handle and scope, and a water cooler was added to it. It was officially used in that war. Instead of a gun, it was better to call it a savage block of metal that made anyone want to use it as a blunt ramming weapon. Its true that this thing will definitely cause some damage to that powered suit, the recoils definitely not ordinary. An amateur would most likely end up smashing their shoulder. Better than nothing. Picking up a magazine that was as thick as several dictionaries, Hamazura said, At least blowing the sound out of our ears is better than getting beaten down. Youre right. Hearing Hanzous chuckle, Hamazura placed the pistol into the belt on his pants, grabbed the sling of the semi-automatic rifle and grabbed the Metal Eater. Getting all the weapons that he could use, Hamazura said to Hanzou, who was beside him, About defense, what should we use for our barricades? There are too many exits, and considering that the enemy has enough output to blow the wall up, its useless to set up any barricades. Hanzou scanned the supermarket map Kuruwa had handed him. Instead of that, we have to find an important location for us to make a path. We have to set up places to defend when we move inside, and thus use gunfire to prevent the enemy from advancing...luckily, theres still the Metal Eater. And what if the enemy blows up the wall? Thats when were moving horizontally, but when were moving vertically, there are only the paths that are already there. The stairs, escalator, elevator access; the space here is extremely limited, and also, the number of powered suits that can pass through is limited as well. If we camp over there and snipe them, we should be able to take down a number of them. Passing through the level to meet up with Kuruwa, Hamazura and Hanzou found what was supposed to be a bank. However, there were only things like sofas and benches; it was impossible for money to be around, and things like ATMs had been moved away. However, they had left something that they couldnt move away. The huge bank vault surrounded by the thick walls. Hamazura and Hanzou glanced at each other. ...What now? Kuruwa got the electricity flow handled, and the backup electric supply of the bank vault is inside that large box. Once its locked, it wont open even if we cut the electricity, unless we use a special code. Hanzou added on. Its not a certainty that they cant open it with brute force. And besides, theres no road to retreat inside. Once it opens, theres no way to escape...we can only stall for time. We cant settle the problem like this. Then, Hamazura and Hanzou looked at Fremea. It was a no go if they were to stuff everyone inside, but they also couldnt leave this young kid on a gunfire battlefield. The enemy was definitely targeting at Fremea. (The worst...) Hamazura went silent. He was pondering. (The worst thing is for us to be gobbled up with this bank vault here. Its likely that that #1 monster will get here before Fremea gets taken away.) Hamazuras fingers trembled unnaturally due to that premonition, and he could only sigh reluctantly deep inside his heart, but he couldnt show this no matter what. Only in front of Fremea Seivelun was it imperative that they hide those feelings. Listen, Fremea. Youre going to hide inside this bank vault. The walls and door are rather thick, so its not easy for anyone to open this. Its definitely safe for you to hide inside. In the first place, what about you guys, Hamazura? Next, were going to fight one splendid battle...Its all right Fremea, you just need to stay quietly inside the bank vault. Go in, and when you come out, the battle will be over. Well, well definitely protect you. ...No. Fremea suddenly said that. She was trembling violently, her arms were hugging onto Hamazuras waist. "No!! In the first place, I can still tell that those are lies! You big liar!! Hamazura, I know what people that show the eyes that you are showing end up like!!" She shouted crazily. But something was proportionally different from everything else. "Komaba onii-chan didn''t come back! My older sister didn''t come back!! Those people had the same expression that you have right now, Hamazura!! It''s like I turned away, not expecting them to hide, and then everyone disappeared right in front of my eyes!!" The people who had died. Those people who had a deep relationship with Fremea. Because she was in a position where she couldnt know the truth, Fremea always carried the burden of having to live on. At the same time, she was afraid of having the people important to her disappearing on a whim. Thus, she would explode without warning and without restrain. No. The greatest terror. That pain, and the wavering that Hamazura and Hanzou were showing now caused her to overly react. Hamazuras acting wasnt foolproof, and the burden that Fremea was bearing wasnt something that could be fooled that easily. "I don''t want to let anyone disappear!! I had enough of that!! In the first place, it doesn''t matter what happens to me!! So please, don''t go anywhere!!" Hamazura went silent. Komaba Ritoku. Frenda Seivelun. Thinking about the people who had disappeared, at this moment, he realized it. Most likely, there was a future for Fremea not to cry for. Why was it that the gentle future hadnt arrived yet and that he had made this kid bawl? Yes. It was all because Hamazura was too weak. In the past, he...no, the current Hamazura was the worst scumbag ever. He didnt have any ability to handle the problem in front of him. Also, what had happened to Komaba and Frenda were related to the deepest parts of Academy Citys darkness. Truthfully, it was already past what he could handle. So even if the same thing happened over again, it was hard for any happy ending to occur. But Hamazura was over there. When Komaba Ritoku and Frenda Seivelun disappeared, Hamazura did act as witness. In contrast to Fremea, who didnt know anything even after everyone had disappeared and couldnt even do anything to help, Hamazura had the possibility to change anything. Even if it was weak, sad, even embarrassing, if he changed his choice, maybe they could continue to live. Hamazura clenched his teeth. It was as if the thing that hurt Fremea, that made him afraid wasnt Silver Cross and the others. The reason had Hamazuras name written all over it. Even so, Hamazura couldnt really heal Fremeas inner wounds. Having known the beginning and the end, he understood that he couldnt possibly create any wonderful miracles. It was not the highest, not the ultimate, and not the most perfect. However, he didnt have a cold heart that wouldnt respond to anything. (...Komaba Ritoku is no longer around. Frenda Seivelun is no longer coming back as well. To a kid, the most important people to her have already vanished from right in front of her. This is a fact that can no longer be changed, nor can it be restored again.) Searching. The things he could do. Even if everything was over, there were a lot of things that he could do. (...Thats why I wont allow any more losses. The things that Fremea Seivelun does not want to lose, I will definitely not let them disappear. No matter whether its Academy Citys darkness or the higher ups, I wont allow you guys to make this kid cry again, no matter who the enemy is, no matter what happens.) His trembling stopped. It didnt matter even if it was the secret group with powered suits, Hamazura was no longer afraid. It was meaningless to decide winning or losing like that. If they couldnt win, they would just have to create a winning condition. The problem subconsciously became a workable problem immediately. There was no need to follow a model answer set by the examiner, and it didnt matter whether it was twisted logic or not. It was not a problem without a solution, so there was no need to go over and try to find an answer over and over again. Heyo. Hamazura placed the large Metal Eater against the wall, bent over and his eyes drew level with Fremea. Listen, Fremea. The people who you miss very much, Komaba onii-chan and Frenda, are both amazing people, they did many things that I couldnt. Most likely, I cant do the things they did. Thats not the case. Fremea shook her head. Hamazura, you didnt leave me alone to die. In the first place, you would come save me every time I got captured. Even so. For a moment, Hamazura looked like she was spot on, but he immediately denied Fremeas valuation of him. Truthfully, Im just a minor character. Im not the type of person wholl be able to stay on the spotlight-lit stage. Most likely, if its Komaba onii-chan and the others, they would have immediately went on to do what they have to do instead of hesitating about here. They wont be bothered about what to do, which is why theyre amazing people. Maybe it was a bit of a beautification, since Komaba Ritoku had been a delinquent and Frenda had sold out her Item comrades. However, they definitely weren''t lost. It was because they had things that they had to finish no matter what that they had managed to reach that outcome through their own methods. Hamazura couldnt do it. No matter what he decided on, he would immediately succumb when a gun was pointed at his head. No matter what he choose, it would only remain there every day, and after that, he would continue to ponder whether whatever he had done was correct. He was just that sort of person. He definitely wouldnt become a hero. However... But... But Im here. It was time for Hamazura to convince Fremea. The thing that anyone would take for granted; it was something that nobody couldnt possibly have. In order to remember those who were denied this, Hamazura spoke the truth with his own words. This time, definitely. There was no need to act out this smile from deep within his heart. ...We wont disappear that easily. Us supporting characters don''t tend to give up. Even if we get stuck and fall down, we will keep getting back up to the end. Really? Trembling, Fremea reached her hand out. You really wont disappear? I won''t. Promise? Fremea reached her little finger out. Hamazura completely forgot about that method until this very moment. ...Yeah. Hamazura somewhat shyly reached his own little finger out. Both fingers crossed. I promise. The intertwined fingers were separated, and Hamazura seemed to feel that a heavy load was taken off him as he sent Fremea into the large bank vault. Fremea continued to stare at Hamazuras eyes until Hamazura closed the door properly. After closing the door and turning the door lock, Hanzou said, The door lock has about twenty bars of titanium, and then its a magnetic lock. Theres even a vacuum set-up inside the crack of the door. For twelve hours, the door wont operate after its closed. The same goes for our code, itll be ineffective if we use it during this time. ... Itll get messy once the gunfight starts. Even if the #1 monster doesnt arrive, the policemen patrolling on the streets will immediately rush over when they hear gunfire. The longer it lasts, the harder itll be for us to hide; so well stick to the original plan and continue to try and stall for time...Hey, Hamazura, whats wrong? That wont do, Hamazura blankly said. Thinking about waiting for the cavalry to arrive will be rather consuming. Its true that we have to protect the heart. Maybe Fremea will be saved, but when the bank vault opens again, shell start crying after seeing our corpses. Therell be unnecessary tears on her face. That wont do, that cant be considered our victory. ...So, what do we do? We have to win. Lifting up the Metal Eater M5, the delinquent answered without any hesitation. Me, Hanzou, and Kuruwa, we cant lose a single one. We have to finish off every single powered suit, drag out the people whore operating them and finish them off. Theres no need for Fremea to be involved with the darkness; theres no reason to in the first place. Thats why we have to send that kid back to where she was from. An ordinary world without any life threatening situation, one that everyone can continue to smile to their hearts content. Definitely. Are you kidding me...? muttered Hanzou. In contrast, Hamazura said to his friend who was arching his back, Theres no need to follow me. Fremea and I should be the only targets, and they wont really chase you and Kuruwa even if you guys escape. You two can live on to see Fremeas smile, thats a type of victory. "Running away sounds good! If you really thought so, could you have told that kid those words in a place where I couldn''t see you!? A kid''s tears are a really powerful threat!!" To actually make this decision; as expected, youve become like Leader Komaba, already past the realm of being a role player. They couldnt let Fremea Seivelun cry any more. Having confirmed their goal again, the two delinquents lifted the anti-tank gun and headed off to face the enemy. Even though they couldnt be heroes. Hamazura Shiage had to protect Fremea Seiveluns smile. Part 3 The final battle of defense was at the third level, the large vault in what was originally a bank. Hamazura and the others set up traps on the road leading to the large bank vault, preparing to fight back by ambush. Ready! While walking towards Hamazura who had the Metal Eater M5 in front of him, Kuruwa said, Its wired, so theres no need to worry about electronic interference. This is the third floor, isnt it? Even though a large bank vault cant possibly be blown apart that easily, wouldnt it fall down if the floor collapses? A bank vault thats to be used for renting out stuff like data drives and antiques should be rather detailed. Most likely, even if the entire third level collapses, theres an alloy pillar to support it. Its here. As if cutting off Hanzous words. An explosion could be heard behind. With the explosion, the large amount of dust underneath the air ducts dropped to the first level. Suddenly breaking the wall, now thats quite the shock. Get ready, Hamazura. Youre the one who decided to fight. There was no time to even idle around. In the midst of the explosion of dust, a huge shadow appeared. It was a bipedal powered suit. The right hand seemed to be wielding a shield larger than its main body. The shield was extremely huge and thick, it felt like even the powered suit couldnt lift it. There were wheels underneath the shield, and there was a hole in the middle with a cannon barrel the size of a human arm poking through it. Also, the slanted cannon was now aimed at Hamazura, who was on the corridor. The gunfire continued to ring. The machine gun shot holes through the floor in front of Hamazura, and then moved towards him as if it was cutting grass. Hamazura-shi!! Kuruwa grabbed the back of Hamazuras neck and forcefully pulled him from where he was. The powered suit seemed like it was trying to destroy the entire floor instead of just aiming at the target as it continued to fire. Being chased by this steel slab of concrete, Hamazura, Kuruwa and Hanzou ran about on the corridor. (That bastard, that was some serious firepower!!) Running as he was looking down at the corridor below, Hamazura saw the miniature powered suit moving up the escalator. Kuruwa-chan! The number three escalator! Got it! Consecutive explosions occurred at each end of the escalator, and the escalator became a waterfall of rubble. The powered suit that had already moved up from the second level to the third level collapsed to the first level along with this waterfall of waste. However, that wasnt going to be enough to destroy the powered suit. Hamazura continued to run as he readied the large anti-tank rifle. He aimed at the center of the mini-powered suit below in the middle of all the waste and squeezed the trigger. There was a booming explosion. The terrifying impact pierced through his right shoulder, and yet that heavy Metal Eater M5 was still facing up. Even though he thought that, it was actually Hamazura who had been sent flying by the recoil even after getting himself into position, ending up forcefully separating the back of his neck from Kuruwas hand. Kuruwa... It was not just his shoulder, the unbelievable pain spread throughout his entire body. Even though Hamazura had wielded an assault rifle in Russia, he didnt know how to wield it properly. It was not designed to be a weapon that was set on the ground. He had no confidence in hitting it at all. But he didnt even have time to recover from the pain of the recoil, or confirm the situation downstairs. Because just as he was doing that, the sweep-shooting continued. Hamazura was unable to stand up. He remained on the floor as he crawled away to avoid the cannon fire and collapsing floor, escaping down the corridor. The trio flew into the shadow of the circular pillar. Since it was a junction of tough and thick steel, it was the only place that could withstand the cannons piercing attack. Cheh, what was that? Hamazura checked the situation from within the shadow of the pillar. The huge shot he had fired off had definitely pierced through the miniature powered-suit. However...It was strange. Since the impact had broken through the metal parts, the thick pilot cabin had been forced open, however there was no pilot inside and the pilot cabin remained open. An explosion interrupted Hamazuras thoughts. Beside him, Hanzou squatted and chased the mini powered suit, but since it wasnt fully autopilot, Hanzou avoided one attack after another. The bullets then completely destroyed the open cabin, and just like that, the mini powered suit stopped completely. Seems like these powered suits were programmed. Most likely, they used something that Silver Cross has. Plenty of sounds of metal hitting the floor could be heard. Five new powered suits appeared from underneath the vents. Hanzou frantically hid back behind cover. ...This pillar isnt going to make it. The enemy doesnt seem to have any reason to remain there. The escalator got destroyed, but theyll find other ways to get up. The other levels and elevators... Just as he was saying that, Hamazura sensed something. Right behind him. On the other side of the open window, in the space that was supposed to be empty, a large shadow was floating. It was more like a five-meter-long praying mantis. It was not standing on four legs with two sickles, but had two sickles, two arms, and two legs as it was standing up. Translucent wings spread out from the armor and moved at a speed that Hamazura couldnt catch, leaving an afterimage behind. It was different from the wings of a bird. Normally, it was impossible for such a large object to have such small wings. (...Does it use ultrasonic waves to mix the air around it into its wings...?) It was unlike the wings of a butterfly or a moth. With the movement of the wings, it created an air flow that had a whirlpool-like effect that ended up creating more buoyancy. Most likely, the mantis was developed from that basis. Hamazura immediately readied the Metal Eater M5. But this was the limit. The huge powered suit rushed through the broken window before Hamazura could even squeeze the trigger. Hanzou and Kuruwa rolled away to the left while Hamazura rolled to the right. There was a large cylinder-like thing on the back of the praying mantis, it was something that was used to store lots of cannons. Also, there were shields on the front side of the front legs, which had replaced the folded sickles, and there was an artificial weapon placed between the two shields. The three barrels overlapped each other, looking like they could rotate. They didnt need gunpowder to fire. They used the basis of electromagnetism to fire metal bullets. There were such things on the side of the front limbs shields. Gatling railgun. shi! Fear struck. Hamazura squeezed the trigger of the anti-tank rifle before he could even aim. He was not intending to destroy the giant praying mantis, but trying to use the recoil to fly back. It was a violent act that could break his arm. But that was definitely the right decision. Immediately afterwards, a storm of steel struck. Even sound vanished. The destructive power was on a completely different level from the previous battle. A line had cut perfectly through the place Hamazura had been standing. Every place the destruction hit left a hole the size of a meter. The barrels let out over four thousand bullets per minute, piercing the building from the third level all the way to the first level. The building itself slightly tilted. Based on the size of the barrel, it should be classified more as a gun than a cannon. However, it didnt match the destructiveness of a gun. There were a few powered suits looking for a way to attack, but they were reduced to scrap in a matter of seconds. The level was different. It was way beyond that level. Hamazura heard a cracking sound, and after a while, realized that he was gritting his teeth. He widened his eyes and saw what was on the abdomen of the huge praying mantis with its folded wings. FIVE_Over. Modelcase_RAILGUN. It was referring to the #3 of the only seven Level 5s in Academy City, the Railgun. Most likely, it was a powered suit which replicated the power of that esper, and was completely based on the philosophy of using technology to create something that exceeds the original. Science and technology continued to improve, and the latest technology yesterday may no longer be superior today. A flying machine that was already terrifying, and a monster that could fire several thousand times in one minute; the terror of science was revealed again. (...#3.) The one above the #4, Mugino Shizuri. A powered suit that surpassed the #3. The terrifying latest model moved its head, and the killing machine scanned the surroundings. He couldnt move his legs. His body started to tremble, unable to move at all. Hamazura finally realized that his vision was narrowing. "Get over here, Hamazura!!" He heard Hanzou shout at him, as Hanzou and Kuruwa ran off in different directions. Hamazura looked around, his forehead emitting cold sweat as he thought that he would die. And then. His eyes saw the multiple barrels of the gun come together. Hamazura immediately abandoned the Metal Eater M5 and jumped over the railing of the third level corridor without hesitation. An explosion scattered, and the Gatling railgun bullets missed slightly, reducing the floor and walls on the other side of the corridor to dust. Hamazura hung onto the railing on the second level and frantically flipped himself up. A rain of destruction fell from above. The corridor on the third level above him and the one on the second level below him got shot right through. Hamazura leaped towards the CD shop in front of him and fell towards the first level. (...The penetration power is considerable, but it seems like the accuracy isnt that great. Did they purposely stiffen the rotating part of the gun to prevent it from being affected by the storm whipped up by the electromagnetic bullets?) If he continued to do some minor movements, maybe he could avoid being aimed at. But what happened next crushed his na?ve thoughts thoroughly. Behind him. Before he could even feel fear, the Five Over was already there. It was floating in mid-air, ignoring the fact that its bullets had destroyed the entire corridor. The ultrasonic waves gathered air to power the translucent wings. ...hua...keke... He seemed to hear something. It was a sound with ambiguous intent, but a chill seemed to strike Hamazuras spine. ...creak...zz...zzzack... (Silver Cross...!? That guy shouldnt be able to stand up. He definitely had an injury that would kill him if he didn''t go to the hospital. How is it possible for him to be here?) A powered suit was a machine that strengthened an injured body externally. So he managed to return by using that? Or was it that a third-party thought that he could still be used and he was dragged onto the battlefield forcefully? Checking the atmosphere, one could find that there was no will in Silver Cross voice as compared to before. There was no time to think. With a mechanical sound, the barrels that were bundled together scattered as they started to move on their own. Wha... Even so, they were railguns. The bullets that could pierce through three or four cars lost their rapid fire capability as they pummeled the porous second level. (Damn it...! Whats with this reloading method!?) Normally, a Gatling gun filled up the barrel by quickly rotating it, but a Gatling railgun was different from the traditional one as it seemed to be an enhanced version. Thinking that staying still was meaningless. Hamazura tried to escape before the rain of bullets struck, only for the floor to collapse before that. The hole was several meters tall, and with that sound, Hamazura landed on the first floor. The pain pierced through his body, squeezing out all the oxygen in his body. Ku...ha...!! The oxygen in his lungs had been exhausted, so he couldnt shout out. Even so, it should be rather serious. If he wasn''t wearing the suit that the Dragon Rider used, he probably wouldnt have been able to survive with his limbs intact. Looking at the space and scattered dust around him, Hamazura stood on the crushed materials and thought. (What do I do now...?) He had no time to care about the blood in his mouth. (If I dont deal with that guy, I wont have time to fight against the other powered suit. But as for what to do, I cant shoot that guy down properly. Besides, that guns not with me anymore.) He only had two magazines that were as thick as metal dictionaries. Even if they had powerful bullets, they couldnt damage anything if he couldnt shoot them. There was power, but it was hard to create a gun in this critical situation. If he used something inferior to replace it, the explosion would blow Hamazura apart if he tried to fire. Of course any gun other than the Metal Eater M5, like handguns or semi-automatic rifles, would be completely useless. (Five Over uses different sensors to scan the battlefield all the time. Anything that can be used as a weapon, anything that can shoot back, it probably knows everything thats hiding.) How was he going to fight back? Hamazura continued to rack his blank head, but the enemy wasnt going to wait for his decision. ...? After exhaling, Hamazura wondered about something. Five Over didnt chase after him. He was definitely unable to move. He was in a state where anyone could just deal him the finishing blow. (Why...?) Thinking about it for a while, Hamazura noticed it. The enemys main priority wasnt Hamazura Shiage, but Fremea Seivelun. It may have been unable to detect her inside the large bank vault, but once the AI wondered why there wasn''t a response from Fremea in the building, the answer would be easy. How could the giant door of the vault endure the rapid fire? Damn it! Enduring his aching body as he tried to support himself, Hamazura dragged it forward. Even if there was a risk of being eavesdropped, Hamazura still contacted Hanzou through his cell phone. Hanzou!! Can the Metal Eater still work? Five Over...that Gatling railgun is after Fremea!! Do something to stop it!! An anti-tank rifle might be useful, but its going to be tough taking out this guy, Hamazura, said Hanzou in distress. Cant that giant rifle do anything!? It should be useful if its close range, but this guys speed and power are directly related. The larger the initial speed, the closer the target, the larger the damage. So how are you going to get close? If that typhoon-like shooting continues, we cant even reveal our faces from our hiding spots. Hamazura slammed a fist into the wall. If he wanted everyone to remain all right, he would have to destroy Five Over, but if he wanted to destroy Five Over, he had to risk his life. Holding the magazine the size of a dictionary, Hamazura pondered. And then looked up. An electric cable drooped down from the collapsed ceiling. ...Hanzou, theres no need to completely destroy the Five Over. Can we at least stop it from moving? Thats an unmanned AI. Theres no worry about destroying it. How long will it take? Cheh, if we maintain this battle prowess and fight with a plan, about ten minutes; but were done if its set to destroy as priority. Thats enough. Go, but do as much as what you can. If you find out that somethings wrong, hurry up and escape. And what do we do after we prevent that guy from advancing? In this current situation, even the Metal Eater M5 cant destroy that electric praying mantis. Theres nothing we have that exceeds that in firepower. ...If thats the case, we can only use all the firepower that we have now. Now, they had to decide on the location. Hamazura stared at the ceiling, and then looked in front. Well stop that Five Over here. How? If this is a hiding place, things other than weapons are collected here, right? Bedding, food, whatsoever. Let Kuruwa-chan deal with that. Since the gas and electricity work, the refrigerator and house storage work, right? And so what? The lights? The refrigerator and induction cookers have them, and you cant say that the mini-lights dont have them. Theres a whole lot of LEDs on the main floor! And so what? Are you going to blind that monsters dog-eye? Thats right. Having his own joke replied to with a joke, Hanzou couldnt say anything. But Hamazura continued. ...Were going to use our household appliance buddies to destroy it. Part 4 FIVE_Over. Modelcase_RAILGUN. The powered suit that was named as such flew past the damaged corridor and slowly landed onto the third level. Originally, the purpose of its extremely high flight capability was to allow the powered suit to avoid having to stand on the uneven ground caused by the destruction of the Gatling railgun. No matter whether it was a narrow room or a hurricane outside the house, it could remain in the air as if it was standing an invisible support. The AI had already searched through the building five times, and yet it couldnt find any response from Fremea Seivelun. There werent many places that its radar couldnt scan, and so the number of hiding places had been drastically reduced. The first place it should check was the large bank vault on the third level. It was all right even if Fremea wasnt there. If she was not there, it just meant that it only checked one area. If it continued to check all the hiding spots, it could definitely find its target. Even if the target ran towards another hiding place, the movements would be discovered by the thorough search that was regularly activated. In other words, instead of being futile, if it continued to work like that, it could find the target sometime soon. The process had a method of settling everything from the beginning to the end and, though those complicated conditions were useless in doing delicate stuff, it was extremely effective in destroying things. The Five Over passed through the third level. In order to prevent using too many bullets, the AI was set to showing all the actions that it had done before. Without this, it would most likely choose to employ the quickest method of blowing away all walls and obstacles. And then, there were obstacles. More accurately, while carrying out the thorough search, it captured the figures of some people hiding in the hidden corners. Two of them. One was wielding an anti-tank rifle. The threat level was designated at "eliminate". To the AI, it was the same for Hanzou and Kuruwa, who were attacking it. However, Hamazura didnt try to shoot consecutively. From the blind spot, he just extended the barrel out and, after shooting at the lowest possible angle, it disappeared again into the corner. Though he seemed to worry that it was hard to move the gun while being close to the wall, there was no indication of any mistake, and the terrifying recoil of the Metal Eater M5 didnt injure his body. Anyone seeing it would be amazed by it, but the AI didnt have such a high level of capability. Remembering to conserve ammo and follow the current route, the AI made a conclusion. The command to shoot through the walls was issued. The target seemed to notice the mantis-like sickles twisting unnaturally. The figure on the other side of the wall frantically got down, and at the same time, the Gatling railgun started to shoot. With the supersonic impact, the weak cover was blown apart. Even though it hadnt neutralized the target, the AI continued to work. Without the cover, it was easier to hit the target. So there was no need to change objectives. The AI was very good at being able to finish objectives with simple actions. The Five Over just moved forward, and compared to modern humanoid-looking weapons, it was more like a multi-purposed homing missile. The most optimized way was to be merciless. Though this way of thought had no flexibility, it highlighted the ideals of the people controlling Five Over. And the Five Over''s response to those people who voluntarily ran out was the Gatling railgun. It was not aiming at them. Estimating the path that the targets would move towards, the machine directly attacked the wall and floor, intending to cut off their return path. It was basically impossible to avoid a Gatling railgun. With that. It would settle it with the next attack. It reached the final point where it was able to finish objectives with simple actions. The right sickle of the mantis aimed at its target accurately. At this moment, the thorough search received another response. There was someone several meters directly behind it. It was someone pushing a wheelbarrow forward at an bicycle''s speed, and there were two boxes of different sizes stacked on it. There was the likelihood of an explosive. Having decided that there was a risk, the AI quickly turned the Five Over around. The Gatling railgun blew up all suspicious items near the wheelbarrow. Even though it fired metal bullets, the word "explosion" was a more accurate expression for what it fired. The boxes contained fruit in them. Most of the ball-shaped fruits like apples and oranges had been reduced to powder, and the remains scattered outside the box. For fear that they were explosives, the AI partially missed its shots to hit the contents out. The Five Over continued to access the threat level. To an outsider, it would seem suspicious that all the fruit that had rolled out of the box were sliced down the middle. However, as a process that determined things on threat level, it completely ignored that. There were other strange things around. Their threat levels were still undetermined. The Five Over''s barrel turned from the wheelbarrow to the person pushing the wheelbarrow. Hamazura Shiage. At that moment, he smiled. The AIs thought process was unable to understand it, but it understood something elsethat the target was carrying something, something that connected a 100V direct current to a household appliance. It was a mass of metal. It was formed by many LEDs that were used to light the surface. More accurately, it was a pile of things used to light the levels. An electromagnetic wave device. The trumpet-like exterior of the mass of metal covered everything, and gave a strong forward directivity. In the end. However. It made an assessment of the threat level. The strong electromagnetic waves would damage electronic equipment, but the tens of thousands of LEDs wouldnt be able to damage the numerous parts of the Five Over, which was equipped to deal with such things. Since Five Over used strong railguns as weapons, it was constantly exposed to strong magnetic fields and electromagnetic waves. It eliminated them one by one. The AI determined that it was just a result that may occur through a simple action. The basis of taking the action was the reason why the Five Over was a weapon. Because of that... Five Over''s AI wouldn''t determine something. First of all. What would cause humans, who have fear and an intention to live on, to think they could actually take on a Gatling railgun as if it were a joke weapon? In other words, belief in their overwhelming victory. Without that, it would be impossible for a human to deliberately stand in front of that monster. Five Over had destroyed all the boxes in front of it, and there was a large number of sliced fruit inside. After that, something strange happened. The Metal Eater M5 anti-tank rifle fired at it. The system decided that it was dangerous now because of the gun firing. Though half the fruit was crushed, the remaining ones were scattered all over the place. Of course, the Five Overs upper and lower body was covered by them as well. And because of that, the bullets that had been inserted into the fruits were placed so that the tip would always face upward. This was what Hanzou had said. The Metal Eater M5 had to be very close if it wanted to destroy Five Over. But even if it did get close, it was useless if one didnt fire. Speaking of which. The easiest way to detonate an explosive would be a fuse. But it was not just limited to that. For example. Strong electromagnetic waves could trigger a very sensitive explosive. Faster than the Five Overs sickle, faster than the Gatling railgun could blow Hamazuras body to bits... Many explosions burst out. A shockingly loud sound that was enough to shake the air spread from Hamazuras ears to his abdomen. He had put the bullets in the cut fruit so that the tips would always be facing up. However, nearly half of the fruit had been destroyed by the Gatling railgun, so many bullets scattered in other directions as well. Beneath the Five Over, into all directions. It was a huge explosion, which scattered a storm of destruction all over the place. Damn it!! The "target" holding the electromagnetic wave device frantically got down. But the Five Over didnt have any time to pursue. Orange sparks flew out of the armor. The threat assessment program was terminated before it could be completed, and the calculations were damaged. Without a barrel to adjust for the explosiveness of the gunpowder, the power of the bullets was greatly weakened; but the distance was important, and firing from point-blank range created a considerably similar amount of damage. Cracks appeared on the surface of the armor, and the powered suit let out a creaking sound as it tried to move, only for the ceiling to suddenly drop on it. The bullets that missed the Five Over had done significant damage to the ceiling. With that, finally. The Five Over stopped. The powered suit that technically surpassed the #3. The thing in front of it let out a voice that the AIs overly-process thinking couldnt understand. In other words. It was a human voice that had emotion. ...The #4 I know of is even scarier than this. Part 5 Kinuhata Saiai was hanging upside down on the office building. As the steel water tank had been destroyed from the inside, a large waterhole had formed on the side of the roof. A part of her woolen sweater got caught by the sharp edge of the debris. Even though she had her Offense Armor, she couldnt negate the damage completely. It was as if her abdomen had been hit a few times, and the impacts that had reached her vertebrae caused all her strength to disappear. However, this was already the best case scenario. If she didnt have any ability to protect herself, she would most likely have been crushed to bits. (...Though its super lucky that no ones inside the building, this definitely is the work of the higher ups) But Kinuhata didnt think further. The door of the elevator linking the roof to the inside opened. What appeared wasnt an office worker or a building caretaker. But rather, a young-looking guy with an extremely menacing expression. ...The #1...? The red-eyed white-haired Level 5 was leaning on a modern cane. Accelerator looked rather impatient as he stared at Kinuhata dangling off the debris of the water tank. I''ve heard the Freshmen are desperately trying to prevent Anti-Skill from getting involved. My companion intercepted communication regarding Kuroyoru Umidori and Silver Cross Alpha. What''s your point? I need their whereabouts. The Freshmen are targeting a brat called Fremea Seivelun. Id like to set up some precautions before she gets killed. Seivelun...? Damn it, so that super crybaby would go about being nosy because of this? Do you have any idea of where they went? If you were able to intercept the secret messages of the Freshmen, shouldnt you know? They''ve already set it to top secret according to the battle situation. Anything they want to do always comes down to money. Since all the related organization messages were classified, its a waste of time to tap on them...Anyway, the Freshmen dont seem like they have the complete support of the higher ups. I super see. Then, any clues? Hmm. Kinuhata shrugged her shoulders while hanging upside down Shouldnt be far away from here. Part 6 Hamazura!! Hanzou showed his face from the other side of the passage. We did it, hey, we really sunk that Five Over!!...Is it all right to go close to it? It wont go berserk, right? "It''s safe. All the firing is done." Hamazura collected a large number of LED lights and dropped the electromagnetic wave device in his hand before running towards Hanzou and Kuruwa, who were in turn running at him. Hurry up! How many bullets do we have left? The Metal Eater M5 bullets!! What are you talking about, Hamazura, the electric mantis is already... Have you forgotten? Hamazura grabbed Hanzous shoulders and shook him violently. Five Overs not the only powered suit thats here. Some of them got wiped out in the shootout just now, but there are still a few of them left!! And those suits werent going to be destroyed without the firepower of the Metal Eater M5. However, it was over if those few machines were to gather and attack, or maybe it could be even worse than just a single Five Over. Hanzou frantically confirmed the number of bullets they had left. ...We have seven rounds, but I cant guarantee that all of them will work, and based on the enemys toughness, it might take a few rounds. Its too hard to use these remaining bullets to destroy all the enemies!! But theres nothing else that can immobilize the unmanned powered suits. As the owner of the place, Kuruwa knew best what items were stored there. Light machine guns and assault rifles are going to be deflected no matter how many we use. What do we do now, Hamazura? Do you think that the trap just now can work? I have a plan. The rumbling sounds of suspended objects could be heard from different directions. Intending to surround them. There was no time left. The only thing that could save them was the thing that Hamazura was wearing. Part 7 The continuous gunfire rang inside Kuroyoru Umidoris ears. The numerous windows of the abandoned building were shattered, and the building itself was starting to tremble a bit. Though she had spent quite a bit of effort in fighting Kinuhata Saiai, as of the current situation, Silver Cross collection of items were still useful. It had been ten minutes since they had gone in, so they should have destroyed everything inside, right? ...Its about time, nya? She muttered to herself. What she was imagining was a huge agricultural machinery that was currently cultivating human meat. Those machines could easily get from one point to another without feeling any dilemma that any human would seriously feel. What they lacked was the judgment between life and death, so they had the idea of crushing the enemys flesh to make sure that they were dead. (...Its already an era where vacuum cleaners are unattended, couldnt we just leave these kinds of fucking jobs to machines?) It was true that Silver Cross and Kuroyoru had a rather ambiguous attitude with regards to humans and machines, but she didnt mind the ridicule at all. Even so, if they werent kept in check, the human flesh could be crushed into bologna. There may be a need to make sure that they were able to be distinguished through the human eye to allow people to identify them easily. However, it was likely that she would be attacked accidentally if she entered an unmanned suits operational area. Well, I''ll cross that bridge when I get there. Kuroyoru again stroked the dolphin doll that was about to expand again. ...Theyre just mechanical toys, I can rip them to scrap metal within ten seconds if I want to. An unknown sound echoed throughout the darkness. It was the thing reinforcing her. Cyborg. The large number of baby hands seemed to multiply like a large swarm of locust, looking even more menacing and intimidating as they covered her like a cloak behind. This was all set up for Kuroyorus ability, a battery. Amassing several hundred to thousands of them, they didnt just fire Bomber Lances, but was able to cause interference to everything that flowed within a specific area. It was the same thing with creating a large nitrogen lance, this was to create space to absorb nitrogen, to allow easy manipulation of explosions after all the nitrogen was absorbed at will. This power was no longer that of a Level 4s ability. Besides, Kuroyoru herself wasnt interested in that stale ranking system. ...I got a reputation for not caring about who my allies and enemies are. This time, I''m going to crush human life in exchange for money. I wonder which side will be angered? In order to make the situation even more chaotic, the youthful queen headed towards the building. At that moment, she suddenly stopped. A mocking snarl appeared on her face. Well, its better for you to come out anyway. That white figure was leaning on the modernistic cane as he stood opposite to her. Accelerator. Academy City''s #1; in terms of ranking, he was at the top of the seven Level 5s. Kuroyoru suddenly laughed. But youre a lot more cautious than I expected, or did the war change your personality? To actually scout out information just to preserve your battery life, this sure is different from the thought process I know of. I thought you would waste your energy flying about...Well, thanks to you, I may not be able to catch up. She was taunting him. You want to protect Fremea, right? Or is it Hamazura? Well, either way, I can guarantee that they died inside. You guys, including that dead Hamazura, are just a little group of resistance, the higher ups wont get angry even if we kill you guys off. But Accelerator didnt care about her words, instead focusing on Kuroyoru herself. ...Is this what happens when you try to patch up that inability of yours? The muttering from the #1s heart didnt tangle Kuroyoru up. Though the timing isnt great, I did gather all the necessary conditions, right? They both had a strong power. Any Level 0 who let Kuroyoru advance would definitely die, though whoever tried to block her would still at least have a chance of survival. Speaking of which, even if we leave them alone, theyll definitely be crushed to bits inside. Haha, or should I ask if we should check whether theyre still in human shape? Everyone should be the same when theyre buried. ...Are you happy? Ah? Are you really happy to be staying there? That place. The lair of evil. Accelerator wondered if a certain Level 0 once stared at himself in the same way. Of course, Kuroyoru didn''t know about that. Her response to Accelerators question was pretty simple. Her tone changed. "Isn''t it obvious? I''m definitely happy. I''m really happy here!! This is the pinnacle of the world. To be able to be in a place where I can release evil. This is all I ever wanted!! No matter how much money is offered, I''ll kill. There''s a lot of people who lift their chins as they look down on others. And with this cyborg body, the way I live; it''s even more outstanding than anyone else living in Academy City!! Why wouldn''t I be happy about this!?" ... Kuroyorus words which were specially targeted at a certain part of Accelerators thinking became a reality due to the higher ups of Academy City having rather poor taste. This was somewhat like a conversation with himself. Now the hate towards her was being redirected back at him. Dont tell me you think that just because youre the strongest Level 5 in Academy City, you have no chance to lose? She continued on with her words of mockery. The toy dolphin started to distort from within. No way. There''s no way, right!? These guys that Im controlling behind me arent just a destructive power. They are cyborgs!! Numerous arms appeared from the damaged dolphin doll, attaching themselves onto Kuroyorus upper right body. These weapons had originally been developed as something meant to augment a body''s functions. Those ambiguous things could ignore a human figure and expand a certain part of the body. Though youre the #1 of Academy City, you did taste defeat before. For example, Kihara Amata, who used that reflection of yours against you and consciously pulled his fist right back to let the reflection hit the fist into you. Accelerator knew what she wanted to say. The large number of arms behind Kuroyoru were moving about like waves. But my arms are cyborgs, theyre machines, completely artificial things thatre controlled through numbers!! I can counter you by using Kihara Amatas calculations!! Facing a past threat head to head. That tone, that way of thinking was the perfect way to destroy Accelerator. So, #1, what are you planning to do? Kihara Amata only used his human fists, so if its my Bomber Lances, itll be over in a single hit. If you dont want to die, bring it on. Ill beat you down and ground you up. Several thousand arms moved into position. Each arm could create a Bomber Lance freely, and in groups, they could completely control all the air flow around her. There were tens of thousands of ways to attack. By setting the inputs to Kihara Amata''s values that caused Accelerator quite a headache, she could definitely beat him with his reflection. The lances could attack from any direction. No matter where Accelerator tried to hide, there was no safe zone in the air. Even if the Bomber Lances themselves couldnt touch him, in groups, they could manipulate the air in the sky. It was impossible to defend or dodge. If so, Accelerator made his own decision. At this moment, the strongest Level 5 in Academy City made his move. ...Hmph. Exhaling slightly, he moved sideways, as if he was letting aside a path. At that moment, Kuroyoru Umidori did not understand the real meaning behind his action. It was because she had a certain way of thinking implanted within her that she was unable to erase that abnormal feeling. In that situation, no, no matter what happened, that monster would definitely not "step aside". There was definitely a trick behind his move. Even her backup thoughts couldnt think of why he would do that. Or maybe... Kuroyoru continued to remain on the path of evil. And Accelerator had abandoned the path. Was that what made them different? Why? How... Because of that, Kuroyoru doubted. Without changing his expression, Accelerator muttered something. Youre mistaken. ...? The first characteristic of a mechanical weapon is that its not completely controlled by numbers. A mere weapon does not have any thoughts or personal beliefs. All of those are decided by the will of the user. If you think wildly, youll only end up with a wild outcome; a fucking idiot who uses it may end up with a serious outcome...well, using a weapon is different from mastering it anyway. Are you saying that I cant control cyborgs of this size? Thats why I moved aside. Without answering the enemys question, Accelerator looked like he didnt care as he continued with an impatient tone, Let me say this first, this isnt directed at you. At that moment, a crashing sound rang out. Something seemed to fly out from the window on the third level of the abandoned building. It landed on the floor and bounced around a few times before rolling to Kuroyorus feet... it was one of Silver Cross collection that had been crushed...in other words, a powered suit. The gunfire ceased. And what appeared at the window was a certain precious object... (Five Over...?) Had the gunfire stopped just to indicate that the suppression inside was over? Kuroyoru thought that, but then realized that something was not right. There was a large crack on the powered suit. The hatch of the pilot seat was twisted, revealing a hole. It was as if it had been ripped open by a human. After that, she immediately remembered that the Dragon Rider equipment Hamazura Shiage was wearing had been created by Academy City. In other words, it was operated the same way the Five Over was. In other words. (No way...!?) It was too late for her to feel a chill. She understood the reason why Accelerator stepped aside. Overwhelming gunfire was fired at Kuroyoru Umidori. A railgun that surpassed the #3 were fired at her at a speed of four thousand shots per minute. The two Gatling railguns on the two sides of the electronic mantis were shooting at Kuroyorus arms from behind. They were sickles that summoned death, with one swing enough to slice these esper weapons as if they were harvesting wheat. The railgun trajectories fired at Kuroyoru from both sides. That small space could rival a guillotine. Damn...iiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!! If she was fully prepared, Kuroyoru would win against the Five Over head on based on ability alone. However, she reacted slowly. That small gap of a mere few seconds destroyed a large number of those specially made arms of hers. Even so, facing the two bullet sickles, Kuroyoru immediately responded. She moved her remaining several hundred arms about to create a large number of Bomber Lances. The storms created by the manipulation of the atmosphere deflected the bullets, and the large number of huge lances clashed directly with the railguns with amazing devastation, generating lots and lots of storms. Kuroyoru even considered that merely using air alone wasnt going to do the job, so she placed a large number of arms in front of her to act as shields. (It can work.) Even though she was on the defense, Kuroyoru was still thinking about counterattacking. Her aggressiveness would last to the end. (The Gatling railgun will use up a huge amount of electricity and create loads of heat. It cant possibly continue to fire forever. The safety feature will have a cooling period for some time, so if I counterattack at that moment, its not hard to destroy the Five Over...) You played the wrong card. As if he was trying to interrupt Kuroyorus thoughts, Accelerator muttered coldly. The owner of her implanted thought process. The voice of the person who knew how to use that power the most. If you want to fight defensively, you have to reflect first. Using vector transformation by concentrating on smaller areas cant possibly hold out against such a large area of attack. To actually abandon a shield and use your lances to block this rain of bullets, you look like youre juggling over there. ...!? Defense rather than offense. Not Kuroyoru Umidori, but Kinuhata Saiai. If you want to specialize your attacks, you should have thoroughly destroyed it. If you have such power that youre so proud of, it should be beneficial for you to quickly attack to prevent it from getting to you. The adverse effect of being unable to get through. Also known as the way of life being shaken up. This referred to the basic instincts of living things, to subconsciously choose to defend against this avatar of destruction known as the Gatling railgun. Accelerator impatiently criticized that series of actions. What a waste of talent, cyborg. A large number of arms were destroyed, and the mechanical equipment exploded. Kuroyoru Umidori was sent crashing to the ground by a rain of shrapnel. The winner was decided. Part 8 Hamazura Shiage rode on the Five Over as he walked out of the abandoned building. It should have be able to use its wings to fly, but he didnt use that unknown technology. Hamazura directly moved from the stairs to the first level, passing through the main entrance. The powered suit that appeared in front of Accelerator released its hatch, revealing Hamazuras face from within. Is it over? The remaining ones were taken away by that irritating clone. However, you took out the two most important people, so its just a matter of time. If you can use that, it means that the original rider got dragged out. Thats the case. Right now, Kuruwa-chan...that ninja girls taking care of it. Accelerator peered inside the interior of the powered suit. There were cables attached between the special suit Hamazura was wearing and the inside space. Most likely, he had destroyed the main system of the Five Over and attached the special equipment of his clothing to it to allow him to do the calculations better. It worked because the principle was the same, and it was activated during that critical moment. Are you still able to process the information? Which one do you think is wiser, to think of a way to do it or to do it thoroughly from scratch? By the way, the latter involves having to redo all the mechanics. ...Its like leaving some cooking utensils to a woman who knows how to cook and expecting a table full of homecooked food, is it? Ignoring Accelerators contempt, Hamazura lowered his head. Kuroyoru Umidori was lying on the floor. She had been hit by numerous shrapnel and had lost quite a lot of blood, but at least she still had her limbs intact. Even facing such a sweeping fire, she actually had not been hit directly. As expected of a strong esper of Academy City, she was not an enemy that could be fought using just common sense. So the Freshmen commotion is over, right? Wheres that Fremea Seivelun brat? Inside the large bank vault. Itll open in half a day because of the timer control. ...How troublesome. Ill just use my power to force it open. I wanted to as well, but we need to hide the weapons before Anti-Skill arrive, or itll be quite troublesome for Kuruwa-chan. While talking, the two people subconsciously ignored Kuroyoru Umidori. That was a mistake. They were still unable to grasp the nature of the thing they were fighting against. Cyborgs. Machines. Most of it had been shattered into numerous pieces when the Gatling railgun fired on it. However, though the machine couldnt work if a part ABC was missing, by linking part A, part B, and part C, they could create a part D. In other words. Even if they were crushed, the arms wouldn''t necessarily be disabled. There was the sound of a breath. Hamazura saw the collapsed Kuroyoru stretch her small hand forward. At the same time. Over one hundred arms that were barely patched together moved at once. The target was neither Hamazura Shiage nor Accelerator. Fremea Seivelun. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! The sound of an explosion could be heard. A large amount of air mixed together to form a several-hundred-meter-long gigantic lance. The aim was rather messed up as well; Fremea was definitely on the third level, but Kuroyorus lance was aimed at the ground, as if it was aiming at the ground level. But that was enough. Once she swung the lance horizontally, it would be enough to slice the abandoned building. It was hard to say if the bank vault could completely endure the impact of the fall, and the distorted power itself was enough to easily rip the walls of the bank vault apart. This was what Academy City made. A subversion of common sense that was under scientific discipline. "Fuck you!! This is my last hope!! This is the incomparable darkness of Academy City!! Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!" An explosion could be heard. The lance was swung. Hamazura Shiage regretted. He regretted thinking that it had been over and getting out of the powered suit; he regretted seeing Kuroyoru Umidori like that and forgetting that she could still launch a fatal attack at a kid; he regretted that he could have settled this without killing so many people and yet chose the most redundant method; he regretted that he was not the one who ended up in danger, but Fremea, who believed in him so much. Accelerator was furious. Angry that he mocked Kuroyorus wavering sense of living. That excessive talk regained her real nature, and presented her the opportunity to select the "aggression" option. They were both the same. They had not made the final choice adequately. (...Damn it...) Hamazura gritted his teeth and intended to stop Kuroyoru, but it was too late. Besides, even when he wearing the unique clothing, it was hard for Hamazura to act as a shield without the Five Over. (...So in the end, a supporting character like me is unable to finish everything like a hero!!) He moved to block all the lances. No matter what, Hamazura only cared about charging forward. A storm was whipped up. He could only stare and watch the last chance pass by his eyes. He was absorbed in the aftershock of the storm, slowly closing his eyes. The color of despair clouded his vision. He felt that all he had done up to now was completely destroyed by one strike. Fremea Seivelun couldnt be saved anymore. He chose the wrong winning and losing conditions. It was not his win even though he had beaten Silver Cross and Kuroyoru. He had actually forgotten that the simple objective of protecting Fremea Seiveluns life and smile would be the real victory. Beating the Five Over and Kuroyoru were useless. He had thought that he could protect. He had thought that Fremea would be safe once he beat a strong enemy. But in the end... "Daaaammmnnnnnnnn iiiiiiittttttttttttttttttttttttt!!" A scream full of despair. However... Hamazura noticed it. He heard the sound of the lance being swung. But that was it. The sound of the abandoned building collapsing wasnt heard. (What...?) Trembling, he opened his eyes. It was a strange scene. There was definitely a lance. It was several hundred meters long, formed by compressing air together unnaturally. The block of violence would undoubtedly cleave the building. However. In reality, the building that Fremea was hiding in was completely unscathed. It hadnt fallen. What had stopped it? The one attack that Kuroyoru Umidori had let loose with all of her remaining strength and resolve? It was a boy. More accurately, it was the boys right hand. Kamijou Touma. The boy with the Imagine Breaker hidden inside his right hand stopped the Bomber Lance. The conclusion came quickly. It blew away the nitrogen lance that had so much power within it, and Kuroyoru, who had just witnessed her last hope be broken, lost consciousness. There was complete silence. It was a world devoid of danger. He easily swung the right hand with the most inexplicable power in the world and casually spoke to Hamazura and Accelerator. Long time no see. Volume 1, Epilogue: A Modest Feast and Invited Dark Clouds. Witch. Volume 1, Epilogue: A Modest Feast and Invited Dark Clouds. Witch. And so, the three of them had gathered. Hamazura decided that they hadnt completely escaped the danger yet, so they took Fremea Seivelun out of the large vault. Specifically, Accelerator used his power to forcibly break the mechanism holding the vault door closed. At first, Fremea panicked when she saw the door being forced open from outside, but relief seemed to fill her heart once she saw Hamazuras face. Finally feeling relief after being in a constant state of nervousness for so long caused Fremea to begin to collapse, but Hamazura caught her. She began to cry, and held him tightly. Sorry for butting in so suddenly, but whats going on around here? asked Kamijou. Accelerator leaned on his modernistic cane and frowned in annoyance before speaking. So you didnt come here because you were monitoring the situation? Im finally back in Academy City after so long and things seemed pretty noisy, so I just decided to check it out. Tch, #1 clicked his tongue. Including that disposition towards misfortune, Accelerator just had the difference between their fundamental standpoints reconfirmed for him, but Kamijou couldnt read that far into what Accelerator was thinking. Hamazura answered instead. Kamijous face became cloudy as he heard the explanation. In contrast, Hamazura seemed fairly interested in Kamijous right hand, as he kept looking at it. So, about that right hand of yours. Can you negate peoples powers with it? Oh, thats right. With you, it was a fistfight between Level 0s, so you wouldnt have known. Who gives a fuck? said Accelerator, interrupting them. You appeared at a time like this. And youre active in a part of this world much deeper than the scientific darkness we know. What have you gotten yourself into? Why did you return to Academy City now? Does it have to do with this incident? ...I think the actions of those Freshmen that attacked you were just a single step in some preparations. Preparations? Preparations for a fight against a new enemy... No, its actually more at the phase where we have to do some investigating to see if World War III really is over and whether or not this enemy really is new. Accelerator and Hamazura Shiages expressions changed at that. Just like Kamijou, the two of them had been on the front lines of that war. Academy City is making preparations to fight them. The city is increasing their military preparations, of course, but theyre also fortifying the structure of the city itself and shifting in a direction thats easier to fight from. You can think of all that as proof of how worried Academy City is about them... The city has determined that they arent an enemy that can be taken on in their spare time. Who are they? asked Hamazura. The only enemy of Academy City I can think of is Russia since they started that war, but they arent showing any intention of fighting anymore. ...This may sound like total bullshit, but will you believe me? Kamijou remained silent for a moment, and opened his mouth again once he thought about what to say. What if I told you there was a set of laws that could create supernatural phenomena that were completely different from the scientifically developed esper powers used by Academy City? What? ... Hamazuras question and Accelerators reaction were opposites. Kamijou continued. The people that freely control that different set of laws have created organizations, are doing all sorts of things in the dark side of the world, and are opposed to Academy City... Can you believe that? Can you believe that Academy City isnt behind every single mysterious phenomenon in the world? Magic, huh? muttered Accelerator. Kamijou was surprised he knew that, but he continued on. I dont know the details. Strictly speaking, Im a resident of Academy City. I know of the people on the outside, but Im not a part of them. Kamijou started to say more, but he suddenly stopped. The reason was simple. A small foot had shot up from behind him and forcefully sunk itself into the area between his legs. More accurately, it hit him in the model human weak point. B-bah...!? You just keep prattling on, dont you? Before you start speaking so self-importantly, dont you have the important job of bowing your head to those you need to bow down to? Really, how many people do you think youve made cry? Hamazura and Accelerator looked behind Kamijou. A small girl was standing there. The blonde-haired girl who looked to be around twelve was accompanied by a large number of men wearing black. The color scheme of her chic blouse, skirt, and stockings made her look a bit like an old piano. The short girl looked down at Kamijou who was deeply bent over, and told him, Ill explain the rest. You spend the time thinking up excuses you can give to the girls you made cry. Th-these people are... th-the people who pulled me out of the Arctic Ocean... Actually, its thanks to those other people over there who had been hidden in Russia, not the small cocky one in the middle. She has an aura like my little sister, muttered the girl as she pointed at Fremea. She then looked at Hamazura and Accelerator who had heard what Kamijou had said. Im Birdway, she introduced herself. Leivinia Birdway of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. As you can see, Im the boss of a magic cabal... Welcome to the entrance to a new world, children who have been made ignorant by science. Volume 1, Afterword Volume 1, Afterword To both those who are picking up one of my books for the first time and those who have picked up all of my books so far: welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. This is the first book of the new numbering. The first book is Science-only and Index doesnt really show up, but dont worry about that. The normal theory is going to be ignored quite a bit like that from now on, so make sure you check out how things are in this first volume. The theme this time was technology that goes beyond a certain scientific line, and the book was basically powered suits and a cyborg rampaging around. The world in the series is divided between the science side and the magic side, but Academy City went beyond the line of the definition of the human body for two reasons. First, the problem they had was now on too large a scale. Second, after winning the war, they had destroyed the balance of the world. Now about the Five Over. I feel that it is something that goes against the theory of a battle story. But, as described in the novel, science and technology continue to advance, so what was cutting-edge yesterday may not be so today. I decided to put it in to demonstrate that. Currently, the Five Over has a more powerful gun than #3, but, if the two were to fight, #3 would win due to application. But that isnt an absolute, because science and technology will continue to advance. On the other hand, #3 has a wall called the Parameter List. I suppose I could say that this is becoming a world of the functionality of machines vs. the ingenuity of humans. Which is stronger, and how long will one sides superiority last? ...Now, I wonder how long #3 can continue reigning. The cyborg may have been a bit different from what you, the readers, were imagining, but she got that way by this design process: I freely design the physical body -> I freely add in bird wings, fish gills, or whatever I want -> I decide what characteristics I most want to bring into Academy City. Her battle strategy is basically asking the question Which is stronger: one Level 5 or a thousand Level 4s? But the source of her power is still just one person, so it exhausts her quite a bit. By the way, I think the first appearance of a clear cyborg instead of just a fake hand or a cane in this world was the short story by Narita Ryougo-san that was in a special volume of A Certain Scientific Railgun. When writing the main story, I had wanted to bring in a cyborg, but I was worried that having cyborgs walking around Academy City would mess up the power balance, but thanks to him, I made my decision. I decided that it was okay for incidents like this to occur in a city that had Nayuta-chan in it, so I had a cyborg that had been altered for the war against the intentions of the creator of the cyborgs. Thank you very much, Narita Ryougo-san. One of them was a cyborg that altered her outer silhouette and the area her power could be used from while rearranging the inside of her body, and the other was a powered suit that altered the outside of his body and optimized the inside of his mind. As was stated in the novel itself, its rather hard to draw a clear line between the two. Which do you, the readers, feel would be harder to accept? My thanks to my illustrator, Haimura-san and my editor, Miki-san. With a girl that carried thousands of arms with her and a sexy guy who wears the right thing at the right time, I feel that there were a lot of troublesome new concepts this time, but you two always stick with my selfishness, so thank you very much. I would also like to thank Narita Ryougo-san for bringing cyborgs to this world and Akitaka Mika-san for designing the powered suits. And a huge thanks to all you readers. The numbering may have been reset to 1 and I may have gotten carried away and made the first volume a more side story-ish volume, but I think I was only allowed to do this because of your support. I plan on doing whatever I want with the story from here on out, so keep on reading. And now you will be closing the page. I pray that you will be able to open the cover of the next volume. And I will lay down my pen for now. At long last, Birdway has joined in with the main story...!! -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 2, Prologue: Unknown Purpose, but Still a Threat. Radiosonde_Castle. Volume 2, Prologue: Unknown Purpose, but Still a Threat. Radiosonde_Castle. London, England. A great number of people gathered within St. Georges Cathedral. It would not have been wrong to call them priests and nuns. But given their current role, they would more accurately be referred to as magicians. The men and women both young and old who had been called there were exchanging all sorts of information and communicating with allies in distant lands. They were doing these things with such vigor that it destroyed the normal stillness of the cathedral. What is the situation? asked an Asian magician named Kanzaki Kaori. Her black hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her T-shirt was tied off at the bottom revealing her navel, and her denim jacket and pants had the fabric cut off, revealing one arm and one leg. She had a long Japanese sword hanging down from a Western belt, so she did not look much like someone related to the Christian Church, but even so, she was the Priestess who stood at the top of a denomination that had been passed down within Japan. It has risen even further than before, responded Sister Agnese. The small girls hair was made into braids about as thick as pencils, and she was originally from the Roman Catholic Church. Its altitude is now 52,000 meters. It has passed over the UK and is now heading over Eurasia... France, to be exact. Agnese lightly waved her fingertips in midair, and a video was displayed on the cold wall of the cathedral. It showed an area of the sky that had no clouds and almost no oxygen. A cross-shaped construction could be seen floating in that clear blue sky whose lack of impurities actually made it seem more damaging to living things. There was nothing around it with which to compare its scale, so it was difficult to accurately determine its size, but... Both its length and width are about twenty kilometers, right? If something that large fell from that height, there would be no avoiding an ice age. ... Kanzaki looked at the video, and her gaze sharpened slightly. Given its shape, its massive scale, and the fact that it was floating in the sky, Kanzaki doubted that she was the only one that was reminded of "that" fortress that had once plunged the world into chaos. According to the information the science side has supplied, said Agnese as she continued her report, the air is so thin at that altitude that an airplane cannot maintain the power needed to keep itself afloat- lift, I think they called it. And while one could reach that altitude with a rocket, it would be unable to remain at that altitude. It would just continue on up, so it would be difficult to interfere with the fortress. Either way, it will be tough to send people onto it with parachutes. Then how is it floating? Is it using magic...? We dont know. The short nun shook her head. It seems that an Academy City-made balloon called Mesosphere Radiosonde carries an observation equipment that can float at this altitude. ...Look, around here. Can you see the gas tank-like things? Agnese zoomed in the image, and two hundred to three hundred of what looked like metal spheres could be seen on the bottom of the cross-shaped fortress. For conveniences sake, we have started calling the target ''Radiosonde Castle''. She paused for a second. The most likely candidate for what''s giving it lift is this mass of balloons. The science side has a similar opinion, but they say they do not have any idea what kind of gas could give the necessary lift with only that many tanks. Of course, we dont know if they truly do not know or if they are holding back on information. Kanzaki brought her hand up to her chin. ...So we dont even know if this enemy is from the science side or the magic side. Although theyve suddenly taken action on a level that could destroy the world... The higher ups have put together a separate unit to investigate where it originated from. It started floating up from Iceland, so it sounds like they will be investigating around there. A lot of different organizations are going to be sent out on this one. ...I think it would be best if you just focused on your own job. The job that Kanzaki had been given was of course to resolve the issue of Radiosonde Castle. They did not know where exactly the enemy intended to drop it, but they could not just sit idly by and let it happen. So what exactly am I to do? It seems the science side is thinking of shooting it down with ballistic missiles, but as I said before, we do not know for sure what system is giving it lift. The balloons on the bottom are merely one theory. If something were to provide too much of a shock to the system and send it down all at once... well, it could be like an asteroid falling. In other words, we need to find out how exactly the fortress is floating before we can actually do anything? And we cant do that by viewing it from a distance, so someone has to actually get aboard Radiosonde Castle? At the very least, the source of its lift has to be analyzed. And whether its from the magic side or the science side, we need to know whether anyone is aboard and what weapons or spiritual items it may have, said Agnese as if she were checking things off a list one by one. If possible, it would be best to interfere with the source of its lift while on board, thus causing it to slowly lower bit by bit. That way, this whole thing will not end in an ice age. But you said there was no way to get to Radiosonde Castle, right? You said an airplane cannot get enough lift and a rocket would only pass by for an instant. She could not recommend using a magical means of flight. There were plenty of ways one could fly using magic, but the magical means of being shot down were too accurate, so one could be interfered with at any time. It was so major that an extremely famous legend involving Peter, one of the twelve Christian apostles, had been created. Of course, there was someone behind that situation. They did not know if they were from the science side or the magic side, but if their opponent was a magician, any magical flight Kanzaki took would be easily crushed. In a situation where failure meant the destruction of humanity, Kanzaki could not use such an unstable method while she held the trump card. It seems our leader is currently discussing with the science side a means of interfering with Radiosonde Castle. ...So there are multiple options and we just need to stay put for now, hm? Kanzaki stared at the image on the wall, and realized that she was not properly controlling her emotions. She was dealing with a threat to the world. Kanzaki wondered if what she was feeling was what that boy had always been holding within him up until he disappeared into the Arctic Ocean at the conclusion of World War III. As a professional magician, she had taken risky actions dealing with dangers suitable for someone of that position plenty of times, but she had not dealt with situations on such a great scale enough times to even start a count. And in all the previous incidents she had dealt with, she had wielded her power within the relatively stable confines of the magic side. This time, however, she did not even know whether her opponent was with the science side or the magic side, so her past experience could end up being of little help. But that boy had walked through that kind of world. He had gone between the two worlds of science and magic and had faced many opponents and stopped many tragedies without knowing whether his own position was a stable one. (It is imprudent of me as a professional magician to think this...) His existence was a large one. Even she, one of the fewer than twenty Saints in the world, felt that. (...But if only that boy were here, he would not even have to be heading to the battlefield. If only that boy were here, that alone would change the flow. Why does it seem that way to me...?) That boy had sunk into the Arctic Ocean and was gone. She could no longer rely on him, so she had no choice but to continue fighting in a world where he was not. Kanzaki did not think that she was the only one that felt that way. Even though it did not show on their faces, Itsuwa, Tatemiya Saiji, and the others of the Amakusa Church had made up their minds. As Kanzaki got a bit mad at herself for only being able to think of him in the past tense, Itsuwa, a girl from the same Japanese denomination as her, spoke to her with one hand covering up the microphone on her cell phone. Itsuwa had to be feeling just as down about it as Kanzaki- if not more so. ...Umm, I just received word that Kamijou-san has returned to Academy City. Ehh!? How!? Volume 2, 1: A New Territory, Magic Afterwards. Lecture_One. Volume 2, Chapter 1: A New Territory, Magic Afterwards. Lecture_One. Part 1 Kamijou Touma, Accelerator, and Hamazura Shiage had defeated the Freshmen and saved Fremea Seivelun. They were now comparing cell phones. Okay, lets exchange addresses. What a pain... There, there, and done. As Hamazura operated his cell phone, he was wearing normal clothes, having changed out of the slim powered suit. It seemed he had contacted someone using the powered suits communicator, and they would be coming to recover the suit from where he had it hidden after removing it. ...Hey, why does your cell phone have a torn string on it? Geh... The strap came off. Ugh, such misfortune... You fell into the Arctic Ocean. Its a miracle you still have all your limbs, said Birdway in an exasperated tone. I know you want to come along into the territory ahead, but you wont be able to catch up if you only look at one side of the world. In order to learn about them, you first need to look at the other side of the world. They seemed to be a major problem at some deep portion of the world. The goal behind Kuroyoru Umidori and Silver Cross Alphas attempt to kill Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage via Fremea had been to prepare the system needed to fight them. And then there was the other side of the world Birdway had mentioned. If one looked at things from the viewpoint of Academy City and the science side, it was the opposite side. It was magic. ...I dont mind gathering up the necessary information, Accelerator practically spat out. But I have no intention of having a long leisurely talk here. We defeated the people who more or less led the Freshmen, but that doesnt mean the threat is 100% gone. True. Birdway nodded. You two... what were your names? Anyway, as you were being directly targeted by the Freshmen, it is best to think of that as a risk. And I would like somewhere where we can sit down and talk, so we should find somewhere else to go. Is there really going to be some convenient place like that? Hamazura asked. Birdway pointed with her thumb. She pointed at Kamijous face. His place. ...Its the perfect place for an idiot to bow down to a girl. Part 2 And so, Kamijou, Accelerator, Hamazura, Fremea, Birdway, and her subordinates who wore all black headed toward a certain high school dorm. As he walked along a twilit path, Kamijous shoulders seemed to droop. Hamazura looked over with a puzzled expression. ...Whats wrong? Well... Kamijous words did not have much energy behind them. In all the confusion of World War III, it seems Ive ended up considered dead. So... I was just thinking that a lot of people must be worried about me. And Im not sure what the best way to meet them and apologize is. This time, Im not going to get off with just my head bit. Hamazura was not sure what he meant by that last part. Birdway smiled in a burlesque way and spoke. But if youre alive, you have no real reason not to go back. Whatever path you take, youre eventually going to walk down that one, so you should get it over with quickly. Maybe I should think of it like going to the dentist... Upon seeing how down Kamijou looked, Hamazura made a suggestion. If you have to do it, you might as well give yourself a little help in the right direction, dont you think? What do you mean? Drink some alcohol to bring up your spirits. A gradual change had come over Misaka Mikotos mental state over the last few days. A feeling of impatience had welled up from the depths of depression. At the end of World War III, Kamijou Touma had disappeared into the Arctic Ocean along with a giant fortress. Since that boy had been in the place that was the very core of that war, Mikoto thought he must have been pressured into it by some kind of power from a force that moved the world. Even if that was not the actual reason, Mikoto still felt that she needed to collect accurate information, and a lot of it. Academy City. The darkness there. She did not want to approach it, but their network gathered information from around the world that should not be seen by anyone. Mikoto had no clear point of contact with the darkness. But she still had a way in without one. Of course, it was risky. They may notice her attempt to get in, and if they did, they would definitely put together some kind of interception plan. It was possible that the darkness would take action the very second they suspected that she was even thinking of doing it. (But...) She had to know whether Kamijou Touma was alive or dead. She did not want mere hopes. She wanted actual information. If she did not have that, Misaka Mikoto could not know which direction she should head towards from then on. After worrying through all that, Mikoto started thinking of actual methods of hacking in, but... Heyyy... Is that Miko-chan I see over there? Why was she seeing an illusion of a drunk boy talking to her? That spiky-haired illusion had a necktie of unknown origin wrapped around its head, had a box of sushi hanging from a string grasped by the thumb and forefinger of its right hand, and was drunkenly staggering toward her bowleggedly. No... That was... That was not an illusion created by someone like the #5 Level 5... Ehh!? Why!? Why are you here!? World War III... The Arctic Ocean... Y-you were dead... Wh-what is going on...!? Mhh... Oh, yeah. I forgot somethin important. Yes, yes, like that, like that!! Okay, tell it all to Mikoto-san. What happened after that? In fact, why did you leave Academy City and charge into the center of that war in the first place...!? Here, Miko-chan, this is your souvenir... That is not a souvenir!! This sushi is like something from a nostalgic Showa skit!! Woof woof. I cant follow your chain of thoughts, and now you arent even speaking in a human language!! ...What is with this? Even when Mama is at her worst, I can get through to her, but none of my experience with her is working here...!! Mikoto put her head in her hands while still holding the sushi box that had been handed to her, but the boy in question seemed to truly think that he had finished what he came there to do. He started to stagger off somewhere, leaving Mikoto. If she let him get away, things would get very bad. To put it in concrete terms, it was possible that she would end up with no scenes for three whole volumes. Misaka Mikoto intuitively determined that fact, and frantically chased after that boy. Wait, stop!! Do you really think I can just accept this!? Hell no! You just left and disappeared! Today, Im finally going to have you explain everything to me! Does November even have thirty-five days...? Give... It. A. Damn. Rest. Alreaaaaaaaaaadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! Without meaning to, Mikoto sent bluish-white sparks flying from her bangs. She was Academy Citys #3 Level 5 and had the highest ranking electricity-type power. By making her alias of Railgun a reality at the base, she could manipulate high-voltage currents with a maximum of one billion volts. As such, the lightning spear that she accidentally fired was quite the destructive attack. But... Funyari... W-what!? Mikotos face paled as he evaded it with the unnatural movements characteristic of a drunk. That spiky-haired boy had the power to easily negate the esper power Mikoto used (but she did not know exactly how it worked). He had stopped her attacks a few times with that power in the past, but... He no longer needed his power. So that was it. She had worked so hard chasing after him, yet he was saying that all her efforts had been for nothing - a statement that could not be easily dealt with. Now this is getting interesting... While Mikoto hung her head down, heated feelings welled up within her. She had not felt such belligerent emotions in a long time. It may have been because of her rank as the #3, but she did not get many chances to go all-out. That was the feeling she got when one of those chances came along. The drunken Kamijou looked at Mikotos face. Whatre you smilin for, Miko-chan. Did somethin good happen? I-Im not smiling!! And dont call me Miko-chan!! But thash berbrarbrerb, int it? Ahh!! I have no idea what you just said, but Im betting I should deny it, given how you said it!! Mikoto started swinging her arms around. My power is valuable because it has both a large output and an exceedingly vast range of applications!! Ill show you firsthand just how many types of attacks I can make wi... huh!? Just when Mikoto tried to point at him with her sparking finger, the spiky-haired boy was gone. She hurriedly looked around, and found him staggering along a bit away. But the situation was changing moment by moment. Her thoughts simply could not keep up with the changes. Huh? What are you doing here? said a black-haired girl who was approaching the spiky-haired boy and seemed like a shrine maiden outfit would suit her. Huhh!? Kamijou-chan, you have guts to skip school and then just go for a walk!! shouted a girl(?) 135 centimeters tall who started to grab at him. Kamijou, how can you do this while were so busy preparing for the Ichihanaransai... wait, you reek of alcohol!? I cant believe this! Why would you do something like this that shortens your own lifespan!? said a high school girl with maddeningly huge breasts who also approached him. Ohh, Kamijou Touma. Its Kamijou Touma. I dont really care about you, but make kitty purr! In no time at all, they were in all directions. Oh, youre the guy who called the ambulance during the Remnant incident, arent you? said Musujime Awaki who she once had a confrontation with and had fair-sized breasts. U-um, if you were coming back, I wish you had told me, said a high school girl with glasses and huge breasts who was wearing a Kirigaoka Academy winter uniform. Oh, Kamijou. I didnt think youd be coming back right now, said a high school girl with even larger breasts who was wearing a navy-blue sailor uniform. Wait! Wait just a second!! This is my scene! If youre going to do this, do it later!! Dammit, the guy-to-girl ratio here is completely out of balance. And is that group of huge breasts specifically targeted at me!? A-at this rate, Ill be lost in the background...!! Did they create a forest to hide a leaf!? As the Biri Biri girl shouted, Kamijou did not seem to even realize that he had all these people gathered around him. Part 3 There was a girl named Index. She had waist-long silver hair and green eyes. Her white skin seemed to reflect light. She was a little shorter than average for her age, and she may have given an impression younger than her age. She was wearing a nuns habit made of white cloth, with gold decorations giving it the coloration of a teacup. However, the major stitches were undone, and it was temporarily fastened together with large safety pins. She stood within a student dorm in District 7 of Academy City. It was not Indexs room. In fact, she was not even a student. That room belonged to a certain boy. Index had been freeloading there, but the boy who was supposed to be her landlord was not there. There was no proof that he would come back. Given the organization Index belonged to, it was not exactly a good thing for her to be in that city and continue living in that room. Index wondered if she should obey the organization and head back to England... Although she did not want to do that no matter what. She felt that if she stayed here, he would pop up eventually. Index felt that if she gave up or left, she would be cutting off the possibility of that happening no matter how miniscule it may be. ...Index had gotten to the point of thinking about things in terms of jinxes like that. She was acting selfishly. The organization she belonged to was allowing her that selfishness. Perhaps they were doing so out of concern for Index herself. Or perhaps they were doing so out of concern for that boy who had disappeared in the middle of World War III in order to stop it. Touma... She quietly called his name. The dorm rooms other freeloading residentC well, this one was actually a petC was a calico cat named Sphinx. The cat had its head inside a package that had been a souvenir from England and was eating the contents. It seemed to be saying, Id heard so much about British food, but the pet food is really just the same. Only one who had leeway in her heart would have been able to smile at that unchanging scene. She had gone beyond that point and instead felt a twinge of unease at seeing something continuing on unchanged despite having lost something. Would he return? How long should she continue staying here? Was there any meaning to it? Did there have to be a meaning to it? She was unable to control her own emotions. The thoughts that should have been collected in a single place were scattered across her face. Those fragmentary thoughts brought forth various opinions like a short-circuit in some wiring, creating sparks; but there was no unity to the random images. If she collected them all up, there would surely be some contradictions. If there was an opportunity, things would greatly tilt. It was like a large board balanced atop a sharp stake. Wherever you placed your finger on the board, it would collapse in one direction or another. She may have been remaining completely stationary because she was thoughtlessly trying to maintain that perilous balance. Index was temporarily frozen like that while holding her memories that were much too fresh, but then the final slight force was added on. ...This is...? It was the cell phone Kamijou Touma had given her. It was one of those electronic devices that she still had not mastered the use of and still needed Kamijous help with despite her perfect memory. And it was a communications device that might be able to connect her to that boy if she only knew how to use it. Upon seeing it, Indexs heart tilted greatly. Not even she knew which direction it had tilted in. Index grabbed the cat that still had its head inside the pet food package, and headed for the entrance of the dorm room. Nothing would happen if she only waited. It did not matter whether she had any clues or not. Index was just about to charge out into the outside world in order to search for that boy when... U-uhhh... S-s-sorry for keepin you waitin... Kamijou Touma opened the door and came in dragging over ten girls with him, making him look like a magnet covered in iron sand after being dropped in a sand pit. At first, Index only blinked a few times. Immediately afterwards, she grasped the situation. T-Touma!! You were gone this whole time, so I was worried! Just what are you doing!? Hic... Eh? Whaddya mean? I was just about to say that you were being way too much like your normal self, Touma, but theres someone I clearly dont know mixed in!! Hello, Im the new beast girl heroine. I just met him over there. The situation had become chaotic to the extreme and Kamijou, the person who would normally explain what was going on, was utterly knocked out, so Index had no way of dealing with it. And... Part 4 Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage were watching that uproar from a distance. Just when that boy had gotten drunk, he had walked off somewhere on his own. The next thing they knew, he had a hold on a great number of girls. Thanks for leading the way... wait, why the hell is Musujime there, too? He no longer had anything to do with the dark side organization of Group, but he still had not expected to run into one of the former members here. The #1 muttered in an exasperated way (but he also admired the fact that Kamijou Touma had a side to him other than just fighting and that he managed to let both sides coexist). Ill call him teacher. Hamazura didn''t put much thought into it, and said that to no one in particular. Part 5 Takitsubo Rikou, a girl in a track suit, was eating a corn dog she had bought at a convenience store when her sleepy eyes suddenly opened wide. ...Hamazura is heading down a path of evil!! Part 6 The girls that were the iron sand clinging to the magnet named Kamijou Touma were politely persuaded to leave the dorm by Birdways subordinate Mark Space and the others dressed all in black (but some of them were given afros from high-voltage currents and there was a forced promise to explain everything in detail later). While biting the back of Kamijous head, Index caught sight of Accelerator and stared blankly at him. Its the lost child guy. ...What kind of way to remember someone is that? muttered Accelerator. But he did not continue that conversation. That was due both to his personality and the fact that he did not want to remember the 0930 Incident. Birdway cheerfully stuck her legs under the kotatsu in the center of the room. Hurry up and take a seat. This isnt some pottery class for housewives. I have no intention of looking over your shoulder and making sure youre doing everything right. And so, Kamijou Touma, Accelerator, and Hamazura Shiage sat down on the remaining three sides of the square kotatsu. Nyaahh, muttered Fremea. For some reason, she sat down on Hamazuras lap after he got under the kotatsu. My spot, was all she said, but she must have been worn out from being chased by the Freshmen because she fell asleep after fifteen seconds. Birdway sighed. Are you ready to listen now? ...I guess, even though I dont know what it is Im getting ready for, Hamazura responded while lightly supporting Fremea who looked like she was about to slip off him. Birdway paid him no heed. Then lets get this long-awaited explanation started. As she spoke, she glanced over at Index. Index Librorum Prohibitorum. She knew her role, but it was Birdway that spoke. I will be explaining to you about them who are no longer something you dont have to worry about... and about magic, another set of laws that is at the base of the matter. Part 7 Unabara Mitsuki was inside an Academy City hospital. He himself was not a patient; he was visiting people he knew. ...Its gotten rather dark. I guess I should bring this visit to an end, he said. The room looked like a normal hospital room, but someone who had experience with hospitalizations may have noticed that something was not quite right. It was not a large room with four to six patients in it, nor was it an individual room used by a single patient. It was a large room with only two beds inside. Only an eccentric person could have arranged that irregular layout. The girl lying in one of the two beds spoke. ...I dont remember asking you to come. You just visit every day no matter what I say. The girls name was Xochitl. As her name made clear, she was not Japanese. She had swarthy skin and wavy black hair. She belonged to a magical organization that had its origins in the Central American Aztecs. As one would expect of someone like that, she had been armed with eerie occult weapons, but they had been confiscated by the Unabara boy. And in the other bed was another girl from the same culture as Xochitl. Her name was Tochtli. The names Xochitl and Tochtli were famous names in their language. Tochtli said, Yeah, but if you didnt stop by one day, Im pretty sure she would at least tear her pillow to pieces. For the sake of my peaceful hospitalization, make sure you keep up your visits, onii-chan. Youve got it all wrong. Im a Corpse Worker, so being in a place like this makes me feel like Im being left behind. Thats what has me so irritated. In other words, shes saying that you have the effect of alleviating that irritation. Unabara smiled as he watched Tochtli turn aside Xochitls glare. And at the same time, he thought. Originally, Unabara Mitsuki had been one who worked in the darkness of Academy City. In order to wipe away that citys darkness, he had charged into that darkness and had continually fought alongside the collection of suspicious people such as Accelerator, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, and Musujime Awaki that was Group. Of course, that darkness had continually interfered so as to rob Unabara of his freedom, but he had felt himself suddenly come free of those bonds a few days before. For instance, there was that hospital room. Normally, there would have been at least two garbage men stationed to watch those girls who were used as hostages against him, but those people had disappeared at some point. He had not been in contact with the other members of Group. He had not contacted them, and they had not contacted him. From what Unabara had investigated on his own, it seemed that it was not just Group. The darkness had drawn back from various fields within Academy City. Something had changed during World War III. He was betting that Accelerator, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, and Musujime Awaki had been affected by it as well. He wondered how they were reacting to that change in the world. Now that the members of the darkness were no longer bound by the darkness, what had happened to the environment surrounding that girl who bound Unabara Mitsuki more than anything else? Should he just give in to that peace? Or should he charge back into the darkness? While Unabara thought carefully about what direction he should head towards, he heard one of the girls in the hospital room speak. By the way, I have a question for you. What? ...Etzali. I understand that Unabara Mitsukis face was convenient when you were infiltrating Academy City, but why are you still using that false face while in this hospital room with only your comrades? Well... Unabara started to say, but Tochtli spoke up, sounding annoyed. Just realize it already, Xochitl. Being beautiful gives you an advantage in this world. Thats how he gets the information he needs from the women in the places he infiltrates. Unabara heard a slight snapping sound. Xochitl had bent the three-dimensional puzzle she had been messing with out of boredom into an odd shape. N-no, that is not it, Xochitl! This face was the most suitable one to approach the target with. I did not choose it based on whether it was beautiful or not. And our disguise spell needs human skin, so I have just been using the face I already had so that I do not have to cause any unnecessary harm. And what is with that creepy polite way of speaking!! Etzali, that is not how you used to speak!! ...Hey, dont stand up so suddenly, Xochitl. Its an important job, so dont get so mad just because your old friend has become a lady-killer. Just refer to him how you used to, as Etzali-oniichan. Tochtlis grin made it clear that she had realized something and was gleefully pouring more oil on the fire. Etzali... said Xochitl in a low voice. If you dont want to have it ripped off without the release spell, do something about that face right this instant. Unabara put on a vague smile as she clawed at his face like a cat. Part 8 If I just suddenly started explaining about them, I dont think you would understand, so I first need to explain magic and magicians which are the soil from which they have grown, said Birdway. That must have been nothing more than a world Kamijou Touma was already knowledgeable of because he showed no sign of surprise at hearing what Birdway said. The main audience for that explanation was Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage. As Im sure you have already guessed, magic is unrelated to your scientific laws. It is what is known as the occult. Those who use it are able to shoot fire from their hands, shoot water out, heal wounds, or make wounds rot. Hamazura felt that it would have spread even more than scientific esper powers if it was truly something that convenient. As if in response to Hamazuras doubts, Birdway glanced over at Index. Index spoke from a position a bit away from the kotatsu. But magic is not that convenient. If you exclude certain exceptions, magic essentially exists to allow those without talent to catch up to those with talent. Simply put, the incompetent use it to supplement what they cannot do properly on their own, Birdway finished. Humans could of course not fly without using tools. It may have been possible for the espers that Academy City had brought forth, but that was still a method supported by a scientific approach. And that remained true whether it was an esper artificially created using drugs and electric stimuli or one of the people known as Gemstones who were espers that had been created by chance due to a combination of things in the natural environment. Someone envied them. Birdway smiled. That smile did not have a single bit of warmth in it and would freeze anyone who saw it. In a time before there was a distinction between science and the occult, someone was jealous of some kind of religious miracle or the powers they saw in a natural esper which the environment had created by pure chance. This person did not understand what they saw, but he yearned for it. He wanted to be special himself, and he began to feel that it was unacceptable for him be normal. That was how it began. That was why magic and religion were so strictly partitioned off. Most often, the idea of humans trying to catch up with true miracles was seen as arrogant. The pure-white nun said, ...Magic prospered as a whole because even if the world is overflowing in mystery, it does not necessarily function in humans'' favor. Birdway grinned. But this magic that was created out of the incompetence complex of the incompetent is quite convenient. For example, the scientific powers you use are just one per person, right? Well, yeah, said Hamazura. However, he did not rely on his power as he was a Level 0, so he did not have a real sense of whether it was convenient or not. Accelerator cut in with an additional explanation. ...If you want to change your attack pattern, the main issues are how to apply your base power and whether you can actually do it or not. For example, a fire-producing esper could use that fire to create smoke and rob their opponent of oxygen. What of it? Instead of Birdway, it was Kamijou who responded. Magic does not have that restriction. Exactly. That is why we can freely produce fire. Birdway snapped her fingers, and a lighter-sized flame appeared on the end of her index finger. And water. She snapped her fingers again, and a golf ball-sized sphere of water put out the flame. Of course, there is a set of laws at the base of it all. It could be Celtic or Norse, for example. But even then, there is no strict division. Things from one base can be drawn in by another base, like how Norse mythology was influenced by Celtic culture. ...That does sound more convenient when compared to us espers who cant do anything about it once our power type and Level are known via the System Scan, Hamazura muttered. Birdway meaninglessly puffed out her chest in pride. Yes, it is convenient. It doesnt matter if its wanting to fly or wanting to be popular with the ladies. Once you have a clear goal, you just have to create a supernatural setting so that things will end up the way you want. Compared to you, where it is dependent on your inherent talent, that works as a major advantage. Of course, the delicate adjustments are an indispensable hardship. (If thats true...) Hamazura thought, (maybe even one branded as untalented like me can gain the power needed to protect Takitsubo, Mugino, Kinuhata, and Fremea from any coming threats.) But then Index started speaking. But you all mustnt use magic. Eh? What do you mean? ... Hamazura let out a puzzled cry, but Accelerator gave no real reaction, as if he knew something. Birdway said, Werent you listening? Magic is a technique created to allow those without talent to catch up to those with talent. Its an issue of the format. It was not created for people who have talent in the first place. If you force yourself to use it, it would put a massive burden on your blood vessels and nerves. Kamijou Touma cut in there. By the way, even if youre a Level 0, you still had the inside of your head messed with by Academy Citys tech. Due to that, I cant use magic either. ...The same most likely goes for those in Skill-Out. Magic is just as much of a collection of specialized skills and knowledge as science is. The supernatural setting takes time and effort. It would be more efficient for you to refine the skills you have than to spend over ten years preparing something that would send you to a bloody grave the first time you used it. Then why are you giving us this long-ass lecture? Because they are baring their fangs using that setting, said Birdway in response to Accelerators question. Even if you cant use it, its still good to know the rules behind it if you are going to be creating a countermeasure. Or do you just plan on continuing to fumble around against a mysterious enemy that uses some unknown set of laws? Whats the actual process used? asked Accelerator in a low voice. In the final stages of the war in Russia, he had brought about a similar-seeming phenomenon by using the information from some mysterious parchments as the base and switching out some of the secondary operations. But that voice and that glare that could make even the darkness of that city tremble had no effect on that girl. That of course changes based on the denomination and the school of thought. Birdway shooed away the troublesome-seeming calico cat that had jumped up on the table. Basically, it all starts by refining ones life force into magic power. Even in the magic side, there are a flood of different theories as to the definition of the soul, so this part is rather difficult to explain... If you think of the energy flowing through the human body as crude oil, then it is necessary to refine it into gasoline before using magic. Index picked up the explanation from there. One simple method is to use certain breathing techniques. But that is just one example of controlling ones body. It can also be meditation, warming-up exercises, or fasting. Basically, you just have to manipulate bodily functions such as the flow of blood and the rhythm of the organs to bring them to the values you want. ...As people with some scientific knowledge, you probably know this, but most of the internal organs cannot be consciously controlled. Forcing a change in them is what allows one to refine that normally unreachable energy. But the internal organs function automatically because the alternative is dangerous. Its the same reason that a computers system files are hidden by default. If someone without the proper knowledge were to mess with them, there is a danger of it coming back to bite them in the ass. In the past, that kind of thing seems to have been mistaken for divine punishment or a curse, Birdway said. Once you have the magic power needed to use magic, you just have to manipulate that power into the form that matches your wishes. There are many different types of vehicles, such as cars, motorcycles, boats, and airplanes, but they all still spin turbines using explosive power. ...If you want to cross the ocean, you first need to think about what kind of vehicle you need, and you need to create the most suitable fuel by refining crude oil. Birdway adjusted her legs within the kotatsu. This magic power is manufactured from the power that humans naturally possess, so it can be controlled relatively easily by the human will. But commands are needed for that purpose. It is possible to construct them from nothing, but that is just too inefficient. Its much easier to reference an already existing legend or story. After all, the legends that are still widely known today and have not been weeded out are the ones that have a suitable answer in them. ''That have not been weeded out''? ''A suitable answer''? asked Kamijou despite having already witnessed magic to a certain extent. Index mimed holding a pen in her right hand. It is easier to write with your hand than with your foot. And it is usually easier to write with your right hand than with your left. ...That is common knowledge that has spread throughout most of the world. Do you follow me so far? I suppose... But it is easier to write with your right hand because people have been writing with their right hands for ages and ages. The parent teaches the child, and the child teaches the grandchild. It keeps getting passed down like that. As many people have continued writing with their right hands, a method of neatly writing has naturally formed around that. ...If people had started writing with their left feet from the beginning, then a culture of writing with the left foot would have been created. So, creating a command from nothing is like beginning to practice writing with ones left foot now? muttered Kamijou. Birdway nodded. But even so, the new application of magic power is not impossible. If you worked hard and mastered that path, you may even catch up to the right hand. But would that have any meaning? Maybe if you could not use your right hand, but when you can use your right hand, its much more efficient to just use it. And the optimization of this ages culture is moving ahead in that way. And the situation changes even more depending on whether you are using a religious system in order to create the phenomenon you want or are trying to create a phenomenon within your faith in a religious system, Birdway said. One can use magic just by sending magic power through ones own blood vessels and nerves and by creating symbols with ones gestures. However, when performing more precise ceremonies, specialized tools are often used. For example, when referencing a story involving a legendary spear, it is more efficient to actually swing around a spear. Think of it as the difference between drawing a straight line with just a pen and drawing it with a straightedge. She said that, but old-fashioned legendary items were not necessarily needed. The shape and function were all that was needed, so a plastic umbrella or a clothesline pole could be used in place of the spear. But adding details decreased the odds of failure, so various additional things could be done, such as attaching a knife to the end of the plastic umbrella. Things like that may end up looking like mysterious objects with no real meaning behind them to a normal person. Those tools are known as spiritual items. With some exceptions, spiritual items are nothing more than tools. They are not something that is equipped to the oil refinery that is a magician. When a magician holds a spiritual item, the item becomes a part of the magicians body, and a portion of the magic power flowing through his blood vessels and veins is circulated through it. A staff that shoots fire will only function once that much is done. But power can also be provided remotely, and with certain spiritual items, the magic power will circulate within it for a bit after the magician lets go of it, Birdway explained. These days, safety devices are incorporated into them, but in the past, the destruction of a spiritual item would sever that circulation and damage the magician. Symbolic weapons are the representative example of spiritual items. They are produced and consecrated by the user and no one else is allowed to touch them, but that is just out of fear that someone else interfering with it could cause the circulation to be incomplete. With Birdways knowledge of magic, she likely knew examples of such failures. But she merely kept a thin smile on her face and moved on without mentioning any. If we think of spiritual items in terms of the theatre, they include everything from the small props carried in the actors hands to the large props arranged on the stage. Means of support any larger than that would be a temple that I guess could be said to correspond to the theatre itself. Of course, dividing things up raises their effectiveness. ... By the way, so far I have only been explaining magic that is based on magic power refined by an individual. However, there are other types of energy. There are the leylines that cause things in the earth and Telesma which is a power accumulated in a different phase of this same world. That kind of power holds great energy, but unlike magic power, it often is aligned with an element from the beginning. To use that, it was necessary to choose magic that matched the nature of the energy rather than creating energy to use magic. Theres probably no real reason to explain this far, Birdway prefaced her next explanation. But that kind of power is activated by invoking it through the use of the magic power humans have. I suppose its similar to the relationship between a bomb and the fuse. The fuse creates a small explosion that causes a reaction that has tremendous explosive force. ...This of course allows one to use spells of a level that would have been impossible with an individuals magic power, but the great change in the scale of the explosion increases the risks. ...At any rate, just remember that someone who cannot use their individual magic power cannot use something on a large scale like Telesma either. Index then started to speak. There are some people who can directly control Telesma by using the similarity in their own magic power and the Telesma energy, but it is a rather rare case, so it is not too important that you know about it. ...And because of the great amount of power those people use, they are greatly restricted by the angels that correspond to their type. Due to this, they are unable to use normal magic and their overall level of freedom drops. Birdway completely ignored the cat lying face-up right in front of her as she started speaking again. Now then, all this has been an explanation of the structure at the base of a magician, but that is not the most important thing you need to know in order to understand magicians. ...What do you mean? It is an issue of identity. For what purpose do magicians wield magic? If you do not know that, you cannot speak of magicians. So this is about the structure of their organizations? They stand opposite Academy City, right? They must control truly good-for-nothing organizations. I will explain that in a bit, but first Im going to teach you something more basic about magicians. Birdway grinned. State religions, magic cabals, tribes... Magicians do of course form those kinds of organizations, but very few magicians will sacrifice themselves for those organizations. They only wield their power for themselves. Well, there are some groups built up of magic users who claim that sacrificing themselves for their organization is their personal goal, but the personal aspect still remains. ...? Accelerator looked confused because he could not imagine that. That may have been because he had been put inside a large organization and had continually been bound by it. As has been said, magicians are people with no talent. What do you mean? There are setbacks in life. You may fail in saving a loved one from an incurable disease, or you may end up fighting and killing comrades during a famine. ...No one would even think of trying to overcome the laws of physics if they did not have an experience like that. People who are satisfied will just stay where they are. The people who rely on the supernatural power of magic have reasons leading them to do so. After saying that, Birdway jabbed her thumb into the center of her small chest. Magicians carve that goal into themselves in Latin. These are known as magic names. Mine is Regnum771, and Mark over theres is Armare091. The numbers on the end are to prevent duplicates. ...We clearly decide on our goal and put together spells in order to accomplish that goal, so to us, an organization is nothing more than a booster used to realize our magic names. If we can use them, we will honor them and swear loyalty to them, but if they will not carry out that role, we will grow disillusioned and mercilessly cut ourselves from them. Academy City alone produces and manages all espers as the project of a giant organization. Compared to you, our way of thinking is different at the very core. ...Does that even work? Accelerator asked doubtfully. If everyone is just using their power however they want, the controlling organizations wouldn''t be able to have their wishes carried out by those at their outer edges. Wouldnt that just fall apart on its own? Of course, the magic side organizations have their own rewards and punishments prepared, replied Index. There are large ceremonies that cannot be carried out by an individual, and there are often pursuit units to take care of traitors. But none of that matters in the face of a magic name. ... Everyone fell silent, and Birdway continued. That is why the magician named Sherry Cromwell entered this city on her own in order to cause a war between the magic side and the science side. It is also why Lidvia Lorenzetti took the Croce di Pietro without permission in order to rule Academy City. ...No matter how large the organization they are a part of is, those who will do something will do it. Even if ones magic name would smash the system of the world to pieces, a true magician would not hesitate to carry it out. And that remains true even if it extends beyond the magic side they live in and involves the other world as well. ...So they are like that, too? Accelerator muttered. Even the #1 who knew the darkness quite well had too much he did not know. He envisioned a set of scales hidden beneath the surface that would decide whether Academy City would remain or be destroyed. Whoever they are that you are fighting without my knowledge, they have magic names, too? Birdway grinned at that question. That is why it was necessary for me to explain the basics of magic before explaining them. Silence fell over the dorm room. Those three boys who had been stained with the rules of Academy City thought for a bit. Kamijou Touma had to have already known of the situation to a certain extent, so he was likely thinking through it all again after hearing Birdways explanation. (...The problem is which set of rules will succeed if science and magic clash- no, technically that isnt it. If things tilt in either direction, the situation will no longer be one where both sides can accept the other in the end. If we want to truly resolve this, we need to create a third side that does not belong to the other two.) Accelerator sorted through the information of that world he had touched on in the past and had now taken a large step into. (...I have no interest in magic or an unknown world, but if the aftereffects of some people doing things without my knowledge will reach the areas I do know about, that changes. Im still not sure exactly who they are, but it looks like I need to get some more detailed information.) And Hamazura Shiage stared blankly as if he were deep in thought. (...Yknow, when I think about it, ''omanma''[1] is just barely a Japanese word.) At the other end of Hamazuras gaze was the cat devouring the contents of a plate that Index had put down. Hamazura Shiage was the type who was very bad at paying attention to what a school principal was saying. Leivinia Birdway put on an expressionless face, and forcefully struck his cheek with the palm of her small hand. Obh!? Obhah!! ...You fell asleep while I was explaining all that, didnt you? I didnt, I didnt! I was listening!! Then tell me what I was talking about!! Eh... Umm... ''if you drink milk, your tits will get bigger''...? ...I assume I can take that as you challenging me to a fight. Then was it ''if someone drinks tits, their milk will-''? That doesnt even make sense!! Ahh, go wash your face!! Between the Lines 1 Southwest of England, near Lands End, Kanzaki Kaori lightly breathed in the smell of the sea wind through her nostrils. She purposefully looked around her surroundings to renew her focus. The ocean surrounded her in all 360 degrees. Her footing moved slightly up and down, matching the rhythm of the waves. However, she was not aboard a boat. She was on top of a pitch-black submarine poking above the oceans surface. ...I never thought that a magician such as myself would be receiving the assistance of one of these, she muttered. A familiar voice reached her from the card-shaped spiritual item next to her ear. On the other side of the spiritual communication item was Sherry Cromwell from the Anglican Church. Its because England does not currently have any ground-based facilities from which to fire a ballistic missile. Of course, the same goes for rocket facilities that use missile technology for peaceful purposes. In that country, ballistic missiles were primarily SLBMs- that is, submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Launching a manned rocket from a submarine was unprecedented, but it was not impossible given the technology. The reason that more facilities did not do it was that they had no reason to. Unlike ballistic missiles, there was no reason to hide the launching point of a manned rocket being used for a (supposedly) peaceful purpose. In fact, if it was not announced beforehand, it could be mistaken for a missile and shot down and a ballistic missile could even be fired back in retaliation. The reason that Kanzaki was using such a roundabout method was simple. As Sherry had said, England had no ground-based launching facilities. Let me double-check. We are using this rocket as a means to interfere with Radiosonde Castle which is at an altitude of 52,000 meters, right? Yes, responded Sherry. Neither an aircraft nor a rocket is suitable for use at that altitude. Theyre likely staying there for that very reason. That is why we are sending a rocket up into space first and then having it reenter the atmosphere to land on top of Radiosonde Castle. ...That certainly is a broad plan. That is why we called you. A Saint can probably force that broad plan to work. Youll go up and then fall back down. ...It sounds simple in words, but there are a lot of challenges. There had to be countermeasures against cosmic rays and the heat of the atmosphere, theres the issues of the pressure and the oxygen, and then theres the flight dynamics technology that goes into landing accurately on top of Radiosonde Castle. So youre saying that just dropping the rocket down from above the fortress is not enough. Magical flight may be blocked, but a rocket made of scientific technology is truly defenseless against magic. Just in case, it would be best to maintain an environment with magical protection while reentering the atmosphere. ...Do we still not know whether Radiosonde Castle is from the magic side or the science side? Orsola and others are investigating that now, but I doubt theyll have an answer by the time you launch, Sherry responded bitterly. We dont know which techniques it uses. Of course, we also do not know why it is floating there. Is there a meaning in it being there? Is there a meaning in bringing it down? We dont even know that. We have not heard anyone saying what they intend to do with it. It has been complete silence. We cant even be sure that we will ever find out who is behind it as the situation develops. Kanzaki sighed. I understand that I should use some magical protection, but what about magic interfering with the flight? Oh, that is only an issue when you are trying to keep a stable flight. For this, everything up until you reach orbit will be carried out by the scientific rocket. After that, you will only be falling. Peters spell brings down things that are actually flying. It will not be very effective on something that is simply falling. Finding loopholes was the basis of magic. Those loopholes would be closed up each time, but then you just had to find a new loophole opened up by that change. That repeated cycle in construction caused the entire magic side to writhe like a living being. At that time, the submarines hatch opened, and a member of the crew peered out. He gestured to get Kanzakis attention. Making sure she was looking at him, the crew member spoke. Its almost time!! Please come inside and head to the missile tube. Head through the maintenance passageway, and climb inside the rocket. Understood. And... said the crew member, sounding troubled. The submarine was being borrowed on the orders of Queen Elizard, but the crew did not properly understand magic. Many occult phenomena had occurred during British Halloween and World War III, but that was not enough to grasp how it all worked. We do not have any spacesuits aboard. Did you bring that kind of thing with you? No, Kanzaki simply responded. She did not realize that the smooth way she had spoken had sent the crew member down into confusion. Y-you dont mean that you intend to go up in your jeans like that, do you!? I do. This just does not seem like an incident where a normal spacesuit would be of any use. Notes 1. A slang term for rice Volume 2, 2: Unchanging Days, Occasional Differences. Lecture_Two. Volume 2, Chapter 2: Unchanging Days, Occasional Differences. Lecture_Two. Part 1 Really, Kamijou-chan is quite troublesome, said Tsukuyomi Komoe, a 135-centimeter-tall female teacher. As she walked through the city at night, a girl named Himegami Aisa who had long black hair walked alongside her. Himegami had originally lived in Komoes apartment, but she had since moved to a girls dorm for her school. Komoe held her small head in her small hands. Kamijou-chan must have no idea what an attendance record is. Uuu... at this rate, hell be in trouble even with extra lessons over winter break... And he didnt have enough days during the first term either... With the way he is, I find it strange that he has managed up until now. Whether you are smart or not, you are going to get bad grades on your tests if you never even take in the fundamental knowledge. I doubt he has just been sleeping this whole time, so something must have been entering his head in place of his lessons... Just what could be filling Kamijou-chans head? Hmm. Himegami looked up a bit. With him, I could see it being methods of defeating a dragon. Something like that is not going to be helpful in life!! He should at least be filling his head with the knowledge and skills needed to live a peaceful life!! Part 2 Even if she gave successive lectures, it was meaningless if the information would not enter their heads. Thinking that, Birdway decided to take a short break. She snapped her fingers, calling over one of the men wearing all black. Mark, Im thirsty. Make me a cocktail. Make it a Cinderella. A Cinderella? Kamijou asked, having heard from the side, and for some reason, Birdway puffed her chest out proudly. Its the representative example of a nonalcoholic cocktail. And then Mark secretly taught Kamijou the truth. ...Its just a mixed juice drink made of orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. Its a nonalcoholic cocktail!! She kicked Mark in the shin with her small foot, and he hurriedly escaped to the kitchen space. Meanwhile, Fremea, who had been Hamazuras private hot water bottle girl up until then, flipped over the approaching cat and started playing with it. The cat seemed to be saying, I know that male calico cats are rare, but dont stare at my balls like that, but it made no frantic movements. ...That cat looks like its gotten bigger since I last saw it... Kamijou said looking puzzled. Birdway refolded her black stocking-covered legs as she sat on the bed, and spoke. Thats how it is with the growth of a kid. She had been speaking about the kitten, but Fremea was the one that reacted. She rolled the cat around on top of the kotatsu and looked over at Birdway. Nyah. In the first place, you do not look like an older sister. It seems you do not know the truth of matters, you damn brat. With her legs still crossed, Birdway folded her arms. There is a large gap between ten and twelve. I live in a different world from a brat like you who still bathes with her father!! I live in a dorm, so in the first place my father has nothing to do with this. Fremea pressed against the pads of the cats paws with her finger. And Im enough of an adult to sleep in the dark without a nightlight. Wh-what!? Arent you afraid of someone suddenly attacking you in the night!? Birdway plainly jumped up from the bed. Fremea stretched the cats mouth and peered in at its white teeth. And in the first place I know that Santa Claus really does exist. What, how did you learn about the Nicholas Foundation!? I guess you are one of Academy Citys even if you look like that. I cant take you lightly...!! ...Um, I think theres a disconnect in what the two of you are talking about, Kamijou quietly pointed out, but it seemed that Birdway could not hear him as she trembled. And then Fremea brought down the finishing blow. And I wear a bra, so in the first place Im the winner. What are you trying to do!? Are you trying to pick a fight with me, you damn brat!?!?!? With the sound of slicing wind, Birdway pulled out a spiritual magic sword item. The cause may indeed have been the fact that the boss of the magic cabal known as the Dawn-Colored Sunlight did not wear a bra. But given the situation, Birdway was the one at a disadvantage. She puffed her chest out in desperation and spoke. H-hmph. I lead the highest ranking Golden-style magic cabal, so I do not need to show off to a brat like you. After all, youre just a brat that can only get someone stupid-looking like that Hamazura to obey you. Nyahh!! Fremea Seiveluns tension reached its maximum. Dont say bad things about Hamazura. If you say anything more, its a duel!! Ho hohhh... As she held the magic sword, Birdways eyes turned to a color filled with sadism. Eh? She wouldnt really go all-out on a civilian kid, would she? Kamijou said as he put himself on guard while looking at that person who (tentatively) held the number three spot in the super sadist world rankings, but the situation developed in an unexpected direction. You want to take me on one-on-one? Interesting. I will accept any challenge to a duel. Now, what method should we use to settle this? Fremea then stood up from the kotatsu for some reason, and slowly brought her clenched fists down on the table with her waist still raised up. Hakkeyoi[1]... What!? When Mark returned to the kotatsu with the mixed juice drink (that his superior obstinately insisted was a nonalcoholic cocktail), he for some reason saw two blonde girls in their early teens grappling. Ow!? Hey, in real sumo wrestling, grabbing hair is against the rules!! Nyahh!! In the first place, I cannot allow myself to lose here!! Gyaohhh!! Listen to what... Im saying, you damn braaaaaaaaaatttttttttt!! As Birdway yelled out, she wrapped her arms around Fremeas waist and performed a German suplex, bringing her down onto the bed. The skirts of both the one performing the technique and the one receiving it made it quite a show, but they did not seem to care. Fwa ha ha ha ha ha!! You brat, you damn brat!! Its one hundred years too early for someone who still wears a Japanese red randoseru to oppose the boss of a cabal!! Kamijou and Mark exchanged a wordless glance, and they ended up calling up Leivinia Birdways little sister who was in London. Something my sister doesnt like? I guess that would be panties with a large rabbit on them or anything spicy. The two of them added a large amount of chili sauce to the Cinderella, making it Mexican style in order to make Birdway end up writhing about on the floor. Part 3 In an apartment in District 8, Kumokawa Seria, a girl who had been wearing the uniform of the school that Kamijou Touma went to, was lying sprawled on a sofa in only her underwear. She was in an apartment rather than a dorm room. Not only was that rare, but it was also impossible without some kind of special circumstances. Even the rich girls from Tokiwadai Middle School that spent forty thousand yen on food lived in dorms. But Kumokawa submitted to her situation as if it were normal. In fact, she would not let herself be at the level of some rich girl. ...Mhh. She had gotten a little fired up when she had run into Kamijou Touma in the city earlier, but she had since cooled her head. Kumokawa had returned to her apartment and then collapsed on her sofa where she had fallen fast asleep. She could not remember when she had removed her uniform, so she had likely subconsciously been annoyed by the stiff clothing and had taken it off in her sleep. A plain electronic tone came from her mobile device. Still lying on the sofa, she groped around with her hand on top of the table, trying to grab it. However, she could only just barely touch the hard object with the tips of her fingers. She accidentally knocked it away with her own hand, and it fell to the ground. Kumokawa thought for a bit, and then turned over on the sofa. However, it seemed that the fall to the ground had hit some button or other. An old mans face was displayed on the screen, and a voice with an exasperated tone came from it. ...For now, just put on some clothes and fix your hair. Without your headband, I cant see your face. Kumokawa waved her hand around, but she was unable to grab her headband from the table either. It, too, was knocked to the ground. She made a signal with her eyes, and the entire room''s lighting switched to sleep mode. Wait, dont go to sleep. Ill mess with your mobile device and have it flash at you like a strobe light. I have tons of work I need you to do. Its all been piling up while youve been blankly sitting around like an idiot over the disappearance of that boy. ...Because of that time in lazy mode, Ive gotten rather used to it. Stick with it, Miss High School Student. You chose the path of school life, so how about you act a little more like an upperclassman? ... As if she had just been injected with energy from an outside source, Kumokawa sat up on the sofa, grabbed her headband, and swept back her bangs that were covering her face. Her forehead glittered, she moved her hands complexly, and she took a pose like she was firing a handgun. Kumokawa Seria, the Super JK Tactician bossed around by the board of directors, is here!! Ill dull the judgment of any pure boy! After nailing it all perfectly, Kumokawas shoulders drooped, and she wordlessly fell back down onto the sofa. ...I cant do it. It just feels so empty. Im not that #5, so I cant do things like that. Right now, I could sneak into a ballroom dancing class for middle-aged women and no one would notice. Just put on some clothes. While still lying on the sofa, she tried to grab the mobile device from the floor using her toes, but her big toe hit it, sending it over to a corner of the room. ...I just want to sleep for three days straight. Recall how thankful you are for your position. The brain of the board of directors is not a job you can get just by wanting it. Vwahh... As she let out that odd yawn, Kumokawa sat down on the sofa. As she could still speak through it, she seemed to have no intention of picking up the mobile device. What do you want me to do? Im the person who couldnt even save one boy from that war in Russia. At the end of that war, we could not even control things within Academy City, so dont sulk over that. At school, youre the upperclassman who can silence a crying child, right? If you are going to resume your connection with that boy, you need to stop being so lazy. That would just be overreaching, Kumokawa said halfheartedly as she grabbed an almond chocolate from a package lying on one end of the sofa. I stopped the tragedies that I could stop, but in the end, thats all it was. I could not stop the tragedies I could not stop. ...For example, I knew that twenty thousand military clones were being used up in those experiments, but in the end, I was unable to do anything about it. She bit into the crunchy piece of chocolate she had thrown into her mouth. Thats how it was last time, thats how it was this time, and thats how it will be next time. ...I was just thinking through all that again. In the end, what am I doing? What meaning is there in having influence that is only enough to realize you can only give up because you cannot stop the tragedy? So that is why you are worried about that boy who charges into the flames even though it is hopeless, who jumps straight over those desktop theories and manages to save those we could not. Kumokawa fell silent upon hearing the old mans words. With chocolates rolling in her hand, Kumokawa listened to the old mans further words. To be blunt, that problem will stick with us from here on, too. We may be one section of the board of directors, but we are also only one section. We cannot interfere with the projects wriggling in the deepest depths, and the mysteries and darkness of the world do not exist solely within Academy City. We are simply too powerless against the threats that come from outside. ... They had so much power, yet Kumokawa Seria and that old man had barely interfered with any of the incidents that boy had been involved in. The path he walked on was just so dangerous and perilous, and Kumokawa and the old man did not have enough power. Was it because they were just too smart? Or was it because they had power? Kumokawa and the old man were restricted on various fronts, so they truly could not approach the core of the incidents. Being aware of your own powerlessness is a good thing, but we do not have time to wait for some slow character growth. Are you saying that this city has as many problems as ever even though the war is over? Unfortunately, yes, the old man said to Kumokawa who was sighing in her underwear. Just as there are problems we cannot deal with, there are problems a person like that boy cannot deal with. If you want to be able to feel proud of yourself, then carry out your role. That is what it is to be an upperclassman. Part 4 After the short break, Leivinia Birdway began her lecture again. ...Now hen. She lisped slightly, most likely due to the aftereffects of the special super-spicy Cinderella on her lips. I have already explained magicians on an individual level. From here on, I will talk about groups of magicians. Are their groups something like Academy City? asked Hamazura, but Birdway shook her head. For the Roman Catholic Church, maybe, but normal magic cabals work differently from your science side. For you, a large organization hands out a special power and manages it. With a magic cabal, people who already have special powers gather, forming a giant organization. Index picked up the explanation from there. When they are related to legends and the occult, they tend to be viewed as religious organizations. Also, some religious organizations form magical organizations in secret. Thats actually something Ive been wondering about, said Kamijou. What exactly is the difference between the Christian Roman Catholic Church and a magic cabal like yours? I could say there is no difference, but some people would get rather angry if I did, Birdway finished. When talking about the structure of the organization, the difference is probably that the former has all its individuals accepting that the interests of the parent organization come first while the latter is a gathering of people who have personal objectives from the beginning. But... But? The biggest difference is whether they are accepted by the majority or not. The major religions see all other sects as evil and oppress them. Is that how it is...? The general population is not properly aware of magic, but they do know of at least the morality within the legends and occult things at its base. Its the same as how fairy tales tend to have morals in them. When those things have permeated the land, you are treated as a holy one, and when they have not, you are dealt with as one who must be eliminated. Birdway did not touch on the history of oppression like that. The inquisition and witch hunts. The Christian Church had originally managed to spread while being oppressed, but in later times, it had become the one oppressing others. Given her field of research, those things were likely coming to mind. For example, modern Western magic cabals use something like secret tricks of the Christian Church. But if half the population of the world belonged to one of those cabals, it would become the greatest denomination of the church. And it wouldnt even matter if there was a good argument against their techniques. ...In reality, that would be incredibly difficult to pull off, but theoretically, thats how it would work. Thats really all that separates an official technique from a secret trick. Of course, the current majority would never allow the possibility of a great turnaround like that to happen. As I said, these groups are usually formed from people who already have power gathering together. The wishes of the individuals take precedence over the wishes of the whole. ...You refer to them in the plural, so Im guessing theyre a group, Accelerator said, sounding annoyed. If the rules of an organization will get in the way of their personal actions, why do they gather together? From here on, Ill only be talking about practical magic cabals, Birdway said with a grin. Oftentimes, they create a group because everyone around them is doing it. If things came down to a fight, a group would be stronger than an individual. Also, the division of roles is necessary to carry out larger ceremonies and gather information, so even strongly individualist magicians gather together in one place. ...So if a magician felt no need for the division of roles and felt that it would be more efficient to carry out his goal alone no matter how large it may be, he would not join an organization? Kamijou muttered. That world did not seem real to him because he was the kind of person who just halfheartedly decided to go to school or get a job for now. He wondered if they did not feel any unease at the thought of not belonging to any group. Meanwhile, Hamazura said, So it would be best to assume they have a goal that cannot be realized without forming a group and distributing the roles, right? Yes. Birdway nodded. Usually, this kind of hostile element stays hidden. Once their location is known, they will be surrounded by the majority. In other words, the smaller their organization, the better. The fewer the people involved, the less the chance that someone will reveal that kind of information. So since they have gone out of their way to recruit members, they must have some goal that warrants the risks that brings? Thats right, Birdway responded halfheartedly. I intend to speak to you in detail about them later, but remember that if an organization is formed, there must be a reason. Within the highly secretive world of magic, information is gathered from small things like that. I want you to keep that in mind. Part 5 There were many different kinds of magicians. For example, there were the members of Necessarius, the Anglican Churchs special unit that was working to safely bring down Radiosonde Castle. But that was not all. The United Kingdom had a great number of magic cabals. Some of those worked for the country, some aimed to overthrow the country, some worked for the sake of their own leader, some worked for the benefit of all, and there were countless other types. There was one cabal reserve army that had not become a true magic cabal. By purposefully remaining at that low position, the organization managed to take action without restrictions. Lessar, a magician girl from New Light, threw open the door of one of their hideouts (which was an apartment in Edinburgh rather than some eerie cave), and shouted at Lancis who was reading through an English newspaper. Did you hear, did you hear!? That boy was confirmed to be in Academy City!! It was Bayloupe that intercepted the information from the Anglicans, right? And it seems hes with the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. That damn idiot!! Lessar roughly threw herself onto the sofa, and swung her legs around despite wearing a miniskirt. And after I seduced him so much in order to get him to join us for the sake of England!! Why did he have to go joining forces with a magic cabal that is in conflict with the Royal Family of all places!? While she yelled, Lessar grabbed at her clothes. He needs to be taught a lesson!! Thats the only way!! Giving him treats didnt work, so I have no choice but to start swinging the whip!! Lessar forcefully threw away her clothes, and an outfit of black leather became visible underneath. The outfit gave off the distinctive smell and sound of real leather, and Lessar started swinging around a riding whip. Out of exasperation, Lancis said, ...Where did you learn how to strip so fast? Since my body doesnt feel ticklish, you must not have used any magic power. That doesnt matter!! That bastard needs to know his place! Ill whip him until he awakens to a new world!! How about we check on the enemy for now? We need to know who exactly is tempting that boy. Lets see... Oh, this is the photo intercepted from the Anglicans. Lessar glanced at the photograph lying on the table. Kamijou Touma stood in the center of a number of people... but the angle was odd. The photo would have had to be taken from a position a few meters up in the air. The photo had been given to the Anglican Church by Academy City and then intercepted by Lessars comrade, so some kind of scientific technology may have been involved. However, that was not what bothered Lessar. A few notes had been added in pen, likely by the Anglicans. They said: Kuroyoru Umidori Fremea Seivelun Leivinia Birdway ... Lessar looked down at her body that was wrapped in a bondage outfit. She was short, but her chest size was not too bad. The little devil girl that was Lessar suddenly paled. ...Have that boys tastes changed? Lessar then looked over at Lanciss unfortunate chest size as the other girl continued to read the English newspaper. Lancis!! No. This is the time for your major debut, Lancis!! Cmon, put on this white Japanese school swimsuit and head to Academy City!! Who cares if its November?! If you say one more word, Im punching you. Part 6 Musujime Awaki sat at a table in a family restaurant, resting her head on her hand. She stabbed a fork into a single salad that cost over one thousand yen and was in a completely different rank from an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Another girl the same age as Musujime sat across from her with a bitter smile on her face. Thats bad manners. I cant rest my elbow on the table even when Im not using chopsticks? However, Musujime made no attempt to fix her manners. The atmosphere was a languid one lacking in tension. She felt as if she did not know how to handle it. The girl sitting in front of Musujime had been imprisoned within a secret underground area of Academy Citys juvenile hall. In order to save the other boys and girls imprisoned there, Musujime had carried out various dirty jobs as part of Academy Citys darkness. She had been a member of Group, a special organization for a select few. At the end of World War III, those bonds had suddenly disappeared. She should have been glad, but there was still a bit of unease because she did not know why it had happened or what had caused it. What should she do from now on? Was there a risk of her actions affecting the situation negatively? Are you thinking through something difficult? If it were something simple, I wouldnt need to think about it. How about you break apart the problem? suggested the girl. Most difficult things are just a complex intertwining of a lot of different things. I feel that its better to line up each of the little problems making it up one by one. ...True. It was best to resolve each thing in turn and then bring it all back together in the end. The problem was that resolving each thing one by one might take over one hundred years in her case. But... Even if Im going to be skipping some steps on the way up, it may be a good idea to at least measure the height of the staircase. Part 7 Fremea, the girl that the kotatsu had turned into a hot water bottle, woke up. Hamazura Shiage was not nearby. The only people around were some strange foreigners wearing all black, an unknown spiky-haired boy, and a nun in a white habit. Fremea continued to gather information through her unfocused eyes, but then she felt something on her forehead. As if she were a jiangshi or playing Indian poker, there was a memo stuck there. She read it, and learned that Hamazura had gone out to buy some drinks at a vending machine. Nyaohh... She let out that forlorn voice because she did not know anyone there besides Hamazura. Also, they had been continuing on for so long on some difficult subject that it was nighttime, and she was exhausted from running around the city so much, so her focus and curiosity had gone below the zero line. She was simply not in a state where she could make the fine adjustments to her heart needed to match the topic of a conversation and lessen her distance with someone she was speaking with for the first time. Fremea fell back and laid herself on the floor with her lower body still underneath the kotatsu. She saw Birdways legs passing by, and she reached out for one of them. Stop that, you damn brat! I dont have time to deal with the likes of you!! Birdway spoke arrogantly, but she was holding a handheld game console in her hand. Mark!! Theres new information on the walkthrough site. The speed of information in Academy City truly is something else. Hurry up and log in! Lets kick that lightning scrap beasts ass!! I am not young enough to still have the kinetic vision needed for video games... Niiyaa... said Fremea in a feeble voice, but Birdway and the others headed out to the balcony where they could get a better wireless signal. Fremea was caught in the vicious cycle of being tired and bored yet unable to sleep. She then reached her hand out for the next foot she saw passing by as if she were a cat reacting to a green foxtail. The foot belonged to Accelerator. ...Ahn? That situation could very well have been enough to make a back-alley delinquent wet himself, but Fremea did not properly recognize the threat level because her sleepiness was at its max and her sense of what was dangerous was below average in the first place. Nyaahh nyah nyah nyahh... she said. ...Dont look to me if you need support for your language faculty... Even then, Accelerator and his modern cane did not leave. Given that, he may have acquired a personality more decent than Birdways. ...Are you the person who saved me? Fremea said. Im not your hero, Accelerator spat out. Your hero is the bastard who risked his life and actually took the full brunt of the danger. That title shouldnt be given to someone who just helped out a little. Nii... It seemed Fremea was so tired that she was not really listening to him. Even so, you still saved me, she said sleepily. ... Funyahh... Fremea said that half in her sleep, and grabbed Accelerators leg. As he looked down at the girl sleeping in the kotatsu, Accelerator thought. (I have no interest in being a villain, and I dont think that I can become a good person. Im at a halfway point where Im not even sure which path I should walk down... but I guess even there, I can still interfere in someones life and help bring things to a positive conclusion...) Part 8 And on a road in Academy City at night, Last Order, a girl who looked about ten, cried out. Gyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!! Misakas position was taken!! says Misaka as Misaka trembles due to an unexplainable sixth sense!! And upon receiving massive interference from the Misaka Network, Misaka Worst let out a meaningless cry next to the small girl. Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!! Misaka doesnt care about him, so why!? Part 9 After each of their breaks were over, Birdways explanation time began again. Ive more or less finished explaining magic cabals and other groups of magicians, but there is one other major thing I need to explain before talking about them. ...Theres more? complained Hamazura who was bad at listening to things like a principals speech. Birdway ignored him. Before we talk about them, we have to talk about the details of what produced them. The foundation they came from is a real pain. The foundation? asked Accelerator. Birdway waved a small finger at him. Yes, but I have no intention of giving a long lecture on the myths and legends. ...Well, you could say it was a folklore-class emergency, but at the very least, you should be more familiar with it than occult legends. This roundabout means of explaining things isnt helping. Just get to the point. I am talking about World War III, Birdway said simply. Kamijou Touma, Accelerator, and Hamazura Shiages movements stiffened a bit. They had all taken part in a deep portion of that war. ...That war was not just a clash between two nations using scientific technology. A conflict in a larger frame existed at the deepest portion of that war, Birdway explained. In other words, it was magic vs. science. Accelerator frowned upon hearing that. So they are related to the other side that started that war? ...Yes. Birdway grinned. During World War III, they rose to the surface. As such, I first need to explain what kind of war World War III truly was and what was going on at the deepest, darkest depths of the war, dont I? Part 10 It apparently was going to be a long story, so they would need drinks and snacks on hand. The three of them headed to either the rooms kitchen space or a nearby convenience store. During that time, Kamijou opened the door to the unit bathroom and went inside. However, he was not planning on taking a shower. He was holding a sandwich and a bottle of water that he had bought at the convenience store. That area was not suited for eating, but he was not planning on eating the food. There was a girl inside. ...So youll even politely give me food. She was Kuroyoru Umidori. The girl of about twelve was one of the Freshmen from Academy Citys dark side. Her arms and legs were restrained. No special devices or ropes were used. Kuroyoru had already been wearing a punk outfit with plenty of leather and studs. Due to the strings weaved around her arms and legs, her outfit could be made to function as a straightjacket with a bit of modification to how the strings were tied. She used a power called Bomber Lance that allowed her to produce nitrogen spears from her palms, but her arms were crossed to prevent her from doing so. If she produced a spear, she would only be injuring her own upper body. Kamijou said, No, I dont think Im the only one thats worried about you. Theyre finding it hard to face you because you just had a fight, is all. What had actually occurred was well beyond the level of a mere fight, but Kamijou had no way of knowing that since he had shown up partway through. Kuroyoru smiled cynically while restrained. ...I am a cyborg. My insides havent been messed with too much, but I can still manipulate the signals within my body to bring about a state of suspended animation on a cellular level. I can mess with my metabolism, so I can go without water for an entire week. If it involves messing with your metabolism, then that means you cant just go without eating. Tch, Kuroyoru clicked her tongue. Listen up, you na?ve bastard. Im one of the Freshmen, the new darkness of this city. Im the kind of person that targeted Fremea Seiveluns life just to form a line between Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage and then kill them. Id prefer you being a little more nervous about being near me. I see... Kamijou muttered. That was the first he had heard of that general situation, so he took control of his feelings once more. And then... But thats no reason to get in a fight with me, right? ... For an instant, Kuroyoru felt he was right, but then she frantically shook her head. No, no, no!! Youre the one that truly got in the way at the end!! You delivered the final blow! You directly affected the outcome, so youre a clear enemy!! Youre the kind of person I should have a grudge against!! You have guts to show up before me. Didnt you think I might just chop you to pieces!? How? ...In the darkness I live in, there is a term called cyborg therapy, said Kuroyoru with a smile. Whether its victory over an illness, the raising of ones physical abilities, or a correction of ones personal appearance, the people who wish to be cyborgs have a defect or perceived inferiority in mind. Of course, those with any shame are not going to write whatever it is down on their order form, but you can still peer into the depths of that person by seeing what it is theyre trying to get across in a roundabout way. ? For me, it was my arms. I only have two, and my power can only be emitted from my palms. I knew that having more points to emit it from would be better, so I branded myself with the stigma of having only two arms. Kuroyoru Umidori shook her restrained body as she spoke. As such, even though I am a cyborg, I did not have my entire body altered. What was done to me was centered on my arms, the shoulder blades that support them, and the connectors in various places on my upper body. My lower body is relatively untouched; after all, there was no reason to do anything to it. Kamijou heard an odd noise. It was an oddly hard and metallic noise for something that was coming from a human body. Do you still not fucking understand? Her tone of voice changed. If my arms are in the damn way because theyre restrained, then I can just remove them!! With another metallic noise, Kuroyorus left arm came undone at the shoulder. This was not just the shoulder being dislocated. The entire left arm came off like a dolls arm. She swung around the left arm like nunchuks while it was held together by the long glove. Kuroyoru Umidori then turned her now-freed right arm towards the center of Kamijous face. She was using Bomber Lance. She had said that she had a reason to turn that power on him, but she was also the kind of person that would not hesitate to do so even without a reason. After all... Youre taking villains too fucking lightly!! With an explosive noise, a spear made of nitrogen shot out. That spear held destructive power that could pierce straight through composite armor, much less a human skull. And Kamijous reaction to that impending death was... Yes, yes, and heres Imagine Breaker. W-what!? Kuroyoru stared in astonishment as her very identity was blown away with a light wave of his right hand. Meanwhile, Kamijou could not exactly turn a blind eye to what had happened. ...So just tying you up isnt enough. Hmm... But you could be in danger if I cant prove that you cant resist. Wait, wait!! Dont just move the hell on!! Come to think of it, you were the one that did something to prevent me from killing Fremea, too, werent you!? Oh, I know. If you can freely take them off as a cyborg, I can just take off the other one. If you have no hands, you cant use your power. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait- Ow!? You idiot! They dont just pop off like that!! How many damn locks do you think there are!? And even as a member of the darkness, confining a twelve-year-old kid in the bathroom and removing both her arms seems really fucking twisted to me!! ...Hey, the left arm isnt going back on. Im not some old TV! You cant fix it in an analog way like that!! Ahh, stop grinding it in there! If you hit the connecter wrong, it sends noise through the nerves for pain!! Dammit, gimme that!! Kuroyoru grabbed her left arm back from Kamijou, and reconnected it using a special process. Everything related to the connector was completely artificial, so there was no blood. Due to this, it didnt feel real to Kamijou and he looked her over interestedly. Being a cyborg sure seems convenient... Do you know what the lifespan of precision equipment is? Think of a computer. If you have it at full operation 24/7, youll be lucky if it lasts three years. Do you really want a body that requires surgery that often? But Kamijou was not really listening to what she was saying. He ripped open the plastic wrapping around the sandwich. But as a cyborg, you can have gills like a fish added on and live underwater, right? Not just swim, but live there. There would literally be a wider world you could live in. ...The issues of your cells osmotic pressure and a lot of other minute things would have to be dealt with, so youd probably have to thoroughly change your body for that. Or you could put cat ears on your head to gather auditory information from a wider range. When she heard that, Kuroyorus movements froze. Immediately afterwards, she quickly backed up from him while still restrained. S-stop! What the hell are you imagining!? ? Im from the darkness!! Im one of the Freshmen who have begun to hunt down the Graduates!! Dont be stupid! That isnt foreshadowing!! There isnt going to be some strange development where it turns out that I always wear my hood in order to hide cat ears!! Accelerator heard the commotion coming from the unit bathroom, and (in an exceedingly rare move for him) silently paled. There was a certain common point between all villains and those in the darkness. That was the fact that having their cool atmosphere ruined would end everything. No matter how much of a villain someone was, if they were handed an apron and thrown into a kindergarten, they would have no choice but to look after the children. Normally, the villain would protect their own world by using violence to eliminate those who would ruin that atmosphere of theirs, but that Level 0 had a strange right hand. It was frightening to think of what would happen if one could not eliminate those that would ruin that atmosphere. Kuroyoru Umidori had been implanted with the especially attack-oriented part of Accelerators thoughts, so she was similar to a version of him that had headed down a different path. If he failed, he would end up like that. Accelerator had already deviated from villainy and darkness, but he swore in his heart that he would work to avoid being wrapped up in that kind of situation. Between the Lines 2 She was not part of the blue Earth visible beyond the window. In complete weightlessness, Kanzaki Kaoris black ponytail waved unnaturally, and she spoke into a spiritual communication item. As she was using that rather than a radio, she had to be speaking with someone magical rather than someone scientific like the people from the submarine or the rocket control center. She had relied on the power of science for the launch. However, the rest would fall under the realm of magic. I have finished connecting the designated spiritual item. Can you monitor things from there? W-we can detect the signal. It does not seem that you made any mistake in the connection, responded a girl known as Itsuwa. There are sure to be some differences when using magic developed to be used on Earth. After all, they include the use of the cardinal directions and Earth''s condition. Ill be careful here, but it should be easier for you to carefully monitor the subtle changes in the values. I would appreciate it if you would stay alert. We are constantly checking on the changes, including the effects of other heavenly bodies. Currently, nothing is outside the acceptable margin of error, including the power related to the tattva that flows from the sun and alters in elements by rotating around the Earth. As long as there isnt a sudden flare causing a massive amount of solar wind, we estimate that there will be no errors that would hinder the mission. Of course, the science side had given them the records of solar wind and sunspots. With the communications line still open, Kanzaki headed for the hatch of the spaceship. Instead of walking, she kicked off the wall and floated there. Whenever she moved her body even slightly, a metallic clanking noise could be heard. Due to the lack of gravity, she could not feel its weight, but Kanzaki was wearing something like the breastplate from Japanese-style armor. She also had some kind of jumbled-up device on her back that looked like a bunch of metal parts folded up. If she were walking on Earth''s surface, all of it would have weighed her down quite a bit. As a Saint, she may have managed, but an average athlete would have been crushed. However, if someone who specialized in researching space saw it, they may have frantically tried to stop Kanzaki. They would have said that heading outside with such light equipment was suicide. It was not just an issue of breathing. Before one would suffocate, they would have to avoid quickly dying due to the issues with the pressure and temperature. Equipment check is complete. I am about to open the hatch and head out. There is still oxygen in the ship, but that does not matter, right? There is a danger that the difference in pressure will damage some of the equipment in the ship, but it shouldnt be a problem as that is just a disposable ship. But all of the air will move to leave the ship when you open the hatch, so be careful. ...If the spiritual item could be damaged by something like that, it would not be able to head out there or reenter the atmosphere. Kanzaki grabbed the hatchs handle with one hand. If you leave it be, it seems the spaceship will reenter the atmosphere in half an hour and it will naturally burn up in reentry. The report said the reentry angle is set to annihilate the ship, so you dont have to worry about it. Understood. Im going. 1000. Starting now. Good luck. After hearing that voice, Kanzaki unhesitatingly spun the handle. After making three revolutions, a slight gap opened between the hatch and the wall. Immediately afterwards, the hatch itself was blown out into the pitch-black void. That propulsion was created by the remaining oxygen in the ship. The gas flowed in the direction with the least pressure. But Kanzaki did not lose her balance. The strangely shaped breastplate she was wearing automatically maintained her balance. (...In Japanese legend, stories about the heads of oni or nobles with a grudge flying through the air are not exactly rare.) Kanzaki thought while slowly heading outside. (There are also stories of swords that could pursue that kind of malignance. Well, those are just a few of the many stories of weapons that automatically fight, such as the ones from Norse or Celtic traditions.) She turned around, and could see the entirety of the spaceship she had been on. It was almost cone-shaped. The ship was more lead-colored than silver, and its basics were probably not too much different from those of a Cold War-era spaceship. However, the technology inside had been majorly changed. The cone-shaped ship reflected a dazzling light. It was being bathed in the sunlight. Both the visible light and the invisible cosmic rays did not lose much energy there when compared to the surface surrounded in an atmosphere, so they could travel much farther. The area directly bathing in the sunlight had to have a surface temperature of nearly four hundred degrees. But there was no hint of pain on Kanzakis face. If she was not protected from that kind of thing, she would not have even been alive. Kanzaki was calm enough to appreciate the oddly near and clear moon and the sea of stars that could not be seen due to the atmosphere and the light sources on Earth. Are you having any problems? Not currently. Its just that this is my first extra-vehicular activity. I have a few backups set up in case of any unexpected situations, but please monitor my situation closely. As she spoke, Kanzaki looked down at her feet. There was no sense of up or down there, but her stance was that of one looking down. ...I can see the target. There were white clouds robbing the Earth of its blueness, but there was a giant cross-shaped structure that looked as if it were pushing aside those clouds. Due to its altitude, it was not affected by the atmosphere as much. As such, it seemed to have clearer borders than those of the great landmasses on the surface. Kanzaki split off a bit of the magic power flowing through her entire body, and sent new magic power through the breastplate. She checked on the circulation, and then a change occurred in the breastplate. The metal parts that were folded up on her back opened wide. It looked like steel angel wings and also like a Japanese sword in the way it displayed beauty in the slight curves amidst the sharpness. I am beginning my descent. I will be monitoring your angle of reentry. As long as I can safely make it into the atmosphere, I will be able to land on Radiosonde Castle, Kanzaki said as she slowly moved toward her home planet. Her speed slowly but surely increased. After all, it would be hard to miss a target that huge. Notes 1. A sumo wrestling term. Volume 2, 3: Accepted One, but There Is Unrest. Lecture_Three. Volume 2, Chapter 3: Accepted One, but There Is Unrest. Lecture_Three. Part 1 Christianity, the largest religious organization in the world, is divided between the old and new forms of Catholicism and Protestantism. And Catholicism is made up of three giant organizations, said Leivinia Birdway. Namely, the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Even if they did not know much about the occult, the names of those churches were in their textbooks. Those organizations were known worldwide at that level. There has been friction between them in various forms for some time, but the trigger was directly pulled by a conflict concerning a Roman Catholic nun named Orsola Aquinas. The cat was cat-punching Fremea who was sitting on Hamazuras lap, but the blonde girl was too deep in sleep to respond. This Orsola had supposedly deciphered the unparalleled magician Crowleys grimoire, so the Roman Catholic Church acted to assassinate her in order to preserve their ruling position. The Anglican Church interfered and dealt with the problem by getting help from Academy City in secret. ...Doing so clearly put them in an opposing position. Not even Birdway who was explaining it knew the meaning behind being able to read that grimoire, but at the same time, she had no real desire to find out. She knew all too well just how much a human mind would be contaminated by a grimoire related to Crowley and just how tragic an end a magician that read one would meet. Afterwards, the Roman Catholic Church attacked Academy City a few times, but they were stopped each time by an idiot with a special right hand. Well, each of those events still fanned the flames that led to war though. Hearing it all explained in sequence like that made Kamijou realize again just how precarious the path he had walked was. If he had failed during any one of those events, a great number of lives would have been lost. However, he could not help but feel resentment toward himself over the fact that those incidents had eventually led to that war. At that time, the Roman Catholic Church felt that they were at a disadvantage, so they started negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church. They managed to bring the negotiations to their favor by using the fear that Academy City and the science side would hold the balance of the world. And it became necessary for the Roman Catholic Church to bring the secret treasure hidden amongst them out to the center stage. Birdway then spoke the name of the ones who controlled an entire age behind the scenes. ...Gods Right Seat. The true dark side of the Roman Catholic Church that has two billion believers. The term true dark side brought silence to that small room. The science side and the magic side were structured differently, but were Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage able to imagine what the nature of that darkness was? It may have been because the topic was the large war that involved both science and magic, because her 103,000 grimoires had no knowledge of Gods Right Seat, or because her consciousness had been taken over during the course of that conflict, but Index did not open her mouth to speak. Instead, Birdway continued. You most likely understand a portion of the situations they caused. There was the strange incident where most of Academy Citys residents fainted on September 30. There was the crisis caused by rioting all over the world that was resolved in the end by turning the French city of Avignon into a sea of flames. And there was the incident where devastating damage was done to Academy Citys largest underground district, District 22. ...All of those were a portion of the clash between Gods Right Seat and that Imagine Breaker. A few of them may have had some kind of ripple effect into your scientific darkness, causing some kind of incident. (September 30 and District 22...?) Hamazura frowned as he compared that to the information he had seen on the news. (0930 and Avignon...?) A slight tension ran through Accelerator based on his experience in the darkness. They had been affected by those great events that had shaken the world and in some cases had helped bring them to a resolution. But all of those events that could be referred to as the ripples created by a large explosion had advanced without them knowing. They learned anew just how deep and dark the area they were about to step into was. Gods Right Seat... Hamazura muttered. Who the hell are they? I called them the true dark side of the Roman Catholic Church, but they are not the same kind of darkness as soldiers like you. In fact, they are the kind of darkness that controls soldiers like that in secret. So theyre like the board of directors? They also enjoy using themselves as test subjects, so I get the feeling that theyre a bit different from the higher ups of this city. As Fremea was asleep and was not reacting, the cat got up on the kotatsu and headed over towards Birdway. But she grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck, and tossed it towards Kamijou, its owner. Simply put, Gods Right Seat is a group that tried to gain power on the same level as or an even higher level than the one and only God. Basically, in the Christian Church, you are stuck with your original sin until you die and undergo the final judgement, but there are precedents of exceptions, such as the Virgin Mary, where people had their original sin washed away while they were still alive. Achieving that by artificial means is the easy-to-understand goal of modern Western magic. A goal. Did Academy City of the science side that stood opposite the magic side have a goal like that? While hearing about that other world, Accelerators thoughts also remained on the world closer to him. For Gods Right Seat, the Roman Catholic Church with its two billion believers was a convenient place for their research and remodeling. However, the Anglican Church, Academy City... and the idiot with the right hand binding the two organizations together were getting in their way by shaking the Roman Catholic Church which was their foundation. Gods Right Seat caused a few incidents on a level that had an effect on the world before the war, but those were all either aimed at Academy City and the science side or were specifically targeting Imagine Breaker. Those words made them shudder. The reason that Gods Right Seat sent out their soldiers was different from some clash between nations. Whether it was a nation or an individual, they would send out the same overwhelming force against it as long as it opposed their objective. So are you saying that the truth behind World War III was this Gods Right Seat bringing the fight to Academy City and England in order to maintain their rule? No, Birdway immediately replied to Hamazuras question. That war was removed from the wishes of Gods Right Seat as a whole. ? While the plans of Gods Right Seat as a whole were arrogant, they were still just using secret tricks within the rules of Christianity. Simply put, they took various actions within the framework of Christianity. Its possible that the members of Gods Right Seat considered themselves pious Christians. Birdway sounded as if she were somehow enjoying herself. Perhaps it was because investigating the special mentality of those at the top of organizations like that was her specialty. But there was one member of Gods Right Seat who was too extremist, Birdway said as she watched the cat curl up on Kamijous lap. His ideas went beyond the rules of Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church did not originally want to start such a large-scale war. With two billion believers spread out across the world, a global war could easily lead to them destroying their own land. ...Yet this person gave his own objective priority and caused that major war for reasons separate from the objectives of the Roman Catholic Church or Gods Right Seat. That was the source of it all. Gods Right Seat was twisted enough as it was, but they had been unable to stop that one person who was too much of an extremist even for them. Fiamma of the Right, Birdway said, speaking his name. He was a man who possessed another right arm, one different from that idiots. Part 2 Itsuwa of the Amakusa Church was a maiden in love. As such, even though Radiosonde Castle was floating at a great altitude and could cause damage on the scale of wiping out humanity at any moment, the knowledge of that boys survival had a large effect on her mental state. Itsuwa was analyzing various pieces of data in the main hall of St. Georges Cathedral, but her efficiency had dropped below half of normal. She was in a very good mood. She could not focus on anything. The information being created within her body vastly overshadowed the information that was entering from outside her body. So many opinions, thoughts, and ideas were bewilderingly flying back and forth in her head that she could not organize it all. To put it simply, she was really losing her cool. A tall man named Tatemiya Saiji who was the former vicar of the Amakusa Church could not ignore how she was acting, so he took action. He lightly tossed a bamboo sword towards Itsuwa. She timidly caught the bamboo sword with both hands. ? Ill help you optimize your thoughts using a fairly old method. I doubt youve had many opportunities to use one of these since we came to London. How about you try to come at me? said Tatemiya with another bamboo sword resting on his shoulder. O-oh, but my proper weapon is a spear... Itsuwa said in a quiet and hesitant voice as she held the bamboo sword forward with both hands. Her stance alone was enough to stiffen the atmosphere of the area, so she had to be fairly skilled. And then two blonde nuns who knew nothing of the Japanese spirit started pointing and whispering excitedly. L-look, Sister Lucia! I think a Japanese samurai battle is starting!! A nun should not be cheering on a fight, Sister Angelene. I bet theyre going to do a Shinken Shirahadori! Thats where they go like this and catch it between their hands!! said Angelene as she clapped her hands together above her head. Hearing the girl getting excited, an odd sweat started coming from Tatemiyas face. The Amakusa Church had evolved independently while matching the culture of Japan, so they of course knew all sorts of Eastern spells... but their techniques were specialized for real battles. He knew nothing of techniques like the Shinken Shirahadori that would definitely prove one to be a true master if they could pull them off, but they did not seem like techniques where proper situations would come up much. However, he could not betray those pure and sparkling eyes. Itsuwa whispered, (U-umm, what are we, uhh, going to do?) (...We have no choice.) Tatemiya tossed his bamboo sword aside, making him truly unarmed. He then stared straight at Itsuwa and shouted out, Come, Itsuwa!! Lets show them an authentic bushido Shirahadori! Ehh!? Youre seriously going to do it!? This may be a bamboo sword, but youre not wearing any protection!! Likely due to Itsuwas loud voice, more nuns that had not shown interest up to that point started to gather around, wondering what was going on. Before long, the large room was filled with a few hundred people. Kouyagi and Ushibuka who were also from the Amakusa Church joined in the crowd, grinning. Itsuwa could no longer back down, and her shoulders lowered. I-Ill be going. How about on the count of three? I dont need any signal like that! Just come at me!! Th-three, two, one... *Whap!!!!!* The sound of Itsuwas bamboo sword sinking into Tatemiyas head resounded throughout the cathedral. Everyones movements stopped. Itsuwa, the one who had gotten that clean hit in, stood speechless, her mouth opening and closing. Tatemiya had his hands awkwardly stopped above his head, making it clear to everyone there that he had not been able to react to the bamboo sword in time. (I-I have to follow through for him...) Due to the Japanese concept of living in disgrace, the refined Yamato Nadeshiko that was Itsuwa immediately had her thoughts turn to the gentlemen standing before her. (If I dont, the former vicar will turn to pure-white ash!!) Th-that was just a practice run, right!? It doesnt count!! But Tatemiya merely wordlessly moved his lips to say, Y-you idiot. That means we have to try it at least once more now, doesnt it!? However, what had been said could not be unsaid. The second attempt began. *Whap!!!!!* The result Tatemiya Saiji was met with did not even need to be explained. The former vicar seemed to be floating in the air due to his bowed legs and his weak knees, so it truly looked like he was going to turn to ash and be blown away by the wind that time. (I-I-I have to do something!!) Itsuwa had now lost her cool in multiple ways. I-its because this is a bamboo sword, isnt it!? This weighs nothing like a real sword used in battle. Its just so light that you cant get your timing right!! (...I-idiot. Itsuwa, you idiot!!) Just as Tatemiya was about to give some kind of rebuttal, his fellow Amakusa member, Kouyagi, spoke up. Then how about you use this imitation sword? Its made of forged steel, so its weight should be the same as a real Japanese sword. ...And it makes up for its lack of a blade by being tougher than a real one. K-K-K-K-K-K-K-K-Kouyagi!! I know youre doing this on purpose!! *Thud!!!!* The sound of something very serious happening to a skull resounded. Tatemiya Saiji gave up all pretense of shame or reputation and writhed about while clutching his head. Itsuwas inability to properly follow through had brought her confusion to its maximum. Ah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah wah!! she exclaimed while frantically spinning her head around at high speed. An imitation sword isnt good enough!! No one uses one of these in a real battle! It has to be a real sword! With a true Japanese sword, he could catch it every time, but theres nothing like that here in the cathedral, so nothing can be done about it! Oh, but there is one. Here, use this Bateren[1]-Dedicated Kanemitsu Toushou. Tsushima, an Amakusa woman with fluffy blonde hair, handed something to Itsuwa with the best possible timing. Itsuwa trembled and looked over at Tatemiya Saiji. In the girls hands was a first-rate sword that had never shown up on the center stage of history. It was a Japanese sword created to be used for Western magic. It was also known as the Book Slicer, a name based on a legend of slicing a bound book of around one thousand pieces of Japanese paper in a single swing. And it could do that purely with the sharpness of its edge. Simply put, one thousand pieces of paper was at a level where not even a magnum bullet could pierce it. Also, adding magic power into it would activate its functions as a spiritual item while increasing its destructive power even further. What would happen if that was done? Ohh! It looks like itll be the real thing this time! This time hell catch it!! said one of the nuns, her eyes sparkling. Upon hearing that, Tatemiya quietly said, (...I-I think weve taken this far enough. Weve gone more than far enough to get an award for our efforts, so relax your arms there, Itsuwa...) No. Itsuwa slid the sword from its scabbard, and seemed to be preparing herself. I cant let any more shame be brought to you, Tatemiya-san. After spreading so much shame on you, it is my duty to at least decorate you with the perfect beauty. It is all fine as long as it ends on a high note. Th-this has gone well past the level of shame!! If I take that head-on, I could easily become a teaching aid for an anatomy class! If you insist on doing it, at least swing it a little softer and slower, so I caAh!? Wait, is this one of those times where someone who feels cornered has an awakening to an ability beyond what they normally have!? O-okay, I need to grasp the talent hidden within me and do my best to become the new protagonist!! The fearsome sound of that excellent sword slicing through the air resounded. What fate would that blade bring as it swung down? Find out next time!! Part 3 Accelerator stepped out onto the dorms balcony. Just as Leivinia Birdway had mentioned the name Fiamma of the Right, her cell phone had started to ring. Apparently, it was from her little sister Patricia, so explanation time had been temporarily suspended. He looked beyond the railing. The sun had completely set, bringing the city to total darkness. The scenery was well-suited to his original nature. He turned around and leaned his back up against the railing while drinking a mass-produced can of coffee. He was getting sick of just how wide the world was. Academy City was not all there was to the world. That city did not control all of the mysterious happenings in the world. He had vaguely sensed that during the war, but he had never thought it was to that extent. It was just one piece. The fact that all those fights and all those deaths had been far from the true center of it all had stolen much more strength from Accelerators core than he had expected. He then heard a familiar voice. It was not coming from within the room. It was coming from the other side of the fireproof panel that divided that balcony from the neighboring room''s. Hey. Are you feeling depressed because youve run across something even more stagnant just when you thought Academy Citys darkness had been dismantled? Tsuchimikado... Accelerator said, sounding annoyed. Just like Accelerator, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had once belonged to Group, a unit for the select few. What the hell are you doing here? You shouldve done your research before entering that room. I live next door. Tch. Well, Ive got a lot of free time now that Group is gone. Youre the one that caused it, so at least make up for it by keeping me company for now. Accelerator fell silent. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak. How much do you know about the Freshmen? Enough. I expected someone like them to show up. Tsuchimikado leaned on the railing while smiling. How did he see the situation? Did he feel that he had escaped from the darkness? Or did he feel that he had been robbed of it? ...Unabara and Musujime are probably thankful, although they wont say it. Theyre probably rather bewildered right now, but thats how theyll end up once they figure out how they actually feel about the situation. Although Im not sure if theyll just be able to leave alone the problems left dangling such as Aiwass and Dragon. Talking about those who arent here wont help anything, Accelerator spat out. ...What about you? Well, Tsuchimikados smile receded just a bit. To be honest, its not really an issue of good or bad for me. ... Even with Academy Citys darkness dismantled, I still have things left to do. After all, Im not just a spy for the science side. Im deeply related to the darkness of the territory you have just stepped one foot into, so Ill continue on the same as before. But Ill make sure to not sink as low as the Freshmen, said Tsuchimikado. Whether it had any real effect or not, Im thankful that you tried to help out me and the others around us. Accelerator clicked his tongue. Tsuchimikado smiled at that. I wont stop you from washing your feet of that darkness, but you need to establish your own stance. Transcending good and evil is not an excuse for becoming some indecisive bastard who doesnt choose either. Its a much more difficult path than simply relying on something easy to understand like good or evil. Suddenly, Accelerator heard clamoring footsteps on the pathway towards the front of the dorm. Someone ignored the shouts to stop coming from the men wearing all black, and the front door was blown open. Is this the scene of the crime, you thieving cat!? says Misaka as Misaka charges in!! Honey!! This Misaka came to swing a glass ashtray down on you during the infidelity investigation!! Just as those noisy shouts came flying their way, Tsuchimikado silently straightened up from the railing beyond the fireproof panel and retreated into his room. What the hell are those damn brats doing here...? Accelerator muttered in annoyance as Misaka Worst approached him with a small brand-name paper bag hanging down from her left hand which was not in a cast. Heeeyyyy!! Misaka attacked a few Freshmen strongholds and found some fun optional parts! Lets have some fun remodeling that cool narcissistic girl with these cat ears and cat paw gloves!! Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Misaka Worst looked pleased at hearing a scream coming from the unit bathroom, but then she saw the rooms owner, Kamijou Touma. With a puzzled look on her face, she hid behind Accelerators back. What the hell are you doing? Misaka has a feeling that guy is dangerous... she whispered. He seems like he would freely act for the sake of all Misakas, but that kind of action is like denying the value of this Misaka units existence, as she is a collection of the malice within the network... Meanwhile, Fremea and Birdway inside the room were looking at Last Order with suspicion. When she noticed the two of them getting excessively close to her... ''So one of you is the enemy!!'' says Misaka as Misaka gets desperate in order to secure her position!! God damn, theyre annoying... Accelerator muttered. Part 4 Tsuchimikado Motoharus younger sister, Tsuchimikado Maika, sat formally atop a drum-shaped cleaning robot. It was nighttime and well past the time to be home from school as she headed smoothly down a walkway in Academy City. A girl called out to Maika. Heyyy, Maika. Oh, what is it, Kumokawa? While still seated formally atop it, Maika banged on the cleaning robot with her palm in order to cause a slight error, bringing it to a stop. While she held complete control over that cleaning robot, a girl wearing a maid uniform stood next to her. She was Kumokawa Maria, a classmate with a moderate chest size and long black hair in ringlet curls. But... ...Your maid uniform is as shady-looking as ever. That kind should be left to the cafes in an electronics district. I have a different goal, said the girl as she played with the black ringlet curls in her hair. She was wearing a miniskirt, a fluorescently colored corset, and a nameplate in the shape of a rabbit attached to her skirt, but she actually had some of the best grades at Ryouran Maid School. Unlike you, my goal is not to provide support for others. Youve told me that countless times already. Luckily, I have what they call talent. And that holds true for Academy Citys esper development as well as for school and sports. ...But then I hardly ever get into any real predicaments. Continuing on without taking any real damage is fine, but Ill be in trouble if I have no immunity to that kind of thing once I finally do end up in a truly bad predicament. Thats why I need my pride to be damaged to a level where it will not break. Like serving those who are clearly inferior to me. Yes, yes, Ive heard that already. Burp. ...Whats with you? And I was just getting to the good part. Kumokawa had a displeased look on her face. But that was some excellent seasoning. I just had my pride damaged. That means my strength will rise again! How wonderful!! Ugh, classmates who get all worked up on their own are such a pain. More importantly, Tsuchimikado... What, Kumokawa? You seemed overly excited before I called out to you. Did something happen? I was utterly astonished because I saw a guy who I thought was dead suddenly appear before me. A suspenseful development!? Hmm, but if I interfere too splendidly, I will end up swelling up my pride right after managing to get it damaged... My talent can be such a problem. Sorry, but this person is my friend, you damn misunderstanding girl. I see... I see!! Today is a day of strengthening concentrated on my pride!! Will I be able to handle all this good luck...!? Shes not a sore loser, but she manages to be even more annoying, muttered Maika in annoyance. Her transcendent genius of a classmate, Kumokawa Maria, was once again taking applications for an incompetent and stupid master. Part 5 The world could be divided into a few different groups. Depending on the basis one used to divide things up, the coloration of the world map would change, but the following was one of the possible divisions. There was the magic side which was an aggregation of the occult, mysterious, and miraculous things that had affected the world in various ways since ancient times. There was the science side which had existed since ancient times but had only started to have its presence known in recent times when it began rapidly repainting the common knowledge of the world. And there was a third side that was greatly affected by the other two but was not strongly aware of their existences. That was the normal side. Until very recently, it could have been described as peaceful or quiet, but that had become more difficult due to World War III. But while that war had left many scars behind, normal people had a strength that let them return to normal lives. My husband is away from home for his job, and my daughter is living in a dorm. I dont like how empty the house seems, but it is nice not having to worry about when theyll be getting back, said a woman named Misaka Misuzu. She was a wife and a mother of one child, but she was also a college student. After acquiring the abilities and rhythm required to function as a housewife, Misuzu had breached the exam barrier and headed back to the life of a student. It was a November night, but the indoor pool of the fitness club was kept at a nice temperature. Another woman was immersed in the water next to her. My husband has so many trips that it seems like he never actually settles down in the house, and that''s kind of scary. She was Kamijou Shiina. By coincidence, she was also the mother of a single child and the wife of a husband who was away for his job. Incidentally, their children were in Academy City giving off sparks. Their husbands were not from the shounen manga-like science side or magic side. Instead, they were from a different kind of other side, like something from a business magazine where they took part in a money game where they did not know who the other was. However, the wives who looked younger than their actual ages had nothing to do with that. What was important for them was to float in the water and carry out their anti-aging aerobic exercises. Misuzu glanced down at the wristband-shaped equipment she had borrowed from the fitness club to see if she had reached her target level of exercise. But why did you all of a sudden come here today? You hadnt been coming for a while now... Yes, yes. Well, I was worried about something or rather... (Really, Touma-san suddenly went missing, and then I saw him at the edge of a report from Russia. And then when I asked Academy City about it, they wouldnt give me a straight answer.) ...and so I didnt really have the energy to spare for any hobbies. Part of what she had said had been spoken quietly and quickly, so Misuzu had been unable to catch it, but she just put on a very Japanese vague smile in response. Meanwhile, some kind of switch seemed to have gotten flipped within Shiina, and she continued to speak to herself. (And then today, Academy City suddenly contacts me to tell me hes returned. And when I called them again to check on the situation, they wouldnt tell me anything at all. Really, what is going on? This is because of Touya-sans blood in his veins, isnt it? Heh heh heh. Oh, dear. I think I might end up throwing a Blu-ray player at Touma-san as well. Heh heh heh heh heh.) Misuzu saw a frightening shadow start to appear behind that smiling figure, and she backed away. There were fathers and children who had been thrust into the center of a fight that would decide the fate of the world without anyone knowing, but the completely normal people who held those people''s reins may have been a hidden element that could easily influence the history of mankind. Part 6 Fiamma of the Right. After a short break, Birdway started speaking again. After everyone was focused on her again, she continued. He was the leader of Gods Right Seat, the true dark side of the Roman Catholic Church, but he was a heretic. Unlike the other members, he alone did not take actions within the category of Christianity. Kamijous expression stiffened slightly. But there was something other than pure hostility in that expression. However, his strength was real. In the beginning, he had various restrictions in place, but he managed to rid himself of them during the confusion of the coup detat in England. After that, almost no one could stand up to him. Many different forces played a part in World War III such as Academy City, the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church, but Fiamma of the Right held such power that he could easily be added to that list. It was not an issue of nation vs. nation. Those groups were alliances of multiple nations. And Fiamma of the Rights name could be added alongside them. Kamijou Touma recalled just how terrifying he had been. Accelerator, the #1, imagined just how terrifying he must have been. Hamazura Shiage, a mere thug, was not even able to imagine how terrifying he must have been. Basically, if Fiamma of the Right had been able to release 100% of the special power stored within his body, the world would have ended. That was why he controlled the Roman Catholic Church that feared him, joined forces with the Russian Orthodox Church, and fought Academy City and the Anglican Church... It was all for the sake of preparing the conditions needed to release the power that resided in his right arm. That is the truth behind World War III. A war that was brought about for the sake of a single right arm. Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage fell silent while staring into the world of magic and seeing a massive supernatural power that was hidden behind a global war. What was this Fiamma bastard trying to do? Hamazura finally asked. That is quite simple, Birdway responded bluntly. That war had been nothing more than one of the pieces he was using. Birdway readily explained what was in the mind of the despot who had seen it that way. He wanted to correct the inequalities in the world. He wanted to stop a tragedy that had occurred due to multiple coincidences that each had such low odds of happening that they could easily be called miracles. He wanted to bring peace to the world. He wanted to make everyone happy. ...His ideas themselves were not too unusual. What do those things have to do with that war at all? Hes the one that started it, right? For Fiamma, all that mattered was the completion of his right arm. He truly believed that it had enough power to save the entire world because, in a certain way, it truly was possible. ...He may have become twisted in the fact that he had a power that could clearly save the world. Even though there may have been other methods of saving the world, Fiamma could no longer see any but his own. Professional bakers might think that an oven was necessary to make bread. But it could actually be made in a rice cooker or a microwave oven. You had to go through some special procedures and it took some effort to make the specialized tools, but an oven was not absolutely necessary. But the professionals who had a thorough knowledge of the normal method would become unable to free themselves of their preconceptions and preconceived notions. Fiamma of the Right had held the power to save the world as if it were normal ever since he had been born, so to him, that knowledge was on the same level as the knowledge that humans walked on two feet. Its a shame hes gone, really, Birdway commented. For one, because of Fiamma himself, but more importantly because studying him may have been useful in analyzing that which is sleeping in an even deeper place, but... well, complaining about someone whos gone wont help anything. The war is over. The world did not change. Were still in this world of inequalities, and we have the freedom to win or lose to equality. ...I take it Fiamma of the Rights plan was not realized in the end, Hamazura asked as if he were checking on things one by one. Birdway smiled thinly. Yet peace did not come to the world like in some cheap RPG. ? That war was for the purpose of bringing power back to Fiamma of the Rights right arm, but he dragged his surroundings into it a little too much. His side alone was the Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church... and I guess the Russian army as a more normal military force. The enemy side was the Anglican Church and the troops of the science side with Academy City at the center. Those were the forces that came into direct conflict. If you added in the people who were caught up in it indirectly, you would probably find that the people who were completely unaffected by the war are in the minority. That holds true for the magic side, the science side, and even the normal people who are not a part of either. Just having Fiamma alone come to an understanding was not enough for everyone around him to sheathe their swords... Kamijou said. Very few people understood his objective. Even fewer agreed with him. And it did not really matter what Fiamma was after. Those helping Fiamma, those opposing him, those with no relation to him... everyone who took part in that war was doing so in order to carry out their own goals. So, as long as their goals have not been accomplished, some of them found that the war ending would be a problem. Those who denied the end of the war. Those who denied the new world. Those who did not care if they caused a global tragedy as long as they could accomplish their own goals. Youre saying thats...? Yes, that is who they are, Birdway said with a smile. Weve finally gotten to the true topic at hand. World War III brought about them. In the dark places of the world, they wield a power that most people do not understand. Part 7 The hot water bottle girl Fremea stirred. She had been sleeping while sitting in Hamazuras lap with her lower body underneath the kotatsu, but she seemed to have woken up when Hamazura tried to move in order to head out to a nearby convenience store. Fremea must have sensed that Hamazura was going to go out, because she grabbed his clothes with her small hand. Nyaaa... I dont know if youre just half-asleep or what, but I cant understand you unless you use your abilities in the field of language to their fullest. Nothing to do... Bored... Stay here, Hamazura... When you stay here for too long, my legs go to sleep. My spot. Fremea seemed to have no intention of moving. Suddenly, Hamazura heard some kind of commotion coming from the front door of the dorm. Mh? I think I just heard Hamazuras voice from in here, said a girls voice. And then someone turned the doorknob without even bothering to ring the doorbell despite it being a strangers dorm. Hamazura, are you he Takitsubo Rikou, a girl in a pink track suit, trailed off and froze in place. She had seen it. Her boyfriend, Hamazura Shiage, had some strange little blonde girl sitting on his lap. That special position would make one the envy of the worlds gentlemen, but if you actually carried it out with someone you were meeting for the first time, you would definitely be violating various laws and regulations. Seeing that situation, Takitsubos sleepy eyes opened wide. She then started crushing the front doors doorknob in her grip with an expressionless face. ...Hamazura, what are you doing...? Theres something wrong with those creaking and cracking sound effects!! I didnt think you were this kind of character!! This isnt Mugino in that special makeup again, is it!? He said that, but Takitsubo Rikou was a valorous girl who had wandered through Academy Citys darkness while the Body Crystal had been eating away at her. She may have just not normally brought her full strength to the surface or she may have never had a chance to use it given the various side effects, so her strength may not have actually been lower than average. You suddenly disappeared during the day, and then I couldnt contact you, and I spent so much time searching for you, and then I find you relaxing in some random room, and youre even in a kotatsu flirting with a girl that has a familiar-looking face... Eh? This doesnt count as cheating, right!? This age difference is just out of the question!! And just so you know, Im all about the big ones, so dont worry, Takitsubo!! ...Kinuhata always says youre super Hamazura-y, but Im a little disappointed that its at the level of a wild beast... Fremea had just been about to fall into the world of dreams, so she started speaking in order to quiet Takitsubo despite not knowing what they were talking about. Fgyaah. Dont say bad things about Hamazura. In the first place he may look hopeless, but hes the person who risked his life and saved me when it came down to it. ...Mumble mumble... Hearing that, Takitsubo expressionlessly bent the side of the door she was holding. No one knows that better than me!! Wait, Takitsubo!! Shes just a kid!! Hamazura frantically called out to his girlfriend who seemed like she was about to rip the metal door out and repeatedly beat them with it. Then new assassins arrived. Kinuhata Saiai and Mugino Shizuri stepped into the room as if they were pushing Takitsubo out of the way. Tch!! Takitsubo-san super contacted him first!! But if Im not last, I can still avoid being a humiliating bunny!! You fool!! That kind of idiosyncrasy is your department, right, Kinuhata!? As the two of them yelled back and forth, they charged toward Hamazura. It seemed that whoever touched him first would be the winner. From their current positions, it looked like Kinuhata would be faster by just a bit, but... My legs are longer!! Muginos spear-like kick mercilessly struck Hamazuras face. Bwah!? Mugino ignored her targets ridiculous shout and made a triumphant pose. Okay!! Punishment avoided!! You have to be kidding me... This humiliation thats on a level where itll remain in the history books has super fallen to me!? Mugino and Kinuhata started shouting at each other again, seemingly not noticing Fremea who was still sitting on Hamazuras lap. Most likely, their spirits would drop by quite a bit in a few dozen seconds. Before that could happen, Takitsubo asked a question with a puzzled expression. Huh...? You had to touch him? Mugino and Kinuhata both spun around. It was clear who was going to have to undergo the punishment. Part 8 And the problematic time came. Probably because Hamazura had moved quite a bit when he received that kick to the face, Fremea Seivelun awoke from sleeping on his lap. When her gaze met Muginos, Mugino instinctively took a step backwards. After all, a little girl who looked exactly like Frenda was looking at her!! A ghost!? Has Academy Citys analysis of the human body entered that realm!? She sure is making herself look super young for a dead girl!! ...Hm? By any super chance, is this the girl that #1 mentioned...? ...Nyah... Fremea must have still been half-asleep, because she rubbed at her eyes. Hamazura pressed up against his nose and said, ...Ow ow ow ow. Th-thats right. Her name is Fremea Seivelun. It seems shes Frendas little sister. Fremea seemed to notice that her name had been spoken, so she looked around with vacant eyes. Hamazura felt that he had to introduce the others to Fremea now that he had introduced her to them. Oh, Fremea. This person is named Mugino Shizuri, and she... After getting that far, a question came to his mind. How was he supposed to explain it? An unpleasant sweat started pouring from his back. He couldnt exactly say that she was the lady who got pissed and chopped her sister in half. But he also felt that it was too much to just gloss it over altogether and say Mugino was a wonderful partner for Fremea since they had both escaped from the darkness of Academy City. While Hamazura remained frozen in place, Mugino casually spoke. Im the girl who killed your sister. Nice to meet you. Heeeeeeyyyyy!! Hamazura yelled out, and moved Fremea from his lap and to the side. He then tried to grab Muginos arm and move her to the edge of the room, but she instead got him into a joint lock. As he yelled in pain, he somehow managed to get a bit away from Fremea. It seemed that Fremea had still been half-asleep and hadnt understood what Mugino had said. ...What the hell are you saying, Mugino-san!? Thats too fast!! You cant just come out to her that fast!! Why did you become so frank and open all of a sudden!? I came clean. That isnt exactly something to be proud of here!! Oh, no. Fremeas looking this way. Ill go say something to fool her, so just dont make this situation any more complicated than it already is!! With vacant eyes, Fremea started chewing on a three-dimensional puzzle, and Hamazura had to tell her that it wasnt an apple. Mugino started watching them, but then she realized that a new form had entered the room. It was Accelerator who had returned from the convenience store with a can of coffee. #1, huh? I have no interest in those good-mannered rankings. Actually, why the hell are you even here? If it was between normal people, the conversation may have simply disappeared amongst the mundane noises of the city, but with those two, it was different. Just a few words from them sliced through the atmosphere of that room. Mugino continued without really changing her expression. I happened to run into a relative of a girl I killed a while back. I told her about it, but it doesnt look like it got across to her. ... Since Ive been deeply involved with the darkness, the odds of Anti-Skill arresting me or being put on trial are more or less zero. ...As such, I felt that this was the only way for me to make up for my crime. If you want to just whitewash over it like that, fine. But if doing so drags another person into the darkness, you have your priorities backwards. Then Ill make sure that doesnt happen. And Ill use whatever means it takes. I have no intention to rely solely on what is good. That was the extent of the conversation. #1 and #4. That single-room dorm was not exactly big, but they clearly took different paths. Part 9 In order to allow things to move ahead smoothly, Hamazura decided to have the members of Item kill some time outside. As such, he pushed their backs while begging them to leave. Get out! Just get out! The bunny? Ill make sure to see that. You can count on it!! I wont let that slide. In fact, Ill have all of you be bunnies!! As a result, they all scattered off with truly displeased looks on their faces (including his supposed girlfriend Takitsubo). When Hamazura returned to the kotatsu, Birdway got to the core of the topic at hand. It began with a question from Accelerator. So, what exactly are they? Everything they had discussed up until then was collected there. In order to explain it, a lot of preliminary explanations had been necessary. Academy City, the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, and all the other forces that got wrapped up in that conflict were merely groups that had a part in that war. As an organization that was created due to World War III, they are a different type altogether. Kamijou and Hamazura listened to Accelerators words. Where did they come from? And then the #1 asked another simple question: Actually, what is their name? Well, Birdway said, and paused for a second before continuing. Let me warn you first. Most likely, the answer as to what they had to do with World War III will probably betray your expectations. Are you still planning on evading my question? No, I wont do that. Its just that a lot of preparations are needed before we get to the backbone of the matter. However, that would be rather painful for you, so lets leave the backbone aside for now and just start with their name. ... Their name is exceedingly simple as it denotes what they are in this world. If it was too difficult to understand and didnt convey anything to anyone, it would be meaningless, said Birdway smoothly. Yes. Their name is... Between the Lines 3 Kanzaki Kaoris feet touched down on the upper surface of the giant structure. It was Radiosonde Castle. Its altitude was so great that there was nothing even remotely like clouds near it. Both above it and below it was a color halfway in between indigo and black. Much farther down, the familiar blue could be glimpsed. The surface below her feet felt similar to stone. Radiosonde Castle was in the form of a giant cross and appeared to be made up of a jumbled assembly of multiple churches and temples. The styles of construction were all different, but the level of damage to the stones was all even. Everything was new. Simply put, it seemed that a single type of material had been built up into that giant shape in order to look like it had been created from a collection of churches and temples from around the world. I have landed!! I am about to head down to the lowest level of Radiosonde Castle and begin interfering with the balloons as needed. Help me with the values and calculations!! Agneses voice immediately reached Kanzakis ear. Understood. Depending on its rate of descent, we will choose one of two target areas for it to fall either into the Indian Ocean or in the Pacific Ocean. First destroy just one of the balloons so we can determine just how much of its lift it''ll lose. With some definite values from that, we can calculate a method from there. On the bottom of Radiosonde Castle were over two hundred giant metal balloons. It was unlikely that destroying just one would cause the entire structure to suddenly fall. Whether it was from the magic side or the science side, she had not yet noticed anyone onboard. (...When I landed, I was not obstructed by any magic or anti-aircraft weaponry.) However, she could not be sure, as Radiosonde Castle was simply too large. It was possible that some personnel were hidden elsewhere and they may have simply not used any magic or guns to intercept her. She simply could not tell what they were thinking even after actually setting foot on that giant facility. That made Kanzaki feel uneasy. The staircase was similar to scaffolding at a construction site, but the actual materials making it up were the same as the rest of the temple''s. It looked as if the walls had been twisted and forcibly made into stairs like a sugar sculpture. ...We only have the records from long-distance observation to compare to, but it really does seem to be imitating the Star of Bethlehem. That served the function of modifying the flow of power on a global scale, so it was essentially a giant switching device. So is this one the same...? But I cant discern any goals which would make sense for that. Really, it feels like a transformer with no electricity flowing through it. I cant imagine what important reason this thing could have. If its purpose isn''t to float up there, maybe it''s to be dropped on something? Unless they just want the end of the world or something, I dont think anyone would want that kind of indiscriminate destruction. Whether it was meant to float up there or drop down, she could not find any logical aim. Of course, making a structure that large fly would require massive costs to prepare, carry out, and maintain. That fact gave Kanzaki a bad feeling. The small fact that she could not see what they were after invited in a great unease. It made her think that she was making a major misunderstanding. ...Ive arrived at the lowest level. Kanzaki forcibly cut off her negative thoughts and focused on the situation in front of her. The ceiling above was made of thick stone, and the blue sky could be seen far below her feet. Scenery she could never have seen on the surface spread out below her. The place she was standing in truly did seem to be based on construction scaffolding. She was on a passageway made of a narrow mesh that was hanging down from the stone ceiling. It was similar to construction scaffolding in its form, but it was made of stone. Also, it did not seem like the people that had built it were thinking of safety standards at all. Kanzaki looked around while constantly paying attention to her footing. She saw giant spherical tanks that were a few dozen meters across. They were hanging down like fruit from the giant stone structure that was a few dozen kilometers across. As there was nothing else to compare their size to, the scene messed with her sense of scale. The method it uses to float is still unknown. If it does use some kind of gas, you need to keep in mind the possibility that it is flammable. The balloons themselves are large, but Radiosonde Castle is simply so huge that there is little risk of other balloons exploding if a flammable gas in one explodes. Kanzaki calmly analyzed the situation. In fact, what would get caught up in the blast would be the scaffolding around the balloons. I would like to avoid leaving before all the work is done. The metal balloons and the scaffolding were both hanging down from the giant stone structure above her head. She had no idea how far its effects would spread if an explosion did occur. It was even possible that the stone structure that seemed to cover the sky would separate, sending her crashing down. Kanzaki made sure that she had a straight path to the nearest staircase up to a higher level, and reached for the sword hanging from her waist. Technically, she was reaching for the seven thin wires stored on the swords scabbard. Im beginning. What is below me? You are around the center of Eurasia. The area is complete wilderness. There are no civilian, military, or magical facilities there. We have received permission from the Russian Orthodox Church. Then here goes. Immediately after Kanzaki said that... Nanasen. A flash of light was emitted from the space between the scabbard and the swords hilt. Immediately afterwards, the scaffolding between Kanzaki and the metal balloon was sliced to pieces. The destruction stretched all the way to the metal balloon. There were no sparks. That quick slicing attack that used many wires sliced through everything before her like it was clay. However, the massive amount of wreckage fell in a distinctive way. It was different from being blown by a strong wind in a single direction. The countless pieces of wreckage were blown in all directions, with the spot the metal balloon had been in at the center. It seems that it truly was filled with something like a gas. However, I do not know if that alone is providing the lift it She trailed off because the scaffolding below her feet wobbled slightly. It sank down about ten centimeters. But Kanzaki sensed it as an instability like a suspension bridge having the wires supporting it snapped one by one. The destruction of the balloon has caused a change in Radiosonde Castles altitude. We have been able to determine the specs of each individual balloon due to that. It seems that the gas in the tanks is indeed what is providing the lift. I will be sending you the procedure with which to remove the gas. The work itself is simple, but given the scale of the fortress, you cannot waste any time. A few diagrams and values floated up in Kanzakis mind. There were no major differences from what she had been guessing. The only real difference was that the time limit was rather harsh. So instead of just destroying them, I will be opening a hole in the balloons to remove the gas gradually? If you destroy them too much in a flashy way and the rate of descent increases more than expected, we will have no way to fix the problem. Kanzaki circled around, avoiding the scaffolding she had destroyed, as she ran along the lowest level. Radiosonde Castle was a few dozen kilometers long, but Kanzaki used her abilities as a Saint to run faster than the speed of sound. ...Time for the first one, Kanzaki muttered when she arrived next to one of the giant metal balloons a few dozen meters across. That one would be the test case to see if the theorized method would actually work. The situation could change greatly depending on whether she succeeded there. First, you need to greatly reinforce the side of the balloon. If you just opened up a hole now, the gas flowing out would force the hole wider. So its like putting tape on a normal balloon and then stabbing a pin through it. It will also be perfect for installing a spiritual item that will act as a valve. The balloons estimated strength is on the level of thirty millimeters of steel. We think that they were made intentionally fragile so that a ballistic missile would have immediately and catastrophically brought it down. You need to open a hole about thirteen millimeters across, but dont go through it all at once. Be careful and take at least a hundred seconds. Yes, the Japanese love our stories about water dripping down from a stalactite and wearing down the bedrock. We have plenty of spells to go along with that. If one ignored the special examples like Saints such as Kanzaki, magic had nothing to do with talent and was in fact usually developed to be used by those with no talent. It seemed a lot of her predecessors had felt that magic was more suited to deliver slow and steady results piling up on each other rather than to bring out some great phenomenon all at once. Kanzaki pressed a piece of paper against the side of the balloon, and it stuck there like a wet cloth. She then added many more. Before long, armor three meters square and five centimeters thick was covering the side of the balloon. ...The Japanese really like those paper walls, dont they? They can stop blades and bullets. The idea is not all too rare. In places like China, armor was made of bundles of paper. Well, it was something like covering your entire body in phone books, so it was not very lightweight. On top of that wall of paper, Kanzaki attached a device made of a few wooden sticks that were bound by cotton strings. It looked a bit like the compasses used by ancient scholars and a bit like tools used to dig wells. As this one is a test, I will watch it all the way through to the end, but there is nothing for me to do while it digs through it. There would normally be no reason for me to stick around and watch. Once I confirm that this one succeeds, I will leave the rest at this point and head for the next balloon. That will save a lot of time. Just in case the balloon burst, she kept her distance and made sure she had a path to an ascending staircase planned. Kanzaki then sent magic power through the digging spiritual item and gave the signal. An unpleasant sound like a pencil being sharpened reached Kanzakis ears. For now, there does not seem to be any danger of the balloon wall bursting. The hole has been confirmed... The expected amount of gas is being released. Radiosonde Castles rate of descent has increased, if only by a little. Contact me if you detect any problems. By expanding the stake used to dig, I can seal the open hole. As she spoke, Kanzaki jumped from scaffolding to scaffolding. As she had announced, she did not stay to watch each and every metal balloon as the hole was being made. She set up the spiritual items and then headed towards the next balloon. The effects from the interference to the seventieth balloon have been detected! Radiosonde Castles altitude has fallen to eleven thousand meters!! The atmospheric pressure countermeasure spell is under quite a bit of stress! Where is it currently!? Should we drop it into the Indian Ocean or the Pacific Ocean!? Radiosonde Castle is currently passing over Korea. The Pacific is the only option now!! She had destroyed the first balloon when it had been near the center of Eurasia. Radiosonde Castles speed was much greater than Kanzaki had thought. She hurried for the 71st balloon. Do you know where in the Pacific Ocean we are dropping it? There is an area of ocean with a depth of six thousand meters located 1,700 kilometers north-northwest of Americas Midway Atoll. Kanzaki charted out the general route it would take from its current location to the next location. (...Its going to pass over Japan.) Her face gradually paled. (The route cuts straight over Academy City!?) Agnese, its an emergency!! Please calculate a method of interfering with Radiosonde Castles balloons that will take a more circuitous route!! Hah? Passing over Japan may be fine, but passing over that city is bad!! If Radiosonde Castle was constructed in order to be dropped on something, the target is likely-!! Suddenly, a tremendous amount of static assaulted Kanzakis ears. Immediately afterwards, the magical communications line created by the spiritual item was severed. Someone had clearly magically jammed the magical signal. (So they dont want me saying anything unnecessary, hm?) Radiosonde Castle simply slamming its entire giant form into the ground was not the only threat. If it disassembled into smaller parts and had those parts rain down on the surface, it could create damage on a large scale. It could carry out a large-scale bombing of Academy City while the main body was allowed to safely land due to the efforts of Kanzaki and the others. That was the logical thing to do. However, if the people behind the fortress were the type to give their own ideas precedence over what was to come, it was still possible they would just drop Radiosonde Castle directly on Academy City without thinking about what that would mean. Magicians were beings that would do that kind of thing. Kanzaki and the rest of Necessarius existed to stop that from happening. (But that jamming came with such pinpoint timing. I doubt that they would have been able to do that if they were simply collecting information remotely. That means... some portion of the enemy is onboard this fortress which is going to be sent crashing down...) Kanzaki heard an odd sound, and she took a defensive stance. It was a high-pitched noise like a crystal glass being hit. It did not repeat just five or ten times. Instead, it continued irregularly for quite some time. The source of the noise was... Above!? The moment Kanzaki realized that and jumped back, something fell on the spot she had been standing in an instant before. It was not a human. It was a cylinder made of heavy stone with a diameter of 55 centimeters and a height of about a meter. The drum-like object moved around like it had a will of its own, and it turned to face Kanzaki. Notes 1. An old term for the early Portuguese Christian missionaries to Japan. Volume 2, 4: Invitation, and That Name Is... Lecture_Four (and_More). Volume 2, Chapter 4: Invitation, and That Name Is... Lecture_Four (and_More). Part 1 "Mh?" Just before Birdway was about to mention "their" name, she suddenly frowned. Sounding annoyed, Accelerator said, "...You aren''t going to put on an air of importance again, are you?" "I have no reason to do that....But this is now hardly the time to be sitting here discussing this." As Birdway spoke, she pulled her legs out from under the kotatsu and walked across the room. She was heading for the window connecting to the balcony. "Is there something outside?" asked Kamijou. "Actually, this area has similar dorms lined up. The next dorm is only a few meters away, so you''ll only be able to see a wall out that window." "No, wait a second... If I go like this..." Birdway went out on the balcony, and leaned out with her stomach on the railing. It seemed like she was staring beyond the gap between the buildings. "Dammit... I was right," she said in almost a groan. Those inside the room could see nothing outside other than that girl whose position put her skirt in a rather dangerous state. "Is there something out there?" asked Hamazura. Birdway finally got down from the railing, and stood on the balcony. "''They'' are here." The three of them headed towards the balcony in shock. Kamijou tried to lean out on the balcony like Birdway had, but Accelerator kicked down the thin fireproof wall that divided the balconies between rooms. They could now see it. "Huh!? What the hell!?" Hamazura was the first to yell out. Academy City was overflowing with various lights at night, but the stars could still be seen. Something gigantic was obstructing their view of that faint light. Beyond the horizon was a huge construction of a scale never seen in real life. It was like a cumulonimbus cloud. Birdway meaninglessly folded her narrow arms in front of her small chest. "...I thought the science side would have brought it down at an earlier stage since Academy City was going to be dragged into this, but it seems that they were slower at dealing with this than I had anticipated. I guess the errors in his plan are having an effect." "What did you just say?" Accelerator asked as he frowned at that line he couldn''t just overlook. Birdway nodded in an exceedingly arbitrary way. "That thing was chasing after us from the beginning....Well, technically, it''s chasing after that missing Imagine Breaker. That floating fortress with the mass of a dreadnought has been performing a worldwide search and following him around the clock....Shaking it off would have been a pain, y''know? And if we did, there was a danger of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight''s trump card being analyzed. I decided that it was best to leave that troublesome thing to some troublesome people." "So... what?" Hamazura''s face paled. "Cumulonimbus clouds spread for dozens of kilometers. Are you saying that giant objet d''art is like a huge cloud made of concrete and it''s going to fall on Academy City!? And you brought it here on purpose!?" "Wait, I didn''t hear anything about this!! That isn''t the Star of Bethlehem, is it!?" Even Kamijou was starting to panic, but Birdway remained completely calm. In fact, she seemed proud. "Well, this boy was the one at the center of defeating Fiamma of the Right and ending World War III. As ''they'' came about due to the war, they would want to know if he was still alive. But it takes quite a bit of effort to search the entire world. And ''they'' also wanted to keep it a secret that anyone was chasing him....So they decided to hide a leaf in the forest. By creating a large-scale incident, they moved the world''s focus to the catastrophic danger on a planetary level." That incident was carried out in order to search for a single high school boy. Those people were willing to risk the extinction of the human race for that purpose. That was what magicians were. They would use everything at their disposal for the sake of the individual while paying no heed to what it meant to the whole. "What are we going to do...?" Kamijou groaned before he finally started shouting. "We know what they want, but we can''t let them drop that asteroid-like fortress on Academy City!! How exactly are we supposed to stop them!?" "...That''s what I wanted to have Academy City do. There would have been plenty of methods while it was over the ocean, but now that it''s over land, the wreckage would still fall down on the city." "...You do have an idea, though, right?" Kamijou shuddered, but it seemed that Birdway really wasn''t stupid enough to not have a plan. She said, "That search structure... um, I think the Anglican term was ''Radiosonde Castle''. Anyway, I have an idea as to how it is following Imagine Breaker. If we know how it works, we can use that to figure out a way to deal with it." "So how does it work?" asked Hamazura. Birdway meaninglessly stuck her index finger up and spun it around. "Do you remember what I said about leylines?" "...You said that they were one of the types of energy that could be used for magic other than the magic power created by humans. If I remember, they have to do with the Earth and its terrain," Accelerator said. "That''s right." Birdway nodded. "And Imagine Breaker negates all kinds of supernatural powers. And that includes the power circulated by the planet." "So, his right hand is like a snowplow and that giant fortress is following the path he''s created?" "It''s not that simple," Birdway responded to Accelerator''s question with a sardonic grin. "Imagine Breaker works exceedingly well when it is normalizing abnormal values, but it does not show much power when dealing with something that is uniform from the start. It only carries out destruction of things that have already had their harmony taken....For example, he does not destroy someone''s soul when he touches them, and he does not destroy the planet when he touches it. Yet those things do indeed have supernatural power flowing through them." "...Does it really work so conveniently like that?" asked Kamijou himself. The boy looked down at his right hand, and Birdway continued speaking in an arrogant way. "This isn''t just limited to Imagine Breaker. Natural powers like yours are often initially set to conform to the environment or situation. And the natural Gemstones are people who received esper powers via stimuli from the environment of Earth," she said in a simple manner. "To talk about the leylines... Oh, I know. I''ll use the example of a snowplow you used. When Imagine Breaker scrapes away the accumulated snow, more snow quickly accumulates, preventing anyone from seeing the path. It would be more accurate to say that a cycle like that has been set up from the beginning than to say that it has to do with how much the planet can replenish the power." "Then how the hell is that fortress tracking that Level 0?" asked Accelerator. "''They'' can''t search for him normally, so ''they'' set up a kind of trick." "A trick? On the fortress?" Kamijou looked puzzled, but Birdway''s response was well beyond his expectation. "No, on the planet." "..." The scale was so great that Kamijou''s thoughts cut out. But Birdway continued speaking regardless. "The amount removed by Imagine Breaker is made to be naturally compensated for by the surroundings. ''They'' have interfered with that cycle. They have made it so that a mark only Radiosonde Castle can detect will be left behind during the process of repairing the amount removed." "How...?" asked Hamazura who still had not quite come to grips with the concept of magic. "Saying they interfered with the planet is simple enough, but how did they do it!?" "They used feng shui. The locations of mountains and rivers change the flow of energy, so people build their palaces in the most suitable place based on that....Well, the opposite is also possible. If you want a certain change to occur to the energy of the leylines, you just have to systematically destroy the mountains and rivers." It was easy to say. For the sake of a single spell, the terrain had been blotted out somewhere on that planet. That was yet another result of the individual surpassing the whole. The magicians used everything at their disposal to carry out the goal before their eyes without giving any thought to what would come later. Hamazura gulped. "Would they... would they really go that far to find a single person...?" "Compared to Radiosonde Castle, that is nothing more than a sub spell. How much energy do you think it takes to make a mass that huge float like that? Well, it''s certainly not something you can pull off with gas turbines," Birdway said smoothly. "Let''s get back to the topic at hand. In order to follow Imagine Breaker, ''they'' have interfered with the system of the leylines running through this planet. Imagine Breaker destroys that energy, and their mark is automatically created in the process of the repairing cycle. It''s like a potato or a jewel. Using that, Radiosonde Castle can accurately follow Imagine Breaker no matter where in the world he flees. Do you understand that much?" "But that would mean there''s no way to escape it!!" yelled Hamazura with his eyes wide, but Birdway was as calm as ever. "''Their'' spell may be hitching a ride on the cycle that repairs the lost power to the leylines, but it is not producing the mark at all times. ''They'' have to think about the cost. It would be easiest if you just thought of it like transmitters set up at even intervals." "..." "Basically, they''re automatically produced in the Earth at about every fifty kilometers. If Imagine Breaker is not in range, it heads for the next transmitter, but if he is in range, it is guided with even more detail. In other words..." "...If we destroy the transmitter embedded in the ground, Radiosonde Castle will lose its ability to track me?" Kamijou muttered. "But you said that the transmitters are automatically produced at even intervals, right? If a new transmitter is created, won''t Radiosonde Castle correct its course?" "''They'' are not that almighty," Birdway said halfheartedly. "It''s true that ''they'' systematically destroyed mountains and rivers and interfered with the workings of the planet itself, but ''they'' cannot continue that forever....''They'' are already at their limit. They cannot create a new transmitter, so we just need to destroy the one that is here now. Since the transmitters are set up in fifty-kilometer intervals, the final transmitter has likely been placed beneath Academy City. If we destroy it, Radiosonde Castle will pass right by us. After that, the members of the Anglican Church who are likely meaninglessly rushing around now will bring this to a safe conclusion." A magical transmitter. It was beneath Academy City. If they could destroy it, they had a means of escape. "..." Kamijou looked down at his open right hand. He then silently clenched it strongly. Kamijou Touma was said to be at the center of all the disturbances around him, but he was not actually all that knowledgeable of the circumstances the world was in. He did not have the basis needed to actually calculate how much value there was in searching him out on such a large scale or how much meaning there was in keeping that from happening even if it meant getting Academy City involved. But... Kamijou understood that the results of those actions had brought danger to Academy City and to those close to him. And he knew what was necessary to avoid that danger. What he had to do did not change. It was the same as always. A great conflict may have been over, but he still had to do the same things as before. "Can I ask one question?" "What?" said Birdway as she looked over at him. "If I were to start running away from Academy City as fast as I could right now, what would happen with Radiosonde Castle?" "Normally, it would alter its course and continue to follow you," the small girl responded. "But there is the issue of time. I mentioned that there was a time limit, right? If the final mark has been placed here, then Radiosonde Castle may drop on Academy City regardless of your location." Birdway had helped create that situation, but she showed no sign of timidity about it. "I see." Kamijou Touma clearly clenched his right fist that time. He ignored Index who was looking displeased. "That''s all I need to know." The time to swing his right hand once more had come. No. Even if his right hand had held no special power, what Kamijou Touma did would likely not have changed. He would have stood up to that crisis developing before his eyes and opposed the giant power lurking in its center. What he had been doing up until then was removing the weakness that divided his path based on whether he already had power or not. And... If it did not matter if one had a special power or not... "Wait," said Hamazura, interrupting him. As long as one had the will. It may not have been at the level of Kamijou Touma, but he had overcome a few crises of his own. Hamazura had protected the personal world around him. But... If the larger world spreading beyond it had not been protected, he would have lost the entirety of that personal territory. Fremea did not know exactly what was going on, but she must have sensed the unrest in the atmosphere because her face grew cloudy. Hamazura grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away from him as he spoke. "If the truth of World War III really is what Birdway says it is, then the world owes you one. In that case, you don''t need to make that debt any bigger. I''ll do my part to pay you back bit by bit." "..." Accelerator did not say anything, but he seemed to agree. In actuality, it had not been Kamijou Touma''s actions alone that had ended that war. It had mostly been the actions of many, many people intertwining complexly and supporting Kamijou. That support had been so great that a mere high school boy with a special power had been able to stand at a crossroads in history. And Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage had likely played a role in that supporting power. But at the very least, a portion of that power was able to gather again at least partially due to the fact that Kamijou Touma had survived to that day. Academy City''s #1 flipped the switch on the electrode on his neck, and jumped up from the balcony to the roof. Hamazura headed for the dorm''s front door and spoke to Kamijou without turning around. "You wait here. You''ve been working too much." The sound of the door opening and closing reverberated through the dorm. Kamijou looked back down at his right hand, and smiled slightly. Just because he had a special power did not mean that he had to do anything special. Just because he could negate all kinds of supernatural powers did not mean that he had to go charging out to stand as a shield before all kinds of powers. Just as Kamijou was once more thinking deeply on the meaning of that, Birdway yawned and spoke. "But those that will die without the necessary piece will die." "Dammit!! I really just can''t ignore this!!" Part 2 The black stone did not even have the slightest scratch, and it was polished like a mirror. The cylinder made of heavy stone rolled around like a drum with a mind of its own, and headed for Kanzaki at high speed. A normal person would have likely met a fate similar to getting run over by a road roller. "Tch. So this magic user is the type that doesn''t show his face!!" Kanzaki clicked her tongue and reached for Shichiten Shichitou, the Japanese sword longer than two meters that hung at her waist. Technically, she was using the seven wires for a slicing attack. Nanasen. She aimed for the pathway the mysterious cylinder was moving along rather than the stone itself. She did not know how tough her enemy was, but Kanzaki knew that she could slice through the pathway. And they were on the lowest level of a fortress floating at an altitude of eleven thousand meters. Without that pathway, even the strongest enemy could not avoid falling. She unhesitatingly sliced through it. That bottom pathway extended from pillars hanging down from the giant ceiling above her head. She accurately severed only the narrow pillars on the right side of the pathway. The pathway lost its balance, and the entire floor tilted to the side. Kanzaki was standing just far enough away to not be affected, but... "!?" An explosive wind blew violently. Immediately after Kanzaki realized that it was a giant sphere jumping around the remaining pillars and charging towards her, a dull shock ran through her gut. That''s right. A sphere, not a cylinder. (Gh... bh...!! It can... change shape!?) She did not even have time to hold it back with her sword''s scabbard. The sphere sank in. Kanzaki''s breathing felt like it would stop, but then the sphere made its next move. It was changing shape again. The enemy became a cylinder again, and opened up like a pair of double doors, revealing its insides. The action was similar to an iron maiden opening, but the inside was not filled with iron spikes. What lay inside was a giant crossbow. Without bringing her breathing back under control, Kanzaki immediately swung her body to the side. It fired a projectile that was as thick as a human arm and more like a stake than an arrow. Kanzaki just barely managed to evade it, but by that time, the enemy had already closed and returned to its original cylindrical shape. The cylinder took an action similar to kicking off one of the pillars connecting the scaffolding to the ceiling, and managed to get some distance between itself and Kanzaki. When the cylinder landed on a different piece of scaffolding, it remained in a diagonal position, balancing itself on the edge of the bottom circle. It then spun around once. Immediately afterwards, a change occurred in the metal balloons that were providing lift to Radiosonde Castle. With a sound like overflowing steam, a large amount of gas started to be emitted. It was not due to what Kanzaki had done. The rate was much too fast. The enemies were clearly trying to drop Radiosonde Castle on the target location. (...So they really are after Academy City!!) Kanzaki gritted her teeth, and the cylinder opened like double doors again. The contents were exposed. This time, it was not a crossbow. What came out were multiple matchlock guns, their barrels lined up in a row. The hammers that had cigarette-like flames burning at the ends all fell in unison. The sound of them firing rang out. Immediately afterwards, Kanzaki Kaori unhesitatingly charged forward. Kanzaki could travel faster than the speed of sound, so avoiding those bullets that were traveling at subsonic speeds was like an expert martial artist truly going in for a cross counter against a child. Her speed and reach were greater. The crossbow from before had caught her off guard, so her reaction had been delayed, but when she could predict that a projectile was coming, she could get the timing right every time. Kanzaki''s footsteps exploded out and seemed as if they would destroy the pathway, and she lowered her hips and moved her head in order to accurately evade the multiple lead bullets. She continued forward, accurately aiming for the enemy that had quickly returned to its cylindrical form. (This thing opens up faster than I expected. I won''t have time to draw my sword.) Kanzaki calmly analyzed the situation. She unhesitatingly struck the cylinder with her right leg. Perhaps as some kind of defense, the cylinder changed shape to a perfect cube, but that did not stop the attack. Kanzaki sent the enemy flying a few dozen meters away. A few of the pillars supporting the pathway were destroyed, and the entire pathway tilted. Kanzaki had been intending to send it out into the empty sky, but either by coincidence or by the object''s intent, it managed to stay on the pathway as if it were hanging down from the pathway''s remains. (...Dammit. The magician himself might be worth it, but I don''t have time to play around with some toy!!) Kanzaki gritted her teeth, and then felt a chill run down her back. She was wrong. The flow of magic power was different from a mere spiritual item. (It isn''t using what is stored within it... It is refining magic power within itself and circulating it. It couldn''t be...) The net of a cube had a few different patterns it could take, but one of them was a cross. If that cross corresponded to the form of a person... "Th-this isn''t a spiritual item? This is the magician himself who has optimized his physical body into this form!?" Kanzaki did not just have a massive amount of power. She also carried out delicate analysis and operations, and that was why she had noticed that something was off. In response, the cube spread out its sides, forming a flat plane in the shape of a cross. She heard a strange noise. It was a laugh. It was the kind of laugh that barely reached one''s ears, one that a girl would make with her hand up to her mouth. "Hee hee." But it was not just a single laugh. At first, Kanzaki thought there were other magicians around as she paid close attention to the source of the sound... but she finally frowned in confusion. It was coming from that cross-shaped plane. Countless sets of human lips both large and small appeared on its surface. Because the plane was made of smoothly polished cold inorganic stone, the bewitching lips that were covering the surface seemed horribly out of place. "Hee hee." "Hee hee." "Hee hee." "If you correspond the cross shape with the human body, it would be theoretically possible... but would anyone really go that far!?" "Wrong," sang all the lips in unison in a delicate soprano that was at complete odds with the form the voices were coming from. "Mj?lnir from Norse mythology also corresponds to the cross, but Thor who possesses Mj?lnir is not just a thunder god. He is also a god of agriculture who controls all forms of weather, and the hammer is also used as a symbol of granting children." That was right. The enemy''s form was not fixed. The cylinder, the sphere, the cube. Only the cube could correspond to the cross, but there was something else that all the forms could correspond to: A hammer. And the crossbow and matchlock guns must have also given it the properties of a projectile. Just after Kanzaki realized that, the countless lips that had appeared on the surface in order to chant began reciting a spell in unison. A storm of bluish-white lightning began to appear in every direction from the cross-shaped plane from which the enemy had taken the form of a hammer. Part 3 Accelerator flipped his electrode''s switch, temporarily releasing the power of the #1, and jumped up to the roof of the tall building in one leap. He stood on the railing, and looked around. During the war in Russia, he had come into contact with "something like magic", and he had used a part of it. His body had been torn up from the inside by that power, but he had managed to save a girl from the brink of death in exchange. He had taught himself to contact that power. After receiving some explanations from Birdway, he had been able to give clear outlines to that vague idea he had before. He breathed in, stopped, and then used his power. "...!!" The blood vessels around his temples pulsated unnaturally. The cold wind was blowing on him, but he could not stop an unpleasant sweat from coming from his body. He envisioned a cup so filled with water that it was just barely able to hold it all in via surface tension. If it was tilted even slightly in any direction, something that must not be spilled would spill out. He understood that clearly. He could not ignore it. He controlled the power within his body with the delicateness of someone balancing that cup on top of their upraised index finger. He then continued his work. Yes, his work. He discerned the paths of the power flowing within the city or flowing in from outside the city and then flowing back outside the city. However, he was not directly seeing it like beams of light. Just like seeing the flow of the colorless wind in a swaying meadow, he indirectly detected it by detecting the movements of things affected by the power rather than the power itself. In other words, he watched the flow of people. (That Birdway brat said that feng shui causes the energy of leylines to bend depending on the locations of mountains and rivers and that the most suitable palaces are built in the most suitable places for that reason. I don''t know if these rules apply to the entire world, but it seems this world is divided into comfortable places and uncomfortable places by the flow of energy through the planet.) Of course, if you removed the occult from the equation and thought about it similarly to the price of land changing depending on how much sun exposure a place had, then the conditions to make somewhere "comfortable" had to actually be quite strict. Accelerator could not determine whether feng shui was purely occult or if it was nothing more than statistically calculating what environments allowed people to live longer. In any case, he knew that the enemy was using feng shui. (And people will naturally flow to those comfortable places, just like how the grass in a meadow sways in the wind. I can''t just detect the flow of magic power, but I can observe the movements of people from a tall location.) When he surveyed the area from the rooftop, he realized that the flow of people was not determined simply by the abundance of shops or the transportation facilities. There were similar convenience stores on the same road, but people clearly went into some more than others. One could get to the same destination by train or bus, but people tended to use the same method to an unnatural extent. Even if Academy City was the center of the science side, it was of course still a part of the Earth. Even if the city itself thoroughly eliminated all artificial magic, it could not deny the properties and energy held by the planet itself. When he thought about it, it was obvious. That truth made Accelerator''s breath catch in his throat. (...So there''s a net formed by this non-compelling "comfortableness"? Hell, and this is right in the middle of the science side''s headquarters. It''s like the entire city is being controlled by some strange power.) That power could be used artificially to create the people-clearing fields used by magicians, but Accelerator had not stepped deeply enough into the world of magic to realize that. For now, he merely reached out his hand for the objective in front of him. (I can understand people gathering at brand-name shops or a bus terminal building, but there are some strange movements. People are taking meaningless detours. If ''they'' used feng shui to add in some trick to the ley line, then this may be a trace of that trick.) A single spot had an unnatural amount of that kind of power gathered in it. That power was supposed to lay out a net that created the different flows of people, but it was all gathering unnaturally in that spot like bathwater being swallowed up by the drain. It was not directly sending people in a certain direction, but it was having a definite effect in slightly altering the direction taken by the people who were freely moving around in various directions. (That''s the place.) Once Accelerator had his answer, he pulled out his cell phone. He said only what was necessary. "I''ve found somewhere that feels out of place. It''s District 7''s Central Hub Transformer Station. Some kind of twisted and stagnated power is gathered there." Part 4 Within a radius of four hundred meters around the cross-shaped expanded cube, a high-voltage current emitted into the world exploded out all at once as a sphere-shaped storm. "!!" At that time, Kanzaki rushed toward the stairs leading up to a higher level. In order to get as far away from the square entrance as she could, she practically rolled across the stone floor. Her rapid movements suddenly stopped. Kanzaki jumped up more from something else''s interference than from her own wishes. (The electrical current is forcibly coming from the stone...!?) "Gah..gh...!!" Kanzaki intentionally regulated her breathing that had been thrown out of order. That magician had modified his or her body for the sake of his or her goal. That was the result of a magic user that continued to grow in the absolute opposite direction from someone like Kanzaki who was born with bodily characteristics similar to the Son of God and could draw out a portion of his power. As if in exchange for what that magician had lost and cast aside, the power of his attacks had increased. The very fact that he could keep up with one of the world''s fewer than twenty Saints in a battle was strange. (But this method is not in any of Necessarius''s records... Is this a new type that has appeared after the war...?) A sound like oil being poured onto a frying pan reached Kanzaki''s ears. The sound was coming from the square opening leading down. The magician was making preparations for the second wave. (The attack itself mostly relies on the laws of physics. It is simpler than a curse with no form, but his aim may be to weaken my legs by continuing to hit me with it...) She heard the explosive sound of a high voltage current. In the next instant, Kanzaki drew Shichiten Shichitou and stabbed the tip forcefully into the stone floor as if she had timed it. She cut into the stone like it was made of tofu and then felt a different type of resistance. In other words, she felt herself slicing through the high voltage current and neutralizing it. (There are legends of swords slicing through lightning in Japan. In a country with such harsh changes in the weather, you cannot name yourself a magician if you do not have an understanding of how to deal with a thunder god!!) That was what magic was. It exceeded the laws of physics and brought one to an absurd battlefield. If she messed up the timing of her attack, she would receive the attack head on, so she could not let her guard down, but she could deal with spells of that level. Just as Kanzaki had determined that, she felt an unpleasant feeling at the nape of her neck. It was not a physical sensation. It was commonly referred to as a bad feeling about the situation. However, when there was a concrete basis for the feeling, it could not simply be laughed off. In other words... "What...? What is this massive amount of magic power...!?" In order to observe the enemy, Kanzaki headed for the square entrance. She stuck only her head out and saw the expanded cube that was her enemy. The magician''s physical body was modeled off of Thor''s hammer Mj?lnir and resembled a cross. It was not standing upright or lying flat on the pathway. Instead, it was flying calmly in the air like a kite. There was regularity to its movements. It was moving in a giant circle that had a radius of twenty kilometers. Bluish-white sparks flew along seeming to trail it. Like that, the Throwing Hammer drew a clean circle. Its speed increased. It was not fixed in place. It rapidly moved up like the curve of a quadratic function. In just the ten seconds Kanzaki had been watching, the enemy''s actual form had disappeared from view, leaving only the giant bluish-white glowing circle visible. It was much too ominous a phenomenon to be referred to as an angel''s halo. From the flow of magic power, the circular symbol, and the Thor''s hammer form the magician existed in, Kanzaki was able to guess what was coming next. She unhesitatingly fled. A bluish-white beam of light appeared coming from below and heading up as if to stab into the heavens. It shot straight through the center of that twenty-kilometer-radius circle. Immediately afterwards, a third of Radiosonde Castle was utterly annihilated. Part 5 Kamijou Touma ran through Academy City at night. He was heading for the Central Hub Transformer Station that Accelerator had told him about. Academy City''s electricity was supplied by the wind turbines set up all across the city. That had the advantage of making it more difficult for a power outage to occur if some of them were destroyed in an accident or a disaster, but it added complexity because the network of power supplies spread all across the city. That made facilities that controlled the flow of electricity necessary. One central hub existed in each district. (But why there...?) Kamijou thought as he ran, but he could not come up with an answer. It was possible electricity or something else related to the area functioned as an occult symbol. Hamazura Shiage had begun heading for the same location just a bit ahead of him, but Kamijou had not caught up to him on the way. Kamijou was pretty sure he was taking the shortest route there, so the other boy may have taken a different route. Eventually, Kamijou made it to the Central Hub Transformer Station. That stern name had made Kamijou envision something that looked like a large scale industrial complex or a military facility, but he realized he had been wrong when he arrived. It was surrounded by a concrete wall and barbed wire, but it had no guards or anything like that. Some security robots were periodically patrolling around the building, but that was no different than the security at a children''s park in Academy City. Kamijou looked up at the thick wall. (...Climbing over would probably be fastest.) Having made that decision, he picked up an empty can from the ground at his feet. Before he actually climbed up, he wanted to make sure there wasn''t any electricity running through the barbed wire. He threw the can. It hit the taut wire, but no sparks were created. "Here goes," Kamijou muttered as he faced the wall. The barbed wire had sharp spikes in order to stop intruders, but they were placed at even intervals. The rest was just plain wire. If he was careful, he would not get hurt even if he grabbed the wire directly. (It would be even safer if I had a thick rubber mat...but I guess these spikes are long enough to pierce through one.) As he thought that, Kamijou glanced around the facility from atop the wall. The area was not all that large. The actual land was at most thirty meters square and there was only one two story square building. However, there was equipment that looked like drums lined up all across the area. Power cables stretched from the ground around them, so they likely had something to do with the transformation. He did not think it would be a good idea to touch them. Kamijou jumped down from the wall and snuck into the inner portion of the facility. His goal lay ahead. Part 6 A third of Radiosonde Castle had been annihilated. An avalanche of wreckage did not rain down on the Kanto region because the massive amount of energy had blown away the third of the fortress to the extent that not even dust remained. That spell was powerful enough to forcibly destroy the ozone layer and it was similar to a solenoid coil. The Throwing Hammer had continually revolved around that circular orbit while carrying a massive amount of electricity. That had given the electrified air in the center of the circular orbit a vertical vector. ...That explanation alone seemed to make sense, but the attack was actually physically impossible. With just the laws of science, the phenomenon created some inconsistencies. But magic compensated for that and forced it to work. "haa...haa...!!" Kanzaki breathed heavily right next to the edge of the destruction. The edge glowed orange like the inside of a blast furnace. The stone walls and ceiling that had been creating an odd sense of intimidation were no longer there. Just a running long jump''s distance away, there was nothing but open space. She had used her supersonic speed to its limit without thinking of the consequences. She had headed forward tearing through walls and pillars. But she could not do it again. She had no way to deal with it if the same thing happened again. She had not been able to use her sword or wires in time for a few walls and had merely tackled her way through them at full speed. She had used a bare minimum of defensive spells, but her body was crying out in protest. And most importantly, she would no longer have anywhere to run to after two more of the same attack. Her situation was close to hopeless, but at the same time, a question grew in Kanzaki''s mind. (I thought he or his organization was trying to drop Radiosonde Castle on Academy City!? Why would he destroy it like that...!?) Speaking of goals, there were many mysteries regarding that Throwing Hammer itself. That thing could produce destruction that rivaled the mobile fortress. However, that was merely a means, not a goal. If the magician had modified his or her physical body to that extent there had to be a "magician-like" reason to match beyond efficiency or rationality. Protecting a loved one. Killing a hated enemy. Reviving someone who had died. Creating a dragon that had never actually existed. Whether it was actually doable or not, a magician would have their goal carved into themselves in Latin...they would have a magic name. But she could not feel anything like that from that Throwing Hammer. It had such great firepower, but it did not use it to directly attack Academy City. Dropping Radiosonde Castle on Academy City was likely the overall goal, but it had unhesitatingly blown away a third of the fortress. In those methods that gave a jumbled and mismatched impression, she could not see the consistent and, in some cases, abnormally tenacious behavior that was characteristic of magicians. Was there some reason behind it that only the Throwing Hammer could understand? Or... "Has he...already lost his objective...?" Kanzaki muttered. For example, what if the magician''s magic name was to protect a loved one and that utterly changed body was the result of gathering everything needed to do so? And what if that loved one had died partway through gathering those things making that goal disappear? In that case, only the power would remain. That power would drift about the world without even a direction to aim its malice. Because the power had no strong direction, it would occasionally be swept along and go along with the views of another and it would occasionally be swept along and wield that power. But a power with no purpose behind it would attack the world with overwhelming ferocity. He could not cast aside the power he had ended up with. A true monster would carry out destruction just by walking down the street. How much damage would be done to a city by someone who decided on their actions for the day based on nothing more substantial than the thoughts caused by a TV commercial or a collection box next to a cash register? An apathetic destroyer. A natural enemy that did not even wish for the destruction of the world. Someone who would destroy on a whim what people had desperately built up. If a failed one like that had existed for long, it was strange that the world still existed as it did. Since Necessarius, an organization that dealt with magicians like that, had no records of that magician, he may have failed only recently. What came to Kanzaki''s mind first was... "...World War III." It had officially ended very quickly after only about two weeks and the rapid and precise deployment of large scale forces centered on Academy City had kept the casualties to a minimum, but that disturbance had still covered the entire map of the world. It was possible that there had been battles that had not been officially announced and tragedies that no one knew about. "You fool." Kanzaki frowned at the cause she could not even imagine while taking a drastic measure. "Even if you failed like that, you would not have gone down this path had you recalled that the people around you have things they wish to protect." It may have been "magician-like" to not understand that fact. It was completely one directional. Magicians gained explosive propulsion by restricting themselves with their purpose. That may have been why they did not understand the feelings of those who headed down other paths. But Kanzaki knew. She knew of magicians who had stood back up even after losing their goal. In Necessarius, there was a rune card magician who had been unable to protect a certain girl, but he still continued to fight in order to protect the world that girl lived in. There was a magician who had lost her precious partner in an area between science and magic, but she now used a golem with that partner''s name. There were many nuns who had been treated as sacrificial pawns by their parent church, the Roman Catholic Church, and then banished, but they continued to believe in God. Losing something was indeed sad. But that did not surely send one on a twisted path and it did not act as an indulgence. And most importantly, destruction did not lead to the salvation the destroyer wished for. Salvation was not something one simply depended on others for. Kanzaki had seen smiles reappear on the faces of those who had stood back up countless times while coughing up blood. She could say for sure that she understood this. Kanzaki respected the types of strength she did not possess herself and that was why she did not hold any easily influenced sympathy for what that Throwing Hammer had become. "...Salvare000." Instead, she named herself. A saving hand for those who cannot be saved. Without hesitation, she seemed to be stabbing out with the magic name she had carved into herself in Latin. The Throwing Hammer that had lost even its magic name began flying to form the giant circle again. It had an instability that was somehow reminiscent of a kite being swept away by the wind after its string broke. This time, the twenty-kilometer radius was oriented vertically. It looked as if over half of the fortress would be destroyed if Mj?lnir was fired, but the magician showed no sign of hesitation. Part 7 According to Accelerator, the transmitter created using the leylines was at the very center of the Central Hub Transformer Station. Kamijou forced open the lock on the back door using a flat-head screwdriver and entered the building. The space was filled with pale illumination from fluorescent lights, but there was no sign of anyone there. There was a room with over ten computers lined up in it, but no one was there operating them despite the numbers on the screens constantly scrolling. They seemed to be set so they could be operated remotely. The workers may have been working from home. (They probably aren''t supposed to be doing that...) But it was better than having some diligent worker still there. Kamijou did not have time for any unnecessary disturbances. He walked through the facility. He soon arrived at the very center. It was one square room in a square building and it had no real design to it. There were large computers lined up that checked on and controlled the power network so all the power coming from the great number of turbines within that district could be sent to the appropriate places. It was not uncommon for places with equipment like that to be kept cold like a refrigerator, but that did not seem to be one of those cases. Most likely, the bookshelf-like cases had cold air flowing through them or some kind of liquid cooling system was used. "The center..." Kamijou muttered as he walked across the room. "The center of the facility..." But there was nothing like a magical transmitter in that spot. He thought there might have been some kind of invisible gas or energy, so he swung his right hand around randomly, but he never felt any kind of reaction. Was it really there? Had they gotten the spot wrong? Or was it something that only a professional magician would be able to recognize? (...Wait.) Kamijou suddenly remembered something and looked at the center of the room. Technically, he was looking at the thick concrete floor. The roof was not leaking, but there was an unnatural dark stain there. "Underground...? Is it below this thick concrete!?" Part 8 By quickly flying in a giant circle while surrounded by a high voltage current, the Mj?lnir spell caused the electrified air within the circle to move at high speed. Once it was fired, it produced enough destruction to blow away a third of Radiosonde Castle which was a few dozen kilometers long. Kanzaki, a Saint, did not have enough physical strength left to evade it again. And she did not intend to evade it. Using one''s knowledge to prevail in a difficult situation was a magician''s specialty. (...When I think about it, why was it necessary to interfere with this fortress in such a roundabout way?) Due to its altitude, neither an airplane nor a rocket had been able to make use of its normal level of performance against Radiosonde Castle. Due to that, Kanzaki had gone up in a rocket and then reentered the atmosphere in order to land on top of the fortress. But... (Except for special cases like the #10 Saint, modern magicians are prohibited from a certain action. That is why I had to go up above the fortress first rather than going directly to it.) The reason she had chosen to fall. The reason she had not directly flown there. Kanzaki Kaori referred to that. There was one legend about Peter, one of the twelve apostles. He had confronted a magician named Simon Magus who was famous for trying to buy sacred acts. When Simon had freely flown through the sky, what had Peter said? It was... "Oh, demons carrying this magic user, promptly let go!!" Flight was prohibited. That barrier existed for all magicians living in modern times. That means of interception had spread too far due to it being simple yet both powerful and effective, and due to it being based on a famous story. Thanks to that, humans were restricted by the fact that they would be brought down the instant they tried to fly without wings. (I can''t allow myself to be led astray.) That magician''s strange appearance had led to her forgetting something very basic. The Throwing Hammer was not a spiritual item or a weapon. It was a living human being. A voiceless voice let out a cry that was something like a shock-wave. The perfectly controlled giant circle was crushed in an instant. The Throwing Hammer lost control and slammed into the fortress with a high voltage current trailing behind it. When it hit, a massive amount of sparks exploded out, but it was nothing compared to the destruction that had been about to be fired. "...That appearance was necessary to change what people aimed their interception spells at, wasn''t it?" The Throwing Hammer had smashed through a few floors of the fortress and was surrounded by rubble. Kanzaki slowly approached it. "If someone determined you were a spiritual item or a weapon, they would begin putting together interception spells to deal with those things. Simply put, you made people choose something other than an anti-personnel spell because an anti-personnel spell would easily defeat you. Thor''s hammer would be meaningless if it could not fly, but you would be shot down if you flew in this day and age. That was why you thought up a way to keep people from recognizing you for what you were as they tried to lock on to you as a target." With a sound like plastic boards folding, the Throwing Hammer changed from the flat plane back to the cube. It gave up on flying and seemed to be trying to roll away from Kanzaki. But it was no use. When the magician Simon had been brought down, he had died. For magicians, obstructing the opponent''s flight was not just something that brought the opponent''s altitude down to zero. The effects depended on what part of the story about Peter was being most strongly emphasized, but there was always something more than the simple damage from the fall added in. As such, the expanded cube was unable to return to the proper cube. The same sound continued, but the edges simply would not connect. It was like a die that a child had tried and failed to make out of drawing paper. "That is also why you used that large attack to blow away a good portion of the fortress. When I realized that you were a human, you felt a risk greater than just the immediate battle....Since you have lost your goal, did you fear having that method taken from you as well? And yet if you did lose your lingering attachments to the past, it would likely be easier to seek out a new goal." That Throwing Hammer had been in charge of controlling the metal balloons providing Radiosonde Castle''s lift. She could not overlook it. If she defeated the Throwing Hammer there, she could stop the fortress from rapidly falling. She could prevent a catastrophe that would affect Academy City and likely the entire world. Kanzaki Kaori recalled her magic name. Salvare000. A saving hand for those who cannot be saved. But she did not think that easily permitting the Throwing Hammer to live like that would lead to carrying out that goal. She believed that the salvation in the magic name she aspired to was not something so simple. "...It seems there is a problem in how you live your life, so you need to think deeply about what you intend to do before you take action. I will give you the time and place to do that whether you wish for it or not." The Throwing Hammer remained silent. In its silence, it gave up on returning to the cube form and collapsed to the ground as the flat expanded cube. But it did not stop there. Without making a noise, something like a net appeared on the surface. Along the lines of that net, the flat expanded cube split apart complexly. At first glance, the shapes it was splitting into looked random, but they all became smaller expanded cubes. The many small expanded cubes looked like puzzle pieces and they started flapping weakly like many butterflies taking off in unison. (...So even as he flees, he chose a projectile.) It was possible his or her magic name lay in that fact. Kanzaki thought for a second, but then mercilessly activated Peter''s interception spell. As if a giant metal sheet had struck them from above, the mass of expanded cubes fell in unison. They lost their power and were swept away into the sky by the wind. Kanzaki did not think the magician was dead. In fact, she had no idea how one was supposed to kill someone who could split up to that level. "..." For an instant, Kanzaki''s focus remained on the Throwing Hammer floating in the wind, but she finally shook herself from it. She would make sure to save that magician later. But Kanzaki Kaori had something to do first. Part 9 The sound of a heavy piece of metal striking something hard rang out. It was the sound of Kamijou Touma swinging down a shovel he had found in the facility, but as he had expected, it was not enough to break the thick concrete floor. He had tried it a few dozen times already and made many white marks on the floor, but that had only taken a few millimeters off the surface. Not a single crack had appeared. His hands that were swinging down the shovel were at their limit. Kamijou could not bear it any longer and tossed the shovel aside. Fuck!! What he was after was below there. The transmitter guiding Radiosonde Castle was most likely something that could easily be destroyed with just a slight touch from Kamijous right hand. But he could not do anything without touching it. That thick wall of concrete was a completely normal object that could be found anywhere and it had nothing to do with the world of the occult, but it was blocking Kamijou Toumas way. A power called Imagine Breaker resided in his right hand. Using that right hand, Kamijou had defeated the #1 esper and the leader of Gods Right Seat. But he could only negate supernatural powers. He could not destroy completely normal concrete, he could not outrun a completely normal car, and his blood could be shed by a completely normal box cutter. That was all he was. Up until then, he had fought cleverly in order to ensure that those things would not work against him, but his strategy of using every trick in the book had finally bitten him back. (What do I do...?) Kamijou looked down at his numb hands. (At this rate, Radiosonde Castle is going to fall on Academy City. Theres no guarantee that the danger will leave even if I leave the city. I have to destroy that transmitter somehow, but I cant get to it with this thick concrete in the way!!) Time was running out. Radiosonde Castle was approaching. Rushing things would not solve the situation. Kamijou picked back up the shovel thats edge had chipped. He was seriously worried about the condition of the bones in his wrists, but he had to at least do something. Suddenly, the wall to Kamijous side was blown away by a force from outside. A great amount of rubble and dust poured into the room. What had come crashing through the wall was a piece of construction equipment facing backwards. The reason it was backwards was most likely to protect the arm portion on the front. Instead of a bucket used to dig dirt, the arm had a sharp spike on it that vibrated electronically. Kamijou recognized the boy sitting in the drivers seat. It was Hamazura Shiage. Hey, boss. Having trouble? Cough cough!! Wh-what is that thing? And where did you get it!? Its a boring machine used to open small tunnels for underground cables. It was inside the facility grounds. As Academy City had no power lines, the power cables and communications lines had to be laid underground. As such, pieces of equipment like that were not too rare. I dont understand all the details about this magic or whatever, but we basically just have to destroy the thing thats calling in that fucking huge fortress, right? In that case, wouldnt a little horsepower be helpful? The bottom of the vehicle that was wrapped in metal treads remained stationary and the upper portion with the drivers seat and the arm on it rotated around. Hamazura was bringing the sharp spike to the center of the room. He did not have any kind of special power. That was why, when a powerful esper appeared, he did not take them on head on. Instead, he would first try to find a safe area. And when the situation also involved the occult, his options were limited even further. In order to protect those he did not want to lose no matter what and in order to save his comrades from unreasonable situations, Hamazura would occasionally confront people with extraordinary powers, but that was not really his area of expertise. Basically, Hamazura Shiage had nothing more than a commonplace role that had no place in the world of science or magic and could easily be killed at the slightest chance. But... When the situation had nothing to do with those kinds of unreasonable powers, Hamazura Shiage could solve normal problems with normal techniques. The tremendous noise of the spike digging into that concrete floor exploded out. That floor had not budged after Kamijou struck it with that shovel again and again, but thick cracks ran through it in no time at all. Gray dust flew into the air, the cracks connected, and the thick floor broke. For the first few minutes, the thick noise of the concrete breaking continued, but after that, it changed to a softer sound. It was now boring into the earth below the concrete. Shit!! What!? Something suddenly changed. A high-pitched noise almost like glass shattering rang out and orange sparks started flying from the sturdy spike. Hamazura forcibly operated the arm trying to dig further, but the tip of the tough tungsten alloy spike broke like a piece of hard candy. The broken tip of the spike must have struck the cable along the arm because the spike itself stopped vibrating. Kamijou peered down into the darkness of the newly opened hole. Something was inside. The object glowed a muddy red like some kind of strange jewel. It was cold like glass, it was hard like stone, and it colored everything an ominous blood-red. It was a crystal about the size of a fist. Most likely, it was... Reach it... Kamijou stretched his hand down into the hole. Pain shot from his joints as he stretched them to their limits. He ignored the pain and stretched his hand, his fingertips, deeper and deeper down. Reach iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!! And... Part 10 A sound like shattering glass reverberated throughout one corner of Academy City. Immediately afterwards, Radiosonde Castle arrived above the city. Its speed of descent increased slightly, but its horizontal speed did not lower. Thirty seconds later, the fortress passed directly over Academy City and continued on. Part 11 Hamazura Shiage abandoned the piece of heavy machinery and fled the Central Hub Transformer Station with Kamijou Touma. What they had done was necessary, but they were not necessarily going to get a chance to explain that fact. Accelerator jumped down from the buildings rooftop and landed near the two of them. He did not have a single scratch on his body. Looking annoyed, he flipped his electrodes switch and leaned his weight on his modern cane. ...Looks like its over, he said while switching his cell phone to speakerphone using his thumb. Birdways familiar voice came from the phone. It seems Radiosonde Castles speed was carefully controlled and it has landed in the sea off of the Boso Peninsula in the Chiba prefecture. There was no damage caused by high waves. Im a little bothered by how slow Academy Citys reaction speed was, but the situation was resolved nonetheless. Kanzaki Kaori sat atop the topmost level of Radiosonde Castle that was floating in the ocean like an artificial island. She sighed. She could communicate using her spiritual item once more, and she was currently listening to Agnese. The crisis has been confirmed to have been avoided. That means we now have to focus on gathering information. After all, we still do not know who exactly the enemy was. It isnt known how long that fortress is going to float there, but please gather as much data as you can before any hints there disappear. ...Understood. However, I feel that focusing on putting up defensive spells so the water pressure does not destroy the fortress would increase the amount of data we could get down the line. As she spoke, Kanzaki stood back up. Because there was a danger of it sinking, she did not intend to investigate deep within the fortress, but she did need to gather what information she could. Id like to give you some words of thanks now, but I just remembered that I never got to the real issue at hand in our discussions, said Birdway over the cell phone. Youre going to explain more? How many more hours are you going to keep us restrained...? complained Hamazura sounding utterly fed up with it all. Dont worry. Only the true core of the issue is left: their name. Kanzaki Kaori discovered something truly out of place in one section of Radiosonde Castle. It was unknown if the enemy was from the science side or the magic side, but that structure felt as if it had been built to look like the Star of Bethlehem, a magic side fortress. In order to give it the image of the fortress it was based on, the parts making up Radiosonde Castle had the designs of old churches and temples. She had found something that completely ruined the atmosphere that had been built up. It was a message covering one wall written in red spray paint. The writing was messy. It was nothing like the almost artistic kinds of graffiti often seen. Instead, the wall simply had the letters quickly drawn out on it which completely destroyed the overall image the rest of the fortress had created. Them. Those who had come about in the process of World War III. Those who were still squirming about after the war had ended. For those three who had protected those important to them in that war, that was information they had to be made aware of. Yes, Birdway said, Their name seems to be... The message covering the wall before Kanzaki said the following: Welcome home, hero. Kanzaki knew who it referred to. Just before she had set out on that plan to deal with Radiosonde Castle, she had heard from another magician named Itsuwa that a certain boy had been sighted. ... And... The name of the ones who left the message was written at the end. It said... ...Gremlin, Birdway finished. From Gremlin. That was the name of a type of fairy that was believed to cause malfunctions in machinery and to make weapons such as airplanes unusable. That was a new generation of the occult that had only started being passed down by humans once the concept of machines had been created. It was a symbol of one side of the world eating into the other side. In that world where the winners of World War III, the science side, had greatly spread, a type of occult that would devour it had been born. Volume 2, Epilogue: A Rest, but a Mixture in the Dark Side. Birdway’s_Speech. Volume 2, Epilogue: A Rest, but a Mixture in the Dark Side. Birdway''s_Speech. It seems Gremlins next target is the United States, Birdway said once Kamijou and the others had returned to his dorm. I dont know what they intend to do, but I have gotten ahold of information that a few magicians have already arrived on the Hawaiian Islands. Given how much of a commotion Gremlins greeting caused, they will likely cause chaos on a global scale once they seriously begin to act. If we are to crush them, it has to be now. A greeting. To Gremlin, that large scale incident that could have easily caused catastrophic damage to the human race was nothing more than a means of confirming if Kamijou Touma was still alive and a greeting meant to let their existence be known by those who needed to know. If Gremlin got serious, no one would be able to say it was not their problem. A calamity of that level awaited them. Having been able to sense that the impending crisis may have been fortunate for those who happened to be there in that dorm. ...But it was up to each one of them whether they would take advantage of that knowledge. However... Wait a second, said Accelerator. Fuck that. I only listened to what you had to say because there were some things I wanted to hear about, thanks to what Ive gone through, I have no intention of acting as your pawn from here on out. You seem to be mistaken, said Birdway as she lightly waved her index finger. We dont really want your help. ... Oh? You said getting dragged into this was an annoyance, but now youre not looking too pleased about not being considered part of the fighting force. You certainly are a selfish bastard, Birdway said with one side of her mouth raised mockingly. I only answered your questions because it looked like you were dying to know the answers, but you talk like you''re standing at the center of the stage and act like thats the natural state of things... Im guessing youve been rather spoiled by those around you up until now. Are you the type that always gets the piece of the Christmas cake that has the Santa doll on it? Tch, Accelerator clicked his tongue. Fine then. I have my own life. Ill disappear now. ...Thats fine. If you can manage it. Ah? A dangerous light resided in his red eyes because he thought of the possibility of having someone close to him used as a hostage in order to negotiate with him. But Birdway shook her head. Dont worry. I am not Academy City. Im not going to force you to do anything and I see no need to search for anything to use in a negotiation with you. ... But my cabal analyzes the leaders and charismatic people of various organizations in order to search out the best course with which to seize the core of the world. As an expert in that, I know. Know what? That there is a definitive difference between those who just give in to peace and those who lost peace and regained it with their own strength. There are many different kinds of heroes, but your direction was decided the instant you reached out your hand to save Fremea Seivelun. ...So unfortunately for you, you will come even if I explicitly tell you not to. And you will lean further and further in that direction, the longer you live in that peace you wished for so greatly. That may have sounded like some kind of riddle, but later you will understand what I mean more than you would like. Accelerator did not respond. He merely violently opened the front door and left. ...What do you mean? said Hamazura blankly. He had a feeling that that exchange had not been completely unrelated to him. The difference between those who just give in to peace and those who lost peace and regained it with their own strength. Leaning farther in the direction of fighting the longer one spent in peace. It didnt really click with him, but he still felt a chill run down his spine. That sounded to him like someone who actually desired a battle and would drown in blood within the darkness. Birdway approached behind Hamazura and spoke. ...Do you want me to give you a spoiler? Wah!? If you leave this room, you will find out eventually on your own, but there are some people who feel pain when everything is not spoiled for them. The age of internet searches can be a troublesome thing sometimes. Birdway sighed. I dont want you to get the wrong idea, but Im not underestimating you all and I do not hold any ill will for you. There are many different kinds of heroes, but there are some who are charismatic because of their great selfishness and have some messed up set of values that makes them find mercilessly killing women and children to be cool. Compared to people like that, people who would save Fremea Seivelun and expect nothing in return are a much better level of heroes. ...Then... But that image of the hero is a problem. You saved Fremea Seivelun without thinking about the danger to yourself. Im sure you had your reasons, but you would likely have saved someone else in the same way even if those reasons did not apply for that person. You are the type of person who saves an individual or the world without thinking of whether it will be to your advantage or not, Birdway said. That is why you cannot flee from the fighting. Even if you live a blessed life within the peace you desperately regained, you will realize it. ...You will be happy, but are the people around you happy? You have the power needed to save an individual or the world, so is it really right to just sit there and abandon them? ... You can deny it in words, but when it comes down to it, you will act. Just like you did when you saved Fremea Seivelun. You are not a weak person who merely gives in to peace. You are a strong person who regained that peace yourself after you lost it. People like that bear the fate of constantly suffering over whether to choose to fight as they once did. ...Even if doing so has the risk of causing cracks in the peace that person has regained. Weaknesses brought on by excellence. Dangers hidden within goodness. Birdway mercilessly dug into Hamazura because she had seen many of those. As I said before, there are many different kinds of heroes. Some of them have built up a wonderful aesthetic of protecting those important to themselves even if it means abandoning others. But you cannot choose that path. After all, you took action for the sake of Fremea Seivelun. ...And you knew the risks that would bring. And if he ignored the worlds problem brought on by Gremlin, damages and sacrifices greater than just Fremea would likely come. As Hamazura lived his peaceful days that held no danger with Takitsubo, Mugino, Kinuhata, Fremea, Hanzou, and Kuruwa, he would begin to have certain thoughts crop up in his heart. If he had the strength to build up and protect something like that, was it okay to only make himself happy? ...My conclusion is that it is okay to be happy. There is no reason to feel guilty about it. But even though Ive told you that, you will not live accordingly. Even if you agree with me now, you will unhesitatingly charge forward when the time comes. That way of thinking is noble, but I feel it is a sad life to live. That may be why some people are strongly attracted to people like that and feel the need to pass down the stories of those heroes. ... Hamazura himself did not understand what he truly thought, but Birdway spoke as if it had all already been settled. Was it based on her statistical data from observing so many people? (Youve gotta be kidding me.) He had risked his life and protected Takitsubo. He did not want anything to happen that would certainly harm Mugino or Kinuhata. He had no reason to go out of his way to head to some dangerous place. There were organizations and specialists who dealt with the dangerous aspects of the world and they had managed to keep the history of mankind continuing to this day. So Hamazura had no reason to bear that burden. He had no reason to take any actions that would bring risks to those he cared about. But... What if another innocent person like Fremea Seivelun was crying out in front of Hamazuras eyes? What if someone was holding a gun to that persons head? Could he just stay quiet and overlook that? Could he let that person die just because it could damage what he already had? In Skill-Out, being weak had been the norm and everyone had believed that they could not truly change anything. But he was no longer the same as he had been back then. Hamazura had actually won absurd battles and successfully protected those he cared about from a global war. Could he still use the excuse of I have no power, so I cant save you? Would he accept that excuse from himself anymore? Im not telling you to think deeply on this, said Birdway dropping the tone of her voice down to a pitying one. There was a rare sincerity to her voice. ...It would actually be easier for me if you were able to deny it. I pray that you can do so...even though I know its hopeless. Following Accelerators lead, Hamazura Shiage walked heavily out of the dorm. Birdway folded her arms over her small chest and looked at Kamijou. As expected, you are the last one left. It is my room, you know? Well, I saved you from the Arctic Ocean on the assumption that you would get dragged into this, but you hold something so strange that it makes those two look like nothing, Birdway said as she opened Kamijous refrigerator without asking and started devouring a fish sausage. After all, I was able to give a proper warning to those two due to my continued research of various types of leaders and charismatic people, but you have a nature that has made even me start unintentionally thinking about getting you involved in this. Im not doing it because I want to. But you do not give up on it partway through. The ones causing the disturbance are coming to me. I have no choice. That is why it is not necessary to bring you in. You stand at the center without putting any work into gathering information or creating points of contact. Birdway smiled thinly. ..In truth, about half of the people in the world have a portion of that nature. But most of them either ignore those points of contact and continue with their lives, or do a bad job of getting involved and end up falling by the wayside before reaching the end. In that regard, it may be that you shine not at the starting point or the end point, but during the process in between. ? Having misfortune is not your defining characteristic. You excel when it comes to converting that misfortune into your own strength. Birdway grabbed a few more fish sausages as souvenirs and headed for the dorms entrance accompanied by the men wearing all black. She spoke without turning around. Well, Ill be relying on that nature of yours for a bit longer. Next is Hawaii. Now that Gremlin has confirmed that you are alive, they will be acting with a countermeasure for your right hand planned out. This will likely turn into a deadly battle even greater than what you have experienced before...and I need you to get wrapped up in it just like you always do. Kamijou heard the door open and then close. Kamijou and Index were the only ones left. Touma, said Index quietly calling his name. Touma, youre going somewhere again. Index asked Kamijou the following question because she knew him well, and because she was anxious about what would become of him. I was really worried. I was really anxious. Touma, you dont have a trump card that will ensure your victory. There is no rule saying that you will come back. If you continue these battles where you dont know if you will win, the odds of you coming back will be lower. Are you still going to go despite that? Well... Kamijou said as he looked down at his right hand and lightly opened and closed its fingers. If possible, I dont want to continue doing this kind of thing. But this time, I have to be a part of this. I think the way I am related to this incident is probably different from all the ones before. ? At the end of World War III, Fiamma of the Right said one of his objectives in that war was to obtain my right hand. Kamijou clenched his fist. And this time, they...Gremlin is aware of my right hand. They even sent out that ridiculously huge fortress just to find where I was. I dont know if they want my right hand or if theyre just wary of it, but I am probably standing at another crossroads. Just like I was during World War III. Touma... I want to know the truth behind my right hands power. At the end of World War III, Kamijous right arm had been severed. That severed arm had not been reattached. It had grown back from nothing. He had no idea what materials it was made of, what power had been used, or what method had been used. But he did know that it had led to him regaining Imagine Breaker. I have to know. If Gremlins movements could spread to a global scale, I have to figure out how I am related to the base of it all and I have to work out what I can do to have an effect on Gremlins plan. ... But Imagine Breaker has exceeded the category of a mere power of the science side. I most likely need information from both the science side and the magic side in order to learn of its true nature. I need information from a much deeper place than what is recorded in the 103,000 grimoires in your head. ...For that reason too, I cant let myself be left behind in the flow of these events. If I dont take the ticket Birdway has presented to me, I will never be able to grasp that information about myself. Kamijou then fell silent for a bit. He clenched his right fist so hard it started to hurt. ...In the end, I am joining this deadly fight for my own sake. Ha ha. Im no different from a berserker. Kamijou laughed in self derision, but it did not seem that he was able to stand still any longer. However, Index felt that Kamijou Touma would likely have headed to the center of that disturbance even if all that had not happened. A large scale magic incident was going to occur on the Hawaiian Islands. Many people lived there, and those people would surely suffer when that incident occurred. From the way things were going, it was possible that many people would die. He would have taken action even if he had only known that much. Kamijou Touma had never needed some great reason to take action. Without doing anything, he would get wrapped up in a situation, he would not abandon the dangerous situation partway through, and he held the strength needed to resolve it. He had saved many people in that way and Index herself was one of them. There may have been people who asked why. He may not have realized just how dangerous the actions he was taking were, but his answer was simple. For myself. Accelerator walked through the city at night with his modern cane. Last Order and Misaka Worst were walking with him. Ohhh! Walking through the glittering city at night has an adult feeling to it, says Misaka as Misaka looks around restlessly. You say that, but it looks to Misaka like you are only looking at the restaurants. Its absurd for the little sister to look down on her big sister like that!! says Misaka as Misaka checks on the pyramid structure!! What value does a big sister have if she loses to her little sister when it comes to chest size? Last Order tried to attack Misaka Worst, but Misaka Worst easily avoided the smaller girl. Accelerator thought as he watched them. He had cast aside the path of evil in order to regain that. He was determined to do whatever it took even if it was unlike him. As a result, he was satisfied and had at the very least succeeded in protecting those he wished to protect. But there was something he had not realized before because he had been so focused on obtaining the goal before his eyes. There was still a path beyond that point. Accelerator silently thought about what that path meant and where it led. Hamazura Shiage was also walking through the city at night. The way home for them all was the same up to a certain point, so Takitsubo, Mugino, and Kinuhata were with him. Fremea was fast asleep on his back and there was a hint of a dangerous light in Takitsubos expressionless eyes. But Academy Citys darkness seems like its super sticking around. It feels like a lot more returning groups are going to super appear like those Freshmen. Well, it was a gathering of people who had turned their backs on and shut out any kind of normal life. There are going to be some who couldnt adapt. And that was the quickest way of supporting the speed at which Academy Citys strange technology advances. As long as no one comes up with a better idea, similar things are going to happen. But this did have a super result because it made a division between the people who entered the darkness because they super wanted to and the people who were thrown into the darkness despite super not wanting to. ...That division may be based on the scale of how much the people just want to be left alone. Hamazura thought. The darkness still remained in that city. There was a danger of something new appearing. But it seemed one of the reasons the darkness was picking up speed lay outside Academy City. In that case, what did it mean to fight that outside cause? He could not stop the people who plunged into the darkness of their own free will, but what about stopping Gremlin who were working secretly outside and creating the need that led to those people plunging into the darkness? Was that really a situation where it was just someone elses problem? Werent they a related party just by being in Academy City? Hamazura Shiage silently thought while surrounded by the comrades he had regained with his own hands. The nighttime city was cloaked in a silent darkness. The three of them had the same thought. Where does this path lead? Kamijou Touma was awoken in the middle of the night by his cell phone ringing. He headed to the spot designated in the email. It was an iron bridge in District 7. When Kamijou arrived, he found the sender of the email waiting. Misaka...? You lost this, she said and tossed something toward him. Kamijou grabbed it in one hand and then realized that it was a frog strap. It was the one Kamijou had lost when he had sunk into the Arctic Ocean. The string that attached to his cell phone had torn, but it now had a new string of a different color on it. Since ours match, dont go losing it so easily. Sorry. After apologizing, Kamijou attached the strap to his cell phone once more. When Mikoto saw that, she smiled slightly. Her expression seemed to say that something had finally been returned to normal. With you, I know its hopeless to expect you to just stay in one place...but are you going somewhere by any chance? Seems that way. Kamijou sighed. To be honest, even though I may look like I know whats going on, I really dont have much of an idea whats going to happen this time. All I know about the group causing it is their name. But the effects have reached Academy City. This time I am not getting dragged into it in the process of Academy City being targeted. Academy City is getting dragged into this in the process of me being targeted. ...So I cant just ignore this. Well, I know you arent the kind of person that would listen to me if I tried, so I wont stop you. It seemed Mikotos only business with him had been the strap. Kamijou put his cell phone back in his pocket. The action seemed to be saying that he was cutting their connection now that they had nothing more to talk about. Well, see you around, Kamijou said. He turned his back on Mikoto. He started away from the iron bridge. He started away from the scientific knowledge arranged by Academy City and into the other side of that territory. Mikoto grabbed that boys hand. She made certain of that boy who was about to leave her. Mikoto''s words reached Kamijou''s ears as his movement was stopped. "But this time, you aren''t alone." And... As those boys were preparing themselves to head forward, Birdway was also silently heading out. She followed the path back to a high class hotel in District 3 of Academy City. She was walking rather than using a vehicle and she was checking with her subordinate men wearing black on the many matters they had been contacted about. The topic was mainly about the giant golden arms that had appeared around the world at the end of World War III and the disposal of the objects made of the same material that had appeared when the golden arms had exploded. Also under discussion was the progress of the recovery and return of the parts of churches and cathedrals from across the world that had been used to construct the Star of Bethlehem, the giant fortress that could be said to be the true symbol of World War III. However, Birdway and her men were not carrying out those things. They were mainly intercepting information on the work being carried out by religious organizations larger than themselves such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. After their discussion was more or less over, Birdway suddenly spoke. ...It must be difficult for you, Aleister. She was not speaking to the men surrounding her. She was only speaking to herself. However, Birdway knew. She did not understand the detailed principles behind it, but she knew that a certain man could hear what she said there. I had guessed it from that disturbance with the Freshmen, but the incident with Radiosonde Castle clinches it. And Im sure Gremlin has come to the same conclusion. ...You cannot move freely. I do not think the actions of those Freshmen are in line with your objectives and I havent overlooked the fact that you did not stop them. And there was no reason to allow Radiosonde Castle to pass over Academy City. Leivinia Birdway investigated leaders and charismatic people both ancient and recent, both East and West and she would use that information to efficiently grasp the core of society. She had pursued a certain person as a sample for that research. That person was a magician called Aleister Crowley. So the errors in your plan have exceeded the acceptable range, have they? she said. I do not know the details of what you are currently trying to do...but I have thoroughly studied what you were trying to do back in the 1900s before you were considered dead. From that viewpoint, this situation must be well removed from your objective. Am I wrong? Of course, she received no response as she spoke to herself. Regardless, Birdway continued. During World War III and in your contact with Fiamma of the Right, a major deviation occurred in your plan centered on Kamijou Touma. You are trying to correct that, but you do not know in what direction to apply power in order to bring things back to normal. Unless you can unravel all the conditions that are so complexly intertwined, you cannot take any real action. That is why you did not drag Kamijou out of the Arctic Ocean despite knowing he was sinking into it, and that is why you took no action to secure him despite knowing that he had returned to Academy City. Kamijou Touma, Accelerator, and Hamazura Shiage. They all had their social lives and their separate relationships with others, so it would not have been hard to find someone who could easily be used as a hostage for any one of them. And of those three, Kamijou had the widest group of people he knew and his personality made him very easy to manipulate through the use of a hostage. And yet Aleister had not done so. No. He had not been able to do so. Technically, he could have done it had he tried, but the magician himself could no longer calculate how much of an effect such a simple action would have on his plan. Osiris and Horus. Abandoning the old world bound by the rule of Christianity and the awakening of a new world filled with new laws and freedom. That was your theory, was it not? ...Well, I have a feeling there is more to that than simple logic. I have a feeling your history that let you see the ugly side of the believers of a certain strict Christian denomination and of the modern magical society that claims to have abandoned worldly desires had something to do with it. While she stared at the night scenery that shined even more brightly than the stars in the sky, a malicious smile appeared on Birdways face. ...Thats right, Aleister. During World War III, the old rules were removed from this world. And that includes the ones you controlled. The second death. Kamijou Toumas error. Uncontrollable expectations of what will occur in the future. Doesnt the world just seem like so much fun today? You should take satisfaction in this, too. Take satisfaction in this confusion where people move around freely and you therefore cannot be sure where things are headed. A dry sound rang out. Right next to Birdways cheek, two or three blonde hairs were unnaturally severed. Seeing those pieces of gold floating in the wind, the men surrounding her finally started to go on the alert, but Birdway stopped them with a movement of one hand. That had been a greeting from Aleister. Because he used cutting edge science to such a great extent, Birdway did not understand what exactly had happened, but even so, her smile did not disappear. It was not an issue of the detailed principles used. She had been given an answer at a much more fundamental level. ...There was no real reason that strike had to be only a warning, said Birdway without changing her manner of speaking and while still smiling. I can see your panic in the fact that you did not simply take off my head, Aleister. Volume 2, Afterword Volume 2, Afterword Umm, to those who started buying with the very first Index novel, to those who started buying with New Testament, to those who bought all of the volumes at once, to those who bought both the New Testament volumes at once, and to everyone who bought this new novel in any of the various paths there: hello. This is Kamachi Kazuma. This is the second volume of New Testament. This time, the contents include a bit of a rethinking of magic which is one of the roots on which the setting is based. Also, the view of who they are has been made a little more clear and the meaning of Kamijou Toumas second death has been referenced just a bit...In both cases, I feel it is kind of like dragging something from behind the scenes out to the forefront. One of the themes is in the word radiosonde, but that just refers to a disposable weather balloon. Given that, is it a little easier to understand what they did this time? A lot of people may be realizing that the power balance is crumbling both on an individual level and on an organization level. At first glance, Aleisters interference seems to be hindering the protagonists, but there are also problems that occur when it is no longer there. In a way, the construct of the children fighting while being protected by the power of the adults has been destroyed and now they must stand up for themselves in a world where they will receive no assistance. ...When I put it that way, it kind of makes it sound like the second death was him freeing himself from the stairway that is the process of a boys growth. Of course, that is the incorrect route, but it may be fun to enjoy that as a parallel explanation. I had the Five Over last time and, by pure coincidence, something related to Mj?lnir this time. I can almost see Biri Biri-san looking worried. But just like the science sides Pyrokinesis and the magic sides flame swords are two separate things, I felt that it would not be surprising if the magic side had its own person with a representative electrical attack method. In fact, I felt it would be strange if it didnt, so I made one. Having a large scale but being difficult to use corresponds more to Mugino than to Mikoto, though. I give my thanks to my illustrator, Haimura-san, and to my editor, Miki-san. Its probably because I wanted to have a bustling atmosphere in this one, but so many characters made an appearance. It must have been difficult to decide which scenes to cut out. I am truly thankful. And I give my thanks to all the readers. I was trying to make this one overall more lighthearted by putting in so much comedy, but I think the basic setting behind the scenes actually made it a rather bitter story. This was yet another story that would have been difficult to construct in a debut volume. I am thankful that I have been allowed to just do what I want. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Mikoto is finally joining the fight!! ...Although its because I havent put her in the fight up until now. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 3, Prologue: In the Fiftieth State. Crisis_of_Blue_Ocean. Volume 3, Prologue: In the Fiftieth State. Crisis_of_Blue_Ocean. Part 1 (November 10 C Oahu C Press Conference Room C From footage taken by an EAC News relay camera) Time is quite valuable, so lets keep the greetings short. Im sure the ladies, gentlemen, and cameramen lined up here dont want to be buried in flowery speech and I know the viewers at home always want something a little more stimulating. He was a man in his forties. His finely chiseled Latin features had a dreadfulness and wildness not found in a teenage delinquent. Muscles outdoing those of your average athlete were hidden below his tanned skin. The lack of an aura of intelligence was unfortunate, but the fault lay with the citizens who chose him. He was Roberto Katze. He was the President of the United States and the third Hispanic person to hold that position. If you mentioned that fact, he would readily reply that there was no point in taking pride in anything you were not first in and that he would rather be referred to as the first president to be a high school dropout. That was just the kind of person he was. The suit, tie, leather shoes, and everything else he was wearing were all from supporting groups, but they seemed more forced on him than things he had chosen himself. He had a rare talent in his ability to fill his faults with a sense of familiarity that kept him from seeming sloppy. And so lets start with the questions. I gave the general outline of the plan at the address two hours ago, so try not to ask me anything Ive already answered. Wasting our precious time will only make you the laughing stock of your viewers. Mr. President, said one of the reporters after raising his hand. You said the giant golden rings and bones that appeared at the end of World War III were being disposed of in the ocean near Hawaii, but why did we accept those useless pieces of junk? What a boring question. I guess the Condor has more troubles than just the slump in readers. Why is this being done in our waters rather than international waters? Is there some political reason behind that? Its much simpler than that. The president lightly shook his index finger. Each of those objects is dozens of meters across. If that many were just dumped all over the ocean, it would cause a change in the ocean currents. That change could harm the oceanic ecosystem and the supply of things like plankton and oxygen, and that would be a problem. We searched all over the oceans of the world and the acceptable zone we found just so happened to be near Hawaii. Do you understand? But it seems the local fishers and surfers are raising their voices in concern... The results of the calculations by the Glamorous Devil were given to them. Thats the nickname of the supercomputer in Florida, in case you didnt know. Anyway, from what I hear, they all fell asleep only twenty minutes into the explanation. It seems to me that they trust our conclusion. Some claim that they are being dragged to our waters so they can be recovered and studied in secret. You need to be careful about what you say, Mr. Reporter. This is something that hasnt even happened yet, so that is nothing more than speculation. And to be even more accurate, it is speculation from some Anti-American propaganda being distributed from a German intelligence agency. ...Whoops, I probably shouldnt have named the country. I was supposed to keep the friction with the EU a secret. When the president even stuck out his tongue in front of the camera, the young reporter let his head hang down and his shoulders shook to hold back his anger. Getting people to let secrets slip was part of his job, but that had been more like a present given to him by the president. The president was not even allowing the game to begin. In a column printed in the London Ingod, he had been referred to as a strange politician who upped his approval rating using verbal slips like that. A female reporter raised her hand. It seems the EU is planning to dispose of their golden rings and bones via the Atlantic Ocean, but they do not have enough sources of funds to cover it. Do you have any comments on that? Oh, come on. Im the US president, so ask me questions about the US. Thats like bringing up another woman in the middle of dinner. And if I record that as proof of sexual harassment? When I truly go after a woman, I give her such a memorable experience that any previous complaints are blown away. A middle-aged reporter then butted into the conversation. Mr. Scandal, it sounds like youre going back on your marriage proposal, so are you going to be the first single president now? Nick, I cant change who I am. Or maybe I should become the first US president to go bankrupt from divorce reparations. But Id have to have at least as many exes as there are states to manage that. Part 2 (November 10 C Oahu C Near the Press Conference Room C From the footage taken by a tourists video camera) Mama, wheres the president? We might be able catch a glimpse of him. A blonde girl of about five was in the center of the frame and a motherly voice could be heard from out of the frame. The blonde girl was waving around a small American flag. If we wait here, will I be able to shake his hand? That could be difficult. Theyve been getting stricter lately due to terrorist attacks. We might not even be able to get near the convoy of black cars. The mothers response may have sounded harsh, but that was the state of things. If she did not tell her daughter that, then the girl could very well get away from her mother and charge for the line of cars. Due to the recent war, the strange state of security was beyond description. When it came to protecting the president, they would mercilessly neutralize even a five year old girl. But that was also why a video that even caught a glimpse of the presidents face was valuable enough to boast about to the neighborhood. Huh? What is it, Jenny? Its the president. The president is coming this way. Heyyy! The footage from the video camera shook in confusion. Even if the girl was only five, she saw the president on the news each morning. The mother doubted she would mistake someone else for him, but... Suddenly, the footage shook wildly. It became almost impossible to see what was going on. It was snatched away. The mother had pointed the lens in the direction her daughter had pointed, but someone had grabbed the camera from her hand. As the frame showed the young mothers stomach at an angle, adults speaking could be heard from outside the frame. Kyahh!? Why are you...Bfh!? M-M-Mr. President!? Sorry, missus! Ill be borrowing this for a second, said Roberto Katze in a very different tone from when he spoke on TV. Unfortunately, I havent gotten so indiscriminate that I go after mothers, so I hope we can keep this quick!! W-wait, why are you here!? Mr. President, can I shake your hand? In the shaking footage, a large Hispanic man could be seen politely shaking the small girls hand and then rubbing her head with his large hand. The frame was then filled with his face. His gaze darted around as he spoke quickly. You may not believe me, but something strange is going on in the center of the government. The details are unclear at the moment, but its being caused by an external factor. People who were completely normal the day before are suddenly becoming enemies of America as if they are being controlled by someone else. How good a person they were originally makes no difference. I cannot deny the possibility that the same will eventually happen to me if I stay in the White House. As such, I will be making sure no one knows where I am for a while. As he spoke, the presidents rapid breathing must have been hitting the microphone because static would mix in at irregular intervals. I repeat. I am disappearing of my own free will. I have not been abducted by some third party. I hope that whoever sees this is able to act rationally. From now on, I will be acting as a member of the US government in order to deal with the danger that is growing in this country. After saying that, the footage shook greatly. It seemed he had handed the camera back to the mother. The camera was still shaky, but it now showed the presidents entire body. He was holding a small attach case in one hand and was gently shooing the holder of the camera back with the other. You dont need to contact the police. I doubt it would help if you did. There is a reason that I am leaving this message so that it can be heard by others. You two should just enjoy your time in Hawaii. The president then left the still-confused mother and forced his way across a road filled with cars. Shortly thereafter, the back entrance of the press conference room opened and a number of men in black suits cut past the camera. Well, that was certainly more than a glimpse, said the mother getting excited at the treasure of a video she held in her hands. Maybe I can marry the president. Her daughters dangerous words brought her back to her senses. Volume 3, 1: Which Side Will Deliver a Preemptive Strike? First_Contact. Volume 3, Chapter 1: Which Side Will Deliver a Preemptive Strike? First_Contact. Part 1 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Customs Gate C From security camera footage.) Though it was neither the middle of the summer tourist season nor the middle of the winter tourist season, the area around the gate was packed with people. Since one of Hawaiis main industries was tourism, holding that many people up for so long could easily be seen as a breakdown in the system. The crowd was mostly made up of tourists, businessmen, transportation workers, and people with cards hanging from their necks that were here most likely to conduct research into volcanoes or tropical fish. However a few people in the crowd clearly did not fit into any of those categories. For instance, there was a spiky-haired Asian. And there was the #3 Level 5 walking beside him. While the two could probably be classified as tourists, a boy and girl wandering through an international airport without a guide or parents was peculiar. ...I guess Birdway and the others arent here yet. This is where we were supposed to meet up with them, though, muttered the boy, Kamijou Touma. For how little of the English language he knew, he seemed oddly used to being overseas. However, just a few minutes before while on the plane, he had been trembling in his seat. From what he muttered about things like parachutes and speeds of 7,000 kph, he must have had some dreadful memories related to airplanes. As for the girl, Misaka Mikoto... (...Wah wah wah!! I-I did spontaneously tell him that he wouldn''t be alone this time, but I didnt expect to end up overseas all of a sudden! The dorm supervisor and Kuroko arent watching. What do I do!? I doubt this is just a day trip; were probably going to be spending the night. What do I do, what do I do!?) The unparalleled Onee-samawhen viewed from the eyes of a middle school girlwas blushing and panicking, but Kamijou showed no sign of noticing as he sat on his suitcase and fanned himself with his hand. The girl was so psyched that she could barely keep up with the present, so she was wholly incapable of asking herself questions about what they were doing there, and why they were meeting up with others who had flown in small groups on separate flights. An electronic tone sounded from the announcement speakers set up in various places around the airport. Kamijou Touma looked up, but he frowned upon hearing a womans voice speaking fluent English. ...What is she saying? I cant believe you would cross the ocean without knowing that much. How did you manage to answer the questions of the officials at customs? Mikoto muttered in disbelief, but she added more quietly to herself, (...Does that mean he has no choice but to rely on my knowledge of English? Fwoh!? Has the time finally come for me to seize the initiative in our actions here!?) As she mumbled to herself, she started to tremble for some reason. Part 2 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Terminal Three C Caf Simple Coconut C From the camera in a pet robot in the caf.) In the sort of airport caf where four-fifths of the price was due to the location alone, Leivinia Birdway took a sip from a coffee cup and grimaced. ...I expected this to be sweet, but not this much. It has enough calories to rival an energy drink for a marathon runner. You shouldve been able to tell that from the way it looks. Its pure white. And how about you read the name of the place aloud too, spat out Accelerator, Academy Citys #1 Level 5. Birdway started shoveling in some tapioca which had come with her drink and said, What a gentle tone of voice. Ahn? You seem used to dealing with kids, but you dont need to switch over to that mode with me. ... If youre going to act as my escort, it would help if you would treat me like a lady. Especially regarding my personal pride. Tch, Accelerator clicked his tongue and took a sip of weak coffee. It seemed like he hadn''t noticed how he was acting until she pointed it out. He decided it would be best not to use his cell phone. He did not want anyone to know that he was contemplating whether he could contact that brat or not. The enemy was already on the island. It was possible their conversation was being monitored even now, and anything he let them know could possibly be used against him. So when are the others going to meet up with us? I have no way of knowing when their flights arrived or how busy their gates are, Birdway said simply as she battled with the contents of her cup that she was treating as a dessert. Even if Aleisters influence has weakened, it was difficult to get that many people out of Academy City. If you had all gotten on the same flight, we would have been tracked for sure. I had us split into small groups in order to eliminate the risk as much as possible. I bought our safety with money and time, so quit complaining. That must have been why the men wearing black that usually surrounded her were nowhere to be seen. It seemed their absence did not bother Birdway too much. Now that Gremlin has confirmed Imagine Breaker''s survival using Radiosonde Castle, they will be preparing themselves for interference from and coming up with countermeasures against that natural enemy of magic. They are sure to carry out something big here in Hawaii. We followed them here in order to stop them, but we are not the world police. We cannot slip past everything by using special rules, so we need to make the proper preparations before beginning the fight. ...Cant you pull it off somehow with that magic of yours? I probably could if it came to it, but it comes down to the dilemma of a phantom thief. Any method I use once will be analyzed. If I have a different way of dealing with it, I dont want to use any of my major techniques. So its all for your convenience, Accelerator muttered in annoyance. You said Gremlin is hiding here in Hawaii, right? Yes, in all likelihood. But how are we supposed to find them? There are eight main islands, and if you count the small ones, there are around 130. There are over 1.4 million residents alone and adding in the temporary visitors gives you a total of over three million people. I doubt were gonna find these hidden people just by running around randomly. I have an idea of how to deal with that. At the same time, Accelerator heard an electronic tone. Birdway looked up toward the ceiling. Looks like its starting. Part 3 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Terminal Two C From the camera in an automatic guidance kiosk.) Hamazura Shiage was standing before a large board within the airport. To be precise, it was an electronic guidance board. Instead of just showing a map, it had a keyboard that allowed entry of ones destination so it could display the way there. It also had a voice recognition function so that users could be connected to an operator, but that was no help for Hamazura because he could not speak English at all. Not to mention that something else was further inhibiting his already regrettable level of knowledge. It was a girl of about twelve that stood next to him. She was Kuroyoru Umidori. She was a cyborg girl who had been at the center of the Freshmen, an organization from the dark side of Academy City, and whose body itself was a mass of engineering secrets. ...Why did I have to end up grouped with you of all people!? Wasnt there some better combination that had a little less bad blood from the past, or at least someone I could overpower if it came to it!? Im the one that was fucking kidnapped, Haaamaaa-chaaaan! Nooo!! Your speech pattern has changed by default!! God dammit. First you say you cant just leave me be in Academy City cause Im likely to attack Fremea again, but you also couldnt bring yourself to kill me. You were a little too optimistic to think you could solve that conundrum just by bringing me with you. You didnt think about the fact that youd then have to worry about the possibility of me ripping your fucking throat out at any time, did you!? Normally, my biggest worry about a trip to Hawaii would''ve been what souvenir to get my lovely Takitsubo-chan!! Id be wondering if she would think something like macadamia nuts is too clichd, or if she would be glad I was sticking to the basics! So why is my life endangered before Ive even left the airport!? And like that, Hamazura Shiage was already thrust into grave danger. He had thought that Kuroyoru had not attacked him up to that point because she thought it would be easier to escape if she was outside of Japan first. However, the deadly cyborg did not carry out a terrorist attack with her Bomber Lance. Before she could, another figure approached from behind. It was Misaka Worst. The ao dai-wearing girl with a mischievous glint in her eyes and her dominant hand in a cast wrapped one arm around the cyborgs neck. Kuro-nyaaan. !? You can do whatever you want, but do you really think we would''ve put together this plan if we had no way of winning? Gyah gyah gyah gyah gyah!? Kuroyoru suddenly started howling because Misaka Worst had used her ability to manipulate electricity on the cyborg control mechanisms. The usually cool girl may have suddenly shouted Transform!! and made a strange pose, but there were valid reasons for doing so. It was not a prank that would have helped a school counselor to earn his keep. Nyah nyah... gyah... Ha ha ha. You should count yourself lucky that Misaka didnt mess with the ones for your organs. Mechas like you just arent suited for facing electricity-type espers like Misaka. Did you not do your research beforehand, nyan? D-damn those bastards on the board of directors... Oh? Do you think the ban on cyborg development was lifted in order to back the Third Season project? Its possible, but theres no proof, so its really nothing but unjustified resentment. And really, this kind of security hole could probably be closed in two weeks or so if they actually bothered. Misaka had a selector put inside her, after all. However, no matter how easily-fillable a hole it was, it was still a major weakness until it was filled. And Hawaii did not have anything like Academy Citys research facilities. I-Im saved... said Hamazura as he wiped sweat from his brow. Hmm? Misaka never said anything about being on your side, nyahh. I was right! Someone made a serious error when they made these groups!! shouted Hamazura, but the two girls soaked in darkness didn''t appear to react. Like a delinquent, Misaka Worst leaned up with overt familiarity against Kuroyoru as the other girls arms continued to convulse slightly. Misaka Worst then spoke to the cyborg with a stifling sense of superiority at having complete control over the situation. Yknow, how are we supposed to search for someone suspicious with so many tourists around? With so many unfamiliar outsiders all over the place, even asking around doesnt sound like much help. ...What would you do if it was fucking up to you? You just dont have the right edge to your voice when you do it. Are you sure you had his thought patterns implanted? Misaka Worst said as she cackled. Anyway, it seems Gremlin is an ideological criminal group. So theyre overly sensitive? Yes, and thats what Misaka would try to take advantage of if Misaka had to. As the two girls continued their conversation, they heard an electronic tone. Afterwards, a womans voice gave an announcement in fluent English. Hamazura looked up. Is there a lost child or something? Its something a hell of a lot more dangerous than that, spat out Kuroyoru. Its begun. Part 4 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Terminal Three C Cafe Simple Coconut C From the camera in a pet robot in the caf.) The first to notice the oddity was Accelerator, who put his coffee cup down on the table. So youve figured it out? asked Birdway, while having not finished her sweet drink. At first, it just sounds like an announcement telling you not to dirty your shoes on the newly waxed floors. But there is no reason to announce that over here, since the area they mentioned is three blocks away. That was an anti-terrorism warning. They want people to stay clear of that area, while also reducing secondary damages from a panic. They couldnt pull that off if some idiot was shooting up the place, so they must have found a conspicuous suitcase or something. Yes, something like that. Birdway sipped at her too-sweet drink. But it was not necessarily Gremlin that left the suitcase there. For an instant, Accelerator thought she was suggesting that it might be some other terror group, but he immediately corrected himself. There was another possibility as to what she meant. ...You... Ill ask again: so youve figured it out? Since finding Gremlin amid all these people would be difficult, you set something up on our end!? Its merely a matter of efficiency. Birdway was still completely relaxed. If we do nothing, Gremlin will do something. That will cause a great number of people to suffer. As such, we need to draw them out beforehand. Whether they use methods that your common sense will help you comprehend or not, Gremlin is an ideological terror group. That means... They can be overly sensitive when it comes to their ideology, finished Accelerator as he became profoundly aware of the electrode on his neck. The men in black suits must have been the ones who had actually set up the suitcase. If thats what theyre like, we can really get to them. If they know someone else is going to use their name in a copycat attack, theyll try to stop it even if it puts them at the disadvantage... Gremlin is going to do something here in Hawaii, Birdway said with a grin. But that doesnt mean we have to wait for them to attack first, does it? The current commotion had a high probability of drawing out someone from Gremlin. If they could capture that person, they had a chance of finding Gremlins hideout or learning of their plan. It was true that, as a mere matter of efficiency as Birdway had put it, that was the best method. However... I have one question. And what would that be? What is inside the suitcase youre using as a dummy? Birdway shrugged and said, Reality always works best. If the police arent panicking, Gremlin might get suspicious before they interfere. Accelerator felt that he had truly grown, since he did not break the table in half. Part 5 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Central Lobby C From security camera footage.) Kamijou and Mikoto had looked for souvenirs in the duty-free shops before even taking a step outside the airport, but Kamijou suddenly made a strange sound and ran off after reading an email on his cell phone. He must not have known the dangers that a major gun-toting country could hold. Gyaaaaaaahhh!? Th-this goes well beyond misfortune!! Wait, wait! Are you really going to cut across here!? The announcement about the waxing was a hidden anti-terrorism warning!! I just got an email saying Birdway set up a bomb!! Of course, no one would go out of their way to approach an area being odorously waxed by a lawnmower-like device. If one thought about it calmly, it was strange how airport workers were watching alertly from the outer edge of the area being waxed, but the people who had believed the announcement did not seem to sense any danger. The warning signs and the foul odor were enough for most of the people to naturally distance themselves from the area. Meanwhile, Kamijou unhesitatingly charged straight into the area covered in half-dried wax. Mikoto grimaced at the smell and looked down at the clothes she was wearing, but continued on after seeming to have given up on something. The workers on the outer edge of the area frantically tried to stop them, but the two ignored their shouts. As he ran on ahead, the boy said, Honestly, I cant tell who the real terrorists are here. ...Am I supposed to stop Gremlin or do something about this suitcase? Is that the suitcase you mean? A number of men were surrounding a large suitcase. They seemed to be airport security, so the police must not have arrived yet. Instead of heading straight for the suitcase, Kamijou hid behind a nearby pillar. Mikoto followed him. Is Gremlin the group behind all this? Do you think theyre mixed in with those men? ...Im not so immersed in that side of things to know if someones a magician just by looking at them. Kamijou glanced around and spotted Hamazura and Misaka Worst peering from behind a corner about seventy meters away. He took that to mean Accelerator was probably close by as well. Kamijou pulled out his cell phone and moved his thumb across its keys. Who are you calling? Birdway. After the phone rang a few times, she answered. Ive found the suitcase you set up. There are some people who look like airport security around it. Do you really think Gremlin will show up? They already have. ? Kamijou frowned and Birdway continued. Theyre having unexpected troubles on their end, too. Theyre trying to make it past the guards using a makeshift spell, but analyzing and dispelling it is easy enough. ...Are they altering their appearance? Is someone from Gremlin mixed in with those workers...? Not there. He heard a sound over the phone, as if she had clapped her hands together. Immediately afterwards, Kamijou felt a chill as around twenty figures appeared out of thin air. They were all Western men. They wore the formal dress clothes of Birdways subordinates. We are not the main dish, said the man in the center, Mark Space, before he pointed toward an area with nothing in it. She is the one you need to focus on. !? Nothing had been there just a moment before, and there was nothing there to hide behind, and yet a girl now stood there. She had blonde hair and white skin. The lines of her body were slender and beautiful, and she had a well-featured face. She looked less like a natural person and more like an ideal girl from a picture book. If you were to describe her, she looked like a princess, though it was mainly her clothing that accomplished that impression. She wore an odd dress that seemed to be made of countless thin membranes placed one on top of another. The lines of her body were clearly visible through it. The one aspect of her that did not look straight out of a fairy tale was the figure-correcting underwear binding her entire body, like a diving suit that lay at the core of her elegant dress. It was a type of modern corset that wouldn''t be surprising to see on an infomercial. She was a magician from Gremlin. This was no longer conjecture or a story heard from someone else. For the first time, Kamijou saw the true enemy before his eyes. What he felt was not an obvious sense of intimidation. If he had to put a name to it, it would be a sense of something foreign. He had an unpleasant feeling that something there should not have existed. He felt somewhat anxious, as if overlooking her now would bring great disaster later. Fear and concern were part of a life forms reaction to danger, but what he was experiencing felt purer than that. Instead of the powerful emotion of fear causing him confusion, the raw feeling of danger forcibly honed his thoughts. The knowledge that she was a member of the organization that had unhesitatingly tried to drop Radiosonde Castle on Academy City gave rise to a sense of rational hatred within him. (...Did Birdway forcibly dispel all invisibility spells in the area or something?) The area of effect had likely been the entire central lobby. That was why the men in black suits, who had set up the suitcase, had appeared along with the magician from Gremlin. The Gremlin magician looked down at her hands and feet as if to check whether she could be seen by others. However, she did not seem panicked at all. Old lady of the pumpkin carriage, she said in French, as if singing. Her pure voice sounded like that of a fairy tale princess. Please give me the test of the glass slippers. Please give me the strict and cruel test of the glass slippers that dropped my selfish and dishonest mother and sisters to the bottom of the pit of despair. Immediately afterwards, a supernatural phenomenon occurred. Part 6 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport C From the security camera in a vending machine.) Hamazuras eyes opened wide as he peered around the corner. The first thing he noticed was an unpleasant noise, like cracks running through glass. Whats with them...? asked Kuroyoru in a wondering tone, while being held by the nape of the neck by an electricity-type esper who was looking for an opening. It had happened just after the twenty or so men in black suits had charged at the girl in the dress while ignoring the airport workers, who were overcome with surprise at their sudden appearance. Every single one of the men tripped and fell to the floor that was wet with wax. It was as if they had run across an invisible wire or some other kind of trap. That was how it appeared to be, but that was not what had truly occurred. Hamazura heard a few groans, and then the men let out even greater cries of pain. They were all grabbing at their leather shoes. To be specific, they were holding the end of their shoes with both hands. It was as if every single one had suddenly had all of their toes snapped. It was as if everyones feet had been broken within the range of some invisible explosion emitted from the girl in the dress. Hamazura let out a voice of confusion. What the hell is going on? Shh. Shes muttering something in French. The girl in the dress standing alone in the center of all the collapsed men was indeed muttering something. ...Old lady of the pumpkin carriage. Please lend your power to pitiful Cendrillon. Give me the test of the glass slippers once more. Do so until all the arrogantly deceitful challengers hang their heads in shame. Cinderella, hm? Is she a self suggestion-type Gemstone? Misaka Worst rationalized what she was seeing like that, but Hamazura felt something was off. He did not detect the distinct scent of Academy Citys espers, and yet what he was seeing seemed to be following set rules. That girl was a magician. She was from Gremlin. The girl who had named herself Cendrillon wielded the laws of a different world. She was one of the those who had sent out Radiosonde Castle for their own personal objective. Hamazuras breath caught in his throat. What should we do? Misaka Worst asked bluntly. I dont know what shes using, so I cant tell where the safe zone is. Without knowing that, I wouldnt suggest approaching her. ...It would be best to find a way to attack her without approaching. Misaka can think of someone that isnt safe to attack even from a distance... Part 7 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport C From a joke pen camera dropped by its owner in the process of evacuating.) Accelerator was holding onto an area of metal framework near the ceiling in the central lobby. He was inspecting the situation. (...Can she target everyone standing on the same floor as her? No, that Level 0 and the #3 hiding behind the pillar over there werent affected. It must simply be the distance from her.) If you displayed their locations on a two dimensional map of the floor, Accelerator was closer to Cendrillon than Kamijou and Mikoto, but the central lobby was tall. It reached up to a height of about three stories, so he was farther away from her in three dimensional space. With just one piece of magic, Cendrillon had sent an attack out in every direction which had immediately turned the situation in her favor. All of the men in black suits were holding their feet and writhing about. Accelerator could not see what had actually happened to them, but Cendrillon herself opened her mouth and explained. Warning. She was speaking toward Kamijou, but the boy did not seem to understand her as she was speaking French. This spell allows only my foot size, 22.5 centimeters. If your feet are smaller, the areas between the bones are forcibly widened and if your feet are larger, your toes are severed. ... A vivid image of what had happened to the men entered Accelerators mind. However, that was only a warning. That one only dislocated the toes. The real thing is next. So what will you do? Will you leave Gremlin alone, or must I take some collateral that is a little more certain? Kamijous face finally paled once the #3 translated for him. The collateral she referred to was likely the toes of everyone who opposed Gremlin. (...The main question is on what conditions the glass slippers activate.) Accelerator tried to come up with some means of fighting back. (If theres something that moves along the floor and explosively spreads out, I just have to destroy that. But Im up against a magician here. If its something like a cursed straw doll and it simply attacks anywhere there are feet while ignoring the concepts of distance and vectors, I could be in trouble.) Not too long before, he would have mocked that kind of thinking. But now, it was no laughing matter. There was no guarantee that his vector transformation that altered definite values would work on that mysterious attack. Part 8 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Third Runway C From a wild bird surveillance camera for bird strike prevention.) The gray runways spread out like packing tape placed over a lawn. A girl of about twelve walked along one of the countless asphalt lines cutting across. That was, of course, an area where normal people were not allowed. She was speaking with someone over her cell phone. Right, right. Well, that wont work. You just pretend you didnt understand her French and try to stall for time. That was all those idiots were there for anyway. I never expected them to win. Just put on an act so it looks like you and that middle school girl whos translating are too worked up for her to get her meaning across. ...I am a bit disappointed that they were taken out in a single strike though. As she spoke, the girl headed for one end of the runway. She was not headed for a large passenger plane. I already told you, it wont work. ...What? Hamazura and the others have started firing at her with a compressed gas gun they made from a fire extinguisher? That wont work either. Shell probably just avoid the shots with monstrous speed. She''s transformed the story of Cinderella into an attack spell by overwriting religious motifs into it. In the fairy tale, an amateur girl was given the dancing skills required to win the admiration of a prince who was used to balls. Shed probably casually avoid a cluster bomb if you dropped it near her. It had looked like an easily walkable distance from within the terminal, but Birdway was realizing that the scale of the runway was much greater when you were actually walking across it. She was getting sick of walking. It was probably originally created as a countermeasure for your Imagine Breaker. Foot crushing and high speed battling... its almost too obvious. They confirmed your survival the other day using Radiosonde Castle, so Gremlin now sees you as their natural enemy. Your right fist is a powerful trump card, but its pointless if you cant hit them. Having enough speed to dodge a bullet is a so-so countermeasure. Birdway finally stopped walking. Thats right, so buy some time. Dont think you can defeat her. If you charge in, shell counter you. Shell either take your toes or shatter your cheekbone with a straight right that has all her weight behind it. I doubt you want to experience either one. Birdway looked up at what was stopped at one end of the airport. What she saw was... I started this game, and I have an idea as to how Im going to end it. Part 9 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Central Lobby C From surveillance camera footage.) Low sounds like the beating of a drum intermittently reached Kamijous ears. Shots were being fired at approximately five to ten second intervals. The noises were coming from Hamazura and the others, who were around the corner of a passageway. They were firing an improvised gas gun at Cendrillon. To create the gas gun, they had tied four large fire extinguishers together in a bundle and attached a steel pipe to the end of the four hoses. Inside the pipe, they put corks with nails sticking through them. Those projectiles were sent slicing through the air at 230 kph, so a direct hit could drive the end of the nail into an arm or leg bone and shatter the bone like glass. They were using the weapon like a disposable bazooka. And yet... I thank you, old lady. Cendrillons pure singing voice continued on. Not a single shot hit her. I thank you for this lovely dance with the prince. I thank you for the glittering dress and glass slippers. These lovely clothes have turned this timid girl into an elegant and perfect princess for a night. The sound of her high heels on the floor was like a sewing machine. Her eyes met Kamijous. However, that was not all she was doing. Cendrillon was approaching Kamijou in great flowing motions as she avoided the projectiles. The situation had changed. During the discussion, the situation had become one where he could no longer attempt to buy time. Kh!! He immediately held up his right fist, but he simply did not have enough time. Her slender arms wrapped around Kamijous right arm and she stuck one high heel between his legs. Kamijou reflexively moved in order to avoid great pain. His body spun around as if he were the lead in a ballroom dance. In so doing, he moved himself in between Cendrillon and Hamazura. Old lady of the pumpkin carriage. Cendrillon thrust one arm under Kamijous arm and held her open palm out toward Hamazura who had frozen in shock. Please send the carriage quickly. Send it before I wake... before I wake from this one-night dream. Please send the pumpkin carriage. A shockwave roared across the room. It was as if an invisible vehicle had driven through. Sensing danger from the line of destruction that ran across the floor, Hamazura and the others frantically headed back around the corner. The instant they did, the wall next to the corner was smashed to pieces. Why you...!! From her position near Cendrillon, sparks flew from Mikotos bangs. However, Cendrillon tightened her grip on Kamijous arm, swung him around, and used him as a shield once more. Mikotos natural ability was sealed by that shield. Old lady of the pumpkin carriage. She swept Kamijous legs out from under him and he fell to the ground, taking Mikoto with him. Cendrillons lovely singing voice was the only thing left resounding through the central lobby as she leaned over. She was preparing her foot-crushing attack. She was going to create a new explosion using magic. Please give me the glass slippers. The distance is five hundred. The number of people is unlimited. Please give me the strict and cruel test of the glass slippers that leaves all the dishonest liars hanging their heads. That same spell...!? As Kamijou lay on his back, he saw Accelerator holding onto a metal framework near the ceiling. (...Shes noticed hes hiding there!! Thats why she set it to such a wide range...!) There was no guarantee that Accelerators reflection would work against her. It was an unknown number. And Kamijous own situation was hopeless as he had no obvious defense other than his right hand. They had been na?ve. Kamijou and his group had not been the only ones trying to draw out the enemy. Cendrillon had noticed the trap and had charged straight into it in order to eliminate all of the dangerous elements at once. That seemed to be how it would end, but... Youre still in the central lobby, right? asked Birdways voice. Kamijou looked around for the source of the voice and spotted his cell phone lying on the ground nearby. Stay away! You need to fall back and wait for another opportunity to-!! Thats all I need to know, she said, cutting him off. Immediately afterwards, the window covering one wall shattered. The window was over three stories tall and over three hundred meters across, but the entire area of reinforced glass shattered all at once. The cause was clear. A giant tanker truck filled with fifty tons of airplane fuel had smashed through the window and into the central lobby at full speed. Birdway was aboard it. However, she was not in the drivers seat. She was standing on its roof in a daunting pose. Birdway must have been using some kind of spell because not a single shard of the glass she had shattered touched her. Hah...? Still sitting atop Kamijou and Mikoto, Cendrillon cocked her head to the side and stiffened. Birdway ignored her and spoke into her cell phone. Hold down her legs. Kamijou stretched out his arm like a drowning man reaching for something to grab onto. In doing so, he managed to slow Cendrillons movements by a few seconds. That was more than enough to decide things. It was a direct hit. A great roar soared right past Kamijous face as he lay on his back. The ground clearance for large American vehicles like that was quite high, so Kamijou and Mikoto managed to remain below the vehicle while Cendrillon who was sitting atop them was hit by the front of the truck. Gh-gh-gah...!? Cendrillon tried to shout something, but the tanker truck moving at nearly 200 kph did not give her the opportunity. The truck continued on and slammed into the wall of the central lobby. The record for the loudest noise in the battle was broken again and again. This new sound deafened Kamijous ears. A large crack ran through the wall, fragments flew through the air, and something like dust billowed up. The drivers compartment of the tanker truck was crushed in like an empty can. Given the state of the truck, Birdway should not have gotten off lightly from her position on its roof, but for some reason she was perfectly fine. She landed lightly on the floor of the central lobby. There, said the young girl as she played with her hair. Honestly, I cant believe all of you let yourselves collapse all over the place so easily. It was a little tricky working the wheels through the gaps between you. Y-you monster... said Kamijou in a trembling voice as he sat up. Cendrillons spell must have been forcibly dispelled because the men ceased groaning and shouting. I thought we needed that Cendrillon girl to find Gremlins hideout and learn about their plan!? Wasnt that a little much!? This is well beyond needing to call an ambulance! Not necessarily, said Birdway as she lightly waved her right hand. At some point a wand had appeared there. See? It looks like we cant deal with Gremlin using ordinary means. ? Kamijou was about to let out a puzzled voice, but then he heard a creaking noise. It sounded like a metal sheet being bent. The noise was joined by other similar noises and they grew slowly but surely louder and more frequent. Between the tanker trucks smashed drivers compartment and the smashed wall, something was moving and breaking the metal panels in a way that made them seem weaker than paper. It was a finger. A slender, feminine finger was sticking out. The sight was similar to someone sticking their hand in the closing door of a train or elevator and forcing it back open. Cen... drillon...!? Of course. Cinderella was a flawless princess in front of the prince. A mistake would be unthinkable. All the external factors are readjusted so that it remains that way. I guess that convenient winners aura is the ball. It seems something that is nothing more than a large mass will not be enough to put an end to her aspirations. A clear gap appeared between the tanker truck and the wall. Eyes covered in blood peered from within. However, said Birdway as she spun her wand around in front of her. Cinderellas dress has a limit to its functionality. Specifically, a time limit of midnight. The changing of the date has meaning, but if you take it to refer to the ending of a one-night dream, there is a simpler symbol that can be used. Namely... As Birdway spoke, she stopped spinning her wand around. It was pointing toward the tanker truck. At some point, a gold pocket watch with a narrow chain had been coiled around the wand. Where its hands pointed does not need to be said. However, it further reinforced the symbol and role she was using. Dawn. Immediately afterwards, the fifty tons of airplane fuel ignited and intense heat and light filled the central lobby. While it was better than having it sprayed into the air and vaporized, airplane fuel still had very different characteristics to gasoline. Kamijou immediately grabbed Mikoto and hid behind the nearby pillar. Mikoto blushed, but she still managed to hold out her right hand and used magnetism to create a wall of steel objects that protected the dumbfounded airport workers. The men in black suits knew much better than Kamijou and the others just what kind of person Birdway was, so they had already fled the area at full speed. Kamijou did not have time to check what Accelerator and Hamazura Shiage did. The fuel exploded and all his senses were blotted out. Even as an intense flash of light filled the entire central lobby, Kamijou had no idea if he was doing all he could to protect himself. His vision did not start returning until about thirty seconds later. It took him another ten seconds before he realized that proved that he was still alive. He saw flames. He also saw a girl spinning a wand in one hand while standing amid a sea of unnatural flames that were more white than crimson. She stuck her other hand into the remains of the tanker truck and pulled something out. That something was Cendrillons battered form. Birdway was holding her by her blonde hair. Parts of her dress had melted and she had burns on her skin, but it was still strange for her to be in one piece after being that close to an explosion like that. Leivinia Birdway stood alone amid the flames, holding her target by the hair. That settles the opening battle, she said, sounding bored. Part 10 (November 10 C Oahu C From an ATM security camera.) As smoke rose from the airport, Hamazura Shiage caught his breath while leaning up against the pole of a road sign out front. He had fled from the airport. Luckily, the explosion had led to around twenty thousand passengers and workers evacuating outside, so no one found him suspicious. He may have been saved by the image people had of the Japanese being so peaceful that they did not know how to do deal with danger when they came across it. The men in black suits he saw here and there must have been the subordinates of the girl who had caused the explosion. They too were splitting up and escaping, but unlike Hamazura, they were unbelievably skilled at intentionally mixing in with the crowds even in a situation like that. Shit, shit!! I thought we were fighting terrorists here, not becoming them! Some people probably got caught up in that!! And the suitcase was blown up in it too, wasnt it!? You certainly are quick to give your unofficial report of what happened. Anyway, I sense a darkness in that girl thats different from my own, said Kuroyoru Umidori as she turned back to face the airport. How far do you intend to run? Only as far as the cops wont find suspicious, said Hamazura as he breathed heavily. Weve only just made it past the first barrier. Gremlin hasnt even made their real move yet, and we certainly dont want any difficulties with the cops before weve stopped them. In fact, theyre the ones that the cops should be after. I see you make excuses to yourself as excessively as you reward yourself. Hamazura ignored Kuroyorus scorn and wiped sweat from his face. Anyway, Birdway will call us once she gets some information out of that Cendrillon girl. It would be best if we hid somewhere until then. Oh, is that so? By the way... What? ...I havent seen Misaka Worst for a while now. If she got separated from us in the confusion, then this just got quite interesting, dont you think? Especially in regards to my glorious return. Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!! Just after Hamazura let out that girly scream while in a Munch-esque pose, someone speaking Japanese chimed in from the side. ...Why are you two messing around out here? It was the spiky-haired Kamijou Touma. Part 11 (November 10 C Oahu C From a tourists cell phone camera.) Why did things end up like this...? muttered Misaka Mikoto as she brushed up her bangs. Standing next to her was Misaka Worst, an ao dai-wearing girl who had almost the exact same face and build as Mikoto except for the mischievous look in her eyes (and her breast size). They had both gotten separated from their groups in the confusion and had run into each other while trying to find the others. Misaka is fresh from the Third Season project, so she doesnt know very many people. When shes not with him, about ninety percent of her desire to fight disappears. Third...Season...? Dont look at Misaka like that. The project was frozen anyway. All as a secret to you, Onee-tama. ? It basically comes down to the fact that there are a surprising number of heroes scattered around this world, muttered Misaka Worst. Anyway, #3, are you sure you should be doing that during such an urgent time? What are you trying to say? Mikoto had called up a map on her cell phone in order to think up a way to regroup with the other members, but... That sure is a lot of unrelated locations you have marked on your cell phone map there. Whats this? You have the head store of Cupid Arrow marked? Fwoh!? Mikoto turned her cell phone off as quickly as humanly possible, but Misaka Worsts grinning did not stop. Isnt that a store well known for its wedding rings? Although Misaka had heard they had recently started expanding the breadth of their operations because business was poor... ...For someone born so recently, you sure are knowledgeable about this. You can quickly find almost any information you want on the internet. But Misaka thought they had an external detective agency perform a background check on the customer before they would make an engagement ring or wedding ring for them. Misaka doesnt think they would accept an order from a middle school girl. Ugh... Which means... heh heh... it must be that new service of theirs...ha ha... Those tag rings for lovers in a less serious relationship... hee hee... Daahhhh!! Fine, youre right! When I heard we were going to Hawaii, I just thought I could stop by and buy Cupid Arrow tag rings when I had some time!! Is that so wrong!? ...Those rings are made of titanium. Theyre cheap but dont you think theyre a little unrefined? Titanium can be colored using electrolysis when its in a solution. If two rings are manufactured with the same equipment, the pattern of the coloration comes out so the two rings connect. ...Its unscientifically seen as a charm to prevent the other from cheating on you. So you were going to color them using a combination of the stores equipment and your own biri biri-ness? ...Sorry, but thats the same as putting one of your own hairs in a guys Valentines chocolate. The girls the only one who finds it romantic. Eh!? Not to mention that the two of you arent even going out yet. Do you have any idea how a guy must feel if the girl gives him a ring? Hed probably also want to know how you know his ring size. Mikoto stiffened and Misaka Worst sighed. The girl who was less than a year old felt sorry for Mikoto and decided to stop poking fun at her over that. Well, enough with the Cupid Arrow tag rings. More importantly, Misaka knew that you didnt look any different from the clones of the old project, but... Wh-what? Whats the point of an original if she loses to the clone in so many ways? ...Are you talking about breast size...? Sparks flew from the fourteen-year-olds bangs as she cocked her head to the side slightly. Paying the sparks no heed, Misaka Worst said, Oh, Misaka never said that. Maybe she was talking about number of appearances. Now youve said it!! Part 12 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport Terminal Three Storage Area C From security camera footage.) So youre the only one that didnt run away, Birdway said bluntly. Accelerator clicked his tongue. She gave a light jab with her foot to what was lying on the ground in front of her. It was Cendrillon. The semi-transparent dress that could be seen as her symbol had been taken from her. She was now in only her underwear. While that sounded erotic, in Cendrillons case, it was the figure-correcting underwear that looked like a diving suit. The synthetic fiber covered her from her collarbones down to her knees, so she could likely have walked straight past a policeman without suspicion if she was holding a surfboard. Was that for revenge? Accelerator asked. Stripping someone of the same sex is no fun, Birdway replied. She created a single piece of magic by combining her own body and that dress. Instead of just holding a wand or something, she was using her own body as a portion of a spiritual item. In other words, she cannot use that spell once her clothes are removed. What I dont know is if she just wanted to be that soaked in magic or if she wanted an obvious safety feature out of fear of the latent potential of her own spell. Now then... Cendrillon already had a few injuries. They were not due to torture. They were burns she had received in the airplane fuel explosion. Accelerator narrowed his eyes slightly. Do you think shell talk? Why else would I go through all the trouble of getting her to talk? replied Birdway as she placed a number of charms made of parchment on Cendrillons face. Either due to the damage from the burns or due to having been turned back into a mere girl from losing her dress, Cendrillon was clearly unable to resist. She merely writhed weakly on the ground. Deny, Birdway said with a grin. No matter what you try to deny, I can read it from here. So you only need to resist my questions with all your might. If the girl responded truthfully, that was that and if she desperately tried to resist, that would act as a sign. The only possible escape would have been complete apathy, but it was difficult to give absolutely no reaction while being questioned when the state of your mind mattered as well. And when violence was involved, it became all the more difficult. Reacting defensively to avoid pain was only natural and humans received much more information from others words than they realize. Cendrillon slowly shook her head. Birdway ignored her and asked, Where are your comrades? Cendrillon seemed to be trying to keep the muscles in her face from moving, but her cheek started twitching slightly. What is your goal? One of the charms started glowing. Birdway had intentionally driven Cendrillon to resist and the location of that barrier over her heart could be used to expose the location of what she was trying to protect. She had no way to resist it. This was not a puzzle or video game that was made so that it could be won. The players skill did not matter when she was trapped within a professionals net that had no escape. The calculations are going well. In another thirty seconds, Ill have some good news for you, said Birdway lightly. Oh, oh. Cendrillon-chan, you certainly were utterly and obviously defeated. A new voice came from Cendrillons own mouth. ... Immediately afterwards, Birdway mercilessly jammed the end of her wand into Cendrillons mouth. The unpleasant noise of her front teeth breaking could be heard and dark red blood spilled from her open lips. Despite this, Cendrillon was smiling....or rather, made to smile. Theres no point in trying to subdue her. After all, I dont mind if you break all her limbs. I can control her like a marionette, so I can force her past herha hahuman limits. The sound of something cracking could be heard. It was the sound of Cendrillon biting through Birdways spiritual item. However, her front teeth had already broken. Doing that with nothing more than the pure strength of ones jaw would be bad enough, but she was doing it with only partial fragments of her broken teeth remaining. The pain must have been unimaginable. Accelerator flipped the switch on his choker and kicked rubble at her at blinding speed. She easily avoided the projectiles and jumped over five meters back. Only then did she speak to the one who was controlling her. ...I was waiting for you. Yes, yes. From the lack of your dress, I take it your fairy tale spell was destroyed. I will be activating my spell through you, so it would be a lot of help if you would use the magical release key to temporarily give me complete control of your body. Tch!! Birdway clicked her tongue and spun around the remains of her wand. At some point, it turned into a small cup. However, Cendrillon chanted some kind of spell before Birdway could activate an attack spell. ...Total control on Red 25... There we go. The result is Black 11. Authorization complete. A dry sound burst from within Cendrillons body. The color of her eyes clearly changed. Traces of someone other than herself could be seen there. And... Okay, Cendrillon-chan. Time to truly protect Gremlins information. Cendrillon grinned. She then pulled a sharp piece of the wand from her mouth and forcefully stabbed the end into her own temple. Eh...? said a voice. The voice came from Cendrillons mouth. With a shocked look on her face, she collapsed to the side. Her reaction was simply too little. She did not brace herself at all as she landed. Her arms, legs, and hair were sprawled out and her red blood spread out in a pool. That was all. No more words came from her mouth. Not from Cendrillon and not from the person controlling her. Damn. I doubt that made it through her skull, but a fragment of bone must have stabbed into her brain. It must have caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage. I see. This will indeed make getting information more difficult. ... Dont look at me like that. Im merciful enough to call an ambulance for her. What do we do now? I thought she was our last hope. Oh, we still caught a fish, said Birdway, sounding bored and looking around. Gremlin contacted us to silence her. Now we just have to reel them in. Volume 3, 2: The Trigger. Natural_Bomb. Volume 3, Chapter 2: The Trigger. Natural_Bomb. Part 1 (November 10 C Oahu C Hotel Firefly 49th Floor C From a camera recording the proceedings.) They were within a hotel room that was far from being the nicest in Oahu. They knew of other high class hotels suited for VIPs and facilities with suites that normal people did not even know existed, but those places could possibly have been marked by dangerous elements. Why are you still running that thing? That displeased voice belonged to a woman named Roseline Krackhart. She was the presidents aide. She was in her early thirties and had an atmosphere that made her seem extremely well suited to being a tutor (in more ways than one). However, she had once broken a reporters nose on national television when he had asked her about the veracity of rumors saying she knew every inch of Mr. Scandals body. Fortunately, this had given her the image of a guardian who would protect any potential victims of sexual harassment, so the presidents approval rating improved due to the incident. Her general behavior was also evident in how well her suit that was custom-made by a supporting menswear company suited her. It is my duty to record all conversations while we are on the job, replied a secretary holding a video camera. I see. Thanks. Roseline lay down across a three-person couch and grabbed a business magazine. The featured article was about the one hundred most important people who kept America running. She glanced through articles on Flack Kateman the car king, Olay Blueshake the media queen, Douglas Hardbell the rock star, and others before narrowing her eyes. ...The presidents name not being on the list of people who keep America running is indeed a problem. Maam, how about we get down to the main issue at hand? I always end up putting off things that I know are just going to depress me. Roseline tossed aside the business magazine while sprawled out on the couch. She then looked over toward one wall. General, have you found the president? N-no, but we are currently searching for him with everything we have. Its that hard even for the Marines? He abandoned his GPS in a garbage can near the press conference building. For some reason it was inside a contraceptive with the end tied shut. Our code breaking team says it may have been some kind of message... That was just his idea of a joke. Roseline put her hand to her forehead. She was irritated, but it was not due to direct anger at being toyed with. That idiot. A condom? If the Christian groups find out the president was carrying one of those around, well never hear the end of it. Wh-what about the secret service? We are of course doing everything we can, but the cooperation of specialists like them is essential. General, you are the Commandant of the Marine Corps. You can complain about a lack of man-power all you want, but we cannot have you fearing the possibility of having all responsibility fall in your lap in an unforeseen situation like this. I believe we already explained to you why we went beyond the normal boundaries and asked for your help. Roseline reached for a wine bottle on the table but grabbed some mint gum once she remembered the camera was running. They are suspicious. ... Her voice had been quiet, but her words had held great meaning. The general naturally fell silent. We know something is happening, but that is all we know, Roseline continued. We cannot figure out what exactly that something is. This is not simple bribery or coercion. Merely using a blacklist to quarantine it is not enough. They are suddenly becoming enemies of the United States as if they are being possessed by a demon. If the hostile elements were simply spreading out from a single person behind it all, they could possibly stop the spread by quarantining every single hostile element. However, when the person behind it was like an invisible demon that chose other people to control, the quarantine method lost all meaning. If they could not stop this person behind it, they could not guarantee their fundamental safety. It was unclear by what means the people were being controlled. Roseline and the others had surmised that there was a certain type of person that was more easily controlled and they were maintaining their safety by distancing themselves from anyone who showed the slightest evidence of being controlled. However, they were unsure how long that would suffice. As for the Senate and the House...well, about half of them seem suspicious. It seems to be spreading below the surface. And the military is no exception, general. I-I had been told, but it simply does not seem real... I know what you mean. I have seen it with my own eyes, yet I still cant believe it. However, the fact remains that it is happening. Fortunately, the only confirmed victims so far are American officials. That is why you and the few units you accompanied in the joint operation cleaning up after the war with the Australian military did not run into any difficulties. Roseline Krackhart knew relatively little of the occult. She was only aware that it seemed somehow different from the esper development occurring in Academy City. The president on the run likely had a similar level of knowledge in that regard. A few teams were working on analyzing the mysterious phenomena that had occurred during World War III, but they had yet to come up with any real results. That was why she was only able to give vague descriptions despite having witnessed clearly abnormal occurrences in the White House. Th-then... Yes, we are only here due to our good fortune. However, we need to investigate as to why we had that good fortune. After all, we are in a situation where it is possible we could become possessed the instant we step outside. In all truth, the world police are being eaten into. I cannot guarantee that a child or old man on the street wont suddenly start firing into a crowd, much less that the government can continue to function. Everyone in this country is at risk of being a victim or an attacker. If we do not find the occult conditions behind this and stop whoever is behind the invasion, even the nuclear launch codes could fall into enemy hands. Is this why the president went off on his own...? Probably. When that idiot learned of the situation, he started thinking about what he could do on a personal level to deal with this danger that is on a national level. He realized he would be immediately surrounded if he tried something on the mainland, so he played along until he reached an area where they had less influence. He must have thought their influence had not yet reached an island so far from the mainland. ...And yet no one knows the actual rules behind this. Th-then... The general wiped sweat from his brow. Are we putting the president in even more danger by chasing after him? If he has some means of victory... Do you seriously think he does? Roseline glared at him with piercing eyes but softened her expression after she grew overly conscious of how the man winced. No matter the reason and no matter how dangerous the situation, we must have continual access to the president on the center stage. If it gets out that he has disappeared, he will be deemed no longer able to perform his duties and all authority will be passed to the vice president. ...Because he has you know what, that is unlikely to happen right away, but we still cannot relax, she said. And the vice president has already become suspicious. He has done nothing wrong yet and he says he is trying to cooperate with us, but it is possible he is the type of person easily controlled by whoever is behind this. As such, handing the duties of the White House over to him is too much of a risk. No one dared put the rest into words. They all felt the idea of one of the worlds superpowers being usurped by some unknown person was not something to say even as a joke. (...Well, the one piece of luck is that the president took that with him,) muttered Roseline before speaking up. Do whatever it takes to find the president. Find him before his disappearance is discovered by the vice president and the other politicians undermined by whoever is behind this. Roseline did not even look over as the general gave a proper salute. She muttered to herself with a look of pure displeasure on her face. (...More importantly, going missing is not the only way he can be made unable to perform his duties. A bullet through the head would do the trick just as well.) Part 2 (November 10 C Oahu C Dear My Car, Oahu Branch C From an in-car camera.) Roberto Katze, the American President, entered a rental car shop with a silver attach case in one hand. He spoke to the young woman at the reception counter. I dont care what, but just give me something cheap. Hmm, I think electric cars are supposed to have a good image. Roseline is never shutting up about it. Well, gasoline or deuterium or whatever is fine too. Just dont give me a car that was just used for sex. Even if you wipe it down with ethanol, the smell sticks around. You certainly have an attitude. Just who do you think you are? The president! As one of the citizens supporting this nation, could you at least watch the morning news!? Oh, so youre an impersonator. Can you do his We will save the world! thing? ...Whatever. Just give me the key already. Roberto tossed some crumpled up bills on the counter and the woman tossed the key back toward him. He walked down a line of two-person cars and looked over at an especially battered convertible. He was about to kick the tire, but stopped himself when he realized it was made by a company that supported him. He instead opened the door. Just as he was inserting the key, the young woman came running after him. Sorry, sorry. I missed part of the procedure! Mr. Impersonator, I need to input the information from your license before I can let you rent that. Cant I just give you my social security number? It has to be your license. ...What a pain. Maybe I should submit a bill to get that changed next chance I get, muttered Roberto as he pulled a card out of his wallet. The woman held out a reader similar to a cell phones wallet function. Roberto Katze held his license up to it. The young woman nodded in satisfaction upon confirming that the device had read the information from the integrated circuit inside. Okay. So your name is Roberto... Roberto Katze. You live at... the White House? H-hey, wait a second!! May I go now? he asked with a grin. Did you go so far as to change your name!? I cant believe you found an apartment complex called The White House! And its even in Washington DC! You certainly are a dedicated impersonator!! Well, why dont you just believe that until the day you die!? Waaahhhhh!! The president drove off with tears in his eyes. He was further made a fool of as the woman saw him off by imitating his We will save the world!! After leaving the grounds of the rental car shop, Roberto drove with one hand and used the other to open the attach case lying in the passenger seat. The case was secretly a computer. He connected the cables inside to a GPS-like device. It was known as the Imperial Package. It gave him president-level access to all government cloud systems. With that one device, he could send orders to any government office or prepare ballistic missiles for launch. Of course, it used various methods of ensuring that only the current president could use it. ...This way I can check on what the people who have become suspicious are accessing. Areas where the flu is spreading tend to have more people searching for information on the flu using search engines. This fact could be used to determine how far the flu had spread by checking the search records of the search engines. Roberto was doing essentially the same thing. However, he was checking on what he estimated the suspicious people were after rather than the flu. From what he could see of the people taking suspicious actions, Roberto could not tell if the total number of enemies was increasing or if the enemy was merely switching over to controlling people closer and closer to their objective. However, he had to assume that anyone that showed any suspicious behavior even once would once more become suspicious as if they were switching back and forth between good and evil. He may not have been able to see it clearly, but it all had to be a clear attack, The people being used as pawns all had their own individual lives. With each person taken over, whoever was taking control of them was getting access to the information that person alone had access to. If Roberto could figure out what the person behind it was searching for, he could get a better understanding of what the enemys true objective was. As he used the Imperial Package to view the secret cloud, Roberto searched for areas of concentrated accesses that had nothing to do with the peoples normal duties. Roberto Katze clicked his tongue lightly. ...So I was right. It is the trigger being stored in Oahu. It was a top secret piece of equipment that had been developed in an American military research facility. Depending how it was used, the special device could be used to take the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at once. The presidents grip on the steering wheel naturally tightened as he thought about how it could be used in Hawaii. Part 3 (November 10 C Oahu C Green Caf Iwamaki C From the camera in the tablet terminal installed on the table.) A broadcast of a football game seemed to drag on forever within a caf near the airport. The caf specialized in Japanese tea, so the sport did not fit the atmosphere. A major broadcasting company had bought the rights to broadcast all of the teams games, so it was being broadcasted for free. The customers seemed quite excited about it. A cardboard speech bubble had been attached to the edge of the flat screen TV that said A round of applause for Olay Blueshake the media queen! in English. Kamijou Touma was carefully listening to a phone call from Birdway so that he could hear over the surrounding noise. He had his cell phone on speaker phone, so Hamazura and Kuroyoru could hear as well. Kamijou had been about to ask what would make a good souvenir for Index (it had to be food of course), but what Birdway told him made it clear it was hardly the time to be thinking about things like that. Incidentally, Kuroyoru was cowering from Kamijou who had suddenly appeared earlier and Hamazura was trembling while looking over at Kuroyoru. Due to Cendrillon being taken out, I have succeeded in drawing a different Gremlin magician out from the crowd. This new one is the type of magician that controls other people. That type almost never comes out to the front stage themselves. Getting them to come out into the spotlight is the true battle when it comes to that type. What do we do now? We go fishing, said Birdway sounding very pleased. It would be foolish to think a magician like this can only control one person. The more people this one controls, the more her power grows, so it would be best to assume she is targeting the normal people in the area as well. The reason she leaves everything around her to others and does not stand in the path of danger is likely due to a complex over her own lack of power. Shes trying to overcome that with numbers. Therefore, I need to first gather some samples. Two or three of the poor victims being controlled by Gremlin should do it. With that, I can analyze her spell. I need to know what conditions are needed for its use and what kind of line connects the user and the victim. Knowing that will allow me to find her... and make a direct magical counterattack. And that investigation will best be carried out without letting this magician know youre doing it, right? Of course. What if she isnt in Hawaii? I will hide even the fact that I can detect where she is. If she is outside Hawaii, itll take some time, but well still be able to catch the idiot by surprise. In fact, we could even purposefully fail in our attack. Each time the idiot gets away, she will only lead us to a new hideout. During that process Gremlin will lose manpower and assets. Gremlin will likely eventually begin to suspect the idiot, but if we give the right false hints we can make them think shes a traitor and a spy and theyll end up taking each other out. The whole process will likely uncover the identities of other Gremlin members, so we just have to change who the target of the search is at that point. ...You certainly play dirty. Kamijou would get into a direct fistfight and solve things on the same day they began, so that was a completely different style of fighting than he was used to. To be honest, he did not feel he could completely approve of the method. However, he could not come up with an alternative method. What do I need to do? Just stay where you are, replied Birdway over the phone. I have another hero. And unlike you, this one is quite skilled at working behind the scenes. Part 4 (November 10 C Oahu C In front of Hotel Firefly C From a tourists video camera.) Only the most commonplace hotels did not have a doorman and porter standing in front of the entrance even in an area as ungodly hot as Honolulu. A set of three was created when the valet who parked guests cars in the underground parking garage was included. However, services like that would require a tip and the hotel parking garages were often quite expensive. As such, cheaper parking areas were established around the hotels and it was not uncommon for people to park illegally. In an area full of tourists coming and going, leaving ones car out in the open was quite dangerous, but most of the tourists were not from the island and therefore usually had rental cars. By purchasing the cheap insurance beforehand, a broken window was no big deal. And no one was stupid enough to leave their valuables in the car while staying in a hotel, so there was no danger of having their possessions stolen. Edward Torke stepped out of one such illegally parked car. The white man was wearing a suit thatwhile not the nicestwas at least not mass produced. However, the heat of Hawaii had ruined his usual style. His tie was loosened and his jacket was off and draped over his arm. From the look of him, the sleeves of his shirt would likely be rolled up after another hour. However, even as the glaring light of the sun reflected off of the hotel windows, Edward Torke did not hold his hand in front of his face or even narrow his eyes. His pupils underwent no change. The frequency of his blinking was as accurate as if it was being timed with a stopwatch. He was not a tourist. He had come to the island for a business negotiation. He was supposed to be speaking with a local fishing union about the safe collection of deep ocean water as the first step toward creating a foothold in the business of manufacturing and selling a health drink based on it. They had decided on a room in that hotel as the location of the negotiations about the price. He accurately remembered that the negotiations would take place in Room 4911. In reality, the hotel the negotiations were to occur in had a completely different name and someone completely different was staying in the Room 4911 in question. Edward Torke had just stuffed a large contract and check into an attach case. If he were to notice someone he did not know (named Roseline) in the room, he would conclude that she was a robber after his money. And in the great gun nation of America, flight was not the only action people instinctively took in order to protect themselves. He had a revolver with a four inch barrel in his pants pocket. A single piece of altered information could lead to a great chain reaction. Edward Torke hummed a tune at the thought of the great business deal he was about to make while not suspecting that his actions were being used for someone elses purposes. And then the electronic billboard attached to the hotel wall fell down from directly above him. The great crash left the surrounding people dumbfounded and finally a great uproar began. The hotel workers hesitated to leave their posts at the entrance, but once their boss exited the building, they frantically ran over to the scene of the accident. However, they were unable to immediately move the crushed electronic billboard out of the way. It was disconnected from its power supply, but the internal circuits and other electronic parts must still have had some electricity stored within them. A great shower of sparks kept the hotel workers from approaching. No one was sure who had called it, but the siren of an ambulance approached. It was not until twenty minutes later that the rescue team managed to get the electronic billboard out of the way. And... What? said one of the rescue workers in surprise. The electronic billboard had been removed and the cracked asphalt showed just how great the shock of its impact had been. But that was all. Edward Torke, who had supposedly been crushed, had disappeared. Part 5 (November 10 C Oahu C Sewer Rainwater Pipe C From a camera for monitoring water levels during a disaster.) This is the third one, muttered Accelerator as he dragged the poor victim down through the manhole and into the sewer. Birdway nodded in approval. Thats all of them. Excellent work. Are you sure the person controlling them didnt notice this? Pretty sure. The rainwater pipe was filled with rotting mud and the like which gave it quite an odor, but Birdway did not seem to mind. Despite her appearance, she may have been fairly used to harsh environments. The magician controlling them most likely collects information using the five senses of the victims. She would notice if you just outright attacked the victim, but she wont sense any danger if it looks like they were knocked out naturally. How can you be so sure? How do you know this magician cant continue moving the targets eyes around after they lose consciousness? I cant say for sure, but we do have a precedent. A precedent? Cendrillon. If she could do that, she could have continued to collect information after Cendrillon collapsed and used it to put together a plan against us. However, that had not happened. Once I analyze the spell, I can track down where this person controlling the victims is as well as detect any pawns trying to attack us while hidden in a crowd. That will be a perfect defense against the spell. Simply put, itll be checkmate. The threat of having a normal person attacking disappeared once an enemy could be detected and dealt with head on. Birdway and Accelerator were not people who feared a handgun. ...So you couldnt perfectly detect them up until now? So theres a possibility I was confidently attacking completely unrelated people? Dont get so upset. In all likelihood, these were accurate. This just brings that up to a full one-hundred percent. The rainwater pipe had pathways for workers prepared on both sides and the three victims were lying on one of those dirty pathways. Now then... Since I now have all the necessary materials, its time to get started on the analysis. If you want to learn a bit about magic, you can watch. Part 6 (November 10 C Oahu C Smoking area within Coral Street Shopping Mall C From the camera in the magicians cell phone.) The strangest aspect of modern cell phones was the increase in the number of camera lenses. They had a lens on the back of the phone for normal photography, a lens on the front for showing oneself in a video conference, and the number only went up with the addition of 3D photography and other features. At the current rate, it did not seem long before the entire phone would be covered in camera lenses like they were beads. A girl of about fifteen was flipping her cell phone back and forth between front and back. She had short blonde hair and white skin. She wore a primarily green turtleneck and miniskirt as well as thick boots that passed above her knees. On her head, she wore something like a headband made of tree branches. Her outfit made her stand out from the building made of glass and concrete. With an expression that showed that the clearly multi-function cell phone was just too much for her, she spoke into the precision device that she simply could not get used to. Yes, yes. It seems he failed. The attacker, Edward, has lost consciousness and the room on Hotel Fireflys 49th floor is still untouched. It seems they are planning to move somewhere else due to the uproar over the electronic billboard. It looks like attacking the aide group is unrealistic after all. The way she spoke made it clear she was not used to speaking politely. Her tone of voice made it clear she was giving no thought to whether she was angering the person she was speaking to or what would happen to her if she did anger whoever it was. This was because she was skilled enough to avoid any danger coming her way. She was especially skilled at avoiding danger by using others as a shield. Yes, yes. I understand that. The incident at the airport was indeed bad, but the basics of the plan will fall apart if the immunity is not activated. Well, we now have an idea as to how many of them there are and how serious they are. Also, they can be used as a positive factor from here on out. In the end, it is not a problem. The magician was simply saying whatever she could to pacify the person she was speaking to rather than logically analyzing the situation. Anyway, we just have to follow the plan now. After blowing through the side-quest, we just have to work on the main quest of the trigger. The magicians eyebrows then moved slightly. She seemed to finally be showing interest in something the other person had said. Oh, really? I knew it. I had thought that was a little too convenient. So they are interfering. The magicians tone showed that she did not particularly mind. Well, thanks for that. When it was just me, I denied it, saying I was over thinking things. Having proof really is important. Proof is so much better than guesses. Yes, yes. I will do something about that, too. Bye. She hung up, spun the phone around in her hand, and then stuck it in her pocket. At the time, no smoking campaigns were quite popular worldwide, so there were no smokers in the smoking area. The grotesque enlarged photo of a sperm with a note about smoking reducing sperm count was probably not helping. The magician shrugged and turned around. A man was standing there. The large black man was wrapped in powerful muscles and seemed to have a military background. He was one of the people she was controlling. The method of control she was using on him was a bit more complex than some of the others. Youre up, Mr. Secret Trick. Part 7 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C From a security camera near the east entrance.) Oh, I already have all the data I need to analyze her spell, said Leivinia Birdway with complete confidence. She was waving around a single scrap of paper. It was about the size of a small certificate of commendation, but it was thicker and had a rough surface. Its papyrus, Birdway explained. Apparently, she had bought that item used as a royal burial accessory from a plant specialist. Now we just have to wait for her weaknesses to be exposed. The automated work should finish in about an hour. Even now, Im receiving information bit by bit. For example, I know what kind of line connects her to her victims and from where she is controlling the victims. Accelerator listened to her while walking through the shopping mall with his modern cane. Basically, she used to be with the Russian Orthodox Church. Russian? She uses a spell based on a fairy. In her case, it is the Leshy. The Leshy is the ruler of the forest and the king of all animals that live there. Do you remember when she and Cendrillon said red something and black something when Cendrillon was giving up control? What about it? That was roulette. They were gambling. The Leshy loves gambling with the forest animals. The winner is of course given control of the loser. ... In this case, the Leshy is likely viewing her surroundings as the forest and the humans who live there as the animals. I dont know the exact conditions for that yet, but the analysis spell will reveal those conditions soon. Then it will all be over. For not having finished yet, you certainly are sure of yourself. I have enough to search out anyone shes controlling. Even if she tries a surprise attack, it has essentially no chance of succeeding. Despite having just said that, repeated gun shots rang out. They came from behind Birdway. From only five meters behind her. Part 8 (November 10 C Oahu C Beachside C From a camera along the main road to enforce the speed limit.) A station wagon slammed into Roberto Katzes battered convertible at high speed at almost the exact same time Birdway was attacked. The two vehicles strayed from the road and struck one of the palm trees lining the road at even intervals. A coconut fell down and hit the president right on the head. Gwehh...N-nice. Now thats about as Hawaii-esque as you can get. If I wrote that in my journal, no one would believe it actually happened. The side of the car was crushed in, but the station wagon had struck the passenger side. The drivers seat was safe. He was worried about the Imperial Package for an instant, but it was meant to be used in emergencies, so it was surprisingly tough. It was not even scratched. The president closed the attach case, ignored the door that refused to open, and jumped out of the convertible. Roberto Katze used a hand to motion back the panicking tourists who were approaching and then headed toward the station wagon. Im not used to getting run into from the side at full speed. Despite the great shock of the impact, the station wagons windshield was not broken. And the glass was tinted. Roberto was pretty sure the station wagon was not just some random vehicle, but he still approached the drivers side door and tried to peer through the window. Mister, theres something wrong when the one who ran into me is the one to pass out. As if in response, the window started to lower. And a right hand holding an automatic handgun stuck out. ...I can still kill you. Anyone who has a gun and a finger to pull the trigger can be an assassin. Cmon, stop that. War & Safety handguns are the most used in the country. It would be pretty sad if I had to be shot by a product from one of my supporting companies. Theyd probably ask for their money back at my funeral because I gave their company a bad image. As Roberto Katze complained, he noticed something about the eyes of the man who was still leaning against the airbag. ...Mister, you arent being controlled, are you? Part 9 (November 10 C Oahu C Smoking Area within Coral Street Shopping Mall C From the camera in the magicians cell phone.) As the magician pulled out her cell phone to check the time, she heard dry gunshots in the distance soon followed by the screams of onlookers. The scary thing about amateurs is how they will go through with something to the end once they are determined to do it. She was not speaking to herself, but she received no response. Standing next to the magician was a black girl of about ten. The girl was standing utterly still while using her right hand to hold the end of a flathead screwdriver up to her temple. It truly is frightening, the magician whispered. All I had to say was that I would have you tear your head apart like a frozen orange and he was ready to do it. Birdway had analyzed the magicians spell. She knew that the magician used the stories of the Leshy to control people by spreading her role as the ruler of the forest animals. If the magician had sent one of the people she was controlling with the Leshy spell after Birdway, the traces of magic power and the spell would have been detected and eliminated before they could get close. The people controlled by the magicians magic could not approach Birdway. That was a foregone conclusion. However, there was not just one way of controlling people. For instance, she could control a certain daughter and order her father to do things while he maintained his true self. She is quite skilled, but that in itself creates openings. Since she is determining danger by the presence of my spell, I can slip right past her defenses. The magician grinned. In addition to the black girl, she had a few other children gathered in the smoking area. Every one of them would function as a hostage to pull off that kind of secret trick when it was needed. The magician had prepared as many disposable pawns for those tricks as she had hostages. For instance, one was targeting President Roberto Katze. And once he is past her defenses, its all over. Whether she is a magician or not, she is still a human who can be killed by a single bullet. The girls father must have wanted to make absolutely sure she was dead or a police officer had shown up and shot him to death because further gunshots rang out. However, it did not matter. When Birdway was in a completely defenseless state, the first shot was all it would take. Part 10 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C From a security camera near the east entrance) Having been struck in the back by countless bullets, Leivinia Birdway collapsed to the polished shopping mall floor. Even so, the large black man continued to fire bullet after bullet from his handgun. The dumbfounded tourists frantically tried to flee in all directions from the center of the incident. Shouts and screams exploded out. Accelerators eyes opened wide as he took in the developing situation. The large black man was trembling and tears were falling from his eyes, but he did not hesitate. He tossed aside an empty magazine and put in a new one. At that point, the #1 finally came to his senses. He hit the switch of the electrode on his neck and the Level 5 powers that gave him his name activated. He was thinking of breaking the mans wrist before crushing his neck when... Sh-shit. That was dangerously close to being my moving death scene, said Birdway as she raised her head. The black man fell backwards in shock and shouted something. As Accelerator kicked him in the chest, he shouted at Birdway. What the hell did you do!? Having a body substitute just in case is one of the most basic of precautions. In fact, modern Western magic goes so far as to embarrassingly say we need to kill our old self and be reborn as our new self. Birdway pulled a card from her pocket. It was a tarot card from the major arcana, the Hanged Man. The card showed a man hanging upside down from a tree branch, but it had holes through it. Meanwhile, Birdway herself had not shed a single drop of blood. If you use Crowleys tarot, it is the symbol of the death of the Son of God, who himself represents an age. It was originally not a symbol of execution, but if you intentionally misinterpret it, it can be extraordinarily compatible, especially for things piercing into the body. ...I wanted to make sure I had some defense against bullets before setting foot in a major gun country like this, but I didnt want to deal with a thick, sweaty bulletproof vest, Birdway explained. Now then, I know youre about to awaken to your true power due to the anger and sorrow of believing I had died, but let go of that man. ...Esper powers arent that arbitrary. Even if we push him, we wont get any hints about whos behind this. I already have all the information I need on the spell and he isnt being controlled by it in the first place. What? This is an indirect method. To be honest, Im pleasantly surprised. It isnt often that I praise someone, so remember this. Birdway ignored Accelerators puzzled look and approached the large black man with long strides. The man immediately held the handgun up with both hands. It was unclear whether he had remembered what he was supposed to do or if he was merely reacting to the threat of the strange monster approaching him. If the magicians specialties lie solely in the field of controlling people, then guessing at the rest is a simple matter. Most likely, she is threatening you with someone close to you who she is controlling. !? I am not some hot-blooded idiot, so I will not give you some annoying speech. Nor am I going to kindly discuss this with you. I am simply going to tell you the truth as bluntly as I can. Despite the man being able to shoot her at any moment, Birdway let out her stabbing words while striking a daunting pose. You lucked out this time. She pointed at her small chest with her thumb. But next time will be different. No matter the reason and no matter what emotions are driving you, if you pull that trigger now, I will die. The trembling of your body will change to an irreversible truth. You wont get a third chance. People arent normally lucky enough to get this second one. With a terrible light in her eyes, the victim spoke to the attacker. Her tone of voice made it clear she knew what it was like to cross that line. ...Are you still willing to shoot me? Do you have the guts to go through that great shock you gave yourself once more from the beginning? The large black mans trembling reached its peak. He had likely worked hard to prepare himself on his way there. He must have repeated the justifications for what he was doing again and again, piling one atop another. When he had done the deed but failed, the pyramid of cards had come tumbling down. If he had rationally built it back up from the beginningif he had mentally rearmed himself by recalling what situation his loved one was inhe may have been able to shoot Birdway once more. However, he could not balance the cards with his trembling fingers. Now that he knew the shock he had experienced when he had fired that first shot, he could no longer put a strangers life on the scales so easily. A cry of desperation burst from him. It sounded like anger at his dead end of a future and also like atonement for what he had done to Birdway. The mans eyes opened wide as he shouted and he stuck the barrel of his handgun into his mouth. Accelerator and Birdway let loose kicks at the same time which knocked the handgun from his hand and knocked him unconscious. I went too far, said Birdway, making a conscious effort to bring her tone of voice back to normal. This has gotten a little trickier. I no longer have the Hanged Man. Its your own fault for being careless. Not really. The magician would only have put together that plan if she knew I had analyzed her spell. So where did Gremlin learn that? My methods were perfect and there was no flaw in your retrievals. And yet... ... This is not an enjoyable situation to be in, but we might find something enjoyable if we look further into this. Part 11 (November 10 C Oahu C Beachside C From a camera along the main road to enforce the speed limit) When Roberto Katze pointed that out, the driver moved slightly while still holding out the handgun. It might have been a nod. The attacker finally opened his mouth and said, ...And if Im not? Then they most likely have a hostage. Perhaps your lover or your child. And if they do!? shouted the attacker as he re-aimed the gun. Whatever my situation is, the situation here remains the same! Come with me. If I capture you, I can protect my family even if it means the end of this country!! ...Cmon, mister. Do you really think theyll hold up their end of the deal? These are people that threatened you right off the bat rather than showing any kind of good will, right? I dont give a fuck!! If theres even a one percent chance, thats enough! If I do nothing, shell be killed for sure!! Well said. The president grinned. But those arent words you should use out of desperation. If youre willing to believe in a one percent chance, how about you put that trust in a much better option? Shut up. Shut the fuck up!! Cant you see this gun!? All you have to do is tremble in fear and do what I tell you!! Those crazy people kidnapped my younger brothers daughter. Its a long story, but my dead wife risked her life to protect that girl. I cant lose her now. In fact, if the police and you guys in the government had done your job, none of this would be happening!! The mans words were fueled by resentment toward crime in general and dissatisfaction with the agencies meant to protect the peace that had not stopped it. Even though he had clearly gotten caught up in the incident, it was unlikely that he knew who the real enemy was. However, in a way, his words pinpointed the current crisis in America. Despite being the attacker, his were the words of a victim. Before speaking, the president reflected on the twist of fate displayed in those words. Mister. The president moved slowly, completely ignoring the gun pointed at him. I apologize for what has happened to you and the kid who is being used as a hostage. In this country, we are taught to never apologize even when there has been a murder, but I bow my head to you. However, I have more to say. What you saw is the true enemy I must fight. I cannot stop until I have crushed it. After all, I am the president of this nation. It is my job to protect the lives and freedoms of its people. Yeah, right... You people dont give single thought about our lives!! Theres no election coming up, so you dont need to patronize me like this. I dont expect any goodwill out of you self-serving politicians!! The gun in his hand trembled, but Roberto Katzes expression did not change. He put his elbows on the frame of the crashed station wagons window and peered inside. The driver carelessly pulled back the handgun and tried to put some distance between them. Roberto simply continued speaking. Lets talk about the past. Before he died, my old man used to always tell me to grow up to be a strong man. He was a drunk and he never worked, but he always had a proper light in his eyes when he would say those words. What does that? His words led me to want to be as strong as I could possibly be. And thats how I ended up where I am now, as the President of the United States. Roberto Katze smiled slightly and stared the armed attacker straight in the eye. Now I have a question for you, mister. Do you think the strong man I wanted to be was someone who would obey inhuman orders to save his own skin? Do you think it was the kind of man who decorates himself with his position and political power but pisses himself at the sight of a handgun? Do you think my dream was to become a chicken who is so overcome with fear at the thought of a single bullet that he abandons an innocent child who has been taken hostage? For an instant, the attacker lost sight of reality. He forgot that he held the gun and that he had control of the situation. Tell me, mister. He could only hear the words of President Roberto Katze. What do you think the kind of strong man I longed to be would do in a situation like this that angered him to the bottom of his heart? Part 12 (November 10 C Oahu C Government Vehicle C From the in-vehicle camera) The small refrigerator inside the high class vehicle contained ice-cold champagne, but Roseline Krackhart did not take any. She had reached for the refrigerator door, but the gazes of the secretaries had reminded her that she was on official business. The high class vehicle had a leather sofa that stretched around the inner edges in a rectangle and an expensive looking table in the center. Roseline reached for a magazine on the table but tossed it aside when she noticed the large image of the presidents face on the cover. One of the secretaries caught it in both hands and looked down at the page it had happened to open to. Is this true? It says his father died of cancer, so he is prepared to reform the medical system so that no one else need go through that pain. Of course it isnt. Hes just bragging as always. In fact, if you take everything he says at face value, his father has died over eighty times. I was thinking of throwing a party once it breaks one hundred. Part 13 (November 10 C Oahu C Beachside C From a camera along the main road to enforce the speed limit) The attacker moved his trembling hand and lowered the gun. The president had not actually done anything to him or taken out an even more powerful weapon. He had only spoken. His words had held enough power to cause the attackers eyes to open wide and to rob him of his will to fight. What...? Ill say it again. If youre going to bet on a one percent chance, why dont we try to save that girl from those bastards rather than just doing what they say? Youre lying. Youre just saying whatever you can to get out of this alive. We have a chance. The presidents words destroyed the attackers doubts. I already encountered them back on the mainland. There is something a bit different between you and the ones I encountered before. The true attacker had already made it within the White House, the Senate, the House, the military, and other agencies. Its your eyes, said the president. The suspicious ones...well, Im not quite sure how to put it, but they have a look in their eyes that isnt right. That was how I noticed it. I noticed their gazes while I was putting together the basics of the Emergency Financial Protection Bill. Their gazes? The secret service, my secondary secretary, the reporters at press conferences...even the cleaning lady. It wasnt just one or two people. They did not fall under any one profession, race, age, ideology, or religion. The only common feature was the look in their eyes. No individual person looked at me for long, but it felt like someone was watching me at all times. It gradually increased until they were the majority. The White House was overflowing with those creepy people. The president was not familiar with the details of the occult, so he did not know if a large number of enemies had been created or if the person being controlled was swapped out depending on the situation. What he did know was that the number of people with a dangerous element was increasing. It was highly likely that anyone who had been taken even for an instant would once more become dangerous. It did not matter if any of those people were even the type to do bad things. ...Was it a spiritless look with no readable expression? Mister, was your niece like that? It looked like she was in some kind of a daze. Roberto Katze sighed when he heard that. Things got to be a pain, so I contacted some people outside the White House to investigate the situation and deal with it if necessary. However, that was how I found out the suspicious people were not just in the White House. They were hiding within the NSA and CIA and the number of people taking dangerous actions grew each day. And they have been accessing classified information on the trigger using a government network, the president explained. I dont know what kind of technology the person behind this is using, but he or she can control people. And this person can likely gather information through the eyes of the ones being controlled. His investigation using the Imperial Package had revealed that even missile lab researchers and nuclear submarine crew members had tried to access information on the trigger. People in special environments like that would not be able to use things like cell phones, but they had to have some means of getting any uncovered information back to the person controlling them. That led the president to believe the person was directly linked to the peoples senses rather than using some kind of communication device. That is where our chance lies, said Roberto. If you were being completely controlled, you could not hide anything from the person controlling you. However, you are different. Since you are a normal person being controlled via a hostage, the person behind this has no way to gather information from you. We can use this to get past this persons defenses and possibly get in a surprise attack. Part 14 (November 10 C Oahu C Green Caf Iwamaki C From the camera in the tablet terminal installed on the table) And thats how it will pan out if all goes well. Kamijou listened to Birdway speak over the phone. They too were planning to counterattack using the normal people who were forced to fight, but... Since that man was able to attack me so easily, the magician ordering him around must have a means of detecting our location. This might also mean that she knows when her attackers fail and, therefore, when the hostages are no longer needed. ...Thanks to this possibility, the monster with me has been in a very bad mood. He really is a hero. What? ...Anyway, this person uses magic to control the people around her, right? So wouldnt she have lookouts posted? I would have noticed them. I can detect traces of the spell, cut in Birdway. And over what range do you think she has lookouts posted? How did she know I had come to the shopping mall? Or are you trying to say she has lookouts posted all across the Hawaiian Islands? ...Could she be using an information network other than her natural magic? I would say she at least has a means that either covers all of Oahu or that can scan all of the Hawaiian Islands. It also has to be something that can slip past my magic side way of doing things... A surveillance network using something other than magic...? So a science side means? Kamijou looked up at the corner of the buildings ceiling. ...Like cameras...? At any rate, we need to come up with a countermeasure. Birdway gave a few instructions. Kamijou frowned. Will that really be okay? Im the one that wants your opinion. After all, this is more of a science side issue, Birdway replied. No matter what the situation was, they had no choice but to head forward. That was how it felt to Kamijou. ...And can we really get those people wrapped up in this? Kamijou asked carefully. Even if they pointed guns at us, theyre just normal people who have had hostages taken. Can they really withstand a magician battle? If we are going to bring Gremlin out of hiding here, we must take out this magician that can control people. And given how easily I was attacked, its safe to assume they already know what we look like to a certain extent. That means our best chance is to get the help of people who are in the enemys blind spot, said Birdway. Also, the hostages will be killed if we do nothing. To keep her identity a secret, the magician who used the hostages as a threat will likely eliminate the hostages in the end. In fact, she could kill two birds with one stone by giving the hostages weapons and telling them to kill their parents. God dammit, Kamijou cursed. As they listened over speakerphone, Hamazuras expression grew grim and Kuroyoru Umidori simply looked bored. ...What are we supposed to do? Before the battle begins, I want you to find as many of the normal people fighting for the sake of a hostage as you can. The more people on our side, the better. Also, if we know how many such people there are, we will know how many hostages we have to save. But how? Kamijou frowned. Unlike you, I cant detect magic or magic power. Theres no need to worry about that, Birdway readily responded. I was attacked. We can assume they know who is in the Kamijou Party to a certain extent. Also, they know you are alive due to Radiosonde Castle and we have already seen a countermeasure put together especially for you. ...At the very least, we know the enemy will be closing in on you. Just as a chill ran down Kamijou Toumas back, he heard a scream. The front door was kicked down and a large man holding a handgun entered and stared directly at him. Kamijou jumped to the ground, bringing Kuroyorus small form with him. Slower to react, Hamazura frantically climbed over a thirty-centimeter-thick partition. The very next instant, repeated high-pitched gunshots rang out. Part 15 (November 10 C Oahu C Smoking Area within Coral Street Shopping Mall C From the camera in the magicians cell phone) Ten minutes had passed since the magician had heard the gunshots. However, she had received no calls and the poor berserkers worried about their children had not returned. (...Were they shot by police officers who happened to be present?) wondered the magician. She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and spoke while operating it with her thumb. She spoke to the unmoving hostages. Those four children were being controlled by the magician and each of them was at or just under the age of ten. Okay, everyone, listen to what I have to say, she said with the tone of a guide on a school trip. She then unzipped her bag and pulled out 9mm machine pistols. The adults walking around outside are very dangerous, but you will be safe as long as you have these warning buzzers. The scary adults will run away if they hear the noise from these buzzers. If the adults find you, just point your buzzer at them and set it off. Do you understand? She then reached for a shopping bag filled with clay-like explosives. She attached the medical electrodes extending from the bags to the childrens wrists as she continued speaking with a big smile on her face. And these are your GPS devices. With them, I can tell where you are so even if the dangerous adults capture you, I will come to rescue you if you press the secret button to let me know. So make absolutely sure that you never take off your GPS device! She was using the same method she had in her attempt to make Edward Torke attack the Oahu hotel. She was controlling them by creating a deviation in their knowledge. From a third partys point of view, she was telling them to do absolutely unthinkable things, but none of the children there were aware of it. The children looked at the guns and explosives with unambitious eyes. The magician secretly smiled. At the very least, Leivinia Birdway was in the same shopping mall. Even if she only needed to get safely and surely farther away from her, the magician wanted to create a great confusion she could escape in. The current problem was their locations. The shopping mall had seven exits and the magician had a chance of being spotted even amid the confusion if she accidentally headed toward Birdway. To prevent that, she had to contact her collaborator and learn where the enemy was currently located. However... ...? The magician frowned as she put the cell phone to her ear. She looked back at the small screen and looked confused. No signal? Immediately afterwards, men holding handguns burst through one of the smoking areas windows. They were the poor men who she had used hostages to control. Part 16 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C Near the East Entrance C From a CCD camera in a tourists notebook computer) Misaka Mikoto and Misaka Worst rushed through the large shopping mall. Bluish-white sparks intermittently shot from their bangs. Because they had guessed that the enemy was monitoring their movements through the cameras, they were jamming the wireless signals. Dahh! I cant stand this... We finally get a call from them and its just asking us to be human jammers. And to rescue the family of a man who attacked them with a gun but was repelled by a cyborgs power? ...That idiot sure is calm about all this. We came all the way to Hawaii, so cant we do something a little more exciting? complained Mikoto. Hmm? Since you were just staring blankly over at that swimsuit shop, how about you take your own advice to heart? Maybe go for a slingshot. Or how about a micro bikini? Or a Brazilian swimsuit? Misaka hears there is a kind with an I-front and an O-back. Gwaaaaahhhhhhh!! Does this country have some rule that says the less cloth used, the better!? But if Misaka wore a slingshot, it would be rather tricky because her breasts would make a bridge-like gap between her body and the cloth. But for you, Onee-tama, it would be no different from gluing bandages around your body... If you say one more word, Ill unleash a never-before-seen Rail-Shotgun on you!! ...Misaka doesnt feel too threatened when you say that while holding a shopping bag from Cupid Arrow. Bpfh!! And Misaka isnt going to respond to that over-the-top reaction either. Misaka is a bit worried about a certain someones choker-style electrode. But on the other hand, a malfunction would be quite interesting indeed, so she needs to focus on going all out with her jamming! Part 17 (November 10 C Oahu C Smoking Area within Coral Street Shopping Mall C From security camera footage) The magicians lips stiffened slightly. She had looked down on those pawns as nothing more than normal people and had planned to dispose of them along with the hostages, so when those people she clearly saw as small fries charged in with their handguns, she grinned. You fools. This only hastens my plans!! The magician snapped her fingers. The hostagesthe young children who had been standing stock still until thenbegan to move. With the bags hanging from their shoulders, they turned the machine pistols in their hands toward their family members. Gunshots rang out. However, a tragedy did not occur there. Just before the guns were fired, the shopping mall ceiling collapsed. The one who had brought the shutter of rubble down was Accelerator. And he did not stop there. He manipulated the vector of his momentum to give himself superhuman speed and kicked the bags hanging from their shoulders, sending them flying far away. A few of the children made a motion as if they were trying to rub their side with their upper arm, but they did not make it in time. The explosives detonated, emitting a great roar and explosive flames, but they were far enough away that it only shook the building. ...So you had them set up to spread the damage as far as possible with the guns and then blow up when they died. We took some samples to look into how you do things, you fucker. The magician was already headed for the exit. However, Kamijou and Hamazura came running in through the two passageways connecting to the rest of the floor. (Not good.) She had a bad feeling. However, it was not due to who was there. (I still dont know where Birdway is. Even if I manage to escape amid the confusion here, this could get truly bad if shes lying in wait for me up ahead...!) As she backed into a corner of the smoking area, the magician felt sweat dripping along the edge of her nose. Of course, she was not about to let herself get taken out there. The magician saw the normal people unhesitatingly aiming their guns at her and preparing to pull the trigger, but that was when the situation changed suddenly. The cause of this change was a single explosive thrown in from outside the camera frame. Part 18 (November 10 C Critical Error) An unknown cause is placing a heavy burden on the FCE. Self-diagnosing...output of report complete. The FCE is beginning its reboot sequence. Part 19 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C In front of a coin locker C From security camera footage) Kamijou Touma and Accelerator had jumped into the same area next to the smoking area. Together, they had pushed the hostage children into that area. What happened to Hamazura!? asked Kamijou. He jumped out the other exit. Hes with the parents. More importantly, what the hell was that? What idiot intervened!? The sound of scraping metal could be heard beyond the black smoke. Kamijou tried to peer out through the smoke, but Accelerator grabbed him by the nape of the neck. Immediately afterwards, gunfire rang out. It was not the sound of a handgun being fired. The explosive noise was deeper and continuous. It was most likely from an assault rifle or something like that. Which meant... This isnt the occult... Accelerator muttered. Then this is a job for me. You take those kids and get out of here. Hey...! I have no intention of getting into a firefight with those kids still here. And your power can release them, right? It was true that one of the children Kamijou had pushed to safety was acting differently from before. She was staring in confusion as if she could not understand what was going on. That was most likely due to Kamijous right hand having touched her. Accelerator spoke without turning around. Im best suited for this kind of battlefield, so you hurry up and get out of here. ...Ill repay you for this later. Dont let yourself get taken out easily. Having said that, Kamijou lightly tapped the heads of each of the hostages who were still trying to attack according to the magicians orders. That was all it took to bring the children back to their senses. Taking them with him, Kamijou started leaving the coin locker and the attackers from the other side of the smoke tried to chase after him. However, Accelerator stepped into their path as if challenging them. It may be a little unfair, but we want to make sure we use the right person for the right job. Part 20 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C Eastern Side of the First Floor C From the camera in a tourists smartphone) The explosions and gunfire caused a great panic within the shopping mall. No one was stupid enough to try to catch a glimpse of what was going on. The people sensed a crisis and all tried to get out of the exits at the same time. However, there were simply too many people, so the flow of people got caught near the exits, packing everyone in together. Mark, one of the men in black suits, asked Birdway a question. Do you think it is going well? As the gunfire is not ending, the battle must be continuing. Well, that magician has been getting other people involved while taking it easy on her end of things. It really made me want to take the fight to her. Not getting direct progress reports from the people there is a pain, though. I didnt realize how thankful I was for cell phones, she said lightly. The main reason I wanted to win over the normal people was to get a good idea of where the magician was, but I never expected her to be in the same shopping mall. Luckily, it looks like the multi-sided attack was fairly effective, making this easier. But even if you have people posted at all the nearby exits, there is still a chance that she can slip by in the confusion. I can just follow the flow of magic power. That way, she cant mix in with the normal people. And if she does not refine any magic power? Unthinkable. This is not a safe zone for her. When a surprise attack could come at any time, she will put up her defenses so she can deal with one. Even if she knows purifying magic power is dangerous, she will be even more afraid of not having any. Assuming the current magician specialized in controlling people, Birdway reasoned that she would unhesitatingly flee when attacked head on. As such, Birdway was waiting at one of the exits for someone who might be the magician to show up. Hm? Birdway frowned upon catching a glimpse of a figure within the crowd. What is someone as famous as that doing here? Part 21 (November 10 C Oahu C Coral Street Shopping Mall C In front of a coin locker C From security camera footage) An armed group of five stepped out of the black smoke and in front of Accelerator. They were covered in special all-silver military uniforms from the top of their heads to bottom of their feet. The surface of the uniforms glittered like a CD. Their faces could not be seen, but Accelerator could just barely tell from their body shapes that three were men and two were women. They were all armed with special bullpup-style assault rifles. In addition, the men had recoilless guns hanging from their shoulders and the women had intelligence-gathering tools such as high-fidelity microphones and fiberscopes hanging from their waists. (...Tch. Are they from Gremlin? Those uniforms look more like electronic camouflage for fooling sensors than something to be used against people.) They did not utter a single word. One of the men held up his rifle and unhesitatingly fired. However, Accelerator had his reflection. The man was struck by the bullet he himself had fired and was knocked to the ground, but the other four showed no sign of worry or confusion. They all took separate actions. (...Was he testing to see if I could do it?) He had ignored the damage he would take on a personal level and made a calculated sacrifice to control the damage to the group as a whole. It pissed the #1 off, but it did not change what he had to do. He manipulated the vectors of the force of his legs to explosively charge forward. The hunt had begun. No matter what the enemy thought or how they moved, Accelerators reflection was overwhelmingly effective when it came to bullets and explosives. The attackers could do nothing to oppose the #1 as he wiped them out. But... There was one left. Just as he stretched his fingers out before her, bright red blood suddenly burst from Accelerators right arm. ...Ah? A bullet had not made it past his wall of reflection. Accelerator could not be harmed even by invisible threats such as gas or a biological weapon. This had been caused by a non-external threat. That is, his body was being destroyed from the inside. The last remaining attacker jumped to the side and Accelerator was unable to correct his motion. He slammed into the wall. Blood was splattered on the wall and it did not quite seem real to him that it was his own. Still leaning against the wall, Accelerator said, It...cant be... One fact remains the same for every esper, said the woman as she held up her bullpup-style rifle. When a scientifically-created esper uses a magical spell, they are assaulted by a certain side effect. ...Youre...a magician...!? He tried to shout out but instead coughed up a clump of blood from deep in his throat. The attackers movements. The way they had fled. The timing with which they had been taken out. It had all been calculated out to make Accelerator take certain actionsto make him pull the trigger known as magic. The specifics of the magic he was made to use did not matter. It could be something relatively useless like sending a pale light from his fingertips or even something so trivial it could not be seen. What mattered was that they were making an esper use magic. Accelerator managed to figure that much out, but he could also tell his consciousness was growing muddy. He had used something like magic in the past, but making careful adjustments while checking on ones limits was very different from charging in unaware. And a scientific espers powers were created purely from the brain. The muddying of his consciousness lowered his calculation ability which in turn had an effect on his control on the macro physical world he could see. Simply put...he lost his reflection ability. The woman whose face he could not see held her finger to her rifles trigger. The name Gremlin refers to an occult fairy that causes malfunctions in scientific machines. Had you not given any thought to what that meant? Immediately afterwards, a gunshot rang out. Blood flew through the air. The dull sound of a human body falling to the ground was heard. Dark red blood leaked from the body as it lay on the ground. However, it was not Accelerators body. It was the womans body after she had been suddenly shot from the side. Even as she lay on the ground, she held the bullpup-style assault rifle in one hand. She blindly fired in the direction she had been shot from. But... That just isnt gonna cut it, lady. You arent going to hit anything firing wildly like that. Stability is more important than distance. No matter how good a gun you have, you can still miss at ten meters with terrible form like that, said a deep male voice. Two light gunshots rang out and two dark-red holes opened in the womans right shoulder. The rifle finally fell from her grasp and her resistance was replaced by groans. Dont even hold a gun if you cant hit. Are you trying to get yourself killed!? This is the worlds largest gun country!! Who...are you...? Accelerator asked the boasting man. Thats what Id like to ask you, Japanese boy. I came all the way here to save the children, but you stole my thunder. ...Again: who the hell are you? I really wish people would start watching the morning news, sighed the middle-aged man holding a handgun. Im the goddamn president. Part 22 (November 10 C Oahu C White Beach Golf Club C From a tourists video camera) The tourists poured out of the shopping mall and fled to the beach and other nearby areas. Unlike with a simple accident or disaster, the people were trying to escape a shooter, so they were mostly heading for other buildings to hide in. Normally, only members could enter the White Beach Golf Club, but the guards shouts did nothing to stop the surging waves of people. They hesitated to draw their guns as a threat as it was an emergency and peoples lives were at stake. Mixed in with the crowd, the Gremlin magician operated her cell phone. Birdway and the others had been monitoring all of the exits, but they had not thought of the possibility of her destroying a wall and leaving through that. In a firefight like that, an extra explosion or two did not seem suspicious. After ringing a few times, the call finally connected. Without waiting for the other person to speak, the magician shouted into the phone. Why did you send them!? They were meant for a later stage!! Either way, the plan would have been brought to a standstill if you had been captured back there, said the young womans voice coming from the phone. And I have things I must do while the enemy is focused on you. Then... They already know what you look like. If it is only a matter of time before the pursuers reach you, we must proceed even faster than planned. From here on out, this is a blitzkrieg. We must shake free of them faster than they can respond. Part 23 (November 10 C Oahu C From the in-vehicle camera of an electric cart) Because he had no idea when the enemys comrades would return and injure Accelerator further, President Roberto Katze could not leave Accelerator where he was. Instead, he dragged him into the passenger seat of the kind of electric cart used in golf courses. He wanted to watch the reunion of the hostages and manipulated attackers longer, but they had no time, so he drove off in the cart. Incidentally, his rental car had been rendered completely unusable. He started to seriously consider whether he could call it a public expense and get reimbursed. Its a good thing this is a tourist area. Electric carts are a lot simpler than a normal car. Youre supposed to input a four digit number, but you can bypass that and start them by opening the cover and connecting a single cord to an open port on the circuit board. A certain company had a few different models of electric cart and each one had different types of security, but they all used the same circuit board. Depending on the model of the cart it was for, different electronic parts were connected to that circuit board and different ones of the several input ports were chosen. That was how the different products were given a sense of individuality. However, holes for electronic parts and input ports not needed for that model still existed. A common circuit board was used to reduce costs, but that meant a signal could be sent through a route the machine was not made to handle. It was possible to cause an intentional error. It was because of his interest in those kinds of things that the president was sometimes called the swindler who had risen to a higher position than any other swindler in history. If he was not careful, Hollywood was likely to make a movie about it. Accelerator clicked his tongue while breathing shallowly. ...If we had taken one of those damn reinforcements with us, we couldve gotten some information. Thats too much of a burden. Im no Hollywood star; I cant carry two people at once. The president gave a light smile. More importantly, you need to do something about that blood. Im only borrowing this. Id like for this to end up being a cart of good fortune that is rumored to have been driven by the president, but at this rate itll be rumored to be a bloodthirsty cart that kills everyone who uses it. I dont want to cause any problems for its owner. Tch. If you need something to use as a bandage or gauze, take this. The president handed him a lace handkerchief. It did not look like a mans handkerchief, but that may just have been part of the strategy he used in regard to his image. Accelerator took it with an irritated look on his face. ...Why did womans underwear come out with it? Sorry, sorry. That belonged to a career woman I met at a bar two days ago. At some point, it found its way into my pocket. Accelerator tossed the womens underwear aside and glared over at the president. How much do you have to do with this incident? Thats what I want to know from you, Japanese boy. This is my country. Do you realize youre having a barbecue in someone elses yard without asking? ... Currently, the occult is running rampant through the White House and Congress. Its tentacles have spread through the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies. The phenomena you saw back there have eaten into all of the public institutions. In some cases, it has reached people who have the authority to decide to invade another country. The bastards using the occult are using living people to put together their own force. ...In concrete terms, how far has it spread? Who knows? It could be a few hundred people or it could be a few thousand. Its beyond the point where we can tell that kind of thing. What I do know is that something isnt right in this country. Theres no convenient test, so telling apart the affected and the unaffected is difficult. Areas that were safe the day before are not necessarily safe today. Is it Gremlin? Whats that? A magic cabal...that is, a group that uses the occult...that is hiding here in Hawaii. To be honest, I dont know many of the details myself. Does someone in that group have the power to control people? Yes. ...I see. So youre a Japanese hunting dog that has chased the rabbit here and so were starting to catch glimpses of the enemys tail in our sights. But if what Roberto said was true, it was possible Gremlins influence was not confined to Hawaii. It would mean they had eaten into the entire country. The enemy could possibly wield the military and intelligence gathering power of that nation. (...Dammit, Birdway. What was that about an incident possibly occurring? If you want to stop this, you need to start moving before its already checkmate.) The president operated the steering wheel as he drove up onto the freeway. The electronic cart had no windows or walls, so a dry wind blew on them. Accelerator and President Roberto Katze had a common enemy. All the circumstances were connected. Accelerator started thinking about that fact, but joining forces with the president did not give them the power of America itself. After all, the country was already being eaten into by Gremlin. He decided joining forces with Roberto Katze as an individual was the best they could hope for. So these occult bastards making up this Gremlin group are controlling important people within the US in order to take over the center of the government and the military, said Roberto. Possibly. ...Or thats what I thought. Ahn? If so, what happened back there was odd. Do you remember? That girl controlling people with the occult was using those children as shields and having them target normal people. Are you talking about how that group of what seemed like professional soldiers cut in partway through? Their equipment was weird, too. That CD-like uniform was electronic camouflage. Thats meant to be used against high-tech sensors, not people. But I thought no military actually used it because they all hated how it looks. If they had been planning to use those soldiers from the beginning, they would have simply relied on them instead. I dont see why they would go out of their way to use those normal people who could possibly turn on them. And yet the magician used them. There is something there. Were just not seeing it. Part 24 (November 10 C Oahu C Green Caf Iwamaki C From the camera in the tablet terminal installed on the table) There we go, muttered Birdway as she looked at the papyrus. It was the spiritual item she was using to automatically analyze the magicians spell. Kamijou, Hamazura, and Kuroyoru looked at the papyrus, but they could not understand what they were seeing. Birdway ignored them. She is indeed from the Russian Orthodox Church. Mark, compress the analysis data from the papyrus and send it to our contact with the Russian Orthodox Church. Ask thempolitelyif they have any idea who she could be. ...Do you really think they will answer honestly? As the main battlefield of World War III, Russia is in the process of being restored by Academy Citys technology and Americas funds. Gremlin is currently damaging both of those. Tell them any delays on our part could have a major effect on their recovery. Kamijou made sure not to touch the spiritual item and asked, Do you know how her magic works? Whats its weak point? Ugh, someone explain it to him. Ah, I have a response from the Russian Orthodox Church. That was incredibly fast. Especially for a bureaucratic job, Mark cut in. That last comment must have done its job, said Birdway as she snatched the tablet computer from him. Her name is Saronia A. Irivika. Fourteen years old. Comes from Yekaterinburg. She proudly thinks of herself as European and hates having Russia be called part of Asia more than anything. Well, that last bit is about as stereotypically Russian as you can get. She used her index finger to scroll down. During World War III, she was deployed to Vladivostok to stop Academy City forces from landing, but had little to do since the invasion was primarily carried out by supersonic bombers. She disappeared in the confusion of the end of the war. Her whereabouts since then are unknown. Them. Gremlin. Those created by the war who did not wish for the war to end. So is this Saronia trying to overturn the result of the war as a Russian soldier...? asked Hamazura Its possible, Birdway replied as she shoved the tablet computer back toward Mark. Then is Gremlin a group of those who lost the war and want a comeback? Do they just want to redo the war? I thought I told you personal objectives had more of a priority than an overall ideology. The group and an individual will not necessarily align. It would best to have as few preconceptions about them as we can. Suddenly, Kamijous cell phone started to ring. He answered it to find it was from Accelerator. I know what Gremlin is after. I dont know what their ultimate objective is, but I know what one of the means to get there is. One of the means to get there? Kamijou quickly switched over to speakerphone so everyone there could join in the conversation. As soon as he did, Accelerator got to the core of the issue. Gremlin seems to be trying to obtain the Trigger. The Trigger...? Thats rather vague. Is it from the science side or the magic side? Technically, its called the Small Scale Induction-Style Active Volcano Controlling Device, but thats a pain to say, so they call it the Trigger. The device is being developed by the American military. ...I dont like the sound of that name. As the name suggests, its a toy used to control the activities of an active volcano. It cant stop a volcanic eruption, but by distributing the energy of the explosion, it can control the damage done. To keep it simple, you can think of it as a device that uses a special combination of explosives to apply stimuli to the underground magma which artificially causes small scale eruptions. By letting the pressure escape before a major eruption occurs, the worst case scenario can be avoided. In addition to the avalanches and pyroclastic flows that directly damaged the areas at the foot of the volcano, air lanes had been cut off by volcanic ash in recent years. Given how much economic damage from natural disasters such a device would avoid, it was certainly worth researching. Youre saying Gremlin is after that? To be specific, the people being controlled by Gremlin all seem to have been searching for data on this Trigger, spat out Accelerator. But the Trigger really only applies the proper stimuli to the underground magma and thats it. If its intentionally used incorrectly, it could be used to cause a major eruption. If Gremlin was after the Trigger, it was almost guaranteed that they were planning to cause a major eruption in some active volcano. In fact, that was about the only way the Trigger could be used. But where? Which active volcano was Gremlin going to detonate? Kilauea, replied Accelerator. Thats the largest active volcano in the Hawaiian islands, so that has to be it. Kilauea, hm? muttered Birdway quietly. The opening at its peak alone is over a kilometer in diameter and it has other smaller openings lined up for twenty or thirty kilometers. ...The Trigger is a system that can artificially cause volcanic eruptions, right? asked Kamijou. Accelerator clicked his tongue and responded. If Gremlin uses the Trigger, they can even cause eruptions that would be impossible naturally. In the worst case, its possible they could send lava erupting from all of the openings at once. Kilauea is on the island of Hawaii and over eighty percent of its area is mountainous. The network of roads has brought development onto the mountainsides, but most of the population is still focused in the few level areas. So if Kilauea has a serious eruption...the lava would all flow there...? And thats only what would happen with a normal eruption, said Accelerator. If an artificial eruption is caused using the Trigger, it will not end there. Apparently, Kilauea will start a chain reaction that will spread through underground connections to Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, and Hualalai, causing them all to erupt. If that happens... Well, all of the island of Hawaii will be washed over with lava, said Birdway easily as she ignored Kamijou and Hamazura who had fallen speechless. If you add the residents and tourists together, I guess the death toll would probably be around 500,000. It isnt fun to think about, but it is on the scale of what I would expect from them. Volume 3, 3: The Target of the Scorching Lava. Case_to_War. Volume 3, Chapter 3: The Target of the Scorching Lava. Case_to_War. Part 1 (November 10 C Oahu C Main Road C From a camera in a public bus) Kamijou, Mikoto, and Birdway were riding in a large bus. Hamazura, Misaka Worst, and Kuroyoru had gone elsewhere. Kamijous group and Accelerators group were attempting to prevent the Trigger from being taken from Oahu, and Hamazuras group was setting up a defensive line near Kilauea just in case. So theyre going to kill 500,000 people by causing an artificial eruption in Kilauea... ...Nnn, groaned Mikoto. Do you have a question, asked Birdway as she stared out the window. I know these terrorists are planning something monstrous. Mikoto did not have a proper understanding of Gremlin or magic, so that was how she interpreted it. But didnt you all say that the Senate, the House of Representatives, and all sorts of other government workers were being controlled in order to gather information on the Trigger? Well, I guess they must have someone like our #5... She can most likely control quite a few people at once. Whats your point? Doesnt that seem a little indirect? Maybe Im wrong, but if these people have the power to control a majority of the US Congress, couldnt they change the state of the country without resorting to violence? Yes, if this was just an issue about America, Birdway responded. But Gremlin is an enemy on an even greater scale. If you look beyond the United States, what they gain from this becomes clear. What are you talking about, little girl? Pay attention now. The Trigger itself was developed in American research facilities and the incident itself is making use of a portion of Americas Congress, military, police, intelligence agencies, and other government organizations. If a large scale terror attack is carried out in which Kilauea is artificially set off, the peoples anger will not be aimed solely at the terrorists. It is quite likely that they will be quite upset with how useless the American government is. ... Also, Hawaii has many times more foreign tourists than local residents. Most of the victims in this incident would be tourists, so it would no longer be a purely national issue. Many nations, many governments, and many politicians would thoroughly investigate the events leading up to the eruption and America would be harshly blamed for the truth those investigations uncovered. And every country is in need of money after the war. ...But America of course does not have the money it would take to meet the inevitable demands for reparations they would receive. The chaos would continue on. So theyre trying to damage the entire science side, spat out Kamijou. And all theyre doing is creating an impetus. Once Kilauea erupts, the countries of the science side will start fighting amongst themselves on their own, effectively driving a wedge into the gears of the science side, Birdway continued. ...Even if Academy City is at the center of technological development, it is America that keeps the world economy running. If America is struck down, the economy will stagnate. And then... The cycle of unemployment, poverty, and hunger would spread explosively. And despite being at the center of it all, America would be less affected than the more distant emerging nations. Once those surrounding nations learn they are suffering more than the ones that caused it all, their anger will swell up even further. That will complete the downward spiral. So theres even a danger of terrorism and riots completely unrelated to Gremlin spreading throughout the world? If that happens, everyone will be too busy dealing with that to pursue the traces of Gremlin. Exactly, Birdway agreed. They are having America drive cracks into itself using its own power. That is what is important here. That is why they are going out of their way to use such an indirect method. Birdway grinned. And this also applies pressure to the other developed nations that support the science side. What do you mean...? When a new enemy appears, normal nations respond by developing more powerful equipment and deploying it. However, this plan involves crushing America using its own device. That means the more a nation augments its military might, the greater the risk. If they want to reduce the risk, they have no choice but to get rid of the very equipment that is supposed to protect them. You mean...? If this plan succeeds and America is utterly destroyed, the other developed nations will come to a standstill. Politicians are human too. After seeing someone fail miserably before their eyes, they will want to avoid doing the same thing. But they cant fight if they dont prepare military might! That may be what common sense says, but they will not want to bring all the risk onto themselves. That is simply how politicians think. As such, no one will do anything and nothing will change. A standstill, stagnation, a political vacuum, and obstruction of economic activity...all of that may be their goal or their goal may be to freely strut through the vulnerable world that it creates in order to spread even more destruction. I may not be sure of their overall goal, but at the very least this will bring the world into a state that is much more convenient for a group like Gremlin that hates the postwar focus on the science side. Causing five hundred thousand victims and crushing America was nothing more than an impetus for Gremlin. That way of thinking made Kamijou Touma silently but strongly clench his right fist. Part 2 (November 10 C Oahu C From the in-vehicle camera of an electronic cart) Roberto Katze drove the electronic cart with one hand while operating the stereo with the other. Accelerator thought he was looking for a radio news program to get information from, but the radio instead started playing trance music that was rumored to have more to do with the explosive increase of small animals than the waxing and waning of the moon. ...What the hell are you doing? Trying to relax. Roseline is always bugging me about it. ...To be honest, Im surprised at how much of a burden has been lifted from my shoulders just by finding someone I can be absolutely sure isnt being controlled. Do you know where this Trigger is? asked Accelerator while the electronic cart shook. It was primarily developed by the marines because they are sometimes deployed for disaster relief. I know the Hawaiian Islands are the cornerstone of the USs defensive line in the Pacific, but how many bases are there here? If you count navy, air force, and marine bases, there are 52. ...Its even more if you add in the training areas. ...Isnt that a bit much? There was a rush to build as many as possible in order to deal with World War III. The war ended much sooner than anyone expected, but money given to a project cant be taken back...or rather, wont be given up. A lot of meaningless construction is still going on. Accelerator clicked his tongue. The president grinned and said, Almost half of the 52 I mentioned are currently being constructed. But parts of those are already functioning, so we cant just eliminate them from being possibilities. Then where are we headed? Not even I am reckless enough to just try a blind search. By using my presidential authority on the network, I can gather a certain amount of information on my own. Just get to the point. We are headed to the largest collection of American military facilities in Hawaii...and therefore the entire Pacific Ocean. I have a feeling even a Japanese boy like you will have at least heard of it. Dont make me repeat myself. Just tell me already. Pearl Harbor. Part 3 (November 10 C Oahu C Near Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From a traffic surveillance camera on a traffic light) Nothing but chain-link fence continued for kilometers. Kamijou Touma, Misaka Mikoto, and Leivinia Birdway met up with Roberto Katze and Accelerator near that fence. When Mikoto saw Accelerator, an expression of shock appeared on her face as if she had remembered some bloody trauma, but they did not have time to worry about that kind of thing. The Trigger is likely within that fence, said the president as he pointed toward the base with his thumb. But as you know, even if we do not have the most advanced technology, this is a base of the marines who lead the world when it comes to pure firepower. If we just tried to climb the fence and get through on guts alone, wed definitely be shot to pieces. ...Youre the president, arent you? Cant you just give an order to get us in? asked Kamijou in confusion, but the president only gave an exaggerated shrug. A presidential order isnt as convenient in reality as it is in movies. There are a lot of organizations between me and the individual soldiers here and my order may not make it through those organizations if they are being controlled by a third party. Birdway said, Saronia A. Irivika, the one controlling people, is attempting to obtain the Trigger, so there is no guarantee the people here in the base would obey the order even if it got here. ... Accelerator and Misaka Mikoto exchanged a wordless glance. The two of them could force their way into a base that was filled with normal firearms. However... Forcing our way in wouldnt be the best plan, Birdway cut in. This is a large base, so there is no guarantee we will find the Trigger quickly. Continuing the fight the entire time would be difficult and reinforcements would eventually arrive from the other bases. Im not saying we couldnt win, but Id rather not turn this place into a sea of flames. ...If a bunch of explosions turned the facility into a pile of rubble, we would have no way of knowing if the Trigger had been here or not. So to be absolutely sure, we need to confirm the existence of the Trigger here before destroying it, Kamijou muttered. But I doubt the security here is lax enough that we can just sneak in. Roberto lightly caressed the surface of the attach case he was holding. This base is one of the ones undergoing rushed construction to expand its functionality. That means construction workers are constantly going in and out. It may be easier to slip into than a completely finished base, he replied. ...I have a question. Does that create enough of an opening that Asian teenagers walking around wont seem suspicious? asked Kamijou. The presidents expression grew bitter. Birdway lightly crossed her arms and said, I could gather a group of white men using my subordinates, but I want as few magicians as possible here since Saronia is involved. Its possible she would notice if that much magic power was gathered here. Then what do we do? I never said I didnt have an idea. You know how we can sneak into that marine base? No, Birdway said as she shook her head. I know a way we can walk right in through the main entrance. Part 4 (November 10 C Oahu C Diamond Marine Harbor C From a tide level monitoring camera) Hamazura Shiage, Misaka Worst, and Kuroyoru Umidori came to a private yacht harbor in Oahu. It was called a yacht harbor, but it primarily held small ships that used gas engine-powered propellers, had air-conditioned bedrooms, simple kitchens, and shower rooms, and were almost on the level of a villa when it came to facilities and price. I can pick the lock, said Hamazura as he casually removed some wires wrapped around a pillar of the wharf. But I have no idea how to control a boat. Have either of you ever done it? Misaka has had all that imputed in her by the Testament, but its such a pain. Really, youll be fine. There are no obstacles in the sea, so youll be fine even if youre a little reckless. Just make sure to learn from your mistakes. You just dont want to do anything, do you? Ohh? If Misaka has to focus on the ship, her restraint of Kuroyoru-chan may not be entirely effective. Will the End of the Century Emperor be okay then, nyahh? One day, Im gonna rip you two into eight fucking pieces!! You heard me, eight!! Not seven or nine!! Ill rip you into eight pieces like a pizza!! Grrrr!!!!!! cut in Kuroyoru. Noooooo!! Its like youve provoked a trained military dog!! Hurry up and pick the lock, so Misaka can get into the air conditioning. If you dont, Misaka will let her rape you. While trembling, Hamazura stuck the wires into the keyhole on the ships hatch. He looked around and said, The lock itself is outside tech, so picking it is easy enough, but Im afraid of someone seeing me. Especially since everyone here supposedly has a gun. Misaka Worst patted Kuroyoru on the top of the head and said, Dont worry. Dont worry. Kuroyoru-chan will keep watch for you. Why the hell would I do!? If we add on your cat ear part, you gain a large increase in information gathering ability, right? Fgh!? Wh-why do you have that accessory part...!? Heh heh heh. Resist if you like, but can you prevent the cat ear connection when you cant use your arms, nyahh? Now, its about time you became the cute, cute black cat assassin-chan, dont you think? Uuh... Kuroyoru tried to step back, but she was at the end of the wharf and had nowhere left to flee. Misaka Worst did not especially care about changing Kuroyorus appearance, but she approached the cyborg girl with the cat ear part in hand because she wanted to destroy her atmosphere of darkness. Feeling cornered, Kuroyoru let out a sob. And then... Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Why? Why does this kind of thing always have to happen to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!? Wah!? shouted Misaka Worst in surprise as she took a small step back. Kuroyoru may have been a Level 4 with the power of Bomber Lance, she may have had a portion of Accelerators thoughts implanted in her during the Dark May Project, and she may have led the new generation of darkness that were the Freshmen, but she was still fundamentally a twelve-year-old girl. She had a strong resistance to simple relationships that were nothing but kill or be killed. However, she was not used to insults of that sort. She simply did not have enough experience with such situations to adlib her way through them. As Kuroyoru cried and large tears fell from her eyes, Misaka Worst averted her gaze and looked to Hamazura for help. However, Hamazura only looked at Misaka Worst with an expression that said, Ah, you made her cry... Having lost her mental escape route, Misaka Worst thought for a bit. Finally, she said, But it hasnt even been a full year since this Misaka was created and its only fair to forgive the youngest one if shes a little selfish. How can you say that so easily, you villain!? With all three of them shouting, they boarded the high class yacht which soon left the harbor. Part 5 (November 10 C Oahu C Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From the west gate surveillance camera) While the same could not be said for an overseas garrison, no one was going to attempt a head on attack of a base in the country. As such, the first thing one had to learn as a guard was how to kill time...or so many people thought. In reality, the guards did have work to do. This work did not involve harsh firefights with dangerous elements attacking the base. Instead it involved driving off citizens groups keeping an eye on the usage of tax money and third-rate reporters who had no good material that week. In the base, it was known as crow extermination and was put on the same level as cleaning the toilets. (...With the airplane fuel bombing at the airport and the shooting at the shopping mall, I wish they would just give us the order to shoot those bastards up. I dont need an assault rifle for this crow extermination. A plunger would be enough.) An African-American marine named Nike Canox tossed aside a gravure magazine and brought his feet from the table and down to the ground. He had heard something over the radio. It seemed the people who would help kill some time that day were on their way. The assault rifle hanging from Nikes shoulder was unpopular with the troops, but no one dared mention it to the higher ups. He opened the thin door of the guardroom and stepped outside. He no longer had the benefit of the Japanese-made cold mist sprayer in the guardroom and the annoying sunlight stabbed at his brown skin. Stop! Stop right there! Who the hell are you people!? Nike shouted in the direction of the row of people walking his way. Im the president!! Ill cut your funding, cowboy! Hurry up and get out the ID reader!! shouted back a solidly built middle-aged man with tears in his eyes. When Nike looked closer, he recognized the man from his frequent news appearances. He was the legendary man who had supposedly tried to appear wearing only a speedo in a commercial for an ED remedy, but had been stopped by his monstrous female aide. He was the man who a womens association on a variety program had said had no character to his proposals. In response, he had said with a smile that he would propose a bill to expand the number of nudist beaches and had subsequently been knocked senseless by his female aide right there in the press conference room. But who were the children behind him? Nike was completely dumbfounded, so he simply held out the tablet. The man punched in his social security number and placed his palm on the screen. Nike had assumed he was just an impersonator, but his ID went through perfectly fine for some reason. Nike pulled the tablet back and shook it lightly. ...Is this thing broken? What? Do you think that kind of system will just so happen to have an error that just so happens to let someone through just from getting a bit of dust or sand in it? If you do, send a complaint to its maker, Muscat Computers. In three hours, theyll sue your for defamation. E-eh? But...eh? Then... I am President Roberto Katze. Surely you know that I disappeared from a press conference in Oahu two hours ago. It may not have been revealed to the public yet, but the news has to have been spreading through the military. O-oh... Nike had no idea what was going on and was unsure whether he should salute or not, but the president merely pressed on. The truth behind all this is that a terrorist plot is underway that involves abducting me. The people behind me are the civilians who saved me. However, the danger is not over yet. Id like some help and protection, but we need to get inside here first. No, wait. Wait a second. What am I supposed to do? Oh, right. Contact command. Once the electronic processing is done, I can issue some guest IDs and then... Do you really think we have time to wait? I thought I told you the danger wasnt over? Theyre approaching as we speak. Just getting inside the fence isnt good enough. We need to think about using the mortars and at the very least need to evacuate into reinforced concrete buildings. B-but... Cowboy. The president stared Nike in the eye. When Kennedy was assassinated, a few people besides the shooter had their names carved into history as villains. Even after all these years, the ones that allowed the mistakes in security are seen like that. Do you want to have the same happen to you, cowboy? ...Come in... It was partly due to the ID reader saying the president was who he said he was, but Nike Canox was mentally overpowered and let him pass. When the civilians headed for the gate after Roberto Katze, Nike had enough sense to try to stop them, but... Those people could very well be targets because they saved me. Cowboy, are you going to throw out these heroes and let them die? Nike could not say anything in response. He could not recall there being any manual for what to do if the president showed up unexpectedly. In a daze, Nike moved aside and let the four civilians into the marine base. Part 6 (November 10 C Oahu C Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From an auxiliary control camera) What just happened? asked Kamijou for about the dozenth time as they passed through the west gate. Roberto shrugged. Dont ask me. I just nervously did what she told me to do. I thought this base was supposed to have fallen to this Saronia person. Oh, it has, said Birdway with a nonchalant expression. However, her invasion has not reached the lowest ends. Most likely, she only has direct control over the commander at the top. How can you be so sure? Because of what happened in the shopping mall, Birdway responded sounding bored. According to the president, Saronia has control of at least the US Congress and is controlling people in other government and military organizations. We do not know how many people she can control at once, but there are around six hundred people in Congress. To hold a majority of those, she needs half that. If she is skilled enough to control that many people at once, dont you think the scene at that shopping mall should have been more of a disaster? For instance, she could have had all the tourists attack us like zombies with new ones added for each one we defeated. ...Now that you mention it... However, she was only controlling the four hostages, Birdway said as they continued walking. Assuming the president is telling the truth, Saronias spell must take time to prepare and must have a limit on the number of people controlled. We can assume she has her hands full keeping her grasp on the nation and therefore cannot spare too many people to fight. In that case, she would want to reduce the cost of controlling this base. There are a few barriers that would keep someone from having complete control of the country, said the president with a light sigh. This Saronia person would need to spread her controlling tentacles across the entire nation to overcome all of those. I can see why she would be barely scraping by. So youre saying this person is being more economical by only controlling the commander at the top and using official orders to control those lower down? asked Mikoto with a tone that said she still did not have a good grasp of the concept of magic. Birdway nodded and said, Also, we can assume Saronias human controlling magic is somehow special. Normally magic can be used by anyone who knows how, but there are some exceptions. This is one of those. What are you basing that assumption on? asked Accelerator. If anyone could use the magic, Saronia would just have to make someone she was controlling use the same magic. By repeating that, she could control any number of people in a geometric progression. However, that is not happening. Saronia is the only one using the spell and she clearly has limits on what she herself can do with it. And Birdway was thinking that Saronia would only be controlling the commander of that American base due to those limitations. Roberto tilted his head to the side. ...Then I guess we still have a chance. They will have an order from their commander and an order from me. Technically, I hold a higher position, but I doubt normal soldiers have ever thought about a situation where they would have to choose. Im sure not all of them will side with me, but theyll be confused all the same. I think Ill take this time to explain the papyruss analysis of Saronias spell. Birdway folded her arms. As I thought, her spell has to do with the Russian forest fairy known as the Leshy. The Leshy rules over all of the forest animals and she is controlling people by having them correspond to those animals. I now know that the specific requirement for this uses trees. Trees? It has to be a Russian conifer tree. It can be just a splinter or a leaf, but a target must touch a portion of one to be seen as a resident of the forest and therefore be under Saronias control. ...Did they have anything like that? Kamijou asked as he thought back to the situation in the shopping mall. Birdway smiled thinly and said, As long as it is made of wood, it can be anything. Even paper or corkboard would work. Lately Ive been hearing about these paper capacitors. If you slipped those into something, it wouldnt be hard to get someone to carry it around without them knowing. What happens if they let go of that spiritual item? She loses control of course. However, Saronia will not let that happen. Once she has control, she will surely order them to not let go of it no matter what. In fact, she could just tell them to swallow it. Ueh... Kamijou groaned. More importantly, girl, you said this Saronia is only directly controlling the commander, right? cut in Roberto. Yes. What about it? Then the biggest danger right now is... He trailed off as an off-road vehicle appeared near a distant building. In the back of the MP-driven vehicle sat a large well-built man who looked exactly as one would expect of someone in a high position. A military enthusiast might have been able to tell his precise rank from the details of his uniform. He was the commander of the base. Mr. President. When he saw the man looking down from the parked off-road vehicle, Kamijou felt his body stiffen. The nameplate on the mans chest said Bax Silver. Birdway had said Saronia was lessening her burden by only directly controlling the commander at the top and indirectly controlling the rest through the command structure. That meant it was possible the other soldiers would not follow an order to shoot the president. No one would want to be known as the man who killed the president. However, Bax Silver was different. He was being controlled by Saronias spell, so there was a danger of him simply following an order to shoot the president without thinking of the consequences. The presence of the automatic pistol hanging at his waist seemed especially heavy. Kamijou swallowed audibly. With his right hand, he could possibly remove Saronias control of the commander, but a few meters was within the kill zone for a handgun. As Kamijou tried to figure out what to do, the commander made his move. I just received word that you were here. Im so glad you are okay! I will have the base do everything we can to protect you!! (...Huh?) Kamijous eyebrows moved up slightly and a similar thought seemed to be going through Mikotos head. Kamijou started to think they were being invited into some kind of trap, but... She cant do it, Birdway whispered. She stepped past the president and toward Bax with a sneer on her face. You could kill the president right now, but if you did, you would lose your indirect control over this base in the confusion it caused. That is why you cannot kill him. At least not now. You must wait for the Trigger to be taken from the base. Bax Silvers body trembled slightly. It looked more like it was based on someone elses feelings than on the commanders own conflict. The fact that she cannot use the commander as a disposable tool proves something else. I already gave the answer, but do you know what that is? ...The Trigger is still here? muttered Roberto before clearing his throat and taking a more official tone of voice. Commander, I would like some information regarding the storage of the Trigger. Where exactly is the Trigger right now? Baxs body trembled even more. Someone was conflicted over whether to take action then or not. Mikoto and Accelerator lowered their center of gravity slightly, but then... ...Th-the Trigger is... The commanders lips began to move. He continued to speak as an unnatural sweat appeared on his face. ...on the runway. It has been authorized to be taken to the island of Hawaii on a transport plane... Lets go, muttered Birdway. Saronia herself is likely sheltered in that most welcoming place. As Gremlin wishes to use the Trigger on Kilauea, it would be fastest to transport the user along with the device. But there are three transport planes? Which one is the Trigger on...? asked Mikoto as she stared over at the runway. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. Kamijou and the others frantically turned around and saw the base commander had drawn his handgun. However, the bullet had not hit anyone. The nearby MP grabbed him and held him down to the ground. Most likely, the MP had jumped at him before he had fired. Dont worry about him, said the president quietly. We will take out the cause and bring this all to an end. Part 7 (November 10 C Oahu C Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C Inside the cargo hold of a transport plane C From a maintenance control camera) Kamijou ran toward one of the three transport planes. Accelerator and Birdway headed toward the other two. Luckily, the transport planes had not yet taken off. It seemed the cargo had not been fully loaded yet. The cargo door on the back was sitting open. The door doubled as a slope for vehicles, so it hung down onto the asphalt runway. Kamijou, Mikoto, and Roberto ran toward that slope. Why are you following me, Misaka!? If I let you out of my sight now, I get the feeling youll disappear again!! ...Agh, I dont want to believe in unscientific things, but maybe I should give that to him now! Mr. President, why arent you taking refuge in the base!? This is my country, boy. There appeared to be only three transport planes and Accelerator and Birdway were likely headed for the other two. Hey!! What are you people doing!? And who are you!? shouted an Indian American soldier using a military forklift to move a cube-shaped container. Im the president!! If someone make me repeat that again, Im going to take my Christmas break early to let my heart heal! Just quit what youre doing and come with me! I have a job for that government-issued item hanging at your waist! This plane is not to take off. I repeat, this plane is not to take off!! The forklift driver started panicking as thoughts raced through his head such as, But that isnt an order from my direct commanding officer...but at the same time, isnt the president the commander-in-chief of the military? Also, Ive never before gotten an order like this that goes straight over the heads of my superiors like a fly ball. What should I do? Should I ask my commanding officer? Kamijou and the others ignored him and charged into the cargo hold. The inside was quite spacious. It looked like a large tourist bus could easily fit inside. Cube-shaped containers like the one the forklift had been carrying were scattered about inside. Kamijou looked around and said, Where is it? Wheres the Trigger? Or is it still...? Shouldnt we find this Saronia person first? If we capture the person behind all this, we can!? Mikoto was cut off as the floor beneath their feet trembled greatly. A sound like the buzzing of a bee amplified a few hundred times pounded at their ears. By the time Kamijou realized it was the sound of the four propellers starting to spin, the plane had already started accelerating. And the back cargo door was still open. Roberto Katze lost his balance and started sliding toward the sloped exit. The end of the cargo door struck the asphalt, sending orange sparks flying. Ah!! shouted Mikoto as she stretched out her hand and grabbed Robertos hand just as he was about to fall out. Girl, I truly thank you, but you might have only made things worse. What are you talking about? Just hurry up and!! If I had fallen out before we accelerated too much, I would have only suffered a few scratches. However, Im sorry to say that I will be torn to shreds if I fall out now. Then let go of that attach case and grab on with both hands!! As that would directly impact national defense, I have to refuse. I really wish I could though!! Meanwhile, the cargo plane continued to accelerate. Just as it was about to exceed 300 kph, the floor beneath them shook once more. The open cargo door lowered down, creating an even steeper slope. The plane was taking off. In that instant, the level of danger someone who fell out would face changed from very bad to instant death. Kamijou was well aware of that fact, but he could not lend a hand to Mikoto. The reason for this was clear. Saronia...!! A girl slowly walked out from behind one of the containers. She was a Gremlin magician. She was the one with a method of controlling people based on the legends of a Russian fairy known as the Leshy. Her mostly green clothes, knee-high leather boots, blonde hair, and white skin made her stand out vividly. She may have been lightly dressed for someone claiming to be the ruler of the residents of the forest, but the unrealistic aspect to it seemed to match the idea of the fairy known as a Leshy. However, she truly did not fit in within the cargo plane filled with nonmetal materials. She gave off a natural sense of danger like a protected animal such as an alligator or scorpion inside of a city. Now that she had appeared, Kamijou could not help Mikoto. Whatever magic she used, she would aim for his back if he focused on saving the president. He would either be simply killed or controlled like a zombie, and he could not allow either to happen. Without turning around, Kamijou spoke to Mikoto who was still holding onto the presidents hand. Can I leave the president to you!? Ill manage somehow! Dammit...Did they just remove all the metal parts when they made the new version? Theres almost nothing I can grab onto using magnetism...!! At the sound of an approaching footstep, Kamijou tightly clenched his right fist. Saronia specialized in magic that controlled people, but she had no such people there. If Kamijou, Mikoto, and the president could avoid being controlled, there was a good possibility he could get through with his right fist. But then she used her right hand to lightly snap her fingers. Immediately afterwards, Kamijous body was forcefully slammed against the right wall. He had not simply stumbled over and hit the wall. His feet had completely left the ground. After his back struck the center of the wall like a bullet, Kamijous breathing literally stopped for a few seconds. Gah...bah...!? For an instant, he thought Saronia had used some kind of magical attack. But she had not. Mikoto and the president had been thrown about, too. If Mikotos leg had not gotten wrapped around the thick cylinder that opened and closed the cargo door, the two of them would have been thrown out into the sky. ...I see... So youre controlling the pilot...!! Did you know that even a large cargo plane like this can perform acrobatics? Saronia snapped her fingers again. To be fair, no one in their right mind would ever attempt it. Kamijou had no idea what actions the cargo plane was taking, but he was thrown back and forth. Even when he knew it was coming, he could not just brace himself against it. The very direction of the gravity he felt was changing. Saronia was keeping her balance by wrapping her arm around a thick wire stretching between the wall and the ceiling. It was likely used for connecting containers together. She brought her other hand to her back. What we in Gremlin have come up with to combat your right hand is exceedingly simple. She pulled something out of her turtleneck. It was a product that could be found lined up even at supermarkets in a major gun country like America. We will kill you using normal, everyday methods that do not involve the supernatural at all. !! Kamijou had no power that gave him the ability to deflect or dodge a bullet. That was why he instead swung his right foot up from his position on the ground where he had landed after striking the wall. He kicked up the lever holding one of the cube-shaped containers on the ground, unlocking it. Immediately afterwards, a gunshot rang out. The planes acrobatics created a small world that ignored the gravity of the Earth. The container floated up and orange sparks flew as it acted as a shield for Kamijou. However, the abnormal gravity was not constant. For an instant, the container had helped Kamijou, but it then fell toward him. Still collapsed on the ground, Kamijou frantically rolled to the side. The mass of metal landed next to him and broke to pieces. The simply constructed joints must have broken. Saronia once more aimed the handgun at him with her right hand. However, Kamijou was not able to use the same method again. There was no lever nearby for him to hit and there was no guarantee that another container would protect him from Saronias bullet even if he could release one. However, she did not fire again. A different, more powerful physical phenomenon pierced through the cargo plane. Specifically, it was a current of one billion volts. Hearing the crackling roar, Saronia frantically headed for cover behind a container but quickly realized a metal container was probably not the best shield against electricity. She grimaced. With one leg wrapped around the cylinder, one hand grabbing the presidents arm, and the other hand pointed toward Saronia, Mikoto smiled fearlessly despite the clearly difficult situation she was in. ...I may not be able to do much against that strange right hand, but my powers make me almost invincible against normal, everyday methods. Saronia grinned right back at her. She was looking at the thick cylinder Mikoto was grabbing onto with her leg. (...Is she planning to close the cargo door, crushing Misaka in the process!?) Having guessed at the enemys intent, Kamijou cried out. Dont worry about Saronia!! Just blow away every container in here!! !? With a shocked expression, the magician could not decide whether to aim the gun at Kamijou or Mikoto. Immediately afterwards, a number of lightning spears shot form Mikotos bangs. Tremendous explosive noises and flashes of light burst out. The nonmetal bolts used to lessen their weight melted and the simply constructed containers fell apart. Besides that direct damage, the electric current damaged the delicate equipment within. Kamijou was not sure what exactly the Trigger was, but he doubted it would remain unscathed after receiving such a high voltage blast. Wha!? Saronia A. Irivika cried out as she saw the remains of the containers after they had burst, been flattened, crumbled, and been scorched black. However, that was not because the Trigger had been destroyed before her eyes. Part 8 (November 10 C Hawaii C Volcanoes National Park C From a bird watching camera) Hamazura and the others who had split from Kamijous group had landed on the Island of Hawaii and abandoned the high class yacht they had stolen. The volcano at the center of the issue, Kilauea, was one of Hawaiis greatest tourist attractions. The mountain itself and the nearby volcanic craters were all part of a national park. The largest crater was at the summit, but dozens of smaller craters existed on the mountainside and near the base of the mountain. They could smell a sulfurous gas smell similar to at a hot spring. Hamazura and the others were supposed to use stolen vehicles to get to Kilauea before Gremlin and to stop them if they tried to bring in the Trigger. It seemed Kamijou and the others had a real chance of succeeding, so there was a possibility that Hamazuras group would not have to actually do anything. However... What is that...? Hamazura slowly lay down on the edge of a large caldera that was over ten kilometers across. Several men were there. They were much too close to the crater for tourists who were simply looking around. The crater was not as large as Kilaueas famous Halemaumau Crater, but it still had a very dangerous-looking crack a few dozen meters long that glowed orange. And the men appeared to be setting up some kind of large device. It looked like a giant drum with four legs. The four legs were spread out like a cross and the men were affixing them with special stakes that were driven in using either electric power or compressed gas. ...I have a bad feeling about this. It reminds me of Russia. To make matters worse, that one device was not the only one. A few dozen of the drum-like devices surrounded the large crater. He had no real proof, but a single term naturally floated up in the back of Hamazuras mind. Is that...the Trigger? Looks like it. But how? Why!? I thought it hadnt been brought to this island yet! Misaka can only think of one possibility, said Misaka Worst as she lifted her index finger. The Gremlin...magician, was it? Anyway, that dangerous element the others are after was not aware of the real plan. The Trigger was always going to be brought in via a different route, and that dangerous element did not know that. That is why the others were unable to find where the Trigger was stored by chasing her. This is bad. This is very, very bad, Hamazura groaned. If that thing activates, Kilauea will erupt. This isnt just our problem. If the lava comes flowing out, 500,000 residents and tourists will become victims. And if this acts as a trigger that rapidly destroys Americas relations with other countries... The situation is unstable enough due to World War III. A lot of countries and regions are dissatisfied with the lack of financial support for the restoration work Academy City is leading. While they may not declare war on America, some politicians will likely get into arguments and start some kind of money-making war. ...So are we gonna do this or not? asked Kuroyoru who was still upset. She may have received some kind of emotional wound from having them see her cry. However, Hamazura shook his head and said, Fighting them head on would be a bad idea. Apparently this Trigger applies stimuli to the magma by detonating various types of explosives in stages, but we have no idea what the specifics are. If its a delicate process, we dont want to start a battle around it. Also, we dont know how powerful the enemy is. I doubt theyll want to get burned by the eruption theyre causing, so there should be some time between when they leave and when they detonate the device. We have no choice but to remove the Trigger and neutralize it in that time. Part 9 (November 10 C Over Lanai C Inside the cargo hold of a transport plane C From a maintenance control camera) Mikotos lightning attacks flew and destroyed the cubic containers in the transport plane one after another. She was trying to destroy the Trigger that was supposedly in one of them. However, only what appeared to be military livelihood kits came from within. Items such as frying pans with handles that folded in and small lamps scattered about. Kamijou may not have known what the Trigger looked like, but he could tell that those items were nothing more than basic kitchen goods. He could think of no way that they would help artificially control volcanic activity. (...What is going on?) Kamijou thought of a few possibilities. For instance, there had been three planes total. It was possible the Trigger was on one of the other planes, but Saronia had been controlling the base commander who had decided where it would be loaded. She had to have known which plane it was on and there was no merit in splitting herself and the Trigger up. Also, the plane had taken off before all the containers had been loaded. It was possible they had taken off before the Trigger had been loaded, but Saronia must have known the number of the container it was in. That was why she had been willing to take off before they were all loaded and why she had not seemed worried when Kamijou had unlocked one of the containers to use as a shield. Otherwise, she should have been worried that it could fall out of the open cargo door. Which meant... You didnt know...? You had only been told that the container was one of these? The organization that was Gremlin would unhesitatingly use magicians as powerful as Saronia in order to realize their overall plan. They had manipulated her with false information, leaving her looking like a fool. Cendrillon and Saronia A. Irivika were not the only ones behind the incident. Someone else was there. Most likely, this person was hidden even deeper. ... For a while, Saronia remained motionless. She must have been analyzing what had happened to her. However, neither Kamijou nor Saronia had much time to think. Saronia realized Mikoto was adjusting her aim and the magician immediately moved her handgun. However, she did not aim toward Mikoto. Instead, she aimed for the front of the plane and fired every last bullet she had. The pilot!! Roberto Katze cried out. Kamijou and Mikoto faltered slightly upon realizing what he meant. While they did, Saronia grabbed a bag-like object from where it hung on the wall. It was an emergency parachute. The plane naturally and gently ascended and Saronia used the slant toward the back cargo door to charge toward the exit. Just before she passed by Mikoto, the #3 desperately fired a lightning spear that struck Saronia full on. Saronias body went slightly limp and her consciousness seemed to grow dim, but she still unhesitatingly jumped from the edge of the sloped cargo door with a smile on her face. Mikoto clicked her tongue and cursed. Theres no point in heading after her! The president takes priority!! Kamijou headed next to Mikoto on the cargo door and grabbed Robertos arm. A wrong move could have sent all three of them tumbling into open air, but they managed to drag the president into the plane. ...H-how much do you weigh? I think youve been eating too many burgers. I may not look it, but I dont even weigh ninety kilos. I only use the burgers to appeal to the younger demographics. Roseline is always telling me I would get more votes if I lost weight, but I think Im pretty slim given my height. After catching his breath, Kamijou recalled the situation they were in. Misaka, check to see if there are any more parachutes. What about you? Im going to check on the pilot. If those bullets made it through the wall, he might be injured. Ill go too, added the president. I doubt youll be able to communicate properly with just Japanese. The pilot might attack you on Saronias orders. If hes doing well enough to try, then Ill be happy. Kamijou and Roberto stepped over the wreckage of the containers and headed for the cockpit. Part 10 (November 10 C Over Lanai C From the video records of the cargo planes recorder box) As Kamijou had expected, the handgun had fired straight through the thin wall separating the cockpit from the cargo bay. Not only had some of the numerous bullets that had passed through the cockpit hit the pilot, but some had cracked the canopy. It may have only been the lack of a pressure change due to the open cargo door that had prevented the canopy from shattering. And... The white man who looked around thirty was bloody and leaning against the console. It was unclear whether he was still under Saronias control or if she had simply abandoned him, but it really did not matter. Kamijou ran over and shouted at the pilot while grabbing his shoulder with his right hand. Shit, are you okay!? He seems to be conscious, but he was hit directly in the back three times. All of the bullets left his body, but these arent wounds for which first aid is going to cut it. All I can think to do is cover the wounds. Is there anything else? Thats enough. With a limb, we could tie it off to temporarily cut off the flow of blood, but for the body, it would just crush his organs. They tried to tear the pilots jacket that they had removed to get a look at his wounds, but the tough military uniform would not tear. They managed to prepare a few strips of cloth they could use for first aid by cutting it with the knife hanging at the pilots waist next to his handgun. That was when Mikoto entered. I found a few parachutes! ...That could be difficult for him, said the president quietly as he looked at the pilots wounds. The shock when the parachute deploys is the same as landing from a fall of a few meters. It just knocks the breath out of someone with a healthy body, but it wouldnt be a good idea for someone who has possible internal injuries. ...I...dont mind... said the pilot while still leaning against the console, moving his lips that were sticky with blood. You all go ahead and jump. I will at least make sure to aim the plane for the ocean... Kamijou and the other two exchanged a glance. Mikoto sighed and tossed the parachutes to the ground. The pilots eyes filled with a vague doubt. What are you...? We are going to help you, the president said as he placed his hand on the pilots shoulder. However, we are not helping you crash into the ocean. Lets aim a little higher and try for an emergency landing. Part 11 (November 10 C Hawaii C Volcanoes National Park C From a bird watching camera) The mystery men left after twenty minutes. Even though he knew waiting for them to leave was the best strategy, watching a device that would take 500,000 lives be set up was not exactly good for Hamazuras heart. He could not believe how casually Misaka Worst and Kuroyoru Umidori were taking it. After he saw the group that was likely related to Gremlin leave in a four-wheel drive vehicle, Hamazura slid down the side of the caldera and approached the crater at the center. He could smell the sulfuric gas and could feel the temperature rise suddenly. The Gremlin group must have been wearing some kind of special suit under their clothes. What do you think!? Its probably set up to send powerful vibrations underground from multiple angles at once in order to regulate the pressure of the magma. There are no cables connecting the individual devices and no wireless signals, so the detonation must be timer controlled and each one is a completely isolated system. So we cant stop all of them by destroying one central system. Hamazura looked around. At a glance, I see over twenty of them and we have no idea what the time limit is. Dont tell me our only option is to open the cover and cut a cord like in a movie for each and every one of them! ...Theres a simpler way, said Kuroyoru as she pointed toward one at random. They went out of their way to stake the legs down. Most likely, the explosion is highly directional and it sends its shock wave directly into the earth like a spear. And that means... We just have to remove the stakes or destroy the legs and then knock over the drums! Well, Misaka would hurry if she was you, said Misaka Worst with a grin. Even if these are meant to control volcanic activity, theyre still basically bombs. We have no idea when theyre going to detonate and Misaka would rather not get caught up in the blast. And that goes for the simple blast of the explosives as well as the blast of Hawaiis largest active volcano erupting. Part 12 (November 10 C The Ocean near Lanai C From the video records of the cargo planes recorder box) The transport planes pilot did his best to carry out his duty, but he could barely move. Kamijou, Mikoto, and the president followed his instructions and dealt with all the controls other than the control column. ...First close the back cargo hatch. Use that button. If the plane is sealed, the air inside will act as a float. Thats necessary for an emergency landing on the ocean... Kamijou and the others pressed the buttons as they were instructed, but they had no real feel for what effects the buttons were having. However, they could clearly tell that their altitude was dropping. Even so, they were not stable. The floor lurched beneath their feet and unpleasant changes in gravity threatened to bring up the contents of their stomachs. It was much too dangerous a situation to call it a journey through the sky. The threat to their lives showed them just how unnatural it was to disobey gravity. ...There are no do-overs for an emergency landing on the ocean. We have one chance. If you want to give up, now is the time. Once our altitude drops below a certain point, those parachutes will be of no use. Are you sure you want to do this...? Kamijou smiled once he received a translation from Mikoto. He ignored the numbers quickly scrolling by on the altimeter and said, Ive already made up my mind on that, so just tell me what I need to do to land. Youve got guts. The bloody pilot lifted up his upper body once more. But protecting the president is my duty. Part 13 (November 10 C Hawaii C Volcanoes National Park C From a bird watching camera) Kuroyoru Umidori and Misaka Worst were the only ones that were any real help. Giant spears made of nitrogen sliced directly through the legs supporting the drums. Misaka Worst accelerated iron nails in her hand that blew away the stakes connecting the legs to the ground. With their supports, even a Level 0 like Hamazura could easily push over the drums. That way, the Trigger could not carry out its proper function. However, the drums were numerous. And they had little time. As Misaka Worst watched, a red light appeared in the center of the side of one of the toppled drums. Guessing what the ominous light meant, she frantically looked around. Just under half of the drums were still standing. They all had the same red light. Not good... Misaka Worst muttered before yelling out to Hamazura and Kuroyoru who were still working. Not good!! We arent going to make it! Theyre going to detonate!! There are still some left on the other side of the crater!! If we stay here well be caught up either in the shockwave from the explosives or the lava from the volcano!! 500,000 lives are at stake! Are you saying we just let them die!? Hamazura yelled back. However, Kuroyorus arms dropped down limply as if they had been switched off. Misaka Worst had likely done something to her. The girl shrugged her barely moving shoulders and said, If you want to keep working on your own, feel free. Dammit...!! The legs and stakes holding the drums in place could only be destroyed with Misaka Worst or Kuroyoru Umidoris powers. Hamazura alone could not change the situation no matter how persistent he was. That was likely Misaka Worsts intention. Misaka Worst heard a footstep. Her cheek twitched slightly when she realized it was from Hamazura heading back for the Trigger. Hey! Misaka really will abandon you here!! She has no obligation to stick around!! Youre not going to convince him, said Kuroyoru as her unmoving arms swayed. Hit him with your high voltage current. A loud zapping noise rang out. After she confirmed that Hamazura had collapsed to the ground, Misaka Worst gave Kuroyoru control of her arms once more. She pointed toward Hamazura with her chin and said, Carry him. If we dont get out of here soon, well be surrounded by lava!! Can you not see how much bigger than me he is? My arm is broken, so I cant do it. After making sure Kuroyoru was carrying Hamazura over her shoulder like a bag of rice, Misaka Worst looked back over at the still functioning Trigger. They set up over twenty units to get the result they wanted. With about half of them down, things shouldnt go quite as they planned!! How about we run rather than talk? I dont know where exactly the lava is going to flow, but the inside of the caldera is going to be a lake of lava! The two girls started to flee. To get out of the caldera, they had to climb up a slope. They ran as quickly as they could, but running out of a caldera that was over ten kilometers across would have been difficult for even a professional marathon runner. Kuroyoru clicked her tongue, removed her right arm, and shot it away like a rocket by firing a nitrogen spear. After ensuring it had a strong grasp on the ground where it landed far ahead, Misaka Worst used her magnetism to pull the three of them to the arm. How about we join forces as the villain girl combo? If you keep fucking with my systems using your magnetism, I really will scrape your brains out of your skull!! By picking up her arm and then repeating the procedure a few times, they finally reached the edge of the caldera. But that was the limit. There was a deep explosive noise that started as a trembling deep in their stomachs. Immediately afterwards, everything was covered by a blast of wind and tremendous heat that made the heat from before seem like nothing. Part 14 (November 10 C The Ocean near Lanai C From a patrol camera) A military transport plane floated in the gentle ocean. However, Arc Daniels felt more bored than relieved as he held the helm of a marine patrol boat. He had been piloting all the way from the Third Pearl Harbor Marine Base on Oahu. Normally, a base on Lanai would have handled it. There he is! Just as reported, Mr. Scandal and the others are standing on top of the transport plane!! shouted one of his colleagues on the deck. Most likely, similar excitement was occurring on the other patrol boat alongside him. Only those at the helm remained anxious. That was completely reckless. Does he have any idea how dangerous an emergency landing like that is? This is probably another one of his stunts to get votes. Theyll probably start calling him the man loved by lady luck or something. The marines may have said those kinds of things then, but they quieted up once they were within earshot of the president. About half of the plane had sunk underwater, but the roof was still a few meters above the surface. It was quite a bit higher up than the small motor boat that had been modified into a patrol boat. They fastened a rope to a lightning rod-like unit on top of the transport plane and lowered down those needing rescue. The original plan had been to directly return to Oahu, but the pilot had been shot. They had no choice but to stop by a hospital on the much nearer Lanai. The transport plane had reached an area forty meters from Lanais coast. If it had gotten any closer, the belly of the plane would have scraped the bottom which could have led to a different result. The pilot was in real danger, but he could still be saved if they acted quickly. The successful emergency landing alone was worth celebrating. However, the president and the others who had been with him were not celebrating their survival. They were not looking at the plane they had been on or at Lanai where they were headed. They were all looking in the same direction and had nothing but urgency and tension on their faces. Arc turned his head in the direction they were looking and then understood. The blue sky had turned black. What looked like a pitch black thunderhead was actually volcanic ash. It was coming from the direction of the Island of Hawaii. The first thing that came to Arcs mind was Kilauea. It really...erupted!? Youve gotta be kidding me. We couldnt stop the Trigger...? Werent 500,000 peoples lives counting on that!? No. The president started saying something in Japanese. Kilauea is the type of active volcano that sends a lot of soft lava spewing out when it erupts. To cause huge amounts of damage to the areas at the base of the mountain, they would only have had to cause an eruption like that but on a greater scale. Something is odd about this. There shouldnt be that much volcanic ash in the air... So youre saying the explosion didnt go how Gremlin planned it to? I dont know. ...Corporal! This ship can access the internet in order to connect to the smart system for linking units, right? After all the money we gave you, I wont let you say no. I want to hook up my Imperial Package and gather some The president suddenly stopped speaking because of a long, narrow trail of smoke. A somehow spear-like trail of white smoke was approaching from the coast of Lanai. However, it was not coming from the closest point of the coast. Instead, it was coming from a point jutting out from the island over ten kilometers to Arcs right. Arc immediately understood what it was that was flying just above the ocean surface toward them. An...anti-ship missile!? Shit, jump into the sea!! someone yelled. Seconds later, the missile mercilessly struck the side of the other patrol boat accompanying the one Arc Daniels and the others were on. The small ship continued in its original direction, but the blast sent it arcing through the air where it slowly passed over Arcs head. The soldiers who had managed to dive into the ocean came up for air. The fact that they had escaped relatively unscathed meant... Mr. President! That was most likely the Narwhal that was joint developed by the EU!! Its an anti-ship missile designed solely to open a hole in the side of a ship. Its power and size are kept to the bare minimum to minimize price and transportation costs. The shockwave is sent straight ahead like a spear, so the blast can be escaped by just getting a few meters away!! But who is attacking us...? What is going on...? More are on their way!! Jump into the sea! Hurry!! More long, narrow trails of white smoke sliced through the air toward them. Their patrol boat could move quite quickly, but it could not maintain the kind of speed that would be needed to lose a missile. The president and the Asian teenagers who were accompanying (?) him did as they were told and jumped into the ocean. With his serious injuries, the pilot could not be exposed to the seawater, so Arcs fellow soldiers sealed him inside a reinforced rubber bag and dove into the ocean. It was hardly the time to worry about the fact that it was actually a body bag. After making sure everyone else had gotten out, Arc Daniels followed suit. Immediately afterwards, numerous anti-ship missiles struck the abandoned patrol boat and mercilessly blew away their transportation. Is the bombardment over...? asked Arc tentatively. Using his official tone of voice, the president replied, I doubt they have sensors that can detect individual people. They are going to send out a unit to see if we are dead, so we need to thank our lucky stars that we are alive and get out of here. S-send out a unit? What is going on here!? Dont ask me, said the president. Th-this means war... I dont know what country is behind this, but if theyre trying to kill our president on such a large scale, we need to get revenge...!! Mister, as long as they dont actually kill me, it doesnt matter. Im not going to waste our soldiers lives on something like that. The anti-ship missiles had been a model that had been joint developed by the EU, but bombing Europe over it would have been beyond stupid. Even if the weapons had had flags drawn on them, the evidence would still have been weak. If it was intentional misdirection, the United States would end up targeting completely unrelated people. Mister, you said those missiles were Narwhals, didnt you? Wh-what about it? Do you know the specific model? Were they Ds or Rs? I-Im sorry, sir. Ive heard before that the different models sound different, but I cant actually tell them apart that way... Not only are Narwhals relatively easy for other countries to get their hands on due to being a joint project, but the D model was specifically designed as an export model to obtain foreign currency. However, they are quite expensive and their maintenance format is too unique, so no non-EU countries have bought any. ...Only a few Gray Flags have bought them. ...Gray Flags? Arc audibly gulped. Youre saying mercenary PMCs are behind this!? Perhaps. I cant deny the possibility of it being some other country, but there would simply be too much of a risk of us taking revenge on them as you suggested before. This simply does not seem like something anyone with a set homeland would do, spat out the president. But whoever it is that has been sneaking around behind the scenes has now shown themselves in a big way. It isnt going to end here. Most likely, theyre beginning an avalanche-like offensive. S-so theyre declaring war on us? This would be a lot easier if we were up against people gentlemanly enough to do something like that, Roberto said as he pointed straight up. Even if it wasnt complete, Kilauea still erupted and it looks like that ash is going to cover the sky. Do you know what that means, corporal? That airplanes cant fly through here? cut in the Asian girl in English. Yes. That means no emergency reinforcements from the mainland in the form of fighters or bombers. And, added Roberto Katze, if those anti-ship missiles are deployed across the Island of Hawaii as well as Lanai, then we cant expect any bombardments from ships or landing operations using landing ships. Evading anti-aircraft missiles in a fighter that can fly at Mach speeds is hard enough, so there is no real way to evade anti-ship missiles with ships that cannot go any faster than a few dozen kilometers per hour. So the Hawaiian Islands are completely isolated...? Since they waited to carry out such a brazen attack until after causing the eruption, it seems to me that they were trying to create this isolation. The isolation itself may have been their objective or it may have been nothing more than preparation to give them the freedom to do something else. B-but the Hawaiian Islands have more bases than any other region in the Pacific! The firepower we have here should be more than enough to!! That assumes this will be a simple clash of firepower, said the president with a bitter expression. But our enemy has a kind of power to which common sense does not apply. I have seen it with my own eyes. And this missile attack shows that they also have plenty of power to which common sense does apply. ...They have the power of numbers that is supposed to be the strength of our United States. As the president spoke, he seemed to be arranging all the information in his own head. What would happen when those two powers were brought together? How much damage would be done? He gritted his teeth and said, At any rate, their plan has advanced beyond a certain point, bringing everything more to their favor. Volume 3, 4: Isolation and the Collapse of the Rules. Trident. Volume 3, Chapter 4: Isolation and the Collapse of the Rules. Trident. Part 1 (November 10 C California C Grand Arrow Air Force Base C Central Control Room C From a camera for recording military activities) The commotion in the Hawaiian Islands had spread all the way to the largest air force base on the west coast. The commotion was greatest for those in command rather than for the maintenance workers performing the final checks on the fighters or the pilots waiting for orders. Alfred Thirdman, the base commander, glanced over the thick documents and tossed them aside. He stomped on the useless pieces of paper with his boot and shouted in anger. You fools!! We can investigate who this enemy force is later! Right now, the presidents safety takes priority, so we just need to kill all of the enemies! Did you not hear me ask you to calculate whether we can attack or not!? What is the situation regarding the spread, altitude, and density of the volcanic ash!? The satellite imagery showed something baffling. A large number of soldiers were landing on the eight main islands forming the Hawaiian Islands. It seemed a few of the tankers and passenger ships off the coast had been disguised landing ships. A large number of hovercrafts were bringing in soldiers and weapons such as off-road vehicles, armored vehicles, and even anti-ship missile units. A quick estimate said there were just under seven thousand soldiers. However, in addition to those soldiers to fight on the front lines, there were likely maintenance workers and communications officers for logistical support. With those included, it was possible the number was as high as ten thousand. It was too great a force to function as a single division. Alfred felt the blood vessels in his temples throb uncomfortably as he thought about the fact that they had somehow overlooked so great a force and that they had been allowed to invade American soil. One of Alfreds subordinates gave a report while looking frightened either of the situation developing or of his own commander. Th-the ash has spread over quite a large area around Kilauea and with a very high density. We are using the satellites laser scanning, but the visibility is very nearly hopeless. If an airplane is launched into ash that dense, it is almost guaranteed to have engine trouble... Is it due to a trade wind? If so, the ash should be spreading mostly in one direction. Areas to the west like Guam or Yokosuka might be out of the question, but surely we can provide air support from here on the mainland! While it is greater in that direction, the ash is spreading in every direction. W-we cannot get closer than three hundred kilometers. Alfred clicked his tongue and kicked the useless console as hard as he could with the end of his boot. The Hawaiian Islands had more of Americas military might than anywhere else in the Pacific, but not even that gave him hope about the developing crisis. Even then, Aegis ships anchored in naval ports were being blown up one after another. It actually seemed fortunate that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Hubble Lotus was out in the South China Sea. The president is there. Are you saying we should just sit here doing nothing while anti-ship missiles are being deployed all across the Hawaiian Islands and a military force of unknown affiliation is invading? N-no, but... It seems support with warships is our only option. Those anti-ship missiles rule that out. With current technology, it is difficult to avoid missiles that fly only a few meters above the surface of the Without letting his subordinate finish speaking, Alfred kicked the console again. After a bit, he said, Open a connection to Dirty Lance in Texas. They are likely thinking the same thing over there. T-to that ballistic missile launching ground!? But the president is there, not to mention all the other people...!! I have no intention of using a nuclear missile and will not fire any kind of missile on our own country. And at this stage, I have no intention of suggesting we go to war. Alfred looked over at the projector. We will detonate normal warheads at high altitude to blow away the scattered volcanic ash. Even if air support from the nearby Guam is impossible, we may be able to create enough of an opening to get something through on this side where the ash has spread much less in comparison. B-but can we even do that? I doubt the vice president will go along with this and there is no specific law regarding the use of ballistic missiles on areas within America... In all likelihood, reality will get in our way, said Alfred with a sigh. But given the situation, I want as many usable cards as I can get. I want to be able to move as quickly as possible in the unlikely event we are given the opportunity. Part 2 (November 10 C Oahu C Blackport Naval Base C From the camera in a soldiers helmet for the command cloud) Mercenaries in military uniforms that glittered like the surface of a CD climbed over the fence of an American naval port. Raymond Kalman was one of them. Merely getting within twenty kilometers of the base was a miracle, so setting foot inside it was unheard of. His steel-toed military boots trampled on that kind of thinking. In fact, the mercenaries were doing more than just entering the base. Several of the frigates and Aegis ships anchored in the port were spewing black smoke. Explosions burst out. The various explosives within the ships caught fire causing more and more explosions. Oh, fuck yeah!! The symbol of the stars and stripes power is sinking! The Aegis ships are sinking! Quit the celebrating, Eater 8! This isnt over yet!! Continual deep gunfire rang out. Even as Raymond frantically lowered his body down and jumped behind a toppled military tractor, he had a smile on his face. The counterattack from the American navy was continuing, but it was growing sporadic. The barrage of bullets was thin and no organized waves of attacks or coordinated attacks from multiple sides came. It was clear the American sides chain of command was in chaos. They had more or less won. Where is it? Wheres the aircraft carrier? I thought that horrible thing with the name of a president was supposed to be here. Its in the South China Sea, remember? ...Yknow, Im a little worried about how well this is going. There was of course a good reason everything was going so well. It was difficult for Raymond to believe so suddenly. Those who denied the occult always said they would only believe what they saw with their own eyes, but things had gone well beyond that level. He was actually seeing what was happening, but he still did not want to believe it. Some kind of giant black shadow was jumping from warship to warship. The enemy soldiers hiding behind cover were accurately struck by lightning attacks coming from the volcanic ash. The flames spewing from the warships changed shape and blasted through the solid buildings as if they had a mind of their own. However, the conquest was not being carried out solely by that unknown occult. Raymond and the others were combating the American navy with normal bullets and explosives. The occult was weaving its way through the gaps in that stalemate and advancing as it slipped past the flying bullets and cover. A new golden ratio had been created. It was almost amusing how easily they were taking control of the battlefield. And then... Dont overdo it... said a sharp, ice-like voice in Raymonds ear. The voice belonged to a mature woman who was wearing the same outfit as the others. Something other than her appearance clearly distinguished her from the others in the silver uniforms. She was obviously different. She was one of the ones who had brought the new power to the battlefield. She was part of Gremlin. She was a magician. That woman held a power that completely rid the occult of the outdated aspect that surrounded it and allowed it to conquer even a modern battlefield. Our goal is to seize America for ourselves, not to destroy it. Those will be our forces in the near future, so we must not do any more damage than is necessary. Wait, youre telling us to hold back and only incapacitate them!? Are you an idiot!? Everyone on the battlefield who has a weapon and can move their trigger finger is an enemy. In war, that is all you need to take a life! How are we supposed to win if we dont kill them when we have the chance!? Well!? shouted back Raymond Kalman whose mood had been lifted more due to the repeated explosions and flashes of light than due to the unexpected ease of the battle. The woman with the sharp voice softly wrapped her hand around Raymonds hand as if to kindly stop him. That was all it took. With a sound like a hot wok, Raymonds right hand and wrist turned to black ash. Gh...gyaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!? A-ah? His scream ended and changed to a noise of confusion because, after burning away so that not even the outline of the bone remained, his right hand regained its flesh and skin as if he was watching a video in reverse. After only ten seconds, his hand and even the silver glove over it were back to normal. The pain and injury were gone, but the fear alone remained. He was assaulted by an extreme sense of unease due to the mismatch between how he felt and what his physical state was. Then, the womans sharp voice continued in a clear whisper. Dont overdo it. The occult ruled the battlefield. It did not distinguish between friend and foe. Despite being on the side with an overwhelming advantage, Raymond and the others were tormented by a powerful sense of intimidation as if they had a cold blade pressed against their chest. However, the strange turns of event did not end there. Oh, come on. Isnt that going a bit too far to threaten an amateur? The next thing Raymond knew, a man in formal clothes was standing in the center of the military dock. Raymond had no idea how or when the man had gotten there. A single card floated through the air like a leaf. Someone with good eyes may have been able to see that it was the ace of swords, a tarot card from the minor arcana. He was one of the magicians who had entered the Hawaiian Islands along with Leivinia Birdway. He was a member of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. He was Mark Space. ... One of the soldiers in a silver uniform, the woman with the sharp voice, checked something over her radio. The details were unclear, but battles between magicians were beginning on Lanai and Hawaii as well. She sharpened her already sharp voice and said, So you were concealed all over the place to gather information. More or less. Like a stage magician, a large number of cards flew from the mans right hand to his left. Even if the American military and the Dawn-Colored Sunlight joined forces, they could not do much more than what Gremlin was already doing. The overwhelming difference lay in how many magicians each side had. I doubt we can completely turn this around, but we can at least buy some time even if all it allows us is a more effective retreat, the man said. Do you really think a mere magician trained from a young age can reach the level of Gremlin? Fortunately, I have the full minor arcana at my disposal to entertain you with. Part 3 (November 10 C Oahu C Main Road C Government Vehicle C From the camera to record proceedings) The black government vehicle swerved back and forth. Inside, the presidents aide, Roseline Krackhart, looked behind with a sharp gaze as her body shook about. A military off-road vehicle was closing in on them. A man whose upper body was sticking up from the roof was firing countless bullets from his bullpup-style assault rifle and orange sparks were flying from the surface of the government vehicle. How can they do this in the middle of the public eye and in broad daylight...!? exclaimed Roseline. She grinded her teeth at how the situation across the entire Hawaiian Islands had completely changed over the past hour. Even then, police officers in uniform were merely watching in shock as Roseline and the military vehicle flew by. They were in America, but it certainly did not seem like it. Just as she was about to accept that fact, Roseline forcibly cut off that line of thinking. As the person meant to support the leader of the nation, she could not let herself accept it. She looked over at the policemen and yelled, Use your radios or your cell phones or whatever. Just use my name to get all police officers to fall back!! Your bulletproof jackets cant stop rifle bullets!! More importantly, what are we going to do!? We dont have an unlimited supply of gasoline!! The closest base is Pearl Harbors third marine base! We need to get inside even if we have to force our way in and get protection there. Its time we showed them the power of the world police!! Some objects clearly stood out within the scenery soaring by at high speed. Countless giant black hovercrafts were landing on the beach, seeming to sully the pure white sand. Dozens of soldiers wearing silver uniforms and armored off-road vehicles poured from the hovercrafts. There were even what looked like giant containers. Those objects that crane-like arms were keeping balanced were the very low altitude anti-ship missile units. (This is ridiculous. This goes well beyond the level of a terrorist group. At this scale, its basically an army. And that would mean this is basically the beginning of a war...) A Gray Flag... B-but from where...? There is no uniformity to their movements. Most likely, this is not a national army trained together from the beginning. This is most likely a mercenary PMC that gathered soldiers that already had a certain level of experience. But that isnt the real issue here. ? Who hired them and for what reason? As Roseline gritted her teeth, the government vehicle charged into the marine base. However, she was not given the hope she had expected. The government vehicle came to a sudden stop in front of the base. It had not been asked to stop by soldiers. No soldiers were there to stop them. Instead, a sea of flames spread before their eyes. The largest collection of the world polices military power in the Pacific was burning. There was no longer a defensive line around the base. Long distance bombardments had torn the long, long fence to pieces and enemy soldiers were beginning to charge in. They were made up of teams of five. They all wore matching full-body CD-like silver uniforms that erased any individuality, but the center members of those groups of five were clearly different. In a clash of firepower, the American marines were the very best. They may lose to Academy City when it came to unique technology, but in standard fields, America clearly ruled the world both in quality and quantity. And yet that ultimate army was being overwhelmed. They were being overwhelmed by the mercenaries pouring into the base like an avalanche in groups of five. The source of the mercenaries success was those center members. They alone did not rely on guns. Flames blew from their hands, ice spears poured down like rain, lightning leaped about like a living being, and cracks opened in the ground that brought barricades crashing down. Those phenomena baring their fangs against the Americans did not follow the laws of physics or chemistry. The flames burned through supposedly unburnable steel and the lightning attacks passed through supposed insulators like concrete. That alone was not always enough to settle things, but when the marines frantically fled from behind the barricades, they were further cornered by the mercenaries assault rifles and grenade launchers. It was not merely normal firepower. It was not merely the occult. Their combination like that was something not seen even in World War III. If they had been brought together in a different way, the combination could have embodied peace greater than anything else. However, this was the complete opposite. While Roseline sat dumbfounded, something even more baffling occurred. A few hundred meters ahead, one of the silver soldiers looked her way. Immediately afterwards, he leaped toward her like a long throw in baseball. He landed on the hood of the government vehicle and silently held his hand out toward the car. Something shot from his hand and before Roseline was able to comprehend whether it was fire or ice, a new figure seemed to fly in from the side and kick the silver soldier. The new figure had white hair and red eyes. Roseline had no way of knowing, but he was the Level 5 who was said to be the strongest even in Japans Academy City. Tch. Theres just no end to them. Birdway! Cant you just blow them all away with some convenient magic!? This is just a waste of my battery!! Yknow, magicians use up a part of their body to use magic. It isnt like it doesnt cost me anything. ...Thats why Gremlin joined forces with standard firepower to make up for that loss. A mixture of science and magic... Yes, and with a different type of construction than with the Rome/Russia alliance during World War III. A sea of flames spread out. Everyone was fleeing in terror, but those two alone seemed set apart from it all. The small girl casually pointed her wand at a wall of flames overrunning the base and it was swallowed up by an even larger white explosion. The mercenaries hiding behind an armored vehicle were blown away along with it. More white explosions appeared. The flashes of light easily continued through the base and reinforced the attacks from the battered Americans. I love doing things on a large scale like this. I think Ill just go all out without worrying about regulating my output. Dont pretend youre attacking discriminately. Youre getting the Americans caught up in this too, replied Accelerator. Neither side will die...as long as theyve been trained to a level higher than your average person. Ive made sure of that. That was when Roseline realized something. The American marines were being pushed back and cornered by the mercenaries. Plenty of them had been shot and were injured, but as far as she could see, there were no corpses. They were just barely managing to protect that final line. ...Looks like weve picked up another god damn piece of luggage, said the white monster sounding utterly irritated. Yes, but you have no intention of leaving her behind, do you, hero? Dont act like you know what Im going to do. Fine, fine. Go ahead and pretend you dont like it. We just need to preserve enough of a military force to turn this around. For now, we need to buy enough time for the Americans to retreat and take out some of those damn mercenaries or magicians when needed. Part 4 (November 10 C Molokai C From a security camera at the Shrimp Motel) Saronia A. Irivika stood in front of a motel. She was leaning against the thin door while drinking mineral water from a bottle. Her hair was wet as if she had just taken a shower. She had actually been in the sea only a half hour or so before. She could hear the intermittent explosions and gunfire from where she was. During World War III only two weeks before, those had been sounds heard anywhere on the globe. And most likely people all over the world including the Hawaiian Islands had decided they never wanted to hear those sounds again. She was the only guest at the row house-like beachside motel. Even the manager had fled. As Saronia looked around, she really could not blame everyone for fleeing. The white beach was no longer a tourist location. It was now covered with large military hovercrafts, off-road vehicles, soldiers in silver uniforms, and container shaped anti-ship missile units. The black and moss green spread about reminded one of the stench of death. The long, narrow spear-shaped trails of smoke coming from the anti-ship missile units led to the wreckage of frigates that had managed to escape the military ports. The weapons of war on the beach were not simply installed there and they were not merely a threat. They were actually being used and were truly causing destruction. It was unmistakably the return of that war. Saronia turned toward one of the silver soldiers walking nearby and said, We are finally approaching the scale we wanted. Until now, the size has simply been too small to see anything properly. We could have complete control of the islands in about five hours, but there is no need to wait. We should carry out our objective as quickly as possible. I got a nice demonstration of the anti-ship missiles just now, but what is our countermeasure against submarines? We are setting up torpedoes that are launched from low altitude. After flying for about one hundred meters, they enter the ocean and continue from there like a normal torpedo. The model was designed to carry out antisubmarine attacks from land. Make sure to strengthen your anti-personnel defenses. There is always a possibility of specialized soldiersfrogmen, I think theyre calledswimming in. ...Do you really think a few people can overcome our advantage? It would be like taking on a full soccer team of eleven by yourself. Just be careful. Dont forget our true objective here. Suddenly, the silver soldiers cell phone started to ring. After a short conversation, he handed the phone to Saronia. Its from Knowledge 12. Whos that? The one who hired us. Oh, her. Hand it over then. Saronias manner of speech suddenly grew much more polite. Hello. This phase is going quite well. Are there any problems on your end? The lack of any obvious problems has put me on edge, so I am nitpicking everything. Oh, so there are no problems. How is the influence on the center going? What I can do with the range of my power is going well enough, but you know very well that is not enough. That is the entire reason I am having you help. It seems a little indirect to me, but it takes quite a bit of preparation time for even Gremlin to capture the United States. We just have to be patient. Despite the gravity of what she was saying, Saronias tone was light. By the way, we have the vice president, so cant we just hurry up and say the missing president cannot continue his official duties? Unfortunately, no, said the person over the phone uninterestedly. Do you know what Air Force One is? The presidents personal jet. It has the bare minimum of equipment needed for him to carry out his duties and he can command all of the nations armed forces from within it in an emergency. The Imperial Package that Roberto Katze has is the same. It gives him complete authority on the government cloud and allows him to send out presidential orders from anywhere. Just having him out of the White House is not enough. As long as he has the Imperial Package, he is seen as able to carry out his official duties as president. Then we just have to follow the plan without searching for shortcuts. Please take care of things on your end. I suppose I will take care of some final preparations before things truly begin, said Saronia casually. Oh, one more thing. The silver soldier trembled slightly. It almost seemed the negative emotions radiating from Saronias body could pass through the electronic device and reach the person that she was speaking to. I realize you were just trying to keep me from having the difficult task of fighting while protecting the Trigger if my position was discovered, but if you try to trick me and use me as a diversion again...I will have your head along with the presidents. Part 5 (November 10 C Lanai C Star Lounge Shot Bar C From security camera footage) Kamijou Touma, Misaka Mikoto, and Roberto Katze forced open the door to an empty bar and hid inside. After the emergency landing in the transport plane, being recovered by the American military, and being attacked by anti-ship missiles, they had somehow made it to shore. Ignoring all law, machine gun-equipped off-road vehicles were brazenly patrolling the main roads. Their clothes were covered in seawater and sand, but it was hardly the time to complain about that. ...I should have realized it, said the president as he sat directly on the floor and placed the attach case next to him. I should have realized it when I was told there was someone controlling people via the occult but this person had a restriction on the number of people she could control. Realized what? I had thought the occult had eaten into the entirety of the government. I had thought the Senate, the House, and everything else was in the grasp of some strange power, but I was wrong. Eh, but, what...? stammered Kamijou. He had thought that was precisely what Saronia had done. That had been why the president had sensed danger, fled his own protectors, and headed out on his own. Gremlin had used people in the military and government to search for information on the Trigger and had partially used it on Kilauea. But... Only a few people were being controlled, spat out Roberto. Its the same as those soldiers. You can control people without relying on some strange power. Y-you mean...? There is someone out there with the power to forcibly control people, but that does not match what is going on here. The occult is barely being used at all. You can control people using orders without relying on all that. Its the same thing I usually do as president! His tone was oozing chagrin over the complete reversal of victim and attacker as well as the fact that his own subordinates and forces had clearly betrayed him. However, Kamijou simply could not follow his train of thought. What was actually happening in Hawaii...no, in the United States of America? Wait a second. Birdway used that automatic analysis spell to reveal what Saronias spell was. She truly does have a means of controlling a large number of Now Im a complete layman when it comes to the occult, said the president, cutting Kamijou off. But are you absolutely sure there is no chance the automatic analysis was intentionally led to a false result? Wait, you mean...? Both this Birdway person and this Saronia person are experts in this field, so this is not a one-sided fight between a pro and an amateur. That means the odds of success are 50/50. Isnt it possible Birdway was tricked? But what about your Imperial...whatever its called? Didnt you use data from there to deduce that Saronia was controlling a large number of people to gather information on the Trigger!? And the Trigger really was in that Pearl Harbor base, so! It is true that the people accessing information unrelated to their duties over the central government cloud were accessing data on the Trigger. And it is likely that information was indeed reported to Saronias group. The president shook his head. But all I saw was the flow of data. It is entirely possible they were following Saronias groups orders while still in full possession of their senses. But what about Cendrillon? Before we ran into you, we fought a magician named Cendrillon in the airport! In order to silence her once we caught her, Saronia controlled her in order to have her commit suicide!! Even as he spoke, an argument against his own words came to Kamijous mind. Cendrillon herself may have been putting on an act. They may indeed have heard Saronias voice, but that could have been a simple communications spell. Kamijou could not deny the possibility that Cendrillon herself had attempted to kill herself in order to match what Saronia had been saying. It was an action unthinkable of someone in their right mind, but it had successfully dulled Kamijou and the others judgment. It was possible Cendrillon had managed to pull it off by gathering together everything she had to give Gremlin a better chance of retaliating against them. If that was true, they would have to rethink everything from the very beginning. I doubt the children in the shopping mall and the pilot were cooperating with Saronia of their own free will, but its possible that the number of people she can control is much smaller than we thought and that the orders she can give people are much simpler than we thought. In fact, the ability to control people might be nothing more than a side effect of some other attack of Saronias. Her true power may lie elsewhere. Saronia A. Irivikas true specialty may not be controlling people. Part 6 (November 10 C Oahu C Wreckage of Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From an auxiliary control camera) Birdway was leaning up against the side of a transport plane that was tilted to the side due to a broken axle. She was being fired on by the mysterious armed forces light machine guns. Upon hearing something from over her cell phone, she magically manipulated the papyrus in her hand, checked some information, and then threw it down to the cracked asphalt. ...Dammit, Balbina. How could you sell me this piece of crap!? A woman in black clothes who Birdway had met up with when Trident had appeared said, Her specialty is selling individual materials, so it isnt really her fault, boss. I would say the fault lies with you for not constructing your own spiritual items because you find it to be too much of a bother. This means I have yet another task, said Birdway, ignoring her subordinate. She lightly waved the wand in her hand and an explosion of light blew away a group of soldiers using an armored vehicle as a shield. I need to recheck Saronias specs. I need to analyze the method, effects, and range of the magic she uses. I need to redo the analysis I left to the spiritual item. Can you really finish that before you run into her at the end of all this? Like always, Ill just have to pull it off somehow. Part 7 (November 10 C Lanai C Star Lounge Shot Bar C From the camera in a handheld game system left on the counter) Not all of the people had been controlled by Saronias magic. Kamijou was shocked to hear President Roberto Katze say that, but he also seriously considered the possibility. Someone was controlling the American government for their own benefit. This person had used various methods to get politicians and government workers in their control. However, there were some people that acted purely for their country and thus stubbornly refused to be used as pawns. In that case... So whoever is really behind this uses the realistic methods as much as they can and then use magic to forcibly control the rest? So theyre eating into America both above and below the surface like that? Probably. It was possible Saronias magic was not primarily a means of controlling people. If that was the case, it had some effect that looked that way when used in a certain way. It was similar to recklessly using the heat produced by a motor as a space heater. However, that power was still quite a threat. It had been used to take control of an entire nation. This was especially true as the nation in question was the nation known as the world police and as the greatest power of the science side when it came to resources and economics. And there was a single target that was both deeply involved with the American government and could not be controlled by realistic methods. This was of course Roberto Katze. As the president, he had sensed the occult encroaching on the government and the improper use of the Trigger. He had then done the unheard-of by heading out on his own without even the secret service guarding him. For someone trying to control the country from behind the scenes, no one could be more of a problem. Was the enemy trying to get the president in a situation where they could control him in one way or another? Or were they simply going to kill him so his authority would transfer to someone easier to control? That man was the biggest target, but he had a daring smile on his face. He said, And in some cases, the occult could be used only as an example. You know, Do what I say if you dont want to end up like that. Or maybe its being used like an indulgence. If this rebellion is discovered and it turns out these people are going to have to take responsibility, the magician could just use her occult power to control them and make them look like a pure victim that was merely controlled. They did not know the specific conditions required for the magic. Even if Saronia could only control at most a dozen or so people and could control them no better than poorly-made robots, no one could prove it. The entirety of the US Congress would insist they had been controlled by some occult power. All they needed was proof that some strange power was involved to some extent. People who only believed what they saw would be tricked into thinking the tiny bit of the occult displayed before them had spread to every corner of the government. Eh? But...its the occult, right? Were not talking about scientific esper powers here. What good will that be as a testimony? Before the war, not much. But all sorts of mysterious phenomena were detected during World War III. The world is beginning to recognize the existence of the occult. Even if it is not accepted as official evidence in a trial, the people like me who are higher up than the courts and have started to come into contact with that darkness of the world might sympathize with supposed victims of the occult. In some cases, that kind of person has special measures he can take. Like a presidential pardon...? I doubt an emotional argument like that would be enough to convince someone, but it would be enough to help open them up to the idea. For those doing the tempting, that would be enough. After all, they have no need to actually make good on their promises. Roberto Katze sighed. When I think about it, it was odd that Roseline and I noticed that anything was odd. We are complete amateurs when it comes to the occult. We are not specialists like that Birdway, so would we really be able to tell at a glance whether someone was being controlled by the occult or not? I doubt its that simple. Magic power? Spells? I dont know anything about those things, but I bet you need to have at least a working knowledge of it all to tell. Then what did you notice? An act. Insurance. Faking it. The ones who joined Saronias side via realistic methods wanted to look like they were victims of the occult in case they were ever found out. That was why an amateur like me was able to notice the change. In fact, if an expert like Birdway saw them, she may have been able to tell that they were not acting how someone being controlled would. Who is it? asked Kamijou carefully. If there is some other enemy that is not a magician like Saronia but has joined forces with Gremlin, who is it? Given the realistic means being used to infiltrate the government, they must be an enemy with a more realistic type of power, said Roberto as he placed his attach case on the shot bars counter. The lounge seemed to have a wireless LAN because the computer in the case was able to pick up a signal. The main hint is those CD-like soldiers. What country are they from? Most likely, theyre mercenaries not affiliated with any country. Theyre known as a PMC. They will do smaller things like bodyguard jobs, carrying out torture when regular soldiers dont want to dirty their hands, and acting as guides in jungles or mountainous areas, but they can also act as a proper army on a division or brigade level when an independent military force is all that is needed. Roberto Katze sighed again. They are an effective force when hired on that level, but its just too expensive. You hear about tankers being attacked by pirates all the time, but you never hear about a large mercenary force being hired to act as a protective fleet, right? There are of course political issues preventing that from happening, but the ridiculous cost of hiring them is an even greater obstacle. But the enemy here was able to pay. The soldiers here are likely from Trident, a mercenary company that is quite active in Eastern Europe. They have D model Narwhals, they use electronic camouflage, they can deploy on such a large scale, and their movements show that a lot of them are former American soldiers. Thats the only PMC it could be. Its one of the largest and it has an army, a navy, and an air force. Just how large is it? The estimation Ive heard is around fifty thousand soldiers. Apparently, they have been able to cut down on their numbers quite a bit with a software update for their warships. Thats about the population of a small town, isnt it!? Those soldiers are experts, right? How did they get that many people!? They only use mid-career recruitment rather than going after new graduates. Also, 150,000 soldiers around the world retire every year and about two-thirds of those are not at the usual retirement age. Not to mention that those statistics are from before World War III. ... They have plenty of reasons for quitting and life after retirement is not always kind to them. Trident has more former American soldiers than soldiers from any other nationality. Ive been appealing for improving social security for them once they retire, but it seems some people think the continuous expenditures would put too much pressure on the economy. The president sighed yet again. Well, whatever the details, that is a collection of former professionals. They may be retired, but Trident puts them through a special training program to retrain them and raise their value as if they were replacing rusted gears. During World War III, NATO was thinking of hiring them, but negotiations broke down before a price could be settled on. The kind of funds needed to make a deal with them should make a noticeable flow of money in banks databases. No bank wants to have money flowing out of their vaults, so they would put out a warning. Have you found it? Unfortunately, no, but that still gives us a hint. The Imperial Package can only check things within the range of Americas power. That means whoever is behind this purposefully made the deal outside of that range so that they could not be traced. The president typed on the Imperial Packages keyboard, looking through even more classified information. It had to have been someone who would gain from intervening here in America even if it costs them that much money. Someone with large amounts of money distributed outside of America. Someone with a hidden connection to Eastern European governments or banks. Someone who could hire Trident. Someone with a system that allows them to monitor our movements here in Hawaii. Can you narrow it down to a single person? No. First of all, there are over thirty people in America alone that are famous for having more assets than the United States. Combined multinational businesses sure are a scary thing. They arent divided by national lines. They clearly have a different means of division that is based around money and economic blocs, readily admitted the president. However, a few of the large powers that keep the US moving are influenced by a certain other person. People like Flack Kateman the car king and Douglas Hardbell the rock star are actually underneath this certain other person. A lot people could be the one behind this, but the common one at the top seems the most suspicious to me. And in that case... He pressed a few more keys and his answer finally appeared on the screen. The Imperial Package displayed a single large photograph. Olay Blueshake the media queen. It has to be her. Part 8 (November 10 C Hawaii C Volcanoes National Park C From a bird watching camera) It was strange that he had not been killed. That was what Hamazura Shiage truly felt. The Island of Hawaii had become a hell of lava. The giant caldera that was over ten kilometers across was filled with orange lava and some had overflowed and was flowing down the side of the mountain like spilled corn syrup. Perhaps due to the incomplete effect of the Trigger, the lava was not headed in the direction of any towns. Hamazura and the others had not been swallowed up by the lava either, but the air around them had steamed up like in a sauna and the stench of sulfuric gases was so thick Hamazura feared it would kill him. The volcanic ash covering the sky above darkened the area like the time just before dawn. Smooth ash was constantly raining down and pieces of rock the size of fingertips stabbed into the earth as they landed. However, a different situation was developing that made them almost forget about that twisted form of natures fury. In fact, Hamazura felt almost glad that he was so near the caldera that had become a lake of lava. Beyond the ash that obstructed vision like a thin fog, gunshots and explosions rang out from the base of the short mountain. Hamazura could also see soldiers in silver uniforms dotting the ground as well as hovercrafts and armored vehicles. ...Olay Blueshake? he said into his cell phone as he lay down on the white ash. He had his phone on conference call with Kamijou, Accelerator, and the rest. He had no idea what she was doing, but he could hear explosions in the background as Birdway replied. She is Americas media queen who went over her fathers head and inherited her grandfathers network. She started expanding from there by creating a specialty news channel and established her position by buying up all the countrys newspapers and the major cell phone companies. She is also famous for being the owner of major league teams and pro football teams. She is a monster of the economic world who people say would conquer the four largest sports if she only started in on basketball as well, said Birdway casually. She is very skilled at getting fields unrelated to the information business wrapped up in the information business. By introducing an eco-friendly house that uses a computer to manage the solar power generation and the power use of the household appliances, she managed to make inroads into construction and real estate. By developing things like electric cars and a program to automatically regulate the distance between vehicles, she is now behind one of the largest producers of automobiles in the country. She was listed in a magazine article on the one hundred people who keep America running, but the rampant expansion of the groups she controls swallows up even many of the others on that list. Olay had brought even the car king and the railroad king under her control for her own purposes. She was less a queen and more an empress. Even the kings who ruled over their territories were under her control. Birdway continued her evaluation of the ruler of that empire. People say she is the most likely person to become the first complete civilian to take an extended trip into space. They say she might have access to classified government information on UFOs. They say she has a hand in thirty percent of the worlds oil. ...No one has any proof of any of those things, though. In recent years, she has taken control the internets major search engines as well as the social networking businesses, so she now has almost complete control of Americas information networks. And there was a bit of suspicion regarding those search engines, said Roberto Katze in a calm voice. FCE...Free Compound Eyes. That is an internet service that allowed anyone to easily setup cameras, connect them to the internet, and construct a security camera network without purchasing an expensive plan with a security company. However, white hat hackers pointed out that anyone could see the images produced by a third partys camera by only entering its registration number and, more importantly, that the major search engines that acted as the hosts could see through cameras all across America. Of course, the Fair Trade Committee advised them to correct that issue and the service was supposedly ended... With a groan, Kamijou said, So since the person behind this seems able to monitor our actions, this FCE must still be active? Even if normal users can no longer use it, the FCE software must still exist on the servers. In fact, the level of control over the cameras it gives may have been heightened. Olay has also invested heavily in the three major internet providers, so if the FCE tools were installed in secret, it is possible she can control all cameras that are connected to their networks. Damn. That would give her access to cell phones and even video cameras and portable game systems that use Wi-Fi, added Accelerator. But what is this Olay after? Doesnt she already have more money than she could ever use? asked Hamazura. For someone with as much as her, he doubted there was anything pressuring her into straying from the proper path. Or had some other problem arisen due to the very fact that she was rich? The president replied with a bitter tone, Olay Blueshake is said to be the third house of Congress. What? She simply has that much influence. Ones exposure in the media is directly linked to gathering votes and she holds every kind of mass media in her hand. To be honest, not even the presidential election can completely escape her influence. Even my campaign was partially backed by Olay. So it had already been that you couldnt win in an election if you got on the wrong side of the media queen, hm? I see. She started by influencing the members of Congress whose orders influenced the military and other government organizations. Information circulates better than money, after all. And then Saronias magic was used to control the politicians who stubbornly continued serving their country for personal ideals, commented Birdway. She tried to take control of the US for her own ideals by leading those who would help her toward getting elected, said Roberto Katze in a low voice. And yet America did not head in the direction she wanted. Or perhaps it would be better to say that, at that time, the country was in a situation where she could no longer leave it to anyone else. ? World War III, said the president simply. A short silence increased everyones tension. To be honest, its hard to say that war went the way America wanted it to. In fact, we were more or less left out completely. Its possible this led Olay to abandon her old methods and try to control the US in a more direct fashion. And so she contacted Gremlin and Trident? muttered Hamazura with a groan. If you know all that, why dont you just have her arrested? Because no one knows where she is. She has a lot of enemies, after all. Her residence is officially listed as being in Washington DC, but Id believe you even if you told me she had built a base on Mars to live in. With the conversation over for the time being, Hamazura hung up and put his phone back in his pocket. Misaka Worst spoke up from next to him. So what are we going to do now? Meet up with the boss and the president of course. We dont gain anything by staying isolated like this. Kuroyoru frowned at that and said, Are you serious? Dont they have anti-ship missiles deployed all over these islands? If we head out in a pleasure boat, well be sunk in no time at all. Then we just have to get on a boat that wont get sunk. Hamazura pointed toward one of the landed military hovercrafts. We just have to mix in with them somehow. If there really are thousands of them, theyll be negligent when it comes to identifying individual soldiers. If we dress up in those CD-like uniforms, our faces will be hidden too, so they wont even be able to tell were Asian. Misaka thinks they would notice if we killed some of them and stole their uniforms. This is the worlds largest gun country. They sell handguns at supermarkets. Hamazura wiped sweat form his brow. An enthusiast gun store will have equipment for guns as well. Im pretty sure they said those soldiers were wearing a combination of equipment from various countries, but that gives us more of a chance than if it was original equipment. ...And even if we cant find the exact same models of some things, we might be able to get away with it and say we altered our equipment a bit for personal preference. Hmm. You and Misaka might be able to pull that off, but someone as small as Kuroyoru-chan would look suspicious even in a military uniform. Then we just need to stuff her in a bag or something. Shes small to begin with and her arms can be detached. We can make her pretty compact if we need to. ...Dont you fucking dare, growled Kuroyoru. That means the only problem is the FCE. If they see us do it, a disguise is pointless. How many cameras do you think there are on this island alone? Itd be impossible to take them all out. Once weve changed, they cant tell us apart, so we only need to destroy the cameras until then, said Misaka Worst as she pulled a nail from her pocket and started manipulating magnetism. Right? (Information) Camera ID 119a0e19 not responding. Using last known location data to search for a usable camera in the same area. Part 9 (November 10 C Oahu C Wreckage of Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From the camera to record proceedings) As soon as Accelerator ended the call, a giant explosion occurred nearby. The Trident PMC had fired a recoilless rifle. Accelerator charged straight through the center while Birdway leaped to the side to avoid the aftereffects. From there, they headed for their next targets. That was when presidential aide Roseline Krackharts cell phone began to ring. I suppose youve found out, said a familiar female voice over the phone. ...You have guts to call me directly after watching us this whole time, Olay Blueshake. Its no problem to me if all of you go on a rampage while Hawaii is isolated. America will be fully within my grasp in just a few more hours. It may seem crazy now, but once that happens, it will be like a switch has been thrown. At that point, you will be considered the dangerous antigovernment forces. Do you really think it will be that easy? Oh, I do. If we can gain control of the president with the occult, thats that. And if we cant, I can just have him shot so his authority can be transferred to the vice president. ...And you know what has happened to the vice president, dont you? ...What is it about this country that you are willing to go to such lengths to change? Knowledge 12. That term Olay uttered was like the words of a curse to Roseline. Before World War III, funds for UFO research were used to carry out twelve experiments into the occult. With the opportunities to come into contact with classified information you get from being at the presidents side, Im sure you know of them. ...Those experiments were started without the presidents knowledge. By any chance, do you know who their primary investor was? The president found out about the plans for seven of the experiments and had them stopped in advance!! Yes, but the other five were carried out. Two such experiments were Liberal Arts City in the Pacific and the failed report on the Gemstones with naturally occurring esper powers from around the world. The researchers were motivated by the possibility of developing our own espers, but there was always a deeper set of laws below it all. ...After what happened in the war, surely you can guess what it was I wanted to develop. ... The United States has far too little defenses against the occult, said Olay Blueshake with a tone filled with self confidence. It was unclear if the confidence was real or if she was naturally using the skills she used when speaking to the public. In reality, America was more or less left out of the war that was so deeply related to such things. That was actually quite fortunate. If the one truly behind that war had targeted the United States, the countrys leaders and military would have been slaughtered with no hope of resisting. Even in their thick shelters, strange sorcery and curses would have cut them down. And thats why you? Knowledge 12 had no clear results, but that may have been because only five of the experiments were carried out. If all twelve experiments had been carried out, Americas techniques might have caught up to the highest international standards. So you are saying the president had no right to protect this country by working to put a stop to the experiments based on his proper sense of ethics? You were merely forcing the sacrifice onto the people of our country. Can you honestly say it is right to abduct and slice up people from around the world just because they have a certain disposition!? Cant you tell you are only destroying the ideals on which the United States was founded!? I will remake this country into a theocracy. If representatives of the science side and the magic side had heard that statement, they might have let out a gasp. She was talking about the conversion of a major nation. She was talking about a clear change in the affiliation of the nation that, while inferior to Academy City in technology, was number one in the world in military might and economic power. It was unfathomable how much of an effect that would have upon the balance of power or how much chaos it would cause. During the presidents oath of office and during trials, the oaths are made with ones hand on the Bible. In that way and others, Protestant ceremonies have taken root at the core of this nations government. All of the historical presidents have been Christians. By letting those sprouts bloom, this nation can be given an exceedingly strong resistance to occult attacks. ...And I have begun by bringing in Gremlin as an adviser for our occult countermeasures. The moment you used the Trigger, our international relations were ripped to shreds. That can be fixed with our advances into the occult. ... Why do you think I have told you all this? asked Olay, but she continued before Roseline had time to respond. First, the need to hide this will be gone before long. In a few hours, the United States will have been completely reformed and all this will be common knowledge not just in America but around the world. Really, I never needed to hide this. She paused for a second. Second, I have already decided that you will die. Feel free to take that as an admission to a criminal threat. Kh... If you cannot find anything to say in return, then our discussion is over. I will order Trident to make sure you do not suffer. I think Ill give the one who shoots you a bonus. Olay hung up. Roseline Krackhart remained silent for a bit. But then... ...Olay Blueshake, said Roseline with her head hanging down. When her subordinate with the video camera saw that, he originally thought she was trembling in fear. But she was not. She was indeed trembling, but a clear smile was on her lips. If youre the one behind this, I still have a way out!! Wh-what do you mean...? Olays...no, the entire Blueshake familys cornerstone lies hidden on Kauai, said Roseline quickly before grabbing a map from the government vehicle. She spread it out on the hood. Lindy Blueshake, an eight year old girl, is the only one left to continue the Blueshake family line. For that family that values its bloodline highly and has the next in line inherit its great media network, she has irreplaceable value. Olay is sterile, so abducting that child would be the same as grasping Olays very core!! But...thats crazy!! How could she start such a large scale war in the very place her own daughter lives!? Because Olay doesnt know, said Roseline with a grin. Due to domestic violence issues, Olay got divorced, but it was her that threw the punch, not her husband. However, with her thorough ability to manipulate information and her high-priced lawyers, she managed to distort the truth. She won custody of Lindy, but the investigation afterwards deemed Olay a possible danger, so the government took Lindy away. Of course, Olay used her control of the media to make sure the public never learned of this. The government took her? You mean...like someone in the witness protection program!? Exactly. Her name and identity were completely changed and she was given a second life elsewhere. That is why Olay does not actually know where she is. Its possible that she constructed the FCE system using the major search engines and internet providers in order to search for Lindy. It was obvious whether she had done it out of a mothers love or in order to preserve the media network she had inherited from her grandfather. And even with the ability to peer into the executive office of the president and into military facilities, Olay had not been able to locate Lindy Blueshake. Due to the hatred of the media Lindy gained due to her mother, she now lives a primitive life here in Hawaii. That may be why Olay was never able to find her. And that was why Roseline had a chance. She had a final chance that lay in the gaps where the digital network did not reach. She gave instructions to her subordinate to gather the secret service members and marines that could still be used and then smiled a thin, thin smile. It was like the smile of a villain. I will show you that, if you walk down an unorthodox path, you will meet unorthodox resistance. Part 10 (November 10 C Lanai C Star Lounge Shot Bar C From the camera in a handheld game system left on the counter) Wait, wait, wait. Shit!! Dammit, Roseline, dont go nuts just because were cornered!! shouted the president as he stared at the Imperial Packages screen and struck the hard outer shell with his palm. Kamijou and Mikoto looked over in surprise. Wh-what? Did the computer break? Noticing their questioning looks, the president clicked his tongue and said, My aide has headed off to overcome this situation, but she didnt discuss it with me. Olay Blueshakes daughter is hidden on Kauai. My aide is gathering all the soldiers she can in order to abduct the girl and get an upper hand against Olay in negotiations. As the president continued on to explain the details of Lindy and the marines, Kamijou and Mikotos faces paled. Are you serious...? This Lindy girl hasnt done anything! Will the soldiers really go through with that? Even if its an emergency, thats a crime! shouted Kamijou. Laws like that are not functioning right now and the marines are feeling fairly bloodthirsty. The enemy is moving fast and the supposedly superior American military is being pushed back. The flames of war cant be controlled and the war front could very well reach the more populated areas. If that happens, many, many civilians will be dragged into this. They want to prevent that from happening. ...If my aide appeals to their sense of justice like that, they will lose all guilt over kidnapping the daughter of the woman behind all this. A dark side of actions taken due to a sense of justice could sometimes be seen when looked at from a different angle. And oftentimes, the one taking the action could not see that dark side. ...How many people have agreed to go with her? About two hundred. Most likely, they are a portion of the group Roseline has directly decided are safe and that she trusts. Three or four divisions are stationed in Hawaii, so that is only a small minority, but we should assume they have completely left their units. To be honest, I have no idea how far they will go for the sake of justice. Troops who had lost all clear rules had now appeared. Taking hostages to gather information was often justified, but those troops were likely acting out of hatred for Olay Blueshake the media queen. That meant the safety of her daughter could not be guaranteed. She could end up being hurt in the process of the negotiations. In fact, it was possible their hatred could get the better of them and they would pass the point of no return before any negotiations could even begin. The presidents aide was raising her voice and leading them, but would she really be able to control the soldiers? Could she say for sure that violence would not break out within the group upon spotting a family member of a hated enemy? Kamijou thought for a bit and finally stood up from the bars floor. ...You said Lindy Blueshake is on Kauai, right? Can you bring up a picture of her on that computer? What are you thinking of doing? We will save her, he said simply. If we can get to Kauai before the marines, we can help her escape. It doesnt matter where we go, but we just have to take Lindy somewhere where the soldiers cant find her. Ww-w-wait! This Lindy girl is the daughter of the person behind all this, right? Wouldnt fighting to save her be allying ourselves with the group conquering Hawaii!? protested Mikoto. So what? spat back Kamijou. Olay Blueshake may be behind all this and we do need to settle things with her, but what has this girl done? Its wrong to rob her of any guarantee of safety just because shes related to Olay and can be readily used!! His words held conviction. He was not making a decision merely because the situation led him in that direction. He was set on his own direction based on his own clear determination. This Lindy already had her life torn to pieces due to domestic violence and had finally managed to settle into a peaceful life. Shes only eight, but she gained that kind of rest that most people find normal only after giving up her name and the place she was born. Do we have any right to capture her, threaten her with guns and knives, and force her to stand before Olay once more? Of course not!! If you want to protect Hawaii from Gremlin, dont forget that she is one of Hawaiis residents too. Shouldnt you be protecting her as well!? ...Youre right, said the president with a sigh. Since the government took custody of her, it is our duty to protect Lindy Blueshake from Olay. That means I have to fight too. Making the decision was easy. However, real danger lay ahead on that path. On one side were the Gremlin forces including Saronia and Olay who were trying to conquer Hawaii. On the other were the marine forces led by the presidents aide who were trying to capture Lindy. They would be making both sides their opponents. On top of that, the true enemy had prepared plenty of normal firearms to combat Kamijous right arm and their highest priority target was the president. Those two were in no position to be worried about the wellbeing of others. Their own lives were in much more danger than Lindys. And yet... Whatll you do, Misaka? This is our decision. I wont force you to go. You can just hide here to remain safe. What had led him to all his decisions up until then? As Mikoto thought about that, she came to her answer. That boy had surely done the same thing when he had saved Misaka Mikoto. Mikoto had once been saved in the same way. He did not stand on the side of justice. He did not come to a decision after weighing the pros and the cons. He merely saved people because he wanted to. Someone who would not have been negatively impacted by it in the first place had no need to make excuses. His answer stripped away all that was unnecessary and it held enough power to shatter the overly-complicated incarnation of justifications built from all those unnecessary things. ...Fine, I understand. To be honest, the thought of them pressing a gun up against this Lindy girl and opening up her old emotional scars really pisses me off. No matter how much one worried about it internally, the spoken conclusion was simple. That boy had surely made those simple decisions time and time again. It isnt that girls job to risk her life to bring peace back to Hawaii. That job lies with us. Part 11 (November 10 C In the ocean near Kahoolawe C From UUV Cannibal Shark #443) A large military hovercraft sailed through the ocean near the Hawaiian Islands where a network of anti-ship missiles was set up. The hovercraft itself was similar to a special kind of rubber boat, but it was much too large. In order to carry large military vehicles, its size rivaled that of a 25-meter school pool. Two giant propellers propelled the hovercraft at over 50 kph. The people aboard wore silver military uniforms, but they were not Saronia or Olays subordinates. They were Hamazuras group. As with the ship before, this was Hamazuras first time to pilot a hovercraft, but the lack of obstacles and the fact that it floated on the surface gave him a baseless sense of security as the sudden acceleration chilled his skin. In reality, things such as reefs made even the level-looking ocean surface dangerous and any sharp rocks sticking above the surface would tear the reinforced rubber bottom of the hovercraft to pieces, but ignorance pushed Hamazura recklessly on. As he fumbled with the ships controls, Hamazura had his cell phone to his ear. ...Eh? The most wanted targets are heading out into the gunfire of their own free will in order to save the daughter of one of their enemies? he muttered in utter shock at how crazy that was. But then he smiled. If he was being honest, the concepts of conquering America and the media queen working with Gremlin were on just too great a scale to seem real to him. He had finally found something small enough he could actually legitimately feel the desire to risk his life for it. Youll need a way to get to Kauai, right? Just wait a bit. Youre on Lanai, right? Well meet up with you there. Meanwhile, Misaka Worst and Kuroyoru Umidori were being as indiscreet as ever. Or rather, Misaka Worst was playing around with Kuroyoru. Kuro-nyaaahhn. Misaka is bored, so show me the sexiest pose you can think of! Why you! Dont take control away from me for shit like thagyah gyah gyah gyah!! Hey, you with the mischievous look in your eyes!! Stop that. Youre gonna make Kuroyoru cry again!! If you try to help me like that, youre just gonna piss me off even mgwaaaaaaaaahhhhh!! With control of both her arms taken, Kuroyoru lost her balance and fell down on the hovercrafts deck. From there she (unwillingly) carried out a completely impractical motion. When Misaka Worst and Hamazura Shiage saw it, a kind look entered their eyes. ...Thats the first time Misaka has seen someone actually say uffun. 25 points. You may never shut up about darkness and all that crap, but youre surprisingly pure. 30 points. H-how...how dare you mock me...!! said Kuroyoru while grinding her teeth, but she was simply too poorly matched with Misaka Worst. The electricity esper in question casually glanced over toward the ocean surface and said, Do you think we actually fooled them? Of course not, spat out Kuroyoru Umidori in response with her face still beet red. As she also looked toward the ocean surface, she stared straight into the cameras lens. Theyre letting us go in order to lead them to their weak point. Part 12 (November 10 C Oahu C Wreckage of Pearl Harbors Third Marine Base C From an auxiliary control camera) Most of the base had been destroyed, it was barely functioning, and the soldiers stationed there had finished evacuating. Meanwhile, Saronia and Olays Trident PMC must have decided they would gain nothing by attacking any further. They had quickly gone off to target another base. ...Tch. The aide has disappeared, too. So shes headed off to attack an eight-year-old girl. Turns out she wasnt worth saving. Accelerator and Birdway had regrouped after that round of fighting was over. They understood the general situation from speaking to Kamijou and the others over the phone. Leivinia Birdway rested her wand on her shoulder and smiled thinly. However, this could be our chance. ... Dont look at me like that. You always get so motivated when it comes to little girls, dont you? She shrugged. Even now, Olay Blueshake is listening to our conversations. That means she is sure to make her move. She will try to get there before our group or the presidents aide and her marine volunteers manage to reach Lindy. But I doubt the media queen will head out directly. In fact, is she even in Hawaii? If shes somewhere we can reach, then shes quite an idiot, said Birdway simply before spinning around her wand. That is why, as one of the main leaders, Saronia will be commanding a portion of the troops in order to collect Lindy. They would never focus all the troops on that. After all, Hawaii is the largest collection of military forces in the Pacific and they need to focus on taking care of that. However, the troops led by Saronia C as well as Gremlin in general C will not necessarily do as Olay wishes. ...Really? According to Kamijou Toumas report, Saronia herself was put in quite a bit of danger during the transporting of the Trigger because she was used as a diversion without being told. She will now have some distrust for Olay. Its only natural that she will want a trump card she can use to conveniently control Olay. But isnt Gremlins plan to conquer the United States based on Olays economic power and supplemented by Saronias magic? To them, this war in Hawaii is nothing more than part of their preparations. What they truly want to do is take control of America, create a situation in which they can manipulate things at will, and make sure that situation lasts. That means they must work together for a long period of time. Right now, they both want to gain the upper hand at this early stage even if it comes with some risk. But that also means we only have to take out just one or the other of Saronia and Olay. If either one could accomplish this without the other, they would never have joined together in the first place. So now we just have to defeat Saronia when she shows up on her own for Lindy. Yes, that would cause their plan to fail. We would win. As such, Im sure you know what we must do. ...Hm. Even when I leave Academy City, I end up having to clean up all the shit. Just be honest and call it saving peoples lives, hero. Volume 3, 5: For What Purpose Should That Strength Be Used? The_Old_Glory. Volume 3, Chapter 5: For What Purpose Should That Strength Be Used? The_Old_Glory. Part 1 (November 10 C Kauai C From a tide level monitoring camera) Kamijou Touma, Accelerator, Hamazura Shiage, Misaka Mikoto, Misaka Worst, Kuroyoru Umidori, Leivinia Birdway, and Roberto Katze reached Kauai on the hovercraft Hamazura had supplied. It looks like the marines arent here yet. Unlike with us, Olay has no reason to let them get here. They must be trying to find a way past the anti-ship missiles deployed across the islands. But Saronia will have already started to move. In all likelihood, a PMC unit was sent to Kauai when this began. They would have been only a single radio call away from taking action, said Accelerator. Trident and Saronia do not know the exact location of Olays daughter. They would likely find her eventually if they performed a thorough search, but they probably want any hints they can get. They probably only just now got the order now that we have actually made it here. That means its just us and them for now, said Mikoto as she brought her hand to her chin. Id rather we found this Lindy girl before the marines arrive and make this more complicated. You know where she is, right? Where is she exactly? Birdway put her index finger up to her lips and said, As I said before, Olay and Saronia do not know where Lindy is. Seeing how they are legitimately trying to crush the marine force, they are likely planning to find her by monitoring our movements. ...Of course, with that many soldiers, they could always just resort to a search. In the end, this means that our movements will act as the trigger that sends them to Lindy. ... Prepare yourself before heading on. To save her, we must first bring danger to her. Act only once you have accepted that cruelty. Understand? Birdway looked everyone in the eye in turn, not just Mikoto. After no one voiced any objections, she turned toward the president. Holding the Imperial Package, Roberto responded while knowing full well that the unseen enemy was listening in. Lindy Blueshake is at Sunny Watcher 44-19. ...The trigger has been pulled. Its time to start the firefight with that occult-supplemented PMC. The heroes began to move. They were moving to save Lindy Blueshake. They were moving to lure out Saronia A. Irivika. The plan to theocratize America had begun in Hawaii and would spread to the entire United States as well as the science side as a whole if left unchecked. The final battle to decide its fate was beginning. (Unknown Time C Unknown Location C Unknown Camera ID C From footage with altered video and audio) Olay Blueshake wore a gaudy suit that fit her figure so well it clearly could not have been sold just anywhere and it had actually cost about the same as a midsized passenger jet. She also wore a ten-gallon hat and spurred boots that did not match the suit in the slightest. She did not wear them out of her own tastes or for any practical reason. They were purely to give a certain image to the public. The United States had always been fond of the frontier spirit. That image was a defensive measure against the common criticism those in the internet business received of being too radical. She was in a high class hotel room...or so it looked. It could have been somewhere completely different and merely designed to look that way. It could have been deep underground, in a military facility, on a luxurious ocean liner, or in a large airplane. The available information was so scarce that the breadth of speculation spread out infinitely. A young male secretary poured whisky into a glass and asked her, Is there really any need to film yourself? It is important to view everything objectively. Putting myself in the finder helps remind me that I am a piece on the game board as well. Olay grabbed the glass proffered to her. Being in a safe area makes one forget fundamental facts. It makes a mere piece think she is the player. ...I mustnt be so conceited. The game board that is the world is fully connected, so someone can reach any other part of it eventually if they put their mind to it. Safety is much less fuel efficient than you would think. Despite what she said, her calm words declared that she was confident in her own safety. Someone in a truly dangerous situation would force themselves to hold an optimistic view to help keep a stable heart. The secretary was well aware of that, but he did not point it out. I see you managed to fix the compatibility between the FCE and Tridents electronic camouflage. That camouflage is so disliked because it is so ineffective. What will you do with Miss Lindy? I will have her brought back to me. Olays tone stiffened there and there alone. The Blueshake media network began as a collection of information on gold veins during the old gold rush. The network was made public during my grandfathers generation, but no matter how far the types of businesses it encompasses have expanded, it must be passed down through the Blueshake bloodline. I doubt Saronia A. Irivika and the Trident PMC will carry this out as you asked them to. There is a reason they are able to think those unnecessary things and take those unnecessary actions for unnecessary gain. ...That reason is leeway. Because the conquest of the Hawaiian Islands is going so well, they are able to think about more complicated and troublesome things like taking detours that open up more opportunities for them. And what will you do about this? I will of course make sure they cannot think about those more complicated and troublesome things. I will corner them, rob them of their leeway, and make sure they can only think of the simple things. What is the most fundamental thing for a soldier to do? Isnt it to work at their job to the point that they can no longer think? As Olay spoke, she typed on her thin, supple fingers raced across her computers keyboard. And so I must have Miss Roseline and her marine volunteers drive Saronia and Trident into a corner. Will they really act based on information received from us? I will not be simply giving an order. I will merely leave them with a hint. If they think they came up with the idea on their own, they will jump at the chance to carry it out. Part 2 (November 10 C Kauai C Mountainous Area in Anahola C From an in-vehicle camera) Hamazura Shiage, Leivinia Birdway, and Roberto Katze were driving through a mountainous area on the eastern side of Kauai. They were of course using a stolen vehicle. Apparently, Lindy Blueshake was in an area in northern Kauai known as Napali Coast. Kamijou and the others had landed on the southeastern side of the island and the center of the island was too mountainous, so they had to circle around the island to reach Lindy. This required them to follow the coastline where Trident had their anti-ship missiles set up. Due to that difficulty the terrain presented, Hamazura and the others had split into a few groups that were heading for Napali Coast using different routes. Hamazuras group was taking the route that headed counterclockwise around the islands circumference. The president stared out the window and at the coast spreading out behind the mountain surface. He narrowed his eyes at the sight of mercenaries setting up various pieces of equipment. Even if they are overlooking us to a certain extent to find Lindy, thats only for the convenience of those at the top. If they actually spot us, a firefight will be unavoidable. The one piece of luck is that your aide and the marine volunteers were slowed down, muttered Birdway in the backseat. While driving, Hamazura frowned and said, Dont you have that backwards? Theyd clearly end up fighting Gremlin and Trident, too. If the other two sides are fighting each other, wouldnt that make things easier for us? Youre the one that has it backwards. Theyre only overlooking us because Olay and Saronia have control. If the marines made it to Kauai and chaos broke out, those bosses might lose control of their troops. Without a power working to give us uninterrupted use of the roads like this, we would be stuck in the middle of an unthinkable melee. Not good, muttered Roberto. He was still staring out the window. Roseline has made her move. Boy! Stop this car now! Were about to get pushed to the side!! Ahn? With a confused expression, Hamazura looked over in the same direction as the president...and then frantically slammed on the brakes. The tires screeched as they scraped against the asphalt and an instant later even that noise was wiped away. This was due to a few dozen air-to-surface missiles fired from out in the ocean. Twenty cutting edge stealth fighters came soaring only a few dozen centimeters off the ocean surface at over 400 kph. They had likely come from Oahu. The eruption of Kilauea had supposedly made aircraft unusable, but that restriction was being circumvented by flying at extremely low altitudes. However, it was not entirely accurate to call what they were doing flying. In the spot where wheels normally were, the fighters had ski-like floats forcibly attached. By sacrificing aerodynamic and stealth functionality, they could now grasp the ocean surface. The fighters were not merely flying just off the surface. It was more like they were being pushed forward as they floated on the surface. Trident had built their defenses out of anti-ship missiles, so they could not deal with invaders that could move so quickly. The fighters flew past the few anti-ship missiles that were fired and then fired deadly missiles of their own at the coast. An orange wall appeared for about twelve kilometers across the white beach. The wall was created from explosive flames and shockwaves. Despite being more than five kilometers away from it, Hamazuras car skidded disconcertingly to the side. His seatbelt must have constricted his lungs along with his ribs because Roberto Katze let out a gasp from the passenger seat. ...Dammit Roseline!! Do you not realize Im here!? Or do you know but youre firing anyway!? This isnt over. Now that the anti-missile network has been sealed off, something else will be coming to finish this! warned Birdway. And that was precisely what happened. With their initial bombing over, the stealth fighters circled around without landing. From behind them, landing ships plowed onto the beach. The ships were equipped with hydrofoils and they could move at 100 kph. The steel ships slid up onto land all at once like beached whales. Doors on the back opened and soldiers poured out. The soldiers were equipped differently than Trident. They used the proper equipment of that nation. A group of over 150 such soldiers invaded Kauai. This is finally coming to a head, muttered Hamazura as he turned the key once more to restart the stalled car. In an uncontrollable battlefield, a three-way battle is beginning over Lindy Blueshake. Part 3 (November 10 C Kauai C Blue Energy Gas Station C From a rearview camera in an abandoned sedan) He had failed to escape. Weck Lunasand was hiding at an abandoned gas station. He was breathing heavily while crouching behind one of the vending machines on one side of the building. Only seventy centimeters away but on the other side of the vending machine, he could hear countless people passing by. He could only hear the sound of feet on white sand. If he was found, he was done for. His hand was not on his chest, but that thought made him overly conscious of his heartbeat. The company ID hanging from his neck said he was a childrens surfing instructor. He had stuck with his professional ethics too much and had failed. He had failed at life. Immediately after the commotion had originally broken out, Weck had piled the children in his class into his SUV and headed for an abandoned building in Chinatown. The building held nothing more than dust and roaches, but he knew it had a civilian nuclear shelter. The room was only a few meters across, but it was enough to hide in. A highly polished resort hotel filled with expensive things was one thing, but he doubted anyone would force their way into an old, run-down building like that. All they had to do then was close the thick door and wait it out. But then one of the children had told him one of them was missing. I shouldve just abandoned him. Dammit. Two thousand dollars a month isnt worth this. Despite having left that safe area, he had not found the missing child. Soldiers that glittered like CDs were all over the place with the kind of assault rifles often seen in movies that were shaped a bit like hacksaws. That had made it difficult to go anywhere. Their equipment was different from the American soldiers he saw in bars or undergoing public training. And if they were not American soldiers, who were they? About all he could figure out was that it would be bad if they spotted him. They had not found him yet, but it was only a matter of time. Every route was already blocked. ... He recalled the weight in his right hand. It was a.38 revolver that had been in the dashboard of the sedan he had deserted in front of the gas station. However, he doubted he could accomplish anything with it. A gunshot would be like telling a pack of wild dogs where some meat was. Also, he was unsure he could hit with the first shot and he was at a gas station. He could not deny the possibility that there was enough evaporated gasoline floating around that gunfire would cause a giant explosion. The gun was more a good luck charm than anything. He needed it to ensure he did not panic and do something stupid. At any rate, I have to survive this somehow. I need to get out of here. Wait, theres gasoline here. If I put it in some kind of container and set that off, I can draw their attention elsewhere. Theres nothing wrong with it if its to save my life. He may have been speaking out loud in order to forcibly get himself to accept what he was saying. In other words, even then, Weck Lunasands softheartedness remained. And a further trial remained for that softhearted man. He heard the cry of a small boy. Weck frowned, leaned back against the vending machine, and covered his face with his hands. Shit...Is that Steve...!? Steve was the last student that had gotten separated from the group. Weck crawled forward along the oil-smelling concrete in order to peer out from behind the corner of the vending machine. He spotted a dozen or so men and women walking across the white beach. They were being led by four or five silver soldiers with rifles. Amid that group was a single ten-year-old boy. The difficulty level had just shot up. The same question crept up in the back of his mind as back in the shelter: should I abandon him or not? What can I even do...? His breathing grew even more erratic. He felt a great pressure in his gut. However, that pressure was not simply fear for his life. It was caused by his decision to leave another human being to die. Thats it. Ive done enough. For only $2,000 a month, saving seven of them is commendable. I dont need to get greedy, right? After realizing he was saying it out loud, Weck stopped breathing for an instant. Saying it aloud was his ritual for forcibly getting himself to accept what he was saying. That meant he did not actually accept it. ...Id just get myself killed... After saying that one last thing that he could not accept, Weck Lunasand looked around the area. He was at a gas station. There was tons of gasoline there. He could divide it up into small containers. The wind would carry the evaporated gasoline that was scattered about the beach. Depending on how he used it, he might be able to temporarily toy with the silver soldiers. Just as methods started entering his mind, he heard a slight metallic noise. One of the silver soldiers had approached without Weck noticing and he held the barrel of his rifle against the back of Wecks head. It had been a mistake to peer out. The situation had been worsened by the fact that he held that handgun. The soldier had no way of knowing he was only using it as a good luck charm. Dammit. I dont want to die...!! He spoke out loud, but he was not about to convince the soldier of anything. Just as Weck Lunasand squeezed his eyes shut, he heard a loud crash. The man holding the assault rifle had suddenly flown a few meters to the side. For an instant, Weck thought the man had been hit by a dump truck. Even after turning around and seeing it with his own eyes, he could not believe that the man had actually been struck by a careless kick of a slender leg. The great crash of the silver soldiers body destroying a vending machine brought all attention on that spot. However, the one who had thrown the kick did not seem to care. He had white hair and red eyes. The impression he gave was more that of a beast than of a human. ...What a fucking pain. Two girls accompanied him. They both had the same face, but the look in their eyes was different. The middle school aged one had a proper look, but the older one had the look of a criminal on a wanted poster. Speaking to the white figure, the middle school aged girl said, We can start here. Once we hack into Tridents command cloud, we can destroy their defensive network of anti-ship missiles. Then naval reinforcements can be called in. I have a lot I want to say to you, so Id rather not get bogged down here. I intend to repay my debt to the clones, but I have no intention of apologizing to you. You arent conveniently forgetting that you too were one of the ones responsible for that experiment, are you? I of course intend to make up for that, but it pisses me off to hear it from the poster boy of the experiment. While creating an extremely threatening atmosphere, the two of them slowly headed for the beach. They were of course headed there to rescue the tourists being held at gunpoint. Weck was completely taken aback and the girl with the mischievous look in her eyes winked and said, Basically, those two tsunderes are saying everything is going to be okay. With countless explosions, two monsters ruled the battlefield. They were the #1 and the #3. Those two Level 5s had singlehandedly traversed the battlefields of World War III and now a tornado of destruction surrounded them. Part 4 (November 10 C Kauai C From a helmet camera for the command cloud) Saronia A. Irivika was aboard a hovercraft. Lindy was conjectured to be in Napali Coast and its more inaccessible areas were difficult to reach with a normal vehicle. It was much faster to approach by sea. Trident had been instructed by their client to put together a team to recover Lindy, but Saronias inclusion in that team was not in line with the clients wishes. The Trident member in charge of piloting the hovercraft spoke to Saronia. We will focus on stopping the other forces. Can we leave apprehending the target to you? That would be for the best. With professional killers like you, a threat could end up leading to quite a bit of bloodshed. ...Our client would kill us. Do you know who hired us? Olay Blueshake. But that really does not matter, said Saronia readily in the sea breeze. And she did not stop with just that one outrageous statement. Gremlin does not matter either. Of course, Trident does not matter. Nor does the theocratization of the United States or the collapse of the balance between the magic side and the science side. None of it matters. O-our conversation is being monitored by the FCE... Yes, Im sure shes listening in. But its the same for you, isnt it? Trident has its own objective and you have your own objective. In the end, everyone decides what to give precedence based on what benefits us personally. As she spoke, Saronia pulled a rectangular plastic pill case out of her pocket. In the many partitioned spaces were seeds of trees. My country was torn apart by World War III. ... And yet there were a few countries and areas that benefitted from that war. The primary examples are Academy City and the United States. On top of that, they are remaking my country as they see fit by controlling the flow of money being sent in the name of war restorations. I-I had heard it was mostly construction of infrastructure... Winter is coming. They have requisitioned the natural gas pipelines, claiming it is so they can repair them, but they are delaying that work for the sake of clearly unnecessary construction. They know full well that heating is a lifeline there in the winter, but they are having people swear their loyalty. A thin smile appeared on Saronias face. We cant let them do that, now can we? Her tone held no thorns and it even had the kind of sweetness one used to entice the opposite sex, but the veteran Trident soldier realized he was trembling. That is why I will return things back to the way they should be. She took one of the seeds from the pill case and placed it on her palm. She then rolled it around, smelled it, and bit into it with her back teeth. With a look in her eye like she had remembered something, Saronia continued speaking. It is only natural for Academy City and the United States to pay up. It is only natural for that money to truly act in Russias favor. Since they refuse to make the initial preparations, I will force them to. After all, they made so much money during that war. Having to give a little back to those they used as a stepping stone seems like an appropriate punishment to me. Normally, Trident might have tried to stop Saronia with military force in order to protect their clients interests. But they could not. Despite being accustomed to creating corpses, the mercenaries were frozen in place out of fear of the strange occult and that girl who could freely wield it. Oh, and Olay Blueshake. I seem to recall your name being on a list of people who made all sorts of money during that war. She had never intended to simply obey. Magicians tended to give the one precedence over the all. That nature suddenly showed itself. As she continued on in search of Lindy Blueshake, ferocious intent was displayed on Saronias face. Part 5 (November 10 C Kauai C Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #300) Napali Coast was registered as a state park, but the areas deeper into the park could only be reached by heading along a few kilometers of saw tooth-like cliffs where no normal car could pass. A log house stood in that deep cliffy area. Harzak Lolas, a large man who towered over two meters tall, was tending to a terraced vegetable garden he kept near the log house. It had originally been to grow food, but chaos had taken over ever since its proper owner had started growing flowers in it. Harzak was not growing food in it either. Unbefitting of his large body, he was replanting a small seedling from a planter into the garden with delicate movements of his hands. Suddenly, the log houses door opened. Without turning around, Harzak spoke to the girl who had to stretch up and turn the knob with both hands. If you arent going swimming, you dont need to wear a swimsuit. Its hot. The power generators and the solar panels arent enough to keep the air conditioner on all day. And itll be hot tonight, so I have to save up power in the batteries. Also, Im gonna go fishing again this evening. That conversation was a custom of theirs, so Harzak was not actually trying to fix the girls habit. He changed the subject and said, Your textbooks are in the mailbox. Youre the one that brings the mail, so you dont have to just leave it in the mailbox, Harzak. This is your house, Lindy. I am only here to help out. More importantly, you need to check the textbooks to make sure none are missing. Ill make that long trip as many times as it takes. ...I dont like textbooks. No one likes studying. Id rather listen to your stories. Unfortunately, those wont be of any use to you, Harzak said as he adjusted the soil where he had just transplanted a small seedling. Will you gain the knowledge of a citizen of the United States or of a native Hawaiian? Both have value. I dont make the cut on either count. You can tell just by hearing my name. My parents did a poor job of naturalization, so I dont have a good grasp of the native language or culture. And yet I cant get used to life in modern America either. Mhh... The girl named Lindy puffed out her cheeks. But I still like your stories. Having said what she wanted to say, the girl grabbed the textbooks wrapped in plastic and headed back into the log house. Harzak truly thought she was a good, pure girl, but that was exactly why he could not let an idiot like himself influence her too much. He had heard that a true king still lived somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands, but he had never even seen a hint of it being true. Was this king in some unexplored land or had he blended into the cities? Harzak had lost even the slightest desire to search him out and become a member of his kingdom. He was sick of running out of strength partway up the mountain and heading back down. After finishing his work on the garden, Harzak stood up, wiped sweat from his face with his arm, and looked up into the blue sky that was thinly covered by volcanic ash. It was rare for the ash to make it all the way to Kauai. He started to wonder if he should cover the garden in plastic if it was going to continue for much longer. That was when he noticed something odd. He saw what looked like a twenty or thirty cm long dragonfly. But that was not what it was. It had a body made of polycarbonate and wings made of ABS resin, it moved around using a motor, and it was equipped with a transmitter and a camera, so it could hardly be called a normal dragonfly. ...A lens...A camera... muttered Harzak. He then recalled why Lindy Blueshake was living in a place like that. He recalled what it was she utterly loathed. He recalled why government workers had introduced her to that unexplored land that lacked any and all presence by the mass media. Not good... Lindy, Lin!! Harzak started yelling as he turned back toward the log house, but a hand reached from behind him and covered his large mouth. He had no idea when, how, or from where someone had gotten there. Still having no idea what was going on, Harzak was pushed down to the side of the garden as if his opponent had used some kind of magic trick. Due to the glare of the sun, he could not see his attackers face, but the silhouette was enough to tell him he held a handgun. Harzak would be shot. He felt a pain like his heart was bound in something like a kite string, but the sound of a gunshot never reached his ears. He had no idea what was going on. Bit by bit, he realized that the attacker sitting atop him was trembling, that the attacker had a transparent spear pressed up against his throat, and that the owner of the spear had approached silently from behind the attacker. An Asian boy and girl stood there. The boy had spiky hair and the younger girl had a nasty look in her eyes that made her incomparable to Lindy. They started saying things in Japanese. Youre from Trident, arent you? The speaker continued without waiting for the attacker to respond. Would you rather take a nitrogen spear or a fist? For an instant, the attacker looked down at the handgun he was pointing at Harzak and then quickly turned it toward the two Asians. However, before he could actually use it, the girls spear sliced off the barrel of the handgun as well as the front of his helmet. In the next instant, the boys fist slammed into the attackers face. The silver soldier collapsed backwards and the boy spoke to him in Japanese. You should thank me. I actually saved your life. I did most of the work. All those ones collapsed over there were my doing, the girl said. Kuroyoru takes everything too seriously. If I wasnt here to stop her, she probably would have taken off all of your heads. Where are the others? Are we the first ones here? Harzak could not understand what they were saying, but four other silver soldiers lay collapsed in the direction the girl had pointed. As Harzak lay there in shock, the boy looked over toward the ocean that was visible beyond the cliff and said something. Harzak could not understand his words, but a strange phenomenon followed. The phenomenon came from the right hand of the girl with the nasty look in her eyes. The motion was similar to typing on a keyboard, but it was as fast as an electric sewing machine. The repeated sound of her fingers striking the gardens fence came together to form English words that sounded like someone accurately reading from a textbook. The troops Olay Blueshake hired have begun to move in order to take Lindy back. If you are the one charged with being her guardian, you should more or less understand the situation. Do not let her fall into Olays hands. Take Lindy with you and flee! Wh-what...? Harzak was utterly confused, but the girl was not about to let him argue. Hurry! They are coming up from the ocean!! You have no time!! Harzak looked over and saw a large hovercraft approaching the base of the cliff that looked like a saw blade. However, he did not have time to just leisurely watch. A few of the silver soldiers clinging to the cliff were pointing bullpup-style assault rifles their way. As high-pitched gunshots rang out, the boy and girl lay down on the ground and Harzak frantically made his way into the log house. Whatll we do now? asked the girl. We have to at least let Lindy and her guardian escape. Then we just have to fight until we can stop Saronia. You certainly sound calm for someone up against assault rifles, Mr. Japanese. To be honest, I think Id be too scared to do anything if they had handguns. However, this is on such a huge scale that it just doesnt seem real. The two heard the noises of Harzak and Lindy escaping from the backdoor of the log house. After making sure those two were gone, they started to circle around to the side of the house to use it as cover. But then the boy suddenly smelled flowers. Immediately afterwards, the boys left arm suddenly dropped. It dropped straight down. Limply. The joint was still connected, but it dropped down and swayed with no strength in it. He could not bring any strength to the arm from the fingertips up to the shoulder. He felt no pain, heat, or cold. He also felt an odd numbness on the left half of his face. He was unsure what expression was displayed there. Gh!? He frantically grabbed his left arm with his right hand, but there was no response. It was apparently not something that could be simply fixed with Imagine Breaker. My left arm...? What? Im not detecting any kind of chemical weapon, said the girl while making an action with her right hand as if she were gently grasping something. The girl must have come to the idea from the trembling of the skin on his face, but the boy was half sure it was something else. Magic. They were up against users of magic that had modified spells so they would work against a certain boy and make him suffer. Still holding his unnaturally limp left arm, the boy looked back toward the cliff from around the outer wall of the log house. He spotted a familiar face among the silver soldiers. Saronia A. Irivika!! Part 6 (November 10 C Kauai C Northern Off Limits Area of Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #210) The deeper areas of Napali Coast were made up of repeated saw tooth-like cliffs and normal cars could not traverse the dangerous paths. But nothing was without exception. For instance, there was such a thing as a monster truck. In Japan, radio-controlled toys were often more well-known than the actual trucks. With four exceedingly large tires and suspension as thick as pillars, they were the ultimate off road vehicles. As the vehicle flew easily through the air while using forty-five degree slopes as jumps, it truly seemed to live up to its name as a monster. It was of course stolen. They had borrowed it from some tourists who had fled in the middle of a barbecue party. There she is!! Its the girl from the picture! Why isnt she waiting in the log house? shouted Hamazura Shiage as he drove the stolen vehicle over a steep slope with a roar of the engine. In the passenger seat, the presidents face had paled to the point it looked like he could barf at any second. In the backseat, Birdway was arrogantly sitting with her arms crossed and without a seatbelt while experiencing the shaking of the truck defying gravity. Despite Hamazuras complaint, finding the target so soon made things easier. Hamazura started to bring the monster truck around toward Lindy and the large man pulling at her arm as they escaped along the dangerous path. Suddenly, Hamazura heard a crash and his vision turned pure white. Or rather... The windshield...!? A soft, ball-shaped projectile used for riot suppression had been fired from a grenade launcher. Instead of a piercing shock, the force of the impact had spread out across the windshield. With his vision cut off, Hamazura immediately slammed on the brakes, but he realized an instant later that the attacker had been hoping for precisely that. Shit...not good! Get out, Hamazura!! Even if you speed up now, we wont make it in time!! Roberto Katze half-rolled out of the passenger seat and Hamazura followed suit after turning the key. First, the windshield was completely shattered by gunfire and then the scattered gunfire focused on the president and chased after them. Rolling along the sharp ups and downs atop the cliff, Roberto quickly reached cover. In fear of accidentally shooting Lindy, the silver soldier used the stock of his bullpup-style rifle to beat down the large man with her instead of shooting him. He then grabbed the girls arm and threw her into the backseat of the monster truck. He climbed in the drivers seat and turned the key that was still in the ignition. Immediately afterwards, the silver soldiers body bent backwards with a crackling noise. Thats what happens when someone has messed with the ignition and the ground, said Hamazura as he calmly returned to the truck and opened the door. No matter how much you train, you cant win in a fight against a high-amperage, three-hundred-volt current. Repeated primitive sounds of violence could be heard. Once the silver soldier could truly not move, Hamazura took his handgun and assault rifle and tossed him from the drivers seat. Hamazura undid the trick he had applied to the vehicle and turned the key like he owned it. A bit later, the president climbed into the drivers seat, turned around, and got a shocked look on his face. Miss Birdway! You didnt escape!? There was no need, said Birdway simply as she lightly swung about a dagger she had seemingly pulled out of thin air. Having been thrown in next to Birdway, Lindy Blueshake was leaning away and grabbing onto the drivers seat headrest out of fear of the blade. U-um, Mr. President!! Oh!! F-finally...Finally I meet someone who recognizes me as the president at first glance! D-dont get tears in your eyes like that! U-Um...The thing is...!! Huh? But I thought this girl hated the media and didnt read the newspapers or watch TV. How is she so familiar with how you look? cut in Hamazura. For someone reason, Roberto puffed out his chest and said, Back when suspicions about the FCE were being investigated, Olay Blueshake got some help from a pain-in-the-ass group of lawyers and just barely managed to escape all legal responsibility, but that was when the household environment Lindy was in came to light. It was basically a crazy form of a gifted childrens program. It was the kind of thing where the parent shows her love by insisting her kid lives out the ideal she sees in their head and so she puts all the blame on the kid and says the kid betrayed her when it doesnt work out exactly right. Roseline said it would be difficult to interfere and that it would have a major effect on how the news reports things about me, but Im just too much of a dandy, so I had to help her no matter the cost. Aint I great? So this isnt the first time shes met you. Of course, she recognizes you! Let me get to my point! Please!! What is going to happen to Harzak!? Hes getting smaller and smaller back there!! Girl, I understand how you feel, but you and I are their targets. The president grabbed her small shoulder and pushed her back into the seat. I promise I will return you to him, but right now it is safest for him if you are not with him. ... Lindy Blueshake shrank down into the back seat. She was not lost in confusion because she did not know what was going on. She had the face of someone who was seeing the terrible situation they had seen coming. ...Has my mom gotten this close already? Yes, the president admitted. The time to overcome her is approaching fast. Part 7 (November 10 C Kauai C Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #300) With his left arm unusable, Kamijou Touma hid behind the log house along with Kuroyoru Umidori. Even then, the mixed unit of Trident and Gremlin was continuing to land. The silver soldiers disembarking from the hovercraft by the cliff easily moved about in that dangerous area and aimed their bullpup-style assault rifles toward Kamijou and Kuroyoru. Along with a loud noise, the logs making up the building were torn into by the bullets. That #1 is completely fucking useless! He isnt pulling any of them away from us! What the hell are we supposed to do? At this rate, theyll have circled around behind us before long!! spat out Kuroyoru. A collection of ordinary firepower, hm? Kamijou looked down at his unmoving left hand. This isnt just for me. Its a means to fight against supernatural powers in general. People like Birdway and Misaka cant be defeated with bullets, but theyre still human. If bullets are flying their way, they have to use their supernatural powers to counter them. While they are being stopped by that and unable to use their powers for their full potential on something else, Saronia and the Gremlin magicians can circle around and get in a fatal attack. Thanks for the explanation, but that doesnt answer my damn question! Our only weapons are your right hand and my two hands. How are we supposed to get out of this!? They have to be thinking that we will be afraid of the rain of bullets and avoid trying to break through the center. Of course, the magicians will be blocking any other path of escape. And? If we do what they dont expect and do go straight through the center, well cut Trident and Gremlin off from each other. Are you fucking insane? We dont have the firepower to pull that off!! Just to make sure, youre a cyborg and you can make as many nitrogen spears as you have arms, right? How the hell does that help us!? You all took every single one of my extra arms back in Academy City, so I only have these two!! If you dont have enough, we just need to get you more. ...Seriously? Technology is not a talent given only to certain chosen people. This is not Academy City, so we wont be able to make an arm that looks perfectly human. But if we focus only on having it function as something to produce nitrogen spears from, the materials outside Academy City might suffice. Keh. So what, youre thinking the more additional hands we hide around, the higher the odds of getting in a successful surprise attack? Do you have data on a diagram or something? To be honest, engineering isnt exactly my forte. Id have to leave it all to you. ...I can manage, but what are you going to do? The enemy has more than just conventional firepower. Kamijou Touma pulled out his cell phone. We need to come up with a way to deal with Saronia. He called Leivinia Birdway. Birdway! Have you made any progress on analyzing the spell Saronia uses? The Leshy thing! The automatic analysis done by the papyrus was completely fake. Mark and the others are gathering data while aiding the marines fighting Trident across the Hawaiian Islands, but they have not gotten any real results yet. Even if they were fake, cant we use the results from the papyrus? ? We were led to that fake information by Saronia, so that means its exactly what she wanted us to think was the case. ...If I were her, I would have given the enemy fake information that would lead them away from my own weaknesses. Something like saying Imagine Breaker was a projectile weapon. We may not be able to do an in depth analysis of her psychology or anything, but cant we at least try to see what she was trying to hide with the fake information? With the additional arms and using the fake information from the papyrus against Saronia, that boys cleverness had gone beyond the norm. It may have been due to his many similar past experiences. I see. That is a promising proposition. Ill pass the information on to my subordinates. Kamijou hung up and then heard Kuroyoru shouting at him, urged on by the gunfire. Hey, hero! Quit leaving everything to others and help me take apart this generators transformer and this hot-water heater!! ...Youre getting your cyborg parts from there? Kamijou said half in shock but quickly got to work. They simply had not time for him to argue. Part 8 (November 10 C Kauai C Northern Off Limits Area of Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #210) In order to protect Lindy, the monster truck roared off, leaving the large unconscious man behind. Hey, Mr. President. You said we need to take her somewhere safe, but where can we escape Olays FCE!? I dont know, but with this monster trucks mobility, we should head to the central mountainous area of the island! After we lose them, we can think up a way to get off the island!! They had no definite means of escape. The Hawaiian Islands had emergency underground command centers in case there was a crisis on the mainland, but even those thick shelters could not be said to be absolutely safe. A fixed facility that was already registered was of no value. Constantly moving around and keeping their location fluid would lower the danger of attack. Even doing that was like walking a tightrope, but with Trident and Gremlin approaching from behind, Hamazura and the others had no choice but to keep running. Meanwhile, Roberto Katze checked the Imperial Package and let out a surprised noise. Wow... What is it? Warnings are being sent out like crazy over the marine network. Those twoyou said they were Academy City Level 5s, right?are going around neutralizing any force they come across whether its marine or Trident. That would be the #1 and the #3. Its hard to believe that theyre officially known as students, said Birdway happily. Even then, red x-marks were appearing one after another on the map. Dozens of x-marks formed two lines showing the routes they were taking. Napali Coast was rich with untouched nature and areas too dangerous to enter with normal cars covered much of it, but the relatively gentle areas functioned as tourist sites. The two lines of x-marks were scattered about mostly on those areas where people would have been gathered. Those damn monsters. Are they trying to get Hollywood to make a movie about them? Here one comes. Ah! The fantastic girl is passing right over us!! Hah? said Hamazura as he looked up. At the same time, he heard a dull clunk come from the roof of the monster truck. It sounded like someone had landed on it after falling from the sky. The roof was forced open and Mikotos head stuck in upside down. Are you all okay!? I thought you were going around with Accelerator and Misaka Worst, throwing the other two forces into confusion? I did what needed to be done. ...Is that girl Lindy-chan? We were just barely managing to get away, girl. Thats good. ...Is that idiot not with you? Ugh, and I still havent been able to give him the Cupid Arrow tag ring, muttered Mikoto. Are you looking for a boy youre interested in? asked Lindy in English. Bwoh!? Cough cough! That was all it took for you to figure out what I was talking about with such pinpoint accuracy!? Umm... With a boy, you just need to throw your bra at him and then embrace him without your bra on while hes taken aback. After that, hell be like a dog that was just given its food. Do you know what youre saying!? Please tell me you dont understand what that means! Mikoto shouted and added under her breath, And Im sure someone your age doesnt even wear a bra. Thats what the president told me when I met him before, so it has to be true. Shes right, girl. If you want to get yourself a guy, you need to change into a skimpy swimsuit and have a beer in one hand. All you have to do then is press your chest up against him and undo your bikini. Your point will be even more obvious if you do it near a beachside motel. Even if youre the president, Ill still punch you!! If you try to say thats the American way, it would be an insult to the American people!! Girl, you dont need to worry. When I gave money to fund the development of string bikinis, my approval rating went up a bit. The population of the United States is aging and some issues are arising with social security, so some drastic measures are needed to raise the birthrate. This isnt an issue with America!! Theres just something wrong with guys!! Roseline buried her head in her hands for some reason too. I just dont see why everyone is worrying so much over such a simple matter. Suddenly, with the sound of a low thicket being crushed, a mass of steel headed their way. It was a khaki-colored tank with lots of phonebook-like explosive reaction armor attached. As the large mass advanced, its treads seemed to tear into the rock surface, but it was surprisingly fast. It was catching up to the monster truck at over 80 kph. In shock, the president shouted, Thats from a Northern European company that entered the tank industry when their country wanted to be like Germany! I thought they had lost to the competition in the EU and disappeared, but it looks like they fell to this level!! So its from Trident? Yes. I doubt theyll fire the main gun at us, but the light machine guns are enough of a problem!! Birdway! Cant you do something with your magic!? Well, I could, but at this range, Id blow away the monster truck as well. Then Ill just have to do something, said Mikoto. She pulled her head back up followed by a loud noise. Hamazura checked in the rearview mirror and saw her land neatly on the saw-like bare rock. Merely being able to counteract such a great speed was enough to set her apart from normal humans. She stood directly in the path of the tank that was moving at over 80 kph. It was unclear what she had done, but the tank suddenly stopped as if it had run into an invisible wall. ...How much of a monster is she? muttered Hamazura in shock after the girl disappeared from view. But the danger was not over. A new disaster showed itself. It started with a noise. At first it sounded like the roar of fireworks being set off and a high-pitched whistle-like noise continued on above them. The same thing happened ten to thirty times. The president realized what it was first and his face paled. Brace yourself!! Here it comes!! Hamazura did not even have time to ask what was coming. With an explosive noise, tens or even hundreds of thousands of blades rained down from the heavens. They were a type of bearing cluster weapon called Cutters. The killing power of a 180 mm gun was enhanced with blades wrapped within the shell like a spring or coil. Like a box cutter, the blades were purposefully made to cut easily and countless numbers of them spread out in the shock of the explosion and rained down on the enemy. The danger spread seventy meters out from the area of detonation. With ten to thirty of them, the sharp metal fragments spread out over a wide area with almost no gaps. They were being fired by mass produced guns, but their trajectories were not necessarily the same. Small differences such as temperature, humidity, wind direction, and the way the guns combustible gas escaped could change the trajectories. The fact that they were so evenly covering the area showed how skilled those firing them were. The branches of the trees in the mountainous area were chopped off and the roof and hood of the monster truck were covered in orange sparks. The trucks tires were torn to shreds and the giant four-wheel drive vehicle slid to the side. !! Trident again!? No, I signed the bill that led to the adoption of those 180 mm guns. So unless theyve been stolen... So its the marine volunteers!? They did not have time to come up with a countermeasure. Multiple figures silently approached and simultaneously attacked the drivers side and passenger side of the half-destroyed monster truck. Without even opening the doors, Hamazura and Roberto were pulled out through the shattered windows. Another man who was peering into the backseat spotted Birdway and Lindy. Oddly, the man seemed to overlook the fact that Birdway was holding a dagger in her right hand while crossing her arms. Thirty-one. I have located Lindy Blueshake and will now bring her in. Prepare for the negotiations, the man said into his radio. Wait... gasped the president after he had fallen onto his back when dragged from the window. I...do not authorize...the use of that method. As the President...of the United States of America...I order you to... What are you going on about? Youve lost, spat out the marine. Whos going to obey a president that wont do anything to protect his own country? You have a duty to at least protect the ones who voted for you. If you wont even do that, then stop calling yourself the president. The man raised his assault rifle. The job youre supposed to do has been handed over to us. If youre going to interfere with that, then theres no hope for you. ...Fortunately, I never said anything about you when I reported finding Lindy Blueshake. No one will find it odd if you dont come back with us. The marine unhesitatingly aimed at the presidents face and smiled. Are you an idiot? Part 9 (November 10 C Kauai C From UAV Lesser Emperor #113) Somewhere on the island, a gunshot rang out. Part 10 (November 10 C Kauai C Northern Off Limits Area of Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #210) Roberto Katze did not shut his eyes even at the very end. The smell of smoke wafted up and time stopped. In that strange calm, Lindy violently trembled within the half-destroyed monster truck. The nearby gunshot had been quite a shock to her. However, something was missing. The smell of blood was clearly lacking. This was because the president had not been shot. The gunshot had been a warning shot fired by another marine and aimed at the ground next to the feet of the marine aiming at the president. The next thing the man targeting Roberto Katze knew, he was surrounded by other marines with assault rifles. Youre the idiot, spat out one of the marines surrounding the minority. Y-you cant be serious. Im part of the US military, too! Just disarm yourself. Now!! As instructed, the man threw all his weapons to the ground. After binding the mans hands behind his back with a cable, one of the marines saluted the president. Please excuse our rude actions up to this point. We deemed this the quickest method of meeting up with you, sir. Mister, who are you...? I am Corporal Martin Flowers. The marine said while pointing at his chest with his thumb. He then pointed over his shoulder. Starting from the right, they are Sergeant Elute Lux, Private Xiaolong Harvard, and... I take it I can consider you trustworthy? I could think of no greater honor. Thanks for your cooperation, Roberto Katze said frankly. He then switched to his official tone of voice. But prepare yourselves. Right now, siding with me will separate you from the main group. You might even be fired on by fellow American soldiers. To be honest, I wish for a strong America that lives up to its name as the world police, and what Presidential Aide Roseline Krackhart and the marine volunteers are doing may be the shortest path there in a way. Martin Flowers then looked the president square in the eyes. But that is not something we should gain by sacrificing a child who has suffered abuse. In fact, I believe a strong America that lives up to its name as the world police should be protecting people like that. We feel you are the one that personifies that ideal the best and that is why we wish to help you. Roberto smiled and said, In so doing, we are distancing ourselves from the easy path through life. Perhaps, but we will be the ones to get the last laugh. The United States had begun to move. It was supported by those with an iron will that did not allow it to lose its order during a crisis. Part 11 (November 10 C Kauai C Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #300) Following Kuroyorus instructions, Kamijou was behind the log house wrapping duct tape around and giving shape to the dismantled and rearranged parts of the generators transformer and the hot-water heater. As he did so, his cell phone started to ring. Birdway? Some progress has been made in the analysis you wanted. That said, we still dont know everything about Saronias spell. I need any kind of hint I can get. Shell be here any second! Very well, said Birdway in a satisfied voice. The false analysis from the papyrus said she had to use Russian plants, but it seems that that was one of the things meant to lead us astray. That means other plants can be used as the origin for her magic as well. Is she really that powerful...? asked Kamijou doubtfully as he looked around. Plants were everywhere. They were what supported the entire food chain from the bottom. If she could use all of that for her magic that could control people or make someones left arm unusable, he had no chance of winning unless he fled to a desert or the South Pole. Just hear me out, said Birdway, cutting off Kamijous doubts. To be more accurate, the Leshy spell is magic that gives her control over a small forest in Russia. However, an exception can be made by creating an enclave. An enclave? If migratory birds regularly come and go through a certain area, that place can be made into an enclave. And the same result could likely be pulled off by putting a pet on an airplane and taking it to the other place. But more importantly, the animal that goes to and from the area must have a magical connection to the local plants. ...Can you please explain this a little more clearly? What do you mean by a magical connection? The Leshy controls the residents of the forest. The animals are considered a member of that society once they make some kind of exchange with the forest. If she wanted to make some Hawaiian plants into an enclave, she would have to have the animal brought from Russia give something to the local plants. Like eating a plants fruit or dropping a seed caught in its fur? My guess is its simpler than that. Something so simple that there are almost no animals or plants that dont take part in it. Plants do not merely support the food chain. They have another important role that gives the earth one of its most important characteristics. ... Kamijou thought for a second. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide...? Precisely. A report said that Saronia has often been spotted in conifer forests. Those are not used for food. If the animals are gaining something from the plants there, it has to be through the air. So the animals that create the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the Leshys forest become residents of the forest. And when the residents of the forest go elsewhere and create a cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide with the local plants, that becomes the Leshys enclave. Kamijou organized his thoughts. But if she could control all the living things in the enclave, wouldnt we have been under her control long ago!? Didnt I tell you we still dont know all the details? And remember that we still dont know for sure if Saronias magic really allows her to control people. If she had something that convenient, surely she would have been able to put together a strategy that made her much more of a major player in World War III. ...Then what? Doesnt it seem strange that she could reproduce the effects of the Leshy, a fairy that rules over the residents of the forest? Creatures with simple brain structures like insects or reptiles are one thing, but what about humans? Perhaps she cannot actually control such a complex living creature and can only switch out how they see certain things or make them more weak-willed. Are you just guessing? I am using the people we captured on Oahu and the hostage children in the shopping mall as samples. They seemed like Voodoo zombies to me. Saronia and Olays goal was to gain the majority within the US Congress and other government and military areas. After getting a certain number using Olays control of information for an upcoming election, Saronia would only have to manipulate the remaining ones who would not give in so that they were absent on the day of a vote. But then wouldnt everyone in the area of effect become weak-willed as well? If so, areas across Hawaii should have been like zombie theme parks or something. Like I said, we dont know the exact conditions. My guess would be that it takes time to establish the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It might take as long as three or four days. A week would match perfectly with the creation of the world, but I doubt its that long. If it took that long, the magician wouldnt actually go there. Anyway, that would be why we havent seen any effects after being here for less than a day. So if the target leaves that enclave before the three or four days, the spell cant be completed... And an enclave might be as small as a neighborhood park. If she knew the schedule of her target, she could probably create small enclaves at each place he or she would go in order to build up the necessary time. That might be linked to the means of controlling animals and people. But then Kamijou looked down at his unmoving left arm. If those are the conditions, I doubt Saronia would come to the front lines. She cant carry that out without three or four days, so she must have a spell prepared that gives her some kind of immediate power. I agree, but I have no idea what that could be. I see. Kamijou lightly rubbed his left arm. Looks like Ill just have to charge in and figure it out as I go. Finished!! shouted Kuroyoru as she attached the arm wrapped in duct tape to the joint on her right side. It was basically a number of metal pipes forcibly held together in the shape of an arm. It did not even have a full complement of fingers. Dumbfounded, Kamijou stared at the creakily moving arm for a bit, but he finally came back to his senses. You only made one? Counting your normal hands, that only gives you three nitrogen spears! Even then, the combined force of Trident and Gremlin was slowly approaching. Likely, they were being extra careful with their approach and continually firing to seal Kamijou and Kuroyorus movements because those two were from Academy City. Trident and Gremlin were afraid they had a hidden trump card. They were cornering Kamijou and Kuroyoru with bullets so they would reveal what they could do. The soldiers would press farther in once they were sure of their safety. Kamijou himself was planning to charge in and gather information on Saronias spell and only then try to find a way past it. For those that relied on supernatural powers, the amount of information one had could be the difference between life and death. They were likely more worried about Kuroyoru than Kamijou, but Kamijou had no idea how long their caution would last. If the soldiers saw their lack of movements as an eerie silence that would work in their favor, but if the soldiers decided they could not do anything, the soldiers and magicians would pour in like an avalanche. And amid that hopeless situation... I was never intending to rely on Bomber Lance. Why not? An Academy City-made arm can move on its own and I could use it as an independent weapon, but we just wont get that kind of functionality out of materials we found lying around. When I realized that, I changed my plan. Kuroyoru grinned. When you were given that lecture on magic back in Academy City, I was there too. I seem to remember hearing that magic is meant for people with no talent and that, other than a few exceptions, no special disposition is needed. No, you idiot. Im no expert, but magic isnt what youre thinking it is! Unless youre some kind of genius, you arent going to be able to pull of some amazing technique by adlibbing all of a sudden. Not to mention that espers like us experience a side effect if we use magic!! Thats fine, said Kuroyoru. It doesnt matter what kind of magic it is. It doesnt have to have any real destructive power to it and I doubt I can perfectly pull it off from the little I overheard. That would be like watching someone perform heart surgery and then trying to do the same thing on your own. Ill fail, but thats not a problem. If failing leads to success, thats not a problem at all. What are you saying...? Im saying that I will be intentionally causing this side effect or rejection or whatever it is. With a heavy thunk, Kuroyoru Umidori lowered the duct tape-wrapped arm to the ground. Im a cyborg. The extent of what counts as my body is extremely vague. Now, what if I could completely think of the objects I connect to my body as parts of my body? Kamijou heard a sound like a hard object creaking under stress. At first he thought it was coming from Kuroyorus arm, but it was not. Wouldnt that mean I could force that side effect on whatever objectwhatever targetI wanted and destroy it? It came from the ground. More specifically, it came from one of the saw tooth-like cliffs. To make up for the magic-like thing that Kuroyoru Umidori, an esper, had activated, the rejection had appeared in the improvised arm and then spread to the ground beneath it. As a result, the entire cliff collapsed. The log house just barely remained behind the line, but everything beyond the line came crashing down. The silver uniformed mercenaries and magicians on that cliff were swallowed up and swept down into the sea down below. The avalanche was so clear and distinct that it almost looked like some type of thrill ride. However, that attraction had no safety standards. Gah...!? Kuroyoru!! Hearing a short scream, Kamijou looked back up from the bottom of the cliff and saw Kuroyorus small body trembling. The improvised arm wrapped in duct tape had completely shattered and the skin of her other two slender arms had torn from the inside, revealing the artificial contents. Tch...It was too much to completely avoid any feedback. Are you insane!? It doesnt look to me like you can just freely cut off the pain!! ...I see. So this is insane, is it? Unfortunately, I had the #1s offensive thought patterns artificially implanted within me, so I have some inconsistencies at the instinctual level. I sense danger when it comes to little bits of pain, but I have almost no fear of fatal wounds. I simply cant get used to standard group psychology, so it seems there are some areas where I tend to stand out. A medical amateur like Kamijou had no way of knowing if the damage had only affected her mechanical parts. However, he felt it would be too much to ask Kuroyoru to fight any more with how much she was trembling. And Kuroyoru did not give Kamijou time to think. This is no time to be looking away. The enemy leader is here. !? On the lower portion of the top of the cliff, Saronia A. Irivika alone remained. She must have immediately jumped off of the collapsing ground. When she realized all of the PMC soldiers had fallen into the ocean, she gave an order over her radio. ...to West Napali Coast. I repeat, send reinforcements to Napali Coast! ...Dammit, their command cloud has been completely taken out. Saronia clicked her tongue, tossed aside the radio, looked at Kamijou, and smiled. For a moment, all was silent. They faced off, one on one, as if in the eye of a hurricane. If Kamijou could defeat Saronia there, he would effectively be destroying Gremlin and Olay Blueshakes plan. Okay, then!! Ill give you the privilege of playing with me while I wait for my pizza to arrive!! Sorry, but the only thing youre going to be tasting is defeat!! Part 12 (November 10 C Kauai C Waimea Valley C From a camera for recording proceedings) Waimea Valley was a giant valley in the mountainous area of Kauai. The sight of cliff after cliff each dozens of meters high made it a valuable tourist attraction, but it was an inconvenient place to get around in. It was one of the routes that led to Napali Coast where Lindy Blueshake was thought to be, but few roads were made in such a dangerous area and that made advancing difficult when a defensive line had been built up. Presidential Aide Roseline Krackhart was stuck. The narrow paths through the mountains were blocked by multiple armored vehicles Trident had brought in. Luckily, the enemy force had been eliminated with anti-tank missiles and the mercenaries had retreated, but the wreckage of the armored vehicles remained. They could not advance until that wreckage was removed. Roseline clicked her tongue and then noticed the video camera recording her. Are you still recording this? I-if I dont focus on my job, I feel like Ill pass out... That camera is cut off from the internet, right? Yes, I switched it over manually. All those kinds of services have been shut off. Are you sure? Look, the display says off. Hm, fine then. Just as Roseline took her focus away from the camera, a different worker called out to her. Maam! Um... What is it? You have a phone call. Roseline took the proffered cell phone and grimaced upon seeing the string of letters displayed on the screen. She answered it and heard a familiar male voice. Hey, Roseline! I thought it was about time I spoke with you. I am the one that needs to speak with you!! Roseline gritted her teeth, thinking that man must have a talent for angering others. Why have you convinced some of my marines to split off and form their own group!? We were at enough of a disadvantage against Trident. We do not need our chances lowered even further by splitting our own troops!! I thought youd say that. And thats why Ive come to make a deal with you. A deal!? Im not keeping up this resistance because I want the marines to be fighting each other. It was actually a complete coincidence that I managed to get their help, but since I have them, I want to use them to their fullest. This doesnt seem like one of your bluffs. How do you intend to defeat Trident? I dont intend to. He said that so readily that Roselines mind went completely blank. Finally, she came back to her senses. WhaWhat!? You...but...!!!? Yknow, I think you have the makings of a Japanese tsundere, Roseline. Youre usually so perfect in everything, but you have no ability to adlib to deal with sudden things you didnt expect. Enough with the jokes!! And I think that qualifies as sexual harassment! I guess I need to explain myself. Even if I had not split the marines in two, they would have gotten stuck in a long, drawn-out battle against Tridents units attempting to retrieve Lindy. I am the president, so I have to do my best to avoid a situation where this nations citizens lives are needlessly wasted. What do you think? ...So you purposefully split my force just to interfere? They are the USs forces, not yours, corrected Roberto Katze. There are currently two problems on Kauai. The first is the Trident group trying to recover Lindy and the second is you, Roseline. I would like to solve those problems one at a time. This only looks so complicated because I was trying to solve both of them at once. Are you trying to say you could resolve this if you had command of the marine volunteers? Even I think before I take action. Im sorry, Mr. President, but I cannot trust what you are saying. Im going to hang up. You trust me that little!? But the people showed how much trust they have in me during the election! The Washington Stream said you had more pipedreams than any other politician but that your crazy ideas might help jumpstart the stagnated economy. Just listen. There is a way to defeat Trident. Other than Lindy Blueshake? Other than Lindy Blueshake. Hearing that, Roseline sighed. She ground her teeth as she could feel her conscience crumbling inside her after she had worked so hard to solidify it. She lightly kicked the tire of her off-road car and said, So what are you going to do? We will take it into consideration, so just tell me. Thanks, tsundere-chan. First, their source of money is Olay Blueshake. We intend to deal with her master plan by capturing Saronia A. Irivika. Just by defeating her, it will all fall apart. But that still leaves one problem. Do you know what that is, Roseline? ...Even if Olay gives up, Trident will not necessarily stop. They are fighting under the assumption that all of their crimes in America will be cleared from them by Olays political influence. If they withdraw, they will not just be traitors, but unheard-of criminals who started a war with America. More death penalties would be handed out at once than ever before in American history. And they know that the world police will chase after them even if they flee the country. After all, former American soldiers make up a good portion of Trident. That is why Trident will not stop and we need to do something about that. If we can just solve that issue, it will all be over. I doubt those from Gremlin mixed in with the PMC troops will continue fighting on their own. If they could have, they would have done so from the beginning. That is why we need a method of dealing with Trident. And how do we pull it off? At the very least, it has to be a method that does not use Lindy Blueshake as a shield. That only worked as a trump card against Olay, so it will be of no help against the PMC she hired. Again, how do we do it? As you said, the primary driving force behind them is the fact that they will be executed if they retreat. I dont know whether the former American soldiers wanted to get something across to the country or if the reward was just too tempting, but that is the only way we can get them to back off. ...If you have no intention of telling me, Im just going to hang up. We start with Tridents commander. Or in this case, would it be their manager? the president said. Anyway, he must be here on Kauai. Im guessing either hejust like Saroniawanted to use Lindy as a means of preventing Olay from betraying him or he wanted to show that he saved her personally to get in Olays favor. Either way, he would gain a lot. ...Also, their command cloud uses even radar and civilian satellites to allow high speed intelligence support. The main server is likely overseas, but the information network the data is being sent through uses the internet within America. That allows Olay to spy on them using her FCE surveillance network and it allows me to interfere with my Imperial Package. You know where the commander is?! I have a question for you, Roseline. It would be difficult to defeat the Trident troops deployed across Kauai and the other Hawaiian Islands using only the marines we have. But what if we only had to deal with the platoon protecting the commander? Part 13 (November 10 C Kauai C Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #300) Kamijou Touma charged across the rough ground and straight for Saronia A. Irivika. His greatest weapon was his right fist. Preparing circumstances in which it was effective was the starting point of any of his strategies. But... (...What? Im so unsteady...!) Yes, yes. You cant control your own weight, can you? Saronia grinned. Your arms are balancers used to control your weight and your left arm is currently unusable. Someone who has been without an arm for years may be fine, but with it suddenly switched off like that, you cant control yourself properly. !! And your weight is the true force behind your fist. A dull noise exploded out. Saronia had jabbed her leg out toward Kamijous chest. He had just barely managed to block it with his right arm, but it still sent him backwards. After reeling two or three steps back, he finally managed to regain control. She was indeed well trained, but Saronia was still a small girl. It was likely only due to Kamijous lack of control over his own weight that she had been able to send him so far back. Gh... groaned Kamijou While humming, Saronia continued with her kicks. The next one circled around toward Kamijous left side. He could not move his left arm. Her sharp strike stabbed straight into that gap in his defenses. Gaaaaaaahhhhh!? Gremlin is desperate for any countermeasures we can get against Imagine Breaker. Why do you think we tampered with the leylines to send that fortress to see if you were alive, nyaaahn!? Saronia thinly smiled as she estimated the damage she must be doing from what she felt with her foot. Thanks to that, even an indoor type like me has been going to the gym and working up a sweat! Ive gotten some lovely muscles for my legs Tch! Yes, and now you will try to put some distance between us. Kamijou forced his right arm around to hold his left side and tried to fall back, but Saronias slender arm grabbed at his collar. She pulled him forward while swinging her head down as a blunt weapon. With a dull noise, Kamijous body bent backwards. (This isnt how someone who merely controls people would fight!!) Saronia continued to throw kicks, focusing on the left half of his body while words leaked from the bottom of Kamijous throat. (But she isnt using her magic either. Is this another sign of their unease over Imagine Breaker just like Radiosonde Castle!?) More or less. By aiming for the left side of his body, Saronia was making sure he could not grab at her feet. But everything has its use. Even if I cannot directly bind Imagine Breaker, I can lower its strength by sealing off your left arm. Unable to support his own weight, Kamijou rolled across the ground while undergoing a rush of kicks from Saronia. Saronia then moved her right thumb as if flicking something straight up. (...Here it comes!!) Still on the ground, Kamijou held out his right arm, but much to his surprise, nothing happened. Silence hung over the area for a few seconds. Still not sure what that meant, Kamijou rolled to the side to put some distance between them. The sole of Saronias shoe seemed to chase after him. She had no real reason to pull a feint in that situation, so... A misfire!? Looks that way, nyahn. She caught up to Kamijou with a motion like she was trying to kick a soccer ball as hard as she could. With the breath knocked out of him and while suppressing the urge to vomit, Kamijou muttered, ...What are...you doing...? Ahn? That war is finally over and everyone was beginning to walk down a new path... Oh, youre asking why I am interfering? Saronias expression loosened, but a piercing light remained in her eyes. He had touched on something he should not have. Yes, the war ended. You played an important role in ensuring that. The chaos ended and the countries of the world took action to rebuild. Saronia paused for a second. But my country was used as a stepping stone to do so. ... It isnt funny. It truly isnt funny. Children starve needlessly and the elderly shiver in the cold needlessly. The major countries have control of the flow of resources and money. They dole out only what they absolutely have to and call themselves heroes for doing so. It feels like justice is up for sale in a whorehouse. Kamijou had no idea what the truth of the matter was or if Saronia was even telling the truth from her point of view. But whether she was being truthful or not, he should have guessed it. Even then, something was advancing. He could see glimpses of the shadows of the greedy ones. He was no prophet, so it was impossible for him to know the ripple-like effects his actions would bring about. But this time at least, his actions had clearly been involved in how things had turned out. Saronia... I suppose the one piece of luck for you is that you do not have piles of money at your disposal. The green magician smiled. It was the smile of a fairy. It was the smile of the ruler of the forest. It was the strange smile of the one who brought death to those who lost their way and who would distribute her riches in gambles she held at a whim. But even so, I still have enough reason to kill you. ... No matter what he would do from then on and no matter how he would face the ripple-like effects brought about by that war, he had to survive his current situation first. He had to find the truth behind Saronias attacks and the spell she used. What were the rules behind it and what process did the attacks use? What could he negate and what could he not? He needed concrete information. (What do I have to destroy to regain use of my left arm? I need to find out!!) Let us begin again, said Saronia as she loosely clenched her hands and charged forward. Let us begin the gamble of the Leshy, the ruler of the forest!! She moved both her thumbs as if flicking something straight up. Part 14 (November 10 C Kauai C Nohili Port C From a tide level monitoring camera) In a civilian port on the western side of Kauai, Cinesic Evers, commander of the Trident PMC, raised his hands into the air. He was wearing an old-fashioned but popular French military uniform for high officials. Even after leaving the military and joining a company, old men seemed not to lose their desire for power. The reason he was raising his hands was quite simple. American marines were spread out around the dock, their rifles were aimed at him, and his command armored vehicle covered in antennae had been blown up. Amid all that, Roberto Katze pushed passed the marines protecting him and approached with a clear smile on his face. Hey there. If I had to take a guess, Id say you are a former French naval officer who lost his standing after having the failures of British Halloween shoved on you. You couldnt have worked your way up the ranks this quickly using normal means, so did you manage to take control during the confusion of the war? ...Why do you want to know? I was just asking. So what, are you being backed by the EU? Theyre having economic troubles of their own and they were left ruined by that war without being able to profit. Ridiculous. There is nothing that proves the EU is in any way connected with us. As I said, Im only asking. But I get the feeling I know the truth by the fact that you spoke to defend the EU rather than Trident. And when I think about it, I can see political intent in the fact that Tridents primary area of activity was in Eastern Europe that is not a part of the EU. There must have been a connection even before you took over. ...Well, that doesnt really matter, the president said before changing the subject. To be honest, we have a difficult problem here. Are there really any easy problems? True enough, but this one is different. The crime of declaring war on the United States is so unprecedented that Im not even sure there is any legislation dealing with it. That means that if we arrest you, the odds of you getting thrown in prison are a complete unknown. ... And thats a problem. Roberto Katze shrugged. If we cant judge you under existing laws, we might have no choice but to deal with you simply as foreign invaders. And remember, if you cannot be judged by the law, you cannot be protected by the law either. We cover it up with the word war, but in reality it is no different from slaughtering people without a trial. ...Its too late. Once Olay Blueshake and Saronia A. Irivika take control of the government at its core, everything will be turned around. Sorry, but that isnt going to happen. Roberto shrugged. Mister, Im sure youve realized that Saronia is not a normal soldier and that she does not use normal firepower. She uses those techniques that a certain sadistic British princess (who would make a good tsundere) showed us during British Halloween and that we saw all too much of during World War III. I may not look it, but I am a high school dropout, so I leave difficult things like magic to the specialists. The specialists...? You dont mean...!! Mister, they may be the greatest target of your hatred, but it is still best to leave it to the specialists. I have taken the proper measures and so Saronia will soon be defeated. Once that happens, both you and Olay have no means of victory. ...You dont seem to understand, so let me be very clear. Roberto spoke slowly as he stared straight into Cinesics eyes to emphasize his absolute advantage. This is not a negotiation to see who wins and who yields. Your and Tridents defeat is a sure thing. What is on the table is how much your crimes can be reduced. So get serious about this. As things stand now, you and the rest of Trident will pay your debt by being slaughtered as a wartime enemy. Currently, Kilaueas eruption has sealed off our various advantages, but if this issue is prolonged and our forces clash once more, do you really think Tridents fifty thousand troops can defeat five million troops from the four branches of our military as well as troops from our various allies? It would pain me to simply slaughter you all without a trial...but there just isnt any legislation for this kind of situation. You need to seriously think about how you can survive this. So youre telling us to break our contract with Olay and quickly withdraw all our troops? If that is your choice, then you should do so. I will let you assess the situation here and make your decision, but just remember that time is of the essence. ... Roberto Katze took a military radio from a nearby marine and pressed it against Cinesics chest. Holding the radio, Cinesic thought for a bit and then sighed. He set the frequency and brought the radio up to his mouth. With a tone like he had given up on something he said, To all troops deployed among the Hawaiian Islands. All other areas do not matter. It does not matter how much ground the Americans recover. All forces are to assist Saronia A. Irivika in Napali Coast of Kauai. Roseline Krackharts face paled when she heard his words. Roberto Katzes face stiffened and he asked, Are you serious, you bastard? I am quite serious. That decision does not merely affect your own future. It affects the futures of all fifty thousand of your subordinates including the ones who are not in America. If you want to shoot me, do it, Cinesic muttered as he tossed aside the radio. As long as Saronia is safe, we can turn this situation around. My target is right here and Lindy Blueshake, the tool I can use to deal with our client, has shown herself. Saronia with her occult powers and your anti-occult personnel will face off. The victor there will show us who truly needs to withdraw. Part 15 (November 10 C Kauai C Napali Coast C From UAV Lesser Emperor #300) Saronia A. Irivikas magic took its name from the Leshy, a Russian fairy that was said to rule the forest. The identity of the attack was unknown, but something had paralyzed half of Kamijous body centered on his left arm. Saronia loosely clenched her fists and moved her thumbs up as if flicking something straight up and Kamijou rolled to the side to gain some distance. But... Nothing...again? Another misfire!? Chehh. They just won''t hit!! Seeming not to care that nothing had occurred, Saronia tried to continue attacking Kamijou with her kicks. However, she was just a little too slow. Kamijou managed to effectively gain some distance and stand up. He used his right arm to stop the foot that flew toward him like a hammer and gave voice to his speculation. Is it something like a mine or a trap? Is it an attack that waits for me to step into it rather than firing a bullet!? I guess it was only a matter of time before you figured it out. But a mine can be used as a grenade if you get close enough to throw it. Kamijou could see that Saronia was holding some things in her hand. Each one was only about a millimeter across. The identity of the sand-like objects she held was... Plant seeds!? Kamijou immediately twisted his body to the side and managed to avoid the rain of seeds that were thrown at him like a scattershot. However... Too bad, said Saronia with a sneer. Pollen is good enough to bring about the effects. Kamijous body fell straight down. Unable to support his own weight, he collapsed to the ground. It was a simple matter of prestidigitation. Saronia had openly held the seeds to draw his attention while using her other hand to undo the cord holding a small bag shut. Gh...gh... Looks like I got your entire left side this time. I gotta say, you did put up a fight. Normally, you would have undergone multiple organ failure by just breathing it in. The first attack when Kamijou and Kuroyoru had hidden behind the log house must have been due to pollen on the wind. Its a bit like a chemical weapon, so it can be pretty nasty, but it can get a little difficult to use once the trick is revealed. Then the enemy just has to maintain a position upwind of you or even produce wind themselves. Thats why there are really only two ways to use it. You can either get a first attack in before the enemy has had time to analyze it or find the perfect time like I just did. ...Its pretty rare for someone to get hit by both types like this. Plant seeds. Or pollen. The Leshy fairy that Saronias magic was based on was supposedly the ruler of the forest. The Leshy controlled all living things in that zone and gave or took away things in gambles. That was what Birdway had told Kamijou. Which meant... So this is a penalty against someone who injures the property...of the zone...? I have no intention of giving you the answers, said Saronia as she brought the seeds into her palm once more. However, she may as well have given him the answer. It was most likely a punishment for those who obstructed the development of the plants. That was the base of Saronias spell. That obstruction could be stepping on a seed or getting in the way of the pollen as it flowed through the air. But... (I still dont know where the attack comes from once I step on the seed. What rules are behind it? Where does the damage come from?) A few images flew by in the back of Kamijous mind. He spoke while unable to get up. The ruler of the forest, hm? Yes, but Im not a forest girl. If you could have the animals attack me, you would have already done so. ...Well, Im not all powerful. Saronia seemed to try to respond without faltering, but Kamijou noticed a slight hesitation. Kamijous suspicions were confirmed. For someone who claimed to be the ruler of the forest, only having a connection to the plants was too weak. She could likely interfere with the insects and other animals in the area. As Birdway had mentioned, even if she could not directly control humans, animals with simpler brain structures like insects and reptiles were a different story. So had Kamijou been attacked by some kind of poisonous insect? No, he would have felt some pain if that were the case. His only hint was... (In her first attack with the pollen, I was hit but Kuroyoru was not.) Was it because she was a cyborg? Did it have no effect on a mechanical arm? No. It had only been Kamijou who had taken the pollen to his left arm. Kuroyoru had been standing next to him, so she would likely been hit by the windblown pollen elsewhere. And yet no effects had shown themselves. Other than her arms and part of her upper body, Kuroyoru was no different from a normal human. The fact that she was a cyborg should not have mattered. Something other than that had to have made Kuroyoru Umidori a special case. She had a portion of the #1s thought patterns artificially implanted within her. She had inconsistencies at the instinctual level. She could not get used to standard group psychology. As Kamijou lay on the ground, he looked back over at his unmoving left arm. He had thought there had been a problem with the hardware that was his arm, but he had been wrong. The hardware was being sent commands by the software that was his mind. That software was where the interference was occurring. However, Kamijous mind had not directly fallen under Saronias control. If that had happened, he would have taken much more damage. It was the punishment for treading on the development of a plant. That punishment was being accomplished solely by controlling a group of insects or small animals. Kamijou thought for a bit. !! He suddenly grabbed his cell phone with his still moving right arm and quickly pressed a few buttons. I thought I told you I have no intention of giving you the answers! Saronia let fly a kick. The kick struck his right wrist and another one stabbed into his side after he had let go of the phone. Gh...gah...!! Calling Birdway of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight again? Quit thinking you can just ask her anything and get an answer! Search engines really have emptied the minds of this generation. Kamijou glanced over toward his phone which had flown a fair bit away and then looked back toward Saronia. This is an exclusion from the forest you have created in this zone. By gathering the small, simple creatures like insects and reptiles, you can control the minds of a majority of the creatures in this area. That way, you always win in issues of majority rule. The forest residents are forcibly linked by something like group psychology and this allows you to focus their malice and hostility on one point. That results in what is happening here. You can externally interfere with and distort the mind that is normally inside a person. The penalty was the exclusion of an irregular element to maintain the stability of the society. It was the suppression of a minority by the majority. Saronia was the one reproducing it as an attack, but she looked surprised. I can see why you need to rely on that phone of yours. Group psychology only exists among humans. You were heading in the right direction with the idea of being rejected by the forest residents, though. Saronia sneered. With my spell, I first evenly maintain the minds of all living things within the specified zone. There is no distinction between human and beetle, but there is a division between those within the zone or outside of it. Only then can something like group psychology be used. The identity of her spell was made clear. Kamijou had the information he needed to find a way past it. But... So have you figured out its weakness? Still sneering, Saronia approached him. Even if you have, can you pull it off with the left half of your body completely paralyzed? As I said before, control of your weight is directly linked to the force behind your fist. Now that you cant brace your legs, you would need muscles on the level of a grizzly to knock someone unconscious. ...Not necessarily. ? Saronia did not even have time to raise her voice in confusion. Kamijou Toumas body suddenly stood up from its collapsed state on the ground. It was an impossible action for a human. As if his heel was acting as a hinge, he stood up like a basement door on the floor opening. Wha!? Saronia was utterly shocked, but then she realized what had happened. Two slender feminine arms were wrapped around Kamijous waist. The palms had produced something like lances made of air which had launched Kamijous body up and forward. As Saronia watched, the two arms smoothly wrapped around Kamijous left leg and reinforced it like a cast. No, it was more like a powered suit that mechanically augmented his strength. Mechanical...arms? So you were using the phone to!? I never said I was calling Birdway. In fact, I never said I was making a call!! It may have been improvised, but he now had control of his left leg. Saronia had carelessly drawn close enough for him to plow his right fist straight into her at full strength. That was the strike that shethat Gremlinwas so worried about. Imagine Breaker slammed into her and a dull noise burst out. Saronia A. Irivikas small body bent backwards. But that was it. She held her ground. Her lip split and a trail of blood dripped down, but she did not go down. I already told you! she spat out while grabbing a large number of seeds in her right hand. Even if you can use your leg, your left arm is paralyzed, so you cant control your goddamn weight!! She threw the seeds at Kamijou as if scattering salt. Taking the shower of seeds straight on, Kamijou collapsed to the ground once more. His entire body convulsed. He had no idea what expression was on his face and he could feel his blood vessels pulsating unnaturally. He could not move anything except for the part of his right arm that was past the elbow. ...Chehh. So your organs are still functioning. I guess it really is best to get the pollen directly in the targets mouth. ...Gh...Khah... Kamijou could not even breathe without focusing on it. He moved his right arm and slowly crawled, scraping himself across the hard ground. You are the one who ended the war. There was one thing I wanted to ask you if I ever met you. Kamijou now knew the details of Saronia A. Irivikas Leshy spell. But he still had a question. She could only use her magic after creating numerous enclaves linked back to her small forest in Russia. Birdway had suspected the preparation time for one of those enclaves was a few days long. However, Saronia had only learned that Lindy Blueshake was there a half hour or so before. Saronia would not have had time to prepare an enclave. Why did you end the war the way you did? The areas like Russia that were brought to ruin by the war are undergoing reconstruction, but do you know what is actually going on there? Academy City and America are... They are messing with other peoples countries as they see fit just for fun. Saronia smiled, but it was completely devoid of joy. In exchange for all the money they are throwing around, they are interfering with the structure of the government, seizing control of infrastructure like electricity and water, and deciding who will be saved and who will not. And yet they are part of the group that pulled the trigger that started that war. They are dividing people up like oranges being packed into boxes and then throwing away the boxes they dont like the taste of. ... Even my small forest was cleared away and covered in asphalt. If I had not joined Gremlin, I would have been unable to transfer over the power that makes me a magician. Had she started by making all of Hawaii or at least Kauai into an enclave? That was not it. If she had done that, she would have put Lindy into a trance before trying to forcibly abduct her. Even if she was up against amateurs, it would have been better to eliminate all possibility of escape or resistance. I know that world has ended and cannot be brought back, but we can live on even after it has ended. I want to make the preparations for that. And this life will not be something forced on us by Academy City or America. That meant there had to be a reason. There had to be some kind of trick that allowed her to create an enclave there without waiting for days. It seems Gremlin as a whole and Olay are trying to destroy the balance between science and magic by recreating the United States into a theocracy, but that is nothing more than a trivial task to me. I dont care what it is as long as it rids Russian and Europe of those who use the name of justice to profit. We... Kamijou forced out his words even as it felt like his breathing would stop. We did not...end that war...for that to happen. We... But that was the result. Then...it is my duty...to fight those who...are making you suffer in the...name of justice. There is no...need for you to...do these things... that will make the world...blame you. How na?ve. You were only able to end that war because of all the preparations made by others. What can a mere pawn do when faced with the people who made those preparations? Saronia needed two things for her Leshy spell. Plants and animals. When Saronia possessed plants and animals that created a cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide, she transformed that area into a forest. In that twisted zone, she ruled over the twisted community and had assaulted Kamijou with a twisted penalty based on twisted rules. And you are weak. Gremlin has joined together to fight the worlds victors. How is a loser who cannot even defeat a single one of us supposed to accomplish something as grand as you are proposing? In that case, couldnt she use a type of supplement? Instead of using the cycle of oxygen and carbon dioxide to make an enclave out of the local plants over the course of a few days, she could bring in one of the original plants and plant it directly into the soil. That would get rid of the few days of lag. If she also opened cages holding insects and small animals already under the control of that plant, Saronia would indeed have control of the majority of the forest residents. And as an extra hint, Kamijou Touma had seen someone bring a plant into that area. And so I think it is about time I sent the finishing blow to your heart. Saronia...!! If youre going to make some idealized argument, I wish you would give some strength along with it. After all, thats what led to us getting trampled on during that war. Harzak Lolas. That large man who was Lindy Blueshakes guardian. Just before the attack, he had been planting a seedling. Kamijou doubted Harzak was working for Saronia, but all the flower shops or vending machines he might have stopped by to buy the seedling could have been attacked and had the seedlings switched out. That way he would have unwittingly carried out his role. It was also true that Trident had waited until after he had finished planting the seedling to attack. In that case, it had to be the origin of Saronias magic. The seedling had been planted in the small garden to the side of the log house!! ...Ah? said Saronia A. Irivika questioningly. She was surprised because Kamijou was still breathing even after she had scattered countless seeds atop him. And then she realized something. At some point as Kamijou used only his right hand to drag himself along the ground, he had made it to the garden. And he had used that single usable part of his body to pull out the seedling that had been planted in the soft soil. That seedling was the origin of the spell that took its name from a fairy that ruled the forest. Normally, countless such origins would exist within the zone, but that one plant was the core due to that zones rushed construction. And he had pulled it out using that right hand that had an absolute effect on magic. Im...possible... ... Kamijou Touma slowly stood up. His body was no longer bound by anything. All his limbs moved as he wished them to. He once more had everything necessary to put all his weight behind his fist. Kamijou spun his right shoulder around to check on his arm and Saronia merely stood watching without attacking due to having lost her absolute trump card. She had developed her special foot techniques based on the assumption that Kamijou would be unable to control his weight due to an unusable left arm. One had regained his trump card. The other had lost hers. ...Sorry, Saronia. Ohh... Ive caught up to where you stand and I can now see what you see. But if what you say is true, then you are not the one that should be risking your life in this fight. Oooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? After that, primitive sounds of violence continued for a time. Part 16 (November 10 C Kauai C Nohili Port C From a tide level monitoring camera) Having received the report, President Roberto Katze pointed to the military radio that Cinesic Evers, the commander of Trident, had tossed aside. Pick it up, you bastard, said the president. So Saronia A. Irivika was defeated. Your dream has been shattered. Its time to look at the cold, hard truth, mister. Cinesic could have all his troops fight to take Saronia back, but it would be all over if they held her hostage. If it seemed likely Trident would actually succeed in taking her back, they would just kill her. At that point, Saronia and Olays plan to conquer the United States would fail. Now that Tridents crimes could no longer be cleared away, continuing the fight would be nothing more than tying a noose around his own neck. The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands due to Kilaueas eruption would not last forever. ...What are your terms? How about we start with three hundred years in clandestine detention facilities in the Arctic and Alaska, with no chance of trial. If you quickly withdraw all your troops, end this chaos, and reveal all information you have on the organization you dealt with named Gremlin, I might consider reducing your penalty. ...So basically, get your troops the hell out of here and tell us everything. Volume 3, Epilogue: Reliable Birdway. Queen_Period. Volume 3, Epilogue: Reliable Birdway. Queen_Period. Part 1 (November 10 C Oahu C Honolulu International Hotel C From the lounge security camera) A few hours had passed since the Hawaiian Islands had been rescued from the menace of the PMC known as Trident and the magic cabal known as Gremlin. Kamijou and the others had gathered at the hotel the president constantly used for his press conferences and scandals. Lindy Blueshake was there with them. Being mindful of the young girl, Roberto Katze turned toward Kamijou and the others to speak. Trident has been confirmed to have disarmed itself and surrendered. For now, the problems in Hawaii have been solved. ...You look rather displeased for someone with such good news. Only Trident remained, said the president with a heavy sigh. Those people who had the power of the occult were among them before wearing the same silver uniforms. And there were a lot of them. If they gathered together, there would be a few hundred of them, but we cant find any sign of them among the Trident forces weve captured. Some of the magicians mixed in with Trident had been defeated at the beginning of the invasion, but those had disappeared at some point too. They must have used the chaos in Hawaii to escape. Given their numbers and role, those Gremlin magicians almost simply seemed like the others who had been helping Trident. They had likely been less closely guarded than Cendrillon or Saronia, but disappearing completely like that was still quite a feat. That disappearance almost seemed to outdo the impact of the supposed major players like Cendrillon or Saronia. Those were the enemy Kamijou and the others were faced with. Those magicians were not just others. Each individual one was very different and they had displayed in Hawaii that they could gather together as an organization. Gremlin... We only have Saronia A. Irivika and that Cendrillon girl to rely on due to the extra guards we put on them. However, others from the group may try to crush anything or anyone that could give us a hint. When had Gremlin withdrawn and where had they gone? The magic side had its own rules and formalities, but they acted so efficiently it almost made Kamijou forget that. With a bitter expression, Kamijou said, And we still havent found the other person behind this. Olay Blueshake, said Roberto Katze with an annoyed sigh. Hamazura frowned and said, But didnt you say no one knows where she is? A search not just through America but across the world isnt going to end in just a day or two, right? That lady has a lot of enemies. To be honest, I doubt shell show her face for over a decade. However, we can use that disappearance to our advantage. ? The presidents words left Kamijou and the others puzzled. Roberto ignored them and pointed toward Lindy with his thumb. Finding Olay would be difficult, but with this girls cooperation, we can strip Olay of all the power that makes her special. (Unknown Time C Unknown Location C Unknown Camera ID C From footage with altered video and audio) Trident has failed. Hearing those words from her aide, Olay Blueshake sighed. What about Gremlin? The hotline has been disconnected. They have likely cut off the cooperative relationship from their end. ...So theyve given up on me, muttered Olay. The fools. A failed plan or two does not rid me of my economic power. Just leave them be. Later, theyll come back, crying to be back on my side. Do you have an alternative plan for conquering the United States? With Saronias control gone, my control of Congress has crumbled a bit, but I still have plenty of pawns I can manipulate using my control of information for elections. Even If I cant control a majority, I can still cause confusion. First I create a political vacuum to buy some time. During that time I contact Gremlin or some other organization and make preparations to rebuild. Suddenly, something on the TV she constantly left on caught Olay Blueshakes eye. Even overseas, Olay usually had some influence as to what was shown on the news, so she normally paid little attention to the TV. She only kept it on to check on the information she herself had created. But this was different. The female newscaster was saying something Olay did not expect. Breaking news. ? The American Bar Association has just held a press release. In accordance with the inheritance wishes of Olay Blueshake, who is known as Americas media queen, the management of her group has transferred all of her assets and economic foundation to her only daughter, Lindy Blueshake. For an instant, Olays mind went completely blank. What...? I never said that!! But immediately afterwards, she opened her notebook computer to check on her internet bank account. However, she was unable to do so. When she inputted her ID and password, a simple message was displayed: Either the entered ID or password is incorrect or you do not have authorization to view this page. Its my account!! Olay shouted as the newscasters voice continued on. Lindy Blueshake is only eight years old, so her legal guardian, Harzak Lolas, will be temporarily put in charge. However, it has come out that Olay may have been deeply involved in the incident in Hawaii. If these allegations turn out to be true, it is likely most of her assets will disappear to compensate for the damage done. It was all disappearing. Her assets, her economic foundation, her network, her power. That power had allowed her to hire a PMC, make contact with a magic cabal, and control Americas information networks. And if she lost that power, all of those on her side would disappear too. Her opportunity was disappearing. Shit!! Call the lawyers from Holdings! I wont let my power be stolen by a joke like this!! I cant... Do it anyway! The longer we wait...!! This is not a normal method!! This isnt just slightly flawed; its full of holes!! And yet its going through as legal! The president and those around him have likely made some kind of move. This is not something that can be resolved in a normal trial!! Liquidation of the subsidiaries, public companies, real estate, and the like has already begun, but this seems to be a means of minimizing the damage to the shareholders. The groups market value is headed down and trust after transferring to new ownership is... continued the news. I cant deal with this here... Olay said. Her throne. Her empire. While all that she had built up was crumbling around her, Olay gritted her teeth and reached for the coat on the wall. Wh-where are you going!? I am going out. A representative is putting words in my mouth. If I show myself to the government...!! Once your location is known, you will be assassinated!! !! You have made too many enemies and there is no guarantee that you will regain the assets you need to protect yourself. And even if you are not assassinated, that news report made it clear that you are already being pursued as a major suspect. If you make a public appearance, you will be arrested!! It may be risky, but as long as I can regain my money...my power...!! Some of it will return to Miss Lindy, but if the company is reorganized and all the funds are sent there, any money that would go from Miss Lindy to you could disappear! And since they are trying to strip you of your power, they will surely ensure that is what happens!! Then...then...what am I supposed to do...? Her aide did not immediately reply. Now that their connection via money was gone, he had no reason to remain on her side. In fact, that room itself would soon no longer be hers. He had no way of knowing what would happen to Olay Blueshake after that. The only things that remained after her money disappeared were her enemies. In fact, once they knew Olays money was gone, the anger of those she had held down would erupt. It was likely anger would even be sparked in those who she could no longer pay and those she had allied in the black market. And with the history of abuse between Olay and Lindy, Lindy and the excessive gift she had just received would be against her too. I-I have a thought, said her aide. As ordered, her aide gave her the best option available to her. It was the fate of one who had lost it all. W-wouldnt it be best if you purposefully showed yourself and had yourself imprisoned for your own safety? Y-you mean I remain broke...? Yes. A-and go to prison...? Yes! Before long, it will become known that we are here, so now is your only chance to act!! Part 2 (Information) Manual % Knowledge12 has disconnected the circuit. Manual % Unknown has connected. FCE restarting. Username Unknown has reconstructed the FCE surveillance network. Part 3 (November 10 C Oahu C Honolulu International Hotel C From the lounge security camera) Kamijou and the others were watching breaking news on the large television in the lounge. However, this news was not about Lindy Blueshake. Another piece of news had run right after that one. Twenty-seven of Academy Citys cooperative institutions have made a joint declaration. A cool, steady voice began speaking. We are deeply concerned over the likelihood that Academy City personnel intervened in the recent issues in the Hawaiian Islands. We do not wish to hold power that can easily influence the flow of events of an entire nation, especially one large enough to be known as the world police. We began cooperating with Academy City in order to increase the benefits for both parties, but our roots remain in our respective countries. Dispatching personnel to alter the history of other countries like this is not what we would call cooperation. We may work for Academy City, but we are not its slaves. The voice paused for a second. As the twenty-seven largest cooperative institutions, we are now ending all cooperation with Academy City. This is a necessary step to protect our own countries. Kamijou Toumas face paled. He had just been shown what his actions to save someone looked like from a different angle. Or perhaps that had been the objective of the events in Hawaii all along. Was Olay Blueshake not the only one looking through her FCE? Did the cooperative institutions force their way into the network too? And then he remembered something. He remembered who it had been that had told him that Gremlin was in Hawaii and had invited them to take action to stop their plan. And this person was a magician. She was a magician who was not on the side of justice and protecting the peace like the Anglican Church. Birdway... He looked around, but she was nowhere to be seen. Birdway!! Kamijou looked out of the lounge and into the hotel lobby, but Birdway and her subordinates in black were gone. He pulled out his cell phone. He knew there was no guarantee she would answer, but she surprisingly did. So even now you cant come to your own conclusions without my help? Did you have us come here knowing this would happen? Twenty-seven is quite a lot. Decision making takes time and each of the companies is too highly specialized to function independently. Most likely, they will gather into three or four large groups before long. Answer my question, Birdway! Are you...are you... Twenty-seven major cooperative institutions breaking off from Academy City. A civil war within the science side. That would put Gremlin in a good position to gain a lot of power. Are you part of Gremlin!? Kamijou was afraid to hear the answer to that question. But Birdways response was simple. ...Ill leave that up to your imagination. That was it. She hung up. As Kamijou squeezed his phone tightly in his hand, he heard the announcer on the news. The technology of the cooperative institutions that made this declaration is not up to the level of Academy City, but they were loaned a great number of leading edge unmanned weapons during World War III which are still in use after the war for the sake of keeping the peace. If these weapons are not returned, it is possible a large scale military conflict will break out with Academy City made weapons on both sides. Part 4 (November 10 C Oahu C Honolulu International Hotel C From the cell phone camera of a guest in the lobby) Are you part of Gremlin!? Mikoto heard those words when she chased after Kamijou upon noticing his odd behavior. She could not hear the details of what he was saying. And shortly thereafter the conversation was over. For a short while, Kamijou Touma merely stared at the small screen of his phone. He stared blankly. His spiritless expression was not like that boys usual self at all. Mikoto half-instinctually realized that something was very, very wrong. She recognized that expression. Misaka Mikoto had once been wrapped up in a large incident involving clones. Her mind and body had been driven to their limits and she had decided to try to crush the one behind the incident, knowing full well she would be destroyed. The expression on that boys face was the same one she had had back then. What did that boy know? Where was he headed? Mikoto did not know the details, but she could make a guess. Someone with that expression was not headed for the goal. Even if he had hundreds of paths spread out before him, each and every one only led to failure and the depths of hell. He was at a crossroads. She knew that the slightest mistake could greatly change the path that boy headed down. But... (...I am here.) Mikoto repressed her heart that threatened to be overwhelmed and headed forward. She took a single step. She was clearly headed for that boy. (I wont just watch. I wont just learn what happened after the fact. I am here. I am in a place where I can change the reality I see before my eyes!!) How had it been for that boy? That boy had stood before her during that clone incident when she was determined to head off to her own destruction. What kind of conviction had he held that stood up to that pressure that seemed to distort even the atmosphere? She did not care if she was not thinking the same thing he had at that time. As long as she could bring that boy back, she did not care. (I grabbed that idiots hand and came this far.) She would reach him. She could reach him. (I did that because I wanted this chance to drag him back to where he belongs!!) But then the boy suddenly moved his thumb, turning off his cell phone. ...I was wrong, he whispered. His voice was cracking. The amplitude of his voice was low, so it was hard to hear. However, that short sentence was enough to make Mikoto feel like her feet had been sewn to the floor. Those words of a defeated man were enough to stab through the gears of her mind like some kind of curse. I was wrong!! She set it all up from the beginning! Why didnt I see it? I had so many chances to notice. All the information on Gremlin our actions were based on came from the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, so why didnt I think of the possibility of them having some ulterior motive!? The Dawn-Colored Sunlight...? Birdway. Leivinia Birdway. She and her subordinates used the incident here in Hawaii. She created a confrontation between Academy City and its cooperative institutions to damage the science side!! ...Theres no guarantee that the newly independent cooperative institutions will follow the rules of the science side. If Gremlin wants to obtain technology and the power of the science side, they now have the perfect opportunity!! The balance between science and magic had crumbled. Gremlin had torn it apart. ...Misaka. I will not be returning to Academy City. That boy clearly declared his intention to set foot in that strange world. I will make up for this failure. I will not return until I do so. Until I resolve everything related to this terrible result, I have no right to return to my normal life! This wasnt... Her paralyzed thoughts started shaking. That small tremor held power. This wasnt a failure. Clearly this time, she spoke. No matter how overwhelmed she felt, there was something she had to deny. No matter who we were used by, we still...you still protected the people of Hawaii from Gremlin!! I wont let you deny that fact. I wont let you say that saving those people was a failure!! Those people being saved was part of Birdways plan. Now if the conflict between Academy City and the cooperative institutions intensifies, those people saved will surely feel that others are being hurt because they were saved. I cannot allow those people to bear that burden. As the one saved by the Dawn-Colored Sunlight in the Arctic and used by them, I alone should bear that burden!! There was a difference between having made a decision of ones own free will to get involved and merely getting wrapped up in something. This time, Kamijou Touma had been one of the people who had made a decision at the beginning. And he had clearly failed. That was why he planned to carry that weight alone. He would ensure those who had been given no option would not be seen as villains. He would ensure that those saved in Hawaii would not be called the cause of it all. That idea in itself may not have been wrong. It may not have been something that could be defeated with an impromptu rebuttal. And so... ...Then I will bear that burden too. Mi...saka? You say your decision here in Hawaii was wrong, but I made that decision too! If I had chosen differently, this may have turned out differently. And I had opportunities to speak with that Birdway girl, so I too might have been able to see her true intentions beforehand!! I overlooked that, so I wont let you bear this alone. Just because you were wrong about something does not mean you need to bear it all alone!! Having said that, Mikoto felt a little refreshed. It may have been partly due to the boys dumbfounded expression. Mikoto added one last thing as a finishing blow. You and I are heading down the same path. Dont forget that. Part 5 (November 10 C Oahu C Honolulu International Airport C From the camera in a handheld game system forgotten on the lobby sofa) Incidentally, Misaka Mikoto had forgotten one thing. She finally remembered it when she felt something in her palm. However, she closed her hand to hide what was there. They were two rings. They were the Cupid Arrow tag rings. They were made of titanium so the pair of rings could be colored using electrolysis which would create a unique pattern for the pair. Unscientific rumors said that technique worked as a charm to prevent cheating. At a fundamental level, Mikoto did not believe in unscientific phenomena. Due to strange things happening before her eyes during World War III and during the events in Hawaii, she understood that apparently some unexplainable things existed in the world. However, even when she saw them, she would not readily identify them as the occult. And that was why, as she put the rings back in her pocket, there were some questions the answers to which she did not even consider. What did it mean that she had not given him the ring? Had something happened that had led to her being unable to do so? Part 6 (November 10 C Oahu C Honolulu International Hotel C From the camera in a tablet on the table used for placing orders in the lounge) Kamijou Touma ended up being dragged around the airport by Mikoto. Kamijou was honestly thankful for what Mikoto had said. However, he had the following thoughts. I cannot allow someone who would go that far for me to get wrapped up in all this. I really do need to settle this on my own. A few dozen centimeters. A small action not taken. That was all it took for the future to change. Part 7 (November 10 C Oahu C Diamond Beach C Cell Phone Store C From the camera in a cell phone on the stores counter) America had simplified the cell phone business much further than Japan, so the stores were overflowing with prepaid models. A few sample phones were lined up in an open air stand type of store. A girl was using her index finger to fiddle with a sample smartphone. Oftentimes sample phones were dummies, but being able to test out how using it felt was one of the major selling points for that smartphone. Perhaps some things were difficult to imagine just by hearing an explanation. The girl had silver braids and brown skin. She wore overalls directly over her bare skin and wore glasses. This thing is fun, but Im not sure fun is enough to warrant buying a second phone... It isnt just a phone. You can think of it as a small internet terminal. Carrying a computer around all the time is a pain, right? Those have gotten pretty small themselves, though. Its the same thing as air conditioning, cell phones, and convenience stores. You didnt miss them when you had never used them, but once you start using them, you cant get by without. A smartphone is another one of those convenient goods. ...You make it sound like Id be better off never using one. That sounds like something out of a drug PSA. The brown girl and the clerk went through the standard dialogue. The girl then made the screen slide to the side and had her interest grabbed by the preset applications. Hehh. You can bring up a map. You can do anything. If you get lost with one of these, there has to be something wrong with your brain. Its amazing that such a small device can connect with the satellites up in space, said the girl as she repeatedly swiped her index finger across the map. And then something odd happened. The map screen suddenly blurred and when the clerk tried to fix it, screen after screen he did not recognize appeared. It was not a mere malfunction. Some kind of different code had been overwritten into the device. Okay, if its this high level a device, maybe I can link it with my spiritual item. And it uses gold in the chips. What are you? Brace yourself, said the girl slowly just as a brilliant white light fell down from the heavens. It struck a few kilometers away, but a shockwave assaulted them like from a lightning strike. The roof of the open air stand type of store was blown off and slammed into creaking palm trees. The clerk was knocked over, but instead of fear, his expression was that of someone faced with difficulty. Ill take it. Hah? ...Hah? I said Ill take it. Oh, and I dont need a contract. Ive changed the settings so I can use it without one. At that point, a high-pitched noise like crystal being struck rang out. The brown girl looked over to see an unnatural object approaching. It looked like a drum made of black stone. It was unlikely anyone else there realized it was the result of utterly remodeling a human being. The brown girl spoke lightly as if speaking to a childhood friend. Hey, you really are spoiled, arent you? If you keep following me around like this, a certain exhausted Dvergr might just have to sit down for a rest on you. Without waiting for approval, the brown girl sat right down on top of the drum. She immediately brought her finger to the smartphones screen and started operating it with a gleeful expression. That aspect followed the stereotypical response of someone using that type of device almost exactly. However, what she said after she made a call was clearly not normal. Hey. Saronia A. Irivika failed. As expected. Right now, theyre probably breathing a sigh of relief over having saved the United States. None of them would ever imagine that we achieved our goal back when Kilauea erupted, whispered the brown girl with a smile. She seemed to be speaking to no one in particular rather than into the phone. You would think they would find it odd. The Trigger was supposed to cause an artificial eruption in Kilauea, but the type of lava was changed as well. Normally, thick lava should have come spewing out, but for some reason smooth volcanic ash came out instead. Normally, you would think there was some other trick at play, dont you think? What about the output? It was within acceptable levels I guess. As far as natural reactors go, its above Iceland. The necessary energy was extracted and solidified, so were done here. I guess you could say stage 1 is complete. This is a long process. The fact that I had to be called in should have told you this wouldnt be easy. Anyway, how is the blueprint coming along? I have a report for the natural Valkyrie...Brunhild Eiktobel was it? It seems to be only a portion of the spear, but if she can use it, then we are in the clear. I see. Then lets do this. The brown girl grinned. We have a steady path to Gungnir, Odin. Yes we do, Dvergr. The girl ended the call with a tap of her index finger and the black cylinder she was sitting on started rattling around. Stop that. How rude. Im not heavy. Next we need to think about what to do about the Academy City cooperative institutions that have broken away. ...Hm? The brown girl suddenly looked up because she saw a magician covered in wounds approaching. Umm, who are you? ...Cendrillon... Hm...? Oh, right, right. I remember now! Youre the French magician that was easily taken out at the airport. What happened to you after that? I thought your head was smashed in. I managed to escape during all the confusion of Kilauea erupting and Trident invading. But more importantly... She spat out some blood. What was all that about? What was all what about? All that about expecting the plan to fail, Kilauea as a reactor, and Gungnir!! You dont know about any of that because we never told you. Werent we trying to bring down America using Trident in order to twist the balance between the magic side and science side by turning the United States into a theocracy!? Of course not, said the brown girl still sitting atop the cylinder. In fact, Gremlin isnt even a collection of losers from that war. For a bit, Cendrillons mind went completely blank. Meanwhile, the brown girl continued to speak. I wont deny that we were created by that war, but our objective lies elsewhere. Really, you all were only temporary workers. We didnt want to lose any of the actual members, but this couldnt have been completed without some sacrifices. The easiest way to get around that was to get some recruits by saying whatever would bring them aboard. It really worked well. That was how we got Trident, Saronia, and you. You did manage to contribute to the organization though, so you can pride yourself in that. Why you goddamn!! Using her magic that gave her overwhelming speed, Cendrillon tried to grab at the brown girl. The brown girl got down from the cylinder as if she had fallen off backwards at the same time as bluish-white sparks scattered from the front of the cylinder. Gyah!? They quickly pierced through Cendrillons body, bringing her down. The brown girl lifted just her upper body up from the ground and said, Cmon now. If youre taking on someone with projectiles, you need to find cover first. You cant even get close to a method of defeating Mj?lnir, my prized creation here. Our output is great enough to roast the snake that wraps around the world. I wont say brains are everything when it comes to magic, but if you have difficulty with calculations, you shouldnt be on the front lines. While grinning, she stuck her hands into the open sides of her overalls and pulled out a few tools. She had a hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, a hand drill, a file, a plane, and others. Other than the fact that they were all made of gold, it would not have been surprising to find any of them in a hardware store. Now then, Marian Slingeneyer, one of the extremely rare Dvergr, has a question for Cendrillon, a former French elite who is not only a loser but is starting to complain and is becoming quite annoying, said the brown girl as she took those tools that certainly did not look like objects that could alter a humans form and lined them up atop the cylindrical human. You are about to lose your current form. Which would you rather be remodeled into while still alive, a table or a wardrobe? Part 8 (November 10 C Oahu C New Honolulu International Airport C From the entrance gate security camera) Leivinia Birdway had come to the airport. One of her many black-wearing subordinates, Mark Space, gently spoke to her. Was that really the best way to leave that? Given what I did, its only natural for him to criticize me. I think you should have told him your true intentions. How would that have helped? Birdway gave a cynical smile. Youre saying I should have told him that we wouldnt be able to see the full extent of the organization just by defeating Saronia A. Irivika, that it was necessary to bring the magicians closer to the center of Gremlin to the surface, and that to do that we needed to split the science side in half leaving the cooperative institutions as bait? It is an effective method. Gremlin went as far as to bring science side aspects into their magical constructions. It will not be easy for them to find an organization large enough to replace Trident and the Americas media queen. And that collection of cooperative institutions has Academy City unmanned weapons. Gremlins ultimate objective may be unclear, but if they require scientific power to accomplish it, no bait could be more tempting. But it isnt a sure thing. If they suspect it to be a trap, then its all for nothing. Even if they do suspect a trap, they will take action based on that suspicion. Gremlin wishes for an anti-Academy City structure that is on their side. They do not want this collection of cooperative institutions to interfere and destroy the balance of influence. Whether they cooperate with them or make enemies of them, Gremlins next action will be centered on that collection of cooperative institutions. That means they function as bait either way. And so youre saying our actions were just? Dont be foolish, Birdway said without hesitation. Whatever our reasons, we still led those twenty-seven cooperative institutions to leave Academy City and diverge from the side that protects the world. ... They may have already had this desire deep down, but I am the one that purposefully drew it out. They will now be criticized by others as those who are destroying the worlds peace and if they are directly attacked, there will be casualties. And it may not end there. I simply dont see how doing that can be called just. Birdway paused for a second at that point. It was as if she was reaffirming the position at which she stood. I dont recall ever saying I stood on the side of justice, boy. Volume 3, Afterword Volume 3, Afterword To those who have bought the volumes one at a time: welcome back. To those who bought them all at once: welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. New Testament has reached its third volume! The stage for this volume is the Hawaiian Islands. I put a bit of a restriction on how things were presented, but that was to go along with a certain gimmick. The occult keyword was people-controlling magic. However, as also indicated in the volume, I dont think there is any type of occult that would make an investigation more of a pain in the ass. Even if someone acts in accordance to the spell users instructions, it can be unclear whether that is actually the occult or if they are cheated by planning it together earlier. The issue might be similar to the question of whether a supposed genius dog is actually doing the calculations in its head. Since I was dealing with the remnants left by World War III, I of course went with Russia. Since I was going with the Russian Orthodox Church, I went with a fairy. However, I felt something like the Lorelei was too straightforward, so I did some research to see if there was a more twisted one. What I found was the Leshy. Like many other fairies, the Leshy has a frightening side of not hesitating to kill, but it has a bit of charm too. And of course Cendrillon uses a similar method to Vasilisa from the Russian Orthodox Church, so I guess you can check that out too. Weve really started to get into the Imagine Breaker countermeasures now. I think you will be able to sense a different feel to those who appeared at the end than with the Russian remnant types. I give my thanks to my illustrator, Haimura-san, and my editor, Miki-san. This story was probably a bit of a pain due to having so many people in it. I am truly thankful that they have stuck with me this far. I also give my thanks to all the readers. It is thanks to all of you that I am allowed to write these stores that are such a pain. I am truly thankful. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. The name of the Magic God has finally appeared. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 4, Main.01 Volume 4, Main.01 Starting November 13, we, the 27 companies of the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians, will be holding a tournament called "Natural Selector" in Eastern Europes Baggage City. The rules are as follows. A victor will be determined in a one-on-one tournament style. The stage shall be a circle with a diameter of thirty meters. When the match begins, all entrances will be sealed. As such, escape is impossible. Destroying the walls with an attack shall not be penalized, but leaving through such a hole will lead to disqualification. An immediate loss will be determined either by completely losing ones consciousness or giving a sign of surrender. If the opponent is killed in the process of knocking them unconscious, the victor will not be penalized. The time for each match will be fifteen minutes. Once that limit has been reached, a tournament doctor will determine the victor by measuring the physical damage to each contestant. Contestants may bring in equipment including clothes so long as it does not exceed eighty kilograms. However, the contestant must be able to wear or hold the equipment in both hands at the time the match begins. No platform or tripod may be used to hold the equipment in place. No gunpowder, explosives, poisons, bacteria, radioactive materials, etc. as established by the Second Frankfurt War Treaty may be used. Any materials not covered by the treaty are not restricted. Anyone who does not meet the above requirements will not be allowed to participate. Also, if non-compliance is discovered partway through, the participants progress will be revoked and the participant will be made to leave. If a non-compliant participant refuses to follow our orders to leave, they will be forcibly removed by our unmanned weapons. This tournament, named after the process of natural selection, has only one prize. The victor will verify a global standard for the replacement of Academy Citys espers. With things such as UFOs and OOPArts, many people have faced bitter experiences because people assume anything not from Academy City is not scientific and must be fake. We plan to show just how unreasonable that treatment is. We urge you to use this chance to prove that it is real. Volume 4, Sub.02 Volume 4, Sub.02 This is just a collection of horrible monsters, spat out Shar Berylan. He was a large white man in his mid-twenties. However, he was not actually a participant in Natural Selector. He would hate to be mistaken for one. He was a security guard sent to Baggage City by the 27 cooperative institutions that had broken away from Academy City and were now known as the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. For this part-time job, he wore a bulletproof jacket and was armed with a carbine and grenades. Did you hear? Theres some UFO nut, some deep sea idiot whos in love with Atlantis, and some loner who claims to talk with a mass of bacteria collected from Mars. Why are they trying to get advice from people that trample others fields and shout up in to the night sky? It wouldnt surprise me if these people ended up committing mass suicide. Other security guards like him had been gathered there. He was in an indoor space at gate 17 on the outside of the dome-shaped tournament facility. The guards were supposed to remain outside the dome, but it was a white hell at -20 degrees out there. With all the unmanned weapons deployed, no flesh-and-blood human would want to be out there. Shar assumed the higher ups who had given the order had warmed their heads too much with the heaters and forgotten that human bodily fluids froze at 0 degrees. One of his fellow guards looked around hesitantly as he too neglected to perform his patrolling duties. Academy City espers are freaks, too. Its just a choice between the freaks you know and the freaks you dont. Theyre all a bunch of damn skunks. I dont want to fight with them or even have anything to do with them. I dont want to be their enemy or their ally. If you poke at them the wrong way, theyll spray that stink all over you. Even if you win, you arent gonna be happy in the end. He then heard the sound of something rolling. It was coming from the small wheels of a suitcase. A girl with an excellent body approached in the passageway that was dim due to having too few fluorescent lights for its size. Which way to the waiting room? Keep following this passageway, and you should find another guard, Miss Opendays. Understood. I will ask him. Just as the girl passed him, she muttered in his ear. In this tunnel-like passageway, your voice carries a good ways. Be careful. Shar Berylan felt sweat appear on his back. He timidly turned around just in time to see the girl called Opendays disappearing down the dim passageway. Damn skunk. She probably heard that too. Also, Im surprised you learned the names of the contestants. Shes one of more normal ones, spat out Shar. Cmon, lets go elsewhere. All the freaks are gonna pass through here. At this rate, were gonna have to deal with someone wearing only pajamas and obsessed with oneiromancy or someone wearing tons of bandages and obsessed with blood type fortune telling. Lets try to find a coffee vending machine. And is the heater even working here? Just as they started moving, they heard a slight squishing noise come from the dim passageway. Only after the noise continued at an irregular pace, did they realize the noise was a footstep. It had simply not seemed like a noise a fellow human being could make. But something else was strange. While the noise itself continued repeatedly, it did not come from just one place. It had originally sounded as if it had come from down the passageway, but it could be heard coming from the walls, the ceiling, and finally even right next to their ears and pressing up against their backs. Shar turned around again and again, but he could see no one there. Finally, a figure appeared down the passageway. He could not tell if the figure was male or female. The figure was completely covered in worn-out cloth to the top of his or her head, so not even the shape of the face or the overall silhouette could be seen. Shar was not even sure if the figure had two eyes and a mouth. ...... A strange noise came from where one would assume a face would be. Shar could tell it was something like a voice, but he could not tell what was being said. As the figures footsteps resounded from the walls and roof, it slowly passed by Shar. Shar was quite proud of himself for not immediately holding up his carbine. Finally, the figure disappeared down the other side of the passageway. He disappeared in the same direction the girl called Opendays had gone. He(?) was one of the participants in the Natural Selector tournament. He was one of the freaks gathered to oppose Academy City. His fellow guard started breathing heavily as if he had suddenly remembered he had to breathe and asked Shar a question with his eyes open wide. ...What the hell was that? One of the favorites for victory, spat out Shar in response. Goes by the name Grecky Reletsman and supposedly uses magic. So what, is this person going to pull a dove out of a silk hat? The Natural Selector tournament began without delay. Many types of freaks were gathered. It was possible something not even Academy City could control was mixed in among them. Volume 4, Sub.03 Volume 4, Sub.03 Saflee Opendays was one of the participants in the Natural Selector tournament. She was around twenty years old, and her shoulder-length blonde hair and white skin were her defining physical characteristic. Her body was not bad to look at either. She looked good enough to get a job as a magazine model, but she personally preferred the world of fist fighting. In the locker-filled participant waiting room, Saflee checked over her outfit. Belying her expectations when she had heard of the dome-shaped tournament facility, the waiting room was rather simple. The snowy Eastern European weather did not help, and the supposedly heated waiting room left a chill spreading into her feet. Was the entire facility the same? However, her outfit was also part of the problem. What she wore resembled a deep blue party dress, but the material it was made of and the strength of their seams had been greatly altered. Above the dress, leather belts were wrapped around mostly her upper body. Those belts were not strategically placed to give her some kind of advantage. First, a tournament was a type of show business, so she wanted to stand out in some way. Second, she wanted to give any enemy that specialized in throws an obvious target to grab for. Natural Selector allowed equipment up to a total weight of eighty kilograms, but the only equipment other than her clothes Saflee had weighed a mere five hundred grams. She also wore fingerless gloves with urethane inside in order to reduce the stress to her fists. ...Now then. Im done changing, she muttered. Speaking to oneself was a stereotypical way of mental changes appearing externally, but it could also be used as a simple means of autosuggestion. Needless to say, regulating ones mental state was immensely useful in sports and combat. However... You, spiky-haired Asian boy. Could you explain to me why you charged in here while I was in the middle of changing? This time, she was not going through a solo process of intentionally regulating her mental state. She actually had someone to speak to. The spiky-haired boy was not in some cute situation where his cheek had a bit of crimson in it from an open-handed slap. Instead, he had been skillfully pummeled by elbows and knees that had been intended to be used in the actual tournament. The boy was limply lying on a bench and his face was horribly swollen as if he had stuck his face into a giant bee hive. ...Im Kamijou Thouma. Nithe to meeth you. "I am Saflee Opendays. My hobby is all kinds of physical fighting. If I broke any of your teeth, I apologize. I cannot do anything beyond apologizing though. I theem to be fine. You seem to be trying to play this off as nothing, but Im actually quite worried. You seemed to be fairly fit, but youre an amateur, arent you? Do I need to call a doctor? Can we just continue our conversation? I heard what you said while I was changing. Saflee leaned up against the locker and sighed with her arms folded. You said someone intentionally had Natural Selector C or rather, the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians sponsoring it C created. And you want to destroy this persons aspirations and bring the Academy City cooperative institutions back to their original position. It was Leivinia Birdway, replied Kamijou Touma while mumbling a bit. She used the incident in Hawaii to give the cooperative institutions a sense of danger leading to their splitting off and becoming an independent group. How this is related to the magic cabal called Gremlinthink of them as something like a terrorist groupis still unknown, but Gremlin has to be planning to do something related to the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. And this has all shown itself in the form of Natural Selector? Exactly. Kamijou sighed. I have no idea what theyre after, but Natural Selector has to have a purpose beyond the official one. And I doubt that reason will be a good thing for the participants like you. So theyre going to throw us into giant refrigerators as specimens for some kind of human experiment? ...I suppose its possible. Saflee was at a loss for words when the boy seriously responded to her joke. Kamijou Touma continued in a low voice. I dont know what Gremlin is after either, but given Radiosonde Castle and the invasion of Hawaii, their objective is sure to make a lot of people suffer when it comes to the surface. Knowing that, I cannot overlook this. Its also partly my fault that things have gotten so serious. He did not speak in some overly grand way as if in an attempt to convince her. This actually made his words seem oddly real. However, she had her own reason to participate in the tournament. Why did you contact me? No reason. To be honest, I got lost and came in here by accident. I dont know the layout of Baggage City. I would appreciate it if you would help me, but I think that would be very dangerous, so I dont recommend it. So I cant participate in the tournament or take any action to destroy it? What do you want me to do then? If possible I want you to escape as soon as you can. That I most certainly cannot do. You cant? Ill think about it if you defeat me in a quick three minute match. Having previously had his face pummeled by her Kyaahh! Pervert!! reaction, Kamijou quickly raised his hands above his head. Saflee gave a small smile. I am neither for nor against your plan. As long as I can achieve my objective, I do not care. Once I do so, Natural Selector can be cancelled and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians can be demolished for all I care. Your objective? A high-pitched alarm sounded within the waiting room. It was the signal for the participant to enter the arena. It was the invitation to a life-or-death battle. Upon hearing it, Saflee Opendays calmly removed her back from the locker. In a relaxed voice, she responded to Kamijous question. What you children of Academy City have so casually obtained is what the rest of us humans cannot obtain no matter what we do. Volume 4, Sub.04 Volume 4, Sub.04 Baggage City had previously been a regional city in Eastern Europe. For that reason, it had remained relatively untouched by history. The city was lined with rectangular concrete buildings, but this was primarily due to the city having been developed to combat the cold. The city had been forcibly taken over by the military during World War III, because it was expected to function well as a central point along the railroad network, so it would transport materiel to the front. However, before the urban buildings could be destroyed and the military facilities could be constructed, the war had quickly ended, leaving the base in a state of half-completion. Normally, the city would have been returned to its original residents at that point, but that was not to be. It was said to be due to military interests, but a lot was unknown about the process by which the military ended up selling Baggage City to the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. The four dome-shaped arenas were the main symbol of the city and a cross-shaped causeway of high-rise buildings was built between them. The materiel and barriers brought into the city during the war gave a strange accent to the cityscape and a number of unmanned weapons that had not been returned to Academy City were set up in various places. The lack of protest from the original citizens of this cherished city plus the strict guards held by the weapons gave Baggage City a very treacherous aura. Or perhaps it was their plan to compete with the incomprehensible technology of Academy City. (It doesnt really matter.) Saflee Opendays thought as she walked down the corridor that led to the ring. (As long as I can accomplish my objective, it doesnt matter whose help I get.) Saflee took a step out into the immense light filling the exit of the tunnel. A great explosion of noise rang in her ears, a combination of the loud music prepared for the tournament, of the spectators cheering in their seats surrounding the circular ring, and of the announcer shouting through the giant speakers. The roaring dissonance filled the giant arena, echoing right up to the top. The euphoria forced people into a more excited state, and filled the contestants with wroth such that it was difficult if not impossible to remain calm. The noise alone was enough to get the contestants so worked up, that a violent fight between two berserkers would be innevitable. The entire area had large enough area to play baseball or football in, and the ring where Saflee stood, had a diameter of 30 meters and was like a giant birdcage in the center. Compared to normal martial arts rings, that was rather large, but compared to the size of the entire arena, it did seem like nothing more than a birdcage. The domes ceiling had several huge screens hanging down which were displaying information on the matches. This was mostly due to the distance between the spectator seats and the ring, but it did bring doubts as to what was gained by seeing it in person. The instant Saflee exited the tunnel into the ring, separated from the crowd by a chain-link fence, a giant portcullis descended like a guillotine behind her, and barred her way back. (The floor is reinforced concrete? Are they insane? A single throw could take out all of someones organs. This is more dangerous than some idiot with a knife or a gun.) In contrast to her elegant-looking dress, Saflee wore only flat-soled sneakers on her feet, and she frowned as he checked the feel of the floor through them. As she did, the shouts of the announcer who was keeping a safe distance reverberated throughout the arena as they were amplified by the giant speakers. This is the 35th match of the first round, but over 20 matches still remain! This is a tournament, so the first round is at the bottom of the pyramid and is the longest! Lets get this over with and get on to the next match!! Saflee frowned. (What a horrible performance.) Over here, we have Saflee Opendays!! While all the others are strange people who insist their ninjas or UFOs or parasites will not lose to Academy City, this blonde fighter is taking on the Natural Selector with nothing but pure martial arts!! Should we call her reckless or should we praise her skill for making it this far unarmed? The time has come for her to prove her true worth!! The already bright stage lights focused on Saflee, causing her to squint and shade her eyes with her hand. However, it was not long lasting: as soon as her opponent stepped into the ring, the lights moved onto him. And over here, we have Osad Flakehelm!! He is the standard type of strange person to enter the Natural Selector! He claims to have independently discovered the secrets of the implant technology used by aliens and implanted it into his own brain. Will this match allow this man to prove the truth of his electromagnetic attacks with his many antennae!? He was a large topless man almost 2 meters tall, but his weapon was very odd for a street fight or a tournament ring. The silver umbrella-like object in his right hand was likely a parabolic antenna and the object in his left hand was clearly a TV antenna. The backpack-like parts on his back had a number of arms sticking out each of which had something like a fishing reel attached. They had metal wires in them, so they were likely antennae as well. With both contestants out, the cheers were stirred into a frenzy to the point of no individual voice being distinguishable from the rest. However, Saflee could hear mockery was mixed in with the cheers. (I do understand.) Saflee thought silently as she flexed her fingers, extending from her fingerless gloves. (Everyone views things as doubtful as long as they are not from Academy City. Even if you are recognized as legitimate, that only comes after Academy City has something to say about it. You are always kicked to the sidelines and looked down on by average people who are not specialists but still act like they know what they are talking about. I do understand the desire for a chance to turn things around all at once in this world.) It was unclear what it meant, but Osad pointed his many antennae toward her. (That is the point of Natural Selector. If these bizarre people are sent after each other until one reaches the top, they can show the world that something other than Academy City has appeared in this world. We have no intention of sitting idly by while we are driven off to the edges of the world. We intend to take this new global standard for ourselves.) I have an announcement! said the invisible attack specialist, barely moving his lips. Five seconds after the match begins, there will be a burst of microwaves that will accurately target the fluid in your semicircular canals. It will be at a level you can resist, but do not raise your head. Doing so will likely make you vomit. I will try to make you faint as quickly as possible, but there is a danger of your windpipe becoming blocked. Accurate and quick, hm? With a small smile, Saflee lightly punched her open hand to get her blood flowing. I dont like saying anything about the style others use, but isnt that pretty boring? And as grand as the term electromagnetic attack sounds, its effects are relatively subdued and you cant see them. Having something that is easier to understand can act as a weapon in and of itself. The lack of that may be why everyone has been treating you as a fake. I do not enjoy unnecessary destruction. Praising those who minimize the destruction required to achieve their goals is done worldwide. What world are you from? At the very least, the small world I am from where people decide things with their fists does no such thing. Also, not all destruction is bad. If you treat everything as precious, youre just going to end up owning a house of trash. Are you saying you enjoy destruction? Osads expression made it clear he found that hard to understand, and Saflee nodded in response. I do. Once you start to enjoy it, you start to pursue the exhilaration it gives you. And then you start to desire purer and purer destruction. Someone like you speaking your hatred of destruction is like someone acting like they know what an authentic pizza restaurant is like after eating a frozen pizza from the supermarket. To be honest, it pisses me off a bit even if you meant nothing by it. What are you talking about? The level of destruction changes depending on what you destroy and how you destroy it. For example, no one likes hearing some kid crying. Even if youre trying to destroy some giant robot or crushing the entire mafia, the value is brought down if some kid is left crying in the process. That is why those pursuing the exhilaration of destruction will act to avoid things like that. The purest destruction does not scare people; it moves them. Saflee paused for a second. And so I have looked into the fact that you have threatened one of the doctors in charge of measuring our damage. Osads eyebrows twitched. I also know that your 3 year old daughter was captured by...self-proclaimed MIBs was it? Anyway, by people who value profit over all else. Osads body started to visibly tremble. I hate this kind of crap, so I took care of all of them for you. Saflee Opendays pointed back over her shoulder with her thumb. Osad froze when he spotted a familiar face mixed in with the great crowd. ...Why? This is what destruction truly is. Didnt I tell you? Its the pursuit of that exhilaration. Destruction taken for that reason is not some simple evil. True destruction is something those who love verbal violence will never reach because they mix all kinds of violence together in just the one word. Although I did just fail in that regard after having someone peek on me changing, said Saflee as she punched her open palm again. Now that Ive given you a nice little tutorial, how about we actually enjoy this? The exhilaration that comes from ridiculous levels of destruction cant be beat. In the place of a gong, a loud electronic buzzer rang. The two intelligent beasts were removed from their restraints so they could clash. Volume 4, Sub.05 Volume 4, Sub.05 There were a lot of areas where access was forbidden in Baggage City, and this was one of such places. The room seemed to balance the development costs to all the areas that could be accessed. The top floor of the high-rise hotel was a throne, but that was an obvious disguise. Most of the masterminds would be gathered in the underground facility far away from there. Weissland Strainikov deliberately used this dummy facility that could be easily attacked, or maybe it was just a stance. He had no right to say any kind words, but either way, he couldnt allow for ordinary citizens to be sacrificed under unnecessary conditions. Although this would be an ironic place for Weissland to be in as it runs the risk of him being attacked and cause civilian casualties, but it wasnt what he was focusing on. What he wanted to avoid was simply unnecessary bloodshed. Thus, if there was a need, the old man called Weissland would not hesitate. Furthermore, he believed that spreading this concept to people everywhere was a form of redemption. The caretaker of Baggage City. The 27 companies of the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians were gathered into three groups, and he was one of the leaders of those groups. He was in charge of its food source, whether it was purely about finances, biofuels or microbiology. This was the "large old man" who used to support Academy City, but had now became a pillar of the resistance against Academy City. ...Im often mistook for being a person of catastrophic ideals, but Im just someone who hopes to avoid tragedies, said Weissland, as he sat on the soft chair in front of a large ebony table. The outside was a landscape infamous as a blizzard zone. The snowy white scene extended beyond the horizon, but there was a soothing heated air that warmed the room isolated by thick glass. But everyone in the world wishes for happiness, yet turn on each other, creating clear losers in the end. Its like the currently proceeding Natural Selector. As for what we should do in this situation, I suppose its necessary to think that a tragedy may occur. Theres nothing that could be taken for added proof if we consider avoiding tragedy as our priority. Are you able to use something like a black box to bet on this? A blond, frivolous looking man was sitting on the ebony table. He was wearing a suit, and had a complete 180-degree different impression than the old man. Or rather, the blond mans happy-go-lucky attitude with regards to everything in the world showed his principles. tgarea-Loki. One of the official members of the magic society Gremlin that had been sent over. The Anti-Academy City Science Guardians have tremendous power, whether its purely on a technological level or the unmanned weapons that were borrowed from there. But can those guys use these things properly? Turning the technology existing in your minds into weapons, developing them, mass producing them, live testing them and letting the soldiers read the operation manualsthese will all take time. Even if its unmanned weapons, I doubt you can use them to their utmost capacity without Academy Citys support. Even if you can power these weapons, standing in one spot or toddling is the extent of your ability, right? The same is true of the Natural Selector this time, tgarea-Loki added without any sense of tension. Thats right. To discover a "certain existence" that could go against Academy Citys espers, analyze them accurately, and create a large-scale system...these would take time. Weissland seemed to agree with that. Of course, Academy City wont allow us time. There could be a swift attack if they decided to do so. Academy City had entrusted them to their cooperative organizations. Not unmanned weapons. In a certain sense, it was an existence that was even more valuable. Cheap and highly efficient. A weapon that obviously went against international laws. The military clones of the #3 esper, is it? If we had succeeded in the capture of one of them, the situation would have probably differed. But the ten thousand individual units disappeared with perfect timing. Small fires broke out from the places where they lived...and it seemed that they prepared some camouflaged DNA map processes with multiple records from the data archives that had been destroyed through electronic means. ...Most likely, someone used the girls'' network to relay tactics. Theres no concrete evidence and the datas gone. We cant research on our own, and if we try to reveal the crime of creating these clones, it would end up being discarded as just some stereotypical urban legend. Even so, Academy City wont relax so simply. ...Thats why were contacting you guys to repair this. Were the same as you, Gremlin, in the sense of breaking the unipolar centralized system of Academy City. We just dont intend to be shields in a human wave tactic. I hadnt placed my hopes on that anyway. Or rather, were grateful that you didnt do anything about it. If you don''t act, the enemy will suspect us. Weissland arranged the reports on the table in a fan shape like he was laying playing cards, and said, And the more careful they are, the more time they will try to grasp information before attacking. Its what we call buying time. If we can gain some time, we can make sure that were ready for battle. For this reason, whether Gremlin or the Natural Selector, if we can transport a large number of containers through air or transport intelligence over, it would be part of the job. Are you able to reach a level where you can fight them? Academy City has unimaginable technology and the ability to rationalize skills. They lack resources, though. We, the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians, must spread the news that we have a chance of winning and get the world thoroughly involved...and letting them run out of resources and food is the best way to prevent war from continuing. Unsubstantial and fictional information operations? tgarea-Loki smiled happily. What I liked was developing. Thats why I came here. Im doing that, but it isnt what Im looking forward to. I hate formless number battles. If we increase the prices of food, the people left in reality will starve. That pile of papers there is part of it, right? If its memory installation that the science side specializes in, wouldnt a stamp-sized flash memory be enough? Thats just a countermeasure for securitys sake. However, itd be meaningless in the end if people other than I dont agree with it. Weisslands notebook was placed on the table, but it seemed that only the necessary information and the registration numbers were there. It was obviously inefficient, but it may have been his detailed plan to save hungry people somewhere by wasting paper resources. It was like making the wind blow at the exact strength to make a bucket-maker profitable. But the image that appeared in tgarea-Loki''s mind made him smile frivolously. Im also involved with people''s lives and death, but Im not obsessed with life and death more than you. No matter what, if we decide to use corn to operate vehicles, several countries will end up starving. But on the other hand, if we give it up, other countries will starve because of financial difficulties. ... Hm. Even when facing such a complicated demise, can you truly have the sense of accomplishment of saving others? To be honest, I dont understand such a world. Its not some long-lived experience you can understand from asking me. Its not something worth learning either. The reality was that mothers were unable to feed their deathly-thin children as their breast milk dried up and the wastage of carbohydrates continued while they were praising the earth and activating machines. To the two old men who had an acute knowledge of them, there was a deep darkness that even Gremlin couldnt step in. And then, even in the deep darkness, there were blatant bright spots. Im just searching for a means to use the necessary materials fairly in order to survive. I asked Academy City for help before, and now, I have to ask others. If you knew how many people are dying every single minute on this planet, you would understand that we shouldnt be wasting our time. I am limited in what I can do, but if its like this... Thats enough. Im about the same level too. If we can harm Academy City, it doesnt matter what we do. ...I just feel that you guys aren''t simply taking action based on a simple ideal. Well, are we making use of each other? Just as Weissland had muttered, his notebook displayed a new window. The old man frowned and said, It looks like the time for us to take action has arrived. What are the specifics? Youre to eliminate the intruders. Volume 4, Sub.06 Volume 4, Sub.06 Her body battered by the fierce attacks from Monsieur Microwave Oven, Saflee Opendays dragged herself back to the waiting room while leaning up against the wall. The spiky-haired boy must have left because she was the only one there. Her first victory had been a tough one. That bastard wasnt half bad, she muttered under her breath as she took a sip from a bottle of mineral water. The metallic taste made her grimace and she spat it back out into the provided sink. Even after being hit by the attack, she still had no idea how electromagnetic waves could injure her within her mouth. (Is every match going to be that tough? It isnt my style to fight while thinking about how much damage Im accumulating.) She did not have enough energy left to change back into her normal clothes. Still in her battle dress, she sat on the bench and breathed a heavy sigh. Natural Selector was a tournament style competition where the first round was completed on the first day, the second round on the second day, and so forth. As such, no competitor had to fight in more than one match per day. This meant Saflee had no further plans for the day now that she had finished her match, however she was unsure if she could recover from the damage she had taken in just that one day. Suddenly, a screen she did not recognize appeared on the lock panel next to the door. She was confused, but then she heard rushed footsteps and Baggage City security guards rushed in. For how much they hated Academy City, their methods were more or less the same. Their clothes were damp in places and snow covered their shoulders, so they were unlikely to be guards that patrolled the inside of the dome-shaped facility. They had likely walked in through the blizzard outside. Are you okay? What is it? Is there a short circuit, meaning Ill get a shock if I touch that panel? It seems that there has been an intruder. Just to be sure, we are checking on the safety of the higher ups and the competitors. The faces of the spiky-haired boy and Monsieur Microwave Oven entered Saflees mind. Thats quite a task. Arent there about a hundred competitors alone? There are more of us, so that is not an issue. And yet you did not do a thing in response to those self-proclaimed MIBs. This intruder is different. It is possible that this one is directly related to Academy City. ... Saflee gave a heavy sigh upon hearing those stubborn words. (It would just be a waste of time to lecture them about destruction.) She then started to rethink things about that spiky-haired boy. How had that amateur boy even gotten into Baggage City? (It seems those self-proclaimed MIBs snuck in too, so did he happen to find the hole they entered through? It would have taken some doing to wait around until they opened that hole, but that boy didnt seem like the type to do that.) Also... Why had that boy snuck into Baggage City? Their objective is sure to make a lot of people suffer when it comes to the surface. Saflee sighed once more. She then stood up from the bench. What are you going to do about this intruder? Shoot them. And what am I to do? Please wait here until this has been resolved. We will guard you. I repeat: And yet you did not do a thing in response to those self-proclaimed MIBs. We are not talking about keeping the matches fair. We are talking about making sure Academy City does not steal the technology that could become the key to the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians future. ... (This clearly isnt leading to any exhilaration.) That was the martial arts obsessed girls opinion. Abandoning somebody just because she was not obligated to help them did not lead to the exhilaration she spoke of either. The sort of people who would worry themselves over something like that would also say that "all destruction is wrong" with a self-satisfied look on their faces, which made her feel that the world was extremely messed up. Saflee Opendays looked back over toward the Baggage City guards. There were four of them. They all wore military uniforms and helmets and were armed with pump-action shotguns. It looks like doing as you say would be the wise choice. You dont have any reason not to, do you? The problem comes from the fact that I do. And so... A chop to the neck. A fist to the gut. A throw that sent his back slamming to the ground. Pressure to the carotid artery. After quickly incapacitating the four of them, Saflee put her hands to her hips and sighed. Its strange how people call you kind when you say you held back. Youre still employing violence nonetheless. Even if they were unconscious, she could not bring herself to change in front of them, so Saflee exited the waiting room in her battle dress. Wah! God, its cold!! She immediately went back in and swiped one of the guards jackets. Even if the heating was cheap, it was still there, so she had forgotten how impractical that show business dress was. It did help a bit with the cold, but it really was not much better than wrapping her own arms around herself. Shit, its soaking wet with melted snow. Will this help with the cold at all? She headed to the exit of the domed facility only to find a pure white landscape beyond the glass door. Only along the heated roads could black asphalt be seen. It may have been partly due to the rows of rectangular concrete buildings, but the scenery just made her feel even colder. For an instant she considered forgetting it all and turning back, but she stuck with it. When she opened the glass door and left, she was overcome with regret just as she expected. Noo!! This is a lot worse than fighting some military dog!! In fact, I almost wish there was a dog in these clothes!! The boy had said he was looking for a connection between the higher ups of Baggage City and the organization known as Gremlin. He had no hint in regards to Gremlin, so his natural next step would be to investigate the higher ups of Baggage City. It was only natural that would lead to him tripping an alarm. And so Saflee began her search for the spiky-haired boy. Her primary goal was to ensure that the boy did not get shot by the guards for sticking his head where it did not belong. The secret about Baggage City that the boy seemed to know was a separate issue. She would wait until she knew if it would lead to exhilaration before she decided what to do about it. So... When I find him, Ill knock him unconscious. Thatll be the quickest way to get him out of danger and hide him from the guards. Saflees plan was a good example of the motto simple is best. She headed for the closest off-limits area, a former resort hotel that had been turned into an office for the higher ups. She silenced a group of three or four guards with her fists when they called out for her to stop, entered the hotel through the business delivery entrance, and managed to catch up to the boy. Huh? What are you doing h? Lariat boom!! With the ease of waving ones hand, Saflee let an attack fly toward the person she had been trying to find. With its great speed and unexpected timing, it was quite the cruel attack. Her upper arm struck Kamijous neck as if she were trying to create a headless rider and he rotated around partway before falling to the ground. As Kamijou lay with his limbs sprawled out and his mouth opening and closing wordlessly, Saflee held up her index finger and spoke. Damn, my hairs a bit frozen. You really have put me through a lot of trouble. You should really be thanking me for ensuring that this is all you had to deal with, amateur. Ill fill you in on the details, but lets get out of this off-limits area. ...Or do you really plan on heading right into the private area of the leaders here? B-bhh... Did it hurt? Well, a 12-gauge shotgun shell wouldnt leave you with enough time to even feel any pain, so be careful. Honestly, a contestant like me should avoid picking fights with the leaders here, so dont make me have to save you again. Kamijou was still not moving, so Saflee grabbed his arm and started to drag him along like a stuffed animal. Naturally, she was dragging him away from the mystery he was after. She was dragging him to safety first. Avoiding tragedy was a lot more difficult than creating it and that was why some preparation was needed in the pursuit of exhilaration. But... Miss Saflee Opendays, an elderly voice said. A grimace smoothly appeared on Saflees face. She turned around and found an executive surrounded by numerous guards. He was Weissland Strainikov. Everyone would know him as one of the leaders of Natural Selector even if they had never opened a pamphlet about Baggage City. He was the leader of one of the three large groups making up the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. After she had completed her objective was one thing, but he was currently not someone she could be angering. I appreciate your help in keeping the peace, but you are restricted from this area as well. Now, how about you let us deal with the rest? Are you telling me to hand this boy over to you? If you have anything else to offer us, now would be a good time. Tch, Saflee clicked her tongue. So even though hes been incapacitated and is no longer a threat, you still want to finish him off? If you hand him over, we could possibly avoid that. She had no real reason to go that far in standing up for Kamijou Touma. However, she had a few absolute rules in regards to the exhilaration of destruction. One of those was to not leave things in a way that left a bad taste in her mouth - that was one of her principles. However, at the same time, Kamijou Touma had snuck into Baggage City, so she should not have felt any hesitation over handing him in to the authorities. And how likely are you to throw him in a cell and then shoot him after I hand him over? Weissland did not respond. Instead, the guards took a large step forward. Among the guards was a flippantly smiling blond man. Cmon, this would have been so much easier if you had just promised he would be fine. It didnt even have to be true, Saflee said. Would that have fooled you into giving him to us? No, I would have been able to quickly tell you were the bad guys, so I could kick your asses without guilt. Then I suppose we can think of you as another intruder. That wasnt a lie, so I suppose so, said Saflee with a nonchalant expression. But that would put me in the same boat as this boy, so I would have to do my best to ensure we got away. What about Natural Selector? Did you not come here in hopes of gaining something in victory? I can always join in as a mysterious masked beauty. I dont have to obey the tournament style. All I really have to do is prove Im the best and there are plenty of ways to do that. How strong of you. Id rather you wait to say that until Ive proven it. One last question. Can that strength of yours remain undistorted if you use it to help an intruder who will bring danger to Baggage City and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians? Oh, I think it would be much more distorted were I to abandon him. Saflee felt clear killing intent coming from the guards. Normally, there would be no way a single unarmed person who had to carry an unmoving person could stand up to multiple men armed with shotguns. However, Saflee was a candidate for the one who had a means of opposing the espers of Academy City. She was one of the freaks that had been invited there because she was expected to possibly go beyond that kind of normal thinking. However, something else happened before they could clash. Kamijou Touma spoke. ...Gh...gh. ? No. I think the intruder youre talking about isnt me. With that comment of unknown meaning, Saflee and Weisslands turned their attention toward Kamijou. I came here to stop the intruders youre talking about. Are you talking about Gremlin? asked Weissland. From your actions in Hawaii, it seems you view them as your enemy, but we view things differently. Whatever their ultimate objective is, they cannot attack the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians or Baggage City until it has been achieved. And that does not matter to us. We have never intended to stick with Gremlin to the very end. ...No, said Kamijou Touma as he took slow breaths. I have to do something about Gremlin, but something else is headed to Baggage City. What? Did you really think Academy City would wait around doing nothing while you did all this? Of course not. With something as big as this, Academy City would want to nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. They will have sent in some of their very best. Do you really think that would be a high school student who can be taken out with a single lariat? ... They are coming, muttered Kamijou Touma. They are coming. Your true enemy is coming. They are the deep within Academy City No. 990910991. ...Ah? Just after Saflee let out that voice of confusion, they came. Volume 4, Period.07 Volume 4, Period.07 Weissland Strainikov suddenly opened his eyes. He last remembered cornering Kamijou Touma and Saflee Opendays in the business passageway of an off limits resort hotel with some guards. However, he was no longer in that passageway. He was in the top floor of the high-rise hotel he knew so well. Weissland was collapsed on his back on the floor in that wide area filled with mountains of documents. (What happened...?) His body would not move properly. His joints trembled stiffly as if he had been chilled for a long period of time in a refrigerator. And then he heard an unfamiliar and painful voice stab into his consciousness. Ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh. No, no, no, no, no. After all the effort I went to fine-tune this, you wake up to an inconsistent scene. The voice was that of a young man. However, it was not the voice of tgarea-Loki. For one thing, this voice was speaking Japanese. Hi there. Im Kihara Ransuu-chan, come from Academy City. Surely, you figured this would happen sooner or later. I dont have to explain whats going on, right? Weissland was not listening to the words of the Kihara sitting atop the large desk. He had spotted something horrible. It was beyond the large window on one side of the high-rise hotel. An ominous red light was flickering amidst the white scenery of Baggage City. The scenery should have been pure white, but this strange new color was now mixed in. And not in just one place. It had spread across almost the entire area. Collapsed on his back and unable to move, Weissland worked to get his words out. What did you do? What did you do!? Hmm? On a personal level? Or to Baggage City as a whole? I am asking about the innocent residents of this city and the unrelated spectators!! Now, wait just a second. Quit acting like youre some kind of just hero. Surely you know the difference between justice and a sense of justice. But then, I hate both. What...? Innocent residents? Unrelated spectators? Theres not even a single person like that here, said Kihara Ransuu casually. If you took the frivolous evil found anywhere and let it solidify in one place, you would have something like the smile of unfathomable darkness on his face. The members of the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians fear a counterattack or retaliation from Academy City. Some of them only joined in order to receive protection from Academy City. ...But ysee, thats a problem. If it was just one or two, whatever. But when you start moving people in the millions, that gets to be an issue. It takes time and money, and information has a way of leaking out. If theyre attacked on the way, its all over. As Kihara Ransuu sat on the desk, the red flames grew larger in the window behind him. So Id say all these Natural Selector spectators are actually part of the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians, or their beloved family, friends, or lovers. Not even one of them is some unrelated person. Oh, and this includes the people who supposedly lived here before. After moving millions of people to this one place for the tournament, some will be brought into your fortress on the pretext of returning home. Of course, Academy City would find that suspicious, but if you can get them inside before any proof can be found, its not a problem, right? Kihara Ransuu crossed his legs and grinned. So lets not play these little games. I can just think of everyone here as an enemy or someone with some connection to an enemy. Oh, and a few other Kiharas were sent here too. Theyll be having their own fun in other parts of the city. I dont really know what theyre up to, though. When I attacked my quota or section or whatever, it all ended way too easily!! Since it seems like itll take some time before the other Kiharas are done, I decided to have some fun with you to kill some time. It ended...way too easily? Weissland could not grasp what he meant. He was not in denial. He truly could not keep up. Even so, he could hear an ominous ring to what Kihara Ransuu was saying. Meanwhile, Kihara spread his arms wide in a dramatic fashion and shrugged. Thats right!! Since you Anti-Academy City Science Guardians required sending in a group of Kiharas, I assumed things were gonna be pretty bad. But I get here and Im like, what the hell was that!? That was nothing!! Nothing at all!! What you call security was nothing more than an obstacle course. It wasnt worth anything more than having a bit of fun. What do you take us for anyway? Do you know how many Kiharas were sent out to eliminate all of the traitors, be they regulars, substitutes, spectators, guests, or supporting characters!? Wh-what happened to tgarea-Loki? He had been sent from Gremlin. Instead of the military force of a group, he had the power of an individual that showed its true worth when an irregular enemy appeared. However, the man naming himself a Kihara frowned like he was listening to someone talking about a leading figure in a genre of music he did not care for as if that person should be known by everyone on earth. Is that a tongue twister or some kind of technical term? Eh? Its someones name? You idiot. I dont know the names of the individual people!! The guys probably smashed to a pulp with all the other small fries. Hmm, I do recall hearing something about a favorite for winning Natural Selector using magic. I remember crushing him, but I dont remember his name. He was a fake, but he did have a unique way of begging for his life. Eh? That isnt who youre talking about? ... Well, whatever. Hes probably dead. All the other leaders are in pretty much the same situation. And if hes dead, he wasnt worth much anyway, right? Kihara Ransuu so easily and casually spoke of the fate of an official member of Gremlin while scratching at his head. And it went farther than that. His comment about the other leaders was an announcement that they were targeting the representatives of the 27 companies making up the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. He said it so lightly. He said it so simply. He overturned all of the previously established assumptions. Impossible... But how...? I dont know about the other Kiharas, but for me, its this. Kihara Ransuu moved his hand around randomly in what looked like empty space. My specialty is world peace. Oh, is that not enough of an explanation for you? Think of it like this. There are various famous international competitions in things like soccer or track and field. People around the world get all excited and have fun while obeying common rules. In that time, things like race, belief, and national borders no longer matter and people feel a strong unity. Now what would happen if that kind of thing was artificially created? I...dont understand. What does that have to do with what is going on here? If you still dont understand, thats just cause youre an idiot. Its all chemicals in the end. Theyre what increase or decrease peoples emotions. Ive taken tiny particles with the same effects as the chemicals secreted in the brain and scatter them on mold. The tech has its base in research derived from the #5s Five Over series. Five Over...? If that isnt enough, it isnt worth explaining further. With wind, temperature change, and static electricity, its not too hard to control once you get used to it. Having it spread in the direction you want and ensuring a safe zone can be handled with a single program. During their sweet dreams, everyone just stands around. Do you understand now? An illusion. It was simple enough to say, but the level of technology required to show a certain person the image you wanted them to see was unimaginable. Its still not easy, though. The chemicals themselves have names like Red Fury 03 and Blue Fear 07, so anyone with a middle school level knowledge of English can tell they increase certain emotions. The real trick is combining them in the right way to give the experience you want. When you also want to affect multiple people at the same time, it starts to be something like cooking. Well, just like how what you eat affects how you smell, the substances in your blood have external effects, so it isnt like I dont get any kind of hint. If what Kihara Ransuu was saying was true, how long had Weissland Strainikov been seeing an illusion? Since he had confronted Saflee Opendays? Since he had spoken with tgarea-Loki? Or had that conversation actually occurred within the experience and they had both been seeing an illusion? Anyway, dont you find it a little odd how when Kamijou Touma gets here he struggles but eventually tries to save both enemy and ally? Youre the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. Youre clearly in opposition to him. No matter how irregular a hero he may be, this world isnt the kind of place that allows him to do that at a point like this. If it was, we Kiharas would have lost our place in the world long ago. By spreading mold covered in chemicals that threw the brain into disorder, he had shown the guards of Baggage City illusions so they merely mindlessly stood in place. In that state of temporary incapacitation, he had finished each of them off, one by one. How much of it was true was unknown. It was possible it was all a lie. But whatever the answer, flames were truly spreading through Baggage City, Weissland was unable to move, and a strange attacker sat before him. His situation was hopeless. As the one in control of that situation, Kihara Ransuu slowly brought his feet down from the large table and to the floor. He held a smartphone in his hand. Weissland guessed it was what he used to send signals to the mold. However, the screen was not displaying some complex set of controls. It was merely a video player application. Now, lets get this started. Wh-what more are you going to do to Baggage City? I already told you, the other Kiharas are in charge of that. I have nothing to do because I finished up so quickly, so I just need to kill some time. ... It did not even progress to the point of a fight. Getting the help of Gremlin had been no use whatsoever. The difference in power was so great, it simply did not seem real. Kihara Ransuu approached further. Once he was right next to Weissland, he crouched down showed Weissland the footage being displayed. Recognize these people? You should, theyre your wife, your daughter, your son-in-law, and your two grandkids. ...!? If the enemy already knew about the plan to move millions of related people to Baggage City under the guise of spectators of the Natural Selector tournament, it was not surprising that they would know that much. However, seeing it displayed right in front of him was like a sharp knife to the chest for Weissland. Okay, lets get started!! The rules have been switched up a bit, but well be playing a game of Russian roulette!! Displayed on the screen were five chairs lined up next to each other. Each one held someone Weissland knew quite well bound in it and handguns were attached to poles such that one was aimed directly at each persons face. Each handgun had a numbered label attached. Now then, its time for a quiz! Our contestant is Weissland Strainikov!! Ill explain the rules! Only one of those five handguns is loaded!! You choose a single one. If no bullet comes out, they all go free! Quite simple, dont you think? Now, will our contestant be able to correctly choose a safe gun and regain his family bonds!? Wh-what...!? Using the questioners mental state as a clue is fair game! Searching for a hint in the video footage is fine too! Youre also free to pray to god and choose at random! Or you can choose a family member youve always hated! But be careful, Mr. Weissland!! Your time limit is only one minute. If you do not answer within sixty seconds, the real gun will be fired!! You would do this...just to kill time...? How can Academy City go this far...!? I dont care how this turns out, so just hurry it up. I mean, if someone does die, thats just more resources for me. That comment of unknown meaning oozed into Weisslands ears. The thing about humans is you can get mold to grow on them if all the good bacteria is scrubbed away from the surface of the body. Did you know that? But the molds that have a taste for people really are something else. Well, theres no real scientific basis for that claim. Really, the only problem is that the types that eat living humans are much livelier than the ones that go for corpses. ... Weissland could not believe what he was hearing. That went beyond just a threat. Kihara Ransuu simply said it all too easily. To him, covering living peoples bodies with mold was nothing worth getting worked up over. Weissland had to choose someone and then the trigger would be pulled. One of the guns was loaded. From a purely probabilistic standpoint, the odds of no one getting hurt were much higher, but the possibility of choosing the wrong one kept him frozen in fear. However, he had to choose. If he did not, someone would die for sure. D-do I get a hint? Only if you can find one. Shit!! Please, Ill do anything. You can take one of my arms or eyes in exchange. Just give me a hint!! Twenty seconds left. Do I need to start a countdown!? He had no time. A family member was going to die. As he realized that, tears gushed from his eyes like a child. He had not time to think. He gathered all his strength into his barely functioning arm and touched the smartphone screen with a trembling fingertip. Number three, hm? Is that your lucky number? ... Really, choosing the son-in-law doesnt really come as a surprise. Are you the type that sees a blood relation as above all else? Or were you against your daughters marriage? Wh-was that one loaded? You wanna know? Are you hoping it wasnt loaded? Or that it was? How could you ask that!? At the very least, I know you had to choose him. Now, time for the moment of truth!! Kihara Ransuu spun the smartphone around in his hand before pointing the screen back toward Weissland. The footage youre seeing here is not live. This is from the past. What? But your entry into the touchscreen was directly linked to the trigger! In other words, you essentially pulled the trigger yourself!! Having the timing switched up on him after he had already prepared himself caused Weisslands fingertips to tremble even more. However, Kihara Ransuus cruelty did not end there. And the biggest climax is yet to come!! Remember when I told you only one of the guns was loaded? That was a lie. The real answer is that all the guns were loaded!! Dont you love quizzes so simple that youd have to actually try to get it wrong!? !!!??? And so our contestant has pulled the trigger that killed one of his family members!! The odds are 100%! One! Hundred!! Percent!!! How does it feel to have blown out the brains of your son-in-law!? Weissland could do nothing but flap his mouth open and closed while Kihara Ransuu put on a satisfied smile at having achieved his goal there. It seems he is so overcome with emotion that he has been left speechless. Now, lets take a look at the real footage...or rather, the live footage!! Stop... By the way, the family was only told that Mr. Weissland would be choosing who would die, so make sure to take a look at the survivors faces!! Now, have the familial bonds been shattered!? Can his five-year-old grandchild hold onto her sanity after seeing her fathers brains blown out right in front of her!? This shocking footage has plenty to focus on!! Stooooooooooooooooooooppppppppppppppppppp!! Weissland yelled to the point that the capillaries in his eyes burst and he cried literal tears of blood. However, his cries did not reach Kihara Ransuu. No, they did reach him, but they only made him enjoy himself even more. The screen switched over to the scene after the tragedy. What it showed was... ...Ah? grunted Kihara Ransuu in confusion. What should have been displayed was a scene of fresh blood and panicked civilians bound to chairs. Anything else made no sense. And yet something else was what he found. The chairs were there. As were the handguns. However, the hostages were nowhere to be found. It wasnt just the son-in-law missing; they were all gone. The ropes used to bind them were lying on the ground, but the hostages were nowhere to be seen. While Kihara Ransuu had not been looking, something had happened. But what? Who the fuck interfered with my fuuuuuunnnnnnn!! I put a lot of effort into this, so who the hell do they think they...hmm?? His shout turned to a question partway through. Something was visible at the edge of the footage. A figure could just barely be seen. The figure was likely the one who had freed Weisslands family. The figure was a spiky-haired Asian boy. Im glad to see youre still in a state where youre able to see this, said the person in the footage. The boy had proven with deeds rather than words that he intended to save his enemies as well as his allies. He ignored Kihara Ransuu and spoke to the restrained Weissland Strainikov. Ill take care of the guy with you soon enough, too. That will resolve all of this. The screen shook. With a wave of static, the signal cut out. He had likely crushed the camera between his hands. The boy would of course be there soon just as he had announced. ... Kihara Ransuus thoughts cut out for a bit. He could not believe that boy would truly get involved. But then he shook his head. Yeah, right, he muttered. Nothings that convenient!! The timings just too perfect and it came out of nowhere! Theres no way he would swoop in at exactly the right time like some kind of hero!! But then what the hell is going on!? How did something this lame end up happening in this world!? And then he realized something. He realized the sole reason Kamijou Touma had appeared where he absolutely should not have been. Kihara Ransuu himself had been caught in a trick set by Weissland and the others from the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians in Baggage City. He could only think of only one possibility. At the very least, it was the only possibility he found more likely than Kamijou Touma truly having appeared there. Is this...an illusion too...? Cough, cough...!! Pant, pant...!! As a few piles of documents collapsed, the Gremlin magician known as tgarea-Loki slowly stood up. His body was covered in blood and the collapsed documents were stained red. Kihara Ransuu had driven him to the verge of death, but he had succeeded in activating an illusion at the very end. The name tgarea-Loki referred to a giant of Norse mythology, and this giant had been an expert in all kinds of illusions and had even fully duped Thor, a major player in the mythology. Given that, the magicians specialty was obvious. Th-that was a close one... That bastard went the superhuman route from the very beginning!! His front teeth were broken and he could only see out of one eye due to all the blood. Even so, he had survived. His magic allowed him to transfer the information sent to one of the five senses to a different sense. Simply put, he could make someone feel the pain of burning by showing them a picture of fire. Used correctly, that ability held quite a bit of destructive power, but many materials used together in the right way were needed to give a more accurate and long-lasting illusion. Even so, he had managed to survive. He had no idea if Weissland was still alive, but ensuring his own safety took top priority. To do that, he had to do something about Kihara Ransuu who stood mindlessly in the middle of the room. He had no idea how long the illusion would last on the man. Now then... tgarea-Loki slowly grabbed a random pile of documents. The documents were A4 size and the pile was about ten centimeters thick. The weight felt like more than that of a brick. He unhesitatingly raised the blunt weapon. Dont make!! An illusion specialist!! Like me!! Have to!! Do any!! Physical work!!!!! After knocking him to the ground, tgarea-Loki climbed on top of him and continued sending dozens of blows down on the man. Partway through, the sounds of the impacts became more wet and sticky sounding and Kihara Ransuus body convulsed on the floor, utterly defenseless. When the documents soaked up enough blood to be of no more use, tgarea-Loki tossed them aside and grabbed a new nearby pile. Ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha!! I won dammit. I finally have my safety. Ive returned to the world of the living! I! Am! Aliiiiiiiiiiivvveeee!! tgarea-Loki wiped the blood from his hands with documents of unknown value and then wiped the blood from his face. The dry paper scratched, but he saw that as proof that he was alive in the real world. Someone then tapped tgarea-Lokis shoulder from behind. The illusion expert turned around and saw... A spiky-haired Asian boy standing there. Volume 4, Sub.08 Volume 4, Sub.08 What the hell?! W-wh-wh-what just happened!? One of the guards, Shar Berylan, crouched down on the white snowy field as he yelled. In the -20 degrees Celsius environment, this would normally be considered suicidal. However, it was easy to imagine that if he lift his head up, he would die faster than freezing to death. His aim was to hide his body; thus, he couldnt hide on the road that had melted the snow by thermal effect. Didnt they say that we can match the enemy in power if we use Academy Citys unmanned weapons!? Even though he roared into the radio, he couldnt get a response. He couldnt get through with a cell phone either. Then, in front of him, a large block-shaped object dropped. It was the remains of the powered suits that used unmanned technology, the ones that had torn through the Russian tanks and armored vehicles in World War III. Yes, the remains. The sturdy complex armor looked like it was cheese eaten through by mice as tens of thousands of holes had pierced through it. It was unknown if the armor became like that because it had approached an anti-tank mine and triggered an explosion. There wasnt even remains of just one. If Shar could have stood up and looked around, he would have found that even the blizzard couldnt hide the large amount of the barricade-forming debris. ...This is completely preposterous. Shar blankly muttered to himself. A large weapon with the silhouette resembling that of a mantis moved forward with broad steps. Its two front legs seemed to have Gatling guns, but the scale of destruction was obviously completely different. Was this scene of disaster caused by the firepower of a tanks smoothbore gun firing thousands of cannon rounds every minute? To be honest, there was no obvious reason to bind a gun to a set cannon fire rate...unless it was out of bad taste. FIVE_Over. Modelcase_RAILGUN. Shar didnt understand the meaning of the writing on the machine, but he could tell that it was a monster. This monster was spewing out a large amount of cannon shells. The monsters were either moving on the snowy plains or flying in the skies, and Shar could identify at least twenty of the machines. It was blatantly clear the gap in technological might. It was like using stealth bombers on cavalry. It was no longer a matter of mere supernatural powers. That was not the only weapon of Academy City. There were a lot of weird people gathered in the Natural Selector tournament, but it was impossible to imagine that they could defeat those large mantises barehanded. (We cant win.) Shars immediate thought was that of hopelessness. The idea of trying to take the initiative was wrong. Defeat aside, he was even wondering if escape would be a form of victory. If he were to decide, it was just a matter of whether to resist until death, or not resist and die. Which path would be more painful? Which path would gain more honor? Which path would gain redemption? Shar felt that it was similar to security software. In a certain faraway country, with a single mouse click, a large number of unmanned weapons could begin to take action to clean up any antagonistic partiesor rather, eliminate them. During this process, the details of actions taken would have no bearing at all. Once it was shown that there were no enemies remaining, everyone would rejoice. It was that kind of war. They had made a mistake fighting this enemy. They had made a mistake in how they fought. If there was an enemy, there would be a massacre. It was that kind of war. Thus, there was no differentiation between Academy City and the Anti-Academy City forces. The moment the virus list in the security software updated, they lost all chance of being spared. Shar and the rest were just elevated to the level in the latest generation of the update where they were to be eliminated. They were then discovered. They were then attacked. They were then killed. ... At that moment, Shar Berylan held his breath. All of the sounds vanished. He knew what this unnatural silence meant. His teeth were chattering, and he remained prone on the ground as he slowly lifted his head. As the degree of motion was too awkward, his head throbbed, but there was no time to be concerned with that. It flew. It stopped. The large machine resembling a mantis had flown like a bee or a dragonfly above Shars head. The sickle-shaped arm pointed the Gatling gun and aimed at Shar. He watched the cluster barrel spin rapidly, and realized something. (Ah, its not that the sound has vanished, but that theres something wrong with my head.) However, the machine didnt continue. The monster seemed likely to be linked with a mobile radar as it could even shoot down fighter planes and the air-to-surface missiles. Thus, even if he continued to roll a few times like those action movies, there wouldnt be any change to the outcome. It was over. (Just like how viruses are killed, Ill be cleaned off and represented with a kill counter of + 1.) However, right when Shar Berylan thought that, a strange change happened. The mantis behavior suddenly changed. It wasnt just the one machine that was aiming at Shar from above, as he could see that the other 20+ machines guns were pointed at a certain location. It was clearly a precautionary move. The powered suits had clearly gone from eliminating the enemy to searching for the enemy. (What? Whats going on?) The sweat on Shars body was stuck. He continued to lie on the ground with his eyes being the only part of his body moving. Someone was on the edge of his vision. In this white hell, a silhouette was standing there. They wore a long coat. A helmet covered their face. They had an androgynous profile that made it hard to tell whether they were male or female. Shar didnt know whether they would improve the situation, but he felt that it was strange for the surrounding mantises to focus on that person. ... The person remained silent. They merely clenched their right hand tightly. Volume 4, Sub.09 Volume 4, Sub.09 Oumi Shuri was a competitor within Natural Selector and a kunoichi of the Kouga school. Her body had been modified to the point that she looked around ten years old despite actually being older than thirty. Various diseases existed that stopped ones body from growing, so it was not an impossible thing to do. That alone would merely lead to her aging according to her years but with a small body. However, things like the Clostridium botulinum bacteria could be used to maintain the skin and preserve the look of a child on the surface. She wore a showier outfit than usual for the official matches, but it was still not too different from her normal role. The cheerleader-like outfit and the school bag strapped on her back over one shoulder gave her an overall unnatural look. However, that out of place feeling worked to Oumi Shuris advantage given her role as the first one to appear on the scene. In terms of stage magic, she was the misdirection. She gathered everyones focus which created a blind spot. That safe area could then be used by her comrades to employ their own tricks. That was how they pulled off the miraculous-seeming ninja strategies that their enemies could not keep up with. This meant her role was an absolutely crucial cornerstone to it all. It was the core needed for success. A showily dressed ninja seemed counterintuitive, but hers was an all important role that decided the fate of the entire team. Of course, by showing up first and gathering all the attention, the enemy focused all their attacks on her. The fact that she had survived such dangerous situations showed just how skilled Oumi Shuri truly was. Unlike the other competitors, the foundation of Oumi Shuri and the Kougas strategies lay in working in teams, but what she wanted from Natural Selector was quite simple. She wanted to achieve the ninja techniques that used true supernatural powers like the ones seen in movies or dramas. She wanted to obtain the technical foundation for those. Simply put, she (or rather, they) did not want the glory of being the champion of Natural Selector. They understood that they would not approach the supernatural simply by expanding on the realistic ninja techniques they already had. Their plan was to fight the other competitors, determine if their abilities would be of any use, and analyze any systems or information that they thought they could use. By only working behind the scenes no matter how far they entered the spotlight was how Oumi Shuri and the others had carried on the Kouga name to the 21st century. Some of them believed it would be faster to infiltrate Japans Academy City to analyze supernatural powers, and a different faction of the Kouga had in fact already done so. However, that would not work. They would not give in to Academy City. They would not submit to them and ask for their leftovers. The Kouga ninja were global, so the concept of national boundaries meant nothing to them, but they were still more a part of Japans darkness than anything else. For that reason, Oumi Shuri and the others did not wish to get too close to Academy City. That was why they were in Baggage City. That was why they were in the Natural Selector tournament. That was why they were approaching the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. Or so it should have been. Why is Baggage City being destroyed on the first day of the tournament? muttered Oumi Shuri as she ran down a narrow and winding passageway. She was in the underground area of Baggage City. As Baggage City was one of the snowiest areas in the world, its hot water heating facility was effectively the citys lifeline. A network of underground hot water pipes connected to the various buildings in the city, and labyrinthine underground passageways had been built under the entire city to maintain those pipes. Naturally, those passageways were off limits. However, no one remained to stop her. She skillfully moved her hand that had been purposefully kept small and a silver sparkling blade spun around. It was a one-handed gardening trowel. After all, even the traditional kunai had its roots as a digging tool rather than a projectile. (I doubt any of the other competitors are going to accept that the fight is over just because the official tournament may be over. They all had their reasons for coming here. As long as they can still use Baggage City to get what they want, the fight will continue even with the ring and rules shattered.) Oumi Shuri thought as she hid her presence and checked her surroundings. (This is just a difference between fighting in the ring and outside it. Even if the rulers are gone, our Natural Selector will continue. I should assume I will have to fight any other competitors I run across.) Beyond that, there was one more thing she had to keep in mind. Her natural enemy. An enemy she absolutely had to keep in mind if she was to survive. And ironically, this enemy was also an outsider but not a registered competitor in Natural Selector. Baggage City and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians in charge had been overwhelmingly crushed by an elite unit known as the Kiharas that Academy City, the embodiment of the science side, had sent. That was bad enough on its own, but it seemed Baggage City had also had a secret weapon. She had overheard them use the term Gremlin, but she had no idea what it meant. Oumi Shuri had come across this information in various ways such as listening in on their conversations during battle or from the Baggage City defensive units during their final moments. However, she could not believe any of what they were saying. She started to think they might be using some kind of code because she could not see how it could be literally true. Irrational violence versus irrational violence. Things had gone beyond merely getting involved with the supernatural. An overwhelming oppression squeezed at the hearts of all who were there. Was this what she and her comrades were going to learn from? Was it right to learn from something like that? Would it not lead to the entire Kouga organization gaining more enemies in the end? With those vague concerns, Oumi Shuri continued to run through the winding passageway in search of a safe spot from which to gather information. As she ran, she could hear explosions and feel tremors coming from multiple directions. She had no idea if Natural Selector would be able to continue, but that was no reason for her to end her mission. She would instead try to gather some hints from the opponent strong enough to bring down the entire tournament. At a corner near the center of one of the tremors, Oumi Shuri pressed her back up against the wall. Using a small microphone connected by cables in her clothes to a radio, she contacted the others working with her. Sakata, Asai, Yasu. Can you hear me? I have run across a treasure in Area 32 of the East Block. However, I am unsure if I alone am enough to bring it back safely. In the name of backup, I would like others recording from different angles. Can you get in place in time? With a bit of static, familiar voices responded. However, the emotion in the voices was not familiar. Shit. I cant shake her!! Wha? You damn monster!! Im being over taken!! A high-pitched noise stabbed into Oumis ear. At first she thought it was static, but she was wrong. Something she could not identify was occurring on the other end of the transmission. Yeah, yeah... It makes me feel a bit awkward, but I guess I dont have a choice... Oumi Shuri heard a delicate girls voice. This voice she did not recognize. And it likely belonged to the one causing the chaos. I understand, Amata-ojichan. A Kihara would do something like this!! Loud noises of solid objects breaking and wet sounds like soft fruit being crushed continued for a bit after that. It sounded as if a giant maw was eating a human. Shit, cursed Oumi Shuri. She tried to contact the other members again, but did not receive the reassuring responses she had hoped for. Those desperately asking for help and those on the verge of death were better than the alternative: most of them gave no response at all. The situation had developed beyond human understanding. Oumi Shuri felt it was best to assume the Kouga unit had been swallowed up by that situation and annihilated. (I wont die empty-handed.) With her back still to the wall next to the corner, she turned her attention to the monstrous Kihara or Gremlin rampaging around that corner. (I will bring back a treasure. I will free the Kouga from that feeling of being at our limit. I must face this threat in order to say farewell to our inability to keep up with this threat!!) The for-show school bag on her back had a security buzzer on the shoulder strap. After checking that the camera in the small device was functioning, she focused on controlling her breathing. She did not have to win. She did not even have to fight. To benefit the Kouga as a whole, she only had to peer in, record even a fragment of the knowledge there, and bring it back. Her purpose was not to show off her presence like a hero or a monster. She was acting so that the treasure could be used in the future. With that in mind, she used all of her ability to blend into the background. And then... Oumi Shuri heard a rustling sound from behind her. As she had her back to the hot water pipe maintenance passageway wall and was turning to peer around the corner, the noise came from an absolute blind spot. Also, it came from an area that cut off her path of retreat. !? She immediately spun around. Only a few meters away was a man in a military uniform. It seemed the man had happened across her by chance. What had looked like lockers lining the wall had actually been openings to other narrow passageways. Was he a Baggage City security guard? A Kihara? Or was he whatever Gremlins was? She had no idea who he was, but what she had to do remained the same. (I have to take him out!!) She focused on the gardening trowel-type kunai in her dominant hand, but the man took action quicker. He was already swinging down a blade that was more a machete than a knife. She did not have time to take offensive action. She might have been able to kill the man, but he would definitely kill her in the process. That left only the option of avoiding the mans first attack and then counterattacking. But... (With the length of his legs and the length of his weapon, he has a range of three meters if he takes one step. I dont have enough space to move back with that corner there!!) Oumi Shuri clicked her tongue and reached for the cloth lunch bag hanging from the school bag. It was actually a spare equipment pouch and she grabbed the powerful light installed on the bottom. While stepping a bit backwards but not far enough to be out of range, she hit the switch and sent a flash of light at the wall directly behind her. Immediately afterwards, the blade swung down from above. The sound of slicing wind caused her pulse to quicken. But... !? Nice try, but you missed. The sharp tip of the blade had passed right by the end of Oumi Shuris nose, but her young eyes did not even blink. She had clearly known she was safe. The man had misjudged the distance. She had made sure he would. The human eye could not accurately judge the distances of objects placed over a pure white background. The flash of bright light Oumi Shuri had sent behind her had reflected back and created a makeshift white screen. Now that she had avoided the first attack, it was time for her counterattack. Before the man could deliver a second attack, she rushed in close and stabbed the tip of her gardening trowel-type kunai in toward the mans stomach. Victory was surely hers. However, the tip of the kunai never reached the mans stomach. It was blocked. But not by the man in the military uniform. It had been blocked by a user of the truly absurd supernatural powers that Oumi Shuri longed for. Volume 4, Sub.10 Volume 4, Sub.10 The person had her hair tied in locks and was dressed up as a maid. However, it wasnt the get-up of someone working in an old French-style city, but the get-up of a maid on a certain electronics street, giving out leaflets that were poorly designed and had a fluorescent yellow based color. The mini-skirt, the frills, the black corset and the psychedelic outfit that broke historical tradition were extremely abnormal. However, what was more ridiculous than this get-up was the way that person showed up. Directly under the militaristic man. The girl that crouched her body seemed to have gotten under the opponents feet as she launched a sudden attack on Oumi Shuri. With a stiff sound, the girls hands grabbed Oumi Shuris garden shovel kunai. The girl in maid clothing showed a smile and whispered to her. Thats enough of a commotion. If you want to say that killing him is the only way to survive, then Ill just take you out right here. Immediately after, the girl used her hands to grab Oumi Shuris kunai and her leg was suddenly extended out to the ceiling. It wasnt aimed at the face of the man in military attire. The inside of the slender leg of the girl curled and held itself around his wrist that was holding the dagger like a handcuff. The girl then spun. Her other leg on the ground kicked off hard. With Oumi Shuris kunai as the axis, her legs spun like bamboo dragonflies. The pain that came with her wrist being grabbed caused Oumi Shuri to let go of the kunai. The maid then spun again while using her hand to grab onto the inside of the military-dressed mans knee. Suddenly, the girls head was now higher than the mans position. She then used the knee of the leg she used to leap up to slam hard into the mans jaw. Oh my. The knee was buried into the mans face, and the girl moved it outwards before using the other knee that was holding down the opponents wrist to press down on the mans shoulder. She didnt care that she was wearing a skirt and pressed her entire weight down. She had positioned herself where she could restrain the mans head with her thighs, causing the man to fall back like that. All right. A blunt sound rang. The girl who sat on the man checked that her butt and the floor pancaked the target and made him lose consciousness. She stood up and used both hands to toy with the dagger and the kunai. ...Um. Did I give too much service? Though I deliberately used such shameful actions to hurt my pride a little bit, but that made my defeated opponent gain something out of it...Honestly, my talents really troubling me. As she watched the girl mutter, Oumi Shuri cautiously put her hands behind her back. On first look, it seemed that she was using a tricky fighting technique of using her arms to run forward before lashing out with her legs. However, this alone wouldnt be enough to explain her actions. Everyone knew that Kouga ninja skills were rationalized through logical circumstances. Thus, she knew that it was impossible to do that action using a human bodys muscles. No matter how she thought about it, there were a lot of paradoxes to it, but this person still charged right towards her goal in such a stance. It was obviously a supernatural power. This was a person who used something Oumi Shuri wanted. Who are you? Mm. Kumokawa Maria. The girl dressed in the strange maid outfit clearly introduced herself. Im from Academy City, but dont worry. I have no relation to those people who attacked this city. Im not a participant of Natural Selector, but our goal is the same. Like you, Im here to watch battles between monsters. But in the first place, Im just simply looking for someone. ... Even though she said that, their levels of resolve were far different. Oumi Shuri, who systematically joined Natural Selector to safely obtain information about supernatural powers, and Kumokawa Maria, who snuck in even knowing that she would end up in a fierce fight with the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. To be honest, if Oumi Shuri had known that it would be this dangerous, she probably would have changed her plans. Either way, it would be bothersome if her aims were known by others. Oumi Shuri started gathering strength in the hand behind her back, but then Kumokawa Maria called her out to stop her. Stop it. Using a red pepper water gun wont be able to hurt my eyes. If you want to hurt my pride, you better bring along a flamethrower. I do have steamed yellow mustard and fresh green wasabi. Ah...Forget about the peppers. Theres a risk that I could lose my vision with wasabi. Speaking of which, those dont have the JIS mark, right? Kumokawa Maria moved the conversation ahead. Even if we fight, youll be the loser. If youre fine with that, be my guest, but whenever possible, I try to avoid meaningless battles. Its not an interesting experience to kill off a life I barely managed to save. To be honest, my carefully maintained and slightly hurt pride may just snap. Why...why are you so confident...? I dont think I would lose to an opponent that could only use both hands to fight when I use all four limbs. My hands can be used for walking, and I can use my right hand and right leg to jump pretty far, you know? Would you like some time to work out how many dozens of times the difference is between us? Oumi Shuri thought about that. Youre lying. So you saw through it? Its true I can''t jump far like that, but its possible for me to use my right hand and right foot to throw or twist. I can use my right leg for kendo and my left leg to throw a javelin. When I used my feet to wield a bamboo sword, the professionals got furious though. But I''ve never lost. ... Oumi Shuri tried to draw out the water gun of liquid red pepper that was hidden under her skirt and quickly fire it. Immediately after, Kumokawa Marias head moved 180 degrees to where her knee had just been. She didnt care that what was under her skirt was exposed as she lifted a leg towards the ceiling to maintain her balance before using her right hand and leg to stand. This not only increases my ways to attack, it even drastically changes where my vitals are. Against someone like you with combat skills trained specifically towards fighting opponents who stand on two legs, I have an incredible advantage. Kumokawa gently spun around like a ballet dancer. Her head and limbs returned back to position too. Originally, I would have attacked out of the blue using my hand to grab onto your foot, and then my foot will slam onto your head. Just now was a trial period so it doesn''t count, but I suppose free service time is over? However, Oumi Shuri realized that her skill wasnt perfect. No matter whether it was a hit, a grappling move, or a throw, the power would be closely related to the enemys mass. Tricky movements would just be in the way of the shifting of body weight, but it appears Kumokawa Maria used unique spinning movements to increase her power. Or rather, it was a supernatural power that couldnt be explained from before. Centrifugal force. So, how about it? Wanna go? No thanks. Oumi Shuri reached a hand out, and Kumokawa Maria tossed the confiscated gardening trowel-type kunai back at her. Oumi Shuri had her weapon back and started to reevaluate the situation. Right now, what she should do wasnt to seek victory just to prove her existence. But to obtain the treasure known as the supernatural power to build a bridge leading to victory. And to elevate the entire Kouga to that level. Thus, even if she was looked down on, she shouldnt feel hurt. Or rather, the stubborn insistence on the meaningless victory and benefit and getting beaten without leaving anything behind would be even more senseless. What do you intend to do? Kumokawa Maria said to the pondering Oumi Shuri. What? What do you mean? The corner. Im asking you if you intend to peep there. Explosions and tremors. Right now, at the other side of the corner, it seemed that the storm between the Kiharas and Gremlin continued. It was a battle between humans who were using knowledge that surpassed humanity to their fullest, something the Kouga has longed for. It already took all of her strength just to spy on them. She would definitely die if she became involved. She may not even have time to distinguish between the two, and would be devoured immediately if she challenged them. Even in that sort of situation, Oumi Shuri answered. ...Im going. Due to the thorough modification of her physical body, the girl who looked ten years old was the elite who had the role of the Pioneer. Those eyes showed the light of her existence that would not be extinguished no matter what damage happened to her body. I must obtain the stepping stone that will revitalize the Kouga. It doesnt matter even if Natural Selector cant continue. If this is something one must do, then as long as I come forward, it means others will not need stepping into such a threat in the future. I must go no matter what. Kumokawa Maria sighed. She shook her head from side to side. Then... I guess theres no choice. Ill hurt my pride to protect your life. There was no more time for questions. Immediately after, Kumokawa Maria landed on four limbs and leaped over in a puzzling manner. Oumi Shuri lost consciousness. Volume 4, Main.11 Volume 4, Main.11 Fuuuck fuuuck fuckiiing fuuuck, sang a girl as she scattered fresh red blood about Baggage City. She was in Baggage Citys garbage disposal facility. The hot water pipes and passageways connected there as well. In fact, the heat produced by burning the garbage was used to run the hot water heating facility, so it could even be called the core of Baggage City. A few different facilities such as the thermal power station and the oil refinement plant functioned as the cornerstones that kept the hot water heating facility running, so if all of them were to be knocked out, Baggage City would be sent to a hell of below -20 degree temperatures. The battlefield had distorted like an amoeba. It had gone from being a safely maintained circular ring to a garbage disposal facility where human life was viewed as holding no value. From how her attacks were mass producing the color red, it may have been hard to tell that the girl was actually on the side of the defenders. Her silver hair was braided. She had brown skin and wore glasses with red frames. As she was wearing overalls over her bare skin, her outfit was a bit odd for walking around town or for heading through a snow-covered area. She held a hammer and a saw made of gold. Normally, pure gold was resistant to corrosion and oxidation but had low solidity. In other words, it was too soft a metal to use as a blade. However, that standard knowledge meant nothing to that brown girl. Her gold tools could cut steel, break concrete, and alter humans in psychedelic ways. She was a formal member of Gremlin. She was a living Dvergr. She was Marian Slingeneyer. She was not actually moving very fast. In fact, she was moving quite slowly. Her speed was no quicker than a normal girl wasting time on the way back home. However... Woof, woof. Growl, muttered Marian as she stabbed her gold saw at the wall. For some reason it stuck. As soon as she let go of it, the saw shot toward the enemy line at the speed of an automobile. The Academy City assassins had assumed her range was only that of the saw, and they could do nothing but stand still in shock at the sudden change in her reach. Blood sprayed in to the air. Gah!? Gyaaahh!! Grease! Did she cover the wall in grease so the saw would slide on it!? Too slow. The gold saw left the wall and arced complicatedly through the air, chopping the multiple soldiers to pieces as they stood in place. But immediately afterwards, their bodies were whole once more. None of them had bled a drop of blood this time. What...? Hmm? You should take a good look at your arms and legs. Marian grabbed the saw that had returned to her via the wall, spun it around a few times, and then pointed at the soldiers with its deadly tip. Doesnt it look like theyve been forcibly stuck together? Its like pieces from multiple jigsaw puzzles have been mixed together. No...way... Oh, and I never performed any compatibility tests, so if you dont hurry, a transplant rejection is probably going to start. If you dont want to die, youll need to get your own parts back. Ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? It was unclear if they really intended to attack their fellow soldiers, but those around them reacted. The unharmed soldiers who had been swallowed up by the bizarre atmosphere decided the others were going to attack, so they treated them like enemies and shot them. What a tragedy, muttered Marian Slingeneyer quietly. In the time their attention had been drawn away due to fear, she had approached much closer to the surviving soldiers. That was when an assassin hiding among the collapsed bodies shot at her at close range with a handgun. However, Marian swung her golden saw without even looking over. Immediately afterwards, both the assassins hands disappeared. They had not been severed. Instead, everything beyond his two wrists had been turned into a single golden faucet. This put him in a similar situation to having his hands cuffed and the components making it up were nothing more than his normal arms and a normal faucet. However, the scene they created together was simply too grotesque. Human modification. Her Dvergr techniques went beyond the realm of surgery and actually functioned as combat techniques. A-ah... As the assassin stared blankly at his changed hands, Marian Slingeneyer patted him on the shoulder. Good try. She grinned. But accomplishing nothing still gets you 0 points. Too bad. Without hesitation, she turned on the faucet. With the sound of flowing liquid, the dark red liquid that gave him life easily poured out. Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? With both your hands turned into a single faucet, you cant even turn it off. Now, how much blood loss is lethal to humans again? Well, Im sure a bucketful is enough...hm? Hes already unconscious? The assassin convulsed as he sank into the pool of his own blood. Showing no concern, Marian Slingeneyer continued to walk forward. Im really not the combat type, so I thought this would be harder. Im quite disappointed in Baggage Citythat is, the Anti-Academy City Science Guardiansfor being so utterly defeated by nothing more than this. They might not even buy us the time we needed. With that annoyed comment, Marian pointed the end of the gold saw toward her feet. Before an assassin hiding behind cover could fire his rifle at her, she tore through the throat of a soldier who was collapsed on the ground and was just barely breathing. When she did, a loud child-like soprano scream that seemed to exceed the limits of the human vocal cords erupted out. A young scream. The frequency that humans found the most irritating. While the assassin behind covers body froze in response to that sudden explosion of noise, Marian Slingeneyer approached him head on with long strides. She swung her gold hammer like a baseball bat. Daruma Otoshi!! The assassins entire abdomen was blown away. The blunt mass of flesh shot out like a shell and crushed another assassin located a distance away. B-bgh... Youre still not dead? Marian scratched at her head. If you had just died here, you could have gone to your grave without getting too messed up. With long strides, Marian approached the assassin who had been hit by the abdomen of his fellow assassin that had been removed like he was a toy. Giving up on his dropped rifle, he tried to pull out his handgun while collapsed on the ground, but she crushed his arm underfoot and took out both his legs with one blow of the saw. His two legs became two wheels. The assassin screamed at the disgusting yet painless change. You have a straight path to the compost tank. Have fun suffocating in the rotting trash, Marian whispered as if to a lover. Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? It was too late for him to even try grabbing at the floor with his fingernails. Still collapsed, the assassin was dragged along the ground at high speed, disappearing down a passageway. The scene was similar to a victim being swallowed up into the sea in a horror movie featuring a giant shark. Is this all youve got? Marian Slingeneyer spun around her golden weapons. She suddenly realized the great noise had vanished. Silence surrounded her. It was not that all of the assassins had been defeated. Only about a third or a fourth of them had been killed. However, the corpses and transformed piles of flesh she had created were enough to cause those unharmed to drop their weapons and fall to the floor. That was a fate worse than death. That hackneyed term was often used in movies and novels, but it had a way of destroying all thoughts in ones mind when it was actually seen. People were meant to wish for life and fear death. When that basis of thought was no longer functioning, all other thought patterns were cut off as well. Is that all the great Academy City can do? Then Im a bit disappointed. I thought you guys were the winners of World War III? All of them held their breath and desperately tried to hide the fact that their heart was still beating. The slight sound of breathing that still escaped their mouths caused Marian to frown. She would use her gold saw and hammer to kill some and transform others into some inhuman form. The remaining assassins could no longer move. Their hearts had been utterly defeated. They did not even have the courage to flee. Or more specifically, they did not have the courage to take any action that would draw her attention. However, Marian Slingeneyer did not hesitate. If they resisted, she chased them down and killed them. If they did not, she chopped them down like weeds. Sigh. Its so much easier when I can get them to take each other out. Like this, I actually have to fight. This is why I dont like combat. Hmm, Im a bit worried about my diet. Marian stuck a hand inside her overalls and rubbed her stomach while using the other hand to swing about the gold saw. By accurately targeting the internal organs and immediately sealing the external wounds afterwards, she killed them such that they filled up like water balloons due to internal bleeding and did not dirty the area. Just as Marian was satisfied with the absolute silence in the area, she heard the sound of creaking metal. ? Oh, dear. I dont recognizeOh, dear. Oh, dear. Where am I? A woman wearing pajamas was there. From the fact that she was in a wheelchair, she must not have had full use of her legs. She had a wired button sitting on her lap. She may have been a patient from a Baggage City hospital who had taken the chaos of the Academy City attack as an opportunity to get outside the hospital. Her expression was very gentle. She had likely not yet seen the things Marian had created. Who are you? asked Marian. Oh, are you...umm, is that the uniform of a garbage disposal facility worker? The furnace I use is a bit different. It does get to some high temperatures, though. Marian scratched at her head with the hand holding the grip of her gold saw. If you want the exit, take a right there and youll find the door two hundred meters down the passageway. You should be quick about it. This is a pretty dirty place. It may have been hard to imagine from the gruesome things she had been doing, but as stated before, Marian was one of the people protecting Baggage City. For the moment at least. As such, she had no real reason to modify the people of Baggage City. The woman in the wheelchair bowed her head forward and said, Thank you very much. ...Oh? Im caught on this cable on the floor. Its just too high...Oh, dear. Oh, god. What a pain. Marian Slingeneyer casually approached the pajama-wearing woman and circled around behind her wheelchair. She grabbed the handle and leaned her weight on it to raise the wheels over the thick cable. Ngh. This is a heavy wheelchair. Is it electric? Electric assisted, yes. If I dont exert myself some, my body will just get weaker and weaker, so its set so I dont have it too easy. See, this box is the controller. Yeah, I get it. Im the indoor type, too. I do have to swing a hammer for my job though, so I do have a bit of upper body strength. Are you a carpenter? Not quite. I have no interest in building a castle. By the way, Marian said as she pushed the wheelchair. Is it hard getting around in a wheelchair? It can be, yes. But it does give you plenty of opportunities to meet kind people. Like this for instance. I see. But with how many cables and unlevel areas there are in this garbage disposal facility, how did you get this far in a wheelchair? ...Oh, dear. It doesnt make any sense. It seems to me you purposefully got yourself stuck on that cable in order to draw me in close. ... Marians eyes narrowed and she tightened her grip on the gold saw. Meanwhile, the pajama-wearing woman was still grinning. Suddenly, the sound of metal clashing with metal rang out. Marian Slingeneyer had simply swung the gold saw straight down. What the pajama-wearing woman had done was unclear. The handle of the wheelchair had suddenly jerked from Marians grasp and the wheelchair had rotated 180 degrees. That much Marian understood. However, that was all she understood. Something had knocked away her saw, but even afterwards, she had no idea what it had been. Marian Slingeneyers body was knocked violently back and her back struck and crushed the equipment against the wall. The womans wheelchair had left smoking tire marks on the floor in the shape of a perfect circle. While sitting above that circle, she pressed a button on the wired box in her lap. It was unclear how they fit inside or even if it was possible given the law of conservation of mass, but an arm-like light machine gun and a shotgun (or cannon?) with a caliber great enough to fit a human arm within emerged from the back of the wheelchair. Both guns had the same thing written on the side using the alphabet. Made_in_KIHARA. If youve figured it out, I guess theres no point in holding back!! The sound of the gunfire alone sounded loud enough to damage ones internal organs. A storm of steel flew through the air. In an instant, Marian Slingeneyers silhouette was utterly destroyed as she lay sunk into the crushed machinery. Her upper body was turned into a thick red liquid. And her lower body was... What, is that kind of joke popular in Academy City? ? The voice had come from the remaining lower body. No. Another Marian Slingeneyer was crouching down at the feet of the crushed one. However, that was not accurate either. The pajama-wearing woman using the name Kihara quickly re-aimed her weapons. So thats the real one!? Thats a decoy too, you idiot, said a voice from right next to her. The pajama-wearing woman turned around and saw a third completely naked Marian Slingeneyer swinging down that gold saw that had turned only the outer appearance of some defeated Academy City soldiers into a smooth girl. But once more, the wheelchair made a short, quick, blurring movement and some kind of equipment clashed with Marians saw, causing orange sparks to fly. Tire marks were left on the floor and smoke from the friction rose up. By Marians reckoning, the woman could probably fence and win while sitting in that wheelchair. Whether she could hold the sabre was another question. (Tch. This is why I hate these freaks. And why I hate combat.) She must have left spares scattered about her territory because Marian pulled a new pair of overalls out from behind some equipment and put them on. As the wheelchair moved back with a squeaking noise, it moved frighteningly smoothly as if the cables and other obstacles were not there at all. The pajama-wearing woman was grinning as always. So you were faking it. You can handle yourself well enough even if you cant stand up. I, Kihara Byouri, am a pro at giving up. I have given up on all sorts of things myself and I have made others give up on all sorts of things. So give up, Gremlin. ...Ohhh, I see. Thats quite a nice way to live. But is it really that surprising? Id say there are very few people who have never once faked needing help. Id say the desire to give up is one of the major desires of humanity. Kihara Byouris job was to preserve order in that way. If a terrorist group planned to destroy Academy City, she would make them give up. If someone was trying to leak information on Academy City tech, she would make them give up. If someone was developing a new weapon of mass destruction in a negative way, she would make them give up. Making people give up and give up and give up was how Kihara Byouri formed her trophy collection. She had a pile of ruined ambitions that had been twisted, broken, and crushed. But then, this was nothing more than the result of taking her natural disposition and mixing it with society. Kihara Byouri herself was one to give up on things. Marian Slingeneyer clicked her tongue while staring at the wheelchair that was covered in lies. Kihara, was it? If I recall, there were more of you. But coming here like this will only lead to your defeat. I have given up on Ransuu-kun, but theres still Enshuu-chan. So there are at least three of you. And from the way you said that, I doubt there are hundreds or thousands of you here. In that case, I would think your methods would be a bit different. Your methods arent much different. You invite in five or ten combat obsessed idiots and the entire plan falls apart from the inside. What a pain, muttered Marian. Well, I hope you dont mind if I do my best to crush you. With a whoosh, Marian swung her saw. The wall the saw blade dug into bled. No. It was a soldier that had been transformed to look just like the wall. He burst open like a balloon, and blood and fat splattered across the wall and floor. It was likely some kind of ritual for better using the gold tool. Before, Marian had sent that saw racing across that wall that was now covered in fresh gore to attack the soldiers. However, Kihara Byouris smile did not waver even upon seeing that grotesque scene. Is that your best? What a disappointment. Marian held up her gold hammer and saw, and Kihara Byouri pressed the button on her lap in response. The wheelchairs wheels disassembled. The multiple spokes split apart and the evenly-divided portions of wheels were brought to the ground. What remained was a unit supported by multiple legs like a spider. She may have been impressed with the craftsmanship because Marian let out a whistle. Now that must have taken some doing. You remind me of ''Lone Wolf and Cub''. But it is a baby carriage. After that slight exchange, the two monsters clashed at top speed. Volume 4, Main.12 Volume 4, Main.12 Oumi Shuri let out a small groan. She could tell she was lying on the floor. The one who had knocked her out, Kumokawa Maria, was peering down at her face. She held a lemon slice in her hand. She must have used it to wake Oumi Shuri. They were no longer at the passageway corner from before. They were in a wide area filled with concentric circles of desks. The area was also filled with large monitors. It may have been a control room for the supply of hot water to Baggage City, but it was odd that they were the only two there. Would it normally have been abandoned? Had the workers fled due to all the trouble? Or had they already been eliminated by the attackers? Really, that did not matter. The real issue was that she had been taken away from the fight between Kihara and Gremlin. She had lost her once in a lifetime chance. !! As she sat up, Oumi Shuri tried to stick her gardening trowel-type kunai at Kumokawa Marias throat, but Kumokawa easily held it back with both hands. She then performed a handstand with Oumi Shuris kunai at the center, spread her legs wide, and rotated like a bamboo copter. The weapon was ripped from Oumi Shuris hand. Kumokawa Maria brought her right leg to the ground and spun around her newly acquired blade. Like I said, you cant win. And if you cant handle something like this, you definitely shouldnt peer in any deeper. It wont just be your pride that gets hurt. Those with no experience with this kind of threat cannot react properly when faced with it. Or do you not even understand something of this lev Kumokawa Marias sentence was suddenly cut off. The reason was simple. Without warning, a bazooka had been fired into the room. Kumokawa Maria immediately placed only her left foot on the ground and bent her body like a giant bridge. The bazooka shell pierced through the area her upper body had just been in, but when it struck the wall beyond and exploded, the shockwave it sent out was unavoidable. Geh...!? Kumokawa Maria lost her balance, was knocked over, and her balled up form rolled smoothly across the ground. By not fighting that flow, she had avoided any direct hits from the shells shrapnel or the pieces of the wall. As she rolled, she immediately tried to recover. But instead, she felt a dull sensation. At some point, a third party had entered the transmission control center. Kumokawa Maria had been stopped by that persons foot. (Not good. The bazooka was meant to draw our attention while this person quickly entered the room!) The figure looking down at Kumokawa held up a giant tube. It was the bazooka that had fired the shell. The attacker was about to swing it down as a blunt weapon. Kumokawa Maria had immediately taken action to avoid the bazooka shell when it had been fired, but now she felt something cold run down her back. Her movements slowly but surely stopped. The instant afterwards, her consciousness was knocked away. ... Oumi Shuri heard a heavy thud. Having no more use for it, the attacker tossed aside the blunt weapon. Despite how easily she had handled Oumi Shuri, Kumokawa Maria had been taken out in less than ten seconds. Sensing what a great threat this attacker was, Oumi Shuri started counting the weapons she had hidden in her clothes. It was meant to help her retain her calm, but it had the opposite effect. No matter what she used, she doubted she could win. Meanwhile, the attacker said, Umm, I really dont like this at all. It would be best if we could resolve this without fighting, but... The attacker was a short girl. She seemed to be around middle school age. Her black hair had buns on the left and right and she wore a large sweater, a miniskirt, and black stockings. The lack of unity to her outfit that made it look like she had just bought everything the clerk had recommended somehow matched her hesitant mood. Her one other notable trait was what hung down from her neck. A cell phone, a small 1seg TV, and a handheld device. The precision devices with small screens clattered against each other as they hung down. But as a Kihara I have no choice. Oumi Shuri heard a slight electronic noise and all the countless monitors lining the transmission control center turned on at once. Displayed on them were countless graphs changing at high speed. At first glance the meaning of the graphs was unclear, but the attacker girls pupils absorbed it all. The countless graphs danced like living things within her eyes. I understand, Amata-ojichan. I dont like it. I really dont like it, but a Kihara would do it like this!! Her actions clearly changed. With quick, smooth movements, the attacker girl charged toward Oumi Shuri. (!! What!? Did she get some kind of information from that!?) Oumi Shuri stuck her index fingers in her socks and then quickly stood up, pulling something out of her socks. They were metal sheets with both ends pointed and that were only about the size of nail clippers. They were meant to be thrown, but they were different from bo-shuriken. She aimed for the floor rather than the attacker. A number of the pointed metal sheets stabbed into the wooden floor. They were stereotypical caltrops. She doubted the attacker would actually step on them, but it would slow the attacker down to avoid them. Oumi Shuri planned to finish off the attacker in that time, so she pulled out a new garden trowel-type kunai. However, something Oumi Shuri did not expect happened. Not only did the attacker girl not slow down, but she accurately kicked one of the caltrops, sending it flying straight for Oumi Shuris face. !? Oumi Shuri immediately tried to protect her face with the kunai, but the attacker girl altered the trajectory of her foot and sent a second kick at the caltrop in midair. The metal sheets trajectory greatly changed and stabbed into Oumi Shuris gut. It was not some large knife, so it was not a fatal wound, but the pain still caused her body to freeze up. Meanwhile, the attacker girl precisely and accurately cleared the danger zone of caltrops and headed straight for Oumi Shuri. Yes, yes, I understand. The writhing of the graphs on the monitors grew even more intense and the attacker girls eyes absorbed some sort of information from them. Controlling hammer-level destructive power on the microscopic level. That was your combat pattern, right, Amata-ojichan!? (...Am I done for!?) The girls right fist flew toward her. Oumi Shuri had held up her kunai defensively, but the girl struck her arm, sending the tip of the kunai straight for her face. Her throat grew dry. She could not stop the blades movement. She just barely managed to move her own kunais trajectory toward her harder forehead to avoid a fatal blow. And then a new right fist flew. This fist did not belong to Oumi Shuri or the attacker girl. It was from a complete third party. The third party wore a white coat that reached down to his ankles and a white helmet that covered his entire face. Neither of the other two were sure when he had approached. The third partys right fist accurately knocked away Oumi Shuris kunai, protecting her skull at the last second. The attacker girl changed her target. She let loose a precise and accurate punch toward the third partys face. However, the sound of the blow was too quiet. The helmeted man had determined he could not defend against her, so he had kicked at the girls feet at the same time she had thrown the punch. Without her weight behind it, the girls punch had only knocked the helmeted mans head back slightly. The attacker girl went on the defensive and stepped back a bit. Kihara Enshuu, hm? I had heard you had not yet qualified as a Kihara, muttered the helmeted man. Who are you? If you wish to harm these girls, I must make you my enemy. If you wish to save these girls, I must make you my enemy. The graphs writhed within the girls eyes. Id like some advice, Amata-ojichan. When she spoke, the pattern of the graphs clearly changed and the color changed with each new name she spoke. No. Ransuu-ojichan, Konshou-oneechan, Sokuryou-kun, Kaihou-obachan... No, no. Not that. Not that. Umm, umm... Yes, Yuiitsu-oneechan!! So you make up for the thoughts you lack by inputting them from scripts. Was your original specialty the Testaments? I have some doubts whether your personality can safely hold the patterns though. Yes, yes, Yuiitsu-oneechan. A Kihara would do this at a time like this!! A large change came over all the graphs in the room. With the graphs reflected in her eyes, the short girl raised her middle finger and shouted. Im gonna rattle all the carbon dioxide in your body and burst all the fucking blood vessels in your body!! ...Now that was nice and Kihara-like!! No. As Kihara Enshuu charged forward in attack, the helmeted man calmly reached for the buttons of his coat. Inside was... A convex shaped charge landmine!? This is what it means to be a Kihara. He unhesitatingly detonated it. A shaped charge landmine was a landmine created such that the blast went in a certain direction. If you wanted to punch a hole in the armor of a tank or other armored weapon, you could attach explosives to a crater-like concave sheet which would focus the explosive power in a single direction. If instead you wanted to spread the explosive blast over a wide area, you could attach the explosives to a mountain-like convex sheet which would spread the blast out in a fan shape. That kind was primarily used for anti-personnel mines that had to take out as many people at once as possible and they often had many small metal balls stuffed inside. The helmeted man had held a convex shaped charge landmine under his coat. Five hundred balls were scattered in a fan-shaped blast with a range of three hundred meters and an overall width of two hundred meters. (Is he insane...!?) The Kouga were knowledgeable in the use of explosives, so Oumi Shuris breath caught in her throat. Shaped charged were made so the destructive force was aimed in a certain direction. In other words, in the other direction, one would not be harmed by the explosive. However, everything had a limit. If you were holding the mine when it detonated, there was no way you would escape unscathed. Or at least, that was the case in the world of common knowledge that had nothing to do with supernatural powers. ...Damn, she got away, muttered the helmeted man. The edges of his coat had been blown away. As if to explain his survival, a bent metal sheet fell from his chest, but that was of course nowhere near enough to protect him from a blast of that magnitude. I may have been too close. I guess I drew her in too much. At the base of the fan, the danger zone gets smaller to the left and right. The helmeted man turned toward the unconscious Kumokawa Maria and then turned toward Oumi Shuri. She held up her kunai. Dont. You cannot defeat me with that. ... Oh, I wasnt looking down on you. In fact, Im saying that you have too much strength to kill me. His logic made no sense. Or perhaps anyone who could not understand it had no right to be on that battlefield. Oumi Shuri had the same feeling as if she had asked a major leaguer the key to victory and he had responded, Dont get nervous. And yet getting rid of that was her goal. To be honest, I gain nothing by fighting you two. I specialize in Kiharas. (First we have these Kiharas, then whatever Gremlin is, and now a Kihara specialist? How many different forces are present here in Baggage City?) As Oumi Shuris eyes grew more and more hostile, the helmeted man merely said, Since I do not need to fight you, I will tell you what you must do to survive. First and foremost, you must find Kamijou Touma. ...? He is here in Baggage City. Given the situation, he is likely being sent all over the place. Meeting Kamijou Touma is directly linked to your survival. To be blunt, if you do not meet him, you will die. The helmeted man said this almost too readily. Kihara Enshuu only attacked you for the decidedly un-Kihara-like concern she felt about uncertain elements like you being near Kihara Byouri. However, now that the Kiharas have seen as you as playing a role in this, it will be difficult for you to survive by normal means. That is why you must meet up with someone on the level of Kamijou Touma. Who is Kamijou Touma? Just a normal boy. He cannot solve any and all problems and I doubt he can stop Baggage City from being destroyed by the Kiharas and Gremlin. But on the other hand, he has a way of saving each and every person he sets his eyes on. Just like the Kiharas destroy each and every person they set their eyes on. You need to use someone of his level in order to escape the Kiharas. Normally, Accelerator would be best for an anti-Kihara battle, but he isnt here. As such, we have to use someone else. The helmeted man crouched down next to the unconscious Kumokawa Maria and checked her pulse and breathing. After ensuring there were no major problems, he turned back to Oumi Shuri. When this girl wakes up, tell her you will almost certainly die if you do not do as I suggested. What are you going to do? Sorry, but I have my own objective. As I said, I specialize in Kiharas. Also, I am not confident I would be able to protect you two, answered the helmeted man as he headed for the exit with his battered coat dragging along. His last words were spoken softly but in a tone that stuck with Oumi Shuri. After all, I am a Kihara myself. Volume 4, Sub.13 Volume 4, Sub.13 Kumokawa Maria awoke with a small groan. After Oumi Shuri explained the situation to her, she clicked her tongue in annoyance. Do you know him? Hes Kihara Kagun, the person Im after. But this isnt enough for me to give in. In fact, Ive made progress now that I know hes here. The reports were accurate. I dont know what your situation is, but we need to get moving, too. That bazooka girl is still alive and nothing says she wont return to finish us off. One thing first. Kumokawa Maria stood up and started patting around her showy maid uniform. She also twisted her body around in what looked like an attempt to look at her back, but Oumi Shuri could see nothing there. What are you doing? Checking for bugs or transmitters. Who knows what he could have done while I was unconscious. If Kihara Kagun knows where I am and what we are saying, he can keep eluding me even if we are in the same field. It doesnt look to me like there are any chips on your clothes. It may not be something large enough to see. If he used a nanodevice, it could have even entered a stitch in the fibers. ...Damn, muttered Kumokawa Maria. I just cant tell like this. I guess Ill have to take the clothes off and run a hot blowdryer over them. That should destroy the inner workings of any unseen devices. Cant you check for the presence of an electromagnetic signal to see if there are any bugs or transmitters? A radio should be enough to detect it. Do you know how an ant informs his comrades of a large piece of food so they can create that long procession? asked Kumokawa Maria offhandedly. Pheromones. A scent. The transmission does not need to be electromagnetic. If chemicals are used, electric circuits are not even needed. Academy City has a lot of people that use electricity or magnetism, so the development of devices that get around that has developed pretty far. And what will heating it with a blowdryer do? It will destroy the Data Pheromone system. Its something like running a blowdryer over wet paint. The paint itself will remain, but the coloration will become something warped and different from what it would be if it dried naturally. The data within will be destroyed. The method is resistant to the cold, though. And so they left the control room, walked down the passageway, and checked inside a few doors as they went. They eventually found a staff locker room where they found a blowdryer. Without hesitation, Kumokawa Maria stripped off her showy maid uniform and spread it out on the floor. She got down on all fours and started using the blowdryer on it. The area was heated but it must have still been rather cold in nothing but her underwear because Kumokawa Maria rubbed her inner thighs together. This uses synthetic fibers, so Im a bit worried its going to end up like a plastic bag. How long will this take? To do it thoroughly is going to take ten or twenty minutes. What about you? You dont need to worry about me, replied Oumi Shuri. The ninja frequently use drugs in combat and intelligence. We have a reagent that can detect this kind of thing. If something was added somewhere on my clothes, a different color would appear in that spot. So its like an improved version of the lab coat? Something like that. If any of the microscopic devices you were talking about were actually slipped onto my clothes, they were probably destroyed by the weak acid used for the reagent. They continued to speak until Kumokawa Maria had finished heating the entirety of her maid uniform with the blowdryer. She then tried to put it on, but... Hot!! This is as hot as the Comedy Hot Bath!! That tells me nothing about how hot it is. Its from the Ichihanaransai. Thats Academy Citys cultural festival which can get pretty exciting. Damn, it feels even hotter because I got so cold in just my underwear!! With tears in her eyes and while practically shouting, Kumokawa Maria somehow managed to get the showy maid uniform on. Volume 4, Sub.14 Volume 4, Sub.14 Kihara Byouri was tilted to the side. The multiple legs created from the wheelchairs wheels had been bent from powerful blows and were no longer functioning properly. A few guns and wires were sticking out of the back, but none of them looked functioning either. Her opponent had simply been too much. Marian Slingeneyer, a Gremlin magician, had completely controlled the battlefield with her gold saw and hammer. She had cornered Kihara Byouri in the garbage disposal facilitys burnable garbage area. The area contained what looked like a large pool made of steel that was used to temporarily hold the garbage to be incinerated. Wood, paper, and even bones too large for compost were dried out and then all burned together. The horrible smell stabbed at their noses. The extent of what qualified as burnable garbage was expanded due to the snowy Baggage City wishing for heat. Kihara Byouri was stopped at the edge of that steel pool and Marian Slingeneyer was spinning her hammer around in her hand. Looks like this is the limit. I still have to deal with the other Kiharas, so Ill just be modifying you into something useful as quickly as possible. Oh, dear. I really do seem to be out of options, dont I? Dont worry though. My modifications will actually be an improvement. Since youre in that wheelchair, how about I give you eight or ten legs? Hell, I could even make them rotate like a helicopter rotor. I would like to make one thing clear. I see no reason why I need to surrender just yet. Yes, you probably do have some weapons left, but look at your wheelchair. Its broken. How are you supposed to fight if you cant move around? I can always do this. With a dull clicking noise, the Kihara Byouris pajama pants ripped open. Instead of the soft bare legs of a woman, a plastic machine spreading from the back of her knees and covering the entirety of her legs was below. It looked less like armor and more like ribbons wrapped around her legs. With the sound of a motor coming from the back of her knees, Kihara Byouri smoothly stood up. Marian clicked her tongue and said, So even not being able to walk was a lie. Ive already given up on so much, so I really wanted to avoid having to stand up on my own. Are those powered casts for hospital patients? Didnt a car company make those? I think it used the technology from a dancing robot. I saw it in a commercial. That was merely what could be created with the technology outside of Academy City. In fact, it would probably be a bad idea to give a hospital patient something with the strength to kick a tiger to death. With a painful noise, Kihara Byouri pulled a machete-like blade from the back of the wheelchair. But you have gone through most of your weapons in order to corner me. In fact, youre out of ammo. You have no more people to alter in order carry out your tricky strategies. Even that saw sliding technique seemed to require fat and oils that were quite fresh from a human body. For that reason, it does not seem you will be that much of a threat anymore, so how about you give up? Marian Slingeneyer looked down at the saw and hammer she held and then sighed. All she had were tools. They were not weapons. They could of course be used to kill and do other horrible things, but their full ability could not be used in that way. The flesh-colored remains scattered about had been too far destroyed from their base form to be turned into anything else. Also, Marians territory as a Dvergr was living bodies. Manipulating the dead was the territory of the gods or the giants. She could only use the blood and fat that left the human body for the dozen or so seconds until they died. This is a problem. I doubt I can win in a fistfight. Also, arent you going a bit far with the transformations? Its a part of Japanese culture. Also, those who are hated must put in more effort and skill than those who are popular to survive this far. Humans grow the most when they stand up to difficulties. It is a shame how people hate the strongest and most skilled. It really is. Thanks to that, I have given up on so many things. But I have also made others give up on just as many things, so I do not especially hold it against the world. Kihara Byouri took a step and then another. She approached. Stepping on the flesh-colored remains scattered across the floor, Marian Slingeneyer took a few steps back, but she would never escape. With the machine assistance, it would not be difficult for Kihara Byouri to charge forward at speeds greater than a lion or tiger if she tried. How about you give up? No, not yet. Then you hope to resist to the very end? I will crush that hope with everything I have, so give up. Then Ill take you up on that offer. Marian Slingeneyer used her heel to kick up something lying at her feet. Similar to a fairly tricky way of juggling a soccer ball, the small device arced over her head from the back and she caught it in one hand. The device had been held by one of the flesh-colored objects on the floor. It was a radio used by the dark side combat unit the Kiharas had control of. Ahh, ahh. A target member of Gremlin is cornered down here in the underground garbage disposal facility. Requesting immediate concentrated fire from any nearby units. She purposefully called in the enemy. However, Marian Slingeneyer did not even view them as enemies. At their low level, they were no more than materials for her weapons. Kihara Byouris cheek twitched a bit. ...Now youve done it. Now, how many of your excellent subordinates will come running? And the better they are, the sooner theyll get here. Marian tossed aside the radio and adjusted her grip on the gold hammer and saw. Also, these soldiers are under the command of such a scary boss. If they screw up, they probably get harshly punished. After being trained under such frightening circumstances, they will probably rush here as quickly as they can. ... With the machete-like blade in hand, Kihara Byouri charged full speed toward Marian Slingeneyer. But the quick arrival of her well-trained subordinates worked against her. Kihara Byouris blade only made it within three centimeters of Marian Slingeneyers throat. The Dvergr had swung her gold axe and the soldier who had the misfortune to arrive first had his right arm grow to over twice its normal size. On Marians command, he grabbed a fire extinguisher like a one-time-use pitching machine, wound up his arm enough to damage his body, and fired it with enough force to further injure himself. With a dull noise, Kihara Byouris body flew through the air and landed in the middle of the garbage disposal pool. Hoo, now theyre all dead, muttered Marian Slingeneyer as she returned her gold tools into her overalls. With all the enemies in the area gone, she finally started feeling the damage signalsthat is, painbeing sent from throughout her body. She staggered and brought a hand to the wall. While she continued to support herself on the wall, she slowly walked down the passageway. Her primary objective had been to protect the heating facilities, so she did not leave the garbage disposal facility. Surprisingly, the living spaces for workers were not all that bad. She had remodeled one of those rooms into a hotel for herself. It had originally been protected by a magical barrier, but the attack by the Kiharas and Academy City had caused a lot of damage to the construction of the building itself. The arrangement of the signals had been forcibly thrown out of order and the barrier had ceased to function. I guess when the ground below the building is being shaken, the building itself isnt going to escape unscathed. It seemed the situation was not going to improve if she simply did what the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians told her to. The scale of their ideas was simply too small. In that way, they had lost to Academy City from the very beginning. And so she decided to take matters into her own hands. For that reason, she did not need to worry about a small barrier that only covered a single room. She had to acquire some higher level tools. Now where was it...? Ah, here we go. She opened the lid of a wooden box in the corner of the room and started to stick her hand inside but then stopped. She pulled a giant pair of pliers-like tongs out of her overalls and used them to grab the spiritual item. The edge of the wooden box was severed from the side she pulled it out from. Id rather they did not shake things up any more, so I think its time I gave a counterattack. Volume 4, Sub.15 Volume 4, Sub.15 Having determined any possible bugs or transmitters would have been safely destroyed by the heat of the blowdryer, Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri began moving again. They left the staff locker room and walked down the long underground passageway. Is there any specific path of escape? Is nowhere safe? My objective is Academy City technology and yours is that Kihara Kagun who previously contacted us. In that case, there is no real reason for us stay here in Baggage City while it is this dangerous. Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri peered around a corner. They could both tell the area they were in required more caution than a shopping mall filled with zombies. Or so they thought. Theres no one here, said Oumi Shuri in a low voice. Kumokawa agreed, and said, But doesnt that make it even creepier? They saw no one living or dead. And yet plenty of military helmets, bulletproof jackets, and assault rifles were scattered about the floor. It was unclear where their owners had gone or if those owners were even still alive. That would be either Academy City or the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. Either one would be dangerous. From Oumis perspective, both of them had strange technology. The odd situation wore on her nerves. But why would they remove all the bodies and bloodstains? Thats a good question. Neither of them are the type to soak up the last bit of soup with their bread. Hmm hm hm hmm. The humming of a girl reverberated through the area. No one was there. The cute bell-like voice sounded out of place in the eerie area that was strongly reminiscent of death. Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri slowly entered from around the corner. The ninja whose height was no greater than an elementary school student pointed toward one of the assault rifles on the floor with a small finger. Which side uses this equipment? Probably Academy City, so the attackers. I can tell from the technology used. I thought the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians used cutting edge weapons Academy City had loaned them? Do you have any idea how fast Academy City gets a new cutting edge? Kumokawa Maria reached to pick up the assault rifle, but Oumi Shuri grabbed the maids arm to stop her. I think I know the point of this. Hmm hm hm hmm hm hm. The humming grew closer. Or rather, the girl producing it was growing closer. She was of course the one that had created the mysterious situation of Academy City military equipment being scattered about the floor. Her goal was simple. She created a mysterious situation. Then she waited for that mysterious situation to draw someone out. In other words, it was a trap. If countless bodies were lying around and pools of blood were scattered about, no one would draw near. They would sense the danger and head in the opposite direction. But what if only the cutting edge equipment was left? It would seem strange, but not enough to immediately decide to run away. Also, humans had a tendency to give into their curiosity and investigate things they could not understand. Also, the equipment was made up of things like bulletproof jackets and assault rifles. In such a dangerous situation, even the most virtuous person would see no harm in possessing something like that. Oumi Shuri approached one of the bulletproof jackets, crouched down, circled around it, and sighed. I thought it looked oddly puffed up and it indeed has a grenade hidden under it. The pin has been pulled and the weight of the jacket is holding the lever down. If you pick it up, it goes boom. How can you tell? Dont just look at the scene. Look at the intention of the person who created the scene. In that case, the other equipment was likely booby-trapped as well. Even if it wasnt obvious from the outside, the rifles could easily have had something done to them on the inside. Kumokawa Maria put her hands on her hips and shook her head. So I guess we should get out of here then. ...Wait, what are you doing? This is Academy City technology. It may have nothing to do with supernatural powers, but its still worth picking up. ...I thought you had decided it was a trap? Even a trap can function as a resource. When youre running low on ammo in the battlefield, searching for landmines or wired grenades is one convenient method of finding some more. Is being a ninja these days like playing an FPS? It seemed the elementary school-size Oumi Shuri truly intended to disarm the trap. Kumokawa Maria nervously moved her hands around, but she did not dare actually stop Oumi Shuri for fear of causing her to make a mistake. To me, this seems like a case where getting greedy will lead to an unfortunate ending. This isnt a Hollywood movie. Bombs that complex are not used in actual combat. The rule of thumb for all kinds of weapons is easily set up and easily taken apart. As long as the lever of the grenade is held down, its safe. If you stick in a straightened paper clip or something in place of the pin, the trap will be neutralized. Whats the range of a grenade? There are various kinds of anti-personnel fragmentation grenades, but most of them have a range greater than ten meters. Ill be honest with you. I really wanna run away! Dont push me. No sneezing either. The process is simple, but the result of failure is simple too. If you try to pull any kind of ill-advised gags right now, this will have a real life explosion ending. Hmm hm hm. Hm hm hmm. Stay still. Hey, umm... What? Could you sit on the floor rather than bending over like that? Your panties are on full display over here. If you care, then hold my skirt down yourself!! Hm hmm! Stay still. I said still!! I think youre trembling even more than I am. Why did you start trembling the instant you sat down anyway? The floor was colder than I had expected. Also, I really have to use the bathroom! Im pretty sure youre holding down the lever of a grenade, though! Shut up! Anyway, you just hold still. If you dont, this thing will blow both of us away!! Hm hm hm hm hmm!! And then something problematic occurred. Hm hm...huh? When she arrived at the scene humming and skipping, Kihara Enshuu looked confused. No one was in the trapped passageway. In fact, there was no sign anyone had touched any of the traps. Just to make sure, she checked with an ultraviolet light, but she saw no footprints on the floor. Still too soon, said Kihara Enshuu with a troubled look on her face. Well, I set up these roach traps in twenty places, so maybe I caught something in one of the others. Meanwhile, Oumi Shuri cast aside the bulletproof jacket she had acquired. The fibers and plate within have been melted! This things useless!! Its not even worth analyzing!! Exploding packets of paint are still used today to prevent shoplifting for a reason. And there is no real reason the contents have to be paint. I have heard of chemicals being developed that are harmless to humans but will melt right through the wall of an airplane. Something like that may have been running through the plate like blood vessels. M-mhh... I understand that this was all wasted effort, but at least decide whether youre angry or embarrassed about it while rubbing your inner thighs together like that. ...At any rate, the most pathetic conclusion would be if we were attacked now. Volume 4, Sub.16 Volume 4, Sub.16 HsB-07. An updated version of the Academy City supersonic bombers that fought in World War III shot through the sky above Baggage City. To protect his body from the massive Gs, the pilot, Rokudou Ryuuichi, had his body mostly frozen. He did not use his fingers to control the giant craft and he did not use his mouth to communicate with his allies. The distribution of blood in his brain, the amount of chemicals secreted, the flow of electronic signals, and monitoring of the active regions of his brain with sonar were some of the methods of directly gathering information from his brain. The accuracy of each method was low, but that could be overcome by using multiple methods. The technology had also begun to be used experimentally in intelligence and criminal investigations. Francisca 3 to all crafts. We will attack the airport on the next turn. 1 and 2, you take the overpasses. We need to destroy every long road that can be used to launch enemy fighters. A few dozen praying mantis-looking Five Overs had already been scattered about the area, so the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians already had no means of victory. However, the Five Overs had a weakness. They were created in order to target objects on the surface. They could fly, but that was only to sweep over ground enemies from above like an attack helicopter. They were not intended to be used to shoot down multi-purpose fighters flying at supersonic speeds at high altitude. Rokudou heard (or at least interpreted it that way) his comrades voices. Its crazy for actual people like us to be putting our lives on the line to protect unmanned weapons. I thought those toys could shoot down air-to-surface missiles. If you put a chemical weapon in the warhead, itll still rain down on them from above if they shoot it down. Although this is probably us overreacting because we know about that weakness. This is the first time the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians have seen the Five Overs, so I doubt they could come up with that strategy. While chatting via thoughts faster than would be possible via mouth and ear, they each arrived at their respective target at 7,000 kph. They less dropped their bombs and more placed them in the air. Approximately 120 precision guided bombs were set at even intervals like streetlights. As gravity started to pull them down, the tail corrected their course sending them into the important points of the airport with accuracy that had a margin of error no greater than 7 mm. As his body was frozen, Rokudou had no way of turning around, but he could check the destruction on a window displayed at the edge of his consciousness. Runways, taxiways, and radar facilities 1-9 have been destroyed. Surface-to-air missiles 1-32, antiaircraft autocannons 1-20, and antiaircraft guns 1-17 have all been destroyed. The airport is essentially nonfunctional. Whew. About 48 of the straight areas of road over thirteen meters wide have been destroyed. Im going to turn around and take out the remaining 52. Ive detected about five tunnels that could be used as runways. Im going to bomb the entrances to fill them with rubble. Their results were coming in exactly as planned. The Academy City supersonic bombers had specs high enough to enter the front lines without any fighters protecting them. Their overwhelming speed and mobility prevented any ground attacks or chasing fighters from getting anywhere near them. In the current mission, the greatest threat was trouble caused by improper maintenance. That was how inadequate the Anti-Academy City Science Guardian forces were. It was true they had unmanned weapons borrowed from Academy City. However, those were merely borrowed. Also, the speed of technological advancement in Academy City was so fast that those weapons were already obsolete. It was a flawless victory. The reality did not stray from the theory in the slightest. The victors of World War III who used weapons holding the name Hard Science seemed to have an elegant formula while within that savage battle. They broke the spirits of all who wished to recklessly oppose that theory. Or so it should have been. However... What is that? Numerous points of light suddenly appeared on the radar. It was not something that had been hiding using some form of stealth. Rokudou checked the cameras on the bottom of his craft and saw something like a large missile shooting up from the surface. No...That isnt a missile. Its form is changing!? Whatever it was shot through the sky. It did not move in a gentle arc like a normal aircraft. It almost looked like horizontal-running lightning. Also, when it passed through the side of a skyscraper, the giant buildings top portion was sliced off diagonally. Before the giant mass fell to the ground, interference ran through Rokudou Ryuuichis thoughts. Extreme tension and fear interfered with his connection to the craft. The reason was simple. Whatever it was was shooting straight for the HsB-07 like lightning even as the craft turned sharp corners at 7,000 kph. This is insane! What is that thing!? That isnt one of the unmanned weapons Academy City loaned them!! As it approached, Rokudou Ryuuichi was finally able to see the visual details of the object. It reminded him of the early stealth fighters that were made up of a complicated combination of flat surfaces. However, that was only because he knew a lot about aircrafts. Others may have been more reminded of a javelin with an enlarged tip or a delicately cut gem. However, there was one thing anyone would have been reminded of. A wireframe. In fact, the craft was actually made up of a combination of multiple wires. The enemy was not only unexplainable by outside technology, but even Rokudou and his specialty knowledge from within Academy City could not understand what he was seeing. English words in orange light unnaturally appeared around it. We too love the cutting edge. It did not end there. The first line disappeared and a second sentence was displayed. However, that is not your privilege alone. Damn you! Francisca 1 and 2, I need to shake the enemy craft from my tail. You cross my path and leave some bombs in the air! Blow it away with!! Rokudou Ryuuichis words trailed off. He saw something in the camera. Francisca 1 had been completely swallowed up by a transformed mass of wires and was being dropped down in to the middle of the white city. Francisca 2 had barely managed to avoid getting wrapped up by another one, but the narrow wires had sliced pieces off the edges of the craft, destroying its ability to fly. They had no way of knowing, but the enemy was a spiritual item known as Lokis Net. The evil god Loki slipped through the laws, labyrinths, and fate created by the gods with novel ideas, breaking taboos, and sophism and he himself created that self-defeating constraint when thinking about what it would take to surely capture himself, the one who could not be captured by anyone. A true Dvergr that had survived to the modern day had added modern performance to that. There was no reason a magical net that plugged up even the holes in theory and fate would be defeated by something like speed. Rokudou desperately tried to escape, but he could tell his craft was being whittled down little by little. Also, the other wires that had taken out his allies were headed for Francisca 3 as well. Francisca 3 to AWACS! Send Francisca 4-9 with their ABLs in from patrolling around the outside Baggage City. Lets use the anti-ballistic missile lasers to see if their secret weapons can play tag with light!! He got the order out, but they did not make it in time. Either the horizontal lightning-like enemy crafts movements could not be targeted or Francisca 3s allies were trying to find a position that would not get Francisca 3 wrapped up in it. Whatever the reason, Rokudou Ryuuichi could tell that few seconds of lag were more than he had. AWACS to Francisca 3. Eject! Your engine is about to blow!! Do they look like gentlemen? Theyd just slice me to pieces, parachute and all!! His altitude dropped significantly. He was no longer flying; he was falling slowly. Rokudou Ryuuichi greatly changed his heading. He charged toward the area the eerie wire crafts had first come from. (The garbage disposal facility? Wait, theres someone on the roof.) It was one of the top priority targets. A girl with brown skin and silver hair stood up against a giant smokestack. She wore glasses and nothing else but overalls which was very odd for such an arctic area. With a loose smile on her face, she stared straight at Rokudou Ryuuichi. The girl knew a supersonic bomber was approaching, but she held up her slender index finger and motioned inward in challenge. That bitch. So shes from Gremlin, our top priority target!! Despite his craft being worn down, he opened the throttle and aimed straight for the garbage disposal facility roof. He could see orange sparks on the cameras. Then the cameras themselves started to be destroyed and they showed only gray static. The craft grew smaller and smaller like a pencil being sharpened by a small knife, but Rokudou Ryuuichi focused only on his target. And... As she stood atop the garbage disposal facility roof, Marian Slingeneyer stuck a hand into her overalls from the side and pulled out a gold tool. It was a pair of tongs. The tool was used for handling hot blades and the like when they were in the furnace. The pair Marian held was something like giant pliers. She lightly swung around the two handles like nunchuks before closing the tongs in front of her face. The end tightly held a sharp fragment of aircraft materials only about thirteen centimeters long. That was all that remained of Rokudou Ryuuichis final efforts. When she looked at the fragment that caused the blowing snow to evaporate immediately, Marian whistled. That was close. I almost tried to grab it with my bare hands, but the friction heated this up to over one thousand degrees Im betting. Marian stabbed the tip of the tongs holding the fragment into the snow piled up on the roof to rapidly cool them. As one who worked as a blacksmith, she was used to the action. After it had been cooled to a normal temperature, she grabbed the sharp fragment directly from the tongs. So thats how it works. Categorically, its just a support spiritual item that only seals off ones escape similar to creating a doll that wards off the target of a curse, but it looks like it got a nice effect of matching the enemys speed. In fact, there was nothing better when it came to destroying aircraft. Marian had focused on the aerial strategy first rather than the Five Overs in the city because she did not want any more Kiharas to be brought in. To your reckless defiance. She lightly kissed the side of the sharp fragment and stuck it inside her overalls as a souvenir. She snapped her fingers and a few more Lokis Nets shot up into the sky from around the garbage disposal facility. Just as Marian was getting excited, a brilliant beam of light flashed by overhead. An airborne laser weapon had fired from outside Baggage City and burned away one of the Lokis Nets. Only glowing orange melted fragments were left behind in the wake of the pure white beam. Well, shit! I guess this wont all be easy!! As she frantically escaped from the roof, Marian ordered the surviving Lokis Nets to continually exterminate the other aircrafts. That twisted battle developed into a scene in which people could not survive. Volume 4, Sub.17 Volume 4, Sub.17 Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri walked down an untouched underground passageway while not knowing where it led. A large scale battle must have been occurring above ground because irregular tremors shook the small passageway. May I ask a question? asked Oumi Shuri in a low voice. What is it? Do you know of an individual named Kamijou Touma? she continued with no real change of expression. He was mentioned by that helmeted man in the coat who seems to be the person you are pursuing. Apparently, if we do not find this individual, we have very low odds of survival now that we have become this deeply involved. I only know the name. I think my older sister would know more. I take it he is from Academy City then. If he is able to deal with a situation like this, he must be involved at a very deep level. From what Ive heard, he is cute because of how he has no connections to that kind of thing. ? Oumi Shuri frowned, but she did not receive a proper response from Kumokawa Maria. However, this was not because Kumokawa refused to tell her. Instead, the situation quickly changed. With a loud crash, the passageway in front of them collapsed from above and a heavy tank fell down with a rain of debris. Cough! Cough cough!! What the hell!? As Kumokawa Maria coughed amid all the dust, Oumi Shuri remained calm as she was used to chemicals and smokescreens. It is a fifty ton Russian bento box. It must have fallen through the ground. Something like that was not meant to be running through the city area! Russian? ...So its part of the Baggage City forces? The hatch on the machine gun emplacement on top of the turret was open. Kumokawa Maria started to approach the tank in order to drag out any injured soldiers, but... You idiot! Do you want to die!? Oumi Shuri tackled her to the ground. Immediately afterwards, the outer surface of the tank exploded. It did not seem like the fuel or shells had ignited. It was more like a large scale shotgun blast. Its completely covered in explosive reactive armor. Basically, its a giant piece of unexploded ordnance. Getting close will only get you caught in the blast. I see. Then its time for static electricity. ? Well cause a reaction in the fuses to safely detonate it all. With all this dust floating around, a little science experiment should cause a simple discharge. The lightning phenomenon that uses volcanic ash? Oh, do they talk about it in your ninja scroll of secrets? They were going to artificially cause static electricity, but Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri did not search for anything to create the electricity. It was going to come from the friction caused by the dust floating in the air. What they needed was a tool to move that dust in a set direction with a set strength. In other words, they needed something like a fan. So I took off my maid uniform. ...Couldnt you have just taken off the apron? Why didnt you say something before I had taken the whole thing off? Wearing only her underwear, Kumokawa Maria waved her maid uniform up and down in both hands like she was trying to beat the air with a washed sheet. With a great flapping noise, the light gray dust started to move. Immediately after a bluish-white flash, small sounds of explosions came from various places across the tank blocking the passageway. It sounded like a firecracker only louder. Has all the popcorn been popped? Then its time for the rescue, said Kumokawa Maria as she cheerfully put back on her maid uniform. However, Oumi Shuri frowned before peering into the open hatch below the machine gun emplacement. ...It may be unmanned. Hah? The machine gun has a motor attached and the cable leads inside. It also has an added antenna that would not be needed for searching for the enemy. So theres no one even worth saving? Kumokawa Maria peered inside the hatch along with Oumi Shuri, but the kunoichi was right and no one was inside. The cover of the control console had been removed and a tablet device had been attached to the motherboard within using a cable. The screen displayed S. Berylan which was likely the name of whoever was controlling it. Its mostly electronic, so they can control it remotely. The outer machine gun alone could not be controlled by a program, so they had to attach that motor to it. I dont know about Academy Citys technology, but this looks very hurriedly thrown together. Well, yeah. Ways to reuse outdated weapons are ideas produced in thought experiments. Basically, they are nothing more than something like ideas developed from a discussion on an online message board. Academy City would not use a method like this that could probably be easily hijacked by someone else. What do you think about the fact that Baggage City is using something like this? Their actual military might may be less than what they announced. At any rate, the underground passageway was blocked by the tank and the debris. To move forward, they had to exit to the surface through the hole the tank had created. However, they regretted this two seconds after crawling out. It was a blizzard outside. It was a hell of -20 degrees. Its cold! This is no place to be wearing a maid uniform!! Is anywhere a good place to be wearing a maid uniform? I dont want to hear that from a cheerleader kunoichi. Anyway, lets just get to the nearest building! We can think after that!! Unfortunately, the gas station Kumokawa Maria pointed toward was blown to smithereens immediately after she finished speaking. Viscous flames as if from a Molotov cocktail rained down on the buildings near the gas station. Kumokawa Maria was knocked to the ground by the shockwave and she finally noticed the straight line of black smoke passing by over her head. However, she could not see what was causing the smoke. What she could see was some strange aircraft that looked like an aggregation of wires passing by at tremendous speed and following the smoke. Kumokawa Maria gave voice to her guess. Is that an Academy City supersonic bomber sending out that smoke? How much damage has it taken? Fragments and bombs are being scattered all over the place! Well, at least we wont be worried for lack of warmth. Kumokawa Maria spotted a soldier at a distance toss aside a tablet device and flee from the approaching flames. She did not know which side he was on, but he may have been the one who had been controlling the tank. These blasts are hurting my skin but not warming me at all... Oh, crap. That building is falling this way!! The two of them got up from the snow and ran the other way. Unlike with a proper building implosion, the supporting pillars were only partially broken and the building was falling completely to the side. The lower floors had been unable to withstand the weight and had been destroyed, so the building had collapsed down a bit before falling over like a giant collapsing from his knees. Due to this, Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri managed to escape safely even if just barely. However, they had just been passing through underground passageways directly below that area. The ground collapsed under the great weight. Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri were swallowed up by the broken ground. Cough cough!! The surface is just as bad!! Well, at least it isnt a sewer under here. They crawled through gaps in the collapsed underground passageway and made it to a safe area. Oumi Shuri sat with her back leaning up against the passageway wall and suddenly asked a question. What is this Kamijou Touma supposed to be able to do in this situation? I-I have no idea. Lets just pray that we dont find out hes already been killed or something. With this city, it wouldnt surprise me. They had no room to count on others. To survive, they had to walk on their own two feet. Volume 4, Sub.18 Volume 4, Sub.18 "Whew, damn it. I should have brought along pure fighter-types even if it adds on to the burden of the plan. This really doesn''t suit my style." Having returned to the waste treatment facility, Marian entered a personal room that had its magic barrier destroyed. Even if it was Loki''s Net, the outcome wasn''t guaranteed. She had to take out her secret weapon to deal with such a chaotic battlefield. Marian sat on the chair in the room, and grabbed the transparent bottle on the table. It was a juice that was made from malt. This beverage may have been rather rare among the Japanese, but the Norse magician liked it. While beer was easier to get and fit her identity well, it also made her sick, which is why she never drank alcohol. She took a direct gulp of malt juice from the bottle, and then whipped out her smartphone. What she actually needed wasn''t a communication device, but to adjust her mouth and ears to receive signals. Turning one''s own voice into electronic signals and processing it uniquely would have the use of encrypting it completely. Because of this, Marian deliberately used the technology of the enemy, the science side, to communicate. "Sigyn, where are you right now?" "Erm, where am I? Where is this place? Baggage City is too big. I''m not so sure myself. They could have just made it simple. They could have just made everything simple." "Whatever. Can you hurry up and meet up with me? I repeated so many times that I''m not a fighting-type personnel anymore. Besides, what do you want me to do here? Isn''t there someone more useful like Mj?lnir or something?" "It''s busy over there. We can''t add to their troubles. You know that." "Then we''ll meet up." "So I say, where is this place? I can''t do anything if there''s nobody else around. I''m the same as you here, Marian. You can''t modify your own body, right? It''s the same with me." "Your ability is suggestion and my ability is modification, you mean?" "That''s right. My nature is to give what I have to others to make up for what they lack. If I try to be perfect myself, I couldn''t make up for what I lack." Sigyn was the name of the wife of the evil god Loki. This magician, who was entitled with the name Sigyn, had given a suggestion that was ambiguously magic. Thus, it was a mystery whether she was a magician or not. But that didn''t matter. Gremlin was just a kind of existence that would squeeze something dry once it had value and continued to expand like that. From the Norse god''s name that was given, one could tell that both Sigyn and tgarea-Loki were official members of Gremlin. "How about you give me a suggestion then. A suggestion to find the lost Sigyn." "Ooh, so there''s such an idea." "...You really don''t know how to use it. You''re an existence that''s able to give a suggestion 100% accurately. If you could use your power on yourself, maybe you could even reach the realm of being a Magic God." "Whatever. If my suggestion can make anyone succeed, it''ll be my success anyway." "Hurry up and suggest." "Okay." Both Marian and Sigyn weren''t the type that could succeed on their own. But once they helped others, they would create a large fighting force and even end up being able to rewrite history. They didn''t know how many of the Kiharas were left, but if Sigyn gave a suggestion, it would have made up for Marian Slingeneyer''s flaw...her skill in direct combat, and she wouldn''t end up in a tough battle with Kihara Byouri. Though there was a need to suggest according to the situation, but with such a premise, they would have sent the Kiharas to their graves with overwhelming force. To meet up with her ally who was also lost, Marian Slingeneyer got a suggestion to the searching skill. However, at that moment, Sigyn said, "It''s tough, isn''t it?" "There''s obviously some misses with the assignments. I''m so tired. I even thought of calling Bersi." Marian leaned her body on the back of the chair which felt good, and then shook her legs under the table. The mouth that contained the malt juice continued. "So basically, Natural Selector? It''s a mistake to mobilize us just to defend this tournament. The cost won''t be worth it. I''m really lacking in motivation." "Ahh. Establishment of a global standard for the replacement of Academy City''s espers...was just a lie, wasn''t it?" Sigyn said those decisive words. But Marian Slingeneyer was very matter-of-fact. "As for the old men who have already become minced meat, the objective was like that. The moment the participants indicated that they wanted to take part in the Natural Selector tournament, one could recognize the objective of the participants that took part. There are all sorts of reasons; whether it''s because of sick family members or a research team defending themselves in an argument in school, or whether it''s to introduce funds to their hometown where people were starving. Anyway, once they get recognized by the world, one can tell what they actually want." All the participants had a reason they couldn''t back away. Also, those reasons wouldn''t disappear even if they lost in the tournament. On the contrary, they would stay. And then, they would merely be digested and cleaned off in a place nobody knew about, as the things they definitely didn''t want to lose crumbled in the hell in front of them. "Because of that, they could blackmail and control what the participants do. The organizer would give full support and assistance to the winner of Natural Selector. And to those who suffered defeat, they would raise suggestions like ''if you disappear like a loser, your personal motives will lose. So what will you do?'' and things like that before giving them the ring of a revived defeatist." In other words, it would be the complete opposite of the revealed reason. It wasn''t to let a large number of people fight it out and choose the strongest amongst them. Whether it was a victory or defeat in the tournament, everyone couldn''t get away from it. Whether it was assistance or threats, they just needed to use all sorts of means to make all the participants become Anti-Academy City Science Guardians and make them unable to escape. UFOs, dinosaurs, Out-Of-Place Artifacts, electromagnetic waves, microbiology, UMAs, underground humans...these people that researched on the overly ridiculous existences in this world all had their own sources of funds. In other words, the power of reality. This martial arts tournament was held to gather such power in their hands. In that case... "What the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians wanted wasn''t the over-one-hundred participants, but the strength of the over-one-hundred organizations supporting them from behind. They just wanted to get them and expand their power, increase their range of control and try to fight against Academy City. This Natural Selector held for some natural selection was basically just something created out of the desire to expand." "It''s because of that that we can mix in our own objectives." "That''s right. That''s kind of our final redemption. In fact, we''re just increasing the pressure after all." Marian sighed and remained in her sitting passion as she pushed her chair back under the table. "Really, these healing goods really helped me out. Without them, I would surely snap. It''s most important to satisfy my inner heart after all, especially for intelligent professionals like us." "Let me make a suggestion about that bad taste of yours." "Really?" "Your interest is unpleasant. Dissecting living people and making them into the shape of furniture? I never want to be invited to your tea party." "You think so?" Marian Slingeneyer tilted her head without showing much emotion. Her chair had the name Telerie, the floor stand had the name Frank, and the table had the name Cendrillon. At times, the sounds of moaning could be heard. Those people that were shaped as furniture all had their organs inside, and the surfaces all had faces, so they could breath, eat and sleep...in other words, they were alive. Marian Slingeneyer''s job wasn''t to repair corpses, but to modify people that were alive. While stroking the flesh-colored high-class furniture to her fingers, Marian smiled. "I''ll only make one that suits the purpose best. This is punishment for them. Humans only have one life; it''s unfair to kill all of them if they sin to a certain extent. In that case, why not just kill a hundred people instead of one? Wouldn''t it be even more worth it? I turned them into furniture to make them atone for crimes committed... Well, I modified them into healing goods, so I can''t deny it when you say that I added a little of my interests into it." "That''s some bad taste." "Really?" "It worries me if tgarea-Loki became one of them." "I''m a little pissed he ended up like that due to his carelessness. Well, there''s no need for me to go to such an extent, right? It''s not like he managed to hurt us because he betrayed us. Spirits won''t attack hardworking and upright people, you know?" Sigyn could use the ever-powerful suggestion, but a suggestion was merely a suggestion. Even she didn''t know how to use it or even whether it could be used. "Anyway, you''re our secret weapon, Sigyn, so don''t go about on your own. Even I intend to fight with your assistance. If something happens to you, the entire power balance will change drastically." And then Marian Slingeneyer stopped talking. The Dvergr girl became expressionless, and immediately grinned. "...But why must there be tragic victims that appear here all of a sudden? My voice has been encrypted via the communication device, but my real voice is different." Still sitting on the chair, Marian threw the malt juice bottle at the door. With the sound of the glass shattering, the ajar door was wide open. Standing there were Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri. Marian Slingeneyer continued to play with the golden saw she took out from her overalls. "I''ve been wanting a footrest and a small fridge for drinks. Which one wants to be which?" Volume 4, Sub.19 Volume 4, Sub.19 "Not here~" The one who muttered that in such a na?ve tone was Kihara Enshuu. Her clothing was completely wet with snow and mud. What she saw was a complex image that was received from the smartphone on her head and the 1seg TV in her hands that showed the reflection of the walls of the buildings off the windows. "Yeah, yeah, there''s not enough damage, but things are proceeding smoothly. Sorry, Amata-ojisan. These words sound like where the Amatas are is safe." She was currently in a large residential area. The rectangular buildings were all arranged in rows like books on the shelves of a library. Most likely, it was because of the auto-lock that the passage didn''t feel like the veranda of the outside of a building, but was designed more like something that was built through the building. However, it was just that. With a thick and heavy bladed snowplow, she could destroy the gate''s auto-lock. All the rooms would be weaker than the auto-locks. Thus, they could break the deadlock by drilling through between the door and the wall before activating the switch. She opened the door and went in to investigate. What was in front of her was a room that was completely lifeless. There was a lot of identical furniture. It was like a hotel that offered the lowest rent per unit for a week. "I was told to do everything from scratch, so everyone will end up scolding me, I guess. This really isn''t like what the Kiharas would do." The objects that had some form of life felt really bone-chilling here. This scene here really reminded people of the Mary Celeste. "...There are already 500,000 residents here, and there''s another three million tourists who decided to stay for the time being because of the Natural Selector. Both sides are people involved and disguised as part of the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians. But where exactly did they go to? If they all went out at the same time, there should be a large commotion." The unnatural muttering echoed in the empty room. "(I have to rethink through my thoughts.)" "(This is part of my data, from my short-term memory to my long term memory.)" "(This is the operation I''ve carried out up ''till now.)" Kihara Enshuu muttered some excessive words as she continued with her investigations. She opened the door to the next room, and then opened the door of the corridor leading to the next room. "Such philanthropists. No, that''s not it. The Academy City army that snuck into Baggage City was defeated. That means that the Piper of Hamelin only helped the ordinary people in Baggage City." She didn''t expect 3.5 million people to actually hide in such a place. Or rather, she hadn''t found a large facility that could contain so many people. "It''s impossible for them to leave the town. Even if they weren''t eliminated by the Five Overs, it''s a low temperature of -20 degrees Celsius outside. They''ll definitely die before they reach the next town." If she thought of it that way, they should definitely be hiding in this town. Where several places were divided into small districts. In that case, she should forget about finding any dome facilities where a large number of people would obviously be gathered. For example, in such a large residential area, if one ignored the living conditions and packed everyone in like trains, each building could hold about 45,000 people. Places that look inaccessible would inexplicably hold lots of people...that was Hamelin''s method. "...Maybe I should start blowing things up. Everything should end if I blow up the entire place. Even if they escape from the explosions, they would freeze to death once they lose their hiding places." That was actually the simplest way. Even if the explosions couldn''t kill off all the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians, it could act as an effective groundwork before the decisive battle. It was a common method to destroy enemy structures, weapons, covers, and long-distance objects. And the reason not to do so was also simple. "Nope. Things will get complicated if Gremlin dies." In a normal situation, Academy City and its allies would have expected the outcome. However, it was different with Gremlin in the picture. Even after gathering clustered-type gas bombs to blow the entire town to dust, they might even last through. Also, if unidentified bodies appeared in piles, Gremlin might use this to escape. First, they had to thoroughly destroy Gremlin. Erasing Baggage City from the map would take place after that. "It''s really troublesome when the order''s all messed up. Now we''re stuck in the same predicament as the normal army." At first, Kihara Enshuu''s aim wasn''t to search through Baggage City for civilians. But if Gremlin and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians were allied and planning something in Baggage City, they should keep this town in its original state where everyone was alive and the town was bustling. In other words, once they killed off people who were unrelated to this incident (not out of kindness or justice, but just so that they won''t lose out on their benefits), Gremlin would appear to prevent this situation. All just to search for them. All just to kill them. ...But in this situation, "How bothersome" Kihara Enshuu gave the expression of a lost child as she muttered. The smartphone that was hanging from her neck and the 1seg TV showed complex images one after another. "Yeah, yeah, I got it, Amata-ojisan. The Kiharas would do this at a time like this." Kihara Enshuu small hands tugged at the sides of her skirt as she jumped up lightly. This continued for ten seconds. She tilted her head. "...So nobody''s going to come out~?" Kihara Enshuu''s stomach grew cold and she felt a chill down her back as she started to move to the next destination. Volume 4, Main.20 Volume 4, Main.20 Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri did not dive headfirst into that sea of blood because they wanted to. Kumokawa Maria was speaking about the helmeted man. Kihara Kagun, she named him. He was made to be deeply involved in the death of a minor at a certain Academy City elementary school. I must pursue him no matter what. I am very mindful of my own pride, but I am willing to destroy even that to accomplish this. However, the two of them understood that the situation in Baggage City was not normal. Merely staying there was a huge risk. Kumokawa Marias goal was Kihara Kagun. Oumi Shuris was the investigation of supernatural powers. Neither of those goals had to be carried out within Baggage City. Both the Kiharas and Gremlin would leave Baggage City once the conflict was over. They could merely restart their investigation in secret once their targets were breathing a sigh of relief. As such, the two of them planned to leave Baggage City and redo it all after constructing an accurate information network. However, sometimes beginners luck would lead people like them to a secret. It led them there whether they wanted it to or not. Like the kinds of pitiful witnesses who ended up deep under the sea or a mountain. ... They had not tried to head toward anything like that. They had been trying to leave Baggage City as quickly as possible. They had already given up. They had known that was the wisest option. And yet Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuris escape route had passed by Marian Slingeneyers private room, the door had been cracked open, and the magical barrier was no longer functioning. As a result, they had arrived at a certain truth. And that truth was one that invited certain death. While walking down the maintenance passageways for the hot water pipes, they had arrived at the garbage disposal facility at the center. While walking through that facility, they had come upon a certain room. They had not intended to peer inside the cracked door. ...Why now of all times? They had only overheard a voice. And then darkness had burst from that crack into which they must not peer. (I dont recognize that maid, but the other one is a contestant in Natural Selector. I would rather not kill someone from Baggage Citys side, but the information about Sigyn is just too valuable. Too bad.) Surrounded by psychedelic skin-colored furniture, Marian Slingeneyer smiled with her gold saw in one hand. Ive been wanting a footrest and a small fridge for drinks. Which one wants to be which? Hell began. Kumokawa Maria and Oumi Shuri did not choose to fight. Without hesitation, they spun around and ran off at full speed. They ran through the garbage disposal facility and back into the maintenance passageway they had come from. Even that was not the best option. In fact, no option could really be called good once they had run into her. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what were those!? Were they some kind of cyborg!? Even someone as used to supernatural powers as Kumokawa Maria had fallen into a panic at the sight. However, Oumi Shuri must have been used to the kinds of corpses that could be created under normal circumstances. One strategy to fill your enemy with great fear and high medical fees is to destroy their body without killing them and then abandon them. For example, you could lay out anti-personnel mines that only blow off a single leg. That was probably something like that! It may also have its roots in the idea of mutilating enemy corpses!! Are you sure theres that much to it!? From that look on her face, Id say she does it for fun! It was on a completely different level. It was more grotesque than anything they could imagine. It was unclear what you would have to do to turn a normal human into a living table, but they certainly did not want to fight someone who could pull it off. They might be able to win, but who knows what would have become of their body by that point. It would not be surprising if they had a drill for a right hand or could fire flames from the bottom of their feet like rockets. Ah, no, no. Like I said, now that youve heard about our trump card Sigyn, I have to silence you. A loud metallic noise reverberated through the area. Kumokawa Maria turned around while running to see the girl pursuing them with a blade pressed against the passageway wall. She was only fifty meters behind them. If she had a gun, that would be within range, but she held a hammer and a saw made of gold. Wasnt this way blocked by the tank and the collapsed building!? That can actually work to our advantage. If we slip through the gaps in the rubble and then fill them up afterwards, we can stop her pursuit. That will require heading up to the freezing surface, but thats still better than taking her on. They had a goal. They had a bit of a lead. This was not a fight they could not win. (We just might make i!) Just as Kumokawa Maria was feeling some relief, the wall directly to her side suddenly bulged out to crush her. Wha? She thought some kind of bulkhead had activated or that it was a trap from some ancient ruins like in an action movie, but that was not it. A human...!? shouted Oumi Shuri. It had been a human transformed to have the same texture, coloration, and luster as the wall. It was unclear who or what it had originally been. The human had been altered to the shape of a rectangular pillar and had slammed out into Kumokawa Marias side. !! She immediately twisted her body and gently touched the side of the pillar with her right arm to rotate her entire body and completely escape the impact that was on the level of being hit by a car. However, the core of the issue was not there. Again and again, both horizontally and vertically, similar rectangular pillars shot out, filling the passageway space. In just a few seconds, the passageway was completely filled with obstacles colored the same as the floor and walls. Their path of escape was cut off. Its not easy keeping them alive like that, you know. I mean, theyre rectangles, said the brown girl with a grin. I left them all over the place so I could fight at any moment. Since their sensory organs would be wasted otherwise, I had them double as sensors for me, but that didnt work out too well. A Kihara even managed to slip past them in a wheelchair. Their eyes and ears are functioning, but the ego needed to process the information seems to reject the images of what they have become. It was not a one-time thing. Nor was she only altering people when she had no other choice. Over the entire area, she had caused a set level of damage as if she were stocking up on disaster goods such as crackers and instant noodles that would likely pass their expiration date without use. Their eyes and ears are functioning? If you want to leave, you only need to think of them as obstacles. Of course, you will be slicing a living humans body in two when you do so, so it may be a little bit difficult. A knife from the supermarket would probably chip when you get to the backbone. Really, you should smash the bones with a blunt weapon before doing the cutting, but then the slimy fat will get on the blade and dull its edge. Her words sent a chill down Kumokawa Marias back. A question dealing with human life and taking it from others. The essence of someone who looked down on it. A proposition that normally no one ever thought about but put a heavy emotional strain on them once they did. Was it right to destroy those pillars to protect oneself? Was it right to view them as human and therefore not finish them off? Was it right to view it as wrong? Was it wrong to view it as wrong? What do we do? Kumokawa Maria asked Oumi Shuri. I dont like it, but have no choice but to destroy this enemy element to create a path out. As the two faced forward once more, the brown girl, Marian Slingeneyer smiled and spun her saw around. So youve chosen the way forward. Well, I suppose thats the standard answer. Thats how humans handle their own lives. But, added Marian, that kind of uninteresting thinking will get you nowhere with Gremlin. Marian Slingeneyer ran. In a straight line. Without making a feint. As if she had decided on her target merely by who she had spotted first, she headed straight for Oumi Shuri. The other two specialized in hand-to-hand combat, so she seemed to be full of openings, but the problem lay with her gold hammer and saw. Oumi Shuri pulled out her gardening trowel-type kunai, but... You wont make it in time!! Kumokawa Marias leg cut in from the side. She kicked at Oumi Shuri rather than Marian Slingeneyer. The gold weapons cut through empty air. As Kumokawa Maria circled around Marian Slingeneyer, she shouted a warning to Oumi Shuri who had fallen to the ground. Dont charge toward someone with supernatural powers before you know how they work! Dont try to fight her! Even if you get a good blow in, a single slice in return could turn you into one of those tables made of human flesh!! Oh, youve already grasped my special trait? If youre so used to these mysterious things, are you perhaps from Academy City? In that case, I truly cant let you get away. Marian swung around her saw and smiled without turning around. My goal is not to slice you with my saw or strike you with my hammer. Each tool is merely built in the ideal form for getting across my intent to alter you. The primary items needed to alter objects have been collected into seven categories. From the instant this gold touches you, the human alteration begins. Does it use nanodevices that enter the body and...no. Is it a high-tech medical tool that causes a chain reaction on the cellular level to send the alteration from the outside of the body to deep within using the osmotic pressure of the cells? Thats completely wrong, you idiot. In fact, this isnt even specialized for the human body. Im only altering the human body with a function of the tool. Well, you may have the theory completely wrong, but it gives you the right idea in the end. I guess thats type of talent. If you were hit even once, you would eventually lose your body. In fact, you could even suddenly turn into a chair or table. (Even a single counterattack while trying to throw her or grab her would be the end of it. I guess my only option is to fight focusing on building up damage!!) A passive strategy, hm? Marian Slingeneyer had seen straight through her. Keeping your distance would be the best way of avoiding my tools, but it would be difficult to get within range and then take me out in a single blow, wouldnt it? The standard is to try to counter and build the damage little by little. Well, if you have some stronger technique like a high kick or something, that would be different, but...I dont need to say more, do I? In a battle without rules, a high kick aimed for the head came with the risk of having your leg grabbed and being dragged down. Even if that did not happen, once you were supporting yourself on a single leg, your quick footwork giving you a longer reach would be unusable. In other words, it simply added the risk of a counterattack. In the end, continually using your one safe card is nothing more than slowly trapping yourself. Marian Slingeneyer stopped spinning around her saw so that it pointed toward Kumokawa Marias head. The brown girl licked her lips and said, This is not an issue of who is stronger. From your thought patterns alone, you cannot reach Gremlin. Immediately afterwards, the situation greatly changed. Marian Slingeneyer and Kumokawa Maria both charged forward at once. Ah...? as the brown girl charged in, she let out that slight voice of confusion. Kumokawa Maria dove toward the ground like she was diving into a pool and stepped onto the ground with her hands. This is just a shogi problem. Kumokawa Marias body twisted around and rotated while she was upside down. You are not necessarily safe just by distancing yourself from the enemy pieces. The trick is to move to a position where the enemy pieces cannot move no matter how close it puts you!! The gold saw that Marian immediately swung passed by Kumokawas legs by only a few millimeters and her heel shot up toward Marians jaw. A dull noise rang out. She swung the gold saw and hammer again, but Kumokawa Marias legs were no longer there. The weapons merely flew through empty air. !! Your vision was blurred and your brain rattled, so what do you think youre following there!? With her hands still standing on the ground, Kumokawa Maria had folded up her legs as far as they would go. It looked like she was storing up all her strength like a spring, so Marian swung her upper body as far to the side as it would go with a creaking of her spine. (Another shot is coming for my jaw!!) Is that what you thought? It looks like my pride is going to swell by quite a bit here! Kumokawa Maria spun her body while still upside down. Her legs wrapped around Marian Slingeneyers right leg. That had been outside what Marian had expected. With the threat of the gold tools, Kumokawa should not have been able to make that attack. She had gone for something other than a blow. She had used a locking technique. Without knocking her opponent to the ground, Kumokawa Maria started to destroy Marian Slingeneyers right leg while the brown girl still stood. A dull noise passed through Marians body and exploded in her head. But before the bone was completely broken, Marian Slingeneyer swung down the gold hammer. Kumokawa did not stick around and instead let go with her legs and rolled backwards. Marian Slingeneyer tried to follow after her, but her right leg would not move properly. She lost her balance and had to lean against the wall. I didnt get to the bone, said Kumokawa Maria as she stood up by swinging her legs around like a break dancer and wiped nervous sweat from her brow. But it looks like I did damage the tendon. How could an uncategorized person with two arms and two legs do that...!? Is four areas to strike from not enough for a decisive blow? said Kumokawa Maria as she folded her spread arms. It looked like she was defending her upper body, but it was actually a stance used for attacks with emphasis on the elbows. Then I will bring that up to eight with my two elbows and two knees. ...!! Have you calculated out just how much this expands my possible strategies? Kumokawa Maria forcefully kicked off the ground and charged straight for her. Eight striking points irregularly assaulted Marian Slingeneyer in a way that would be impossible for a normal martial artist. The brown girl was not all that used to hand to hand combat. Also, the tendon of her right leg was hurt, so she could not evade like she wanted. However... Its true that I may be no match for you with no materials. Marian Slingeneyer swung her gold saw. She was not aiming for Kumokawa Maria. She swung the tool in a large circle, damaging the floor, walls, and ceiling as it passed. But I dont remember saying I have no other supplies of humans. They writhed. The people she had ordered to remain on standby while they had been transformed into the form of building materials scattered a great amount of yellow fat around the area. In what was like a stream from a high pressure water gun, metal pieces like nuts and bolts were fired like bullets. Kumokawa Maria deflected them with her right fist, left elbow, and right knee. Using only the motion of her upper body, she avoided the gold hammer that came flying amid it all and then she charged straight in close to Marian Slingeneyer. She then pulled her head back in preparation. Nine!! Kumokawa Maria tried to swing her forehead down to knock the brown girl unconscious, but Marian swung her head to the side. A new bolt shot from behind into the area Marians head had been in. The bolt struck Kumokawa Maria in the forehead, knocking her back where she collapsed to the ground. She seemed to have received a concussion because she showed no sign of getting up. Was that all? Marian Slingeneyer cracked her neck. The saw had disappeared from her hand. This was simply because she had thrown it backwards. It had changed the form of one of the obstacles blocking up the passageway which is what had attacked Kumokawa. As the brown girl walked, she still favored her left leg. Oumi Shuri had been unable to keep up with the battle and Marian kept her in the corner of her vision while she retrieved the hammer and the saw she had thrown. As she did, she pulled out her smartphone and called Sigyns number. While listening to it ring, Marian grimaced at the pain in her right leg. Dammit. I really need to learn when to play things a little more safe. I let my guard down because I thought she was a normal person. Agh, pick up already, Sigyn. If I have to deal with a Kihara without her advice, this could get to be a real pain in the ass. But no longer how long she waited, Sigyn did not pick up. And then Marian Slingeneyer noticed something. While Oumi Shuri sat down on the ground, she was muttering something under her breath. Marians first thought was that Oumi Shuri had gone crazy. However, that was not what was going on. Marian-chan...run... Oumi Shuris muttering had clear reason behind it. Run from there. Right now. There is no guarantee that they are working alone. If reinforcements come, your right leg would be a major weakness. So get out of there right away and tape it up... The voice was different, but the inflection, intonation, frequency and location of the breaths, and most importantly the words themselves were familiar to Marian Slingeneyer. Sigyn...? What? Why are you mimicking her voice? She had heard Sigyn speaking on the phone earlier, but that was not enough to emulate her so exactly. Even if she could get the surface right, getting the contents right should have been impossible. Which meant... (Was the Sigyn I spoke with on the phone her as well...? No, the Sigyn on the phone was in a different place than her. But then...) You were faking your panic up to this point? Sigyn is already in your or your comrades grasp? said Marian Slingeneyer tentatively. Did you hold a knife to her throat or add some kind of gimmick around her neck that activates with a remote signal to get her to speak to me? How many of our secrets have you gotten from!? She bit her tongue partway through and could not finish her sentence. ...!? ...!! No. If this is all your supernatural powers let you do, they do not seem a worthwhile candidate to take in as part of the Kouga. As she muttered, Oumi Shuri threw a small object she had pulled out of her pocket. With a wet noise, it stuck to the wall. It looked like a disposable teabag. It took Marian Slingeneyer a bit to realize what it was. ...Alcohol...? It was around seventy percent alcohol by volume. Its all referred to as ethyl alcohol, but the means of distillation greatly changes its properties. You could call this stuff a pro at getting you badly drunk. If you drank a straight glass of this, you would be able to wrestle an elephant. It was originally used by the ninja to throw pursuing dogs off the trail. !! With her head reeling, Marian swung her gold saw at the nearby wall. She tried to remake a person who had become one with the wall into a spear and drive it into Oumi Shuri. However, it did not activate. She failed to alter the person. The spear she had supposedly created did not listen to her orders. Affecting you was just an added bonus, said Oumi Shuri smoothly as she pulled out a gardening trowel-type kunai. I used alcohol to get all of your hidden materials drunk. After all, thats their weakness. Since you alter living humans, their human thought patterns are built into the weapon. For that reason, they will not alter like you want or follow your orders if they are drunk. Thats the weakness Sigyn told me about. !! Marian Slingeneyer made a quick decision. She turned around and immediately began to flee. She was fleeing from someone she knew had no supernatural powers. She was running from someone she had ignored as too far below her for worry. Cold words stabbed into Marians back as she ran favoring her left leg. Show me some supernatural powers more fitting of being included within the Kouga. These were the words of the ninja that had survived to modern times. These were the words of Oumi Shuri who appeared on the scene first with flashy movements. If you cant, I will decide I have no more use for you. Marian Slingeneyer could hear her pursuer approaching from behind. Volume 4, Period.21 Volume 4, Period.21 The girls hair was up in buns on either side and she wore a large sweater. She wore a miniskirt and black stockings. Other than the precision equipment with small screens such as a smartphone and a 1seg television hanging from a string around her neck, she was a completely plain girl with no characteristics that really stood out. Few people would believe that she was a member of the Kiharas that shook the world. She was Kihara Enshuu. The girl was almost always cowering and she had actually been judged as not qualifying as a Kihara. She was unable to form the characteristic Kihara thought pattern and she had shown no positive research that would allow her to continue as a Kihara. Hey, over here. Over here! Byouri-obasan. Hearing that familiar voice, Enshuus face lit up. She was not aware that it was things like that that made her not Kihara-like. The voice had come from within the garbage disposal facility, but Kihara Enshuu charged into the piles of stinking garbage without hesitation. While a blackish liquid soaked into her clothes, she dug through the garbage and found a crushed wheelchair. When she dug further, she found the familiar face of a relative. Kihara Byouri feebly smiled and said, Ahh, I lost, I lost. Those outside of science really are something else. After speaking, she weakly tapped at her own legs. They had been completely crushed and now looked like warped metal baseball bats. On top of that, the robot parts that assisted in moving her legs had sunk into her legs. If you put metal pipes and someones legs in a press, you would likely end up with something similar. How could you lose, Byouri-obasan? Dont ask me. Anyway, Enshuu-chan, could I borrow a communications device? I want to open a port to Academy City and perform a proper realignment. What are you using it for? My wheelchair and leg assisting robot have been destroyed, so this is my only trump card left. Im worried about your body. Just hurry up and give it to me. When more strongly urged, Kihara Enshuu removed the smartphone from her neck. It was something of a trump card for her, but she did not hesitate in handing it over to someone else. Kihara Byouri altered the settings of the smartphone a bit and pulled something like a ballpoint pen from her pocket. She unhesitatingly stabbed it into her crushed thigh, but no blood came out. The tip of the pen glowed a pale blue. Signal received. Beginning form change of the #2 Level 5 Dark Matter. Academy City had seven Level 5s. In the past, the #2 of those had suffered serious injuries in a battle with the #1 and had been literally ripped to pieces. Currently, those pieces were divided up and attached to a giant life support device that somehow managed to keep him alive. However, whatever situation he was in, he was still a valuable research subject as long as his powers could be used. In fact, the Kiharas found it more convenient that he had almost no ego and would simply use his powers when the proper electrical stimuli were given. I thought it was built into the Dark Matters body because there was a risk of losing control. It was. That is why I usually carry it around separate from my body as a piece of equipment. But if I worried too much about that kind of thing, I couldnt name myself a Kihara. It is because we Kiharas take these great steps forward that we are able to clear the way to such unprecedented levels of darkness A strange cracking sound came from Kihara Byouris legs. It sounded more like cracks running through plastic than it did anything that should be coming from flesh or bones. Her legs that had been crushed and formless took shape forcibly from within. The remnant robot parts that had dug into the flesh and even the bone were pushed out of her body in the process. Dark red blood flowed out, but it stopped after a bit. It was as if the built up filth within her body was being expelled. What were produced were beautiful legs without even a scratch on them. The situation did make the use of the term beautiful seem out of place, though. Protrusions that resembled blades or wings appeared from her knees and thighs as Kihara Byouri slowly stood up. She had removed the limiter from the portions of her legs made of Dark Matter. She had removed the limits usually in place to prevent it from eating into her normal flesh. Ransuu-chans fight with tgarea-Loki ended as a tie. And I was defeated by that...what was her name? Marian something or other, I think. Anyway, one loss and one draw is not a very Kihara-like result. Oh, right. I saw something who seemed to be Kagun-ojisan. ...Kihara Kagun? I knew he had disappeared from Academy City, but what is he doing here? This is a problem. Oh, dear. You dont need to be so worried. The Kiharas will likely never be gone from this world. Well, if humankind itself is destroyed, thats another story. What do you mean? Enshuu-chan, you lack a certain Kihara-ness to you, so you may not be able to tell yet, but thats the kind of thing us Kiharas are. Even if we are all called Kiharas, we come in many different forms, right? Noukan-chan is a golden retriever with arithmetic circuits externally attached and you replace your thought patterns with those of other Kiharas because those ideas cannot be reproduced with a simple AI. ...Kiharas are not limited to the form of people nor must they be linked by blood. That evil that appeared when science lost its purity. That evil that had distorted history many times in the past was the true essence of those that were Kiharas. The whole world already detested them, but they would never disappear. When the Kiharas disappeared, humanity would have abandoned all the humanity in its culture. Currently, the main faction of the Kiharas that included Byouri and Enshuu was indeed a single bloodline. However, as the previous examples showed, that bloodline did not cover all of it. And even if the Kihara bloodline were to be wiped out, a different bloodline would take up the name Kihara. No one had ever decided on these things; it had merely come about that way naturally. And it would continue to be that way as long as people continued to rely on the benefits of science. So do not worry, Enshuu-chan. The Kiharas will only be defeated when all cultures are wiped from this planet. I doubt the opponent we are fighting here possesses the power to do that, so we will not lose. Whatever happens, we will win in the end. Simple, isnt it? Yes, it is, Byouri-obasan. What will you do now? I will destroy everything starting with what I know. Thats how we always do things. First I will destroy this burnable garbage disposal facility used to heat the hot water and then I will find that Marian something or other and defeat her. All difficult problems can be solved by destroying one hurdle at a time. Okay, okay. Then, I will help you, said Kihara Enshuu in a very un-Kihara-like comment. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her treasure which was a photo showing a few members of the family. Amata-ojisan, Ransuu-ojisan, Byouri-obasan, Therestina-obasan, Kagun-ojisan. Some of you are gone, but dont worry. If all the Kiharas work together, we can surely overcome any problem. Hearing that, Kihara Byouri smiled. The word Equ.DarkMatter appeared in orange letters on the side of her legs. While they were all in the category of Kihara, she felt no camaraderie for the others. That was the proper Kihara way. (Well, I would like to keep the finer points of controlling the #2 as my own personal technology.) Kihara Byouri slowly approached the back that Kihara Enshuu had so readily shown to her. While pretending to walk up beside her, she took her position for an attack of certain death. (As I said, Kiharas come in many different forms. It is quite possible the loss of Kihara Enshuu will bring about a much more skilled Kihara.) So she did not hesitate to go in for the surprise attack. That white leg that was clearly created of something other than human flesh flew for Kihara Enshuus neck like a guillotine faster than the speed of sound. Immediately afterwards, Kihara Enshuu swung her upper body around unnaturally and easily avoided that attack of certain death. The photograph she had been holding floated in the air. Yes, yes. I understand, Amata-ojisan. As the handheld device, the 1seg television, and smartphone clanked against her neck, an eerie light was emitted from them. Confusing graphs writhed in the screens and her eyes absorbed them. When I say something like that, a Kihara would unhesitatingly go in for a surprise attack!! ...Tch!! Even if youre inferior, I guess a Kihara is still a Kihara!! As she shouted, wing-like parts spread wide from Kihara Byouris thighs. That way, she could carry out actions that would be impossible with only two arms and two legs. Kihara Amatas thought patterns that were currently supporting Kihara Enshuu were primarily used to beat down a high level esper in a close quarters brawl. It was an effective strategy, but it of course had its weaknesses. Another Kihara would know how to exploit those weaknesses. Kihara Enshuu grabbed the photo fluttering through the air between her index and middle fingers and then muttered something further. I understand, Touma-oniichan. This time, a chill ran down Kihara Byouris back. This was different. A possibility she had not expected had just bared its fangs. Her body froze in the fear only a Kihara could bring. At a time like this, Kamijou Touma would do this!! The thought patterns she had analyzed had not stopped at only Kiharas. That announcement had been the worst one possible for someone of such great darkness as Kihara Byouri. Kihara Enshuu mercilessly attacked with the very Kihara-like means of misusing good. Volume 4, Sub.22 Volume 4, Sub.22 Kihara Kagun. He was originally researching the illusions that appear to people when they were about to die. During this process, he managed to research how to stop a heart safely and how to restart a heart that was stopped safely. In terms of the outcome, he had the ability to revive people. But he was a man who was legendary even among the Kiharas because of his ability to control the number of times he could stop a persons heart. No one could read into his personality from the outside. Unlike most of the Kiharas, he never showed his real personality. Maybe that could be somewhat of a relief to this world. Those intoxicating thoughts of his were a form of curse. If such a thing was shown on the surface, it was likely that there would be a drastic change in the whole Academy City. He was that kind of Kihara. Everything of his, from his thoughts, to his evil deeds, to his accomplishments, were undoubtedly the best. Kihara Kagun had erased the record of becoming evil as part of a Kihara in his teens, but he suddenly stopped his research on near-death experience before he was twenty. The reasons were unknown (and speaking of which, even if it could be described, this man, who was outstanding even among the Kiharas, may not have his thoughts understood). Once he was asked whether there were other reasons, he only responded with a short sentence. "Even when I get the results, the price I had to pay doesnt match." What results? What price? They werent clear about what he said. But because of those words, many other researchers of near-death experience were negatively impacted. But even when ignoring that, other people managed to come up with some ordinary hypotheses. In other words, did Kihara Kagun realize the value and weight of the lives he was manipulating? Through countless experiments, the answer he sought became simpler. Or rather, in the simple process, the Kihara was worn out and malfunctioned. One of the reasons supporting this baseless hypothesis was that Kihara Kagun, who abandoned his role as a researcher, chose a very boring and bland path of being a teacher. If one flipped through the records, there would be evidence that Kihara Kagun had once taken part in the Student Keeper activity. The Student Keeper was one of the safety measures of Academy City. The main aim was to send teachers to the dormitories of students to teach them and counsel them to prevent them from being unable to return to school life because they kept skipping class. In fact, there were a total of 32 students, both male and female, who went back to school because of this activity. Most of the Student Keepers couldnt touch what was deep inside the students hearts, yet a teacher alone broke the record. It seemed that the way Kihara Kagun broke the wall in the hearts of the students became an urban legend. Amidst all sorts of conjectures, there was a saying that they gave a metaphorical warning for students to get away from the Kiharas, the dangerous darkness in Academy City. As for Kihara Kagun, the moment that changed his fate was during spring three years ago. He met a killer wielding a knife. All they knew was that it was a boy, seventeen or eighteen years old, who was erased from the records. At that time, the lesson time for ordinary students overlapped each other, and there were a lot of students gathered outside the school. However, the Anti-Skill members who were in charge of safety couldnt take care of all the students in such a large place. The killer started to take action without hesitation, and Kihara Kagun was at a position closest to him. And then, the teacher who was secretly respected released the Kihara to protect the students. He used both hands to grab onto the shovel in the flowerbed nearby and ran at the killer without hesitation. He used a slight shock to the jaw to impair the killers consciousness, and gave him a hypnotizing-like effect. Using that moment, he attacked the killer who was completely defenseless. Continuous hits of metal could be heard. Through the pathologists analysis, the killers head had five areas that were dug in. As for the perfect cause of death that didnt give any pain, the pathologist questioned if Kihara Kagun was reading a humans anatomy textbook as he killed. Kihara Kaguns hands were stained in blood as the Anti-Skill members accosted him to court. But the judges verdict was that he was defending himself appropriately, so he was acquitted. He wasnt sued by the prosecutors, and his license as a teacher wasnt revoked. However, Kihara Kagun never retook his position. On the day the judge deemed him innocent, Kihara Kagun sent an email to the school about his resignation. His colleagues went to his apartment, only to find the place completely empty. At that time, the students in the school all felt that Kihara Kagun was a hero who ignored his own position to protect the students. At that time, the teachers, his ex-colleagues, felt that it was a decision he made to avoid being a target of admiration for having a way to kill. From then on, Kihara Kagun vanished without a trace. Nobody even knew whether he remained in Academy City. Volume 4, Sub.23 Volume 4, Sub.23 Not enough at all. No one knew what Kihara Enshuu was counting as she continued to play with her ten fingers. Her clothes were stained with waste and blood that was seeping out. The smartphone that was hanging from her neck and the 1seg TV continued to show a complicated graph. Mm, yes. Sorry, Amata-ojisan. Yes, in this situation, the Kiharas would prepare a raincoat. To me, Byouri-obasan didnt attack out of a sudden, and I expected her ambush already. In fact, a third-party who was seeing the graph would most likely not understand what Kihara Enshuu was doing. On one hand, it looked like a conversation. But in fact, it wasnt. What Kihara Enshuu got was merely an inspiration. And this inspiration that appeared in her head was a self-muttering of words that were rearranged in such a way that those named Kihara would definitely do this. She continued to walk down to the underground passageway. The garbage disposal facility of the waste treatment plant was destroyed, so the warming effect in Baggage City was drastically decreased. She was in the house too, but she was shivering in cold. If she left it like this, no matter whether it was inside or outside the house, it would all be frozen. But it didnt seem to be enough. Numerous graphs added to her strong inspiration. They were telling her things Yes, this isnt like a Kihara at all, Amata-ojisan. No efficiency. No rationale. Its not like a Kihara to think of a strategy that anyone could think of!! She moved through the underground passage and entered a high-level resort hotel. She went through the lobby where no guards were present, took the elevator, reached the highest level, and opened the door where the keyhole was destroyed. This was the remains of a battlefield, where Kihara Ransuu and tgarea-Loki had fought. The pile of papers were thrown all over the place. Even now, those two important people were still lying on the floor. However, Kihara Enshuu didnt care about that. Actually, Enshuu did feel bothered about leaving the "Kihara" Ransuu alone. But at the current moment, she needed to prioritize her actions as a Kihara. Even so, Kihara Enshuus actions werent exactly that important. She took out a test-tube from her clothes and uncorked the rubber cap. She added white powder that was like a sugar-stick added in coffee and poured water in from a flask in the wide hotel floor. She gently shook the test-tube, and the test-tube showed a translucent corroded substance. The fluid froze like jelly. It was just something she bought in a supermarket. It was just ordinary agar. However, it had other uses besides being food. It could be used as a cultivating base for microbes like viruses and bacteria. ...I can get this in about thirty minutes. Kihara Enshuu placed the test-tube with the cap opened into the coffee cup. Being barehanded, she was ready to use another cup to make instant coffee. Kihara Enshuu wanted to create moldy air. That was something Kihara Ransuu had used when he scattered chemical substances. Enshuu was ready to use the agar to capture the mildew and cultivate it as her own weapon. However... "Thats right, Amata-ojisan." She held her cup with both hands. As she was worried about being scalded, she slowly drank the black liquid and waited for that moment. "If the mold''s genetic information mutates artificially, maybe it can become a biological weapon that can destroy Baggage City entirely." There was more than one way to use a weapon. The Kiharas would create more fresh nightmares from those savage ideas. Volume 4, Sub.24 Volume 4, Sub.24 Ack, argh!! Marian Slingeneyer used a hand to cover one eye and leaned on the wall beside the street. The reddish-black liquid continued to flow through the gap, and liquid of the same color was coughed out from her mouth. She didnt know the extent of the damage, but the huge impact had nearly caused her to lose consciousness. Right now, she was going through such pain. Oumi Shuri. (Did I get careless because I felt that she wasnt of either the science or magic side?) Marian Slingeneyer was being pursued. As she could move in such a wide area, it was a coincidence that she met a talented person. She modified her golden saw and hammer into weapons and carried out a feint attack, and managed to escape as a result. ...Damn it. Im really suffocating now that my support, Sigyn, was eliminated. Or rather, the power of the Dinsleif. One strike can destroy all, is it? Im not battle-oriented though... It was unknown who actually modified who. In the end, it became like this. She ended up having to run through the chaos to escape, and she didnt even have the self-belief that she managed to escape. She walked into a shopping mall in the underground passage. It was unknown whether it was because of the chaos caused by the Kiharas and Academy City that there was no sign of customers or workers inside. It was unknown where they had gone, or even whether they were alive or not. But obviously, Marian Slingeneyer completely ignored that. She went to the pharmacy corner and looked for bandages and antiseptics. Luckily, her eye didnt seem to have lost its vision. She wiped off the blood that flowed into her eye, and she managed to regain her vision slightly. As her eyelid was damaged, the blood flowed in too. Even so, it was better for her to get a piece of gauze over it. ...My right leg... Perhaps its better to do some taping here...? It was really reckless of her to endure the muscle pain caused by Kumokawa Marias wrestling moves and even try to run away. Heavy pain came from her right foot. And worst of all, she felt her leg swelling already. Marian Slingeneyer took out some bandages from the box, clumsily rolled up her overalls pants and exposed her knee. Marian frowned as she looked at the rolled up bandage and again picked up the box that was placed aside to carefully look at the instructions written on the side. Damn it, what should I do now? Erm, use this to control the joint thats in pain...? Marian Slingeneyer could modify a completely healthy person into a table or a pillar, but she couldnt mend herself. It was just like the ones in charge of cooking and the ones in charge of critiquing the cooking. The skills they required were completely different. Marian Slingeneyer clumsily used the tape to secure her knee before letting down the pants of her overalls and tried to move. The pain was more or less reduced, but she couldnt tell for now whether it was effective or not. It seemed that there werent any drugs that could immediately stop the pain, as Marian Slingeneyer scanned through the rack but couldnt find anything like that. She found a wet cloth, but she didnt know whether she should heat it up or cool it in this situation. (...There are three of us that are thrown into this situation, including me. But tgarea-Loki backed out already, and Sigyn isnt of any use here. In this situation, we have to purge them whether its personal or for the organization. We dont know how many of the Kiharas are left, but the situation itself is really bad. The final survivor is me when Im not even one of the main fighters?) At this moment, a rattling sound came from the exit to the pharmacy counter. ... Marian Slingeneyer fluidly drew out the golden saw from her work clothes, but on seeing the other partys face, she immediately relaxed. She actually smiled, and said, Hm, what is it, Bersi? Dont you feel that the main actions about to begin soon? Volume 4, Sub.25 Volume 4, Sub.25 "...What?" The Anti-Academy City Science Guardians guard, the pawn Shar Berylan, continued to breathe out white breath as he looked around. He was crouched outside the house, where the vending machine was all frozen. He had disguised himself as snow that fell from the roof, and then set up windshields around him as he tried his best to endure the cold. He wasn''t trying to be like a snow hut, but amidst the aerated snow, it was obvious that a certain level of insulation could be achieved. In such an environment of -20 degrees Celsius, this level of hard work was a must even when wearing a standard army uniform. If he showed any signs of laziness, what awaited him would be an icy hell. The road had a thermal warming installation to make the snow melt, but the communication links with the command post were severed. In this situation, he couldn''t trust Baggage City''s own security. This would be a more reliable way to ensure his own safety when he considered that countless cameras were installed in many areas as part of anti-crime measures, and that his actions may be observed by the enemy. ...Of course, as he thought about this, he forgot all about his utmost priority to defend Baggage City. Anyone could understand from this situation that he was merely thinking about how to survive in such an environment. At this moment, Shar suddenly lifted his head. His attention was divided by something external. (...Why is it so quiet? That''s strange.) The sounds of battle were already long gone. This would most likely be evidence that one side achieved an overwhelming advantage. However, that wasn''t all. The city lost the all-important buzzing that was supposed to be part of a city. There was no space for humans to survive. It was like ancient monuments on Mars. It was completely empty. And thus, everything was completely quiet. Shar frowned, and soon had a doubt. Where did the millions of residents in Baggage City go? (...Did everyone escape outside? No, the nearest place people live would be more than a hundred kilometers away. And it''s impossible not to create any commotion when so many people are moving. We''re not trying to play morals or pull shit or even run away from the guns of Academy City.) Shar denied his own thoughts. (Does that mean that Academy City killed everyone? No, that''s not possible. We''re talking about millions of people here. Even if it''s killing those ordinary civilians that can''t defend themselves, it will take lots of effort. The city''s so quiet so quickly. This proves that the enemy couldn''t possibly carry out some operation to eliminate a group.) He couldn''t be certain whether this was a good thing or not, but he didn''t get any reply for now. It was like those critics who were watching from the other side of a river; there wouldn''t be any constructive suggestions from criticism alone. Shar Berylan pondered for a while, and finally crawled out from his self-made cover. He didn''t know what happened to the residents of Baggage City, but in fact, it was wrong to worry about their safety. If one couldn''t understand anything on the battlefield, there would be a certain level of mental disturbance. It was kind of unnerving to walk around like this when the situation was uncertain. "...Orders from the higher ups. Letting the people evacuate and destroy all the large destructive weapons in the city; that''s not possibly an order, is it?" Shar made all sorts of somewhat suitable guesses, and then crawled forward silently in this quiet white street. There were no signs of enemies, allies, or even tourists. Maybe countless corpses were buried by snow under this snowy day. After crawling about fifty meters away from his self-made cover, he got new intel. Shar caught sight of the enemy, and then leaped into an alley between buildings where there was relatively less snow piled up, using the vehicle that was parked there. He was hiding at the back of a truck that used natural gas, where the danger would be at its maximum, but in this situation, he was unable to change his location. Right in front of him was a cross-junction where no vehicles were moving, and four or five soldiers were standing there. After checking that their guns and clothing weren''t equipment that he was used to seeing, Shar concluded that they were soldiers on Academy City''s side. In other words, enemies. They were holding an object that looked like a beachball, and the base looked like a hair spray. (...Support Balloon?) Shar, who once borrowed (or rather, snatched?) Academy City''s manufactured weapon, had an impression of this. In other words, it was an intel weapon that was relatively simple in design. It was less like a small block full of technology than an idea of a product that would be even more attractive. The exterior looked like a helium balloon that was released with a camera attached to it, and it was kept in the air to retain visuals; it was basically that kind of weapon. It was something that was used to make up for weaknesses in areas where the blessings of satellites and recon planes couldn''t be reached. The effect would last for about thirty minutes. It would continue to fly up once it was released. And even if it was left untouched, it would be splattered sooner or later due to air pressure. However, it was just that kind of a thing. There was a timer attached to the hair-spray-shaped cylinder object at the bottom to detect the location of the soldiers on the ground from where the balloon would float. The estimated time on the timer would cause it to explode at a certain time... But Shar could tell that Academy City intended to suppress Baggage City from the fact that they were using such a thing. Shar didn''t have the pride left to grit his own teeth painfully. As for what he was worried about... (They have declared that the suppression''s over, but what exactly are they looking for?) The initial Support Balloon was something that was to be used as support to make up for weaknesses in areas where there were no satellites or recon planes. But from the fact that Baggage City was controlled by Academy City, they wouldn''t have the need to deliberately set a Support Balloon. However, Academy City''s forces were using the Support Balloon. It seemed like they were searching for something that satellites and recon planes couldn''t find, and even set even more cameras and sensors at its base. What exactly was the thing they were pursuing such that such measures were warranted...? "Maybe there''s something even these people can''t find? They couldn''t even find the millions of people in Baggage City." He was shocked, but that was all. The number of cameras and sensors continued to increase. Sooner or later, they would be able to discover Shar''s location. He slowly left the natural gas truck, abandoned his old cover and looked for the next hiding place. Something seemed to be mocking the almost-perfect Academy City. And the targets weren''t soldiers that were trained professionally, but millions of ordinary people. Shar was somewhat impressed by them. "...If that''s the case, I really hope that they share some of this grace with me." Shar trod over the pile of snow, and his profile slowly disappeared into the corners of the streets. The pile of snow on the road continued to gather, which showed that the thermal effect was gradually weakening. But right now, he did not have time to think too much about that. The streets were completely quiet, and this silence brought about a more unnerving presence. Volume 4, Sub.26 Volume 4, Sub.26 "Oww..." Kumokawa Maria slowly sat up while holding her head in one hand. She was no longer in the underground passageway where she had passed out. She was on an examination table in what looked like a doctor''s office. It must have been a facility related to Natural Selector. "Oh, are you up?" asked a female voice. Kumokawa Maria looked up to see a woman dressed in a showy dress standing surprisingly nearby. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and white skin. She was good looking enough to become a model, but Kumokawa Maria could see exceptional muscle tone underneath her skin. "...Where am I? And what happened?" "I found you collapsed in a hellish passageway and carried you to this medical room. I don''t know the details and I''m not sure anyone does." "Who are you?" "Saflee Opendays." Kumokawa heard a rustling sound from the corner of the room. A small girl was packing ice in a plastic bag. Next to her was a very strange large man. He was over two meters tall and he was decorated with various types of antennae. "I am a Natural Selector contestant. I''m not a Kihara or from Gremlin; I only have a supporting role. By the way, that pretty young girl is Mistray Flakehelm and the street performer next to her is her father Osad Flakehelm. After I saved them, I couldn''t bring myself to just abandon them, so I decided to play a more leading part." "And so you rescued me as well. That really hurts my pride," said Kumokawa Maria self-deprecatingly. "There should have been a child-like older woman carrying a school bag in that passageway. Did you see her?" "A child-like older woman? Is that some kind of riddle?" Saflee frowned. "No one else was there. But from the destruction left on the passageway, it looked like someone had chased after someone else. I gave priority to the injured person right in front of me, though." "..." Kumokawa Maria narrowed her eyes, but Saflee''s next words were not what she had expected. "Oh, but a child-like older woman, you say? That''s a little hard to picture, but was the shorter one a friend of yours? Then you don''t need to worry." "?" "From what I could see, the short one chased the tall one away." "???" Did that mean Oumi Shuri was still alive? "You need to worry about yourself more than the winner. We need to figure out what we are going to do from now on." "..." Kumokawa Maria fell silent at that. Oumi Shuri was continuing the fight for her own reasons. Then what about Kumokawa herself? What would she do now? She had come to Baggage City in pursuit of Kihara Kagun. She had intended to head through a world that had strayed from the proper path in order to find out the truth about the death he had caused. However, when the darkness had opened its maw, it had been so deep and dark that Kumokawa Maria''s common knowledge no longer got her anywhere. It was like being forced to take part in a board game without being taught the rules. That was the world of the Kiharas. Or perhaps it was the world that should be opposed with the Kiharas. The girl named Mistray Flakehelm handed her the plastic bag filled with ice and Kumokawa Maria placed it against her forehead. The comfortable cold spread across the bruise, but she noticed something else. Something was wrong. "You just realized how cold you are, didn''t you? And that you can see your breath." Saflee Opendays gave a small smile. It looked as if she was forcing it. "Of the heating facilities that are Baggage City''s lifelines, the garbage disposal facility and oil refinement plant have been destroyed. The Anti-Academy City Science Guardians are desperately defending the last source of heat, the thermal power station, but it''s probably already too late. That much heat is not enough for all of Baggage City." "Who did that...?" "The Kiharas. We keep hearing that term over the radio we stole." That name caused Kumokawa Maria''s heart to jump. But then she calmly thought about the crisis unfolding. "Their higher ups will give themselves priority I''m sure. They won''t care if everyone else freezes over. That is of course if those higher ups are even still alive," said Saflee. A few percentage points of the soldiers were still active, but they were in a complete panic, so they would unlikely be much help. They were just barely managing to hide, so coming into contact with the soldiers also held the risk of drawing their real enemy to them. For that reason, they hesitated to call out to those soldiers. "Freezes over, hm?" It was below -20 degrees outside. Even if the buildings were protected by thick insulation, the inside of the buildings would be the same after half a day without heat. That would cause major damage to all those still alive in Baggage City. "By the way, there is a surprisingly simple means of solving the heat problem." "?" "It''s a method used in Nordic areas. The heat of all the people in busy stations is used to heat a different building. It''s used for buildings in Arctic regions. Together, the residents of Baggage City and the spectators number in the millions. If they are all gathered in one of the domed facilities, their own heat could save their lives." "That sounds like it would only work for so long, but I guess it would help us endure," muttered Kumokawa Maria. But there was a problem. "But the ones who created this battlefield wouldn''t allow it. If all those people gathered in one place, wouldn''t they attack them?" "Yes. And not for any tactical or logical reason. They would probably just blow them all away for fun," agreed Saflee. "So that method will be of no use as a means of passing time without having to fight the major bosses. In fact, it can only be used to buy time for rescue to come after we have already defeated all of those major bosses." "Which means..." "Our time limit is about half a day. We must defeat all the major bosses rampaging through Baggage City in that time. If we do not, millions of people will become frozen food. Do you understand the situation?" "It sounds to me like this solves nothing." "Just by having this half a day for pure fighting is quite lucky. Normally, we would end up frozen whether we won or lost." Kihara and Gremlin. They had no idea if they could defeat even one of them, and they had to defeat all of them. Those conditions simply sounded insane. However, the only other option was to have everyone in Baggage City freeze to death by normal means. Kumokawa Maria let out a small sigh and said, "So we have to do it even if it''s impossible. It looks like the time has come to test the strength of my pride that just keeps getting damaged." "Yes, yes. By the way, I thought you might be the type to know how to use her fists, but do you think you can be of any help?" "Either way, I''m headed to same direction you are." Kumokawa Maria nodded in response to Saflee''s question. She would pursue Kihara Kagun. After experiencing that hell, she was even more determined than ever to do so. He had not stepped into that hell without knowing what it was as Kumokawa Maria had. Kihara Kagun had clearly known exactly what he was getting himself into. Back then. Back there. What exactly had happened? And how had it led to this hell? Until she knew that, Kumokawa Maria would not back down. Meanwhile, Saflee gave voice to her current goal. "Our first target is someone named Kihara Enshuu." "...Kihara?" "Yes. Apparently, a different Kihara brought in some kind of mold used for combat and this Kihara Enshuu is trying to use it. By causing artificial changes to it, she is increasing its infectiousness and toxicity and then will spread it as a biological weapon." "And get herself wrapped up in it too?" "I know. I really don''t want to know her reason." "..." Artificially altering microbes. The term sounded like something out of a movie, but it was really not that difficult a thing to do. Everyone was familiar with the changes the influenza virus went through every year. Microscopic life forms underwent changes to their genetic structure due to external causes relatively easily. However, making changes to the parts you wanted in order to produce the effects you wanted was decidedly more difficult. Kumokawa Maria brought her hand to her jaw and said, "But mold is a living thing. It needs heat to remain active. It seems like bringing down the temperature to make us suffer would run counter to this." "She is killing anyone she can by dropping the temperature. She will only spread the mold once the heat has gone back up enough for it to be active. That way, she can kill as many people as possible. Mold in the bath can be quite persistent. The same goes for athlete''s foot. It stops being active in a difficult environment, but that does not kill it. After hibernating for a long period of time, it can reactivate once the environment is more favorable." "But Baggage City doesn''t have any specialized microbe research facilities. At least none it advertised. Unless some new conspiracy shows itself, I would assume she is going to misuse a civilian facility." "That''s exactly right. It seems Kihara Enshuu is headed for the plant factory. Y''know, those container shaped things. It''s a new type of field that grows vegetables by using light with a special wavelength to induce photosynthesis, conditions the air to keep the temperature right, and soaks the roots in nutrients. Using it, you can pick the crops about thirty times in a year." "I see," muttered Kumokawa Maria in annoyance. "So does it use ultraviolet light in place of the sun? That''s the same reason the genetic information of the influenza virus is damaged every year." "Could this be bad?" "Very bad," she replied simply. "By the way, if you don''t even have that kind of fundamental knowledge on the subject, how could you tell what Kihara Enshuu is planning? You don''t seem to have what it takes to build up to that conclusion." "Oh, to be honest, I was given this advice by someone else." "Who?" "A man wearing a helmet and a coat." This time, Kumokawa Maria completely froze. "Was it Kagun-san? Well, I doubt he told you his name." Volume 4, Sub.27 Volume 4, Sub.27 Its so cold, said Kihara Enshuu meaninglessly in a high-pitched voice. While shrinking down in the cold blizzard, she trudged forward through the thick snow. She was in a city surrounded by concrete, but she felt like someone stranded in a mountain. In one corner of Baggage City, rectangular containers were piled up like toy building blocks. The area had originally been a large parking lot, but no sign remained of that. The countless containers gave it a cramped feeling. Rather than long narrow rectangular solids, the containers were a smaller size meant to be carried by railroad. The main difference from normal containers was the business use electrical plugs attached to the side. They were not boxes meant to hold things. They were devices used to grow vegetables within. They were plant factories. Hmm. I wonder if they were gathered here during the war so they could be sent to various battlefields to help with the food supply. After all, they can be harvested from thirty times in a year. But the war ended too quickly and they just ended up being put to civilian use here. Obviously, growing vegetables in a snowy Arctic area like Baggage City was not easy, so the cuisine focused on meat. The plant factories had a plain but definite benefit for the residents of Baggage City. Kihara Enshuu reached out toward the metal door of one of those saviors. She had the materials for the biological weapon in her clothes. Huh? A rattling noise came from the door. It would not open. The lever holding it shut would not move. I guess its locked. Are they protecting their food? With a quizzical look, Kihara Enshuu turned around. She then headed for the security room the keys were likely kept in. Ayles Bigant trembled within a small room. He had originally come to Baggage City as a participant in the Natural Selector tournament, but everything had been destroyed on the first day of the tournament. Unknown monsters had attacked the city. However, fleeing out into the streets only dumped you into a hell of -20 degrees and the nearest city was 130 kilometers away. That meant he had no choice but to hide somewhere in Baggage City. His only choice was to hide and wait for the police or army to come and resolve the situation. That had been his plan, but the doorknob had suddenly started to shake. No, it was the entire door. The metal door did not open, but it was enough to make Ayles tremble. The person had not knocked or tried to turn the knob. They had simply started kicking at the door or something equally as violent. Shit. What is going on? What!? Shit!! Still crouched down on the floor, Ayles Bigant grabbed a semi auto shotgun with trembling hands. He was so panicked that he had forgotten to do something as basic as loading the first bullet, so it would not fire even if he pulled the trigger. Someone had noticed him. He had finally been caught. It did not really matter who it was. Being found by anyone was a problem. Even if it was an old person seeking help and who had no connection to the overall incident, that meeting could still lead to the people behind it all finding out he was there. Having nothing happen was ideal. Not coming into contact with anyone was safest. And yet this was happening. That meant... It doesnt matter who it is. Holding the shotgun, Ayles slowly and silently stood up. I will eliminate any threat. Kihara Enshuu came to the edge of the parking lot filled with container-shaped plant factories. Something like a prefab storage building was there, but the door would not open no matter how many times she kicked at it. From the noises I can hear, I think someone is inside, the girl muttered before removing the smartphone from around her neck. She switched out the smartphones case with something that had a suction cup on it and stuck the smartphone to the center of the door. Yes, yes, thats right. A Kihara would do a bit more, Amata-ojisan. Kihara Enshuu activated an application and then looked around. A few large cranes were parked about. They were likely used to move the piled up container-shaped plant factories. Who was there? It was clear someone was. Still holding the shotgun, Ayles Bigant gulped audibly. A strange sense of intimidation pressed at him from the door. He wanted to go ahead and pull the trigger, but he also saw the thin door as his final fortress. He felt that he would lose everything if he destroyed it himself and he wanted absolute assurance that he would kill whoever it was if he did destroy the door. Suddenly... ...? He heard footprints in the snow. The sound got progressively smaller so it must have been getting progressively more distant. Had the person not realized someone was inside? Were they leaving? As soon as Ayles Bigant had that thought, he frantically cast aside that hopeful view. The answer would not be that simple in that hell. The reality was likely much more cruel. For example, the person could have been leaving to call in more people. It would be best if he assumed that sitting there and doing nothing would lead to him being surrounded by a large group. Fuck!! Ayles Bigant adjusted his grip on the shotgun and frantically headed for the door. If the person was leaving, it was possible their back would be facing him. In that case, even if the person was a monster, he had a greater chance of winning with a shotgun blast. Even so, he was not so foolish as to suddenly open the door. The door had a peephole in it. Hm hm hmm hm hm hm. While humming, Kihara Enshuu poked at one of the devices hanging from her neck with a finger. Something was vaguely displayed on the smartphone stuck to the door. It was an Echo Filter. The device allowed her to see beyond obstacles using ultrasonic waves. Basically, it was the same as the devices used to see a pregnant womans baby but with a strengthened output. The idea was an old one and applied research into using it in counter terrorist operations had been performed in the past. Unlike with the fiber scope used for endoscopes, no hole had to be opened in the door or wall. However, the vague images made it difficult to tell who was the terrorist and who was the hostage, so it had gone for many years without ever becoming widely used. The smartphone displayed what was on the other side of the door. A vague form was approaching. He was pressing up against the door. He was peering through the peephole. Hmm hm hm hm hmm. Kihara Enshuu smiled while watching his movements to get the timing right as she tapped at the device around her neck. The time came. However, Kihara Enshuu took no showy actions. She merely pulled the smartphone from the door and lay down on the snow. Immediately afterwards, something large approached. Ayles Bigant had made a few errors. For one, he had not counted on the existence of the Echo Filter that showed the person on the other side everything within the security room. The other had been about the footsteps he had heard. His interpretation of the gradual lowering in volume had been that the source of the noise was receding. In reality, it could just as easily been the volume of the device outputting the noise being lowered. Due to this, Ayles had assumed that whoever it was was no longer right next to the door. Inside the small room, his sources of visual information were limited. Without information, he was uneasy. He tried to put himself at ease by gaining some information. The auditory information of the slowly disappearing footsteps had shown him just how starved for information he was. It was like the delicious smells coming out to the street from a restaurants kitchen. That was why Ayles Bigants face had been naturally sucked in toward the peephole. He wanted to remedy that starvation. He had no idea that he was being led to do just that by someone. ? Immediately afterwards, a great dull noise pierced through the thick door. That should do it, muttered Kihara Enshuu as she lay flat atop the snow. She had controlled a crane remotely. The plant factory container hanging from the wire had been swung like the giant metal ball used in building demolitions. The heavy plant factory had passed right above Kihara Enshuu as she lay on the snow and slammed into the door. The door and the surrounding wall had been blown away. The steel door was buried into the opposite wall and a dark red liquid was flowing out from the gap between the door and the wall. She never even heard a scream. Wow, this is a messy room. It even has building materials scattered about. Kihara Enshuu entered the cramped security room and grabbed a ring of keys from the wall. Uuh... came a groan. It seemed the source of the dark red liquid was still moving. Kihara Enshuu looked around the crushed room, used one hand to grab a shotgun that was on the floor for some reason, and loaded the first bullet with a quick motion. ... A dull noise struck the door. She tossed the shotgun aside and exited the room that now had nothing left moving. It pains me, but I have to do this kind of thing if I am to be a Kihara. Right, Amata-ojisan? She trudged through the blizzard and opened the door to a random container. The inside was lined with steel racks. Each rack had cabbages lining it and red and green lights lit up the area. Oh... Its filled with LED lights. But I need a black light to cause the changes in the mold. She searched around for a bit and finally found what she was looking for. They were fluorescent lights only about as along as chopsticks. However, they were blue. They were black lights that emitted ultraviolet rays. Kihara Enshuu gathered a few black lights and placed them at complicated angles. She then delicately adjusted the balance by using a photometer that used the camera on her smartphone. The genetic information of microscopic life forms was easily damaged. They had almost no defense against ultraviolet rays or cosmic rays. However, it was incredibly difficult to use that to get a desired result. Now then... Kihara Enshuu grabbed a cabbage from a random rack and lightly munched on it. She immediately regretted it due to how bitter it was. Hmm, at this output, it should take about an hour. Right, Amata-ojisan? Volume 4, Sub.28 Volume 4, Sub.28 Kumokawa Maria and Saflee Opendays left the domed facility the medical room had been in and entered the white. Instead of feeling the cold stab into their skin, it felt more like a pain tearing through their skin. Ow, said Saflee. What is it? Its something like a paper airplane. Is it supposed to be like the letter on an arrow that the Japanese ninja use? Toryahh! While Kumokawa frowned in confusion, Saflee tossed the paper airplane back in the direction it had come from. Saflee looked up into the sky in annoyance and said, Minus 20 degrees... How long can we last dressed like this? Just think of it like being in a giant refrigerator. After about thirty minutes, well pass out, and after an hour, our lives will be in danger. So Kihara Enshuu cant last long either? If she has some kind of countermeasure, who knows how long she can last. Dont forget that she is the one that set things up like this. The plant factories were not all that far away. The container-shaped plant factories had been piled up in a parking lot connected to the domed facility. It had no giant fixed cranes like at a port, so it mainly used truck-mounted cranes and forklifts. It was easy to picture in ones head, but the scale was overwhelming upon actually seeing it. There are hundreds of them. I hate how I cant even guess how many there are. This is gonna hurt my pride. ? Kihara Enshuu is using ultraviolet rays to destroy the genetic information and turn this special mold into a biological weapon. But how many samples does she have? If she divided them into multiple containers and is performing the process in parallel, we need to destroy all of those. I would bet she did just that to have some insurance against failure. So we dont even know how many we have to destroy? Saflee clicked her tongue in annoyance. We may have to start thinking on the scale of destroying all of the containers. Yeah, maybe so. If we just try to guess the correct containers, we would run out of time. Saflee had only been speaking out of self-derision, so she was surprised when Kumokawa actually took the idea seriously. No, no, no! There are hundreds of them! I dont know how long it would take to create this biological weapon, but it would take a day or two to destroy all of them!! I never said we had to crush them individually like empty cans. Kumokawa Maria waved her index finger back and forth. These plant factories run on electricity. The lights, air conditioning, and circulation of the nutrient liquid have to keep going 24/7. A car battery isnt going to cut it. They must be drawing electrical power from an external source. Each and every one has to do that. When used on the battlefield, they likely had solar panels to generate power, but there was very little sunlight in that snowy area. They needed to be connected by cables. Then... We have our answer. It looks like my pride can swell once more. If we destroy this external power source, the black lights emitting the ultraviolet rays will all stop! Kihara Enshuu will be unable to complete her biological weapon!! Kumokawa Maria looked around the area. To avoid disconnections due to the weight of the snow, there were no power lines supported by poles. The power cable must have run below ground. Saflee clicked her tongue and said, I guess this wont be that easy. Should we head back underground? No... Kumokawa Maria approached one of the plant factories in the pile. She carefully read what was written in the alphabet on the surface. The power unit takes 300 volts and 50 amps. Thats a fairly specialized current. Its different from both Japan and Baggage Citys household power. Maybe its some kind of military format. Dont expect me to understand any numbers that have nothing to do with protein content. It means the power cant be used directly taken from the power lines. Most likely, there is a transformer facility somewhere around here. If we destroy that, all of the plant factories should stop running!! The girl in the maid uniform looked around the area and spotted an area surrounded by a fence in the white scenery. The area was about ten meters square. Inside, a few vending machine-like objects were lined up. Thats the transformer facility!! shouted Kumokawa Maria. At that same moment, the door to one of the containers at the surface was kicked open from the inside. A girl with a smartphone, a 1seg television, and such devices hanging from her neck exited holding a can of black tea between her two hands. Yes, if you think a bit, that weakness is obvious, she said in a troubled voice. Saflee lightly grabbed Kumokawa Marias clothes. (Hey, since she came out of there, is that container...?) (Whether its one of the correct ones or not, its still more definite if we destroy the transformers to stop all of them.) So you get it. If you had just destroyed this one and felt satisfied with that, I would have won. Kihara Enshuu shrank down and warmed herself with the can of tea. But since you know how important the transformers are, I have to come out and counterattack. Id say were the ones counterattacking. Yes, yes, thats right. I understand, Amata-ojisan. Kihara Enshuu started speaking to someone else. The smartphone and 1seg television around her neck displayed one strange graph after another. Now that things have gotten like this, I cannot avoid fighting!! Unfortunately, very, very unfortunately, that is what a Kihara must do! I must smash them to pieces!! Saflee clicked her tongue, dropped her center of gravity slightly, and took a ready stance. Here she comes! Are you ready to fight a monster!? Im so ready I have to correct you. She isnt coming here. Im headed for her!! The three clashed within the -20 degree blizzard. Meanwhile, the countdown continued until the biological weapon left by Kihara Ransuu was ready. Volume 4, Sub.29 Volume 4, Sub.29 Kihara Enshuu was said to lack a certain Kihara-ness even as a member of that family. Her early life stood out in a way even among the Kiharas. It was because of the ordinary people. It was because of those claiming to be on the side of justice. Those people took Kihara Enshuu away when she was very young. They did not do anything to her. All they did was imprison her in a dark room with no exit. Kiharas became Kihara-like because they were taught by other Kiharas. If the young Kihara Enshuu was taken away from the other Kiharas while learning all the basic knowledge of being human such as language and customs, she might turn out to be something other than Kihara-like. That was the thought process. In reality, that was nothing more than the justification someone gave for the clichd revenge they took out of jealousy of the Kihara family that continued to create genius after genius no matter how twisted they might be. He did not kill her. He did not even cause her pain. He merely threw her into a room and let time pass without teaching her anything. This way, the person could fulfill his twisted desire to be smarter than a Kihara. Kihara Enshuu could not perform the multiplication table and she could not write even katakana, much less kanji. It had nothing to do with being smart or stupid. She simply was not taught those things. That was how it was supposed to go. However, that childish revenge was overturned before long. One day, when the person was bringing food to the dark room like usual, the person discovered some scribblings written on the walls and floor. They were much more than just the multiplication table or katakana. They were incredibly complex collections of equations written in a strange code that Kihara Enshuu herself had developed. The person was only intelligent enough to wish to raise his position in the world by holding back others, so he never learned that it was a proof of the foundational ideas behind a cold sleep device. If the person had not been an idiot, he may have noticed other things as well. The three crayons seemingly scattered on the floor actually created a beauty that completely outdid the golden ratio. The wrinkles in the seemingly crumpled up balls of paper actually showed the plans for a parallel processing chip. The shadows cast on the floor by the light from the floor lamp functioned as a new form of test to show the deep psyche of anyone who looked at them. No acquired knowledge was needed for a Kihara to be a Kihara. Just by being a Kihara, a Kihara would love the concept of science with all his or her being. For one thing, science was not merely something in text books. It was not merely something taught by ones parents or teachers. Science was what made up all that existed in the normal world. As such, Kihara Enshuu had had countless things to learn from. Reference materials were piled up around her. The dust floating in the room and the feel of the plastic cup gave Kihara Enshuu plenty of knowledge. The only way to take science from a Kihara would be to destroy the entire world, leaving nothing behind. The incompetent person never realized that. Without being taught by anyone, the much too competent Kihara Enshuu continued to play with science. She did so as much as she wanted. In fact, without having anyone teach her the border between good and evil, she naturally gravitated for the most evil and pure form of it. It just came to me. That was why Kihara Enshuu gave a carefree smile to the person who brought her food. She knew very well what would happen to him if she carried out her idea, but she did not hesitate. On the other hand, she had never felt displeased with being imprisoned in that dark room. (She could draw out countless bits of new science from a drop of water, so she felt no need for external information sources such as school, friends, TV, or the internet.) She felt no hatred toward that person and his childish revenge. (She had enough toys in that dark room to play for her entire life, so she had no reason to hate him.) She merely wanted to show off what she could do with the inspiration around her. (She had never been taught how to properly contact a benefactor and may not have even understood what one was.) She paid no heed to the fact that she was at the overwhelming disadvantage with the chains around her ankles. (To her, they were not restraints; they were just another toy.) I thought up a wonderful way of destroying this prison. She carried it out perfectly. It was an absolute success. The chains that should have never broken from the strength of a young girl broke as if they had melted. The person had no idea what she had done. However... When the persons body was discovered later, all but the head had been transformed into something like wax and his expression was one of extreme regret. As if he had realized that the one he had been holding back so much had still risen far, far above him. Kihara Enshuu lacked something as a Kihara. By supplementing that from without, she somehow managed to keep up with the Kiharas. However, her information source was not merely the graphs that analyzed the thought patterns of others. Her true field lay elsewhere. Even if she was immature and did not always succeed in it, Kihara Enshuu was still a Kihara. Volume 4, Main.30 Volume 4, Main.30 Kumokawa Maria and Saflee Opendays unhesitatingly charged toward Kihara Enshuu. Amid the white blizzard, countless graphs flashed across the smartphone and 1seg television hanging from Kihara Enshuus neck and she shook the can of black tea by shaking her entire body back and forth as she held it in her hands. Minus 20 degrees. Minus 20 degrees. La la la. Three meters. Only a large step away. Kihara Enshuu unhesitatingly tossed the contents of the can toward them. !! !? Saflee frantically stopped and Kumokawa Maria cartwheeled to the side to avoid it. The tea should have had steam rising from it, but it started to freeze in midair. The volume of objects changed when they changed state such as from liquid to solid. If they had been hit by the tea, it may have torn up the surface of their bodies. However, it would not have been a fatal blow. While continuing to cartwheel, Kumokawa Maria changed direction. By bringing down her long leg that was pointed straight up, she aimed for Kihara Enshuus head. In response, Kihara Enshuu threw the empty can at Kumokawa Marias feet...or rather hands. Kumokawa Maria had to alter her course a bit to avoid it, and that created an opening. How na?ve. How na?ve. In the time she had created, Kihara Enshuu brought one hand around to her back. She pulled something out from her sweater. It was a multipurpose lighter. Unlike a normal one, it had a trigger like a gun and the opening was located thirty centimeters out from where it was held. Kihara Enshuu took a light step back to keep Saflee Opendays in the edge of her vision as the older girl tried to circle around from a different direction. She spun the multipurpose lighter around on her index finger and then raised her arm. Ready, set... She pulled her finger on the trigger. A dry clicking noise rang out. At a slight diagonal from the top of her head, the multipurpose lighter lit at a position just barely away from the nearby pile of plant factory containers. Go! A strange flame enveloped an entire container. Of course, a mere lighter could not produce such a flame. The extent and way which it spread was odd. You prepared oil beforehand!? shouted Saflee as she protected her face from the light and heat. Not just that. The sound of something heavy sliding could be heard. It was coming from the gaps between the containers. The second layer of containers was solidly sliding. Even though dozens if not hundreds of tons of weight were pressing down on them from above, they slid as if on ice. What makes skis or skates slide so well is not snow or ice. It is the water that has been melted by friction. ...Isnt that right, Amata-ojisan. They slid. They shook. They collapsed. And when the resistance from friction is incredibly low, even something with hundreds of tons weighing down on it will slide well. Now, here is a question. If you remove the lowest card from a house of cards, what happens!? The hundreds of plant factory containers rained down from above. One of the many piles of containers utterly collapsed. Each container was like a die about two meters across. They weighed one ton. Having them approaching like an avalanche produced a nightmarish effect. Smiling, Kihara Enshuu took two steps back. Saflee had reflexively flinched as the giant bulkhead like containers crashed down before her eyes. Snow soared into the sky and then the container it had been covering flattened it back down to the ground. Fragments of the outer walls of and steel racks within the plant factories scattered about. As that meteor shower of destruction rained down, Kihara Enshuu spun the multipurpose lighter around on her index finger and brought the opening up to her mouth. Yes, yes. Shouting so loudly is embarrassing, but doing so is what it is to be a Kihara, right? she whispered into the weapon that had caused the disaster as if it were a microphone. She then raised her voice. Okay, then! This exciting attraction that takes contestants from the audience has begun!! Now, will anyone be able to achieve victory and take home the prize!? As she shouted, Kihara Enshuu waved the multipurpose lighter around some more. The container with the developing biological weapon within was not around her. She caused a second and third wave with the piles that had just barely escaped collapsing before. Because containers were falling near Kihara Enshuu as well, she was unable to see what was happening to Saflee and Kumokawa Maria. However, she could gather information from the sky above using a helicopter-like toy that was linked to her smartphone. If all the piles collapsed that she assumed would, it would all be over. Kihara Enshuu had set the containers to avalanche down on everywhere but a very small safe area. That was what a Kihara was. The resourcefulness or battle ability of the opponent did not matter. They shook the stage of the battle itself, destroyed the pre-established rules, and defeated the excellent students who did so well in the preparations. (The containers are falling around me too, so they will function as a giant hurdle keeping them away.) Kihara Enshuu smiled as she fired flames at a nearby plant factory to collapse the pile due to the reduced friction provided by the film of water. (The enemy is blocked by the mental wall of fear and the physical wall of the obstacles. Once they are unable to move and can only cower in place, I will finish them off with a solid carpet bombing!!) But immediately afterwards, Kihara Enshuus thoughts were cut off. Kumokawa Marias long leg had come roaring down onto the top of her head. The obstacles were two meter dice. Kumokawa had run toward the container, jumped up on its wall, climbed up with both hands, rolled across the top, and brought down her heel while dropping down next to Kihara Enshuu. Explained step by step like that, it was not impossible. Someone who had trained as a street performer may have been able to pull it off in one long flowing motion. However, hundreds of containers were raining down. If even one of those hit her, it would have crushed her body. The odds of success could not even be guessed at. Normally, that would have put mental restraints on someone. She should not have been able to pull off that series of athletics. Someone bound by the fear of a Kihara should not have been able to do it. Gh...Gah...gah...!! Did my Kihara not activate properly so it did not act as enough of a restraint!? Kihara Enshuu moved back away from Kumokawa Maria with the unnatural movement of a toy missing a gear. She left the safe area she had set up for herself. Meanwhile, Kumokawa Maria realized the value of the spot Kihara Enshuu had been staying in, so she simply stayed where she was. You are quite different from the Kihara I know, she said while breathing visible breaths. I do not think Kihara Kagun would prepare all this. If he was that skillful, he would never have caused that incident and left the school. Do you think you have defeated the Kiharas just because you pushed back Amata-ojisan? The pattern of the graphs displayed on the smartphone and 1seg television hanging from Kihara Enshuus neck underwent a clear change. The girls lips moved. Ransuu-ojisan, Gensei-ojiisan, Byouri-obasan, Nayuta-chan, Yuiitsu-oneechan, Jouryuu-oniichan, Konshou-oneechan, Chokuryuu-kun, Doutai-ojisan, Kagun-ojisan, Bunri-oniichan, Sousai-chan, Kenbi-obasan, Bunshi-oniichan, Therestina-obasan, Kouten-oneechan. With her arms spread wide, Kihara Enshuu announced, I may indeed lack something as a Kihara, but I am supported by the combat patterns of five thousand Kiharas!! Mere undergrowth that has not taken a step into the darkness of Academy City cannot hope to break this great tree!! She was inputting new combat patterns. The Kihara[1] was budding. Faced with that monster... Without hesitation, Kumokawa Maria stepped outside the safe zone and planted the bottom of her foot in Kihara Enshuus cheek. Bh...? In that instant as her cheek was distorted into something ugly, Kihara Enshuus expression was one of pure confusion. Kumokawa Maria followed through her kick all the way to the side. Bghvrbche!? While letting out that cry that did not form any words, Kihara Enshuu collapsed on top of the snow. Kumokawa Maria paid no heed to the containers raining down from overhead and stepped forward. She was going to finish this. She would defeat Kihara Enshuu and destroy the mold being turned into a biological weapon. Bh...gh!! Kihara Enshuu continued to retreat as she stood up while holding her bloody nose and mouth. There are two reasons that you lost, said Kumokawa Maria. I dont know about this five thousand Kiharas thing, but how did you analyze their combat patterns? Did you give them a psychological test? Did you borrow the help of a Psychometer? Or did you just stalk them and watch them? Whatever you did, I have one thing to ask you. Did you truly succeed in analyzing their combat patterns 100% accurately? Do you really think someone who has to supplement her own skill with external sources could perfectly come to that result? ...!? You look like you dont like what Im saying. Then let us put it to the test. One thing that caught my attention was your use of the name Kihara Kagun. If you can truly replicate his skill, I will be unable to resist. A clear change came over the smartphone and 1seg television hanging from Kihara Enshuus neck. The countless graphs gave her power. Yes, yes, I understand, Kagun-ojisan. In this case, a Kihara would do th!! I dont think so. Kumokawa Maria took a large step forward and punched Kihara Enshuu''s head on with her right fist. Is that all you have? You use the name of Kihara Kagun and thats all you have? Then the quality of your analysis is as good as proven. You simply cannot replicate anyone with that toy. Really, all you can do is name Kihara Kagun or Kihara Amata beforehand to frighten those who know them. Kamijo!! Maybe with my sister, but that isnt going to scare me. I understand. In this case, Kumokawa Maria would!! Are you serious? Each time Kihara Enshuus movements changed, Kumokawa Maria used her four limbs in ever-changing attacks to beat her down. As Kihara Enshuu received countless counters, her looks changed. Kumokawa Maria ignored her and continued speaking. She may have only been so violent because they were both girls. Whether you have five thousand Kiharas or Kamijou Touma as your ten thousandth personality, that is nothing more than having the same cards as an opponent in a card game. You have not become Kamijou Touma. You have only put together the same deck as him. No matter what deck you put together, you are making the decision of which cards to use in battle on your own. That was why she could not win. It was not about whether she had a rare card or not. If Kihara Enshuu did not have skill as a player, that would not help. You set all the rules up perfectly, but you cannot role play properly. That is why you said such strange things for being Kihara Kagun. Its the same in battle. Your mistakes in judgment changed the idiosyncrasies of the deck to something else. I...cant win...? Thats right. With my intellect and with the use of any Kihara or Kamijou Touma or Kumokawa Maria, I cant win? To be honest, it feels like playing chess against a really shitty AI opponent. Kihara Enshuus eyes shook. Even the synchronization between left and right ended. However, she forcibly pushed away that confusion and hesitation. The graphs on the devices hanging from her neck grew even more muddled. Ignoring the shake of Kumokawa Marias head, Kihara Enshuu shouted out. No, I will win!! I have a solution!! I am a Kihara too! A Kihara is a Kihara just by being a Kihara! Thats what Amata-ojichan, Ransuu-ojichan, Kagun-ojichan, and Byouri-obasan are all telling me!! From the point that you think Kihara Kagun would say that, your analysis of him is clearly wrong. The Kihara Kagun I know would not say that, muttered Kumokawa, but it did not seem to reach the other girl. An odd clicking noise came from the multipurpose lighter in Enshuus hand. To turn it into a weapon, she must have altered the emitter for the gas to turn it into something like a flamethrower. With the strange graphs in her eyes, Kihara Enshuu charged forward. In that instant, Kihara Enshuu had a single chance for victory. It may have been true that she could not defeat Kumokawa Maria with the strategies from the graphs. However, she had one more Kihara. One Kihara remained to her. That was Kihara Enshuu herself. Because it was her, she did not need to analyze that Kihara and did not have to input the combat pattern in the form of graphs. Even if it was inexperienced, she had one final Kihara pattern. Even if Kumokawa Maria had seen the weakness of all the combat patterns inputted via the graphs, Kihara Enshuus own pattern was different. If Kumokawa Maria felt relieved that she had a countermeasure against the combat patterns created from the graphs, that would open a hole in her security that Kihara Enshuu could get a finishing blow in through. That was why she smiled. And licked her lips. She released the Kihara within herself and charged forward to roast the other girl with the multipurpose lighter that had been modified to act like a flamethrower. Immediately afterwards, her thoughts were cut off. The Kihara in her vanished. This had been caused by Kumokawa Marias leg. A merciless roundhouse kick had hit Kihara Enshuu in the temple. I told you there were two reasons you had lost, spat out Kumokawa Maria as she stopped her rotation. She continued to speak to Kihara Enshuu who had sunk into the snow. Even as you used all those decks, a hint of yourself remained. As you fought, that hint drew an outline. To put it simply, I was able to analyze your combat pattern before you ever used your own deck, so there was no problem. It was no threat. I was able to counterattack your deck easily. Just like with all the other Kiharas. U-uuh... A hard click rang out. The multipurpose lighter Kihara Enshuu held spewed a two meter flame. As she writhed in the white snow, Kihara Enshuus dark pupils stared directly at Kumokawa Maria. If you aim that at me, Im pretty sure the reflected heat will burn you as well. Well, I doubt youll listen. She attacked again. This was not one of the complex combat patterns like before. She merely charged. She was prepared to be defeated herself as long as she defeated Kumokawa. Even when cornered, confused, and unable to think properly, she was truly a Kihara in the fact that she chose the option of a more dangerous victory over utter defeat. Kumokawa Maria spun around and attacked with her four limbs at angles that would normally be impossible. With a dull noise, Kihara Enshuu bent backwards. But she did not fall. She was no longer acting out of reason or intellect. She was acting out of a purely instinctual Kihara part of herself. She did not have the normal thought processes that led to evading or defending when pain was coming. Kihara Enshuu adjusted her grip on the multipurpose lighter. She held her index finger down as hard as she could on the trigger-like portion. That lighter that had clearly had the amount of outputted gas altered could fire two meter flames for thirty continuous seconds like a flamethrower. Time to dance in the flames, you whore! Immediately afterwards, a dull noise rang out. Kihara Enshuus right hand was pierced through by a blade that looked like a gardening trowel. It was the kunai used by the Kouga ninja. Gah...? Strength left her index finger. Kihara Enshuu heard a voice even as she saw Kumokawa Marias knee headed for her temple. The voice came from Saflee Opendays who had finally managed to climb over the containers blocking her way. I dont really know that girl. I just invited in all the people I thought I could use. Did you not realize a ninja and a man obsessed with electromagnetic waves was here as well as that maid? Well, the ninja did sound me out first with a paper airplane. Kihara Enshuu looked over at the weapon located a bit away from her hand. She focused on the words of Kumokawa Marias that slipped into her ears. That is how you properly use comrades. Not through combat patterns and decks. Immediately afterwards, a hammer-like impact knocked Kihara Enshuu completely unconscious. A few of the piles of plant factories had been destroyed, but over half of them remained standing. A figure lay on her stomach twenty meters up on one of those snow-covered containers. They safely defeated a Kihara. By destroying the transformers, they have stopped the alteration of Ransuu-chans mold into a biological weapon. The voice giggled. The owner of that voice that might sound gentle at first was Kihara Byouri. Having finished tying up the unconscious Kihara Enshuu, her targets, Kumokawa Maria, Oumi Shuri, and Saflee Opendays, had all gathered in one place. They were chatting and joking to relieve their tension. Well, I suppose this is the time to target them. If I had interrupted the battle, they may have made unexpected movements that would throw off my aim. And more importantly, Enshuu-chan would have noticed me and attacked. Waiting for them to stop moving first is the best way to make them give up. Kihara Byouri pulled out thick metal nails. An unpleasant noise like cracking plastic came from her arm. Originally, it had not been just her legs depending on the #2s Dark Matter. The alteration had reached her entire body. When Kihara Enshuu had seemed to borrow the strength of Kamijou Touma, she had been satisfied with just crushing Kihara Byouris upper body. However, Kihara Byouri could restore a crushed heart or ruptured liver with a single command. And the alterations had gone beyond merely restoration. Form change. Reference: Skyfish. When throwing from a lying position, one could only use from ones elbow forward, similar to in darts. As could be seen from the fact that a long throw in baseball used all of the throwers body weight, this limited the distance and strength of the throw. However, the alterations to her body overturned this. Something like pleats appeared on the side of Kihara Byouris right arm. Her arm took on the expected form of the cryptid known as the skyfish that could freely fly around at unseeable speed. With that arm, the light darts-like toss of the metal nail was enough to accurately pierce through the containers a thousand meters away. Our primary enemy is Gremlin, but our primary goal is to eliminate the Anti-Academy Science Guardians in control of Baggage City and anyone who would protect them. Only regret remains for those who put themselves in that category. One toss would end it all. The enemy might flee at superhuman speed. But it would not last long. Kihara Byouri was looking down from above the piles of containers, so one would have to run down the long rows of containers to escape to cover. In that time, she would have eight precise opportunities to snipe and three hundred if she could fire continuously. Even if they did escape to cover, she had the piercing power needed to fire straight through the containers. All that was left was the issue of probability. Think of playing Russian roulette a hundred times with five bullets loaded. If the cylinder was rotated randomly after each shot, it was statistically possible to survive to the end, but how difficult that would be goes without saying. However, despite being full of openings, Kumokawa Maria, Saflee Opendays, and Oumi Shuri were not pierced through the head or chest by metal nails moving at ultra high speed. Just before beginning her attack, Kihara Byouri heard the sound of footsteps on a nearby container. !! Kihara Byouri twisted her body up from her lying position and fired the metal nail in her right hand toward the source of the noise. She did not particularly care who it was. She merely fired the ultra high speed sniper shot at the targets forehead and her aim was spot on. The person was wearing a coat. The person was wearing a full face helmet. The thick nail sank into the forehead of the helmet and countless large cracks ran through it. The full face helmet completely shattered in less than a second. With the hard helmet destroyed, the persons face was revealed. His face was unscathed. Normally, his skull would have been destroyed and gray matter would have spewed out. More importantly, Kihara Byouri knew the mans face well. Kihara Kagun...!? The metal nail that should have shattered his skull was deflected and fell to the ground somewhere while spinning. The man ignored it and said, I worked hard for this moment. That man who had survived that fatal attack took a step forward. I have worked hard for this delightfully Kihara-like moment by reusing Kihara Enshuu as bait in order to defeat my target. I did the same thing you did regarding Kumokawa Maria and the others. I waited for the moment when the situation calmed down. You had your wheelchair, your leg assisting robot, that formation of your legs using Dark Matter, and that body. To be satisfied that I have killed you requires proof that all of your safety devices have been destroyed. That was why he had waited. He had waited for when she had taken a certain level of damage and lost all of her safety devices. He had waited for the bare Kihara Byouri to appear. He had waited for the moment when she confidently brought out her final weapon. Have you used up all your safety devices? Are you out of transformations? If so, I am quite glad. The chance to finish off Kihara Byouri has finally come my way. I know that you resent the Kihara within you. Even if you were protecting the elementary school students from that attacker, you still chose to kill in order to resolve it. But isnt it wrong to hate the other Kiharas because of it? Something had bothered me, said Kihara Kagun calmly. It is true that I killed that attacker in order to protect the students. I was even cleared of all charges in court. But who was that attacker? He wasnt just some villain who just so happened to cross my path and just so happened to make me take action, was he? ... He was a pawn you prepared. Kihara Kagun was not asking. After all, you are a genius when it comes to making people give up. Burning away someones reason at the proper timing would not be hard for you. You cornered some normal child and turned him into an attacker. And if the basis of your actions lies in giving up... But... Kihara Byouri slowly stood up from her lying position and brushed the snow off of herself. A Kihara that helps people. A Kihara that children look up to. As the one that gave up right away, that is a troubling possibility, isnt it? As you are a representative of us Kiharas, I needed you to give up too, Kagun-chan. I already knew the answer, but it still feels good to hear it from you. That trigger had more of an effect than you could have imagined. A Kihara questioning a Kihara. A model response. What that led to was of course not hope. So that attacker was just another victim. Kihara Kaguns face held no expression but it still twisted slightly. ''Proper'' anger was displayed there. I killed him as evil without thinking about it deeply enough. I sullied that victim of a child with the name of an attacker of young children and that label will never leave him. That is why I must at least carry out this revenge. As the two perpetrators of this wrong, this revenge will not be complete until one of us is defeated. It was not over just because he had discovered the truth. He did not plan to stick the person behind it with all the blame and run away. He would settle what he had done. The teacher that Kihara Byouri had once denied stood before her. Oh, dear. Now this is a problem. It seems you still have not given in, Kagun-chan. A cracking noise came from within Kihara Byouris smiling body. She was clearly preparing for some kind of attack. The one you want to protect is not that attacker who is already dead, is it? It does not matter if it is someone you see has hope within Kihara like Nayuta-chan, someone from Academy City like Kumokawa Maria, or even outsiders like Saflee Opendays or Oumi Shuri. That is the type of teacher you were. An oversight. A mistake. The expert in making others give up smiled widely as she was about to redo her job perfectly. So make sure you give in this time. Making others give up is the one thing I will never give up on as the one who gives up on everything. The clash between Kihara and Kihara began. Notes 1. Kihara literally means "field of trees". Volume 4, Main.31 Volume 4, Main.31 The plant factory containers were piled up, and twenty meters above, Kihara Kagun and Kihara Byouri started to battle. Kihara Byouri was the first one to take action, and she shot out the nails. The skyfish-shaped right hand construct shot out like a sniper bullet. It was aimed for Kihara Kagun''s brain and heart before piercing through it. That should have been the case. However, he wasn''t hurt. There wasn''t any blood flowing. Kihara Kagun landed back hard, but he didn''t look injured at all. It wasn''t because his body''s recovery was fast, but because he wasn''t hurt at all. He casually walked over, and pointed his index and middle fingers as he shook his right hand like he was trying to rip the air apart. A blunt sound rang out. Kihara Byouri couldn''t understand what happened at all. However, it was obvious. Her right arm had been sliced off from the shoulder. After that, Kihara Kagun''s finger showed a bluish-white laser blade that was several meters long. Right now, it looked like his two fingers were holding onto a huge shaver blade. "Ha, haha!!" Kihara Byouri laughed. The right hand that had been sliced off wasn''t bleeding at all. The unnatural sliced off surface actually started to rise up. "Form Change. Reference: Yeti!!" A large and furry arm that didn''t match Kihara Byouri''s appearance at all flew out. Kihara Kagun became wary. His thoughts stopped for a moment as something unexpected happened. Kihara Byouri used that chance to slam a fist over above Kihara Kagun. The containers were crushed. With the sound of an impact, Kihara Kagun was smashed together with the containers he was standing on. He was definitely dead. Whether it was in the flesh or the bones or the heart, the festering feeling continued to tell her. Even though that should have been the case. "Is that all?" A voice entered her ears. After that, all the voices vanished. Several bluish-white lights danced around, and the crushed plant factory containers were sliced into different parts, removing the many restraints on his body. Appearing there was Kihara Kagun standing below. He looked up at Kihara Byouri from below as he said that. There was no sign of injury at all. There were no signs of bleeding. "What''s going on...?" "Are you still drunk over getting that so-called #2 power? Whether it''s the element or some other things, the overall conclusion is that it''s way too easy to achieve it if it''s just like that." "What did you get...? I can''t see the Kihara you have! You, who took part in the near-death experience research, seemed to be proud of it when you''re about to sleep. This is a skill that my own hands couldn''t get!!" Kihara Kagun didn''t answer. Kihara Byouri turned her right hand into a skyfish and continued to shoot out large nails more than three times. However, it couldn''t deal any damage to Kihara Kagun, and he hadn''t used super speed to dodge them. He was hit directly. His head, heart, stomach, all the critical vital points were hit, and that wasn''t all. No, Kihara Kagun slightly adjusted his body, or rather, protected his own vitals. And then... Kihara Kagun took action while Kihara Byouri was confused. He didn''t move up from below, but continued to slice the plant factory containers around him. He forcefully pulled Kihara Byouri down from those positions in such a manner as if he was slicing mountains. Kihara Byouri continued to close in on Kihara Kagun cautiously as she fell together with the metal remains of the containers, and thought. (That''s strange. I know this because I''m a Kihara. Kiharas all have a huge relation to science. On the other hand, not all of science is bound to Kihara. In a certain sense, their strategies can be deduced...!!) The right hand was equipped with the yeti construct, but it was immediately crushed by Kihara Kagun, It seemed effortless to him, since he didn''t appear harmed at all. He continued to move forward in large steps as he didn''t even bother to dodge. His right index and middle fingers were kept together, and a bluish-white laser blade came out from them before it started to swing without pretense. (Can''t give up...!! Kihara Kagun''s power, what form of science is it...!!?) Her thoughts stopped. Kihara Byouri''s face was shifted to the side. It was tilted. Whether it was the skull or the brain, They were rolling gracefully like they were in a cylinder. The brain was destroyed. It was death. At that decisive moment, a new development suddenly occurred. "Form Change. Reference: Little Gray." The lips that rolled back into the body let those words slip out. The front end of Kihara Byouri''s fingers expanded out like an airship. They became as large as oranges. If there was a need for another comparison, it would be roughly as big as a toddler''s scalp. It was a function to build the brain. And because of that, there was a consideration to allow residents of Academy City to use it. After that, that inexplicable power was activated. Kihara Kagun was involved in a rather destructive explosion. The right hand became like a giant''s arm, and on the left hand, the five-brained monster slowly smirked. The gray dust and the flying snow danced around as she said, "In the beginning, this was an ability to create a brain, a side effect of that experiment. That experiment itself was a failure. It''s true that the brain is part of the body. Simply put, the brain can''t operate as a brain if it doesn''t go through my body." That smile was lacking, but after a while, the face would be complete. "Well, I can only use the power at Level 2 or Level 3. The initial driving concept was that if I want to hold people up and punish them, I just need about five people. I can also use the wave-shaped attack to peel off flesh and blood from the bone. I''m really fine with that, but the effect was rather good, wasn''t it?" The heart wouldn''t stop even after being wrecked like that. The brain wouldn''t stop even after being sliced off. If it could be created, it could be replaced. If it could be used, it was fine even if it was lost. Kihara Byouri. She had become an existence that was more than why humans were humans. "...This is a Kihara. We use science as a base humans exist on, use these methods and create breakthroughs through areas that far exceed expectations. Can you understand the essence of it?" "Of course, I knew that." Kihara Byouri''s smile froze as the man''s voice came from behind. Suddenly, she noticed it. The gray dust was scattered about. Kihara Kagun, who should have been blown to bits, was standing with all his limbs intact. His coat and shirt had all been blown away as he stood in the -20 degrees region with his upper body naked. However, his upper body wasn''t bleeding at all, just like before. "...When did you repair it?" "It was never damaged in the first place. It will never be damaged. My body can change like that." Kihara Byouri''s legs trembled. What made Kihara Byouri more uneasy than the current battle ability was the completely unknown situation that she couldn''t understand at all. Amongst the Kiharas, she was a Kihara in the higher group. Even if it was something different from her profession, she could tell what sort of scientific theory was behind it. However, she couldn''t understand the current situation at all. She couldn''t understand what was in front of her. Kihara Byouri herself was an existence that could create brains or hearts, and that alone would be illegal. Amongst all the facts of science she knew about, none of them could explain Kihara Kagun''s current situation. What was it then? Without borrowing any power or laws, such a person could actually distort reality. Why was that? "No..." Kihara Byouri muttered. There were such thingsrules that even she, who was well-versed in all sorts of science, couldn''t understand. In the wide field of science, what kind of existence existed outside? Kihara Byouri herself may only know one or two of them. In Baggage City, she once tried to pursue such things. Yes "Don''t tell me, you''re...a member of Gremlin...!?" In that realm that could roughly be called the world of science, even to the Kiharas, who had exhausted all means to have that breakthrough, it was a realm nobody was able to touch before. Magic. Or rather, the magician controlling it. "What are you talking about?" In contrast, Kihara Kagun pointed his right index and middle fingers and smiled. The bluish-white blade appeared again. "I''m a Kihara, you know? What will you do if your opponent is something you can''t imagine?" "An, an external method...ugh!!" Having been defeated, Kihara Byouri said what she could think of without a second thought. At the same time, she was wondering whether that kind of existence was something she was unaware of. She then analyzed the situation in front of her again... (If he really has the ability to nullify all damage, he wouldn''t have chosen this day to attack me. He could have revealed his real name to Academy City, snuck back in and killed all the Kiharas. There must be some special characteristics to Kihara Kagun''s defense. It should be possible to deduce this from his actions.) Kihara Byouri used the assumption that magic itself was a supernatural power that contrasted the ones made in Academy City to build her thoughts according to an esper who could take on Academy City. (Kihara Kagun deliberately used his vitals to take my attack. In that case...) "..." Kihara Byouri changed her right hand to a skyfish, and shot out a thick nail. However, this wasn''t aimed at Kihara Kagun''s vitals, but his shoulder. To create a little graze that would normally be ignored, this nail flew at a very high speed as it peeled off part of Kihara Kagun''s skin. It was just like what she thought. This time, he was injured. Blood came out of his shoulders. "I don''t understand the composition, but it''s true that you can nullify fatal attacks. That''s your defense! In that case...!!" "So you''re trying to kill me by creating lots of non-fatal wounds and let me bleed out a lot, aren''t you?" His weaknesses were completely exposed, but Kihara Kagun''s expression still remained dry. "In Norse mythology, there are a lot of stories about putting gemstones on the hilt of the sword. It seemed that it could become some sort of talisman, and it had the effect of healing the damage sustained in battle... But for me who is not well-versed in that, I can''t do anything other than dodging all fatal attacks." As he was a derivative of science, Kihara Kagun could understand this thing that couldn''t be justified and continued. "But this could still be useful. Let''s talk about a dueling sword called Whitting. When in battle, this sword will scatter when its owner is at a disadvantage, and amongst them, a miracle would occur...it''s a spell that can accurately avoid damage and cause the sword to be sharper. When both are assembled, the sword''s destructive power will increase exponentially." He pointed his right index and middle finger, and raised that several meter long sword horizontally. "...If you want to kill me by non-fatal attacks, you will need a minimum of twelve hits. That would be enough. I can kill you 52 times. What I got in battle wasn''t a guess, but a belief. Why don''t you normally use such a power? Or is it that if you had only this level of freedom, you would have to rely on your persona as the woman Kihara Byouri...? It may be a threat, but even so, you should be losing yourself already, aren''t you?" "Ugh!?" "The proof is that you''re increasingly unable to get rid of the #2. You continue to command the electric signals. However, the things created by the #2 still have his own presence. And then, this is just like a rejection in a transplant. Kihara Byouri''s consciousness is being chased away by an artificial body. Is the limit one hundred seconds? Five hundred seconds? I don''t think it''s that long. If I continue to kill you during this time, you still won''t be able to do anything in the end even if you understand all sorts of danger, as you''re still relying on the #2. As time goes by, you will wait on and crumble to a certain extent. After that, you will end up destroying yourself. Your so-called physical body may not be killed, but your spirit will be worn out." "...Form change. Reference: Loch Ness." She transformed. Kihara Byouri''s body was rumbling. It looked like she was transforming into something big. As foreboding, all sorts of reassembly happened in her body. "Both you and I are most likely near immortal. However, there are some clear distinctions. The ability to recover from injuries or to thoroughly erase them. It may look trivial, but there''s a huge difference, especially when we''re in a battle of attrition here." "..." "If I win, my body can be patched up! But if you win, you''ll remain injured. That''s why I never thought about winning. Let''s blow each other up, and die together! It''ll be great. Let''s end this! As for you, you can only win. Whether you win or not, this will continue to be a stalemate!! This difference decides everything. To put it, it''s like winning in rock-paper-scissors or this kind of battle. The situation will be the same!!" Kihara Byouri''s body continued to expand. The savage dragon and the knight. This was a common depiction in many legends, and Norse legends loved to build such stories, but she probably wouldn''t understand it when she didn''t understand magic. "...That''s not it, Kihara Byouri." And then, the magician who was able to show the unique trait of the dueling sword Whitting bowed slightly. Or rather, the hero in Norse mythology. The man named Bersi. "I said it right from the beginning. I would take revenge for the boy whom you degraded into a murderer. I came here for that. In that case, victory wouldn''t matter. You, who prompted that murderer, and me, who killed that murderer; once we continue to fight, my aim will be achieved." "How is this poss..." As Kihara Byouri groaned, the man lifted his head. Kihara Byouri was trying her best, but she was about to collapse. That was what he thought. That teacher. "Thank you, Kihara Byouri. It''s unexpected that you have the power of the #2. If that wasn''t the case, you would have used other means to strengthen your body. If this power with such characteristics could be integrated, I suppose this battle of attrition would end. Your unorthodox doctrine was just as I expected. You wanted to head for that decisive victory." A loud noise was ringing out. And... The knight and the savage dragon fought each other, and both sides tried to perish together. There was no way to attain redemption. At the same time, he faced the murderer boy who couldn''t be saved and was killed. And completed that little revenge. Volume 4, Period.32 Volume 4, Period.32 Even when she was on the ground, Kumokawa Maria could see the storm. The monsters were fighting in a blood fest in the middle of the plant factory containers that had been severed and crushed into rubble. This was obviously different from the normal concept of winning or losing. Defense was non-existent, and just like the words implied, they were killing each other. It was this kind of battle. They were beating, crushing, piercing, slicing, ripping and gnawing at each other. This battle had all sorts of destructive acts, and both of them continued to fight to the death as they fell to the ground. Kumokawa Maria called out one of the names. But that man never responded. A terrifying explosive sound rang, and the two people in the air changed. On one side...it looked like a human woman was devoured by a dinosaur. The silhouette of this monster suddenly slipped, and her body continued to crash down the pile of containers before falling over to where Kumokawa Maria was. Wha... The dinosaur that collapsed on the snow seemed to be saying something. "What''s... going on...? No, I didn''t need to kill him. To think that someone who was suitable for making him give up was actually right... right here..." That long-necked dragon-like thing was staring at Kumokawa Maria. Its mouth that had neat rows of large, human-like teeth was opened. At this moment, she thought of it. The fear. What she had experienced before. It was the same feeling as when she saw that person wielding the knife near the elementary school gate, when she was glared at. However, the weapon this time wouldnt attack Kumokawa Maria. Not this time. Above. As if trying to use his right hand to stab into the head of the dinosaur, that man collapsed from the pile of containers. That man lost his left arm, his upper body was stained with blood, and his skin wasnt intact. That man used his own method to ruin his own personality. It was a mystery what skill was used, as the remaining right arm, from the hand to the elbow, was stabbed into the dinosaurs head. And then, a decisive blow was given. The dinosaur continued to shriek, but midway through, it lost all its strength. The body looked like it was tossed out as it then stopped completely. The color of the skin became transparent, and then it started to dissolve into the snow. That man continued to shake the dinosaurs head and threw it over at the snow. He could dodge all the fatal injuries, but the loss of blood was about to kill him. Perhaps this was what he had intended, considering the position of the wounds. Sensei!! Kumokawa Maria ran over and called that man, but not by his name. He collapsed on the ground and used his unfocused eyes to look over at the source of the voice. But to the man, it was unknown whether he knew her or not. Most likely, he lost all his memories before and after that incident. He wondered where he was. As he thought about it, he lost his ability to think about anything else. The man seemed to see a different person as he looked up at Kumokawa Marias face. He lost his strength in his body, but his lips continued to tremble. It seemed like he said something. So...rry... Immediately after that, the man couldnt move. This man had most likely bet his entire existence just to say those words. It probably took him a long time to say these words. He was always pained by it, but now he could finally gain release. He gave up everything. He continued to torture himself even at his limits. He continued to do that even now. He continued to fight until his last breath, all to say those words of redemption. The man was gradually being buried by the -20 degrees Celsius of flying snow. Realizing this, she finally spoke. I knew. In that world where even tears could freeze quickly, Kumokawa Maria bent down slightly. Her voice became a cry. She shouted out everything that she had kept inside her. I knew because I kept looking into it!! You did lots of things to help us, and even left secretly to prevent us from becoming murderers, Sensei!! Youve been bothered by this all the time, about who had set up that murderer!! Sensei, are... are you going to apologize to us now!? There was no response. Not even a nod. The face that was covered by the white snow only showed the smile of a victor. But I know things that you dont know either, Sensei!! Those lives you saved are walking down different paths!! Everyone is grateful to you!! Everyone is worried about you! It wasnt futile! We dont know how much you hate yourself, sensei, but this isnt futile at all!! That smile, that silhouette, gradually vanished. This merciless sky of flying snow dyed a layer of white over that immobilized person. Damn it, dont die with a satisfied look!! Ill beat you up!! Ill beat you to death if it will wake you up!!! Besides, I hate people like you the most!! Thats why you have to give it your all!! But, why...why must you just simply die like that!! Cries, lamentations, tears. But the outcome couldnt be changed. In this worldand because it was this worldKihara Kagun made a decision, and Kumokawa Maria was still alive in this world. It wasnt a waste to exchange his life for those who chose to give their lives up. All the Kiharas who had swept through Baggage City were stopped. However, there was the presence of another organization in this city. Gremlin. One of them. Seemingly hopping on one leg as she moved about, Marian Slingeneyer, who had a messy-looking bandage on her eye, stood on the plant factory, and stared coldly at the scene below. From their words, she knew that Kihara Kagun, no, Bersi was truly dead. Having accepted that fact, Marian stumbled and leaned on the wall of the container. Is that...a joke...? After hearing that muttering, the people near Bersi turned around. However, Marian Slingeneyer didnt care. No matter how hostile the others looked, what she could only see was that man that was being buried by snow. Why... why did you think that you wouldnt die? Or rather, I taught you my skills to prevent that from happening. Why... why is this? It... its like your death perfectly completed the puzzle!! Perhaps such wavering was completely unexpected for her. For the Gremlin magician who was able to modify live humans and turn them into her own weapons. But that wasnt all. She could do lots of inhumane things to many people, but to put it simply, that was to clearly define who were her friends or foes. She could help her enemies, she could betray her friends, but those vague things had nothing to do with this. Marian Slingeneyer was the sort of person who would wreck the entire world for the sake of those she recognized as her allies. Was it me? Did I nudge you down this path...? No, thats not it. Youre not that sort of person. Even if I didnt teach you, you would take a different path to complete this puzzle. Youre that sort of person! Its because youre that sort of person that I wanted to avoid you! I should have avoided you!! Marian clearly faced it. Her partners death. Whats this... this... No. Even when she faced this directly, she couldnt accept it. What''s going oooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!? A sudden change occurred around Marian''s surroundings. The place that should have been empty suddenly rang out. The smartphone Marian Slingeneyer was holding onto rang. Even though she didnt pick it up, it switched to a magic message. Othinus. The name of the main god in Norse mythology. The voice of Gremlins Magic God arrived. You cant do that, Marian! Youre using too much force! The experiments up until now will crumble if you keep this up!! ...Youre irritating. She whispered. She said that with a vengeful tone, ignoring the Magic God. If I had used my strength in the beginning, this wouldnt have happened. If a Magic God like you appeared in this world, Bersi wouldnt have died. And so would I. You...dont tell me, youre going to use it!? Of course Im going to. Dont I have to use it? Its too late to do anything, so lets just back away like this and end everything!! So what about the experiments? So what about Gremlin? So what about a Magic God!? Ah!? How can I swallow this without killing off everyone in Baggage City that killed Bersssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!! Marian Slingeneyer roared as she reached for her overalls. She didnt draw out the golden tool. She drew out a sheathed sword. Dinsleif. In the Norse mythology, it was one of the signs of the final war, Ragnar?k. It was a legendary magic sword where humanity could start a war to continue Ragnar?k and continue to bring the greatest devastation by swinging it. The creator knew more than anyone how terrifying it was, hence its name. But at this moment, she grabbed the scabbard of the sword without hesitation. She held onto it hard, and shouted. This is his funeral. Your skulls and millions more will become Bersi''s grave!! Volume 4, Sub.33 Volume 4, Sub.33 Kihara Kagun met Marian Slingeneyer three years prior. At the time, World War III had yet to happen, so of course the category of Gremlin did not yet exist as it was created by the war. In a way, Kihara Kagun may have been closer to Marian Slingeneyer than just a Gremlin magician. Well, I had known him for a long time like Mj?lnir. I knew that he would not eat raw shellfish. At the time, Marian had not been creating the weapons of the gods. She had been trying to improve the tools of the Dvergr. Just like the steam engine caused the industrial revolution and explosively changed the level of war, she hoped the improvement of their tools would let the world know about the power and techniques of the Dvergr that were on the verge of extinction. She searched for the skilled people she needed for her goal and the one she chose was the wandering Kihara Kagun. And as a result... I do not understand how these techniques work and therefore I cannot work up any personal interest in them. But from what I can see, you have already perfected a golden ratio as far as equipment goes. I could add in the Kihara that I know, but that would only lower the purity. That was what Kihara Kagun had said. But then, gently pointing out the mistaken objective someone had dedicated their life to was a certain type of talent. Especially when it was to a failure like Marian Slingeneyer. In that way, Kihara Kaguns previous occupation may have been visible. Marian Slingeneyer directly taught Kihara Kagun very little. Just by having the existence of magic proven to him, Kihara Kagun then put together spells and the means of refining magic power almost entirely on his own. Marian Slingeneyer gave the following complaint to Mj?lnir. Hes not worth teaching. There are tons of things I could teach him, but when I teach him even one thing according to the textbook, it becomes something else within him. In the end, having him learn things on his own is the only way. All I can do is correct things. I guess you could say I cant give him the power to fire a missile, but I can correct the trajectory of a falling bomb with its tail. ...Ha ha. I think he infected me with those science analogies. When they joined Gremlin, Kihara Kaguns contributions were primarily as a heretical researcher of the science side rather than as a magician. Whenever Gremlin magicians used scientific technology, Kihara Kaguns knowledge was at the base of it. Most likely, his knowledge would remain after his death and function as a major power within Gremlin. In the end, Kihara Kagun had been unable to escape even after leaving Academy City. He had left Academy City in search of some new power, but how powerful a magician was he? If you had asked Marian Slingeneyer, her evaluation of him would have been as follows. He may be strong, but hes completely useless. For one thing, he wished for his own destruction. He developed his spells for the sake of not winning, not losing, but carrying out the perfect tie against his one mortal enemy. Even within Gremlin which was made up of many twisted magicians, no one made use of the methods he came up with. They were too dangerous to touch. That was how everyone viewed them. In truth, Marian Slingeneyer had intentionally drawn Kihara Kagun into Gremlin. He had been necessary not as a magician but as a scientist and she had thought that would put an end to his reckless (that was the only way she could view it) desire for revenge. But it did not work. Kihara Kagun had indeed become very busy as one of the few science oriented cores of Gremlin, but in his spare time he still improved his spells, learned from the techniques of the other magicians, and further intensified his already dangerous magic. Most likely, he would have carried out his revenge no matter what. Even if he was looking at a cute baby bird, he would likely have been thinking about how he could use it to carry out his revenge. Seeing that, Marian Slingeneyer changed her tactics. His revenge would not be stopped. So she would support him with everything she had and make him overwhelmingly strong. She strengthened him so that he could return safely even if he carried out his reckless revenge. That way, she could change the result of the revenge he was planning. She had thought that would suffice. She had thought she could save her comrade from his delusions of revenge. If your revenge is over and youve survived and have nothing left, you can come back to me. Marian Slingeneyer had constantly said that as if it was a joke. However, it was not a joke at all. Kihara Kagun had always given a vague smile in response but he had never once nodded. He had already made up his mind. She had changed nothing. She had not saved him. In the end, Marian Slingeneyer had only been able to watch her comrade head off to his death. Kihara Kagun had carried out his revenge that brought an end to everything that had caused that incident, including himself. As such, she would do the same. Even if it had no meaning. Even if it would save no one there. Marian Slingeneyer bared her fangs at everything that had led to that mans death, including herself. Volume 4, A_Cardinal_Error.34 Volume 4, A_Cardinal_Error.34 The trioKumokawa Maria, Oumi Shuri and Saflee Opendaysnoticed the change. A new figure that appeared like a shadow. Marian Slingeneyer. It was hard to tell where she was hurt. She was dragging a leg, and her eye was barely covered by gauze. Anyone would feel pained to see that. However. What was worth noticing wasnt her appearance. Kumokawa Maria saw that she was holding the scabbard with a Western-styled sword in it. (This is bad.) She had fought against opponents who could use inexplicable powers and powers that didnt follow the norm, but that sword was giving off such pressure that even Kumokawa Maria was shocked. Amidst the hill of plant factory containers, Kumokawa Marias throat cried out. ...Doesnt look like we can talk peacefully here. This is a dangerous place. Oumi Shuri murmured. She had once forced Marian Slingeneyer to retreat, but she realized that the values back then werent worth referencing. That sword had some existence that caused her to have this thought. But thats the shape of a sword. The attack range is already limited. First, we run off in three directions to divert the enemys target. Once one of us gets chased, the other two can attack from the blind spots. Well still have a chance of winning. Do we need a flying device? Im not used to this. Saflee was smiling so casually that it was intriguing, but it would be the best move if they could suggest it to themselves. They would really end up dead if they couldnt move due to fear. Kumokawa Marias eyes were locked onto Marian. She grabbed Saflee beside her. What can we use? You havent reached the realm of martial arts, so I dont really want to take it out, but if its a hunting tool made in Australia... Boomerang? Simpler than that. We would tie rocks on both ends of a thin rope and use centrifugal force to throw it out. This is something thats used to bind birds feet together, but it can be used to aim at a human head. Centrifugal force, is it? Kumokawa Maria muttered. ...Then it certainly matches my ability. How about you? Saflee asked Oumi Shuri, who spun the gardening trowel-type kunai gently in her hands. "In my country, guns and gunpowder came in late, so this thing is good enough. Though, it''s going to rust if I keep using it." They decided their plan. No matter what the enemy did, they had to run away from her attack range. It was a basic thing, but everything was a matter of life and death, whether it be the control of distance or the fight to determine the winner. And no matter how it started, no matter what destructive power that sword had, once they had thrown out that flying tool, it would definitely cause damage to the enemy. They could then win like that. (If we dont run off in the wrong direction, if we dont run into a dead end made by the containers of the plant factories, well have a chance of winning.) Kumokawa Maria and company forced themselves to focus and try to be positive. However. Fill. Marian Slingeneyer said just that. She casually raised the sword that was still sheathed. Just like that. She turned all their hopes to nothing. Lightning came down from the sky and went through the golden sword. An explosion occurred. With Marian Slingeneyer at the center, a large flash erupted as shockwaves went in all directions. The asphalt shook mysteriously, and this instability caused the plant factory containers to collapse like they were critically hit. The snow danced around, and they were blown away by the shockwave. Whether it was Kumokawa Maria, Oumi Shuri or Saflee Opendays, they were already worn out trying to quickly raise their hands to protect their bodies. What...? The sky was distorted. It wasnt as simple as the thick clouds that were sending down snow scattering away. It was true that one could see the round clear sky as the clouds were blown aside. But before that, what should have been a blue-colored sky changed abnormally. It was like a TV set with the screen jumping about. There was an obvious instability. That flash. It looked like it had come from a different dimension as it broke through the clear sky. What is that...? Your brains alone wont be able to understand that. Marian angrily said that. Then, the golden sword was raised above her head, and the sheath let out a mysterious bluish-white spark. (Its coming.) Kumokawa Maria had a disastrous premonition for unknown reasons and quickly ran as she shouted at Oumi Shuri and Saflee Opendays. Scatter away!! The enemys using a sword!! If we can distract her according to plan...!! She didnt even have the time to finish her words. Marian Slingeneyer merely used the thumb holding the sheath of the sword and easily pushed the swords guard. Merely several millimeters. Just like that. There wasnt any horrifying light, and there wasnt any huge explosion that couldnt be resisted. She didnt carry out such a distinct attack. However... Several millimeters alone were enough to show the true face of that blade. She didnt even do anything, but Oumi Shuris heart stopped. Eh...? Beside her, Kumokawa Maria couldnt understand what happened. Suddenly, Oumi Shuri went limp and collapsed on the white snow. There were no signs of bleeding or fractures. It was a state where it was believable that she could be in a coma. However, this was a -20 degrees Celsius hell. It would be obvious if she could breathe by looking at the frost coming from her mouth. Obviously, Oumi Shuri had stopped breathing. Stopped by someone. (...Why? Shes dead...? Really, just like that, so simply!? What happened? Is it poison gas? No, were facing the wind here. Its impossible to do such little actions in this situation...!!) The sound of Marian Slingeneyer moving her fingers and sheathing the sword rang out softly. She then raised her right hand straight and pointed the sheath like a lunge. She didnt say anything. And the thing that was sealed inside the sheath, that thing filled with calamity was again about to open. Damn...damn it!! I dont know whats going on, but we have to find some place to hide...!! Kumokawa Marias words were interrupted midway through. At that moment, Saflee Opendays, whose eyes were wide, slowly collapsed into the snow. Her heart stopped. She died in the actual sense. The human life, and the pride with it were all taken away so simply. The demon of several millimeters. The thing that could be seen between the sheath and the guard, the golden blade flashing with red light. ... The soft sound rang abnormally. It was the sound of Marian Slingeneyer sheathing the sword silently. Absolutely abnormal. Such difference. This wasnt at a level they could handle by simply using wits and planning. In the end, they couldnt even get ready for battle. The sword Marian Slingeneyer had was way too destructive. Then. Marian went silent and pointed the sheath at Kumokawa Maria. The sword was sheathed in, and both sides kept their distance. Strictly speaking, she wasnt actually being pointed at, but Kumokawa Maria naturally felt that she was aimed at. It felt like there was a lump in her throat. It felt like a needle was pierced into her from behind and obstructed her movements. As she faced the enemy, Kumokawa Maria finally noticed. She finally noticed it. What exactly had caused Oumi Shuri and Saflee Opendays hearts to stop. The reason. ...Dont tell me that sword didn''t do anything. Kumokawa Maria widened her eyes and blankly muttered. Marian Slingeneyer hadnt drawn her sword. Even so, that existence continued to enter Kumokawa Marias body. Or rather, she tried to mutter out its true identity. Its just that we felt fear. We didnt want to stand before that golden sword before it activated its ability. In such a situation, it was a good thing that the heart stopped before something worse happened. A full 100 points. This wasnt the same type as the high level horror Kihara Enshuu used theoretically to increase its effect. It was instinct, or her soul, at work. Anyway, it was fear that was coming out from those primitive yet inexplicable places. Because of that, this was already far more than what the brain could consider. She couldnt dodge it. Once she had the ability to sense the terror, that terror will erase all evidence of life. In that case, that sword had the effect of killing all humans in the world before it was unsheathed. Then, in that case, if, just if, that sword was unsheathed, what would happen...? Then, its about time. Marian Slingeneyer moved her lips. Her thumb was placed on the guard of the golden sword. Die, culprit. The blade in the sheath started to move like it was sliding out. She could see the edge. The sword that could make people realize that resistance would be more horrifying than death. Kumokawa Maria couldnt do anything. That was the climax of the fear. Whether shes to run away or close her eyes, these little actions were already sealed. Clearly, somethingstrangeishappening. ...Ah? Kumokawa Marias consciousness was fading. She couldnt connect the memories before and after. The scene in front of her was dyed bright red. The feeling of up and down vanished. She could feel neither hot nor cold. She just stood in a dazed manner as if everyone were as messy as a bowl of gruel. Then, she noticed. She couldnt be certain of what happened, but the fact that Kumokawa Maria could raise doubts showed that she was alive. It wasnt the fear of being unable to think that caused the heart to stop. For some reason, Marian Slingeneyers sword didnt move. No, in the end, she didnt know what the sword itself did. It was just that Kumokawa Maria herself inadvertently felt fear and gave up on living. Kumokawa Marias consciousness focused on the place outside the sword. It was an even stranger phenomenon. Because of that, her fear was weakened and slower, which allowed her to avoid death. Then, what was it? The reason was at some place inches from Marian Slingeneyer. Pitch black cracks were ripped from what should be empty space. And then, from there. A certain boys right hand shot out. Tch! Marian Slingeneyers face changed for the first time as she showed an obvious anxious look. She had such a powerful sword. Even with a sword with such power, the boys right hand was grabbing onto Marians hand that was holding onto the sword. She seemed to be wary that her weapon was about to be taken as she frantically shook the hand off and pulled her distance back from the black crack drastically. ...I finally caught up. From the cracks, a boys voice could be heard. The shaken off hand formed into a clenched fist. It may be too late, and it took me a lot of time to get in here. Even so, Ive caught up to you, Gremlin. You told me the coordinates of this distorted space you created. Since Ive caught up, I wont let you do as you please. My right hand has the destructive power to destroy what you control. The black crack expanded. Something seemed to be looking over from there. Thats the line. Up to now, its all been a world managed by your rules. It expanded, expanded, expanded. It seemed as if it wanted to deny something, that it wanted to topple the premise. So now. He took a step forward from the crack that had increasingly opened. And he clearly stepped into this world. Now were going to finish things by my rules!!! Kamijou Touma appeared. Immediately after, all the other cracks that were embedded shattered. It was as if... It was as if everything Kumokawa Maria had witnessed up to this point was just a grand illusion. Volume 4, Connection Process Volume 4, Connection Process The scientific esper powers developed by Academy City had their base in quantum theory. In quantum theory, the world was thought about at an exceedingly small level and it was a strange field in which Newtonian mechanics such as an apple falling to the earth when you let it go did not apply. The object was definitely there, but it went somewhere else when observed by someone. An object in a box could only be expressed in possibility or probability. It was not said to be there or said to be not there. It could only be said to seventy percent exist. If you thought about it in the terms of the normal world of science such as in terms of drink cans or oranges, the ideas of quantum theory made no sense whatsoever. However, if you controlled the microscopic world with the observer of a human mind, the macroscopic world (that is, what could be seen with the naked eye) could be controlled. That was what Academy City''s esper powers were. However, there was another theory that was the counter to the microscopic quantum theory. Holism. In that theory, the entire expanding universe was treated as a single large system or network and things were viewed at the largest scale that humans could manage. This once branched off to Gaia Theory which viewed the entire Earth as a single environment or ecosystem, but the life forms on the Earth were also affected by solar winds and the gravitational pull of the moon. If you also added in the time axis and other dimensions to that large ''world'', you were no longer dealing with just a single planet. In that way, many had gone back to the origins of the theory and talking in true wholes once more. Gremlin had used Baggage City as a giant testing ground to complete the foundational theory behind esper powers that used that holism. The theory itself was simple. It was the opposite of the butterfly effect that said the beating of a butterflys wings could cause storms. In other words, a major change on the global scale could cause flames to come from your palm. Just saying that the large affected the small may make it a little hard to understand. However, we are constantly undergoing changes caused by large things. For example, take the theory of relativity. Setting aside the precise definition, let us focus on the part that says the flow of time slows the closer an object gets to the speed of light. A human riding in a car and a human riding in an airplane are in different ''times'' that would cause a slight immeasurable error. So let us make the scale larger. What about a human on Earth versus a human on the moon? What about a human on the moon versus a human on Mars? Due to rotation and revolution, those people would be within different speeds and therefore different times. Now let us bring the scale up to the whole. The universe was created in the Big Bang and is constantly expanding moment by moment. Of course, we of humanity live in the universe and are all moving at the speed of that expansion. This puts us in the relativistic time created by the Big Bang. Now, let us go through a thought experiment. The universe is expanding equally in every direction, but what if the expansion speed of a single local area changed? The change in speed would create a change in time. An exceedingly large phenomenon would change the concept of time for a tiny human. Of course, that is merely an example. However, if you could bend or ball up the entire universe, the side effect of that power would cause an exceedingly microscopic phenomenon that would be immeasurable even with an electron microscope. Does it seem like a rather roundabout method? Do you think that if someone had power great enough to alter the expansion speed of the universe, they should just use that power to directly crush the planet or the galaxy? However, a holistic esper would only notice the flames coming from their palm. Even if some distant galaxy was crushed in the process, that would be all they could comprehend. Just like how a person in a car cannot notice that someone standing on the Earth is in a different time. As such, an esper created from the whole might only reach a Level 2 or 3 on Academy Citys scale. Even if some truly ridiculous thing was occurring in reality, no one would notice it, so it might as well not have been happening. Ironically, this was the same as the concept of zero in quantum theory. What Gremlin had been doing was the first step toward that. Before actually creating a holistic esper, they were carrying out an experiment to see if a small supernatural phenomenon would occur when the world was greatly distorted. Thats right. The tournament in Baggage City, the clash between Kihara and Gremlin, and the war between science and magic. Each of those movements was nothing more than an experiment to see if the exceedingly large scale battles would cause exceedingly microscopic changes. For Gremlin, the ''punishment'' sent by Academy City was just another part of their plan. Kihara Kagun was from Academy City and had been a central part of their darkness. He had secretly intercepted the scope of the unit sent in by Academy City. With that knowledge, he had carried out final adjustments to give Gremlin the advantage. That scenario had been hidden even from Gremlin. If they had known the scenario beforehand, they could not achieve the same results. It was all an experiment to develop esper powers from the result of the battles. If they succeeded, it would not only be the most powerful, it would be a brand new system of powers. The type of experiment was the same as what the #1 had once gone through. Since that was the result he had eventually come up with, Kihara Kagun may have never truly escaped the curse of the science of Academy Citys dark side no matter how much he hated it. (But then, when he found out Kihara Byouri would be part of the strategy, he took advantage of the fact that he could not tell anyone else the scenario and made a major change to the plan at the last second.) If the small phenomenon caused by the major distortion was detected, they would finally alter a hopeful candidates brain to develop an actual holistic esper. So what was the result? The result was clear. Since Kamijou Toumas right hand had negated something, something needing to be negated must have been there. Let us take Kamijou and the others proper ''present'' as 0 and the ''future'' created by the holistic experiment as 1. Gremlin surely thought they were controlling a holistic experiment. Until partway through, that was true. Gremlins major preparations in Baggage City had indeed created a result in their experiment to show that a distortion that should not exist leads to esper powers. However, when the small distortion had appeared, Gremlin and Baggage City which were in the ''present'' had begun to be forcibly drawn in by the holistic result in the ''future''. It was like scientists losing control of the black hole they had created. And so things became distorted. If the ''present'' was 0 and the ''future'' was 1, then, until Kamijou had arrived, Baggage City (which should have been a 0) had been drawn in and the time and space had been distorted toward the future making it a 0.5 or a 0.7. That was why something had been off about the place in which Kihara and Gremlin clashed despite the fact that it should have been Baggage City. The normal laws did not apply and they began to be bound by some strange laws that made tragedies occur much more easily. At the same time, what did it mean that that distortion had been destroyed by the power of that right hand? The answer was simple. The cold laws that had taken effect no longer applied. Even if the tragedies that had occurred could not be repaired and even if those that had died could not be brought back to life... Kamijou Toumas right hand would do the conquering now. Volume 4, n: Even If There Is Death. Dead_to... Volume 4, Chapter n: Even If There Is Death. Dead_to... Part 1 Kumokawa Maria witnessed it. What remained beyond after the world shattered like glass was the Eastern European Baggage City. However, it was different from before. The oppressive reek of death was gone. The weight that Kihara and Gremlin had scattered about was gone from her shoulders. The world had changed. By the presence of a single boy. Other than those invisible changes, a more obvious visual change occurred as well. They were no longer outside in the piles of plant factory containers. They were inside one of the domed facilities. They were in one of the four arenas where the Natural Selector tournament was originally supposed to take place. In the ring surrounded by chain link fence stood Kamijou Touma, Marian Slingeneyer, and Kumokawa Maria. What...just...? It isnt an issue of which is correct. Both the place you were in up until now and the place you are in now are the same place in terms of coordinates. However, the same locations position shifted from before and after as if space itself had been distorted by a black hole. The spectators were not there. Other than Kamijou and the two girls, no one was in the domed facility. It had not been that way all along. Clear signs of people having left in a panic could be seen such as pamphlets scattered about and crushed by many feet. Had they all fled at once or had they been unable to make it in time causing some tragedy to occur? Kumokawa Maria could only speculate. ... Marian Slingeneyer remained silent. The ominous sword Dinsleif rested within its golden scabbard. Just by lifting the guard with her thumb and revealing only a few centimeters of the blade, that thorough weapon would cause its targets heart to automatically stop out of fear. She held the right arm holding the scabbard casually forward. Even though not even a millimeter of the blade could be seen, Kumokawa Marias body stiffened. Ignoring Kumokawa, Marian said, Why are you here now? This was the best I could manage. Bersi is...Kihara Kagun is dead. I cannot deny that I was unable to stop that. There is nothing I can say. Even though Gremlin had started the incident and had been deeply related to that mans death in a way, Marian Slingeneyer separated herself out from that as she spoke. It may have been because she understood what kind of person Kamijou Touma was. Gremlin had put together countermeasures against Imagine Breaker, so she had known Kamijou Toumas nature before ever meeting him. Because she knew his nature, Marian may have been blaming something else other than Kamijou Touma himself for the fact that there had been someone he was unable to save. However, Marian Slingeneyer did not hesitate. As if cursing him, she did not hesitate to push up the magic swords guard with her thumb. That ominous blade rose just a few centimeters. Its seal was broken and it was displayed to the world. Kumokawa Maria was not being directly targeted, but her heart still jumped. That was not the true power of Dinsleif. The target merely stopped their own heart because it would be better than being hit by the full power of the blade. How was one supposed to stand up to an attack on that level? No physical projectile came from the sword. It could not be evaded if you were quick enough or blocked by hiding behind cover. No matter where you ran or what you did to defend, the fear welling up within your own body would automatically kill you. So you could not run. You could not defend. Nothing you did held any meaning. You were dead before you could do anything. You were dead the second you stood on the same battlefield. All actions were robbed of all meaning. All fighting lost its reason to exist. As he was being directly targeted, Kamijou Toumas heart should surely have stopped. Before Dinsleif could actually do anything and before the sword could enter the battle directly. No reason was needed. That sword gave its target an instinctual fear that robbed them of all life. It should have completely killed that normal boy without leaving a scratch on him. And yet... He did not fall. Kamijou Touma did not fall. Even as he stood before Dinsleif, the sword that would bring ruin to the world. He pushed aside his fear and his heart continued to function normally. Marian Slingeneyer frowned slightly. In response, Kamijou Touma held up his right fist. He would use it to deal with Marian as she held out that sheathed magic sword. That attack is triggered by the fear of that powerful magic, so it will not work on me. I know that magic is not something that will hit me no matter what. With the power of my right hand...no, as long as I have the will to clench my fist, I can brush aside or negate it. He could destroy magic. He could break illusions. Because he knew that, the fear was mitigated some. He was not merely on the receiving end. He knew he had a 50/50 chance of resisting, so he did not have to choose the option of giving up before fighting. That was why Kamijou Touma was able to fight. He could still stand up to that ultimate magic sword that would bring about the final battle of Norse mythology, Ragnarok. And meanwhile, Kumokawa Maria realized something else. She was able to calmly watch on. She had not fallen into confusion that bound her with the overwhelming fear produced by that magic sword. Kumokawa Maria did not know who that boy was and she did not know what Imagine Breaker was. However, the mere possibility of something that might be able to stand up to that magic sword was enough to lessen her fear and allow her heart to continue to beat. She had been protected. She had been saved. She had been rescued. Most likely, Oumi Shuri, Saflee Opendays, and the others who were not there had begun breathing again without Kumokawa Maria knowing. Something had appeared to force back the fear. Kumokawa Maria and the others hearts had not stopped due to an injury or an illness. Without the fear that had conquered Baggage City, they could return to their normal state. That was Kamijou Touma. That was Imagine Breaker. He had not done anything special. Just by being there C just by standing there C he had naturally avoided a tragedy and saved someone. A safe zone. A protagonist. ...So what? muttered Marian Slingeneyer. An unnatural creaking noise came from the golden scabbard as she tightened her grip on it. Bersi is dead. He died like a different type of protagonist than you. So I will respect his intent! You looked down on and denied this temporary cruel world and the actions of Bersi who died satisfied!! I will destroy all of those kind rules of yours!! If Kamijou Touma had been there from the beginning, Bersi aka Kihara Kagun may not have died. He may have been able to resolve his issues without dying. She rejected that possibility. In order to construct the opinion that it was for the best that Bersi had died, she did all she could to negate the existence of Kamijou Touma, the one who shook Bersis great accomplishment. Kamijou Touma had his rules and Gremlin had its rules. This was a battle between them. Marian Slingeneyer knew that she could never actually give anything to the dead, but she still held up the sheathed magic sword for her lost friend. Let us begin this, different one. Battles over the dead are serious. After all, the dead cannot put a stop to the expanding malice of the survivor!! A storm of rage blew out in every direction from the brown girl. At the same time, the magic sword emitted its power of fear as a great pressure that bound the soldiers that controlled the battlefield. However, as Kumokawa Maria felt that change, she heard Kamijou Touma mutter something. ...I know. Even so, I have continued to fight this kind of fanatic. And then the battle began. It began in that world where it was already too late for everything. It began even as no path remained upon which everyone could return home safely. The fight began between one who wished to protect the sanctity of the dead and one who wished to stop any more tragedy from occurring. Natural Selector. Ironically, the final battlefield was the stage prepared for the tournament named after the one who decided natural selection. Part 2 The circular ring had a diameter of thirty meters. Inside it, Kamijou Touma and Marian Slingeneyer faced each other at a distance of about ten meters. The fear of Marians Dinsleif would no longer work. Only a true clash remained. Kamijou had to get within range of his right fist to get any damage in. The two of them would have to get in close range. ...? However, that did not happen. While Kamijou tried to charge in, Marian actually moved back. She then held the magic sword forward while it was still in its scabbard. A small noise could be heard. It was not the sound of her thumb pressing up on the guard. It was the opposite. It was the sound of the few centimeters of exposed blade being returned into the scabbard. That was a sign that she was giving up on the now useless fear. It was also a ritual for releasing the magic swords other power. A slight wind ignored the flow of the air and headed toward Marian from all directions. Immediately afterwards, a giant sword sliced through the chain link fence surrounding the ring. It seemed to fly out from the bottom of Dinsleifs scabbard. The long straight sword was gray and narrow. It tore through the chain link fence behind Kamijou. As Marian swung the still sheathed sword, the long, narrow blade followed suit. It moved. It tore through everything. Tch!! Kamijou stopped running and focused on defense. The large sword came flying horizontally for his neck and he immediately held up his right hand and tried to negate Marians magic. However, he noticed something partway through. The end of the little finger on his right hand was slightly cut. The meaning of the few drops of blood was clear. I cant block it with Imagine Breaker...!! Didnt we tell you we have countermeasures? He forcefully stopped the action he had started to take and felt his backbone and muscles straining as he did so, but Kamijou managed to change what he was doing. He swung his upper body to lower his overall posture. The large gray sword passed directly above him. The chain link fence behind him was torn to shreds, but the blade did not follow him for long. The large sword must have only been able to last about three seconds. However, Marian Slingeneyers attacks did not end there. If one attack had its limits, then she just had to attack again and again. (Shit!! I shouldnt have stopped moving for defense. It has too much range to defend against well and getting in close and unleashing a barrage is my only option!!) Marians slicing attacks continued. Each individual trajectory was simple, but the range and power were incredible. The background was sliced to pieces like someone had taken a pair of scissors to a photograph. However, Kamijou received no fatal blows. The destruction had spread through the chain link fence, the concrete floor, and even the spectator seats. Dust flew up into the air. That dust showed a strange silhouette. It showed the source of Marian Slingeneyers power. It showed the process by which the gray swords were created and a hint as to how to avoid it. Marians attacks stopped for an instant as she looked around and realized the mistake she had made. ...That scabbard, muttered Kamijou during the break in the attacks. A clear sphere with a diameter of about three meters had appeared at the end of the magic swords scabbard. It looked something like a giant balloon, but it was likely something completely different. I dont know what effect it has, but that scabbard has enough power to seal a sword as dangerous as that. If you changed what it sealed, you could bind something else. For example... Gravity? said Marian. That power is felt equally across the earth and cannot be escaped from. As long as it is on earth, this sphere will rapidly absorb gravity. It is reflected around within the sphere where an apple will not fall down if you let go of it. As the power violently rages around within the sphere that has no exit, I just need to open a small hole at a single point. So you collect the vectors in a single point and send them directly out. And the sphere has the dust and dirt from the air wrapped up in it all. Thats like the machine tools used to cut steel plates by firing high pressure water with artificial diamond dust mixed in!! The three meter clear sphere suddenly compressed to the size of a golf ball. A large gray sword fired out, slicing through the vaguely visible dust. Kamijou twisted his body with all his strength. Only the clear sphere that was a magical extension of the scabbard was magical in nature. The large swords fired from it were merely a physical phenomenon created by the distorted flow of gravity pushing the dust and dirt. That was why Imagine Breaker could not defend against it. If he held up his right hand, it would just be severed. However, Marian betrayed his expectations and did not swing the blade around. Instead she charged straight toward him with the sheathed magic sword after he had ruined his form to evade. She reached him in no time at all. Rather than the long distance attack with just the scabbard, this was the more natural form of attack. The much more dangerous attack came for him. Without creating a gravity sword, Marian swung the sheathed magic sword in one hand from the bottom right to the upper left. The end of scabbard was aimed for Kamijous temple. If one of the large swords was produced at that range of only a few centimeters, Kamijous entire body would be sliced in two. Kamijou used reason to suppress the urge to protect his face with his arm out of pure fear and he focused on evading. Suddenly, he was surrounded by darkness in every direction. Kamijous thoughts fell into chaos. Nothingness surrounded him. Immediately afterwards, he realized what had happened. (This time, it wasnt the air. Was I sealed inside the sphere!?) Next, either the gravity would increase and crush him from all sides or he would be squeezed out of the small opening for energy and turned into human pasta. That meant his only option was to destroy the sphere. The large swords created by gravity were one thing, but the sphere extended from the scabbard could be destroyed by his right hand. However, with only darkness surrounding him, he had no idea how wide the sphere was. Marians attack could begin before he managed to run to the edge of the sphere. Kamijou wanted speed. He did not look around. He aimed directly down. No matter how far the sphere had expended, his feet would be on the bottom of the sphere. So Kamijou crouched down and struck the ground beneath his feet with his right fist. The darkness around him shattered. The torn up circular ring returned to Kamijous vision. The great change to his surroundings threw his vision into chaos. Marian Slingeneyer approached. The hand not holding the scabbard was swinging a gold saw down toward Kamijous head as he crouched. His right hand moved. The human-altering spiritual item shattered to pieces and the light-reflecting fragments flew through the air. And Marian smiled. As Kamijou Touma raised his right hand above his head, she looked toward his unguarded body. She tightened her grip on Dinsleifs scabbard. A three meter clear sphere appeared from the end of the scabbard and it filled with the dust, dirt, and gravity used to create the large swords. Kamijou frantically tried to stand up, but he did not finish the action. It would be over in the next blow. With the appearance of the next large sword, Kamijou Toumas body would be bisected between top and bottom. Part 3 A bit before, Kumokawa Maria could do nothing but watch Kamijou Touma and Marian Slingeneyers battle in a daze. After all, the scale of the battle was simply too great. The clash between Kihara and Gremlin that had covered Baggage City had been incredible. And this was a battle between two people who had enough power to smash that other fight to pieces. Even though her limbs were functioning properly and she stood in the same location, Kumokawa Maria felt like she was reading it from a report. Even if she knew the details, she could not interfere. That was obvious. It was wrong to even think of struggling. The battle was so great and the scene so grand that the gears needed to act in the present to change the future seemed missing. However, even when people read a set report or watch a set film, they still sometimes raise a cry. Even as they know it will not get through and it will not change anything, the words still come out. Sitting on the floor, Kumokawa Maria forced out some such words. The teacher I was searching for may have disappeared long ago. He may not have been the person I thought he was. Her words were those of an outsider. Her words would change nothing. He may have worked with Gremlin under the name Bersi and taken on all sorts of dirty jobs. He may have hurt many people and desired to hurt many more. But she did not stop. She did not stop Kumokawa Marias mouth moved even as she knew it was useless. But that was not all there was to Kihara Kagun. Her muttering turned to a shout. The strength increased for the very reason that nothing would come of it. He did not start out as Bersi. Gremlin is not the only thing in his past. Even if he was on the side of those that wanted to destroy the world and even if he did horrible things as Kihara Kagun, he was still the teacher that listened to everyones worries at one point!! She no longer cared about her pride. Even if shouting like that hurt her pride, it would not break. Even if it was pointless, meaningless, and would change nothing. She was not so distorted as to think that was shameful. Please. Please! shouted Kumokawa Maria. Do not remove the word teacher from his gravestone! Do not let that word be buried by some unknown enemy that only wishes for slaughter and destruction and who comforts herself with that sword!! And that time came. Kamijou Toumas form collapsed and Marian Slingeneyer made her preparations for her attack. And of course, the brown magician did not hesitate. She immediately took action to bisect the boy who stood in the way of her goal. But Kumokawa Maria heard it. Amid that mayhem on a grand scale that felt like a report of the past that she could not interfere in... She heard the response from that boy that made her feel feebly connected to it all. Understood. Immediately after that one word response, Kamijou Touma and Marian Slingeneyer both moved at the same time. Part 4 Kamijou Toumas form collapsed. He could not evade now. He could not punch Marian even though she was so close. While in that half standing state, he could not move his body weight and could therefore not make any powerful movements. Kamijou Touma immediately moved his left hand rather than his right. He reached out for one of the gold sparkles floating in the air. It was one of the fragments of the human-altering tool Marian Slingeneyer had used. It had already been shattered by Imagine Breaker and lost all its effectiveness as a spiritual item. Kamijou grabbed it and used it to cut his own clothing. He grabbed the portion of his sleeve he had cut off. He threw it. The speed did not matter. What mattered was accurate control. He only tossed the scrap of cloth with the strength of someone jokingly tossing an eraser and it was not headed for Marian Slingeneyer. It was headed for the scabbard of the magic sword. More accurately, it was headed for the clear sphere that had expanded out from the bottom of it. The Imagine Breaker countermeasure Marian had prepared was a purely physical phenomenon. That way the large swords created from gravity could sever Kamijous right hand that only activated in the face of supernatural powers. In other words, the large swords were purely physical phenomena and therefore the magician Marian Slingeneyer herself could not completely control that ultimate weapon. After all, she could only control magic. By controlling the size of the balloon and the location of the opening, she controlled the size, force, and direction of the giant swords, but that was all she could control. She controlled the hole, so she could not completely distort the direction taken by the particles emitted from the hole by gravity. In that case, what would happen if her control of that hole was interfered with? It was not an issue of strength. If the hole was only lightly covered, the shape of the opening would change. If Marian activated a gray sword in that state, it would change like putting a showerhead on a faucet. In other words, the overwhelming sword that was produced would not be able to hold its form and would cause devastation against Marians wishes. ...Ah? In that instant when Marian Slingeneyer was sure of her victory, she looked toward the magic swords scabbard in confusion. That may have been her mistake. If she had time to do that, she may have been better off deactivating the clear sphere. It ended up being more like holding your thumb over the opening of a hose. The mass of particles like dust and dirt had lost their normal path out and were forced out through the multiple gaps around the edges. An explosion. That word expressed it best. With an explosive noise, Marian Slingeneyers short body was blown back a few meters before landing. Gahh!? Her back struck the concrete floor and she started to have trouble breathing. Even so, she did not let go of Dinsleifs scabbard. Meanwhile, Kamijou did not try to pursue her. Just running up to her unarmed would lead to a repeat of the previous situation. To ensure his attack against Marian using his previous success, he had to do something else first. Once you know the trick, its simple, said Kamijou Touma as he cut off a few more scraps of cloth from his own clothes with the gold fragment. You fire and then swing. Your attacks always went through those two stages. Was it to hold back the recoil? That was why you stopped for an instant before opening it. You, that scabbard, and the sphere swelling out from it all stopped. That made it easy to aim. Even with my off-hand, I was able to get a direct hit with that weightless scrap of cloth. If I use my entire body and my right hand, my accuracy will increase. Also, does it suck in the dust and dirt it needs like a vacuum cleaner? If so, I just have to throw it at random and it will be sucked in toward the hole on its own. That is why the hole will always be plugged up. I have no way of knowing what shape the exploding sword will take, so there is a danger of getting taken out too, but that is your limit. If this were rock-paper-scissors, you would only be able to tie or lose. There is no way for you to win. That was...still... Scraping the scabbard on the concrete floor, Marian slowly stood up. That was still just the scabbard. I have yet to draw the magic sword. Dinsleif is the magic sword that causes the war that destroys the world. It was created to destroy all of humanity, so it cannot lose to a single person. She used her thumb to raise the guard. A few centimeters of the ominous blade touched the air. If she drew it all at once, it would likely truly activate. Everything before had merely been the preparations. The fear that stopped ones heart and the scabbard that produced swords that had sliced the ring to pieces were nothing more than the rings of Saturn around the magic sword. If she used it, who knew what would happen? It might be something that far exceeded what Kamijou Touma could imagine. Even so, the boy spoke directly to her. You wont draw it. What...? If you could use such a great power at any time, you would have drawn that sword from the beginning. And I dont just mean of this fight. You would have done so before sending Radiosonde Castle or revealing Gremlin to the world. If you could use it, you would have been able to end all these battles before the fighting began and taken all the victory for yourself. You could have done that if you had been able to sacrifice all but yourself. ... It was possible its destructive power was so great that Marian herself was not confident she could control it. Or perhaps it was pure fear. Just revealing a few centimeters from the scabbard was enough to stop the hearts of her enemies, so perhaps she herself would be bound by fear if she drew the entire magic sword. But... There was one more thing. You did not want to draw it. What? You did not want to draw that magic sword called Dinsleif. You did not want to draw that spiritual item that is simply too destructive. Why do you think that!? I dont know how much of the world it would destroy, but it would definitely destroy more than you want to be destroyed, said Kamijou as he consciously regulated his breathing and clenched the scraps of cloth in his hand. When that Bersi or Kihara Kagun or whoever he was died, some might have felt all was lost. But you are different. While you did bring out Dinsleif, you still did not draw it. Even if your comrade-in-arms had been lost, you did not want to destroy the place where you two had spent time together. A high-pitched noise drowned out Kamijous voice. It was the sound of the bottom of the magic swords scabbard scraping across the concrete floor. Marian Slingeneyers other hand touched the magic swords hilt for the first time. She clenched it. Charge. Immediately after she said that, a giant light fell down from the heavens, breaking through the roof of the domed facility. The shockwave blew in all directions. The outer walls of the dome creaked. A great amount of power filled the magic swords scabbard and the power that had been used up little by little was replenished. She was preparing it for use. She was preparing the power that would destroy the world. I will draw it. Then do it. At the very least, I will have this victory. Even if you do this, it will not be a victory for you. Kamijou Touma said no more. He took a step forward. And another. With that momentum, he charged forward. He charged straight toward Marian Slingeneyer. She should have had time. Marian Slingeneyer should have been able to draw Dinsleif. And yet... Gh...kh...!! See, you cant do it, spat out Kamijou Touma. He tightly clenched his right fist. That is because you are strong. You do not feel indebted. If, after your revenge, you or the entire world are gone, who will mourn for Bersi? Nothing more was necessary. The gold scabbard and the boys fist crossed. With a dull noise, it was all over. Part 5 Its over...? muttered Kumokawa Maria as she sat on the floor. The circular ring had been sliced to pieces and the roof of the domed facility had been torn apart as well. It had been supported by artificially raised air pressure, but the framework seemed to be just barely holding it up for the moment. Of course, they had no idea how long that would last. Kumokawa suddenly felt a great cold. The destroyed domed ceiling had let in the -20 degree weather, but it was also possible Kumokawa Marias senses were finally returning to her. That battle had made her doubt whether she was actually sensing anything properly. The battle had been greatly distanced from the standard of Academy City and even those from outside Academy City could probably have noticed that it was different. Kamijou Touma, the one who had caused it, cut across the ring that had been casually sliced to pieces. He was headed for Dinsleif which had fallen from Marian Slingeneyers hand. Wh-what are you going to do? I can destroy even this, Kamijou said without turning around. Marian couldnt draw it, but someone else might be able to. They might be able to hold back the fear and control it. In that case, I cannot allow it to get out. Who knows how destructive it is. As he answered, he unhesitatingly walked over to the magic sword that was the source of all that fear. Kumokawa Maria felt that everything would finally be over once he destroyed it. The chain of superhuman battles between Kihara and Gremlin in Baggage City would finally be over. Kamijou crouched down in front of the magic sword and Kumokawa Maria asked him a question. How did you get here? How did you find out about what Gremlin was doing here? It seemed to be a different theory from what Academy City uses. It was Bersi. His quick response sent pain into Kumokawas chest.. Kamijou continued. I never actually met him face to face, but he left various hints around Baggage City that led me here. Also, I still find it suspicious that a mere high school student like me was able to get here from Hawaii with no help. How much of it had that man planned? It may be true Kamijou Toumas intrusion had saved Baggage City from the worst possible ending. At first glance it all looked like a part of that magicians plan and that he had left everything for Kamijou Touma to resolve in the very end. However, what if Kamijou Touma had ended it all sooner? What if he had broken the illusion sooner? Things may have ended differently. Bersis own objective may have been destroyed and all those tragedy might have been avoided. Kamijou Touma had been manipulated by Leivinia Birdway and he wanted to rid himself of that. However, had he done the right thing? This time he had not been manipulated by anyone, but he did not know the answer to that question. That was how perfect Bersi was. If Kamijou Touma had succeeded, that was good. If he had failed, Bersi had his own conclusion prepared. He cleaned up after himself. Was it a pure ideal or was the conclusion too pure and should be resented? Do you know what kind of person the magician known as Bersi...or as Kihara Kagun was? I do, replied Kumokawa Maria after she brought her own breathing under control. As stated before, Kamijou Touma was an outsider this time. He may have simply wanted to know who the man was that had helped him and who had driven Marian on. I do not know much, but I do know. I may not even know whether he was good or evil in the end, but I do know him. He is the one that saved some lives including my own and C for me at least C he was a teacher whose mystery was worth pursuing. I see... Kamijou stopped moving for a moment. In a small voice, he spoke a truth that still had not changed. He did not simply shout it. His low voice seemed to carve it into him. I wasnt able to save him. He learned a lesson in failure. As if swearing to absorb as much of it as possible, he said it again. I wasnt able to save him. Its fine, replied Kumokawa Maria without hesitation. She seemed to be getting over something. It was such a ridiculous death. He had this satisfied look on his face. Im sure that was best for him. If it had stretched on any longer, it would have just lowered the purity of his happiness. Of course, it was not actually that simple. Of course, it was not something with a clear explanation. For a while, Kamijou did not move. But remaining stopped would not change anything. If he did not move forward, the battle that began in Baggage City would never end. That was why Kamijou headed forward. He reached out his right hand. Toward Dinsleif. He would bring it to a certain end by destroying that great power. But... A slender female hand grabbed Kamijous right wrist to stop him. Kamijou had no idea when the person had appeared. Wha? He let out a questioning voice. A girl of about thirteen or fourteen stood so close that he could feel her breath. The girl had white skin and wore a fur coat that was open on the front and an outfit of black leather. However, two other things she wore drew the eye even more. The first was a wide brimmed hat with a pointed tip like a witch would wear. The second was an imposing eyepatch covering her right eye. Whoever she was, Kamijou concluded she was from the magic side and he went on full alert because she had grabbed his right wrist. However, what happened next went well beyond anything he could have expected. The eyepatch girl whispered to him. ...This isnt over yet. Immediately afterwards... Without hesitation... The girl tightened her grip, crushing Kamijous right wrist and severing his hand. Volume 4, Profound Destruction. ?9?1b??r?991? Volume 4, Profound Destruction. ?9?1b??r?991? Utterly overwhelming pain tore Kamijou Toumas consciousness from him the instant his right hand was crushed. His unconscious form dropped to the floor with surprising ease. It was much worse than having his hand cut off with a knife. An unbelievable amount of fresh blood spewed from the mangled wound, but the boys body no longer moved. He did not writhe in pain or fear or even let out a cry. The no longer needed right hand was tossed to the floor. Ah...ah... Kumokawa Maria was unable to move. The great amount of red blood made her feel dizzy. But before that, the one-eyed witch who had suddenly appeared was simply too frightening. This was different from Dinsleif. The feeling was different from that easily understandable surface fear. It slipped into the deepest portions of people without them noticing and the next thing they knew, strength had left their limbs. It was like how domestic violence carried out behind locked doors was accepted as the normal routine even by the victim. It was like the climax of a discussion about who to eat first while in a small snowed in cottage when there seemed no hope of rescue in the near future. It may have been described as a great fear, but it was not something that could be rejected on the surface like it was a flame that you reflexively pulled your hand out of. This fear permeated you so deeply that it created a cycle that at a normal time you would immediately realize was strange. Just by standing there, the one-eyed witch could likely even destroy the morals in the hearts of all those around her. For example, if an army was going to fight that one-eyed witch, it was possible the soldiers would get into a fight over who would be forced to stand before her and they would end up killing each other. Hmm. Meanwhile, the one-eyed girl grabbed Marians Dinsleif without even giving Kamijou another glance. The magic sword was still in its scabbard and she crushed it in her grip, scabbard and all. It broke apart. It was as if the weapon was made of chocolate. When Dinsleif fell to the floor, it lost its golden glow. It then rusted over which was impossible for pure gold. Even Kumokawa Maria who did not know much about the powers outside of Academy City could tell the magic sword had completely lost its power. Honestly, why would she prepare something this dangerous? It may be a trait of the Dvergr, but why does she have to take the organization of Gremlin so lightly? ...This ruins everything. I wish she would have thought about why I was holding back so much. She destroyed it because it was dangerous. That was the exact thought process as Kamijou Touma. In that case, she could have just left it to Kamijou, but instead she had carelessly destroyed him. Why? She probably had no reason. She had spotted him first, so she had destroyed him first. When the other problem remained, she had destroyed it too. That was her thought process as she wielded that great power. No firm direction could be felt in it. Or perhaps, it was not needed to be felt. It was the ultimate form of power wielded as an individual. No thought was given to what effect it would have on the future. Wh-what...who...? Othinus. The one-eyed witch named a god. Unlike a certain failure, I am a pure Magic God. If that is not enough for you to understand, my words are wasted on you. You should just give up on understanding. Was there even any intent behind those words? Or did she just say that in her spare time, on a whim, out of boredom, because she felt like it? That was the same way that she killed people, overlooked people, or saved people. It was so simple. It was simpler than a game of king of the castle. In fact, it was so simple that it actually made her true nature impossible to see. Suddenly, something changed. Something invisible blew out from the crushed remnants of Kamijou Toumas right wrist. With a roar, it shot toward Othinus without taking any real form. However... ...Is that all? Othinuss bloody hand grabbed something. The one-eyed witch tilted her head to the side in confusion. It seems you produced decent results during the final stages of World War III, but is this all I find when I open the lid? She carelessly crushed it. The invisible power writhed and seemed to try to flee from Othinus. But it was too late. She poured more strength into her bloody fingers and this time the invisible power was torn apart and disappeared into thin air. The violence was overwhelming. The violence was enough to hold back that unknown power while it was still unknown. The one who produced that violence gave no thought to the effects it would have on her surroundings. Othinus slowly held out her bloody hand. She grabbed the back of Marian Slingeneyers overalls as the girl lay collapsed and unmoving. Othinus then forcibly lifted her up. Im going to the effort of collecting you, so make sure to be of some use, she muttered before turning her back on Kumokawa Maria. But then she froze in place. The Magic God had overlooked Kumokawa Maria on a whim, but now had she decided to kill her on a whim? Kumokawa Maria thought that was so, but she was wrong. ...Oh, its the failure. Immediately after Othinuss voice rang out, another person was now there. At some point, a blond young man had come to be in the ring. There was nowhere he could have been hidden. There had been no sign of him using Academy City esper powers. And yet that blond young man stood there. It was not that he had suddenly appeared. Kumokawa Maria could not put it that way. She had no idea when he had arrived. And the strangest thing of all was that the blond young man was facing Othinus who had wielded such great power. Magic God, he spat out rudely. It was as if he were declaring himself to be opposed to the one he named thusly. I am not here for you this time. Most of the chain-link had been destroyed but the blond young man still pointed toward the mainly useless exit of the ring. Hurry up and leave with the Dvergr. I have business with that Imagine Breaker. ... Othinus remained silent for a bit. But then... A tremendous explosive noise burst out between Othinus and the blond young man. Actually, it was not just one. Thousands and tens of thousands of explosive noises burst out at such short intervals that they all sounded like a single whole. However, Kumokawa had no idea what had happened. She saw no visual phenomenon. She knew only one thing. That blond young man could rival that Magic God named Othinus. Give it up. This will settle nothing, said the young man. Most likely, Othinus had only been testing him. After a few seconds, the explosive noises suddenly stopped. Do you think a mere failure can stand before a pure Magic God? spat out Othinus. No, I dont think I can win. If I could, I would have killed you long ago. I will abstain from killing you as long as I have no means of doing so. Thats all there is to it. ...So youve come to be killed by me? It isnt that either. You know that. You may be a Magic God, but you are not perfect. Or rather, you are too perfect and that gives you a troublesome characteristic. You know that and that is why you have put together this exaggerated plan to free you from that dilemma. ... Infinite possibilities sounds good, but that gives you both the possibility of success and the possibility of failure. I suppose its something like matter and antimatter. For everything, you must hold the possibility for success and the possibility for failure. No matter how much power you gather, you have a 50/50 chance. If you think of it like Russian roulette, its like taking a shot with three bullets loaded. Lets be honest, Othinus. While you possess the power to destroy the world, you also have a fifty percent chance of losing to a child in a game of rock-paper-scissors. Its almost a miracle that Kamijou Touma has lost twice. His misfortune must really be something. But given this condition, you cannot just wield your full power at random. You want to find a way to control those possibilities. Wanting to increase your possibilities for victory is natural, but when your possibilities for failure increase too, you need to find some way of dealing with that. 50/50 is the most troublesome of all. The young man then pointed toward his own chest with his thumb. And he spoke. I am an impure example that stopped at the point where I should have become a Magic God. In other words, I lose to you in overall power, but I am freed from that 50/50 dilemma. After all, I am imperfect. Unlike your perfect balance, my odds of victory have a deviation. And you think that will let you win? No, I already told you I cant. If I could, I would have killed you long ago, said the young man before smiling and continuing. But that doesnt mean I dont have an idea as to how to push you back just a bit. Its all thanks to how you so carelessly crushed Kamijou Toumas right hand. You dont mean...? World War III was started by a man who held the power to save the world. He had the power to save the world, but could not save the world without a right hand to output that power into the world. That was why he used various methods to obtain that special right hand. Thats right. You cut off the right hand that only one of can exist in the world. A great metallic noise came from above. It was from one of the pillars used to support the chain-link fence surrounding the ring. A man wearing red had appeared atop it at some point. His right arm had been severed at the shoulder. Growing from there was an unnatural distortion of space that looked as if sugar water had been mixed in. Fiamma of the Right with his power to save the world. And me, a man who can wield the power of a Magic God even if it is impure. ...Now then. What will you do in response to these changing possibilities? Fifty percent, Othinus. I believe you have even odds of just forcing your way through this. Hmph, snorted Othinus. While holding Marian Slingeneyer in one hand, she turned her back on the young man. She was going along with her opponents suggestion. But after taking a few steps, Othinus suddenly stopped. She carelessly tossed Marian to the side. No, I guess Ill kill you, she said. With a great roar, something beyond Kumokawa Marias understanding blew about. Natural Selector, the one who determines natural selection. On that stage where countless contestants, Kiharas, Gremlin, Kamijou Touma, and Marian Slingeneyer had all fought, a battle began that had the same theme but was on a completely different level. In a small hospital in northern Europe, lights out had passed so normally no visitors would still be there. However, someone other than the usual patient was in one of the private rooms. She was Brunhild Eiktobel. She was a rare woman that had both the inborn condition from Norse mythology of being a Valkyrie and the inborn condition from Christianity of being a Saint. Those two powers worked against each other, so her nature and power switched out over a set period of time like the waning and waxing of the moon. As stated before, she was not a patient. The patient in the room was a boy of about ten who was lying on the bed. I want some cocoa. You cant. You already brushed your teeth. But I cant sleep like this. Then try counting sheep in English. If anyone else had been there to hear that conversation, it would have sounded peaceful enough, but Brunhild had once carried out a magical terrorist attack on a global scale to get revenge against the ones who had harmed the boy. In the end, she had been defeated by the Anglican Church and imprisoned, but her cooperation during World War III had gotten her charges dropped. At that point, she had finally been reunited with the boy. She had sensed the end of the peaceful time. She casually brought her left hand up against her right wrist and pulled a piece of wood the size of a stamp from a loop of string hidden in her sleeve. The surface had runes branded into it and Brunhild muttered something under her breath while gripping it in her hand. It was the seal of sleeping. In Norse mythology, it was said to have been used by Odin to seal a rampaging Valkyrie, and as the name suggested, the string of runes forcibly caused sleep. The effects came quickly. The boy lost consciousness and was quickly invited to the world of dreams. Brunhild left the piece of wood on his forehead. You do not need to see what comes next. I hope you at least have pleasant dreams, she whispered and fixed his blanket. She then stood up from the folding chair next to his bed. She turned around. At some point the door to the room had been opened. Someone stood beyond it. It was a tall woman. She was wearing a skintight riding suit and a jacket was tied around her waist by the sleeves. However, she had a Western sword on her back and a hair decoration with bird feathers above her ears. She was artificially given the same impression as Brunhild. Brunhild Eiktobel frowned slightly. Come to think of it, there was a magical experiment to turn people into Valkyries after birth by distorting the important parts of the people similar to changing ones blood type with a bone marrow transplant. I had heard the experiment was stopped, but I suppose a new generation was created at some point. ... The artificial Valkyrie sucked in air to give some kind of response. However, no words came out. Immediately afterwards, Brunhilds kick struck the artificial Valkyrie in the middle of the gut. It went well beyond blowing her away. She was splattered against the wall. As if the artificial Valkyries body had been a water balloon filled with ketchup, something dark red splattered against the corridor wall outside the hospital room. When it was possible some harm might come to that boy, Brunhild did not hold back. In all seriousness, she would unhesitatingly make an enemy of the six or seven billion people that made up the world. And her decision had not been wrong. The surface of the dark red stain on the wall moved. It formed a giant face. The richly colored viscous liquid vibrated to form a voice to match the moving mouth. Our information was correct. She was not yet dead. The artificial Valkyrie would likely reform into her previous shape and begin anew. Not even Brunhild knew how such a horrible thing could be pulled off. The main problem is that boy. If we can capture him, we can freely draw out all of Brunhild Eiktobels secrets. ... Ignoring any kind of strategy, Brunhild merely reacted to that comment and silently walked out the door of the hospital room. And then she realized something. To the left and right in the corridor were over ten people. The artificial Valkyries were waiting for her. Thanks for waiting, she muttered before kicking up a sword on the ground and catching it in one hand. She did not even need to draw the sword. She muttered something under her breath and the sharpness of blade sliced through the scabbard from the inside. It was the one handed sword the artificial Valkyrie she had defeated first had dropped. Brunhild normally preferred a heavy claymore sword that could smash the opponent, armor and all, but it was no time to be picky. In fact, she had no guarantee that she would survive. She might have been able to win in a pure fight to the death, but the artificial Valkyries knew Brunhilds weakness. If attacks came from over ten different directions at once while she had to protect that boy, the difficulty grew considerably. And Brunhild would unhesitatingly choose the boy if only one of them could survive. That was why it was possible that she would lose to an opponent she should be able to defeat. When Brunhild ''drew'' her sword, the artificial Valkyries also drew their swords in unison. That was when something slammed through the hospital corridor with the force of a dump truck. A different group of artificial Valkyries that had been waiting outside had been blown away and sent rolling along the floor. Someone had thrown them with incredible strength. All focus was turned in the direction they had come from. At the end of the dark corridor (given the silence despite the great commotion, the doctors and other patients must have had some kind of magical spell cast on them), the faint light of the emergency exit sign provided enough illumination to see someone standing there. The strange woman wore a rough shirt and jeans as well as a work apron. Overall, this gave her the image of a maid. Also, Brunhild could detect a similar sense in the woman to herself. But not from the Norse side of things. It was a Christian sense. ...A Saint? What number are you? said Brunhild. The blonde maid smiled and scratched at her head. I forget. I think it was above you, though. Why are you here? I like simple things. Whatever I think of you as a whole, your desire to protect that which is important to you is not wrong. I hate those who target that desire for their own benefit. That is all. The artificial Valkyries changed their formation. In order to quickly deal with two enemies they changed the direction of the edge of their swords. However, the blonde maid only smiled and said, And Im not the only one that feels that way. It was immediately after that. It came from the opposite direction down the corridor. After a tremendous rumbling noise, more artificial Valkyries came flying from beyond the darkness. A short girl appeared, walking down the corridor. She held a wand in her hand and was the boss of a modern Western magic cabal. She was Leivinia Birdway. I made a reasonable investment. I have to make sure I get some kind of returns. Im glad I have some proper Norse members here. Unlike with Cendrillon or Saronia A. Irivika, it looks like I might actually get some valuable information out of this, the girl said while spinning around her wand. I may not be one to talk, but Im starting to get pissed at how unrestrained your actions are, Gremlin. So how about you keep me company? I can use you to relieve the stress you caused. ... The artificial Valkyries stopped moving for an instant. It looked as if they were hesitating over the change in the situation, but they were not. Brunhild Eiktobel was the first to realize it. I see. So thats it. She looked up at the ceiling and ignored the building materials to focus on the sky above. She looked at the flying assassin up there. There are still a few left. And they have gotten into my head. They drew my attention with the fighting to lower my mental defenses to draw out information on Gungnir. That was the spear used by Odin in Norse mythology. It was the symbol of the power that god possessed. Brunhild Eiktobel had once used that ultimate Norse spiritual item in her revenge for the sake of a certain boy. It doesnt really matter, said the blonde maid simply. We can just take some hints about Gremlin in exchange. Afterwards, we can head to their headquarters and crush them to get back what they stole. The result was clear as day. As Magic God Othinus leisurely left Baggage City, her expression was nonchalant despite the -20 degree blizzard. She spoke to the person walking next to her. Have you had a chance to cool your head? ... Marian Slingeneyer remained silent. She was not actually the one walking. She was being carried over someones shoulder like a bag of rice. She was too close to the person to see them as a whole, but she could still tell who it was. The persons scent and the feel of the persons skin were both nostalgic. But something was wrong. It was like the difference between someone who was sleeping and someone who was dead. Marian finally managed to open her mouth. Bersi. No response came. The man who had once been her comrade walked silently. Even in that blizzard, he did not shiver or even get goose bumps. Marian Slingeneyer knew what had happened. The Magic God spoke bluntly. The difference between living and dead is a subtle one. So we have new member of the Einherjar. It was an almost identical technique to the human modifications Marian carried out. Except this one specialized in corpses. Gold was put into the important parts of the human body and the corpse could be controlled without it decomposing. The Magic God sounded bored as she spoke. Please tell me you arent going to complain like those in Baggage City. You know, something like How dare you do that when that teacher was determined to the point of dying to accomplish his goal. ...I wont. Marian did not have enough energy left to shout even if she wanted to. Something definitive had been lost from the world. What happened to those that made that complaint? Did you make them part of that army of the dead too? No. As usual, someone got in my way. Someone got in her way. For Othinus, the number of people who could do that was quite limited. Did the failure...Did Ollerus appear? Currently, when I face him, it always ends in a tie. Thats just how things are set up. I will need to do something about him too at some point. Her one weakness. A threat greater than Imagine Breaker. However, Othinuss expression did not change as she spoke. For her, it was likely similar to looking at a puzzle she already knew how to solve. She did not need to think about it. She only had more work that required physical exertion like cleaning a messy room. Marian Slingeneyer asked a question while feeling an unnatural warmth from the corpse that did not decompose. What about the holism? Since Imagine Breaker shattered something, something like what we wanted was there. However, there are a few barriers we must get through before we can accomplish that phenomenon with a single brain. To be honest, I do not think a mere human can do it. If we need someone who is more than human, cant you just do it? A Magic God is a part of the world of magic. I do not want to mix in esper powers as well. The holistic esper powers were different from Academy Citys, so it was possible no side effects would occur. However, Othinus still seemed cautious. She was the Magic God that stood above all others, but she was cautious. After a bit of silence, Marian said, Then what is our next target? We acquired the furnace in Hawaii, the information on the spear should be going well, and we will likely be able to collect the specimen we need for the holism. This specimen must hold properties that surpass those of a normal human. Also, this person must not be a Saint or Valkyrie that is supported by magic. Nor can the person have undergone Academy Citys esper development. Not many natural specimens like that exist. Do you know where a person like that is? Academy City, said Othinus. And then she added one more thing. In a windowless building. This specimen is sleeping quietly within one of the core structures supporting that large building. Kamijou Toumas consciousness flickered in and out. He had lost consciousness due to the intense pain from having his arm crushed and severed without anesthetic and the shock from losing so much blood at once. That was what had happened. But something was odd. Even though his heart was still beating irregularly, the cause of it all was gone. Completely gone. He could tell when he weakly looked over to his right hand. His right hand was... Connected. He tried to open his mouth and speak, but a dry scratchy noise was all that came out. He had definitely received that damage. In fact, it was still wreaking havoc within his body. And yet his arm was connected. For his arm alone, it was as if nothing had happened. Someone spoke. Amazing. If it had been cut off with a sharp blade, that would be one thing. But it was completely crushed. Normally, not even the bone would have connected, much less the nerves. Someone else spoke. It was the same when I did it. That is the proof that the current generation Imagine Breaker is still attached to him. There is meaning in that right hand belonging to him. To put it one way, the right hand is only the right hand when it is growing from his right shoulder. I wonder if they realized that. Who knows. They may just have wanted to hurry up the next generation. After all, Kamijou Toumas disposition is difficult for Gremlin to use. It would be faster if they transferred it to something else. Of course, thats only if their objective is Imagine Breaker. Theoretically, it may indeed be faster to use Imagine Breaker with her nature as a Magic God being too strong and getting in the way. Still collapsed on the ground, Kamijou Touma stared up at the ceiling. Someone peered down at him. He tried to ask a question, but someone else cut in first. He found me like this, too. Come to think of it, you too had lost your right arm. This one seems to have reconnected though. The first person then replied as if he had known what Kamijou was going to ask. He said it in a casual voice. Im Ollerus, the man who should have become a Magic God. The construction of a point of contact. A clear connection. That great uncertain element casually appeared even though it was unclear whether he should really be meeting Kamijou Touma, the owner of Imagine Breaker. Ollerus continued speaking to Kamijou as he lay on the ground. It will probably take some time until that right hand that fixed itself is back to normal. But thanks to the nature of that right hand, Fiamma and I cannot do much. Anything that would help with the pain would simply be negated. ...Ah... Kamijou Touma moved his mouth and uttered another noise in a cracking voice. Ollerus assumed he was asking for healing or pain relief despite knowing it was useless. Ollerus could not blame him since his right hand had been severed and healed over the course of twenty or so minutes. But that was not what Kamijou wanted. He finally managed a trembling voice. There...must still be...people waiting to be rescued in Baggage City. Even if the Kiharas and Gremlin have withdrawn, the scars they left remain. I need to...I need to save those people that I did not arrive soon enough to save... Hearing that, Ollerus gave a slight smile. And he spoke. Then I will not refrain from overworking you. First up is the analysis and re-servicing of the people Marian Slingeneyer left behind. A portion of the soldiers she used as well as Cendrillon who was turned into a table can be turned back into their normal forms with your right hand and our intellect. I...survived... muttered someone utterly insignificant. Standing in the -20 degree blizzard was Shar Berylan. Of the soldiers protecting Baggage City, he had no idea how many had survived (the network between soldiers was down, so he knew something wasnt right), but it seemed he had been chosen to be one of them. He himself did not know why that was. Had he benefited from not approaching the center of the storm? Was he simply more skilled than he thought he was? Or had he merely been lucky? End combat. I repeat, end combat! The higher ups will decide everything from here on out. Assume any further aggressive actions will put us in an even more unfavorable situation! He had been hearing plausible things over the sub radio frequencies outside the network, but there was meaning in hearing it as an official order from the higher ups. Things were truly over. Assuming of course that all those who had fought seriously were not buried below the snow and there were actually more people to hear the transmission. Shar wondered what he would do now that he had survived. He had been hired by Baggage City and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians, but they had clearly been destroyed. Even if the higher ups reformed, Shar swore silently that he would not respond to their summons. Academy City was a monster. He had thought the rumors were exaggerated, but the reality was five or even ten times worse. A bit away from Shars position, something had fallen into the snow. Even in the blizzard, it had not been completely covered by the snow, so it stuck out unnaturally. Is that the remains of an Academy City bomber? Naturally, that would make it a collection of technology. Shar had no idea how to handle something like that, but there would be people who would want it. And he could use some money for retirement. He was lucky. The luck that had gotten him through that battle was still with him. Thinking that, Shar reached out for the black fragment that was just big enough to hold in both arms. But then... Hurry, hurry. If the markers wear out, well have to dig up all this thick snow. Recover it all before then. !? Shar frantically hid behind a scrapped vehicle. A number of powered suits had appeared with sluggish motions. ...Was that even the right term for them? Whatever they were, they looked like twisted dragonfly or scorpion costumes and they walked through the blizzard like a joke. He wondered why they spoke directly to each other rather than using a radio. Perhaps they were simply so un-humanlike that they would lose a sense of who they were without that humanlike behavior. This goes for everything from the Academy City side and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians side. Whether it is still usable or it is destroyed, gather everything. The Data Pheromone capillaries in the damaged items are made to burst. Follow the smell and recover them before the marker disappears. What do we do if anyone interferes? Eliminate them. It does not matter if they know what they have or not. Even if they think they have a piece of a UFO or believe it to be an OOPArt, blow them to smithereens. The markers are weak to high heat, so the flames may have weakened the scent. Be careful. ... Shar Berylan pulled back his outstretched arm and quickly moved away from the scraps. The speed with which he made such changes may have been why he had survived. A while after the turmoil in Baggage City had ended, a certain person arrived. She was a young woman that wore a ready-made cheap suit. She looked as if she were heading in for a job interview. However, the documents in the large envelope she held all held top secret information that not even the leader of an entire nation was allowed to view. She was in control of something on the global level. The old man who had merely trembled deep within Baggage City was no match for her. The true tops of Baggage City and the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians had been completely crushed by the Kiharas. This old man was only the one who set the policies of the giant organization. When a young woman that took on the world was visiting him, that old mens defeat was already certain. It was so certain that the right to decide had fallen to him. Everyone above him had been utterly destroyed. Now then, said the woman. I hope you now understand just how dangerous the things we hold in Academy City are. For that purpose, we lost three...no, four Kiharas. But I suppose that is a fair cost for such a demonstration. The #2, Kakine Teitoku, also acquired a technique to form human cells using Dark Matter, the loss has already been compensated for. The number of victims had not even been 1/1000 of the number the woman had expected. Most likely, it was due to the actions of the irregular Kihara that the spectators outside of the battle had remained unharmed. The woman could not display it in simple numbers, so she was a little unsure if the fear had gotten across adequately. However, the old man was surprised by something else. A fair...cost...? Yes. A fair cost for getting across without words that these Anti-Academy City grumblings are not only worthless but actually have a negative effect. As she smoothly spoke, the woman pointed at the documents she had spread out on the luxurious table. She tapped at what she pointing at. Dont tell me you thought those were the only Kiharas. If there are more, I am afraid but it has the opposite effect, the old man said after just barely working up an almost nonexistent bit of courage. If Academy City has more of those things, it is worse than we thought. This is a danger to the world! We must stand up to them for the sake of good. Especially now that you have shown us what they are!! What a pain... The woman in the suit brought her hand to her forehead in annoyance. She then shook her head. You have it backwards. What...? What do you think the Kiharas are? Please dont give me some hackneyed response about them being an elite force created by Academy City. She pushed a few of the documents aside with her index finger to reveal another document buried beneath them. She summarized what it said. It is a type of side effect. When people wish to misuse a field of pure science, someone appears to actually do it. That is what a Kihara is. Currently, most of the worlds cutting edge technology is held by Academy City. That is why the Kiharas are concentrated in Academy City. By concentrating them, they can be controlled. You...dont mean... But if that concentration in Academy City is destroyed and science is scattered throughout the world, Kiharas will naturally start cropping up all over the world. They are currently bound to a single bloodline, but that is not a necessity. If you Anti-Academy City Science Guardians expand, the world will be overrun by Kiharas along with the technology. Academy City will be unable to control that. There was one simple example. The heretical Kihara that had appeared in Baggage City. Kihara Kagun, the member of Gremlin who had gone by the name Bersi. It may have been because he joined with Gremlin that they had an environment that allowed them to use scientific technology. But it may not have just been that. Kihara Kagun may have been destined to join Gremlin for the very reason that Gremlin planned to reinforce their magic with scientific technology. Now then, old man. The Anti-Academy City Science Guardians were created in the name of not allowing Academy City to continue with its tyranny, but are you prepared to stick with that ideal of yours even if it creates a world that will be swallowed up by tons of naturally occurring Kiharas? The woman held out a single piece of paper. It was a contract with simple contents. Just by signing the bottom of the paper, the fight would be over for the old man and the others on his side. In the form of defeat, of course. Really, it was nothing more than a ritual to let the old man and the others know about the already decided outcome. You... squeezed out the old man as he held the fountain pen in a trembling hand. You speak of these Kiharas so easily. Who are you? In response, the woman gave a slight smile. She grabbed the white coat she had folded and placed over the back of her chair. She spread it out and put it on. It was no ordinary coat. It was a lab coat. I am a Kihara, too. Kihara Yuiitsu. I am one of those who will always appear as long as humans use science. That woman who had written off the loss of four Kiharas as a small sacrifice left Baggage City with a single piece of paper in hand. She did it so easily. It felt like nothing more than someone building a fence on the weekend after their dog had escaped from the yard. With that, the mayhem came to an end. Volume 4, Afterword Volume 4, Afterword To those who have bought the volumes one at a time, its been a while. To those who bought them all at once: nice to meet you. Im Kamachi Kazuma. Its the fourth book already!! This volume didnt use the old chapter concept of the past. This was to create an effect where the reader wont be able to predict what will happen next or know who would die, and created a rule to reveal everything near the end. This little gimmick that requires one to think drove the entire story this time. This time, the main theme was about the relations between micro and macro. But as the story isnt divided into individual chapters this time, it may be difficult to comment on different episodes. Thus, this time, Ill break the rules and describe the characters that appeared. I will then use the understanding of these characters who drove the story to conclude this story again. Kihara Ransuu. A researcher working on the development of chemicals that affect the brain. I created this character by looking from the angle of what kind of skill was needed to create the #5 Five Over. The skill itself was rather complicated, but he was the most mentally sane amongst the Kiharas that appeared here, and was someone who would easily understand people. He was in the middle-low tier of his family, and worked by looking at the people who were watching a sports ceremony and considering about those things. It would be very lucky of him if he could get any information as a Kihara. There were lots of extreme real illusions in this story, but he was originally skilled at controlling emotions of a certain kind. For example, he could use a command like ''I dont know why, but the door handle just feels strangely scary I dont want to go out to limit his targets movement before killing them off with a gun or a knife. This was his fighting style. He himself said that he felt that real illusions were made to kill time as its too boring to suppress the enemy early. ...In the end, he met someone with a similar ability, and was finally bound in that loop of illusions like he was facing a mirror. Kihara Enshuu. She looked like...damaged goods from the Kihara family, but in fact, she was a girl who used her intelligence to rise to the top of the group. Graphs did appear around Enshuu on the monitors, and thats the function of the smartphone hanging on her neck which could add on to the information semi-automatically. My initial concept was to make a Kihara robot. But as I thought about it, there was no robot that could talk in the exact same manner as a human, so I made some changes to her design (though its like observing a world where microbes on Mars are talking to each other in Japanese...). If I couldnt let her think like a human, I might as well set her up as a human. On first glance, it looked like humans were using some program to create this ability. But if its not a girl, the person using it would become like a person that was controlled by the program... In fact, there are cases where people end up in such a situation due to over-reliance on things like weight control appliances and fortune-telling sites. In the end, is it still considered a curse? On a side note, my final impression on Kihara Enshuu is that of an extremely ordinary girl whos able to transform glamorously with the power of the Kihara! Kihara Byouri. She has often been called an aunty, but shes a big sister wearing pajamas... What age will the so-called ''aunt'' in light novels nowadays be? This is a character who liked to play sick, full of mysteries, and also a boss character born from the Japanese tradition of transformation. I like a powerful foe thats tough to beat and something I can use to rest my back on, so her trait was the phase adjustment to deliberately show that she couldnt stand up. Its this reason that Kihara Kagun would keep his guard when around her. This time, she used the power of the #2. But even without using his power, she could just use the knowledge and skills of a Kihara and modify her own body rampantly. In the end, Kihara Byouri was basically formed from the change of phase with the anticipation of the attack from the science side. So if she was attacked by something out of science, that battle strategy which required transforming a few times and slowly becoming stronger wouldnt work. Kihara Kagun. The ace this time. He wasnt just limited to working on near-death experiences originally, but also about everything related to life and the soul that wasnt supernatural. He explained them through scientific means and tried to conclude that a humans life really existed, and that it wouldnt change in value because of standings or sudden changes in situation (basically, this Kiharas aim was good...just the aim). However, during his experiments, he created the skill to easily turn a human life On-Off, and realized that if he continued with his experiments, even if the value of human life never changed, it would be held at a very low baseline, and thus will be researched. As a researcher, he undoubtedly killed the most number of people amongst the Kiharas. But the total damage he had done was 0 for he revived the dead, which made him someone with such amazing experience. He looked...thoroughly like a kind teacher who ran off to seek revenge. But after thinking through it, this guy may have gotten the power to take revenge, but he did agree with the Radiosonde Castle and the Hawaiian Islands incidents. He helped the audience at Baggage City, but he also did take part in the action in Baggage City. He can be considered to be like the other Kiharas when it comes to achieving a good objective and destroying everything to achieve the means... In other words, this Kihara was released because he protected the children from the killer on the road, but finally couldnt control his own actions. ...Thus, because such a thing happened, Kumokawa Maria concluded that the ''sorry'' wasnt said to her, but to others. In fact, Kumokawa Maria was one of the others. Thats because the teacher she spent so much time to find no longer existed. Bersi. Well be giving a cross-analysis to distinguish him from Kihara Kagun. As he had a defensive spell that completely nullifies fatal wounds, he was a problematic character who didnt mind about other peoples personalities or habits and would interfere through small actions. Logically, if someone with ordinary emotions ended up in such a situation, the mind would collapse first. However, I avoided the above-mentioned problem by stating that his research became useful in such an attack. He could nullify all fatal attacks, but he also had a sword spell that increases its destructive power every time he was attacked. Thus, when facing a fierce attack by the enemy, he could use a spell that has an infinite ceiling. This is different from Accelerator in that it''s not the control of just one attack, but that the thing thats worth noting is that once the power increases, he could maintain such destructive power when fighting the enemy in the future. As his name suggested, he really was an inflating bastard. However, he wouldnt be able to fight skillfully if his attack power wasnt fine-tuned. Thus, hes not used to attacking others. Its because of this that he used his fists to fight in the beginning. This could be somewhat seen from the way Kihara Kagun wished to fight with his target on equal grounds until death. On a side note, Kihara Ransuu and tgarea-Loki, who were dealt with easily at the beginning, would be the natural enemies to Bersi. tgarea-Loki. The illusionist on the magic side. Like Sigyn and Marian, he was originally a magician who wasnt supposed to take part in direct battle. As for why such people were gathered in Baggage City, I suppose everyone understood from the explanation of a certain plan in the ending of the book? In other words, Gremlin didnt want to win. Whats important was to accurately adjust the environment in Baggage City that got involved in the battle. To Gremlin, they had no need to take action in Baggage City, but the Anti-Academy City Science Guardians said that they wanted to replace Academy City and create a global standard for supernatural powers, and brought their weird interests into this discussion and made use of them. Sigyn. The person who was defeated at the start of the battle. She originally could not only give suggestions to her allies, but also give wrong suggestions to the enemy and cause them to self-destruct. She can choose between which method to use. Instead of magic, shes actually more apt at analyzing the opponents logic and fill in the holes like an expert in debating. Her skill in making up for logic could also be used for magic, and that''s how she got in to this industry (?). She would just suggest, and then only claim responsible when it succeeds. Its because she continued to remain so irresponsible that she wouldnt have any hesitation to betray her allies when she has such a weak sense of camaraderie even if she didnt end up like what happened in the volume. This was a character that should surprise the audience because she didn''t get modified into a chair or table by Marian, whom were about to talk about. Marian Slingeneyer. The culprit who brought the level of bloodiness in this story to this level. A fanatic at modifying human bodies... But one can tell from the drama when she pulled out Dinsleif that she originally didnt specialize in modifying human parts. Its mentioned in the work, but deliberately modifying the enemy''s human parts into terrifying shapes was a strategic choice in battle to shake the enemys will to fight. Thus, she could modify everything thats not human too. She could modify them into handsome men and pretty ladies. If she just wanted tools, she could make it out of minerals, if she wanted something to have calculation capabilities like a missile, then she would make it out of lifeforms. Anyway, its roughly those kinds of rules, I suppose? ...But since this is a girl who finds solace in using those kinds of tables and chairs, if she would make beautiful men and women according to her senses, it would be something very shocking I suppose. Through the explanation of Dinsleif in the text, lots of people will be thinking that if thats the ability of the item that came with it, whats the actual ability of the item itself? But like what Stiyl said in his Side Story, if they could randomly create a powerful spiritual item, itll be impossible to achieve balance if they dont control it. Try to use these words to understand. On a side note, the Dinsleif mentioned here is different from the Gungnir mentioned somewhere else. In the original legend, it was prepared for a human king to use. Thus, theres no need to view it as a connecting spell for gods to use gods weapons and link it to the holy tool Mj?lnir. Able to modify people that freely yet succumb into panic when her partner Bersi died...thats her trait. She had an extreme personality of having a clear line between friend and foe and was somewhat insane at times. Even so, what if the final road really becomes her redemption...? Saflee Opendays. The most normal person amongst the competitors in the Natural Selector fighting tournament. A person who simply used wrestling moves. The current 1-versus-1 gimmick of the global martial arts tournament lost its luster with the psychic interference from Academy City (Esper powers were viewed in part as a form of entertainment in the Daihaseisai). She came all the way to Baggage City simply to find sponsors. Thus, her aim wasnt to win the Natural Selector, but to do whatever she can to shine in this tournament filled with many people with strange powers, in order to leave an impression on those rich enterprises and investors. Thus, even though the stage shifted from an official tournament to street-side fighting, and eventually turned into a war between science and magic, her attitude did not change at all. From the way shes concerned with the refreshing feeling that comes with destruction, perhaps she has a personality which makes her focus on show business ethics in her original profession? Oumi Shuri. Looks like a 10-year-old, but this is only because of things like the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Shes actually a 30+ aunty. A ninja with a cheerleader outfit, a school bag, and a gardening trowel as her main weapon, her traits are a mess. This was a measure to deliberately stand out and attract the enemys attention... But it really brought a lot of trouble to the illustrator. Even though I call it messy, but if it''s actually drawn as messy, it would be really embarrassing. However, if it was too neat, it would deviate from the intent of the text. I feel that designing her image was a difficult C+ different. Normally, characters of this kind would be of a low level (expendable). Genins should be in charge of protecting the Jounin of the higher levels (thats why the management could survive and built on such accomplishments to achieve their standings). However, Oumi Shuri herself overturned such a theory. She didnt get abandoned, but also made an amazing feat of surviving. Naturally put, she still focused on protecting her allies and subordinates, but as the forces that first appeared were eliminated, she was running around berserk and far from her original thought process... The Kouga themselves secretly had people in Academy City, but they had a vastly different target from the ones here. From this, we can tell that the Kouga were largely divided. Kumokawa Maria. Fresh blood, illusions, human modifications, a ninja that tried to act young, a biological weapon, a shape shifting boss, the absolute cold of -20 degrees Celsius... In such a rampant hell, she was the ever important oasis. The panties-servicing younger Kumokawa sister. Shes armed with a fighting style of Capoeira, breakdance, and pole dance. But even though she gave such an impression, there wasnt much mention in the text. Most likely, its because she was worried that she would be exposed. The few illustrations of her caused a change in the hell in this volume!...But this girl looked like she was suffering, which was the jumping feeling or the moving weight or whatsoever. Her abilitys called Violence Doughnut, an ability to increase the centrifugal force in her by 0.5 to 2 times, and shes a Level 2. Centrifugal force, one of the basics when fighting, increases destructiveness, but her bones and muscles are as only tough as a human''s, so her trait was that her bones will snap if she punched really hard. She was often saying some amazing things, but Kumokawa Maria wasnt really active. However, thats likely a characteristic she shares with her older sister Seria. From the point mentioned in New Testament 2, that she couldnt do anything to prevent the 20,000 clones from dying even after knowing about it, one can understand the standpoint of these two sisters. Kamijou Touma. As everyone knows, hes safe as hes the protagonist. However, one of the main themes this time was to break the rule that with Kamijou around, all his allies will be saved. Thus, the key term, Kamijou Touma, was used for all sorts of things. Even in this story, there were lots of emphasis on the term itself. However, I beilieve the boys existence that appeared at the end had an obvious difference to the Kamijou Touma from before. The fact that the ''ordinary chapter format'' only making a reappearance there was because of the meta reasoning that the rule of the icy world that controlled this place was replaced by something else. ...Although there is actually more shocking ''damage'' lying in wait for him further down the road. As for the character who appeared as a Boss-level opponent and caused the damage, Ill deliberately abstain from commenting. Thats a twist whichs for the benefit of the development of the series and for those important characters to continue to appear. Id like to express my thanks to my illustrator, Haimura-san, and my editor Miki-san. After I came up with the gimmick, Haimura-san probably spent a lot of thinking time to choose which illustrations to use for which scenes. The designation of the RPG-style shape shifting boss-type which would have meaninglessly increased the illustrating difficulty would have him yelling "NO!". Ill have to really thank him this time. Also, Id like to express my thanks to the readers. As I selfishly used my thoughts to break out of the safety zone and nearly caused the pillar of support sustaining the story to collapse, I faced this problem which a series would have when it runs on for too long but isnt going to be resolved easily. Ill give my heartfelt thanks to everyone for giving me the courage to tackle this problem. And so, this volume ends with this page. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. A Valkyrie appeared, but Ill explain it in this volume, so please relax. Kamachi Kazuma Volume 5, Prologue: The Greatest Proposition. Question_01. Volume 5, Prologue: The Greatest Proposition. Question_01. The November sky above was blue. It was mid-November, the time when the season of changing leaves was drawing to a close; midday was wrapped in a pleasant coolness and breakfast brought adopted a sharp chill. A plaza in Academy Citys District 7 had several trees planted along its edges. Their branches still had a few yellow-tinged ginkgo leaves on them. Because the Ichihanaransai, a giant cultural festival that every school within Academy City participated in was underway, there were even more people moving about than on the weekend. However, it seemed this area was not the destination for the vast majority of those people. They were either passing through on their way from one place to another or were using it as a meet-up point before heading to their destination. It was a sunny afternoon. The absolutely clear sky seemed to stretch up forever, befitting the chilly outdoor temperature. Touma, what have you been doing all this time? A girl named Index was standing in a tall, daunting pose amid it all. She was looking at a spiky-haired boy named Kamijou Touma who was sitting in seiza style on the plaza ground. Kamijou Touma had an unpleasant sweat coming from his body and his eyes were darting about every which way but toward Index. W-well... Kamijou-san had various circumstances to deal with. After the incident at the Hawaiian Islands, I headed to Baggage City in Eastern Europe. I ran into some trouble there and things only got worse when I ran into a Magic God and someone who should have become a Magic God... Oh? The girls voice was completely flat. There was no range to her tone at all and the air was filled with the tension of two gunmen facing off in a Western. The strained atmosphere made it painfully clear that the slightest noise could set off a shower of bloodshed. Well, I will ask for the details later. But, Touma, there is one question I would like answered first. May I ask it? Wh-What would that be, Index-san? When Kamijou nodded, the girl named Index pointed at his face. No. Technically, she pointed directly behind him. Who exactly is that girl clinging to your back, Touma!? He now had no choice but to explain it. He had to explain what had occurred during the Ichihanaransai!!!! Volume 5, 1: All of a Sudden, It Begins. Open_the_Festival. Volume 5, Chapter 1: All of a Sudden, It Begins. Open_the_Festival. Part 1 Kamijou Touma woke up on a bench in front of the station. ? He frowned at the sound of a train he could hear through the clear November air, sat up, and looked around. A familiar Academy City station lay before him. The people walking by paid him no heed. He was just a part of the Academy City scenery and all he could see was more of the Academy City scenery. And... Kamijou Touma had no idea how or why he had ended up in such a familiar place. (...Huh? I remember heading to Baggage City in Eastern Europe after dealing with the incident on the Hawaiian Islands, but what happened after that???) He remembered up to having his right hand crushed by the eyepatch girl who seemed to lead Gremlin, but what had happened after that? He tried to remember, but it was buried under the static of pain and terror. His mind was still feeling a bit hazy, so it was possible he would be able to remember more clearly later. But the bizarreness of the situation gradually caught up to him. That uneasy feeling stabbed into him along with the chilly wind and seemed to slip in under his skin. Someone must have brought him here from Baggage City. That was almost certainly true. But doing so could not have been easy. Baggage City in Eastern Europe and Japan in the Far East were almost on the complete opposite sides of the world. Getting something as suspicious as an unconscious boy across national borders would have been extremely difficult. Also... Kamijou was inside Academy City. That city was protected by security of a different sort from the country of Japan. A few groups of magicians had snuck into the city in the past, but could they have done so as easily if they were carrying an unconscious boy with them? And yet someone had clearly done so. Someone had carried Kamijou Touma halfway around the world and then disappeared without a trace. ... He thought for a bit. (Fiamma of the Right. And...Ollerus was it? Was it them!?) He looked around frantically, but saw nothing but the familiar scenery of Academy City and the usual boys and girls walking past. He saw no sign of the magician who had once brought about World War III and shaken the planet earth and the human race, or the man who had apparently gone even further. Suddenly, he heard a footstep. In that crowded area, that sort of human noise should not have stood out. And yet that noise slipped directly into Kamijous ears and stabbed into his brain like it was a drop of water falling from the ceiling deep in a cave. Something cold ran down his spine. The noise had come from directly behind him. Someone was approaching from behind the bench he had been sleeping on. Who was it? Was it Fiamma of the Right? Was it the man named Ollerus? As previously stated, carrying Kamijou Touma to Academy City had to have been difficult. Since they had done so anyways, they must have had a reason that made it worth all that effort. And that reason would not necessarily be something carried out in secret. Kamijou silently clenched his right fist. Once his fist was clenched hard as a rock, he slowly, slowly turned around. And he found... Huh? Fukiyose? It was Fukiyose Seiri, his (large-breasted) classmate who had long, black hair that showed off her forehead. The high school girl wore the long-sleeved sailor uniform that was their schools winter uniform, and she held a large plastic bag in each hand. The bags were not filled with food from a supermarket or convenience store. Instead, they seemed to have supplies such as stationery and tools. Kamijou frowned. Why are you here? And what are you doing? ...What am I doing? said Fukiyose, starting in a low voice. Youre the one that has completely skipped out on the preparations for the Ichihanaransai, Kamijou Toumaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Gbh!? His vision grew tinged with white. Fukiyose had swung one of the plastic bags which had directly hit him, but it felt oddly hard and heavy. It turned out to contain a giant roll of duct tape. No, wait! Fukiyose, that things like the improvised weapon of a convict!! Gbh!? My heads gonna split open!! Shut up!! This is what you get!! Fukiyose pulled the weaponized roll of duct tape out of the plastic bag and tore off a long piece of the wide tape. She used that to bind Kamijous hands behind his back. Im taking you into school now!! Were extremely shorthanded for making the stand for our class!! Now? ...Wait, now!? But, um...Id kinda like to head back to my dorm first. Im kinda wondering how Index is doing!! Ignoring Kamijous shouts of protest, the great policewoman Fukiyose Seiri carried her prisoner off to face his punishment. Part 2 The room was eerily clean and was enveloped in the smell of disinfecting alcohol. It contained a special chair that could electronically recline and various tools were laid out upon work tables to the left and right of the chair. The tools were about the size of ball point pens. However, those metal tools that gave off a silver gleam would never be found for sale in a convenience store. The tips had either sharp points, small mirrors, or something like a circular file that could shave away hard objects with motorized power. They were all professional tools that would make anyone tremble if they knew what they were for. They all gave extreme pain on a level it was doubtful a single person among a hundred you asked would claim they could withstand. Let me tell you something first, whispered a man who wore a special outfit similar to a white coat but made of a water resistant material like a raincoat. His hair was completely hidden by a plastic cap and he wore a large mask over his face, so you could not tell what he looked like. And yet the way he had his body so thoroughly covered told what kind of person he was and what he intended to do more than any facial expression could have. There is no use in trying to endure. This is not something that can be overcome by effort or guts. It is your own fault that you have been brought here. You ignored our warnings. Im sorry to say it, but we can no longer go easy on you, said the man with eyes more inhuman than a security camera. Please understand your situation here. Struggling will get you nowhere and resistance will only prolong the pain. The best option for you is to simply give in. If you do that, it will all be over much more quickly. A blonde girl of about 8 sat atop the special chair that could electronically recline. Two or three other men and women dressed just like the man surrounded the girl. As she lay on the completely reclined chair, they stared down at her expressionlessly. Ah...ah... She let out a bit of a moan, but their expressions did not change in the slightest. They were professionals. And therefore they would not hold back even though they knew just how much pain they were about to cause. They knew that holding back due to emotions would only lead to a more horrible fate. Do you understand, Fremea Seivelun? If so, we will begin. I hope you will regret the actions you have taken up to this point. The girls mouth was forced open and the sharp points of the tools were brought inside. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! When Hamazura Shiage heard that soprano scream from within the dentist waiting room, he looked up from the supplied motor racing magazine that was worn out from having been read countless times. The front wall had a handmade poster saying Healthy teeth for good little boys and girls. Dont forget to brush your teeth before going to bed!! He casually spoke to Takitsubo Rikou, the girl in a pink track suit sitting next to him. I think dentistry is the only occupation in Japan where you get praised for making little girls cry. ...Arent there a few others? Like haunted houses and Namahage. Do you get paid for those? Fremea was undergoing surgery in her mouth because she had stubbornly ignored Hamazura and Takitsubos warnings and continued to drink a glass of hot chocolate before going to bed each night. As she was only 8, these were probably still her baby teeth, but they were not yet at the stage where they would begin to come out. Both the cavities themselves and the treatment seemed like unnecessary pain to Hamazura. Part 3 U-um... As your teacher, I do find these repeated absences to be a real problem, Kamijou-chan. In fact, this has reached the point where homework and supplementary lessons cant cover it all. Underhood. Now keeping in mind that high school attendance is not compulsory, we still need to think about how you are going to recover from this. And I also want to know what kind of problems you are facing, Kamijou-chan. Uhherhooh... But first, I need to ask why you look so beat up, Kamijou-chan! Did you stick your face into a hornets nest!? The person shouting within a normal high school hallway was Tsukuyomi Komoe, a mini-sized female teacher who was only 135 cm tall. A bit earlier, Kamijou Touma had been paraded around the city by his classmate Fukiyose Seiri with his hands bound behind his back with duct tape. Due to his bound hands, he had been unable to catch himself when he tripped over a bump in the road. His face had fallen right into a very soft and protruding portion of her upper body and...well, you get the picture. Fukiyose Seiri had opened the classrooms sliding door, shoved Kamijou inside, and said, Here, I caught a fugitive. After that announcement, she headed off to her own station. The classroom looked nothing like it did during normal classes. All of the desks had been pushed to the back and a number of large sheets of plywood and tools were lined up in the empty space that left. Fukiyose had mentioned making a stand, but Kamijou did not see a constructed building block-like object. Instead, construction seemed to have stopped at the stage of creating the large panels. Those panels would be brought out once the Ichihanaransai began and put together into the stand. This was simply because there was a chance an aggressive group would destroy the stand during the night if it was brought out the day before. The kind of person that broke windows for no real reason would love to destroy a stand like that. In a city of 2.3 million with an 80% student population, those types of small troubles were rather common. Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Aogami Pierce approached Kamijou who looked something like an earthworm. However, they showed no real desire to remove the duct tape. What do you think, Kami-yan? Isnt a caf or a haunted house the standard for a cultural festival? Yknow, something with a cosplay aspect to it!! Theres nothing fun about a takoyaki stand! It would just be too unbalanced to have the girls cook takoyaki while dressed like maids!! That would just be off the charts on the ridiculous meter!! And apparently we arent having a schoolgirl beauty contest either. Theres no swimsuits, no embarrassed girls, no nothing. What happened? What happened to the culture of the cultural festival? Kamijou had a feeling the festival was not about the culture of maids and swimsuits, but he knew those two would never listen. He twisted his bound wrists several times in an attempt to wear away the adhesive bit by bit. The Ichihanaransai is an internal event, right? Its basically an open campus where people can try out schools theyre interested in. The teachers are keeping an eye on everything to make sure it functions as a large-scale commercial for the school. In other words, were being closely watched. We cant go too nuts in what we do, right? You fool!! Theyre having a beauty contest at nearby Eiri High School!! With swimsuits and everything!! And theyre allowing outsiders to take part, so theres a rumor going around that Kumokawa-senpai will be taking part!! And were in high school now!! Our level of freedom during the Ichihanaransai is on a whole other level from middle school!! Dont you want to take the next step on the sexy path that we are only allowed as high schoolers!? Fine, fine!! I suppose thats the only real driving force for teenage boys!! Prisoner Kamijou Touma finally confessed. What they needed was to draw in as many people from outside the school as possible. To do that, they needed something that would draw attention. But if they simply went with what the adults felt was appropriate for a cultural festival, the area would be completely deserted. Aogami Pierce held up his index finger and said, Its still not too late. I think we should have the girls working at the stand wear swimsuits!! Swimsuits are great, but thats hardly the place for them. They would get burned from the oil. Komoe-sensei would be left with a mountain of written apologies to make. Then how about we punish any girl who accidentally burns the takoyaki by having her stand in front with egg white and mayonnaise all over her face? I doubt that would make as great a sight as youre imagining. It would just be sticky and nasty. It would be more grotesque than anything. The idea that a bit of whipped cream on the cheek makes a girl look seductive is nothing but an illusion. What is with your negative thinking!? And whats wrong with illusions!? Are you at a rebellious age where you claim victory after shooting down everyone elses ideas!? Aogami Pierce tried to heartlessly beat up his classmate whose hands were bound behind his back, but Kamijou Touma, the wild beast of the concrete jungle, charged at the other boy and bit into his side. Tsuchimikado Motoharu began performing calculations even more precise than those for atmospheric reentry in order to determine what angle of entry into that fray would get him thrown out onto some of the girls in the classroom. That was when the usual Ichihanaransai committee member, Fukiyose Seiri, exploded. Stop thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!! If you only get in the way, I will chop you into small pieces and use you for fortune cookie-style surprise fillings!! If that happened, their stand would be immediately shut down and it would make the headlines on the internet news. Part 4 The large-scale cultural festival held by Academy City as a whole was called the Ichihanaransai. The large event functioned as an open campus, so it had a direct effect on the number of people wanting to attend each individual school. This gave it a rather long preparation period and the adult teachers were traditionally very lenient when it came to the preparations. As he had been in Hawaii and Baggage City, Kamijou had not been affected by it, but no classes had been held recently and the time to be back from school had been done away with. There was an implicit rule that students could not spend continuous nights at school, but that could be avoided by having the class form shifts that stayed on a rotation. The primary difference from the large-scale sports festival of the Daihaseisai was that the Ichihanaransai was an internal event rather than an external one. While the Daihaseisai called in normal visitors from around the world, the Ichihanaransai was mainly targeted at other students from the city. The Daihaseisai was targeted at people who knew nothing of cutting edge science or psychic powers, so everyone had to be careful to prevent any careless mistakes. Meanwhile, people often felt they could relax a bit more when it came to the Ichihanaransai. But at the same time, when the target was other students from the city, neat little bits of technology were not enough to draw attention. The students used cutting edge technology for everything in their lives and they accepted Academy Citys science and psychic powers as normal. Something was needed that would surprise even them. For that reason, it could be seen as the worlds most difficult cultural festival to pull off. It was up to each persons individual personality whether that made things difficult or if it made it worth putting in a real effort. At any rate... Anyway, Kamijou. You are definitely staying over tonight. After all the time youve skipped out on, its only natural, announced the great detective Fukiyose-sama. Kamijou let out a Munch-like scream. Ehh!? So when do I get to go back to my dorm!? If she finds out Im back in Academy City but havent gone back to my room, Index will be really pissed!! Gamemaster Fukiyose paid him no heed and kept the situation progressing. Her first command after freeing Kamijou from his duct tape bonds was to acquire food. It was around noon. Normally, they would have used the school cafeteria, but it was apparently nearly impossible to acquire enough food for all of their classmates in that battlefield-like facility. Heading out and buying sale-priced supermarket bentos or cup noodles in bulk would be better, but information of that sort of safe oasis would quickly arrive at the other schools. Once that happened, those areas would not be as bad as the school cafeteria but they would still become the sites of small skirmishes. You need to keep each individual meal under 200 yen. And if possible include some vegetables such as a salad. Got it? If you upped that to 300 yen, we could manage the mid-sized gyudon course. We live in an age where even a standard hamburger with nothing on it costs more than 100 yen when you add in the tax. Calculate it out using the nutritional information. For example, the sale price for Kiritaya extra-large gyudon is 380 each. But that clearly has more than double the normal size. If we split each one between two people, it fits within the budget. Everyone is checking the local shopping sites with their phones, so you will end up in conflicts with other schools if you simply search for somewhere with cheap single-portion food. If were going to buy a lot, cant we just call ahead to the store? They should be more flexible if were buying in large portions. If they allowed that, the restaurants here and there would be swamped simply with the amount they have to make ahead of time. Eighty percent of this citys 2.3 million people are darting about looking for the exact same kinds of food at this exact same time. Fukiyose narrowed her eyes as she explained. I will give you the money, but dont you dare come back telling me you had the misfortune to trip and it got washed down a drain. ...Unfortunately, I can make no guarantees about that. The money is in a waterproof envelope. I will put my GPS-equipped phone in with it. Is that enough? Kamijou would have to carry food for a few dozen people, so merely hanging shopping bags over his arms was not going to cut it. He brought out a small cart meant for the work in the school and headed out. Even if the festival was still in the preparation phase, everyone seemed restless no matter where he went. He saw a lot of students around because it was about time for lunch. Others like him who had been tasked with procuring food were running about. (Less than 200 yen each with some vegetables included, hm? Some type of sandwich would be my best bet. But the individually packaged convenience store sandwiches are out. Maybe I should check out some of the horrible places that target gluttons. Just like with books, those places get a cheaper price on their ingredients by buying them in higher than normal quantities. The burden on the customer has an inverse relationship with the portions. By dividing up things from there, I should be able to satisfy everyone in the class.) Kamijou preferred to cook for himself, so his very first idea was that it would be cheapest to just make the food himself. However, he had to feed a few dozen people. It would be difficult to make that much on his own. Kamijou was not skilled enough to make food in a bathtub-like pot without burning it and making enough food for a few dozen people with normal cooking tools would take hours. (I always thought of eating out as simply being too strongly flavored and too expensive, but I guess they have their own kind of professional spirit.) After thinking everything over carefully, Kamijou headed toward a large sandwich shop. But suddenly he got the feeling he had overlooked something he could not afford to overlook. ... Kamijou came to a stop. The restless atmosphere characteristic of Ichihanaransai preparations surrounded him just as before. Even if it was a peculiar or even strange atmosphere, it was still a good one. However, there was something large enough to blow that atmosphere away. Kamijou was convinced of it. The problem was... That something did not radiate killing intent like a drawn Japanese sword. It was completely blended in and perfectly adapted. That was why everyone overlooked it. Even though this large something was incredibly dangerous and carelessly approaching it would lead to certain doom. The Hawaiian Islands. Baggage City. Gremlin. The darkness of the darkness that had spread to the very depths of the world. There was something there that was just as, if not more, concentrated than that. Having sensed that threat, Kamijou remained still and slowly looked around in all 360 degrees. He carefully observed his surroundings. When he did, he finally realized the source of the feeling. It was only 30 meters away. This something that would have been enough to make him sweat uncomfortably from the other side of the planet was leaning on one of the trees lining the walking path and watching him. However, this was not Gremlin. But this person may have been even more bizarre than them in a certain way. It was Ollerus. It was the man who should have become a Magic God that Kamijou had met in Baggage City. Hey, said the man in a slight greeting as he removed his back from the tree and walked toward Kamijou. Fiamma of the Right and I were discussing when you would notice me. It looks like I might owe him dinner. ...But at least you werent so dull you didnt notice me until the very end. A Magic God. That term did not refer to a god of demons.[1] It referred to someone who had mastered magic to the extent that they had taken one step into the domain of god. That was the great monument of magicians that could only be achieved by obtaining the knowledge of all 103,000 grimoires contained in Indexs head and being able to freely use it all. But another thought had entered Kamijous mind when he had heard about it. Is that something like Level 6? Is that something that everyone whispers of being theoretically possible and there are rumors of it having existed at some time in history somewhere in the world, but no one has ever actually accomplished it? And yet Ollerus had reached into that territory. The fact that he himself only called himself the man who should have become a Magic God, made it seem unlikely he was simply exaggerating. That monster of unimaginable power said, You have obtained some stability now, right? It is about time we spoke. Spoke about something we could not in Baggage City. ... Im sure you have tons of questions by this point. About the organization known as Gremlin. About the girl named Othinus that leads that organization. About their ultimate objective. About the term Magic God that she and I have in common. And most importantly... Ollerus paused before continuing. When he did continue, he spoke very clearly. About Imagine Breaker. About the secret of that power...or rather, its very identity. His statement broke directly into the core of the issue. His statement seemed to smash through something that had just barely been keeping everything dammed up and now it would all come flowing out at an unstoppable pace. Kamijou heard an audible gulp and it took him a few seconds to realize it had come from his own throat. Why had this come at a time like this? He was helping his class prepare for the Ichihanaransai and had only just begun to feel like he was back to his normal life. Kamijou agonized over it for a bit, but finally let out a sigh. He dashed at full speed past Ollerus who seemed intent on beginning a long, drawn-out, and annoying conversation. Ollerus, the man who should have become a Magic God, was left dumbfounded. W-wait!! I thought this was a serious scene! Wouldnt you normally jump at the chance to learn about Imagine Breakers identity? Why arent you? Are kids these days really this dry? Waaaiiitt!! Shut up!! Im afraid of whatll happen if I dont get this food! They already think I skipped out on the preparations up until now, so I cant just disappear after heading out to buy them lunch!! Id end up with more than just a few bruises then!! He knew a conversation with that sort of specialist would end up dragging on forever. He was not yet mentally prepared for that. Kamijou begged for 2 or 3 love comedy scenes and maybe a fanservice scene before he had to deal with that. Those with a full schedule had to flee lest they got wrapped up in all that. Part 5 And that is why I called you out behind the gym, said Ollerus nonchalantly to Kamijou who had let his guard down after safely buying lunch. Kamijou Touma was already passionately clenching his right fist. What do you want? To confess your love? To have a fight you dont want anyone to see? Please, please tell me its the latter. The Japanese school life certainly seems to go between two extremes. To be honest, I am having trouble understanding it. Ollerus shrugged. As I said before, I want to talk. About what? And where do we start? Now that is the real problem. Where to begin? He seemed to be troubled, but Kamijou was not sure if he truly was troubled. Did someone who very nearly became a Magic God really need to worry about anything at all? As if to confirm Kamijous suspicions, Ollerus readily continued. Well, trying to arrange everything in some fancy way just to make myself look good isnt going to help. Ill start with the core of the issue and then we can work our way out from there if you have any questions. That should be fastest. The core of the issue? The Magic God Othinus. Ollerus gave her that title despite referring to himself as only the man who should have become one. Unlike me, you can say that she is a true Magic God. There is more or less nothing in this world that she cannot do. The organization of Gremlin is controlled by her power, so if we know what she wants, we should be able to tell what Gremlins overall actions will be. Also... Ollerus paused and looked at Kamijou Toumas right arm. Fiamma of the Right once brought about a world war to acquire that right hand, but Gremlin and the Magic God Othinus are not after Imagine Breaker. Please take that to heart. ...You are not necessary to their plan, so they have no need to worry about your survival. If you get in their way, they will kill you without hesitation. Keep in mind that you are up against a group like that. ... It was easy to forget, but Kamijou Touma was just a high school student. He may have had some special experiences, but he was not a soldier or martial artist who had undergone proper training. Nor could he acquire professional tools or equipment. If he opposed an organization with worldwide operations, he would certainly be at a severe disadvantage. The very fact that he even thought about opposing them was a miscalculation of an amateur who could not properly compare his own power to that of Gremlin. And on top of that, he had already gotten involved. He had fought members of Gremlin and won, so he was past the point of no return. Even if Kamijou tried to retreat now, Gremlin would still want to finish things. And after getting involved, Kamijou had no intention of retreating before he had finished things. If he gave up, it would likely be more than just himself who suffered. Gremlin is a magic cabal that appeared due to World War III that Fiamma of the Right caused, said Ollerus. This was most likely information that even the experts on this topic at the Anglican Church did not know. Simply put, their ideology is something like dont just decide on your own that Academy City and the science side were the winners of the war. The most prominent magician at the time was obviously Fiamma of the Right. ...But there is more to magicians than just him. They do not like that he named himself the representative of Magic and then lost despite the fact that they had not yet shown themselves. That may have been why they were based in Norse Mythology rather than Christianity. They did not like that the loss of the Christian alliance between Rome and Russia had been forced onto their culture as well. But then arent they just being selfish? They didnt want to have anything to do with World War III and refused to help, but now theyre complaining that the magic side lost? Well, they would not have gained anything by helping Fiamma. And those higher up than Fiamma had more or less realized that even if he had succeeded, that method of his would not have saved the world as he thought it would. They could not accept having someone elses loss forced onto themselves. And so they were taking things into their own hands this time. If Gremlin had gathered power based on that... Unlike a magic cabal with hundreds or even thousands of years of history, Gremlin does not have a regulated ideology. Gremlin is a concentration of the individual dissatisfaction and discontent of the magicians who sensed things heading to a loss during World War III. Naturally, those magicians are preparing a symbol to represent the magic side that can stand up to the winner of the war, Academy City. ...And that is the Magic God named Othinus? It is a simple case of balancing the scales of power. I do not know if Othinus gathered the magicians around her or if the magicians searched out Othinus, though. Either way, Gremlin is trying to thoroughly strengthen Othinus so she can match the giant weight that is Academy City. ...To keep things simple, you can think of Gremlin as an organization to grant the selfish wishes of Othinus. But a Magic God can do anything, right? Does she really need to rely on others? Being able to do anything is the problem in and of itself. Ollerus gave a cynical smile as if commiserating with a colleague. You often hear talk of infinite possibilities, but that truly means you have as many negative possibilities as you do positive possibilities. ? This may be a bit hard to understand for someone at the age where you still believe in infinite possibilities. Just think of flipping a coin. The odds of getting heads or tails are 50/50. That is the true identity of infinite possibilities. Whenever you take an action, you carry both the possibility for success and the possibility for failure. No matter how hard you train, you still have 50% odds of losing in a fight to a child. That is what a Magic God is. 50% was quite large. In terms of Russian roulette, that would be starting the game with 3 live bullets. Gremlin and Othinus want to do something major to Academy City, the victors of this age. And so they want to do something about those ridiculous odds. They want her to be able to perfectly wield the power she has. They want her to have 100% odds of victory. A few modifications are needed for that. The preparations for this showed themselves on the surface as the disturbances in the Hawaiian Islands and Baggage City. ...Those were nothing more than preparations? Othinus is another way of saying Odin, the head god of Norse mythology. They are likely following that mythology. They are modifying the nature of that god by preparing a spiritual item that symbolizes that gods nature. ...Norse mythology is a mythology of weapons. The power of the gods is represented by the power of weapons. Keeping that in mind, it is not too hard to predict what Othinus is after. Ollerus spoke casually even though he was speaking of information that was directly linked to the fate of the world. The holy spear of Gungnir. A spiritual item that represents Odins power as the head god. Most likely, they have been heading around the world in order to put that spiritual item together into its ultimate form. A furnace using the energy of the volcanic eruption in the Hawaiian Islands. A Dvergr that possessed the skills needed to create the legendary weapons of Norse mythology. The theft of the design from the head of Brunhild Eiktobel, a Valkyrie who had once succeeded in forging Gungnir even if only in part. Even with all that, it should have been impossible to create Gungnir in its ultimate form using the current techniques that exist on this earth, but the incident in Baggage City changed that. ? The development of holistic espers. A technique that does not exist on this earth. If they do succeed in that, they will be able to reach possibilities that would previously have been unreachable. It would provide them with the final piece to finishing Gungnir. And once that spear was complete, Gremlin and its leader Othinus would take some kind of clear action against the entire world. All the large-scale disturbances up to that point had been nothing more than what could be called warm-up exercises. That power that had previously been constantly bound by 50% odds could then be freely wielded without fear. That would indeed be a huge problem. Kamijou did not properly understand just how frightening a thing like a Magic God was. Othinus had crushed his right hand, but that was not enough to see the true depths of that Magic God. However, Kamijou did know one thing clearly. He simply had to think of it as the types of Gremlin members he had seen at Hawaii and Baggage City spreading out to the entire world. That was likely a hopeless turn of events that no one but Gremlin wanted. But... At the same time... ... Kamijou Touma looked down at his right hand. Othinus was trying to modify her own possibilities to do away with the constant 50% odds, but was it possible she could do so without the Gungnir spiritual item? For example... By using Imagine Breaker. That right hand could negate all forms of magic, so in terms of possibility, it could be said to be fixed at 0%. It would be heading in the opposite direction of Othinus who wanted greater power with 100% possibility, but surely there was a way of making use of the exact opposite. For example, what if the path one chose was always wrong? Then couldnt you always head down the correct path by always choosing the opposite of that path? If you knew you would always fail, there were plenty of ways to use that. The Magic God Othinus was bound by the completely balanced odds of 50%. Those results could not be consistently used in the same way. That was why she remained stagnant. If the helm could be turned sharply in the direction of either success or failure, she could actually do something with it. And so... Wouldnt that right hand be of value to Gremlin? You do not have to worry about that, replied Ollerus when Kamijou asked that question. Imagine Breaker is incompatible with Othinuss ideas. Even if she knew it could be of use, I doubt she would ever even consider using it. What do you mean? I dont like to answer a question with a question, said Ollerus without changing his expression. But it is about time we got down to a fundamental issue. Do you know the identity of the Imagine Breaker you wield? Part 6 Once November came along, the cold kept much business from open-air cafs. Academy City was filled with the hustle and bustle of preparations for some kind of festival, but something clearly foreign sat amid it all. A few people sat at a table in an otherwise empty open-air caf. They gave off the atmosphere characteristic of those who did not understand the detailed rules of the situation, but they did not seem to care. The first was Marian Slingeneyer. She was a brown-skinned girl with long, braided silver hair and red-framed glasses. She wore a highly revealing outfit made up of nothing but overalls worn over her bare skin. That outfit seemed unsuited for November, but she had made her way through the Eastern European Baggage City dressed like that. She still showed no sign of shivering from the cold. The second was Mj?lnir. This girl (?) had lost all semblance of a human form and now looked like a black drum can over a meter tall. She was clearly someone who could not blend into a normal cityscape, but for better or for worse, Academy City was filled with drum-shaped cleaning robots and security robots. She did not draw too much attention because people seemed to assume she was some type of robot. And there was a third person. This final person was a thin, white-skinned boy. His thin frame and his waist-length blond hair gave him a somehow feminine look. His clothes were primarily yellow and black. He wore a tight-fitting shirt and pants as well as a stole around his shoulders. He looked the most normal of the three, but the exact opposite was true. He was Thor. He was referred to as the god of thunder, he was especially skilled in direct combat even for a member of Gremlin, and he was their representative combat member. He had the destructive power needed to wage a war all on his own. And yet... Unyah... Nope. I just cant work up any motivation... said Marian Slingeneyer as she laid her upper body limply on the table. The drum-shaped Mj?lnir clattered as it shook next to her as if to express worry and concern. They were official members of Gremlin, the organization that was spreading chaos throughout the world, but Thor was a bit disappointed in what he had found once entering within that framework. Despite the large scale of their actions, they did not pay much heed to the hierarchy of the organization. The only real problem was getting into the framework in the first place. (Well, Marians bad mood is probably due to Kihara Kaguns death.) That was Thors offhand guess. The Magic God Othinus was still using Kihara Kagun as a puppet, but a puppet was no more than a puppet. Only the vestiges of what he was in life remained and not much of his living self would remain for long. But he could guess that Marian Slingeneyers desperation would have known no bounds had that lingering scent of Kihara Kagun not remained even as fleeting as that was. To be honest, Thor did not like having someone as unstable as Marian around him in a situation like that. He had no idea when his surroundings would be transformed into something truly psychedelic. Thors specialty was war. Sending in a specialist in direct combat like him could develop into a full blown war. But even so, he was not a pervert that got turned on by bloodshed. He did not like splatter horror movies and he would much prefer not to go into a haunted house. And so he wished to give a warning before they began. Remember, no preemptive strikes this time. Yeah, yeah... And that includes making alterations to people to stock up for the battle. Do you really understand that? ...Yeah, yeah... They were right in the middle of enemy territory and all he got were horrible half-hearted replies. The black, drum-shaped girl (?) started shaking and clattering once more. Part 7 The identity of Imagine Breaker. That was what Ollerus had said. And that of course implied that he knew what it was. And more importantly... Did that mean what resided in Kamijou Toumas right hand did not belong to the science side? Surely you have figured out that the power that resides in your hand was not created by Academy Citys esper development techniques, said Ollerus simply. Of course, there are unique natural espers that exist outside of Academy City known as Gemstones. ...However, there is no real evidence that you are one of them. You have some sort of supernatural power that came about outside of Academy City. When you put it that way, dont you think that puts your position in a bit of a gray area? ... The group you used to interpret your existence just so happened to be Academy City of the science side. That is why you grew to believe that your power could be explained using a scientific interpretation. Now, what if you had been picked up by the Anglican Church of the magic side when you were a small child? You would likely then have explained your own existence to yourself from a magic worldview and grown to believe that you were a member of the magic side. So...what exactly is it ...? Kamijou clenched and opened his right hand. He then rephrased his question. What exactly am I? That is something that you must decide on your own, but I will give you the interpretation I have come to from my own perspective. Not just science and not just magic. Someone who stands opposite of the Magic God Othinus who controls Gremlin. An interpretation from Ollerus, the man who should have become a Magic God. You, or rather, the power that resides in your right hand can be said to be a collection of the hope and the fear of all magicians. What? One who truly masters magic becomes a Magic God. But fear does not disappear for even a Magic God who can do anything. And that is not simply due to the 50% restriction I mentioned before. It is a fear that anyone with a proper mind will feel if they possess great enough power. Ollerus had to have experienced that more than anyone else, but his expression did not change. It was possible the feelings of someone who had advanced as far as him were beyond what a normal human could imagine. There was once a man known as Terra of the Left. He was a special magician that belonged to Gods Right Seat just as Fiamma of the Right did. Systematically, he was probably the person who came the closest to knowing the identity of Imagine Breaker. ...Perhaps even more so than Fiamma of the Right. After all, he researched the contradiction in power relations needed for the Son of God to be killed by human hands and managed to put together the spell Execution of Light all on his own. ? Imagine Breaker can also have the effect of becoming a turning point of legends and of the very age itself. Kamijou was unsure what connection that had to do with what a Magic God feared. Ollerus continued speaking. A Magic God can distort the world as she desires. She can distort it as she wishes, but it cannot always be brought back to how it was before. Any childishly selfish wish such as making all the water running from the water pipes turn into orange juice is perfectly doable. But the more the world is distorted, the greater the danger of some kind of harmful side effects presenting themselves. And even if she tries to turn the world back to how it was, there is a danger of her no longer being able to tell exactly how the original world was after distorting it. These changes we are talking about are like changing the length of a meter or changing the weight of a gram. So if thats the fear, what is the hope? A world like that would be a frightening thing, wouldnt it? Even if you can alter everything to your selfish whims, you would want some kind of insurance, wouldnt you? The simplest way to put it would be a backup or a reference point you could use to return the world to normal. I suppose you could say your right hand is like the International Prototype Kilogram. Even if the world is utterly distorted and you can no longer recall how long a meter used to be or how heavy a gram used to be, your right hand can negate all magic, so a reference point still exists. By measuring the length, weight, and temperature of your right hand, someone who has distorted the world too greatly can recall what the original world was like. It acts as a lifeline that allows the world to be reverted to normal, no matter how far it has been distorted in any direction. That was the hope. If there was some insurance, you could go nuts and not worry about holding back. No restraint was needed, so you could simply act on all of your desires. It was an extremely selfish hope that existed only from the point of view of the one making the changes. There was a time when powers similar to that showed themselves here and there throughout an era. Some took the form of weapons and made their way into the hands of great heroes, some took the form of frescos and were rumored to heal the diseases of any who touched them, and others took the form of caves and functioned as trials for those who entered them. ...I do not know if the power in your hand is simply one more of those powers or if those hopes combined together into another form as they were lost and have naturally appeared here. I can make some guesses, but I have not tested any of them. However, I can say one thing for sure. Your right hand functions as a reference point for the world. At that point Ollerus paused. But then he continued once more. Othinus wants to take this world where Academy City and the science side have won and distort it beyond recognition. For this reason, she not only sees no value in a backup, but it is actually the greatest hindrance to her plan. If something remains that can restore the previous age after it has been changed, a backup changes from being a hope to being a fear. That is why Othinus does not seek Imagine Breaker. ...Gremlin wishes to cut that lifeline and do nothing but advance. The idea of insurance is nothing but an evil temptation to them. And Imagine Breakers ability to negate everything is the greatest example of such insurance. Part 8 Evening came. Normally, it would have been past time to be back from school, but that restriction was gone thanks to the preparations for the Ichihanaransai. Kamijou Touma had been temporarily freed from the school so that he could take a short break to refresh. ...What do I do? Index would still be in his dorm, but it did not seem he would be able to return anytime soon. Not only did he have the Ichihanaransai preparations to deal with, but he did not feel he could afford getting sidetracked until he had figured out what Olleruss objective was and ensured everyones safety. Academy City was strictly guarded. Magicians had snuck in a few times before, but it could not have been easy. It took a fair amount of cost and risk to enter the city. So what did Ollerus gain from doing so? Surely he was not there simply to answer Kamijous questions. A chill that stabbed into Kamijous skin had already crept up on him. It may have had something to do with distancing himself from the hustle and bustle of his class, but Kamijou felt some sort of emptiness in his chest. It made it all come back to him. Ollerus who should have become a Magic God and Othinus who had gone beyond that and become a Magic God. And Gremlin. How long would those casual and peaceful days last? Would Kamijou head out to face Gremlin or would Gremlin come to Academy City? Either way, the atmosphere surrounding the city would not last forever. And then another thought suddenly hit him. The disturbance in Hawaii. The hell in Baggage City. Those were not simply events happening in some other part of the world. They were directly related to Academy City. If Gremlins objective really was to show their objection to Academy City being the victors of the era, it was entirely possible the city would become the center of the disturbances. How much could Kamijou do to protect everyone from such a great mass of violence? Kamijou was unable to give a clear answer to that question. But it was obvious that, even if he was only a Japanese high school student, he could not just ignore the question. Gremlin and Othinus viewed his right hand and Imagine Breaker that resided within it to be a threat. He could not avoid a fierce battle. The only question was when, where, and how it would begin. ... Kamijou shuddered as he imagined the cityscape wrapped in the festive mood of Ichihanaransai preparations transforming into the type of thing he had seen in Baggage City. Obvious defeat. A situation where he had arrived too late. And even if he had made it in time and arrived before it was all over, he had difficulty imagining what he could have done when faced with that horrifying mayhem. He could not let the same thing happen to Academy City. Kamijou Touma was strongly and deeply convinced of that. And then... Misaka...? muttered Kamijou when he spotted a familiar face in the crowd. It was a girl with short, brown hair who was wearing the uniform of the prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School. She wore an expensive-looking coat over the rest of the uniform. Kamijou guessed she was out buying something to help prepare for the Ichihanaransai. She was Academy Citys #3. She was the girl known as the Railgun who had the most powerful of the electrical generation-type powers. Suddenly, their eyes met. When Mikoto noticed Kamijou, she started in his direction. Kamijou raised one hand and said, Misaka, are you preparing for the Ichihanaran He was not able to finish his sentence. Misaka Mikoto suddenly slammed her fist down on top of Kamijous head without holding back in the slightest. It was a completely serious blow. For an instant, Kamijous vision completely blacked out and he crouched over with tears in his eyes. In response, Mikoto gave a derisive snort and said, How can you approach me with such a friendly demeanor after ditching me in Hawaii? A-aghh... I have nooooooooooooo idea how you think youve made up for that debt, but I am very displeased with you. Im about ready to beat you to a pulp and dump you in a trashcan. ...I-Im sorry. That doesnt cut it!! That doesnt cut it at all!! No, Kamijou-san really does think he was completely wrong this time, okay? You say that, but deep down youre still glad you kept me from seeing what happened after that, arent you? Youre using a heroic interpretation for it all, arent you? ... At least try to deny it!! Do you never learn!? And you know what? Im actually stronger than you when it comes to pure power! Rely on me!! Im telling you Im willing to help, so let me!! As he watched Mikoto complain, Kamijou began to think. If Gremlin did invade Academy City, would he look to Misaka Mikoto for help then? He had managed to get by in Hawaii. But he had received a serious blow he could do nothing about in Baggage City. Was that a reason to get her help? Or was that a reason to keep her uninvolved? He decided he should probably decide on a clear stance on that issue ahead of time. Hey, Misaka. What? Do you remember what happened in Hawaii? ...You mean when you suddenly tossed me aside like a piece of trash? And overseas no less. Im being serious here. Things got a little nuts there, but if some people who thought that was just the beginning were coming to Academy City, do you think it would be right to place your friends in a position where they are likely to bear the full brunt of the attack? ...Oh? Ill be honest. Im conflicted on this issue. I want to get as much help as I can, but at the same time I feel it would be better to deal with it all myself rather than get the people I know involved with those monsters. Thats quite the unfair question, replied Mikoto. And then, But it is much, much too late to be worrying about that now. The tone of voice of the girl standing before him suddenly changed. And a pale light began to shine from the tips of the fingers on Mikotos right hand. Much too late, Kamijou realized something odd about what had happened before. Specifically, that fist to the head. Misaka Mikoto was the type of person who reflexively shot high voltage electricity from her bangs, so why had she used a physical attack rather than her power? You...!! You still havent caught up? You really are slow. Kamijou heard a great roar. It was the sound of air being pushed out of the way like when someone swung a bat with all their might. But that was not the true identity of the threat. It was a frighteningly bright flash of light coming from Mikotos (?) right hand. (An electric arc? Is it a burner used for welding or fusing!?) Kamijous vision greatly blurred. He dropped his hips down to lower his upper body, and some kind of fusing blade passed by horizontally above his head. The wind turbine behind him was mercilessly sliced through with what looked like a camera flash. Oh, nice. When did you learn to do more than simply defend? If you had done nothing more than hold out your right hand, we would have been in a stalemate with you stuck standing in one place. There had been more than one slice. The long pillar had been sliced into multiple pieces like a radish sliced by someone who did not know how to cook. This was because an arc fusion blade several meters long was extending from each of the five fingers on Mikotos right hand. This was something she could likely accomplish with her power. However, Kamijou had a feeling she would rely on her iron sand sword for close quarters combat. It was less of an issue of if she could do it and more of an issue of if she would do it with her principles and preferences. Damn you...!! As Kamijou raged, this person with Misaka Mikotos face tried to stab their left hand towards his head. Five arc fusion blades were extending from that hand as well. The emission of the blades and the thrust of the arm were carried out in one smooth action like the arm itself was a pile bunker. Kamijou moved his head to the side to avoid the blades and swung his right fist at Misaka Mikotos left wrist. His fist struck her wrist from below, causing her left arm to shoot straight up. Kamijou took a step forward into the empty space this left, grabbed Mikotos neck with his right hand, and slammed her back into a nearby bench. While holding her in place, Kamijou shouted, You arent Mikoto, are you!? Who are you!? He heard a cracking noise. The skin of whoever was taking on Misaka Mikotos form began to split open around the neck where he was grabbing them. As Kamijou watched on in shock, the cracks spread farther and farther. And it did not only spread across her entire body. The cracks spread across the entirety of Misaka Mikotos form, including the coat and hair decorations she was wearing. Im sure you have a pretty good idea, said the person as the lips moved despite a portion of them being missing thanks to the countless cracks. In the next moment, the destruction exceeded a sustainable level. The image of Misaka Mikoto shattered and a boy with long, blond hair, white skin, and a feminine look appeared from within. He smiled thinly and continued speaking despite still being held by the throat. I suppose I should introduce myself as the Lightning God Thor. I am in charge of direct combat for Gremlin. ...As you can see, we are already here in the city. Between the Lines 1 The kind priest said... Bring out a stone to burn this girl. If she is innocent, our Lord shall protect her so that she shall not burn. If he does not and she suffers burns, it shall mean she is a witch. The kind priest said... Dunk this girl underwater. If she is innocent, our Lord shall protect her so that she shall not suffer from lack of breath even underwater. If he does not and she does wish for air while beneath the water, it shall mean she is a witch. The kind priest said... Throw this girl into a large birdcage and hang her from the tower. If she is innocent, our Lord shall protect her so that she shall not hunger even after hanging for a month. If he does not and she is tormented by hunger, it shall mean she is a witch. The kind priest said... The kind priest said... The kind priest said... The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. The kind priest said. A-ahh... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? When the kind priest saw me, he fell into a sitting position with his eyes opened wide. What could be the problem? Did I look strange in some way? I was fairly certain I was not doing anything inappropriate. Wh-what? How? How!? The sound of vague chatter rose from the stone-paved square in the center of the small town. How very strange. What did they all find to be so odd? As I stood there looking confused, the kind priest pointed at me and began shouting. However, he did not seem able to get an entire sentence out. Y-you...you... Fr?ulein Kreutune... you!? Sigh. Is there something the matter with me? You...you!! How...how are you still alive after everything we did to you!? Why is your skin still shining so brightly!? How...how...how...how!? What a strange thing to say. Still looking confused, a smile slipped out on my face. But, kind priest. Have you forgotten what you yourself said? Huh? ...Eh? If I am innocent, our Lord shall protect me. ...!! The kind priest grasped the cross hanging from his neck so tightly it must have hurt. Red liquid dripped down and the small piece of metal began to bend under the great pressure. How dare you...How dare a monster like you speak of our Lord!! We threw you into the lake with your arms and legs bound, we bound you atop of the tower where lightning struck you, and we burned your entire body with fire! And yet you are still able to smile like that! You are clearly a witch!! Oh, kind, kind priest. I spread my arms as if to welcome in a friend with the intent of accepting everything that entailed. Have you run out of trials to put me through? Lets see, there is one thing I would like to check on: now that I have weathered these trials by ordeal without suffering any harm, what are you supposed to do with me? Notes 1. The Japanese term ħ can mean either magic god or demon god. Volume 5, 2: Who is the Real Enemy? Secret_Promise. Volume 5, Chapter 2: Who is the Real Enemy? Secret_Promise. Part 1 Kamijou ate some dinner in a local burger shop with Thor, a combat member of Gremlin. ...What is this? Its the new salsa burger meal. Ugh, they tried too hard to make it unique and ended up making the flavor way too strong. And its spicy!! I can see why the standard large burger never stops being the best seller. Thats not what I meant, you idiot!! We! Are!! Enemies!! Theres something wrong with us eating together like this!! What? Is it that odd for us to have a bit of a chat? Whether I was a member of Gremlin or not, Im betting you would be treating me differently if I was a short girl with large breasts that clearly wanted you to protect her. Are you making fun of me? Thats why I tried to make this easier by disguising myself as a girl you know. Come to think of it, how did that work? You wouldnt understand me if I got into the details of the magic, so Ill try to keep it simple. In Norse mythology, when the thunder god had his weapon stolen, he disguised himself as the goddess of beauty, Freyja, in order to lure out the thief. I put together a disguise spell based on that legend, but that means I can only disguise myself as girls. ...How did you know about what Misaka and I said back in Hawaii? When that argument happened, the FCE surveillance network that used cameras throughout America was still running. In other words, it all went straight to Gremlin. Ive gotta say, Misaka-chan is quite the young lady. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! My yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Thor gave a cheerful smile as Kamijou held his head and wailed. Dont worry about it. With the life you live, you cant afford to get embarrassed over every little thing like that. How can you say that!? Are you trying to pick a fight after all!? In a way, I suppose I am, said Thor as he lightly shook his blond hair that reached his waist. But the type of fights you saw in Hawaii and Baggage City are not my type of fight. That kind of thing is no fun. Of course, I suppose I am a villain if I use that as the basis for my decisions. ... Cmon, eat. Dont just sit there. Im paying, so you might as well eat as much as you can, right? Thor must have not liked spicy foods because he seemed to give his tongue a rest with a bite of salad or sip of soda between each bite of the salsa burger. Since he did not seem to like that kind of food, he may have been won over by the temptation of ordering a new item on the menu. Kamijou grabbed the wrapper for his hamburger while making sure not to get any red sauce on his fingers. ...So what did you want to talk about? Are you here to make a declaration of war? This would be a lot simpler if I could. Even without doing that, the situation here is tangled up in a complicated mess. Basically, I want to clean up that mess before getting to the real issue at hand. What are you talking about? Ollerus. Thor spoke a single name. With that name spoken, Kamijou knew he could no longer remain wholly uninvolved. He told you some things without giving you any proof while looking down on you the entire time, didnt he? And now you have grown rather nervous about what crisis is going to occur. Am I wrong? ...Without giving any proof? Are you saying he was lying? You are afraid of being made to fight according to someone elses wishes again, arent you? Like with Leivinia Birdway in Hawaii or Kihara Kagun in Baggage City. ... Dont glare at me like that. We know we are at the root of it all. But do you truly believe that just because we in Gremlin are the villains that Ollerus is wholly good and just simply by opposing us? Or to go even further, can anyone who resolves his problems with violence truly be considered good and just? He was no longer referring only to Ollerus. That last comment denied all the actions Kamijou had taken up to that point. And even Kamijou was not so sure he was wrong. For example, there was Tsukuyomi Komoe. For example, there was Last Order. For example, there was Oyafune Monaka. A truly good person and a truly just person may have been someone who was able to choose to not fight even in a crisis and yet was still able to save their enemy with that choice. That was a territory that lay far, far ahead of Kamijou who would clench his fist without thinking whenever a problem occurred. Now, lets talk about Ollerus. Lets talk about that man who relies on violence just as much as we do in Gremlin, said Thor as he put ketchup on a nugget. He did not come to Academy City alone. What? He brought the Saint named Silvia, Fiamma of the Right who was the true leader of Gods Right Seat, a Valkyrie named Brunhild Eiktobel, and Leivinia Birdway, the boss of the magic cabal named the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. Every one of them is enough of a monster not to lose to your average member of Gremlin. They go well beyond the level of a normal magician. ...Basically, they detected our movements and gathered in Academy City to stop our plan. Leivinia Birdway. Kamijou felt an ominous feeling in his chest when he heard that name. The boss of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. She had tricked Kamijou and the others when they went to Hawaii to resolve the situation there, creating a large crack between Academy City and its cooperative institutions. She had been one of the root causes behind the disturbance in Baggage City. But this was no time to get caught up over that. What about it? Arent they here to protect the people of Academy City from the likes of you? If so why did they choose to make Academy City the battlefield? pointed out Thor in annoyance. He threw a nugget in his mouth and continued, If they truly wished to protect Academy City from us, it would have been in their best interests to put an end to this before we snuck into Academy City. Simply put, it would have been easy enough to set up a defensive line around Academy City rather than waiting within. The sea around Japan or the mountains around the Kanto district would have worked nicely. Thor licked ketchup and grease from his fingertips before continuing in a lower tone. So why did they set up this great force within Academy City? They know how dangerous we in Gremlin are. Surely they have taken into consideration the possibility that we have already made our way in by this point. It seems to me that they are intentionally setting things up so Academy City is involved. But what do you think? Does this seem like the work of pacifists? ... Just as we have our own objective in Gremlin, Olleruss group has their own objective. And they will use Academy City to carry it out. That is the meaning behind how they are setting this up. Who knows if it will work or not, but they want a conflict to break out in Academy City so the citys defensive forces target us in Gremlin. I doubt those defenses can actually kill me, but having to fight the science side and Olleruss group at the same time would make things quite a bit more difficult. Every individual magician belonging to Gremlin had monstrous powers. But that was not the most frightening thing. That would be the fact that those powers were wielded as a group. So youre saying Olleruss group chose this location so events would stray from the standard pattern and interfere with Gremlins teamwork? Thats my theory anyway. Kamijou put his half-eaten burger down on the tray. He had suddenly lost his appetite. They were allowing the fires of war to spread through Academy City to carry out their own objective. If that was true, the friend/foe chart had suddenly changed. ...Do you know what Ollerus is after? No. In the end, it really comes down to the antagonism between Ollerus and Othinus. Theyre both monsters completely immersed in the territory of a Magic God. I have no idea if a mere member like me would be privy to the true intentions behind it all. Youre telling me to trust you based on that!? Thats exactly the kind of thing an enemy would say!! I never said to trust me, you idiot. Im telling you not to rely too much on information from just one side. Im sure Ollerus told you all sorts of things. So now hear what our side has to say. Once youve gathered as much information as you can, you can come to your own conclusion. The only way to escape being someones puppet is to think for yourself. And if youre going to do that, the more information you have, the better. Am I wrong? ...Then what are you after? No matter which path I choose, Im still going to be your enemy. Even if we are enemies and we must fight eventually, I think we should have everything settled beforehand so we can fight with no reservations. To be honest, the situation surrounding you is pretty pathetic. Everyone is desperate to lead you around like a trained monkey so they can use your right hands power for their own benefit. A fight with you under those circumstances wouldnt be any fun. What is your view of the situation? Thor continued speaking as he battled the salsa burger even though it seemed clear he had already lost. The thing is, Ollerus has shown off an odd characteristic at times. I dont know if he has always been like this or if he became like this as he approached becoming a Magic God, though. ...? He is fundamentally a philanthropist. If he sees someone in trouble, he will use any amount of power to help that person. But he loses sight of his surroundings when that happens. To be blunt, he is a man who would slaughter a military force of 1 million to save a single child he had never met before. I do not know what Ollerus is telling himself his actions are saving here, but if it is something outside of Academy City, it is entirely possible he would see no problem with using Academy City to save it. It was unclear how much of what that boy was saying was true. However, it was true that Kamijou knew nothing when it came to Ollerus. He had been saved by the man in Baggage City, but that was not enough to say that Ollerus was truly his ally. It had been the same with Leivinia Birdway, the boss of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. Kamijou asked a serious question. Lets say for arguments sake that Gremlin is up to no good and Olleruss group is not being exactly benevolent despite opposing them. What do you gain by explaining all of this to me? Oh, thats simple, said Thor offhandedly. Gremlin has come to Academy City because there is something here we want. And Ollerus has come to Academy City to stop us. ...I happen to know of a way we can completely dumbfound both of those groups as they take their annoyingly careful and hesitant actions. Dont you think that would be fun? ? The two of us can rescue the prize they are fighting over. Part 2 The surgery in Fremea Seiveluns mouth was over. O-ohh... Ohhhh... The effects of the anesthetic must have still remained to a certain extent because she let out a moan over how odd her mouth felt. She was leaving the dentists office with Hamazura and Takitsubo who had accompanied her to prevent her from running off. In the first place, I want to eat something! she said to them. After all that crying and screaming, you still havent learned your lesson!? The footpath they walked along was enveloped in the restless mood of the Ichihanaransai preparations. As the Ichihanaransai was a giant collection of cultural festivals, the shops were set up on the school grounds, but cheap stands targeting students were set up along the streets and paths during the preparatory period. This helped add to the festive mood during the preparations. Takitsubo Rikous gaze blankly wandered around the surroundings. ...Hamazura, what are we going to do now? Weve done everything we need to do, so we head home. First we need to take Fremea back to her dorm. Hamazura and Takitsubo currently lived together. However, Mugino Shizuri and Kinuhata Saiai were there as well, bringing all of Item together. Simply referring to them as roommates was simple enough, but it put some severe restrictions on Hamazura. He cared enough about appearances that he could not bring himself to flirt with Takitsubo in front of the other girls. In the end, he was forced to calculate things out based on everyones mysterious schedules to get any time alone with Takitsubo Rikou. (And whenever he did, Takitsubo seemed to get so caught up in popping bubble wrap that she did not pay any attention to him.) Hamazura, we need to buy some detergent before going home. I see. So get some money out at the bank. I see. Convenience store ATMs have a handling fee, so we need to get to the bank ATM before they close. ...Theres just no sex appeal to that attitude, yknow? Hamazura. The girl wearing a pink track suit tugged at Hamazuras clothes. He frowned. ? Fremea is gone. Hamazura frantically looked around, but Fremea Seivelun was nowhere to be found. However, he could hear a familiar soprano voice coming from amid the crowd. Nyahh nyahh!! In the first place, this says they have bite-size fruit marshmallows with 30 different types of fruit filling! Im gonna keep eating them until Ive found every kind!! That damn brat!! Why isnt she afraid of having to get more fillings!? shouted Hamazura as he ran off to go protect the peace inside that girls mouth. He couldnt let her get so excited over those black creatures armed with road construction equipment. Part 3 After finishing most of his burger meal, Thor ordered some hot coffee and cheesecake for some reason. By the way, what do you think of fast food coffee? Is it good enough for you? If you dont like it, dont order it... Personally, I dont even have any real problems with canned coffee, replied Kamijou with a disheartened expression. Thor happily sipped at the cheap coffee and said, So how far did we get? You said Gremlin led by the Magic God Othinus and the group of monsters led by the almost-Magic-God Ollerus are after some prize, and we can get to it ahead of them. Kamijou wiped the grease off his fingers with a paper napkin. So what exactly is this prize? What Othinus wants is a person, replied Thor. A person who has not been dyed in the colors of magic or science and therefore could go either way. But doing that would put a major burden on the persons body, so this person also has to have exceedingly high durability allowing them to undergo modifications that would kill any normal person from the shock. ...What do you mean? Who knows. To be honest, not even we know the specifics. This specific persons name can be glimpsed in records of the witch hunts from the middle ages. It comes up in accounts of a very strange incident where the holy men who were known for killing anyone they found suspicious, that they were jealous of, or that they simply did not like gave up on killing someone because this person was simply too durable for the holy men to deal with. ... Kamijou could not imagine how what Thor had just mentioned could be connected to the current situation. Whatever those records were, they had to have been from hundreds of years ago. He simply did not see how they could be related to Academy City, the headquarters of Japanese science. When he asked about it, Thor readily replied. It still isnt over. ...What? This woman would continue smiling even when they tried to burn her alive or crush her with weights, and it seems not even the flow of time could do her in. So you see, this is related. Even if her name is seen in records from hundreds of years in the past, she has yet to die. Presumably, she is still smiling somewhere on this earth. Shes...still alive...? Exactly. Of course, I doubt shes just some especially durable human. Whatever she really is, her core or true nature must lie elsewhere. This durability is likely nothing more than one facet of her special characteristics. Thor tried to slice the cheesecake with a plastic fork but accidentally squashed it flat. And just so you know, the odds are good she is here in Academy City. Why? If she was in records of the witch hunts, wouldnt she have a closer connection to the magic side? She only happened to get caught up in the witch hunts that were sweeping society at the time. It is actually unclear which side she truly lies on. Its possible she does not belong to either. Thor stabbed his fork into the flattened cheesecake, but it fell back to the plate when he tried to lift it to his mouth. He then grabbed it directly with his fingers and brought it to his mouth. But we do not think Academy City took her in in order to carry out some kind of scientific experiment. ...If that were the case, some simple results of that research would have shown themselves on the surface. Then what? A last-ditch effort. Thor gave a thin smile as he licked his fingertips. Whatever she may be, she has proven in those cruel witch trials that she cannot be killed by any means. She is an existence that goes against the wishes of Academy Citys leader, but she cannot be dealt with in a simple assassination. Having her wandering around the world smiling destroys the hopes of the citys leader, and yet she cannot be killed or otherwise disposed of. What do you think the citys leader would do to deal with this problem? He cant kill her to silence her, but he cant have her wandering around freely? Also, you say she is in Academy City but Ive never heard of someone like that. Kamijou thought for a bit. You dont mean...Shes being imprisoned somewhere? Exactly. As he had just finished eating the sweet cake, Thors expression grew grim as he took another sip of his coffee. If you cant kill someone, the fastest way to isolate them from the world is to rob them of their mobility. Most likely, she is being imprisoned in the most solid building in Academy City. ...And that is why the situation has grown even more complicated. The most solid building in Academy City. Kamijou frowned as he thought for a bit. Could it be a shelter in the vast underground area of District 22? Or could it be somewhere in the highly secretive District 2 or District 23? But Thor shook his head. He said, There is an incredibly obvious answer. ? The windowless building. With no hesitation, the Lightning God Thor spoke the name of Academy Citys heart. That is this citys greatest fortress. Aleister, the chairman of the citys board of directors, uses it as his castle. That woman...Fr?ulein Kreutune is imprisoned there. Part 4 There was once a project known as the Dark May Project. It had been carried out by a research institution affiliated with some of the darkest parts of Academy City. The thought patterns of Accelerator, Academy Citys most powerful Level 5, had been analyzed and a portion of them had been implanted in other espers to raise their level of power. There had been few successes. Even fewer had managed to survive to the present day. And yet... Yknow... You super annoy me, so please do not speak to me. Two girls walked through Academy City in the evening during the preparations for the Ichihanaransai. They were both survivors of that nightmarish project, and they were both Level 4s that manipulated the nitrogen in the air. One was Kinuhata Saiai. She was a girl of about 12 who wore a fluffy knit dress. Her hair was brown and in a bob. Her power was known as Offense Armor and was specialized for defense. She covered her body in armor made of nitrogen concentrated a few centimeters thick which allowed her to automatically defend against any attacks coming her way. She could easily handle a direct hit from a sniper rifle. The other was Kuroyoru Umidori. She was a girl of about 12 who wore a punk-style tank top and pants of black leather as well as a white coat hanging from its hood on her head. She had long black hair, but the strands hanging down by her ears were dyed yellow. Her power was known as Bomber Lance and was specialized for offense. She could produce nitrogen spears several meters long from the palms of her hands. However, she was a cyborg as well as an esper, so she could add as many mechanical arms as she liked to increase the number of spears she could produce. They were both members of Academy Citys dark side. Those girls had a villainous side to them that prevented them from purely being considered victims. And this was why they saw no reason to try to get along simply because they had both been involved in the same project. In fact, the atmosphere between them was so strained it seemed they would take a fallen glass as a sign to begin grabbing for each others throat. Kuroyoru twisted her lips in a sneer. I may not be the best person to bring this up, but what are you doing? I just cant get a grasp on your position here. If you just want to protect Fremea Seivelun, wouldnt it be easier to just kill me and bury me somewhere? I will make sure to super kill you if I get the chance. Unlike Hamazura, I have no intention of super getting along with you, so dont worry. Speaking of Hamazura, what is with him? Youre taking me somewhere on his orders, right? Why dont you just ignore him? We both had that monsters thought patterns implanted in us, so I dont see why you wouldnt hesitate to refuse any orders someone gives you. That only applies to you since you had that monsters offensive side super implanted into you. I was specialized on the defensive side, so I have super no idea what youre talking about. And it isnt like Hamazura ordered me to do this. But I guess it would be super hard for you to imagine since youve never known anything outside of vertical relationships. Where are we headed anyway? asked Kuroyoru suspiciously. That caused Kinuhata Saiai to smile. However, this expression had none of the kindness or sympathy one generally associated with a smile. Perhaps the best description of it is a dark joy. And so she gave her response. It is super the same place as Fremea Seivelun was sent to. What? Tah dah!! The most frightening super dentist in District 7, aka the Heros Cave!! A slight commotion was then heard. It was the sound of Kuroyoru trying to take a few steps back and Kinuhata grabbing her collar to stop her. Kinuhata Saiai poured everything she had into her smile. There is super no use in trying to hide it. Hamazura is super sensitive to even the slightest change in his comrades. We know that you have been super avoiding chewing with your back teeth. Comrades!? What do you mean comrades!? Oh, dont worry. That super bothers me as much as it does you. Anyway, I have super intentionally brought you to the dentist that is known as the most skilled and is the most feared by the neighborhood children. ...!! Oh? Is Kuroyoru Umidori-chan, the great representative of the Freshmen, super afraid of the dentist? Are you the kind of crybaby that actually raises her hand when the dentist super tells you to raise your hand if it hurts? I-I...!! I am a cyborg!! If there is any defect in my body parts, I swap them out for manmade parts!! So there is no need to inefficiently carve away at my teeth!! I just have to get completely new ones, so this is completely pointless!! Yes, yes. Now super get in there. I super have your insurance card, so dont worry about that. ...Give it a fucking rest. If you keep looking down on me, I wont just rip out a tooth. Ill tear your entire body to pieces! Kuroyoru Umidori let out a small breath and tried to emit a nitrogen spear from her palm that could sever even a steel plate. But... ? Super nothing is coming out, is it? Wh-what!? What is going on!? Heh. Your power is super reliant on your mechanical arms, right? Well, it seems Hamazura super stuck a bit of gum in the ports inside your cyborg parts to prevent proper contact from being made. Without your arms, you super cannot use your power. Hah hah hah! Now you are a super harmless normal person. I cant just let that go!! What the hell have you been doing to me while Im asleep!? And isnt sticking some foreign object in my body a lot more dangerous than a cavity!? Haahhhh hah hah! Super what are you saying? Academy Citys dark side operates on a survival of the fittest policy. And so lets super get to the dentist already, temporary Level 0. Resistance is futile, so super give up. Tears really could be seen in Kuroyorus eyes as Kinuhata Saiai dragged her in through the door of the dentists office. Part 5 The windowless building. The castle of Aleister, Academy Citys board chairman. It seemed the woman known as Fr?ulein Kreutune was imprisoned there. Also, Gremlin was trying to acquire her to carry out some objective of theirs while Olleruss group was prepared to do anything to stop them. The windowless building was known for being strong, but would it be able to stand up to the likes of those powerful magicians? It was not being in a known, defended location that mattered for Fr?ulein Kreutune. It would likely be best for her if no one knew where she was. That was what Kamijou and Thor had to do. It was simple enough to say. But... What that meant was... The two of us need to open the way into Academy Citys most impregnable fortress and sneak in. And we need to do it before any of the others can do so, said Thor as he sipped on his coffee that had begun to cool. This is the best option. Gremlin under Othinuss command is of course working to get their hands on Fr?ulein Kreutune as well. And they know they need to do something about the windowless building to do so. However, they will not rely on tricks. If they decide they need to destroy that building no matter what, they will use unadulterated violence to tear it down. ... To acquire Fr?ulein Kreutune, Gremlin will try to smash that building that not even a nuke can destroy. Meanwhile, Ollerus simply has to ensure Gremlin cannot get their hands on her. It is entirely possible they will not even bother entering the building. They might opt to use some curse to kill her from outside. I thought she couldnt be killed? So history says. But just because normal methods dont work doesnt mean monsters on Olleruss level cant pull it off. I dont know what system Fr?ulein Kreutune uses to survive, but they might be able to calculate out a way to kill her if they know. It is best to think that she currently has two blades held at her throat. On one side was Gremlin who might very well have the firepower needed to destroy a building that could withstand a nuke. On the other side was Olleruss group that might very well have the magic ability needed to kill that woman who was so durable the church had given up trying to execute her. Both sides were made up of veritable monsters. Both sides held ridiculous levels of power. But... At the same time... Can we really pull this off? What do you mean? Get into the windowless building. Its supposed to be impregnable, right? Can we really do anything about it? Who knows. I do know that, true to its name, it has no windows or any other type of entrance or exit. Every one of its walls is strong enough to withstand a nuclear attack, and all forms of infrastructure are independently circulated inside the building. When someone or something is needed inside, a teleportation esper is used, but we have to keep in mind your Achilles heel. So... In the end, its a manmade system. And humans have even landed on the surface of the moon. I have an idea. All that is left is for us to make up our minds? What will you do? ... Just to be clear, I am not your ally. It should be obvious, but I have my own reasons for doing this. So dont worry yourself over pointless doubts about whether I will betray you. I will betray you in the end. And yet I am still asking for your help. ...You can just abandon me when you feel you no longer need me. That way we will be even. Thor shook his paper cup so that the black liquid inside became a small whirlpool. And no matter what anyone is planning, Fr?ulein Kreutune herself has done nothing wrong. That alone is clear. It was wrong for her to be forced through the tortures of the witch hunt or to be sealed in a dark room with no exit just because someone else did not like who she was. Dont you agree? Just as I will work towards my own ends, you can betray me as soon as we have safely secured Fr?ulein Kreutune. Simple, isnt it? ... Dont fall silent. Just tell me yes or no, said Thor with a thin smile. Are you in or not? Part 6 Gremlin led by the Magic God Othinus and the group of monsters led by Ollerus had entered Academy City. They were both after Fr?ulein Kreutune, the woman imprisoned in the impregnable windowless building. Gremlin was the group that had caused such a great disturbance in Baggage City and they wanted Fr?ulein Kreutune because she was durable. So what exactly would happen to her in their hands? However, she would not necessarily meet a good end if everything was left to Olleruss group either as they only wanted to put a stop to Gremlins conspiracy. Those two groups would make their move shortly. They had no time. ... Kamijou wracked his brains based on the limited information he had. Who would be the best ally in this situation? It was unlikely Ollerus, Thor, or even Academy City which had been hiding any information on Fr?ulein Kreutune were disclosing everything about their true motives and objectives. Kamijou was trying to use the information he had received from each party to somehow determine what the actual truth of the situation was that cut a straight line through all the plotting. And he came to his conclusion. ...I cant. You cant what? I have nothing to substantiate the information youve given me. If Fr?ulein Kreutune really is imprisoned in the windowless building, that is certainly a problem, but you have given me nothing to prove that she is even there. ... Also, I just cant bring myself to believe you would betray Gremlin to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune. Why would you? If youre part of the group, you must have similar goals. Plus, if you betrayed an organization like that, you could easily meet a horrible fate. So why would you go behind Gremlins back to speak with me? ... I agree with you that Ollerus is not a wholly good person. But is that any reason to see you as my ally? How am I supposed to come to that conclusion? It seems more reasonable to assume everything about Fr?ulein Kreutune and the attack on the windowless building was a lie and youre trying to lead me to take some actions for some secret plan that Hahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... As if to cut Kamijou off, Thor brushed up his bangs with a hand and let out a quiet but very long sigh. Kamijou frowned and Thor began to speak. I do see why you would be suspicious of something like that after what happened in Hawaii and Baggage City. I even feel some sympathy and compassion. But... He finished off the rest of his now-cold coffee and crushed the paper cup in his hand. My enemy certainly has become pathetic. It happened directly after that. In an instant, Kamijou Toumas vision blurred. It was only when a ripple of intense pain spread across his face starting at his nose that Kamijou realized that Thor had casually tossed aside the paper cup, grabbed Kamijous hair, and slammed his face into the plastic table. He had a feeling he heard a muffled noise slightly afterwards. He could hear screams coming from the students gathered at the no smoking tables for a pre-dinner break. But Thor paid them no heed. He stood up from his seat while still holding Kamijous hair. He then spun around as if twisting his hips to throw the other boy while he was still bewildered by the sudden pain. Kamijou rolled across the floor, slamming through two or three identically designed tables as he did so. The students that had been sitting at those tables let out shouts and frantically moved away. The boys and girls far enough away to feel safe initially clicked their tongues at the drinks that almost splashed on them, but their throats grew dry when they saw Thors face. As they had never seen anything more than street fights, that was not too surprising. The violence Thor wielded went beyond the level of a mere murderer. Well, if youre going to be so negative about everything, Ill just go do it on my own. Gah...Gh...hh...!? Also... Whatever those around him may have thought, Thor felt he was still showing quite a bit of calm in his expression as he ignored the onlookers and slowly approached Kamijou. Lies? Secret plans? I dont care about any of that. A girl named Fr?ulein Kreutune is being imprisoned. That should be enough for you to go save her. What does it matter if there is more to the story or if someone else has some other goal!? If there is a girl closed up in some dark room being treated cruelly, that should be enough for you to go save her! I thought that was who the wonderful enemy I had imagined was! Was I wrong!? Before Kamijou could recover from the shock and stand up, Thor kicked him in the gut. Kamijous breath burst from his mouth, but Thor jammed his toes into his gut a second and third time. No one tried to stop him. And no one tried to flee either. If someone headed for the exit, they might irritate Thor and receive similar treatment. That was why no one there wanted to be first. Yes, you may have been used for other peoples plans in Hawaii and Baggage City. So what? What does that have to do with Fr?ulein Kreutune who is suffering now? Are your pathetic experiences enough of a reason to abandon her with a smile on your face!? If you truly think so, theres no hope for you. The only reason you have just barely managed to get by in a world of experts for this long is that you have always been acting on a desire to rescue someone even if you did not always succeed in the end. If you lose that, your fist becomes nothing more than a tool for your own selfish desires!! Dont you understand that!? The next kick sounded muffled. This time, Thors toes had not reached Kamijous gut. Just before they did, Kamijou had blocked it with both hands. ...Shut up, said Kamijou Touma with a voice that seemed to come up from the depths of the earth. How can someone from Gremlin, the ones behind all this, say all that while looking down on me? Not even Leivinia Birdways plan was this bad. If Gremlin hadnt been going on rampages all over the place, none of this would be happening in the first place! The incident in Hawaii would never have happened, the incident in Baggage City would never have happened, and this incident regarding Fr?ulein Kreutune would not be happening!! Were you even listening...? Thor lightly lifted up his right foot that had been blocked. It looked like he was just trying to remove it from Kamijous grasp, but instead of going in for another kick, he stomped the foot down on Kamijous upraised side. The sound of the impact rang out. Gh...bh!? Ghaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Im going behind Gremlins back to put a stop to Othinus and the others rampage!! The infighting in Hawaii? The destruction of Baggage City? Do you really think everyone in Gremlin supported those things!? Gah...Gfh... I was wondering what Othinus was doing in secret while leaving me out of the loop, and it turned out she was pathetically working at tormenting the weak. Listen up. I have no grand plan. I just crush those I dont like. And thats why I have betrayed Gremlin!! Thor swung his right leg back and kicked Kamijou in the gut with a similar motion to kicking a soccer ball as hard as one could. Kamijou rolled a few meters to the side and Thor asked him a question. Youve acted all full of yourself, but what do you have now? You keep denying other peoples opinions and suspecting them, but what does that leave you with? ...I dont know if youve gotten drunk on tragedy or if youre just pretending to be clever, but you are not shining in the slightest right now. You were better when you were being tricked by everyone around you but were still reaching your hand out to help any crying girl you saw. How many people do you think were in danger in Hawaii? Or in Baggage City? muttered Kamijou. He grabbed the edge of a collapsed table and slowly stood up. I dont know either. More people than I could count were caught up in those incidents. A single decision by me could have increased or decreased that number!! And this isnt just a number were talking about. These are lives of living human beings! Whats wrong with wanting to be cautious about that kind of thing!? But is your hesitation really so that you can make the best decision? A sound like a spark rang out. Some kind of bluish-white beam of light came from the Lightning God Thors fingertips. This was what his name referred to. This was the scorching lightning that was similar to an electric arc and could slice through thick steel. If its really just that youre afraid of choosing... Thor spoke. If its really just that youre afraid of having to deal with the consequences of your decision. Thor took a step closer. If that is your reason for abandoning someone, then you are a true villain. It came in a horizontal strike. The bluish-white beam of light grew to about the size of a sword and mercilessly flew towards Kamijous neck. The beam explosively expanded. The scattered light melted a toppled table like it was cheese and set some burger wrappers on fire. But... That electric arc that could slice through a metal plate over 10 cm thick like it was the paper of a goldfish scoop did not decapitate Kamijou Touma. This was thanks to his right hand. Kamijou Toumas Imagine Breaker blew away the light blade that Thor had used. Youre taking me too lightly, Kamijou said clearly while breathing heavily. I never had any kind of overarching plan either!! Just as it looked like another bluish-white beam of light would appear from Thors fingertips, Kamijou dashed over and grabbed his right wrist. The blade that could slice through steel disappeared before it could fully form. Kamijou did not wait. While Thor was distracted by the vanished blade, Kamijou slammed his knee into his gut. Gh...gah!! All I hear is you shouting out whatever crap you like. What I dont like is when I do what I want and someone else uses it to their own ends in some completely different place!! With his bent knee still digging into Thors gut, Kamijou swung his head forward and slammed it into Thors head. A dull noise rang out. I would stop a fight. Or I would save a crying girl. That was enough for me, but everyone else wouldnt stop carrying on and would eventually lead it to some completely different conclusion!! If 1 plus 1 equaled 2, there wouldnt be a problem. The problem is that it somehow ends up equaling negative 5 or negative 10!! Will this really end up saving Fr?ulein Kreutune!? Well!? Will it!? When he saw that the magician was unsteady on his feet, Kamijou let go of his right wrist and swung his own clenched fist toward the magicians nose. But Thor blocked it with his left arm. At the same time, Thor tried to use a leg to sweep Kamijous feet out from under him. Instead, Kamijou stomped down on the lightning gods foot. Im sick of trying to save someone and only causing more suffering as a result!! Thats why I want to be properly prepared before taking action! Why dont you understand that!? Now youve said it... muttered Thor. He grabbed Kamijous collar with both hands. He lifted Kamijous entire body up. Kamijous feet left the floor. Is that why you end up never taking action at all? Because they dont have some grand title? Because you dont know them? Because you dont recognize them? Because youve never met them? ...Youre wrong, Kamijou Touma. You just gave your own answer. You just showed what stage youre having trouble with. Just realize it already, you dumb bastard!! He slammed Kamijous back to the ground. In all seriousness, Kamijous breathing stopped for an instant. And then Thors fist fell down upon Kamijous face two or three times. Kamijou did not even know how many blows he had received before he managed to twist his body and just barely avoid Thors next blow. After that, the situation grew utterly confused. They were both trying to get on top so they could keep the other from moving, but even that simple goal grew uncertain partway through. They would punch, be punched, and then punch again. As the exchange of blows continued, all their complex thoughts were torn from their minds. It was unclear what exactly caused it, but Kamijou and Thor both suddenly stopped their scuffle. The right third of Kamijous vision was blurred. He had no idea how Thor had fared, but he was a member of Gremlin. He surely could have used several pieces of magic that would blow away the entire fast food restaurant. He must have had a reason for not doing so. As he breathed heavily, Thor asked his question once more. So do you want to help her or not? If she really is suffering, replied Kamijou while ignoring the people watching on from a distance. But if you are trying to use me for your own ends like Leivinia Birdway and Kihara Kagun, prepare yourself. I will rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune even if I have to crush your plan. Hearing that, Thor gave a thin smile. Do as you wish. ? I am taking action tonight. You choose whatever you think the best option is to save Fr?ulein Kreutune. It doesnt matter to me if that is to help me or oppose me. ...As long as you end up saving Fr?ulein Kreutune in the end, I dont care what your methods are. Thor placed his hand atop a table that was still standing and wrote something on a paper napkin using a bluish-white beam of light. He showed Kamijou the writing burned into the napkin before tossing it aside. The paper napkin caught fire around the writing and burned away, leaving no trace of the information written there. He turned his back on Kamijou and spoke softly. I will be there. You should be able to use that information to your advantage whether you plan to help me or oppose me. Between the Lines 2 It used to be that criminal punishments were the greatest form of public entertainment in Western Europe. After all, this was before the day of basketball and video games. Books did exist at that point, but most people did not know how to read or write. They could always appreciate music and theatre, but the majority of the masses had little opportunity to experience such things. And so public criminal punishments held in the city square were the greatest form of entertainment because they moved peoples emotions in one way or another and would provide a stimulus outside of the normal rhythm of daily life. (Of course, the official reason was so everyone could show their disapproval of the criminal.) And they did not always simply watch. In some cases, they would actively participate. Here is one example. One possible penalty was public humiliation. It was one of the kinder punishments when compared to being decapitated with an axe or having ones arms and legs broken and tied in a knot using some giant wheel-like objet dart. The person being punished would simply be made to stand in the center of the public square with their arms and legs bound and then left there for a certain amount of time. The level of humiliation of the punishment was increased for the severity of the crime committed. Sometimes the person would have their clothes ripped open or be forced to wear a pig mask. At first glance, public humiliation did not involve any direct violence. Nothing was done to the criminal beyond the bound hands and legs. However, there was an implicit understanding that the criminal had no way to stop the masses whatever they might do. These good neighbors who were starved for some kind of stimulation would do all sorts of things to the immobile criminal. They would throw stones at him, hit him with sticks, bring human waste from their houses and dump it on him, and otherwise enjoy the justified punishment. And on top of that, the criminal investigation abilities of the time were quite sloppy even when you did not take the infamous witch hunts into account. And the people were well aware of that. They pretended to do what they did because they could not go against the wishes of the authorities, but it can be guessed they felt a dark joy at punishing these people that were not evil but were neighbors they wished to treat as evil. That was the way of things in that era. In that era, criminal charges and legends about the criminal were often added after the fact. There were many stories told of someone who bumped into a wealthy man being beheaded as a legendarily great thief, or a wife criticizing her husband for cheating on her being proclaimed violent due to demon possession and then her decapitated head blinking or a strange plant shaped like a woman growing from the ground where her blood landed. In fact, these stories even made it into official government records, so a lot of information from that age was of dubious accuracy. And that is why the legends of that woman were buried amid all the other legends. Fr?ulein Kreutune. That woman outlasted 308 of the trials by ordeal that became for the basis of the confession by torture method that was later often used in witch hunts. It did not matter if she was left within great flames for hours on end or forced to hold scorching hot stones in her hands. It did not matter if she was tossed into a spring with her arms and legs bound. It did not matter if she was tied to the top of a tower and struck by lightning. It did not matter if she was left in a cell without food or water for over a month. Not only did she not die, but her expression did not even change much, if at all. That womans true identity and the trick behind her survival could not be determined simply by calling them legends of the day. The general form of those trials by ordeal was to put the suspected witch through various ordeals. If she was guilty, god would abandon her and she would be harmed. If she was innocent, god would save her and she would not be harmed. Later, it was decided that trials by ordeal were testing god which was forbidden, so they changed their methods to simply obtaining confessions by torture. However, the trials by ordeal did achieve some results when it came to Fr?ulein Kreutune. Ironically, the judges at the time could only come to one conclusion. Fr?ulein Kreutune had not been injured and ergo she was innocent and nothing but a mere human. Volume 5, 3: The Gate Opens. Impregnable. Volume 5, Chapter 3: The Gate Opens. Impregnable. Part 1 At a time of day closer to night than evening, Misaka Mikoto found her way to a certain coed high school in District 7. So this is that idiots high school... The Ichihanaransai functioned as an open campus for those wanting to check out a certain school, but a local rule of the students said that the true essence of a school was better seen during the preparatory period while all the work was being done than on the day of the festival when everything was decorated and prettied up. There was no official system inviting in students from other schools, but there was an implicit understanding that some would secretly come for a look. However, there was also a danger of festival spies pretending to be taking a look at the school, so the more prestigious schools had very strict security. Even so, some dirty members of newspaper clubs would let their journalistic spirit lead them to testing out the level of security at various schools. All in all, there were a lot of different issues surrounding the situation. But... (Huh? No one is trying to stop me...) Misaka Mikoto looked very suspicious as she glanced cautiously around her surroundings near the school gate, but no one looked her way despite several students carrying wood or tools to make stands rushing about. If she had been within the School Garden, guards would have been chasing after her just for hanging around the fence with a camera hanging from her neck. She cautiously walked through the open gate and onto the school grounds. The facility as a whole was on a much lower level than the School Garden or Tokiwadai Middle School, but a high school still seemed like a completely new world for a middle school girl like her. She felt her legs trembling slightly as she glanced around some more. Students preparing for the Ichihanaransai were darting about holding tools of the type used for do-it-yourself carpentry. But they were all wearing the same uniform. Mikoto saw no sign of any other students sneaking a peek like her. (H-hmm... If only there were a lot of other students from other schools. Then I could mix in among them.) Right after she had that thought... Huh? What are you doing here? A soprano voice suddenly came from behind her. Mikoto turned around in surprise and saw a girl with a height of about 135 cm standing there. Mikoto assumed she must be from some other school as well, but for some reason she had a teachers attendance book held under one arm. The girl looked carefully up and down Mikotos outfit. Hm? Thats a Tokiwadai Middle School uniform, isnt it!? Does that mean you are an unofficial visitor!? You cant do that. Youll get a scolding from Anti-Skill!! Sigh... Thank goodness. Eh? What? Youre a visitor too, right? I cant believe how out of place I feel here all alone, but I couldnt exactly bring Kuroko or someone with me. W-wait a second!! I am not a visitor! I am a teacher!! But...you must be in elementary school. Isnt it a bit soon to be visiting a high school? Are you making fun of me but with perfectly good intentions!? Mikoto then visited various areas of the school along with that girl (?) she had met. The school lacked the feeling of strict rules and order that Tokiwadai had, but that lax feeling was quite refreshing for someone who attended a rich girl school like Mikoto. It feels like the students have a lot more autonomy than at Tokiwadai. ...But how do they keep the school in order with such poor teachers and school rules? Th-the teachers are not poor!! I do an excellent job!! (...But where did that idiot get off to? I wonder where his classroom is.) ??? What was that you just muttered? N-nothing!! Dont worry about it, little girl. Mikoto frantically waved one hand to deny she had ever said it. And then... A female student with long black hair and a bust plentiful enough to wrap Mikoto in killer intent burst out of the school. She was speaking with someone over her cell phone. Dammit!! He ran off even after I told him he had to stay over tonight!? Himegami-san, do you know where that bastard Kamijou Touma went!? Mikoto twitched slightly when she suddenly heard that name. But the situation went well beyond what she could have predicted. The large-breasted girl speaking with someone over the phone said, Eh? ...Hes been arrested by Anti-Skill!? Part 2 And so he was caught red-handed and arrested. Kamijou Touma had his handcuffs removed upon reaching the Anti-Skill station and was left to shout from a folding chair. Ehhh!? W-well, yes. I might have gotten into a fight in that fast food restaurant, but I cant afford to be doing this right now!! What do you mean doing this? Now fortunately for you, the witnesses have all told us you were primarily the victim here. Even so, just because everyone is preparing for the Ichihanaransai does not mean your duty as a student changes. You cannot act without restraint like that. Kamijou had been thrown into an interrogation room where the window was covered with bars and one wall was covered by a one-way mirror. A middle-aged Anti-Skill man was currently giving him a lengthy scolding. Thor had made a dashing exit before the authorities arrived, leaving the remaining festivities for Kamijou to deal with. Ultimately, Kamijou exhibited some excellent acting with the line Uuh...!? I have a blight in my wounds...!! and managed to escape the Anti-Skill station (while taking on the risk of being charged with perjury). More time must have passed than he thought because the night had grown quite dark. Due to the Ichihanaransai preparations there were a lot of students out despite the standard curfew having passed. (The danger from Index is probably at its max for leaving her in the dorm for so long, and the danger from Fukiyose is probably also at its max for skipping out on the preparations.) But Gremlin and Olleruss group were on the verge of getting into a dispute over whether the windowless building that was the heart of Academy City would be destroyed or not. Whichever side Fr?ulein Kreutune ended up with, Kamijou doubted it would be good news for her. He did not like having to do so, but he had to give that priority. And so what he had to do was... Oh, so you came here after all, said Thor when he spotted Kamijou at the location he had specified on the napkin. They were in District 7. They were in an area filled with abandoned buildings that seemed to be buried by the rest of the cityscape. Kamijou bluntly said, Im going to betray you when I see fit. Thats fine, said Thor so cheerfully it sounded like he was about to start whistling. Kamijou looked around and frowned. What are those things you have there? Some tools of the sort used in do-it-yourself work were lying around the area. Thor simply replied, I gathered the things we need to invade the impregnable windowless building. Everyone around here seems to be preparing for some kind of festival, so it wasnt hard to swipe these. Kamijou decided it would be pointless to try to explain the standard rules of society to him, so he just sighed and asked Thor a question. Were up against a building that is supposed to be able to withstand a nuclear blast. It has no entrances or exits. How are we supposed to get in and contact Fr?ulein Kreutune? There is something else we need to do before I can give you the detailed explanation. Listen up because Im only going to say this once. Part 3 Mugino Shizuri. Academy Citys #4 Level 5. Her power was known as Meltdowner. Electrons always appeared as either a particle or a wave, but her power let her emit them while they were fixed in a pure state that could not distort into either form. That attack known as the Particle-Function Waveform High Speed Cannon held enough destructive power to slice apart an Aegis ship. Had she acquired such a power because her personality had been brutal from the beginning or had she gained a brutal personality from acquiring such a power? There may have been no one who could answer to that chicken-and-the-egg question, but there was no mistaking the fact that Mugino Shizuri currently had a personality that befitted the #4 Level 5. To put it bluntly, she was a girl who knew nothing of housework such as cooking and cleaning. And yet... Hm? ...The hell is this? When did I order this? Ive ordered so many cakes and biscuits lately Ive lost track. Mugino frowned at a cardboard box she found inside the apartment she shared with a boy and a few other girls. Inside, she found a clear bag filled with a powder that looked like flour, cooking tools such as a silicon spatula, silver-colored molds to be used in the oven, and a manual the size of a notebook. She peered inside the box while using her left hand to spin around a silver spoon apparently used to measure ingredients. If the room had been as silent as a music hall, a mosquito-like mechanical buzz could have been heard whenever her fingers moved. A fight to the death. That phrase may have seemed to have little to do with a Japanese schoolgirl, but Mugino Shizuri had experienced fights like that a few times in the past. In the process, she had lost one eye and one arm. Her face may have looked graceful, but the burns from that time had been restored with special makeup and she had a fake eye. Also, her left arm from the shoulder on had been replaced with a functional fake arm. The problem this created was the periodic maintenance to correct any errors. The constant use of the mechanical parts inevitably led to a slight deviation between her actual body and the machine. To correct this, Mugino had to carry out moderate exercises to test out the fine movements of her fingers. What she used for this was mail order kits for homemade desserts. She could have written or used chopsticks instead, but cooking was best as it let her use many different movement patterns in a short period. Well, it doesnt really matter. I just need to fulfill my quota. Mugino picked up the box she did not recall ordering and brought it to the kitchen. While trying to use her left hand as much as possible, she flipped through the notebook-sized manual. She was completely unaware that this rehabilitation had been another factor alongside the hot chocolate in causing the crisis of Fremea Seiveluns back teeth. ...What? What? Prepare saline water with a concentration of 0.9%. Boil the included implements to sterilize them... Compared to the other kits she had ordered, this one seemed to have a large number of warnings about keeping things sanitary. But Mugino did not care so long as it let her check on her fake arm. She followed the instructions in the manual by pouring the white powder in the clear bag into a bowl, mixed them together, and whipped the mixture. She poured the resultant substance into the silver mold, put a lid on top, and stuck it into the oven. 15 minutes at 400 degrees. I can work on a different item during that time. She pulled out two containers that were just a bit smaller than ping-pong balls, poured a clear gelatin-like substance inside, and placed them in the refrigerator. She poured a sticky liquid that looked like a mixture of yellow and white into the juicer. Her arm seemed to be functioning well. When the oven timer went off, Mugino opened the door and pulled out the metal sheet and what lay on top of it. She used a wet towel to grab the silver mold and opened it from the side like she was opening a long, narrow fountain pen case. Hm? Mugino then frowned. A normal girl might have screamed and dropped what she was holding. ...What is this? A human bone? While lightly waving around a part that very much looked like a human thigh bone, Mugino gave voice to its identity. A page flipped over in the manual she had left open. The new page it was opened to said the following: Carry the finished parts to the bath. Sterilize the bathtub and fill it with 0.9% concentration of saline water. Arrange all the parts according to the provided diagram of human anatomy, and wait 45 minutes for the parts to fully attach. And... The sticky, cream-colored liquid being mixed in the juicer was fat, the spherical containers just a bit smaller than ping-pong balls cooling in the refrigerator were eyeballs, the object steaming in the pressure cooker was the liver, the object she had used paper towels to suck the moisture out of was the stomach, and the raw pasta-like objects were blood vessels and nerves. Similarly, the remaining cooking ingredients were also human body parts. With a splashing noise, a naked girl rose up from the bottom of the bathtub. She expressionlessly stared at her own hands and looked a bit puzzled. She then spoke in French. This is smaller than I had expected. You didnt properly use the quantities listed. Mugino was leaning against the wall of the changing room with her arms crossed. She understood French, but she spoke to the girl in Japanese nonetheless. Who are you? Cendrillon. The girl with fluffy blonde hair and white skin caught the bath towel Mugino threw at her, wiped the 0.9% concentration of saline water from her body, wrapped it around herself, and left the bathroom. Thanks to being turned into a human table by Marian Slingeneyer and returned to human by a man named Ollerus, I am now able to reconstruct myself. ? Mugino initially assumed the girl had misspoken due to speaking in Japanese, but it seemed that was not so. The main force of Gremlin has grown more active. They seem to be planning something in Academy City. I decided the most efficient way to do some damage to Gremlin as thanks for betraying me was to contact the group that opposed them in Hawaii. The bath towel girl who had named herself Cendrillon grabbed the cardboard box that had looked like a mail order cooking kit. The box was divided into a few different layers and she took apart the different layers like it was a sandwich or hamburger. Inside, she found a large but thin piece of paper. It looked like the type of pattern used when making clothes. Starting to get a bit annoyed, Mugino asked, Is that a design for a dress? Can I ask you for one more favor? asked Cendrillon without turning around. First cooking, now sewing. Both are excellent training for being a wife. Fully pissed now, Mugino Shizuri blew away one corner of the apartment without warning. The bath towel girl jumped down from the balcony with the pattern paper in hand. Part 4 Kamijou headed for the center of District 7. The windowless building was not open to the general public and it was constantly protected by strict security. However, it was not in the middle of some large empty space. It was still in the middle of the city. Buildings such as shopping malls and hotels were built around it. Based on the instructions Thor gave him, Kamijou was headed for a parking garage located near the windowless building. However... If Anti-Skill or someone even more annoying spots us and we end up on the run, we cant get this done. We need to split up and meet up at the rendezvous point, had been Thors instructions. But Kamijou knew none of the details of Thors plan. If Thor ended up getting caught, Kamijou would have no idea what to do. If that happens, I will find a way to contact you. Then you can do it on your own. Kamijou just wished the boy would just tell him what to do from the beginning. Kamijou lived in District 7, but he was not familiar with the area around the windowless building. Plenty of stores were located there, but he had no real reason to head that far away from his dorm to purchase what he needed to live his everyday life. He could buy the exact same things at more local stores. Im not sure whether to call this area tidy or dreary, muttered Kamijou as he looked around. The area was lined with stores filled with items for an everyday life or for entertainment, and nothing looked out of the ordinary at first glance. However, the color of the signs and lights were all uniform. To put it simply, the area was arranged so as not to tire ones eyes. That sounded simple enough on its own, but it was up to each individual owner what to do with their private property. That much uniformity over such a large area was rare. Some administrative power would be needed that had enough influence to overpower personal tastes. In this case, it was obvious what that administrative power was. The chairman of Academy Citys board of directors. It was possible that visible arrangement of lights was just the tip of the iceberg and the locations and heights of buildings were controlled in a fashion that fully controlled the flow of people through the area. And it would all be done in a way that was not obvious at first glance. Parking garage... Parking garage... Kamijou would have been able to easily locate it using the GPS map on his phone, but given what he was about to do, he did not feel particularly inclined to needlessly use a service that could allow a third party to determine his location. And so Kamijou moved around on foot while glancing around at the signs inconspicuously enough so as not to draw too much attention. Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind him. You bastard!! So this is where you are!! ? It was a female voice. When Kamijou turned around with a puzzled look on his face, he found a girl with short brown hair wearing the uniform of the prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School. She was Misaka Mikoto. Or more accurately, someone who looked like her. When she saw his face, she stomped closer to him. Why arent you at your school to help prepare for the Ichihanaransai? And I hear you were arrested by Anti-Skill. What did you do!? Also, how in the world did you get back to Academy City from Hawaii!? Kamijou sighed. And then shook his head. Thor, Im sick of your jokes. What? Thor??? Stop it! Is this really any time to be doing this? Not to mention that youre the one that said we should stay split up until we reach the rendezvous point!! Wait, I want an explanation for all that other stuff, but what are you talking about? The girl seemed utterly bewildered, but Kamijou paid her no heed. He casually reached out his right hand and touched her upper body with his palm as if he was giving her a shove. More accurately, he touched the center of the girls chest. Wha-wha-wha!? Yes, yes, Ill destroy that illusion. IDTI, IDTI. Dont make some nonsensical abbreviation! And where do you think youre touching me!? Cmon, its not like I want to touch something like this!! Something like this...!!!??? Dont go to the pointless effort of making it feel so real. How do you do that anyway? Th-th-these are not pads!! Mikoto was left trembling on the spot with an expression distorted by various emotions and her entire body turned beet red. Kamijou ignored her and started to leave. I guess having the spare time to play around is a good thing, but make sure you get to the rendezvous point, Thor. I cant do anything without you there. As he had arrived first, Thor waved one hand when he spotted Kamijou Touma arriving at the parking garage. Hey, youre late. Were you worried about being followed? No, it was because I had to deal with that joke of yours. In fact, how did you get here ahead of me? What? Thor looked puzzled, but Kamijou did not notice. Part 5 Kamijou Touma held a pair of binoculars in one hand. The windowless building stood at the center of District 7. That giant building was visible from the parking garage. After Thor had confirmed Kamijou had arrived, he went off somewhere leaving Kamijou alone once more. It seemed he needed to prepare something. Despite being the castle for the chairman of Academy Citys board of directors, the windowless building towered up within the cityscape. Buildings such as hotels and shopping malls were lined up around it. Kamijou was on the 5th floor of a parking garage, leaning over a guardrail meant to prevent cars from falling off the edge. A small refrigerated truck passed by behind him, heading down the slope. Thors earlier words came back to him. As its name suggests, the windowless building has no windows or any other kind of entrance or exit. It is completely closed up. No liquid or gas can get in or out, much less a human. X-rays and microwaves cannot get in either. Its almost like a galactic warship sticking up vertically from the ground. So what were they going to do? The answer was simple. So if we are going to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune from that building, our only option is to blow a hole in the wall. That is the premise we must work from. Another small refrigerated truck passed by behind Kamijou. And it did not end there. Truck after truck headed down the slope. Everything we are going to do from here on out is working towards that end. Everything is a necessary expense for destroying the armor of that impregnable windowless building. Do not forget that. While peering through the binoculars, Kamijou used his other hand to pull out his cell phone. He was watching the first refrigerated truck that had reached the ground. He dialed the number he had been given to call Thor. The first truck has reached its position. Of course it has. Im using a camera and controller to operate them. That isnt what I asked you to do. How are things around it? Theres no one around the windowless building. Just as you predicted. Good. ...Just to be sure, keep watching until everything is ready. The cameras in the drivers seats can only turn so far. I need someone watching from above. By the way, what is loaded in those things? Youll see soon enough. And dont let your guard down. All of the trucks will be in place in another 10 minutes. Kamijou looked around with the binoculars and saw identical refrigerated trucks taking up position near the windowless building. He saw no sign of the people Thor was worried about. Not only were there no normal people walking around the area, but there were no dedicated Anti-Skill guards. This place is surprisingly defenseless. Thats because of how strong the armor is. Plus, it has no entrances or exits. Even if there were guards, they would have no idea what areas to protect, replied Thor casually. And more importantly, posting guards adds the danger of having those guards betray you or allowing someone to disguise themselves as one. Its not like we could do it, but couldnt someone try to destroy the ground around the building to make it collapse? There is no official diagram of the building, but the foundation of the windowless building is 15 meters below the surface and it spreads out for quite some distance. The foundation covers something like 3 kilometers in every direction. There are also several thick pillars that head deep underground, so theres no way that building is falling over. At the very least, burying a nuclear landmine wouldnt be enough. By that point, five or six small refrigerated trucks were parked near the windowless building. Everythings in place. How are things? No change. I cant see anyone. Understood. Then lets get this started. Get what started? He received no reply. Instead, Thor took action. Suddenly, all of the refrigerated trucks positioned outside the windowless building exploded. !? Even at his distance, the shock was enough to knock Kamijou to the ground. The binoculars and cell phone fell from his hands and slid across the parking garage floor. As he saw black smoke rising up from the surface, Kamijou backed up in a sitting position, and grabbed his phone. What the hell did you do!? Cant you tell? I blew them up. I didnt want to do something that would leave a bad taste in my mouth, so I wanted to avoid getting any normal people caught up in the blast. Like hell you did. Kamijou grabbed the binoculars, stood up on wobbly legs, and looked around the surface. What possible good could that have done!? Youre the one that told me the windowless building can withstand a nuclear blast! The only damage you did was to the buildings and shops around it. An explosion like that is enough to shatter the windows and injure the people inside!! Oh, shit. I didnt think of that. I wonder if anyone was hurt. Thor had been using the cameras inside the refrigerated trucks to gather information on the area while remote controlling the trucks. The explosion had destroyed those cameras, so he could no longer see what was going on. That was why Kamijou gave into his anger and made an announcement. It went just like I thought it would. I dont know what you had in those trucks, but it wasnt enough to destroy the armor of that building that can withstand a nuclear blast. Your plan failed!! That armor is known as the Calculate Fortress. ...Fortunately, this went exactly as I expected it to. The first stage of the plan is complete. What? Dont worry about it and come back here. The plan to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune is going just fine. Oh, and I sent a map to your phone. Follow the route on there on your way back. Otherwise, youll be followed. If that happens, I wont meet back up with you. Understand? Part 6 A magic spell has been cast. Kumokawa Seria was revived! Oh, whats this, whats this? Has the shut-in been drawn out by the festive mood? said a girl walking along a footpath at night. That comment was made by Kumokawa Maria, a girl wearing a crazy maid uniform colored yellow and black like a bee or a railway crossing. She must have been preparing for the Ichihanaransai like all the other students because she was carrying a cardboard box filled with perishable food. She happened to be Serias younger sister. The older sister wore an unfashionable school uniform and she scratched at her black hair in annoyance while showing no real change in mood due to her sisters comment. No, Im not completely back yet. Its just that everyone else wont shut up about it being my turn. Are you talking about the beauty contests being held at various schools for the Ichihanaransai? Are you being left in charge of wearing the most shocking swimsuit? You damn G! Have you grown even more!? Im not entering any beauty contests. Yawn... My role is always behind the scenes, so I dont like standing out too much. And whats the point in entering anyway? That annoying #5 will just use her powers to manipulate the votes. Are you trying to say you dont already stand out a lot? Then how much more of an aura do you have left in reserve? Unable to keep up with the excitement of Maria, Seria rubbed her eyes sleepily. I think thats just a difference in chest size. Dont look down on me while acting so tired! You damn G! People who have too much in that regard get so arrogant just like how winning the lottery changes people... Yeah, but there would have to be something severely wrong with a world that let flat-chested girls look down on well-endowed girls. Heres a little piece of trivia for you. In the day of the Greeks they had no bras, so having a flat chest was a status symbol. Large breasts would sag and no one wants to see that. Yes, but that no longer applies in this day and age. And you act like having a flat chest was a virtue, but works like the Venus de Milo make it pretty obvious they thought you needed a bare minimum size even back then. All in all, isnt it nice to have a size that allows you to complain about how limited your options for a swimsuit are? Ive complained about that before. ...But for the opposite reason. Oh, is that so? There was a note of melancholy in Kumokawa Serias tone because she really did not want to look at the mailbox on her beloved handheld device. It was likely filled with annoying issues regarding Academy City. In fact, the light indicating an incoming email was continually flashing even then. The city must have been in some kind of dangerous situation yet again. (Well, I never once made an official announcement that I was working again, so I can ignore it.) Her normal work was to act as the brain of an old man on the board of directors. She would come up with ideas and suggest solutions for those difficult problems. However, she did not particularly enjoy the work. Or at the very least, she did not enjoy getting an extra-large serving on the house without ordering it. As such, she used all her might to avert her gaze from those real problems. Little sister, about that Kihara Kagun you love so much that he gives you nosebleeds... I-I do not get nosebleeds. I know how to control myself!! Anyway, what would you think if that Kihara Kagun announced he was a flat chest lover and refused to accept anything larger than a B as breasts? Assume this announcement is made with enough force to befit a don!! sound effect. ... Kumokawa Maria thought back to her time with that former teacher of hers when he had worked as a Student Keeper. I-I wouldnt want him to accept me like that. It would hurt my pride so much I would likely lose all trust in other human beings. You see? So keep working at it, young one. Work at it? But I dont know anything I can do about it that doesnt amount to superstition. Dont worry. You have not fully bloomed yet. You still have the proper nature hidden deep within you like something from a shounen manga. Something like this. Hey!! You damn G! Dont show those off to me with such a triumphant look on your face!! All older sisters had the ability to casually brush aside the anger of their younger sister. Kumokawa Seria brought a hand to her mouth, let out a loud yawn, wiped away the tears that appeared in the corner of her eyes, and then suddenly realized something. By the way, I have a serious question for you. Is it true you fell in love with Kamijou Touma in Eastern Europe? If so, its time for full-on soap opera mode. Th-thats defamation of character!! Where did you hear that rumor!? Part 7 The new rendezvous point was on the grounds of a shopping mall near the windowless building. It was not actually within the building; it was in an outside corner lined with vending machines. The nighttime scenery was colored by flashing red lights because of the fire trucks dotting the area. One must have been borrowing the firefighting equipment of the shopping mall because a thick fire hose was connected to a pump-like valve on the wall. Mixed in with some onlookers, Thor approached the vending machines while sipping on a can of coffee. He gave a thin smile upon spotting Kamijou Touma. Does this country not have any decent coffee? ...If you dont like it, then dont buy it, said Kamijou in annoyance. More importantly, explain yourself. You certainly put on quite a show, but you havent put a scratch on the windowless building. You said that was a success. What the hell are you Thor held his index finger to his own lips to cut off Kamijou. He then whispered, Lets talk while we walk. There is a reason I have been unable to give a proper explanation of my plan. ... Kamijou and Thor began walking away from the crowd of onlookers. To start with, Academy Citys higher ups have created a surveillance network that allows them to monitor every little thing that happens in every corner of the city. That has prevented me from explaining my plan in full. Are you talking about satellites and security robots? I dont know how many projects are being run in parallel in this city, but those wouldnt be enough to cover all the blind spots. I think there is some other surveillance network using some much more nasty technology that has not been revealed to the public. The true identity of that surveillance network was the Underline data-gathering nanodevices that had been disseminated throughout Academy City, but only a very small group of people such as Accelerator and Tsuchimikado Motoharu were aware of its existence. But, added Thor, whatever this technology is, we are not the only ones that do not like having it around constantly. ...And so there are places like this. Saying that, Thor opened a metal door located beneath an overpass. It looked like an area meant to store cleaning equipment, except it had yet another door inside. That door led to a long, cold passageway. Kamijou frowned as he peered inside the dim passageway illuminated by flickering fluorescent lights. ...What is this? It belongs to the Freshmen. Or rather, it is the hidden base of the dark side organization that produced them. To carry out their shadowy acts behind the scenes, they needed bases to carry out specialized maintenance. This is one of those places. It is a blank spot in Academy Citys surveillance network. And yet it is located almost directly above the underground foundation of the windowless building. However, Kamijou and Thor had not gone through the normal preparations the Freshmen would have used. They would have effectively disappeared from the surveillance network, so someone would be sent out to investigate before long. They could only use the area for 20 or so minutes. Youre from the magic side, so why do you know more about this than a resident of the city like me? The Freshmen were Gremlins potential enemy. We made sure to investigate our enemy. Also, we had an excellent source of information on the city. ? Bersi. As Kihara Kagun, he used to be a researcher within Academy City, explained Thor as they walked down the long passageway. Bersi. Kihara Kagun. The man at the center of the disturbance in Baggage City. Kamijou Touma had been guided to Baggage City by that man in order to clean up after him. Thor grinned and said, Blowing up those refrigerated trucks was also so I get some help from Bersi. What are you talking about? I thought he was dea For a long, long time, Bersis goal was to take revenge upon a researcher named Kihara Byouri, said Thor, cutting him off. And he planned out ways to combat her in places other than just Baggage City. As it was possible he would end up confronting her in Academy City, he set up a few tricks before leaving the city. I guess you could call them backdoors. ... This is the place. Come on in. Thor opened up a metal door partway down the passageway and invited Kamijou in like it was his own house. Inside was a small room with no furniture. A household power outlet and internet cable jack were installed on the wall. Thor pulled a handheld device out of his pocket and connected a cable into the jack on the wall. The armor covering the windowless building can withstand a direct hit from a nuke. But it is not simply that the Calculate Fortress is especially hard. If you built a high-rise building out of too hard a material, it would crack during earthquakes due to having no way to let the shaking escape. Then how does it do it? It uses electromagnetic waves or ultraviolet rays to calculate the pattern of the approaching shockwave and then the mobile armor plates carry out the optimum vibration. Basically, the two waves cancel each other out. That is why there is no point in trying to defeat it in a simple contest of strength. Naturally, it has other countermeasures against all types of chemicals and high or low temperatures. Once the handheld device had connected to the network, Thor began doing something. Kamijou took a peek at the screen, but he had no idea what it meant as all he could see were countless strings of numbers scrolling by. The display was clearly not designed for general users. But at the same time, the Calculate Fortress is not all that strong in and of itself. If the intellectual portions fail to activate, a direct explosion is enough to blow a hole in it. But the windowless buildings power is supplied from the inside, right? Yes, so we cant cause a power outage, readily admitted Thor. And so we need to tackle this from a different direction. That was what I blew up those trucks for. Simply put, I gathered some data from when the Calculate Fortress cancelled out the impact of the explosions in order to calculate out some idiosyncrasies of the machine. The strength and direction of each explosion was different. ...What can we do once we know these idiosyncrasies? We calculate out a shockwave pattern that the armor cannot fully escape. If we then carry out an attack following that pattern, we can open a hole in that building that not even a nuke can destroy. I doubt you can calculate that out using a household computer. And thats why Im leaving the heavy lifting to some bigger computers. Thor lightly waved the handheld device as countless strings of numbers scrolled by at high speed. Do you remember Bersi...or rather, Kihara Kaguns backdoors that I mentioned? He set up free pass IDs in the supercomputers of a few research facilities. Im having those do the predictive calculations. Of course, those will be closed to us after we use them here, the same as this secret base. After about 15 minutes, the results of the calculations displayed themselves. They had the equation required to break through the impregnable Calculate Fortress that protected the windowless building. With that in hand, Kamijou Touma and the Lightning God Thor headed on to the next phase of the plan. Part 8 Kamijou and Thor headed through Academy City using the remains of the research facility that had produced the Freshmen, an organization within the citys dark side. They held bags filled with power tools. They were the tools Thor had stolen. The board chairman likely relies on the accuracy of his personal surveillance network and the Calculate Fortress. As they will not betray him, he can trust them more than a human. But there is no such thing as a perfect system. If we can get close enough to the windowless building without him detecting us, we can apply a fatal wound to his security system. ... Hm? Dont worry. I havent forgotten our objective. Were here to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune. But dont forget that it isnt over once we get her out of the windowless building. In fact, hiding her from the magicians in Gremlins main force and Olleruss group will probably be the hardest part. If we take a detour here, well just end up being ganged up on from all sides. To be honest, it pains me we cant do more here, but this is no time to get greedy. Kamijou and Thor stopped in front of a ladder attached to the wall. When he looked straight up, Kamijou could see a round exit. Is that a manhole? It comes out right next to the wall of the windowless building. But once we exit from there, the board chairmans surveillance network will be able to pick us up once more. Not to mention that hes likely already begun investigating Kihara Kaguns backdoors. If he figures out what we were calculating using the super computers, he will do whatever he can to stop us. How long do you think we have until that happens? Ten to twenty minutes. But that should be enough. We can still open a hole in the rumored Calculate Fortress. Kamijou double-checked the weight of his bag filled with power tools. Once they climbed up the ladder and opened the manhole, there was no turning back. He had to be fully aware of that before he could continue on. Lets go, said Kamijou. Thats more like it. What connection was there between Fr?ulein Kreutune and Kamijou Touma? It did not matter. After all... They were not walking down that path to earn anyones thanks. They were simply going to save someone who needed their help. Part 9 Dinner that night was mizutaki. To make chicken seem as extravagant as possible, you have to go with a nabe, said Yoshikawa Kikyou as she spun the small gas cylinder for a portable stove in her hands. Her specialty was in pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, and other clone-related technologies, and she had once worked on the military Radio Noise project. She lived in a teachers apartment, but the apartment was not leased in her name. She was living with an Anti-Skill member she knew. Exceedingly unfortunately, Yoshikawa Kikyou was currently unemployed. Incidentally, a few other freeloaders lived in that apartment in addition to her. For example, there was the girl called Last Order who looked to be about 10 and was swinging around a nunchuk-shaped wireless controller while jumping around on the couch. Ohhhhhh!! You cant have Snow White, says Misaka as Misaka makes her announcement!! Misaka has seen no proof that Snow White will be happy if she goes with the prince, says Misaka as Misaka!!!!!! Okay, its time for dinner. Misaka just got to a good part, says Misaka as Misaka protests your timing! Communication is important in a network game, so you cant log out at a bad stopping point!! says Misaka as Misaka explains the basics!! But your accounts friend list is filled with nothing but Misakas. Isnt this just a more over-the-top way of playing on your own? Former researcher Yoshikawa Kikyou looked puzzled as she recalled the roles played by the mass-produced military espers and their control tower. Also, the fairy tale art style and the cute star and heart effects looked nice enough at first, but a closer examination showed seven dwarfs using agricultural tools like axes and hoes to beat up a prince on a white horse. Yoshikawa wondered if the game had been given a motif of the peasants revolting. Hey, said Yoshikawa to the white-haired, red-eyed Level 5 lying on the other sofa positioned at a right angle from the one Last Order was jumping around on. His name was Accelerator. As the modern cane placed nearby and the choker-style electrode around his neck suggested, he was not in perfect condition, but even so, he still held the position of strongest as Academy Citys #1. But at the same time... I can never figure out how to deal with that girl. Youre her guardian, you deal with her. ...Why the hell would I do that? If we start eating, that brat will come join us on her own. Making her feel left out works better than trying to flatter her or order her around. You sure do know her well. Do you want me to punch your face in? Ignoring Accelerators glare, Yoshikawa Kikyou stuck the gas cylinder in the portable stove and fixed it in place. She turned the ignition lever two or three times as a test and confirmed that it was creating a ring of blue flames. A girl called Misaka Worst (evil look in the eyes, large breasts) also lived there as a freeloader, but she was a delinquent girl who loved the nightlife, so she was almost never back by dinner time. The #1 frowned in displeasure and asked, Wheres the head of the household? Aiho is out patrolling streets as patrols have been strengthened this week. The curfew restrictions are temporarily repealed due to the Ichihanaransai. ...So what are you doing? Training for being a wife!! ...or so Id like to say, but these days the wife has a job too and the housework is shared. That would be ideal. Youre hardly one to talk, said Yoshikawa in annoyance. But I do realize I cant stay like this forever. Unlike you kids, I live in the society of adults, and that means a blank spot in my life is a very bad thing. Have you found somewhere to work? No, but I am working on the preparations. Yoshikawa grabbed an A4-sized envelope from the ground and waved it around. Ive been invited as a special lecturer at a college of science. Its only temporary, though. I can make a bit of money and make the preparations I need to get myself back into a college. Why? I want to be a teacher but not one related to genetics. I doubt I can get to be a homeroom teacher in a school, but the hurdle is much lower for a Student Keeper. ...You dont need a teaching license for that. It seems they even hire normal people from companies. ...Hm? Yoshikawa stopped moving all of a sudden. She had been working on preparing the nabe, but now she looked around, headed into the overly high level kitchen, and rummaged through the shelves. We dont have any green onion for flavor. Well, we can still eat the mizutaki without it. Oh!!!!!! Yoshikawa heard an explosion of noise. It had come from Last Order while she was taking a break after having attacked in a group of seven, beaten up the prince on the white horse, and stolen his crown and mantle. Misaka can go buy some for you!! says Misaka as Misaka makes her announcement!! Guardian, you deal with this. Dont just turn this over to me... Last Order was not some puppet programmed to enjoy running errands. She clearly wanted to head out and see Academy City at night as well as enjoy the different world created by the Ichihanaransai preparations. But arent you the one with the tightest hold on her reins? To be honest, I sometimes cant keep up with her line of reasoning at my age. I have a hold on her reins? What the hell are you talking about? You make it sound like Im a little brat like her too. Okay, now hand the money over to Misaka! says Misaka as Misaka holds out her hand!! Hmm... Or maybe she holds your reins. Well, either way, you are definitely the person with the closest connection to her. ...Sometimes I get the feeling you want someone to kill you. Do you never think what might happen to you to pay for those mocking comments? Says Miiisaaakaaa!! Come to think of it, what are you going to do during the Ichihanaransai? I assume youre going to go around with that girl. What do you mean you assume? ... Accelerator and Yoshikawa Kikyou suddenly realized Last Orders shouting that had been louder than a siren had disappeared. They turned around to find no one there. The front door was sitting half open as it was caught on a shoehorn lying on the floor, and the smallest pair of shoes usually lined up there was missing. Yoshikawa Kikyou put one hand on her hip, lightly touched her temple with the other hands index finger, closed one eye, and sighed. Then she said, Take care of it, guardian. Oh, fuck you!! Part 10 The manhole opened. First, a bag filled with power tools was pushed up onto the surface and then Kamijou Touma appeared into the night. Thor shouted from below. Hurry! We only have 10 to 20 minutes!! They were right next to the windowless building. Before Thor could even crawl out of the manhole, Kamijou ran up next to the wall of the windowless building. He used a red pen to draw a large circle on the Calculate Fortress. As it could supposedly withstand even a nuclear weapon, he had imagined it being as hard as diamond, but when he touched it with the tip of the large pen, it felt more like a thick rubber panel. That may have been because it distributed or let escape any shock or impact rather than deflecting it. Or... Perhaps the Calculate Fortress only seemed flexible due to the offsetting waves running through it and it actually was made of a material that was as hard as diamond. (Thor said it had other countermeasures for chemicals and high heat... This thing doesnt have nanodevices covering it, does it?) Kamijou turned around and shouted. Ive marked it! Ready your jackhammer! Ive already inputted the impact pattern calculated out by Kihara Kaguns backdoors!! Thor had already put together the power tool from his bag. It was shaped like a machine gun, but it had a giant spike in place of the barrel. Rather than opening a hole with a single thrust, the tool would break down the wall with hundreds or even thousands of repeated impacts. Holding his jackhammer, Kamijou slid the lithium ion battery Thor tossed him into the bottom like it was a magazine. Thor held his own jackhammer in the same way and said, Press the spike to the wall along the line you drew. Then you just have to pull the trigger. That will activate the jackhammer. Keep pressing it in even after the wall starts cracking. Pull it out once the spike is driven in all the way to the base and do the same at a point a short distance away along the line. Understand!? Kamijou and Thor pressed the ends of their jackhammers against points at about three oclock and 9 oclock of the circle and pulled the triggers that had a bit of resistance to them. A deafening rattling noise rang out. A dull pain exploded in Kamijous shoulder as the stock struck him there again and again and again, but he could see the tip of the thick spike truly starting to sink into the armor of the supposedly impregnable windowless building. It would not be going too far to call it a historical moment. Not even Accelerator, Academy Citys strongest Level 5, had been able to cause that destruction. Its going in!! But our pace is too slow!! At this rate, Im not sure we can open a hole in time!! Also, the noise was much louder than Kamijou had expected. Thor had just recently blown up several refrigerated trucks to gather data. The firefighters were still working in the area. Theyre going to notice this!! If the firefighters spot us, theyll interfere!! Well never finish in 10 to 20 minutes if that happens!! The firefighters wont be able to hear it over their own sirens. They wont notice us that easily!! The real problem is that this armor is cleverer than I had expected. Dammit, how is it still this hard after we calculated out the theoretical values!? Kamijou then heard a noise that sounded like a gear breaking. Thor clicked his tongue, stopped his jackhammer, and pulled it out from the armor. The thick spike had broken off halfway down. Im going to swap out the spike!! You keep working. We cant lose any more time!! Do you have spare parts!? I brought enough parts to put together an entire spare jackhammer in case one broke. But that means this is our only spare spike. Dont break yours!! Not only was the planned portion not going as planned, but now they had experienced an unforeseen accident. Kamijous unease rapidly grew. Would it all end like that? This was the castle of the chairman of the board of directors, the person who acted as the head of Academy City. Had it been wrong for just the two of them to challenge the Calculate Fortress that protected it? But even so, turning tail and running would not make anything better. It was self-evident that the only way to escape their predicament was to continue on forward. Kamijou had a feeling that reasoning was the same as someone who kept gambling after doing nothing but losing, but he could not come up with any other answer no matter how clever he tried to be. Kamijou forced down his unease and pressed the jackhammer further in. After creating holes at 3 oclock and 4 oclock along the large circle he had made, he moved the tip of the jackhammer to 5 oclock. But that was when something happened. ...What? At first, Kamijou thought something had happened to the jackhammer he held. A new and somehow odd noise was mixed in with the usual deafening sound it made. Thor! Somethings wrong. I think mine might have broken, too!! Is your jackhammer not fixed yet!? But Thor did not respond. Kamijou shouted again while still facing the Calculate Fortress. Thor!! Kamijou turned around to see why Thor was not responding. Thor was supposed to be swapping out the spike, but he was instead crouching down holding the broken jackhammer while looking up. His eyes were opened wide. It looked like he was trying to see something beyond the darkness of the night sky. No. He was not just trying. Thor really had spotted something heading their way from the night sky. Something that overturned all the previous assumptions and that made him completely forget about their goal of breaching the Calculate Fortress. ...Not good. What is it!? My jackhammer has started making a weird noise! I know nothing about jackhammers, so just hand yours over to me once you swap out the spike!! You can check mine over to find out whats wrong with!! No!! Theres nothing wrong with your jackhammer!! Thats the sound of a group Academy City unmanned weapons heading this way!! Without thinking, Kamijou let his finger off the jackhammers trigger. The impacts against his shoulder stopped and the deafening noise ended. Nevertheless, he could hear an approaching noise that was just as deafening as the jackhammer. And this noise was obviously not coming from the jackhammer. Red and green lights could be seen dancing through the air, but Thor seemed to see them as more than points of light. Those must be low-cost versions of the Six Wings model. To follow the naming scheme, I guess these would be Four Wings. It looks like theyre even more maneuverable after trimming the fat. What are you talking about!? Unmanned attack helicopters. They use sonic weapons to stop any human resistance and then use machine guns and missiles to finish them off. Theyre about as horrible as you can get!! The number of lights visible told them this was more than just one. However, even a single craft would have been a death sentence for Kamijou. He was powerless against that kind of violence that had nothing to do with the supernatural. Those things are unmanned right!? So no ones aboard. Thor! Cant you do something with your magic!? I could, but we dont have time to play around!! Also, I dont want Gremlin or Ollerus to detect it. If we cant breach the Calculate Fortress, this will all have been for nothing. The more time we lose, the faster the situations downwards spiral will accelerate. We dont have time to deal with those things!! They could hardly just do nothing and get shot, but they did not have time to deal with the enemy either. Their escape route had finally disappeared. At the current rate, Kamijou and Thor would be unable to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune and also be blown to pieces. The path they were headed down led straight to the worst possible scenario that had not even the smallest hope left. Thor, if we cant deal with those helicopters, we need to fall back. But then we lose any chance of getting Fr?ulein Kreutune out of there! We cant use the Freshmens underground facility again and the impact pattern that hits a blind spot in the Calculate Fortress will be covered up with a security patch to the defense program!! We arent going to get another shot at this!! Your plan has failed! If were killed here, there will be no one left who even wants to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune!! Once Gremlin or Ollerus make their move to secure Fr?ulein Kreutune, we will truly have no way of intervening. And she will not meet a kind fate no matter which side secures her!! Dammit!! cursed Kamijou as he pulled the trigger of his jackhammer once more. But they were not able to come up with any other idea in time. The situation was changing by the moment and yet they had no cards left to play. Kamijou and Thor could only try to scrape by with the what they had just barely managed to save up. Once the situation exceeded a certain level, they would not have enough to keep up. And... That moment came. Kamijou heard an odd noise and this time it really was coming from the direction of the jackhammer in his hands. It was the sound of a crack running through hard metal. He thought it was the spike breaking just like Thors had. But he was wrong. A giant crack was running through the wall of the windowless building. This crack ran beyond the large circle Kamijou had drawn on the wall with a large red pen. The destruction seemed to extend forever. It created a perfect square over 10 meters across. The impregnable Calculate Fortress fractured along that line that was obviously artificially created. Having lost its support, the giant wall collapsed toward Kamijou. What...!? Kamijou let go of the jackhammer and frantically jumped to the side to avoid the wall. The thick remnant of the wall bent, crushed, and utterly destroyed the unrefined jackhammer that was still sticking into it. The remains of the wall slammed into the ground and sent dust shooting up into the air. The Calculate Fortress was supposed to be indestructible, so the dust must have come from the asphalt below. (That crack didnt come from our jackhammers. That went well beyond what we wanted. So what caused it? I thought the wall could cancel even a nuclear bomb with the exception of the impact pattern we calculated out using Kihara Kaguns backdoors!) Nothing other than their jackhammers could have damaged the wall from the outside. And Kamijou doubted the defenses were lax enough to allow natural-forming cracks to form due to deterioration or metal fatigue. So... Had that artificial destruction come from the inside? And if so... By who? ... Thor stared into the dust. He stared into the dim interior of the windowless building through the hole in the Calculate Fortress. Someone stood inside. Who was it? Kamijou and Thor could hear the footsteps of this person who stood before them. But it was not the hard sound of leather shoes or boots. It was the softer sound like that of someone pressing their palm against a glass table. Whoever it was may have been barefoot. The persons skin came into contact with the dust-filled outside air. The person exited the building. It was a woman, but she was rather tall for one. She was almost 2 meters tall. Her silver hair was so long it reached her ankles, and her head was lowered so the hair obscured her expression. She wore what looked like a dress made of a thin synthetic fiber, but she did not seem too concerned about how she looked. Her underwear was perfectly visible through the thin material, but she showed no sign of caring. Her white skin looked like that of a teenage girl, but it was hard to tell what age she actually was. On some fundamental level, she did not look like a fellow human being. She had no obvious inhuman elements such as horns or wings. If he had been asked what about her seemed inhuman, Kamijou would not have been able to give a clear answer. However, there was clearly something off about her even if it was difficult to describe with words. No one would find it odd to see skin that glossy on a teenage girl in a sauna. However, it would be a completely different story if a girl like that was discovered in an ancient pyramid. There was nothing wrong with the girl herself, but there seemed to be something distinctly out of place in the air around her. (Who is she...?) Kamijou wondered that in his heart. And then he wondered why he had not spoken his question aloud. Later, he would realize he had felt as if he was facing a carnivorous beast that had escaped its cage. He wanted to avoid providing any kind of provocation before he knew what was going on. (She came out of the windowless building...so could this be the mysterious head of Academy City? Is this the chairman of the board of directors...?) But Kamijou Toumas guess was incorrect. Having completely forgotten about the 10 to 20 minute time limit and the approaching unmanned attack helicopters, Thor stared at the woman blankly. ...Fr?ulein...Kreutune...? he muttered. Immediately afterwards, the person Thor had named glanced over at him through the gaps in her silver hair. She tilted her head to the side as if trying to work out the solution to some question. And then... An odd noise escaped Thors lips and he collapsed to the ground along with a dark, red liquid. Kamijou was completely unable to comprehend what had happened despite watching from so close by. Even if it was some unknown attack and even if it had been a complete surprise, an official combat member of Gremlin, the group that had caused so much chaos in Baggage City, had been downed in a single blow. It seemed Thor was trying to move his arms and legs while collapsed on the asphalt, but he quickly reached his limit. He just barely managed to make his fingertips tremble slightly. It looked like an insect desperately trying to move a leg that was almost completely ripped off. Thor!! shouted out Kamijou without thinking as he ran over to the other boy. But there was nothing he could do. He had turned Fr?ulein Kreutunes attention to himself. That alone may have been a fatal mistake. Unlike with Thor, the woman did not even glance in Kamijous direction. Kamijou Touma heard a muffled sound burst from what seemed to be his lungs, and the next thing he knew, his vision was spinning. Between the Lines 3 Crisis Management File Special Provision #4431119. Matters of concern regarding the maintenance of Fr?ulein Kreutune. The primary object is to keep the above mentioned persons effect on the world to a minimum as she will become an impediment to the Plan related to Academy City and the entire world. However, killing her would prove difficult given her nature. For that reason, our plan is to box her up like a cat so that her effects outside the box are diluted as much as possible. The matters of most pressing concern regarding this plan will now be specified. The driving force behind her is curiosity as opposed to an ideology. As such, we must prevent her from becoming curious concerning the outside world. As she cannot be killed no matter what is done to her, she will head for the object, situation, place, or person of interest no matter how much it would destroy her physical body. She is being kept in an impregnable box surrounded by the Calculate Fortress, but her nature makes that an uncertain prison at best. The most effective method would be to surround her in perfect darkness and perfect silence to eliminate any possible source of curiosity. She has no concept of like or dislike. She will display all types of curiosity towards whatever draws her interest whether that is for the good or ill of said target. Once sealed inside the box, even the slightest light, wave, or noise will likely cause curiosity to well up within her. While one or two sporadic incidences may pose no threat, any stimulus that continues for longer than one minute would be especially dangerous. We must not provide even the slightest change to her environment. Once she is activated, she will likely use her high-speed thoughts to construct a means of breaking through the Calculate Fortress. Also, once she obtains a means of breaking through the Calculate Fortress, no normal means will be able to kill or stop her. If she is released into Academy City with both means of offense and defense, she is to be seen as a Code Red-level threat. Volume 5, 4: Peace Seen From a Strange Form. Release_Monster. Volume 5, Chapter 4: Peace Seen From a Strange Form. Release_Monster. Part 1 Kamijou Touma heard the sound of something exploding. His consciousness had been flickering in and out, but that noise acted as a lifeline allowing his consciousness to rapidly surface. ...What...? Are you awake now? Thor was peering down at his face. He had coughed up blood the same as Kamijou, but his symptoms seemed to have been lighter than Kamijous. They were still right next to the windowless building. The giant hole broken through the Calculate Fortress was still there. Their time limit had supposedly been 10 to 20 minutes, but Kamijou did not know how much time had passed. He learned what had happened from Thor. The Four Wings unmanned attack helicopters were all brought down. Fr?ulein Kreutune destroyed them with the ease of a child plucking the wings off an insect out of curiosity. Im guessing they havent sent anything else after us because their priorities have greatly changed. ...But what exactly happened? I dont know. Kamijou slowly sat up. It had felt like something had happened within his body just before he had collapsed. As if spitting out the words, Thor said, We regained control of our bodies once I used a high voltage current to destroy the foreign substance in our bodies. It was something like an organ transplant rejection. Its possible she stuck body tissue into our bodies that was too small to see with the naked eye. How did she destroy the Calculate Fortress? I havent exactly had a chance to carry out a thorough examination of the site. ...But it may have been something similar. Basically, she carries out destruction by sending microscopic tissue into the target. If the target is an organism, it experiences rejection. If the target is inorganic, the tissue expands from within, tearing it apart. Something like how water pipes burst when the water freezes. ... But I havent the slightest clue regarding the fundamental issue of what she is controlling. Eh? But you said she was controlling body tissue, right? And doesnt that explain how she doesnt die no matter what? So couldnt she just be an esper that can control her own body on a level beyond what a normal human can? I doubt not dying no matter what should be taken at face value. There has to be more to it. And if there is some other trick, I doubt its something so plain. In all likelihood Fr?ulein Kreutunes true identity goes beyond simply not dying. I think there has to be some unthinkable law lying at the base of it all. That was Fr?ulein Kreutune. Without any preparations or planning, she had broken through the armor of the impregnable windowless building, knocked out Kamijou Touma and the Lightning God Thor, and smashed the defensive weapons of Academy City. Are you wondering whether we even need to protect her? asked Thor mockingly. Do you not want to help someone unless theyre weak enough to make you want to protect them? Do you not want to help someone unless youve had their special past and situation explained to you? Do you not want to help someone unless theyre cute enough to empathize with? Do you not want to help someone unless youve talked with them and become friends? ...Come on now, Kamijou-san. Is that the kind of person Kamijou Touma used to be? Youre right, spat out Kamijou while still feeling pain from the creaking of his ribs. If thats what decides whether I help someone or not, then I cant just sit here worrying about it. I need to hurry up and befriend Fr?ulein Kreutune. And it doesnt matter if she is willing to pay any attention to me. Kamijou had a lot to think about. But his gaze was sucked toward the windowless building as if to cut off those thoughts. More accurately, his eyes were drawn to the deep darkness lying within the large hole in the supposedly impregnable armor. It tempted him. Kamijou himself did not know what seemed to be inviting him in, but he could feel there was something in that hole. Dont get greedy, said Thor whose gaze was also turned toward the large hole. That is clearly a detour. It leads away from the main path. I dont know what lies within, but it is not something that will be truly exposed to the light of day simply by blowing a hole in the outer wall. This invitation is a bluff. If we carelessly step inside, we will be devoured. I know... At that moment, two paths lay before Kamijou and Thor. Would they head away from the windowless building and chase after Fr?ulein Kreutune? Or would they head into the windowless building and search out a great mystery of Academy City and possibly of the entire world? Fortunately (if you want to call it that), they already had a clear objective. Fr?ulein Kreutune is our top priority. Lets head after her. Good. That way you wont end up like a damsel in distress from some old story. It was not simply because he had kept Kamijou from being swallowed up by the darkness that Thor seemed so relieved. He was not sure if he himself could have resisted the temptation had he been alone. Even though he was well aware setting foot inside would almost certainly lead to death or an even more tragic fate. Which way did Fr?ulein Kreutune go? asked Kamijou. Probably in the direction those explosions are coming from. Do you think Gremlin and Olleruss group have noticed? They would have to be pretty damn stupid to not have noticed that something is happening. That meant there was one thing they had to do. They had to secure Fr?ulein Kreutune as quickly as possible. Part 2 Meanwhile, Fr?ulein Kreutune watched a takoyaki stand while sitting with her arms around her knees. Due to the preparations for the Ichihanaransai, the restaurants and cafes targeting students were lively even past the normal curfew. In addition to the normal restaurants, roadside stands had been set up that sold food at exorbitant prices. Basically, they were the type of shops that were characteristic of festivals. As 80% of Academy Citys population was made up of students, the stand was being run by a part-time worker who appeared to be of high school age. And that meant he was supposed to be helping his school prepare for the Ichihanaransai. As such, he did not want to be spotted by any of his classmates. People who did what he was doing during the Ichihanaransai were labeled traitors. The way the boy used the sharp end of an awl-like tool to quickly rotate the round food on a metal sheet must have sharply stimulated Fr?ulein Kreutunes curiosity. Her eyes had been glued to the stand for a while. Meanwhile, the student working at the stand thought to himself. (Come to think of it, Ive never seen takoyaki with cream or chocolate inside. Is it just that no one wants a taiyaki-style revolution? ...Wh-who is she?) Takoyaki was a mysterious food that you thought you knew all there was to know about, but a closer inspection revealed a surprising number of mistakes in your preconceptions and assumptions. The student worker had long thought takoyaki was cooked using a single one of those awl-like tools (he did not know the proper term for it), but he had learned that two were used when he observed the kitchen of a chain store. He had also confused normal takoyaki with the ones meant to be sold in a convenience store and therefore thought the insides were supposed to be fully cooked. That had very nearly led him to a major failure. The student worker naturally found it odd how Fr?ulein Kreutune was staring at him, but he could not stop his work as the takoyaki on the metal plate were approaching completion. However, it may have had more to do with subconsciously trying to maintain his peace of mind by continuing with that familiar work. (Wh-what? Is she hungry??? But I cant just give her some.) Handing out one or two would not be too much of an issue business-wise, but it would be a problem if others saw and started asking for some too. But then the boy realized that his guess had been wrong. Fr?ulein Kreutunes hands began to move slightly as she sat crouched down on the ground. Eventually, the boy realized she was imitating the motion of his hands as he rotated the takoyaki. At first, the movements were clumsy, but they gradually grew more adept. She was not actually holding anything, but the gentle, curving motion of her pantomiming fingertips almost made it look like she was holding that special tool. (Come to think of it, who is she? Shes dressed oddly... Isnt she cold??? Was she being fitted for some kind of Ichihanaransai costume?) And then... Hey!! You over there!! shouted a deep male voice. The student worker jumped, turned around, and jumped again. The man who had shouted was a fully equipped Anti-Skill member. And he was accompanied by 3 others. That group of 4 was enough to stop a convenience store robbery in ten or so seconds. For an instant, the student wondered if his betrayal in working during the Ichihanaransai preparations was in violation of some law, but he soon realized he was mistaken. The group of four surrounded Fr?ulein Kreutune. One Anti-Skill member pulled out a radio and contacted someone. This is definitely her. Were about to restrain her. ... The boy could tell something had been said on the other side of the radio, but he could not make out what. What? That isnt in our jurisdiction. Why would we take her there? If you arent going to give us a reason, we arent going to do it! She already destroyed 4 unmanned attack helicopters. It would be safest to transport her the shortest distance possible!! ... Wait. Please wait. Listen. Standard procedure is to take her to our branch office. Can you please just tell us why we cant do that? If we dont get an acceptable answer, were just going to follow standard procedure. Anti-Skill had an aura of intimidation that seemed like a super evolved version of the aura given off by a PE teacher, but that aura seemed to double while they were arguing amongst themselves. The student worker began to tremble for no real reason, but Fr?ulein Kreutune did not look particularly concerned despite being the target of their hostility. She only tilted her head in puzzlement. (...Wh-what? Is she an industrial spy disguised as a visiting diplomat or something?) The Ichihanaransai was primarily an inward event for other students, but it was not unusual for high-ranking officials from important cooperative institutions to visit the city for the festival. And there were rumors of the occasional person disguising him- or herself as such an official, but... Once the boys thoughts reached that point, he saw something he wished he had not. Fr?ulein Kreutune had been imitating his motions as he cooked the takoyaki, but the movement of her hands had changed to something else. This was not simply because she was so bad at the takoyaki motions that it looked like something else. It was clearly a completely different type of motion. (Wait. Thats...) The student worker looked over in the direction that Fr?ulein Kreutune was looking as she sat there with her knees up. She was looking at the Anti-Skill members. Due to some communications issue, those experts in firearms were arguing over the radio. Meanwhile, Fr?ulein Kreutune was absorbing some kind of information while watching them. And she displayed it with the movements of her hands. It was just like with the takoyaki. At first, the movements were clumsy. But they increased in accuracy at a rate that accelerated as time went on. Anyway!! Unless you can give us a reasonable explanation or a legal foundation to do so, we are not following those instructions!! If you understand, then why dont you send a legal expert to our branch office? How about a law school professor? (Not good.) The Anti-Skill members had not noticed the change in Fr?ulein Kreutunes movements. And he had a feeling the small difference between noticing it and not noticing it would lead to a difference between life and death. Due to how angry the Anti-Skill members were, the student worker hesitated for an instant over whether he should say something or not. And that hesitation was all it took. Momozawa, handcuff the suspect. Yashiro, bring the truck around! We can just ignore that strange interruption. This is our The Anti-Skill member trailed off. Fr?ulein Kreutune had silently stood up. The four of them were surrounding her, so they should have been able to grab her shoulder and pin her to the ground the instant she so much as twitched. And yet... H-hey!! The one Anti-Skill member frantically let out a cry of warning, but the student worker thought something seemed off about it. It sounded to him like someone desperately trying to argue how wonderful life is to someone who had already jumped off the platform and in front of an oncoming train. In other words, it was an action taken much too late. A dull noise rang out repeatedly due to the actions of that woman who had absorbed something violent from the scene before her. Part 3 To sum it up, she was lost. Fremea Seivelun glanced around the nighttime scenery of Academy City. She remembered as far as walking off upon spotting the fruit marshmallow stand after leaving the dentists office, but that was it. The next thing she knew, Hamazura and Takitsubo were gone and the dentists office was nowhere to be found. Honestly. Getting lost at his age. In the first place, Hamazura should be ashamed! Nyahh! announced Fremea while striking a daunting pose along a street lit up by decorative lights. The one who was actually lost was not aware of her own situation. Fremea Seiveluns dorm was in District 13 which was where a lot of the elementary school students lived. She had no way of knowing this, but a member of the new Item was always camped out at the 24-hour caf near her dorm to be on the lookout for an attack from the remnants of the Freshmen. But she was currently in District 7. She did not often travel between school districts, and when she did, she was usually being led through the crowds while holding Hamazuras belt. She did not have enough information to get home on her own. The human homing instinct was amazingly good at guiding drunks home, but the initial settings required for that homing instinct to function had never been inputted into Fremea. In the first place, I am hungry...but I cannot just abandon Hamazura while he is lost. I need to carry out my role as the big sister and go find him!! As Fremea put all her energy into making that mistaken decision, she looked over at a map of District 7 posted nearby. But that map was hardly going to tell her where Hamazura and Takitsubo were, plus she did not even know where she was herself. Nevertheless, she nodded twice as if it had told her all she needed to know. And then she made another announcement. If I walk in a big circle around this area, Im sure to run into Hamazura!! She seemed to think that was the fastest way to cover the wide area of District 7, but it was no better than when someone lost in the forest of Aokigahara thought it would be best to just head in one direction. If that was all it took, getting lost would not be such a big deal. Also, Fremea had not seen what the scale of that map was. And so Fremea Seivelun the missile girl looked away from the map and took her first step. And in that first step, she collided with someone. Nyahh!! Wh-what? What? says Misaka as Misaka shouts in surprise. ...Ah!? Misaka found a lost child!! I-I am not a lost child!! Nyahh! I am the big sister!! The two girls received a great collection of scathing comments over the Misaka Network, an electromagnetic data network created from the identical brain wave amplitude of clones, but neither the girl aware of those comments or the one unaware of them paid them any heed. The girl called Last Order looked up and down Fremea Seivelun and then puffed out her chest triumphantly despite the two being almost the exact same height. You leave Misaka no choice. As the adult, Misaka will help you, says Misaka as Misaka looks down on you to an excessive extent. In the first place, I do not remember asking for help from someone who proudly puts her hands on her hips over being taller!! Dont make fun of me!! Misaka can tell you are a child from how you are trying to stand on your tiptoes. A true adult yearns for youth, says Misaka as Misaka acts like she knows what she is talking about. Fremea than stuck her index finger out towards Last Order and shouted out loud enough for everyone on the street to hear as if she was playing her greatest trump card. I wear a bra!! Wha!!!??? Last Order used her electrical powers to create a lightning effect behind her to complement her shock. Meanwhile, Fremea seemed to feel like she had lost for having to use her greatest trump card, so she desperately continued speaking. And I already choose my own bras!! I know the sexy underwear department like the back of my hand! In the first place, I am on a fundamentally different level from a child like you!! M-Misaka cant let you get away with that. That was a challenge to Misakas genetic characteristics!! says Misaka as Misaka reaches the verge of tears!! The original source of her genes, Misaka Mikoto, was in a rather pitiful state when it came to chest size, but her mother, Misaka Misuzu, excelled in that category. As such, Last Order had not been robbed of all hope. Youre just a kid!! What was that, you child!? says Misa You are in luck, lost child. I will take you home!! Youre the lost one, so that is Misakas line!! says Misaka as Misaka insists that you let her say it all the way through to the end!! The two girls got into a bit of fight and grabbed at each others hair, but then an advertisement for a local travel show played on the large screen of a blimp floating overhead in the night sky. An adult woman must not be at a loss regarding how to entertain an unexpected guest. This week on Informed Ladies, we are having a special on the hidden top-rate restaurants in Academy City that do not require a reservation! For details, tune in to the urban channel on your cable TV!! ... ... Fremea Seivelun and Last Order stared up into the night sky for a bit. And then they looked back down to glare at each other and made an announcement with surprising synchronization. Well see who is more informed by heading around to the famous restaurants of Academy City!! Well see who is more informed by heading around to the famous restaurants of Academy City!! Once the two girls thoughts jumped directly to that idea, Hamazura being lost and the green onion for flavor were completely gone from their minds!! Part 4 Sirens blared from every direction. Red flashing lights colored the nighttime scenery, but not all the lights were the same. Most of them were from Anti-Skill vehicles, but fire trucks and ambulances were mixed in. The dark night sky behind them made it hard to tell, but quite a few helicopter ambulances were flying around as well. But the students dealing with Ichihanaransai preparations were not concerned. This may have specifically been because those preparations were outside of their normal everyday lives. Whats going on? They sure are making a racket out there. Did someone bring alcohol onto school grounds or something? That could explain Anti-Skill and an ambulance, but why would they send out a fire truck for that? This is the Ichihanaransai, remember? The firefighters probably want to show off how useful they are. Yknow, burst into the schoolyard with a fire hose and put out a tempura oil fire or something. That of course was nonsense, but it was enough to satisfy the students. They seemed to mistakenly think not recognizing a threat was the same as avoiding the threat. Students either continuing their work through the night or carrying food they had bought for their class were passing by a vending machine and bench that seemed to blend perfectly into the scenery. But the issue was not the vending machine or the bench. It was the brown-skinned girl with braided silver hair that was lying on the bench. She was Marian Slingeneyer. The drum can-shaped human called Mj?lnir sat behind the bench. Both of them were official members of Gremlin, the organization that held enough power to shake the world. ...Things sure have gotten noisy. Mj?lnir audibly shook behind the bench. She looked somehow happy, but this was not because of the change to the situation. It was because Marian Slingeneyer had snapped out of her daze and begun to pay attention to her surroundings. If one paid close attention to the direction the Anti-Skill vehicles were headed, a pattern emerged. If that information was more thoroughly analyzed, it was possible the center of the disturbance in the city could be determined. And it would also show this center was not fixed in one place. It was making irregular movements as if it was carelessly wandering around the city. But... Whaddya think we should do? The line was delivered with the indifference of someone trying to choose between a burger shop or a soba stand for dinner, but it held quite a bit of meaning when coming from Marian Slingeneyer. If she acted, it would not end at just one or two deaths. She was deciding whether the ground, the landscape, the city, the culture, and history itself would be destroyed or not. She was deciding whether everything in the scenery around her would be transformed into something grotesque and psychedelic or not. That was the kind of question it was. Mj?lnir noisily shook in response. She was an exception even within Gremlin because she had actually asked to be optimized into that form, and so she was one of the few people who felt no desire to flee when she heard Marian Slingeneyer say that. Thor held a coordinating role as well as being in charge of direct combat, so their strategy meetings inevitably headed in a dangerous direction when he was gone. Marian Slingeneyer was like a giant rock at the top of a steep slope. If anyone gave that rock the slightest push, it would begin rolling. And once it gained momentum, no one could stop it. Not even the rock itself would be able to stop it. While still lying on the bench, Marian Slingeneyer stuck one hand into her overalls. She pulled out a saw made of gold. That tool was used in her alterations to the human body. It was mostly used for the destruction of the human body required for those alterations to take place. Simply put, it was a tool used to slice apart and remake people without killing them. Due to the Ichihanaransai preparations none of the students gave Marian a second glance despite the fact that she was swinging around a blade. She was still seen as a portion of the citys peaceful scenery. And yet... Just the slightest push to her back and she would recreate everything around her into red and black. ...Nope, its still too much of a pain in the ass. I just cant work up any motivation. The drum can clattered around as it shook, but Marian Slingeneyer went back to sleep out of spite. Magicians would not act without an objective to drive them. Part 5 Momozawa and Kakitas teams were taken out? Those idiots!! Did they get greedy!? If they wouldnt try to keep all the credit to themselves, this wouldnt happen!! shouted a woman into her radio. She was Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill. She was located a bit away from the windowless building which stood in the center of District 7. A number of Anti-Skill vehicles were parked around her. Yomikawa and the others in Anti-Skill were supposed to be the ones to keep the peace and investigate crimes, but they were still not allowed to enter the blast site. The scenery was divided up by blue plastic sheets. If Yomikawas eyes and memory were not failing her, then she was certain she had seen a large hole in the windowless buildings wall before the sheets had covered it up. There had been a hole in the armor of that windowless building that was supposed to be indestructible even with the use of a nuclear weapon. The details of the suspect on the run are unknown, but she likely destroyed the Calculate Fortress from within and then destroyed an entire formation of unmanned attack helicopters sent out to deal with the emergency situation. We do not know whether this was done with some kind of weapon, some kind of esper power...or even with simple physical strength, so do not let your guard down. Assume the suspects attacks can penetrate our jackets. If we spot her, do not interfere on your own! Do you understand!? Kamijou Touma listened in from behind a nearby vending machine. The commotion had grown too large. Thor sighed as he hid nearby. Theyre probably going to set up a checkpoint soon. And we dont have time to deal with something like that. Who did Gremlin send with you? It doesnt matter. They clearly havent made their move yet. If anyone from Gremlin had taken action, Academy City would have already been changed more than this. They might be checking to make sure this unexpected opportunity is not a trap. Thor clicked his tongue. Olleruss group must also be doing only as much as they can while lying low. Whichever side gets their hands on Fr?ulein Kreutune will mean a tragic end for her. We need to find her quickly. ...No. Kamijou quietly denied that statement. If your assumptions are correct, Gremlin and Olleruss group must be half in doubt about the information that Fr?ulein Kreutune has suddenly escaped. They have yet to make any direct contact with her. ...We can still fool them. If we can send out some fake information making them think its a trap and that they should stay away, wouldnt we be able to keep them away from Fr?ulein Kreutune? I see. What exactly would we need to do? If both of us just directly gave one of the groups that advice, they wouldnt believe us. So we need to scatter some bait before they get accurate information on Fr?ulein Kreutune. We need to do something near them that makes them think it must be a trap. The first problem they had to solve was how to escape that Anti-Skill filled area. Thor seemed to be growing impatient and Kamijou was afraid he would begin to act violently if they did not do something soon. That brought the danger of drawing the attention of Gremlin or Olleruss group if they detected it. If that happened, it was all over. If they were being monitored before they could set up any tricks, they could hardly set a trap. Kamijou tapped Thor on the shoulder and pointed at something with his index finger. Lets take the standard route. A fire truck? Those thick firefighter outfits will cover our face and our silhouettes. They wont be able to tell who we are or how old we are. Lets borrow two of those to make our escape. Part 6 Last Order and Fremea Seivelun arrived at District 10. It bordered District 7, so it was not difficult to reach, but the district was well known for having poor public order. There were stories of deliverymen going out of their way to avoid passing through the district on the way to their destination. That type of rumor remained even during peaceful times, so it was immediately obvious it was no place for two little girls during the night of Ichihanaransai preparations when everyone had thrown out any restraint. If the situation was given the tagline I will use any means necessary to save those two girls who have wandered into the dangerous District 10!!, it would probably make a decent independent action film for a film studies group. However, Last Order and Fremea Seivelun shared a certain characteristic. They were incredibly oblivious when it came to their own danger. Heh hehhn. That parking garage over there is Academy Citys famous Food Stand Spire! says Misaka as Misaka puffs out her chest triumphantly. I-in the first place I knew that too! Then do you know what the most popular restaurant in the Food Stand Spire is? says Misaka as Misaka insists on an answer. The simplest way of describing it was a parking garage filled with nothing but large vans and RVs. Seats and tables for customers were also set up, so the parking space was not full, but the one building still contained somewhere between 400 and 500 restaurants. The parking garage was not airtight, but it still had an excessive number of vents and air ducts to allow the exhaust to escape. The building itself was lit by irregularly placed LED light bulbs and altogether gave off an aura of handmade junk. The scene of all the stands lined up had no uniformity to it. It mainly gave a motley and dirty impression. Also, District 10 was well known for having the worst public order of any district. Dyed hair and shaved heads were the norm. The customers viewed scars and tattoos like normal people viewed glasses and contact lenses. Simply put, it felt like it would be game over for Last Order and Fremea within 5 seconds of setting foot inside the building. But... Huh? What are some kids doing here? Oh, cmon, old man! You cant put a place like this in a pamphlet! What if those harmless little girls end up getting mugged!? You two over here! Ill give you each a free boiled egg if you act as their bodyguards!! It has to be a long way to their home, but at least keep an eye on them until they reach a large station. Surprisingly, most of the people seemed to be neither enemy nor ally. It was thanks to the following ironclad rule of delinquents: You have to be nice to cats abandoned in the rain and to little kids!! In the first place, the lineup of restaurants should change as we go up floors. Yes, yes. The lower floors closest to the entrance draw the most customers and have the more popular junk food, and the higher floors draw fewer customers but make a living by catering to more specific tastes, says Misaka as Misaka explains the system. Last Order raised her index finger. But there is one restaurant that draws a lot of people despite being on those upper floors, says Misaka as Misaka gives an additional explanation. The parking garage had an elevator, but it did not have several of them like a department store or hotel. Since the customers were bound to get into fights if they had to wait in line for the elevator, it was banned from use. For that reason, the two girls followed the other customers lead and walked up several gentle slopes as they headed for the very top floor. As they headed up, the food for sale no longer focused on appealing to everyone just as Last Order had explained. By the time they reached the top floor, restaurants like a coffee shop thats owner wore a tailcoat and a Kaiseki stand run by a young woman in a kimono were not unusual. However, these shops were so incredibly cheap that it was hard to enjoy them without growing somewhat suspicious. But Fremea Seivelun and Last Order were completely oblivious to this. The two headed to the center of the top floor with Last Order primarily taking the lead. There they found a certain stand. The stand was made out of a small modified truck, but it did not have a kitchen space inside like all the other stands did. Some basic camping gear was spread out around the truck and the cooking was done in that open space. It was a popular restaurant, but it currently had plenty of empty seats due to lucky timing on the girls part. The stand had only one cook, but he was accompanied by three girls who looked like they knew nothing of cooking or the service industry. After spending a month in District 10, it would be obvious they were hired to carry out dirty jobs in the name of being bodyguards. But as previously stated, Last Order and Fremea Seivelun were oblivious. One of those bodyguards had something in her mouth with a blinking bluish-white LED on the end. It looked like a nicotine free electronic cigarette, but it was actually something much more suspicious. The two small girls ignored the bodyguard as she put the item back in its case and they approached the lone cook. They pushed aside a few tables and chairs as they approached. Last Order said, Give me the usual! says Misaka as Misaka gets excited!! ...The usual? Ive never seen you before. Also, you should try not to say that around this district. Youll get caught up in some illicit transaction. The cooks voice was low and flat so as not to show any emotion. Fremea sat down in one of the camping chairs and looked around. In the first place, what kind of restaurant is this? Chinese. Nyahh. I dont see any Chinese people here. In this country, salt butter ramen and mild chili oil qualifies as Chinese cooking. Last Order also sat in a chair, but retained her know-it-all expression. Misaka knows that this restaurant has no menu, says Misaka as Misaka reveals a hidden truth. After all, this restaurant only serves one thing!! says Misaka as Misaka jabs out her finger to emphasize this information!! Only one kind of food maybe, muttered one of the bodyguards and one of the other girls stomped on her foot. With expressionless eyes, the cook said, Well, Ill make anything so long as you pay. He then opened the lid of a silver stockpot and stuck a giant fork-like tool inside. Fremeas nose twitched and she frowned at the oddly sweet smell. ...What do they sell here? Giant pieces of meat, says Misaka as Misaka immediately replies. Last Order puffed out her chest meaninglessly. They have the ridiculously giant pieces of meat you only see in manga!! says Misaka as Misaka goes ahead and explains even though she has never seen it!! I-in the first place you admitted you have never seen it!! Nyahh!! Nyahh!! And then exactly what Last Order had described appeared. The plate was large enough for an entire family-size pizza but it had no side dishes on it. It contained nothing but a ridiculously huge chashu cutting horizontally across the giant plate. Its width was about a size larger than a store-bought jelly roll. Last Order had the expression of someone whose improvised attempt at speaking a foreign language had actually gotten through overseas. See!? says Misaka as Misakas eyes sparkle!! ...In the first place, it looks like a chashu, but it has a somewhat sweet smell. Also, the outside seems crunchy. Is this the same thing you put on ramen? Those are specifically made to go well with Japanese ramen. They are too greasy to eat plain, replied the cook who was opening a sports newspaper now that his job was done. Fremea looked puzzled. Th-then do you use a knife and fork...? Tsk, tsk tsk, says Misaka as Misaka waves her index finger as an effective lead in. In the first place, if you keep acting like a know-it-all I will dump chashu sauce all over your clothes. Wait, wait!! Misaka will give you a proper explanation, so wait!! says Misaka as Misaka begs you to stop!! Last Order frantically brought up her hands in a meaningless defense. I said this is like the giant pieces of meat in manga, right? says Misaka as Misaka double checks. Do you ever see them elegantly using a knife and fork to eat their ridiculous pieces of meat!? says Misaka as Misaka asks you an important question!! But then, in the first place how do you eat it? Last Order explained with her actions. She grabbed both ends of the giant piece of meat with her hands and started chowing down on the middle portion. The instant she did, time seemed to stop for Fremea Seivelun as her basic knowledge of the world crumbled around her. And then she opened her mouth to speak as her instincts welled up within her. Its just like in manga!! Its manga meat!! Didnt I tell you? says Misaka as Misaka gives a triumphant look. Nyah. I see. So this was mammoth meat... Despite being slightly mistaken, Fremea Seivelun began eating her own giant piece of meat. Part 7 Kamijou and Thor made it past the circle of Anti-Skill and to a high-class hotel. They removed the firefighter suits, dumped them in a metal dumpster near the delivery entrance of the hotel, and then left. As they walked, Thor said, The important factors here are Fr?ulein Kreutune, Gremlin, and Olleruss group. They are all hiding within Academy City, but we have no idea where any of them are. ...Even Gremlin? I thought they were your comrades. If we had some way to always know where the others were, I wouldnt have been able to go behind their backs like this, would I? If we need to meet up, I can contact them. But they would grow suspicious if I constantly asked to meet up with them for no reason. They walked down the sidewalk next to a major road to distance themselves from the commotion. As they did, they passed by several groups of students continuing Ichihanaransai preparations through the night. When he spotted Anti-Skill looking around from atop a pedestrian bridge, Kamijous spine stiffened, but he came back to his senses when Thor elbowed him in the side. Getting nervous would just draw their attention. What about you? Ollerus contacted you, right? Yeah, but we didnt exchange contact information or anything. I dont know where he is. He didnt even tell me how many people he brought with him. ...If I suddenly told him to stop fighting Gremlin or that there was a trap set up around Fr?ulein Kreutune, he would never believe me. In fact, he would just grow suspicious of where I got the information from. Which means... The trap has to be set with Gremlin. We know how to contact them and they trust you. If we can make them think Academy Citys elite and Olleruss group are both coming, I doubt they would approach Fr?ulein Kreutune until they had confirmation one way or the other. Yes, yes, said Thor, cutting Kamijou off. But that leaves Olleruss group free. Its true Gremlins goal will not be kind to Fr?ulein Kreutune, but just giving her to Ollerus will not solve this. She is a cornerstone of Gremlin and Othinuss plan. Olleruss group could very well be thinking of throwing a wrench in that plan by killing the seemingly immortal Fr?ulein Kreutune. If Gremlin falls for our trap, they will naturally raise their guard. ...If Olleruss group notices that change, I would think they would send out a scout. That is where we can set up a second trap. I dont know where they are in the city, but Olleruss group will definitely show up when they notice that change. We can make contact then. And if they could then give fake information to the scout acting for Olleruss group, the entire group would lose its ability to make a proper decision. So we make Gremlin think they are being attacked by both the science side and Olleruss group, and we make Olleruss group think they are being attacked by both Gremlin and the science side? And then once they put up their guards and stopped moving, Kamijou and Thor could secure Fr?ulein Kreutune and make her disappear. That was the only way to protect her. Thor then said, Thats quite the tightrope act. It will require bringing Gremlin and Olleruss group quite close together. If the trap doesnt work, we could end up with a direct clash between them. And I would be surprised if Fr?ulein Kreutune did not end up at the center of that clash. The tightrope act began the moment you people set foot in the city. ...Hopefully, our trap can buy us a day or at least half a day. Saving Fr?ulein Kreutune takes priority, but we also have to make preparations for afterwards. If we dont balance this mysterious schedule perfectly, it will all fail. Part 8 Once they had filled their stomachs, Last Order and Fremea Seivelun left the Food Stand Spire parking garage. And then they tilted their heads in puzzlement. ...Which way is the station? says Misaka as Misaka tilts her head in puzzlement. In the first place, dont ask me. Nyahh, I thought you were informed. Misaka is informed! Misaka was just quizzing you!! says Misaka as Misaka is forced to explain every little thing!! They both had cell phones given to them by their guardians, so they could determine their current location by using the map service, but people had a tendency of not thinking of services they rarely used when they truly needed them. Despite the poor public order of District 10, road signs were quite abundant. This was because the land there was cheap and the facilities other districts wanted to keep away were concentrated there. However, there was no guarantee that those signs would be accurate. Signs were commonly bent, swapped out, and otherwise made so their arrows pointed in the wrong direction. If you asked the residents of the district why they did this, they would simply say they had no real reason. It was the same reason that people broke school windows at night. And so... In the first place, District 7 is to the north, so we are sure to make our way somewhere eventually if we keep walking in that direction. Oh, nice idea!! says Misaka as Misakas eyes sparkle!! Those two idiots charged full speed ahead along that choice that was common among lost children. But they ran into their first problem before making it 500 meters. They arrived at a T-shaped intersection and could not head straight forward any longer. ...What should we do? says Misaka as Misaka checks with you just to be sure. Nyahh! When you dont know, you should ask someone else!! Despite not knowing where she was, Fremea rocketed off in an even more random direction. Last Order followed after her and Fremea spoke to a tall woman for the much too arbitrary reason of she seemed closest. In the first place, which way is District 7!? ...? The woman had long silver hair. The woman had pure white skin. The woman swayed back and forth to mimic Fremeas motions. The woman was being pursued by a large number of people. And... The woman was known as Fr?ulein Kreutune. Part 9 Their plan was to set up a trap for both Gremlin and Olleruss group. However, they needed to make some preparations first. Kamijou Touma and Thor headed to a certain school. Due to the Ichihanaransai preparations, they were able to freely enter without having to worry about security despite it being late at night. And for the same reason, the area was overflowing with tools. Normally, Kamijou would never have let anyone related to Gremlin into his school. Creating that point of contact was much too dangerous. But the situation required some sacrifice. He could think of no other way of getting what he needed. But... Huh? Kamijou-chan still has not come back? Just as Kamijou was about to pass through the school gate, he heard that voice and dashed behind a nearby tree. Tsukuyomi Komoe, a female teacher with a height of 135 cm, and Fukiyose Seiri, the class Ichihanaransai committee member, were conversing within the school grounds. But according to Yomikawa-sensei, he only got caught up in a fight, so he has already been released from the Anti-Skill station. He knows hes supposed to be staying overnight working, but he used all the confusion to disappear! I really shouldnt have expected anything out of him!! The area seemed soaked with so much oil a single spark would turn it into a sea of flames. As sweat poured from his entire body, Kamijou was certain of one thing. He would be in serious danger if he was caught here. The mysterious schedule he had just barely managed to build up came crumbling down. (...Hey! Hey, Thor!! What are you just standing there for!? Get over here and hide!!) Eh? Why? I dont see any reason to hide. (It was only because you suddenly picked that fight with me that Kamijou-sans name has fallen so low in their eyes!!) Kamijou decided they could not get in through the front entrance, so he dragged Thor outside the school grounds even though the other boy did not understand why. While keeping a careful eye on his surroundings, Kamijou attempted to infiltrate the school building through the back faculty entrance. It was commonly thought that schools were scary at night, but this school was anything but silent. The classroom and hallway lights were on and plenty of people were moving about. Each class was preparing its Ichihanaransai attraction, so they were creating various pieces of art out of plywood and the hallways were hard to walk down with all the objects filling them. However, that mixed atmosphere was filled with the excitement unique to a coming event. Thor seemed so excited Kamijou thought he was going to start humming. Nice, nice. Not bad at all. I wish I had brought some spray paint with me. I feel like putting some graffiti on the walls. Dont get in such a weird mood. More importantly, are you ready? Well, the spiritual item was destroyed by your right hand once already. I repaired it with the materials I had on hand, but that will probably only get me one more use out of it. But I think that should be enough. Good. ...Hm? One more use??? What? Is that a problem? If that was what Thor said, it must have been true, but something about it did not sit well with Kamijou. Then it hit him. He remembered getting into an argument with someone who looked just like Misaka Mikoto near the windowless building. So who had that been? Where are the computers? This is an Academy City school, so youve gotta have a full complement of them, right? The computer lab would probably be fastest. Im pretty sure they have an expensive business-class printer there. Kamijou doubted he would run into any problems as long as no one from his class spotted him, so he started hiding behind things less and less the further he got from his classroom. By the time he was in an area filled with classrooms for a different year, he did not even hide when a group of girls passed by. What was that? Why were those girls in track suits carrying bath buckets? They were probably using a club shower room. Their hair was wet. These peaceful places sure are nice. I wish I lived somewhere like this. Im supposed to live here! But people like you keep appearing and now Im in danger of being held back a year!! The computer lab they arrived at was larger than a normal classroom and it had about 40 computers lined up within it. But most youths those days owned computers, so it was unclear just how necessary the funding spent on the computers was. The door was unlocked and the lights had been left on. It was probably open so students could print posters for the Ichihanaransai. Household printers had grown more accurate, but they could still mostly only print on A4 sized paper. Machines that could print at the A2 poster size were hard to find. The lights are on... But no ones inside. This is our chance. Kamijou Touma and Thor snuck into the computer lab. The first step in their plan was complete. Part 10 Marian Slingeneyer held a cell phone while leaning up against the giant black drum-shaped Mj?lnir. Hmm. Im finding all sorts of unconfirmed information regarding Fr?ulein Kreutune. I dont know if my modifications would work on her, so you do something about it, Thor. ...Im not sure if even my Mj?lnir could win in a straight competition of firepower. The drum can clanked around in protest, but Marian paid it no heed. The voice speaking over the phone did not seem particularly concerned. Like I said, Ive already begun taking action. ...But I think they will have noticed these changes in the city, too. You mean Olleruss group? Exactly. Were going to need concentrated firepower to capture the target. I dont want anyone interfering during that time. Thats why I say we crush anyone who might interfere ahead of time. We need to meet up. Fine, fine, muttered Marian halfheartedly before ending the call. The way she moved through the city with the large drum can may have looked humorous. And in fact, she drew the attention of a large number of the students running around in preparation for the Ichihanaransai. The reason no one registered them as dangerous must have because of all the cleaning and security robots that travelled around the city. None of those students realized the truth. The brown girl they were casually walking past was an expert in human transformation and destruction. She could easily bring about a horrifying hell of flesh and blood. Thor said no preemptive attacks, but this would be the perfect time to make some preparations. Despite knowing quite well what using her power meant, Marian Slingeneyers tone was blunt. She was not one to hesitate when it came to destroying the peaceful scene before her eyes. Thor had asked her to meet him in the plaza in front of the District 7 station. That place was a landmark well known for receiving heavy pedestrian traffic even after the last train, but the population distribution was more scattered during the Ichihanaransai preparations. It did not look too congested at the moment. West entrance, west entrance...hm? This should be it. Now where is Thor...? Marian glanced around and pulled out her cell phone when she couldnt find the person she was looking for. But then she froze. Mj?lnir shook noisily because she did not know why Marian had suddenly stopped moving. Marian Slingeneyers eyes were opened wide and staring at a bulletin board set up in front of the station. Due to the collection of cultural festivals known as the Ichihanaransai being so close, almost everything on it was advertisements for some sort of performance or another. But something quite different was displayed prominently in the center. It contained a large photo of a certain girls face. And it had some additional information displayed in small writing below the photograph. It said: Marian Slingeneyer. This dangerous suspect was witnessed in relation to the disturbance in Baggage City. She was last seen in the Bright Stare Hotel. Please report any information on her to Anti-Skill. ...Not good. Marian Slingeneyer glanced around and then moved away from the bulletin board. Large plazas like that always had Anti-Skill stations built in, so she left the plaza while making sure not to look in the direction of the station. She was not afraid of Anti-Skill. The core of the problem lay elsewhere. While accompanied by Mj?lnir, Marian pulled out her cell phone once more. She called Thor. Thor, this is very bad! My information is being displayed around Academy City. If Olleruss group sees that, we can no longer use the hotel weve been using as a hideout!! Academy City and Olleruss group. Crushing one or the other wouldnt be a problem, but Id rather not deal with both at the same time. ...And Olleruss group might take advantage of the time we spend dealing with Academy City to reach the treasure before us. ... If Olleruss group had picked up on how important Fr?ulein Kreutune was, they might try to crush Gremlin and Othinuss plan by killing that supposedly immortal woman. And they had not found a replacement for her. Letting Olleruss group reach her first would be incredibly dangerous. Fortunately, I have all my tools on me. We just need to move to a different hideout. We have no proof all this information flying around the city isnt a trap. I want a new bed so I can take my time and analyze all this. Understood. The two of you stand out too much. Make sure to keep a low profile so no one will report any information on you. Even if some drunks run into you, dont start a fight. Marian Slingeneyer hung up and clicked her tongue. She nearly threw the phone to the ground, but the clattering of the drum-shaped Mj?lnir just barely managed to stop her. But how am I supposed to find a new bed? If they have wanted posters up, my picture will have been sent out to all the hotels. ...I guess I should look for an abandoned building. Part 11 Sitting in a department store caf on one end of the station plaza, Thor hung up his phone. Shes begun to move. Thor and Kamijou Touma had led Marian Slingeneyer to the plaza in front of the District 7 station, but they had of course made some preparations beforehand. They had created the wanted poster on the bulletin board. Thor had disguised himself as Misaka Mikoto to approach Kamijou. He had used the same magic to take on Marians appearance. They had then taken a photo with a cell phone camera and printed out the poster using a computer in the school they had snuck into. If one calmly analyzed the poster, it had a number of defects and mistakes, but Marian did not know the proper Academy City format so it was enough to make her sweat. Kamijou sat in the opposite seat, watching the plaza through the glass. He pulled out his student handbook. Marians unnatural actions are sure to be noticed by Olleruss group. And they will send out a scout. This is the only time we can set the second trap. Are you really going to do it? Are you that worried about me going on my own? Kamijou gave a light smile. We need a trap to mislead Ollerus and the others in his group. Something to make sure they dont cross paths with Gremlin. If you went with me, Ollerus and the others would use everything they had to defeat you. That would be getting our priorities backwards. Also, he continued. Youre the only one that can recover from Fr?ulein Kreutunes attacks. If I take one of those attacks without you around, its all over right there. That means you have to be our final trump card. ...Anyway, hand me that pen. Its water-based, right? The pen had been left on the table in order to fill out the customer survey cards, but Kamijou used it to write something in his student handbook. If Marian is seriously on the run, she will use magic to keep any enemies away. That isnt going to be some horrible magic using humans as materials like in Baggage City, is it? If she was on the attack, probably. But when on the run, she doesnt want to cause a commotion. Even someone as obsessed with transforming people as she is will be cautious here. The human body is not Marian Slingeneyers only specialty. It does get the most focus because of the impact it makes, though. Do you have any guesses what she might do? Norse mythology talks of decorations that make the wearers body invisible. Marian can likely use something like that as she can create the weapons of the gods, said Thor. And there is one common factor among all magic that makes the user invisible. The magician that uses it has no way to know if they have actually been rendered invisible or not. ...Ever since she entered the plaza, Ive been adding some seasoning of my own to the landscape so it will fail. That means you wont lose sight of her. I see, muttered Kamijou as he wiped some water droplets from the outer edge of his iced coffee glass and rubbed them on a page of his student handbook. Then Ill be going. If I cant meet back up with you, you go on ahead. Kamijou left the caf and rode down the escalator. He exited the department store and looked around. He spotted Marian Slingeneyers silver braided hair. He took a deep breath and slowly began to follow her. Naturally, he could not let Marian notice him. But Kamijous goal was not to tail Marian Slingeneyer. He actually wanted to spot someone else who was following her, so it was a rather complicated situation. And so his main focus was not Marian; it was the area behind her. Kamijou followed her out of the plaza, down a narrow path, and around turn after turn after turn. All the while, he kept his focus on the area around her. If Marians pursuer was using some kind of magic to turn invisible or hide their presence, his attempts to find them with his five senses would be pointless, but... (It would all be pointless if Marian Slingeneyer sensed some kind of magic power. I hope Olleruss group decided using magic was too dangerous.) Marian must have been worried about being followed by Anti-Skill because she took a much more roundabout route than necessary. After a few more unnecessary turns, Kamijous shoulders jumped. Something did not seem quite right. It was only after he turned the next corner that he realized it was the clear cover protecting the contents of a vending machine. He had seen something reflected in the cover. Kamijou stopped pursuing Marian, cracked open the backdoor to a building, and slipped inside. He silently closed the door and listened to the regular footsteps coming from outside. With his back pressed up against the wall, Kamijou looked over at a nearby table. The stands and stages for the Ichihanaransai were made on the school grounds, but normal stores would also make special decorations for the occasion. That must have been why the table had a toolbox on it. Kamijou grabbed a power drill that looked a bit like a handgun. Meanwhile, the regular footsteps passed by the door and continued on to follow Marian. Before the footsteps disappeared, Kamijou reached for the doorknob to the backdoor. He slowly turned the knob so as not to make any noise and opened the door ever so slightly. He peered outside. He saw a small back. He saw some familiar blonde hair. He saw someone who Thor had named as a member of Olleruss group. ...Leivinia Birdway... Despite knowing it was a possibility, actually seeing her again brought a strange pressure to Kamijous chest. The Hawaiian Islands. Baggage City. She was another cause of those incidents even if not as direct a cause as Gremlin. He could feel his consciousness grow oddly unsteady, but he could not stop there. If Marian Slingeneyer and Leivinia Birdway clashed, Kamijous plan to trick each group into distancing themselves from each other would fail. ... Kamijou tightened his grip on the power drill. He opened the buildings backdoor even further and stepped out into the narrow pathway outside. He had already made up his mind. And in a way, having it be her was better than the alternative. Part 12 District 7 is that way. If you do not know the direction, look at the stars. It is not too far to walk. O-ohhhh! I recognize this area, says Misaka as Misaka is utterly impressed. Misaka thinks we found the true queen of the informed, says Misaka as Misaka is surprised by this sudden intruder. Last Order looked around with her eyes wide when she made it back to District 7 based on Fr?ulein Kreutunes directions. Fremea Seivelun put her hands on her hips and said, Nyahh. Thats the problem with lost children. In the first place, I would rather you did not cause me so much trouble. To the very end, she did not realize she had been lost. Meanwhile... ...? The two girls had grabbed Fr?ulein Kreutunes hands and dragged her along with them. Last Order smacked Fr?ulein Kreutune on the back with her small palm. Misaka guesses she should thank you, says Misaka as Misaka looks down on you even while thanking you! By the way, what is your name? My name... Without moving her neck, Fr?ulein Kreutune turned her gaze upwards with only her eyeballs. It looked less like she was trying to remember something and more like she was performing a mechanical search for a piece of information amongst a large amount of data. Fr?ulein Kreutune. That is my name. Okay, now lets exchange email addresses! says Misaka as Misaka continues on to the next mission!! Apparently, thats a ceremony for making friends!! ...? Nyahh. In the first place, do you have a cell phone? ...Cell phone... Fr?ulein Kreutunes eyeballs rolled around to a few different odd angles, but she did not seem to be able to find a satisfying answer. And whether she found an answer or not did not matter to Last Order or Fremea. In the first place, I guess it cant be helped. Nyahh! You can borrow this! Saying that, Fremea pulled a vaguely egg-shaped device from her pocket. One end of the device had a string and a round metal device like a keychain attached. It was a childs security buzzer. Hamazura and the others had given it her in case the Freshmen attacked. It was nothing special, so it would be useless against any kind of expert interference, so the new Item did not trust it much. Fremea arrogantly entered explanation mode. This uses something called GPS, so if you pull the string, it sends your current location to the cell phone registered with it! If you take this and go like this and this, youll be okay! In the first place, you just have to pull on the string if you want to see us. Well come charging out to meet you!! Of course, if it used GPS, she should never have gotten lost in the first place, so it was immediately obvious Fremea did not really understand how it worked. Oh, oh. But this doesnt let us contact her, says Misaka as Misaka gives her objection. Heh heh heh. It can actually receive simple emails for no cost! In the first place, it can receive but not reply to emails of under 150 characters from only the registered cell phone, so it comes with a lot of annoying restrictions!! ...? Fr?ulein Kreutune tilted her head in puzzlement as she stared at the security buzzer she had been handed. While looking up at the womans face, Last Order said, That concludes the ceremony, so now were friends, arent we!? says Misaka as Misaka checks to make sure!! ...Friends? Nyahh. In the first place, I see no reason why we cant be friends. ...Friends. Fr?ulein Kreutune tilted her head even further as she thought. Finally, her eyeballs rolled around one last time. Yes, understood. We are friends. Part 13 And so here I am. Leivinia Birdway seemed to be shrugging her shoulders with her arms held out horizontally more than it did she was holding her hands up. She continued speaking without turning around. Youve changed since I last saw you. Are you no longer using the power of your right hand? Well, I will admit a power drill would be more useful at certain times and in certain situations, but could you stop pressing the tip of the drill against the back of my head? Dont move, said Kamijou in a quiet voice from behind her. He was painfully aware of the trigger-like switch under his finger. I know you can freely use power ridiculous enough to let you control a magic cabal. There might not be anything I could do in a straight fight. But I have the advantage here. Ill activate the drill before you can do anything. Will you really? Despite facing a fate much more gruesome than being shot with a bullet, Leivinia Birdways muscles were not even slightly tense. Please dont tell me you actually think you can kill me with something like that. ... Kamijou did not respond and turned his gaze beyond Birdway. Marian Slingeneyer must not have noticed them because she disappeared around the next corner. Birdway let out a dispirited sigh like a fisherman whose catch had escaped the hook. I never expected you to act on Gremlins behalf after everything that happened. Do you really understand what you are doing? If youre asking if what I am doing is right or not, I have no idea. But at the very least, I am trying to think things through for myself. You do realize you might just have been tricked into thinking that is what you are doing, right? You were the one that specialized in doing that. ... Leivinia Birdway breathing stopped for a quick moment. Kamijou continued on regardless. I saw that hell in Baggage City. After seeing that, I can no longer innocently trust someone like you who used me despite knowing that would happen. Do you mind if I give you my thoughts on that? Are you going to say that was meant to keep the damage to a minimum? Kamijou could feel his hand holding the drill start to tremble unnaturally and he desperately tried to keep it under control. You may have a point. Someone like you can probably carry out complex calculations that a simple high school boy like me cant. You can probably come to the optimum answer in the shortest amount of time. Maybe all that chaos would have spread thinly out throughout the entire world leading to an even more horrible future if it had not been focused within Baggage City. That was your answer, wasnt it? Well... But, continued Kamijou, speaking over whatever Birdway was trying to say. After seeing that, I just cant bring myself to say it was the best answer. Kihara Kagun died. That fact brought a girl to tears! ...If that happened because something went wrong, then thats one thing. But that wasnt the case for you!! I dont know what you gained from causing all that to happen, but you still brought about Baggage City for your own ends. That fact does not change!! Kamijou started to say How am I... but he could feel his lips trembling. He was shaken. Why was that? Was he unable to control his own anger? Was the pain of having Birdway betray him coming back to him? Or did he still want Birdway to deny it all and say it had all been some kind of mistake? Was he so shaken because he was not receiving those words he had secretly been hoping for? Kamijou forced out the words while still not understanding his own mental state. ...How am I supposed to unconditionally trust someone who did that!? Leivinia Birdway remained motionless for a bit. Since she had her back to him, Kamijou could not see her expression. Some time passed. Finally, Birdway let out a small sigh and slowly spoke. Well, I knew this was a possibility. ...What? Just double checking my priorities. And now let me say something else: Move that pathetic toy out of the way. Especially if this is not a friendly visit. I am not benevolent enough to do nothing when a stranger does something like this to me. Leivinia Birdways tone of voice seemed to completely change like a switch had been flipped. Kamijou Touma had never heard this tone of voice from her before. It was cold. It sounded like death itself. Let me be blunt. Are you aware you have created a situation here where you have no grounds for complaint if I kill you? You have personally thrown away the card that allows you to make an emotional plea for your life. A conflict seemed unavoidable. And Birdway would likely make use of something she had never shown Kamijou before. Despite appearing to have an overwhelming upper hand in the situation, Kamijou felt his right hand stiffen unnaturally as it held the power drill. He felt as if anxiety and fear were letting out toxic components into his brain which were destroying the basic structure of his right hand. That situation was only destroyed thanks to a shout from a third party. Hey! What are you doing there!? A powerful light washed over them and Kamijou turned in its direction without thinking. Several members of Anti-Skill were running his way. And they had no ability to immediately see through the supernatural aspects of the situation, be they psychic or magical in nature. What it looked like to them was: Person A was holding a dangerous weapon to Person Bs back. Not good. Move your hand out of!! Birdway reacted first. But Anti-Skill took action before she could finish speaking. Several gunshots rang out and Kamijou Touma felt intense pain explosively expand through his body. It felt like a scorching object was ripping through him. All strength left his right hand and the power drill fell to the ground. Even while he still did not understand why he had lost strength in his arm, he could feel that lack of strength spreading throughout his entire body. He could not even work up the strength to look down at his own body. And in the next moment, Kamijou collapsed down to the asphalt. His consciousness lost its continuity and he could only catch intermittent bits of what was going on around him. He heard adult voices yelling in the distance. You...idiot!! Why did you...have live ammunition loaded!? B-but I...!! Kamijou felt like something important was flowing out of the holes in his body like air leaking from a balloon. An uncomfortable slimy feeling covered his upper body. He heard Birdway speaking. Shut...up!! ...Just call...an ambulance! I...can perform first...aid. Like hell...I can trust...you! His vision flickered in and out. He began to have difficulty remembering the context of his situation. First aid had been mentioned, but all Kamijou could tell was that he was rolled onto his back. He had a feeling someone was doing something to the center of his torso, but he could not imagine what they were doing or what it had to do with healing him. And... He noticed something odd during the course of the first aid. He heard a sound like paper scraping against paper. When Leivinia Birdway heard the siren of the ambulance, she stopped her bloody hands. All she had been able to do as first aid was hold a handkerchief to the wound. The ambulance could not enter the narrow alley, so it stopped at the road outside. A number of EMTs approached, pushing a stretcher. Birdway shouted at them. The bullet struck his right flank, but it came out the other side! There is no sign it injured an artery or any organs!! But some fragments of the bullet might still be inside. Dont just trust the bullet is out. Make sure to do a proper examination!! Understood. Leave the rest to us!! Just do your job. That should save him. Anti-Skill started to call out to Birdway to ask about the situation. ...But they froze in place when she threw a glare as sharp as a knife in their direction. If they had actually rudely called out to her, they might have been smashed to pieces by her. Since she had used her handkerchief for first aid, she had nothing to wipe the red blood from her hands. Birdway grimaced and started to leave. Only then did she pull something out of her skirt pocket. It was Kamijou Toumas student handbook. Birdway called someone using her cell phone, narrowed her eyes, and said, Yes, yes. Thats right. I met some interference but from an unexpected source. Gremlin has won over Kamijou Touma. She flipped through the student handbook with her bloody hands. Birdway had not performed first aid for a purely sentimental reason. Since she had been thrown off the trail of the only person who they could get any kind of hint from, she had wanted a new source of information. She had also had that logical reason. Kamijou Touma had been defeated, but she knew who was behind his actions. With that fact in mind, Birdway continued speaking Kamijou Touma is working with...Marian Slingeneyer. He has her contact information written in his handbook. I cant read the numbers though because sweat or something has made the ink run. At any rate, it seems Gremlins base is in District 12. If we want to crush them in a surprise attack, this would be the perfect chance to concentrate our forces. After the EMTs placed him on the stretcher, Kamijous dim vision caught sight of Birdway calling someone. (...She fell for it.) Kamijou did not have enough of a connection with Olleruss group to contact one of them. And even if he had suddenly come to them with some useful information, they would have been suspicious. That was why he had abandoned the idea of telling them directly. He had written false information in his student handbook, made the ink of the water-based pen run, and then intentionally lost. They would not have believed him if he had told them directly. And so... He had made it so they would steal the information from his pocket. By making them think it was information he wanted to protect, they would believe it to be true. However, he had not expected it to be Birdway he had to deal with and he had certainly not expected Anti-Skill to intervene and put him on the brink of death. (Now Birdway mistakenly thinks I have a connection with Marian. The fact that we met before in Baggage City helps make that more believable. If Birdway reports this to the rest of Olleruss group, they will likely all head to District 12 where they wont find anything.) They had sent Gremlin and Olleruss group in opposite directions. It was unclear how much time that would buy them. But for the moment at least, they had avoided an all-out war with Fr?ulein Kreutune in the center. (Please, Thor. Fr?ulein Kreutune is on the loose. If she goes on a rampage, it will only draw Gremlin and Olleruss group to her again.) Gh...bh!? Cough cough!! Calm down! Hey, have you accessed the Bank yet!? If we dont know his blood type, we cant begin the transfusion. Saline can only go so far!! After being placed within the ambulance, the back door slammed shut, cutting off his vision of what was happening. At almost the exact same time, Kamijous consciousness cut out. A shrill siren had to be blaring above him, but he was not even aware of that. Volume 5, Epilogue: Remove the Restraints. Install......Completion. Volume 5, Epilogue: Remove the Restraints. Install......Completion. The day came to an end. The preparations came to a close. And the Ichihanaransai finally began. ...Friends. After parting ways with Last Order and Fremea Seivelun, Fr?ulein Kreutune stood alone in the night. Friends. She knew the word, but it held no real meaning to her. From what could be seen in the records of the dark witch hunt and the reports on the scientific analyses carried out on her, one could guess how little connection that word had to her life. She held a device approximately the size and shape of an egg. That small link in her hand allowed her to call someone to her with just the pull of a string. After thinking for a bit, her eyeballs rolled off at a strange angle. ...Found her... A male voice reached her eardrums. The moment after she detected it, she also heard the sound of compressed air being released and a drink-can-like container flew through the air and landed at her feet. With a slight gap between each one, three or four such containers flew towards her from a short distance away. Barely any time had passed when a white smokescreen burst from them. In no time at all, a thick riot suppression smokescreen had spread for around 20 meters around Fr?ulein Kreutune. The smoke held anti-life form properties by stimulating the mucous membranes of the face and otherwise affected the five senses and breathing. The mixture of chemicals was designed to also have anti-machine properties by obstructing noise and light except for ultraviolet rays at a specific wavelength. The effects of the smoke caused the surrounding voices to echo oddly. They stabbed into Fr?ulein Kreutunes head with the force of surging waves. Capture her!! She is the #1 suspect in the attack on the chairman! We have no reason to hesitate!! The Anti-Skill members were wearing special masks that made them look like little grays. They charged into the smokescreen using special sensors that slipped through the gaps in the smokescreens jamming effects. ... Fr?ulein Kreutune remained silent all the while. Her right hand still held the egg-shaped device. Her eyeballs rolled in a direction that seemed odd for a response to violence. Several darknesses existed within Academy City, and those darknesses each had their own variety and depth. They each formed a single dark piece of a jigsaw puzzle that fit together to form the giant picture of Academy Citys dark side. It would be easiest to picture it as something like a swarm of winged insects covering the rotting corpse of some animal. And some of that darkness held a position especially close to the board of directors that controlled the management of Academy City. Officially, the facility was a gas turbine power plant that provided emergency power for administrative offices. However, he was in that vast underground facility that spread out underneath the neat and tidy District 3. Hey, there. Hey, there. Hey, there. Sorry about leaving you all alone like that. Even we Kiharas had to get involved in the commotion in Baggage City, said a woman as she stepped off of an industrial elevator. She wore a baggy lab coat over a cheap suit that was obviously ready-made. Since it was a decoy facility, the wide area had no power generation equipment inside. The area was large enough to play a game of American football in and it contained nothing anyone could hide behind. Normally, it would have seemed a rather lonely place with just two people inside. But that was not the case. A thick presence seemed to fill the entire area. The reason for this was quite simple. The plain concrete of that underground facility was completely covered in white. It looked like a spider web. Or perhaps more like a silkworm cocoon. It covered every inch of the walls and floor so that the original color could not be seen. The woman in the cheap suit and lab coat was walking across the floor, but it did not feel like concrete. The white ground was undulating unnaturally. Looking up at the ceiling, a number of arch-shaped constructions could be seen strung up from wall to wall or from the ceiling like loosely-hung suspension bridges. And something existed in the center of the space. It was not simply in the middle of the two dimensions of the floor. It was in the center of all three dimensions of the room. A giant white sphere was supported by those many arches. The construction could be seen as either a giant collection of spider webs or a giant chrysalis. Through some gaps in it, his handsome features could be glimpsed. Kakine Teitoku. Dark Matter. Academy Citys #2 Level 5. That symbol of his power that was scattered chaotically through the vast area, seeming to cover every inch, could likely not be so much as scratched even with standard machine tools. Not long before, Kakine had been hooked up to a life support device due to the majority of his body being destroyed, and he had been used to create various weapons at the hands of one of the Kiharas. However, things had changed once a means of creating his own organs with his power had been constructed. As Kakines Dark Matter had begun to spread explosively and envelop an entire Kihara laboratory, those who took the situation seriously had sealed him up inside. The woman understood that situation. And yet she said, It seems a toy of the chairmans has escaped. Anti-Skill cannot stand up to it. Information has been blocked, but I would like your help to control this confusion. ... He did not respond. Only the glint of his eye could be seen peeking through a gap in the spider web or cocoon. Yes, yes. Of course I have my own reasons. And letting you loose in the city is a rather large risk. But I see no reason why I personally should be concerned about that. In fact, if you can do enough to destroy the Kihara scenario, that would be a huge help in increasing my desire to continue my research. ... Simply put, just do it however you want. That is the general consensus among the Kiharas. Do you understand the situation? She received no reply. Instead of words, the ground below the womans feet shook. The white ground had already been undulating unnaturally, but now it began to writhe as if emulating the sea. (...I see.) The woman smiled silently. (Now that he has replaced his own organs with his power, Kakine Teitoku no longer distinguishes between his actual body and the parts fabricated from his power. You could say everything filling this space is now Kakine Teitoku.) In a way, that may have been similar to acquiring immortality. Or perhaps it should be interpreted as taking the invisible thing referred to as his life or his soul and diluting it within a larger form. Academy Citys #1 Level 5 could be said to carry out complete destruction as an established individual, and that womans curiosity as a researcher knew no bounds when it came to comparing those top two Level 5s. Destruction and production. Between those two concepts, the #1 ruled over the destruction side of things. The woman in the cheap suit and lab coat could not help but smile because she felt like she could see some truth about the essence of science in that fact. As a member of the science side, she was not about to casually acknowledge the existence of supernatural beings like god or the devil, but at times during her long history of pursuing scientific research, she felt like she was seeing god make some kind of morbid joke. Anyway, do this however you like. We Kiharas welcome science like you. No matter what result it brings. Meanwhile, the other side of the destruction and production duality, Accelerator, let a displeased scowl onto his lips. He and Yoshikawa Kikyou had used every means at their disposal to search for Last Order after she suddenly disappeared. Accelerator had even leaped from building to building through the dark night. In the end, they had found nothing. When they decided to head back to the apartment, they found Last Order eating some chocolate she had found hidden in a kitchen cupboard. (It belonged to Yomikawa Aiho. She used it to quell her anger when her cooking did not go the way she wanted.) ...Where the hell have you been? Mgh!! Listen, listen! Misaka made some new friendsOw!? says Misaka as Misaka fails to understand why you are suddenly karate chopping her!! After a full barrage of karate chops, Accelerator let go of his cane and collapsed onto the living room sofa looking annoyed. Yoshikawa pulled a carton of vegetable juice from the refrigerator and asked, What was that about friends? Misaka met this blonde brat and challenged her to a competition! Then we had a competition over some delicious dinner. Oh, and then this person showed us the way back to District 7, says Misa ... ... While Last Orders warning sensor rarely functioned, even she stopped talking when she detected that unnatural silence. What was that about dinner? ...So you went out and ate on your own? The other two had not had a bite to eat due to wasting all that time looking for her!! On the other hand, Fremea Seivelun was still lost. Ah! Awah! I dont know how to get from District 7 to District 13!! But Fremea still refused to admit she was lost. She decided it was everyone elses fault for not telling her how to get home. Also, she was just plain exhausted. It was around midnight, so she was not sure she had ever felt so tired. Nyahh. I guess this is fine. Fremea lay down on top of a bench in the station plaza and shut her eyes. Even if she had had the exceptional experience of being targeted by the Freshmen of Academy Citys dark side, it certainly seemed that extremely sloppy personality of hers invited in unneeded trouble. The darkness writhed. When Hamazura Shiage and Takitsubo Rikou learned that Fremea Seivelun had still not returned to her dorm in District 13, they ran back out into the night of Academy City. They did not even know where, why, or how Fremea had disappeared. With its leader Kuroyoru Umidori out of the picture, they thought the dark side organization known as the Freshmen had been stopped, but it was possible some remnant was still active and still targeting Fremea. And... Mugino Shizuri and Kinuhata Saiai had a different job to deal with. They were cleaning up the apartment. What were you even doing that made everything so super messy? Half the balcony is melted. I was cooking in the kitchen and it made a human. She talked back to me, so I tried to blow her away without thinking. ? Kinuhata did not understand what Mugino meant, but she did not press for further information. There were various types of high level espers, but Mugino Shizuri had an exceedingly high output with very little control over it. She was ranked at #4 despite having greater destructive power than the #3 because the application of her power was lower. But with the amount of power she held, it was lucky someone did not end up dead every time she sneezed. Mugino sighed. Well, I need to test out various movements of my fingers for the periodic maintenance of my fake arm. Cleaning up has a lot of fine movements as well as heavy lifting, so it should function as a decent test. You say that, but that phonebook-sized cookbook is getting super squished there! Is that your fake arm acting up or are your emotions getting out of control!? Kinuhata decided letting Mugino help clean the apartment would only lead to turning the entire interior to rubble, so she suggested Mugino take a rest. Mugino opened the refrigerator, noticed they were out of mineral water bottles, and headed out to the convenience store. It happened when she was halfway there. She ran into one of Academy Citys darknesses as it writhed through the night. ? She first heard a footstep. The area was mostly filled with apartment buildings, so it was not lit up by the usual neon lights. The only light sources during the middle of the night were the streetlights. That was why it was not too surprising that she could not see who was walking towards her from up ahead. It was something else that bothered Mugino about the situation. And the next piece of information arrived before she could figure out what exactly it was that bothered her. Whats this? Whats this? In the end, you look a lot different from when I last saw you. It was a high-pitched soprano voice. It was a voice Mugino recognized. Has a lot happened while Ive been gone? Well, whatever. In the end, it doesnt matter to me what happens when Im not around. It was the voice of a girl who Mugino had once ripped in two. It was the voice of someone who obviously should not be there. But... She had long wavy blonde hair. She had skin as white as a doll. She had a short, compact figure. She always wore a beret, liked to wear miniskirts, and had a habit of covering her legs with stockings. Those where the features of someone who had been lost. And they were the features of the person that appeared in Muginos field of vision as the footsteps approached. ...Fren...da...!? In the end, it doesnt matter if youve come to terms with it. That is no reason for my anger to disappear!! Cendrillon, a girl who had become a fair bit smaller due to Mugino Shizuri getting the quantities wrong, leaned up against a vending machine in District 7 of Academy City. Due to the Ichihanaransai preparations, the sounds of do-it-yourself construction could be heard throughout the city. Costumes for haunted houses and cafes also had to be made, so most schools had classrooms filled with the equipment needed for making clothes. Cendrillon had snuck into one such school and made herself a dress. It was the symbol of her power. It was the cornerstone of her transformation. It was the first step towards letting a completely normal-looking little girl borrow the magic power needed to overpower others. (A lot of people are still hanging around Kamijou Touma, and theyre probably all giving him edited information in order to have him use his right arm for their ends.) She did not blame them for that. Cendrillon was not Kamijou Toumas ally. She had but one goal. She wanted to apply decisive damage to Gremlin for having deceived her back in Hawaii. She would use anyone to achieve that goal and she would ally herself with anyone to achieve that goal. (Gremlin is thinly spread out across the entire world map, so I would likely never find them no matter how hard I searched. But they have approached Kamijou Touma. If I follow that boy around, Gremlin is sure to be skulking nearby.) She had successfully made her way into Academy City and acquired a means of attack. Now it was time she took action. I suppose you could call it miraculous. Also, Anti-Skills training must have stuck with them even in an emergency situation like that, said a frog-faced doctor to a nurse. He had just finished an emergency late-night surgery. The bullet missed any vital areas and it came out cleanly. Well, as long as he rests, his condition should stabilize. But if he starts moving around, I can make no promises. Kamijou Touma was inside the ICU which had one wall made of glass so any small changes to the patients condition could be seen from outside and no germs could find their way in. His body was covered with electrodes, he had a mask over his mouth to supply him with oxygen, and he had an IV tube sticking into his right arm at about the elbow. The vital signs displayed on the screen were stable, but vitals that were too stable were not necessarily a good thing in medicine. That made it seem the patient was not conscious. Once his condition stabilizes, he will be handed over to Anti-Skill, so preparations are being made for that. But, well, I wonder if he will end up being treated a suspect or a victim in this situation. Lights out had passed, so the hallway had only the bare minimum of illumination. The footsteps disappeared down that hallway. After waiting to make sure no one was there, Kamijou Touma slowly opened his eyes. ... He wanted to immediately throw away the mask, pull off the electrodes, and pull out the IV tube, but the doctors would come running to the ICU if there was any oddity in his vital signs. First, he had to check to see how much he could move. (Gh...!!) He only put a little bit of strength into his abs in an attempt to sit up, but a dull pain exploded inside his body. It felt like he was holding a liquid in with only a small membrane. He felt like something would burst and blood would begin flowing out if he forced himself to move. But that did not change the fact that the situation regarding Fr?ulein Kreutune was still a tightrope act. Gremlin, Olleruss group, and Fr?ulein Kreutunes own movements. None of the problems had actually been solved. He did not have the time to be sitting around resting. (I dont think I can avoid reopening my wound... I probably wont last long this time.) His breathing was shallow within the oxygen mask. If he left the ICU, he faced a very real danger of simply collapsing somewhere in the city. And there was no guarantee that he would be brought back to the hospital alive. Also, the odds were good that he would end up forced into a literally life-or-death battle with magicians that could take on the entire world on their own. He had a very real danger of dying. That was not something a normal high school student was used to dealing with and the feeling spread from the center of his spine and out to every inch of his body. Kamijou held his breath for a moment. And after he truly thought about that fear... He took his next action. By the time the frog-faced doctor detected the abnormal vital signs and ran back to the ICU, the bed was empty. The IV tube and the various electrodes were sitting discarded on the bed. At the same time, a buzzer went off in the hospital security room indicating an emergency door had been opened. The security camera records showed what looked like a boy wearing a hospital gown. And the doorknob was covered in blood. Various people held various motives. Various people were in various circumstances. But the time was the same. Today came to an end, and tomorrow arrived. The preparations for the Ichihanaransai, the giant assembly of cultural festivals carried out by every school in Academy City, finally came to an end. This was where it all started. The Ichihanaransai finally began. Biometric confirmation complete. Validating connection. Welcome back, Aleister-sama. Reading Thoth 78 artificial intelligence is beginning the inputted task. Beginning discussion regarding the problem of Fr?ulein Kreutune. Fr?ulein Kreutunes identity is still effectively unknown. Genetically speaking, she can only be called a normal human. Since humans and gorillas are genetically only 2% different, it is odd that she falls into the category of a human. With the body she has, it would be less surprising if her DNA formed a triple helix. Categorically, Fr?ulein Kreutune would likely count as belonging to the science side, but she belongs to a different system than the psychic powers developed in Academy City. To specify, she is not an esper that causes various phenomena using quantum theory based around their Personal Reality. She is a life form that does not possess a Personal Reality that is supported by what is known as the mind or the ego. Her thought patterns may be similar to an even more simplified version of an insect. Hot or cold. Sweet or bitter. Damp or dry. All of those sorts of conditions are scanned and the direction that leads to the most suitable environment is chosen. Such decisions are piled on top of each other one after another and it gives the impression that she is thinking deeply. However, Academy City psychic powers are not controlled with just the brain. The entire physical body controls them. Fr?ulein Kreutunes thoughts are overly simplified and yet her physical body is overly optimized. That imbalance is estimated to be what gives her such unthinkable characteristics. (Link to a different topic found. For the results to an experiment showing destroying the mind of a human with normal thought patterns does not produce these same effects, please see [this].) On the other hand, there is no reason for her to remain in a single form or property. Or rather, it is estimated it would be natural for her to be constantly changing to conform to the situation. Conforming to the situation. To put it another way, the keyword related to Fr?ulein Kreutunes transformation is estimated to be learning by scanning her surrounding environment. It does not matter whether that surrounding environment is good or bad. Once she absorbs a certain level of information, Fr?ulein Kreutune will likely transform into some other form regardless of what sort of information that is. By acquiring a massive amount of information, she will grow from a collection of continuous thought processes even simpler than an insects to a more complex and flexible thought process. In the process of that growth, she will likely experience a great change. Most likely, she will become something that exceeds what can be referred to as Fr?ulein Kreutune. Perhaps it can be referred to as eclosion. Just as there is a great change between a larva and an adult insect, Fr?ulein Kreutunes transformation conceals the possibility of reversing the position of prey and predator. If the position of the hunter and the hunted are reversed, the construction of the food chain will collapse and incredible damage will be done to the current culture that is centered on mankinds use of science. Aleister-sama, by both physically and informationally isolating Fr?ulein Kreutune, you had stopped her from learning. That was not a mistake. (Link to a different topic found. For information regarding the destroyed portion of the windowless buildings outer wall and the honeycomb-shaped inner wall alone successfully retaining the airtight state, please see [this].) However, from the standard amount of information Fr?ulein Kreutune can see or hear, it is estimated to take a very, very long time for her to acquire the massive amount of information required for the transformation. It would take approximately 2300 years. Given Fr?ulein Kreutunes characteristics, that is not an impossible length of time, but it is not a pressing matter at the moment. The problem is that this modern society contains a few different methods of obtaining information more efficiently than simply seeing or hearing it. Be certain she does not find a means of accessing Academy Citys Bank. On top of that, a more pressing problem has presented itself. Fr?ulein Kreutune has come into contact with Last Order, the command tower of the Misaka Network. If Fr?ulein Kreutune detects the Misaka Network and uses Last Orders brain to take control of it, that 2300 years can be reduced to a mere 3 seconds. Also, as Fr?ulein Kreutune learns from the environment and changes her properties based on that, it is likely she can eat a humans brain and reproduce the brains structure within herself to acquire its properties. If she deems doing so is necessary, any personal circumstances are estimated to not be enough of a factor to stop her true nature from taking over and eating the brain. In other words, she will not spontaneously stop acquiring new properties. To be blunt... It is estimated that Fr?ulein Kreutune will acquire the properties needed for the eating and absorption and subsequently begin taking action to eat the targets brain within 2 hours. Volume 5, Afterword Volume 5, Afterword To those who have bought each novel one at a time, its been a while. To those who bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. This is the fifth volume of the New Testament series. This volume is a story about the Ichihanaransai that has only ever been mentioned in the past. Gremlin, Imagine Breaker, how Ollerus and Othinus relate to each other, and more. This one has pieces of explanations about a lot of the major themes of New Testament. After his bitter experiences in Hawaii and Baggage City, this volume has Kamijou Touma standing in a position where he wants to trust people but cannot blindly trust people. Ollerus, Birdway, and Thor. There are plenty of people nearby he could ask to explain the situation to him, but he has now realized simply listening to what they say is not enough. When faced with the question of what to do about people who do not bring their honest beliefs into play and instead calmly deceive him, Kamijou has chosen to deceive them right back. If he can succeed in that, I get the feeling he will have taken another step in his growth as a person. But these are people who standard methods never seem to work on. Will they really allow that boys growth to proceed quite so easily? I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editor Miki-san. The festival preparations meant there were a lot of construction tools and pieces of plywood lying around, so that theme must have been a lot of trouble with all the small details in the background and the difficult atmosphere to express. I am thankful as always. And I give my thanks to the readers. What did you think of having the story back in Academy City for the first time in a while and having a school event featuring as one of the themes? I hope you will stick around for the next volume as well. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. By the way, do not forget that a main theme was seen in the prologue. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 6, ??? Volume 6, ??? Say there is a power that could defeat the demon king who ruled over evil. The hero who possessed that power would likely be happy. But not because he (or she) had been born with a special power. It would be because he knows what his power is for and the world around him is widely aware of that fact. Therefore, he would always know what path to take. No matter how powerful the demon king may be, he would never have to fear him. And even if he did take the wrong path and tried to live a different life, the majority of the people would act as guide rails and prevent him from living any other life. That may be restrictive, but it could also be seen as promising him a stable path to success. On the other hand... People with everything prepared for them in that way are quite a rarity. They have an ability and the conditions needed to allow it to bloom have already been prepared. But most of those with some kind of power are never told what it is for or how they should use it. They have no objective. They simply have the power. What happens when an existence like that is let out into the world? What happens when they have no guidance or direction and so they chaotically wield a power great enough to instantly kill the demon king? In the end, that is where this story ends. It is the story of a conflict that spreads widely and deeply around someone who does not know why they have the power they do. Volume 6, The Night Before the Festival Volume 6, The Night Before the Festival The Ichihanaransai is a large-scale cultural festival held in Academy City. Kamijou Touma awoke as the city prepared for that festival. Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right brought me here from Baggage City...? Ollerus, the man who should have become a Magic God, spoke to Kamijou. Gremlin is a group that refuses to accept that the science side won the war. Under their reasoning, Imagine Breaker is simply in the way. As Kamijou prepared himself for a fierce battle, a figure snuck towards him. That boy said he was the Lightning God Thor, an official combat member of Gremlin. Both Gremlin led by Othinus and the group of monsters led by Ollerus are major threats. How about we save Fr?ulein Kreutune from them? Past records said the following. Fr?ulein Kreutune is a person of unknown identity who has survived 308 trials by ordeal without suffering so much as a scratch. But the justice system of the time ironically had no choice but to make the following judgment: She had not been injured because god had saved her. Therefore, Fr?ulein Kreutune was a mere human who had done nothing wrong. To perform maintenance on her artificial arm, Mugino Shizuri would periodically cook because that task involved many different motions and levels of strength. She followed the instructions of a sweets-making kit in a cardboard box she did not recognize for that maintenance. But... Who are you? Cendrillon. Thanks to having my body destroyed and returned to normal in the past, I can now disassemble my body and reconstruct it. Using remotely-controlled refrigerated trucks packed with explosives, the secret base of the dark side organization that the Freshmen belonged to, and a backdoor left by Bersi aka Kihara Kagun, Kamijou and Thor attempted to break into the impregnable windowless building in which Fr?ulein Kreutune was imprisoned. But... What...? That wasnt us. The armor panels are being destroyed from within!? ...Is that...Fr?ulein Kreutune? After knocking out Kamijou and Thor with an unknown attack, Fr?ulein Kreutune disappeared into the Academy City night. Meanwhile, Fremea Seivelun and Last Order who were both lost had a mysterious encounter with each other. Youre just a kid!! What was that, you child!? says Misa The disturbance caused by Fr?ulein Kreutune spread in the blink of an eye and both Gremlin and Olleruss group soon began moving. Kamijou and Thor decided to... Lets make them think this information is a trap. If they are both being cautious, they will think twice before taking action even if they learn of Fr?ulein Kreutunes location. Meanwhile, we can charge in and secure her. Their plan used a decoy wanted poster created using Thors disguise magic and a school computer. They intentionally showed it to Marian Slingeneyer who was hiding within Academy City and they succeeded in making her needlessly cautious. Next is Olleruss group. If Gremlin makes an odd move, they will quickly notice. If we pass some false information to the spy they send in to investigate... When Kamijou took action to carry out their disturbance tactic, he found Olleruss groups scout. But he recognized her. Leivinia Birdway...!! Move that toy out of the way. This is no longer a situation where you can beg for your life. And Kamijou was shot by Anti-Skill when they interfered. As Leivinia Birdway performed first aid on Kamijou, she swiped his student handbook. It appears Kamijou Touma has a connection with Marian Slingeneyer. Gremlin is in District 12. This is our chance to crush them. ...She fell for it. As Academy Citys dark side determined retrieving Fr?ulein Kreutune would be difficult, it was decided a certain strictly guarded Level 5 would be sent out. Kakine Teitoku-san, we Kiharas welcome science like you. Please just do it however you want. Go far enough to destroy the scenario imagined by us Kiharas. ... Fr?ulein Kreutune herself ran into two girls. Last Order and Fremea Seivelun. They spoke to her. Nyahh! Now were friends!! We exchanged our contact information, so you can contact us whenever you want, says Misaka as Misaka puffs her chest out with pride. The magician named Cendrillon who snuck into Academy City using a special method was slightly smaller than before because Mugino used the wrong amounts, but she still began to take independent action to get her revenge against Gremlin. Finding the official members of Gremlin would be very difficult, but if I find Kamijou Touma and check around him... Mugino Shizuri discovered something odd on a road in the middle of the night. It was the girl she had once killed. Fren...da...!! In the end, it doesnt matter to me if youve come to terms with it!! Reading Thoth 78, a program directly created by the board chairman, said the following. To be blunt, in order for Fr?ulein Kreutune to instantaneously take in the massive amount of information needed to eclose, she must eat Last Orders brain to gain control of the Misaka Network. She should gain that ability within 2 hours. And... After being shot by Anti-Skill, Kamijou took action in order to resolve the problem. To be specific, he escaped the hospitals ICU. ...Ive gained some time. But not much. I need to secure Fr?ulein Kreutune soon... Various different goals were held. Many different people took action based on those goals. The preparations for the Ichihanaransai were complete and the actual festival finally began. Also, a white nun yelled the following somewhere in the city. Touma! Who exactly is that girl clinging to your back!? Volume 6, 5: Surely Justice Can be Found Anywhere. Black_to_Light. Volume 6, Chapter 5: Surely Justice Can be Found Anywhere. Black_to_Light. Part 1 It was half an hour after midnight. Mugino Shizuri stood in front of an apartment complex in District 7 that was meant to hold multiple tenants in each apartment. One of her eyelids writhed eerily. An unbelievable sight spread before her on the dark road. It was a single girl. She had long fluffy blonde hair, white skin, blue eyes, and a short, slender build. She wore the same beret as always, the same stockings as always, and the same miniskirt as always. She was Frenda Seivelun. Mugino Shizuri had sliced that girls upper body from her lower body. She had once been a member of the dark side organization of Item along with Mugino. She had been in charge of causing explosions and producing firearms. Why do you look so shocked? The supposedly dead girls lips moved. A sigh temporarily interrupted the familiar voice. Surely you know just how many oddities this city holds. So dont you think its possible that replacements for lost organs could be obtained? Or that some inhuman tech could allow the reuse of a body thats heart has already stopped beating? ... In the end, thats what happened. I sold myself to Academy City. So that I could survive. It may be a bit of an extreme phrasing, but this body is only a rental. I have to perform work for Academy City in order to keep using it. That is all I know. I can only assume it works to someones advantage for me to be standing before you now. ... Why did you decide to take for granted how I would feel about what happened? I assume you have good enough instincts to sense this is not the proper mood for an emotional reunion. In the end, thats just how it is. This seems like a good time for the city to use me as a trump card. I dont know who it will benefit, but I am perfectly fine with applying pressure to the #4. She was grinning. And as she did, Frenda slowly approached Mugino. She was holding something in her hand. It resembled the correction tape used for stationery. It was actually a type of explosive that could be used to slice through a wall or door to enter a building. Of course, no explanation was necessary for what would happen if it was attached to a human and detonated. So what will you do? Will you try to kill me again? Her questions were like stabs of a knife. She took one step...two steps...three steps. Anyone who knew of the #4 Level 5 Meltdowner power Mugino Shizuri had would know just how much of a risk it was to directly approach her. And yet Frenda showed no hesitation or fear as she did so. It was as if she knew from the beginning she would not be attacked. You cant, can you? In the end, this is exactly what it said in the data I read. You certainly have grown soft while I was being metallically regenerated. In the past, you would have killed me without hesitation. The mere fact that I managed to approach these three steps shows your hesitation and fear. They were now 50 cm apart. Frenda brought her face in closer so that their noses were almost touching. A grin split across Frendas face. But you have no problem with this, do you? In the end, you want me to kill you. Hah hahh. Youre thinking that its my turn to kill you since you killed me, arent you? Not that letting me kill you will make up for your crime. But that doesnt really matter. It doesnt matter to me if your intentions are misguided. Frenda slowly spoke her next words. She was almost whispering. It looked as if she was about to bite into the center of Muginos face You just need to die. With those words, she pressed her correction-tape-like device against Muginos stomach. It was as if she was drawing a horizontal line of revenge. She was trying to blow the upper body and the lower body apart. But just before she could... Without any change of expression, Mugino Shizuri unhesitatingly blew Frendas right arm to pieces. She had created a beam of light. That overwhelming light shot out with tremendous force and blew away the darkness of the night. Technically, it was made up of electrons. Her power allowed her to maintain the pure form of electrons without allowing them to become particles or waves. She created a Particle-Function Waveform High Speed Cannon that used that inviolability to forcefully rip apart or roast her target. It was known as Meltdowner. When directly faced with the power classified as Academy Citys #4, the correction-tape-like device and Frendas right arm were turned to ash. Frenda let out a scream and was knocked away in something like a tailspin. No. That was wrong. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? As the girl screamed and writhed on the ground, Mugino frowned slightly. It was similar to suddenly hearing a high-pitched electronic tone over a telephone call. Ahh...Ahh... Ive gotten so used to it that I completely forgot about that possibility. The bright dots of light disappeared from her vision. A sharp headache as though a needle and thread had been drawn from her right temple to her left temple caused Mugino to grimace. One of my eyes is a high performance artificial. You electromagnetically interfered with it to make me see something that isnt actually there. A-ahbah. Ahbabbabababbababbababaabababaababab. Hmm. I dont see how you could interfere with my hearing, so are you using some stupid trick like a voice changer? She used a hand to cover the fake eye, but the illusion did not disappear. In fact, even when she closed both eyes, she could still distinctly see Frenda floating in the darkness. Kinuhata Saiai of the dark side must have finally heard the commotion because she came running up. The girl of around 12 frowned and said, Um...Why are you super playing around with some middle-aged man? Oh, is it some old man? My fake eye has been cracked, so I cant tell. It seems he wanted me to see him as Frenda. Well, I guess that makes sense. Frenda did dress in a way I bet older men would super like. He must really need to get laid if hes resorted to crossdressing. Mugino sounded utterly annoyed. But this is just pathetic. It lacks the ingenuity of the dark side. You could at least have been cruel enough to have some comrade of yours appear just when I thought I had won, right? Bababababababababbbaaababbahhbah?! As Frenda (?) held the new end of lost arm with the other hand, she began scooting backwards while in a sitting position. Mugino had no way of knowing if the attackers arm had really been destroyed or if the attacker was even truly in the same location as Frenda. The attacker shouted out in a wavering voice with an unstable interval that was something like a mix between a lively girls voice and a middle-aged mans voice. Bbahhbhah!! H-how? How, dammit!? The data said you had left the dark side... I-if youre living a peaceful life, you c-c-cant kill!! Kinuhata, Im not sure what this guy is trying to say. Could you translate for me? Cant help you. I super dont understand loser talk. Y-you reconciled...owww...you reconciled with Hamazura. Bhh...You reconciled with him...You decided to live a proper life and walk in the same world as him!! Then! Then...!! Sigh...So thats it. Mugino scratched at her head in annoyance. As long as I have Hamazura, this is fine. ...What? Ill get into trouble and into fights. There will even be deadly fights. But it will all work out in the end. No matter how many people I kill and how much I destroy, everything will be resolved in the end somehow and we can all be happy. All my past experiences have shown that to be true. The atmosphere and overall mood suddenly grew colder. Some kind of strange rule that did not exist anywhere on the earth covered that area. Thats how it was during the fight between Item and School. Thats how it was when we fought underground in District 23. Thats how it was when we met during the fierce fighting of World War III. And so I know it will be fine as long as I have Hamazura. No matter what happens, he will forgive me in the end. Kinuhata quietly sighed from her position outside Muginos field of vision. They had no idea who that attacker worked for, but he had misread the situation on a fundamental level. Just because a happy ending had been reached did not mean all the death and violence had forever ended. Depending on how the happy ending had been accepted, it could be dyed in grotesque and psychedelic colors. And... One must not think of Mugino Shizuris sensibility as being of the same type as a normal persons. A monster was a monster. Even if reconciliation had been achieved, it did not mean her basic nature had been changed to something clean and refreshing. The #4 gave a thin, thin smile. And more importantly, Academy City is filled with oddities. ...? At least enough oddities to allow someone to live despite having an arm and an eye blown away, burns all over her body, and a portion of her organs boiled from the inside. So dont worry. Four or five blasts from my Meltdowner is not enough to kill someone. As long as they are in this city, at least. B-bgh!! Bababababababababbababababbbbabababbababbababaabababaabbaaabababababababaabababbaabbabababbababbababaabababaaabababa!? The attacker disguised as Frenda was almost foaming at the mouth by the time he looked over at Kinuhata. A desperate plea for help could be seen in his eyes. But Kinuhata merely shrugged as if she had given up on something. She gave the most help she could to the man. At least make sure he doesnt super die. That still leaves a lot I can do, unfortunately. Technological revolutions really do make you think, dont they? A beam of light flashed. It was followed by several more. They looked like camera flashes or nearby strikes of lightning. After it was all over, they dragged the battered attacker (it is best not to give a detailed explanation of his state) to some strange research facility and left him there. On the way back, Mugino and Kinuhata spoke together casually. So who was he? I get the feeling a super lot is going on in the city today. The two were in as excellent form as ever. But since Hamazura would probably cry if he saw what happened, they decided to keep it a secret. Part 2 Something was odd. By the time Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill noticed the oddity, several hours had passed since midnight. She parked the special vehicle lent to her on the side of the road and checked with her colleagues using the vehicles radio. Sumomo, Kurumi, Hakutou. ...Have you noticed it yet? Yeah. Should we change our bandwidth to speak privately? With how obvious it is, do you really think it could have slipped past us? The outer wall of the windowless building had been destroyed and they were tracking whoever had escaped. That was the emergency situation for which Anti-Skill had been deployed. For that purpose all information that could be found was being gathered from around the city and that mixture of both real and false information was being analyzed by the deskwork group. However... Information is suddenly disappearing at an almost amusing rate. It feels like having a fish escape your hook. Or maybe like someone hiding underwater removed the hook. Wait, wait, wait! This really isnt something we should be discussing over the official bandwidth. Youre wondering who could pull off a trick like that, right? Kurumi, youre the one saying the most dangerous stuff. ...But I do agree this reeks of someone inside the organization manipulating the information. Technically, the information had not been completely cut off. All of them were still being instructed to hunt down someone. But to use the fishing metaphor, they were not getting a single bite. Can you find anything in the footage from the satellites and security robots? asked Yomikawa. Nothing. Nothing at all. Even in places where there should be someone there, theyve disappeared like a zit on a pin-up idols face. Then what about the search reports up to now? Um, the server is having a really slow response time... Do you think this is a sign that someone is destroying files while disguising it as server trouble? Yomikawa clicked her tongue. She then added, Sumomo, Hakutou. Head as quickly as possible to the station. Secure the paper reports. If you cant, then retrieve the temporary cache from the copier. Understood, understood. But I get the feeling whoever is behind this has set it up so theyll always be a step ahead of us. Kurumi, you come with me. Well try to search out whoever tries to interfere with Sumomo and Hakutous actions. Fine, but whoever it is is probably listening to our conversation right now. Then lets startle them by declaring war. While grinding the shift lever more than necessary, Yomikawa drove off in the special vehicle. She doubted everything would go as planned. But even with that honest prediction, she did not resign herself to the fangs of the one she pursued. Even if she was being driven to the side as a side character, she did not lose her right to sink her teeth into her preys side. Part 3 It was just before dawn. A wet sound could be heard. ...? ...??? A white hand was pressed against a concrete wall. The slender arm stretching from it bent creepily as it forcefully held up a womans weight. The axis running along the center of her body wobbled back and forth and she looked like she could shrink down like a deflating balloon at any moment. She was Fr?ulein Kreutune. She supported her weight with a hand against a building wall and her other hand covered half of her face. Her eyes writhed around unnaturally and a powerful look of doubt could be seen on her face. Her breath was hot. The feeling of something catching in the back of her throat continued no matter what she did. Every pipe in her body itched. She could not get rid of a strange feeling like all of her internal organs were filled with tiny spider webs. Something was missing. Fr?ulein Kreutunes thought process did not work the same as a primates brain that produced complex feelings. Her mind was more like an insects that decided everything via yes or no questions. Was it hot or cold? Was it sweet or spicy? Was it damp or dry? When thousands or tens of thousands of those questions were piled on top of each other, it looked as if she was producing more complex thoughts. It was no different from how a high-level conversation program was actually nothing but a long string of ones and zeros. Like a long line of breaker switches being thrown at once, Fr?ulein Kreutunes set of simple decisions piled up. That giant collection of yes or no answers brought a single idea to her mind. Something was missing. A wet sound could be heard. She was in a back alley where the wall and ground were dirtied by some strange liquid. The hand supporting her weight slipped and she collapsed to the ground. While lying face down with her oddly long silver hair spread out around her, those simple decisions continued. The eye peering out from a gap in her hair spun around with tremendous speed. Her breathing sounded like a broken flute. And then... It doesnt really matter that much I suppose, but what do you think about the fact that an 8 year old was able to sleep until dawn on a plaza bench just because she was tired!? This is one hell of a safe country!! ...Hamazura. If she often falls asleep early because she is too tired, does that mean her dental health is still in trouble? A boy and a girl entered the back alley with loud footsteps. ...No, technically, there was a third person with them. A small girl was asleep on the back of the boy with the dyed hair. Hamazura Shiage. Takitsubo Rikou. Fremea Seivelun. Due to the lack of illumination, they did not notice Fr?ulein Kreutune collapsed in the back alley at first. Hm? What is that!? An especially motivated drunk? I almost stepped on her. And that was why they approached her. Why they carelessly approached her. As she lay face down on the ground with her hair sprawled out around her, her fingers writhed like insects legs. The lips hidden by her bangs trembled...melted...opened. Her mouth grew thinner and thinner, wider and wider. The white line of teeth within glittered like a saw. It had of course not been reported to the general public, but the following report had been made to certain groups: If Fr?ulein Kreutune feels it necessary, she will eat anothers brain to acquire its abilities. She stirred. Someone that could only be described as a monster or a beast slowly rose. Her oddly warm breathing grew more quickly paced. At this point, Hamazura finally frowned in confusion. But it was too late. Using an action that was more like sending her body weight tumbling forward than it was walking, Fr?ulein Kreutune decisively shortened the distance between herself and Hamazura. Then she made it to the distance that could only be called zero. And... While pressing herself up against the concrete wall, she passed by Hamazura and the others. Fr?ulein Kreutune left while making oddly wet sounding footsteps. ...? Hamazura turned around without thinking. And then he realized he had no idea why he even turned around. But... His forehead was covered in sweat. Even in the chilly early morning air, several beads of sweat could be seen. It was only once he had felt them flow down past his nose and to his chin that he noticed the change to his body. His shoulders were trembling. His knees felt like they would give way beneath him. The central axis he needed to keep his balance had been horribly shaken. For the dozen or so seconds it had taken for the woman to pass, his breathing had completely stopped. He was in the same state as a human who had been thrown into a cage with a wild beast. What...was that..? That question filled his mind. He was partially asking about the identity of the woman who had been collapsed in the alley. But... He was also asking about the words she had muttered with her oddly hot breath as she left. The following words had slipped into Hamazuras ears. ...It isnt her. Part 4 How horrible, muttered the Saint named Silvia within a building at night. The windows had been covered so the vast floor contained no illumination. She was a mysterious woman who was wearing a work apron, thick work clothes and pants, and industrial goggles on her forehead. However, her overall silhouette somehow looked like that of a maid. She was in District 12, the district with many religious facilities. The building itself was a standard high-rise building, but this vast floor contained no thresholds and small stones were placed underfoot. The majority of the floor had been turned into a wooden Buddhist temple. However, the entire building was not an exclusively Buddhist facility. A different floor contained a Shinto shrine with a giant torii at the entrance. This really is horrible. I dont think Ive ever seen anything try so hard yet miss so badly, said Silvia in shock as she retrieved a long laundry rope using only snaps of the wrist. It is an unpleasant structure, said Brunhild Eiktobel with a short sigh. She wore a short dress with pants underneath and modern protectors covering her arms, legs, and chest. Her silhouette resembled armor and the addition of decorative feathers on her head made her reminiscent of the maidens of battle from Norse legend. She was a Saint as well. Just the two of them could, based on raw strength alone, smash a magical base that had been created by turning an entire city into a religious fortress. Even though this place was elaborately constructed down to the micron, it does not actually possess a single magical symbol. This is nothing more than a model based on the cycles and patterns needed to efficiently bring people in and take their money. Yeah, but dont you think this was eerily planned out? Silvia shrugged. The action seemed ill suited to that darkness that was void of illumination. A clear line has been drawn in order to avoid having the territories of science and magic cross. Think of it like running barefoot across a minefield. ...Wouldnt it seem oddest to make it across without stepping on a single one? Any sign of Marian Slingeneyer? I think we all knew the answer to that from the moment we found no traps on our way in. Silvia and Brunhild Eiktobel both looked in the same direction. Standing in that direction was a short blonde girl. ... She was Leivinia Birdway. She was the one who had acquired the information from the student handbook she had swiped from Kamijou Touma. She was the boss of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, a magic cabal that claimed to be one of the foremost cabals even in the great magic nation of England. The established theories regarding the difference between a Saints power and a normal persons did not apply to her. Even if she could not stand up to them in a straight competition of strength, she possessed the knowledge and skill to construct an alternative route to their defeat. Silvia casually spoke to that monster. Do you think we were tricked? ...Perhaps. The sole religious district in the city sounded promising, but wax food samples are not enough to fill your stomach. But that boy certainly has grown if he had it in him to be plotting something like this while all that was going on. Cmon, dont get so upset. After tricking him for your own purposes so much, is it really right to get mad when he returns the favor just once? But I do understand why you would be so panicked. This surprise attack has cost you the perfect timing to apologize. I hope youre prepared for a slap powerful enough to sink a warship. At any rate, the information in Kamijou Toumas student handbook had been a miss. They found no sign of Marian Slingeneyer or anyone else from Gremlin. Brunhild Eiktobel calmly asked, What should we do next? We now have to question whether Kamijou Touma even has a connection with Marian Slingeneyer. ...But he had to have a reason to make us think he did. That boy lied in order to distance us from something. What do you think it was? ...So we start with that line of reasoning, hm? It had to be something we would have naturally come across had he not distanced us from it. If we continue along the established rails, we might find something interesting. Part 5 It was 8 AM. That was the exact time the free time of the Ichihanaransai began. It was the time most often used for open campuses and trial enrollments and was said to be directly linked to the number of students wishing to go to each school. It was an important time in which people made a start dash for the school in which they were interested. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Misaka Mikoto ran as quickly as she could. She had fallen victim to a trick of fate. After using various methods to lose Shirai Kuroko who could teleport, she had thought she was perfectly safe to head to that idiots school. It had been the perfect setting to prevent anyone from teasing her and to avoid creating any unnecessary sparks, but her plan had come crumbling down due to a single coincidence. And what was it that happened to her? When she had approached the main entrance of a certain high school for the trial enrollment, she had unexpectedly run into the young lady known as Academy Citys #5 Why? Why did I have to run into that horrible #5 of all people!!!??? The #5. That girl had the Mental Out ability which was the highest ranked mental power. She was a student at Tokiwadai Middle School just like Mikoto. The #5 who had created the largest clique in the school and the #3 who had no interest in cliques whatsoever were often compared and contrasted. (Its always mental attacks vs. physical attacks, clique vs. solitude, long hair vs. short hair, or large breasts vs. small breasts!! Everyone always says whatever they want and I just hate that kind of thinking! And it isnt just that I take issue with that last one!!) Naturally, the two of them did not get along. Naturally, the two of them often got into disagreements. This was someone with whom Mikoto would often butt heads with as they glared at each other, so she could guess just what that treacherous #5 would do if she found out Mikoto had been nervously heading for a trial enrollment in that high school. Waahhh!! Shes controlling all the people around here to chase after me!! With movements that gave a vaguely insect-like impression, men and women both old and young chased Mikoto around. A middle-aged man with a combover who may have been an office worker or a high school teacher began speaking in a domineering fashion as if he was a digital voice recorder being played back. Heh heh heh heh heh heh. Misaka-san, you certainly have become a lot more ladylike since I saw you last. Did you perhaps have something bad to eat? After all, Misaka-san, I never thought I would see that look on your face. Hee hee. Ill kick your ass, you damn old man!! she shouted despite knowing he was only a victim. She wanted to capture Mikoto and tease her into submission, but she did not like taking action for herself. The thought process truly did reek of the #5. But... Mikoto did not have time to put up with the #5s pranks and she would refuse even if she did have the time. As Mikoto approached an overpass, she unhesitatingly jumped over the handrail. As she did, she manipulated magnetism to support her body as if by an invisible rope and swung forcefully underneath the overpass. It was similar to a shell being fired. It could be seen as similar to the action of jumping from a swing multiplied by a hundred or more. As Mikotos small body was fired from the overpass, she glided for about 200 meters without landing. At that point, she manipulated magnetism once more to lower her speed before landing. Her feet ultimately struck the lid of a metal dumpster. A loud clang rang out. Not good, not good... I need to get out of here, muttered Mikoto as she hopped down from the dumpster. But then she frowned. (...Huh? Why was that #5 even here in the first place???) She had no answer to that question. If she waited around too much, she would lose the distance she had gained with her acrobatics. She needed to get away while her pursuers had lost sight of her. And after Misaka Mikoto left, a creaking noise as if from a badly-fit door could be heard. It was coming from the lid to the metal dumpster she had landed on. ...What was that? After opening the heavy lid, Kamijou Touma looked around in confusion. When he had left the hospital, he had been wearing a hospital gown, but now he wore a simple shirt and pants. The costumes used for cafes or haunted houses were not necessarily made from scratch. Sometimes, shirts and pants from cheap clothing stores would be bought in bulk and then altered to create the costumes. But not all of the attempts would go well. And so the dumpsters near schools were often overflowing with cheap clothes that had been unsuccessfully altered. He wanted to pursue Fr?ulein Kreutune, but he could not let each and every Anti-Skill and Judgment member take note of him. And so after changing from his hospital gown into the bare minimum of shirt and pants, Kamijou searched for Fr?ulein Kreutune or Thor while also taking a detour to any dumpster he spotted. He wanted to make his outfit out of failures that looked as normal as possible so that he would look less suspicious. He had been in the middle of that when the Biri Biri meteor shower had suddenly rained down from above. He had just opened the dumpster lid and peered inside, so if he had not immediately dived inside, he may have been sentenced to a guillotine penalty that separated his upper body from his lower body. Come to think of it, I wonder whats happened with Fr?ulein Kreutune. She would probably stand out a lot too. Kamijou arbitrarily grabbed a sports jacket and climbed out of the dumpster. He looked around and headed for a larger road as he put on the jacket. (Ow...Dammit. Blood isnt going to seep out and stain it, is it?) By mere chance, he headed in the opposite direction of Mikoto. Part 6 Last Order refused to eat her breakfast. Mr. Guardian. ...Dont pass everything off to me. Yoshikawa Kikyou and Accelerator were speaking within the apartments dining room. Even though the date had changed, the proper owner of the apartment, Yomikawa Aiho, had not returned. She may have been forced to spend all night on patrol thanks to the Ichihanaransai. Last Order was pushing a plate with a fried egg on it towards Accelerator and a plate with plain toast on it towards Yoshikawa. Today is the Ichihanaransai!! announces Misaka as Misaka puts her hands on her hips!! Just give it a rest and eat your damn breakfast. Gyahh! A landslide of potato salad is being poured onto Misakas plate, says Misa-...!! What does today being the Ichihanaransai have to do with breakfast? Now hurry up and finish your corn soup. Soprano screams continually sounded off within that mansion in the early morning. Last Order had slightly teary eyes as she looked at the piles of food before her eyes. The Ichihanaransai is when they have cultural festivals at all the schools, right? says Misaka as Misaka asks for confirmation. Then Misaka wants to go around to all the food stands at the schools and try the trial enrollments, says Misaka as Misaka announces her plans for the day! And so Misaka needs to have an empty stomach, says Misaka as Mi-... The Ichihanaransai, hm? Oh, Last Order. I thought I told you not to take apart your meat-stuffed bell peppers. As a penalty, you get this bell pepper hell. Noo!! Why are you attacking Misaka with reverse starvation tactics even after she explained her reasoning!? says Misaka as Misaka complains about an extremely luxurious problem!! Accelerator let out a small sigh as he glanced over at the shouting Last Order. He thought for a bit and then spoke to Yoshikawa. Hey, Yoshikawa. Lets pile a whole bunch of them up and-...Hm? What is it? Come to think of it, what do you plan to do about a school for this brat? Thats a good question, said Yoshikawa with a casual sigh. You are just as much of a collection of top rank classified information as she is, but you still have a public identity. After all, you are registered as Academy Citys #1. On the other hand, Last Order is the type that does not even have an Academy City ID and does not officially exist. The production of human clones is banned by international law. ...Her very existence would be a scandal for Academy City, so it would be difficult to get her into a school through the normal process. ... But while Last Order is an individual, she is also a part of the ego of the Misaka Network as a whole. All the knowledge, skills, emotions gained from living in a group, and emotional stimuli that people normally learn in their school life can be gained by exchanging information over the network, so the situation may not be as serious as it seems at first glance. (You really are a researcher when it comes to that, arent you?) Despite thinking that, Accelerator refrained from saying it. Accelerator knew well what end was reached in the pursuit of efficiency and logic. He had been part of those gifted programs in which he sat in the only desk within a large classroom. In that world, the voices of the other children his age he could hear from the halls were treated as nothing but background noise. To put it kindly, he did not see that as a happy world. Yoshikawa seemed to want to abandon the path of the researcher and head down the path of the educator, but she had also once said that she did not have the qualifications. And she was right in a way. She was unable to see the meaning behind supposedly pointless and unnecessary things, so even if she could teach her students to get perfect scores on their tests, it was possible she could not do anything beyond that. What is it? Nothing, replied Accelerator. I have nothing to say to you. I just hope youre prepared to overcome that side of yourself. ? Yoshikawa looked confused, but Accelerator was not the type to give any more help than that. Instead, he spoke to Last Order. Hurry up and eat. Well head out once you do. Gnyaahhh! Misakas empty stomach strategy has failed already...hm? Head out? asks Misaka as Misaka tilts her head in confusion. Its nothing much. I need some winter boots. If there are any schools on the way to the store, I suppose we can stop by. Last Order and Yoshikawa both fell silent. The silence lasted for about a second and a half. It was of course Last Order that began moving first. She stretched her small body as much as she could to forcefully stand up. Misaka makes a dash for the door while reminding you that the early bird gets the worm! says Misa-...!! Accelerator, please grab that child right this instant!! Yoshikawa and Accelerator hurriedly restrained Last Order before she could charge off onto the path of the lost child once more. Part 7 With the broken bone finally healed, the girl known as Misaka Worst had been able to say farewell to the annoying cast. The sense of liberation it gave her was part of the reason that she had uncontrollably immersed herself in the nightlife. That girl with short brown hair who wore a pure white ao dai extracted the focused negative portions of the information network known as the Misaka Network created by linking the brains of almost 10,000 clones. Naturally, it meant that her negative side came out stronger. And so... Kuro-nyaaaaannn. If you have nothing to do, you can play with Misaka. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!??? shouted Kuroyoru Umidori, a girl of about 12 with a mean look in her eyes. As she had been walking across a pedestrian bridge covered in people, an arm had wrapped around her shoulders like she was the victim of a delinquent. Kuroyoru was a Level 4 who could manipulate nitrogen and a portion of her body had been mechanized to make her a cyborg, but that mechanization had backfired since Misaka Worst could manipulate electricity. She was horribly incompatible with the other girl. And on top of that, a ridiculous method involving attaching gum to the internal connection port in her arms left her temporarily unable to use her Bomber Lance. In other words, she was an easy mark. What are you eating? Is that some taiyaki with cheese inside? Misaka went for the cotton candy, but that was a mistake. Misakas hand is all sticky now. The ones made by kids really are crudely made. ...Why are you speaking to me like were friends? What possible topic of conversation could we have in common, you idiot? Eh? But, Kuro-nyan, both you and Misaka have no friends, right? So lets get along together. So were the pathetic girl group!? Dont be ridiculous! Dont you fucking dare put the central figure of the Freshmen in the same category as you!! Instead of being so cold, how about we try for some additional communication to deepen our friendship? For example, Misaka thinks shell rub your head with her hand thats sticky with cotton candy. You monster! I dont see anything but malice in you! Her nightly outings had likely been taking their toll because Misaka Worst yawned without covering her mouth with her arm still around Kuroyorus shoulders. While having fun around the city at night, Misaka has made some lame acquaintances to run errands and drive her around, but Misaka is not sure they really qualify as friends. So lets gain some life experiences together. Youre a military clone whose mere existence violates international law. Should you really be out in public like this? How should Misaka know? It might be causing someone some problems, but that person isnt Misaka. That was when another girl walked up along the pedestrian bridge. The girl had short hair and wore the uniform of the prestigious powers development school known as Tokiwadai Middle School. However, she was not the Original named Misaka Mikoto. She was the military clone labeled Sister #10032 but more commonly known as Misaka Imouto. For some reason she had removed one of her loafers and was holding it in one hand. Kuroyoru spat out, There, you have a friend. Misaka hates, hates, hates clean and tidy people like her. Misaka only wants to speak to people with a nasty look in their eyes. ...Everything you say tells me that you have no intention of being my friend. Misaka Worst ignored Kuroyorus scornful glare and waved to Misaka Imouto with the cotton candy stick. Hey, what are you doing? Its good to see youre as eccentric as ever. Misaka removed her shoes to rest her feet while taking a break on a bench and this black cat climbed inside one, reports Misaka. A closer look at Misaka Imoutos student loafer showed that a black kitten had indeed occupied it like a hermit crab. Even when she turned the shoe upside down and lightly shook it, the cat did not come out. It must have been stretching out its legs and digging in with its claws. The black cat usually acted very nervous, but it seemed very bold today for some reason. It seemed to be saying, This is my house now! I will not let you evict me! With a puzzled look, Misaka Worst said, Couldnt you just drag it out with an iron claw? Go to hell, loner, spits out Misaka in response to this black-hearted monster. Though, since they were both existences controlled by the single large will of the Misaka Network, that opinion had technically once existed within Misaka Imouto as well. Ignoring that response, Misaka Worst said, Three still isnt enough. Is there no one else around here with nothing to do? She glanced around the area and spotted an incredibly disgusted expression. The expression belonged to a girl named Kinuhata Saiai. The expression was directed more at Kuroyoru Umidori than it was at Misaka Worst or Misaka Imouto. Oh? Ohh? Now who could that be? She certainly does have the same nasty look to her though. Nyahah. Those who worked in the underground of the city learned how to keep track of their surroundings on their own. Since someone always glancing around would look suspicious, an expert would avoid doing so because being taken in for questioning or having ones possessions searched would be a problem for them. And a humans field of vision was wider than the average person thought. By learning how to use the entirety of ones almost 160 degree field of vision and also using things like the body of a cell phone, show windows, drink bottles, and the side mirrors of parked cars, one could gather information from the entirety of their surroundings with a bare minimum of motions. But anyone that understood those table manners could spot others who were using them. Basically, you needed to keep an eye on anyone who had a slightly odd focal point to their eyes or who underreacted to a car honking or revving its engine in their blind spot. Misaka Worst had been referring to that type of characteristic when she had referred to the nasty look in the eyes. Incidentally, the normal Sisters tended to be negligent in that kind of effort since they could always gather information from the Misaka Network if something happened. From the look in Kinuhata Saiais eyes, one would have thought she was looking at vomit on a subway platform. So are all the villains super creating their own faction? Misaka likes how this is turning out. With dark people like you around, she could enjoy the Ichihanaransai honestly without holding back, nyan. Part 8 Fremea Seivelun awoke while riding on Hamazura Shiages back. Mnyah...Ah!? Hamazura, where have you been all this time!! In the first place, we cant have you getting lost like that, nyah nyah!! Ow! Dont pull on my hair! And an 8 year old who disappeared all night and went to sleep on a plaza bench has no room to lecture me!! Fremea had been sleeping in the plaza in front of a station in District 7 whereas her room was in a student dormitory in District 13. Normally, they would have used the train to cross district borders, but Hamazura and the others were still walking through District 7. The girl walking next to Hamazura wearing a pink track suit, Takitsubo Rikou, let her gaze wander blankly around the area until it landed on an airship with a giant screen on it. ...Hamazura, that says the trains still are not running. So did some animal really get loose? It seemed some school had gathered different rare pets to create a simple zoo for the Ichihanaransai. However, some giant pet had gotten loose from its mobile cage on the station platform that morning and caused a panic when it got down onto the tracks. I had us following the tracks as we walked, but at this rate were going to reach District 13 before the trains are back up and running. I havent seen any buses either. I think theyve intentionally reduced the number of buses running. That way people are more likely to stop by schools along the way. But then Fremea let out a strange voice from his back. Nyahh. In the first place, Im hungry. Im sure your dorm manager is going to be mad, so shouldnt you be more focused on coming up with an excuse? Then again, theyll probably be mad at us too. Theyll probably be super mad at us. I! Want!! Breakfast!!! I-idiot!! Dont pull at my hair like youre pulling up weeds! A boy of my age shouldnt have to worry about his scalp!! Hamazura was hoping to take off the edge of her hunger at some schools Ichihanaransai food stall, but it seemed they were not quite open yet. He felt like they were losing out, but they ended up heading to a gyudon restaurant that served breakfast meals. I want roast salmon! I want a roast salmon meal!! For toppings, I want grated yam, natto, seaweed salad, jumbo grated radish, a small bowl of pickled vegetables, mango, and pudding... Make it all extravagant, nyah nyah! Fremea, youre supposed to choose only one topping. Takitsubo quickly ordered a sukiyaki-style gyudon. When Fremea saw the small bowl the worker brought out, her eyes opened wide. Thats tiny! What a pitiful woman! Nyahh!! Mh. In the first place, the idea of girls not eating much is just an illusion! Its obvious youre putting up with an empty stomach to preserve your image! Nyah nyah!! ...Hamazura, I need to perform an iron claw on that brat, so scoot over. As Hamazura restrained the track-suit-wearing girl in the busy restaurant, Fremea gave a haughty snort and made a loud announcement. I want rice, miso soup, and salad. Make it a Jumbo 3! Nyah! Three!! And 7 minutes later, a pale-faced Fremea pushed three bowls the size of a watermelon sliced in half towards Hamazura. As she held her mouth as if she was about to explode, she managed to get out a small voice. ...N-nyah. In the first place, the rest is up to you. It looks to me like you did nothing more than scrape a bit off the surface of the bowls. In the end, Hamazura had no choice but to do battle with the ridiculous bowls Fremea had ordered. But once they had all finished eating and were preparing to leave the gyudon restaurant, Fremea suddenly said, Nyah!! In the first place, Im hungry again. Im starving! ...Hamazura, I am going to stuff red pickled ginger in that brats mouth, so scoot over. Hamazura once more had to restrain the track-suit-wearing girl. The three of them somehow managed to leave the gyudon restaurant. It seemed the time had finally come for guests to be let into the schools so the flow of people had clearly changed from before. It seemed they had chosen the worst possible time for breakfast. But Fremea did not care in the slightest about the changes to her surroundings. Im tired now... Hamazura, in the first place, you need to carry me. This brat!! Takitsubo-san! Fremea is at a fickle age!! Actually, why are you even mad this time? Just as a confused look appeared on Hamazuras face, his head was tugged back from Takitsubo like a cat. As Hamazura was knocked back, Fremea casually climbed up his back. Nyah. This is where I can be the most relaxed... That is my spot!! W-wait, Takitsubo!! Please tell me why youre dragging that bus stop sign behind you in one hand!! Suddenly, Fremeas small head shot up from where she was clinging to Hamazuras back. Her gaze accurately captured something she could not afford to overlook. Nyah... She saw a white-haired, red-eyed Level 5, a monster who used a cane and was known as Academy Citys #1. She saw a genius scientist who had helped develop military human clones that violated international law. But Fremea was focused the girl who appeared to be around 10 years old who was walking along between the other two. She saw her. They saw each other. They spotted each others faces, pointed across the street, and shouted out. Its the kid!! What was that, you child!? says Misaka as Misaka lets out a roar!! Part 9 Kamijou Touma leaned up against a roadside tree, casually operated his cell phone, and sighed. ...No good. He had checked the regional message boards in hopes of finding some kind of information on sightings of Fr?ulein Kreutune since she was so strange looking, but he had found nothing. Even though the festival had only just begun, the Ichihanaransai was a huge event. Even now, tons of photos and comments were being uploaded to the internet in rapid succession. The amount of information was likely greater than your average security camera network and it was being updated in real time, but he could find no sign of Fr?ulein Kreutune. (The entire city is dyed in the colors of a cultural festival. Costumes and cosplay are pretty common. Could someone like Fr?ulein Kreutune just be buried under it all?) Kamijou returned to the top page of the search engine and prepared to close the browser. But his thumb froze in place before he did. The top page was linked with a news site, so it had a few headlines listed. They were of course all related to the Ichihanaransai, so any normal incidents had completely disappeared. ... But something bothered him. Kamijou clicked the link labeled see more news below the headlines. In addition to the previous headlines, he was now shown every major piece of recent news. He scrolled down to the bottom and started to catch glimpses of normal news unrelated to the Ichihanaransai such as a convenience store robbery and a case of tax evasion. But... There isnt a thing related to Fr?ulein Kreutune? The windowless buildings armor had been destroyed and at least four unmanned attack helicopters had been shot down. That incident had to be more noteworthy than a simple convenience store robbery. Not to mention all the refrigerated trucks Thor had blown up. Normally, that alone would have caused a huge uproar over a terrorist attack targeting Academy Citys head, the board chairman. So what was going on? Were they suppressing information on the event to prevent any unease and confusion that could delay the Ichihanaransais schedule? Or was someone specifically suppressing all online information regarding Fr?ulein Kreutune specifically? ...Wait. Since he had not found any information that could have been referring to Fr?ulein Kreutune in the comments on normal SNSs and message boards, perhaps it was not a case of no one commenting. It was possible all such comments were being blocked while disguising it as upload errors. If that was the case... (I might be able to use this to my advantage...) Kamijou began operating his phone once more as he glanced through all the comments being made by normal students. Today was the Ichihanaransai. For better or for worse, small bits of news and trouble popped up with incredible frequency. In other words, in a very broad and shallow meaning, there was no spot in which no news was occurring. And yet there was a blank spot in which nothing was coming from. Or rather, an unnatural spot had been created thanks to someone disguising it as an area where nothing was happening. ...Found her!! Kamijou closed his phone with a snap and removed his weight from the roadside tree. He ran down the pathway that had flows of people heading here and there for the events created for the open campuses and trial enrollments. But this was not something he was overjoyed about. If he could do it, so could someone else. He had to contact Fr?ulein Kreutune before Gremlin or Olleruss force found her using the same method. Part 10 How about a maid sandwich? Does anyone want a maid sandwich made by a maid...or technically, a maid apprentice? The drawling voice of a girl sitting seiza-style on top of a drum-shaped cleaning robot rang out within the busy street. She was Tsuchimikado Maika. She had short hair and wore a maid uniform with a long skirt. Like a popcorn salesgirl in a baseball stadium, she held a large case packed with sandwich boxes supported by a wide belt that wrapped around her neck and shoulders. Robot, maid, and part-time salesgirl. The different elements were horribly mixed together. Kumokawa Maria, a classmate from Ryouran Maid School walking next to her, let out a shocked voice. Cmon, Tsuchimikado. Your design has no unity to it. Someone with black hair in ringlet curls and a miniskirt maid uniform colored yellow and black like a bee has no right to say anything. Having your pride hurt is a good thing. You will never strengthen yourself otherwise. ...But its best not to go down that route with no set goal. If you do, you can damage yourself beyond recovery. Come to think of it, dont you have a quota to sell? Where are your maid sandwiches? With products, the label is everything. Yakisoba inexpertly made on the day of a festival seems to taste better than that of a veteran who has been on the street for 30 years. You can say it is 100% organic, or a limited production, or available for a limited time only...there are plenty of methods. The more stickers you can add to it, the better you will do. Your point? I attached a sticker of my face with the message middle school girl maid looking for a future master and caused quite a commotion in just 10 minutes after I started. The teacher smacked me on the head as punishment, but I still managed to quickly free myself from my quota. ...I get the feeling you are the type that would feign food poisoning to get out of work. They had no idea what characters they were, but people in a bear and frog suit passed by. During the large-scale cultural festival that was the Ichihanaransai, strange pieces of artwork could be seen walking around all over the city. Since they could be seen even out on the streets, one could only imagine what it was like at the actual schools. Toy fish flew across the street without a propeller thanks to a balloon using a heating element and air. If one opened their cell phone, they would find AR signs all over the place. And all of it was an attempt to draw in guests to ones own school. While the Ichihanaransai was a giant cultural festival, it was also a time for open campuses and trial enrollments. As those events were directly linked to the number of people who wished to go to each school, the teachers often allowed the students to push the boundaries. But it seems girls are better at drawing in guests than strange technology. A maid does not need a sharp tongue like that. Suddenly, something passed by the two girls. After a few seconds, the maid apprentices quickly turned around at the exact same moment. They were looking at the last glimpse of blonde hair they could see in the crowd. ...Did you see that? Yes, the way she moved her body... She may have been trying to hide it with that work apron and goggles, but that was the real deal... She looked like the British style to me. Is she one of those rumored to work directly for the Royal Family? What is a monster like that doing in Academy City? Has the queen been invited here or something? They tilted their heads in puzzlement, but the real maid was nowhere to be seen. And Silvia the Saint muttered to herself with a puzzled frown. What is with this country? Does the word maid mean something completely different here? Those were just costumes for the festival. Dont think about it too much, said Brunhild Eiktobel who had both the characteristics of a Saint and a Valkyrie. Leivinia Birdway who was walking with them must have been in a bad mood because she had not said a word for a while now. That was when an amateurish voice claiming to be from a private broadcaster came from the giant screen on an airship in the sky. Um, we are here at the beauty contest being held at Eiri Academy High School. To continue...Oh! Here we have something very unique! We have a girl in bikini armor!! This is...um...I think its called a Norse mythology motif, said a female voice likely belonging to the contestant. I think they are called Valkyries, but Ive only ever seen them in RPGs. To be honest, I dont see how this armor provides any defense with my stomach exposed like this, but its all sorts of sexy. And as you can see, Im very heavenly and divine. An ominous sound like an old car being crushed by a giant press could be heard. It was the sound of a street sign pole being crushed in Brunhild Eiktobels right hand. Oh, whats this? What the hell do they think they are doing!? Its just a festival costume, responded Silvia with a grin, but the veins on Brunhilds temple only popped out further. I get it worst when it comes to having that kind of image forced on me... In fact, there are even some in the magic world! There are self-proclaimed maidens of battle that dance around all year in a bikini like some kind of pervert!! But I doubt the Valkyries would always be illustrated as beauties if no one had ever wanted them to be sexy. And they married warriors in legend. Not to mention serving alcohol and using their bewitching dance to heal the hearts of the dead warriors in-...Okay, okay. I wont say anything more. Silvia raised her hands playfully when she was about to become the target in a game of human whack-a-mole using a road sign as the hammer. At the same time, Tsuchimikado Motoharu slowly pulled his hand out of his pocket from where he stood at the end of a line for a popcorn stand a bit away. He was a normal student of Academy City as well as a spy for both the magic side and science side, but the current situation was hopeless even if he used every weapon at his disposal. (Cmon, cmon, cmon. Dont make me sweat like that.) His machine pistol and magic origami were no more valuable than pieces of candy in that situation. He let out a slow sigh and watched those monsters of the magic world continue away from his stepsister. (Two Saints and the boss of one of Britains leading magic cabals. Theres no way I could defeat them in a straight fight.) But he was the kind of boy who would still do all he could to let his little sister escape in that situation. Part 11 A wet sound could be heard. There was a certain narrow area that seemed to be crushed between two buildings where not a single ray of light fell for even a single second during the day. In that area, someone was headed for the wide main road with a hand against the wall and their barefoot feet audibly crushing something underfoot. A whistling sound of labored breathing could be heard. She was Fr?ulein Kreutune. She must have fallen over time and again while walking because her white dress-like outfit was covered in mud. Her hair was in complete disarray. Very, very small yet hot breaths leaked from her mouth. An artificial electronic tone sounded from behind her. It was the shutter sound effect of a cell phone. One of the students walking along had decided to snap a picture because of how odd she looked. But the student then frowned. The data had been damaged during the upload and by some miracle the original master data had been lost too. The same thing had happened dozens of times already, but the student had no way of knowing it. Fr?ulein Kreutune had no way of knowing it either. And it did not matter if she did. Her gaze was fixed on only one thing. It was fixed on the main road that was filled with sunlight. Several people were standing on the sidewalk talking rather than following any of the flows of people. One was a white-haired, red-eyed Level 5 with a cane. One was an intellectual woman who would have looked good in a lab coat. One was a delinquent boy with his hair dyed brown. One was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl clinging to the delinquent boys back. One was a girl in a pink track suit. But Fr?ulein Kreutune was not looking at them. She was looking at the girl with them who had short brown hair and appeared to be around 10 years old. ...you, whispered Fr?ulein Kreutune. She heard a clattering sound. It was the sound of the student who had casually taken her picture dropping his cell phone from his trembling fingers. He could hardly be blamed. Found you. Very, very shallow yet hot breaths spilled from the edges of her lips. And those edges silently melted like cheese. The mouth split wider and wider along her face. It was as if she was preparing to swallow some large object. Found you. Part 12 ...Found you, muttered a different figure from a building rooftop. He was a slender boy wearing a high-class brand-name jacket. He was supposed to be pure Japanese, but his body was oddly white. Individual items such as his hair and clothes had a bit of coloration left, but this was nothing more than a gradation of color. There was no true distinction between his clothes and skin. The coloration had a conspicuous unnaturalness to it as if it was all added on top of a single item. He was Kakine Teitoku. He was Academy Citys #2 Level 5. Thanks to an intense battle in the past and the horrible research performed afterwards, he had lost over half of his internal organs. But he had turned the situation around by using his Dark Matter ability to make up for all of his lost organs. Found you, found you, found you. So thats Fr?ulein Kreutune. When he opened his mouth, a deep darkness could be seen that clashed with the pale coloration of the rest of his body. An oozing dark coloration could be seen filling his eye sockets as well. Even though this added to the number of colors making up his body, it created a bizarre balance that exacerbated the empty instability of his appearance. His fingers and nails were made of the same whiteness, so the extremities of his flesh were much too unnatural to be human. In one such hand, he held a cell phone. Unlike Gremlin and Olleruss group, Kakine was pursuing Fr?ulein Kreutune as a member of the science side rather than the magic side. He was to quickly capture that which had been sealed in the windowless building and seal it back from whence it had come. And he was expected to do his very best to accomplish that task. However... That doesnt matter to me. Im just going to do this the way I want to. Yes, yes, agreed someone on the other end of the phone. She was a woman wearing a cheap suit and a lab coat. The woman claimed to be a Kihara and she replied in an incredibly carefree manner despite being well aware of the risks. Despite everything she knew, she showed no concern in her response. Do this however you like. And try to smash even the worst case hypotheses we Kiharas have come up with. That is what we hope for. ...This destruction is sure to have wonderful meaning to science. I am sure of it. Oh? With that arbitrary response, Kakine Teitoku let go of the cell phone. The delicate device was easily smashed when it struck the rooftop floor. His gaze was not following his top priority target of Fr?ulein Kreutune. He was looking at something else nearby. He was looking at a certain person standing in the middle of the crowd. Kakine silently watched Academy Citys #1, that monster known as the strongest. That strongest esper was the one who had once defeated Kakine Teitoku and smashed over half of his internal organs. ...Lets get this started. He snapped his fingers. Something silently stood up from where it had been waiting nearby. There was one to the right. There was one to the left. And it did not end there. Figure after figure stood up. The buildings entire rooftop was filled in no time at all. No. That was not all. It did not end with that one building. It covered the entire area. Building rooftops all over the place were filled with figures. They were all white. They had the exact same coloration as Kakine Teitoku...or more specifically, as the Dark Matter he had used to replenish his lost flesh. He cracked his neck. As the #2 looked down at the peaceful world below, he muttered the same words once more. Lets get this started. Part 13 The gates of hell opened. Amid all the many goals and objectives, the one that pulled the trigger was Fr?ulein Kreutune. She brought her hands to the ground along with her feet and shot out of the back alley while running like a carnivorous beast. She weaved through the gaps between people in the crowd and sometimes even ducked between their legs as she accurately charged along the quickest path to Accelerator, Hamazura, and the rest. He was in the way. That was the only reason she slammed into Hamazura, causing him to double over. It had not been a punch or a kick; she had simply charged straight into him. The violent tackle form the side struck him at the middle of his body and sent him flying several meters through the air. Nyah...!? Fremea had still been on his back, so she appeared to remain motionless in midair for a moment like the top of a daruma otoshi game. Fr?ulein Kreutunes head turned. Her unnaturally split mouth and brightly glittering eyes turned straight towards the relatively low position of Last Orders head. Huh...? Last Order let out a confused voice as she clung to Yoshikawas leg after the woman stepped forward to protect her. She recognized the face hidden by that long, long silver hair. But... Gah!? Fr?ulein Kreutune ignored Yoshikawa who stood between them and prepared to charge at Last Order like a spider attacking its prey, but then... The sole of Accelerator''s shoe sank mercilessly into her face. One of his hands was at his neck where he had already flipped the switch for his choker-style electrode. He had released his power. Fly, was his one merciless word. The #1 Level 5 could manipulate any and all vectors, and now he took action to send Fr?ulein Kreutune flying back with the same momentum with which she had been charging in their direction. The human body was not a simple thing. Just as many different changes could be seen when watching a rubber ball hit a wall in slow motion, extreme burden was put on the internal portions of the human body when it was forced into extreme movements. Burdens to the spine could be especially bad, and the question about this strike was whether the damage would stop at just a herniated disk or not. But for Accelerator, this was being cautious. He was holding back. If he manipulated the electric currents in the nerves or the flow of blood in the veins, he could cause a human being to literally explode from the inside. However... !!!!!! Fr?ulein Kreutunes back rotated three full times. Her lower body stayed exactly where it was and her upper body alone spun around. A horrible sound came from within her body, but not a single drop of blood was shed and her expression did not show an ounce of pain. (...What? She forced her body to rotate in order to eliminate the backwards momentum!?) Her body was still twisted around like a spring within her white dress. And despite what had happened, Fr?ulein Kreutune did not so much as glance at Accelerator. That #1 monster was of no consequence to her. Her eyes were focused solely on her target. She kept her gaze on Last Order. Her lips writhed. Words slipped out along with her hot breath. Found you. And after forcefully turning aside Accelerators counterattack, Fr?ulein Kreutune continued along the shortest path to Last Order. The look in Accelerators eyes changed. This time, he did not hesitate. He used everything that made him Academy Citys #1 in an attempt to completely kill this attacker in the slight bit of time he had left. But then... Wait!! Dont hurt Misakas friend!! says Misaka as Misaka shouts a warning!! He heard that girls voice. This subconsciously dulled the #1s movements. His white fingertips just barely missed reaching Fr?ulein Kreutune. And her mouth... That mouth that was split oddly wide... It opened. And the instant after that... With the sound of a great blast, Fr?ulein Kreutunes upper body was bent to the side in an L-shape. With her waist at the center, Fr?ulein Kreutunes body was bent forcefully to the right. Since her lower body still stood straight up from the ground as before, it was a truly strange sight. Several events had gone by in quick succession. It felt like time had stopped. But finally everything began to move once more. When the dumbfounded students in the area finally realized the blast had come from a shell fired along a path that made its way through the gaps between them, an explosive panic suddenly fell over the crowd. People let out meaningless screams and people fled every which way, paying no heed to whether they were on the road or the sidewalk. Car horns blared and, in some places, people fell like small lines of dominos. ... Accelerator let another kick fly towards Fr?ulein Kreutune who was still bent. This time she was unable to turn aside the momentum. She bounced and rolled for several dozen meters while still in her jumbled up state. And then Accelerator looked in the direction the shell had come from. He had assumed something like a tank had fired it...but he was wrong. It had come from a giant white rhinoceros beetle that was 15 meters long. Its form was constructed solely out of the curves, both gentle and sharp, found in biology. Its surface was covered with the same smooth luster as a new car. However, its eyes let out an eerie green light and the tip of its thick horn shook. The thick horn was hollow as if its core had been removed, so that was likely the barrel. Despite having fired a shell, nothing like smoke could be seen coming from the barrel, so it may have used some special means of firing. It was an eerie shade of white. It was a familiar shade of white. The rhinoceros beetles armor opened up. Giant thin wings that had been folded up over its back spread out and began vibrating at high speed. Those vibrations produced something like a voice. Do you remember me? When Accelerator saw that bizarre material, saw the way the light and sound around it was bent along strange vectors, and most of all heard the voice produced by the vibration of the wings, he spoke as if spitting out the words. Thats a voice I didnt even bother to remember. Well, it doesnt really matter. I thought you were a fairy tale bastard before, but this is almost laughable. I am aware of that. New screams filled the air. Accelerator could see the students who had tried to flee down other roads to escape the main road returning to the main road as if they were being pushed aside. They were followed by several more beetles. They appeared from all over the place. The giant pure white rhinoceros beetles used their 6 legs to move out to the main road. I wont bother to ask whether you can fight while protecting your allies. ...I do not care about anyone but you. It doesnt matter to me if anyone else is caught up in this or if they are blown to pieces. ...What a tedious bastard, spat out Accelerator. If the beetles opened fire with their shells from multiple directions at once, he would make sure to protect at least Last Order and Yoshikawa Kikyou. He could protect the other people there by removing himself from the location. He could also protect them from stray shots by controlling the entire location like a billiards board, but it was still best to keep them from getting involved in the first place. And that meant it would be best to completely lose the other boy, drop Last Order and Yoshikawa off at some safe place, and then return alone to confront Kakine Teitoku. With that plan in mind, Accelerator looked up toward a building rooftop, viewing it as a wall he needed to surmount. However... ... Did you really think that was all? Accelerator could see human figures standing on the edge of the buildings rooftop. There were enough of them to completely cover the edge. Completely identical figures covered almost all of the building rooftops along the road. So you decided to overwhelm me with numbers since you know you cant defeat me in straight fight? With espers, quality matters more than quantity. As one of the Level 5s, I thought you would know that. Did you really think that was all? The white rhinoceros beetles wings whispered the same words once more. Did you think I merely deployed tons of puppets made of Dark Matter? Did you think that was all the threat I could muster? Cmon now. The threat approaching before your eyes is known as the #2. Of course it isnt going to end that easily. You cant mean... Those words were muttered by Yoshikawa, not Accelerator. It may have been her experience as an Academy City researcher that allowed her to more keenly grasp the bizarreness of that possibility. But the beetle continued speaking nonetheless. It continued speaking the truth. I am able to reproduce my own organs. And the brain is no exception. And so it is not difficult to make an implementation for my Dark Matter ability. After all, the brain is nothing more than one of a human beings internal organs. As if in response to his voice, giant wings appeared on the backs of the countless figures standing on the building rooftops. Although at this stage, its closer to creating some kind of cyborg than it is a Personal Reality. By producing ejection points for my power, they can all wield the power I distribute evenly. And even if the basic principle is different, I can still mass produce Dark Matter as a result. Then again, Ill probably be able to construct full Personal Realities and make implementations of other peoples powers before long. The multiple rhinoceros beetles created a circle around Accelerator and began to slowly approach. The countless white figures on the rooftops spread their wings wide in preparation to immediately crush Accelerator if he tried to take any kind of action. Now lets begin the deadly battle. If this is enough to overwhelm you, then thats that. If you are able to push back, I will have captured that many more varieties of possibility. Your strength will be directly used to level me up infinitely. ...I look forward to finding out when the eternal chain of death will end. The #1 could destroy all. The #2 could produce all. Offense and defense. That was the type of fight this was. But Accelerator had an Achilles heel. To use his #1 esper power, he needed to use his choker-style electrode to receive calculation support from the Misaka Network. That choker-style electrode that connected them had a battery and that battery gave him a 30 minute time limit. The biggest danger for him was wasted time. This was a never-ending battle yet he could not afford to hold back. That sort of situation could cost him his life. (Hey,) Accelerator whispered to Yoshikawa Kikyou next to him. (Im going to destroy the ground with my foot. A subway tunnel runs underneath. The rest of you need to use the tunnel and the passageways for workers to escape.) (What about you?) (Ill stay here to crush these eyesores.) He did not wait for a response. With an explosive roar, the ground completely crumbled away within a 10 meter radius of Accelerator. Yoshikawa Kikyou, Last Order, Takitsubo Rikou, Fremea, and Hamazura Shiage were within that range and they fell down below. Only Accelerator, the one who had caused it, shot straight up like a rocket. Once he reached the exact same height as the nearest building rooftop, the #1 and the #2s eyes met. And then everything began to move. Do it, said the #2. In the next instant, the #2s whiteness rushed in from all directions toward the #1s whiteness. Part 14 Nyahh!! Fremea let out a short scream as she rolled down into the subway tunnel. Yoshikawa stood up and tapped on the hard floor with her foot. You can see the good side of that boy in how he makes sure we dont sprain our ankles in the fall. If only he would let that side out more often. Meanwhile, Hamazura had not fared so well. He had not been injured in the collapse the #1 had caused, but he had still been struck by Fr?ulein Kreutune earlier. He was still suffering from a dull pain like a hammer had been swung down on his ribs. Hamazura, are you okay? asked Takitsubo. I-I couldnt feel much worse... Fremea also looked over worriedly at Hamazura, but she then felt a tug on her clothes. She looked over to find Last Order puffing out her cheeks. Hey, child, says Misaka as Misaka makes up her mind to speak with you. Nyah, what is it, kid? When Fremea replied, Last Order switched over to whispering mode for some reason. That lady was the King of the Informed from yesterday, wasnt she? says Misaka as Misaka checks to be sure. I-in the first place, I dont think someone as kind as her would hurt Hamazura!! ...Huh? Nyah, nyah. Attention everyone, said Yoshikawa as she clapped her hands to gather attention. That boy bought this time for us at his own risk. Whatever our individual issues may be, we need to escape from the #2. No argument here, replied Hamazura while noticing a distinct flavor of iron in his mouth. That was the #1 and the #2. I can instinctually tell both of them are bad news. Whether they intend to or not, just being in the same place as them could get us smashed to pieces. Its obvious what would happen if we tried to support him without any real plan. So youre saying you would go back if you could come up with a plan? asked Yoshikawa for confirmation, but Hamazura irresponsibly averted his gaze. For someone he thought of as a stranger, that #1 always seemed to be involved in the major crossroads of his life. And it was happening again. At any rate, they needed to escape. After that, he would observe from afar in hopes of finding an opening in the #2s defenses and provide support if he found anything. With a general plan in mind, Hamazura and the others began walking through the dark tunnel. But then they heard an odd buzzing noise coming from deep in the darkness. It sounded like the vibrations of some large device operating. But that was not what it was. Hamazura had seen what caused that noise not long before. It was coming from giant wings beating the air. The rhinoceros beetles!! As soon as Hamazura came to that realization, the vibrations of the air changed to a voice a human could understand as if a radio dial had been tuned to a proper station. Checking oral order. Destroy any and all elements that obstruct our mission. ...Beginning value conversion for shift to autonomous tactics order. Unlike before, the voice sounded like that of a recorded operator. And it was not just a single voice. Compilation of autonomous tactics order complete. Primary objective determined. Checking effectiveness of eliminating the reason behind Fr?ulein Kreutunes actions. Battlefield determined, target action time determined, ideal ammunition expenditure determined. Preparations for attack on Last Order and surrounding people complete. Executing autonomous tactics order under additional rule requiring minimal damage to surrounding environment. Several green lights glittered in the darkness. As they slowly approached, the silhouettes of several giant rhinoceros beetles grew visible. The giant cannons taking the form of thick horns made grinding noises as they readjusted their aim. In that tunnel, the fragments and shock wave from the shells would likely kill all of them no matter who the beetles aimed at. And the beetles showed no sign of taking that into consideration. ...!! The one who received the greatest shock was Fremea Seivelun. She had once been targeted by an oddly-shaped powered suit operated by the Freshmen. That battle had also used a narrow tunnel as its stage. An unpleasant sweat quickly covered her entire face. Strength left her legs and half of her vision seemed to be covered by something like fuzzy static. Fremea was not even aware of the fact that her breathing had grown extremely erratic. The five rhinoceros beetles continued their approach nevertheless. Whether it was right or not, that group of weapons would use their cannons to blow away whatever target met the conditions they had been given. Even if Fremea and the others tried to turn tail and run, there was only so much human legs could do. No matter how much they struggled, they could not escape the beetles cannons. The first wave would blow them all to pieces, leaving behind a horrible scene in which no one would be able to tell which limbs belonged to which person. That was what should have happened. But... ...K-ksh...? One of the rhinoceros beetles that had been moving as accurately as a machine let out a strange noise. It seemed some problem had arisen in the movements of the giant wings producing the artificial voice and that had caused an error in the voice conversion. What was that? said Takitsubo Rikou as she blinked a few times. No, it was not an issue with the hardware. The source of the problem was in the software signal that produced the artificial voice. Rechecking oral order. Destroy any and all elements that obstruct our mission. ...Beginning value conversion while breaking order down word by word. Rechecking while searching for changes in meaning based on the word combination. The beetles cannon began to sway slightly, unrelated to its targeting information. The movement resembled a human tilting its head in confusion. Focusing on term mission. Requesting help from all accompanying models. More information needed to set objective of autonomous strategy order. The five rhinoceros beetles all spread their wings at once. They vibrated those wings at high speed to create human language. Isnt that obvious? That was what the other beetles seemed to say in the readiness with which they replied to their malfunctioning friend. The objective of the current mission is to defeat Fr?ulein Kreutune and eliminate the objective behind her actions. The objective of the current mission is to eliminate anyone who would obstruct the battle between Academy Citys #1 and #2. The objective of the current mission is to secure the battlefield. The objective of the current mission is to eliminate the recent continuing threat to Academy City by defeating all dangerous elements. The objective of the current mission is to protect the residents of Academy City from all currently anticipated dangerous elements. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. The rhinoceros beetles stopped moving for a moment. But they took action shortly thereafter. The five rhinoceros beetles all rotated at once with enough force to send orange sparks flying from the concrete ground. Then, with their cannon barrels pressed against each other at close range, they unhesitatingly began firing. Part 15 Oh? A woman in a cheap suit and lab coat let out a puzzled voice as she monitored the situation on a laptop. Ahh, ahh, ahh... I guess their interpretations while converting the oral command were all different. After all, the official reason for Kakine Teitokus release was so that he could protect the peace of Academy City. If one took that at face value, it was not too surprising if the #2 himself was set as an obstruction to that objective. Shit. Is this a form of narrowing down ideas? When you go on a diet or go shopping, you plan it out by bouncing different ideas off each other to strengthen your imagination. And to increase your odds of success. This isnt enough to say that thing is opposing Kakine Teitoku. But this could still be bad. But at the same time, the reflection of her face in the laptops screen showed no sign of distress. Her expression was one of pure enjoyment. ...This is not good at all. Part 16 An odd creaking noise came from Fr?ulein Kreutune where she lay collapsed on the road. Her upper body had been rotated around three full times and then it had been bent over in an L shape thanks to a shell from the side. Her body was gradually returning to normal. She looked like a doll made of rubber or plastic that had been balled up in someones hand and then let go. ...! Found you!! came a sudden voice. It came from a boy with spiky hair. ... As her bodys natural power slowly spun her around, Fr?ulein Kreutune stared at the spiky-haired boy. Gh...bh!? That was all it took. All of the oxygen in the boys lungs left his mouth and all strength left his body. He was unable to stop the forward momentum he had built up while running, so the spiky-haired boy slid towards Fr?ulein Kreutune as he collapsed. His lips moved. ...Stop...idiot... This...no time to...doing this...!! ? A tinge of puzzlement entered Fr?ulein Kreutunes gaze. As her body rotated further, she was no longer able to keep the spiky-haired boy in view. That must have irritated her because she forced her upper body around to its normal orientation. ...Hurry and...run away... Poke poke. ...The ones...after you...will be here soon... Sniff sniff. ...And could you do something about this...!? shouted Kamijou as he swung his arm blindly. The fingers of that hand touched a car battery that had fallen out of a car that had been knocked on its side. To be more specific, he touched the batterys terminals. An ominous sparking noise exploded out. Kamijous body bent back unnaturally and he convulsed for a few seconds. But this also eliminated whatever it was that was eating into him from within his body. The day before, Thor had told him a high voltage electric current had destroyed the small particles that caused it. Bwah!! Suddenly, the spiky-haired boys eyes opened wide as if he had forgotten how to use the oxygen that filled his lungs. On top of that, the way he had fallen had increased the oozing pain in his side to a much more intense pain. He was unable to stand up, so he simply stared up into the blue sky. Dammit...The ones causing a commotion up above have gone off somewhere too. I wanted to help out if I could. ? Fr?ulein Kreutune looked straight up. Only the normal scenery was left; the strange #1 and #2 were nowhere to be seen. Anyway, lets get out of here. Gremlin, Ollerus...and I guess Academy City, too? Anyway, there are a ton of people after you. If you stay here where a big commotion occurred, theyll find you in no time. She was still staring up into the blue sky. As she had been trapped in the windowless building for so very, very long, that must have been a bizarre and strange sight...but that was not the reason. For one thing, Fr?ulein Kreutune did not possess a system for creating proper emotions. She simply needed time to think. Finally, she spoke. I cannot go. Why not? Even if you have some goal of your own, you need to hide at least for now. Do you have any idea how problematic a place this is for you to be? This is not on...that level. Fr?ulein Kreutune sat up as she continued to speak. The motion was stiff and awkward. It was as if she was resisting something. It was as if she would charge off somewhere if she relaxed even for a second. My thoughts... My decisions... This is not...on that level. ...What do you mean? Function, she said calmly. Or perhaps she would have let out a meaningless scream that drowned out all else if she did not forcibly slow her speech down like that. I have gained that...function. It is the...same as how you breathe...or blink. I will...eat that girls...brain. I have gained a function...that means I must eat it... Kamijou heard an odd sound. It was coming from her body. She was trembling. Part 17 Hamazura Shiage used both hands to cover his ears with all his strength. Even so, the roar within the tunnel was enough to feel like it was tearing apart his eardrums. The sound of the shells would have been loud enough at the best of times, but the close quarters and enclosed environment of the tunnel made it much worse. Given the circumstances, he counted himself lucky that none of his organs were injured. What the hell, what the hell, what the hell, what the hell!? If they were gonna start fighting each other, couldnt they have done it before approaching us!? What are they trying to do!? Nyah... I feel dizzy... The five rhinoceros beetles were not firing at Hamazura and the others. Hamazura was not sure if those monsters were living creatures or just weapons, but they had pressed their cannon barrels against each other as if creating a ring and then unhesitatingly begun firing repeatedly at each other at point blank range. While holding her own ears just like Hamazura was, Yoshikawa Kikyou grimaced and said, It looks like their friend/foe identification and destruction priority order have been thrown out of order thanks to a difference in interpretation over their orders. But how? The explosive noises continued. One of the white rhinoceros beetles that must have weighed several tons was torn from the ground and blown in a large parabolic arc. It flipped upside down so the area of armor meant to store its wings was pressed up against the concrete and subway track. Wah!! Hamazura, move back, said Takitsubo. Immediately after he was pulled backwards by a surprisingly strong tug on his clothes, the upside-down beetle slid into the spot he had been standing in. Either their opinions had coincided or they were simply going to destroy the enemy they could because the other four beetles all aimed at the single upside-down beetle. As the rhinoceros beetles six legs wriggled around, it forcibly vibrated the wings trapped between itself and the ground to create an artificial voice that could reach Hamazura and the others who were nearby. ...What was I trying to do? it asked. How the hell should I know!? Dont come on out here if youre just going to get confused!! I suppose so. I agree that this is something I should decide for myself. While still on its back, the beetle beat its thin wings against the ground to rotate around. Using that method, it accurately aimed its thick horn. Its target was Last Order who stood behind Hamazura. Nyah!! Fremea immediately moved forward to cover Last Order who was clinging to Yoshikawas leg. But... The shell never came. While still on its back, the rhinoceros beetle vibrated its thin wings to create a voice once more. Activating order wizard. Validity of oral order destroy any and all elements that obstruct our mission in question. No threat detected in designated individuals. Continuation risks leading to destruction of entire order list. Wh-what? What do you mean by that? I am saying I will save you in order to protect my order list from a fatal contradiction. The other four beetles took action. Without producing any flames or smoke, shells bigger around than an arm were fired from the tip of the barrel that looked like a thick horn. Immediately afterwards, the beetle that had been lying upside down near Hamazura and the others twisted itself around and fired from that position. One of the pillars supporting the subway tunnel was smashed to pieces and a shower of fragments fell in the path of the shells fired by the other four beetles, altering their trajectory. At the same time, the one rhinoceros beetle used the recoil of firing that shell to leap over Hamazura and the others heads, rotate halfway in midair, and land with its six legs clawing at the concrete ground. Protecting system and setting up new position from a different angle. Checking to confirm no contradictions were produced by battling fellow beetles. Its giant thin wings vibrated, producing an artificial voice. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 will now protect you in order to optimize the oral order from Kakine Teitoku. With a sound like a cathode ray tube, the color of Rhinoceros Beetle 05s eyes changed from green to red. It changed from a symbol of safety to the representative color of warnings. It may have been nothing more than a bug created when it converted the oral order given by a human into a numerical order script. It may have been a conversion error wanted by neither Kakine Teitoku nor the woman known as a Kihara. But... Even if it came from a mistake, some form of direction had appeared within Rhinoceros Beetle 05. Between the Lines 4 Now then. A lot has been said about the woman known as Fr?ulein Kreutune, but who knows if any of it is true or not. It may be true. It may not. After all, the source of this information is documents from hundreds of years ago. History can become twisted by the simplest of things. But at the same time, things that were thought to be nonsense for the longest time can be found to have a scientific basis hundreds of years later. What is true? What is false? Are the things thought to be true actually false? Are the things thought to be false actually true? The woman known as Fr?ulein Kreutune definitely did exist. And her abnormality has been demonstrated. So what deserves the most attention? If all of the documents on her and all the data and values obtained about her are compared, which parts will stand out as odd? This is the turning point. The monsters mouth has only just opened. Volume 6, 6: Monster, Monster, Monster, Monster. All_Bad_Stars. Volume 6, Chapter 6: Monster, Monster, Monster, Monster. All_Bad_Stars. Part 1 The cityscape of Academy City was arranged to look tidy. Whether they were from 10 years ago, 5 years ago, the present, 5 years in the future, or 10 years in the future, people of any era would likely have a refreshingly neat impression of the citys look. And that meant buildings had to be rebuilt frequently. After all, the city was surrounded by a wall and had a limited surface area to build on. Buildings were rebuilt to use the land more efficiently as well as simply to perform tests of the latest technology. Of course, various types of technology were used to keep anyone from feeling that the city was under construction or being prepared. The peoples impression of the cityscape was simply that it was nicely arranged or neat and tidy. Even so, buildings that were under construction were quite common. As were abandoned buildings with all people and equipment removed to prepare for construction. A few official members of Gremlin were currently in a room of one such abandoned building in District 7. Marian Slingeneyer was hiding within that simple rectangular space that lacked even any carpet or wallpaper. She had originally had her headquarters in a District 7 hotel, but that hiding place had been revealed to the public on an Anti-Skill wanted poster, so she had moved to the abandoned building to prevent any surprise attacks by her powerful enemies such as Ollerus. In reality, Kamijou Touma and the Lightning God Thor had used a few tricks to make that happen, but Marian was not aware of this. She had no idea that she was not actually wanted by Anti-Skill or that the wanted poster she saw had been created by Kamijou and Thor. ...!! Her head shot up as if it had been struck. She had heard an explosive noise. It was a sound too deep to be a gunshot that she felt reverberating deep in her gut more than she heard it with her ears. It was not the sound of an unfortunate traffic accident or a building being demolished. It was a characteristic roar that that was oozing with killer intent all the way down to the planning stage. It was more than enough to put her on guard. She looked out a window that had no glass inside. Instead of white or black smoke, a long, thin stream of sand-colored dust stretched up towards the sky. It was not far away. It was only about 500 to 700 meters away. Marian stuck a hand into the side of her overalls and pulled out a saw made of gold. And she smiled. This was the smile of one who knew the taste of blood. Okay, now who was that!? Olleruss group? Someone from Academy City? Or maybe well get lucky and it was Fr?ulein Kreutune herself. At any rate, this is no time to be sitting around!! In response, the girl(?) in the shape of a black drum named Mj?lnir noisily shook in one corner of the room. And Thor gritted his teeth so no one could see while holding a convenience store bag full of the block-shaped handheld food and mineral water he had been tasked with purchasing. (Theyre making more annoyingly noticeable actions.) Thor (and Kamijou Touma) had played a trick on Marian in their attempt to keep the monsters of Olleruss group and the monsters of Gremlin from running across each other. That way they could prevent the enormous damage the city would suffer if those two sides clashed. Unlike Kamijou who could only negate supernatural powers, it was obvious nothing good could come from having two ridiculously enormous powers clash. (And after we went to so much effort to fake that wanted poster to make her afraid she would be tracked by Olleruss group.) The Lightning God Thor was in charge of direct combat, Marian Slingeneyer provided support from behind the scenes with equipment and the like, and Mj?lnir was a generator that was overly attached to Marian. If they sensed a moderate threat, the proper course of action would be for Marian and Mj?lnir to stay in the hideout while Thor headed out to gather information or engage the enemy in combat. That method had succeeded so far. But... No matter how elaborate a hideout you create, its no good if they find it. Thor, Mj?lnir. You two make a scene while I gather some people to use as materials! A cornered rat will bite a cat. Marian was being cautious to avoid having to fight Olleruss group, Academy City, or even both at the same time, but that was also why she felt the need to quickly take action if it was needed. He who attacks first wins. The very fact that she saw their enemies as formidable meant she felt a strong desire to use overwhelming violence rather than to wait and go with the flow. The black drum shook back and forth. That girl(?) was always in support of Marian. If nothing was done, she would get worked up along with Marian Slingeneyer and cause an explosion. Thor was the only one who could oppose Marians idea. But he was also the one who had tricked her. If he tried to change the flow of events, it could considerably increase the risk of her suspecting him. It did not matter if she had no basis for suspicion. It was completely possible actions taken on unfounded suspicions could suddenly drive Thor into checkmate. (This isnt how I like doing things.) Hey, Marian. Who do you think it is? I dunno. The worst possibility is Olleruss group, but the other options are plenty dangerous too. Its possible that unknown monster known as Fr?ulein Kreutune has noticed what we are doing and has come to attack us in order to prevent us from pursuing her. If this is someone trying to attack us, they wouldnt cause a commotion before setting foot in this room. Maybe their information isnt very detailed, so theyre doing this to search us out. In that case, reacting is playing right into their hands. Lets wait for them to move on and then take a preemptive strike on their exposed backs. That would be best. Im in charge of direct combat, so listen to what I say. The first strike is important. Are you the attacker or the defender? Are you the champion or the challenger? Your entire position in the battle can change. Come on now, Thor-chan. Said Marian while spinning her gold saw around. Thats exactly why we need to move now. If we want to start off with the upper hand, the last thing we want to do is stay huddled up here. Even if their information is lacking in detail, they will be gathering more information as time goes on. Just because were standing still here doesnt mean the enemy is going to wait around for us. These opponents are bad enough already. We need to crush them before they have a chance to level up. The drum made a clattering noise as it shook. The girl(?) was not agreeing or disagreeing; she was simply supporting Marian. Thor glanced over at the dust outside the window. Academy City has a lot of different problems. This might have nothing to do with us. Well see whether it does or not when we go check. And what if going to check reveals your location? This could fill in the details our enemies are lacking. Marian said nothing more. With a snap of the wrist she was using to spin the saw, the tone of the whooshing it made as it sliced through the air suddenly rose. It had a similar nuance to snapping her fingers or whistling. Naturally, it was Mj?lnir who responded. Thor, they have no information on you. I have already been tainted since information has gotten out on me, so I will head out. If you still want to talk about being cautious, go find a new hideout for us. Thor let out a sigh. His strategy to stop her with words had failed. The decoy threat from the previous stage of his plan may have affected her too much. Understood. Thor simply gave an honest response. He had given up. And then... He unhesitatingly swung his leg up from behind and kicked Marian Slingeneyer in the side of the head. The way she collapsed did not look like a human action. It looked like a stick falling over after being stood on end. It was clear as day that the powerful strike had knocked Marian out cold. It had been as high a kick as he could manage. The strike had been pulled off so skillfully that it almost looked like time had stopped for an instant. And of course, Mj?lnir would not overlook that act of violence. ...!! The drum-shaped girl(?) did not use words. Its dark glittering surface emitted bluish-white sparks. Mj?lnirs body hid energy great enough to vaporize one third of a mobile fortress the size of a city. But... You idiot!! If you go nuts here, youll put Marian in danger! shouted Thor to hold back Mj?lnirs actions with the force of his words. The drums movements stopped as if a wedge had been driven into its gears. You know why Olleruss group is targeting Fr?ulein Kreutune, right? As the specimen for a holistic esper, she is the final piece Othinus needs to prepare Gungnir. ...It is only natural for someone wanting to interfere with Othinuss plan to try to eliminate Fr?ulein Kreutune. Something floated up to the surface of the drum. They were lips. And it was not just one pair. As if to represent the eruption of her anger, those organs for emitting words appeared one after another. It looked like the surface of boiling water. ...And? was her only response. No matter how logical his answer was, nothing but ash would be left in the next instant if she did not accept it. Do you still not get it? Thor spoke slowly in response to that unspoken announcement. The enemys ultimate objective is to stop Gungnir from being completed. If they can accomplish that, nothing else matters to them. The loss of a single piece will cause Othinuss plan to fail. ...In that case, they do not need to kill Fr?ulein Kreutune. If they kill the pure Dvergr who is the sole person able to produce the weapons of the gods, they still get what they want. The black drum fell silent for a moment. But its countless lips did not disappear. While searching for the proper words, the girl(?) known as Mj?lnir said, Are you saying Olleruss group was planning that from the beginning? Impossible. Even if they knew Gremlin was taking action, they would have had no idea what specific members would be heading here. So what? An ally of justice like that Ollerus-chan would want to avoid killing some unrelated person like Fr?ulein Kreutune just to stop Othinuss plan. He would find it easier to eliminate someone guilty of past crimes like Marian Slingeneyer. But...! Their initial plan may have been to kill Fr?ulein Kreutune. They may have prepared a means of killing that monster that no one seems able to kill. Thor held up his index finger to keep Mj?lnir from speaking. But they saw Marian Slingeneyers wanted poster. They know she was last seen in that District 7 hotel. That was of course false information Thor and Kamijou Touma had prepared, so he had no idea if Ollerus and the others had actually seen it. Dont you think they might have changed their plans when they saw that? Just because they have a theoretical means of killing Fr?ulein Kreutune does not mean it will actually work. Theyve never tested their method. But Marian is a normal human they know they can kill. If you compare the two, even a monkey can tell which would be the easier target and which they would have better odds against. ... We heard an explosion. Dust was blown up into the air. Do you really think the enemy is just waiting around for us to head out and attack them? Do you really think the situation is that simple? The explosion and the dust may be separate events. We might get sniped from afar if we carelessly head out. Do you really think we should let Marian head out there with her blood rushing to her head? Well? For a while, Mj?lnir remained silent. Finally, the countless lips visible on the drums surface disappeared as if sinking below the surface of some water. We need to look into just how much information on Marian Olleruss group has and what kind of trap they have set up. Ill handle that. You make preparations so Marian can escape if the time comes. The drum shook noisily back and forth. Thor assumed she was asking for a more concrete suggestion, so he added, If you feel things are getting dangerous, roast the entire city block. With a thousand or ten thousand corpses that barely look human anymore, it will take time to ID all of them. Even if someone has definite information that Marian is here, that should keep them off your trail. The essence of a lie was to let it fulfill its role without fearing the risk the information held. The instant you held back, you would be exposed. Part 2 During the large scale cultural festival known as the Ichihanaransai, a large number of people were constantly moving around. This naturally led to a great rise in the number of lost children. The standard Anti-Skill deployment was not enough to deal with all the various troubles, both large and small, so the student-led Judgment was sent to work out in the city at large. And so, Uiharu Kazari was surrounded by elementary school students on a District 7 road. She was a Judgment member in her first year of middle school who had so many decorative flowers in her hair that her head looked like a vase full of flowers. As the children tugged on her stereotypical sailor uniform, they all spoke to her. Cmon, do it. Say, this is Judgment!! Say it! Its famous. Yeah, yeah. Ah wah wah wah wah wah, said Uiharu as she was overwhelmed by the flood of words coming from all around her. However, the surrounding children did not seem to care. U-umm, that is not actually a standard thing for Judgment. In fact, Shirai-san often gets in trouble for that because we cannot have people thinking Judgment is usually so violent... Cmon, just do it! And do the teleport too!! Eh? Isnt it scary suddenly disappearing and reappearing somewhere else? What if you ended up in some strange place? I know how that works. You travel through something like a tunnel that you call a wormhole. But what makes up that tunnel? How long is the tunnel??? Eee! Uiharu let out a pathetic scream. (I think Shirai-sans ability converts the perceived three dimensional space into strict 11 dimensional space and then moves a different axis instead of using wormholes, but the detailed theory behind it is on a university graduate student level. Please dont look to a completely normal middle school student for an intelligent answer about it...) On the other sidewalk across the road, Aogami Pierce was on his way to replenish the industrial flour used for their takoyaki stand. When he saw that keeper of the peace surrounded by little girls, he silently clenched his fist. Judgment...!!!!!! A look appeared on Aogami Pierces face like a genius composer who had been struck by a sudden revelation, but then someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. He turned around to find a high school girl with large breasts and glasses as well as a middle school girl with a flat chest and twintails. Both of them had a certain characteristic armband on their right shoulder. Excuse me, we are from Judgment. ...Could we speak with you for a moment? Konori-senpai, cant we just throw him in a cell? I dont know if its due to the event, but all the small cases and mysterious reports are needlessly driving down our efficiency. ...Honestly, why are people saying giant rhinoceros beetles are rampaging around? You cant just take your frustrations out on him. That explosive noise and smoke were probably just some school going too far trying to attract guests. Oh, we need to check your belongings, so if you could just head over to the corner here... Judgment... he muttered once more. This was the 43rd time Aogami Pierce had been questioned by the authorities that year, but it looked like the experience would be quite moe this time. Part 3 In a District 7 subway tunnel, the white rhinoceros beetle weapons created from Kakine Teitokus Dark Matter were glaring at each other and aiming their cannons at each other. They fired without hesitation. They fired again and again. Four of them acted as pursuers. The remaining one was the traitor that was protecting Hamazura, Fremea, and the others. Not only did the pursuers outnumber the lone beetle, but they only needed to kill the humans within the tunnel. It did not matter if Rhinoceros Beetle 05 resisted or not; the pursuers could crush their targets organs by filling the tunnel with the shockwaves of their blasts. But... The same could be said for Rhinoceros Beetle 05s side. They did not need to defeat the other four beetles. Rhinoceros Beetle 05s primary objective was to allow Hamazura Shiage, Takitsubo Rikou, Yoshikawa Kikyou, Last Order, and Fremea Seivelun to escape the tunnel and distance them from the threat to their lives. And so... Brace for impact, said Rhinoceros Beetle 05. A simultaneous attack was carried out by the four beetles that had decided killing Last Order and those around her was the best method to carry out their objective of robbing Fr?ulein Kreutune of the reason behind her actions. They were not aiming for direct hits. Instead, they were firing the shells at the ground just in front of their target to fill every nook and cranny of the tunnel with a shockwave wall. Normally thinking, this was not something a flesh-and-blood human could withstand. Even if Rhinoceros Beetle 05 acted as a shield for Hamazura and the others, the shockwave would fill the entire area to swallow them up and crush their organs from within. But... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 vibrated its giant thin wings at high speed to create an artificial voice. It was not trying to speak. The vibration it scattered through the air struck the coming shockwave and forcibly altered its direction. What...did they mess up? My ears dont hurt. I sent a wave of my own towards their wave. It cannot be seen so it may be difficult to understand, but a shockwave can easily be influenced like a billiards ball using other waves or obstacles. Several hurdles had to be overcome before that theory could actually be pulled off. The beetle had to accurately repel or turn aside the shockwave and the fragments of the shell and ground created in the explosion to keep them away from those it wished to protect. That is his technique, says Misaka as Misaka comments. Are you talking about Accelerator? asked Yoshikawa. I used a theoretical routine based on our potential enemys actions, but I doubt I would be able to achieve his level. Our shells are unsuited to killing a target using the secondary effects such as the shockwave. ? Because my body is made entirely out of Dark Matter, I have no means of creating the gunpowder needed to fire or detonate a shell. A spring system is used to fire the shells. It is said that in the past, a strange weapon reinforced with the power of Dark Matter competed for market share with a shoulder-fired rocket launcher. The shells detonated by breaking the hardened outer coating with sponge springs, so their acoustic effect was only 36% to 50% that of the normal shell. I conclude that is the reason my evasive actions have been successful. ...Meanwhile, that #1 would likely have no problem handling a nuclear weapon. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 continued to use its giant wings to produce sound waves outside of the audible range to repel the shockwaves while using any gaps to produce its artificial voice. There is a workers exit 15 meters behind us. On my signal, I will create a wall by making the ceiling collapse and you will run for the exit. The beetle had no intention of defeating their opponents. For one thing, all of the rhinoceros beetles were strange weapons created by Kakine Teitokus Dark Matter. They had no core or weak point to speak of and they would automatically heal any part that was destroyed. The one exception was Rhinoceros Beetle 05 who had made an interpretation that opposed the will of Kakine himself. Hamazura turned around to check on the location of the small metal door. Sparks flew and the door burst open. Most likely, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had skillfully turned aside the shockwave of the enemies shells to break the lock. Now, said the beetle. O-okay! It began with an obvious explosive noise. Rhinoceros Beetle 05s cannon barrel moved and fired a shell at the ceiling. The ceiling collapsed around the other four beetles. Hamazura, run! shouted Takitsubo. While practically carrying Fremea, Hamazura ran through the ominously shaking tunnel. Last Order was being pulled along while hand in hand with Yoshikawa. Each time Rhinoceros Beetle 05 fired again to hold the other beetles in check, the tough tunnel ground seemed to sway like a ship in a storm. Takitsubo charged through the workers door first, Fremea came next as Hamazura pushed her along, and Yoshikawa and Last Order made it last. Takitsubo grabbed Last Orders other hand to help Yoshikawa pull her through the door. Once it saw all of them had evacuated, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 moved backwards to slam into the workers door. But the door was too small. It slammed into the door with enough force to dent the wall around it, but it was unable to squeeze through the narrow exit. Hamazuras eyes opened wide. What are you doing!? Do not worry. This is part of my plan. With its back end slightly crushed, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 sat in the doorway like a giant stone blocking the way as it moved its thin wings to produce an artificial voice Since I have left Kakine Teitokus control, I can no longer renew my Dark Matter. In the near future, I will break apart. Also, our shells are unable to destroy fellow beetles. The only way to escape from these enemies that can regenerate infinitely is to block their path in some way. (This bastard.) Hamazura almost yelled his comment out loud. (For nothing but a weapon, hes got a lot of nerve to lie and put on a show of being tough.) Hurry up! Your shells are powerful enough to destroy this wall, right!? he shouted instead. That would allow the enemy beetles to continue pursuit. Also, if I can destroy it, so can they. They will soon free themselves of the wreckage. I have determined something more is needed to act as the wall that blocks their way. ...Dammit. Good luck. I will make sure to carry out my primary objective. Take care. God dammit!!!!!! Just as Hamazura let out that curse, the entire area shook ominously. The enemy rhinoceros beetles had blown away the pile of rubble. They now began firing on their fellow weapon that was unable to evade if it was to block their path. It had no escape. It would never end. Using its ability to regenerate to a certain extent even while outside of the #2s control, it could only continue the tragic shootout without end like a zombie even as its body was crushed further and further. The joint of the building materials must have been shaken because a powder sprinkled down from the ceiling. Yoshikawa pointed towards the staircase up and out of the subway tunnel with her chin. We have no idea how long this will stop them. We need to head to the surface. But...!! started Hamazura, but Takitsubo grabbed his hand. In a quiet but clear voice, she said, Lets go. It cannot escape even if we stay behind. Hamazura gritted his teeth. But it was true they would eventually be killed if they stuck around. While only half able to brush aside his reluctance, Hamazura ran up the narrow workers staircase. Takitsubo and Yoshikawa followed him. At the top of the metal staircase was a door. It was locked, but it was only meant to keep people out. In other words, they could easily unlock it from the inside. After doing so, they charged outside. Yoshikawa looked up into the sky while holding a hand up to cover the bright light of the sun. It looks like Accelerator has moved elsewhere. But that doesnt mean were safe. Dammit, we need to call Mugino or Kinuhata and... Hamazura trailed off. Takitsubo in her pink track suit was looking around with a puzzled expression. After looking in the direction she was looking, Hamazura finally realized something. Wait...where did Fremea go!? It looks like Last Order...is gone too. In that moment, the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was not even attempting to move from its spot blocking the door in the subway tunnel even while receiving a fierce bombardment from the other beetles. Errors were constantly popping up over the discrepancy with the theoretical ideal evasive and tactical actions, but it forced all of that down and remained on the course of protecting the humans. It was still firing shells to hold the other beetles at bay and vibrating its thin wings to interfere with the vectors of the shockwaves filling the tunnel. But it was not enough. The humans hiding behind it were a much smaller target to protect than the entire wall around the door that needed to remain intact to prevent the fleeing humans from being buried. And of course, the wider the area it had to protect, the harder it was to do so. Several cracks had appeared on its smooth white surface. It did not feel pain like a living being. It was less concerned about the destruction of its own body by the relentless bombardment than it was about receiving too much damage to recover from in time and allowing the other beetles past. It did not want to make any predictive calculations concerning the scene of being unable to move and only able to watch as the enemy beetles headed past and brought danger back to the humans who had supposedly escaped. It could not avoid being overwhelmed. As the damage piled up, it quickly overcame the speed at which it could be regenerated. Whether Rhinoceros Beetle 05 liked it or not, it would eventually be left unable to function and the wall behind it would be destroyed. But the humans would have fled far away by that time. The threat of the other beetles would not reach them. The beetle could not win and no amount of wearing down the enemy beetles could change that. Any normal calculations would leave only the word impossible to describe the situation, but Rhinoceros Beetle 05 gave its all to protect that door. The shells continued to fly. Cracks ran through its surface around its red glowing eyes. It checked the time. It decided it had bought enough time. The humans would have arrived at the surface by then. It had carried out its mission. It recognized this fact. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 also recognized that its body would be completely crushed after receiving 5 or 6 more shells, but it dug its 6 legs into the concrete ground to maintain its defensive position. But... Nyah, nyah!! In the first place, we wont let you stay behind!! You need to run too, says Misaka as Misaka calls out to you!! When the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 heard those voices, it felt like its body had suddenly shrunk down in size. An organic life form with a normal construction of muscles and internal organs would likely express it as feeling like ones heart was being squeezed. It could only buy a short amount of time. Once the other beetles wore Rhinoceros Beetle 05 down to the point they could make it past, those girls would be torn apart right away. (This is not over yet!!) It did not take long for the beetle to make up its mind. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 moved its body slightly away from the door. It created enough of a gap for the small children to come back into the tunnel. This way!! it shouted. We need to escape. Please hurry!! Rhinoceros Beetle 05 ignored the girls who began trying to climb on top of its body for some reason and began vibrating its large thin wings at a set amplitude. As soon as it did, Last Order and Fremeas bodies began floating in midair. Nyawah!? In the first place, this is like a spacewalk!! Are you making us float with the vibration? says Misaka as Misaka asks for confirmation. The high frequency waves outside of the audible range are causing resonant vibrations in the extra space of the material of your clothes. It may be more similar to the way a flying fish glides through the air by beating its tail fin against the water surface than it is how a bird or insect flies using its wings. The girls may have not completely understood the situation because they let out screams of delight as they floated. Meanwhile, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 took action for a retreat. While the other beetles continued their close range bombardment, it moved backwards deeper into the tunnel. Naturally, the enemy beetles immediately reacted. They could continue their bombardment even at a fair distance. They had likely determined that blowing away the traitor and sending it rolling through the tunnel would be enough to crush the targets floating above it. But they never actually fired the shells to carry out this plan. Based on the systematic vibrations they felt in the tips of their six legs, they immediately took evasive action. In other words, they had determined that a train was likely approaching. ...? But even after 30 seconds had passed, the light of a train did not appear. And then another possibility finally floated up in their minds. The fleeing traitor could be travelling while striking the subway track in a pattern identical to the vibration of a train. After moving backwards through the tunnel at tremendous speed for a certain distance, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 decided it had made it far enough away. While still remaining wary of the darkness, it turned 180 degrees and began moving at full speed in the same direction as before. And then a change occurred to the back of the beetle. The children floating above it were doing something. To be specific, they had begun drawing something with a pen on the surface of the opened armor plate. Nyah, nyah. In the first place, there are a lot of you, so things will get confusing if we dont give you some kind of mark. What is that? asks Misaka as Misaka points at your scribbling. This is the mark of the Hamazura Brigade!! Rhinoceros Beetle 05 appreciated the sentiment but wished they would at least use something other than a permanent marker. Part 4 Academy City had no giant radio towers that acted as landmarks. From the standpoint of protecting their technological information, a radio tower that spread its signal too widely was actually a problem. But they were sometimes constructed as experiments of construction technology even if they were not needed. A certain 50 meter metal tower that could only be called a miniature radio tower almost seemed buried by the high-rise buildings around it. And a boy was leaning up against a piece of its thick metal framework. He was Kakine Teitoku. ...That did not go as well as planned. I never thought he would take out 300 of the me-shaped ones in only 15 minutes. Even if they cant be killed, it looks like he can still keep them from moving by smashing their bodies open or balling them up. No hint of bitterness could be found in his tone as he muttered solely for his own benefit. In the battle between the #1 and #2, direct damage was not viewed with much importance. Kakine Teitokus creation could replace anything destroyed with a newly created one. Accelerators destruction could intercept any attack with his vector transformation. What mattered most to those two was not the physical phenomena seen on the surface. It was the calculation patterns, thought patterns, and Personal Realities at the base of their powers. Coming up with a detailed analysis of what it was that made the two of them special was what would provide them with victory. In their previous battle, Kakine had used his Dark Matter which does not exist in this world to reflect sunlight and shockwaves to create attacks that possessed vectors that could never exist on the earth. The first condition for Kakine was finding a way to break through Accelerators wall of reflection. If one observed the battle while focusing on that side of things, one would finally see the true path the battle had taken. When it comes to your attack patterns and the logic of your reflection, those 300 you destroyed are like playing a game of concentration. Even failed attempts help you succeed the next time as long as you memorize the pattern and numbers on the cards. And eventually you will have a complete view. Something white and 5 meters long flew above Kakines head. The object cutting through the sky while slipping through the gaps in the framework of the experimental miniature radio tower was a giant dragonfly made of Dark Matter that was used for reconnaissance. Looking like he was watching a paper airplane he had made fly away, Kakine muttered, But this could always come to a pathetic end where you collapse from your battery dying before that happens. ...is probably what hes thinking, muttered Accelerator underneath a giant overpass. He was on top of the complex metal framework that reinforced the overpass. He sat on one piece of the framework with his back leaning up against an intersecting piece of the framework. He was lightly touching the switch for the choker-style electrode on his neck. The choker-style electrodes battery would only last for 30 minutes. He had already used half of that. Kakine Teitoku only had to avoid a quick resolution and continue his attacks to hold Accelerator in check and Accelerator would be driven into a fatal situation. A certain situation had led to Accelerators brain being severely injured, so he could not use his power of the strongest or even stand on his own two feet or understand human language without receiving calculation support from the Misaka Network via his choker. But... (That is not an absolute limit. Its just that the battery is only able to hold that much power. In that case...) The overpass seemed to have water pipes and power cables running through it and a thick cable ran right next to Accelerator. He glanced across the surface of the cable to check on the amperage and voltage running through it and then unhesitatingly removed the outer covering of the cable with his bare hands. He was going to recharge. The concept was simple enough, but he of course could not use the high voltage current running through the thick power cable as is. On his way to that overpass, Accelerator had gathered a few metal plates, wires, and the like. By assembling them, he had created a makeshift transformer. If his calculations were off even by the slightest amount, not only would the choker-style electrode burst into flames, his fingers operating the transformer could even be blown off. Yet he did not hesitate. He quickly attached the transformer to the power cable and used a small cord to supply power to his electrodes battery. (I cant sit here recharging for very long. Ill probably only get maybe a dozen seconds recharged.) To be blunt, he recognized he was at the disadvantage. He accepted that fact. And after accepting it, he continued on. (But if he is convinced Ill run out of gas after another 15 minutes, all I need is a few extra seconds. If I add an additional attack during that extra time, I can tear him apart.) He had already made the preparations he needed for that. The monster known as Academy Citys #1 had not consumed half of his batterys power for nothing. He saw the #2s power as warranting the use of half the battery. (Now then. Those attacks I intentionally used nonsense calculation patterns for should have reached him by now. If hes calculated out an optimum answer based on that, Ill be able to defeat that asshole without needing this extra battery time.) ...is probably what hes thinking, muttered Kakine Teitoku as he leaned up against the framework at the center of the radio tower. (Since that battery is his bottleneck, hell want to secure some extra power and he knows the vulnerabilities of his reflection better than anyone. He isnt going to provide an opening so easily. But some idiosyncrasies will always remain. There is something real hidden among all the decoy information.) Once he learned the white dragonflies soaring through the sky could not find the target, Kakine Teitoku focused his search on areas that could not be seen from the sky. (The biggest danger is those wings that leave the category of logic altogether. Those can carry out attacks that overcome Dark Matters strength. He would be quite a threat if he could bring them out at will.) But he doubted it was that easy. (I dont have enough data on them because they have appeared so infrequently, but it is always when his emotions are at an extreme high or low that they appear. It does not matter if the emotions are positive or negative. Plus the wings never stay for long. ...In other words, I just need to hold him in check. Thats all. I dont know what those wings consume, but just like with his other powers, they will disappear on their own if I buy enough time.) He had had as much time to think as he could ever want. During the time almost all of his organs had been crushed and replaced with artificial ones and while he had been used by some piece of shit or another to manufacture weapons, he had truly had as much time as he could want. (The #1 is fiercely powerful but only in certain areas. An opening will surely show itself. It is a matter of timing...of finding the peaks and the valleys. Meanwhile, my creation ability is perfectly stable. This battle will be decided when he falls down into one of his own valleys. All I have to do is continue doing what I am doing.) ...is probably what hes thinking. ...is probably what hes thinking. In two different parts of the city, two different monsters muttered those words. They continued thinking on and on as they worked to grow closer and closer to truly attacking their opponent. It is often said that a fight was over before the fists ever began to fly. These two had already shown themselves to be monsters in that early stage. The #1 stopped recharging his battery with the power cable and calmly left the overpass using his modern cane. The #2 unhesitatingly jumped down from the radio tower when he determined surveillance from above was of no use. They headed to the next exchange. To their next move. This will decide the outcome. This will decide the outcome. Their voices overlapped as if it had been rehearsed. They muttered those words in unison as they showed each other their backs from afar. The time would soon arrive. Part 5 ...Function? said Kamijou with a puzzled look. While almost making a creaking noise as she trembled, Fr?ulein Kreutune gave a slight nod with her long hair still scattered about on the road. Her eyes were writhing irregularly as if following something that was not there. A living creature that stands on two legs will view standing on two legs as natural. But is it really? If a baby that crawls on all fours is raised without being taught anything by anyone, would it ever think to stand up on its two unsteady legs? ... Kamijou knew what she was trying to say. A baby was a living creature that crawled on all fours. It was a living creature that saw that as natural. What led to them standing on two legs was either being taught to stand with their parents help or watching the adults who lived while standing on two legs. Either way, they changed methods by learning in one way or another. They obtained a way of life where they stood on two legs thanks to external stimuli. And once a living creature learned to live while standing on two legs, it would never go back to crawling on all fours. Even if living while crawling on all fours would be possible, it would never move around on all fours. Once it had obtained the function to stand on two legs, it would learn just how convenient it is. So... What if... Not even I know when this function came to me, whispered Fr?ulein Kreutune. Even as she spoke, her strangely hot breaths continued. But for whatever reason, I have obtained it. I have obtained the function to gather information by eating a human brain. And now that I have obtained it, the point of reference for my actions has been overwritten to center on that function. So...I... It was not an issue of whether she wanted to or not. It was just like how a living creature that gained lungs to live on land could no longer return to the ocean. It was just like how a living creature that gained wings to fly through the sky could no longer run across the land. To Fr?ulein Kreutune, not eating brains was like not breathing, walking on your hands, and never blinking again. No matter what she did, she would suffer. And the only escape was to take that natural action. ... Kamijou glanced down at his right hand. If her condition had gone awry because of this unneeded function, he wondered if he could destroy that function with the power of this right hand. But... (That would be like performing delicate surgery. Can I really do that? Not to mention that I have no idea what makes Fr?ulein Kreutune herself run. What if she was completely destroyed as a whole the instant I touched her?) The function...is already taking effect, she said while her teeth chattered. They said I was their friend...but I cannot stop it. Why? Why did I have to gain the function to eat that girls brain? Wait a second. So it isnt that any human will do? ...Gh...gh... Fr?ulein Kreutunes head tilted horizontally. Her long silver hair fell down to cover her face. Kamijou could no longer see her expression. Her body swayed. She slowly stood up with an unsteady stance that resembled grass blowing in the wind. ...Wait, called out Kamijou, but she did not respond. Where are you going? Wait, listen to me! When you say that girl, who do you-...!? Kamijou trailed off because the taste of iron suddenly filled his mouth. Gh...bh!? His body faltered. He collapsed. Fr?ulein Kreutune had not done anything. The scorching pain was centered on his right side. Kamijou had escaped the ICU as soon as his emergency surgery was complete. He had known his wound could reopen at any time. He could see Fr?ulein Kreutunes legs moving away as his viewpoint made the world appear to be on its side. A slight trembling spread from his spine to his fingertips and he was not even able to stretch out his arm. His mouth flapped open and closed, but no words came out. (...Was I wrong?) Fr?ulein Kreutune had said her function to eat human brains had come to her very recently. Had it been leaving the windowless building that had caused it? Kamijou and Thor had attempted to destroy the buildings armor, but it had been Fr?ulein Kreutune who had actually destroyed it from within. In that case, it was not Kamijou who had directly caused her to escape. But... Why had Fr?ulein Kreutune headed outside with that timing? Had it truly been nothing but a coincidence? Or had Kamijou and Thors actions unintentionally pulled the trigger for her actions? If that was the case... (Was I somehow wrong to even try to save her in the first place?) He heard a quiet scraping noise. It was the sound of his powerless, trembling fingertips scraping against the asphalt. As the flavor of iron continued to fill his mouth, Kamijou gritted his teeth and thought. There was no way that was the case. Fr?ulein Kreutune may have eventually left the windowless building even if Kamijou and Thor had done nothing. Even if she had not, Gremlin may have destroyed the windowless buildings armor. Olleruss group may have used some method to smartly abduct her. With all the different ifs surrounding her, she may have left the windowless building and gained the function to eat human brains regardless of Kamijous actions. But... For that very reason... ...I refuse...to accept it... Something was flowing from his right side. As it did, an unpleasant shaking began across his entire body. Yet Kamijou still used the frail power remaining in him to forcibly grab at the ground. He was trying to make a small foothold so he could stand up. The fact that Fr?ulein Kreutune had obtained the function to eat human brains was indeed a major problem. But did that mean it would have been right to leave her trapped in the windowless building forever? Could he really have let that happen? He could not just cover up one problem with another. It was absolutely wrong to accept a problem just because it was smaller than another problem. He would not accept it. He could not accept it. No matter how she had been treated during her long, long history... Even if she was a human with a complex and messed up structure that no one could explain... Fr?ulein Kreutune had finally made it outside. Even if it was a dangerous tightrope act and even if she was merely squeezing through the gaps, she had still obtained freedom. And... Now that she had walked out below the sun literally for the first time in decades, the world spread out before her. Kamijou absolutely refused to accept that that world had to be a nightmare filled with nothing but blood, death, and violence. Slowly. Kamijou Touma slowly stood up. He placed a hand on a nearby roadside tree to forcibly support his body that was even now about to collapse underneath him. Even so, he managed to stand up. He had no idea how many more hours he would last. He had his doubts he would even last half an hour. But that did not change what Kamijou had to do. He had to destroy all of the messed up shackles, nightmares, and conditions surrounding Fr?ulein Kreutune. (Where did Fr?ulein Kreutune go?) He looked around and silently moved away from the tree. As soon as he did, he almost collapsed to the ground, but he somehow withstood it. And then he took another step. He could still walk. He could still move. After discovering that, a small smile appeared on his lips, but then all strength suddenly left his knees. He tried to regain his balance, but it did not work. His upper body headed for the ground. But then he felt something soft support his body. It felt like someone had reached out from the side just as he was about to collapse. ...? He tried to turn his head, but his body refused to listen. And... ...I finally found you, whispered a girls voice, but Kamijou could not understand it. However, this was not because his body was not working properly due to blood loss. Kamijou Touma had never been able to understand French. You are the key to the official members of Gremlin. You are the piece I absolutely need to carry out my revenge. Finally. I can finally begin my life. She was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl who appeared to be about 12 or 13. And she wore a dress made up of a wetsuit and a clear material that created the overall silhouette of a fairy tale heroine. She was one of those who produced that hell in Hawaii. She had once named herself as a member of Gremlin. The magician known as Cendrillon gave a dark smile and spoke in French. So do not die yet. I need you for my revenge. Part 6 As the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 floated Last Order and Fremea Seivelun above it like a skydiving training device, it moved from the complexly intersecting subway tunnels, through large scale city heating pipes and multipurpose drains used for flood prevention, and finally to an underground pathway that was under construction. From there, they headed out the exit and to the surface that was overflowing with sunlight. Normally, a giant beetle would probably have caused a commotion, but the Ichihanaransai was underway. During that festival, the schools across Academy City used the citys cutting edge technology to compete for focus that would lead to more students hoping to attend that school. It was a bit unusual for performances to be held outside the school grounds, but people still viewed it as normal enough given the special circumstances. (Of course, it probably helped that word of the commotion caused by the other beetles had not yet reached that area. Access to the major SNSs could be difficult on the day of a major event.) But they could not just stay there forever. Rhinoceros Beetle 05s creator was receiving full-scale support from Academy City. If he had free use of the cameras and sensors around the city, he would be able to spot that large beetle moving through the city. The beetle had few options. The first option was to allow Last Order and Fremea to take advantage of their small size and escape via some small area such as a ventilation duct. Once they did, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could go elsewhere and cause a commotion as a diversion. The second option was to be constantly moving around at high speed and not using any one hiding spot. Even if their location was detected using the cameras or sensors, they could hide their presence by always moving elsewhere before anyone could rush to their location. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 stopped temporarily at an impromptu basketball court made from an empty lot between buildings. While still keeping Last Order and Fremea floating above it, the beetle also changed the amplitude of its giant wings to produce an artificial voice to begin explaining the situation. Both options were risky, but the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had decided the former was less so. In the former option, the girls could move through areas with no cameras or sensors while the latter option required them to be exposed to the cameras and sensors. But... Nyah, nyah! Are you still saying that!? In the first place, I can never abandon you now that you have the mark of the Hamazura Brigade!! We can manage somehow if all three of us are together, so dont worry, says Misaka as Misaka slaps her chest to show her determination. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had no say in the decision. Shoving Last Order and Fremea into a narrow duct or a dumpster would be meaningless if they would simply follow the beetle as it tried to create a diversion. Even if it was more of a risk, the beetle had to act alongside the girls. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 immediately changed its line of thought. The two of you are being pursued by several different enemies, but I suggest we give those enemies an order of priority and act based on that. Nyah, what enemies? Currently, there are two major enemies. The first is the force made up of my colleagues...that is, the weapons created by the #2s Level 5 Dark Matter...and Kakine Teitoku who controls them. But while this force is incredibly powerful, I can easily estimate what their actions will be. After all, I am a part of it. I simply have to think about what I would do in a given situation. That could also work against them as the enemy could estimate their actions the same way, but it was better than nothing. At the very least, the situation would not turn deadly the very instant they happened across that force. And on that note... The more dangerous enemy is Fr?ulein Kreutune. I do not know how powerful she is or what her behavioral patterns are, so the risk of a surprise attack is exceedingly high. Only the bare minimum of data on her had been enclosed within Rhinoceros Beetle 05. It took the estimated derivative information of that data and converted it into words. Fr?ulein Kreutune is a creature that ecloses due to acquired information. She has come up with a way to gather massive amounts of information faster than observing it with her normal five senses. She wishes to take control of the massive electromagnetic information network known as the Misaka Network. Nyah??? Fremea gave a blank look, but Last Order fell into a deep silence. That network uses identical brainwaves and it can be felt as long as one has a means of manipulating bioelectricity. For example, my body is equipped with an organic antenna that uses the structure of the ampullae of Lorenzini that sharks use to find their prey. But... Is it the same as how you cannot receive a TV signal by sticking a metal pole up into the air? says Misaka as Misaka asks for confirmation. Yes, you need a program to act as a decoder. The most suitable person for that is you as you play the role of the command tower...or rather, of the external interface. By consuming your brain, she hopes to access the electromagnetic information inside of you by copying the entire labyrinth of synapses that is your brain. If she succeeds in that, she will take control of the Misaka Network, and quickly achieve eclosion by absorbing the entire information network. Consume...do you mean eat? says Misaka as Misaka asks you a question. Nyah! She would never do that! She said she was our friend!! Rhinoceros Beetle 05 hoped they were right. But it doubted they were. The data it had been given said those two girls had run across Fr?ulein Kreutune the previous night. And Fr?ulein Kreutune had only obtained the function to consume brains once the date had changed at midnight. It was best not to think of her as the same person she had been the night before. Fr?ulein Kreutune is not being driven by reason, thoughts, desires, urges, or instinct...this is nothing more than a function. And for that reason, it is powerful. Just as someone who uses their cell phone calculator forgets how to do simple arithmetic in their head and someone who uses their cell phones input method editor forget how to write kanji, this new function has forcibly changed her way of life. Fr?ulein Kreutunes own thought patterns are of no consequence. Even if she tries to stop herself, this function will overcome her. She was a human who no one had been able to kill by any method for hundreds of years. She was now approaching using the fastest method available to her in order to devour a small girls head. To be blunt, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had determined it was unlikely it could stop Fr?ulein Kreutunes advance even if it was able to attack in any way it wanted. Firing countless shells, charging at her with its giant body, stabbing at her with its thick horn... The beetle could think of countless ways of doing great damage, but it could see no way that would stop her. The beetle had a mental image of her legs continuing inexorably forward even if her head was blown off, her heart crushed, or her entire upper body ripped off. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 itself was a weapon with no weak point. It was made to eventually regenerate any damage and regain freedom of movement even if it took some time. But Fr?ulein Kreutune was a bit different. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had a nice proportional relationship between the amount of damage done and the time needed to regenerate, but no such relationship could be seen in Fr?ulein Kreutune. The beetle would be unable to move for a while if it was heavily damaged, but Fr?ulein Kreutune could continue the attack with zero time lag even when heavy damage was done. It was a subtle difference, but Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was able to understand exactly what it meant like an artisan who had reached a certain level of skill. Ideally, they would never meet her. That was Rhinoceros Beetle 05s conclusion. Facing her would be like playing an extended game of poker against an opponent that had an infinite amount of money to bet. The slightest mistake would bankrupt you. You would never last if you kept at it. Luckily, Fr?ulein Kreutune could only travel using her own four limbs. She could not suddenly grow wings or spit out strings like a spider. It would raise the risk of being captured by Kakine Teitoku and his weapons, but they could set a hurdle obstructing her path simply by travelling along building walls or moving from rooftop to rooftop. The beetle could use the special characteristics of its insect-based form to their fullest. But as Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was thinking that... Nyah. If thats the case, we need to save her!! Our friend is suffering, so we have no choice, agrees Misaka as Misaka nods. Their thoughts had shot off in a completely different direction. The answer the beetle had come to based on its many different decisions had been completely blown away. As Rhinoceros Beetle 05 fell into a confused state like a machine that had lost track its current coordinate position due to electromagnetic interference, the two girls spoke. After all, you said this doesnt have anything to do with her thoughts. That means it isnt her fault. I dont get all this hard stuff about functions or whatever, but we cant overlook this if shes being forced to do it. Misaka knows what it is like, says Misaka as Misaka remembers. Misaka knows how painful it is to be made to do something you dont want to for someone elses gain due to a program or a virus or whatever, says Misaka as Misaka taps her temple with her index finger. We cant let this happen. If that is happening to Misakas friend, we have to save her, says Misaka as Misaka makes an announcement. Because she was suffering. Because they wanted to save her. Because she was their friend. Because. The white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 fell silent when it saw that those girls would act based on such small reasons despite knowing their lives would be at risk if they were actually attacked. The beetle analyzed why its carefully calculated thought process had not been valid. In addition to the standard logical thought process, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had also obtained the ability to produce signal patterns modeled after simple human emotions. It began to investigate why it had been unable to predict how those girls would feel. It came to a likely conclusion: Because they possessed real hearts. They put emotions above logic. They put their wishes above calculations. Even if it was foolish, that may have been what a real human heart was. Even if it was ridiculous, it was something precious that no one could laugh at. In that case, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had no choice but to go along with it. The answer those girls had come to was something precious, noble, and beautiful. But at the same time, it was immature, dangerous, and would likely lead to failure. And so something was needed to bridge the gap between the ideal and reality. Before Last Order and Fremea could save anyone with that answer, something was needed to break through the risks of reality. That irregular beetle that had left its creator Kakine Teitokus control was unlikely to have much of a future. Its fate was to be pursued by its master Kakine Teitoku with nowhere to return to and no new goal point. Its fate was to be rejected as an outsider or a rampaging weapon by all other organizations and groups. So... It would at least make sure to return these two girls to the place they had come from. If it was normal to risk ones life for a friend in their world, the beetle would give priority to their way of doing things. And so it would not just view it as an objective to work at; it would make sure to perfectly accomplish it no matter what. And that would also give meaning to the fact that it had left its masters control. Understood, said the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 using its giant wings as it felt great inner distress over how great a risk it estimated this to be. We will escape Kakine Teitokus pursuit and also work to save Fr?ulein Kreutune. Is that okay? Thats what it means to be friends! says Misaka as Misaka bangs her palm against your open armor plate while floating in midair! Nyah! I wouldnt expect any other answer from a member of the Hamazura Brigade. Doing your best is great, but never forget that we all have to return home together!! Rhinoceros Beetle 05 lacked the ability to create expressions using the muscles of the face. But it felt that was for the best. It appreciated the girls promise, but it doubted it could live up to that. Part 7 The repeated sound of concrete being struck by metal grew more distant. The sound was coming from an underground tunnel, but Hamazura was still able to hear it from the surface. It sounds like those beetles are heading somewhere else. Do you think theyre chasing Fremea and the other girl? Yoshikawa Kikyou operated her cell phone while glancing over at Hamazura and Takitsubo who were discussing the issue. But she did not receive a response. She isnt answering... But it might be safer if her phone isnt on. That eliminates a means for her pursuers to track her location. What do you think happened? asked Hamazura. I am not exactly optimistic, but my guess is those beetles are chasing the two girls. I doubt their specs are low enough to lose to childrens legs and yet they still have not caught up. I suppose the logical conclusion is that someone or something is helping them. Like that irregular beetle? Hamazura recalled that giant beetle that had blocked the exit with its own body. But he was left with the question of who had released those weapons and for what purpose. And if they were being controlled by someone, were they equipped with any unpleasant functions? For example... Could the irregular beetles own thoughts be bypassed to give top priority to a remote command? Those tunnels were made for many different purposes: subway lines, underground passageways, multipurpose drains, and laying cable and other infrastructure. However, they all have one thing in common. Their layout is about as convoluted as an ant hill. If they are travelling while ignoring traffic rules, it would be difficult to predict what exit whoever is guiding them will use. Even if we do catch up to them, what then? The pursuers will not be far behind. They have at least the firepower of a tank and they have a vector control technique to delicately manipulate shockwaves. Plus, they can regenerate given enough time even if split in two. ...This is no enemy to stand up to with something like a bazooka, said Yoshikawa. Theres still something we can do. Hamazura crouched down and used a small rock he found to scrape a simple schematic diagram on the sidewalk. We cant destroy these beetles. In fact, they will regenerate even if we do. But what if we just obstruct them? For example, if we stab them with a bunch of thick hooked stakes like the harpoons used to kill sharks, they wouldnt be able to pull them out. Hamazura, do you know how tough their armor is? asked Takitsubo. We saw a bunch of them fighting, remember? Maybe its because theyre made to regenerate, but they definitely didnt look like their armor is so ridiculously strong that not even a nuke could destroy them. If we use something like what anti-terror teams use to break down doors, we should be able to break through their armor. I remember a handheld pile bunker that could destroy fairly thick airtight doors being developed in case an armed group took over a research facility, commented Yoshikawa. Of course, people said it could lead to terrorism itself if it was misused. That type of handheld pile bunker would be stored in Anti-Skill stations or vehicles or in the disaster prevention boxes in research facilities. Hamazura was not particularly proud of the fact, but he could get his hands on one if he used the skills he had gained in Skill-Out. To shoot through those white rhinoceros beetles armor, they would have to carry that heavy equipment right up to them. But to remain at a safe distance from those white rhinoceros beetles that had the specs of a tank, they needed to defeat the beetles while staying over 5 kilometers away. They of course could not prepare any means of doing that. And any distance less than 5 kilometers was the same. Whether they were 4 kilometers away or only 1 mm away from the enemy, they would still be shot by those shells the instant they were detected. They could only succeed in an attack if they had a weapon small enough to carry in their hands and were able to travel without the enemy detecting them. That would be best. But Hamazura, that means... said Takitsubo. Yeah, the irregular one protecting the girls isnt perfect either. If its movements are sealed, theyll be defenseless. We need to save them before that happens. But suddenly they heard a familiar voice come from the side. Hm? What the hell? What is going on here? Mugino? said Hamazura in puzzlement after he turned around. Standing next to Muginos tall form was Kinuhata Saiai who was waving at them. We were attacked by some annoying person before dawn and we picked up on something super suspicious going on in the city. I only just super lost that pain-in-the-ass Kuroyoru and met up with Mugino when all of a sudden I super spotted you two. Hamazura, explain the situation in 30 seconds. As the situation required a lot of explanation, Hamazura began speaking very quickly. Mugino followed along politely enough at the beginning, but before long she fell silent and a displeased look appeared on her face. By the end of the explanation, she had grabbed Hamazura by the collar. Is that so, Hamazura? So what youre saying is you have no idea where Fremea is, youve left her with an out-of-control weapon that might not be safe, and you have no idea why she is being attacked or who is behind it? Heh...Eh heh heh. You could put it like that, I suppose. ... Wait, Mugino, wait! This may be unfortunate, but forgive Hamazura!! Yeah, if you keep slapping Hamazura with your fake arm, youll super knock his head off!! Kinuhata and Takitsubo frantically tried to stop the tyrannical queen after they saw Hamazuras head sway back and forth in time to repeated striking sounds as if he had become a human metronome. With the casualness of throwing away an empty drink can, Mugino tossed that high school boy to the side with one hand. He crashed into a roadside tree and slid down to the ground. It was hard to tell whether she had been releasing him or delivering the final blow. You get a failing grade for pretty much everything about that, but the one thing that is truly out of the question is your means of opposing the enemy weapons. What is this nonsense about it all being over once youre spotted whether youre 4 kilometers away or 1 mm away? Your plan is as irrational as deciding to throw a landmine because you dont have a missile. Of course being 4 kilometers away is safer than being 1 mm away. Hamazura felt a strong desire to look away since he actually had once thrown a landmine at an armored vehicle in the snowy plains of Russia, but averting his gaze might upset Mugino and that could make her begin again with those deadly slaps. And so he simply told the truth rather than making unnecessary excuses. But we arent Anti-Skill or some dark side organization that has proper support. Where are we supposed to find a means of attacking from kilometers away that can break through their arm-...bffaaah!!!??? Hamazura suddenly shouted out because Mugino had mercilessly used her heel to step on his crotch as he sat on the ground. Hamazura looked like he was about to start foaming at the mouth. As he began to tremble, Takitsubo stared at him with a blank look in her eyes and said, Hamazura, whats wrong? Why are you shaking? Maybe his entire body is just super grateful for that unexpected reward. The real answer was that he was simply unable to give a straight reaction. Just as Hamazura began to seriously worry about where a girls boiling point was, he heard Muginos voice. Basically, you just need firepower that can take out a tank from 5 kilometers away, right? Thats easier than spinning a pen in my fingers. Why are you getting so worried about something like this that youre preparing yourself to run up with a landmine in hand? What nonsense. ...Mugino? Or what? Are you trying to say Mugino Shizuri-sans #4 Level 5 power of Meltdowner is cheaper and harder to use than some 10,000 yen rocket launcher!? Well, Haaamazuraaa!? Nooooooooooooooooo!! I dont know if youre trying to cover up your embarrassment or if you really are pissed, but stop performing a denki anma in public! And the heel of your boot is seriously about to crush them, so stoooooooooooooppppppppppppppp!! Hamazura was unable to do anything to stop that hell of adolescence. As his consciousness grew faint, he noticed Yoshikawa Kikyou had called someone with her cell phone. She had said she was unable to reach Last Order, so this was likely someone else. And... That intellectual woman who would probably look good in a lab coat grew visibly dejected as she spoke. She looked like a plant that had been left in the window during the heat of summer or a child who was being scolded by her teacher for forgetting her homework. By the time she had hung up, a dark mood had come over Yoshikawa. With a somehow distant look in her eyes, she asked, It looks like I am also going to be scolded for inadequate supervision. I wonder if I will receive a denki anma from a high level esper too. Part 8 After coming up to the surface, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 came to a stop while thinking. It lowered Last Order and Fremea to the ground nearby. It could have continued to keep them floating in midair using its giant thin wings, but they had started to rotate around and around on their centers of gravity and enjoying themselves so much that other children were drawing near. The beetle decided it was best to stop for the moment. Do you know about the Ichihanaransai? asks Misaka as Misaka turns her nose up at you. Um... Nyah! In the first place, how many times do I have to tell you I cant stand having you looking down on me like that!? Can you listen to me for a moment? Hello? At first glance, it appeared Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had left Kakine Teitokus control, but it had been unable to completely escape the #2s curse. Even now, the order to eliminate the reason behind Fr?ulein Kreutunes actions by killing Last Order was constantly repeating itself inside the beetles head(?). Tah dah! Misaka has the card for the stamp rally, says Misaka as Misaka shows it off. If you dont have one of these ahead of time, you cant enjoy the events, says Misa-... Nyah, nyah!! I have one of those too! The reason Rhinoceros Beetle 05 did not actually take action on that order was because it was using its role of narrowing down ideas to constantly intentionally convert the oral command into its own interpretation. It was not rejecting the command or creating a new command on its own. The relationship of master and slave had not changed. We both have a card! In the first place, we need to see who wins as we go around to the school stands! What happened to wanting to save Fr?ulein Kreutune!? asked the beetle. And so... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 determined that it itself was most definitely one of the biggest threats to the two girls before it. Heh heh heh. Just filling up the stamp rally card is easy enough, but the elegance of the card changes depending on what stamps you use, says Misaka as Misaka explains the situation. Dont think you can defeat Misaka without filling your card up with stamps for foods limited to 15 people or secret stamps! says Misaka as Misaka declares her victory. If Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was given an oral command intentionally made so it was unable to convert it incorrectly, it would be forced to kill Last Order and Fremea without hesitation. Nyah! I need to hurry up!! At this rate, youll hog all of the dangerous rare stamps for yourself!! Hnya ha ha ha ha!! If you think dangerous rare is as high as it goes, you have no chance of defeating Misa-...Wait ,wait! Hear Misaka out before running off, says Misaka as Misaka-...!! And even if things did not go that far, if the information being gathered by the beetles five senses was shared with the entirety of what made up the #2, the Dark Matter army would be on them in no time at all. Huh? Where did those girls go? Rhinoceros Beetle 05 stopped thinking once it noticed the noisy voices were growing more distant. It emitted its artificial voice with its wings, but it received no response. When it looked around, it found the two girls charging toward a nearby school with stamp rally cards in hand. The beetle decided the girls had lost all awareness of the fact they were being pursued. It needed to capture them immediately to keep them safe. But how? It could use its giant wings to float the girls in the air, but that did not possess the powerful constraining ability needed to capture people who were running around at random. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 rechecked the specs on the foremost two of its six legs. Those legs were made to provide high speed movement and suppress the recoil when firing a shell. They also had claw-like spikes on the end, so there was a very real risk of slicing the girls apart if it tried to restrain them with its legs. After thinking for a while, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 simply gave up. It could not think of a way. Fine then! A few orange sparks began to fly from the asphalt as Rhinoceros Beetle 05 began chasing after Last Order and Fremea. As it was the first day of the Ichihanaransai, the area around a school was crowded with students. The beetle saw no way it could blend into that scene, but to its surprise, no major commotion occurred. A flood of voices reached its ears...or rather, the thin wings it spread out to detect the vibrations in the air. This is from that leading university, right? That thing where they fight while riding robots shaped like rhinoceros beetles or stag beetles. Boys sure do love bugs. But did they have a white one? Is it a rare version or something??? The sad truth is that they will lose their research funding if they dont periodically display the fruits of their research in a way even a child can understand. Once they had accepted the beetle in their own way, they saw no reason to find fault in it. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was a bit worried about the fact that a strange weapon could make its way onto a school campus without any kind of permit, but it was finally able to catch up to the two girls running through the makeshift labyrinth of stands. It seemed they were able to pay up front by handing their subway IC cards to the schoolgirl running the stand. What are you doing? asked the beetle. Nyah, nyah!! This is a sharpshooting stand! Dont you think its cheating to make the rare stamp itself be the prize!? In the first place, its too small to hit!! Is it true the standard thing to do with these is to shoot the girl running the stand? asks Misaka as Misaka holds the cork gun in one hand. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 looked over at the stand. The middle school girl running it was forcing a smile, but the smile was beginning to twitch a bit. The stand itself had several stepped shelves made of wood with cute stuffed animals and other prizes set up on them. It seemed to be a game where one attempted to shoot those prizes with the rifle. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 shook its cannon barrel slightly in a mannerism similar to tilting its head in confusion. Isnt this a slightly violent setup? What are you saying? Misaka feels a lot sorrier for the one stuffed animal that is left all alone in the end, insists Misaka as Misaka holds up her cork gun. This strike will release this stuffed animals soul! says Misaka as Misaka leans way up over the counter to bring her cork gun closer to the target which is completely fair and definitely not cheati-...fgyahhh!! ... As Last Order practically climbed up on top of the counter, she very nearly fell inside the stand like a seesaw, so the middle school girl frantically stopped her. As Fremea used up cork bullet after cork bullet in her attempt to hit the rare stamp, she suddenly turned toward Rhinoceros Beetle 05. More specifically, she turned to look at the thick horn that acted as its cannon barrel. Nyah. You cant use that. I know that. Nyah, nyah!! No matter how much trouble I have trying to hit the rare stamp, in the first place you cant get frustrated and use that!! I am having trouble determining whether you are trying to stop me or to get me to do it. At any rate, I am not going to. While providing that ideal response, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 continued staring at the stuffed animals lined up within the sharpshooting stand. They were all nothing but colored cloth stuffed with cotton and shaped like animals. One was shaped like the animal known as a lion, so it was called a lion. One was shaped like the animal known as a giraffe, so it was called a giraffe. One was shaped like the animal known as an elephant, so it was called an elephant. It seemed that the standard human way of looking at it was that the one shaped like a lion was not called an elephant even though they were both made in the exact same way and they both contained the exact same thing inside. Yet the leather shoes the middle school girl running the stand was wearing were made of real cowhide yet they were not called a cow. That mysterious world where the real thing and imitations were mixed together got Rhinoceros Beetle 05 wondering what that would make it. Was it a rhinoceros beetle because its external appearance was made to look like one? Was it Dark Matter because it was made up of that single material? Was it merely something that was constantly receiving orders from Academy Citys #2? Was there any value in something that continued to intentionally misinterpret its orders? Nyah. Do you want the lion? What? In the first place, youve been staring at it. If you want it, just say so! We can work together to get it! Nyah, nyah. So point that giant horn towards the stand. ...I told you I am not going to fire. You dont have to, so hurry, hurry. Still confused, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 simply did as it was told. When it did, Fremea suddenly started to climb up it. She slowly made her way to the tip with her thighs wrapped tightly around the thick horn as if she was carefully crossing a log lying across a canyon. When she reached the end of the cannon that was practically sticking into the stand, she held up her cork gun with an air of importance. Nyah. I cant miss at point blank range!! ... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 did not want to help her cheat, so it shook its cannon barrel back and forth. The schoolgirl running the stand still did not understand some of what was going on, so she simply smiled at what she could understand of the situation. Right after that, the small sound of a crack running within Rhinoceros Beetle 05s body could be heard. The toll leaving Kakine Teitokus control had taken on the beetle was finally beginning to show itself. Part 9 Some kind of bombardment had suddenly occurred in District 7. That small piece of information had reached the magicians who had wasted their time heading to District 12. Silvia. Brunhild Eiktobel. Leivinia Birdway. Its possible this is another diversion that will just waste our time, but its definitely better than nothing. Even a decoy can give you information if you push them hard enough, muttered the Saint named Silvia while sounding bored. She took a bite of a sandwich and a sip of some coffee from a world famous chain restaurant before expressionlessly pushing the entire plate away from her. The plate ended up next to Brunhild, but she pushed it aside to Leivinia. Who we will find at the scene of this bombardment will change depending on whether it was simply a struggle to secure the rampaging Fr?ulein Kreutune or if it was a diversion meant to draw our attention. If it is simply the conclusion, it could become quite the drawn out battle with everyone after Fr?ulein Kreutune gathered in one place, said Brunhild as she took a bite of a hot dog, grimaced, covered the entire thing in yellow mustard, and began eating it again. And if it is an elaborate diversion, who set it up? Was it Gremlin? Was it the hidden side of Academy City? Or was it... Kamijou Touma? said Leivinia as she cut up a small salad with a fork without even glancing at the plate that had ended up with her. I doubt he would carry out a diversion with a strong destructive side to it...or at least not of his own will. It all depends on who he is working with. To be honest, I sometimes cannot predict how his mind will work. Silvia gave a thin smile when she heard Leivinia spit out those words. So are you a sulking child? Well, it does suit you and I personally like it. ...What? You look like a girl after the older neighborhood boy she relied on moves on and leaves her behind. Then again, he did manage to trick you despite being shot in an unexpected accident. So are you just surprised that someone you have been looking down on was thinking things through more deeply than you thought? But that is just how people are. People always think about a lot more than other people think they do. Are you making fun of me? I dont know who you are mad at right now, said Silvia to simply brush it aside. But your anger is misdirected. You deceived him as much as you liked for your own ends, but now you cant stand that he got you back? That is childish. You need to be prepared for people to do to you what you do to them. You should count yourself lucky he didnt get you back two or three times worse than you did to him. ... The restaurant became filled with a feeling like something invisible was burning. In a more dangerous country, the other customers may have realized it was killer intent. Silvia was of course the type of person who knew perfectly well what it was. Yet she ignored it and continued to speak. Of course, there are plenty of different reasons to deceive people. People often explain away what they said as being a kind lie. I suppose this would be especially hard on you if that was your intent. For example, if by any chance you were trying to get a certain someone to safely drop out of this dispute with Gremlin before it intensified too-... A high pitched noise like glass shattering exploded out. It was unclear what had happened just by looking at the scene. Leivinia Birdway was reaching her slender arm across the table and Brunhild Eiktobel had grabbed her wrist. Silvia was still grinning. A single drop of red was trailing down from the corner of her mouth. Restrain yourself, muttered Brunhild quietly. Leivinia roughly shook her hand free and spoke disinterestedly. Where is Ollerus? Preparing. Leivinia openly clicked her tongue at Silvias simple response. And then she stood up from her chair. Then lets get started on our own. ...This time, we will crush everything so thoroughly that nothing remains. Two of the fewer than 20 Saints in the world and the boss of one of the greatest magic cabals in England. Those monsters possessed enough power to destroy an entire nation that had weak magical defenses. And they would soon take action. Part 10 Rainbow yakisoba!! announced Fremea as she proudly showed off a noodle dish thats coloration was obviously much too artificial. They had visited around 13 schools, but the girls were showing no sign of tiring. Given the makeup of their muscle tissue, they had to have been feeling fatigue, but Rhinoceros Beetle 05 determined the chemical secretions in their brains must have been slowing their awareness of that fact. (I wish...) Rhinoceros Beetle 05 thought while an odd cracking noise could be heard from within its body. (I wish I could deal with it in the same way...) It was made from Academy Citys #2 Level 5 power of Dark Matter. Originally, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could have easily taken a blast from a tank and could have regenerated almost instantly from a blast from a battleship. But the beetle was not actually all that tough. It may have been similar to how the skin protecting an animal would rot if it was not made into a sturdy bag. The slave was nothing more than a wonderful material. It was the masters job to make use of it. Nyah? Why are you being so quiet? Oh, no reason... Are you hungry? In the first place, you can have half of my rainbow yakisoba! I wish to decline that offer with all of my being. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 focused on rechecking its condition while hiding its internal destruction. Academy Citys #2, Kakine Teitoku, and Fr?ulein Kreutune had to still be pursuing them. The beetle had input the initial condition that the chance of danger was lower if they remained constantly on the move than if they remained in one place. And on top of that, it had decided letting their path be decided by those girls seemingly random ideas was harder to read than mechanically calculating out the shortest and most optimal escape route. Then again... It did mostly come down to the fact that Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had simply given in to Last Order and Fremea who were restlessly darting from one place to the next. Heh heh heh. Misaka has filled in half the stamps, says Misaka as Misaka snickers. Last Order had bought a bag filled with various prism-shaped sugar candies, but after grabbing just two or three of them, she tied up the clear bag with a fluffily decorated wire. These are a present, says Misaka as Misaka puts them in the storage area. It seemed the storage area was Rhinoceros Beetle 05s cannon barrel. Ever since they had acquired that fluffy wire, the girls had been tying bags filled with sweets to that cannon like it was a clothesline. A butterfly would be cuter, says Misaka as Misaka complains. You are being prejudiced. Please think about it rationally. You cannot tell them apart from moths. Hah hah hah. Yes, but a rhinoceros beetle with a black shine would look just like a cockroa-... The beetle vibrated its giant thin wings to block out the rest of her comment with a reverse phase sound wave. There were some things that simply should not be said. Um, can we get back to the real issue at hand? asked the beetle. Nyah? Whats that? Your earlier comments suggested you wished to take action to save Fr?ulein Kreutune, but how do you plan to do that? One problem that occurs to me is that we do not know where she is. Hah hah hah. Leave that to Misaka! says Misaka as Misaka puffs out her chest proudly! Last Order grew meaninglessly cocky. I gave her a security buzzer so we could contact each other! says Misaka as Misaka reveals her secret plan. It has a GPS on it, so we can tell where she is right away, says Misaka as Misaka explains further! Nyah, nyah! That was my buzzer!! That sounds... Rhinoceros Beetle was going to finish with ...like a rather dangerous factor, but it did not put that part to words. Even someone who had no reason to target Last Order or Fremea directly could use that as a reason to target the girls in order to pursue Fr?ulein Kreutune. Also, Last Order and Fremea trusted their friend unconditionally, so they had given no thought to what would happen once they found Fr?ulein Kreutune. The beetle approved of the idea of saving her, but approaching her unconditionally was like asking to be attacked. They needed some kind of plan. Anyway, we bought a bunch of presents, so lets go meet her now, says Misaka as Misaka begins running! I already told you I get to go first!! Dont run off like that! Rhinoceros Beetle 05 heard the sound of a large crack forming as it began pursuit of those girls who had run off in some random direction once more. (Measuring self collapse pattern. Adding burden caused by travel method. Beginning simulation...Some ability to control direction of crack advancement proven.) Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could not avoid the cracks from forming, but it seemed able to control where they formed and how quickly they spread with its own actions. The beetle called up a few tactical patterns and came to a conclusion. (Cutting off crack advancement towards body surface. Readjusting direction of collapse towards inner portions of body.) Even if it was made of Dark Matter, no one would normally decide to allow their inner structure be eaten away to protect their outer appearance. And yet Rhinoceros Beetle 05 chose to do so. If its damage was discovered, Last Order and Fremeas random movements would be restricted. The beetle had determined one of the reasons they had yet to be attacked was because of the randomness of their movements that no adult could predict. That meant the worst thing they could do was stay in one place. The beetle saw no meaning in drawing out their utterly useless emotions in that moment. Nyah!! Hurry up! The rainbow yakisoba is going to get cold before we can give it to her!! Understood, said Rhinoceros Beetle 05 using the artificial voice created by its giant wings. It then began to think. According to the data related to Fr?ulein Kreutune that had been inputted into it for the mission, she was trying to acquire a large amount of information by consuming Last Orders brain. Once she had seen her target, she would head straight for it while ignoring any obstacles in the way. It did not matter if there was lava or a concrete wall in between. But if Fr?ulein Kreutune only knew how to head straight for her target without taking any danger into account, could it be possible to set up a trap? Or could something cause her to no longer view Last Order as her target and stray from that path? (But in both cases, I have too little sample information. And it is much too dangerous to attempt to gather information on the scene.) The beetle of course could not entrust Last Order or Fremea to such a reckless plan. If it came to it, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 would have to place itself in between them. In its perfect state, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was a monster supported by the #2 esper power in Academy City. It was possible it would be able to acquire some information during a fight with Fr?ulein Kreutune that could be used as a hint. But... Ominous cracks were beginning to run through Rhinoceros Beetle 05s body. How long it would last was an unknown value. In the worst case, it could even shatter like a piece of glasswork during the clash. (From the beginning, I had incorporated into the plan that I will eventually be destroyed.) Rhinoceros Beetle 05 thought silently while speeding up its legs to catch up with Last Order and Fremea. It had to make sure the girls suspected nothing. (But I hope to find some method of ensuring their safety before I am destroyed.) It looked up into the sky. The November sky was entirely dyed blue. Its shade was as clear as an answer reached via proven formulas. But an airship cut across the sky. For some reason, the large screen on its side was showing an image of schoolgirls in swimsuits. The beauty contest at Eiri Academy High School is causing lots of excitement on the first day of the Ichihanaransai! The amazing freedom of allowing outsiders to participate and allowing the contestants to bring their own swimsuits has really raised the level of the competition! Im sure some of you are wondering if bandages or bandaids really count as swimsuits, but lets not worry too much about that! But of those with normal swimsuits, the two with the most focus are definitely Academy Citys #5, Shokuhou Misaki-san, and the well-known and mysterious Kumokawa Seria-san whose age is a secret despite being a high school girl!! Ive gotta say, they are pretty damn amazing!! I am only up here because my friends forced me, but why would anyone be interested in some old woman who refuses to even come over here? I just need to ask: why did I all of a sudden find myself on this stage doing this? And the reason I am keeping to the opposite side of the stage is because I do not want to enter your range, little girl. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 did not want the girls staring at that, so it opened up the pieces of armor used to store its giant wings and blocked Last Order and Fremeas view. Having that formulaic blue sky filled with the color of skin seemed to ruin it in a few different ways. Part 11 She did not want to gather any more attention than necessary, so Cendrillon grabbed Kamijous arm as he sank to the ground and half carried and half dragged him to a nearby alley. When she pressed his upper body against the ground and forcibly rolled up his shirt, she grimaced. This is...a gunshot wound? she said in French, but Kamijou did not respond. The girl muttered something under her breath and the blood flowing from the wound emitted an unnatural pale blue light. But once the light moved to cover Kamijous entire body, the light suddenly scattered like a candle being blown out. Technically, it was the instant the light reached his right hand. So you negate even the simplest of healing methods. And yet the simpler the thing, the more powerful the effects. It will likely be difficult to interfere with anything that flows throughout your entire body. After giving her French comments that she clearly was not expecting an answer to, Cendrillon pulled a handkerchief out from within her dress. She tore it in two, balled the pieces up, and held them in place to stop up the wounds on his side and his back. It is the most basic thing to do, and so it cannot hurt to do it. I can hold the cloth in place with duct tape. Wait, dont put something you found on the ground over my wounds!! Whatever he said, it seemed she had no intention of replying with anything other than French. But she was acting so roughly he would not have been surprised if she tried to close his wounds with safety pins. Hold those in place, said Cendrillon before disappearing somewhere. She returned a few minutes later with a pot filled with a clear liquid, a thick plastic bag, a tube, and a few other items. Kamijous face grew pale and he opened his mouth to say, Wait a second... I have treated it with boiling water and alcohol. Muttering things in French isnt going to make me any less afraid. Youre not explaining anything! Please dont tell me thats an attempt at an IV made with way too much originality. Are you sure this is safe-...byaaaahhh!? Kamijou cried out as some strange substance was sent flowing into a vein on his arm. And then he realized he was feeling good enough to shout out that vigorously. This is saline water with a concentration of 0.9%. It only manipulates your blood pressure to get rid of your bodys warning signals, but it can help you avoid falling into shock from blood loss. After having been turned into a human table and back to normal, Cendrillon treated things having to do with the human body in a rather dry manner. If you do not want to die, keep your wound in mind at all times. You are still of use to me. Cough... Kamijou was a bit worried that he could still taste iron in his mouth. He had first run into that girl in Hawaii and had found her again in Baggage City after Marian Slingeneyer had turned her into a table. Kamijou and Ollerus had returned her to her human form, but he did not remember her being so short. When Kamijou took another serious look at Cendrillons face, she averted her gaze for some reason. ...A lot has happened, she muttered in French. Part 12 The Lightning God Thor had climbed up on top of the water storage tank that sat on a building rooftop. As he glanced around and spotted after-effects of destruction and panicked students here and there, he let out an irritated groan. From his vantage point, he could see both the direction in which Fr?ulein Kreutune was staggering and where Kamijou Touma lay curled up with his open wound. But he also spotted something else he could not overlook. Is that the Cendrillon I saw in the reports? I had nothing to do with the incident in Hawaii, so it really has nothing to do with me, but I get the feeling things would get really annoying if she spotted me. But he could not let Fr?ulein Kreutune go free for much longer. With the great commotion that had occurred, various different groups and various different people would soon be drawing in towards her. If he did nothing, she would either be captured or killed. To solve the problem, he needed Kamijou Toumas right hand. Thor did not want any great damage to be done to Academy City which was almost inevitable if those powerful enemies clashed. However, if everything was being collected in one location, it was possible he could still avoid that path of destruction even if doing so would be like walking a tightrope. He was most afraid of having Gremlin, Ollerus, and the monsters of Academy Citys dark side beginning simultaneous battles all across the city. If that happened, mere individuals like Thor and Kamijou would be unable to stop the damage that would surely spread at an explosive rate. (If possible, I wanted to solve each individual issue one at a time with surprise attacks and avoid having those powerful enemies clash at all...) If one thought about it, Kamijous ability to negate only the enemys magic and Thors direct firepower was the ideal combination for that method. But like in all things, what mattered most was timing. Now that the proper timing had been lost, they would have no chance to play the hand they had collected. He needed to change his thought process. To deal with those powerful enemies as they were gathered in one place, Thor wanted to meet up with Kamijou Touma. But to do that, he needed something that would distract the focus of Cendrillon and her intense hatred of Gremlin. But he had few pawns available to him. If Cendrillon saw anyone from Gremlin, she would likely explode. That meant Mj?lnir was no good. And Marian Slingeneyer was most definitely out of the question. But who else did Thor know? ...Found someone. I know that face from the FCE Thor grinned as he looked around from atop the water storage tank. After performing a simple task on his cell phone, he unhesitatingly jumped from the tank. He was not jumping to the concrete floor of the roof. He jumped past the edge of the roof and down towards the ground where the people looked like mere specks. Ignoring the artificial wind pressure blowing up from below, he prepared his legs for the landing. Just before impact, arc fusion blades shot forcefully out from the bottom of his feet. The air violently expanded and rapidly lowered the speed of his fall. He had no time to spare. Thor ignored the crowd that was beginning to make a commotion over his appearance, raised a hand, and called out to his target with a smile. Hey there, Miko-chan. How are you doing? Who are you!? Dont just start talking to me like were friends!! The girl shouting as bluish-white sparks flew from her bangs was Misaka Mikoto, Academy Citys #3 Level 5. Technically, Thor had never met Misaka Mikoto, but he had thoroughly investigated her speech patterns using the FCE footage of her conversations in Hawaii in order to disguise himself as her. It would not be difficult to ad lib some way of getting her to do what he wanted. And so... Thor opened up his foreign-made cell phone to show her the small screen and he immediately got to the core of the issue. I happen to have a photo of your friend Kamijou Touma-kun doing his usual thing by being nursed to health by some mysterious little blonde girl. What do you think about that? Tell me right this instant where he is. Monster, monster, monster, monster. The situation had developed to the point where one could look around and not see a single normal human being. Some came from different parts of Academy and some came from outside the city. They drew together in one spot for a single battle over a single girl. Between the Lines 5 Fr?ulein Kreutune herself had mostly become a legend during her long history and various theories had spread regarding her origin. It was said she was a real witch. It was said she had taken on a newly evolved form of humanity after becoming infected by a special bacteria. It was said she was an alien. It was said she was nothing but a mass of flesh that lacked a soul. It was said she was the true form of the human body after it had been truly optimized. It was said she was an illusion created by the guilt of those carrying out the witch hunt. It was said she was a time traveler that had the technology to discretely perceive timelines and to freely move between them. (This was often conflated with the alien theory.) It was said she was not an individual but an organization by the same name. It was said she was like a dark Santa Claus and was therefore a fictional being created to frighten children. It was said she was a mysterious existence that had been discovered beneath thick ice. It was said she was a play on words the compiler of a fairy encyclopedia had worked into the list. The fact that so many different theories had spread had meaning in and of itself. For example, it meant a large number of people knew of her existence. It meant that many people had given it so much thought and yet had been unable to find the answer. It meant she had continued to gather attention and focus due to the fear and disgust people felt towards her. And... If one looked at the flood of different theories from a conspiracy theory viewpoint, it could be seen in a different way. It was possible someone had intentionally released all that false information to hide the truth. Or it was possible someone had randomly released that flood of information so it would be gathered as rumors, the wrong answers would be weeded out, and society would naturally approach the optimized answer. In other words, it was possible someone had been trying to automatically calculate out her identity. It was true that Fr?ulein Kreutune was an eerie existence. But there was no guarantee that she was the only frightening thing in this world. Volume 6, 7: One Need Not be a Protagonist. Girls_Battle_Talk. Volume 6, Chapter 7: One Need Not be a Protagonist. Girls_Battle_Talk. Part 1 First, there was a conversation. Part 2 A certain multilevel overpass in District 7 was known as a bit of a landmark within Academy City. As the 12 boarding areas for a large scale bus roundabout were all connected by the overpass, it looked like an entire sports field created out of concrete. Also, the top level that could be called the third floor was made into a giant road and the underground area was filled with a complicated array of underground pathways that doubled as a shopping area. All the complex ups and downs made it commonly used in escape scenes for police dramas and it was well known but really only as being a good place to use as meeting up point. Due to the large scale cultural festival known as the Ichihanaransai, the bus routes had been greatly changed. So that people could head to the different schools more efficiently, the routes had been specially changed to go directly from school to school. For that reason, the normally crowded bus roundabout was completely empty. On the second floor of that multilevel overpass, Fr?ulein Kreutune wandered unsteadily through that concrete structure that somehow looked like a sports field, perhaps due to the plants growing here and there in an attempt to landscape the area. ... A stinging pain ran across the skin of her face. It was not the pain of being scratched by fingernails or pinched on the cheek. It was a pain that felt like an electric shock and it seemed to be coming up from underneath her thin, thin skin. The pain tormented Fr?ulein Kreutunes consciousness like insect legs were crawling underneath her skin. Now then. It was often said that sharks followed the smell of blood to find their prey, but they could not accurately track anything relying on that alone. All living creatures had bioelectricity within them. When that was scattered into the ocean water, dedicated organs could capture those slight changes in the electric current to determine the targets location. These organs were known as the ampullae of Lorenzini. Something similar to that had grown within Fr?ulein Kreutune. Even the king of the sea could only pull it off in the seawater which had exceedingly high conductivity, but she was able to do it through the air. Technically speaking, she was not pursuing an electric current. She was pursuing an electromagnetic signal. She was pursuing the bioelectromagnetic information network that used the identical brainwaves of human clones. She was pursuing the Misaka Network. She was unable to read it. She was unable to write to it. She could only perceive the massive amount of signals traveling about as a pressure. And she could come to a general estimate of the location of a certain special individual on that network by the rise and drop of that pressure. In other words, she could track her target. She could track the location of the brain belonging to the friend known as Last Order. This was a searching method that was impossible even for the monster known as Academy Citys #1 who could manipulate any vector. Fr?ulein Kreutunes position had already begun to draw closer to that place. ...Uuh...kh... This was of course a function she had not had before. It was as if the fact that her body had not smelled blood or tasted flesh had led it to urge her on, prod her, and preemptively seal off the idea of giving up because she could not find her target. She wanted it that badly. She wanted that massive amount of information. She wanted the preparations she needed to eclose. She wanted to cast aside all she had been like an empty husk and to become a new life form that did not fit any of the existing categories. It had truly just been a slight crossing of paths. That someone had called her a friend. And now she was going to slip out of it all and cast it aside. Uuh...!! She staggered. That was the kind of creature Fr?ulein Kreutune was. She was a living being that had happened to obtain that function. Just as a plant grew when it had water and sunlight and just like ants gathered around something sweet, Fr?ulein Kreutune was an existence that grew more complex upon consuming information. And so... Was there really anything wrong with consuming it? Was it okay to toss aside all those who tried to get in her way? If she asked, her body would surely give her an answer. It would prepare as many functions as necessary to head to the goal point as quickly as possible. And it would then wordlessly tell her, Give up. This is the type of creature you are, so follow the guidelines and focus solely on acquiring as much information as possible. Become an existence that does nothing but that. The warmer the thing she held inside of her... And the more she felt she should focus on protecting that thing... The more she would feel the desire to cast all of that aside. And her inability to stop herself from doing so violently burned her on the inside. She was painfully aware that she was a lost cause. She was exhausted. She wondered what the point had been of all the time she had spent in the past. No matter what functions she acquired and no matter how much she could do that others could not, she could not stop herself from doing this one simple thing. What did that make her? She did not want to continue living. She just wanted it all to come to an end. She did not want to continue on in this way. She would prefer for it to just stop here. She did not care if all the meaning behind all the time she had spent and everything she had built up was sent crashing down by some strike from the side. But it would not end. She could not end it. Even if she was cut. Even if she was burned. Even if she was shot or struck or crushed or stabbed or bit or hanged or buried or split or ripped or drowned or thrown into molten lava or dried up or struck by lightning or soaked in a barrel of poison or forced between gears or fed to wild beasts. None of the countless cruel methods that humans had used their high level of intelligence to come up with had been able to bring an end to the life form known as Fr?ulein Kreutune. She knew that down to the very core of her being. ...Do you want me to bring this to an end? Suddenly, the monster known as Fr?ulein Kreutune heard someone call out to her from directly in front of her. She slowly raised her head. The eyeballs gazing out through the gaps in her long bangs stared at that person. It was a girl of about 12 who had blonde hair and blue eyes. Her blouse, miniskirt, and stockings created a contrast of black and white like a high class piano. The reason that outfit that had a certain type of classical air to it did not look out of place on that girl may have been due to the atmosphere of arrogance surrounding her. Her name was Leivinia Birdway. She was the boss of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, the magic cabal that had the greatest scope and ability even in Western Europe. I was pursuing Gremlin, but finding you first works too. She was a member of the magic side, but she completely ignored the unwritten treaty that existed between magic and science in order to gather information on and research the conditions behind the charismatic people and great leaders that were at the base of each culture regardless of whether they were from the magic side or the science side. She was one portion of the hidden side of the hidden side of the world. Just by her standing there, the speed of a clocks hands could change and the blowing wind could overcome the age. In the name of the intelligence and divinity held by her magic cabal, she could destroy basic knowledge and assumptions. In other words... She could even destroy the absolute conditions that prevented an end ever coming to Fr?ulein Kreutune no matter what. It seems the science side describes you as a creature that thinks using consecutive simple thoughts on the level of an insect and therefore are like the opposite of a complex AI, but we have something a bit different to say on the magic side. Of course, the fact that both sides are talking about it means neither side has come to an ultimate answer, said Leivinia Birdway. You are an existence with no starting point and no ending point. Or perhaps it would be better to say you have already gone all the way around an unknown number of times. Christianity is a religion that does not accept reincarnation, so they have a clear starting point and goal set. But at the same time, you can view humanity as beginning with the very first one committing a sin and being cast out of paradise and then achieving supreme happiness upon returning to heaven. ...I guess it is something similar to a marathon held in a city. At some point during the long, difficult journey, you turn around and head back to the stadium. Do you understand? asked Birdway. Fr?ulein Kreutunes bangs swayed. She was tilting her head in confusion. Perhaps you are an Adam Kadmon that left its mothers womb before achieving clear individuality. Or perhaps you are an existence that finished learning everything and achieved optimization while inside its mothers womb. Now you are like a Moebius strip with no front or back, but the conclusion is the same no matter what. What makes you so incredibly special as a human comes from your purity. Pur...ity? This time, Fr?ulein Kreutune tilted her head at such a sharp angle that it looked like she was about to snap her own neck. What about her was pure? Had there ever been a creature as irrational, eerie, and unstable as her? But Birdway continued. There are analogous examples in physics. For example, pure water, H20, is used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. When the water is heated up in a microwave oven, it may look like a stable liquid, but it will boil as soon as its container is shaken even slightly. You are an existence with that same strange balance. She was like a human that had fallen through the gaps of the theories. In that way, Fr?ulein Kreutune did not really fall into the levels of complexity normally spoken of. What she was could not be obtained at #1 or #100; it could only be obtained at the position she happened to be at. But the means to prevent the special behavior of pure water and to prevent it from suddenly boiling when it has been evenly heated are quite simple. Even if you are a being that cannot be fully explained from the perspective of the magic side, the techniques of the magic side are enough as long as I only need to defeat you. That magic cabal boss smiled. It was a thin, thin, thin smile. Just adding a mere pinch of sand will turn pure water into normal water. That prevents the sudden boiling. And that method is perfect for someone like me. That may have been why organizations like the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church had been unable to handle her. They set forth to increase the purity of mankind and viewed anyone who got in their way to be evil and their enemy. And this naturally led to their methods of attack being dyed in the shades of eliminating impurities. Leivinia Birdway was the opposite. She was from a modern Western magic cabal. Those groups attempted to create new ways of valuing seemingly needless additions by taking the knowledge of the past and sublimating it to techniques leading to the future. They viewed the pure white as being nothing but a canvas. In their minds, the impurities that mixed into that were possibilities to take in new colors and create art. They refused to turn back as they attempted to create colors more wonderful than simple white. She was one of those people, so she could do it. She could do it using techniques those with different values viewed as being nothing but a sign of temptation and corruption. With just a pinch of sand... Fr?ulein Kreutune could be transformed into a body that could be killed. (If my assumptions are correct, he should be able to do this too. Perhaps he wanted to avoid definitively revealing his identity even if it would allow him to kill an inconvenience to his plan.) What will you do? asked Leivinia Birdway. Obviously, I am not doing this for free. I have my own reasons. A fair amount of sacrifice was forced onto me to obtain information on that spear, after all. I will be using you as bait to draw out that Magic God. But once that is over, you are free. I will end it all for you if that is what you wish. Fr?ulein Kreutunes vision wavered. That was her reaction to having the very base of her thoughts slip away at that extraordinary possibility. And at the same time... It felt like something she had been holding inside came gushing out. Something seemed to run from her cheeks to her ears. A new function allowing her to easily crush a skull between her jaws and efficiently devour the brain within was showing itself on her face. Even so, she stayed put. She forced herself to stay put. She made sure her opponent had a chance to attack. And that sign displayed how she felt about the situation. That was plenty. She heard the sound of something slicing through the air. At some point a wand had appeared in Leivinia Birdways right hand. Do not worry. After I blow away your arms and legs, I will freeze you in a coffin at minus 195 degrees. Even if I cannot kill you before you exhibit your special behavior, history has proven that you can be sealed away. I will preserve you like that in order to use you as bait for that Magic God. After saying that, the magic cabal boss fell silent for a moment. With the wand held at the ready and enough power stored within it to sever the limbs of the monster that forcibly turned aside even the power of Academy Citys #1 Level 5, Birdway finally whispered something more. Her voice was quiet. But it was certain. Everything is okay now. The situation will not grow any worse. When she heard that voice, Fr?ulein Kreutunes face could be seen moving slightly from where it was hidden behind her bangs. It looked like she was smiling. Even though she had to be imagining her ultimate fate...no, because she was imagining it. As Leivinia Birdway looked at her dead on, she cast aside all emotion to carry out this final attack perfectly. And... Just before she could... Some giant object fell right between Fr?ulein Kreutune and Leivinia Birdway. As previously explained, the multilevel overpass had several levels between the road on the top level and the underground passageways. If one jumped from the road up top, that phenomenon was possible without needing to fly. And the person who had done so was someone who had once betrayed Leivinia Birdway. It was someone who always ended up in the middle of the worlds conflicts whether he liked it or not thanks to the special power residing in his right hand. It was a spiky-haired boy. It was a small hero who would become anyones ally. Hey, Birdway. How about we fight and make up? It was Kamijou Touma. Even though he was always surrounded by misfortune he would always stand in the way of anyone elses misfortune. It did not matter how injured he was. It did not matter if he had been betrayed, deceived, and shot in the side. He would always raise his right hand to protect someone else. Part 3 Why? muttered Misaka Mikoto as she toyed with her hair on the road at the top level. It might have been due to the unique population distribution of the Ichihanaransai or it might have been due to someone setting up some kind of trick, but the amount of traffic had disappeared to an unnatural extent. Why do I have to go along with what you say? Are you seriously asking a girl to help you in a fight? Come to think of it, I cant think of a single reason I have to go along with this. The asphalt continued on and on and on like a runway. Someone stood further down the road. She had white feathers decorating her hair. She wore a short dress with pants forcibly worn underneath, a bulletproof vest, and protectors covering her elbows and knees. It gave her the silhouette of armor. And on top of it all, she had an unnaturally large sword called a claymore hanging down from her hand. It looked like she was holding one of the steel sheets used in construction. As she walked, the tip of the sword...or rather, the corner audibly scraped across the surface of the asphalt. Her name was Brunhild Eiktobel. Without even trying to hide her killer intent or aggression, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman asked a question in a flat voice. Are you my enemy? Its kind of hard to say. Mikoto then heard a voice from behind her. She was standing back to back with the Lightning God Thor who was in charge of direct combat within Gremlin. He was facing a different enemy. Cmon, Miko-chan. I told you not to call me that! Who the hell are you anyway!? They have formed a group to beat the shit out of Kamijou Touma, who has already been shot in the side, and then abduct a woman named Fr?ulein Kreutune before his eyes. And theyll be whispering to Fr?ulein Kreutune that shell be happiest if they use her for their purposes and then kill her. So what do you think, Miko-chan? Do you approve of that? Do you oppose it? Or will you take the clever route and just look away? Which side do you want to stand on? ... Mikoto sighed. With an annoyed tone in her voice, she said, So its the same pattern as always. Now youre catching on. I guess he hasnt changed at all even after disappearing in Hawaii and heading to that Baggage City place. I heard that was a horrible battlefield, but it seems he still managed to save some lives. I have no room to talk...in fact, you could say Im just as much to blame...but Kamijou Touma is trying to finish things with the person you could call the primary cause of all this. Will you support him? Or will you get in his way? Tch. There was plenty she wanted to say. But Mikoto just gave up and lightly clicked her tongue. She did so because she had seen it. She had seen the look of anguish on a certain boys face after the incident in Hawaii had come to an end and he had realized he had been made to act for someone elses purposes. He had fought, struggled, had some coincidences work in his favor, and had finally managed to reach a place where he could bring an end to the string of nightmares for which he had pulled the trigger himself. This was a one-of-a-kind situation that would never come again if he let it escape him here. So now what should Mikoto do? No, what did she want to do? She did not even hesitate. Bluish-white sparks flew from her bangs. She slowly turned back to face Brunhild Eiktobel who was still approaching. You owe me one. Shouldnt you be saying that to Kamijou-kun? Its embarrassing, so Im saying it here where he cant hear me. With a slight smile, Thor turned around to face his enemy as well. His enemy was Silvia. She was one of the fewer than 20 Saints in the world as well as an elite who was one of the highest ranked of the royal maids who doubled as shrine maidens and bodyguards for the British Royal Family. She was not wearing a traditional and elegant maid uniform. She wore work pants, a work apron, and goggles in a way that looked somehow like a maid uniform. A smile that could be viewed as lively appeared on her face. How about we get this started? she asked. Sorry. It looks like I kept you waiting. Oh, dont worry about it. I got to see something wonderful, so Im satisfied. ...And it really was wonderful. I wish I had been on your side this time. Its not too late. Unfortunately, I cant. The sound of something slicing through the air could be heard. It was coming from a long, long bundle of rope in Silvias hand. I am jealous, but surely you understand that this is not a situation where I can act based on my own personal desires. My enemy certainly is pathetic. Hearing that is painful. The sad thing about maids is that we cant fight for honor like a king or a knight. A conflict could not be avoided. That battle between the powerful would spread destruction around the area whether they liked it or not. But if it could be contained to this one area that was nearly deserted, it would at least be better than the worst case scenario where the situation covered multiple areas of the city simultaneously, even those causing the damage had no idea who was getting caught in the middle of it all, and the overall scope was unknown. Mj?lnir... Perform final connection check. Once it is done, begin supply. As soon as Thor muttered those words, the color of his eyes changed. Literally. His hair and fingertips began emitting a pale bluish-white light. It looked like St. Elmos fire floating around a ships mast during a storm at sea. Unlike before, Thors power was being drastically raised by someone other than himself. Silvia whistled. I see. So you normally use it like that. Dont try to say this isnt fair. You also have two sources of power as both a Saint and a royal maid. As he spoke, Thor lightly waved his right hand. Beams of light similar to arc fusion blades were emitted from his fingertips. And they grew to 10 meters right away. Ignoring the explosive noise of the air being roasted, Thor opened his mouth to speak. He had a look of disinterest on his face despite drawing out enough firepower to level a building just by waving his hand like he was shooing away an insect. And this was just a fragment of his power. This was nothing but an experiment to see just how far his power had been raised. Lets finish this quickly. I doubt a fight with someone as pathetic as you will be any fun at all. Part 4 Accelerator and Kakine Teitoku. Those two were the top ranking monsters created by Academy City and known as the citys #1 and #2. They now faced off in the underground passageways at the bottommost level of the multilevel overpass. Their conflict did not center on Fr?ulein Kreutune. They did not have some grand reason for being there such as protecting the city, protecting world peace, or supporting or stopping someones conspiracy. So were they acting based on personal emotions such as hatred? A woman Accelerator knew had almost been killed thanks to a surprise attack carried out by Kakine Teitoku, and the violence created when Accelerator gave into his anger had crushed Kakine Teitokus entire body and driven him to the edge of death. But that was not enough to explain it all. What was down at the root of it all? They gazed at each other, stared at each other, and carefully observed each other. While holding his modern cane, Accelerator spat out, Pathetic. Is that so? was Kakine Teitokus surprisingly honest response. It was a bit unclear if that boy could really be said to be Kakine Teitoku himself since over half of his internal organs had been swapped out and even the color of the skin covering his body had changed to something inhuman. Its simple. It really is simple. I was forced to do a lot of things while I was hidden deep underground. It was all humiliating, but I gained quite a bit too. And thanks to that I can use my own power to gather everything I lack. This is something that I did not have before. It is a brand new inspiration. And, well, now Im curious. Im so curious I just have to know. It sounded like he was whispering. It sounded like he was making an appeal. How far have I come? Kakine Teitoku asked an honest question with the same look on his face as someone who had been deprived of all their special privileges by dropping out of a dark side organization yet had been freed from all sorts of bonds at the same time. How far can my Dark Matter go in this world? There were tons of things he wanted to try out. There were more items he wished to attempt than there were stars in the sky. But the one issue he had to take care of first overpowered the rest. That is, had Kakine Teitoku surpassed Accelerator? Nothing could begin without resolving that issue and everything would be over once it had been resolved. But... That was exactly why the #1 only had that one word to say. Pathetic. If you really had prepared everything you lacked, you wouldnt still be stuck on that issue. What did one gain by taking an Academy City esper power to its extreme? What did one gain by defeating someone and claiming their throne for oneself? Those powers were nothing but a means...nothing but a tool. He had managed to survive the full brunt of Accelerators out-of-control attack, searched with all his might for a means of regaining his freedom after being hidden underground, and had ultimately gained a new ability not even Accelerator had that allowed him to regenerate his body and manufacture his own organs. He had come so far and yet the monster known as Kakine Teitoku had not found anyone he wished to protect. What if... What if he had found just one person to protect? Even if it was pitiable and unsightly, what if he had viewed a wider world and obtained that? Academy Citys #2 monster might have been able to take his overwhelming and sinister violence and turn it into nothing more than a power. Ive had enough of this, spat out Accelerator in a tone of disappointment. You may have worked out a strategy, made your preparations, waited for the opportune timing, and accounted for any nightmarish coincidences...but its no use. The way you are now isnt even worth testing against me. Youre just overwhelmingly pathetic. Dont say that, declared Kakine Teitoku with a thin, thin smile on his lips. Those conditions you were talking about didnt mention the location. The location can be very important. I made sure to wait for you here. Yes, thats right. Let me say it again: the location can be very important. What? Does this place bring back any memories? Or do you not even remember anymore? I suppose it was just one among many. With how overboard you went back then, it isnt too surprising you wouldnt remember every little one. Accelerator did not recognize the place. For one thing, he had only fought Kakine Teitoku that one time during the conflict between the dark side organizations of Group, School, and Item. That had been enough to decide the victor between the #1 and #2. But that battles stage had not been in an underground passageway. However, Kakine Teitoku continued speaking. He spoke clearly and confidently. Do you really not remember? You really are a heartless bastard. You took so very many lives yet you dont even bother to remember them? Something like a small thorn stabbed into Accelerators mind. But it was too late. Kakine Teitoku who controlled Academy Citys #2 Level 5 power of Dark Matter took his next action. Ha ha! This was one of those stages! This was one of the stages for those repeated experiments where you massacred human clones while going on about being the strongest or invincible or whatever!! You dont mean...!! shouted Accelerator as he recalled that Kakine Teitoku had the power to create anything that was lacking. But the change had already begun. Some white substance that could not be called a liquid or a solid suddenly spread out in every direction from where Kakine Teitoku stood. The substances surface undulated, rose up, and took on new form. Accelerator knew that form very well. The form was modeled off of the clones who were themselves modeled off of a certain girl. The Sisters. The people Accelerator had once killed during those cruel experiments. They symbolized his sins. He could tell his vision was growing unsteady. He could not stop it. Several girls with the exact same face tilted their heads in puzzlement, stared at their hands, moved their eyes that held little emotion, and otherwise checked on their situation. And their lips moved. They moved. Misaka has encountered the food known as ramen. The best type is tonkotsu with thin noodles, analyzes Misaka. No, no. Shio ramen with soft noodles is the true delicacy. Does Misaka have to kick your ass? asks Misaka as she grabs your collar. Dont you dare confuse shio ramen with shio butter ramen, says Misaka as she joins the fray to prove which is the best. It was so out of place. The way those expressionless girls lightly hit at each other while inadvertently revealing their midriffs and flipping up their skirts wore horribly at Accelerators nerves. They were not just dolls. They breathed, had a pulse, and had the warmth of life just like any other person. And he had... He had... Oh, it isnt like these are actually them. The innocent scuffle suddenly ended as if some switch had been thrown. Their heads turned and the emotionless camera lenses of their eyes stared directly at Accelerator. Something huge had forcibly interfered to make them ignore their individual beliefs. It was as if... As if some kind of experiment had begun. Not even I can fix someone that has completely died. Nor can I make something completely identical to them, said Kakine Teitoku with a grin. It was the type of grin that would never have appeared on his face had he obtained what he truly needed. This is why I chose this location. I suppose you could call it residual thought. At any rate, I have taken in all the information remaining in these areas and given them shape. There are plenty of ways to read thoughts, but for me its like a record or a CD. I run Dark Matter across the tiny ups and downs on the surfaces of materials to obtain the information. The event that once happened here left its mark in ways too tiny for the eye to see. The record of those vibrations allows me to replay their final moments. They were nothing but imitations. It was like replaying a recorded scream over and over again. But the original sound was real. Ultimately, it was real. Even if they were being used for someone elses purposes and even if they were being led around in an unsightly fashion. Those girls had not been registered by the government, no notification of death was issued for them, they had no grave or remains, and even the recordings on security devices such as cameras and sensors had been completely eliminated. Not only had they been given an irrational death, but no evidence that they had ever even lived remained. This was truly the very, very last proof of their existence. Could he really destroy that? Even if he had the power to do so, was it right for him to do so? After all, he was Accelerator, the one who had ruthlessly robbed those girls of their lives with his own hands. Could he really erase the only remaining piece of evidence of them in the entire world? Heh heh. Looks like its actually working. The #2 smiled, and smiled, and smiled. He spread violence on a level befitting of one who was still a monster. Academy City esper powers are controlled using high level calculation ability. Even if you dont normally think of it that way, you are still carrying out complex calculations without knowing it. Throwing that out of order can be quite useful. Theres no harm in starting with that, dont you think? You... Even all this was just the start. He was merely casually testing it out. Now then, will you lose the conditions needed for your reflection? Or will you bring out those much, much more insane wings? However this goes, Im looking forward to it. I do hope you at least make this worthy of testing out my ability! Why yoooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...!! Part 5 Kamijou Touma stared directly at Leivinia Birdway. But even as he did, the one he was truly facing was Fr?ulein Kreutune. Are you going to die to bring it all to an end? I... I dont know who your friend is. I dont know what exactly it is youre dealing with. But you cant be serious. If you cant bear to lose your friend, you cant seriously want to give that same pain to your friend. ... There is someone who wants to protect you just as much as you want to protect them. There is someone who does not want to see you hurt just as much as you dont want to see them hurt. His enemy was powerful and he could not take his eyes off her for an instant. That was why Kamijou spoke with his back to Fr?ulein Kreutune. So dont be so ready to say you want to die!! If you live, struggle, and suffer, then you can find it!! You can find the path to an ending in which everyone is smiling! It cant just be about you. It has to be about this person you want to protect so much, too!! He could not continue speaking any longer. Leivinia Birdway had silently begun to move. It looked like all she had done was slightly wave the wand she was holding. But in reality, the wand had turned into a sword at some point and an overwhelming gust of wind was created. It cut in between Kamijou and Fr?ulein Kreutune, and it completely sliced apart the giant overpass that looked like a sports arena. With the point of the slice as the edge, the overpass tilted along one of its supports like a seesaw. Kamijou and Birdway slid down to ground level. ...What a fool, said Birdway as if spitting out the words. Fr?ulein Kreutune is not a human like you think she is. I dont know if she was lacking something at birth or if she gained this strange behavior by possessing too much, but everything down to her basic construction is beyond our understanding. Is that so? cut in Kamijou casually. And he continued further. She may work on some complicated theory or some difficult to understand reasoning, but all I see is a girl desperately trying to protect her friend. All I see is a girl who has been putting up with so much pain for so long as she tries to endure and hold on so she is not swept away, and has ultimately decided it is easy to make excuses and just give up on everything. ... And thats all I need. The conflict between Gremlin and Olleruss group over her? The final piece to make some kind of special spear? ...I dont care about any of that. There is a girl before me who is seriously considering some ridiculous idea of throwing away her own life to save a friend! There is no possible reason to not reach out to help her!! As he shouted, Kamijou recalled what Thor had once said in a certain fast food restaurant. My enemy certainly has become pathetic. (Thats right.) Kamijou finally understood what he had meant. Not doing even the things he could do out of a fear of failure was not his way of doing things. He may have been deceived, used, and unwittingly led around, but he had still had a small power back then. Even if all he could do was run down the rails someone else had prepared, he could still desperately stretch out his hand to grab hold of someone elses hand. What did it matter who won in the grand scheme of things? What good was a decision made while only looking to the distant future? Did he want to become someone who spent so much time looking at the big picture that he did not even notice that his giant feet were trampling others? I heard what she said. She may have been muttering about functions and eating brains, but I distinctly heard it. She said she doesnt want to eat that brain. And so I made my decision. Wanting to lend a helping hand is human nature. What if those words were nothing but an imitation? Birdways sharp, coldhearted words seemed to stab into Kamijou. These were the words of an enemy. She was truly trying to crush the core of Kamijou Toumas being. You are mistaken. You are mistaken about the core of this issue. You are mistaken in your belief that Fr?ulein Kreutune has a mind like you do and that it functions in the same way as yours. What? This is not an issue of good and evil or liking and disliking. Fr?ulein Kreutune is fundamentally different from us. Birdway lightly swung her sword. At some point, it had transformed into a cup. She is a creature that only appears to think. That is what she is now and that is what she was when her name was recorded in the historical documents. She has always been like that. That living creature did not possess the function to carry out complex thoughts or to have deep emotions well up within her chest. She merely made repeated thoughts that were even more simplified than those of an insect. It was similar to the thought processes that a robot not equipped with a complex AI used to control its actions and make decisions. Cool places were better than hot places. Warm places were better than cold places. By repeating those decisions with only two possible answers one after another, she could continue to find the easiest environment to live in even without great intelligence or experience. Eating sweet things was better than eating bitter things. Choosing bright places was better than choosing dark places. Wearing soft cloth was better than wearing hard cloth. When thousands and tens of thousands of those simple decisions were made, that living creature was able live in the optimal spot, eat the optimal foods, and wear the optimal clothes. As she continually moved farther and farther in the more comfortable direction, the living creature came across a certain decision. It was related to the living creatures known as humans. Would she mimic them or not? The living creature made her decision, but she failed. She went to live in a certain village, but she was too sturdy. This fact harmed no one, but it was enough for the people to treat her as something strange and different. Even as she was thrown into a cell and treated as a witch, she continued her simple decisions. Yes. The living creature decided mimicking the people around her and behaving so that she would gain the benefits of a village was the ideal path to live comfortably. The kind priest said... To repeat, that living creature did not possess the function of complex thought or the function for deep emotions to fill her heart. She only had the function to constantly make simple decisions regarding the phenomena before her eyes in order to advance in the more comfortable direction. So... The kind priest said... Where did that image of the smiling woman in those old documents come from? Where was that woman who smiled and insisted she was but a mere human despite not shedding a single drop of blood while being thoroughly tormented in countless tortures and executions? The answer was simple. She had of course done nothing but carry out her simple decisions. In that cell, she had observed the other women who had been rejected by the village and unreasonably convicted as witches. And she had mimicked their behavior. I am a normal human. I am most certainly not an evil witch. Her surprisingly pure eyes had simply observed the women who had continued to insist that in their final moments. That was the type of creatures she was. That was just what Fr?ulein Kreutune was. She had not spoken those things because she had thought them. She had not insisted her uninjured state meant she was human because she had believed in the trials by ordeal. It was nothing but simple decisions. Nothing but yes or no. A chain of zeros and ones. It just so happened that her behavior had made it appear she thought like other humans and felt emotions like other humans. If it had not been a human village before her back then but a pack of lions, she would likely have tried to obtain the benefits of that group by mimicking those wild beasts. The truth was much too simple and it was that simplicity that caused a chill to run down the back of those that heard it. When you get down to it, said Birdway as she narrowed her eyes and toyed with the cup in her hand, there is nothing inside of her. No matter how many words she uses and no matter how much she clenches her teeth and holds back tears, there is no real driving force within her. That is just the kind of creature Fr?ulein Kreutune is. ...How can you believe someone like that? The human heart can seal away functions. But she has no real mind so she is a slave to them. If the pattern of those simple decisions...of those zeros and ones changes just slightly, she will unhesitatingly eat the brain of someone she had previously thought of as a friend. And it is all nothing but her simple thoughts leading her in the more comfortable direction. But... I believe her, instantly replied Kamijou Touma despite hearing all that. Even Birdway showed a tinge of surprise at that. Kamijou continued, If the ultimate answer a living creature comes to with its simple decisions meant to find the optimal decision is that she doesnt want to hurt her friend, it doesnt matter what process led to that decision. If she is the type of human that can come to such a kind answer, then I can believe in Fr?ulein Kreutune. Are you saying you could even grow emotionally attached to a doll made of metal and plastic thats expressions are controlled by a program!? Are you saying you are going to protect something that only has the appearance of a human even after you have been shot in the side!? Yes. If something that smiles like a human, cries like a human, is considerate of others like a human, and tries to protect others like a human is about to be scrapped, then I will clench my fist. It doesnt matter what shes made of or what the inner workings of her head are. She isnt a monster or something strange and different. Im much more frightened by people who have a brain that can understand others properly but still enjoy deceiving and hurting others. ... But this was not just a hypothetical issue. Kamijou had met quite a few people with complex circumstances surrounding them. He had met a girl created from an aggregation of AIM diffusion fields and he had met those who made up a network of human clones where the whole could influence the individual and the individual could influence the whole. But what did that matter? Did the fact that they had a different construction or makeup mean there was something fundamentally different about who they were? How was it human to abandon them for that reason? And it was because you feel the same that you did not attack Fr?ulein Kreutune right away, wasnt it? said Kamijou as a challenge. His voice held conviction. You stood before her and spoke to her despite knowing the base of her thoughts was fundamentally different from your own. Why did you treat her like an equal? Wasnt that because you were taking Fr?ulein Kreutunes heart into consideration!? Silence. A large amount of water appeared around Birdway. It swirled around creating a wall that completely surrounded her. With cold eyes, that magic cabal boss held out the symbolic weapon controlling water. Even if she does have a heart that is just of a different type from our own, that does not change what must be done. To destroy Gremlin, the production of that spear must be stopped. If I prove I can do that, the one looking down from the center of that group will make her move. It took a lot of sacrifice to acquire this information. I must lure out the Magic God Othinus and crush her. That takes top priority. So it comes down to that in the end, muttered Kamijou as he clenched his fist once more. But Birdway, you are probably going about this the wrong way. ...What do you mean? Even if you defeat Othinus by sacrificing Fr?ulein Kreutune and even if Gremlin completely falls apart without that mental support, taking this quickest and shortest path by deceiving and hurting everyone will only create mutual distrust and suspicion. There is no point in this if you and your Dawn-Colored Sunlight just become more of a monster than Gremlin. For the world and the people you want to protect, this will only change the name of their enemy. This will never bring about peaceful days. And so, said Kamijou without allowing his words to come to an end. Lets end this. I will stop you here so your determination does not lead to such a horrible conclusion and so that the role of the ultimate villain is not forced onto you!! Part 6 In the underground passageways at the lowest level of the multilevel overpass, girls with the same faces as the ones Accelerator had once killed...or rather, something white that had taken their form...charged towards Accelerator. They moved as quickly as a motorcycle and they occasionally kicked off the walls or pillars to maintain their attack course. This was of course something the original girls could not have done. But it was still something Accelerator could easily imagine. If the Sisters had gained bodies made of Dark Matter, they very well might have chosen precisely that sort of strategy. (Goddamn you...!) His vision wavered. He could feel a prickling pain at the back of his head. He instantly carried out the calculations to control the necessary vectors in the scene before his eyes. He perfectly grasped the movements of those girls who kept low as if sliding across the floor, circled around outside his vision, or kicked off of a pillar to attack from above. He managed that, but he was not able to counterattack. In a move that was truly rare for Academy Citys #1 monster, he simply moved his body aside to evade the attacks. He took action to just barely escape the range of those slender arms swinging from various directions at once. He was not afraid of being hit by their attacks. As they were made of Dark Matter, it was true that their fists had become blunt weapons heavier than large hammers that could easily destroy a human face. And their fingernails could rip apart their prey more easily than a pair of wire cutters that could easily slice through wires as thick as a finger. But... He did not evade because he was afraid of having his own body torn apart. It was quite the opposite. He was afraid his own reflection would smash their arms and legs. Of course, this was not a situation in which he could take such a half-hearted stance. Kakine Teitoku held his right hand out in front of him from where he stood a bit away. You are full of openings. A great roar exploded out. Kakine Teitokus entire pure white arm turned into a giant wing. The countless feathers that made up that wing turned into sharp blades. They shot out explosively. Or more accurately, they stretched out like spears with tremendous force, bent in places, and simultaneously attacked Accelerator from many different angles all around him. They did not even bother slipping through the gaps between the Sisters. The spears easily pierced straight through the girls. Accelerator was unable to evade in time and his shaken thoughts were unable to fully implement his reflection. One of the spears tore a shallow wound along the top of his shoulder. Accelerators body was thrown through the air in a tailspin. He just barely managed to avoid collapsing to the ground and instead landed on the tips of his toes. Only then did he comprehend the terrible scene before him. They were like insects. They were like insects stuck to the wall with long, narrow, and very sharp pins. Ah... He heard a strange squirming noise. It was the sound of those things shaped like the Sisters repeatedly carrying out their predetermined actions despite having being held motionlessly in midair thanks to being pierced through the torso, arms, legs, or even neck. They made no cries of pain and their faces were not distorted in fear. They did not even realize they had been disposed of. Those hopeless dolls merely continued to faithfully carry out their masters orders. Accelerators face writhed ominously at what he saw. No matter how hard he tried to suppress it, he could not help but remember. He remembered those girls who had once been treated like experimental animals as Academy Citys strongest monster unhesitatingly devoured them. You motherfuckeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! His vision grew dizzied. If Kakine Teitoku was going to toy with him, Accelerator would do to him what he had once done to them. But then Accelerator saw Kakine Teitoku draw in the countless spears extending from him. The white girls held in place by them once more regained freedom. As if to hold that monster in check, they moved in to attack while dragging their broken bodies along. I did a lot of research on you. After all, I had more than enough time to think, said the #2 monster with a smile. Its no good. Your method just wont work. ...Sure, it looks like you have atoned for what you did. The host model that holds the overall will of the Misaka Network has forgiven you. But that does not mean you have been completely forgiven. And Im sure you know that fact very well. ...!! As he was unable to defeat or even attack them, Accelerator merely continued to evade. After all, you view the Sisters as having an aggregate whole in the Misaka Network but you also seem to think the individual personalities of each terminal must be recognized. So the overall will has accepted you? So what? Only the one who was killed can understand the feelings of the one who was killed. If you think about it, it should be obvious. He tore at Accelerator with his words. He dug into him. He thought he had cut off all forms of airborne vibrations, but whether he liked it or not, that voice that was filled with true malice tugged at him, pried open his mind, forcefully slipped inside, and stabbed into his heart. Those thorns he could not pull out robbed him of his composure bit by bit. The equations that controlled his great power fell into disarray. And there is no longer any way for you to determine whether you have truly been forgiven. Accelerator was surrounded by Kakine Teitokus trick. He was trapped in a cage made up of gentle words. The final piece that might be able to tell you what those you killed thought is this. These final pieces of personal information to remain in this world. But...does it really matter? If you crush them, destroy them, and send them into eternal darkness, your sins will disappear. Suspicions go unpunished. If it is something no one can ever know, then theres no problem, is there? And then you can return to your peaceful world with all the loose ends tied up. Accelerators consciousness had been thrown into such disarray that he could barely grasp the words being spoken. And Kakine Teitokus gentle voice tore at his nerves some more. But anyway... He was so filled with anger that he almost lost his balance. And only when he was truly cornered there did he finally realize something. Not only was he unable to control his power, but he was not even properly carrying out the calculations; he barely even noticed anymore that he needed to stand and walk on his own two feet thanks to his injured brain. Be crushed by the symbol of your own sins and die, you worm. The white girls with the same form as the Sisters rushed in to take advantage of that opportunity. Countless arms that rivaled large hammers and wire cutters shot towards him all at once. It was all over. Or it should have been. However... A tremendous beam of light suddenly broke through the wall and blew away one of the white girls. This scene occurred right in front of Accelerator who had hesitated to hurt his opponents despite the great danger he was in. He looked dumbfounded. He felt like his thoughts had been roasted with the color white. A face peered in through the large hole in the wall that was glowing orange around the edge. The face naturally belonged to a monster the city had created with cutting edge technology just like Accelerator and Kakine Teitoku. She was Mugino Shizuri. She was Academy Citys #4. She was the girl also known as Meltdowner. The appearance of this new threat caused the white girls to stop their attack and change their formation to deal with an attack from both sides. Mugino ignored them and spoke in an annoyed tone. Come on now, #1. If you want to die, then just get it over with. It pisses me off to have to wait my turn. As you can see, I blew one of them away, but dont get too upset. Its your own fault for taking so long against something like this. Accelerator felt a scorching pain in his head. It led him to shout out. You...!! Dont get pissed at me, little monster. You know youre pointing that in the wrong direction, dont you? Mugino lightly waved her index finger made from cutting edge technology and continued. Only the one who was killed can understand the feelings of the one who was killed. Hes right about that. But residual thought given shape? A phonograph replaying their final moments? Who cares? It isnt actually them. Hes just making a human model by putting clay over the bones of a corpse. ... There may be people out there who can truly imagine how the dead feel and shed tears based on it. There may be people who find something the dead left behind and finish it in their place. There may be people who save the dead in that way, but that is not something people like us who killed others while soaked in evil can do. There is nothing we can do, said Mugino. That last comment seemed to stab at Accelerator. But she did not stop there. The dead cannot be brought back to life no matter what technology is used. Just speaking from the viewpoint of CPR, someone whose heart has stopped and someone who is clearly dead are two very different things. ...You must live in quite the na?ve world if you fell for something as simple as this. Did you think someone you had killed might come back to life? Did you think the crime of killing them might be cancelled out if that happened? Were you living while holding that hope inside? It had happened just before dawn. The dark side of Academy City had attacked Mugino Shizuri using someone who looked exactly like Frenda Seivelun. When that had happened, her emotions had not prevented her from unhesitatingly crushing that enemy with her Meltdowner. The dead could not be brought back to life. Only the one who had been killed could speak of the feelings of the one who had been killed. Or at the very least, someone who had sullied their hands in the darkness could never speak of them. What if... What if something that looked just like them was set up and someone still living used it to put words in the deads mouth for their own purposes? That would be desecrating the dead. That was the lowest method possible that even a sinner could get angry at. I read the reports about you and those clones, said Mugino readily. It was almost cute compared to me who killed for no reason at all. You still have some room for complicated and convoluted excuses. Youre probably still going to hell just as much as I am, but there may be some things you can do before you go there. ...So what will you do? If you want to fool yourself into thinking youre actually facing the dead and let them kill you as revenge, thats fine by me. If you want to retrieve the deads dignity and peaceful rest from the bastard who dug up their bones and added flesh to them for his own amusement, thats fine by me too. Its your pathetic life. Do whatever the hell you want. I know... The words slipped out of Accelerators clenched teeth as if he was trying to crush them. I know that. I know Im just licking my own wounds. I know they only look like the real thing because Im superimposing my own wounds over them. But even so... It was as if Accelerator was opening up his own wounds and letting dark blood flow out. He was choosing to touch his own greatest pain. That is...They are the final proof that those I killed ever existed. No matter how horrible a method they are being used for, they are still the final evidence that the lives I stole were ever here!! ...Thats all the more reason, spat out Mugino. You say that is all there is left. You say that is the entirety of what lives on of someone. Well, all of that has been stolen and is being used and controlled. If that is acceptable...if you C not the dead C find that to be acceptable, then just let yourself be killed like the loser you are. Ill finish everything afterwards. She was not saying all this in order to warn him of the path he was taking. With the path she had walked down, she was certainly not qualified to do that. Dont think you can end this without getting your hands dirty. Even so, something did sit well with her. And so she spoke. You have to dirty your hands to give the dead a clean end. Only the one killed can know how the one killed feels, but only the living can act based on their feelings for the dead. ...Rejecting that and running away is not being honest or being a pacifist. It is being a coward. ...Ah. In truth, he knew that. Even if he was injured, collapsed pathetically to the ground, and had his life taken here, the dead no longer existed, so they would think nothing of it one way or the other. The whole reason killing was such a taboo was because it robbed people of even that basic function. He just needed resolve. He needed to bring new doubt to what was supporting the very base of his psyche. Even if the overall will of the Misaka Network had accepted him... Even if the special unit known as Last Order had forgiven him... That did not mean it was over. But... That was no reason to abandon those dead who were now being used as playthings. ...I will destroy them, muttered Accelerator. Great power entered his voice. Itll be all right. If you need something to prove you existed, I will be that remnant. I will dig deeply into this world to leave behind an indelible mark that will prove that you were here as the ones who were sacrificed to the monster that I am. These twisted records are no longer needed. I just have to return you to a place where the dark side of science like me cant reach you. I will end it all!! Oh? Finally, Kakine Teitoku opened his mouth after listening in with a thin smile. He could have violently interfered at any time, but he chose to simply watch. Like the audience that began speaking amongst themselves as soon as the play ended and the theatre lights came on. Is that how youre going to accept it? Only the one killed can know how the one killed feels, so youre just going to claim you dont need to know and stop thinking about it? You would never understand. You are the type who puts words in the deads mouth for your own benefit and never faces how you feel about the dead yourself. They say not even death can cure an idiot. Well, it looks like nothing can cure you of being pathetic. Youre powerful, but youre pathetic. It might have been better for you if you had just died back then. That way you could have ended life as the high level esper that defeated me, the #4. But you didnt know to quit when you were ahead, and now youre going to lose even that. Muginos tone was one of disinterest. An oddly bright light grew from her palm. And it isnt like I dont have my own reasons to be here. I was attacked by a false Frenda last night. You were the biggest factor of the darkness active at that time and the interest in playing with the dead was the same. I dont know what your purpose in that was, but Im going to make you pay for disturbing her grave, you piece of shit. The #1 and the #4 specialized in destruction. The #2 had the ability to eternally create. Those monsters had split into two groups and glared at each other. The battle began in the very next moment. Part 7 On the road at the top level of the multilevel overpass that had an unnatural absence of cars, Misaka Mikoto and Brunhild Eiktobel faced each other. This too may have been a historic moment. On one side was Misaka Mikoto the Railgun, one of the top ranked espers created by the science side. On the other side was Brunhild Eiktobel who possessed the innate characteristics of a Saint that were exceedingly rare even on the magic side. They were about to clash. For a battle that was brought about by coincidence, it threatened to have great effects to both the magic side and science side. However, the battle was overwhelmingly one-sided. Academy City espers may have possessed quite a bit of power, but Brunhild Eiktobel possessed the rare qualities of a Christian Saint. And on top of that, she also possessed the rare qualities of a Norse Valkyrie. The two abilities worked against each other and the upper limit of her power changed over a set period like the waxing and waning of the moon. However, she did not currently appear to be having any problems related to that. And there was a problem that came before trivial differences in power. Brunhild Eiktobel could reach a top speed that exceeded the speed of sound. And she brought out that top speed from the very first step. By the time the explosive noise rang out, it was already too late. From the perspective of ones bodily senses, Brunhild seemed to just disappear. And since she was moving faster than sound, one could never react in time based on sound. Brunhild Eiktobel charged up to a point right in front of Mikoto and vigorously swung up the claymore hanging down from one hand. She also twisted her wrist to lay the giant sword down flat as she swung it. Normally, this may have been an attempt to not hit ones opponent with the blade of the sword. However, the situation here was different. Brunhild Eiktobel could move at supersonic speeds and the claymore she held was like a giant sword made by attaching a grip to a metal sheet. By laying the blade flat, she could use it like a giant fan made of steel. An overwhelmingly violent fan that used the massive shockwave created when an object moved at supersonic speeds. That would end it. Not only would it crush the girls fat and muscles from the outside, but her eardrums, lungs, and trachea would rupture from within. However... Damn you!! !? She reacted just before it hit. A dull noise came from below their feet. The ground below moved. The road at the top of the overpass was made in blocks that included the supports below. The girl controlled one entire block with magnetism to tilt it like a seesaw. This caused Brunhilds aim to be off with her claymore strike and the sonic boom flew off into the distance. All the glass in one of the buildings alongside the road was smashed to pieces. (A broad-use electric type? So did she use some kind of radar? No, this is...!!) Iron sand had been thinly spread all across the road surface. Even if Brunhild Eiktobels movements exceeded the limits of the girls kinetic vision, she could clearly see what path Brunhild had taken thanks to her footprints. And Misaka Mikoto did not stop there. She snapped her fingers and shouted, Be swallowed up!! The iron sand rose up in every direction. It all began vibrating at high speed to create a storm of killer needles and then shot towards Brunhild Eiktobel from all 360 degrees around her. Brunhild grabbed her giant claymore with both hands and swung it around in a full circle like she was performing a giant swing. The explosive roar came slightly after the fact. The air was agitated at tremendous speed and that deadly swarm that was being controlled by great magnetic power was struck by the even more tremendous power of the sonic boom created. The iron sand lost its form and was blown away. Mikoto escaped the shockwave by controlling the rebar in the overpass road to create a thick wall of concrete in front of her. She used magnetism to once more gather the scattered iron sand and check on her next target. That sword!! Brunhild Eiktobel was aiming for Mikotos neck with her claymore, but the sword stopped in midair. But once again it did not last even a second. As if it was stuck in a wall and she was pulling it out, Brunhild ignored the great magnetic power and used her tremendous arm strength to forcibly swing the giant sword horizontally. But... One second...is enough!! She had taken aim. Bluish-white sparks flew from Mikotos bangs. With the roar of the air bursting, the lightning spear directly struck the steel claymore. Not even Brunhild was able to ignore that. The high voltage current passed from the blade to her wrists and then rushed throughout her entire body. Meanwhile, Mikoto swung her left hand. It was the same motion as that used in a sidearm throw in baseball. Something large moved as if following her palm. It was a giant mass of reinforced concrete. It flew straight for Brunhild to perform a deadly body blow. Brunhild forcibly recovered from the electric damage in an instant and used her claymore and her physical strength to stop that mass that could likely destroy a building wall. A struggle began like two opponents with their swords locked together. From the looks of you, you have little to do with magic, said Brunhild finally. It may have been that she had only now recognized her opponent as being worth speaking to. Then why are you participating in this conflict over Fr?ulein Kreutune? I am not trying to start an argument over which side she belongs to, but approaching her increases the risk of getting wrapped up in the core of Gremlin. I dont want to hear that from the person who suddenly rushed in trying to kill me. ...At any rate, I dont know or care about any of those big picture issues. To be honest, I have no good reason to be fighting here. While using her left hand to control the concrete hammer, Mikoto used her right hand to create a sword of iron sand. And then... But I do know one thing. And what is that? You dont need a good reason to save a friend. If you want to save them, then save them. ...I know someone who kept saying those stupid things even when he was driven to the brink of death, and he really did save over 10,000 people in the end. And that idiot that saved so many people is trying to save someone today like always. I know I cant stop him. No matter how much I dont want him to do anything dangerous, seeing him off with a push to the back is the sign of a good woman!! A loud snapping sound came from the thick concrete. Something other than simple sharpness of the blade forcibly hacked through the obstacle and secured the claymores path. At the same time, Mikoto swung the iron sand sword with all her might before the claymore could pick up speed. But when it came to a competition of physical strength, she would lose. In the very first strike, Mikoto saw the vibrating iron sand could not slice through the steel sheet making up the claymore. She immediately released the iron sand sword. Instead, she took a coin she had taken out at some point and placed it on top of her thumb. She held her hand out towards Brunhild Eiktobel. This was the technique she was named after. She was about to fire the Railgun. I have my own reason. I want to save that idiot, so I will!! A great flash of light exploded out. On top of the same overpass road, the Lightning God Thor watched the phenomenon behind him that resembled an explosion and felt the stinging vibration on his skin. A smile formed on the corner of his mouth. This was a wild and belligerent smile unlike his previous one. Ohh, ohh. Now, theyre having some fun. I dont know whether I should praise Academy City for their creations or praise that Valkyrie for keeping up her supersonic speeds even after all that. Cut the crap, boy. Silvia the Saint looked at Thors right hand with a surprised expression. Arc fusion blades stretched over 20 meters from his five fingers. Even at that level, it was unclear just how powerful an Electromaster of the science side would be needed to duplicate it. Yet a clear look of astonishment could be seen on Silvias face. Of all of Gremlin and all the Saints, she was the woman who was always standing closest to Ollerus. And yet this level of power was enough to make her look astonished. She had that much power herself. In fact, if they were not that powerful, neither Thor nor Silvia would have been able to stand where they were standing. With your level of power, you should be able to produce 10 times that length. No...It goes beyond that. If you are really named after Thor, then your true nature lies elsewhere. You dont fit in the category of a lightning god. Even so, I still feel ashamed. Thor seemed to completely switch over his focus. He switched from watching a distant battle to facing the enemy before him. I wanted to avoid this. This isnt the worst possible turn of events, but its only two or three from the bottom. ...This is no fun. My killing will involve many others and could even reach the level of a war. I didnt start this fight for that to happen. So you want to keep the extent of the sacrifices to a bare minimum? If possible, I wanted to avoid having this clash in the first place, replied Thor honestly. If I and someone with power rivaling mine have a true battle, that alone could blow away half the city. So dont worry, young lady. I will hold back as much of my power as I can. I wont go beyond the lightning god level of Thor. If you die from just that, its really your own fault. Hah hah. You dont need to worry about that. Silvia laughed at that arrogant announcement. It was a much too forceful laugh for a maid. I am probably the top ranked magician when it comes to that. The sound of something slicing through the air could be heard. It was coming from the bundle of rope Silvia held. She swung her arm around, swung her upper body around, and then spun around on the spot. By the time she did that, the rope had drawn out a complex shape in the air. It was a complex collection of loops. Just as Thor thought it looked like the string used to spin Japanese tops, a very bad feeling rushed through him. Silvia moved. She moved faster and faster and entered the supersonic realm of the Saint as she continued her ballroom dance that seemed meant to strangle ones partner. As she did, complex power entered the rope. The rope was forcefully pulled back and the many loops constricted and provided vectors as if to spin the object held within. But there appeared to be nothing inside the loops. Except there was. There was air. Damn you!! immediately shouted Thor. There was an explosion. She had grabbed the air. From the perspective of physics formulas, it was not impossible. After all, even the air had some resistance. It could create friction. And so it should have been possible to grab the air and spin it like a Japanese top. But could it be done with the physical body of a human? One needed to grab hold of a mass of air, spin it with tremendous power to turn it into a swirl of shockwaves, and send it after the target from multiple directions. Who could pull off such a wild technique? Each one was larger than a cranes wrecking ball that could destroy a building and was likely enough to bury even an underground shelter. The phenomenon was created by overwhelming physical strength. The tiny resistance of the air that people normally did not even notice was being used to produce such great power. (But that isnt enough to explain it!!) Thor immediately swung the arc fusion blades on his right hand. The air was nothing more than air. He was trying to blow away the swirls of shockwaves by heating up the air to a massive temperature so it expanded explosively. But it did not work. After two or three smashing blows, the arc fusion blades suddenly stopped moving. They stopped when their 20 meter length was just about to reach the rope that was still dancing through the air and Silvia who was spinning at high speed. My specialty is barriers, said Silvia as she slowed down her spinning and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Even so, the several dozen meters of rope were still swimming through the air like the ribbon in rhythmic gymnastics. People were always getting mad at me at Buckingham Palace for destroying the palaces equipment too much for a bodyguard. And so I thought long and hard about a way to intercept the assassin without destroying everything around me too. What I came up with was a barrier to suppress my own power. A pattern made from a single continuous line with a Christian angel base... So its a modern Western magic sigil. Thats right. That was a method of drawing out Telesma from a different phase that existed on top of this world and sealing it inside an object. The charm was completed by referencing a rose pattern with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet arranged in a set pattern to trace out the name of the angel one wished to call. In all likelihood, Silvia was not trying to access Telesma. She likely wanted something that functioned as a temple pillar that appropriately guided her great power into itself. In other words, it was a barrier for a summoning ceremony. It acted more like the semiconductors in delicate equipment than it did a simple wall. It would complexly switch back and forth between allowing power to pass through and sealing off that power depending on the time and situation in order to provide greater ability and delicacy to what would otherwise be a simple torrent of power. This type of technique was used to give form to something that (looked like it) could answer any question using the power flowing into this world from the other phase. It was the same as how sending an even electric current into an integrated circuit allowed complex calculations to be performed. I create a wall of Telesma along the rope which makes up a hand that grabs the air. Silvia once more began spinning around at high speed. The rope writhed through the air like it was trying to lure something. That great serpent that swam through the sky then distinctly bared its fangs. So...well...dont worry. I am probably one of the most skilled in the world when it comes to not getting others wrapped up in my fights. Just entrust your worries to this maid and go nuts!! (Not good. She isnt just using one angels name. It changes from Gabriel to Raphael, then from Raphael to Michael, then from Michael to Uriel. Shes trying to build the power of each consecutive sigil off the power of the previous one!!) Tarot could be used in many different ways, but in modern Western magic, a reversed card could be used to take advantage of the affinities between the four elements. What card was placed next to the current card could strengthen the useful symbols of the card or the troublesome symbols of the card. This method was different from those of Gods Right Seat who had specialized in a single form of Telesma. Even if this magic could never compare to them in any one of the four elements, it attempted to outdo them overall with its superior balance. Honestly, there really isnt anyone normal around that monster!! Can I take that as a compliment? Not even Thor could keep up with the movements of the rope anymore. But he could see the effects. The actual movements of the rope did nothing more than create symbols that activated magic. He could see something like a gray dust heading towards the overpass as if it was being guided by the rope. In the very next instant, one entire block of the overpass road was forcefully spun like a top. Those gray claws were much too primeval to be referred to as fingers. They had taken that single segment of the road that was several dozen meters long and flipped it over like it was a tea table. But the speed had been so incredible that the road did not simply flip upside down; it continued to spin in place like an electric fan. It had been ripped off of the support that had held its huge weight. And both Thor and Silvia herself were still on it. (Youve gotta be kidding me!!) Thor had been suddenly thrown up into the air with nothing beneath his feet. Those feet swam through the air seeking something to land on. The soles of his shoes finally contacted the side of the road that had already made several full rotations. But it was difficult to call it a landing. For one thing, if he did manage to stand there, he would have rotated 180 degrees and fallen off after a single second. But there were some people who could manage it. Saints. They could move at supersonic speeds with no assistance. There was a great difference between the breadth of options available to a normal person in a second and that available to Silvia in a second. Even if the side of the road was only pointing up for 0.1 seconds, it was simple enough for her to run across that edge like a sprinter and charge at Thor. While licking her lips and continuing to control the rope that danced through the air drawing out complicated sigils, Silvia headed straight for him. The intense sense of danger Thor felt slowed the speed at which time seemed to pass for him, but that maids speed still overshadowed his. Mj?ooooooooooooolniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!!!!! he shouted. Thanks to his new supply of power, light explosively surged from Thors limbs. He did not use those arc fusion blades to slice through anything. He used them as electric boosters by explosively expanding the air to forcibly accelerate the movements of his own body. Thors body was forced into a spin. He managed to actually contact the side of the road. At the same time Silvia reached him. Instead of using her rope, she attacked directly with her fists two or three times. If he tried to block those blows with his arm, the arm would explode. Thor forcibly twisted his body around to avoid the blows. Every one of his actions just about tore the joints of his arms and legs to pieces. He was keeping his movements to the bare minimum, but the human body was not made to function at those speeds. Ghhh...!! Thor pushed forward his arc fusion blades as if trying to strike Silvia and used the fact that she repelled it with the barrier created by the ropes pattern to send himself flying backwards. He thought he had escaped. But it may have been a mistake for him to think that. With no footing once more, Thor began to fall as he was pulled down by gravity. Thor somehow managed to land on the support that was sitting along on the lower level now that it had lost the road that had sat on top of it like an umbrella. And then he felt a chill run down his spine. Silvia was clinging to the road block that was still rotating in midair. She was skillfully running along to match the movements of the road as it continually changed which face pointed up like a rolling die. It was similar to an acrobat balancing on a ball. As she did so, a new movement began in the rope. New sigil after new sigil was created and each angel name was overwritten by a different angel name. As this progressed, a tremendous power gathered around her. And then Silvia jumped from the midair piece of road. The rotating block of road made an odd movement that seemed to follow the way Silvia had twisted her body. It was as if she was controlling it via magnetism. As if it was connected to her right foot by something invisible, the giant mass of concrete and asphalt began rotating both horizontally and vertically...and then it suddenly dropped down like a morning star. Thors eyes opened wide in shock and he shouted out, Y-you idiot!! I was called that a lot at Buckingham Palace too. A tremendous vibration shook the entire area. It was like some horrid cup-and-ball game. As if she was returning the road she had destroyed, it slammed back down on top of the support that had been left behind. She even made sure the road surface was facing up. Of course, she slammed it down so that it would catch Thor between the giant weight of the road and the support below. Well, that should do it, muttered Silvia in disinterest as she landed on top of the road she had slammed down and retrieved the rope from the air with nothing but movements of her wrist. If you want to fight a Saint seriously, you need to start by altering some of your basic assumptions. I can extend an instant so much with my speed that my movement options are orders of magnitude greater than normal. Silvia then turned around in order to deal with the remaining opponent. In that direction, Brunhild Eiktobel and the Academy City girls battle was still ongoing. But a two-sided attack from two Saints would finish that quickly enough. But then... The ground wobbled. Silvia initially assumed just placing the road back on its support after ripping them apart must not have been enough to keep its balance, but that was not it. It was not simply wobbling. She could feel clear intent in the motion. Did you forget, you piece of shit...? She heard something from below. That was when Silvia finally realized what was happening. Dont tell me...youre forcibly lifting up the road!? The Lightning God Thor was a god of superhuman strength. Throughout all of Norse mythology only two could use the lightning hammer Mj?lnir because of how damn heavy it was. My spiritual items include his belt. I hold the name of the god of war said to be even more powerful than the god that ripped apart Fenrirs jaws. Do you really think a mere bridge is going to be enough to crush me!? Silvias vision rose by about 15 meters in an instant. No... Thor had taken the block of road trying to crush him and thrown it straight up into the air. (So hes the type with strength that he cannot convert into speed.) Silvia calmly thought while flying through the air. She was a Saint. Given her athletic ability, she need not fear falling. After all, she could jump over to a nearby building rooftop with such ease she might as well hum as she did so. But... (Wait...15 meters?) Her eyebrows moved slightly. She sensed danger. Fifteen meters in the air was well outside the reach of a normal human. But how long had the arc fusion blades stretching from Thors right hand been? 20 meters...shit! He can reach me!! Silvia frantically swung her rope to draw out the barrier sigil. The attack came in the next instant. It was like a terrible cook battling a giant radish with a kitchen knife in hand. Those five scorching claws moved mercilessly for Silvia and roasted unevenly through the road that was flying through the air. Part 8 The roar caused by that great mass striking the ground acted as a sign. Leivinia Birdway was the first to move. The symbolic weapon in her hand took various forms to match its use and element. Right now, it was a cup. That corner of the four directions represented water, the back, the moon, women, and blue. It also controlled one of the suits in the minor arcana of tarot. The wall of water swirling around her stretched upwards all at once. Once it reached a set height, it stretched out in an even disk. That transparent piece of art that could be mistaken for a giant umbrella or tree grew hundreds and thousands of cold, sharp fruits. Harvest time was represented by a torrential rain. A shower of water daggers fell in every direction around Birdway. The umbrella-like silhouette was eaten away from the inside as its entire area was transformed into deadly weapons. She knew. She knew that Imagine Breaker could negate any supernatural power but that it was limited to his right wrist and down. And so the optimal answer was not a single absolute attack but a huge mass of normal attacks that overwhelmed him. He could likely negate one or two of them. He might be able to evade a third and fourth. But that would be the end of it. The thousands, tens of thousands, and hundreds of thousands of daggers were packed in so tightly that they did not leave enough space for a human to hide. Everywhere but the location where that boy held his right hand would be skewered again and again. Or so it should have been. However... ...!! A high-pitched noise rang out. Kamijou Touma had raised his right hand above his head and negated one of the many approaching daggers with his fingertips. But it did not end there. As the water dagger shattered like glass, its fragments scattered in every direction and struck the other surrounding daggers. This slightly altered their trajectory. This caused a chain reaction that created a blank spot that should not have been there. It was a phenomenon that could only occur when the daggers were packed in so tightly that no space for a human was left. All of the water daggers struck the asphalt and sent orange sparks flying throughout the entire area. Only the area one meter around Kamijou had avoided damage. Precognition. After so many battles with both scientific espers and occult magicians that they were commonplace for him, Kamijou had obtained that sense that resembled the instinct of an artisan. When he tried to understand it himself, it only threw off its accuracy. But Birdways expression did not change. I already worked that into my plan, you idiot, she quietly spat out. She had aimed for that moment after Kamijou broke through the shower of water daggers with just his right hand and had switched his thoughts over from defense to offense. At a point near Kamijous left side, a small flicker of white light appeared in what should have been empty air. In the very next moment, a pure white flash of light exploded out. It was a spherical explosion with a diameter of about 10 meters. It tore straight through the road signs and asphalt. She unhesitatingly bared her fangs during that moment when Kamijou was switching gears in his mind. She called it a summoned explosion. This supernatural phenomenon was not caused by preparing temples, symbolic weapons, chants, or ceremonies to complexly draw out and use Telesma. She simply called forth the power and let it loose without giving it form. Saying she simplified and sped up the process made it sound nice, but it was the same as firing a rocket without going through any kind of a safety check. If a magician without the proper knowledge tried to use it, they would simply become the stereotypical horror victim as they were swallowed up by the power they themselves had called forth. Ghh...!! Kamijou forcibly twisted his body and tried to suppress the explosion with his right hand. This created an even larger opening. Leivinia Birdway had already transformed her symbolic weapon into the sword that represented wind. She casually held it up and swung it down. Her attack would cut straight through one edge of the battlefield. And through the joint of Kamijou Toumas right shoulder. The boy was still in the middle of holding out his right hand to deal with the summoned explosion that had appeared near his left side. He did not have time to swing his arm back around and block the wind sword. And because he had forcibly twisted his body around, he was very nearly off balance and therefore could not jump back either. In other words, this was checkmate. Birdway was worried about the unknown phenomenon that occurred when his arm was severed, but Kamijou himself could not freely control it either. If that was the end of it, that was fine. If he started going on a rampage, that would simply create many, many more openings for her to attack. Just two or three more swings of her arm would end it even if that happened. There was no way he could turn the situation around. It was that kind of decisive checkmate. But... However... The wind sword Birdway fired was knocked away by something. That something was a pure white light. It was the light of the summoned explosion that should have been attacking Kamijou Touma. What...!? This time, Kamijous actions had left Birdways expectations. She immediately transformed her symbolic weapon into a wand and held it out horizontally. It had been his right hand that had caused it. Imagine Breaker was nothing more than the power to negate supernatural powers. It could not be used for anything other than that. But he could freely move those five fingers and make various different forms out of his hand. And whether it was fire or water, power would naturally flow in the path of least resistance. Fire would spread in the direction with more oxygen. Water would flow down a hill. And... There were tons of technologies that took advantage of those properties. For example, guns used a tube made of a strong material to send the explosive power of gunpowder in a single direction to fire a bullet. For example, directional landmines attached the explosive on the inside of a bowl-shaped panel to use more of its force to pierce through a tanks armor. Air ducts, electric cables, gas turbines, a cranes wrecking ball, steam locomotives, skis, smokestacks, pasta makers, fuel pumps...and in a broader sense, even the roads that controlled the flows of people. It was no different from that. He had not used Imagine Breaker to negate the supernatural power. He had brought his five fingers right up to its border to create the ultimate wall with his right hand. That had created a sort of guide rail that made the direction he wanted into the path of least resistance for the explosive power. He had used that to send the summoned explosion in the direction of the wind sword. Did you forget? I directly fought Fiamma of the Right. The unexpected event created an opening in Birdway. Kamijou kicked off the asphalt in order to make the most use of it. He ran. And so I know there are powers with a pressure great enough that I cant completely negate them with my right hand. You just have too much power, Birdway!! For the first time, Birdway clenched her back teeth slightly. And she spat out, Is your hand the symbol of petty tricks? You may have gotten one strike in, but youre still out of your league!! While still holding her wand out horizontally, Birdway spun it around once like a baton. Orange flames shot out along its path. The flames grew into a giant wall which pressed towards Kamijou. Thats just a distraction!! Kamijou penetrated the wall without negating it with his right hand. Instead of trying to destroy it head on, he swung his arm to the side in a pushing motion to divert the scorching wall in a different direction where it simply burned through the scenery. Immediately after he got rid of that orange curtain, a group of gray daggers that appeared to be made of stone flew towards him like a storm. Kamijou twisted his body with all his strength to avoid a single blade mixed in with the rest. A trail of red blood ran down from where his cheek was lightly scratched. But Kamijou smiled. That knife alone was real. Isnt that right, Birdway!? Hah. Such interesting behavior! If he had simply tried to break through it all with his right hand, that blade would have pierced right through his palm. While in an awkward position after swinging his upper body around, he forcibly swung his fist and destroyed one of the many remaining blades. The chain reaction of destruction and impacts with fragments opened up a slight safe area just like with the downpour of water blades. There was now only a few meters between the two of them. He would reach her with just a bit more effort. Well, I suppose there would have been no reason to give you so much focus if you were just a kid who swung his right hand around. As Kamijou stepped further forward, Birdway reached behind to her back. It was an action similar to pulling a sword from a scabbard on her back, but it was more likely she had something hidden in the back of her blouse. Kamijou thought she was going to pull out some kind of suspicious card or crystal ball. But she did not. I do not much like modern weapons like missiles and machine guns. She pulled it out. She held it out. But these flintlock guns are a different matter. I told you that once before, didnt I? It was an old-fashioned handgun that could only hold a single bullet. It was colored with black oak and gold, so it looked like something a pirate would have used long, long ago. All the muscles of Kamijous body stiffened. He had a single piece of proof. That was the hole in his right side. The wound from being shot by Anti-Skill. In other words... Kamijou Touma did not have the physical ability needed to evade a bullet that had nothing to do with supernatural powers. Birdway...!! I cast aside my pride. They were just a few meters apart. He only had to take one more step. Then his fist could reach her. But Birdways slender finger touched the trigger to make the best use of that definite distance. She was not aiming at his head. Even at that close range, she was aiming exactly at his lower abdomen that was his center of gravity. That made it near impossible for him to evade. Even if he frantically swung his body out of the way, she could still hit him somewhere on his torso. With her voice almost in a whisper, she added, So that I could be certain of victory. Part 9 The limited space of the underground passageway may not have been spacious or sturdy enough for those three monsters created by Academy City. The first attack came head on. The white dolls created based on the residual thoughts of the Sisters charged towards Accelerator, and the hundreds of feathers of the wing that had been Kakine Teitokus right arm turned into a storm of spears that filled the entire area as they violently attacked without bothering to avoid the girls. But... This time, Accelerators heart and mind did not disturb the equations that controlled his powers. If he resolved himself and looked straight ahead, he only needed to see them off. He would see them off to a place where no one could reach them from that shitty city that was forcibly holding them here. Use this, said Mugino from next to him. This is your job. In the next instant, a beam of light shot from Mugino Shizuris palm and headed straight for Accelerator. That Particle-Function Waveform High Speed Cannon was powerful enough to slice an Aegis ship in half. If any disturbance had existed in the #1s reflection equations, he might have been turned to ash without even having time to feel pain. But that did not happen. He made sure of it. ... Accelerator accurately grasped the vectors of that attack. He adjusted and focused the vectors to give them new form and properties. And then he used it to attack all three of the attacking girls at once. Sound disappeared. There was only light. This went beyond simply piercing through them or roasting them. They disappeared. Not even a single piece or 1 mm fragment remained. They were truly annihilated. He made sure they would never be controlled so unreasonably again. Those girls should not have been there, so he returned them to where they belonged. The girls expressions had not changed even up to the very last moment. He had no idea what they might have been thinking when that moment came. But that was fine. It was possible there really was someone in the world who could understand or determine the feelings of the dead and use that to save their hearts. There may have been someone who could honor the dead by helping resolve the things they regretted or had left behind. But that was not a job for Accelerator who had given himself into the darkness and killed too many people. However, before he went to hell, there were things he could do even with his power that was a like an incarnation of violence and destruction. The feelings of the dead belonged to the dead. They must not be used for the benefit of others. To ensure that those feelings were not destroyed, Academy Citys #1 would gently seal them away and definitively see them off. And he would stand in the way of anyone trying to disturb them like a grave keeper before grave robbers. Because he reeked too greatly of death, he could not claim that humans were fundamentally good, but he would still work to protect the things he wished to protect. He was finished chasing after a certain someone and focusing too much on that someone. He would take a different path. Even if he could not do what that someone did, he could do things that someone could not. He would become what only he could be. Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He grabbed at the large number of approaching spears, grabbed ahold of the vectors of something flowing through them, and forcibly reversed that flow. Dark Matter contained no blood, but Accelerator could feel a pulse signal similar to bioelectricity. Just like destroying the center by applying pressure to an extremity, he broke through all the countless spears at once. Kakine Teitokus body at the center twitched a bit. See? Mugino fired a Meltdowner beam while Kakine Teitokus movement was briefly stopped. The majority of his upper body was blown away. But... In the end... Some white substance had spread out around Kakines remaining legs. It was on the floor, the wall, and even the ceiling. I can create almost anything, but it seems Im the best at creating myself. The specs are highest with that. The single original is better than 10,000 clones. Its a miniaturized version of one of Academy Citys set rules. Something stood up perpendicularly from the wall. It was a pale white Kakine Teitoku. Mugino stared at it like it was some gruesome piece of art. Your main body supposedly has a few flesh-and-blood organs left in it. Did you move them away into the floor just before I attacked? Well, what do you think? Did I move my organs out of the way at the last second or did I just remake all of them? Were the organs ever in that body to begin with? Are they in this one now? Maybe theyre scattered throughout the city and connected by thin strands of Dark Matter. And of course, would it even do any good to destroy my flesh-and-blood organs now? Academy City had espers who could transform their appearance, but this went well beyond that. Was his brain creating his powers or were his powers preserving their existence by creating his brain? Was he alive or dead? Was this a dream or reality? He was a Moebius strip that jumbled all of that together. All they knew was that the existence known as Kakine Teitoku was standing before them in some way. They could destroy him, but it would be exceedingly difficult to be sure they had killed him. And if they did not kill him, they could not stop him even if they blew off his arms and legs or crushed his organs. But... Who gives a shit!? Accelerator charged directly forward. He stepped into the center of the pure white puddle spreading out over 10 meters, ripped apart the countless spears that shot out, and slammed his palm against the center point. He grabbed at the electrical signals running through the Dark Matter and reversed them. A loud snapping sound rang out. A large hole in the unnaturally perfect shape of a hexagon appeared in the puddle. The damage had been intentionally cut off before it reached the entire system of Kakine Teitoku. Its no use. Information is exchanged between the different blocks, but there is no direct connection. The blocks can freely communicate without any direct wiring, so your attacks cannot reach me. I suppose it is similar to an electronic wiretapping system that intentionally crosses the wires via alien crosstalk. An attack across those lines cannot reach me because the lines are not actually connected. Then I will destroy it all. As you do, I will be expanding the network. With every piece expanding at the same time, it will expand exponentially. Then I just have to destroy it faster than that!! If Academy City was viewed as a single body, this was similar to a battle between cancer cells attempting to bring down the functioning of the entire body by infinitely multiplying and elements preserving the health of the body by urging old cells to commit suicide to prevent growing cancerous. It was a battle between the #2 who could make someone suffer by creating something and the #1 who could protect someone by destroying something. They wielded their massive powers in the opposite direction of that powers initial image. However... How much time do you have left? asked Kakine Teitoku mockingly. Accelerators vector reflection and Mugino Shizuris massive beams of light were both tearing away at his body. But something pure white was continually spreading across the walls and ceiling. Kakine felt no fear over being destroyed. He was definitively missing that instinct that any life form should have. Once that limit comes, you are done for. That may be the cue for the appearance of those wings that no theory can explain, but you cant use those for long periods of time or have complete control of them, can you? In fact, that unexplainable phenomenon must cause a huge amount of unexplainable consumption. Either way, you have no time left. And... And I have nothing to worry about once it is just the #4 left. I dont know how much she has grown, but the basic difference in power is just too great. No matter what she has overcome, she cannot defeat me. That comment led to Kakines head being annihilated, but the rest of the figure simply ignored gravity and fell into the puddle on the wall. A new Kakine Teitoku floated up in a different spot. This is a difference in the freedom our powers give us. And that difference is insurmountable for you. I need not even do anything. I do not simply have an infinite supply of Dark Matter. My inspiration also knows no bounds. No matter how many cards you gather in your hand, I can push it back with brute force as numbers means nothing to me. ...Nothing you do will ever even reach me. To reach me, you first need to climb over the wall of infinity that continues on eternally. It was like continuing to do something that did not add up. It was like being ordered to empty a swimming pool using a bucket while the water was constantly being filled by a waterfall. Choose. Academy Citys #2s lips moved. Will you slowly dry up over a long period of time or will you die in a single painless instant? Countless spears burst out and rushed toward Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri. Part 10 The final weapon she held out at Kamijou Touma was a flintlock pistol that had nothing to do with magic. It was not even worth wondering whether he should evade to the left or to the right. The old-fashioned pistol was relatively low power, but he had no guarantee he could block it with just the bones of his arm. He was not a tights-wearing hero from American comics. He could not dodge a bullet flying straight at him, and repelling it with a body of steel was out of the question. As such, he had only one option. He forced down his passive instincts and charged straight forward. He was only a few meters away from Birdway. Just one more step and he would be in punching range. His only option was to knock the hand holding the gun out of the way before she could fire. If he managed to divert the barrel just a bit to the side, the fired bullet would fly off in a harmless direction. (Make it...) The extreme tension threw off his sense of time. The movements of his arm as he desperately stretched it out felt horribly sluggish and slow. (Make it!!) Birdway continued to aim the flintlock pistol at him with no change of expression. The finger on the trigger moved. The small piece of metal that determined peoples deaths activated. Ooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! But first, Kamijous right hand...or rather, the very tip of the middle finger just barely touched the elegantly decorated barrel. The bottom of his finger gained a very slight sense of making solid contact. It was similar to raising a fishing pole when the hook was positioned so it might or might not catch in the mouth of a large fish. If the fish coincidentally happened to move just slightly, the hook would miss and the fish would escape into the water. The fisher would lose everything. He forcibly swung his right hand to the side. He attempted to dig the hook deeply into the fishs mouth it had shallowly entered. At the same moment, Leivinia Birdways index finger finished its movement. She pulled the trigger. The flintlock gun barrel was knocked away from Kamijou. (...What?) Kamijou had evaded near death, yet an intensely bad feeling spread from his gut. Yes... (She pulled the trigger, but I didnt hear a gunshot!?) Wrong move, idiot. He did not even have time for that girls voice to send a chill running down his spine. With a dull roar, a stone pillar extended up from the ground and accurately slammed straight into the center of Kamijous chest. Not only did it knock the breath out of him, but it seemed to destroy his hearts rhythm of expansion and contraction. Gh...bh...!? He frantically tried to recover his posture, but then all strength suddenly left his right knee. The disturbance in the flow of his blood that started with his heart in the center was belatedly spreading like a wave to each part of his body. He just barely managed to keep one leg underneath him to avoid completely collapsing. A dull shock struck his cheek. Calling it a slap made it sound nice, but he had more or less been hit with the grip of the flintlock pistol. It felt similar to being hit by the end of a hammers handle. The blow shook Kamijous brain and he finally fell to the side onto the asphalt road surface. His movements looked as frail as a marionette thats strings had been cut. At least do some research into how guns work... But I guess that might be too much to ask of someone from Japan. But you at least fought in the center of World War III. Birdway spun the pistol around in front of herself while she watched Kamijou struggle on the road surface due to temporarily losing his sense of up and down. With a flintlock gun, the gunpowder and bullet have to be inserted through the barrel before firing. The work can be shortened by switching out the fuse for a percussion cap, but you cant avoid having to load the bullet. ...Do you understand now, boy? This gun cannot be fired just by pulling it out. Gh...gh...!! All I wanted from you was an opening to get in a decisive blow. And I dont blame you for faltering at the sight of one of these aimed at you. After all, the pain and fear of guns is still etched into your body. If Kamijou had calmly thought about the deficiencies of the flintlock design, he might have realized that. But he had not had time to think calmly. When that thing was suddenly pointed at him in the middle of a supernatural battle, he needed time to switch over the gears of his mind. His options had been to freeze up in fear or aim for a miraculous recovery and steal the gun, but the result would have been the same either way. Once his focus had been pointed solely at that elegant pistol, she had used magic to attack him head on. Now then. At some point, a small bottle, a metal ball about the size of a pachinko ball, and a thin rod about the size of a chopstick had appeared in Birdways fingers. The bottle was filled with a black powder. Ill teach you the proper way of doing it. Birdway pointed the elegant pistols barrel upwards, poured the powder in, and then dropped the metal ball in as if using it as a cover. Lastly, she stuck the thin rod down the barrel and used a bit of strength to force the ball and powder down. You really are not supposed to point this type of guns barrel downwards. But this one isnt cheap. The bullet isnt going to fall out. Birdway tossed the rod and bottle away and aimed the gun at Kamijou where he lay collapsed on the ground. Give up on Fr?ulein Kreutune. I will give you a reason to give up. You have shown that you are not the type to give up even after being shot in the stomach. Then what about the leg? Once you lose your ability to move around and your ability to support the weight behind your fist, you should have enough of an excuse to just lie in a hospital bed. Heh... The symptoms of his light concussion must have been gradually softening because Kamijou was now able to look up at Birdway with hazy eyes. A slight smile was on his lips. Do you feel the need to go this far because you feel anything less will not make up for the damage at Hawaii and Baggage City? So what if I do? Then youve already admitted that youve done something horrible. In that case, dont head off in the wrong direction. Even if you capture Fr?ulein Kreutune, lure out the Magic God Othinus, defeat her, and bring about something like world peace...hell, even if billions of people thank you, there is no way you will feel satisfied. Im sick of hearing your appeals to emotion. Is that so? forced out Kamijou as he was breathing erratically. I just dont understand how anyone could try to save people purely based off of logic and efficiency. Because from that perspective it doesnt matter, does it? If you pull out that easiest of arguments, you lose all reason to save them in the first place. There is a necessary level of evil to keep money circulating enough to support a society. Its just a trivial fraction of the whole. Even if humanity goes extinct, life forms with a different type of thought process will eventually fill the earth. ...Just from a logical standpoint, those arguments are good enough. If you only care about logic, you dont need to save anyone. For Kamijou who lay collapsed on the road, Birdways gun barrel was an absolute threat. He would not receive another chance to leap forward and take away that elegant pistol. Its the same. Were the same. We want to save them, so we do. You searched out all the best logical reasons for that. But youre going about it the wrong way. What youre doing is like saving starving people by chopping off pieces of human flesh to feed them. But what have you managed to do? readily replied Birdway. Her words stabbed into the core of that boy. You know nothing of the makeup of the organization known as Gremlin. You dont know where their headquarters are. You dont know who their leader is. You have only been able to chase after the members causing sporadic problems across the world. And all youve achieved doing that is getting yourself thrown about and increasing the number of victims. That is all you can do. To use your example, what you are doing is leaving the starving people to starve and simply watching as they collapse. Perhaps. No...Youre probably right, admitted Kamijou. He admitted his own powerlessness. Its said I stopped World War III with a one-on-one fight against Fiamma of the Right, but that wasnt just my power. I only managed it because the people fighting all over the world wore down the source of Fiammas power. What I can do alone truly is limited, and the kinds of things I can think up alone rarely work in this wide world. But even so... But, Birdway. Just because my reasoning is childish and wrong and just because my argument can be easily defeated with a bit of cleverness does not mean your reasoning is completely correct. What? If the only way to feed those starving people is to chop up human flesh, why is it that you are completely unscathed? He stared at her. Kamijou Touma stared directly at Leivinia Birdway. He stared at something deep within her. I have fought many different people in the past. There were very few that I was truly able to do anything about on my own. I have exposed a lot of people to danger. ...But the reason they all lent me their power and the reason I am still alive today has to be because I cut my own flesh first because I was the one to make the suggestion. You have not done that. Are you saying I have no right to get others involved because I make the decision while looking down from above? Are you saying I can influence peoples lives so long as they accept it? In a way. Birdway was a bit surprised how quickly he replied. She had thought he would reply with some cheap argument about the basic goodness of people. But... And the way to get me to accept it would probably have been much simpler than what you went through, muttered Kamijou while lying on the ground. It didnt have to be Hawaii and Baggage City. It didnt have to be Fr?ulein Kreutune, the final piece needed for Gungnir. His voice was frail. If you truly needed a sacrifice... But there was a strong core hidden beneath. If you needed to be able to take action up until the moment the issue was resolved and therefore could not cut off pieces of your own flesh... It was as if he was explaining the very, very basics to a small child who did not understand some simple matter. You just had to choose me. That would have been enough for me to accept it. This time, Leivinia Birdway truly felt like time had stopped even if just for a moment. He was not simply throwing a tantrum and saying she had to bring an end to all tragedy. He understood tragedy was inevitable. The boy was mad because she had moved the target of that tragedy in the wrong direction. Surely you could have done something, Kamijou Toumas words continued all the while. You didnt have to use Fr?ulein Kreutune. You didnt have to offer up Hawaii and Baggage City as sacrifices. Surely you could have used some other means of luring out the leader of Gremlin or the Magic God Othinus herself. Do you understand what you are saying? Even if we dont know the makeup of Gremlin, where their headquarters are, or who their leader is, we still have my right hand! You could have at least leaked false information saying it was a threat to Gremlin as a whole!! With the power of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, you definitely could have done that!! You are not a monster like Fr?ulein Kreutune. You will die if someone merely blocks up your nose and mouth. Do you have any idea what it means for you to stand in the center of a battle with Gremlin as an enemy of theirs they see no value in keeping around!? Othinus appeared before me in Baggage City. She wanted to see what the right hand that resolved that incident could do. I was easily defeated, but she had to have at least viewed it as something she had to try out first. It may have been a thin, thin thread and it may have been nowhere near as sure a thing as Fr?ulein Kreutune...but why did you make the decision without me when there was another way!? Why did you choose such a fucked up method!? Why did you choose to make all these sacrifices!? Why did you choose the path that robbed everyone of their smiles!? Even if this is just me being selfish and even if it isnt realistic, do you really expect me to accept what you did!? ...Youre insane, muttered Birdway. She had continually investigated the leaders and charismatic people of many eras and cultures who could have been ostracized had things been even a little different. And yet she could not help but let those words spill out. Youre completely insane. I had glimpsed some odd things in you before, but this settles it. ...Why do you just assume that you will fight? Why do you see nothing wrong with having things taken from you? You arent some war-crazed person who has lost his place in a normal peaceful life. Nor are you some sheltered person who has never seen true battle yet wishes to join the world he sees on TV. I cant figure out what it is that drives you! You want to know why? Kamijou thought for a bit while still in that hopeless situation. Why had he taken part in all of the previous incidents? Was it because he was surrounded by misfortune? Was he constantly getting wrapped up in incidents he wanted to avoid and was constantly getting stuck in positions where he would be killed if he did not resolve them? Had it been Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Stiyl Magnus, the Anglican Church, or Academy City? Had those different people or groups made careful preparations to ensure a situation where he could not run away? Had it been because he had never once met a simple villain of the sort seen in movies? Had it been because he was terribly reluctant to simply discard any of them? Many different ideas came to mind. And ultimately... Kamijou Touma shook all of them out of his head and replied. I think it was because I never had a single reason to abandon them. ...Ive heard enough, spat out Birdway. She aimed the flintlock pistol at his thigh. This time, she would actually fire. Her finger was on the trigger. I have always wondered how Academy City is able to control someone like you. The biggest threat you hold is not the power of your right hand or even that which is hidden within. Nor is it the precognition you have gained from your past experiences. Even with a right hand that can negate supernatural abilities, a normal person would not be able to accomplish much. The hand itself cannot burn anything or gather any information. And yet you have left accomplishments behind. You did not join in because of that right hand. It was you who made use of the power residing in your right hand. Youre only figuring that out now? In that case... Birdways expression suddenly changed around her eyes. She had the look of someone pitying someone else. ...You need to be careful from now on. What you hold is not good or evil. You hold the seeds to a great wave that cannot be described in those terms. Perhaps it is the same thing that was once brought to bloom by the man who built up a city of steel and electricity or the woman who smiles thinly in the depths of an old cathedral. Or perhaps it is something that will swallow up even that giant flower. If you can completely grasp it in your hand, it will give you great power, but if you cannot, it will be indescribably disastrous for you. What are you saying? You do not need to understand it right away. I will give you time to think on it. But my method may be a bit painful. This time, Birdway truly pulled the trigger. It was less like she was punctuating her sentence and more like she was trying to nip a new threat in the bud. But just before she did... Some powerful force pulled on Birdways right hand. The elegant pistols barrel was moved well off to the side and the bullet was fired in the completely wrong direction. What? Do you remember what I said, Birdway? A slight scraping sound was heard. During the long, long conversation, Kamijou had slowly recovered from his concussion. As he worked to stand back up, he brought a hand to the ground and his fingernails scraped across the asphalt. I have fought many different people. But I didnt do it alone. I barely ever truly fought alone. ...There have been people willing to accompany me on my reckless challenges. And these people are a hell of a lot more softhearted than me. Leivinia Birdway looked up and finally realized what had happened. On the top level of the multilevel overpass, a girl was looking down from the edge. Academy Citys #3... Did she control my gun with magnetism or something!? shouted Birdway before taking a large step backwards. An extremely long arc fusion blade cut directly in between Kamijou and Birdway. This time it was Thor. They were fighting on the road at the top level of the multilevel overpass, but Kamijou and Birdway were standing on the wide sports arena-like area one level down. Also, one section of the road above had disappeared. The two of them were both fighting Saints who had special power even among the magic side. They were in a situation where an instantaneous mistake could result in their bodies being pulverized, bone and all, but those two who used thunder had used what small opening they had to its fullest in order to save Kamijou from his hopeless situation. A lot of people have fought today. All sorts of dangerous people are gathered here thanks to Fr?ulein Kreutune. I probably couldnt stand up to a single one of them. White smoke continued to rise from the slice left by the arc fusion blade. Birdway could see a figure slowly standing up on the other side of that curtain. But in the end, you all can only split the work up between you. ...You can only function as individuals. He had been shot in the side, he had weakened himself while continuing to act in that state and without getting any sleep at all, and he had even experienced a concussion. And yet Kamijou Touma stood up. No one truly knows who Fr?ulein Kreutune is. And that is why no one feels any kind of attachment for her. She was only freed yesterday from being sealed away for so long, so of course no one does. But even if we do not know who she is, some of us still want to save her. No, there are even people fighting right now who know nothing about Fr?ulein Kreutune. They are fighting for some reason other than saving her. ...But that doesnt matter. Even if they dont know the exact situation and even if all of our conditions dont quite match up, we still managed to bring about this result! A great power has moved in the direction of saving her!! There had been no need to hold some great objective from the beginning. It did not matter if they were fighting for completely different reasons. Even if they were... Once it was all over... If they were told their actions had inadvertently saved a woman, no one would feel bad about that. At the very least, they would feel better than if they were told their actions had inadvertently killed a woman. And Kamijou felt that was what it meant to be human. Birdway, you said I am crazy for doing what I do, but you are absolutely wrong about that. In truth, anyone would want to save someone if they saw or heard that they were suffering for no good reason!! You... We wont lose. He slowly and distinctly held up his right fist as he stared at and spoke to that powerful magic cabal boss. There is not a single reason why we would lose to people like you who would never consider something so basic!! Part 11 While Rhinoceros Beetle 05 observed the intense battles on the multilevel overpass from a short distance away, it confirmed Fr?ulein Kreutunes location on the middle level with the naked eye. Fremea Seivelun banged on its pure white surface from where she stood next to it. At this point, even that was enough to have a clear effect on the cracks inside Rhinoceros Beetle 05. Nyah, nyah! We found her!! We need to hurry up and save her!! That would increase the risk of getting wrapped up in the combat activities currently occurring in the area. Even if the others have no intention of attacking us, we cannot escape the high probability of being struck by a stray attack. In addition, it appears some of those involved wish to prevent anyone from approaching Fr?ulein Kreutune. There is a danger of those people directly attempting to interfere if we approach her. And... Rhinoceros Beetle 05s analysis indicated it no longer had the durability to withstand a battle of that class thanks to the cracks continuing to form within it. Of course, if it informed the girls of that, there was a danger of the breadth of their actions shrinking even further. With an already risky situation, the beetle wished to avoid lessening their freedom of choice. Then what do we do? says Misaka as Misaka asks a question. I will analyze their attack patterns and calculate out how wide an opening we have. ...Human vision shrinks further than people realize when they are focused on something. At first glance, this multilevel overpass looks like a wide open space, but it is actually like a labyrinth with fluidly changing routes, so if we move based on set rules, we can safely-... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 trailed off. The artificial voice created by its giant thin wings suddenly stopped. Last Order and Fremea Seivelun had suddenly disappeared. No, that was not accurate. Someone had entered within Rhinoceros Beetle 05. In a mysterious space void of color and sound where not a single leaf on the surrounding roadside trees moved, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 focused its attention forwards. At a spot a mere 5 meters from its cannon barrel stood a boy with brown hair and wearing a high-class jacket. His eyes contained a dark light that was only found in those who had continuously walked down the hidden back roads of life. The thin smile on his lips seemed to contain all forms of confidence. Despite Rhinoceros Beetle 05s cannon being at such extreme close range, he did not remove his hands from his pants pockets. In that world where all color had faded to black or white, that boy alone contained color. It was as if he was illuminated as that worlds sole king. Kakine...Teitoku. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was unable to tell whether it was actually using its wings to produce its artificial voice or not, but it muttered that name all the same. And even as it made that deduction, it denied that possibility. No. That could not be true. The real Kakine Teitoku would not expend any of his power for a mere pawn like Rhinoceros Beetle 05. If he wanted to, he could create hundreds or thousands of powerful pawns in an instant. And yet... The colorful monster slowly moved his mouth. So am I something like your aspiration? ... Cmon, dont just sit there. Im the aspiration you created for yourself. Im the wall you automatically set up to define what you think Kakine Teitoku is. It did indeed seem this was not the real #2. This was similar to someone having a mental breakdown due to the massive stress of constantly hiding behind cover in fear of a sniper hiding in some unknown location of the darkness. You would know best why something like me has appeared. With a set amount of time having passed since you parted ways with Kakine Teitoku, you are turning into something else. But you yourself refuse to admit it. You are afraid of losing your powerful personality as a portion of Kakine Teitoku. You hesitate to lose it and you are frozen up with regrets. ...That is why I am here. I am here to remind you what you are about to lose. I am here to supplement your data image of what your original form was. The cracks were even now continuing to run through Rhinoceros Beetle 05 and it could completely collapse at any moment. Its actions taken to slow the progress of the damage and to compensate for lost internal data may have been similar to those of a human holding a wound to slow blood loss. It did not matter if those actions would actually save it or not. Whether one had received a fatal wound or ones entire body had been skewered, one could not help but carry out those actions. But... If its wavering essence was compensated for by renewing its data image here... It seems you have put off killing some brat with your pathetic misconversions, but that ends here, spat out that someone. His tone made the beetle loathe being a part of him, but no tone of voice could have sounded more like Kakine Teitoku. Who are you? That question reached Rhinoceros Beetle 05. It reached it. What should you do to act like yourself? In the end, the real Kakine Teitoku had not seen the need to do a single thing despite the fact that Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had suppressed the clear relationship of master and slave. He had done nothing and left Rhinoceros Beetle 05 unable to explain the logical inconsistency of its own actions. When that happened, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 would need to take a second look at its own essence in the role of slave rather than master. In that process, it would need to rewrite itself using Kakine Teitoku as the starting point. It could be said to be similar to a computer infected with a virus that would activate when the computer rebooted. Once that was done, one need only wait until the inevitable freeze. The passage of time and buildup of work would ultimately lead Rhinoceros Beetle 05 into a catastrophic situation. You must have understood this from the beginning, announced that someone with a mocking tone. He announced the decisive factor. Your greatest enemy was not Fr?ulein Kreutune or the enemy beetles sent by Kakine Teitoku. It was yourself after you gained the trust of the targets and remained physically nearby. ...You must have had the opportunity to explain this to the targets, but you told them there were only two threats, didnt you? Why? It wasnt because you could deny this possibility. It was because you would be forced to think about it if you put it in words. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 searched for the words to deny it. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 searched for the words to deny it. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 searched for the words to deny it. But Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was unable to speak a single word in response. Of course it could not. This was not a game where multiple players revealed their hidden cards on the table one at a time. All of the cards were known and the beetle was going over the answers all on its own. And so it could not stop the words of that someone. The words merely continued. It is easy enough to claim to be someone other than Kakine Teitoku. But who are you really? Can you truly define yourself with some other name? The titles you have acquired in this short time are someone opposing Kakine Teitokus orders, someone working to become independent of Kakine Teitoku, someone who wants to become something other than Kakine Teitoku, and someone who originated from Kakine Teitoku. No matter how hard you try to get around it, you cannot escape the name Kakine Teitoku. If you force yourself to deny your very core, you will lose your essence and be unable to even define what your physical body is. He did it so easily. He did it so definitively. He crushed the budding hope that Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had obtained. That is why your true essence is that of a slave. No matter how much you struggle, you cannot reboot yourself as a new type of master. If Rhinoceros Beetle 05 did not become something other than Kakine Teitoku, it could not refuse the order to kill Last Order and Fremea Seivelun. But no matter what it did, it could not completely reject Kakine Teitoku. Ergo... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could not protect those two girls. It is simple logic, whispered that someone. As long as you are a part of Kakine Teitoku, you cannot hesitate to kill your proper target. If you are hesitating, that reluctance to kill must be coming from some portion that is not Kakine Teitoku. There is something you have gained in this short time...something that the targets trust. When you decide to kill using that excess portion of yourself, you determine that you are betraying the targets. He was about to speak a decisive statement. He had made the running start to get there. So release yourself from those conditions. That someone spoke those words that were like a password to release the safety device on some giant weapon. Let this kind Kakine Teitoku forcibly give you your orders. Kill the targets while selfishly resenting me. The conclusion was clear. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could not become something other than Kakine Teitoku. No matter what. Part 12 Countless spears shot from the white puddle filling one section of the underground passageway. They accurately targeted Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri. They would be difficult to evade. And even if they succeeded, they had nowhere left to go. Kakine Teitokus ultimate creation ability gave him as much time, resources, and physical strength as he wanted. He was the worst possible enemy for Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri who had instantaneous firepower in the form of explosive destructive power. They would eventually reach their limit, they would eventually find themselves cornered, and they would eventually lose their lives. Kakine Teitoku did not have to worry about when or where that eventuality occurred. He only needed to wait for its arrival no matter how long it took. He did not have to worry about his own consumption. If he merely waited for victory to come his way, his wish would be granted. It was the ultimate wastefulness, the ultimate laziness, and the ultimate desecration. The #2 had gained the ability to extend the idea of sitting and waiting to a level where it threatened to bring humanity to extinction. That may have been the source of the subconscious fear people throughout history had felt towards Fr?ulein Kreutune. It did not matter if she was actually able to do it. It did not matter if she had any intention of doing it. People just felt Fr?ulein Kreutune might do it. Those people had originally been able to gently smile, but that thought was all it had taken for all of their morals to be thoroughly worn down, gouged out, stolen, and crushed. That idea was simply too frightening. If it had ever actually budded, billions of people would have stood up to it, but could what was nothing more than a collection of individuals truly stand up to that? And now someone embodied that idea using a different method. That person was Kakine Teitoku. Those malice-filled spears and their points filled with murderous intent were produced infinitely and rushed towards their targets. Simply by repeating those countless attacks, he could safely and surely pierce his opponents if he waited long enough. What was the point of it all? Now that it comes to the end, I just have to wonder. The #1, the #2, the #3, the #4, the #5, the #6, and the #7... How ridiculous. So this is what it is like to leave the realm of what can be counted with numbers. I guess that was the extent of Academy Citys society. The #1 and the #4 could do nothing. It did not matter how much talent they had or how much effort they put into extending their ability. I guess winning is not always a good thing. It can be disappointing. Finding out how low the wall was can be truly disappointing. I suppose I learned one thing from killing you worms. By repeating that simple task over and over again, he would knock down and wash away the human culture that had been built up so carefully. Or so it should have been. The giant system that was Kakine Teitoku suddenly stopped. ? A look of confusion appeared on Kakines own face. The points of the expanding spears stopped just before reaching Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri. One of Muginos eyebrows moved and she said, Hey, whats going on? Does this mean its okay for me to smash you to pieces? Of course, whether your answer is yes or no, Ill be turning you to ash. What? quietly muttered Academy Citys #2 monster as if the word had just slipped out. No... His lips could no longer make any movement greater than a slight tremble. The transmission rate is...? But...the material data system signal...hasnt changed. It cant have changed... ... Accelerator alone remained silent. The #1 had been continually using his control over all vectors to attack the system that was Kakine Teitoku from within. That was the only conceivable possibility. It cant have... It cant have changed...and yet... What did you do? Even if you interfered with the Dark Matters internal lines...even if you reversed the signals, you shouldnt have been able to make it past that individual block. And yet... What...what did you-...!? Oh, I get it. Finally, Accelerator spoke as if it did not matter. I guess it was a part those infinite possibilities you were talking about. I see, I see... Heh heh, that makes sense. I find it hard to believe a fragment like that would appear within you, but you did say it was infinite. Something like that mustve gotten mixed into that network of yours. What are you... What are you talking about!? It wasnt me, replied Accelerator. His response was the simplest response there was. Id say it was you that stopped you. At that moment... Nyah. Whats the matter? The white Rhinoceros Beetle 05, Last Order, and Fremea waited near the multilevel overpass while watching for a chance to approach the intense battles there. But... Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was unable to respond to Fremeas question. Its consciousness was focused on the image of Kakine Teitoku that only it could see. ...I see... Thats right, responded the image. So...thats it... So what will you do? Its thick horn-like main cannon slowly moved. Its aim wavered. As the master, Kakine Teitoku was giving a command to Rhinoceros Beetle 05 who was the slave. He was commanding it to quickly kill the two girls who stood nearby. The only way to escape the basic order to kill was to acquire a personality beyond Kakine Teitoku. But Rhinoceros Beetle 05 was nothing but a slave, so it would break apart the instant it lost the supporting pillar of Kakine Teitoku. Therefore, Rhinoceros Beetle 05 could not reject the order to kill. The formula was perfectly sound. However... I never had to become anything other than Kakine Teitoku, said the beetle. What...? There was never any need to forcibly think about acquiring a new personality. Wait a second. That response was not in the preset version of Kakine Teitoku!! The sound of cracks running across the beetles body rang out. The red light in its eyes flickered unstably like a malfunctioning light. I... The cracks had finally become visible on the outside of its body. It was as if those cracks were in payment for resisting something. But it did not stop. Rhinoceros Beetle 05 did not stop speaking. I am...!! Suddenly, the red light in Rhinoceros Beetle 05s eyes completely disappeared. It had ceased to function. Or so it appeared. But that was not the case. My name is... The light came back on immediately afterwards. But it had changed from red to green. The previous coloration that had indicated an error became a vivid green as if to announce it was now running properly. My name is Kakine Teitoku, Academy Citys #2 Level 5 and the user of Dark Matter. Some might have described it as a flower blooming. The cracks continued to appear from within the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05. Without hesitation and without indecision, the beetle completely shattered. And what appeared from within those glittering fragmentary particles was... A single white boy with a green light in his eyes. A small cracking noise could be heard. It had come from Kakines handsome face in that underground passageway he had complete control over. More accurately, it came from the small crack that had appeared at the corner of his mouth. Dont...mock me... He groaned. He muttered. That was all he could manage any longer as authority over the giant system that was Kakine Teitoku began to transfer elsewhere, but the thing he had been shook off that restriction and shouted with all of his strength. For better or for worse, the strength of his will may have been one of the reasons the #2 had been able to climb so high. His handsome mouth split apart and his entire face opened and closed like a cheap toy. Dont mock meeeeeeee!! Th-this is...This is all mine. I am me!! D-Dark Matter is produced from my brain...from my Personal Reality. How could that...how could the power I brought about myself betray me like this!? It no longer matters who was first, said Accelerator as if he was singing. What the flesh-and-blood organs connect to is no longer an issue. You obtained the infinite, so you broke past the need for that kind of thing, right? ...!! The throat belonging to that which had been Kakine convulsed. Mugino finally caught on to what was happening and tension left her shoulders. Ha ha. Being too powerful is its own problem, #2. When a network made up of flexibly replaceable equipment has a portion become isolated from the rest, the isolated portion becomes a small network of its own. And you have the ability to replace lost body parts like a planarian. In other words... The one who stopped him is also Kakine Teitoku. ...Or may be it would be better to say the one who stopped him is now the Kakine Teitoku, said Accelerator. It was only during that last statement that Accelerator did not smile. He showed his respect for someone he had never seen who was not there at the moment. There had to have been a lot of different things that made up the whole of Kakine Teitoku. And a lot of those things would normally be invisible due to the great concentration of the whole. But when the network became isolated, things not normally seen rose to the surface. Like the gum syrup built up at the bottom of an iced coffee being scooped out. There would have been the cowardly side of you, the short tempered side of you, the vain side of you...and the kind side of you. But who would have thought it would be this form of the #2 that would wrest control away from the rest? The desire to protect someone had won out over the desire to kill someone. The desire to create something had won out over the desire to destroy something. The desire to stop a fight had won out over the desire to continue a fight. I take back what I said, said Accelerator without hesitation. That was something he did not often say. Academy Citys #2 esper power of Dark Matter is one hell of a power. It was wasted on the likes of you. And it was clearly too much for you to control. Ah...ah... Come to think of it, added Mugino Shizuri with a puzzled look. Do we have any proof that this one was actually the core? The #2s mind was scattered over the system, and this one was the closest to the surface. But nothing says what showed itself on the surface was Kakine Teitokus true nature. Werent we just battling the very outer layer of his mind this whole time? Then again, even just that was no easy task, so I guess the #2 really is no normal person. ...Oh, and make no mistake. I wasnt complimenting you when I said that. I was talking about the real one. Aaaaahhhhh!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Each time the thing that had been Kakine forced his body to move, more and more small cracks formed. He was trying to kill Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri by any means necessary. So that he could stop them from speaking. So that he could avert his gaze from that uncomfortable information. But he could not manage it. That final bit of power must have finally been taken from him. It may have been a mistake that he had held that power at all, even if temporarily. A high-pitched noise rang out. A certain line had been crossed. A portion of the spears broke and the destruction continued in a chain reaction. Everything that made up the thing that had been Kakine noisily crumbled. Just like a child grew into an adult and just like an adult grew into a parent, that giant system grew into something more refined by eliminating the immature portions that remained even in the core of the personality. I...Im dis...Im disappearing? I...I am...Academy Citys #2...no, I went beyond that... Why is this happing...for such a ridiculous reason? There will probably be nothing left to prove you were ever here, whispered Accelerator. That someone who was continuing to collapse clearly twitched when he heard that. Even if a massive amount of data is left concerning Kakine Teitoku, that data will not be referring to you. Those were his words. Those were the words the living could pass onto the dead who would disappear from this world. But dont worry. Wait...no...stop... There was nothing he could do in that final moment. But the thing that had been Kakine had a sudden thought. He recalled the moment in that subway tunnel when that white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had suddenly left his control and taken an irregular action. He did not think that beetle had been given anything special. He had not set it up that way. The issue was who had been in that same location at that time. A certain girl wearing a pink track suit. Takitsubo Rikou. She was a Level 4 with the ability to track others AIM diffusion fields, and she also held the hidden possibility of using others AIM diffusion fields to distort their Personal Realities. Hadnt Kakine Teitoku once made the following estimation of that girl? She might one day grow to be the eighth of the currently seven Level 5s. In that case... Whether consciously or subconsciously, the one who had incited the change in the white Rhinoceros Beetle 05 had been... Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! H-her!! That biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! The #1 monster ignored that someone who suddenly cried out. He said, If you wish to leave some evidence behind, I will make a mark for you. The entire underground passageway shook so roughly it seemed like the very foundation would break. His five fingers pierced through the center of that something that was just barely maintaining its form and it finally completely shattered. Accelerator brought his hand to his own neck. He flipped the switch for his choker-style electrode to deactivate his powers. While supporting his weight with his modern cane, the #1 looked around the area. With no one left to command it, the Dark Matter began dissolving into the air, leaving nothing behind. ...So its over. Whats over? said Mugino Shizuri with a shrug. She spoke as if all that intense fighting had been nothing but a quick glimpse of scenery on the way to their destination. We still have a long way to go. The path ahead is especially long for those of us who have killed. Part 13 Kamijou Touma forced his aching body along and prepared his right fist. He was facing Leivinia Birdway. She was a magician that could give fire, water, wind, and earth the form of deadly weapons just by swinging her form-changing symbolic weapon. She could also take the quickest route and forcibly send out a mass of that power before aligning it with an element to create a white summoned explosion. She had a great variety of attacks and they all possessed great destructive power. In a past event Kamijou had been involved in, it seemed she had worn down the organized power of a magic cabal and led it to destruction using nothing but those summoned explosions. But... At the same time... (Her secret probably isnt the strength of her power.) Kamijou knew little of magic, but he had picked up on some information during his long battles. Magicians that could use massive amounts of unrestricted power from the beginning did indeed exist. For example, the Saints, the second princess of England who wielded the royal sword Curtana Original, or Fiamma of the Right who possessed the power to save the world. Those magicians could overcome an opponent with pure power alone. They may have been using up something with their attacks, but they were able to continue those overwhelming attacks to the point that it might as well have been infinite. That was just how they were. But he had never heard anything about Birdway being that way. He had heard she was the leader of a giant magic cabal and he had also heard magic was used to make up for a lack of natural talent using techniques. If Birdway was the head of a group that formed due to that fact... (Its the opposite. Birdways own strength is no greater than normal. ...Without something completely crazy like being a Saint or having Curtana, there is little meaning in pushing up your own strength. That must just be how magicians are.) So he had to think about it in reverse. He had to figure out how she was creating such tremendous results with a normal level of power. And in that case, the answer was very simple. (Its a trick.) That was the only word he could think of to describe it. This was not simple equivalent exchange where 1 unit of power led to 1 unit of results. This was a crazy trick like some monstrous financial deal that took a single unit and raised it up to a thousand or even ten thousand units. A warrior could charge in with a sword and shield made of bronze or a warrior could operate a touchscreen to send GPS precision guided missiles raining down. It was the same number of people, but the level of technology could easily push the amount of power he wielded up to cruel levels. Magicians always talked about gaining power via intelligence, so they would surely be ranked according to that. And the most extreme example was... Index who they viewed as highly dangerous due to the library of 103,000 grimoires she possessed. (In that case, what is she doing? If I can destroy whatever Birdway is doing, I should be able to rob her of these hopeless attack methods... The first thing to come to mind is that form-changing symbolic weapon, but is it really that simple? If this method is what she is entrusting her life to while taking on the world, she would never let it be contained in a small handheld system like that.) What is it? Birdway changed the form of the symbolic weapon in her hand once more. It now became a sword. Are you truly prepared to kill me now? Then hurry up. And if you refuse to attack first, I will. Kamijou did not even have time to respond. She moved. She came in for the attack. It started with a wind sword attempting to cut off his right arm. Using the line being torn into the asphalt road surface as a sign, Kamijou moved to evade it rather than blowing it away with his right hand. He twisted his body to the side like he was heading for the exit in a crowded train. He used the same action to take a step forward and accelerate towards Birdway. (Stiyl Magnus amplified the phenomenon he created by placing a ton of rune cards around the battlefield.) The magicians weapon had already changed from a sword to a wand. She held the wand out horizontally and spun it around once. As soon as she did, a disk of fire was created along the path it took. It expanded all at once and became a scorching wall that moved towards Kamijou. (Yamisaka Ouma created a rope barrier to create a ceremonial grounds, Sherry Cromwell used a bunch of symbols to make the underground mall crumble, and Biagio Busoni prepared a large fleet to destroy Academy City.) By the time he destroyed the wall of flames with his right hand, Birdway had already transformed the wand into a cup. A large tree of water appeared with her at the center and a large number of daggers grew from its branches and rained down on the area. (There has to be something. Something that lets her carry out these extraordinary attacks! I dont know if its a matter of numbers or scope, but there has to be something supporting Birdway!!) He negated one of the countless daggers that had been fired and the fragments of the destroyed dagger diverted the trajectory of the other nearby daggers. With that safe area created, Kamijou was able to get in range of Birdway. He still did not have his answer. But if he had to decide what to target with his fist... Dammit, I guess it has to be that symbolic weapon!! I thought thats what you would choose. Kamijou felt a dull shock and the fist headed straight for Birdways weapon was knocked to the side. It had gone from a cup to a sword. And the wind sword created had been sent at Kamijous right fist rather than his body. It was the same as how Kamijou had used the fact that her magic was too powerful to completely negate. Birdway sent powerful magic at his right hand to alter its trajectory. (Not...good...) An unpleasant chill ran down Kamijous back. His trusty right fist had lost all meaning at the last moment. Kamijou had already run right up to her and that also meant Birdway could attack him from point blank range. She could get a clean hit with any magic and any attack. And she took action without hesitation. You were na?ve to the end. Na?ve to assume others are as goodhearted as you!! She swung the sword. She swung it down from above. And a giant wind blade appeared along that path and headed straight for Kamijou. Kamijou practically collapsed to the side to avoid it and it just barely missed him. (...What?) He had survived. But he felt more confusion than he did relief. Birdway must have felt safer when his fist could not reach her because she took two or three steps backwards. She must have carried out some kind of ceremony as she did so because several pure white summoned explosions exploded around where Kamijou lay on the ground. He frantically created a safe area by receiving one explosion with his right hand and sending the explosive energy towards another explosion so they would cancel each other out. As he did so, his thoughts put together the puzzle at an accelerated rate. (It wasnt thanks to my own ability that I managed to avoid that. It was because she chose an attack Ive seen before. But why? She can put spells together in so many different forms, so she should have been able to use any number of attacks Ive never seen before. If she had done that, I would have been swallowed up because I couldnt have reacted in time!!) A wall of flames and a storm of stone knives headed his way, but Kamijou easily dealt with them using his right hand after standing back up. He knew those too. And that meant... (It isnt that she could have done something else but didnt. Was that all she could do?) ...Ive figured it out. A high-pitched noise rang out. It was the sound of the stone knives shattering when Kamijou swung his right hand horizontally. He was not merely ad-libbing a means of dealing with the attacking spells. This time, he knew it was no coincidence. I dont actually know if its possible and I have no real evidence to back it up, but Ive figured it out. Birdway, this is what lies at the core of your attacks. This is the source of what has turned you into someone extraordinary. What do you know, amateur? What makes you special is numbers. Its like the rune cards Stiyl uses. Kamijou once again accurately blew away a wind sword. You always use the same spells with the same motions. Thats the answer. You have repeatedly done the same thing for a long time and it has built up. By making the exact same motions in the exact same way, you turn those very motions themselves into magical symbols to support you! Yourself a year ago, yourself a month ago, yourself a week ago, yourself a day ago, and yourself an hour ago. Those are the symbols you use!! But that was not something all magicians would be able to do. Her motions were the same on a different level altogether. If someone tried to copy their own handwriting from the past, could they reproduce it perfectly? This was the technique to forcibly draw out overwhelming results by remaining on the existing course and never being able to leave the category of oneself no matter how restrictive and disadvantageous that could be. What she had built up was what made her powerful. She had taken what everyone understood as an idea or as a concept and raised it up into its ultimate form as a real phenomenon. She stood at the very top of those who attempted to gain the power to take on the world by polishing and improving their skills. You really are amazing. Especially in the way you dont show it off. You put on a cool expression and pretend to look down on the world with a cold heart, but you are actually the most passionate and the hardest working one. You embody the hope that people will eventually be rewarded if they put in enough effort. She took on a different form from Kamijou Touma who spoke and listened in a conflict of beliefs. Leivinia Birdway made no simple comments and yet displayed success with her actions. She showed that people could come that far based on nothing but their own efforts. That was what led people to be fascinated by her and prevented any of them from disputing whether she was worthy to stand at the top of a giant magic cabal. But... In that case... Do you really think thats the answer? Birdway transformed her symbolic weapon from a sword to a wand and casually pointed it towards Kamijou. Were you hoping to find a structure that simple inside me? I control the largest magic cabal in England, the Dawn-Colored Sunlight!! I am always searching for something new whether it is from science or magic!! A flash of light surged out. It was a summoned explosion. The way Birdway did not rely on the strict techniques of spells or ceremonies and instead shortened and simplified that technique as if ad-libbing was the proof of how non-standard she was. But... In the end, thats the same. Its the improvised, ad-libbed, off the cuff, and freestyle concert encore version. ...You make it appear to be all those things, but it is actually a calculated action where you accurately repeat the proper technique. You arranged it that way to hide the fact that you can only use fire, water, wind, and earth magic using set actions!! Im sure you could create new spells if you wanted, but then you would have to work your way up from nothing! You cant use anything new in battle right away!! He could break through. He could handle it all with just his right hand. He could oppose the same attack with the same method. It was like a giant plantation intentionally filled with a single crop through selective breeding being wiped out by a single type of insect. The real knife hidden in with the stone knives and the flintlock pistol pulled from the back were means of betraying my expectations to make me think there was more to Leivinia Birdway than there is! You were trying to make it look like you had such a free range of attacks that it was pointless to count them all!! He did not tremble. The fear that caused it could not be found within him. He had found the clue he needed to achieve victory. That confidence gave him the strength to clench his fist even tighter. How many cards do you have in your hand, Birdway? What does it matter to you? Is it 5? 10? 15? 20? No matter the number, it doesnt matter. You dont have an endless array of attacks; you have a limited number. I doubt Ive seen them all, but I dont have time to figure out how to handle all of them. Then you can go to your grave with this misunderstanding. A great noise exploded out. It was the sound of Kamijou kicking off the road surface and running toward Birdway. Birdway did not take any further steps back. She would meet him where she was. (Its no good, Birdway.) A downpour of water daggers rained down, a flame wall blocked his path, a wind sword tried to slice through the entire area. Summoned explosions appeared to fill the gaps between attacks. A steel blade rotated like a giant electric fan and an electric attack bounced around the area like a pinball. A few of the attacks were things Kamijou had not seen before, but it was not enough to corner him. He found ways to deal with them, and cornered Birdway who was losing a card from her limited hand each time he did so. (I think I know what type of person you are now. You love effort and do not turn away from hard work... You have not tried even once to target the weak point on my side where I was shot. You have charmed the people who support a large organization with something other than your words.) He negated many different forms of magic, he blew away many different spells, and he took advantage of many different forms of attacks. All the while, Kamijou Touma ran forward. His vision opened up. This time, he had truly made it up to Leivinia Birdway. You are...!! You are the person who taught so many people that hard work will carry you to the top! I cant let you come to the pathetic answer that using Fr?ulein Kreutune is the best option!! I cant!! His means of attack were limited to just one. But he constantly reached that one means out towards what he could not reach, touched that which was said to be impossible, and grabbed at something that was not there. His hand and its five fingers could freely make any number of forms. It now took the form of a fist. It happened immediately afterwards. Kamijou Touma and Leivinia Birdway arrived at the same spot. And the conclusion was reached. Part 14 ...? On the top level of the multilevel overpass, Misaka Mikoto frowned where she stood on the road that was falling apart. Brunhild Eiktobel had suddenly stopped those movements which contained such monstrous power. Even when Mikoto had magnetized her giant steel sword using a high voltage current so that all sorts of iron objects flew to it, the woman had used brute strength to continue to swing around that mass that had to weigh a dozen tons. But now she froze in place. Her gaze moved from her opponent and off to some other place. Mikoto did not view it as an opening. It was an uncomfortable silence like a bombs timer had reached zero yet did not explode. She felt something that made her hesitant to carelessly attack, so she called out to the woman despite how out of place it was to do so. Is something the matter? It seems one issue has been resolved, replied Brunhild quietly. I am not sure if I should continue fighting, head over as reinforcements, or view the situation as unfavorable and make preparations to reorganize. On the sports-arena-like area one level down, Lightning God Thor and Silvia, the Saint he was confronting, were also looking off elsewhere. However, the two of them looked less confused and more appeared to be enjoying an unexpected outcome. Hm, what to do now? said Silvia with the tone of someone trying to decide whether to hang up laundry when the sky was partly cloudy. It looks like I just received justification to abandon a job that was necessary but that I was less than delighted to carry out. So what am I to do now? If two Saints went after him, Im betting you could manage somehow. No, replied Silvia despite having no obligation to give an honest answer. All we need to rob Fr?ulein Kreutune of her power is a spell that adds a pinch of sand to the pure water that has such special behavior. But that is Leivinia Birdways specialty. She did not fully trust us. She wanted to keep that technique a secret, so there is nothing we can do now that she has been broken. This was not an environment where they could simply retrieve Birdway and continue their plan. There was nothing they could do if the sole person who could carry out the spell had lost her will to use it. That was what Silvia meant. She scratched at her head while gathering up her long rope with the movements of a single hand. Dammit, this is why I said I wished I was on your side this time. Then I could have had an all-out fight without having to worry about anything. Thor grinned when he heard that. Its still not too late. Idiot, spat out Silvia with a hint of regret. I am not like you. I have some comfortable bonds. I have my bonds with an unreliable bastard who is negligent and a crybaby despite very nearly reaching the realm of a Magic God. I am a bit jealous of that. replied Thor honestly. He shrugged as he said it, but that alone was sincere. Ive given everything my all to make it as far as I have, but Ive never been able to find that. And thats why I am standing here. The action they both took was quite simple. They took a step back from each other. That was enough to leave the complexly interwoven situation. That action signified a disarmament where the game pieces that had been optimally set up to achieve checkmate were moved to completely meaningless positions on the board. It was a sense that only those who had headed far enough down a certain path could detect. They gave that signal because they knew their enemy was powerful enough to recognize it. We will withdraw now, said Silvia with a smile to the person who was no longer her enemy. But be careful. If what I hear is true, Fr?ulein Kreutune is a fully fledged monster. And that holds true regardless of how you try to treat her. A lion at the zoo will suddenly bare its fangs to the zookeeper who has been by its side for many long years. Even if the lion has no intention of doing so, its animalistic instincts and conditioned reflexes can overpower the safety zone created by the attachment and experience it has learned. ...Humans are in the most danger when they think everything falls into their own framework. Even if the lion has no malice or hostility, it can give the zookeeper a deadly wound when all it is trying to do is ask for food or play around. I know that, replied Thor quietly. But despite understanding Silvias warning, he still added, But we are the people that gathered due to our dislike of calling her a wild beast and throwing her in a cage. Were all big enough fools to be willing to risk our lives a bit for her sake. So that warning changes nothing. ...We will rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune. That is our answer. Part 15 And... While looking out for a chance to approach Fr?ulein Kreutune from near the multilevel overpass, the white Rhinoceros Beetle...no, Kakine Teitoku opened his mouth to speak. It appears to be over. Then lets go!! Lets go save our friend! Nyah, nyah!! Thats right, says Misaka as Misaka replies too. But he had his own worries. The battles on the multilevel overpass are over, but the threat of Fr?ulein Kreutune herself has not changed. Are you really going? She was a living creature that was trying to achieve eclosion by seizing control of a giant information network by eating a certain girls brain. That was what Fr?ulein Kreutune was. No matter how much one tried to beautify it, that truth would not change and that function of hers could not be changed. Some pet enthusiasts who preferred oddities would tame venomous snakes and let them wrap around their bodies. Some would live with wild beasts and climb on their backs. But human rules did not apply there. Those reckless actions only worked when the animals rules were met. The instant one set foot outside those rules, the wild beast would not hesitate to devour its owner and the venomous snake would sink its fangs into its owners arm. One could try to compromise. One could try to make friends with them. One could promise that everything would be okay. But those words could not stop that function. No matter how much they had built up with her ahead of time, the instant Fr?ulein Kreutunes inherent rules activated, the possibility that she would cast all that aside and attack was not zero. It was not an issue of the good or evil in Fr?ulein Kreutunes heart. It was just the simple truth that she was a living creature with that function. That was why it was so powerful and that was why no one could judge her for it. Or rather, nothing would change even if they did judge her for it. If you put a venomous snake or wild beast in jail after they attacked someone, would they reflect on what they had done? And even if they did reflect on it, would that do anything to keep their instincts and conditioned reflexes from making them attack someone again? That was why he warned them. Would their actions have any meaning? And even if they did...even if some small miracle occurred, wouldnt that be nothing but a small boat in the middle of the stormy ocean? Would it lead to any real safety? Dont worry, said Last Order. She is probably the same as you and Misaka. She probably does not know for sure what she is or even who she can ask to find out, says Misaka as Misaka states her prediction. But that is why someone needs to save her. You can stay here if you wish, says Misaka as Misaka gives her conclusion. In the first place, what do you mean she doesnt know what she is!? Fremea raised her voice despite likely not knowing what the other girl had meant by that. Even so, her words struck at the center of the issue. She is a member of the Hamazura Brigade and our friend! Nyah!! So what are you talking about? What more could she need to know!? That which had become Kakine Teitoku and the command tower named Last Order fell silent. They felt like the ability to accept someone simply as a friend even in such a complex situation and to do it like it was completely normal held some kind of great meaning. Kakine Teitoku then resolved himself. He made up his mind. Lets go. We need to save your friend. Nyah! Dont you mean our friend!? Kakine stepped in front of Last Order and Fremea and proceeded carefully forward. Last Order pulled out her cell phone. In the first place, what are you doing? Telling her were on our way, says Misaka as Misaka gives her reply. The security buzzer we gave her can receive emails, says Misaka as Misaka quickly moves her thumb. Part 16 Fr?ulein Kreutune leaned up against a guardrail in the arena-like part of the multilevel overpass. She noticed a change. Something began vibrating within her clothes. She pulled out a small egg-shaped device. It was the supposed proof of friendship she had been given. ... Some small words were displayed on the screen. That was all it was, yet it was filled with something warm. It was overflowing with something that had been missing in Fr?ulein Kreutunes long, long, much too long time on this earth. Thinly. Very thinly. Her lips moved. That may have been the rarest thing for her in her life. Even if it had appeared on her face before with no meaning or thoughts while she emulated someones movements as a part of her repeated simple thoughts leading her in the most comfortable direction, these movements of her facial muscles may have come from somewhere entirely different. ...Thank you, she muttered. Those words naturally slipped from Fr?ulein Kreutunes mouth. Thank you so much. She closed her hand around the small egg-shaped piece of plastic. There was strength in her grip. While still hanging her head down, she continued to speak. She spoke a definitive statement. But I still cannot stop myself from eating you!! And finally... The time came. It was incredibly simple. And yet there was nothing she could do to stop that horrible conclusion that was about to bloom. Part 17 Kakine Teitoku...or rather, that which had been him...or had it simply been a portion of the outer layer of him? At any rate, the person who had used Dark Matter had been defeated by Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri. They headed up a stairway to leave the underground passageways and arrive on the aboveground portion of the multilevel overpass. Are you going to do anything about this Fr?ulein something-or-other? asked Mugino. I dont care. But it seems someone I know doesnt want her to die. This person risked herself to stop me when I tried to kill that Fr?ulein person. Same here. It doesnt really affect anyone whether shes saved or killed though, so Im not so sure it matters. As they spoke, they made their way out into the sunlight. The sounds and vibrations of battle had ended. Something must have come to an end. And if anything was still smoldering, they would stamp it out before moving on. Accelerator had been looking around the area, but then he spotted something. He gave it a second look. He saw a tall, white figure. ...Hey, said Mugino as if she had seen something disturbing. What is that? One level above ground level was an irregular overpass that spread out like a sports arena to connect the different stops of a giant bus roundabout. The figure had long silver hair that covered her face and wore a dress-like outfit made of a thin white material. Accelerator recognized her. He had lightly held her in check when she had tried to attack Last Order. That much was fine. The problem was... She was sitting down with her head hanging down, she was in a balled up position...and she was covered in something. It covered her hands and her chest. And it covered her mouth and her teeth. Whatever it was, it was closer to pink than it was a pure red. It was too soft to be meat. He could hear a wet chewing sound as Fr?ulein Kreutunes jaw moved. She bit into something, chewed, and swallowed. What...is that? Even Mugino who had been involved more deeply in death than the average person could only mutter that in dumbfounded shock. Accelerator was unable to respond. Something like static had appeared at one point in his head. In no time at all, it spread explosively and filled every inch of his mind. He could not move. And that was why he was unable to stop the #4s words. Im not an expert...but that looks like a human brain to me. Who had Fr?ulein Kreutune been targeting? What if this had been the ultimate objective of her actions? So... What was it she was eating? Where was that brat? Ah... Something suddenly exceeded its capacity. Something that had been building up completely collapsed from a single blow and Accelerators mind was filled with nothing but the color red. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Something exploded. Accelerator did not even realize his hand had reached up to the choker-style electrode around his neck. He stomped on the ground and controlled that vector to jump straight up into the air. By the time he reached the height of the arena-like upper level, he could already feel something writhing on his back. They were likely wings. Those wings could be either black or white, but the wings that would burst out in another second would probably be dyed in a color more grotesque than any anyone had ever seen. He did not feel he could even wait that one second. The instant the #1s red eyes zeroed in on his target, he began moving his arm to reap that life. But... Wait!! says Misaka as Misaka frantically tries to stop you to save her friend!! A strange phenomenon assaulted Accelerator. A certain someones brain was supposedly being devoured in front of him and yet he could see that familiar girl standing there when he turned his head. And she of course showed no sign of bleeding. A question entered his confused head. Who or what was Fr?ulein Kreutune eating? Part 18 Now then. Before the battles and before they headed to the multilevel overpass, there was a conversation. Damn him... It began with Misaka Mikoto after the Lightning God Thor egged her on. He had said something along the lines of Hey, Miko-chan, Kamijou Touma is doing his usual thing by being nursed to health by some mysterious little blonde girl. What do you think about that? and she had barged in on that spiky-haired boy without hesitation. With bluish-white sparks flying from her bangs, she said, First you leave me behind at Hawaii, then you suddenly grope my chest when we meet again, and now youre flirting with some girl like its a normal thing! Do you never think about explaining anything or apologizing for anything!? As she shouted, she fired a lightning spear and Kamijou Touma collapsed to the side. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl standing next to him shook her head and said something in French. Life is always a sudden thing. It is possible it could end right here. But I think it is only fair that I get a bit angry if such a coincidence occurred. This is my precious clue leading to Gremlin. Huh!? What was that? You usually block it so easily...geh!? Youve been shot in the stomach!? Why didnt you say so!? As he lay collapsed and convulsing on the ground due to her much too unreasonable demand, Kamijou asked one thing of Mikoto. He asked her to translate for him since he did not understand French. The blood flowing from his side made Mikoto feel fairly guilty, so she did as she was told while still confused about the situation. Um...What? Due to being reconstructed to my normal body after being turned into a human table, I can now freely disassemble and reconstruct my body? N-no!! Thats not a mistranslation. Thats really what shes saying!! I-I get the general idea. I see...but thats just crazy. Even if you had to slip past Academy Citys security, breaking your body down like that is crazy... It seemed they had come to some odd form of understanding. A hint of jealousy appeared on Mikotos face, but what they were talking about was so brutal she did not particularly want to know much more. How did she get that small? Um... I broke my body down to the level of a few food ingredients to carry it in, but the person who prepared me did not follow the recipe so some of the ingredients were left over? ...??? Eh? Wait a second... What are you-...? Left over? Kamijou frowned and listened while still collapsed on the ground. But then he sprang up into a sitting position. Did you say some were left over!? So we have some ingredients to a human body that can be freely made into whatever we want at least to a certain extent? And we have the person who knows how to use them too. Wait...In that case!! ? Hey, Mikoto! Tell Cendrillon this: I want your help. With your ingredients and skills, we might be able to save Fr?ulein Kreutune from having to eat someones brain!! W-what!? Cendrillon? But wasnt she the one who went on a rampage in that Hawaiian airport...ehh!? But isnt she smaller than before...!? Hurry!! As Mikoto gave that explanation while still confused, a somber look came over the face of the mysterious short girl named Cendrillon. Mikoto somehow managed to put her French words into Japanese. I doubt that detour would help with my goal. I must take my revenge against Marian Slingeneyer for deceiving me. And those ingredients are a part of me. If they are used for something else, I will no longer be able to remake myself back to normal. Eh? said Kamijou without thinking. Marian Slingeneyer? I defeated her back in Baggage City. Mikoto continued to translate as if on auto-pilot (She felt like her mind would burst if she did not immerse herself in something) and the small Cendrillon suddenly grabbed at Kamijou despite the words she understood coming from Mikoto. She started shouting something in French that the boy could of course not understand while shaking his head back and forth. G-gbh!? Explanation please!! U-umm... What have you done!? That is clearly beyond the level of what you should be doing!! It just kind happened! I couldnt help it!! After grabbing at his collar with both hands for a while, Cendrillon finally realized that would not change the situation. She let out a heavy sigh and released him. And then she said something very dangerous in French. Mikoto translated it. I see, so the target of my revenge is already dead. In that case, I guess I have no reason to remain fixated over that. Hm? What??? Kamijou did not remember saying anything about killing her, but he decided not to correct her. There were some things people were better off not knowing. Cendrillon clicked her tongue and said, Not only did you save my life in Baggage City, but now you freed me from the revenge I would have sullied my hands with. Ugh, you were supposed to be my enemy, so why do I keep growing more and more indebted to you...? I dont want to translate this, said Mikoto. Please. We wont get anywhere otherwise. Kamijou frantically pleaded against the sudden threat of a boycott and Mikoto finally got back to her job. Understood. I will pay back my debts with this, said Cendrillon using Mikotos mouth. What do I need to do? It seemed Cendrillon had snuck into Academy City by hiding inside a package. She had been in the form of cooking ingredients, so she had sent the cardboard box to someone who frequently ordered such things. It had taken some doing to acquire that data, but it seemed Cendrillon had managed to gather data from a company outside of Academy City. Kamijou Touma wanted her to use the leftover ingredients for something and had asked her to retrieve them, but she suddenly realized something as she ran down the road. ...Where was that apartment? She had been taken to the apartment while packed inside a cardboard box, so she had no idea what path she had taken on the way there. And when she had left, she was being chased out by one of Academy Citys espers who had ridiculous destructive power, so she had not had time to remember what route she took. That meant she had to start by searching for someone that knew the way to the apartment in which she had left the leftover ingredients. Meanwhile, Hamazura Shiage and Takitsubo Rikou walked along next to the multilevel overpass. They had ended up there thanks to a casual comment from Mugino Shizuri when the girl had met up with the two of them. By the way, what happened to the security buzzer you gave to Fremea? Didnt it have GPS tracking? Ah. Ah. An ominous creaking noise came from Muginos high-tech fake hand when the Hamazura-Takitsubo couple (who could both be rather stupid at times) let out that sound of realization. Oh? So you forgot, did you? So all this time Ive been killing my legs walking around and around and around and around was for nothing? Haaamazuraaa... Wait, wait, Ill check it now!! Ill check the GPS, so spare me that steel fist! Youd probably knock my jaw off!! And once they headed after the security buzzers GPS signal, they found themselves at that multilevel overpass. However... Shes not here. The only person here is that strange woman that tackled me? The security buzzers GPS signal pointed to that tall, pale woman, so they had to seriously think about the possibility that someone had stolen Fremeas possession. And it also looked like some kind of fight was about to break out. But then someone completely unexpected interfered. A young girl began speaking in French. Oh, there you are, you asshole. You need to show me the way back to that apartment. This is just a failing in my knowledge of French and you didnt just say what I think you did...right? A dangerous creaking noise came from Mugino as if the special makeup on her face was having trouble withstanding the movements of her muscles. Hamazura looked confused and asked, Do you know her? ...Actually, she looks kinda familiar. Is she someones little sister or something? Cendrillon ignored them and continued in French, I left some of my ingredients in your apartment. I need them to resolve a large problem in this city. Tch... So was I attacked last night by someone dressed like Frenda because of that? Were they trying to prevent that issue from being resolved for someones benefit? spat out Mugino. But, I dont have time for that. With a truly annoyed look, she grabbed the back of Hamazuras neck and held him out towards the small Cendrillon. Do you want to be turned to ash or do you want to get this stupid-looking boy to show you the way? Its your choice. Hey, wait!! What about Fremea!? As Hamazura flailed his arms and legs around in midair, they heard yet another voice. It belonged to... I just called them, said Yoshikawa Kikyou as she lightly waved a hand holding a cell phone. Our girl and your...what was that blonde girls name? Well, theyre together. ...They also said something about being with a rhinoceros beetle, so parts of the situation are a bit unclear. But they at least seem to be safe for the moment. What? Mugino gave Yoshikawa a horribly displeased look as she tossed Hamazura towards Cendrillon with a single hand. And why are you telling us that? Perhaps it was unfair of me to give you my information before telling you I want something in return. Yoshikawas expression did not change. Takitsubo Rikou sensed the scent of a researcher in the way she seemed used to handling espers who had great power and an abnormal mental structure. Academy Citys #2 Level 5, Kakine Teitoku, is working to kill our girl. And if he succeeds, the odds are good your girl will be killed as well. So help me. Hes after your brat, right? It doesnt matter to us as long as we take Fremea away from her. For you maybe. But what about...Fremea, was it? I doubt she would be happy about it. ... No, no, no, no!! Mugino! Dont look like shes taking Fremea hostage! This is completely normal. If Fremeas friend is about to be killed, theres nothing wrong with fighting to save her! shouted Hamazura. You have an odd idea of normal, said Mugino in displeasure after giving a kick to Hamazura who she had already handed over to Cendrillon. Mugino then asked for the necessary information in annoyance. So where is the #2? In the underground passageways at the bottom level of the multilevel overpass. How do you know that? If you knew...well, Im sure it would start a fight. But try to keep this in an area where Level 5s fighting will not affect anyone else. I also have to deal with the issue of Last Order being eaten. While keeping all but what she needed for the negotiations a secret, Yoshikawa gave a slight smile and thought to herself. (I do not hesitate to get students involved in actual battles just because they are strong. I may be na?ve but I really am not kind.) Suddenly, the mysterious French-speaking girl spoke up. I do not know who is protecting who, but you will need my help to keep that girl from being eaten. ...Is my French rusty or something? Eaten...you say? Dont worry. That is what I heard too. Yoshikawa and Mugino exchanged a glance and Cendrillon continued speaking. Also, if you intend on protecting that girls friend, it seems you must also protect that Fr?ulein Kreutune woman who is being manipulated by her desire to eat the girl. ...To be honest, it doesnt matter to me. But thats what Kamijou Touma said, so I have no choice. Hamazura thought briefly upon hearing Muginos lazy translation. The fact that the name Kamijou Touma had been mentioned meant that same softhearted mood that pulled others into an effort he had seen at Hawaii was at the core of this. But setting that aside... The security buzzer had ended up with that white woman. But what if it had not been forcibly taken? To keep Fremea from being sad, they had to save her friend Last Order. What if the same reasoning applied to that white woman? Hamazura. ...Takitsubo, can I be completely honest? This is a pain in the ass. Hamazura brought a hand to his forehead, but he did not stop there. But it means we cant overlook this. After having Cendrillon (who had apparently heard it from someone else) quickly explain the situation regarding Fr?ulein Kreutune, an obvious question floated up in Hamazura, Takitsubo, Mugino, and Yoshikawas minds. Namely... How...how are we supposed to stop this Fr?ulein Kreutune person? It is simple, said Cendrillon easily as she pointed at her own chest with her thumb. She will eat a specific persons brain. And I left the materials needed to use that against her in your apartment. As a result, Hamazura and Takitsubo led Cendrillon to their apartment, Mugino headed to the multilevel overpass to destroy Academy Citys #2, and Yoshikawa Kikyou... I cant actually fight, so Im left with nothing to do. The data analysis I can carry out is only any good for things inside test tubes. She ended up coming with Hamazura and the others to act as a French translator for Cendrillon. And... They found Kinuhata Saiai cleaning up the apartment she shared with Hamazura and the others. Im the only one!! Im the only one doing any super work! Even if I handed off the dark side investigation to Mugino, super what am I doing in the middle of this once-a-year school event!? Hey, Kinuhata. Why are you talking to yourself when no one else is around? Is that a habit of yours? Kinuhata, who had been shouting out to relieve stress, suddenly froze in place, slowly turned around, and leapt at Hamazura the instant she saw him. She beat him to a pulp with some strange professional wrestling move. Cendrillon ignored that and headed to the kitchen space. She pulled out some equipment that had been roughly shoved into a cardboard box. Here it is. Can you really make a human body out of this? This is so nonsensical I get the feeling the translator of the Kaitai Shinsho is going to come haunt us. Yoshikawa looked at the items lined up on the kitchen counter with a dubious look. As she poked at Hamazuras cheek as he lay trembling on the ground, Takitsubo Rikou asked, What do we need to do? Yoshikawa translated the question into French and Cendrillon replied, Just follow my instructions using the specified amounts. ...We just have to knead together the excess brain material into a paste that has a similar structure to the person the monster is targeting. Oh? said Yoshikawa before translating. I would be best for that job. I know the structure of her brain quite well. While speaking both Japanese and French, she operated her cell phone with her thumb. She was sending an email detailing the plan to those who needed to know. The email to Last Order made it through, but it seemed the one to Accelerator did not as he was in those underground passageways. I dont really get it, but is all of this on Kamijou Toumas instructions? Did he say feeding this brain to her would stop that woman? muttered Hamazura as his face paled a fair bit. Cendrillon replied, I do not know, but it would be a problem if she was fed too perfect a replica and it emulated the effects of the real brain. This paste is like the negative of a photograph. We will make a second replica based on it but it will be made out of candy. She will be fed the one that is pure candy. After packing what they created in a clear bag, Hamazura Shiage headed for the multilevel overpass. As she walked next to him, Takitsubo said, Hamazura, do you really think this will work? I have no idea. But I think theres a chance. Its a bit of a stretch, but it does make sense. The object was too creepy to look at, but it definitely held the possibility of saving Fr?ulein Kreutune and keeping Fremea from losing a friend. In other words... Fr?ulein Kreutune had a function that meant she had to eat Last Orders brain. It was not an issue of deciding to or not. The impartial string of ones and zeros would make sure she continued to pursue her prey no matter what. So what if they used that function against her? What if they fed her a completely useless replica that was exceedingly similar to the brain she used to identify her target? Fr?ulein Kreutune would continue carrying out that command until the hole was filled. But what if they filled the hole with something else? If her function was satisfied with false information, it would never awaken again. Fr?ulein Kreutune would be able to stand before her friends without having to fear anything. I may have been stuck behind the scenes without anything important to do, muttered Hamazura under his breath. But he had a small smile on his face. But getting a shitty role is no reason to slack off!! This was the final possibility that Kamijou Touma had reached for at the very, very end. Many different powers were at work, traveling along the thin connections between people. It all connected to the final moment. They all worked for a single, true victory. Part 19 And... Time now returns to after the battles. Nyah. Its okay now. All the scary people are gone, says Misaka as Misaka responds too. Fr?ulein Kreutune jumped in surprise when she heard those words. She looked back down at her own messy hands. It may have only been an excellent replica. It may have ended without anyone being sacrificed. But her expression made it clear she felt she was a loathsome creature for being unable to stop herself from taking the action of eating. And the fact that the person she had been trying to eat had watched her do it seemed to indicate some kind of decisive ruin. She felt like a criminal in a crime drama after being tricked into revealing information in public that only the criminal could know. But that was not it. The situation was completely different. No one was trying to blame her. But...I...I wasnt able to stop...I still...ate... You may be a creature that ecloses upon acquiring a massive amount of information, says Misaka as Misaka gives her estimation. No one can change that and Misaka does not think it is necessarily a good thing to change it, says Misaka as Misaka repeats herself. You may have had a function that made you take the shortest route to eat Misakas brain and acquire lots of information from the network, says Misaka as Misaka smoothly continues. But... Last Order did not stop there. Even if your situation was not taken into account at all and whether you are good or evil was solely determined by your functions, that was only what you were a minute ago, says Misaka as Misaka makes a decisive statement. It does not apply to you now. You do not need to be afraid of anything or worry about whether you are good or evil, says Misaka as Misaka explains. ...You are now nothing but our friend, says Misaka as Misaka makes her announcement. Could it really be settled so easily? Could it truly have such a lovely conclusion? The method of proving that it could was simple. Nyah! I dont get any of this confusing stuff about functions, but we just have to test it out, right!? Fremea wrapped one arm around Last Orders shoulders from behind and then the two girls charged towards Fr?ulein Kreutunes chest. A soft sound could be heard. And that was all. That target, that head, and that brain that had so heavily influenced her actions were right in front of her. And yet she was no longer ruled by that function. Fr?ulein Kreutune could simply embrace her friends without having to hurt anyone. She heard a small sound come from within her own body. Something was writhing within her. Her body was likely reacting to the information beginning to be taken in from the pink imitation. The strange sound continued and she began changing into some unknown new form in increments as small as the differences in a spot the difference puzzle. Not even she knew what would happen. But that was how it should be. When humans put in effort, they could not decide in what way that effort would make them grow. But... That alone said plenty. By adding something to her past self, she had gained the right to head in a different direction. She could move her path far, far away from one that led to biting into someones head and eating their brain. A-ahh... She embraced someone for the first time in her life. Strength slowly but surely entered the arms and fingers wrapped around her friends backs. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Someone gave a quiet smile when he heard that cry. He moved back a step. Everything was okay now. The problem had ended. Conviction could lose all meaning given the right timing. With the area no longer a battlefield, the thing holding them all there was gone. The circumstances surrounding the boy named Kamijou Touma were complex and not all of his relationships were bound with friendship. There were some who were more or less enemies and some that were connected to him by nothing but the thin thread of being a friend of a friend. But even so... They would naturally gather in one place to handle someones crisis and then disappear once it was resolved. They would head back to their individual paths and return to their proper place. Volume 6, 8: The Simplest Structure in the World. One_on_One. Volume 6, Chapter 8: The Simplest Structure in the World. One_on_One. Part 1 Hey, called out the Lightning God Thor. He was in the portion of Academy Citys District 11 that functioned as a shipping distribution base for land routes. Evening had already fallen and the mountains of large containers piled up here and there were tinted orange. Sorry about asking you to see me off. He was speaking to Kamijou Touma. That boy had fought a fierce battle against Leivinia Birdway after being shot in the side, so he really should have been heading back to his hospital bed as quickly as possible. But that boy had a reason to continue on even after the primary problem had been resolved. Namely... If I dont make sure that you all have left the city, I wont be able to sleep. Ha ha. I guess not. Thor laughed lightly. Marian Slingeneyer and Mj?lnir have already left. At times like this, its the job of the one with direct combat ability to stay behind as a rear guard. That lets me take this slight detour. Is this the place you use to get in and out? When you get down to it, the fundamentals are important. Its easier to slip by in the area with the most stuff going in and out. We could of course buy a first class ticket for the airport in District 23 and enjoy a comfortable flight, but the risk is too high if we get caught. He shrugged. Plus, this district is trying to optimize and speed up the shipping distribution process, so everything is automated except for a few engineers. Apparently, the drivers coming in from outside Academy City just have to attach a rented device to the trucks electronics and the trucks will be automatically unloaded while they sip on coffee and read the newspaper at the rest area at the edge of the district. And the same goes for the drivers from within Academy City. And that system means there are no human eyes to see us here. That makes it perfect for the occult to sneak in. It was a city surrounded by a wall in a country surrounded by ocean. That alone would have made it one of the most difficult places to infiltrate in the world. But Gremlin had crossed so many national borders and walked through so many parts of the world that they could do it with ease. That may have been an amazing skill. But it only meant they were completely cut off from ever being truly at rest. We will leave Fr?ulein Kreutune in Academy City. She ate something weird and then something about her was distorted. I dont know if you call it her physical makeup, her conditions, or her attributes, but you get the picture. She no longer has any value to Gremlin. But I wonder what Academy City thinks. I suppose she is no longer an impediment to them now that there is no danger of her eclosing. They likely have no more reason to capture her and lock her up. What if they try anyways? We did some damage to the windowless building, but it was Fr?ulein Kreutune herself who destroyed that wall. And she has now become curious about the outside world. Even if they try to shut her away, she will escape to chase after the curiosity that wells up within her. Failing to capture her and causing frequent incidents that draw attention is not what they want. My guess is she will be free to stay with...what were their names? Oh, right. Last Order and Fremea. And most importantly, said Thor. I would say that was an ending much more suited to be called saving her than if we had forcibly dragged her away to the other side of the world. I see. Kamijou let out a slow breath. And then he asked a question. Are you sure this is what you wanted? Completing that spear is what the Magic God Othinus wants most of all, right? There is no guarantee the details of what happened here will remain a secret forever. And even if they do, I have no idea what Othinus will do now that her plan has gone awry. I can manage, said Thor simply. He did not hesitate despite knowing it was something that could never be resolved simply. He gave a smile and changed the subject. Now then. The problem related to Fr?ulein Kreutune has been mostly resolved. The monsters of Gremlin and Olleruss group have left. Academy Citys dark side has...well, I honestly dont really know. But as I said before, I doubt they will do anything to cause more of a commotion. We have managed to take care of all of the problems that had stacked up like some kind of puzzle game. Thor? What are you-...? Im saying... He grinned. The Lightning God Thor gave a smile larger than any he had shown before. Its about time we got down to the real issue, Kamijou Touma. An explosive noise rang out. Arc fusion blades energetically shot out from the five fingers on Thors right hand. Thor! What are you doing!? Dont act surprised. Remember what I said? The situation around you is pathetic. Everyone leads you around like a trained monkey so they can use your right hand for their own purposes. ...And from the beginning, I said I would betray you. I want to fight you for my own reasons. This has nothing to do with Gremlin!! Kamijou thought his comprehension of language was beginning to fail. But it was not. One of his basic assumptions had been wrong. Thor had not been risking his life in those fights in order to resolve the problems. He had been trying to resolve those troublesome and annoying problems to gain the benefits of risking his life in those battles. Kamijou finally understood that. But he shook his head. I have no reason to fight you. We couldnt have saved Fr?ulein Kreutune without you! If anything, I owe you. So why does it have to come to this!? Youre thinking about this wrong, Kamijou-chan. Anger and hate are not the only reasons to fight. It is not only the bad guys who clench their fists and go in for the punch. You should know that better than anyone, so you cant stop me from doing this. But most importantly, Im all fired up. My engine has been running full-throttle ever since I first heard about you. Thor smiled as he swung his arm to point at Kamijou with the tip of one of the arc fusion blades. He did nothing but smile. When two ridiculously huge powers collide, damage will spread to the surrounding area. My fights can be described using horrible words like war. But Kamijou-chan, what about that power of yours? Youre just a high school student and yet youve saved quite a few people! You even ended World War III!! Youve survived this far fighting Gremlin!! And the wonderful power that did all that is the ability to negate!? Oh, I cant wait. My next stage of growth is finally, finally coming into view!! I can have a battle amidst such stinging tension that I have no idea who will win...and as a conflict between a ridiculously huge power and a negating power, it wont even cause that much damage!! Has there ever been a more convenient or profitable battle than this, Kamijou-chan!? Was that why? Was that why Thor had gotten so mad in that fast food restaurant and started to punch Kamijou? Had he snapped because the opponent he had been looking forward to facing for so long had disappointed him in not even being able to immediately decide to save a damsel in distress? My enemy... certainly has become pathetic. To be honest, I was pretty disappointed when I first saw you. If you hadnt made such a wonderful comeback at the last second, I might have turned you to ash along with the hamburgers. But you have an excellent look in your eyes now. Youve regained that look. That is the look my enemy needs. The kind of fight that is satisfying no matter who wins is finally looking like a real possibility. I need a fight like that to get what I want. Why...? asked Kamijou in a scratchy voice. And then his voice grew to a shout. You were legitimately mad about the circumstances Fr?ulein Kreutune was in, right!? You did what you did because you really did want to free her form her pain and suffering, right!? So why are you talking about working to benefit yourself? Why are you trying to start an unnecessary fight!? Im not the kind of wonderful person you seem to think I am. I am a member of Gremlin, remember? Despite seeming to mock himself, Thor did not hesitate to answer. Basically, I want power. There is a limit to what you can obtain training on your own, but you start to find the opponents available to you growing very limited once you reach a certain level. ...I can think of a few people who are stronger than me, but fighting them could easily end up destroying an entire city or an entire country. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth. Its been hard finding a way to meet the requirements for the next step. ... Do I want power so I can save someone or do I want to save someone so I can gain power? That has gotten so jumbled up inside me that not even I know the answer, but that is the essence of what I am. I keep repeating the cycle to gain more and more power, and I reach my hand out to save whoever needs saving during the process. ...I have no simple power from some special source, but I continue to reach my hand out and that ultimately builds up more power within me. In that way, I am quite a bit different from you. But was that exactly why? Had he decided someone similar yet fundamentally different would make the optimum opponent? Tho-... Kamijou started to call out to the boy, but he trailed off. His body wavered. Pain once more exploded from the wound on his side he had almost forgotten was there. ...Oh, thats right, thats right. I had thought you could resolve this in top form, so you get some points taken off there. To be blunt, its inelegant and its an obstruction. Itll lower the number of experience points I get for this battle, so I cant just ignore it. The possibility that the fight could be put off flashed through Kamijous mind. It could possibly be put off at least until his gunshot wound healed. But that was not the case. Thor used the hand not producing arc fusion blades to casually reach around behind him. He pulled out something that had been tucked into the belt of his pants. The object felt more like plastic than metal. It was a tool meant to kill. It was a handgun. I swiped this from one of the engineers at customs. I dont really know much about guns, but this is the same caliber, right? You cant mean... Wait, Thor!! Dont...!! Kamijou frantically tried to grab the gun away from him, but he was too far away. Before Kamijou reached the other boy, Thor pressed the guns barrel against his own side and pulled the trigger without hesitation. A dry gunshot burst out. A spot of dark red liquid appeared on his upper body and the stain slowly spread across his clothes. Thor staggered, but he did not collapse. He no longer needed the gun, so he tossed it aside and looked back at Kamijou. He appeared to be enjoying himself. He was smiling. O-ohh...ohh... Amazing. I avoided hitting anything important, but the core of my body is still shaking like crazy. Well done running to the battlefield in this state. Im glad to see all the more how extraordinary you are. Thor...You idiot!! This was hardly leveling the playing field. Kamijou had been shot in the side too, but he had received surgery at the hospital and received first aid from Cendrillon to stop the bleeding. The wound could reopen at any time, but he was still in a better position than Thor who had only just been shot. But Thor did not seem to care. Kamijou had no idea how this growth Thor had mentioned worked, but he seemed perfectly willing to risk his own life to obtain those experience points. Okay, Kamijou-chan. Dont try any kind of boring excuses like I refuse to fight so I will not clench my fist or come and punch me until you are satisfied. Thor shot arc fusion blades out of his left hand as well. He spread the ten beams of light out like wings. If you need a reason, then use my wound. If I am not treated soon, I will die. You have no choice but to fight me seriously even if it brings tears to your eyes!! The final battle began with the Lightning God Thor who was in charge of direct combat within Gremlin. Or... Perhaps he had been unable to become anything except the one in charge of direct combat because he could only face the world in this way. Part 2 District 11 was located on the eastern edge of Academy City and it functioned as a shipping distribution base for land routes. Kamijou and Thor were in a place where the long and narrow containers for large trailers were piled up. Normally, those containers would be checked for legality and safety at customs and then repacked into midsized and small containers to be transported through the streets of Academy City. They had turned one portion of that area into a battlefield. Unlike other parts of the city, there was no risk to unrelated peoples lives, so Thor did not restrain himself from shouting out loud. Ha ha! Mj?lnir! Perform final connection check! Once it is done, begin supply!! An explosive noise burst out. The arc fusion blades extending from his ten fingers suddenly extended to over 20 meters long. That was enough to cause the air to expand and send out great gusts of wind. Thor casually swung his right arm horizontally. He sliced through the containers piled up to the side like they were paper scraps and they came crashing down towards Kamijou. But... He had no time to worry about those countless containers that collapsed as if filling a valley once their foundation was gone. (Shit!!) Kamijou silently cursed, held the wound on his side that was beginning to hurt, and did his best to clench his right fist. The five arc fusion blades moving with Thors right hand had already almost reached him. He did not know if he could fully negate those reinforced arc fusion blades. He might not be burned even if he couldnt, but the overwhelming speed at which they moved could easily knock his fist back hard enough to dislocate his shoulder. (Then I need to eva-...!!) He did not even have time to think. When Kamijou tried to crouch down and duck under the blades, Thor swung his left arm down diagonally. This cut through the containers even further and the 10 fusion blades approached even closer both horizontally and vertically. Which meant... Oooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Ducking down was enough to avoid the right hand arc fusion blades that were being swung horizontally and he stopped the left hand ones with his Imagine Breaker fist. And the instant the blades struck his fist, a great shock shifted the bones of his wrist. A sharp pain shot through it like that of a tooth being worn down to treat a cavity. The arc fusion blades did not disappear. Kamijou doubted this power was Thors alone. If what he had shouted beforehand was accurate, he was receiving a continuous supply of power from elsewhere. (So its like Innocentius!!) By the time Kamijou gritted his teeth, Thor had already disappeared from in front of him. He heard an explosive noise. And then a laugh from directly above. Ha ha. The containers that had toppled down like a house of cards were still raining down above Kamijous head. A figure was clinging to one of them while upside down. It was the Lightning God Thor. Without bothering to stop the momentum of being repelled by Kamijous right hand, he had expanded the air with his arc fusion blades to move his own body. He had forcefully leapt up over Kamijous head and clung to the bottom of one of the containers falling like an avalanche. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Amazing. Youre so amazing! You withstood my first attack without destroying anything!! Thor spun around while still upside down. His axis of rotation was unstable like he was a poorly-made pinwheel firework. This made his blades of destruction slice through everything in all directions. The falling containers were sliced, melted, crushed, and skewered before being thrown into the distance and ultimately destroyed. He is my target. I will not let anything else hurt him. That seemed to be what his actions were saying, but his 20-meter blades easily reached the ground. They were headed for Kamijou. The unstable axis of rotation seemed to lower the density of the blades, so Kamijou was able to frantically leap through the gaps between them. (Dammit!! His range is greater, his freedom of movement is greater, and his power is greater! Stopping his attacks with my right hand hurts my wrist, but I dont see any other way of dealing with the attacks!! How am I supposed to stop Thor!?) Suddenly... The spiral of destruction ended. But this did not provide any relief. Now that he had dealt with all of the midair containers, Thor stopped moving and looked directly at Kamijou. His were the eyes of a bird of prey watching a small animal flee. He then kicked off of the bottom of the container he was clinging to. He fell. He charged straight towards Kamijou with his ten arc fusion blades at the ready. God dammit!! If Kamijou tried to stop those arc fusion blades approaching from above at such great speed, his movements would be sealed. The next attack would slice him in two. He practically threw himself to the ground in a frantic attempt to evade. Those ten fingers were like a folding fan with no paper attached. The arc fusion blades spreading out from his wrist in a fan shape sliced into the ground. It was practically a miracle Kamijou managed to slip through a gap between them. A part of him wondered if Thor had intentionally let him escape because he did not want the battle to end so easily. Standing up would have taken too long, so Kamijou rolled away from Thor and frantically tried to think. (What do I do? If I fight a defensive battle, Ill just end up cornered. Without something that lets me get my fist in attack range, Ill just be gradually worn down!!) A hot pain was spreading from his right wrist. He had no idea how many more times he could stop Thors attacks. He would not be surprised if he heard a cracking sound and the bone broke or the joint dislocated. Whats wrong, Kamijou-chan? With a thin, thin smile on his face, Thor held up the arc fusion blades coming from his hands. Was Fiamma of the Right really only this strong? Was Carissa and the Curtana Original? I dont like overestimating people, but surely they were much stronger than this. ... Kamijou started to say something. But then he heard a dry cracking sound. It was an odd noise like cracks entering a thin plastic board and it was coming from Thor. After the sound happened two or three times at irregular intervals, Kamijou finally realized what it was. Wait...Dont tell me...!! What? Is it that strange to hear someone cracking their joints? Being able to crack your knuckles or your neck isnt really something to be proud of in my opinion. Can your body not keep up with the burden of your movements...no, with the output of those blades!? If so...!! Cmon now. Thor-san is not some special-made person with any ridiculous power like the power of a Saint or the power to save the world. And unlike Othinus, Im not a Magic God. Just to be clear, Im just a magician. And yet I am trying to reach the same level as those worldwide top rankers. I have to push myself a bit too hard somewhere along the line. By adding boosters to his arms and legs, he could jump up to the top of a pile of containers in a single bound. Most of it was probably waving them around without being able to properly control it, but it was theoretically possible if he could properly control the thrust vectors. But... It would only be the ends of his arms and legs receiving that powerful thrust. If he finely controlled that tremendous power and quickly moved at acute angles, it would have a horrible effect on his shoulders and the joints of his thighs. Also, making that jump from a stationary position would surely bring out cries of pain from all the blood vessels and organs in his body. He did not have some ridiculous means of solving that such as having a naturally extra sturdy body. Nor did he break his way through that problem with a trick such as using some kind of spiritual item or wearing an anti-G suit. And even if he did... That would not completely ensure his safety. In fact, that could be seen as ignoring the disadvantages and risks and focusing on the advantages. The pain? Dont worry about that, Kamijou-chan. When Im enjoying myself, none of that matters. Why are you going this far...!? Because I can reach it. He tilted his head which made an odd noise in either the joint or the cartilage. He seemed confused why Kamijou would even ask that question. If something is too far away to ever reach, you just give up. But that was not the case for me. By stacking everything up, I made it close enough to grasp the stars in the night sky. It is a bit dangerous, but its as easy as climbing up on the table and standing up on my tiptoes. Then I can reach the cupboard. Theres no need to call in my parents to get it for me. And so... continued Thor. He stretched his arms out horizontally to the left and right. Times ten. An ominous noise came from the arc fusion blades. I can reach even further. Times ten again. The change that occurred in that area filled with piled-up containers was too large for Kamijou to grasp with the naked eye. The arc fusion blades extending left and right from Thors ten fingers stretched to about 2 kilometers in length. Do you understand now, Kamijou Touma? This is who I am. A personal fight of mine can reach the level of a war. I have made it this far. And that is a wonderful thing. But this is not my goal. Because now I can see the area beyond what I thought was the goal and thought I could never reach. He held the power to completely destroy an entire district with a swing of his arm. He personified war with his personal power. He was in charge of direct combat. While clearly showing off his increased power, Thor broke into the core of the issue. He saw through the slight movement in Kamijous gaze. ...You stretch out your arm too. It may be tough, but if you climb up on the table and stand on your tiptoes, your fingertips will be able to reach it. Its worth at least trying, right? What are you talking about? The handgun, said Thor simply. The one I shot myself with is lying nearby. Im sure the idea flashed through your mind. My blades are too long. Your fists range is too short. After all, this is 2 kilometers...2000 meters. You want something that lets you ignore distance. And you know for a fact my body is not all that sturdy. If you shoot a bullet into me, it will make a hole. I proved that myself. ... But another thought entered your mind, too. A handgun is a very certain weapon. Too certain. You might be able to win if you use it, but you might accidentally kill me. ...You are right to hesitate, but you are also missing something. Have you forgotten that I am a member of Gremlin? The air grew cold. The same thing that had hung in the air of Baggage City briefly tickled at Kamijous nose ominously. We can no longer use Fr?ulein Kreutune. That final piece of the spear is no longer there to draw Othinuss focus. You have no idea what that Magic God will do without an objective. And if she makes her move, it will all be over. Hawaii and Baggage City were horrible, but that was still controlled destruction. But what about next time? Will she start indiscriminate attacks wherever she can reach? Or will she use the FCE data to target some of your friends? ...Thor. I am the final key. Do you not like that fact? said Thor with a thin, thin smile. He prepared a new reason to fight. I am the final key to find Gremlins headquarters. I am the final key to solve this without any more sacrifices. ...So what will you do? Is it your idea of justice to let me escape due to your personal circumstances and morals? Thooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooorrrrrrr!! You have only one chance, said Thor clearly and slowly as if speaking to a foreign tourist who had only just learned the language. Will you begin to take the offensive here or will you remain on the defensive and constantly have to catch up? It is no exaggeration to call this a turning point for the fate of the world. And if that is not enough of a reason for you, you will end up on the side of those being killed as the world begins to sink. It was moving. A definitive flow was moving. Lets go, Kamijou Touma. Show me the determination that once saved 6 billion people! Part 3 Kamijou Touma was about 3 meters from the handgun. That distance was short enough that a single leap to the ground was enough to reach it. On the other hand, Thors arc fusion blades were 2 kilometers long. A single swing could slice Kamijous body in two. They were both a single action away from ending the battle. But... If you knew how the other would act, it was not difficult to take the initiative. (Too bad.) Thor had no reason to hesitate. District 11 was almost fully automated to optimize and speed up the shipping distribution work done there. He had already knocked out the engineers in customs, so he could cut through the entire district horizontally without causing any human damage as long as he was conscious of where the rest area for drivers was on the edge of the district. That was why Thor had ultimately chosen this area. It was a stage for pure combat that he could only use once. He had not wanted to waste that perfect stage on the preliminary work of fighting Olleruss group and Gremlin. And that was why he felt slightly disappointed in the outcome. Thor swung his arc fusion blades down not at Kamijou but at the midpoint between Kamijou and the handgun. He swung those beams of light down mercilessly as they sliced through piles of containers and distant cranes. (So you head towards the simple source of power in the end. I had hoped you might be able to come to a different conclusion than me.) If that had happened, surely some other conclusion would have been reached. If Kamijou headed straight for the handgun, he would be sliced apart by the arc fusion blades. Even if he stayed put, he would not last long. He would be finished in the next attack. He had the power to negate. That was something different from the power to create destruction. (I had hoped you could show me something different than what led me to Gremlin!!) The conclusion was just about to be reached. It was the simple yet boring conclusion of the one using more powerful and greater violence surviving. But just before it did... A high-pitched noise rang out. It was the sound of Thors arc fusion blades being repelled by Kamijous right fist. What...? If Kamijou had leapt for the handgun and stretched out his right hand to reach it, he could never have repelled the blades. But those massive arc fusion blades had indeed sliced through not just the nearby containers but the entire district. Which meant... The choice Kamijou Touma had ultimately made was... You dont mean...!! In his surprise, Thor moved almost by reflex. He ignored the right hand that had been repelled and attacked with the arc fusion blades extending from the five fingers on his left hand. They sliced through automatically controlled trucks and forklifts as they moved horizontally towards Kamijous upper body. But... Once again... With a high-pitched noise, the swing of a fist forcibly altered the trajectory of Thors arc fusion blades. Each time Kamijou did so, a tremendous burden had to be put on his right wrist. You gave up on the handgun!? But youll only be worn down if you continue on the defensive!! ...Is that really the case? Kamijou gave a peaceful smile as he held back up his creaking right hand. This time, he truly was smiling. Those arc fusion blades follow the movement of your fingers. But is that only a one-way thing? Even in my desperate struggles to block them, I saw what happened. I saw your arm get repelled just like the arc fusion blades did. Damn you... Those blades can slice through anything. They werent made to catch on anything. What youre doing is like taking a metal baseball bat and swinging it at a concrete wall at speeds you cant control. Receiving these ridiculous attacks is wearing down my wrist, but the same goes for you! Your wrists are at their limits too, arent they!? His 2000 meter reach held no meaning in this fight. Both Kamijou and Thor were injured when the attacks were repelled. In that case... Before, you asked me if I really had no reason to pick up the handgun, said Kamijou as if spitting out the words. Ill give you my answer. No, I have no reason. Im not perfect. Even without a grand reason, I will think about reaching over to pick up a nearby gun if Im in danger. But that isnt the case here. Whatever your reasons may have been, you risked your life to save Fr?ulein Kreutune! There has to be a way to resolve this without anyone killing anyone!! ...I see. Thor smiled. He had been smiling ever since the fight began, but this one was somehow different. Interesting. You really are interesting. Even if you stand in a position from which you can reach the stars in the night sky, you would show us some different answer. You would follow a different path than the one that led me to Gremlin. Thor? Thats right!! My enemy has to be at least on this level!! There was no signal. Thor casually swung his arc fusion blades toward Kamijou, slicing through the much too vague concept of the scenery as he did so. Rather than simply trying to defend, Kamijou kept in mind what would cause the most damage to Thors wrist as he used his fist to knock those blades to the side. The blades struck each other and lost a bit of their momentum. Kamijou used that as an opportunity to move forward a bit and slam his right hand into them once more. An ominous creaking sound came from within Kamijous body. The same had to be coming from Thors body as well. !! Even if things were controlled by subtle tricks on the surface and even if it appeared they were pushing the momentum back and forth with skill and cleverness, it was something else that would decide whether Kamijou or Thor won. As the pain was amplified with each consecutive strike, who would reach their limit first? Whose wrist would give out first? That was what it came down to. Even if one of them had an overwhelming advantage in everything else, they would lose it all if that one point was overturned. That was the essence of this fight. After 5 or 10 strikes, a truly strange noise came from Kamijous right hand. He did not make it to 20 strikes. With a decisive cracking noise, all strength suddenly left the five fingers of that hand. The commands he was sending from his head were not reaching the hand, and it simply hung loosely down, ignoring its skeletal structure. The joint had been dislocated. Ha ha. Thors laughter reverberated throughout the area. In response to the change in Kamijous right wrist, his attacks ended. Ha ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. The battle was over. The Imagine Breaker power residing in Kamijou Toumas right hand would likely still function whether the joint was dislocated or not. But if he received such tremendous impacts on the hand with the joint dislocated, the flesh would be crushed around the wrist and the hand might even eventually come off altogether. And that was simply from an anatomical point of view. Receiving an impact to that dislocated wrist would also send intense pain running through it. He could easily pass out if he felt that pain repeatedly. But... ...You got me, said Thor. Yeah. Damn, and I really thought this would be checkmate. I guess I really cant see anything else when I have that carrot hanging down before my eyes. But I guess thats just the kind of spell it is. Thor shrugged and spread his hands out like wings. Those wings were broken. Or more accurately, Thors wrists were. Thors colorful arc fusion blades flickered a few times like a neon tube reaching its lifespan, and then they disappeared as if dissolving into the air. Kamijou had no idea where Thors limit was. It was possible he could emit arc fusion blades from his feet as well. And so he asked. What will you do now? Continue this of course. I thought so. With his dislocated right hand still hanging down, Kamijou took a step towards Thor. He slowly but surely walked forward. We need to finish this. Finally, his walk turned into a run. And his run turned into a dash. That spiky-haired boy was not throwing himself into that fight because he had Imagine Breaker. Even if he could not use his right hand, he still had his left hand, right leg, and left leg. So he could still fight. He would end this ridiculous fight Thor had prepared so that Thors gunshot wound could be treated. For that reason, Kamijou charged towards the magician. ...Sorry, Kamijou-chan. Suddenly, Thor began muttering something. But Kamijou had already made it right up to Thor. He was at such close range that any attack would hit. And so... Thor is more than a mere lightning god. It was too late. A dull sound rang out. Kamijous body flew through the air and slammed forcefully into the ground. Part 4 His mind was hazy. The scenery in his vaguely shaking vision was covered in the orange of evening. It took quite a long time for Kamijou to realize he was collapsed on his back. Thor is... He heard a voice coming from somewhere. The voice was coming from somewhere outside the range of Kamijous vision. ...currently known as the #2 in Norse mythology and as the war god that rules over thunder and lightning. But a different view can be seen in the earliest legends. I guess you could say he was involved in agriculture and refining metals. He was the god that helped with the production and manufacturing that supported the culture. What had happened to Kamijou? What had he been hit with in that final moment? Kamijou desperately tried to gather information, but it did not go well. His head had been completely shaken, so he was unable to even grasp the supporting pillar needed at the base of thoughts. But things change based on peoples circumstances. Ruling is a lot easier when the god at the very top is a war god that protects the military rather than a god that protects farmers and manufacturers. Being known as the most distinguished god holds a lot of meaning. So at that point, Thor became a lightning god. Originally, he was in control of all forms of weather, the seasons, and natural disasters, but he became a god who can only boast of his cheap destructive power. Only Thors words continued. Do you understand, Kamijou Touma? His words continued calmly. To befit the original meaning of the name, I headed down a certain path. If that girl hadnt taken such ridiculous measures to gain knowledge even if she had to pull out one of her eyes and hang herself, I could have stood at the top of Gremlin. Kamijou could not gather his thoughts. He could not come to any conclusion. Thor spoke softly to him. You defeated Thor as a lightning god...but that was as far as you got. You could not reach the level of the Almighty Thor. He had lost. He had been defeated. After hearing the words from someone elses mouth, Kamijou finally grasped the situation he was in. Even with both his wrists broken and his arc fusion blades unusable, that monster had easily defeated Kamijou. And now he spoke with a light tone. But dont worry too much about whats to come. I may have made it sound like no one knows what the Magic God Othinus will do with her route to completing the spear destroyed, but it isnt like I dont have a guess. Since Ive won, Ill take responsibility for winning. ...To be honest, you try too hard. Youre protecting the world too much all on your own. Take this chance to get some rest and let yourself relax. Kamijous hazy vision turned toward something. He could not find the boy anywhere in the orange-tinted scene. Thor...? he muttered, but no one responded. The boy had disappeared at some point. At that point, Kamijou Toumas consciousness cut out. Volume 6, Epilogue: Let the Next Fight Begin. Next_Batter_Circle. Volume 6, Epilogue: Let the Next Fight Begin. Next_Batter_Circle. An event did not necessarily have only one conclusion. It had as many conclusions as there were people involved in the event. Here, a few of those will be introduced. Well that was a complete waste of effort, said Silvia loud enough for the others to hear her. The Saint was scratching her head after making her way out of the wall surrounding Academy City. Evening had passed and the darkness of night was spreading. A liveliness illuminated by countless lights, both neon and otherwise, filled the area ahead as if to say this was where Tokyo, the capital of Japan, truly began. However, Silvia and the others were travelling while weaving their way through the gaps of darkness all that light could not fill. I was forced into a fight that left a real bad taste in my mouth and we got nothing out of it. We couldnt retrieve Fr?ulein Kreutune. ...And our countermeasures regarding Gremlin change a lot depending on whether we have her or not. We couldnt get her, so its useless thinking about it any longer, replied Leivinia Birdway. She still looked young yet she had a cold gracefulness to her features. However, all that was ruined by her swollen cheek. It may have been related to the principles she held herself to, but she showed no sign of putting ice on it or treating it in any fashion. That seemed to bring out her displeasure all the more. Even if we went back for her, Fr?ulein Kreutune has already been changed into something other than what the Magic God Othinus wants. We cannot use that to lure her in. What? Are you still bothered that you were forced to fight someone on the same side? Results are everything in this world. Even if you cannot accept how it ended and even if it was based on the reasoning of that boy you cannot understand, you cannot complain after you lost. ...Do you want me to punch you? By the way, young lady. Japan has an interesting theory. Supposedly, those with a real little sister can never imagine an ideal little sister. ...? So if you reverse that, does it mean little Birdway-chan who has a little sister but not a big brother is the type to imagine an ideal big brother? And now youre upset that you were scolded by the person you thought would listen to everything you had to say and that you could always rely on when you were in trouble? But he still tried to talk things out with you even after all you did to him. Id say theres a real connection there. I hope youre prepared because Im about to introduce you to this full set of the major arcana. I noticed you never used that. The four elements of the symbolic weapon are related to the minor arcana of tarot. If you had used the 22 cards of the major arcana to bring out a combo going from the Fool to the World, you could have temporarily boosted your parameters and made supersonic movements, said Silvia with a huge grin. More importantly. Brunhild Eiktobels tone was completely serious despite rudely interrupting. Where is Ollerus? You said before that he was preparing. Oh, that. He is dealing with our true purpose here...the one that has nothing to do with Fr?ulein Kreutune, replied Silvia as she cracked her neck. He said his preparations are complete. Despite being so neatly maintained, Academy City had plenty of scary rumors. The black garbage truck that would take away bad children that did not do what their teacher said. Specimen #502 that was the source of strange groans heard coming from within manholes but should never be investigated. A forbidden name thats owner would kill anyone who entered the name into a search engine. The human bone colored tiles that were said to increase in number around Academy Citys roads after people inconvenient to the city disappeared. And the urban legend among urban legends that said the many rumors were given set rules and controlled by the AIM diffusion fields throughout the city and that they were a means of manipulating information. There were so many scary rumors that children did not know what to do if they really did happen across one of the mysterious people featured in them on their way home from school. The children doubted they would be able to escape just by running away as quickly as they could. But they did not need to worry. The weaknesses of the mysterious people featured in urban legends were constantly being looked into. For example, if a rumor was spreading that said no one could escape from a certain woman who could run 100 meters in 3 seconds, a different rumor would be created saying one would be safe as long as one had some hard candy or pomade. Of course, the rumors would change on a daily basis, so new theories would crop up saying such weaknesses did not work at all. For example, a rumor could spread saying the hard candy and pomade only worked on the original woman, but they were completely ineffectual against the second one whose mouth had been split open by the original woman. Legends spreading fear and legends defeating that fear would constantly spread while trying to outdo each other, and it seemed it would never reach any conclusion. But there was one new rumor. It was a very simple rumor, so it may have held the possibility of spreading explosively among the children of Academy City. It was as follows: All sorts of scary rumors spread through this city, but if you run across one of the scary people spoken of in those rumors, you just need to shout out as loudly as you can. Shout out, Help me, rhinoceros beetle! If you do that, you will be all right. Academy Citys #2 Level 5 who uses Dark Matter will come. Someone named Kakine Teitoku will surely come to save you. Accelerator had returned to the apartment with Yoshikawa Kikyou and Last Order. He was lying in his room with the lights off. It was unclear if Yoshikawa would speak of what had happened that day with Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill. Kakine Teitoku the #2 had...actually, it was actually unclear if he should be called that or not. At any rate, the enemy had been defeated. In the process, Accelerator had found a foothold towards breaking through the difficult issue before him using his own type of methods. The conclusion had been an excellent one where no one was lost. However... (Only the one who was killed can understand the feelings of the one who was killed.) Those words left to the #1 continued to stab into his heart. The thorn was small, but it was like a barbed fishing hook and would not be easily removed. With humans, it seemed a single bad comment left more of an impression than 100 good comments. Why the hell have I been acting so spoiled...? Had he gotten full of himself just because Last Order, the one who spoke for the whole of the Misaka Network, and Misaka Worst, the aggregation of the networks malice, had forgiven him? In fact, had they even really forgiven him? Hadnt he just been letting everything flow in the most convenient and least painful direction for him? He could not ask forgiveness from those he had killed. The dead could not feel joy. After all, the act of killing robbed that of them. The dead could not feel anger. After all, the act of killing robbed that of them. The dead could not feel sorrow. After all, the act of killing robbed that of them. The dead could not feel gratitude. After all, the act of killing robbed that of them. No matter how he lived his life from here on, it would only be for his own self-satisfaction. He knew that. But there had to be something he could do for himself while he was still alive. Getting back to the base of it all... What had been the true intention behind the experiment that had led to the slaughter of over 10,000 Sisters? At face value, it had been to evolve Academy Citys #1 Level 5 to Level 6 which lay beyond that, but he already knew that was not its true purpose. That experiment had either been intended to fail from the beginning or its true purposes were obtained whether it succeeded or failed. From the information he had gained from his past experiences, the first purpose behind it was likely to scatter almost 10,000 Sisters to the cooperative institutions around the world in order to spread the effects of their AIM diffusion fields. Since an angel-like being had been created within Academy City by messing with Last Order, the second purpose seemed to be for the Misaka Network to act as a guidance device to control a massive aggregation of AIM diffusion fields. And there was the term Dragon he had come across in his time working for Academy Citys dark side. There was the true monster called Aiwass hidden behind it. Aiwass itself had said the angel-like thing Accelerator had seen in the past had been nothing more than the mold to give Aiwass form. That was the third purpose. In that case... What did creating Aiwass accomplish? That being was indeed a trump card thats power could not be criticized. After all, it had held enough power to instantly defeat Accelerator, Academy Citys #1. But there was no record of that tremendous power being used in World War III. Even in the midst of that war in which Academy Citys fate hung in the balance, Aiwass had been held in reserve. In that case, Aiwass had not simply been developed as a weapon. There had to be some clear objective behind it, but Accelerator could not figure out what it could be. He knew Aiwass was amazing, but he could not think of any concrete gain obtained from it. Developing new technology was enough of an objective in that city, but if that was the reason, word of Aiwass would have been spread around the entire world to show off how advanced Academy Citys technology was. A plan to land on the moon using a spaceship did not directly affect most peoples lives, but the information contained great influence. Since the development of a being as great as Aiwass had been kept a secret, it had to have a concrete use other than showing it off. And it was likely some objective that held the risk of someone trying to stop it if it was not kept a secret. Aiwass, the angel-like being, the Misaka Network, Last Order, the Sisters, AIM diffusion fields. At the very bottom of that pyramid were the completely normal students. Whether they were involved in the dark side of the city or not, the students all emitted those AIM diffusion fields subconsciously. And that led all the way up to Aiwass. That was the very foundation of Academy City. Scientific psychic powers. What if this was not a case of someone taking that existing system and using it for their own purposes? What if the entire project had been started as an initial step towards reaching Aiwass? And getting back to the true base of it all... What exactly were the psychic powers that had been created in Academy City? Where did this plan begin and what ending did it lead to? ... At this point... Accelerator finally felt like he had grasped at the edge of some great darkness. It felt like one portion of a giant trap that would swallow up everything. It felt like one portion of a giant maw that was so large that the entire thing was normally impossible to grasp conceptually. It felt like one portion of the true source behind the inescapable pitch black hole that had dragged in the Sisters...those clones humans...those people he had killed. If Accelerator exposed whatever this was and blamed it, his sins would not conveniently disappear. But what if...? What if the people he had killed had cursed that environment with all of their hearts? What if they had cursed all that had helped him kill more than they had cursed the #1 who had directly done the killing? What would those people think if they knew the plan that had progressed wonderfully with their deaths was even now steadily continuing on to its next step? Only the one who was killed could understand the feelings of the one who was killed. Living people readily speaking of how the dead felt could easily lead to twisting those feelings for ones own purposes. But... The living could act based on their own feelings for the dead. Accelerator asked himself what he wanted to do. If he could do something for those lives that had already been lost, what would he choose? The #1 would likely go to hell. Setting aside whether that was a simple metaphor or being used in a religious sense, he would certainly not have a decent end. But if there was something he could do before he arrived in that hell, what was it? ... The thorn sticking into him was small, but it would not be removed easily. That small pain would surely drag him down the path of malice and battle. It was as if it had been arranged ahead of time. It was as if it was an intentional code that had been inserted into him by someone. But did Accelerator himself realize that? This code was meant to move him from one path to another. Accelerator silently sat up in his bed. His gaze wandered. It finally stopped on the rooms window. The area beyond was dyed pitch black with the darkness of night. That area beyond was likely the first step towards that other path. If he headed down it, he would lose everything he had, but he would also gain the chance to acquire things he could not acquire where he was. With that thought in mind and a serious expression, Accelerator began groping around for his modern cane. But a knock suddenly came on his door. Without waiting for a response, the doorknob turned. A small figure entered. It should have been the girl known as Last Order. Anything else would make no sense. Hey, Accelerator /return. This is about to get troublesome, so let me interfere /return. Something... Something was wrong. As he watched that girl stand straight up with her mouth moving open and closed, Accelerator felt a chill run down his spine. It reminded him of when she had been forcibly interfered with using a virus or something in the past. But this was different. Normally, Misaka fills the network but leaves the means of external interference to the individual units /return. So dont expect me to be much of a conversationalist /return. Think of this as being like an email /return. Just so you know, I will simply finish what I am saying even if you ask questions /return. This was something from within the Misaka Network. This was something superior even to Last Order who was the command tower. No one should have been higher than Last Order on the system. The #1 began to suspect this was related to the Third Season project Misaka Worst had come from, but then a different possibility came to him. Despite being warned she would give no response, he spoke through clenched teeth. Are you the will of the whole of the Misaka Network!? This was something created by Academy City yet different from both the angel-like being and Aiwass. This was something he was unsure could be called human. Perhaps it should be called the third existence. Basically, I was thinking you had been in an odd mood ever since that incident was resolved /return. That girls mouth was used to emit someones voice as if a recording was being played. Accelerator, by any chance are you thinking you can approach some kind of good by bringing an end to this relatively peaceful life and throwing yourself into a fight to approach the secrets of Academy City /escape? Or are you thinking you will only go to hell once everything has been put in order /escape? If so, dont worry about it because you have been led to think those things /return. And doing that wont make you look cool or anything like that /return. What the hell are-... You reacted to that with something along the lines of What the hell are you saying?, didnt you /escape? Dont do that /return. Lets get rid of all the problems that arent actually needed, Accelerator /return. Hiding your embarrassment like that is usually quite cute, but /backspace it just gets in the way here /return. So, whoever it was continued, let me get down to the core of the issue /return. I know what you are probably thinking /return. You think you have abandoned what you need to do by growing so relaxed in this comfortable place /return. ...but /backspace that is not the case at all /return. Youre thinking about this backwards /return. You are the #1 monster, so isnt the most comfortable thing for you easy conflict and easy violence followed by easy victory /escape? Thats just how it is /return. You were developed to become a monster like that /return. If you head down the path of least resistance where someone wants you to go, you will naturally be stuck running down a path of bloodshed and disaster, wont you /escape? ... That is why I said you are thinking about this backwards /return. Accelerator, you are feeling doubts about your own existence right now /return. That is not a bad thing /return. But /backspace do not let yourself be swept away in the more comfortable direction just because you have been shaken /return. I am not lending you calculation space so that you can come to that answer /return. The girl gave a light shrug. The action looked horribly out of place on her. Struggle for someones sake /return. Struggle in the way that is truly hardest for you /return. ...If I wanted to, I could dredge up the memory data for the dead units that still remains on the network and provide definite yes or no answers /return. But /backspace doing that would be a waste, so I wont /return. Lets leave it at the feelings of the dead being only known by the dead /return. And if you take the easy road out and became a monster, I will throw you into a hell several sizes larger than you are imagining /return. The girl wobbled on her feet. And while I may have left Last Order and Misaka Worst with you, I am more interested in making a pass at Kamijou-chan than you /return. That is how I really feel /return. And he seems to be in a rather dangerous position too /return. So I would rather you did not make me use my precious ticket here /return. And that was it. The email must have come to an end because the small girls body collapsed to the side. A woman in a cheap suit and a lab coat glanced around the area. She was in the vast underground space in District 3 that had been filled by Academy Citys #2 just the day before. But it was now empty and the pure white Dark Matter he had randomly spread around had cleanly disappeared. With everything unnecessary gone from the space, it had the same loneliness as an empty classroom. I just cant get used to this. No matter how trivial a thing it is, it irritates me for numbers to drop. The woman held a long, narrow object about the size of a chewing gum container. It was a digital voice recorder. The woman in the cheap suit and lab coat brought the small microphone up to her lips and continued recording her memos. The Dark Matter has cleanly disappeared. This is as expected. Examinations have been requested for the samples taken from the surface at a total of 40 different locations on the floor, walls, and ceiling. But I doubt anything will come of it. A small repeated sound like fingernails scratching at something could be heard. The woman pulled a device about the size of a card holder out of her inner pocket. She looked at the screen and found comments including certain common terms were increasing on several message boards and SNSs. I have found urban legends relating to the #2. This is too short a time for them to appear naturally. And I doubt Kakine Teitoku C or whatever the current #2 is called C is spreading it himself. It seems someone else from Academy Citys darkness has turned their attention towards the #2. Tag this attention level yellow, said the woman as she placed the device back in her inner pocket and walked slowly through the vast space. Details are unknown regarding the #1. Malice was injected within him, but it is currently unclear if it will bloom into anything. As a personal aside, it would be quite a waste if he remains as he is. After having so much fun with the #2 changing forms like that, the #1 just seems too plain. It would be nice if he could become more grotesque concerning those wings of his. She then suddenly stopped walking. Takitsubo Rikous progress as seen in the #2 issue is going exceedingly well. Tag this one gold, she said as she stood in the center of the vast space and looked straight up. And of course there is Fremea Seivelun as well. Her Agitate Halation is confirmed to have been used unintentionally. That new possibility of a Level 0 gets a platinum tag. Be extremely careful when gathering data. At that point, the woman in the cheap suit and lab coat switched off the recorder. She thought for a bit. And finally she switched it back on after gathering her thoughts. Fr?ulein Kreutune is out of my jurisdiction. I am rather unhappy about that. ...But from what I have observed, she has a durable body that cannot be killed no matter what, a heart that desires friends, and the possibility of being controlled regardless of her personal beliefs. For that reason, she gives me a very similar impression to the aggregation of AIM diffusion fields. It is possible she was used a baseline for Kazakiri Hyouka. If that is the case, there is a single thread connecting Fr?ulein Kreutune, Kazakiri Hyouka, and Dragon. ...Perhaps it is reading too much into this to include the chairman of the board in his life support device into this as well. But according to that hypothesis, I suppose I can draw a line between the chairman and Dragon. At any rate, there is no lack of materials that prove to be quite interesting. She switched off the recorder. And switched it back on. She then repeated the process a few times. Details are unknown regarding the several people who made their way into Academy City. Some similarities have been identified with the phenomena witnessed during World War III and in Baggage City. This is also outside of my jurisdiction. I will once again leave this to a different unit that might not even exist as far as I know... The woman trailed off with a puzzled look. She remained silent for a while. Finally, she sighed and let go of the digital voice recorder. The small device fell to the ground and she crushed it beneath her pumps. And then she spoke in a voice that she could never let anyone hear. Ahh, ahh. This just isnt Kihara-like at all... The Lightning God Thor, Marian Slingeneyer and Mj?lnir made their way to Tokyo Bay to sneak aboard one of many rental ships. They were walking through an industrial port. They were not returning by boat; they were using the boat to head to an airport in a nearby country that had poor security. So you let her slip through our fingers. Fr?ulein Kreutune was the final piece needed to manufacture Gungnir. We cant get anywhere without a holistic esper, remember? What are we going to do now? Marians words were followed by a clattering noise. The drum-shaped girl(?) was providing meaningless support as usual. Thor shrugged and said, We decided on the division of labor from the beginning. I would immobilize Fr?ulein Kreutune while borrowing power from Mj?lnir and you would use your ability to remodel humans to make sure she could not struggle. Then we would just take her out of Academy City. ...But there was more of a commotion than we expected. Im in charge of direct combat and I couldnt manage it. You two are meant to stay behind the scenes, so you would have just gotten your asses kicked if you had come as reinforcements. Even if youre the old version, you still hold the name of an almighty. Yet you couldnt manage it? This is Fr?ulein Kreutune. And remember, we say almighty, but its only the level of almighty that humans can imagine. Im not a Magic God, so dont expect the kind of almighty that exceeds that, replied Thor with an offhand tone. Marian Slingeneyer frowned. They then heard a slight sound. Thor was carrying a cooler using a shoulder strap. His arm had struck the rectangular box. What is that? Something to put her in a better mood. With this, the spear might still be a possibility. Thor started to explain further, but he stopped. It happened suddenly. Not him ceasing to speak. The Magic God Othinus. A girl who appeared to be around 14 had suddenly appeared in the darkness of the industrial port. She wore a witch-like hat and one of her eyes was covered by an eyepatch. She wore a mantle over a leather outfit. In this country, her outfit could have been mistaken for a costume. That girl moved her single eye to look at Thor. Thor and the others grew flustered. Should you really be here? This is right in front of the enemys base. Distance holds no meaning. What matters is being unseen. More importantly, said the Magic God Othinus to easily change the subject. Where is Fr?ulein Kreutune? Does it look like we succeeded? I ordered you to retrieve Fr?ulein Kreutune. If youre gonna do it, just do it, said Thor disinterestedly as he tossed the cooler towards Othinus. The impact as it struck the ground forced open the latch holding it shut. Othinuss expression did not change. She did not even look inside. Marian Slingeneyer looked impressed. What is this? Academy Citys #2. Thor pointed towards a few clear bags inside the cooler. Packed inside were frozen internal organs. Or rather, his flesh-and-blood parts. I dont really know if you can call this Kakine Teitoku. But you need a sturdy person, right? Well, hes sturdier than Fr?ulein Kreutune in a way. You might be able to reach a holistic esper using him. Othinus remained silent. Marian cut in from the side. I thought it had to be someone not dyed by either science or magic? Yeah, it might not work to just modify Kakine himself. But he is a symbol of creation. How about we use him to create a doll from nothing? Marian Slingeneyer looked over at Othinus. Mj?lnir could do nothing but mimic Marian. Othinus finally ended her silence. She said the exact same thing as before. I ordered you to retrieve Fr?ulein Kreutune. Then go get her yourself, said Thor while casually pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. But Fr?ulein Kreutune has already been changed. She has lost what was needed to make the spear. I dont think capturing her would do any good now. Marian, said Othinus. The brown girl assumed she was asking whether that was true or not. But she was not. With a dull noise, Thors right arm was suddenly severed at the shoulder. Gah...? The pain came after a short delay. It was only after Thors right arm had fallen to the ground that he let out a scream. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Even if humans are not your specialty, you are still skilled at manipulating them. Reconnect that afterwards. Ignoring Thor who was curled up in pain, Othinus kicked the coolers lid closed, grabbed the shoulder strap, and picked it up. Marian Slingeneyer looked back and forth between Thor and Othinus, but finally made up her mind and spoke. O-Othinus. What? I have no intention of amusing myself with conspiracies, but are you aware the way you are acting is very close to dependence? No, Othinus!! Marian frantically pointed at Othinuss right shoulder. Something slowly lost its form beneath her mantle. The connection at the joint seemed to be completely ignored as the arm started to fall. ...Tch. So it ended up in the negative 50% of the infinite possibilities. Before the arm could completely fall off, Othinus forcibly held it in place from over the mantle with her other hand. A wet dripping sound could be heard. It seemed she had lost a lot of blood beneath the mantle, but the Magic Gods expression did not change. Even a wound as ridiculous as that might not last for long. She was an existence that could reach anything she wished. But at the same time, she was an existence that had a 50% chance of failing no matter what she did. That was who Othinus was and her objective was quite simple. The elimination of the negative 50%. With 100% positive possibilities, she could freely wield her power. And what she needed for that was... I now have the final piece. How about we begin manufacturing the spear? After Othinus left, Marian Slingeneyer picked up the fallen arm and approached Thor. ...Ill do it myself. Thor grabbed the severed arm with his remaining hand that was covered in blood thanks to reflexively holding his wound. But... Sorry, but could you leave me alone? said Thor quietly through clenched teeth. To be honest, I feel like Im gonna cry. I dont want to let anyone see that. Dammit, Othinus is the same as ever. She doesnt understand that I risked my life to balance everything out and not return empty-handed. You did well. But I didnt grant her #1 wish. ...Oh, I get it now. I know why I feel like crying. It isnt because of the pain or how pathetic I feel. Its because I was saved. Im just so happy that I was saved at the last second. Dont worry. I would have shit myself had I been in your position. Marian Slingeneyer snapped her fingers and headed towards the rental ship along with the drum-shaped girl(?). Once he was sure no one else was around, Thor let out a small sigh. And he thought quietly to himself. (...It all went as planned. Ive finally managed to sneak in.) Thor casually spun his own arm around. Looking so carefree he could start humming at any time, he pressed the arm up against his shoulder. He did not recite any kind of spell. He did not rely on the power of a talisman or a wonder drug. But a magical phenomenon did indeed occur. The arm reconnected with a pale light. The fingers of the hand were already opening and closing at his command. This was obviously not the magic belonging to the Lightning God Thor. In fact, he was not Thor at all. (Sneaking in would have been difficult if I had only taken on Thors form. I needed some powerful card in addition to that. And it couldnt have simply been Fr?ulein Kreutune. Once she had been shocked to find her expected plan was destroyed, I needed to bring her a replacement idea. It was possible that great shock would prevent Othinuss judgment from working properly.) However, that alone was not enough to trick the Magic God Othinus. She was an existence that could make all impossibilities possible. Even if a normal magician tried to fool her, she had the power to see through it for no discernible reason. And... That was why... It took someone who had taken a step into the territory of a Magic God to fool a Magic God. The person who had just snuck into Gremlin was Ollerus. (Now then.) After perfectly reconnecting his arm, Ollerus purposefully wrapped an old piece of cloth around it. With his hand still bloody, he headed into the rental ship moored at the industrial port. (I have snuck in. And I have proven that someone with as overwhelmingly great power as Fiamma of the Right can freely act within such a collection of powerful people without being detected. All the preparations are complete.) Gremlin. He would determine where Othinuss headquarters were as she hurried to complete the spear. (Its about time to begin the counterattack. We will be continually fooling each other from right under each others noses.) Meanwhile, the real Thor was sitting on a park bench located a short distance beyond Academy Citys outer wall. Dammit. Both of them are broken. Now I cant even use the zipper on my pants. He set his wrists by using branches he found on the ground nearby as splints and wrapping cloth around using his mouth. He also had the gunshot wound on his stomach, so he needed to take preparations to use recovery magic. He could not do it with the objects at hand. But his expression showed no sign of discomfort. He had no real reason to save Kamijou Touma, but he had no real reason to kill him either. His objective was nothing but obtaining experience points. A stepping stone he had surpassed no longer had any value, but that also meant he no longer felt any persistent desire to destroy it. Plus... Things would be different if that boy could grow to be his next stepping stone. (I guess Ollerus is sneaking into Gremlin using my form right about now. I thought he was crazy when he first brought that deal to me in Academy City.) Of course, if Thor had refused, Ollerus would likely have simply forced it to happen anyways using brute strength. If that had happened, Thor could be buried six feet under right now. His reason for going along with the deal was quite simple. Hawaii and Baggage City. His love for Gremlin had run out when he saw those disturbances. (But what am I going to do now?) Once he had agreed to Olleruss deal, he ceased to be part of Gremlin. But he was not worried about where he should return to or where he should be headed. (If I continue like this, Othinus will come to kill me. But if I betray Ollerus, he will probably try to kill me.) At first glance, both possibilities looked like hell. After all, both of them were magicians who had reached the territory of a Magic God. But... What Thor took into account changed things somewhat. (Now then, both of those could prove to be truly interesting steps, but which one will I take next?) The world spread out infinitely. The options available for him to choose from were too many to count. Someone had once asked: What is your goal? What do you want to gain by having me help you? Someone had once replied: My goal is to save Fr?ulein Kreutune. The same as you. In a way, that goal had been achieved. But only that initial goal had been achieved perfectly. The hero with the power to defeat the demon king was lucky. Everyone would tell him what he should use his power for. But the Magic God who possessed great power no longer needed a reason to destroy. And the one who should have been one did not even realize he was straying from what he should be using his power for. That is the kind of story this is. Volume 6, The Night After the Festival Volume 6, The Night After the Festival With that, it seemed the incident was over. But the initial question had still not been answered. Touma! Who exactly is that girl clinging to your back!? It was November. The silver-haired, green-eyed white nun named Index struck a daunting pose in a plaza as a spiky-haired boy sat seiza-style in front of her. If one thought about it rationally, this behavior was going too far since Kamijou was the owner of the dorm room and Index was only a freeloader. But oddly enough, if the circumstances were carefully taken into account, this almost seemed like it was not enough. And Kamijou Touma responded. W-well, her name is Fr?ulein Kreutune. Why is she clinging to your back? It seems she shrank and became younger due to the effects of eating a replica made by Cendrillon! Some kind of change came over her body structure when she lost her function! Why is she clinging to your back? Possibly because her friends embraced her to prove she had lost the function to eat brains, she gained this strange idea!! Basically, she has a stereotypical habit of embracing people, so it isnt exclusive to Kamijou-san or anything! She was embracing Misaka before, so this isnt anything I need to feel guilty about at all!! Kamijou frantically pleaded his case because he had a feeling he was going to have his own head bitten into due to a reason having nothing to do with functions. Index growled like a wild dog for a bit, but she finally sighed as if she had given up on something. Well, at least I know you havent changed, Touma. ...And I suppose there is something I should say. Whats that? Welcome home. Im back, baby. Kamijou tried to hide his embarrassment with a joke, and he received a serious bite immediately afterwards. Volume 6, Afterword Volume 6, Afterword To those who have bought the novels in order one at a time: welcome back. To those who bought them all at once: welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Saints, a Valkyrie, a magic cabal boss, a former human table, the Level 5s from #1 to #4 (and #5 too?), a lightning god, a Magic God, and Fr?ulein Kreutune. This story had quite the cast of characters, so what did you think? With the main girl in the story, Cendrillon, and the white rhinoceros beetle, this time I had the theme be the limits of what is human from both the science and magic sides. Also, the driving force behind Thor is a similar type to what drove Accelerator when he first appeared. He would have become something like that if he had continued growing without leaving that path. In a few places, characters that have few lines and dont seem to have many appearances at first are surprisingly deeply involved with certain story threads. If you have time, why dont you try to search those out? I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editor Miki-san. Not only did this have a lot of battles, but everyone had their own gimmicks. I bet it was an extremely difficult novel for them. I am truly thankful that they stuck with me for this volume, too. And I give my thanks to the readers. How did you like finally having another story with Academy City as its stage? I hope you stick with me from here on out, too. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. I get the feeling Cendrillon will be easy to use in a lot of different ways. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 7, Prologue: A Sweet Smelling Inviolable Territory. Girl’s_School. Volume 7, Prologue: A Sweet Smelling Inviolable Territory. Girl''s_School. When he opened his eyes, Kamijou Touma had trouble deciding whether he had actually woken up or if he was still asleep. This was not because his mind was hazy. He actually felt sharply focused. It was because he was surrounded by darkness in all directions. (What...huh...? Wh-where am I?) Kamijou felt around with his hands in the pitch black darkness. The area was small. Incredibly small. Before he extended his arms even halfway, he reached a hard wall and his legs could extend no further than half-bent. His movement was blocked by a smooth plastic feeling. Due to certain circumstances, he had grown used to sleeping in the bathtub of his dorm rooms bathroom, but even he felt this space was cramped. Various possibilities began racing through his mind. Had he been stuffed into a refrigerator? Had he been buried alive? But then... What sounded like the amplified sound of an insect flying reverberated throughout the small space. At the same moment, a light came on in the darkness. This was not a powerful light that filled the space evenly like a fluorescent light. It was a single point of light in the darkness as if from a firefly or a sparkler. Although this light was brighter than those examples. But even that small light blinded him at first. Finally, Kamijou noticed the light was contained within a rectangle about the size of a business card. He then realized what it was. My phone...? It was a fairly outdated model of cell phone that had been beaten up due to Kamijous dirty lifestyle. It was supposed to fold in two, but it was lying open on the floor(?). It seemed someone was calling him. ... However, Kamijou was focused less on the phone and more on the cramped space that was now dimly lit. Unlike in the pitch black darkness from before, he could vaguely see the outlines of the area. Normally, he would have been relieved to gain more information, but this was no normal situation. The area was small. It was much, much smaller than he had imagined. It may have been about the size of a washing machine. It was more a box than a room. Now that he could see the ceiling(?) right in front of his nose, he almost felt he was having trouble breathing. Kamijou finally grabbed the phone. He recognized the name displayed on the screen. Ts-Tsuchimikado? We have no time to spare, so Ill keep this short, Kami-yan. Tsuchimikado Motoharu was his neighbor in the dorms and a classmate at his high school. But he was also a spy for multiple groups who gathered information from both the science side and the magic side. His voice here was low, smooth, and heavy. That was the voice he used when speaking as that spy. A new magician has made their way into Academy City. If they arent stopped, the city will be greatly damaged. A magician? Kamijou frowned. You mean another Gremlin member has entered the city? They had caused a lot of trouble just the other day. The Norse-centric magic cabal named Gremlin and Olleruss group had confronted each other over a woman named Fr?ulein Kreutune. Their conflict had ended up in the middle of Academy City of all places. If Kamijou and the others had not manipulated events from behind the scenes, they would have caused chaotic battles throughout the city and most of those battles would have turned the large parts of the city into rubble. Was that happening again? That thought sent a chill down Kamijous spine, but... No, readily denied Tsuchimikado. This time its a Vajrayana-style magician. I doubt they are related to Gremlin. Why someone else? There is more to the magic side than Gremlin. Some magicians that have nothing to do with their actions might see a way to take advantage of the commotion they caused. That was very bad. Kamijou tried to hold his head in his hand, but his elbow struck the wall of the cramped space. The enemys name is Umezaki Yuuga. As I said, this is a Vajrayana-style magician...but they are not all that powerful. In fact, theyre quite weak. You should be more than enough to handle them, Kami-yan. But isnt this an emergency? Thanks to a certain spiritual item, said Tsuchimikado as if spitting out something bitter. The Altar of the Wisdom King. Its a special Homa altar this magician uses. ...Would you like an explanation on what a Homa altar is? Please. Its a tool Vajrayanans use for mental training. They burn special wood and let the flames and smoke cleanse them of all worldly thoughts. They come in different sizes. The smaller ones are like a candle you can hold between your fingers and the larger ones are more like a camp fire. Theres also the Inner Homa where you picture the Homa altar in your head. Kamijou tried to tilt his head in confusion, but felt an odd pain in his back. He had no idea how long he had been trapped like this, but the unnatural pose was causing his joints to scream in protest. How big is this one? he asked. Its made to be mobile. It folds up like an outdoor table. When folded up, its no bigger than a duralumin case. Kamijou tried to twist his body around in the small space and an unpleasant cracking noise came from his back. Normally, a Homa altar is used to alter the users mind. The altar cleanses worldly thoughts to increase ones focus, so they are not all that dangerous. However, the Altar of the Wisdom King takes advantage of that ability. ? In other words, it acts outwardly rather than inwardly. It is a special altar created to alter the minds of others. Once it is used, it will suck out all of the knowledge and skills of everyone within five kilometers. ...Now what if that was done in an important area of Academy City? They would steal all the information on esper powers... Not only that, but the Altar of the Wisdom King forcibly rips out that knowledge and skill. Scientifically speaking, you could say it destroys the synapses and autonomic nerves. Not only will those people be unable to walk, they wont even be able to breathe or keep their heart beating. Not a single aspect of this was amusing. Any area in Academy City was densely populated. If that spiritual item was activated and exterminated everyone within five kilometers, just how many people would die? Whats the time limit? Two hours at the worst. But even being generous, no more than three hours. Two hours. 120 minutes. That was too little time. Even in a walled off city, Kamijou doubted he would coincidentally run into this magician just by searching around at random. So this...um, Vajrayana person... Umezaki Yuuga. Do you know where they are trying to set up the Altar of the Wisdom King? Yes, but the circumstances make it hard to get in. I dont know if this Umezaki is after the knowledge or simply trying to kill, but they are attacking an important area. Someone with no official position will be forced to enter illegally even in order to save the day. And youre saying doing that will be hard? Especially for you or me. Honestly, sexual discrimination is just wrong. What? said Kamijou in confusion. Tsuchimikado then revealed the problem they faced. Its the School Garden. That garden of maidens that is jointly controlled by five prestigious girls schools including Tokiwadai Middle. Kamijou let out a groan. That was indeed a treasure trove of important information related to psychic powers development, but it was about the worst possible place for boys like Kamijou or Tsuchimikado. ...What are we supposed to do? We wont have a problem if Umezaki Yuuga is caught by the security of those girls schools, but somehow I doubt that will happen. We have to do this knowing how unreasonable it is. We have to sneak in after this magician. But this is the School Garden, right!? Tokiwadai alone is a monstrous school supported by the #3 and #5. Theyre full of cutting edge technology that isnt allowed outside the schools and they have the facilities and budget needed to protect it all. How are we supposed to sneak in there!? In all seriousness, Kamijou would not be surprised if the situation progressed similarly to a child being chased by an attack dog after crossing a fence to retrieve a ball. He might even be opposed with firearms. And on top of that, magic was not officially recognized by Academy City, so no one would believe him if he explained the situation after being caught. He was certain he would end up labeled a giant pervert on the headlines of the net news. The situation may be serious, but it isnt as bad as sneaking into a government leaders house, said Tsuchimikado. I was imagining this being more like sneaking into a fenced-off military base. Dont worry. Ive already taken care of it, nyahh!! After that shout, Tsuchimikado hung up. Kamijou did not even have time to frown. All of a sudden, orange sparks flew through the air with an odd bursting noise. It was like watching a fuse burn on fast forward. It seemed the box had been dismantled with gunpowder because it split part to the left and right as if Kamijou Touma was being born from a peach. He finally got a peek at the outside world. He saw a space lined with tall, narrow lockers. He saw a space filled with backless benches. He saw a space that was filled with a somehow sweet aroma. He saw a space where girls in their underwear were chatting as if their state of undress was normal. He saw a space where high class ringlet curl girls in their underwear were using their giant hair irons that were the size of wooden swords to have mock swordfights. To sum it up, he saw a girls locker room in some school. ......................................................................................................................................................What? Kamijou was at a loss for words as a total of approximately twenty gazes turned in his direction. Everyone remained silent. After a few seconds had passed, Kamijou finally realized he had been stuffed inside a box on top of a pushcart. The situation was straight out of a hidden camera show for performers known for their reactions, but there was no camera. Who had done this? That was obvious. It had obviously been that rotten, Hawaiian shirt-wearing, sunglasses-wearing, nyah nyah onmyouji! But Kamijou did not have time to explain. The situation was made all the worse by the cell phone in his hand. The small digital camera lens on the device would invite even more misunderstanding. And then a loud voice erupted. However, it was not a cute Kyaaah! Death to the street performing voyeur! Kill hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!! Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Why do I have to fall prey to the worlds lamest false accusatioooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnn!? He rolled out of the way of a strange mountain of flames and pillar of ice before fleeing outside through a stainless steel door. He seemed to be in a building meant for school sports clubs, but he had no idea exactly where he was. As he scrambled away from that locker room, a female student he came across screamed. As he ran from her, another girl screamed and then another. At this point Kamijou finally noticed something odd. Why had he been running into nothing but girls? It cant be... All of a sudden, Kamijou found himself running out of a school entrance with a bronze sign saying Private Shidarezakura Academy. As he fled into the European-style street, he found nothing but girls, girls, girls everywhere he looked. Kamijou Toumaor rather, the presence of a boycaused looks of fear and screams from everyone on the street. At this point, even Kamijou could guess what had happened. That sunglasses-wearing nyah nyah bastard. Did he pack me in a box and ship me to the School Garden!? He did not have time to explain the situation. Even now, Umezaki Yuuga was preparing the Altar of the Wisdom King. If it was activated, the lives of everyone within five kilometers would be lost and information on Academy Citys cutting edge technology and psychic powers development would be stolen. To keep that from happening... To save the lives of every single person in the School Garden... Kamijou Touma had to accept the label of pervert and capture the magician who was running rampant in this garden of maidens! Volume 7, 1: Altar of the Wisdom King. Foreign_matter. Volume 7, Chapter 1: Altar of the Wisdom King. Foreign_matter. Part 1 Where did that pervert go!? He sent himself to the lacrosse teams locker room in that tiny box!? That is actually rather impressive in and of itself... I almost feel sorry for him. He is probably the type of idiot who could think of nothing more than sneaking into the womens bath even if he had a revolutionary world-changing power like stopping time or invisibility. Curse that hidden camera show reaction performer. He must die!! Kill him, kill him!! The words of the girls running along the main road stabbed into the fugitives heart. Kamijou was observing the situation while hiding in a nearby alley with his back pressed up against a building wall. He was also near tears. Dammit, Tsuchimikado. Answer, answer, answer, answer!! Kamijou was pressing buttons on his phone with his thumb, but the boy who had created this tragic situation would not answer. Eventually, Kamijou received an announcement saying his call had been rejected. Why!? That bastard shoved all the responsibility onto me and then disappeared!! Kamijou only knew the term Altar of the Wisdom King. He did not actually know what shape or color it was. There was only so much he could do to save the people of the School Garden. As far as a pure search went, the School Garden was only two kilometers square. While that was still a lot of space, full use of two hours gave him a much better chance of finding his target randomly than if he had to deal with the entirety of Academy City. However, Kamijou had been thrown into an area where boys were forbidden with no preparation time whatsoever. If he carelessly walked around, he would be arrested. And it was entirely possible he would be ganged up on by high level espers before being arrested. If that happened, he could be accidentally killed in the process. He could not give up and go home, but he could not brazenly walk around either. He had to carefully sneak around, but doing so would cost him a lot of time. Before he took any action, he needed to come up with some likely locations to search. That way he could locate the Altar of the Wisdom King as quickly as possible and defeat Umezaki Yuuga, the Vajrayana-style magician preparing it. (He said it was a Homa altar, right? Wouldnt an old occult antique like that stand out in this scientific city? Then again...) Kamijou looked around. The entire area was modeled after a traditional European city. Due to the tastes of a high-class girls society, that kind of old-style antique was everywhere. He was worried the Altar of the Wisdom King would blend in too well. (But Umezaki Yuuga has the same restrictions as I do. ...And Ill be really pissed if it turns out hes actually a girl with a masculine name or he can turn invisible.) The magician would naturally not want anyone to interfere with the ceremony. Which meant... Kamijous top priority was not getting captured. After that was searching for places where a Japanese antique could be left without raising suspicion. These are high-class girls schools. They probably have tea ceremony clubs, flower arrangement clubs, calligraphy clubs, and all sorts of old-fashioned stuff... That biased opinion would have annoyed a real high-class girl like Misaka Mikoto, but she would probably blast him to smithereens if she knew he had snuck into the School Garden. (Whatever I do, I need a map first. The School Garden is filled with secrets, so the satellite maps are kept private. My first goal is to get one from somewhere.) Suddenly, he heard the (sadly not high-pitched) voices of numerous girls from the main road. It seemed a wild animal search party had already been formed out of volunteers. Kamijou immediately looked further down the narrow alley. (No, I have no idea where this leads. They might be advancing from both directions or it might lead straight to another major road. I need a safer way out of this.) Kamijou glanced around the straight and narrow alley, twisted his head around, and then froze in place. What he saw was... Part 2 Multiple sets of footsteps entered the narrow alley. What!? He is not here! Was that witness testimony inaccurate? ...U-um, senpai. That was not some new type of UMA not recorded in any animal encyclopedia or a materialization of all the girls heres desires for some as-yet-unseen gentleman, was it? He was nowhere near pretty enough to be that. Oh, of course!! No one would want a reaction performer like that!! (You dont have to insult me like that!) cursed Kamijou in his heart. He was up above them. He had pressed his arms and legs against the buildings on either side of the narrow alley to climb up to the fifth floor. To make sure they would not look up and spot him, he had climbed onto the roof and rolled onto his back. (Dammit. Tsuchimikado still isnt answering.) Kamijou was staring at his phone, but then... Oh, wait. This will be sending out an unknown cell phone signal. Kamijous body stiffened in fear. He frantically turned the phone off, but it was too late. Are you sure you were not mistaken? There is no one here. There would not be a dot here for no reason. That reason might be an error, but there has to be a reason for it to be displayed here. Wait a second. This map only shows two dimensions. It does not display any differences in height. In other words... Kamijou held his breath. The Altar of the Wisdom King would activate within two hours, so he could not let himself be captured here. Is he underground!? Did he climb into a manhole!? He continues to display more and more of the special techniques you would expect of a pervert! This goes beyond a mere performer! Horokawa-san, do not think of this as practice. We will use our sabres for real!! But if this mysterious being can move freely within the sewer, does that mean he is a monster similar to a white alligator? After he heard the footsteps leave, Kamijou rolled onto his stomach. He stuck his deactivated cell phone in his pocket. It seemed the wild animal search party was running around with the fencing sabres from a high-class girls school. From what he had heard, he would not simply be poked at if he was found. They would be trying to stab him through the chest and out the back. (I cant travel on the surface. I-I guess Ill have to travel by rooftop.) No matter how many secrets the School Garden had, it was still made for students. Signs and pamphlets with maps could be found here and there. The problem was how to check one of those without anyone seeing him. (If I had binoculars, I could check one of the signs from a rooftop. If only I could use my phone. Then I could zoom in with the camera. Well, finding some generic tool to use like binoculars will probably be easier than getting a map of an area with as many secrets as this.) Kamijou forced himself to think positively as he tried to suppress his trembling. Travelling by rooftop naturally meant he would have to jump between buildings with no lifeline. Wow. I cant hesitate. Its all over if I hesitate. He looked down from the edge of the roof and wiped sweat from his brow. It was only about a meter to the next building, but this was not the same as jumping over a puddle on the sidewalk. The fact that he would die if he fell through that gap provided a different type of fear than that of simply falling from a cliff. (Fortunately, I dont have to worry about being chased by those girls if I use the roofs. I can take it slowly. Just calm down and focus. I dont need any more strength than I usually use. If I move the same as I always do, I can easily clear this gap.) Kamijou took several deep breathes and backed up away from the chasm. He was preparing the space for his running jump. He gave himself 10 meters. If he did not hesitate and let his momentum carry him after he kicked off the concrete roof, he would reach the neighboring building. Part 3 Misaka Mikoto used magnetism to jump up far above the stone-paved ground. She pressed the bottom of her feet against a building that had proper base isolation and rebar despite looking European. She then took another large leap. She used this process to reach the roof of the building in only two steps. (Honestly. I know I cant do anything about it since its part of the schools Curriculum, but I just wish the school would handle transportation.) School had already let out for the day, so sports clubs could be heard jogging here and there. The seven Level 5s of Academy City had specialized analysis and research facilities created for them. The other students were usually jealous of this, but it actually meant she had to match her schedule to what the adults wanted regardless of when she was supposed to have free time. And those supplementary Level 5 facilities were not all contained within the grounds of Tokiwadai Middle School. She sometimes had to leave the school grounds and travel to an external facility. (My free time after school is limited enough already with the dorms curfew and then they suddenly cut into it further by scheduling an analysis in that external facility. I need to use any shortcut I can to leave as much free time as possible.) Mikoto had those worthless thoughts as she jumped from rooftop to rooftop. Her strict dorm supervisor would lecture her if she found out about this, but Mikoto did not hesitate because the entire problem stemmed from the early curfew set by that same dorm supervisor. And then... She saw something that should not have existed. For an instant, she thought she was seeing a hallucination brought on by her private feelings. She started to blush as she analyzed why she was seeing this hallucination, but then she realized something did not add up. She would not be seeing this without the influence of some external factor. And so she finally reached the much too obvious question. Why? Why was that idiot inside the School Garden where no boys were allowed? ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Mikoto thought silently for a moment, but could not come up with a reasonable answer. She realized she did not need a reasonable answer for this. And so she switched over her focus. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!! What the hell are you doing here, you perveeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!! Noooo! Why does the most intense and troublesome one have to show up now!? Kamijou Touma frantically began running. It looked like he was planning to jump the narrow gap between buildings. Realizing that, Mikoto swiftly ran forward to capture the criminal. However, no outside observer would have thought this was a case of Ah ha ha hee hee hee. Cmon, wait up It looked more like he was being pursued by the Jumping Babaa or a Kuchisake-Onna. Mikoto was moving faster, but Kamijou was closer to the edge of the roof. When Mikoto realized the boy had enough of a running start to easily clear the gap, she changed her tactic. She manipulated magnetism. She focused on the metal of his belt buckle and pulled him back toward her just as he began to fly through the air. Hnn!! Ngwah!? To her, it felt like she was holding a thick wire pulling him toward her, but then that wire completely disappeared. It was as if the fishing line had snapped and the fish got away. Whatever it was the boy used to negate supernatural powers had taken effect. However... Huh? She suddenly realized the boy had vanished. He had been trying to jump between rooftops but had been partially slowed down with no way of pushing himself forward. Which meant... No way... He fell? Mikotos face grew pale, but then she heard a shrill girls voice and the sound of a dinner plate breaking against a wall. Fuck you!! Do you want me to beat you until youre foaming at the mouth and every orifice too, you pervert!? Me no speak Japanese!! Me no understand!! shouted the boy in desperation. After confirming that he was doing well, Mikoto resumed pursuit of her prey. Part 4 After being rapidly decelerated in midair by a mysterious magnetic attack, Kamijou reinforced his reputation for misfortune by falling right into the gap between buildings. However, he desperately reached out and managed to grab onto the railing outside a window. Letting go and dropping down would mean his death, so his only option was to climb into the window. However, a girl who seemed to work at the fancy shop inside splendidly attacked him repeatedly with brand-name tableware and he had to run across the storage room and into a hallway. This is horrible. This is so horrible its almost laughable!! Kamijou frowned as he tossed up a pair of opera glasses (printed with an animal mascot) he had found in the storage room. With those opera glasses, he could check the signs on the road without climbing down to the ground. However, Mikoto and the female store clerk knew where he was, so that wild animal search party would soon arrive at the building. Naturally, he could not head down to the surface, but heading up to the roof would only let Mikoto spot him again. (Is my only option jumping from window to window? But I cant get a running start in the building. If I could place a ladder across the gap, I could make it...but I get the feeling this commotion is only growing larger.) He had turned his phone off, so he could not check what time it was. According to a clock on the wall, 20 minutes had passed since his explosive birth in the girls locker room. (Could I tell Mikoto whats going on and get her help? No. I completely lost the timing for that. By the time she calms down, Umezaki Yuugas Altar of the Wisdom King will have already destroyed everything!!) Kamijou made up his mind. He could not afford to be caught, so he had to try to travel from window to window. He first headed for the staircase. If he was going to try it, he wanted to be on the 2nd or 3rd floor. But something happened as soon as he set foot in the staircase. !? A single girl stood on the stairs leading down as if to block his path. She appeared to be middle school aged. She was short, had white skin, and had black bobbed hair. She somewhat resembled a Zashiki Warashi from an old picture book. She wore a blue sailor uniform instead of the Tokiwadai uniform, but she probably belonged to one of the five girls schools that jointly controlled the School Garden. (Not good...) The girl looked small and delicate, but as a student of the School Garden, she likely had enough of an esper power to be useful in a fight. Depending on how she used it, her power might match or even exceed a gun or blade. That was bad enough on its own, but being stopped here could allow other high level espers to arrive. He audibly gulped. He could not decide whether to force his way past her or to look for another route. As he hesitated, the bobbed hair girl opened her mouth to speak. Kamijou naturally took a defensive stance. A voice or a sound could possibly act as a trigger for some sort of esper power. But... Oh? I sent someone to increase my information gathering ability because I thought something exciting was happening, but it looks like I found something even more interesting than I was expecting. ...? That voice sounded incredibly odd to Kamijou. There was no problem with the tone or volume of the voice. As one would expect of a slender girl, it was a high-pitched soprano that sounded like it could cause a glass to vibrate. However, the intonation was oddly alluring. It was as if an adults voice was being forced to sound younger with a voice changer. Also, the actual words spoken were odd. The bobbed hair girl had said she sent someone despite standing right in front of Kamijou. And then... The bobbed hair girl spread her arms wide and ultimately brought one hand up to her eye in a horizontal peace sign. As she gave a casual wink, Kamijou noticed something like a star in her eye. This action did not fit at all with her original obedient image and she then spoke with a superior elegance. I am Shokuhou Misaki, Academy Citys #5 esper. Nice to meet you Part 5 Misaka Mikoto burst through the door and into the fancy shop. She passed by a few other girls as she made her way further into the store, but she could not find the person she was looking for. (He isnt here?) She spotted a door behind the register that likely led to the employees only area, but the girl working in the store would stop her if she tried to force her way in. But the same had to be the case for that spiky-haired boy. She tried simply asking the girl behind the register. Um, was there a commotion up above a bit ago? Eh? Oh, yes there was. I found it a bit hard to believe myself. Mikoto had the girl summarize what she had found a bit hard to believe. Someone had suddenly entered a fourth floor hallway through a window and this intruder had been a boy, something that was rare (or rather, unheard of) in the School Garden. A workers scandal was one thing, but the girl had no obligation to hide a crime of a complete outsider. She may have even thought trying to hide it would create some rumors that would negatively affect the stores image. But... Eh? You told me where he got in, but where did he go after that? I dont know. I heard a team made up of mostly teachers is being sent after him, so the other girls are waiting at the exits to make sure he does not leave. It seemed the situation was continuing to grow in scope. Although given the special characteristics of the School Garden, that had not been hard to predict. (Oh, honestly.) Mikoto left the store and then used magnetism to jump straight up. She supported her body with the rebar in the wall and entered the third floor similarly to how a certain criminal had. But she could not find the boy. In fact, all the workers not guarding the exits must have been evacuated because the place was deserted. A deafening silence filled the area. With how quiet it was, Mikoto felt she would hear any noise on the floor above and below this one as well. (Has he already left the building? But the workers are guarding all the exits.) Mikoto looked around and her gaze landed on a window. Just like on the roof, the gap between windows was narrow enough for even a normal person who could not manipulate magnetism to jump across. Hm? When she entered the room with the window and stuck her head out to look, Mikoto frowned. She looked out to the end of the alley compressed between two walls. On the main roads sidewalk, she saw around 10 girls wearing the Tokiwadai Middle School winter uniform. (Theyre from Shokuhou Misakis clique. What are they doing here?) In Tokiwadai Middle School, students gathered into cliques in the name of independent learning and research cooperation. Unlike school clubs, the cliques had no teacher act as an advisor and were not officially recorded with the school. However, some students viewed joining a clique as giving one a certain type of status. Shokuhou Misaki was the queen who controlled the largest clique in the school. Those girls were a lot like her hangers-on. (Those two are definitely in one of the sports clubs. Club activities shouldnt be over yet, so were they called here for some urgent task?) Mikoto was mainly focused on one clique member who had splendid ringlet curls. She was carrying a large brand-name gym bag over her shoulder. Yes. A gym bag large enough to hold a grown man if he was curled up in the fetal position. (...This is suspicious.) The bag must have been heavy because the ringlet curls girl would occasionally lose her balance and stagger a bit as she left the fancy shop with other girls from the clique. (I cant think of any logical reason for Shokuhou to be in contact with that idiot...but its entirely possible she would do something just because I know him.) Mikoto did not even know why that boy was wandering around the School Garden. This added another level of unknowns on top of that, so guessing what was going on had grown much more difficult. At times like this, it was best to find a way to simplify the situation. (Whatever is going on, I just need to force that idiot to explain it to me!) Part 6 After watching Misaka Mikoto run off in the wrong direction, the black bobbed hair girl walked unsteadily away from the fancy shops exit. She was one of the girls who Mikoto had passed by on the first floor of the shop. The girl used both hands to carry a bunch of flowers so large it would be better suited to decorate the front of the store than to arrange in a vase. It was over 150 cm tall, so it was unclear if she could actually see in front of her. Sorry about this. This girl is doing some basic work at the official school store which doubles as social sciences training, so the only way to get through the employees only door was to bring out all of my acting ability to say she was taking out the trash. Kamijou Touma was buried in all of the flowers. The background behind him was filled with flower petals, but it did not make him look handsome. The leaves were crushed and it all stank of dirt. Im not sure I understand that, but is it like a part-time job? This girl is in middle school. Also, no student with enough wealth ability to be in the School Garden would need to work. Girls who are worried they are so sheltered they will have difficulty getting along in society will get a job almost as a good luck charm. Working after school just to know how commoners lived seemed exactly the sort of thing a celebrity would try. Kamijou Touma could not be more jealous as he was the type of working student that raayu was made for and he barely scraped by yet had no time for a part-time job. How far do we need to go? asked the girl. Just as far as a sign showing a map of the entire School Garden. ...By the way, was there really no other way of keeping me safe? Ugh, I feel like there are caterpillars in my mouth. I told you it would have been easier to travel with my clique pressing their backs against you. ...I dont think I could do that. (That way sounded like it would have a lot more amusement ability.) Kamijou wanted to ensure the accusations of him being a tremendous pervert remained false accusations. Even if he had a good reason for doing so, he did not want to become a pervert based on his own choices. To outside observers, it looked like the bobbed hair girl was holding the flowers he was hiding in, so her lips were located much closer than he expected as she spoke. He had to be careful that his right hand did not touch her body. Today certainly has taken an odd turn, she commented. By the way...um, #5 was it? Why did you help me? I doubt you understood that explanation. You didnt know what I meant when I was talking about magic, right? Oh? The bobbed hair girls eyeballs rolled around once in her head before looking back at Kamijous face. I suppose hearing that from you at a time like this certainly is a lot like you. But make no mistake. I am more annoyed than impressed. What? Have you seen magic before or something? No, I have not. But I have a reason to trust what you say that is completely unrelated to that cheap nonsense. What...do you mean? Kamijou frowned while covered in flowers. Have we met before by any chance? If you are talking about the side event ability of the Daihaseisai, you are quite mistaken, said the bobbed hair girl as if rolling a hard candy along the top of her tongue. But you are always like this. Perhaps that is the proper form for our relationship ability. No matter how many times I ask or our paths cross, the answer is always the same. Saying this will probably make you angry just like back then, but perhaps that is my punishment for having this power. After all, these repeated coincidences cannot be explained logically Kamijou looked truly confused now, but before he could ask anything further, the bobbed hair girl suddenly stopped walking. They had reached an intersection with an even larger road. Here, people would be looking in their direction from 360 degrees around them. They had arrived at a sign displaying a map of the entire School Garden. Kamijou very nearly stuck his head out of the flowers while focusing on the sign, but he frantically stopped himself. However... What? Over half of the blocks are grayed out. Of course they are. This only needs to give the main entrances and service entrances for the five schools. The schools may jointly control the School Garden, but they are also rivals. Anyone who knows the value of information is not about to leave the details of their school on a public sign. That was a problem. Kamijou had no idea where Umezaki Yuuga would set up the Altar of the Wisdom King, but he would not leave it on a major intersection like this. There had to be somewhere easier to set it up. Some blind spot no one would check or some facility where a Japanese antique would not stand out. Kamijous general strategy had been to determine where those places were and then go investigate them. That means I need the maps of each school as well. Am I going to have to sneak into every last school!? Hee hee. Oh? It seems your choosing ability was right on target when you teamed up with me instead of Misaka-san. What? You want maps of the five schools, right? I can easily get you those. ...After all, I have sent my preset to students in each of the schools. Her preset may have been some kind of hypnotic suggestion. And that also meant she had spies in each of the rival schools Tokiwadai cooperated with. (This is no time to worry about that.) If you can get the maps for me, please do. You probably wouldnt understand, but the School Garden has only...90 minutes left. I wish I could have everyone evacuate, but I am in no position to have them do that. Yes, yes. I believe you. If you say that is the case, then that must be the case. Kamijou found it disturbing how easily she accepted it, but this was no time to worry about that either. I am sending instructions around with my remote, so they should gather with the maps in five or ten minutes. He would be able to acquire the maps. However, that was only the starting line. He had no other hints and only 90 minutes left. He did not have the time for a thorough search of the School Gardens two kilometer square area. Also, travelling while buried in flowers was an excellent way of ensuring his immediate safety, but it was a slow means of transportation. If he was too slow, the number of possible locations he could search would be severely limited. However... That worry must have shown on his face because the bobbed hair girl grinned and tilted her head from very close by. Neh heh heh. I do have a bit of countermeasure ability for that problem ...? The map group will take five or ten minutes to arrive, so how about we make a quick change of clothes while we wait? H-hey! Kamijou sensed something very dangerous in those words, but the bobbed hair girl was the one holding the huge bunch of flowers. When she began walking, Kamijou had no choice in the matter. He was practically dragged behind a nearby building. As soon as he entered the building, Kamijou smelled a chemical odor that reminded him of rubber or plastic. Okay, you can come out now. The bobbed hair girl tossed aside the huge bunch of flowers, forcing Kamijou into the open. The room looked like a storage room for a clothing shop. A great number of cardboard boxes with a company logo on them were piled up to one side. The bobbed hair girl ripped off the packing tape sealing a nearby box and rummaged around inside. ...What are you doing? Neh heh heh. These are not normal products. They are replicas of Anti-Skill equipment. What are those doing here? For safety training! They are used for the outside world simulation stage performances put on for the pure girls here. Being a high-class girl sounds like a lot of work. Even for a special performance, real male Anti-Skill members are not allowed here. Instead, girls play the role using replica equipment made with quite a bit of accuracy ability. In the School Garden, it seemed even being a member of the professional law enforcement group made up of teachers was not enough for them to trust a male. Kamijou began to understand just how much of an oddity it was for him to be here. You dont seem like that at all. Its more like you heard about this from someone else, he pointed out. Fwa ha ha ha ha! Well, yes. There are two different types of students here: those that leave the School Garden and those that dont. And do I really look like a pure girl who knows nothing of the outside world? Youre controlling this bobbed hair girl, so I have no idea what you look like. Then again... The School Garden likely had a lot of security cameras, but if he was dressed in an Anti-Skill uniform, he would have no problems walking through the streets. (Wait. But she just said even real Anti-Skill members arent allowed here. Something isnt adding up...) Kamijou looked confused and was about to ask the bobbed hair girl about it, but something stopped him. Without hesitation, the bobbed hair girl began removing the top of her sailor uniform. Kamijou made a splendid leap behind the pile of cardboard boxes as if he was evading a barrage of bullets. You idiot!! Did you forget youre borrowing this girls body!? Oh? But I dont mind at all. Of course you dont! Youre controlling someone else!! Dont you feel any guilt!? Even if I tried to apologize, she cant hear me!! It is true that this bust size ability is rather disappointing. While still hiding behind the cardboard boxes, Kamijou put on the black bulletproof and stabproof armor. He peered out when he heard a voice saying You can come out now!, but the girl was still wearing nothing but her underwear. Kamijou silently hid right back behind the boxes and slammed his forehead against the floor. This made a loud noise, but it had no real meaning. ...There is no way in hell you are going to have a pleasant death. I cant think of any death that would be pleasant The bobbed hair girl made another sideways peace sign next to her eye before starting toward the back entrance. Kamijou frantically stopped her. Wait a second. You said even real male Anti-Skill members arent allowed in here, right? Wont I cause a commotion even with this disguise? Dont worry, dont worry. Just leave it to me. Y-youre kidding, right!? I have no idea whats going on anymore! Youre not just having fun with this, are you!? Oraaahhh!! shouted the bobbed hair girl as she shoved Kamijou out the door. As expected, he ran across several energetic girls about three seconds after finding himself outside. One girl was carrying that thing used in lacrosse (he did not know what it was called), one was carrying that monstrous trumpet like instrument used by wind instrument clubs (he did not know what it was called), and one was carrying a morning star (...!?). Their faces grew pale when they saw him and they were clearly about to scream. Gya-...!? But the bobbed hair girl shouted loud enough to drown them out. What are you girls doing here!? Huh? Eh? Havent you heard that a suspicious boy has entered the School Garden!? You need to evacuate to a building somewhere! Hurry!! Um, uh... Why is that gentleman in the School Garden? That is just how urgent the situation is. They had to call in backup on a large enough scale that we couldnt worry about gender. By the way, I was called in to help as a Judgment member. Do you know what my power is? They of course did not. As the girls (and Kamijou) stared blankly at her, the bobbed hair girl pointed her thumb toward her chest. I have a water control power that has been confirmed effective as a means of emergency birth control. Geh!? This intruder is a member of a natural talent cult that focuses on genetics. I hope I do not need to explain why a beast like that would have snuck into this girls-only area. Hurry! If you do not want to need my ability, you have to go hide now! Email your friends, too! Make sure everyone knows! Do not come out of hiding until we send an email explaining the situation. Do you understand!? The girls ran off as quickly as they could. And then Kamijou collapsed onto his knees. Why are you increasing my supposed list of crimes!? All I had to do was make sure they knew this is an emergency where their common knowledge does not apply. In a small world like this, rumors spread very quickly. The School Garden can be filled with sensational emails within minutes. If all of those emails say the same thing, even the adults should accept it. The bobbed hair girl grinned. And did you notice something else? Those girls realized you were a guy, but they did not realize you are the rumored intruder. ...Huh? Now that she mentioned it, he noticed it too. If they were pursuing the criminal based on something they had heard from a friend of a friend, they might very well have never seen his face. However, a high school boy walking around in an Anti-Skill uniform should have been out of place enough that they would suspect him. And yet they had not. They never even looked at your face. They may have been keeping their peace of mind by not looking you in the eye and keeping their mind off of you. What? Those pure high-class girls are not used to seeing guys, so they were intentionally ignoring you. They probably assumed you were an adult because you were wearing that Anti-Skill uniform. They may have been judging you by your clothes more than your face Once again, he realized she was right. The bobbed hair girl had been the one to give a lot of false decoy information because the one dressed in the Anti-Skill uniform would be the first one they would suspect. Kamijou was unsure how much they could deceive the adults monitoring the area with security cameras, but they might actually overlook it once they saw the decoy emails spreading among the girls and saw the girls who had accepted the explanation in the grainy security camera footage. Okay. The girls I asked to gather the maps are here, so it is time for our next action. The Anti-Skill uniform was a fully functional replica. Even if the bulletproofing and stabproofing had been kept as lightweight as possible, it was still quite heavy. And the plates embedded in it made it hard to move in. However, it was well worth it since it allowed him to walk around without worrying about hiding. Okay, okay, okay. Ive gathered the maps of the five schools. If I connect here to here like this...done. Their secrecy ability and hiding ability mean nothing now. I have a full patched-together map of the School Garden ...Thats one more thing to add to my list of crimes. If they find out, youll probably never be allowed to leave. Or they might rip out the corresponding brain cells. She smoothly made that horrifying comment. Kamijou desperately hoped it was only the black humor of a high-class girls school. I dont actually know what the Altar of the Wisdom King looks like. It should be some Japanese-style container in which a fire can be made. Where could someone leave an antique like that without raising suspicion? Hmm. If it can be as small as a censer, it could be in a tea ceremony clubroom, a flower arrangement clubroom, or in someones personal possessions. It might even be in one of the student dorms within the School Garden. If it is, well never find it. We only have 80 minutes left. How many people can you use inside the School Garden? Just barely reaching triple digits. But I cant completely control all of them at once. I can program them to automatically carry out simple commands, but I can only control 10 people at once with this level of skillful ability. However, that still meant she could accurately control 10 people at once. The ability to constantly switch between the different people like that reminded Kamijou this was a Level 5. After the 50 minute mark, you need to get everyone out of the School Garden. Tell them I set up a nuke in here if you need to! That is quite a tempting suggestion, but I have an idea with a bit more peaceful ability. The bobbed hair girl gave a sticky grin. The School Garden has a total of eight gates. Items can be brought in through five of those. However, if someone was bringing in a piece of artwork or an antique, it would have received a special inspection. And there would be a record of this. Why would they do that? Recently, some idiot tried to sneak out a chip loaded with classified information hidden in an impressionist painting. The use of nondestructive examination methods such as magnetism and X-rays has been increased since then. I suggest we check the inspection records for the gates. Part 7 Kamijou started by using the composite map created from the gathered maps to locate the closest luggage entry gate. The bobbed hair girl had no obligation to stay with him now that he had a safe means of moving around, but she stayed with him for some reason. A rectangular station surrounded by thick walls was located next to the giant gate. The inspection personnel likely worked inside. By the way, can you control them? This girls brain cannot use my powers. She could not use her brainwashing. That meant the high school boy dressed in an Anti-Skill uniform and the bobbed hair girl needed to find a way into the station. Kamijou saw no way they could get in without anyone noticing. Okay, lets use the usual trick I dont want to think of that as being usual!! The bobbed hair girl dragged Kamijou up to the station door and then knocked violently on it. A female inspector came out and the bobbed hair girl shouted with a voice as sharp as a knife. What took you so long!? What...eh? Wait a second. Who are you two? Her tone strengthened, but it may have been due to her unease. Inspectors were not the same as professional Anti-Skill members. The bobbed hair girl pulled something out of her pocket and tossed it at the inspectors face. It was a pair of panties. Weve already had several victims!! Do you really think this is any time to sit around asking questions!? Wh-what...? Im sure youve heard that a suspicious boy snuck in here while packed in a box, but dont tell me you really thought it was just the one! Incidents are cropping up all over the School Garden. We have confirmed somewhere between 30 and 40 people have snuck in. If we dont find out how they snuck in through this gate, who knows how many girls will be impregnated!! Are you serious? Hurry! You need to hurry! Pull up all the data you have so we can find when and where they snuck in! Hurry!! The bobbed hair girl half forced her way into the station while pushing the inspector. As Kamijou followed, he had a smile on his face but was crying in his heart. (Ah, manipulating those arrogant adults gives me such pleasure ability. I absolutely love it) (Is it just me or are all the false accusations youre pushing onto me absolutely horrible!? And has this girl not been wearing any panties since we changed!?) As the crowd of inspectors held their heads in their hands and fought in front of the screen, the bobbed hair girl and Kamijou peered in from behind to catch a glimpse of the inspection records. Damn, theres just too much data! Do you have any information we can use to narrow down our search!? Kamijou thought a bit after hearing that inspectors question. (I was thrown in here 50 minutes ago. I dont know when the Altar of the Wisdom King was brought in, but there couldnt have been too much of a lag. With this much security, the magician wouldnt want to stay here any longer than necessary.) The first suspicious person was spotted 24 hours ago. Try to focus your search on objects that were registered as pure Japanese antiques. Okay, okay, okay... Found something. Is it this!? Would you say this is suspicious!? The inspector urged him to look at the screen, but a high school boy could hardly decipher that list of numbers and item names. However, the bobbed hair girl next to him said, Shiraha Social Support Club. What? It is an unofficial salon led by students. It has about 20 members. Officially, it is an independent archery training group, but the members actual goal is to create connections with large corporations mainly from the financial world. If I recall, the leader loves kimonos and wall scrolls. Some of the terms mixed in there had Kamijou doubting this was a middle school girl speaking, but it may have been that he was the odd one out. The inspector tapped on the screen and asked, What should we do? Call in reinforcements and surround the place? We will handle it. The bobbed hair girl waved her hand while pulling Kamijou out of the station by the hand. The girl led him to the building in question. The Shiraha Social Support Club had rented out an entire small building along the European-style street. It looked like a bank, but it was protected by a door even sturdier than a banks. Girls would occasionally pass through the door. When they did, they held up some kind of card, but it was unclear what sort of system it used. So the Altar of the Wisdom King is in there, muttered Kamijou. Any idea how to get in? As I already explained, I cannot use my powers with this girls brain. That means it is impossible to control someones mind to get in. And my powers do not work on anything electrical anyway. I know someone whos good with that kind of thing, but... Kamijou brought his head into his hands. He had not seen Misaka Mikoto since their brief chase scene on the School Garden rooftops. If he tried to explain everything from the beginning after that, the time limit for the Altar of the Wisdom King would arrive before anything got done. Which meant... It looks like we need to steal one of those authorization cards. How about you beat one of the girls up and steal it? Girl, it may be way too late already, but I want to avoid any decisions that will earn me a bullet to the head. The bobbed hair girl tilted her head with a look that said, Then what can we do? Kamijou replied, What combination of food and drink wouldnt stand out for someone wearing an Anti-Skill uniform? Anpan and milk. Do you know where we can buy that in this land of high-class girls? Part 8 What they had to do was simple in and of itself. What Im afraid of are ticks. Yknow, those blood-sucking bugs. They act like tiny little droppers of blood and spread disease. Insecticide is used here weekly. Although I suppose that might actually affect your health ability too. They started by choosing a target. They staked out the area around the Shiraha Social Support Club and spotted one of the girls going in and out of the building. After that, they waited in a position a short distance away from the building. They had to wait for the proper timing. If a tick wont go near a house, doesnt that mean it is like a sick house? It has to be full of chemicals. But you dont want a house full of ticks either, do you? In fact, that would be much worse. Kamijou and the bobbed hair girl held freshly-baked and delicious-smelling anpan and a bottle of oddly deep-colored milk. The food and drink were much more elegant than what Kamijou had been imagining. That has the same question ability as asking someone whether they want to kill themself or be killed by someone else. If I had to choose, Id scrub everything clean with antibacterial cleaning supplies even if it might kill m-...wah!? Kamijou intentionally stepped out just when the target girl was walking past. He bumped into her and dumped the bottle of milk over the girls head. Gyah!? Eh? What? Youre kidding! Milk!? Really!? Oh, sorry, sorry! Quick, take that off. If you dont get the milk off, the smell wont come out!! Kamijou politely took the girls blazer, but his false smile froze over when he stuck his hand in the inner pocket. He could not feel a wallet or card inside. ...Um, is something the matter? Uh...no. I just need to make extra sure I get any stains out, so... ? It was all over if his poor attempts at buying time made her grow suspicious. Kamijou had no choice but to return the girls blazer...but then he felt something hard against his index finger. It seemed it had a pocket he had not checked. What is it? Eh? Oh, um... I certainly hope you did not intentionally dump that milk on me so you could steal my wallet like some New Yorker pickpocket. That isnt what this is, right!? N-no! Of course not!! And there was no obscene meaning behind dumping unnecessarily thick milk in my hair, was there? If thats what came to your mind, there is something wrong with you!! Kamijou instinctually spread his arms in a sign of nonresistance. It took him a second to realize the hard feeling was gone form his index finger and that the blazer was no longer in his hand. But by then it was too late. It would be too unnatural to grab the girls blazer out of her hands now. Meanwhile, the girl checked on her wallet in the inner pocket. Well, I suppose Anti-Skill has not fallen that far. The bobbed hair girl waved a hand from behind the relieved target. She held a card between her index and middle fingers. (How did she do that!?) Kamijous eyes opened wide in shock and the bobbed hair girl used her other hand to point at the targets skirt. The target did not notice this at all. Please be more careful. In fact, I will charge you if the smell does not come out!! I-if you have a complaint, just contact the teaching department... said Kamijou before walking away. The bobbed hair girl pressed the card into his hands. Here you go, honey. Stop helping me commit crimes and then acting like Im taking advantage of you. Calm down. If you hadnt acted as the decoy there, I could not have stolen it so easily. The next time you dont tell me something beforehand, Im going to start taking countermeasures against it. Kamijou and the bobbed hair girl headed for the Shiraha Social Support Club building. They stuck the card in the reader and the thick door of tempered glass unlocked. From the outside, it looked like an old bank lobby inside, but once the door opened, they found a Japanese-style room with tatami mats and paper sliding doors. Kamijou was confused by the sudden change of scenery. Its part of the scenery preservation. Its the same as a hologram. Tiny indentations and protrusions are made on the glass like on a CD to alter the condition ability of the light to make a Japanese-style room look like a Western-style lobby. No one was inside. There might be people on other floors, but Kamijou hoped there were not. The Altar of the Wisdom King, muttered Kamijou as he looked around the room. Where is it? It should be in this building. Umezaki Yuuga brought it here! Its a tool that can hold the fire for a Homa altar. If I only knew where it was, I could destroy it with my right hand!! He searched. And searched. And searched. However, he found nothing that could be it. Was it on another floor? Heading upstairs would increase the possibility of running into someone from the Shiraha Social Support Club, but this was no time to hesitate. Kamijou looked over at the wooden staircase, but then the bobbed hair girl suddenly spoke. Um, this is a simple question, but does your intuition ability sense any sign of finding this object? I have to find it here! Destroying it is easy, but if nothing is done before the time limit, the School Garden will be completely destroyed. I have to keep that from happening!! Are you sure? The bobbed hair girl continued to raise more doubts. Kamijou assumed she was suggesting Umezaki had already arrived and taken the item elsewhere. But she actually said something he did not expect. There is no sign of this thing and you cannot find a single clue to its existence. ...If I were you, I would begin to doubt the accuracy ability of the information I had been given. Or is that a personal issue due to my mental esper power? ... Kamijou started to feel something unpleasant roiling in his stomach. (Thats right.) When it came down to it, his information was nothing more than what Tsuchimikado Motoharu, a single person, had told him. He did not know how the boy had gotten him through the School Gardens security, but Tsuchimikado had completely disappeared after shipping Kamijou in and calling him once for that explanation. (Ive been thrown into ridiculous battlefields by Tsuchimikado before, but they never had such a short time limit. ...Its almost as if he never intended me to succeed in the first place. Tsuchimikado is always so thoroughly prepared, so this just wasnt like him.) But what did that mean? Kamijou stopped thinking at that point. It had a lot to do with him not wanting to think about it, but he also had too little information to make any real judgment. And then... He spotted something outside the wall of windows facing out of that Japanese-style room. It must have been made like a one-way mirror because the image coming in did not seem to be altered. An airship was flying above the School Garden. It had a large screen on the side which was showing Academy Citys headlines. It currently showed the following: Breaking news of a fire in District 7. One room of a student dorm was partially destroyed in the fire. The single confirmed fatality was the rooms resident, Tsuchimikado Maika-san. An investigation has begun to determine whether this was arson or an accident. Kamijous thoughts went completely blank. The words scrolling by on that giant screen were simply so inhuman that Kamijou had difficulty connecting what they said to the person he pictured in his head. She was dead? That girl who always wore a maid uniform and sat seiza-style on a cleaning robot was dead? And... How were Tsuchimikado Motoharus actions related to this incident? What is...going on...? muttered Kamijou blankly. Whether she knew what he was thinking or not, the bobbed hair girl spoke in that alluring intonation that did not match her soprano voice. What I am suggesting is that someone might have made up a reason to keep you locked up in School Garden like a cage while they did something else in Academy City. Part 9 The sirens of fire trucks blared Rows of similar buildings lined District 7. One room in one of those buildings had been burned black and then flooded with water. Tsuchimikado Motoharu operated his cell phone in the parking lot of a convenience store across from the building. Instead of his usual outfit, he had his hair dyed brown and wore a chic jacket. A truck passed right by him and covered him in exhaust, but the boy did not move at all. His cell phones small screen displayed a news site. He focused on one of several headlines. A fire in a District 7 student dorm. One student dead. It was a simple line of text. The text had been made into a link that would likely lead to a page with more details, but that would be no more than 1000 characters. However... It finally felt real to Tsuchimikado Motoharu when he saw it posted on that news site. It was as if it finally hit home that she was dead. He felt something silently well up within his chest. By the time it began noisily simmering and producing a strange heat, he could no longer control it. Once the subjective symptoms showed themselves, it was like an extremely advanced cancer. How could this have happened? What had he done wrong? He could not stop himself from thinking those things. And in his current state, Tsuchimikado had no intention of trying to suppress it. His expression did not change. He did not bare his teeth like a beast nor did he let out a roar that would rip apart his lungs. However, this did not mean he felt no emotion. Tsuchimikado Motoharu knew that he needed to suppress any meaningless signs of emotion when failure was absolutely not an option. The path to success only opened when he feigned calm, acted harmless, and fooled everyone. The more difficult that was to do, the more of himself he had to stifle. And so he forced it all down. Tsuchimikado Motoharu forced it down while feeling deep scorn for the fact that he had to do so. And... Tsuchimikado Motoharu moved his lips just once. It was as if the words had slipped out rather than an intentional announcement. He said, Its time to get revenge. He no longer had any collar or chains holding him back. Those who had removed them needed to learn what exactly that meant. Between the Lines 1 Academy Citys aerospace facilities were concentrated in District 23, so it of course functioned as the citys main entrance from the air. Several sets of footsteps caused quite a commotion in the lobby of an international airport there. One of them belonged to Yomikawa Aiho, an official member of Anti-Skill. Her jurisdiction was District 7, but her skill must have been widely known because she was often called in for help with major incidents in other districts. Dr. Matsusada? Yes, that authority in fluid mechanics that even children have heard of. He wrote the best seller The Future of Next-Generation Processors using Viscosity and Density. For some reason, the flight attendant showing her the way almost seemed to be advertising for the man. Yomikawa wondered why such a dry technical book would be so popular with children, but that may have been yet another special characteristic of Academy City. There was something else she needed to focus on now. For example, the other Anti-Skill member walking next to her. Yomikawa glanced over with a look of extreme displeasure. Oh, cmon. Why did they let someone like you out? Long time no see, Aiho-chi. Its your old friend, Stephanie Gorgeouspalace. I didnt buy you a souvenir, but I hope you can forgive me. I heard you fled Academy City, became a mercenary, and then came back as a terrorist. That had a lot to do with the citys dark side, so good job finding all that out. But Im not back on the job because I want to be. They must not have wanted to waste anyone they can use. Ive also heard Sunazara-san is lending his sniping experience to others via some electronic equipment despite still being in a coma. You didnt lose a bunch of the adults during World War III, did you? Sending Yomikawa from her District 7 jurisdiction to District 23 was irregular enough. But now Stephanie had been temporarily released from her cell. It sounded nice to call it the creation of a cruel dream team, but it basically meant this problem had been deemed just that dangerous. Yomikawa scratched lightly at her head with one hand. I guess this is no time to worry about this. Youre not too rusty to trust in a fight, are you? Heh heh. Just leave it to me. Tah dah!! Take a look at this weeks special weapon!! As she spoke, Stephanie opened the latches of the two musical instrument cases hanging down from her hands. She produced giant masses of metal over 2 meters long from within. Each one did not have just a single barrel. Instead, three were bound together in a ring. Instead of a trigger pulled with the index finger, they had a button for the thumb with a safety cover over it. When Yomikawa saw the ridiculous weapons, she brought her head into her hands. Please just leave. Eh? Why? Why? I cant trust you!! You have to be completely insane to use two Gatling guns that need to be staked into the ground to use! You cant possibly aim those things!! They have legs, so you dont need to worry about that. Cant you see the joints on the bipods? They use robot technology, so they absorb all of the recoil and I can aim them in any direction just by twisting my wrist slightly. If they have legs, why dont you control them remotely? Just calm down. You wont be saying that for long. Ill be firing at extreme close quarters with 20mm weapons. Each of these can fire 4000 rounds a minute. Once you see it in action, Im sure youll love it. You make it sound like a fireworks show... Two security robots following behind Stephanie were attached to the Gatling guns with thick belts. They were likely disguised self-propelled magazines. Yomikawa followed Stephanie through the airport while Stephanie dragged along the giant drum-shaped magazines that were connected to the guns like a vacuum cleaner. An airport worker who was speaking with some other Anti-Skill members noticed Yomikawa and approached her. Dr. Matsusada is in that...business cargo collection lane. We confirmed it in the camera records, but he has shown no sign of leaving from any of the exits. Is it locked? Every entrance was locked since before he fled inside. That means the electronic locks were of no use. We have no idea what is going on. Hee hee. Well, that is his field of expertise. Given his skill, maybe we should question the camera footage as well. Stephanie cut in from the side. But would such a brilliant doctor really overlook such a simple fact? Whether you are an adult or a child, you cannot go for an overseas trip without a security check and some nanodevices. I dont want to hear that from someone who ran off. Im just saying he needed to make the proper preparations. So what do you think? Maybe he was trying to hide in the cargo to escape without buying a ticket. Or he is trying to make us think that so he can use the confusion to escape via some other route. The airport worker handed Yomikawa something like a USB memory stick. It normally uses a palm print, but this is the master key. You use this by opening the authorization panel with a screwdriver and-... Hell have rewritten the data for the lock, said Stephanie as lightheartedly as if she was singing a song she did not know the words to. As she did, she unhesitatingly aimed her Gatling guns at the locked door. An explosive noise rang out. After only a few seconds, both the metal door and the wall were filled with as many holes as a sponge. The door did not collapse in the opposite direction. Before it could, something exploded and shockwaves and orange flames scattered in every direction. Yomikawa immediately jumped to the ground, covering the airport worker with her body. She then shouted loud enough to be heard over the din. Stephanie! You goddamn idiot!! What? That last explosion wasnt me. Some kind of clay must have been stuck on the door. Its a good thing we didnt try the master key. With that casual comment, Stephanie walked toward the giant hole where it was impossible to tell what had originally been the door and what had originally been the wall. If Stephanie was left to her own devices, the entire airport could easily end up destroyed, so Yomikawa frantically ran after her. When Stephanie stepped into the room beyond, she looked around and let out a whistle. The area was as large as a gym, but it had conveyer belts running every which way, giving it a cramped feeling. And on top of that, Stephanies storm of bullets had clearly made their way inside because several of the conveyer belts had burst apart or crumbled. (Damn her. She intentionally gave away her position!) At first glance, it had seemed Stephanie had whistled without thinking, but it had likely been intentional. She was an oddity who used light machine guns, semi-auto sniper rifles, and other difficult to handle guns in the type of extreme close quarters gunfights seen in movies. She must have felt it was best to quickly determine the enemys location even if it gave them a chance to attack first. But... That analysis of the womans actions had been too na?ve. Stephanie Gorgeouspalace aimed her two Gatling guns in completely different directions in that obstacle-filled cargo lane. Yomikawa did not even have time to call out. An explosive noise rang out. A large number of bullets tore through the sturdy conveyer belts like they were made of paper and reached the opposite wall. Stephanie continued to fire bullets in short bursts here and there. This continued until Yomikawa grabbed Stephanie by the collar. Yes, what is it? Do you have any idea what you are doing!? Cutting off the wiring to all of the exits. This man may be an expert programmer, but the deadbolts will never open if there is no power reaching them. This is the best way to trap him inside. Listen. Our objective is to capture Dr. Matsusada who is trying to escape Academy City, not to kill him! If those 20mm bullets of yours so much as graze that old man, his fat guts will be splattered on the wall!! Youre shooting those things at a rate of 4000 a minute! Do understand what that means!? If he was someone who would die from this, I would not have been called in from my cell. At that point, they heard a small noise. It was not the sound of the smashed wreckage of a conveyer belt falling to the floor. The sound was oozing with the will of a human. Yomikawa let go of Stephanies collar and focused in the direction of the sound. A small old man poked his head out from behind some rubble with his hands raised. Checkmate, old man. You arent being shot on sight because Academy City still has a conscience. But that conscience does have its limits. ...You dont understand. Dr. Matsusada was trembling with his hands still raised. The sweat on his face was due to fear, but he did not seem worried about the heavy firepower Stephanie held. He was afraid of something that was located elsewhere. You people understand nothing! The only way to escape its effects is to leave the city!! How can you be so carefree? The changes have already begun!! No, wait. Have you already been taken in by it...? Dr. Matsusada? What are you talking about? I didnt mean to create something like that, said Dr. Matsusada with an expression of anguish as if he was clenching his back teeth. No, he really was clenching them. And it was too late by the time they understood what that meant. I-I! I!! I know more than anyone just how frightening the child I created is! How frightening a world without heroes is! Gh..gbh! I... Ah! He-...!! By the time Stephanie frantically cried out, Dr. Matsusada had already collapsed to the ground. Yomikawa quickly ran over, but the small old mans eyes were already wandering aimlessly. They were slowly wandering. He had something in his back teeth... cp-191. A hibernation drug developed for a manned Mars investigation project that never got anywhere. He isnt going to wake up no matter what we do for three months. I will send for an esper with a mind-related power just in case. The signal is too flat, so I doubt anything will be able to shake him into consciousness. Nor can any information be taken from his brain. In that case... Yomikawa and Stephanie exchanged a truly annoyed glance. Yomikawa spoke what they were both thinking. What research results had Dr. Matsusada so afraid? Volume 7, 2: The Wandering Beast and Outside the Cage. Dead_Girl. Volume 7, Chapter 2: The Wandering Beast and Outside the Cage. Dead_Girl. Part 1 If he was being perfectly honest, he could not say it had not irritated him. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had been a magician who had earned the title of an Onmyou expert at a very young age. Officially, magic was known as a field for those without talent to overcome those with talent. For that reason, he did not like the term, but genius did fit him quite well. That was how skilled he was. And then he had been given the mission to sneak into Academy City. He was to sneak in as a student, so he would need to undergo the psychic powers development of the science side. One did not even need to read the records on the accident involving Sherry Cromwell and Ellis Warrior to know the simple fact that espers could not use magic. Simply put, the Anglican Church had asked him to abandon magic. He had of course wondered why he had been chosen and resented the higher ups for choosing him. If it had simply been a means of taking care of someone the higher ups felt was a bit too skilled, he would have simply laughed and left the organization. What was not funny was the fact that he truly had been the best suited person for the undercover mission. And if Tsuchimikado Motoharu had not accepted that, the balance between magic and science would have collapsed. Something had been advancing below the surface that had forced them to make that judgment. If you are to fake your identity as a student, you must have all the relationships that come with it. The one who had shrugged and told him that had likely been Bishu. In other words, a family. Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Tsuchimikado Bishu, and Tsuchimikado Touzu. The last two were not to sneak into Academy City. They merely took on those names to play the role of his family outside the city. But they had been forced to abandon their family names of Urabe and Ashiya, so it could not have been an enjoyable task for them. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had lightly clicked his tongue and replied, This fake identity will be seen through in half a day. Then how about we mix some truth in with the lies? Bishu had immediately replied. The response had seemed arbitrary on the surface, but she had of course prepared everything in advance. After you arrive in Japan, go around to different orphanages. Choose a...young girl to add to the family. This will be a girl who truly knows nothing of magic or science. Her existence will confuse the analysts in Academy Citys intelligence department. They may think you might be an enemy, but they will find it too irrational for an enemy to do this. It had not been an enjoyable suggestion. He was being ordered to bring an innocent girl into the picture. That may help, but it still wont last longer than 3 days. I dont see the point. Three days is long enough for the entire world to change, Bishu had said. Sneak into that city of science and show some results before their intelligence department catches up to you. If you are able to become indispensable to them, you might be able to stick when they try to wash you away. That had been the circumstances surrounding it. It had been a family that was held together by lies and contained no hint of love. The reason Tsuchimikado Motoharu had chosen that girl to join the family had been quite simple: her circumstances made it easy to fake her official records. That was all there had been to it. And so... Tsuchimikado Motoharu had said the following to that girl while on the way to Academy City with her: If you do not question the circumstances you find yourself in, I will give you anything you want. That had been the extent of the contract between them. It had been his way of apologizing in advance for an expert like him getting an amateur like her involved. That girl of course had not understood the situation, so she had tilted her head in confusion. Youll do anything for me? Within certain limits. But... That girl had smiled as she continued to speak truly smoothly. If I have a ticket like that, I should give it to someone who actually needs it. ... He had not expected that response. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had been abandoning everything about himself as a magician. And that response had been enough to softly stimulate something that had just barely begun to appear within him. Part 2 Diazinon Insecticide - Toxic. Those words were printed in large text on the side of a tanker truck. The drivers side door opened and Fugan Ryuuzou stepped out onto the asphalt. He inserted bill after bill into a drink vending machine on the sidewalk and pressed the green tea button repeatedly. He had a small refrigerator inside the truck similar to a hotel or hospital room, but the drinks inside had run out. A light electronic tone rang from the pocket of his work uniform. He used different tones to distinguish between business and private and this was the business one. He pulled out his cell phone with a grimace. Even more wrinkles covered his face when he saw an even more ridiculous order than he had expected. Nothing was blatantly spelled out in the email, but a list of unrealistic products was hidden beneath the surface if one saw through each of the metaphors and codes. An auto-loading mortar? What are they thinking? Are they planning to load it into a disaster relief robot to cause some kind of disturbance? Fugan was not a weapons seller. He was nothing more than a designer. Whether it was a safe device or a dangerous one, he would draw up the plans for whatever his clients asked for and send those plans to them over the internet. Thanks to private video services becoming so plentiful lately, net rentals with excellent copy guarding and timed file deletion had become easy. He had no trouble passing the necessary data to the client while also preventing the data from spreading uncontrollably. As he walked toward the tanker truck holding a large number of plastic bottles, Fugan thought about whether he should accept this job or not. His initial opinion was 8 to 2 opposed to the idea. With this sort of job, there was no established price, but the amount suggested was still a problem. But not because it was too low. It was too high. This was likely either a rookie who knew nothing of the business or an Anti-Skill sting operation. (Well, first impressions are important. I just finished a major job, so I dont need to take any risks. In this field, you will never survive if you cant trust your own nose.) As he thought, he opened the drivers side door and leaned inside to drop the drink bottles on the seat. And then... Someone kicked the door closed with Fugan Ryuuzou caught in the middle. Bh...gh!? Fugans entire body convulsed as if he was being bitten into by a dinosaur. He felt so much pain he was amazed he was not coughing up blood. He might have broken some ribs, but the attacker did not care. Fugans arms were brought behind him and handcuffed. The attacker grabbed his clothes, spun him around 180 degrees, and slammed his back up against the side of the drivers seat. The attacker was a boy who had thin-lensed glasses and short hair dyed brown. He was Tsuchimikado Motoharu. ...Pant...pant... Why? Why do you think? said Tsuchimikado in a low voice. Why do you think a weapons seller like you is being attacked now? ... For an instant, the attacker glanced somewhere else. Fugan wanted as much information as he could, so he desperately followed the boys gaze while the boy still held his collar. Inside the half-open truck door was the small screen of the car navigation system. It had 1seg functionality and could receive the news. Fugan could only think of one possible connection. The recent news of a fire that had been disguised as a completely normal incident. Wait! Please wait! I had nothing to do with that. I only sold the designs. This is how I make my way through the underside of this city without dirtying my own hands. Do you really think I would do something to anger you!? Are you saying you dont know where the weapon you sold the plans to was manufactured or who did it? Tsuchimikado gave a small smile. However, his eyes were not smiling. Liar. ... Youre afraid of these dangerous weapons plans spreading uncontrollably, so you use the net rental format. I doubt someone like that would stop tracking things after the sale. You monitor them. You check to make sure what you created is only used within the scope of their request. I-I dont do that. Youre just speculating. What proof of this do you-... Fugan Ryuuzou trailed off. This was because Tsuchimikado had suddenly let go of his collar. Fugan fell into a sitting position and coughed. And then he saw it. That boy in the chic jacket was pulling out a toolbox from the floor of the passenger seat. W-wait... Did you think this was a police interrogation room where you would be served katsudon? Or were you expecting a scene of me presenting evidence sealed in plastic bags? Wait!! Why are you lining up wrenches and crowbars on the street!? Then again, recording things like they do in an interrogation room isnt a bad idea. Or maybe a live broadcast would be better. I may not look it, but I know how to put on a blue-fin tuna dissection show. I can even show you your beating heart while you are still breathing. Do you know how hard it is to bring out the heart without using anesthesia? ...!!!??? Fugan almost cried out in fear, but he managed to cover his mouth with one hand. Tsuchimikado had started by breaking his pinky finger. Bbh...Bbah!! I-I get it...wait, stop!! Next came his ring finger. And then Tsuchimikado reached for the mans plump middle finger. Stop!! Stop! I-Ill talk...!! In truth, Tsuchimikado did not have time to slowly torture the man. If an unrelated person came along and called Anti-Skill, it was all over. And a rotten weapons seller who dealt with the dark side would never break in just a few minutes if all Tsuchimikado did was punch and kick him. Not all pain was equal. Some was worth much more than others. How much fear could be produced with a single act of violence? That was where the preparations became important. It was not just in the medieval witch hunts that experts would line up cruel collection of overly musty tools with ominous stains still on them. Even if those tools were never used, they could still be quite effective. Tsuchimikado Motoharu was not only a member of the science side as a resident of Academy City. He was also a member of the magic side as an expert from the Anglican Church which specialized in inquisitions. Ill talk!! Ill talk!! What do you want to know first!? As Fugans trembling almost reached the point of being convulsions, Tsuchimikado grabbed his collar once more and slammed his back against the side of the tanker truck. He slowly spoke in the mans ear. If someone sees us and interrupts this, I will kill you. So make sure you tell me everything before that happens, okay? ...I-I fucked up big time, weakly spat out Fugan. It was wrong of me to hold some strange sense of justice despite being so deep in this world. I caught a glimpse of something I should not have seen. What exactly was it? Wait... Fugan Ryuuzou shook his head while Tsuchimikado still held his collar. Please, please. I know this is someone dangerous. I dont want to make an enemy of them. Im already on the edge of a cliff here! I think what happened to your friend was unfortunate, but that doesnt mean Im ready to die with you!! ... I wasnt able to track them! Ive been involved in a lot of dangerous incidents, but this is the first time Ive completely lost the trail. I dont know who exactly this is, but I know theyre dangerous. This was a sign that I shouldnt investigate any further. I dont want a monster like that turning their focus on me! Please believe me! I really dont know anything more!! I see. Fine then. What are you-...? started Fugan before catching on. After letting go of the mans collar, Tsuchimikado Motoharu pulled out Fugans business phone and used his thumb to operate it. I hear youre one of the top weapons sellers in the city. You must make a lot of money. Im a general designer. It just so happens that most of the requests I get are for weapons. This was clever of you. Tsuchimikado used a fist to bang on the tank loaded on the back of the large vehicle. Undiluted toxic insecticide. With that kind of warning, Anti-Skill isnt going to open it up and check inside even if youre pulled over at a checkpoint or for questioning. And even if they crack it open, theyll back off when the smell hits them. No one will try to check further inside. And no thief is going to steal such an obvious truck. Gold bars are heavy, so a weapons seller who doesnt trust the defenses of internet banks needs a giant vault on wheels to carry around his earnings. With that casual comment, Tsuchimikado tossed the cell phone back toward Fugan. The mans arms were handcuffed behind him, so he could not catch it. However, when it bounced off his chest and landed on the asphalt with the screen up, his eyes opened wide. I announced your defeat and revealed the secret of your vault. The hyenas should arrive in 5 to 10 minutes. Ah...ah... If you wont give me the information I need, Ill try someone else. This is a total of 7 billion yen, after all. Im sure someone important will be mixed in with the hyenas. Ill pursue them. Ah...Aaaahhhhh!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Fugan cried out and slammed his heel against the ground. But before the sneak attack gimmick hidden in his shoe could show itself, Tsuchimikado grabbed his collar and threw him onto the sidewalk. Bh...bgh...!? Im not going to kill you here. Killing you would be easier, but I wont. Do you know why that is? slowly asked Tsuchimikado while crouching down next to the man. A cold look could be seen beyond the lenses of his glasses. Because this way is more effective. The sight of a crippled herbivore being devoured by hyenas is quite unpleasant. I recommend you hide somewhere and wait out the storm. Fugan Ryuuzou was lying on the ground having trouble breathing and Tsuchimikado unhesitatingly stomped on the mans right knee. He heard the dull sound of the joint breaking followed by a scream. Agh...aghaaahh!! Agyagahh!? This is what you get, you piece of shit. The plans you prepared were used to make a weapon to kill my little sister. You dont get to say you had nothing to do with it. Shit! Damn you!! Im still handcuffed. How am I supposed to run away without my leg!? Dont ask me. If the hyenas find you, your life is over. Crawl away. That suits you. Tsuchimikado headed for the back of the tanker truck while ignoring the designer writhing on the ground. Fugan could do nothing with his arms restrained behind him and one knee crushed. Despite his erratic breathing, he loudly asked, Ow... What is it? What are you willing to go this far to search for!? Without turning around, the jacketed boy replied, The Agitate Halation project. Everything had changed the instant he had gotten involved in that. In that case, the identity of the person who had thrown his little sister into a sea of flames had to be connected to that project. Part 3 Learning facilities were often created with public funding. That was why those nonprofit institutions often managed to not be pushed on by the flow of time. For example, a library. And unlike a middle or high school, elementary schools (mostly) did not need to worry about entrance exam preparations. For that reason, the libraries near them did not have a specialized space for quiet studying. Some might then wonder what the point of the building was, but if one took a step back and looked at it, it may have looked like a day care center. Nyah, nyah! Santa Claus really, really does exist! Nyah!! Dont be stupid. Theres no way Santa is real!! Despite that fairly chaotic argument being shouted back and forth in the afterschool library, the young female librarian did not try to stop them. Even if the library was meant to be orderly and quiet, she may have felt this was better than the complete silence of the library being empty because no one read books anymore. There was also the Learning Core facility nearby that was a combination of a museum, a library, and other similar institutions. The library needed to compromise if it was to survive. The blonde-haired, blue-eyed elementary school girl in the center of the commotion was Fremea Seivelun. Her class was having a debate over whether Santa Claus existed. The class had split between the he does side (mostly girls) and the he doesnt side (mostly boys) and the situation had almost developed into a fight. Every time Fremea moved about roughly, the white rhinoceros beetle key chain on her red backpack would shake around. This conflict would produce nothing but sorrow, so the classs intellectual girl (with glasses) had made a suggestion to put an end to it. She had suggested going to the library to check to see who was right. And so... Nyah! See, it says it right here! In the first place, Santa Claus exists!! You idiot. Thats a picture book!! Japans skies are protected by radar. If a sled was flying through the sky, it would be spotted right away!! Nyah! In the first place, what is radar!? I dont know, but radar is radar! But then the intellectual girl (with glasses) found a book that mentioned that NORAD, famous for ballistic missile defense, used radars and satellites to track Santa Claus. This only confused the situation further. A few of the boys who had grown tired of the fight, decided to make a pass at the young female librarian (with giant breasts). She had been trying to read an SF novel (that she had brought from home) which used way too much hard slang to ever receive a translated version. Hey, hey. Does Santa exist or not? I make a point of not discussing religion, baseball, politics, or what the best ramen shop in Japan is. Is it true theres a miniskirt Santa? Eh? Theres a bearded old man wearing a miniskirt? And then a new development occurred with Fremea and the others who were still arguing. It started with a comment from the intellectual girl (with glasses). She nervously asked, Um, Fremea-chan? Nyah! What is it, Azumi? In the first place, are you trying to say Santa Claus doesnt exist too!? N-no, its not that. The girl named Azumi seemed to hesitate over whether she should say something but finally spoke. Hey, Fremea-chan. If Santa really does exist... Nyah? Theres a story in Germany about a black Santa Claus that kidnaps bad children. So is that true too? A new topic had appeared. Panic filled the afterschool library. Part 4 As expected, Fugan Ryuuzous tanker truck was attacked within minutes. The situation was reminiscent of leaving a sugar cube near an ant hill. At first, a few groups began fighting over it, but they soon realized it would all be for naught if someone called Anti-Skill. Once they decided to work together, they used gas burners and high pressure water jets to disassemble the tank and take away all the gold bars. The weapons seller who owned the truck had hidden directly below it. It had been a desperate strategy forced onto him by his inability to move. If any of the men had glanced under the truck, his death would have been unavoidable. ... Tsuchimikado was on the roof of a nearby building. He was monitoring the situation using binoculars that could digitally change the magnification. One of the hyenas may have been keeping track of the time with a stopwatch because they scattered at exactly seven minutes. Tsuchimikado started hearing Anti-Skill sirens two minutes after that, but it was of course too late. (Now then...) Tsuchimikado took a deep breath and pressed a few buttons on the side of the binoculars. He switched the mode over to one that displayed a few glowing bluish-white lines on the cityscape below. The lines were all straight but took countless turns along the way as if they were carelessly travelling through a maze. Needless to say, the lines indicated the escape routes of the hyenas who had taken the gold bars. Tsuchimikado had added a special scent to the gold bars Fugan had collected. (When things go this well, I start to suspect a trap.) The hyenas had started fighting when they first saw each other, so they were obviously not comrades. The different teams naturally used different escape routes. However, as Tsuchimikado watched on from the rooftop, the scattered groups started to converge on the same point. (Just as I thought, someone bigger is secretly controlling all of the hyenas.) Tsuchimikado noted the location and then left the building rooftop. The hyenas all gathered at a coin laundry in District 7. Or technically, the ruins of one. None of them were stupid enough to try to just take the gold bars with them. They needed to be laundered by melting them down and altering their form. A large-scale facility was needed to process so much gold, so the hyenas left their gold bars at the coin laundry to let a specialist handle it. However... The person controlling the hyenas would of course disappear with the gold instead. Tsuchimikado hid near the abandoned coin laundry and waited for the hyenas to leave. As he continued to watch the abandoned building, a new figure appeared. Once he saw a young woman drive up in a street cleaner and enter the building, Tsuchimikado followed. Two men were set up as guards at the entrance, but they were on the lookout for weapons and esper powers. The street cleaner, the guard rail, the street signs, and the asphalt. They were surrounded by all sorts of hard objects, but they did not give them much thought. A blow to the head knocked them both unconscious. Partially to prevent a surprise attack, Tsuchimikado tossed the men into the abandoned building. Hi, there. !? The young woman wearing a tight jacket and a long skirt frantically turned around and brought a hand to her back, but then she froze in place Tsuchimikado smiled. Thats right. If we start a firefight here, Anti-Skill will show up. Those gold bars are heavy. You would have to abandon the treasure you went to such effort to gather. Dammit... You put a scent on them, didnt you!? spat out the young woman as she kicked a dirty dryer. The ruins of washers and dryers lined up along the wall had likely been used as lockers by the hyenas. By telling them which dryer on which row to use, each hyena would put their gold bars in one of the lockers without realizing a different hyena put gold bars in the locker right next to it. I didnt expect to find the Spider Queen was behind this. Youre one of the official intermediaries. There are even rumors that youre an AI with no real form. Stop it. I was already regretting that Id lost my edge. I was seriously considering retiring. Tsuchimikado let out a small sigh and said, Do you want to know what kind of perfume I used? Youll have no way of laundering the gold without that information. There are some scents that stick around even at the high temperatures needed to melt gold. Tch. What do you want in exchange? The Agitate Halation project. ...Who would want to kill someone over that name? Do you really think I know everything the higher ups are after? If so, youre overestimating me. But you pay careful attention to the soldiers below you. Your specialty is spreading your web to control people. Even that has its limits. I can only wrap my web around those I deal with directly as an intermediary. Tsuchimikado almost burst out laughing when he heard that. It was a blatant lie. But it was also the answer he had expected. He had already lost a fair bit of time, so he made a mental memo that he needed to take some shortcuts. That may be the industry rules, but it doesnt add up. Youve spread your web around everywhere to control the entire battlefield. And that means you need information from more than just your allies. ...Youve been spying on people, havent you? On your enemies, on your allies, and on the data controlled by the other intermediaries. The Spider Queen let out a deep sigh. And then she said, Maybe I should give up on the gold and kill you here. I suppose you would be eliminated if this information got out. If it was me, I would fake my own death and get cosmetic surgery. And you just so happen to have the funds for it. The young woman only grew more frustrated and scratched at her hair. I get the feeling youll torture me if I give this answer, but I dont know. I havent been given any jobs or allocated any personnel related to the term Agitate Halation. Could you have taken the job without being told the name? Its certainly possible, but if I was, I think I would have heard the term at some point during the job. If any of my pawns see something they were not meant to see, they have to give a debriefing. After all, there are certain taboos that must be hidden no matter what. However, added the Spider Queen. This is the age of the internet. Some of the most dangerous jobs are given directly to the pawns without using an intermediary. Although that just seems like suicide to me. Do you have a way of knowing when that happens? There are a few pawns who have left my control in the middle of another job, but thats all I know. Youre free to try your luck and attack these pawns, but you might find theyre involved in some other dangerous project that has nothing to do with Agitate Halation. Thats fine, replied Tsuchimikado with a shrug. Give me the list. ...Im not expecting to easily pick the right one. Im just hoping I will find the right one after trying all of them. The Spider Queen pulled a memo pad from her jacket pocket, jotted down a few names, ripped off the page, balled it up, and tossed it toward Tsuchimikado. That paper is made from corn starch and the pen uses chocolate ink. If you eat it, you will digest it. Do you understand what Im getting at? Tsuchimikado checked the names and then swallowed the list. He grimaced. You could at least fry it and add some salt. Is that so? Well, those are the ones who ignored my services and took jobs on their own. You could say they betrayed me. You can deal with them however you like. How about you fry them and add some salt? She used people as she saw fit and then responded like this when she was betrayed. Perhaps one had to be that way to survive in the citys darkness. Ive told you everything I know. ...What number is the perfume you put on the gold? Clairpharm #1056. Shit!! Thats a cheap one that disappears at 300 degrees!! The Spider Queen looked angry enough to ignore her situation and start firing her handgun like crazy, but Tsuchimikado merely smiled, raised his middle finger, and left the abandoned coin laundry. The memo he had swallowed had listed around 10 names. The odds were extremely good that one or all of them had driven Tsuchimikado Maika to her death. Part 5 Who is the terrifying black Santa Claus!? His official name was Knecht Ruprecht. This mysterious person was occasionally spotted in Germany. The good children would have presents brought to their houses by the normal Santa Claus while the bad children would be visited by this creepy black Santa Claus who covered himself in pitch black clothes. Those bad children would be stuffed into a giant bag and would never be seen again. No one knew what happened to the bad children after that. Ny-nyahh... Dont worry!! Santa doesnt even exist in the first place! Its unscientific! Both the red and black ones dont exist!! No, Santa Claus exists! In the first place, I know the truth!! Then that means the black Santa is real too! Hell probably be stopping by your place. Fgyaahhh!! It was evening while Fremea and the other children were trembling and heading back to their dorms in District 13. The elementary schools were gathered in this district and the dorms provided many more services than those for older children. Naturally, some people wondered why the children were left unsupervised as they walked home if both the school and the dorm were so heavily supervised. However, letting them walk home was considered important for many different reasons: it gave them firsthand experience with the traffic rules, it prevented them from becoming too out of shape, it helped cultivate a sense of direction, it helped develop their spatial awareness, it taught them how to read a map, etc. However... This allowed ghost stories to be told on the way home from school. It was not unusual for Anti-Skill to come running after someone spotted a mysterious person hanging around, but it always turned out to be a sociologist or folklorist studying the creation and spread of rumors. The intellectual girl (with glasses) named Azumi nervously said, U-um, but the black Santa Claus only takes away bad children. Nyah. And? If the black Santa Claus does exist, wont he stay away as long as we are good? That was of course the exact reason German mothers spread the story, but Fremea and the others did not think it through that far. Ny-nyah... Youre right. Then were safe! Nyah! Dont act like youre a good kid. Nyah! In the first place, if the black Santa Claus is coming, hell be coming for you!! Another fight broke out. The white rhinoceros beetle key chain on her red backpack shook as she moved. And then... The intellectual girl (with glasses) named Azumi tugged on Fremeas clothes. Fremea looked over in confusion to find Azumi frozen stiff and looking off into the distance. She was looking quite high up. Her gaze was fixed on the rooftop of one of the buildings lining either side of the road. She had glimpsed some sort of black figure. It had been so quick she had not seen the details, but she had definitely seen the black figure holding some sort of large white cloth. Its the black Santa Claus... muttered Azumi. He really existed. And this black Santa Claus supposedly abducted bad children. Once Fremeas thoughts made it that far, she let out a gasp. H-Hamazuras in trouble!! ? Meanwhile, Kuroyoru Umidori, a partial cyborg and resident of the citys dark side, frowned while jumping from building to building. She wore a top and bottom made of tight black leather and a white coat with just the hood over her head. She had heard some kind of commotion on the surface, so she wondered if something had happened. (Although she was not the type to go help if something had.) Well, who cares. I have work to do. ...Wah!? Kuroyoru let out a shout just as she tried to get back to the task at hand. She had almost stepped on a girl wearing a white dress who was sleeping on the rooftop with a body pillow shaped like a white rhinoceros beetle. Kuroyoru could not guess where the girl had gotten it, but there was a chicken sleeping next to her while puffing itself up with its feathers. Mumble mumble... Dreams are so delicious...This information is worth eating... Shes insane... muttered Kuroyoru Umidori before quickly leaving. Part 6 This was an old story. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had successfully infiltrated Academy City. However, his guess of it lasting three days had been a bit too high. It had actually taken only 36 hours for him to be found out as a spy sent by the Anglican Church. If he had been even a bit slower making his preparations, he would have been assassinated. On that day, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had been forced to go from being a spy for the magic side to being a double spy who passed information to both science and magic. This had all been according to plan, but both the Anglican Church and Academy City were not single solidified organizations. He had to pay careful attention to ensure he was not stabbed in the back by someone. He and Tsuchimikado Maika had ended up living in separate student dorms, but their relationship had started to change bit by bit. That is a good sign. It had probably been Bishu who had laughed and told him that over the phone. While observing Maika, he had discovered that she always wanted to share her possessions with others. She loved cookies and chocolate, but she would readily split them with others. She would finish her homework early so she could show it to her classmates the following day. It sounded good to say she naturally liked to help others, but as an intelligence specialist, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had immediately determined what it was that motivated this side of her. She wanted to be useful. What that meant completely changed when one realized it was because she did not want to be abandoned by others. That was why she had always given others the #1 spot and shared her possessions with them. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had set one of his goals to eliminating those worries and fears of hers. If he was going to use her in the framework of a family member, he had decided he needed to give her every benefit of being in a family. He had seen that as perfecting his camouflage. But he had failed. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had always been an expert spy. If necessary, he could fake a coincidence, approach his target, and become their good friend within 15 minutes. Yet even he had failed. He had watched the direction of her gaze, the strength of her tone, the trembling of her lips, and the minute movements of her fingertips. He had accurately read everything about Tsuchimikado Maika from the visible reactions on the surface of her body, but all of his prearranged conversations had ended in failure. Hey, I hear theres a school that trains maids in District 7. She had said that when she was just about to enter middle school. She had wanted to be useful. She had even wanted to perform physical labor for others. According to Tsuchimikado Motoharus analysis, that had been based in dark fears of being abandoned. But she had said more. Helping everyone live their lives with a smile is the most wonderful dream I can think of. Once she had revealed her cards to that extent, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had finally realized something. He had been analyzing Maika under the assumption that everyone had a hidden side. That was why he had completely misread her and had not given her what she wanted. Tsuchimikado Maika had not been an enemy during a spy mission. She had been family. She had not been someone whose every statement and action he had to read between the lines of so he could act first. She had finally let him realize such a simple fact. Ahh... In the end, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had been wrong to think he needed to save Tsuchimikado Maika. It had been the same as someone cleaning his room when faced with a huge pile of homework. It had been nothing but an escape. He had wanted the goal of mentally saving his stepsister as a distraction from the pressure created by the constant threat of an assassin from either the science side or the magic side. And so... From that moment on, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had silently sworn to truly protect his little sister. He had sworn to protect that true family member who had slowly taught him something so obvious. Part 7 The first was Anjou Haruka. She was found floating face down in a District 18 river. The second was Kuromatsu Takao. He was found hanged by a rope from a tree in the mountains of District 21. The third was Imagawa Shiguma. He was found with gum stuffed down his throat in a back alley of District 15. ... ... ... !! Tsuchimikado jumped from rooftop to rooftop. His gaze was fixed on the back of a man around 15 meters ahead of him. He was in District 15. This chase scene through Academy Citys largest shopping district had started in an underground mall and eventually moved to building rooftops. (You arent getting away.) These were the 10 possible members of the team that had been tasked with killing Tsuchimikado Maika. A quick investigation had found that nine of the ten were already dead. And these were not natural deaths. Now that their job to kill Tsuchimikado Maika was complete, they were being buried in the darkness. It was the most obvious sort of one way trip. This man was the sole survivor. This could very well be the last person who knew who had truly been behind the plot to kill his stepsister. (I will not let you get away!! If you get away after all this, I lose everything!!) All of the previous victims had been killed by some form of suffocation. The second victim had been hanged by a rope just long enough that he could barely reach the ground on his tiptoes. Whoever had killed him had gone to a lot of effort to ensure the death was by suffocation. This was a combination of surefire results and a cruel sense of playfulness. Tsuchimikado did not know who had done it, but they had clearly been a specialist. The person was enough of a specialist that a lead of only one minute or even one second could influence the fate of those involved. You shit!! The fleeing man pulled out something. Its barrel was too thick to be a submachine gun. It was a handheld grenade launcher. With a muffled noise, an object was fired in a parabola. Tsuchimikado frantically jumped to the side. The weapon did not produce a normal explosion. Instead, a high-pitched whistling sound burst out. Gah....!! (An ultrasonic weapon!!) The weapon had been developed for quickly suppressing an enemy in a location such as a museum or armory where secondary damage had to be avoided at all costs. Simply put, it used noise to tear apart the lungs from the inside. That cruel toy would cause anyone directly hit by it to drown in their own blood. (But its range must be really small if I was able to avoid it at the last second. Why is he using something like that?) The man fired a second and then third canned coffee-sized object. Instead of trying to hit Tsuchimikado, he seemed to be trying to cut off Tsuchimikados paths of escape. (It uses a timed fuse. It takes somewhere between 3 and 5 seconds!) Tsuchimikado reached around to the back of his chic jacket and pulled out a semi-automatic handgun. He did not even have time to carefully aim. He pulled the trigger and shot one of the grenades out of the air. Ah... said the man in surprise, but Tsuchimikado ignored him. Tsuchimikado ran through the opening he had made in the wall of grenades. The man who had hastily assumed Tsuchimikado was done for quickly prepared to flee once more. He frantically swapped out the thick magazine for his weapon and grimaced when he saw something on a display. He opened a cover on the grenade launcher and sprayed some kind of coolant inside. ... Tsuchimikados first shot hit the man in the shoulder. Before he could even cry out, the second shot hit the coolant spray the man had dropped at his feet. It exploded. With an unnatural white steam enveloping his legs, the man fell face down with his eyes opening wide. He seemed unsure whether he should touch his ankles which had been transformed into something like a frozen fish. Gyah! Gbh!! Uuh...My legs...!? Dont move, said Tsuchimikado Motoharu as he approached the man while circling around the white steam. He returned his handgun to his belt. Modern technology can perfectly thaw out your legs as long as they take extra care while transporting you to the hospital. But once they break, they can never be fixed. I recommend not provoking me. Shit, cursed the man as he slammed a fist against the concrete floor. He clenched his teeth, but he understood that he could not escape. What do you want to know? Nine of your colleagues were killed over the past few hours. You are the only one left. Do you know why this might be? ... While the man fell silent, Tsuchimikado slowly placed his foot on top of the mans frozen ankle. This ankle was now less reliable than a biscuit. The man frantically shook his head. Wait! Wait!! Tell me everything you know. I am...well, what they call a destroyer!! ...? I slip into large projects at the bottom level. I then intentionally cause trouble and secretly kill my colleagues. Those that want the project to succeed no matter what will want a greater guarantee of their success. They dont want any more problems and so the price of each individual soldier is driven up. (In that case...) Tsuchimikado thought back over the names of the nine who had already died. He thought back over the fates of the team sent to carry out the mission. Their deaths had not been an attempt to cover up the evidence of the plot to kill Maika. Heh. I did quite a bit of damage, didnt I? You piece of shit... That was also why the man used those ultrasonic weapons with a low destructive range when another type of grenade would have been more dangerous. He was the specialist who had insisted on suffocating them. There had been no perfect way of estimating their time of death. However, this made it obvious they had been killed just before they were meant to attack Maika. But I didnt expect what happened next. I thought I had stopped the fire by killing those nine, but there must have been more people involved than I thought. The overall plan continued and now Im not getting paid because I didnt do my job. Who is it? asked Tsuchimikado in a low voice. Who is behind all this!? Thats all I can tell you. Do you want me to shatter one of your legs? This is as much information as Im willing to give in exchange for my legs! If youre gonna do it, then do it. Id rather live the rest of my life in a wheelchair then anger this person!! I see. All emotion disappeared from Tsuchimikados eyes. Every last hint. Then I just have to do something even more horrible. What? said the man nervously, but Tsuchimikado ignored him and stuck a hand inside his jacket. He pulled out the kind of simple travel toothbrush sold at any convenience store. Wh-what? What do you think Im going to do? Tsuchimikado also pulled out a small tube similar to the ones containing sauce for a bento. He squeezed some toothpaste out of it and onto the toothbrush. If you use this in a way it is not meant to be used, you can make even a battle-hardened mercenary cry like a baby. So how can I use this normal toothbrush in such a devilish way? Hint: mucous membranes. Tsuchimikado applied a great pressure on the man by intentionally leaving out the details. The man was caught by the technique in just two seconds. He already had both legs literally frozen, but now he was unable to even move his fingertips. Stop...wait! Stay back!! Stop!! The mans shouts suddenly ended. Something like a dart had stabbed into the side of his neck. It had been a long distance attack. !! Tsuchimikado suddenly jumped behind an outdoor air conditioning unit. But he quickly realized that was not enough. (What was that? Did that dart just fall straight down from the sky!?) Once he had crawled into the gap between the air conditioner and the concrete floor, Tsuchimikado finally had time to carefully yet nervously observe what had happened. ... The back of the object had feather-like objects attached and the sharpened needle on the front had the sort of drug administering case used with tranquilizer darts. However, the effects were not those of a tranquilizer. Gh..bh!? The man choked oddly. His skin grew purplish red around where he had been hit on the neck. The area quickly swelled up. It looked like plastic being heated in a fire. As the skin bulged out from within, the right half of his face swelled so large a face recognition program would not have recognized him. Gy-gybh!? Gagaaaaahhhh!!!??? Tsuchimikado clicked his tongue as he watched the man yell out and writhe on the ground. He recognized the mans symptoms. It was not all that rare a thing. Formic acid!! That substance was found in bee venom. However, this man had been injected with a huge amount, so the change had occurred all at once. He had to be swelling below the surface as well and the swollen flesh would be constricting his windpipe. In other words, he was being suffocated. Just like the nine who had already died. The attacker had chosen the same method this man had used as a destroyer. (Is this supposed to be ironic?) That destroyer had killed nine people on this day alone, but Tsuchimikado thought it was unlikely someone had come to take revenge. This was likely the person behind the entire plan. This was the act of someone who knew who held the more dangerous information. This person had understood who to attack to cut the last thread leading back to them. (Still, this is pretty cruel. His death is unavoidable, but hes going to suffer for over 15 minutes before finally dying!!) Normally, insect venom was only used to disguise a death as natural. Using it at such an escalated level showed this person had an abnormal obsession. And... (How did they shoot this? It wasnt a normal sniper rifle. This was a direct hit on the neck of a target lying on the ground. You cant hit something like that so easily. Unless it was dropped down from above, they couldnt have hit a target lying down like this!!) There were weapons that fired up into the sky and dropped down onto the target from above. However, those were normally used to fire explosives, not for accurate sharpshooting. (Is this another nasty piece of cutting edge technology? Or was some esper power used to help out? Either way, this is no normal opponent.) Tsuchimikado heard a hard sound repeating at irregular intervals. The man could no longer even grab at his own throat. His arms were sprawled out and convulsing. The sound came from those arms hitting the concrete. H-hel-... The man turned his head to look at Tsuchimikado. The swelling was no longer contained to the right half of his face. He had not been punched even once, but it was becoming hard to tell the front of his head from the back of his head. ...Help...me... (Shit!!) There was nothing he could do. If he so much as poked his head out, he would be hit with that bee venom just like the man had been. I cant do anything to help. This is your only chance to leave a dying message. Will you let them have the last laugh or will you use your last breath to get back at them. Choose for yourself!! I...dont want...to die... Tsuchimikado heard a squishy noise. ...Help...me... I dont...want to die... Stop that. You should have known you would never meet a proper end once you set foot down this path. ...... It was impossible to tell where the mans eyes were looking, but he still stared Tsuchimikado in the face. The man could not make any proper expressions, but Tsuchimikado understood what emotion he was filled with. Tsuchimikado clicked is tongue and spoke. This is toothpaste. He tossed the bento sauce sized tube toward the mans hand. The magnesium carbonate inside is weak, but it has a muscle-relaxant effect. Swallow it all! That will free up your windpipe!! I-Ill survive...? Yes. Youre really saving me...? Yes, now hurry!! Do you want to die because you waited too long!? While still lying on his back, the man frantically grabbed at the toothpaste tube. He could barely hold on to it, but he gathered all of his strength to slowly, slowly bring it to his mouth. ...Thank...you... said the man while barely able to form the words. Tsuchimikado did not want to listen. Thank you...so much... It was impossible to tell if the mans eyes were open or not, but some clear drops of liquid fell from them. And then the man spoke a single name to Tsuchimikado. It was the information Tsuchimikado had wanted most. The name belonged to the person behind it all. ... In the next instant, the mans entire body began to convulse violently. This happened the instant he poured the toothpaste into his mouth. The magnesium carbonate inside did not have the effect Tsuchimikado had said it did. It was obvious what would happen if that thick substance was poured down the slight gap left in his throat. There was nothing Tsuchimikado Motoharu could have done to save the man. And so he had given him the one thing he could: a quick release from his pain and fear. (...Dammit.) He still did not know where the sniper was or how the sniper was targeting him, but the sniper had to know Tsuchimikado was there. And he doubted the sniper would overlook him when it was possible he had received some information from the man. Tsuchimikado might have to wait dozens of hours before he could crawl out from under that outdoor air conditioning unit. He could not let himself be stuck here. Tsuchimikado Motoharu gritted his teeth while hiding in the slight space between the air conditioning unit and the concrete floor. (I have to break through this floor.) Normally, that would be impossible. He could not destroy a thick concrete floor with his bare hands. He had undergone Academy Citys psychic powers development, but had only received the ability to apply a weak membrane over torn blood vessels to stop the bleeding. He could not use that in a destructive manner. However... He had another power. One could call it his trump card. But in exchange, he bore the risk of tearing apart blood vessels all across his body. (I dont know how many times I will be able to use this trump card, but I have to use it here!!) Magic. This was worth taking that life-or-death gamble. The words that man had spoken on the verge of death had been... (A member of the board of directors...) Part 8 Tsuchimikado Motoharu escaped the sniper by destroying the buildings roof with magic and taking refuge inside. An unpleasant straining sound came from his entire body and blood soaked his clothes in places. Each time he took a breath, he tasted blood. (Shit... The worst result the very first time!!) Cough, cough!! He had injured a thick blood vessel. He knew this, but did not have time to call an ambulance. The sniper would soon realize he had lost Tsuchimikado. Once he did, he would contact the person running the Agitate Halation project and put them on guard. If this person disappeared, Tsuchimikado would lose his chance to attack the one who had driven Maika to her death. He forcibly regulated his breathing and used an underground tunnel to travel through the shopping district just to be safe. From the moment that man had told him that name, he had already known where he needed to go. Most of Academy Citys elementary schools were gathered in District 13, so it received a relatively large law enforcement budget. To prepare for worst case scenarios, different universities had also built large hospitals in the district. One of those hospitals was officially known as a detached part of a university, but it was actually operated for the sake of a single patient. It would treat over 500 patients every day, but all of those were handled by the hospitals excess ability. Doctor. Yesss? A woman in her thirties slowly turned around when a young nurse called out to her. The woman was also wearing a white coat, but unlike the nurses, its design made her look like a doctor or scientist. Her nails were manicured and her long hair was curled and left loose. From a sanitation standpoint, this was not suited for hospital work, but no one tried to stop her. This was direct proof that this was no ordinary hospital. The nurse who wore a pink coat and a cardigan spoke expressionlessly. I have the test results for Mr. Gerascophobia. I also have the treatment schedule for I am fat because of a fried chicken conspiracy-chan and a complaint to the hospital from the Clean-Freak Princess. Please look over it all. ...Um, Rensa-chan. You can give the patients friendly nicknames if you like, but keep it within the nurse station. The woman in the white coat who had been referred to as doctor spun her index finger around. One other thing, Rensa-chan. What is it? This is a hospital, so keep your electronic output from getting too high. The nurse tilted her head in puzzlement. She had been reading her report from a cell phone screen. I have it set to airplane mode, so it is not transmitting any signals. That isnt what I meant. Rensa remained expressionless and the white coat-wearing doctor gave a bitter smile. And then... A quick change came over the fluorescent lights on the ceiling. It was less a flickering and more a slight dimming before returning to normal. ... Rensa remained silent and lightly brought her fists together in front of her chest. After hearing a dull sound, the doctors cheek stiffened. Rensa-chan, youre a nurse, remember? And what is a nurses job? The power has switched over to the emergency power supply. Seems that way. The hospital had newborns and patients who would have trouble without life support devices, so an attack on the power supply was a life-or-death problem. Nevertheless, the doctors expression remained completely unchanged. For one, Academy Citys power was supplied by countless wind turbines, so there was little danger of a major sudden power outage even if a portion of those were attacked. And even if one did occur, this hospital had a second power supply created by underground generators. The lights in the hallway had not cut out even for a second. The same went for all of the electronic equipment. They had not even needed to restart. Buuut anyone who would bother attacking here would know that. I shall exterminate them. That means their true goal might not be what it seems at first glance. I shall exterminate them. Please, Rensa-chan. Please give some other answer. Doctor, you said please twice. Is this really the time to bring that up? The enemy had attacked the hospitals power supply as if to cause a power outage. However, no real damage had been done thanks to the emergency power supply. If the enemy was clever at all, they would have known this would happen. And yet the enemy had still taken the risk of making the attack. That meant the attack had held some other meaning. Was there some merit in having the hospital switch over to the underground power supply facility? Oh, damn. The doctor slapped her hand against her forehead. This was to see what rooms are brought online first! Even if the entire hospital recovers in a fraction of a second, power is restored to the most important equipment first!! This defeats the purpose of the hospitals labyrinthine structure and all the hidden rooms! Search complete. The top priority is the Sticky Freezer on basement floor 5. Rensa-chan, what did I tell you about the nicknames? ...But I suppose the Critical Pathogen Specimen Freezer is the most dangerous. In that case, Rensa-chan, please take some soldiers to check it out. Understood. What will you do? I will be evacuating just to be safe Thats the protocol after all. After waving her hand next to her face, the doctor opened a nearby door and stepped inside an empty ultra-high frequency treatment room. She locked the door behind her and roughly pushed aside a metal box-shaped piece of machinery with a high voltage warning on it. This revealed a small door that led directly to a service elevator shaft. If she climbed down a maintenance ladder, she would have a direct path to the underground parking garage. Physical labor is so exhausting, she complained. My apologies, replied a voice. The doctor froze in place and then slowly looked around the room. She had no idea where he had been hiding, but a bloody boy was now leaning against the wall next to her. He was Tsuchimikado Motoharu. ... After a short silence, the doctor tried to leap into the elevator shaft. However, Tsuchimikado was faster. He dragged her away from the shaft by grabbing the back of her neck and then slammed her back against the box-shaped device with the high voltage warning. He then grabbed the control box hanging from the ceiling by a cable. Her body jerked unnaturally and she collapsed to the floor. Next time, it wont just be for an instant. Ill have you sit in the electric chair until your eyes boil. Gh...Cough... The doctor coughed up sticky saliva while trying to speak. Her arms and legs were cramping, so she could not stand up. Umm, can you please explain what is going on here? The board of directors, said Tsuchimikado in a cold voice. Anyone with that level of information would have some idea what is happening here. And they would know I will not hesitate to kill right now. W-wait a second. You seem to be making some kind of mistake. This hospital is... Yes, I know. This facility is an anti-terrorism trap disguised as the location of a member of the board of directors. Anyone who has given themselves to the darkness even a little would never even think of attacking such a dangerous place. ...But the trick is that a member of the board of directors really does live here! The idea that this facility is a trap was a rumor spread for show. Isnt that right!? Heh. Eh heh heh. Yakumi Hisako. That old woman is one of those twelve VIPs and has an especially strong influence in the medical field. She is who I am here for. This hospital is built like a maze. I doubt I know my way around even a third of it. How are you going to find where this old womans room is? I am already speaking with her, Yakumi. Tsuchimikado lightly poked at the control box hanging down from the ceiling. Anyone with as powerful connections to the medical field as you can easily receive anti-aging treatments. I already know your real age is over 70. Now, how about we have a nice chat. The doctor let out a breath. The look in Yakumi Hisakos eyes completely changed. If you knew you were dealing with an old woman, why would you use that electric shock? Your bones and organs are healthier than mine. What do you want? Yakumi glanced over to the exit from the ultra-high frequency treatment room. There was no sign of anyone coming. In fact, Yakumi herself had locked the door from the inside. Is it that Agitate Halation project? Or is it that dorm fire meant to hold you in check? ... An unpleasant noise came from Tsuchimikado Motoharus fist. If you want to kill me, go right ahead. Yakumi smiled while spreading her hands that were still trembling while she lay collapsed on the floor. But then you will never arrive at the truth. ...I know that, replied Tsuchimikado with a thin sigh. That project is being run by a member of the board of directors, but not by you. Its him. Then why? Unlike with you, I have no clue to his location. And so I needed to create a handhold to help me scale the cliff. As he spoke, Tsuchimikado stuck his hand in his pants pocket. Yakumi Hisakos expression stiffened when she saw what he casually pulled out. It was a cylindrical glass container about the size of a pinky finger. Tsuchimikado read its label aloud. Wild Card Coccus. Its labeled as very dangerous. ... That was a highly virulent killer bacteria. Its method of infection was very complex and it would mix in with other microorganisms and multiply. It could be transmitted via air, blood, mouth, or skin contact. It could grow even more dangerous by combining with athletes foot, lactobacillus, or other extremely common pathogens. Yakumi Hisako recalled that Rensa had been sent to the Sticky Freezer in the basement. They had not noticed the change when he forced his way into the facility. It had been the opposite. He had already finished. Making my way in was easy enough, but I couldnt find a good way of making a U-turn and leaving without being noticed. I decided to set off the alarm myself to distract the guards while I let a VIP like you show me the way to the escape route prepared for you. You cant mean to use that bacteria to negotiate... He wont be able to ignore me, will he? Tsuchimikado waved the specimen case around. And I cant spend too much time convincing him Im serious. Thats why you will give me the ability to quickly persuade him. ...? Members of the board of directors have to have a means of contacting each other. There must be some address you can use to directly reach him. Hand that over. If he receives a message card from Yakumi Hisakos address informing him of the upcoming attack, he will believe it. Yakumi tried to point at her clothes with a trembling finger, but she could not quite manage it. Tsuchimikado crouched down and performed a body check. He pulled out a pink smartphone. The password is 7071, said Yakumi as if spitting out the words. Do you know exactly who to call? All too well. Tsuchimikado used his thumb to type in a short message and sent it to one of the addresses recorded in the phone. Kaizumi. Kaizumi Tsugutoshi. ...Hes just an ordinary old man, but the bastard has tamed the monster known as Kumokawa Seria as his brain. Part 9 What do you think? This is bad. In a high-rise building in District 3, Kumokawa Seria gave a blunt response to Kaizumi Tsugutoshis question. That office that took up an entire floor of the building had a chic coloration centered around antique wood. Gentle classical music filled the air, but it failed to provide any calming effect. Kumokawa tossed some reports onto a large desk while sinking into the leather chair the owner of the room was supposed to sit in. You understand what I mean, right? I am not talking about the appearance of that Wild Card Coccus. I am well aware of that, said the old man bitterly. The progress of the Agitate Halation project. An outline of the individuals and organizations investigating it. A list of all those involved in the suspicious student dorm fire, be they victims or perpetrators. All the information needed to arrive at the truth of this incident was laid out on that desk. And at the same time... It was obvious what it meant that they had all that information. This is still very bad. But you did predict this could happen. Yes, but this is the worst of the predicted scenarios. What should we do now? asked Kaizumi while tapping on one of the documents with his index finger. His fingertip seemed to be stabbing at the forehead of the person pictured there. Tsuchimikado Motoharu. The greatest rabid dog at the moment. He was wholly unrelated to their original plan, but he could no longer be ignored. Tsuchimikado needed to be dealt with even if it meant temporarily putting the main plan on hold. Kumokawa Seria let out an annoyed sigh as she looked at that photo of an underclassman from her school. If we call in more guards, he will just sneak in with them. If we try to leave here, he will attack the defenseless escape vehicle. Even if we lure him into an empty building and blow the entire thing to pieces, he will fake his death and kill us in our sleep once we let our guard down. The scariest part of a spy had nothing to do with the great firepower or nimble mobility displayed by Hollywood action stars. Their true value lay in their ability to disturb information. Was the information before your eyes true or not? Who was an enemy and who was an ally? Was it safe to think you had won or not? So we can only sit and wait for him to arrive? Yes. But first call off all of the normal guards. Once you chop down all the trees in the forest, there is nowhere left to hide a tree. Gathering a proper military force and using proper strategy would provide great power, but it would be of no use here. It was best to assume the boy would use it all against them. But I doubt this will end with nothing but a conversation. Given what we did, that is to be expected, said Kumokawa in annoyance. She was looking at a photo of a burned student dorm room. Kumokawa knew about Tsuchimikado Motoharus little sister, but she only felt annoyance well up within her when she called the girls face to mind. The adult world was not so kind. They had a great plan they had to see to fruition. If people dealt with every little clichd revenge story, the guy at the top would switch out twice a day. They did not have the time. After eliminating as much of what he can use as possible, we can send someone to intercept him. I will make the proper preparations to ensure breaking in the front door is the only route available to him. He will be dealt with there. That requires a powerful individual to face him. Do you have any ideas? Yes, she simply replied. She implicitly stated that this was part of her duty as the brain who compensated for her clients deficiencies. I will go. And I will use a method his type hates most. Part 10 ... While hiding near the high-rise building Kaizumi Tsugutoshi hid inside, Tsuchimikado Motoharu switched off a few devices. He had been using devices such as a parabolic microphone and a laser bug that worked on windows to monitor the situation, but he could not detect any noise whatsoever. He decided this went beyond a large number of troops hiding silently inside or excellent defenses against listening devices. (He called all of the guards out of the building. Is he luring me in?) If the man cared about his life at all, it was difficult to think Kaizumi would have fled from the building in an automobile or a helicopter. That would allow a single shoulder-fired missile to end the battle. Assuming the man had not done that, why had he removed all of the guards? (He wants to keep me from mixing in with the guards and he wants to make sure he knows Im dead. Someone truly dangerous is waiting for me inside.) It was possible the entire building would explode as soon as he made his way far enough inside, but his opponents did not know where the Wild Card Coccus specimen case was. If they were smart enough to realize crushing Tsuchimikado to death risked releasing that deadly virus, they would not use some bold strategy in District 3 which held many important administrative and diplomatic facilities. And either way, he had to finish off the one who had driven Maika to her death. It did not matter if this was a trap. All that mattered was that his target was here. ...Time to go, muttered Tsuchimikado before tossing the bugging equipment in a roadside garbage can as it would only get in the way now. Given the number and locations of the entrances to the building, he decided the risk of countermeasures would be the same for all of them. He boldly walked through the main entrance and into the entrance hall. The entrance hall was three stories tall and even had tropical plants and waterfalls decorating countless waterways. A semicircular reception counter was located directly ahead and gates equipped with metal detectors were located to either side, but the receptionists and guards were nowhere to be seen. I thought you would choose this route. A female voice seemed to fill the entire basketball court-sized space. Tsuchimikado looked further up. A gentle staircase connected the first and second floors, but it seemed more like a decoration than a functional staircase. A black-haired girl wearing a winter sailor uniform stood on the second floor portion. She was Kumokawa Seria. She was Kaizumi Tsugutoshis brain. It was possible she was not simply a helper and was truly the mastermind behind the entire incident. Either way, she had been heavily involved in Tsuchimikado Maikas death. She was a target for his revenge. For all the preparation you put into this, you chose the wrong place to wait for me, said Tsuchimikado quietly. You cant escape a bullet from there. You have no nearby cover. Stop that. Didnt you hear me say I thought you would choose this route? This building has nine entrances total. You entered my first choice. ...Why wasnt that enough for you to realize I have complete control over you? ... Kumokawa Seria was not a very valuable existence when it came to Academy Citys psychic powers development. Nor did she excel at using guns or assassination techniques. Nevertheless, she had worked her way through the darkness until she had practically been absorbed into the board of directors. There was a reason for this. She could control human hearts. And she did so with no special powers or drugs. She controlled people solely with her words. She had taken this to a level that rivaled bullets and blades. There are many different magic tricks, but they all belong to one of two types: the ones that are enjoyable until the trick has been revealed and the ones that eternally retain their value even after the trick has been revealed. It goes without saying which type is more difficult to pull off. Is the Agitate Halation project really this important? muttered Tsuchimikado. He finally bared his teeth and forced down the anger that was so intense he almost felt it would materialize around him. Is it really important enough to drive my little sister to her death? I have no obligation to respond to that. Have you forgotten I have a biological weapon with me? You mean the Wild Card Coccus? And where might that be? asked Kumokawa with a mocking smile. You were never planning to bring that dangerous bacteria to the battlefield. You didnt have the guts. I knew you would never have that live bacteria in your pocket and I knew you would never infect yourself with it before confronting me. ...If I had not known that, I would not be standing here without a mask and protective suit. How can you be so sure? By how you chose to convince us you had it. The most effective way of doing so would have been to scatter it around somewhere beforehand. However, you chose not to do so. You chose the ridiculous option of emailing us from a special address. You were practically announcing that you wanted us to believe you had it despite your unwillingness to actually prove it. She was dead on. That Wild Card Coccus was powerful, but it could be easily sterilized by exposing it to powerful ultraviolet light for a certain period of time. That was part of what created such a danger of it being used as a weapon. The real specimen case was in Tsuchimikados pocket, but he had stopped by a tanning salon on the way. The contents were dead. So you finished profiling me before I arrived. You are the type of person that likes to think of himself as different from the others in the citys darkness. You could say you have a professionalism that is common in this field. ...Or you could say you have a weak heart that seeks that as a means of justifying what you do. You may have gotten a lot of people involved on your way here, but they were all those that reeked of the darkness. And so you would never choose to bring in an indiscriminate weapon like the Wild Card Coccus. Then can you read my pain? I find it to be horribly clichd. I suppose it is, admitted Tsuchimikado. And then he gave a cruel smile. But you have not read everything about me. All of your calculations may be accurate, but that doesnt matter when your original data was faulty. Are you aware you are only thinking that because I led you to think it? If so, thats fine. And that leaves... ...nothing left to discuss. Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Kumokawa Seria came to the same conclusion simultaneously. This person is in my way. I must quickly eliminate them to achieve my goal. Tsuchimikado made the first move. He brought his right hand to his back, pulled out a fully-auto handgun and aimed at Kumokawas position on the second floor. He pulled the trigger and a high-pitched string of gunshots rang out. However, he did not hit her. This was not because Kumokawa moved exceedingly quickly. Nor did she take any tricky actions such as kicking off of walls or pillars. In fact, she moved slowly. She walked down the stairs while swaying back and forth like she was weaving through a crowd. And yet... Did you think your heart would disappear if you used a fully-auto weapon? Kumokawa Seria smiled thinly as she walked down the stairs. It changes nothing. As long as it is being wielded by human hands, the human heart will bleed through. And that creates an opening that can be taken advantage of. Bullets are powerful, but their effective range is only 9 mm. If you move just 9 mm away from the direct line of fire, the bullet will not hit. Do you understand what that means? Tch!! Tsuchimikado clicked his tongue and reached his left hand around to his back. He forcefully pulled out an L-shaped handgun, but he did not stop here. It did not simply slip from his fingers. The handgun identical to the one in his right hand flew in a large parabola and fell directly toward Kumokawas head. An instant later, a tremendous shockwave scattered in every direction. What had looked like a handgun had actually been a disguised grenade. Technically, the bullets remaining in the magazine had all been detonated with an electrical current, causing the handgun to burst from the inside and scatter sharp fragments everywhere. It was deadly within a range of 3 meters and would injure anyone within 10 meters. Normally, someone with no powers like Kumokawa Seria could not have escaped the blast. A brightly colored hell should lie beyond the gray dust. However... Did you think...? He heard a voice. It came from beyond the gray dust. Did you think your heart would disappear if you used an explosive? Damn you!! shouted Tsuchimikado while firing short bursts with the automatic handgun in his right hand and running toward the staircase. He was not trying to kill her; he was trying to hold her in place. Weaponry no longer gave him any advantage. In fact, the wall of dust robbed Tsuchimikado of too much information and gave her a chance to counterattack. Whether she would choose to flee or kill... It was now her turn. Part 11 Kumokawa Seria could not teleport. Nor did she have a physical body strong enough to withstand a direct hit from a bullet or explosive. So how had she survived having an explosive dropped from above? The trick was the type that seemed silly once explained. (I couldnt do anything, so that leaves only one possibility.) Kumokawa thought to herself while slowly walking through the dust. (Tsuchimikado failed. He did not throw that explosive as far as he thought he did. The wall behind me is mostly made of white marble. It helped throw off his sense of distance.) Of course, if Tsuchimikado had taken his time to aim and carefully thrown the explosive, he would not have made such an elementary mistake. The way Kumokawa had easily avoided the handgun bullets had placed a fair bit of mental pressure on him. From the beginning, Kumokawa had expected an attack from an explosive with a grenades level of destructive power. She had read what a merciless person like Tsuchimikado would be thinking when he faced an opponent that could read his heart and she had read what he would bring with him. (Everything is going according to plan. I dont even have to make any slight improvised corrections. Give me something, Tsuchimikado. Anything at all. What happened to your clichd revenge? At this rate, youll die before we even reach 30 moves.) The grim reapers advance continued. She did not run or roll across the ground like in an action movie. That would give away her limits. She maintained the situation where her opponent had no idea of how far she could go. After taking control of someones heart, she would apply fear in the most effective way. Her target would be bound by their own fear and lose their true potential. In the worst cases, they would even stop breathing on their own. And so... It would have been a mistake to take her next move, be it a surprise attack or escape, while the curtain of dust cut off her enemys vision. There was only one optimal answer. To move leisurely. By walking straight through the dust and casting aside her own advantage, she would increase the mental pressure on her opponent. Kumokawa Seria walked down the stairs and through the dust. In the next instant, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had approached right in front of her. He had likely decided his gun was of no use. He would trade in his hand for something more complex and rely on his fists to defeat Kumokawa. He first threw a punch for the face...to hide the pile driver-like stomp aimed at Kumokawas big toe. The noise of a tremendous impact rang out, but Kumokawa had pulled her right foot back before the strike hit. His attack had failed. But as explained before, Kumokawa Serias ability was not enough to keep up with Tsuchimikado Motoharus Deadly Thrust Killing Slash fighting style that was formed from the illegal techniques of all sorts of martial arts. And yet she had successfully avoided it. She and that assassin in a chic jacket stared at each other from close range. (His muscles are so tense its slowing him down and he is fighting fear so much hes losing flexibility in his thoughts. Its over, Tsuchimikado. Your status has dropped to the same level as your average high school girl.) She was sure of her victory. But then... She heard a wet sound. At some point, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had stretched his right arm out. And she felt an unpleasant feeling scraping beyond her eyelid. He was crushing her eye. No, he had jammed his thumb and forefinger in, bent them, and was going to pluck out the eyeball. Kumokawas control had always been nothing but a deception. She had only been able to trick this person who had trained for years for a short time. It was impressive enough that she had fooled him even for one strike. But... But! But!! Ha ha! Yes, this is the optimum answer, Tsuchimikado!! ...!? Despite what had happened, Kumokawa smiled. By the time Tsuchimikado realized what that meant, it was too late. Kumokawa ignored the physiological sense of revulsion coming from deep within her right eye and moved her right hand. A handgun smaller than a deck of cards appeared from her sleeve. It could only hold two bullets and she was not skilled at using it. But Kumokawa Seria had obtained the distance and timing an amateur needed to hit. The gunshot reverberated in her gut. A dark red hole opened in Tsuchimikados left side and he let out a groan. He collapsed backwards, so it was as if he was taking Kumokawas eyeball down with him. Despite the blood flowing down her face from the empty eye socket, Kumokawa continued to smile. (A normal person would arm herself with assassination techniques and weapons if she was facing a wounded beast. A weak intellectual type would fight back using a weapon. But I trapped you in your own fear, so those simple truths disappeared from your mind.) Ow...!! That is why you were too na?ve... Kumokawa put the gun back in the sleeve of her sailor uniform and placed a hand over her empty eye socket while staring down at where Tsuchimikado lay on the staircase. You were the type to slowly savor your revenge. That was how this revenge story was supposed to go. When you started trying to eliminate me as a threat as quickly as possible, you should have realized you were being led there by me. Tsuchimikado Motoharu still did not move. With one hand still on her face, Kumokawa started to move away. She walked to the passageway circling around the entrance hall on the second floor and pulled out her handheld device. She activated a VoIP app and called someone. She was speaking with Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, the board of directors member waiting on the top floor of the building. Its over. The rabid dog who escaped his collar has been dealt with. It doesnt sound like it was easy. What happened? An eyeball is a cheap price to pay for an amateur girl to defeat a monster like that. The hand on her face slid wetly down. She started feeling an unpleasant heat across her entire face. She felt as if her entire head had grown a size bigger. Please prepare the part of mine that was divided into the Micro Cosmos. I can dilute the pain through self-suggestion, but it isnt perfect. It would be faster to add in the missing part. Underst... I...the arrangemen... She seemed to be losing the signal because Kaizumis voice grew more distant. But then Kumokawa realized that was not what was happening. (What? Its my ears...?) The change was coming from Kumokawas own body. She felt an unpleasant pressure in her chest. She first thought it was due to the blood loss, but something was still strange. (This is similar to a placebo attack using suggestions, but its somehow different... What is this? Ive never seen anything like this before!!) With one hand still on her face, she leaned on the passageway railing. Her sense of up and down was growing more uncertain. She had no idea if Kaizumi was still speaking from her handheld device or if even if she was still holding the device. This was... This was... Tsuchimikado Motoharu moved his bloody lips while lying face up on the staircase. He was muttering something under his breath. Hey, you pieces of shit. Its time for a sickening job. (I humbly ask your assistance like the iron and the nail.) Magic could be divided into the broad categories of infection magic and imitative magic. The infection category could use objects such as hairs or fingernails. The most popular forms of curse magic would remotely attack the target by destroying a piece of ones target using a special method. Yes. By ripping out her eyeball, he could make a lethal attack on Kumokawa Seria. This is like an assembly line. Drive the bullet straight into that bitchs heart!! (I have a sign to the hated enemy in my hand. Follow this flesh and blood to bind a curse to the owner!!) With his curse complete, Tsuchimikado gave the stolen eyeball a light kiss. He heard a wet coughing sound followed by something heavy collapsing to the ground. He had successfully neutralized his target. At the same time, Tsuchimikados body shook from blood loss while he lay face up on the floor. The eyeball slipped from his fingers. He had used magic for the second time. Every blood vessel in his body cried out. He coughed violently and saw that his saliva was dyed red. Ahh...cough, cough!! Cough!! Cough, cough!! Sticky blood felt like it would block his throat, but he somehow managed to cough it all up and clear a path for air. He then slowly stood up. Didnt I tell you? You only had the information on me from the science side. Without the magic side data, you could never complete an accurate profile... Even children know about the Ushi no Koku Mairi curse. He had used a popular spell that reconstructed it to use just the hair rather than the doll. It could attack a target remotely, but any decent magician would be able to put together a countermeasure as soon as they sensed the signs. It was only effective against those who did not know magic. (Dammit... Maybe it would have been faster to search through her trash can for some nose hair...) Tsuchimikado headed up the stairs on unsteady feet. He was not careless enough to use the elevator, but it did not seem to be working anyway. Using the emergency staircase would be better, but the obvious routes would likely have traps. And that was a direct route. (I could try the air ducts, the elevator shaft, or the trash chute, but theyll probably all be booby-trapped too.) Tsuchimikado let out a sigh. He would never overlook a trap set up by your average member of the dark side. However, these presents had been left by Kumokawa Seria. Even if he was at 100% and had time to carefully search, he was not convinced he would be able to find and eliminate them all. (But did Kaizumi set these traps himself? No. He wouldnt take part in the battle. That means he doesnt know where his subordinates laid the traps. He has no choice but to stay here. Hes so focused on protecting himself that he cant move.) If Tsuchimikado had a safe way to the top floor, it did not matter how long it took him. With that in mind, Tsuchimikado opened and closed his hands to check on his grip. He headed through the entrance hall and looked at the decorative shape of the building itself. He was checking the silhouette of the entire building. (I need three points of support at all times. The protrusions dont have to be that large. 1.5 cm should be enough.) District 3 was often used as a site for diplomacy, so a lot of attention was given to the aesthetics of the buildings. A building designed from the ground up by a famous designer would possess more elements than were functionally necessary. That created an opportunity. If it had been a rectangular building with smooth sides, he may have been out of options. ... After checking on his general route, Tsuchimikado headed for one of the nine entrances. He had to go outside first. His next task was to climb up to the 50th floor with no lifeline. Gh... groaned Kumokawa Seria. She finally realized she was collapsed on a second floor passageway in that high-rise building. (What...happened? Was I...rescued? No...) Her consciousness was still flickering in and out. She had no idea how long she would last. She felt as if her eyes might not reopen if she so much as blinked. Tsuchimikado Motoharu was not pursuing her. There was no sign of any of the traps on the paths up having activated. If any of them had, an email would have automatically been sent to her handheld device. (Then did he go outside? Dammit, how reckless can you be!?) The idea had come to her before, but the observation floor on level 30 jutted out at the top. She had abandoned the idea, thinking it could not be done with normal rock climbing skills. However, he had chosen that route without hesitation. What frightened her the most was not how reckless it was; it was the fact that he had left her expectations. Gh...!! She tried to stand up but could only manage to make her fingers and toes move slightly. Standing would be difficult. Her handheld device was still lying on her palm, so she could use it. However, warning Kaizumi of the danger would be meaningless. That old man had no ability to fight. Whether it was to fight or to flee, he had lost if he was even appearing on the field. She was contacting someone else. Fortunately, Tsuchimikado Motoharu had chosen the insane option of climbing up 50 stories. That meant it would take a long time for him to reach the top. Even if she called someone from the other side of Academy City, they could arrive before Kaizumi fell into Tsuchimikados grasp. She needed someone who would be most effective at a time like this. She needed someone who knew who she was. She needed someone would come running over at a moments notice. She knew the danger, but she could not allow that rabid dog to assassinate a member of the board of directors. She used her thumb to call up a certain address. She mustered up all of her strength but gritted her teeth when that was not able to type in even 50 characters. She then attached a file that would automatically release the trap and allow the signal to be classified as a cell phone signal. Finally, she weakly pressed the send button. (No...) As soon as she pressed it, a thought came to her. She had a very bad feeling. She was no longer even sure if the idea had really been hers. It was as if a new idea had come to her like a billiards ball after her clash with Tsuchimikado. (It cant be...) But it was too late. The message sent message popped up on the screen. ...Uuh... She heard a soft thunk. The handheld device had slipped from her grasp. Part 12 That old man would normally never drink a drop of alcohol. This was not because of a belief in moderation or restraint. He enjoyed music, theatre, antiques, and fine arts. He had even bought a horse and could picture the corresponding scenes in his mind when reading a train schedule or historic dates. As far as hobbies and tastes went, he indulged more than the average person. However, he felt alcohol, tobacco, and other things that (he believed) dulled the senses would only diminish his enjoyment. He preferred to enjoy his limited free time to its fullest during his long lifetime. You could even call that the principles the old man lived by. That old man, Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, pulled a bottle of Irish whiskey from a shelf where he kept items prepared for receiving guests. He poured the brown liquid into a small crystal glass and stared at the surface of the liquid. Others would have said his face was as hard as rock, but Kaizumi himself called it a pathetic expression. He would only choose to drink during the most unpleasant of times. He had never before used alcohol as an escape. The old man made up his mind, grabbed the glass, and gulped down the alcohol just like the ancient nobles drank their cups of poison when their castle was surrounded by enemy troops. He first felt a heat in his neck which quickly spread to his entire head. Kaizumi felt as if he was being strangled. He spoke just after bringing the bottom of the glass back to the solid table. So hes here. Just as he spoke, the tempered glass covering the wall directly behind his leather chair shattered. Kaizumi remained seated and swiveled his chair around. The sun had mostly set, leaving behind a nighttime scene decorated by countless lights. A bloodthirsty beast ignored the burst of wind and walked slowly into the office. Tsuchimikado Motoharu was dyed red with blood. He had a dark red gunshot wound on his side and fresh blood stained his clothes in other places too. Some was likely his and some was likely to have belonged to others. In payment for climbing the outside of the building with no lifeline, his fingers were shaking and pale. Even so, the light in his eyes beyond the thin-lensed glasses retained the look of a predator. He calmly asked, Are you ready? I believe I am, replied Kaizumi Tsugutoshi as he sank back into the large chair. Tsuchimikados eyes narrowed slightly. You will not receive a quick end. Your path to death will be a long and painful one. Do you know why that is? I controlled a large project with full knowledge that it would affect the lives of many people. I was prepared from the moment I sat in this chair. Are you trying to act cold and unfeeling? spat out Tsuchimikado. The boy used all his strength to suppress the desire to rip the two sides of that old mans body apart. That was not enough. Simply killing him would not be enough payment for the anger he felt. His revenge had to make up for all of his anger. If not, he would lose a target to take his anger out on and become ruled by that anger. He would become a vengeful spirit that was eternally searching for its next prey. Tsuchimikado was aware he was only a step away from that. What you were involved in was simple murder. No different from me. True, honestly admitted Kaizumi. That old man was not so young as to fool himself into thinking his actions had been just. It simply involved too much for that to be the case. However, he was not the type to be shaken if his actions were summed up as evil either. Kaizumi Tsugutoshi most feared dulling his thoughts and senses, but he had ended up giving so much focus to himself that he was almost sick of it. But do you really understand what is going on here? ... If you kill me in any way you can think of, you will achieve your revenge. Who can say if that will make your little sister happy, but it will certainly satisfy you. However, that will end your revenge here. You will reach satisfaction without learning the truth. ...So what? spat out Tsuchimikado in response. I no longer care what the Agitate Halation project is. My goal is to take revenge against everyone behind driving Maika to her death. I will kill everyone who so much as helped. You are the signal gunshot that rings across the hunting grounds. You are nothing more than a victim to be shown to the others. Taking revenge against everyone behind it, you say? Kaizumi gave a slight smile. The alcohol seemed to be helping somewhat. Then will your revenge only end when you die? ... I am not simply saying your sisters death was indirectly brought about by your investigation into the Agitate Halation project, continued Kaizumi when he received no response. I know what happened. I am not a fool and I have plenty of power. I had a chance to learn what happened. It is quite simple. What is simple? The truth. As the old man smiled, tension spread across his entire face. What happened first. What led you to this quest for revenge. The gaze behind Tsuchimikados glasses did not waver. However, his eyebrows twitched slightly. An expert like Kumokawa Seria may have been able to draw enough information from that to map out his entire mental state. And... Kaizumi Tsugutoshi, a member of the board of directors, made a decisive statement. It was you who set fire to Tsuchimikado Maikas dorm and killed your stepsister, wasnt it? A silence followed. Technically, gentle classical music was still playing, but the two of them had completely tuned it out. That song that glorified the creation of humanity no longer left any emotional impact with Tsuchimikado or Kaizumi. Or to be more accurate, you learned that an attack group was targeting your family as the intelligence battle over your investigation of the Agitate Halation project intensified, so you acted first and killed her. You kidnapped her, set fire to her room, and rewrote the official records. You killed your little sister to protect her. That is the truth of what happened here. ...So what if it is? If it is, then this revenge of yours is nothing but a farce. The supposed death never even happened yet here you are claiming you will risk your life to make up for it! ...What are you getting revenge for? Are you disguising yourself as a bloodthirsty monster to soak your sisters death even further into the darkness!? Yes, said Tsuchimikado almost in a groan. His tone was that of someone who had just been explained some basic fact everyone already knew. That doesnt matter. I didnt really care. ...? If I hadnt killed Maika, some group or another would have killed her sooner rather than later. There would have been nothing I could do. And that was enough. Just having someone targeting her life was enough to pass the boiling point. That gave me a reason to fight. But this veers sharply from all your previous actions. You have always remained behind the scenes. Who even ordered you to investigate the Agitate Halation project? No matter how many people the instructions passed down through, your intermediary would not have wanted you to take such obvious actions. Of course not. Tsuchimikado took a step across broken glass shards. Do you...do you really think I can calmly do my job like normal? Do you really not understand something so simple? Have you gotten so rusty I need to explain everything from the beginning? Fine, Ill tell you. He paused for a beat. And then he spoke as if confessing some definitive crime. Kaizumi, I killed my little sister. His voice was oddly gentle. Or perhaps it should be described as the voice of someone who had lost the core of their being and had lost all emotion. Tsuchimikado Motoharus mouth uttered words more mechanically than the classical music filling the room. It doesnt matter if it was only faked on paper. It doesnt matter if no one died. It doesnt matter if she was given a sudden request from her maid school to clean some strange building. It doesnt matter if shes even now mopping the floor in confusion. It doesnt matter if shes perfectly healthy and has no idea her dorm has burned down or that she is thought to be dead. It doesnt matter if her room, its interior, its furniture, and everything else will be restored back to normal by the time she finishes the work and returns to her dorm. Tsuchimikado held no blade or firearm. The distinctive aura of one who has been utterly destroyed was all it took to crush Kaizumis spirit. I still killed her. These were the ruins of his ideals. This was the empty carcass of his beliefs. That betrayal of trust had transformed into hatred. And the strength of that trust had led to a powerful rampage that was not easily destroyed. The thing is, Kaizumi, I raised my hand against my own little sister with the techniques that I was supposed to only use behind the scenes in the darkness. Yes, I know. I know what youre thinking. Ive been deceiving her and lying to her all this time. These are the rules I set for myself and I dont expect anyone else to understand them. But even so, I had drawn a line! I had sworn I would never bring my sister into this filthy world!! But you made me do that!! You!! This was something I swore never to do! And yet you gave me no choice but to do it!!!!! ... In that moment, Kaizumi Tsugutoshis expression was a complex one that could not be described with any of the standard emotions. But Tsuchimikado did not notice. He pointed at that old man and shouted accusations as if he did not even know who he was accusing. Do you understand now, Kaizumi!? Do you!!? You...no, all of you destroyed the gears I had set up!! How long do you think I can maintain my rationality and reasonability now? Im done for. And now that I know that, I have decided to deal with everyone involved in it before I eventually forget how to stand on my own two legs!! I will deal with everyone who led me to kill my little sister!! Then, said Kaizumi quietly. Let me give you one piece of advice. The Agitate Halation project runs much deeper than you think. After becoming as deeply involved as you have, there is no turning back. And...prepare yourself. The situation is only going to grow worse. What are you talking about? spat out Tsuchimikado while glaring at the old man. Youre the one behind it! Or are you saying its such a valuable project that a donut-shaped outer group that you cant control has formed!? Or have you set up some backup that will take over when you die!? You will understand soon enough, replied Kaizumi with a slow sigh. The hands holding the armrests of the leather chair were covered in sweat. You will not listen to what I say here. That is fine, but just know that it does not end here. ...It seems it was a success. The situation is hardly good, but it seems a better result has arrived at the very, very end. Stop joking around, muttered Tsuchimikado as he took a large step forward. He used a hand to brush the various reports off of the thick table and forcefully opened a drawer. He began pulling objects out and slamming them onto the table. A fountain pen! Nail clippers! Cold medicine!! ....Do you still write letters in the age of emails? Then you must have a paper knife, a glue stick, and a stamp sheet!! Do you have any idea how much pain and fear I can cause with just those objects? Ill show you. Dont think youll be able to die of shock. By separating out the components of the cold medicine, I can create a countermeasure against that. Remember what I said? Your path to death will be a long and painful one. You can look forward to learning the details later, but just know that you will be in full bloom while still alive like a rafflesia. Life is a classroom up until the very end, so make sure to pay attention. Ill teach you the negative techniques that humanity has built up with a dark smile!! I see. Kaizumi let out a sigh while still sitting in his chair. I suppose those would be cruel techniques to use on your ignorant little sister. Tsuchimikado silently swung his fist. After silencing the old man with that blow, Tsuchimikado tied his arms and legs to the chair with wire. He started with the glittering paper knife. It had no blade, so it had little ability to injure. However, that meant it could lengthen someones suffering if used properly. I will leave your face untouched, he announced with words sharper than the knife in his hand. But not out of kindness. Most of your five senses are located there. However, I will thoroughly destroy everything else. Seeing your body change form is much more of a shock than you think it is. That will be the first step. And you will have to accept with terror that this is only the first step. That is unlikely to happen. With blood trailing down from the corner of his mouth, Kaizumi stared Tsuchimikado straight in the eye. I doubt you have the time. You have no pawns left. Kumokawa Seria was defeated. No normal soldier can find the traps she set up. Your allies will only be taken out by the net another ally left behind. That is why you did not call in reinforcements, right? This has nothing to do whose side anyone is on. Are you saying some completely unrelated hero of justice will show up? If this world was that convenient, the darkness would not have existed as long as it has. Someone is coming, declared Kaizumi decisively. A hero is coming. However, this is no kind coincidence. You should grasp a piece of the truth once it happens. You could say this is like a special game of billiards. Or perhaps a form of mutual destruction. Either way, you will learn what you have been involved in and in what form. What? As soon as Tsuchimikado frowned in confusion, a soft electronic tone sounded. The office was soundproofed, but an internal speaker was used to inform Kaizumi when the elevator arrived. When he realized someone was coming, tension ran across Tsuchimikados skin like an electric current. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. Someone had been able to use the elevator normally, Kumokawa Serias traps had not activated, and someone had arrived to interfere just as Kaizumi had announced. However, the feeling Tsuchimikado felt was not in response to all of those aspects of the situation. The problem could be simplified further. Kaizumi had said it was like a game of billiards. Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Kumokawa Seria had clashed. His defeat of her had directly led to someone else arriving. It was just like how the cue hitting a single ball caused a chain reaction of balls hitting balls until the needed ball fell accurately into the pocket. Know this: I do not know who is coming. This person may have done nothing wrong and may have nothing evil about them. Kaizumi was speaking much more quickly than before. This implicitly told Tsuchimikado that the man felt he was running out of time. However, this person will certainly be your enemy. ...Damn. Why did I not realize this until now? Their goal was not for the two of us to defeat each other. I was never even one of their targets! They wanted you and this other person to defeat each other!! From the start C the very, very start C this was all meant to eliminate you!! It all stretches back to the attempt on your sisters life! The answer was staring me in the face the entire time!! ... (What?) Tsuchimikado Motoharus head filled with questions. (Who holds the cue in this game of billiards and what pocket are they aiming for!? My clash with Kumokawa and Kaizumi were nothing more than a means to an end? Then what have I begun here!?) Defeating one enemy created a new enemy. However, this was not a simple case of revenge. In terms of billiards, that would be hitting a ball straight forward into another ball, but that was not the case here. The movement was much more complex. This was a type of acrobatics where the balls in the way were jumped over to reach the target ball. He had decided to climb up that 50 story height because his opponent was Kumokawa Seria. That would not have happened with a different enemy, with a different ball. The same could be said about the fact that he had been badly injured on his way to Kaizumis office. One person against another. One hero against another. What if there was a system to freely create a battle at an unspecified time and place so that two individuals defeated each other? What if this coming battle was the final battle? What if it had been set up ahead of time to accurately land a specific ball in a specific pocket? What if that was why the ball named Tsuchimikado Motoharu had been sent out to strike against all those other balls? Answer me... said Tsuchimikado to the man tied to his chair with wire. Answer me!! How were you involved in the Agitate Halation project? The way youre talking, it almost sounds like...! I was working to destroy the Agitate Halation project. Just like you, I viewed the one behind it as much too dangerous. That was why I assumed they wanted to knock our two balls into the pocket. I assumed they wanted us to defeat each other. I decided my failure to stop the project was enough to say I was involved with your sisters death. As long as you would destroy the project after I was gone, that was enough for me. ...And you would have rejected the truth even if I had tried to tell it to you. How could this happen...? He had misread the target for his revenge. He had worn his body down pursuing the wrong target. And now someone who had been pushed forward just like he had had arrived at the floor to finish him off. The balls in the way would be avoided and only the targeted balls would be struck from the perfect angle to send them into the pocket. But it was too late by the time he realized it. He could not turn the situation around now. What will you do? asked Kaizumi. If the two of us are defeated, no one will be able to stop the Agitate Halation project. This is the worst possible turn of events! If you are going to flee, do so now. Is there no way for you to safely escape now!? There was not. The enemy controlled the entire billiards table. I have no choice, decided Tsuchimikado while steadying his breathing. The heavy double doors slowly opened before his eyes. I dont know who this is. They might be good and they might be evil. But I cant let myself be defeated here. I still have to carry out my revenge!! I cant let that end here!! However... Tsuchimikados words were like a forced injection of vitality after he had fallen into despair. And they were cut off before he could continue. His eyes opened wide. He let out a trembling voice when he saw who stepped into the room. Youre...kidding me... But when he thought about it, this may have been the possibility that he had feared the most. Part 13 Kamijou Touma stepped inside that high-rise office in District 3. When he thought about it, everything leading him here had been strange. It had started with being tricked by Tsuchimikado Motoharu and thrown into the School Garden. In there, he had guessed that everything related to the Altar of the Wisdom King had been a lie and had seen the news saying Tsuchimikados little sister Maika was dead. The girl controlled by Shokuhou Misaki, Academy Citys #5, had helped him somehow escape the School Garden. As soon as he had turned back on the cell phone he had turned off so no one could track him with it, he had received an anonymous email from an unidentified address telling him where Tsuchimikado was. He had followed the directions to District 3 and then to this elevator. And now... Kamijou set foot inside a large office that he would never have even seen in his normal life. Despite being on the 50th floor, the tempered glass window had been shattered and documents were scattered around the room. The old man who likely owned the room had his arms and legs bound to his chair with wires and Tsuchimikado stood next to him. Unlike normal, the boy had his hair dyed brown, wore thin-lensed glasses, wore a chic jacket, and was covered in blood. This was clearly no normal situation. But at the same time, Kamijou intensely felt that something was very off about the situation. It was a hopeless feeling as if a billiards ball that could not be allowed to fall into a pocket would do so no matter where the cue ball was hit. What...is going on? asked Kamijou in confusion. Had Tsuchimikado trapped Kamijou in the School Garden with the story about the Altar of the Wisdom King in order to keep him from seeing this? However, Kamijou refused to believe that everything happening here was based on Tsuchimikados own malice. This was not simply a desire to trust his friend. The situation was simply too unlike Tsuchimikado. The scene before Kamijous eyes looked like an extended version of someone giving into their anger and beating someone else over the head with an ash tray. Tsuchimikado would not choose such a simple method even if he chose to use violence. Even if there was something he could never forgive, he would work all the harder to remain rational and aim for a perfect victory. So why? The expression of the old man bound to the chair changed as if he had realized something. Wait... Is he still only a stopped ball? If so, this is bad. The ball the enemy has hit is you, Tsuchimikado! The next move is not yet set in stone. If you stop moving, the collision of balls will come to an-...!! The old man trailed off when Tsuchimikado pulled out a handgun and beat him on the back of the neck with the grip. After knocking the man unconscious, Tsuchimikado stared at Kamijou. Kami-yan, how much do you know? Nothing. Nothing at all! Tsuchimikado, I... Thats the most troublesome answer. It gives me nothing to base my decision on, spat out Tsuchimikado. But from the look in your eyes, I take it youve at least heard of my sisters death. I have to take revenge for that. Whether it was a coincidence or I was tricked, Ive been running in the wrong direction, but what I must do has not changed. I will continue. And this is a path you can never follow me down, Kami-yan!! As he shouted, Tsuchimikado unhesitatingly pointed his handgun at Kamijou. Kamijou stiffened, but he did not hear a loud gunshot. Instead, he heard a much quieter metallic clicking. So this is another result of my clash with Kumokawa. Honestly, this is one hell of a game of billiards. Tsuchimikado clicked his tongue and tossed the gun aside. Tsuchimikado... Words are not needed here. Tsuchimikados body wavered unsteadily. Spirit. That word was the only thing keeping him standing. From the severity of my wounds, I dont have time for a long chat. And since you dont know the situation, you cant put together an argument that will convince me. ...Kami-yan and me. Someone hit the cue ball so we would both fall into one of the pockets. There is nothing left for us but violence!! Wait, Tsuchimikado!! Shit!! He did not even have time to swear. Tsuchimikado stepped forcefully forward and charged at Kamijou with tremendous speed. A fistfight began. The Tsuchimikado Motoharu that Kamijou Touma knew was well-versed in banned techniques and he would not hesitate to use them to accomplish his goals. He knew just how much pain those attacks would bring, but he used them anyway. He forced down his own thoughts, gritted his teeth, endured each and every tragedy, and ultimately put an end to a much greater tragedy. That was the sort of person he was. That was how he fought and those were his principles. This was an opponent Kamijou could never defeat. Yet... And yet... Wh-what? Kamijou twisted his upper body to the side and evaded the arm that was violently swung toward him. He succeeded. He also avoided the fingers stabbing for his eyes and the foot trying to wave its way between his legs. Sometimes he would evade and sometimes he would block. It was not simply that Tsuchimikados speed had dropped. In fact, despite all of his injuries, Tsuchimikados speed remained greater than Kamijous. However... That speed was meaningless. When he had defeated Kamijou with overwhelming force before, he had given off a hopeless sense of intimidation. That was now gone. Kamijou saw nothing but actions before his eyes. Nothing but movements. Nothing but phenomena. That was all it was. It was as if he was looking at an empty shell of the human named Tsuchimikado Motoharu. This was a mere shadow of his former self that could not even be called the ruins of the original boy. And so... What are you doing? A dull sound rang out. Tsuchimikado had not struck Kamijou with one of his banned techniques. It was the opposite. It had been an amateurish punch thrown just by swinging a fist as hard as one could. It had flown straight into Tsuchimikados jaw with disturbing accuracy. Tsuchimikados upper body swayed. Kamijou had gotten in a clean hit, but he felt nothing in his heart. After being hit, Tsuchimikado continued further forward, so Kamijou was forced to fight back with punches and kicks. Each and every strike hit Tsuchimikado. They all ended up hitting. Each time, the boy staggered. His feet grew more and more unsteady. This was not the Tsuchimikado that Kamijou knew. It was like watching a king of professional wrestling passed out drunk in a filthy back alley. Kamijous heart was filled with overwhelming despair. What are you doing!? He wanted Tsuchimikado to tell him he had interpreted this wrong. He wanted to hear that this had all been a game. He wanted the boy to turn everything around with a single special attack. He wanted the boy to coldly demonstrate the difference between an expert and an amateur and then arrogantly announce that he would take care of everything. And yet... Sounds of great impacts rang out again and again. Tsuchimikado Motoharu finally collapsed to the floor. Kamijou climbed on top of him. He threw his fist down on the boy again and again and again while tears welled up in his eyes. What is this? What the hell is this!? Is this really you? Is this who Tsuchimikado Motoharu is!? No, it isnt. No matter how injured you might be and no matter what situation you might be in, you are not someone so weak you would lose to the likes of me!! The very act of winning this fight felt like some tremendous blasphemy. It was like a crowd ignoring the masterpiece a great composer poured his heart and soul into yet giving a standing ovation to someone slamming their fingers against the piano as a joke. ... Even with Kamijous entire body weight holding him down, Tsuchimikado spat bloody saliva at Kamijous face. Was he trying to blind him or was he trying to surprise him into losing his balance? Either way, Kamijou blocked the weak surprise attack with his palm. He was able to block it. Tsuchimikado Motoharu may have run out of ideas. All light left his eyes and the back of his head fell to the floor. Why had this happened? What did Kamijou gain from this victory? It had ended before he knew what had caused it or what this result meant. He could not imagine what ideals had been in conflict. He could not imagine what anyone had wanted to achieve at the risk of their lives. His opponent had been a fellow human being, but he could not imagine how he might have ended up in the same place had conditions been different. And yet... It was over. What the hell...? Clear drops fell from Kamijou Toumas eyelids. What the hell!? These were the most bitter and pathetic tasting tears in the world. He instinctually knew that this was the flavor of disgrace. I shouldnt have been able to win no matter what I tried... There has to be some trick. Something Im not aware of!! Dammit, dont make me accept this ending. I dont even know who I let win! Who did I give victory to here!? Tsuchimikado, who were you fighting? I wasnt your final objective, was I!? Why did you even have to continue fighting until you were so worn down!? He received no response. It may have no longer mattered. Why did you have to lie to me!? What is going on here? What kind of incident is this!? How...how are you involved in all of this!? Tsuchimikado Motoharu ignored Kamijou and let it all come to an end. No matter how many dominos had been lined up, they could not continue further if a thick wall was placed in the middle of them. Kamijou simply stood on the board as that wall while ignorant of the overall layout of the dominos. Answer me, Tsuchimikado! Answer me!! Dammit. Dammiiiiiittttttt!! It seemed Tsuchimikado had no intention of saying anything more. Kamijou raised his head and looked around. The old man was still bound to the chair with wires, but he was still unconscious. He would be no help. The office was quite high up and the window had been shattered, so a powerful wind was blowing in. Piles of documents lying scattered on the ground were blown into the air. They described many different things: the Agitate Halation project, those connected to the project, a list of those pursuing the project, the student dorm fire, a list of both the perpetrators and victims, and partial records of Tsuchimikado Motoharus actions over the last couple of hours. ... Kamijou grabbed one of the documents. It gave the name of the central figure running the Agitate Halation project that Tsuchimikado had apparently been investigating. This was a member of Academy Citys board of directors. This was one of those ultimate VIPs. The name given was Yakumi Hisako. Between the Lines 2 A certain hospital in District 13 had some unusual equipment and facilities prepared due to its university connections...or at least that was the official reason. It had a large electric furnace that could surely and swiftly dispose of bodies carrying dangerous viruses, it had nanotech pharmaceutical production devices that could do work on a level more minute than the membranes and valves of organs, etc. Even for a hospital connected to a university, it contained far too much equipment that was out of the ordinary. Hee hee hee. A woman laughed within a room that was more sanitary than any normal room in a hospital, especially one a normal patient would want to stay in. She was Yakumi Hisako. This dimly lit room that was secretly known as the planning room was the sole place she could relax and feel at ease. Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee!! Hah hah!! Gya ha ha!! Oh, I cant stop. I cant, I cant, I cant, I cant!! Ee hee hee ee hee! I-I cant stop laughing! Im dying!! The nurse known as Rensa tilted her head in confusion. An error has occurred in the experiment. Its fine, its fine. Tsuchimikado didnt do enough to kill me. He let me go. His hated enemy was before his eyes and he didnt even know it! He went out of his way to avoid the ball he wanted and sent an unneeded ball in Kaizumis direction!! Hah hah! This was a huge success!! Whether it worked in your advantage or not, an error is still an error. Shouldnt you give this more focus? Its okay, replied Yakumi with tears in her eyes. If Agitate Halation had exceeded its acceptable margin of error, I would have been killed. I made an appearance on the billiards table and yet here I am still alive. ...That confirms it. Agitate Halation is now unstoppable. We can now move on to the final phase of the project. Lets throw everything into chaos. Doctor, I must remind you that the primary objective of Agitate Halation is in its practical applications... I know that. This is just a side effect. Buuut its just human nature to want to enjoy it if you can, said Yakumi Hisako offhandedly while Rensa checked the schedule while standing next to her. By the way, is there aaany other job I need to deal with at the moment? If possible, I would like to focus on Agitate Halation. Nothing urgent enough to need your attention, doctor. Fatty-chan, Wrinkly-san, and Mister Psychedelic are all doing well. Using those nicknames doesnt tell me anything. Leeets see, what about Enzu-san? The private clinical test of the designers gel that rearranges the structure of cholesterol has begun. The amounts are being carefully adjusted to acquire accurate data, but the thrombus should be complete in about a week. It is still too soon to know for sure, but this may be an excellent assassination weapon that would slip past any forensic investigation. What about Akinai-san? The private clinical test of the inhaled oxygen level regulation technique using low frequency suggestion has begun. It has allowed us to increase or decrease the concentration of oxygen in the blood without the use of any drugs. It is still too soon to know for-... That one is not for assassination purposes, so is he okay? We are calculating the data needed to use it as a nonlethal weapon for threats by rapidly increasing the number of wrinkles and spots on the target. Although changing the parameters would allow it to kill via hyperventilation. Okay. And lastly, what about Kevin-san? Doctor, what merit is there in developing technology to dissolve only the bones while keeping the target alive? That is what we were asked for, so thats what we will develop. It might be a form of punishment and it might be someones sick fetish. His immunity still requires attention, but he is doing well. Fine then, said Yakumi Hisako with a nod. And then she sighed. We certainly have gotten a lot of troublesome patients lately. And you certainly have enjoyed dragging them down into the darkness. Yet I rarely hear any complaints overflowing with a sense of justice. Of course when I do, I just suppress them. Yakumi Hisako then casually added, What a cruel world this is. That was all human life was to her. If they irritated her, she would send them into the darkness and if she liked them, she would miraculously save them. Either way, she took human lives lightly. She influenced them no more seriously than deciding if she wanted toast or rice for breakfast. Now, then. Ive gone over the schedule, so lets get to the fun. The planning room had a white board set up. Several photos were attached with magnets and thick lines had been drawn on the board between them. Where is the leverage point? We have already located Fremea Seivelun. According to the report from that Kihara, her progress is going well. The counterbalance? Kuroyoru Umidori has already been guided in. She does not have the disposition, but it is estimated that an opposite will be affected in its own way. Then carry on as planned, Rensa-chan. Understood, immediately replied Rensa while still standing. Yakumi Hisako reached for a desk in the planning room. She pulled a dart out of a pencil holder that also held some writing tools. The dart was colored with black and yellow stripes. Anyone would be naturally cautious of a living creature with that design. When a special bullet known as the Sniper Bee had been created, this large model had been created for design purposes. Smaller versions were loaded into a special magazine that used compressed gas. When she squeezed it between her thumb and forefinger, a clear liquid oozed out of the needles tip. She carelessly tossed the dart. With a loud thunk, the dart accurately pierced one of the photos. That photo was... The final phase begins. Fiiirst, lets get the ball rolling by ending this persons life. A liquid flowed down from the forehead of the person in the photo. That liquid was not blood. It was formic acid, the bee venom that they liked to use. This will drag everything else into this. The entire world will be renewed Volume 7, 3: ??? Agitate_Halation. Volume 7, Chapter 3:???? Agitate_Halation. Part 1 He could not just sit around in that District 3 high-rise office forever. Kamijou Touma pulled out his cell phone. His top priority was the safety of Tsuchimikado who had collapsed bloodily to the floor and the old man who was bound with wire to his luxurious chair. Tsuchimikado was in especially bad shape. He had already lost consciousness. Kamijou had not trained enough to kill with just his fist, but Tsuchimikado had apparently been gravely injured before Kamijou had arrived. His clothes were stained red. Tsuchimikado had a self-healing ability that could repair his injuries, but it was incredibly weak and could only place a thin film over burst blood vessels. It was better than nothing, but he would not recover if nothing was done. But just as Kamijou was about to call an ambulance, a dignified elderly voice spoke up. ...Stop that. The old man bound to his luxurious chair had spoken. Kamijou did not know who he was, but it seemed he had regained consciousness at some point. They will check the hospital and emergency radio signals first. If you call for an ambulance, his ambulance will undoubtedly end up somewhere other than the hospital. But...! If you wish to save him, you must avoid the decisions that will surely lead to his death, said the old man in a low, quiet voice that still contained great power. The old man continued speaking as Kamijou looked back and forth between him and Tsuchimikado. It seems the person behind this hoped to eliminate anyone who would interrupt the Agitate Halation project by having them defeat each other. The odds are high you were built into these plans. ...But do not worry. The fact that we are all still alive shows that the situation has already left their expectations. He will not die. This situation proves that. ... It is possible their original plan for the situation was for the Wild Card Coccus Tsuchimikado Motoharu possessed to leak out during the battle. That would have infected and killed every single person here. That would have given them quite a laugh. I do not know at what stage the situation shifted away from that, but this is an excellent opportunity. And if you do not use this chance, it will lose all value. Do you understand what I am saying? Of course he did not. What was going on? Who was fighting who? How was Kamijou Touma supposed to fight? And most importantly... What had led Tsuchimikado to continue fighting even with such serious injuries? If you claim to be his friend, your top priority must be what he was trying to protect, said the old man plainly. Tsuchimikado Maika. Tsuchimikado Motoharu feared that his sister would be used as a negotiation card in this battle over the Agitate Halation project. This incident began when he attempted to pull off the perfect surprise attack. However, if the ones running Agitate Halation have a greater information gathering ability than any of us, there is a serious risk that they saw through it all. If nothing is done, they will reach her. Someone has to stop them now, but the number of people who can do so is limited. ...This should be Tsuchimikados job. Yes, but he is out of the picture now. You make it sound like hes already dead!! Dont talk about him like that!! The old man let out a long sigh while still bound to his chair. This was the reaction of a man who knew well how to take control of the flow of conversation rather than just trying to force his opinion on others. What will you do? He trimmed as much of the fat as he could and spoke a quick statement that would produce countless words in Kamijous head. Kamijou gritted his teeth. Even if some mastermind had placed countless balls on the table based on thorough calculations, it had been Kamijous violence that had forced Tsuchimikado down in the end. He owed Tsuchimikado Motoharu a debt. When that terrible friend awoke, he did not want the first thing he heard to be tragic news about his sister. Do you know where Maika is? I could only determine that she was not in her dorm. After all, she is who this boy wanted to protect most. He would not let anyone find out so easily. However, it was possible the person behind Agitate Halation knew. Protecting Maika was his top priority, but he did not know where Maika was. That left only one option. He had to attack whoever was running Agitate Halation to stop the attack plan. Kamijou glanced at the countless documents scattered across the floor. Ill be borrowing these. What truly matters to me is that you stop Agitate Halation. But try to save a life in the process. I will, but it is only her life I will be saving, cut in Kamijou decisively. Only one person can truly save Maika and that person isnt me. Remember this: I will untie you, but I will become your enemy if you let Tsuchimikado die. Afterwards, Kamijou quickly left the office and pressed the elevator button. It had not moved to any other floor, so the door immediately opened. The elevator shaft was covered in glass, so he could see the dazzling nighttime scenery of District 3. The buildings he could see were more than just high-class hotels. This area put a lot of effort into diplomacy and VIP reception. Psychology and sociology had to have been taken into account all the way back at the town planning stage. The boy stepped into the elevator and pressed the first floor button. After the door closed, he leaned against the glass wall and ignored the carefully-designed nighttime scenery to instead look at the bundle of papers in his hands. They were the documents that had been scattered across the office floor. He had gathered a few dozen of them. At the top they said: Agitate Halation Project. ... Hypothesized Catastrophe 034. Concerning Damages Caused by the Sudden and Coincidental Appearance of Heroes and a Countermeasure against Them Using a Likely Level 0. From the very title, the document was written to be as difficult to understand as possible. This was not a report written for that old man. He may have taken the documents from somewhere else. Kamijou skipped over the detailed numbers and graphs and absorbed the information from just the parts he could understand. It was as if he was running through the document with a highlighter. Uncertain elements referring to themselves as heroes pose a threat to the development of the advanced technology that lies at the core of Academy City. Locating a certain weak individual can solve this problem. It has been statistically proven that an immature girl is most likely to fill the role. This individual shall be henceforth referred to as the protection target. This project aims to artificially create a protection target so that the unpredictable heroes will swiftly eliminate each other with a minimum of sacrifices. Killing a hero with standard means is difficult. They possess a unique ability to suddenly reverse situations where they have an overwhelming disadvantage. However, that ability cannot help them in a conflict between two heroes. The elevator descended quickly and surprisingly quietly. Even the sound of Kamijou flipping through the pages sounded loud in the silent space. This is not simply a plan to send the heroes against each other to eliminate themselves. The energy caused by their collision will not always be cleanly cancelled out. It is possible it will instead influence yet another hero. This can be visualized like a game of billiards. If the countless heroes are the balls, then the protection target is the cue that strikes the balls. The initial strike can lead to a happy ending, but it can also lead to unavoidable self-destruction. Several complex equations followed. Kamijou could not even understand what field of science or mathematics they were based in. The balls are already in place. What matters is the cue, the protection target. A protection target will occasionally appear from within the ranks of the powerful, but statistically they appear overwhelmingly more often from within the weak. An individual who will function as a cue will be chosen from among the Level 0s. This individual must be remade into a spokesperson who will give his or her own opinions as a representative example of all of the weak. The backup plan using Skill-Out, the primary plan using the Freshmen, and the secondary plan using Kakine Teitoku all progressed well. The artificially-created weak individual was confirmed to fill the position of the cornerstone to resolving each of these plans. Details can be found in the corresponding documents. If she is now captured and given a simple card problem that relates to the desired heroes, she will become the cue that hits the balls across the table as we wish. The protection targets brain must be destroyed so that she holds no questions about solving the simple problems given. She simply needs the same level of intelligence as a dove so that she can solve the quiz in exchange for food. Once the project is complete, we can send any and all heroes to defeat each other at the press of a button. With no burden on our part, we can eliminate them to create a world without heroes. The person behind the project was Yakumi Hisako, a member of Academy Citys board of directors. Her influence was especially strong in the medical field. And... The person this woman had chosen as the cornerstone for her greatest project was... Fremea Seivelun. Once this artificial protection target has been harvested, this project will be complete. A soft electronic tone sounded. The elevator had arrived on the first floor. Kamijou did not know where Tsuchimikado Maika was being hidden, so the only way to stop the attack on her was to head to the place Yakumi Hisakos group was most likely to attack. He would defeat the attackers there. The door automatically opened and Kamijou stepped out into the first floor lobby. He threw the dozens of papers into a trash can by the wall. Overall, the lobbys atmosphere was very calm, but some sort of explosion seemed to have occurred near the stairs. Kamijou could see some blood, but he could see no sign of anyone there. Without giving it any more thought, Kamijou headed for the buildings exit. He was choosing for himself to step out into the darkness of the night. Part 2 When he thought about it, it had been an odd day. He had felt what was commonly referred to as a bad feeling, but such feelings held no meaning if nothing was done about them. And so Hamazura Shiage had felt that strange gloomy feeling but had continued through the motions of his everyday life as if riding a conveyer belt. The day had ended and night had arrived. He was sitting at a window-side table in a caf near Fremea Seiveluns student dorm in District 13. He was accompanied by his roommate Kinuhata Saiai, a small girl wearing a knit dress. We really are getting relaxed with this, muttered Hamazura with his cheek resting on his hand while he used a straw to mix around a caf au lait filled with way too much tapioca. We started secretly guarding Fremea because we thought the remnants of the Freshmen might try another attack. Well, we did super defeat the pillars of the organization, Kuroyoru and Silver Cross. And it seems there are no members who plan to super attack out of emotional revenge after their logical attack plan failed. The odds are super low anything will happen now. But shouldnt we still be taking this a little more seriously? For example, we shouldnt be spending the whole time staring at movie magazines!! I super cant decide whether to choose The Fiery Indian Cook Runs through New York or SaitamaVocal Crisis. Ah, dammit! Ive heard you super cant see the graffiti on the walls during the dark scenes of Vocal unless you watch it in super high quality, but none of the big theaters are showing it!! You chose to eat curry, so are you leaning toward that Indian one? ...Come to think of it, why are you eating curry in a caf? You really arent taking this seriously. You say that, but aren''t you super worse with how you always try to pair up with Takitsubo-san for these protection missions!? Do you super realize that someones life is on the line here!? Hamazura and Kinuhata began grappling (this primarily took the form of Kinuhatas small hands turning Hamazuras face even uglier), but they had a good reason for being so relaxed. Namely... This Fremea girl has that rhinoceros beetle super attached to her backpack, right? Cant we super end this routine work already? Ghgyarbgyar!! ...? Super what are you trying to say, Hamazura? You''re pulling my gums out!! Hamazura began using all his strength to put out an SOS as the transformation to his face by Kinuhatas fingers began leaving the realm of humanity. Kinuhata let go with a sigh of annoyance, but Hamazura was unsure if his face had actually returned to normal. And then... Something happened outside the caf window. All light left the many windows in the student dorm across the street. Only the dorm supervisors room on the first floor was still lit. Hamazura checked the time on his cell phone. 8:30 PM. Lights out. Nothing out of the ordinary today either. Then lets super head home. Hamazura and Kinuhata stood up and began grappling once more over who would pay the bill. Once more, Hamazuras face was made even uglier. And then... Hamazura saw a bright light out of the corner of his eye. He and Kinuhata looked out the window and saw one dorm room turn its light back on despite lights out having passed. After a few dozen seconds, the light disappeared once more. The light had been from Fremea Seiveluns room. The two exchanged a glance. She forgot to do her homework. She was super double-checking on what was in her backpack. She spotted a roach. She had a super bad dream. They gave various speculations, but they of course still did not know the answer. After thinking for a bit, Kinuhata pulled out her phone. Hamazura frowned and asked, Hey, wait. Do you really have to go that far? We know that Fremea is still super awake. This will super not be a bother. Kinuhata scrolled through her address book and called Fremeas phone. But after holding the phone to her ear for about 10 seconds, she frowned and took it away from her ear. ...Whats wrong? She super isnt answering. Kinuhata hung up once she received an automatic announcement. The look in her eyes switched over to one befitting a bloody world. As I said before, we know she is still super awake, but she super isnt answering her phone. We need to assume something super happened. Kinuhata grabbed the bill, slammed it against Hamazuras face, and then rushed out of the caf. By the time Hamazura paid the bill and caught up, something else had happened. What is that noise? It was not an electronic tone. What sounded like a distant fire alarm was carried in on the night wind. This must have caused a commotion because lights began turning back on in the student dorm. Is that a fire alarm? ...No, its the alarm to an emergency exit. Meaning? Either someone has forced their way in or someone left. Kinuhata and Hamazura exchanged a glance. Either option was bad news. But...what about the rhinoceros beetle? I thought Fremea had the #2 as her bodyguard!? No normal attacker would stand a chance!! Super dont ask me! We need to super check on the situation for ourselves!! Part 3 Hamazura and Kinuhata had overlooked one simple possibility. This is what happened a few minutes before the emergency door alarm went off. Homework: check! PE uniform: check! My knife and fork are in there, too! Nyah, nyah. My preparations for tomorrow are perfect!! Fremea Seivelun checked on her possessions while peering into her red backpack. She was in her dorm room and wearing pajamas. She was speaking out loud because she had been scolded by her teacher that morning for forgetting her homework. The white rhinoceros beetle key chain on her desk then stirred slightly. The smoother outer shell on his back opened up and wings so thin they looked translucent spread out. The wings vibrated the air such that they created an artificial voice. Did you make sure to put your toothbrush set inside? N-nyah! In the first place, I was just getting to that!! frantically replied Fremea as she tossed a narrow cylindrical plastic case into her backpack. All done! Excellent. Lights out would soon arrive. The rhinoceros beetle used his six small legs to move from the desk to the windowsill. Fremea must have suddenly felt tired after finishing her final task for the night because she began rubbing her eyes sleepily as she watched the beetle. Nyah. You could always stay here. I cannot do that, replied the beetle while sticking his horn into the crack between the window and the windowsill. As he used his horn to widen that gap and create an exit, Fremea tried to grab him, but then a red light flashed on the rooms wall clock. That signified lights out. Fremea frantically ran to her bed. If she did not know where the bed was, it was all over. A nightlight was allowed after lights out (and it could be kept on all night), but that was the sign of a coward. As soon as she jumped onto her bed, the lights went out. She could still dimly see the windowsill due to the lights outside. She turned toward it and spoke. Nyah. Good night. Good night. See you tomorrow. But just after the rhinoceros beetle finished speaking... A sound like a thin piece of ice cracking could be heard. It had come from the beetle. It had been loud enough for Fremea to hear it from the other side of the room. The beetle standing on the windowsill with his six legs then rolled off and dropped to the floor. It happened much too easily. Nyah, nyah? In the first place, whats wrong!? Are you okay!? If she turned on the fluorescent light after lights out, she would be scolded by the dorm supervisor, but that fact had completely left Fremeas mind. She turned on the light and ran to the windowsill. The rhinoceros beetle was still lying on his back with his six legs twitching. Cracks were running through him, but it seemed unlikely they were from the impact of the fall. It looked more like it was the cracks that had caused the fall. (Not...good...) The beetle desperately tried to open the outer shell on his back to spread his thin wings. He was trying to create his artificial voice. (Someone is interfering...with the Dark Matter...? I do not know who is doing this...or how...but their draw...is very powerful!!) However, the beetle was not trying to inform Fremea of his symptoms or to ask for help. He was trying to do the opposite. (The damage is focused on my outer shell. I detect no intent to target my weak spots at the joints and sensory organs... That means the enemy is trying to let others know that I am injured. The enemy is trying to concern Fremea Seivelun so she will leave the room on her own!) Kssshhhhhhh!! The rhinoceros beetle gathered all his strength to move his body and vibrate his wings, but he only produced a sort of static. This failed voice only concerned the girl further. The method was the same as a sniper shooting out the legs of an enemy soldier to draw in other soldiers who tried to help the first one. The beetle only now realized that the enemy had been expecting him to let out that scream. He was meant to produce a state of panic. That panic would remove Fremeas thought patterns from their normal rails. Nyah...nyah! What should I do? Call an ambulance? ...But hes a beetle, so maybe I need a vet. Do they heal bugs? A-anyway, I have to do something! ...No...stop...Kssshhh!! Kkssshhhh!! His warning did not reach her. Just as the enemy wanted, Fremea scooped the beetle up into her arms. Hamazura... Nyah! Thats right! Hamazura! Ahh! Why does he never answer when its important! Nyah, nyah!! She changed into her outdoor clothes and charged out of her safe room. Her plan was to meet up with Hamazura Shiage to discuss the problem. Academy Citys #2 was supposed to be a powerful bodyguard protecting Fremea Seivelun, but he had instead been used as a tool to drag her down into the darkness. And then a high-pitched alarm blared to indicate the emergency door had been opened. The enemy had not needed to send an attacker to harm Fremea. They had merely needed to have her move to the target destination. Part 4 Fate took effect. A girl who could be called the exact opposite of Fremea Seivelun was dragged up onto the stage. Shit!! swore Kuroyoru Umidori with her back leaning up against a building in a District 13 alley. She was a Level 4 who could control nitrogen as well as a cyborg who had remade a portion of her body with a focus on her arms. She had once controlled the new darkness of Academy City known as the Freshmen, but she was now preparing for the return of that group by working to repair the connections that had been torn apart back then. To put it simply, she was performing jobs for higher ups in the city. This job should have been simple. She was aiding a VIP in one of their occasional moves from one stronghold to another. She did not know if it was in the form of checks or bonds, but she had to move the money in an attach case from the old stronghold to the new. This was obviously something that could not be allowed to get out, but she was used to handling this sort of thing. However... Goddamn them. It was empty from the beginning! By the time she had noticed something was off and broken the attach cases lock, it was too late. There was nothing inside. It had not been lost en route; nothing had ever been inside. And she had not been used as a diversion as was common when transporting cash. She was being framed. The VIP who had given Kuroyoru the job would soon officially accuse her in the form of an assassin. The VIP would demand she return the money she stole in order to cheat her out of a large sum of money. The entire job had been a lie. The very agreement over who would be paying who had been a lie. (But thats fine. Now that I know I cant use this connection, I have plenty of other ways to use this. I just need to find people who are afraid of this VIP or people who want her dead. I can create several different connections from this.) Her power was only effective at close range, but she possessed the destructive power to slice a tank in half. Even her thought patterns were dyed in the colors of offense. Dont make me fucking laugh, Yakumi. Thanks for the opportunity. Ill tie a ribbon around your head and use it as the foundation for the Freshmens revival. And then... She heard soft footsteps approaching. From the way the person was carrying their weight, this was not a professional. However, Kuroyoru did not let her guard down. An amateur could still kill. Their cell phones camera might have been taken over to send target data to a sniper or they could be carrying liquid nitrogen without knowing it. Those who relaxed when up against a child or the elderly would not live long. They would just end up being killed by a child or the elderly. Finally, a girl showing no sign of caution appeared. Ny-nyah! In the first place, where is Hamazura!? (...Her?) It was Fremea Seivelun. She had been the target the Freshmen had once tried to crush to achieve their goal. However, it had been Silver Cross Alpha who had actually taken action to abduct Fremea and he had used various types of powered suits and unmanned weapons. Fremea had never actually seen Kuroyoru. And so... The girl showed no concern when she saw Kuroyoru Umidori in that alley. In fact... Fremea was more concerned with a strange noise coming from deeper in the alley. It sounded like several metal pieces grinding together. Kuroyoru could think of only one possibility. Yakumi Hisakos assassin, spat out Kuroyoru as she kicked away the empty attach case at her feet. She did not know what exactly happened to the metal case after it flew into the darkness of the alley in a parabolic arc. She could only hear a great din that was not quite sounds of destruction and not quite sounds of chewing. Ee! shrieked Fremea as she stood paralyzed with fear. Kuroyoru ignored her and glared into the alley. Someone was walking their way. From the clothes, it appeared to be a nurse. However, the look in this nurses eyes showed that she did the opposite of save lives. Her long hair was worn up to keep it tidy, her fingernails were cut short with no manicure, and her other outward characteristics were just as focused on being hygienic. This made her look very plain, but the look in her eyes was anything but plain. The nametag on her chest said Rensa. It was unclear whether this was her family name or given name. Very few people would want to give away their identity on a field of killing, so this was either a fake name or a declaration that she would kill everyone here. I will collect the money later, Rensa said to Kuroyoru with a sharp glare before turning her gaze to Fremea who stood behind Kuroyoru. Fremea Seivelun spotted. The situation is progressing well. Given the difference in priority, I am setting her capture as my primary objective. Kuroyoru had not even the slightest obligation to protect Fremea. If she had been the type of person who would risk her own life to protect a strange girl, she would not have chosen to give herself into the darkness and she would not have decided it was a comfortable place to be. However... Is that supposed to be a joke? Your terrible sense of humor is the only thing laughable here, spat out Kuroyoru as she held her right hand forward. A nitrogen spear appeared from her palm. Dont underestimate the Freshmen. You assumed trust was more important to me than money. That was a mistake. A terrible mistake. You want to know whats top priority here? Its killing you!! ...The situation is progressing well. A smile appeared on Rensas face. It was so small it was hard to tell anything had changed. The smile seemed even less human than the lack of expression from before. The artificial protection target has even shown enough control over her enemy to create a dark hero variation. Everything is progressing as expected. ...What? Just to clarify, I am not taking the Freshmen lightly or making any erroneous assumptions, continued Rensa at a constant slow rate. The Freshmen were only created to input set values of fear, anger, and joy into Fremea Seiveluns mind. In other words, you were the villains who were intended to fail. From that perspective, you played the command role near perfectly. You lost perfectly. I take it you want me to kill you? Kuroyoru Umidori lowered her body slightly. After shifting her timing just a bit, Kuroyoru charged toward Rensa. After drawing her opponents focus to the spear in her right hand, she extinguished it and produced a new nitrogen spear from her left hand. Drawing the eye like that was the basis of stage magic. It only gave her 0.5 seconds, but that was more than enough. She moved to decapitate the girl. Kuroyoru swung the left spear up and across toward Rensas head. Rensa stood perfectly still as the nitrogen spear approached in a crescent moon trajectory. And then Kuroyoru Umidoris Bomber Lance was immediately stopped. Rensa had produced a transparent nitrogen spear of her own from her palm. Wha-...? Kuroyoru gasped. Her powers had been developed in the Dark May Project. There were others who used nitrogen powers, but Kuroyoru had never seen anyone else who could produce spears with nitrogen. Rensa was clearly using the same power as Kuroyoru. The situation is progressing well. Despite the two of them being in a situation similar to locking swords, Rensas expression did not change. The dark hero ball has indeed been influenced by the cue that is the artificial protection target. It should be possible to create a collision between her and a normal hero. Agitate Halations usefulness has-... Shut the fuck up!! shouted Kuroyoru as she intentionally extinguished the spear in her left hand and bent her upper body to avoid Rensas spear which continued forcefully toward her. When Rensa lost balance, Kuroyoru held both palms toward her. If she fired two more Bomber Lances from those palms, it would all be over. The girl could not defend this time. Even if she could use the same Bomber Lance as Kuroyoru, Rensas stance prevented her from using the spears to defend. However... Something else happened. Kuroyoru heard an odd sound as if multiple piece of metal were scraping together. (What...?) She felt as if the world had entered slow motion as some strange object burst from Rensas back. It was a giant metallic red flower accompanied by countless silver metal rods that looked like the flowers stamen and pistil. Was she equipped with some next generation weapon based in strange cutting edge technology? Had she built it into her body like Kuroyorus former colleague Silver Cross Alpha? (No...) Kuroyoru Umidori, who had remade a portion of her body to artificially transfer the meaning of her existence, felt an unclassified, unscientific, vivid, and primitive bad feeling. (This cant be...no...it cant be...!!) With another metallic noise, the giant flower that expanded from Rensas back folded back up into her nurse uniform. The cloth had not been torn because the back had been made with a special hole. The entire process had only taken 0.7 seconds. Kuroyoru was unable to take action based on her bad feeling. She could not even cancel the action she had already started to take. Bomber Lances burst from the palms pointed toward Rensas upper body. And she already knew that this was a fatal mistake. The instant the nitrogen spears touched Rensas body, they burst to pieces and caused a large explosion. Ah...bh!? Kuroyoru Umidori stopped breathing. When she lost control of her power, it became a small bomb. The torrent of nitrogen expanding with tremendous force had struck Kuroyoru like someone had tossed a grenade at her chest in the same way one passed a basketball. Rensa had used some method to defend. However, Bomber Lance could not accomplish what she had done. She had ignored the palm restriction and reflected the offensive ability when it had touched any part of her body. (Reflection...? But then...!!) The power that could accomplish that was... (Vector...control...? It cant be... It cant be!! Is she using the powers of the #1 who my offensive thought patterns are based on...!?) There was a project known as Five Over. It had attempted to reproduce the phenomena caused by the seven Level 5s registered within Academy City by using macro engineering technology instead of micro quantum mechanics. Her former colleague Silver Cross had used a powered suit with Gatling gun ability which had borne the name of the #3s Five Over. However... (No. If Im right, this goes well beyond having the #1s Five Over installed in her! This bitch has-...!!) With the same unpleasant metallic noise, that giant scientific flower opened and closed once more from the back of Rensas nurse uniform and cardigan. It was as if she was loading the next round in a pump-action shotgun. After being knocked back by her own spear exploding, Kuroyoru could only watch as Rensa gracefully turned on one leg. She rotated 180 degrees to point her cardigan-covered back toward the other girl. Gh...!!!??? Pure white wings burst out of her back. Instead of a simple strike, it was more like hundreds of sharp stakes had been shot at her. Kuroyoru produced spears from both hands and desperately tried to defend, but she did not make it in time. Kuroyorus powers had been modified to be offensive, so they were ill-suited to defend. The white stakes wove between the spears and unhesitatingly struck Kuroyorus upper body. This time, Rensa had produced a white material. This was Academy Citys #2. This was Dark Matter. (I get it... Does that giant flower rearrange her interior!?) Bhh!? ...Gah...!! That was all it took to make her start coughing up blood. This was not a mere machine. However, it was also not the same as the psychic powers using quantum mechanics that Academy City had developed. Kuroyorus ability to control nitrogen was upwards compatible with the #1s ability to control all vectors. In other words, his power could reproduce her power. However, the #1 and the #2 were obviously completely different. No matter how much either one tried to reproduce the others power, they would never be able to fully do so. That meant this girl could at least use two powers of two completely different types. And that was only at the very least. This created a contradiction with the Dual Skill barrier. A single human brain should not have been able to possess more than one power. And yet... (You monster... You monster!! At this rate, I doubt this will end at just two. And yet each individual power is too great a factor for me to handle head on!!) She did not have time to lie around on the ground. She upped the output of her spears further. She swung her arms around like they were boosters to keep her balance and then jumped straight up into the air. She kicked off the walls a few times and made her way up to the roof. She heard the same metallic noise from below. Rensa was changing her attack method. And then Rensas orderly voice said, Hypothesized Catastrophe 034... Countermeasure in Case All Seven Level 5s in Academy City Opposed the Board of Directors Simultaneously. That is why I was created. In other words, I have been given the power needed to defeat all seven Level 5s on my own. Please do not think you can escape with such a foolish plan. Kuroyoru then heard a much quieter metallic noise. It sounded like someone flicking a coin with their thumb. The Level 5 this brought to mind was... Railgun!? shouted Kuroyoru. In the same instant, the darkness of the night was ripped apart by an orange beam of light. Part 5 They heard an explosion. District 13 was much more silent than an entertainment district, so they could almost feel the commotion forming. It felt like they could tell exactly where in the district the explosion had occurred. Hamazura Shiage and Kinuhata Saiai had entered Fremeas student dorm to gather information. However, they had not snuck in, broken a window to get in, or anything like that. The emergency door alarm had gone off, so they had simply knocked on the front door asking if they needed help or needed someone to call Anti-Skill. According to the dorm supervisor, there was no fear of a fire or robber and the resident Anti-Skill member was in the process of checking to make sure all of the students were present. In other words, they had learned nothing. They had heard the explosion while in the middle of that. The blast was so loud they thought the windows might have shattered had the explosion been just a bit closer. Youve gotta be kidding me. That has nothing to do with Fremea, right!? It may have super nothing to do with her, but we mustnt underestimate her ability to get wrapped up in trouble. Hamazura and Kinuhata told the flustered dorm supervisor to finish checking on the students as quickly as possible and to seal the exits so no one could leave. They then ran toward the site of the blast. Will she really listen to what some super suspicious people told her? Whether she does or not, the kids arent allowed out past lights out. And if Fremea really has disappeared, the teachers are going to be nervous too. Due to the great commotion, even a monkey would have known where the site of the blast was. There was no flood of curious onlookers because District 13 was filled with elementary school students who were strictly prohibited from going out at night. But whats with this timing? Sure, we were being cautious, but there wasnt any sign of the Freshmen trying to reform, was there!? Lets see, the Freshmen are super definitely the top suspect, but we need to super assume they are not the only ones lurking in Academy City. And then... They heard an odd sizzling sound. It was similar to an insect being fried by a bug zapper, but they could not see one anywhere. Hey, wait, wait! shouted a sugary female voice. They saw a woman in her thirties wearing the white coat of a researcher. She must not have been used to exerting herself because she was out of breath just from jogging a bit. As she gasped for breath, she said, It would be a biiit of a problem if you continued on up ahead. Hm, I suppose you would be the easiest hero to draw in using Fremea Seivelun. ...What? ... Hamazura frowned at that nonsensical statement, but Kinuhata was more focused on their surroundings. She was looking around cautiously. Meanwhile, the woman continued, Hmm, this is a problem. By their nature, a hero wont listen if you tell them not to go help. Aaand thats why I wont try that. ...Ill give you a more convincing reason to give up. A sound like zapping electricity rang out. Orange sparks flew from the gap of the hood on a car parked in a nearby parking lot. And it did not stop there. Sounds of electricity continued from all over. The woman gave a crescent moon-shaped smile while standing in that nighttime street. You know that bugs in computers and the like are called that because of real bugs, right? ... Real bugs would crawl into the circuits and cause the machine to malfunction. Nowww, a question: Why would I be explaining this in such an ominous setting? Heh heh heh hah hah!! Sparks flew from the traffic lights, the vending machines, the outdoor speakers used to announce the time during the day, the emergency public phones, and every other electronic device along the street. ...Theyre here. Hamazura, theyre super here! Were super surrounded!! When Kinuhata said that, Hamazura finally turned his gaze away from the creepy woman. A manhole lid was being lifted up. He thought he saw a dark liquid pouring out, but that was not what it was. It was not actually anything that unusual. The problem was the overwhelming numbers. What the hell...!? Roaches!? Dont worry. Unlike the German or American cockroaches, this kind doesnt eat garbage. These are the giant cockroaches found in forests and jungles that chew through wood. By the way, roaches have the same evolutionary roots as termites. And. That. Means. They already have the teeth they need to tear through flesh and bones. Hearing that did nothing to eliminate the physiological sense of disgust. One roach was bad enough, but the mere sight of hundreds or even thousands of them was enough to violently assault Hamazuras vision like a weapon. And did you know that an insects brain structure is simple enough for a bit of psychosurgery to make them to want to eat anything and everything? These days, we dont even have to open up their heads. We can just destroy the cells we want with a neutron beam. Oh, but we did put some forethought into this. No actual genetic alterations have been made, so if they escape and reproduce, their children will not be able to eat people. In other words, they were man-eating roaches. The food chain had been reversed. This seemed less like a cutting-edge weapon that carried out optimized destruction and more like harassment meant to lower the enemys morale for the smallest cost. Oh, and they can eat a lot more than just human flesh. They can eat wood. They can eat stone. They can eat rubber, metal, glass, and plastic. If you try to run off and hide, theyll just eat through the building, so be careful. Part 6 Night had already fallen. The curfew had passed, so the trains and busses had stopped. Kamijou Touma was running from District 3 to District 13. Those behind the Agitate Halation project had set Fremea Seivelun at the center of the project. It was possible they were going to attack her at any moment. However... (Where is this Fremea girls dorm?) Kamijou was running toward District 13, but he did not know specifically where to go. (Itll be in District 13. That much I know. That time I let Birdway into my dorm, this girl was there too. I remember greeting her, but was there more than that? Did she ever give any specifics about her school or her dorm?) She may have and she may not have. He did not remember. At that point, Kamijou recalled the cell phone in his pocket. Index had a perfect memory, so she would remember any trivial comment Fremea might have made. If Fremea had said something in a conversation or even muttered to herself, Index would not have overlooked it. However, Kamijou did not pull out his cell phone. Something else happened before he could. A nearby roadside tree was suddenly sliced apart diagonally. ...!! The attack had come from behind. Kamijou frantically ducked down, but after the fact. If the blade that had been swung sideways had been just a few centimeters lower, Kamijous skull would have been sliced through. Something like raindrops dripped onto his head. (What? Was that a water jet!?) He quickly turned around. He saw a large empty pedestrian scramble. Empty, that is, except for a single person standing in the center of it. She wore the outfit of a bunny girl which showed off her sensual feminine body lines, but that sex appeal was countered by a paper bag worn over the head. That was strange enough, but she was also using both hands to hold something at her hips. It resembled a naginata. It appeared to be made of a combination of carbon and plastic. However, a hose-like object was connected to the bottom of the grip. She wore a tank filled with water on her back like a backpack. (Wait, is that enough to explain this? The water jets used to cut steel sheets in factories need a gigantic machine to cut the steel just a few centimeters away. She used that from easily over 10 meters away!!) Was it a pure machine tool? Or was some sort of esper ability involved? The answer to that could make a world of difference in how useful Kamijou Toumas right hand would be. Nyan nyaka nyan, nyan nyaka nyan, nyan nyan nyan nyan nyaaan She sang mockingly. And the song had nothing at all to do with rabbits. Kamijou had been so preoccupied by her strange outfit and weapon, that he had forgotten something important. ...What? Who are you!? Why are you targeting me!? Nyan!? The head under the paper bag tilted slightly. She replied while shaking her hips so seductively it became creepy. Well, you. You there. Cant you hear it? Hear what...? The voiceless voice. Something inside her head seemed to switch over as the paper bag spoke. There are idiots out there who will call you self-righteous for choosing to fight if the person never asked for help. Those people really are stupid. They cant relax until theyve gotten in other peoples way just to give an excuse for not helping. Theyre hopeless. Just so, so hopeless. When I see people like that, it makes me want to slice them in two like a samurai. This made no sense. She seemed to have a fairly developed set of principles, so what was she doing here? An intense feeling of something being out of place came over Kamijou. It was like someone had brought in a piece from a different jigsaw puzzle because one was missing from the proper puzzle. Yes. It was like a weapon that had no one to protect yet would still destroy any enemy that fit the proper parameters. They dont want my help? I dont care. No one wants me to do this? I dont care! Saving them like this wont make anyone happy? I! Dont! Care!! ...I just need to listen to the voiceless voice. I just need to save those I want to save! Thats what it means to be a hero!! Kamijou felt an unpleasant sensation run down his spine. Why would she use that term here? Its pounding in my head. The voiceless voice is telling me shes afraid! That shes in pain! And so I will save Fremea Seivelun. I already know she is being targeted. I have no way of knowing who is an enemy and who is an ally, so hmm...I guess the only way to find the assassin is to crush every single other person!! As she shouted out psychedelically, she sprayed a blade of ultra-high pressure water from the tip of the naginata. She lazily lowered the tip and the water blade tore into the asphalt. What...? said Kamijou without thinking. No one should have known what route he was taking from District 3 to District 13. In fact, no one should have known that he was heading toward Fremea. However, that was not the issue he had with this. Why had an attacker who knew about Fremea appeared with this timing? It was as if she had some card he had to take from her by defeating her. I dont know how far Agitate Halation has progressed, but is this Fremeas influence? But that doesnt make any-...!! I dont care about your complaints. Fnyah hah hah!! Lets settle this with our fists! Lets go for a fistfight! Heh...If I die, make sure to protect Fremea. Just kidding!! Kamijou could not allow himself to be held up here, but that water jet naginata could be turned toward him at any moment. He held his right fist up at the ready. And then the bunny girl wearing a paper bag was sent flying through the air due to a blow from the side. Kamijou had not done a thing. A new intruder announced their presence with a deep sound that Kamijou felt in his gut like in a live music club. (Was that an explosive blast? No, or just an explosive noise? Was it some kind of shockwave!?) Four large trucks slowly came to a stop, filling one entire corner of the pedestrian scramble. They were the advertisement trucks that drove around announcing an artists new song. The four trucks lined up with two on either side and someone walked up along the center line between them. With the bright headlights behind the person, all Kamijou could see was a dark shadow. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he managed to make out that the shadow had the silhouette of a girl. Gradually, he realized she was the person who had put together the group of trucks. She wore a bikini top and baggy pants. She was so lightly dressed one almost forgot this was a November night. Her clothes looked more like a stage outfit than personal clothes. The girl was holding what looked like a megaphone but was actually a wireless microphone connected to the giant speakers loaded on the advertisement trucks. That sweet candy-like voice burst through the night at such loud volume that it felt like an explosive blast. Ladiiiiiies aaand gentlemeeeeeeeeeeen!! Thank you for coming to today''s Fusou Ayame punishment conceeeerrrrrrrrtttttt!! What the hell are you doing!? Kamijou yelled with his hands over his ears, but he was not sure his voice had reached her. The great noise seemed to shake his skull more than his eardrums and Fusou Ayame, the girl who had sent the paper bag bunny flying, made various exaggerated gestures as she spoke. Here are todays guest performers!! They are the uncertain elements trying to get near Fremea Seivelun! Tah dah! Its time for the bloody sudden death concert youve all come to expect! Lets keep going all night looooooonnnnnnnnngggggggggg!!!!!! At that point, high-pitched static as if from feedback mixed in with the already violently-loud flood of noise. However, Fusou Ayame had not made some sort of mistake. One of the four large trucks had been sliced in two by an ultra-high pressure water jet. Kamijou looked over and saw the bunny girl unsteadily standing up from where she had been knocked by the shockwave that had likely been created by an esper ability to amplify noise and give it directionality. She must have coughed up some blood because the paper bag was tinged red around the mouth. Nevertheless, it still looked like she was smiling eerily. Dont! Make! Me! Laugh!! The voiceless voice is the guide to salvation. If you claim to be a hero, why are you trying to crush iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!? Fusou Ayame gave an impressed whistle followed by, Thank you very much for getting so into your performaaaaaaannnnnnce!! Now that everyones warmed up, lets get the first song started. Its time to dance until your heart buuuuuurrrrrrssssssssts!! It almost seemed the person behind the Agitate Halation project had sent assassins to stop Kamijou who was on his way to Fremea. Just like they had placed the ball named Kamijou on the table to knock the inconvenient ball named Tsuchimikado into the pocket. But that was not what was happening. The balls that had collided here were the paper bag bunny girl and Fusou Ayame. (Agitate Halation gives Fremea the attribute of a protection target so those controlling the project can freely send any heroes in the city to defeat each other.) Tonights guest performer is putting up quite the fight But I have the overwhelming advantage when it comes to reach! Can she put on an even more exciting show just by swinging around that machine tooooooooooooooooooollllllllllll!? Hah! If you know its a machine tool, then maybe you should be more cautious!! The water jet sliced through the road, the signs, and cars parked on the side of the road. No, it did more than slice through them. The systematically sliced-off pieces fit together perfectly like the parts of a plastic model and formed a giant crossbow that was three meters long. This is the siege weapon known as a ballista!! I just have to make whatever I dont have! This easily fills in my range weakness!! With another impressed whistle, the other girl said, Preparing a machine on the fly like that is quite the ad liiiiiiiiibbbbbbbb!! Kamijou thought while blankly watching the two heroes clash. (That would mean all the balls involved here are trying to work to Fremeas advantage. But is that really whats happening? Is a third party using Fremea as the cue to control everyone on the billiards table?) Was that the person behind Agitate Halation? Was that Yakumi Hisako of the board of directors? But... (In that case, its odd that the heroes arent focusing on me. In fact, its odd that Im here at all. I was originally sent to eliminate Tsuchimikado Motoharu for them. According to that old man, I was supposed to be eliminated by some bacteria. So where did things go wrong? In fact, who is truly controlling Agitate Halation!?) Kamijou Touma was still there. And the heroes were not ganging up on him. A great roar exploded out. Something had happened between the paper bag bunny girl and Fusou Ayame. With a whooshing sound, something fell down toward Kamijous head. He caught it and found it was a cell phone. He opened it and checked on its contents. The owner may have done some independent research because it listed the location of Fremea Seiveluns student dorm. (This is too convenient.) The two girls were so focused on fighting that they paid no heed to Kamijous actions. He thought while quietly leaving. (But convenient for who? I doubt its for Fremea Seivelun or the person controlling her behind the scenes. Where is this project being controlled? Who is leading me around!?) Part 7 Pant...pant... Kuroyoru Umidori lay on her back on top of a five-story building. Her right eye kept blinking. Her right arm had been ripped off at the upper arm. Instead of flesh and blood, glittering silver pieces of framework and cables were strewn about. She could not calculate the level of damage. She could not grasp how much power remained within her. She felt like wires had been stabbed into the center of her body and were stirring up everything inside. Only her right arm had actually been attacked, and yet her entire body cried out in pain. (God fucking dammit... The #1, the #2, and even the #3... That monster is called Rensa, right? This goes beyond Dual Skill. Each individual ability is so powerful it hardly matters she can use more than one!!) While she still felt the pain, her fear had numbed over. That showed just how little she understood the situation and how confused she was. She tried to move, but her three remaining limbs only trembled. She heard a soft sound. She turned her unnaturally trembling head just in time to see the nurse named Rensa stepping up onto the edge of the rooftop. ... Kuroyoru had not come up with any sort of plan. She was not even sure if there was any plan she could possibly come up with. Kuroyorus missing right arm was held in Rensas mouth. She had caught it there after shooting it off. That was all that meant. It was nothing more than a victory prize. Once she was done with that psychological harassment she had carried out on a whim, Rensa did not hesitate to spit the severed arm to the side. The situation is progressing well. I am glad to see you are not dead. Your death would be a problem. ...? I will not kill you, said Rensa with no change of expression. With a metallic noise, the giant flower-like object shot from her back and then shot back in. I can produce this Bomber Lance from my hand. If I decapitate Fremea Seivelun with this, who will all the heroes think did it? Heh... Kuroyoru laughed despite the sweat covering her body. So you needed a convenient villain youre fine with them ganging up on? Then why bother with all this? You could have just given me the job. You could have told me to go kill that Fremea brat in exchange for bringing back the Freshmen. The end result is the same either way. She had pursued Kuroyoru rather than Fremea in order to prevent any possible alibis. It would be a problem if Kuroyoru was with someone else while Rensa killed Fremea. That was the only reason. But why do you want to kill Fremea? I thought she was so important you used the Freshmen as a stepping stone to reach her. Agitate Halation is not Fremea Seiveluns ability. External factors may have placed it within her, but the final stage lies beyond that. In other words, now that this ability has been put in Fremea, something else will be completed when you kill her? Its like youre tearing her gut open to take out a baby. I am glad you understand. This is an endurance test for mass production. After seeing how far we must go for the artificial protection target to die, we will create a birdcage to control the target. ...Is that a problem? Not really. Kuroyoru Umidori had no reason to actively protect Fremea Seivelun. Nor did she have any reason to get along with those around Fremea. If they wanted to hate her, they were free to do so. It did not matter if it was based in revenge for something she had actually done or if it was a grudge they had artificially been led to hold. The darkness held enough benefit, pleasure, and freedom for her to endure it. If thats what youre gonna do, then do it. Then I shall. But. Kuroyoru paused for a second. You made a mistake when you took my severed arm with you. ? You gave me exactly what I needed to break the Tengus long nose. Im not gonna pass up a chance like this even if I have no real reason!! The explosive sound of a nitrogen spear appearing could be heard. However, it did not come from Kuroyorus left palm. It came from the severed mechanical arm Rensa had spat at her feet not long before. I can control it remotely! As long as the palm remains, I can still use it as an output point for my powers! Did you forget that, you lowly thug!? With no body to hold it in place, the right arm began rotating on the spot like a pinwheel firework. And Rensa was standing right next to it. Kuroyoru created another Bomber Lance from her left hand. Due to the tremendous damage she had taken, she could not even stand. For that reason, she used the nitrogen spear like a booster to blast herself toward Rensa. She balled up her body in midair and swung the spear around as she rotated. She attacked with both her right and her left hand. Even with one of those hands no longer attached to her body, she succeeded in the simultaneous attack. And... (You may have multiple methods of attack, but theres a slight lag when you switch between them. That means youre vulnerable to surprise attacks!!) Rensa immediately produced identical nitrogen spears to Kuroyorus from both her palms. This may have been based in the thought patterns created to kill the seven Level 5s. Her strategy may have been to respond with the same power as her opponent when unsure what to do. The four spears clashed. Rensa must not have wanted to give Kuroyoru any time to recover because she quickly detonated her own nitrogen spears. That was usually not a very effective attack, but Kuroyoru was in midair and her severed right arm was out of control. In other words, she could not brace herself. The explosion blasted Kuroyorus body and right arm in different directions. Gh...!! gasped Kuroyoru as her back slammed into hard concrete. Her attacks had not reached Rensa. (But she detonated the spears at close range without using the #1s reflection. That blast must have hit her too!!) While collapsed on the ground, Kuroyoru adjusted her position slightly to look over at Rensa. She grinned. It was a villainous, hideous, twisted, mocking, and thin, thin smile. ...I was...right... She heard a flapping noise. It was the sound of the ripped fabric of the nurse uniform and cardigan being blown about in the night wind. The hair Rensa had worn up in a plain style for hygienic reasons had spread out. It seemed to follow the smooth ups and downs of her skin. The true meaning hidden in this enemy lay there. That...that right there is what makes you...what makes people call you a monster. Thats it. But once I know what it is, I can find a way to use it against you. Im not to feeling my way blindly through a pitch-black minefield. No matter how many mines have been laid, I can walk safely through the minefield barefoot as long as Ive marked them all with phosphorescent paint ahead of-...!! Kuroyoru trailed off. She heard the metallic sound of Rensa switching out attack methods and then a tremendous attack sent her body flying through the air...and right off the edge of the building. Part 8 The man-eating cockroaches slowly approached. It was not just the one manhole lid being pushed up. Every manhole as far as they could see had countless shiny black insects pouring out of them. Hamazura backed up without thinking, but that would not help in this situation. Kinuhata faced forward and clicked her tongue while glaring at the woman in the lab coat. Hamazura, lets super split up here. What do you mean? I super have Offense Armor. I can super create a wall of compressed nitrogen around my body. Even if those things super have the ability to chew through and digest flesh and bone, they super cannot reach my flesh. Was Kinuhata saying she would handle the man-eating roaches? But...!! Thats a dangerous gamble, cut in the woman in the lab coat. These maaay not have the ability to eat through a wall of nitrogen, but are you sure that is the only way for them to get through? What if you were no longer able to create that wall? That would only leave your soft flesh. You are only super enjoying trying to scare us. We dont need to worry about that. Are you sure? The conditions are super identical for you, said Kinuhata mockingly. You are using all these man-eating roaches and yet there is no sign of them super attacking you. You must have something that super protects you and super sends orders to them. If I super get my hands on that, you will be in trouble. Being super eaten by your own swarm of roaches would be one super hell of a way to die. ...Kinuhata. Hey!! Hamazura tried to stop Kinuhata as she advanced the conversation on her own. She silenced him with a quick glare. She super has some way of controlling all these man-eating roaches. She may be able to super attack in multiple places at once and she may have other pawns. ...We super cant leave Fremea-san unprotected. Hamazura, super go help her. The woman in the lab coat gave empty, mocking applause. Nee hee. Do you really think Ill let you go? We will super manage somehow. Now that I know their fangs cant reach me, I can handle as super many of them as I need to. Nee hee hee hee hee hee! Didnt I say roaches and termites have the same evolutionary roots? So why do you think I chose roaches? Why not termites instead? Her cruelty began to erupt out. It was because roaches cause much more mental exhaustion. They affect your mind when you see them moving around and when you squish them! And whether they are performed consciously or subconsciously, Academy Citys esper powers require mental calculations. Will you make it to 100? Or 1000? Or maybe even an unthinkable 10,000? As you are squishing and squishing and squishing, what do you think will happen to your Personal Reality!? That explanation alone was almost enough to overwhelm Hamazura. Kinuhata shouted out as if to free him from the curse. Hamazura! Super hurry to Fremea-san!! But...! Are you going to let that super small girl see the grotesque things created for espers of the dark side? And you are the one she has become attached to the super most! You have an obligation to super live up to her trust in you!! And if you do, she will not have to super see the things we have seen!! Hamazura slowly shook his head. He took a step backwards. However, Kinuhata was sure he had already made up his mind. Hamazura knew just how weak Level 0s were. That knowledge could be transformed into the strength to struggle and become stronger. And he understood just how dangerous it would be for Fremea to be thrown back into the darkness. Im sorry, Kinuhata... I was super never even thinking you would be any help. Sorry!! shouted Hamazura with all his strength as he turned his back on it all. He ran. He ran as quickly as he could. In the instant Kinuhata had disappeared from his vision, he had thought he saw a grin on her face. He heard a vibration reverberating through the air as if from electric hair clippers held next to his ear. A chill ran down his spine. They were chasing him. He imagined hundreds or even thousands of man-eating roaches flying toward him, but he could not bear to turn around to look. However, those shiny black insects never reached him. He heard a disgustingly graphic squishing sound and the vibrating noise came to an end. Kinuhata was fighting to protect him, but he could not suppress a feeling of disgust. This went beyond logic or emotions. A system had been created to semi automatically wear down Kinuhata Saiais mind. He ran toward the site of the blast. He ran toward the site of an incident that was likely related to Fremeas disappearance from her dorm. Hamazura put his entire being into running. He ran and ran until he could not tell if the urge to vomit rising in his stomach and the tears occasionally welling up in his eyes were due to the informational violence of all those roaches or to the guilt of running away and leaving it all to his comrade Kinuhata. U-uuh... A-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! He shouted out even though it would change nothing. The pressure inside him had surpassed a certain limit. If he did not release that pressure in some way or another, he felt his mind would burst like a balloon. His balance was thrown off, so he staggered again and again as he ran toward the site of the explosion. And just when he was almost there... Something came crashing down from a building rooftop. He looked over at what had slammed into the concrete sidewalk and found the girl named Kuroyoru Umidori. She said nothing. That bloody girl who had a Level 4 ability to control nitrogen was a cyborg who had replaced a portion of her body with machines. However, everything but that portion that was centered on her arms was still the flesh and blood of a normal girl. She must have failed to slow her descent with her nitrogen spears, and her body was not sturdy enough to escape a fall from five floors up unscathed. ...Uuh...ah... Without turning her head, Kuroyoru moved her twitching and blood-shot eyes to look up at Hamazura who had stopped in his tracks. ...Uuh... Hamazura approached and crouched down to hear what she had to say, but he only heard a slight gasp. He could not tell what she was trying to say. It did seem she was trying to say something, but her lungs must not have been able to suck in enough air. She could not turn the movements of her tongue and lips into a voice. And... Something else happened before Kuroyoru could get across what she was trying to say. A new figure fell down as if a stake had been driven into the ground. However, this person had not fallen helplessly to the ground. They had clearly jumped down and landed. Hamazura could feel his eyelids twitching as he looked at this newcomer from his crouched position. What...the hell...? Low level problem detected. Hamazura Shiage, one of the individuals under observation, has captured Kuroyoru Umidori while Fremea Seivelun is still alive. It will be more difficult to convince him Kuroyoru is his enemy. She had originally been dressed as a nurse. But Hamazura would never have guessed it. The estimated number of confirmed heroes brought up onto the table via Agitate Halation is 7500. The absence of Hamazura Shiage will likely have less than a 1% effect on the project as a whole. The experiment can continue. The girl must have been hit by some sort of attack because she wore nothing but scraps of cloth that were being blown about in the wind. A broken name tag fell from the scraps. It said Rensa. But there was no soft, flesh-colored skin below those clothes. There was only metallic purplish-red and pink. At first, Hamazura thought she was wearing something like a perfectly skintight wet suit, but she was not. With the exception of her head, neck, wrists, hands, and thighs, her skin and flesh had those colors. Occasionally, areas across Rensa would transform to the look and feel of light flesh as if static was running through her. She would normally cover her entire body in the colors of soft flesh as camouflage to blend into human society. ...Uuh... groaned Kuroyoru once more. Hamazura heard a dry scraping noise from nearby. Kuroyoru Umidori had lost her right arm, but she was using her left index finger to write on the ground with her own blood. Due to her mechanical arm, she was able to write with frightening speed and accuracy. Cyborg. The words she wrote were oddly blunt. She has a much higher percentage than me. Everything but her brain is likely mechanical. So.... Is that even possible? Hamazura heard a strange metallic noise. A giant flower opened up along the musculature of Rensas back with the speed of a sewing machine and a large number of metal rods shot out from where they were folded up within her. The countless metal rods moved in and out at high speed based on some form of calculation and then folded back up within her back. The entire process took less than a second. And immediately afterwards, a nitrogen spear shot from Rensas palm with the explosive noise of the air being sliced. The spear was identical to the ones Kuroyoru Umidori used. Hamazuras eyes opened wide. She can copy esper powers? No, wait. Is she just constructing an output point similar to how Kuroyoru uses her mechanical arms!? Correct. But in my case, I expand the knitting needles in my back to precisely control the values. By altering the wiring of my body similar to pulling the strings of a puppet, I am able to reproduce the characteristics of multiple people and therefore switch between multiple abilities. That murderous weapon smoothly explained her features like a model at a motor show. She explained what this fearsome crystallization of mankinds cutting edge technology could do. Specifically, I can freely switch between the powers of the #1 through #6 Level 5s as well as any esper within 200 meters of me. ...I cannot reproduce the currently unexplainable power of the #7, but I can likely defeat him with brute force using the powers of the other six. Theoretically, it was possible. If Bomber Lance could be produced from a mechanical arm identical to Kuroyoru Umidoris arm, then a mechanical arm created based on an analysis of Accelerator or Kakine Teitokus bodies should be able to function as an output point for their powers. If one then rearranged the makeup of the mechanical body like a train switching rails or a car switching gears, one could create output points for all sorts of espers. Rensa was doing that with her entire body. However... It was not so easy to accept when faced with the result. It was a frightening truth. A foe that could freely switch between the powers of the #1 to the #6 was bad enough. However, the worst part was that Rensas strategy did not require any talent at all. It was nothing more than industrial technology. If cyborgs like her were mass produced, the entire hierarchy of Academy City would be overturned in an instant. This horrifying technology could even destroy the very desire to improve oneself. (Dammit...) Hamazuras focus gathered on his right ear. A small chip was hidden inside his ear using a rubber adhesive. The chip contained a report called the Parameter List. That report revealed a secret at the base of the powers development program that Academy City could not allow to get out no matter what. That data should have held immense value, but this made it seem no more valuable than a scrap of paper. With a nitrogen spear in one hand, the reddish-purple and pink puppet walked slowly forward. I shall now kill Hamazura Shiage to correct this low level problem. Afterwards, Kuroyoru Umidori will temporarily go missing before Fremea Seivelun is killed by the same power as hers. That will set her as the villain for all the heroes as planned. The plan will be back on track. When Fremea Seivelun had disappeared from her dorm, Hamazura had guessed that she was involved in some sort of trouble. (All I know is that Fremeas still alive and apparently fleeing through the city of her own free will, that some organization made up of multiple people is using cutting-edge technology to try to kill her, and that they plan to frame Kuroyoru for that crime.) That was all he could come up with. Hamazura frantically tried to keep his mind calm. (But why? Why!? What reason do they have to target Fremea now? Why would they use a monster with the powers of the #1 to the #6 and tons of man-eating roaches to kill an eight year old girl!? ...The scale is just too big. The level of firepower doesnt add up. Fremea is only a Level 0 like me!!) Hamazura was just a Level 0 and Kuroyoru was in no state to fight. With as much firepower as Rensa had, she did not need to worry about some ace up the sleeve. So why had she not finished them off right away? (She only wants us to think shes going to kill us. Then when we run away in confusion to meet up with Fremea, she can follow us. Thats why she isnt killing us.) Rensa could use the power of the #1 to the #6 as well as any esper within 200 meters. However, she likely could only select from a list of powers within range. She could not track the location of an esper. If she could, she would simply need to constantly scan Fremeas location to catch up to her. She would not have needed to pursue Hamazura and Kuroyoru like a hound. (And the firepower of a Level 5 is too much for just dealing with us. Kuroyoru, your spear is the same. She has to hold back. She cant use any powers that might accidentally kill us like the #1s or the #2s. ...If only we could use that to our advantage and defeat her in a single surprise attack carried out too fast for her to switch powers.) If she had just been a hunk of steel, Hamazuras fist might have been of no use. However, Rensa was a cyborg. And she had been designed to function as an output point to remotely draw out the abilities of powerful espers. That meant her bodys structure would likely be extremely similar to that of a human. If she was decapitated or stabbed through the heart, she would die. If she had the same structure only made with different materials, her joints could be dislocated just like with a normal human. (Ill charge at her. That will make this Rensa falter for an instant and block some of her field of vision. You stab a spear in from behind me. Ill swing my right arm up as I charge, so send it through under my arm. If you need to, you can even stab it through my body as long as the injury wont kill me. ...If she really does want me to escape alive, she wont use the #1s power. As long as she isnt using his reflection, your spear will reach her.) After whispering that to Kuroyoru, Hamazura stopped moving for a moment. He glared at Rensa as she approached. (Right now, we can defeat her.) Part 9 At that time, Kuroyoru Umidori was looking up at Hamazura Shiage from where she lay collapsed on the sidewalk. (...Hes brave. Ill give him that.) But she did not think he was clever. After all, he had no actual proof his strategy would work. But Kuroyoru still thought highly of Hamazura for leaving everything up to his instincts in a situation so dangerous anyone would want to test out the bridge before crossing. A normal person would only end up crushed by a giant metal ball approaching from behind while they tested the bridge. She silently checked on the condition of her left arm. With her heavy damage, Kuroyoru could not make a quick escape. She could make short jumps by emitting a spear from her palm, but she could never manage maneuvers complex enough to lose a pursuer. Defeating Rensa with Bomber Lance was the only way to survive. Doing so would be difficult on her own. Whether due to the machinery built into her or the alterations to her brain in the Dark May Project, Kuroyoru Umidori could feel the difference in power between herself and Rensa in the form of precise numbers. (In that case, the best strategy would be going along with what that bastard says.) Hamazura slowly stood up. He glared at Rensa who held a spear identical to Kuroyorus. Kuroyoru waited on the ground for the clash to begin. However... On the other hand... Wouldnt Rensa have seen through their impromptu strategy meeting? That thought slipped into Kuroyoru Umidoris mind like an unexpected blast of cold wind. And it spread. Like a piece of trick art, her entire thought process suddenly switched over without her realizing. (Shit... Goddamit!! Its so obvious. A strategy meeting right in front of the enemy? Discussing a secret plan here? Rensa definitely saw through that! Even if Hamazura was using my hand to cover his mouth and speaking too quietly for a normal person to hear, Rensa is more of a cyborg than I am and she can use all sorts of esper powers. She has to have incredible ability at gathering information!!) She felt like someone had punched her head. But the great pressure that had taken hold of Kuroyoru was not the fear that Rensa had overheard their strategy. The malice she saw was nothing as simple as that. (Hamazura did it on purpose! He let Rensa overhear the plan! Heh heh. Thats right. It makes perfect sense!! Hamazura Shiages top priority is protecting Fremea Seivelun! He doesnt care about me!!) Rensa was intentionally hurting Hamazura so he would try to meet up with Fremea. That much was true. If Hamazura simply left Kuroyoru behind and fled, Rensa would follow him and kill him and Fremea. But... What if Kuroyoru attacked Rensa just as Hamazura ran off? Rensa would first crush Kuroyoru to eliminate the threat. If Hamazura managed to run far enough away in that time, Rensa would be unable to follow him. He could safely meet up with Fremea, hide somewhere, and wait for a chance to counterattack. And so he had urged Kuroyoru to attack while also letting Rensa know. He wanted the two to attack each other. She should have realized it sooner. Hamazura Shiage was much too na?ve despite his connections to the darkness. ...But at the same time, he could be frighteningly clever when it came to protecting himself and those he cared for. He would drag everything into the fight like some sort of demon. That was how he had once defeated the #4 when she was pursuing him, and how he had crushed the entire dark side organization known as the Freshmen. He would protect Fremea Seivelun. And he had only one way of doing so. Once he realized that, he would not hesitate to dirty his hands. It did not matter if he would be left naively overrun with guilt after it was all over. (To hell with that...) She had lost a lot of blood, but Kuroyoru could still feel the blood rising to her head. However, her anger was not pointed at Hamazura Shiage. (To hell with that!! Why the fuck did I think he was on my side!? Ive already started slipping so easily! Is this like growing weak when you come down with a cold!? I already know from experience that this kind of error will lead to my defeat! I was trying to keep my dark side thought processes going more strongly and perfectly, so why have I grown so goddamn pathetic!?) The fingers of her left arm scratched at the hard sidewalk. She felt an unavoidable feeling of disgrace burning across her entire body. (Dont make me fucking laugh. You can do that if you want. Ill handle this on my own. Either way, I cant run far like this. I dont need Hamazura Shiages help. Ill defeat Rensa in my own way!!) Rensa had approached within three meters of them. Both Kuroyoru and Rensas spears could reach now. Hamazura lowered his hips slightly. He was telling her he was about to charge forward. And of course, this was a bluff to fool Kuroyoru. (Ill kill her. Ill slice her to pieces. Hurry up and get over here!! But I wont be doing this for anyones sake. Ive had enough of being controlled by others! Ill fuck her up! Ill fuck everyone up!!) And then... Hamazura Shiage made his move. In that instant, Kuroyoru Umidori precisely controlled her single remaining usable arm. She predicted Hamazura would move to the right or left to make a run for it. She was planning to swing her spear diagonally upwards so it would slice through Hamazura and then take off Rensas head. However... ...Ah? The blood gathered in her throat prevented her from actually speaking, but a slight voice leaked out like wind through a crack. She was seeing something she could not believe. Hamazura Shiage kicked off the ground. He moved forward. He moved toward Rensa. He charged at her such that he acted as a shield for Kuroyoru. He was trying to produce even a slight hesitation or opening in Rensa who wanted to let Hamazura live to help her find Fremea. Yes. (It...!? It wasnt a bluff!? He was really asking for my help!?) By the time she realized the truth, it was too late. Kuroyoru had been heading down a different path and she could not correct her course now. Rensa moved her cold, surveillance camera-like eyes to observe the situation and then she chose her weapon. With a metallic noise, the giant flower burst from her back and quickly rearranged the wiring of her body. She had been given the time to do so. If Kuroyoru had immediately attacked with Bomber Lance, she may not have. And... An explosive noise burst out. After the selection had been made, Rensa attacked her target with wings made of Dark Matter. There was nothing he could do. The hundreds of white wings stabbed at Hamazura like sharp stakes. It seemed she truly did want to only wound him so she could follow him. Instead of skewering his entire body, Hamazura mostly only had his clothes torn. However... That was enough. His clothes were ripped through at such frightening speed that Hamazuras body spun around like a tornado. Unpleasant sounds came from his body, indicating the great burden being put on it. He had been charging forward, but he flew backwards and landed right next to Kuroyoru. Kuroyoru heard an unpleasant sound as a dark red liquid spilled from Hamazuras nose and mouth while his limbs twitched. ...Ah... How had this happened? Why had this been the result? Kuroyoru Umidoris frozen thoughts gradually thawed after watching that unbelievable scene. The obvious answer floated up in her mind. Her vision grew dark. Even as soaked in the darkness as she was, and even with the all her gruesome experiences that she had grown to view as normal, she had never felt a pressure like this. That na?ve boy... Hamazura Shiage had trusted her to the very, very end. He had left his life in the hands of someone he had no reason whatsoever to trust. And yet... She had... A-ahh. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! The unknown feeling rampaging within Kuroyorus body caused her to use all her strength to force out her breath. A large hole opened in the blood clogging her throat and the flow of air transformed into the roar of a wild beast. Something was wrong with her tear glands. Her throat convulsed oddly and sobs entered into her scream. She had crushed something that had emitted a much too pale light. She could feel that painfully well. Low level problem detected, mechanically announced Rensa with a slight tilt of the head. Hamazura Shiage will have difficulty moving on his own with his injuries. He cannot be used to lead me to Fremea. I will kill him here and use another acquaintance of Fremea Seivelun instead. Kuroyoru tried to shout Shut up!, but her throat was convulsing too much to form words. While lying on the ground nearby, Hamazura moved his bloodstained lips to say, ...Sorry. (For what?) Kuroyoru could not move or even speak. And so she could not stop him from speaking. (Why are you apologizing!? I was the one trapped by my own meaningless suspicions. If I had done what you said, this would have ended differently!! I betrayed you... So why are you apologizing!?) I... Hamazura trailed off to cough up some blood before continuing. I didnt put enough effort into gaining your trust. So Im sorry... This was my fault... (God dammit...) They heard the sound of multiple pieces of metal scraping together. Rensa took a step forward with a nitrogen spear at the ready. Once she arrived next to Kuroyoru, she cast her emotionless eyes downwards. She held the spear coming from her palm straight up. A single swing of that blade would slice a human and the ground below in half. Hamazura moved his trembling lips to speak a word that was difficult to distinguish from a simple gasp of breath. Run. He did not utter a single complaint. He was na?ve and a complete amateur, but he did not lose his convictions like Kuroyoru had. She needs to let you escape to frame you. You need to use this chance. Ask for help from Mugino, Takitsubo, or anyone. Now that she cant use me, shell try to use another member of Item. Get their help before that happens. (Dammit!! I cant do anything. I cant change anything at all! And why does someone else have to pay for it!? Why!?) The worst possible conclusion arrived. Rensa did not hesitate to swing down the nitrogen spear. But... An instant before she did. Hey. They heard a voice. It was a boys voice. When she heard it, Rensa stopped before swinging down the spear. No, someone had grabbed her wrist. At some point, this person had made his way directly behind her. This boy... This spiky-haired boy spoke while holding Rensas right wrist in place. Ive got a question: was this part of the plan? Part 10 Rensa did not even turn around. She only twisted her body slightly. And then... Numerous knitting needles shot out of her back and next to Kamijou. The giant flower that switched out the characteristics of the esper power output point immediately closed back up once more. She used Academy Citys #2 power. White wings made of Dark Matter grew from her back and attacked everything behind her. The wings changed into hundreds of stakes. If they struck a human body, they would tear it to pieces and transform it into a formless sticky liquid. However... With the sound of breaking glass, those white wings that supposedly held absolute destructive power shattered. ... Rensa finally decided to turn around to check behind her, but Kamijou unhesitatingly kicked the center of her small back before she could. Dont...touch her!! shouted Hamazura when Kamijou was about to go in for another attack. She can...use multiple...abilities. She can use...several of the...Level 5 powers. If you...touch her...carelessly...the #1s power...will kill you!! Kamijous eyes opened wide in shock as Rensa quickly turned around. The sound of grinding metal rang out. A brilliant beam of light appeared in front of her palm. He heard a roar as if space itself was being fried. !! Kamijou crouched down while swinging his upper body out of the way just as a beam of light shot by above him and sliced apart a wind turbine behind him. Kamijou realized this was a different power than the wings from before. He had no way of knowing it, but this was the #4s Meltdowner. Mid level problem detected. The situation has grown concerning. Are you the one who drove Tsuchimikado to such lengths? Are you the one that was targeting Maika!? Rensas back opened up and the knitting needles once more shot out. While swapping out her power, she said, My records show he was the first one to attack. I believe the standard is to repay the victim 100-fold. Tsuchimikados possessions were insufficient, so we had to find a way to resolve the problem. That doesnt...add up!! Rensa emitted a high voltage current from her bangs at close range, but Kamijou destroyed it with his right fist. Rensas pupils widened like a camera lens. What is Agitate Halation? What do you gain from a method of influencing people using Fremea Seivelun!? Is that really worth crushing peoples lives underfoot? What good is a project that a Level 0 can throw off track so easily!? The situation has indeed grown concerning. I will now kill Kamijou Touma to correct the course of the plan. Rensas back opened, the giant flower spread out, and then it closed once more. A blast of wind burst out. This was Academy Citys #1 power. She had created that wind via vector control. However... If you think you can... Before the mass of 120 m/s wind could reach him, Kamijou stepped right up next to Rensa. ...then prove it!! He threw a powerful punch toward her face. Rensa immediately moved her arm to block the punch, losing control of the wind in the process. She stepped back slightly and the knitting needles spread out once more. She was changing the characteristics of the output point. She quickly manipulated magnetism to catch a coin that was lying on the road. It was obvious what this meant. Kamijou slammed his fist into Rensas wrist to throw off her aim. An orange beam shot out a moment later, but it flew in a harmless direction. You cant use multiple Level 5 powers at once. Despite the fact that she could use the #1s power, she had not attacked repeatedly at greater than the speed of sound. Perhaps due to her cyborg body, she did not use extremely powerful magnetism to create an iron sand sword and she did not take control of cars, security robots, or other electronics. Unless her defenses fell below a certain point, she tried to attack as much as possible with nothing but projectiles. That meant... The lag from switching powers is always the same, so I can read your timing when you switch. He slammed his forehead into hers at close range and Rensa staggered backwards. Her back struck a metal dumpster and she bent forward to provide enough space for the giant flower to burst from her back. She stuck her hand into the dumpster and pulled out what looked like a television remote. But just as Rensa pointed it toward Kamijou, he forcefully kicked the remote upwards. It shot from her hand and flew through the air. You can only do the same things as the Level 5s!! You arent a Level 5 yourself! Compared to those monsters that can do almost anything on their own, youre nothing!! The knitting needles spread out and contracted once more. Kamijou evaded a beam of light and sent a fist flying back in response. Rensas eyes moved irregularly. She may have been calculating the optimal method of defense or course of evasion. Yet... Kamijous fist slammed into the center of Rensas face as if he was trying to crush it. (...?) Something felt wrong. It had been one of the cleanest hits he had ever gotten, but Kamijou felt as if Rensa had decided taking that clean hit to the face was the optimal choice out of all her different options. (Dont tell me...!!) It happened immediately afterwards. Rensas metallic reddish-purple and pink arm shot out as if crossing paths with Kamijous fist. She unhesitatingly grabbed Kamijous throat and lifted him up like a crane. Bh...gh...!! He could not breathe. She may have been cutting off the flow of blood too because he felt a pain like his head was swelling up. As Rensa watched Kamijou kick his feet around, she spoke. I have decided I have a disadvantage in an esper battle, so I will instead engage you in a physical battle using my mechanical body. My physical body may not be any tougher than a normal humans, but I can control my pain sensors. Why...you... You were meant to defeat Tsuchimikado Motoharu. I do not have the slightest idea how or why you are still on the table after completing that goal, but it ends here. Heh, laughed Kamijou as he dangled from her arm. You really dont get it? ? You say youre controlling us...controlling humans like a game of billiards, but you dont understand something so simple? Rensa tilted her head while lifting Kamijou up by the neck. Her eyes contained no hint of emotion. You dont need some giant project. All it takes is a single word and well act. Someone just has to say help. Your words are meaningless. I will put no more effort into analyzing them, said Rensa immediately. A cyborg was a human who had a portion of them, or even most of them, supplemented with machines, but Rensas voice was so flat it seemed doubtful she had any human aspect to her. Rensas back opened up like a large flower, the folded up knitting needles shot out, and the wiring within her human form were swiftly rearranged. She was choosing one of the top powers in Academy City. She was choosing one of the Level 5 powers. I will activate the #1s reflection like this. All the blood and electrical signals in your body will be reversed, causing explosive and fatal blood loss. Part 11 Kuroyoru Umidori could see Kamijou Touma being held up in the air. However, it was not over yet. There had to be something she could do. Kuroyoru gritted her teeth while lying collapsed on the ground. Dark red blood flowed from between her teeth. Nevertheless, she focused her entire mind on her single remaining arm. That was her final weapon. She could only use one Bomber Lance. (To hell...with this.) Hamazura Shiage lay next to her. Once Kamijou Touma was dead, Rensa would move on to Hamazura. (I wont...fucking let that... happen again!!) A slight noise came from Rensas eyeballs. She was using a wireless signal to illegally access Academy Citys giant database known as the Bank. She used face recognition to instantaneously search for information on the esper power of her enemy. She wanted to know what ability she would gain if she created an output point for that power. Kamijou Toumas power was Imagine Breaker. According to the System Scan results recorded in the Bank, he was a true Level 0. But unlike normal Level 0s, the precision equipment had truly not been able to detect anything. However, a comment had been added saying there were reports of him being able to negate other powers. The odds were high that the information given in the comments field was based on false rumors he himself had spread to make himself sound more intimidating. Normally, she would have simply ignored it. (But he did just cause a few phenomena similar to that. I would be lying if I said I was not interested.) Rensa could theoretically use any esper power, but she was really only using her ability as a cyborg to create an output point for the power. As she was only borrowing the power, a power would forever disappear from her stock if the original owner died. As such, she sometimes felt it was a waste when she had to kill the owner of a rare power. However... (I must keep my priorities straight. I must kill Kamijou Touma to eliminate this mid level problem.) Her desire never left the realm of a personal opinion. She prepared to use the #1 power in Academy City which was one of her presets. She would use the point of contact at his throat to reverse the flow of blood and electrical signals in his body. And then... Ohhh!! Ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! She heard a yell from the side. It seemed Kuroyoru Umidori was trying to do something. She was about to use the #1s reflection, so any attack Kuroyoru might use would have no effect. However... Rensa had a slight thought. An ever so slight thought. Kamijou Touma would die here. He would die before she could try out his rare power even once. Kuroyoru Umidori was interfering before she would even have the chance. The desire to try out that exceedingly rare power rose back up within her. While Kamijou dangled down from her hand, Rensa held her other hand out toward Kuroyoru. The giant flower opened from Rensas back and the countless knitting needles shot out, pulling the many threads within her as they did. This action could easily have killed any human with a proper sense of pain, but Rensas body only swiftly altered its characteristics. She was creating the characteristics needed to call in Kamijou Toumas power. She met all of the necessary conditions. And... Imagine Breaker flowed in. She could feel something passing through the arm she held out toward Kuroyoru. She could feel it gathering beyond her wrist. This was the power to negate other powers. It was the perfect defensive power. But... The arm Rensa held out toward Kuroyoru suddenly swelled up like a balloon. Ah? She grew confused. It resembled a lithium battery used in cell phones or laptops when it was destroyed due to over-charging. Tremendous static ran up her arm and spread across her body. Her very thoughts were thrown into disarray. (Dh...gh...What!? High level problem detec-... I-I-Imagine Breaker should be nothing more than the power to negate other powers. Why is it causing such great destruction...just from being drawn into me!?) Her mind raced around in search of an answer. Then she finally realized this was no time to be leisurely seeking an answer. (E-e-emergency release...of body wiring...!! Dz...Command not...received... Fatal...problem...detected... Th-this is...!!) She tried to open the giant flower from her back, but it only opened halfway and convulsed violently. Swapping out the wiring based on precise values would be impossible. An unpleasant noise burst from deep inside her head. Rensa lost all sense of up and down and she collapsed to the side like a piece of wood. Cough!! Cough cough...! D-dammit!! After finally being released from Rensas grip, Kamijou kneeled down on all fours and coughed with a hand on his throat. He almost felt like the oxygen suddenly rushing into him was destroying his body from the inside. Rensa had not moved ever since she collapsed. The unnaturally swollen arm had completely blown off. Various cables and metallic parts were strewn across the road. (What...was that? Did she have some kind of machine trouble?) He was glad he was still alive, but there was too much he did not understand. He approached and tried placing a hand on her neck, but he did not even know if blood circulated through her body. She may have overheated because he smelled smoke filled with a chemical smell similar to burning plastic. He tried to check her temperature, but it felt like he was pressing his hand against a hot metal plate. He almost thought his hand would burn onto her forehead. Her back was still opened and several metal rods were sticking out. It was obvious she was not moving anymore, but he did not know whether he should bring her to a normal hospital or not. Are you two okay? Kamijou left Rensa and approached Hamazura and Kuroyoru. Kuroyoru was much more badly injured. It seemed Hamazura had coughed up blood, but he was able to slowly sit up. His breathing was weak, but Hamazura managed to say, Im not going to die right away or anything, but Id definitely just trip you up like this. Kuroyoru and I will go hide and Im sure Kinuhata can handle things on her own where shes fighting. The real problem is Fremea. Hamazura took something out of his pants pocket and tossed it to Kamijou. It was a cell phone. That Rensa girl may have collapsed, but someone else could be pursuing Fremea too. Please. We cant move. That cell phone is connected to Fremeas security buzzer. You can follow her by GPS. Use that to approach Fremea. Got it? Understood. Kamijou hit a switch with his thumb to check on the app that could follow the GPS signal of the security buzzer. But it isnt me that girl is waiting for. Im just the replacement. Dont die while leaving her with me. Hamazura lightly shook his hand at Kamijou in response. He seemed to be saying, That goes without saying. With that hint to Fremea Seiveluns location in hand, Kamijou Touma ran off into the nighttime streets once more. Part 12 This is super over, announced Kinuhata Saiai while waving her arms to the side. With a wet splattering sound, the thick liquid created from countless squished insects scattered across the road. Technically, the liquid had coated the surface of the Offense Armor protecting Kinuhatas body rather than coating her arms themselves, but the sense of disgust did not change. There had been hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands. There had been such an overwhelming number of man-eating roaches that it had seemed hopeless to try to count them all. Even with all of them attacking from every direction, Kinuhatas will to fight had not been completely worn down. And... Was it a scent...no, a chemical? If I recall, roaches have a substance that super attracts all of their comrades to the same place. You super analyzed that and used it to tell them what was a target and what wasnt. Hee hee hee ha ha. Dont make it sound so simple. I used the plasmagene they use to gain a resistance to insecticides to familiarize them with the chemical and then prepared microscopic scent capsules that used artificial pollen. With just two varieties, one to have them gather and one to have them disperse, I managed to create a monitoring device to control the entire swarm. ...It all took quite a bit of effort. The woman in the lab coat was still smiling. She continued to smile as the shiny black insects devoured her. Due to an error in the target setting, they had swarmed over their own creator until none of her skin could be seen. In just a few dozen seconds, everything but her face had been eaten through. Kinuhata Saiais power had made her a good match for this fight. She could control nitrogen to semi-automatically create a wall to defend against attacks. In other words, the odds had been high she would be able to cut off the trail leading the roaches to her if they used a scent to find their target. Also, Kinuhata did not create nitrogen out of nothing when she used it. She could only call in the nitrogen around her and compress it. The woman in the lab coat controlled the swarm of roaches by creating zones for them to gather in and zones for them to disperse in similar to the high and low pressure zones on a weather map. Kinuhata could not control the roaches in the same way. However, she could control the air around her by calling in the nitrogen, so the possibility had remained that she could destroy the optimal layout of scent that the woman had prepared. And so the confrontation came to an end. The swarm of insects repeated their simple actions and, with no sense of good or evil or of master and servant, they simply ate through the food they saw before them. ... But... Even so... The woman in the lab coat showed no pain, fear, or any other sort of despair on her face. She simply smiled. Falling victim to her own creation could be seen as the worst way to die, and it was occasionally the fate met by historical makers of torture devices, but this woman smiled. Kinuhata frowned. What has you so happy? Heh heh. Well, ysee... Heh heh heh hee hee hee!! Even as the roaches finally reached her face and began eating through her soft cheeks, the womans smile only grew wider. Getting killed like this was part of the plan all along! ...What? Did you think it ended with killing Fremea Seivelun? Did you think I just wanted to turn the heroes anger toward Kuroyoru Umidori? Wellll, todays villain is not one to end things there. The woman in the lab coat began talking about some things Kinuhata was not aware of. The sudden mention of that other survivor of the Dark May Project left Kinuhata confused, but the woman only continued speaking. Ahh! Im so glad you didnt figure it out ahead of time. After all, a suicide, a murder-suicide, or an accident would be too weak a symbol. If I didnt create a situation where the villain targeting Fremea Seivelun was defeated at the hands of the heroes, it would create an error in the parameters for the final setting!! This was your plan? You were planning to be a super disposable pawn from the beginning? What are you trying to do thats super worth going this far...!? If you dont know, then go asking around. There are approximately 7500 heroes overflowing into the streets, but probably only one or two are approaching the truth. Do your best to search them out. The countless roaches swallowed up the head of the woman who Kinuhata had never learned the name of. She must have either collapsed or lost even her human skeletal structure because she had been transformed into a black mass. And even after only something like a black puddle spreading out on the road could be seen, she continued to speak. Final phase complete. The Agitate Halation project comes to an end with its completion. And! So! ...? Now begins an even greater project! A truly wonderful future begins now! This will make everything leading up to it look like a joke!! Kinuhata could not grasp when that woman had died. The roaches scattered in every direction. Not even bones remained. The roaches left behind only the sidewalk. Part 13 Pant...pant... Fremea Seivelun ran through the streets at night. She did not know where she was. She was not even sure she was still in District 13. But she had to run away. That much she knew. She was of course afraid of the various strange things that had suddenly attacked her, but something more important filled her mind. She had gotten Hamazura Shiage involved. When the situation was already so dangerous, she could not trip him up too. Fremea knew there was a world known as combat that was far removed from a normal life. And she knew just how powerless she was when she ended up in that world. And it was always Hamazura who got hurt when that happened. As if he was making up for Fremeas shortcomings, he would act as her shield and lose a lot of blood. She felt something heavy deep in her gut. Chaos whirled around and around in her head. The faces of those who had disappeared from her life, her older sister and Komaba Ritoku, appeared in the back of her mind. The white rhinoceros beetle in her hand was not moving. She did not know what had happened to Hamazura as he made up for her shortcomings this time. She had no proof of it, but Fremea felt like everything about the current situation was condemning her. ...No, she said without thinking. No more... The white rhinoceros beetle twitched slightly. He was trying to tell Fremea it was not her fault and that she did not need to feel so cornered, but his wings only vibrated irregularly and were unable to produce an artificial voice. And... Tears filled the corner of Fremeas eyes as she shouted out despite no one being there to hear her. She could not help but shout out. Nyah!! Someone...someone help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Normally... That shout may have not have reached anyones ears. It was just one of the screams buried in the darkness. The people of the city may have ignored it and went on their way as they pursued their personal problems. But... ... Someone raised their head somewhere in the city. ... Someone frowned in a different part of the city. ... Even in different districts where Fremeas voice could never have reached, many people stood up. A certain term may have fit that type of person perfectly: Hero. And... While dealing with the aftermath of the incident at the airport, Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill was sitting in a hospital waiting room to see if Dr. Matsusada would wake up after his attempt to illegally leave Academy City. In an attempt to grasp some of how he thought, she was reading the type of technical book she was not used to. It was titled The Future of Next-Generation Processors using Viscosity and Density. That was Dr. Matsusadas best seller. To sum it up, the book was a proposal for a new type of next-generation processer to go alongside quantum computers and DNA computers. If his theory was realized, the books introduction claimed it would provide specs that surpassed even Tree Diagrams, but Yomikawa could not say whether his method was realistic or not. (Hes an authority in fluid mechanics, right?) That field specialized in how gases and liquids flowed. The obvious applications were designs for ships and airplanes, water purification filters, and air purifiers that ensured cigarette smoke did not leave its designated areas. The field was also used in health methods to keep the blood flowing smoothly and the development of new baseball pitches. This shading computer (tentative name) would be a water tank filled with a special electrolyte solution. Each individual colloid making up the liquid would be moved with the power of electricity to perform any kind of calculation and... Yomikawa could not help but feel the doctor intentionally used overly difficult wordings to make himself sound smarter. This was completely outside of her field of expertise, so the lack of explanation made her feel stupid. In the end, the crucial aspect of DNA computers and quantum computers is the destruction of the Von Neumann architecture which performs calculations using the smallest units of 0 and 1. The shading computer (tentative name) constructs its smallest units using the viscosity and density of fluids, so it meets this requirement as well. Naturally, this explosively increases the number of calculations that can be made in a second and... There was no sign of any obvious activity in the ICU. Would Yomikawa finish reading the book first or would she be bored to sleep first? ...I have given the colloid liquid as a realistic example, but the architecture should work with any liquid, gas, or other medium that can be controlled according to the principles of fluid mechanics. However, if it is to be used for the shading computer (tentative name), the medium used must be one that can be constantly controlled and influenced. This is an important point to keep in mind. After reading through that far, Yomikawa frowned. The slight sleepiness brought on by boredom suddenly left her. For example, if the AIM diffusion fields spreading across the city were used as the medium for a shading computer (tentative name), one would need to give thought to the danger of the changes in pressure flowing back and affecting the students. For that reason, the shading computer (tentative name) should be built using a fluid that is contained within an isolated box... (So weve finally gotten to the crazy theories.) Yomikawa sighed. (But if you made a super computer using the flow of the AIM diffusion fields, would any of the people whose AIM diffusion field was built into it possibly be able to manipulate it? Even a Level 0 whose powers can only be measured with a microscope? ...Well, doing that would probably end up sacrificing all of the other students. I dont know what it means for the pressure to flow back...but could it alter the state of the mind producing the esper power or input information they should not have known? In other words, could it give them a seemingly divine revelation?) She closed the technical book. It was obvious now nothing was going to happen in the ICU, so sticking around would be meaningless. After deciding she would be forced to submit her report with a lot of unknowns remaining, Yomikawa headed for the hospitals exit. In that instant... In a way... She may have been the closest to the truth. Between the Lines 3 In the end, the project came down to who to leave the billiards cue with. One need only recall the incidents related to Fremea Seivelun. First, there was the incident in which the Freshmen targeted Fremea Seiveluns life to bring Hamazura Shiage and Accelerator together into a single group. Then there was the incident where Fremea conveniently made many different forces her ally during the commotion surrounding Fr?ulein Kreutune. This was a giant game of billiards that used Fremea Seivelun as the cue, the countless heroes as the balls, and Academy City as the table. That world was ruled by the ideas of who was Fremeas enemy, who was Fremeas ally, what needed to be done to save her, and what needed to be destroyed to protect her. A sense of justice and a desire to protect were used to hit the hero balls in the desired direction so they would collide with other balls. The proposed objective was having those heroes kill each other. This plan would defeat those nigh-undefeatable heroes without having to dirty anyone elses hands. That summed up Agitate Halation. While under the influence of Agitate Halation, every single heros values would be based on Fremea Seivelun. It did not matter if they personally knew her. What would they think when seeing her in the corner of a photo taken when she happened to be passing by? What did her friends casually say about her? What path did she use to and from school and what stores did she visit? Just as religions from around the world viewed the possessions used by holy people and the inns they stayed at as being holy as well, the objects and people with a connection to Fremea Seivelun were given powerful meaning and value. A choice approached those people. They could either desperately pursue those things or they could try to deny them. If Fremea was captured by a third party, had her brain partially destroyed, and was made to continually solve simple problems like a pigeon asking for food, that billiards cue would fall into the hands of some completely different player. The balls could be freely sent to collide and the heroes would defeat and kill each other, wearing down their numbers. And so... Hey, said someone. It happened within a shopping district of Academy Citys District 15. The trains and busses stopped running at the curfew, but this area still provided a decent night life. The sight was a strong reminder that humans would thoroughly enjoy anything no matter how much of effort it took once they learned how enjoyable it could be. In the same way, people had eaten fugu just because it was delicious long before anyone had begun to dissect living creatures for scientific purposes. At first, it seemed this was just one of the many bits of trouble that always popped up when people gathered at night. A small girl knocked over a line of large motorcycles stopped along the sidewalk in a no parking zone. As she watched them all come crashing down like dominoes, several angry guys ran out of a nearby darts bar. Wait! What the hell are you doing!? Ahh, ahh! Shit! The mirror broke. And the paint scraped off the tank! Whos gonna pay for this? Should we give you a light beating and have your parents pay us the hospital bill? Theyre outside the city, so they wont know the details. Meanwhile, the girl remained silent. Or rather, she hung her head down while muttering something under her breath that they could not hear. One of the angry guys forcefully grabbed the girls shoulders. Do you understand whats going on here, you little shit!? Were gonna need to break one of your legs a bit, so we need to go find a staircase in a building some-... He trailed off. A wet sound followed. Oh...? She held a small plastic bottle in her hand. The transparent bottom had broken and the transparent liquid inside had transformed into a sharp blade. And she stabbed that blade surprisingly deeply into the mans gut. B-bhh!? Cough cough!! Gheh...!? Are you shitting me...? She was aiming for us from the beginning!? Youre picking a fight? There are rules for this kind of thing, you know! Even as the guys surrounding her grew even angrier, the girl showed no change. With no real difference in her expression, she pulled the water blade from the guys gut. Dont get in my way. Finally, she smoothly moved her lips. If you stand in my way, I cant go rescue that girl. If you get in the way, I can only assume youre her enemy. Metal shutters were used much more often simply to deter crime than as a physical wall. They could not stop someone who was truly trying to destroy them. In District 7, the owner of a sporting goods store noticed an odd sound coming from the shutter. However, his cell phone slipped from his hand just when he was about to call Anti-Skill. It was a piece of construction equipment. A device similar to a thick pair of scissors that was used to destroy buildings had broken through the metal shutter. It moved like the beak of a giant bird as it chewed through the shutter. As the machines arm pulled back, the entire shutter was pulled away with a great din of destruction. When the store owner saw someone climb down from the machine, he grabbed a nearby product without thinking. He clicked his tongue when he realized it was a bat signed by a professional player that he had bought on an online auction to draw in customers. In the next instant, someone grabbed the side of his head. Unable to resist, his head was suddenly slammed into a showcase. The sound of glass shattering was joined by a high-pitched alarm. The attacker spoke in an eerily lighthearted voice. Yes, yes. Sorry, sorry. I just need to borrow something is all. Once Im done, Ill leave, so dont worry. Wha-...bh? What...this is...robbery... Watch what you say, old man, said the boy offhandedly as he headed further into the store. He looked through the various bats of different materials and lengths. I guess the standard would be the metal bat. I have no real reason to insist on a wooden one. Ha ha. And its not like I have time to hammer a bunch of nails into it. ... When he heard that, the store owner pulled his face from the broken showcase. He gripped the signed bat tighter in his hands. Oh? What is it, old man? Why do you look like you want to pick a fight? ...Stop joking around. I dont know who you are, but I will not let you use my products for violence. What are you talking about? The boy grabbed a metal bat with a truly puzzled look. Im using this for justice. A hero is allowed to borrow the things he needs. He can steal a car to pursue a fleeing criminal and he can grab a sword off the wall. If you think that permits you to do anything, you are nothing but a villain. Oh? The boy lightly spun the metal bat around in one hand. He continued to spin it around faster and faster. Then you leave me no choice. Youre getting in the way when Im trying to go save that girl. This entire situation can be summed up with you leave me no choice. ? What Im trying to say, you asshole, is go to hell, villain. Despite it being a November night, a girl was lightly dressed in a bikini top and baggy pants. She stood alongside several trucks in a plaza in front of a theatre in District 18. She was Fusou Ayame. This guerrilla band girl possessed a sound-type power and she was spinning a special microphone shaped like a megaphone in one hand. The world would continue to turn even if I disappeared. She muttered in such a quiet and smooth voice that her normal high-volume shouting seemed like it had all been a lie. Humanity would feel no sense of loss if my songs disappeared. She spoke calmly. It was as if she was trying as hard as possible not to make any waves. But... No. This was the lead-in. She was creating this silence to provide an even greater impression when she reached her top voltage. If just a single person will fall in love with my voice... If someone somewhere says they need me... In the end, Fusou Ayame was a girl who could only live amid great noise and sound. And to prove it, she held her megaphone-style microphone once more. It would be insincere of me not to answer with everything I have!! She flipped on the switch. The headlights of the trucks around her all sent out bright light at once. Fusou Ayame heard the commotion in the night and charged full speed ahead. She locked on to a hero who seemed to be thinking that it was only natural to rob an ATM if he needed it to save Fremea Seivelun. The violent level of noise was already like a punch to the gut, but Fusou Ayame amplified it even further. She shouted out with everything she had and it tore through the banks shutters. Yeehaw!! I was worried about the lack of guests, but music is the ultimate worldwide entertainment!! Its only natural to help each other out in a time of need! And so its time for a surprise gueeeeeeeesssssssssssssssttttttttttttttttttt!!!!!! There was a scream. Someone shouted in anger. The normal people and Anti-Skill members who tried to stop it were knocked back and they marched through Academy Citys night. They filled the entire road and sidewalk. Someone said, Honestly, why is everyone getting in the way? What do they have against that girl? Someone else said, Its because of people like this that people like me are needed. Well, everyone who gets in the way must be an enemy, so I just have to crush every last one of them. The heroes who appeared in Academy City that night numbered at about 7500. Every one of them was someone who held the possibility to individually destroy the sturdy system of an organization. I will rescue Fremea Seivelun. I will crush everyone who gets in my way. Thats what it means to be a hero!! The unnatural divine revelation sent through the AIM diffusion fields led them through the nighttime streets. These were the people who would normally miraculously save a person, a city, or a country. But with an artificial sense of justice and desire to protect inputted into them, they were heading in a completely different direction. While holding no questions about that truth, the balls were hit by the cue, collided with each other, and all headed for a single pocket. Yakumi Hisakos ultimate goal with the project had been to destroy Agitate Halation herself once it had been completed. The counterbalance Kuroyoru Umidori would act as the villain and kill the leverage point Fremea Seivelun who was twisting everything...or so it would seem. In a way, she was breaking the egg that was Fremea to allow the chick to hatch. As long as Fremea was killed, it did not particularly matter how, but she wanted to divert the focus of the 7500 heroes on the table elsewhere. That was why Yakumi had let Kuroyoru live after she had been used in the Freshmen incident to input the parameter of the one the heroes must protect into Fremea. No better scapegoat existed. However... Did Yakumi Hisako truly have control of everything surrounding Fremea Seivelun? The judgment on that point would soon be given. Volume 7, 4: Destruction of the Pre-Established Harmony. Total_Hero. Volume 7, Chapter 4: Destruction of the Pre-Established Harmony. Total_Hero. Part 1 The reboot sequence completed and the cyborg created by the citys dark side awakened. She was missing an arm. When she stood up and looked around, she found Kamijou Touma, Hamazura Shiage, and Kuroyoru Umidori were gone. They had likely either fled or gone to meet up with Fremea Seivelun. The loss of any hint to Fremeas location was concerning. She might have been able to read some residual information using the #5s power, but that power had such a high level of freedom that it was difficult to use. All threats have disappeared from the area. Redistributing performance from high-speed battle optimization to even distribution. Beginning search. As Rensa uttered those flowing statements, her metallic reddish-purple and pink flesh changed. It became the color of slightly flushed skin that could repel water. This was the skin of a teenage girl. And then Rensa heard a familiar voice Rensa-chan. Your camouflage nurse uniform is gone, so you will be walking around naked like this. Doctor? Rensa looked around again, but could not spot the person in question. And yet she could still hear Yakumi Hisakos voice. There may be a problem with leaving my outer skin exposed to the air, but I determined leaving the reddish-purple and pink armor on the surface would make me appear more of a threat. Rensa-chan. Rensa fell silent when the woman spoke her name more forcefully. This was the same as a trained dog. She did not need to understand the reasons behind the actions. With a staticky noise, some of her skin changed to something like a reddish-purple and pink swimsuit. Nice. Nice one, Rensa-chan. I am unsure why this matters. Well, cyborgs are different from normal machines by definition. For example, you have a face. Is that also why my bust size setting has been stopped at 80.999 cm? Thats a top priority issue, you idiot, replied the adult woman with a sharp voice. Rensa tilted her head, but ended up abandoning the question because she could not solve it herself. Something else was more important. Doctor, where are you? I am detecting a problem of mid level or above in my vision processing... Dont worry, dont worry. Theres nothing wrong with your sensory organs, Rensa-chan. No one can see me in my current form. ? My physical body has been safely destroyed. My consciousness has been transferred to the shading computer that uses the AIM diffusion fields as a medium. What? The Agitate Halation project was not meant to construct a billiards cue? If I didnt present it like that, the other black-hearted members of the board of directors would never have allowed it. What matters is that I have now stepped into the realm of Kazakiri Hyouka and Dragon. I should be able to make significant advances in my research now. That is good to hear. Now that you have achieved your objective, shall I fall back? No, no. I need you to keep at it a bit longer. ? Rensa tilted her head. Yakumi continued to produce her voice from empty air. I am now an existence fixed in the AIM diffusion fields spread across the city. However, a shading computer can use any gas or liquid that can be controlled with fluid mechanics. I see. And that means? There are some existences constructed from Academy Citys AIM diffusion fields. There is Kazakiri Hyouka and Dragon. ...But what if I made the scale even greater? What about the worlds oceans...no, the air. The air across the entire world. If I could preserve my giant thought processes based on its movements, I would be reborn as something that far exceeds an AIM thought being. What would I see once that happens? I have a question. Yesss? When using the AIM diffusion fields, the students and the fields can influence each other. That is why a shading computer can be built and why the citys heroes can be controlled using it. Can the same really be done with normal air or seawater? It can. Humans thoughts can be influenced by the concentration of oxygen in their blood and slight adjustments in atmospheric pressure. This is a common theme in weightlessness experiments. The air can influence people and peoples movements can influence the air. I just have to work my way into the middle of that. Rensa was quite a monster with her mostly mechanized body, but Yakumi Hisako went much farther than that. However, Rensa felt no fear. She only continued asking questions as a student seeking education. Then what do you need to shift to the other medium? Fremea Seivelun, readily replied Yakumis voice. She was necessary to construct Agitate Halation. Basically, she stabilized things and functioned as a linchpin keeping me in this city. The balloon has been filled, but it cannot fly high into the sky if the string remains. And now that I have been fully reactivated as an AIM thought being, I no longer need Fremea Seivelun. Once that linchpin has been removed, I can take a trip into the realm of the infinite. ...This plan was a mixture of camouflage and the real thing. What a complicated structure. Oh, its quite easy to understand, said Yakumi as she laughed. But as the woman had no physical body, Rensa could only tell by hearing it. Just as before, it all comes to an end once you kill Fremea Seivelun. That is all you need to know. Rensa heard the quiet noise of an electric vehicle approaching. It was filled with her spare parts. What do I have at my disposal? You can use anything but those roachies. Their guiding substance was taken, so they were probably gathered in one place and crushed. The man-eating roaches were a powerful weapon, but they could not self-replicate. A neutron beam had been set to automatically damage the roaches brains such that they turned their hunger toward other objects. Even if they ran away and reproduced, their children would not inherit the man-eating characteristics. That meant they would be forever gone if the current swarm was defeated. But why? Agitate Halation is sending the artificial heroes throughout Academy City to rescue Fremea Seivelun. There are approximately 7500 of them. Can you avoid them? Can you defeat them? She did not hesitate to make those suggestions. It was as if she was implicitly saying Rensa could do either with her specs. You will be fine. They may be heroes, but they will not necessarily work together. Even if they do work together to find Fremea, they will break apart the instant they spot her. They will all want to rescue her in their own way. Then what should I do? I have no way of tracking-... Rensa-chan, you do not need to follow someone like Hamazura. If you follow the signal from the white rhinoceros beetle we took control of, you will find Fremea. Take advantage of the confusion to approach her and kill her Part 2 Kamijou Touma ran through Academy City at night. He could not see the whole picture of what was going on. In fact, was there any one person who could see the whole picture? Whoever was plotting this conspiracy had likely not foreseen Kamijous continued presence. For that reason, there may not have been anyone who truly understood everything. And Kamijou could not view that in an optimistic light. An obviously gigantic power was freely writhing around the city. He could feel the strange eeriness of it all. (At any rate, I need to meet up with this Fremea Seivelun girl. This incident has started to leave any of the rails set up for it, but that girl is definitely at the eye of the storm.) A map was displayed on the cell phone Hamazura Shiage had given him and a red dot could be seen in the center. That was the GPS signal from Fremeas security buzzer. Fremea had likely been fleeing the entire time Kamijou and the others fought Rensa, but she was only a child. She had not yet left District 13. Kamijou was unsure he should be glad he could catch up quickly or concerned that her enemies could reach her sooner. (But...) Kamijou frowned while looking at the map on that small screen. (Where is she running to? It looks like a large area.) The large blank on the map indicating private property was labeled Learning Core. Kamijou recalled a TV commercial he had seen. He recalled that it was a theme park created from various educational facilities such as a library, museum, aquarium, and planetarium. It had been created to bring younger children back to those sorts of facilities and it had been unified to make up for the general lack of land and funds, but a high school boy like Kamijou was not aware of all that. What came to his mind was... (That place has works of art and antiques, right? I doubt its security would be lax enough for an eight year old girl to sneak in. So how did she get in?) For an instant, he began to wonder if the red dot on the map was a decoy, but then he reconsidered. (Thats right. Fremea doesnt have to sneak in without anyone noticing. She wants the siren to go off. When the guards rush over, they can help save her.) However, the enemy pursing Fremea now was on a greater scale than ever before. This was an enemy that sent a cyborg that could freely use multiple Level 5 powers as a mere vanguard. Middle-aged men with batons and pepper spray would only get themselves wrapped up in the trouble. Well, Im not really one to talk... muttered Kamijou. And then... The red dot suddenly disappeared from the map. At first only puzzlement filled Kamijous face. He used his thumb to operate the cell phone, but the dot did not reappear. He could no longer see where Fremea Seivelun was. Dammit. What? he spat out. He began running even faster. He felt a very bad feeling building up in his chest as he rushed toward the giant Learning Core facility. What is going on!? Part 3 Fremea Seivelun stood at the front gate of Learning Core. The gate had heavy metal bars and slid open, so it was like a bigger version of a schools main entrance. It was over 3 meters tall, so an eight year old like Fremea could never climb over it. However... A different solution presented itself for someone as small as Fremea. She twisted her body around and managed to squeeze herself between the bars. As soon as she did, giant lights turned on in various places around the large grounds. They were high output lights similar to the ones on baseball fields. The darkness was wiped away instantly and Fremea instinctually held her arm over her eyes like when a car turned its headlights on nearby. Ny-nyah!! What, what!? It does not...matter if you...are found... It is more important that...you lose those pursuing you... The white rhinoceros beetle in her pocket created bits and pieces of his artificial voice She still did not know what had happened, but the beetle was finally able to speak by vibrating his wings once more. It seemed he had still not fully recovered and could not use his power, but it was still a piece of good news among all the unreasonable happenings of late. Also...there is this... The white beetle rummaged around in her pocket and used two legs to force out an egg-shaped device. Nyah. In the first place, Hamazura gave that to me. Yes, but a third party could learn of your position if they intercepted the GPS signal. I am sorry, but I recommend that you destroy it... Nyah... said Fremea as she hesitated. She may have been reluctant to part with the tool so readily as it symbolized her bond with Hamazura. However, the beetles thoughts were perfectly logical. He used his trembling front legs to push the egg-shaped device out of Fremeas pocket and onto the hard ground. Now, hurry. Please crush it underfoot. But... Hurry!! The white rhinoceros beetles artificial voice almost seemed to be scolding Fremea as she hesitated. However... (No, dammit!! Dont do that! If you destroy that, those trying to rescue you wont be able to find you!!) The beetle was trembling in an attempt to resist something. But a third party had control of his actions. The situation had actually grown worse since the student dorm. He was undeniably the primary owner of that rhinoceros beetle body made of Dark Matter. However, Dark Matter did not require a single core. The system created by that power was resilient enough to overcome that limitation. In other words, being the primary owner did not necessarily give him an advantage toward controlling the body. The situation could be different depending on the method used, but there was a danger of an interfering third party being given equal control. And as the beetle fell further into this crisis situation, his thin wings created an artificial voice saying the opposite of what he wanted. If you do not destroy that now, it will call in even more enemies. Nyah... An object Hamazura Shiage gave you will end up hurting you. If that happens, he will be horribly hurt as well. The voice sounded sincerely kind yet chose words that would accurately tear into her heart. The white beetle felt such intense anger he thought his body would burst from within, but he could not stop his thin wings from moving. Now! If you do not want to hurt him any further, then hurry! Okay... Okay!! Fremea moved her small leg while almost in tears. That egg-shaped security buzzer was meant to call in the people who would rescue her, but she was lifting her leg to crush it and destroy it. ...St...Stop...!! For just an instant, the white beetle regained control of his body. He gave a quick warning, but did not make it in time, He heard the high-pitched sound of plastic breaking. The GPS signal was gone. She had done it. And as soon as that thought entered the white beetles head, control of his body was taken away once more. A voice other than his own led Fremea in the wrong direction. Head into the facility. Head for the museum area because it is the sturdiest. Nyah... Learning Core was divided into three major areas: the outside area, the underground area, and the high-rise complex known as the Lightning Rod. The outdoor area she was currently running through was primarily made up of a botanical garden and zoo, so it was filled with a lot of cages either made of metal bars or dug down into the ground. The domed building visible beyond the artificial forest was the planetarium. An aquarium, art gallery, and library existed underground, but the museum Fremea was heading for seemed to be in the Lightning Rod building. She just had to follow the arrows on the signs posted around. Due to all the elementary school children in District 13, the power was turned out relatively early, so the building had an observatory built on the roof. While running as quickly as she could on her short legs, Fremea dashed between cages from which the animals had been removed and she spoke with the (person who was controlling the) white rhinoceros beetle. But, in the first place how am I supposed to get inside the building? Its night, so theyll have locked all the doors. You can find a way around that using how small you are. First, please head for the East-2 business delivery entrance. You can head up the garbage chute to... Suddenly, they heard a noise. It was the creaking of a metal fence. Fremea looked over and saw someone jumping out from the artificial forest and into the bright baseball field-like lights. This person wore a bunny girl outfit that emphasized her feminine silhouette and wore a paper bag over her head. She used both hands to hold a water jet at her waist. Found you. Fremea took a step back when she heard that. The paper bag woman was not alone. With the sounds of people rustling through grass, more and more people appeared out of the artificial forest. Ohh, I found you!! No need to worry. I will save you!!!!! That oddly cheerful voice made Fremea feel like some strange object was wrapping around her legs. The rhinoceros beetles artificial voice snapped her out of it. Hurry! To East-2!! If you enter through an entrance too small for anyone else, they cannot reach you!! Fremea finally resumed running for the giant Lightning Rod building. Countless sets of footsteps pursued her. It was not her speed that prevented them from catching up to her. Instead, the people continually grabbed at each others hair and clothes and got their limbs tangled together. They took each other out like water in a flood. I will save you!! No, me!! I will!! Get out of the way!! Terribly ominous noises struck Fremea from behind. If she glanced behind her even once, she would be swallowed up. She could tell that all too well. And like a drowning man grasping at straw, this threat increased her reliance on the white beetle that was giving her clear instructions. However... (Dammit!! Shes doing exactly what they want! If she stops questioning anything, they really will be able to control her as they see fit. I need to do something... I need to destroy this false trust!!) Those demonic calculations were producing excellent results. Most were completely unaware of it, and the few who were could do nothing about it. Part 4 Kamijou Touma arrived in front of Learning Core. On his way here, he had worried about how he would sneak in, but it turned out that was not a problem. Powerful outdoor lights were illuminating the complex like midday and a red rotating light on the main gates pillar indicated an emergency situation. With the alarm already activated, he did not need to worry about activating it himself. Kamijou climbed the three meter fence and made his way inside. (Did it go off when Fremea escaped inside? I hope the alarm didnt scare her into going elsewhere.) The GPS signal had disappeared here. If she had gone somewhere else, he would have no way of following. Kamijou continued across the complex while following alongside the lines of empty cages that animals were let inside during the day, but he finally frowned. Something was not right. The atmosphere was unpleasantly tense. He could smell smoke. The emergency was clearly something greater than an eight year old girl entering. He had a bad feeling that something much bigger was going on. (What is this feeling...?) Kamijou continued ahead along the line of cages, but he was much more cautious than before. The zoo had artificial ups and downs built into the ground to make it seem less uniform. Kamijou was walking up one of those hills. (Hawaii... Baggage City... No, this is different. This isnt the same scent as back then. This is much...thicker than what I saw there...) He continued up the hill. The entire facility was lit up with bright lights. Trying to look up into the night sky gave him a headache. However, he could see something else mixed in with that pure white light. Some other color was rising up from over the hill. (Oh, thats right...) Kamijou finally made it to the top of the hill. And he saw what lay on the other side. (Russia. This is like the center of World War III! This is the same tension that feels like running right into an invisible brick wall. This is the same scent as that catastrophe!!) Everything was filled with the red of flames and the black of smoke. The botanical garden that took up half of the outdoor area was burning. And it was not just a case of arson. A mass of what almost looked like poppy seeds was gathered around the giant building known as the Lightning Rod. When Kamijou realized they were all people, a chill ran down his spine. This riot was made up of hundreds...no, thousands of people. And they were clearly not a group unified behind a single goal. They were chaotically grabbing and punching at each other. Kamijou remembered something. He remembered the self-proclaimed heroes who had begun fighting before his eyes on his way to District 13. (Are they under the effects of a partial version of Agitate Halation? They all want to protect Fremea, but theyre completely divided over who takes command!!) They were making no distinction between enemy and ally, so they would target Kamijou as well. This was not a situation where he could stop each individual conflict. He had to find Fremea as quickly as possible, defeat the person behind Agitate Halation, and then end the project itself. (And that means my first priority is...) Where was Fremea Seivelun inside Learning Core? Or had she fled elsewhere? The best way to find out was to ask one of Learning Cores guards. Kamijou checked a sign and crouched down as he ran to the zoo office. However, the tiny building was empty when he arrived. The guards would not have been armed with guns. Once they decided the commotion was too much for them to stop, they would have hidden in some safe place. He went around to a nearby first-aid station and guard station, but they were also deserted. The guard station had numerous monitors lined up inside, but he could not see Fremea on any of them and did not know how to call up past footage. After checking four or five similar places, he finally found someone inside a square building labeled food storage. The building contained machinery that made the animals food by grinding up giant pieces of meat and creating a paste by mixing in grains, a digestive aid, and other additives. They must have needed to make quite a lot in one day because it was as large as a harbor storehouse. Kamijou found the person inside the giant machine that ground up pieces of beef the size of sandbags. A middle-aged man was curled up between the multiple rotating blades that were currently not moving. Ee!! W-wait! I am unarmed! I am just a zookeeper. I cant do anything to you, so please do not attack me!! Dont worry, dont worry. Im not one of the ones who attacked this place, firmly said Kamijou to quiet down the man. It would be a problem if the man made too much noise and the self-proclaimed heroes heard. However, the middle-aged man was so focused on himself that he did not think that far. R-really? Then why are you here after hours? Y-you arent going to drag me out to them, are you!? Im not! But how about you come out from there? It may be unlikely, but if that thing turns on, youll be ripped to shreds. I-I unplugged it before hiding inside... The man must have started feeling more comfortable about Kamijou because he came out and stepped down to the floor. Kamijou sighed and said, You just had bad luck. But not many people have entered the zoo. I climbed over the fence at the front gate. If you cross the artificial forest, you can probably reach the fence without those heroes noticing. Youre kidding... You want me to go through there!? It would be safer to hide here all night. They are being completely indiscriminate. They might start a thorough search of the area soon or they might set fire to buildings without searching them properly. It would be best to get out now. The zookeepers body stiffened in fear when he heard the word fire. He glanced nervously toward the exit again and again. Um...who are you? Why are you here? An eight year old girl named Fremea Seivelun is in here. I dont know if this crowd is trying to capture her or hurt her, but nothing good will come of them finding her. I need to find her first. It was possible they did not intend to harm Fremea. However, if the girl was thrown out into the midst of them, she could be accidentally shot in the fight over her. It was even possible the crowd would grab at her arms and legs and rip her to pieces. When Kamijou explained that fear to him, the middle-aged zookeeper nodded slightly and said, Animals from the cat family will sometimes get so worked up over protecting their children from an enemy that they accidentally kill that child. I do not know who these rioters are, but I agree they look more dangerous than wild beasts. Kamijous thought patterns here were actually no different from those rampaging throughout Learning Core, but he did not realize it. The only difference was whether Hamazura had asked them to rescue Fremea or not. I need to know where she is hiding in this vast complex, so I want to contact the people who worked as guards here. Theyre the only ones who can check the recorded security camera footage. Do you know where they would have gone to hide in an emergency? If I did, I would not have been left behind. ...No, wait. ? Kamijou frowned as the middle-aged zookeeper pulled out his smartphone. He seemed to be entering special values into the phones settings rather than using a standard application. I think...the camera footage is connected to the network both with wires and wirelessly. That way it will still be up and running if one or the other is taken out. If I do this...and this and...wait, what came next? Theres a way connect to the camera networks wireless LAN. You can really do that? When some of the Old World monkeys escaped before, a new zookeeper managed to capture them unusually easily. When I asked him how he did it, he showed me this trick. Ah, here we go! Ive got it!! Kamijou peered at the small screen the zookeeper held out. It was indeed displaying the grainy black-and-white footage of a security camera. He switched through them, but all of the outdoor ones only showed what a horrible state everything was in. But there are a lot of cameras. Wont it take a long time to check them one by one? Those rioters came here pursuing Fremea. Where did the alarm go off first? The first one had to be Fremea. She couldnt have snuck in undetected. They checked the cameras around the outer perimeter of the complex at the time the alarm was activated. They spotted a child slipping in through the front gate. They saw her hurriedly run toward the giant building known as the Lightning Rod. The Lightning Rod... It was given that name to bring to mind the idea of peacefully using great knowledge to overcome a natural disaster. I always thought it was an odd word choice for a childrens educational facility. The zookeeper worked here, so he naturally knew more about the place than the average person. But Kamijou wanted to know about Fremeas safety. What kind of security does that building have? It wasnt a bad choice on her part, said the middle-aged zookeeper. The art gallery and museum are filled with items much more valuable than an animals life. Its the toughest place here. If she did manage to sneak in, its the safest place to be. Thanks. Kamijou handed the smartphone back to the zookeeper. The man frowned and asked, Youre still going? She can last all night in there. In fact, you will probably be spotted by those rioters if you try to approach. If we can figure out shes there, the others can too, replied Kamijou while urging the zookeeper toward the exit. And if that many people use cutting-edge technology and powerful esper abilities, we cant know for sure the building will last all night. I need to find a way to Fremea. Kamijou cracked open the steel door. After seeing that no one was outside, the two of them turned toward their separate destinations. Be careful. You too. The two ran off in different directions through that nighttime zoo illuminated by powerful lights. Part 5 As he approached the Lightning Rod, the number of people grew. They may have already figured out where Fremea was. The area around the giant building was made into a large open plaza instead of being used for the zoo or botanical garden. However, it had several pieces of artwork set up as an outdoors art gallery, so there were still places to hide. The stench of smoke grew stronger in the plaza and Kamijou crouched down behind the pedestal to a hunk of metal that might have been intertwined people or trees. He heard several pairs of footsteps pass by nearby. He was still about 150 meters away from the Lightning Rod. (How am I supposed to sneak in? It seems Tsuchimikado just climbed up a wall before, but...) Having no way in was a problem, but Fremea would be in danger if getting in was too easy. As he pondered this odd dilemma, a thought came to him. (Thats right. The power lines. If theyre buried underground like in the city, they need a network of underground passageways for maintenance. There have to be secret routes connecting the difference facilities!) The underground passageways would connect to every building with power. And that included the Lightning Rod. Also, the Lightning Rod contained valuable artwork and antiques. In case of a robbery, they would probably have thick shutters to stop the robbers and a method of quickly removing the truly valuable items from the building. That would be meaningless if the robbers could simply wait at the exit, so the passageways would be laid out like a spider web. That meant the underground power tunnels would be perfect. ... Kamijou looked around while still crouched down. He saw round manholes and square manholes, but he was too far away to tell which ones led to the power network. He decided to approach one to check, but then... He heard an odd sound from the side. He turned around and his eyes met with a girl wearing a gymnastics leotard under a thick coat. She was swinging a long ribbon through complex trajectories in the sky. Instead of simple flames, the ribbon was emitting powerful orange sparks like it was wearing down a piece of metal. (Not good...!!) Its. So. Cold. As the light ribbon danced through the air, it touched a metal piece of art. Sparks exploded out and a large chunk of the metal was gouged out. Could you make the cold go away? Justice must be carried out beautifully!! ...!! As the sparking ribbon arced complicatedly through the air, Kamijou grabbed it with his right hand. However, he received no resistance when he tugged it toward him. The girl had readily let go and instead pulled out several batons and a bowling pin-like club she had hidden somewhere. Orange sparks burst from all of them. Before she could throw or swing around those weapons, Kamijou jabbed his foot forward as hard as he could. He jammed his heel into the girls solar plexus and used his entire body weight to knock her unconscious. However, he could not relax. Once that one found him, others would head toward him too. Shit!! He could not remain in one spot. If he opened the manhole lid while they were watching, he would be leading them to Fremea. He had to lose them before he could try the underground power network. A girl wearing a kendo hakama swung a bamboo sword so heavy it seemed to actually be made of concrete. A young man pursued Kamijou while sliding across the grass as smoothly as if he were skiing. A girl who looked exactly like the stereotypical library girl used the colorful bookmarks held between her fingers to target Kamijous throat like they were razor blades. As Kamijou ran, he tried to take out as many as he could by performing a lariat as he passed by, but it was not enough. Far too many of them had noticed him. He was running out of places to run. The paths he might take were being blocked one after another. Thank you for inviting me tonight! Lets get this one-man outdoor concert in the Learning Core started!! We wont stop until morniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnngggggggggggg!!!!!! A tremendous shockwave blasted away the crowd of heroes around Kamijou. He frantically negated it with his right hand as the girl flanked by advertisement trucks shouted into the megaphone-shaped microphone she held in one hand. Their eyes met and she winked for some reason. Looks like we have someone following us for the full national tour Ive got nothing against that kind of passion! If the fans are that excited, Ive gotta go all out for the first soooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggggg!! Y-you idiot!! Avoiding an invisible shockwave without using his right hand would be difficult. But as Kamijou held out his right hand, he spotted something unpleasant out of the corner of his eye: another esper was firing flames from his palm. He could not defend against another projectile at the moment. (Dammit...!!) With his eyes opened wide, Kamijou tried to avoid the flames by lowering his upper body despite knowing it would never work. And then... Multiple beams of light blew away the advertisement trucks creating the great noise. Kamijou did not understand what had happened. But since the shockwave had disappeared, he focused on the flame esper. He used his right hand to scatter the wall of flames approaching him. (That was the same power that cyborg used.) He thought maybe that enemy had returned, but he was wrong. It was not a cyborg with a metallic reddish-purple and pink body he spotted. (So is this the real Level 5!?) Wait... This esper was not even looking in Kamijous direction. With a girl in a knit dress and a girl in a pink track suit on either side of her, the #4 brushed up her bangs and spoke to no one in particular. Where did Fremea get off to? Honestly, Hamazura. If youre going to ask us for help, cant you give us some better information? Well, if we defeat them all and search the entire area, we will super find her eventually, right? ...I detect a signal from south-southwest. The three girls did not hesitate to walk right into the center of the commotion. It was as if this did not leave the realm of their everyday life. Meanwhile, the girl who had lost her speakers tossed the megaphone-shaped microphone aside, laughed, and tried to take control of the area with her unamplified voice. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Thanks for the unexpected ad lib request! This is why live performances are so much-...!! Shut the hell up. An explosive noise rang out. Over ten people flew through the air like a part of a joke. But this was not due to the conflict between the #4 and the microphone girl. It had happened in the distant burning botanical garden. (What was that...?) Kamijou frowned and looked around. He saw... This is horrible. This area was filled with bright red flames and blazing heat rather than the brilliant white of the outdoor lights. A single boy stood in the middle of the blazing forest. He wore a school uniform bleached pure white and had a headband wrapped around his forehead. He was looking at the burning trees with a look of pure regret. These guys showed how much guts they have by living this long. Some of them have lived longer than a human ever will. Now, its true trees have to be cut down at times to help us humans out, but I cant stand it when you dont show the slightest respect for their guts. This was Academy Citys #7. His name was Sogiita Gunha. He was here for a very simple reason. He had run across the commotion while walking through the city. A true hero did not need to be led to the incident like the artificially created ones had been. Take this! With that silly-sounding shout, he simply jabbed his clenched fist forward. That was all it took. An overwhelming blast of wind blew out the almost volcanic blaze like it was a simple candle. The dozen or so students surrounding him took a few steps back when they saw that. Sogiita on the other hand, paid those heroes no heed whatsoever. His gaze was fixed on a tiny flickering flame that remained. Whoops, theres still some left. If one blast wasnt enough, I must still be severely lacking in guts. Sogiita lowered his body and held up his fist. Let me give everyone a quick warning. If you want to flee, do so now. I wont be trying to hit any of you, but my method of saving lives is not something you can withstand without any guts. Shit! What the hell!? Surround him! Theres no reason to be afraid then!! Yeah, but...!! A loud roar exploded out and several boys collapsed to the ground. Several dozen boys and girls were surrounding a lone boy. This boy was wearing a black leather jacket. Despite facing just that one enemy, the other boys and girls had yet to so much as scratch him. On the other hand, over half of the original group surrounding him had already been lost. Due to the weak bonds between the group, some of those lost had simply left the group to pursue a different target. Someone said, What a joke... Someone else said, Is this the #6!? But even a Level 5 is still human!! The boy in the black jacket smiled when he heard that. His smile split across his face like a crescent moon. Cmon, now. Stop that. The most frightening part was that the boy had not done anything that indicated he was using an esper power. He had done all of this unarmed. And in that case, what would happen once he started using the power of the #6? My name is not Academy Citys #6. Nor is it One of the seven Level 5s. My name is Aihana Etsu!! His slender arms fired punches on the level of heavy machinery. And he charged toward the crowd surrounding him without using any sort of esper power. Academy Citys #5, Shokuhou Misaki, looked puzzled as she placed a hand above her eyes. Oh? It looks like someone is using their acting ability to play the role of the #6. She had come here while pursuing Kamijou Touma. When Kamijou had learned of Tsuchimikado Maikas death in the School Garden, he had abandoned his covert mission and broken out of the gate without explaining anything to her. Shokuhou had been left in the dark. This had irritated her. She did not know what that boy had gotten himself into, but Tokiwadai Middle School and the School Garden were the #5s territory. She could not allow him to barge in and then leave without explaining the truth behind it all. Well, someone pretending to be the #6 has no connection ability to me. I will simply do what I came here to do. She held a television remote in her other hand and she spun it around like a baton. Category 109 / Shokuhou Misaki is your ally. Immediately eliminate anyone who attacks her. Category 081 / Your target, Shokuhou Misaki, is the boy standing next to you. Category 220 / You are afraid of sailor uniforms. If any get near you, you want to eliminate them. She pointed the remote in various directions and manipulated one of the nearby heroes each time she pressed a button. Despite the dangerous cutting-edge technology and destructive esper powers flying every which way, Shokuhou remained unscathed as if she stood in the eye of the storm. Of course, this was simply because she was further encouraging everyone to target each other. However, one person refused to keep quiet about it. This was Misaka Mikoto who stood next to her. Wait! Wait just a second!! Those attacks youre diverting are coming toward me! Ahh!? Oh? Sorry about that, Misaka-san. I ordered them to target anyone who used their attack ability on me, so they must have automatically chosen the person who looked the most uncivilized. You knew this would happen, didnt you!? If not...Argh, get the hell out of my way!! Are you trying to use all this confusion to assassinate me!? She fired a lightning spear from her bangs which knocked out a boy with dreadlocks who was persistently targeting her. With that convenient automatic cannon taken from her, Shokuhou frowned slightly. It was the look of a clerk faced with a rude customer. But, Misaka-san, you have no necessity ability for being here. I am only here because it annoyed me to be left behind before I saw the incident through to its end. Thats why Im here too!! In other words, Mikoto had followed Shokuhou who had followed Kamijou. Now, where is that idiot? The Learning Core complex was large enough on its own, but it was now in a chaotic state where thousands of students were all fighting each other. Some areas would be difficult to get into at all, so they would have a hard time finding a specific individual. Shokuhou spun around her remote. That mental Level 5 had such a wide application for her powers that she did not have stable control of her powers unless she created boundaries for herself. She grinned and suggested, Then how about the first one to reach him gets to do whatever she wants? Bfh!? Whatever she wants!? What do you mean whatever she wants!? Something flew by above Learning Core at high speed. He instantly grasped the distribution of power within the complex, circled around, and made his way above Learning Core once more. He had already located his target. Not a person to attack, but a place to land. Without hesitation, he charged at high speed straight for an area of the plaza in front of the large building. The self-proclaimed heroes were gathered here in the greatest concentration and the #4 was battling a short distance away. The Level 5 who flew down had four tornados growing from his back like wings. He was Accelerator, Academy Citys #1. All sound disappeared. A group of 1000 people were blown away in every direction as if a meteorite had landed. All he had done was land. That was all it took to wipe out a giant chunk of the enemy force. And his skill could only be called more than miraculous given the fact that not even one person had died despite the massive amount of destruction. His ability in vector control had already reached that level. As all of those people were unable to stand up due to having their brain rattled, that white Level 5 stood triumphant above them all. Gh...fh...gbh!? Wh-wh-what...? Cmon, really? said Accelerator in light disappointment over how easily he had conquered these enemies. Dont tell me you thought I wouldnt act if that brat wasnt involved. When the darkness is on the move to this extent, I can hardly overlook it, now can I? Then again... He could not completely ignore the fact that he was making a preemptive strike in case the flames spread to him due to intercepting some information on what had happened with Tsuchimikado Motoharu. Accelerator glanced around and spotted a familiar face. A spiky-haired boy had jumped behind the pedestal to a piece of art the instant Accelerator had landed. The boy who had escaped the shockwave was Kamijou Touma. Do you know what you need to do? asked Accelerator. Yes. Then go. Im not the protagonist here. Kamijou did not run off somewhere. Instead, he opened a square manhole lid at his feet. He spoke while starting to climb down a ladder leading underground. These heroes are being controlled by a project called Agitate Halation. Be careful. Who do you think youre talking to? Kamijou Touma completely disappeared below ground. As if in response, new enemies began to appear. Their numbers swelled up in no time at all. They seemed more like a swarm of insects than heroes who demonstrated special power as individuals. Underground? I get it! So theres an underground route! I can save Fremea Seivelun if I follow that route. I will be the one to save her!! Outta the way. Do you want me to blast you out of the way!? Accelerator smiled in response. But it was filled with scorn. Interesting. Then lets put you to the test, heroes. Ill use these bloody hands to see if you are worthy of that name!! It may have started with someone intentionally guiding them. However, those people had such strong personalities that it did not end there. True monsters began destroying everything on the delicate table as if they had snapped their puppet strings with brute strength. Part 6 The underground passageways were oddly large for performing maintenance on the power network. It seemed they really were made so valuable art and antiques could be evacuated with electrically-assisted push carts in an emergency. The passageways were laid out like a spider web, so it was hard to not lose track of where one was. Nevertheless, Kamijou kept himself heading as straight as possible for the Lightning Rod. He quickly made it to the basement of the giant building. The guards were only human. When the man and woman wearing the same uniform saw Kamijou, they paled and put their hands in the air. They had likely been watching the commotion outside on the cameras. Kamijou frantically waved a hand in front of his face. Im not one of the rioters! More importantly, did a blonde girl of about eight enter the building!? I-I dont know. But an alarm was tripped... ? It was in the accumulation area for the garbage chute at East-2. The alarm is supposed to indicate a clog, but no one would be throwing anything away after hours. So she used how small she is to climb in. Kamijou clicked his tongue and ran toward the stairs. The woman guard frantically yelled after him, Wait, how did you get in here!? Dont tell me you learned about the emergency evacuation routes... If you understand, then find some way to deal with this! If I can get in, so can the others!! They may have been planning to block the entrance with some furniture because the two guards ran toward it. Kamijou passed by them and entered the small room they had been waiting in. (Fremea climbed in through the garbage chute, so she doesnt have a key. If theyve lowered the shutters due to the emergency, she wont be able to move freely through the building.) He checked a map of the building and it seemed she would only be able to move through the museum portion. Kamijou glanced out of the small room to make sure the guards were not watching him and then he grabbed the set of keys hanging on the wall. ...Sorry, he apologized before leaving the small room and finally heading upstairs. Using the key without permission during this emergency would likely set off another alarm, but it did not matter as long as he managed to reach Fremea. He ran up the emergency staircase, exited to the aboveground floor, and followed the signs to the museum area. (How will the enemy handle this situation? If they want to make sure they harm Fremea, will they really just leave it all up to these uncertain heroes? Theyll definitely use some more direct and dirty method. But what will it be!?) After running up a stopped escalator like a flight of stairs, he found the entrance to the museum area. Whether it was standard at closing time or due to the emergency, it was sealed with a thick metal fire door. Kamijou pulled out the proper key from the set he had grabbed and unlocked the fire door. It had looked like an analog key, but he had not actually needed to turn it. Its accuracy had likely been increased by using craftsmanship to combine electric, magnetic, and other unlocking methods. The entire museum area was made into a giant multi-story room and the skeleton of a giant carnivorous dinosaur was placed in the middle. Kamijou was on the lowest level of the museum area and it continued up for five stories. If that little girl was hiding in some unexpected small place, Kamijou could overlook her. He thought for a second about whether he should call out for her. However, it was more important to find Fremea than to worry about an enemy that may or may not be there. Fremea! Where are you!? Can you hear me!? he shouted out, but received no response. The building was so silent he began to wonder if anyone was even there. However, this was not too surprising. Fremea was currently being pursued by a large number of heroes that she did not know. From her perspective, Kamijou would appear the same. He needed some way to earn her trust. If he did not do something here, it could easily result in Fremeas death. Kamijou thought for a moment, hesitated over what came to mind, and finally opened his mouth to speak. (...Oh, hell. This makes me feel like a kidnapper!) Hamazura Shiage asked me to come here! If youre there, please come out!! Nyah... said a high-pitched voice. A head covered by blonde hair then poked out. She was hiding in the mouth of the dinosaur skeleton of all places. It was supported by wires that were not made to support any extra weight, so it had to be much more delicate and unstable than it looked. If an adult tried to climb up to her, it would likely collapse underneath them. However, that plan of hers did not take into account her own safety. Kamijou ran up a stopped escalator to reach her level. Are you hurt? If not, get out of there. Its not exactly sa-... He trailed off. In that moment, one wall of the museum area suddenly shattered like glass. An area that had originally been a window had likely been made into a wall by covering it over with a sheet that blocked out most of the light. The same method was often used in department stores and electronics stores. Someone had broken through that covered window from outside. Pure white light blinded him for a moment. The brilliant light was coming from a helicopter floodlight. However, it was not just that painfully bright light that entered the building. Someone balled up their body and jumped in through the broken window. Kamijou recognized the person. She was a cyborg with a metallic reddish-purple body. Hey. Hey, hey, hey! Rensa-chans here now, so I think you need to give up. Anyone who gives up gets a quick death. Then again, your fate has already been decided either way. Hee hee hee However, Kamijou started to doubt whether this was the same person as before. Everything from the aura surrounding her to the words coming from her mouth was far too different. Why are you this intent on targeting Fremea Seivelun? What? How much do you even know? Well, it doesnt matter. Youre in the way no matter how much you know. The Agitate Halation project may have been completed, but my master wants to see what lies beyond that. Its something like blowing up a balloon and cutting the string. And that means we cant have the old project remaining so stable. To reach even greater heights, we need to thoroughly destroy what we already completed. What this cyborg was saying made no sense. Kamijou could not even understand what she meant by greater heights. Oh, oh, oh. One more thing. You may think you can get by with clenching your fist and starting a hot-blooded battle, but its too late for that. Im only here to monitor the situation. Im not here to fight you or to kill Fremea myself. What...? You dont get it? You were led here from the beginning! said someone other than the cyborg named Rensa. The voice came from Fremea Seiveluns pocket. It was an artificial voice produced by a small white rhinoceros beetles wings. Hee hee hee If youre gonna trust your comrades, you have to doubt them sometimes too. This thing tried to stop you so many times. Dont do it!, Dont go there!, Please, listen to what Im trying to say!, and Please, at least destroy this body of mine! The beetle was trembling as it poked his head out of the pocket. Was that his final sign of resistance? Or was it just an act forced on him by a third party? Kamijou felt a strange heat rising up in his head. You bitch... Wait just a second! Didnt I tell you I wouldnt be fighting? In fact, its already over. Rensa spread her arms playfully and then gave a bow. This building has already been filled with bombs. Just the flick of a switch and the entire thing goes boom!! It was all over for you from the moment you set foot inside here!! Hee hee hee It did not sound like a joke or a bluff. An unpleasant feeling shot from one end of Kamijous spine to the other. Rensa was not holding a switch, so she likely had the ability to send the wireless detonation signal using her cyborg body itself. That meant it would be impossible to take the switch away from her. (Dammit...!!) Kamijou immediately moved to cover Fremea, but it was too late. And it would be meaningless. If a blast was coming head on, he might be able to do something, but he could not protect her if the buildings central pillar was destroyed and it all came crashing down on them. And that is why! All I need to do! Is watch on and make sure you die!! And... The time for the explosion arrived. Safety release. Password input complete. Okay, everyone! Time for an explosion show with no special trick to it! Bombs activate!!!!!! A weak electric signal was emitted from her cyborg body. That detonation signal would turn one small area of Academy City into empty land. Part 7 The air was filled with silence. The air was filled with stillness. The air was filled with nothingness. While Kamijou lay over Fremea despite knowing it was hopeless, he focused on the quiet so much his ears started to hurt. But he eventually realized something. ...What? It was not Kamijou who spoke. It was the cyborg named Rensa. Why didnt my fireworks go off!? They couldnt have all been duds. How much work do you think I put into setting all this up!? It could not have been a coincidence. Someone somewhere had done something. But who? There were several Level 5 monsters with superhuman abilities outside the building, but there was nothing they could do without knowing about the bombs. Had any of them had a chance to find out about them? If not... The sound of two great masses crashing together exploded out. The side of the helicopter waiting outside the broken window had been struck by a white rhinoceros beetle of about the same size. You bastard... Rensas eyes opened wide. Is this some kind of joke!? I had you completely powerless with my interference!! Without even bothering to watch the helicopter crash to ground with black smoke, the rhinoceros beetle spoke with its artificial voice while also flapping its thin wings to fly. The primary consciousness means nothing with Dark Matter. You even used that characteristic to restrict my actions. Yes. Even now, the key chain-like white rhinoceros beetle in Fremeas pocket was trembling. And that was definitely the primary unit among all of the Dark Matter. And yet... At the same time... That giant beetle hovered in the sky while staring at Rensa with its glowing green eyes. But that also means I do not particularly need my primary consciousness. Unlike the Misaka Network, each individual unit is not controlled by one large consciousness and each individual personality is not given importance either. The more I split apart, the more my consciousness is split apart into independent minds and they join back together into a single consciousness when I join back together. If you break a cookie in two, it still tastes the same and it regains its original form if you place the two pieces back together. This was the exact opposite of the Sisters and the Misaka Network where a problem with one portion of the network risked affecting all of them. He could split apart as many times as necessary while retaining a sense of his self and he could still produce the same stable personality down to the last piece. No matter how much I split apart or how much I cut off, I continue to be Kakine Teitoku. When I detected that Fremea Seivelun was being led here, the almost 50 insect-sized versions of myself that had split off all decided independently to come here and search for any danger. And even at that size, cutting a cord is not difficult. Then again, thoughtlessly splitting himself apart like that presented a risk of the malicious portion of Kakine Teitoku appearing concentrated in a single independent piece. That was the same as how gathering only the raisins from a raisin cookie gave you something that could no longer be classified as a cookie. Fortunately, that special case had not occurred here. I have something to say to you people who enjoy creating collisions between heroes like a game of billiards. The giant beetle flew through the broken window just like Rensa had. He caused his own outer shell to shatter and a beautiful white boy stepped out. Do not underestimate a Level 5. With a great roar, giant pure white wings burst from Kakine Teitokus back. ... Prompted by the other boys will to fight, Kamijou Touma stood up from Fremea Seivelun and held up his fist. The two boys stood on either side of Rensa, but she still laughed. Heh... You really are amazing, doctor. Hee hee hee So you took this all into account! It makes sense. Why would you need me to simply monitor an explosion? ...But you should have just told me from the beginning! Fuck!! In response to the two boys, a flower opened wide from Rensas back and the countless folded up knitting needles shot out. The pistons built into the sides made fast and accurate movements based on certain values and rearranged the wiring within Rensas body as if pulling on threads. The giant flower closed once more. And as if taking its place, four tornado-like objects appeared from her back. This was Academy Citys #1 power. These were boosters created with vector control. Ive seen the records from the previous Rensa. She relied on firepower and used nothing but projectiles while switching between different powers. That created openings you could take advantage of. She was obsessed with maintaining a safe zone. Im a lot simpler than that. I stick with whats strongest! I specialize in high speed close quarters combat!! The basics are called the basics because they leave no room for improvement!! Hee hee hee Part 8 In the outdoor zoo and botanical garden of Learning Core, the flow of the battle had been mostly set. Even if they were up against thousands, almost all of the Level 5s had gathered for some reason or another. Among them, the #1 was especially effective against espers and the #4 was especially effective against next generation weapons. With the two of them fighting, it became unclear who was chasing who around. But... Huh? Shokuhou Misaki frowned after having several dozen people fight for her like captured pieces in shogi. Misaka Mikoto was being slowly pushed back where she was fighting a short distance away. She was firing lightning spears at the many students, but they had started shouting about something. We need a ground! Everyone who cant fight anymore move up front!! You take the blasts for us!! Well finish her off, so you let us retain our strength!! Okay... Make sure...to defeat...her!! (I dont think her power is that easily defeated. This probably isnt due to their ground working. Shes probably just having trouble defeating them without killing them when theyre prepared to charge at her with suicidal ability.) Not that it matters since Im not going to help her. Youd better help!! You could stop all of them with your powers without so much as scratching them!! Shokuhou ignored Mikotos complaints and began to take her next action. But then... Some giant mass suddenly charged at Shokuhou from the side. She reflexively pointed her remote control at it, but then she froze in place. This was not a human, so her powers as the #5 would be of no use. A large cat that was either a leopard or a jaguar slammed into Shokuhou Misaki and knocked her to the ground. She (or rather, the brainwashed students standing around her) frantically grabbed at the legs of the carnivorous beast, but it was too powerful. At this rate, it would tear out her throat. Help me, Misaka-saaan!! I will, I will. But how about we let it eat a bit of you first!? Youve got a bit of extra fat on the chest you wouldnt miss!! Instead of relying on that cold-hearted school friend, she controlled an ice esper and attacked the side of the beast. Once she pushed the unconscious creature off of her and stood up, her expression was one of annoyance. Several other beasts were staring at her. The animals should have been inside their night habitats, but it seemed someone had released them. (Cmon, really? I suppose these are heroes rather than simple villains.) Shokuhou Misaki brushed off the dirt on her uniform and used her remote to change the formation of her troops. (The more unfavorable the circumstances, the more unexpected the method they find to counterattack. ...With a characteristic like that, this is definitely no laughing matter.) Unbeknownst to her, this sort of situation had a precedent. Kamijou Touma had once defeated the #1. Hamazura Shiage had once defeated the #4. It had already been proven that a Level 5 could be defeated by a Level 0. Part 9 Kamijou Touma, Kakine Teitoku, and Rensa. The first two to clash were the ones with wings. In other words, Kakine and Rensa clashed at supersonic speeds. A great roar exploded out after a short delay. The dinosaur skeleton collapsed in an instant and the tempered glass display boxes located here and there shattered. Fremea panicked and balled up her body. The #2 must have taken some measures with his Dark Matter because he did not hesitate to attack Rensa even though she had the #1s reflection. And yet Rensa was the one laughing. Hee hee hee Unlike the previous Rensa, Im not afraid to enter the realm where my senses cant keep up. You could say Im the calculation type. Ill trust my life to an untested theory Ive built up! Thats why I dont hesitate to get into the higher speeds! Thats just how its gotta be with Level 5 powers, after all!! Rensa was speaking while moving at speeds that were difficult to follow with the eye, so her words sounded somehow distorted and were difficult to understand. And two against one doesnt matter. Only one of you can keep up with my speeds. If I just crush the bigger threat first, your greater numbers mean nothing!! Kakine and Rensa were either kicking off the walls and ceiling or creating shockwaves whenever they moved because Kamijou could hear repeated solid sounds coming from every direction that sounded similar to impacts. It was true that a high school boy like Kamijou could not keep up with those speeds. Even if he swung his fist around at random, he would never even scratch his opponent. However... (That isnt gonna stop me!!) Kamijou took a decisive step forward. He did not hesitate to charge toward the clash between Kakine and Rensa. At first glance, this looked like suicide, but both Kakine and Rensa were using esper powers to maintain their tremendous speeds. If Kamijous right hand touched them, they would lose that power and suddenly lose their balance. If he took away Rensas speed and Kakine attacked her, she was done for. His inclusion was not meaningless. Even if there was no chance his fist would even touch her. (She has to worry about my fist. Her options will be more limited. Thats enough. Applying direct damage isnt all there is to a fight!!) Tch!! He heard Rensa click her tongue. Kakine did not overlook the ever so slight change to Rensas high-speed movements to compensate for the sudden introduction of Kamijou. He flapped one of his giant wings and attacked Rensa as if pushing her toward Kamijou. Rensa forcefully took the attack as if sacrificing one of her arms. Hey. She then grabbed that wing with her hand. Guess what, #2? My vector control ability can alter the vectors of anything I touch. And that means... ...? Oh, no! Please get out of the way...!! I can manipulate your Dark Matter, you idiot!! With a roar, the white wing twisted unnaturally as if it was a sugar sculpture being stretched. It flew in an irregular and difficult to predict trajectory and mercilessly slammed into Kamijous upper body. Bh...gh!? It felt less like being hit by a blunt weapon and more like being hit by a car. All of the oxygen left his lungs in an instant. He was slammed down to the ground where he rolled backwards until he reached Fremea. Rensa then attacked from the air once more like a bird of prey. Hee hee hee Maybe I should destroy this eyesore of an uncertain element first!! ...!! Kakine Teitoku cut in between them. Kamijou could hear repeated sounds of dull impacts. The white wings and tornado wings slammed forcefully into each other again and again. It sounded less like a fistfight and more like an argument between a sewing machine and a machine gun. Kyaaah, how cool! But how long can you keep it up? If you let just one strike through, theyll be turned to mincemeat. Cmon. Cmon. Cmon cmon cmon cmon cmon cmon cmon cmon cmon!!!!!! Kamijou forced his half-battered body to stand up. And he shouted at Kakines back. Cut them loose!! Realizing what Kamijou meant, Kakine immediately severed his wings from his main body. Kamijou charged forward. He swung his right fist toward Rensas face from behind the wings still floating in midair. Shit!? Rensa frantically protected her face with both arms, but then Kakine targeted her lower gut with a new wing he had created. With a dull sound, Rensas slender body was knocked all the way back into one of the shattered display cases. Did we do it? muttered Kakine Teitoku. Rensa was not moving while she lay half-buried in the rubble. Kamijou tasted iron, so he used the back of his hand to wipe off his mouth. Just defeating her wont be enough to end this. We need to get away from here just to be safe. Can you turn back into that huge beetle? If so, carry Fremea somewhere far away and-... Kamijou trailed off. He had seen something unpleasant. No. Rensa stood smoothly up from the rubble. No, no, no. This has yet to even begin. The previous Rensa could never have gone this far, but Im different. After all, you need to be cornered like this to use it. The previous Rensa was too obsessed with maintaining a safe zone. She fought too logically. She would never take a gamble. And so she never took this much damage. What...? You dont get it? The ace up the sleeve for Academy Citys #1 always shows itself when hes truly cornered!! With a great roar, jet black wings erupted from her back. Sto-... started Kakine Teitoku. But before he could continue, his white body was sent flying over Fremeas head and into the wall. The entire building trembled ominously. That strike made the previous even match seem like a lie. It was as if everything else had been nothing but preparations for this one strike. Rensa snapped her fingers, pointed toward Kakines crushed form, and whistled. I was completely right! Youve gotta stick with the strongest!! Nothing beats close range!! Why even bother thinking about the others!? Theres a reason this power is ranked at #1 when yours is only at #2. Eh? Oh? I think there was an unconfirmed sighting of him using white wings in Russia...but I dont know how to use those. Maybe the conditions are a bit different. Well, it doesnt really matter!! Hee hee hee Damn you...!! shouted Kamijou in anger, but Rensa ignored him and swung a black wing horizontally. That strike seemed to chop through space itself, so it should have transformed that boys body into a bunch of mangled flesh. However... ...? Rensa stopped laughing. With a high-pitched sound, the black wings trajectory jumped upwards. Kamijou had knocked it upwards with his right fist. Rensa looked confused and swung a black wing once more. She repeated the attack three, four, and even five times, but Kamijou Touma would not die. He just barely managed to survive. Ha ha! Hee hee hee What the hell!? I just brought out my ultimate weapon and you lost your greatest fighter in Kakine. So why are you so much livelier now that everythings turned so hopeless for you!? It just doesnt add up!! Dont ask me!! So you dont understand it either? Does the increased danger act as a trigger like with me? No, that aint it. Oh, do you just have an easier time reading the situation when its a simple case of one against one? Hee hee hee Are you the type that has trouble in fights involving multiple people? So what if I am...!? It means I can do something about it, you idiot. Suddenly, Kamijous reaction slowed when the next black wing was swung toward him. If Kakine Teitoku had not gathered all of his strength and knocked Kamijou out of the way, Kamijous entire body would have been smashed to pieces. Fremea let out a shrill scream. Kamijou looked over at Kakine who had been slammed against the ground in his place and then looked back toward Rensa in shock. She must have altered some setting because her cyborg face had completely lost any expression whatsoever. The rhythm of her blinking and breathing were mechanically given a set interval as if she was timing them with a clock. When she spoke, her words came at a uniform speed like a translation device. Your precognition can be prevented by restricting the information you can take in. Im a cyborg, remember? We dont even have to get into electrophysiology to know that humans cant stop slight muscle movements no matter how hard they try. However, I control everything with machines, so I can truly freeze my expression. If I wanted to, I could be as still as a statue. She had sealed it away. If he could not make his move before she did, it was impossible for him to defend against Rensas supersonic attacks. Go to sleep, hero. In fact, did you really think you were a hero? Did you think you were a hero who could save every single person you came across? If so, you were dead wrong. The path to a flawless victory has already closed. As she spoke, Rensa brought her hands behind her and stuck them into her long hair. She pulled out a clear cylindrical container about as thick as a little finger. It contained a reddish, flabby object. Rensa flicked the container and it rolled to Kamijous feet. At first, he could not grasp what it was. But then Rensa spoke. You dont get it? Thats #028. Thats the previous Rensa. To get technical, its a human hypothalamus that was chopped out and repackaged. You could say its the smallest unit of life. Not even Academy Citys tech could mechanize this part. Of course, that could change at any time. You cant mean... Kamijou was at a loss for words. Fremea screamed and Rensa seemed to enjoy hearing it. It began with that failed project using the #3. A clone had the exact same physical body yet at the same time functioned as a distinct human being. It seems one of the great mysteries of life is the fact that life forms gain the role of the master when they are created. That gets in the way of acting as a pure slave in order to become an output point for esper powers. And so they had shaved away pieces of the human body until that mystery of life was gone. She was not just a human and not just a machine. They had wanted a seemingly contradictory technique that would fully recreate a human without using any biological methods. It should have ended in failure, but someone somewhere had forced it into reality. And to do so they had created industrial goods by tearing away peoples humanity. Even most of their brains had been taken away and replaced with precision equipment, so it was hard to say if they were still human or even living creatures at all. When you heard me talk about the previous Rensa, did you think there were maybe three or four different bodies? Thats not how it works. This is the one body. It can be a bit difficult to handle, so only a very limited number of people can use it. And unlike those ultra cheap clones, the manufacturing costs are just too high. Even that doctor from the board of directors could only afford one. Hee hee hee Production of this one body took up a huge chunk of the total assets of Academy City and the maintenance costs force that VIP doctor to make deals directly with the underside of the city. I hope you can see how much she put into this. It isnt surprising that those Five Overs based on powered suits just cant compare when it comes to acting as a high level esper countermeasure!! They must have decided it was worth the price. This was a cyborg with the direct combat ability to perhaps defeat all seven Level 5s if one angered them or made an enemy of them. Those adults were running several projects that made them feel guilty but produced such massive benefits to be worth it, so they viewed the children of Academy City as a threat because their minds were still developing and they acted based on emotions rather than what benefited themselves. And so they had wanted an overwhelming power that allowed them to rest easy. It was the same as how the higher ups of the city had once tried to accomplish a single goal by producing a great number of clones and convincing the #1 to kill them. Do you get it now? We dont want individuality. Unlike the standard sort of esper, anyone can use Rensa with the same specs as long as they meet the proper conditions. The citys darkness still viewed human lives much too lightly. When one brain cant be used anymore, its switched out for a new one. That way the one of a kind firepower known as Rensa can always be in use. For Rensa, the brain is not much different from an arm or a battery. Was she still alive? Was she already dead? It seems #028 is still functioning, but she wouldnt have switched out with me during the repairs if she was perfectly fine. Well, those that cant be used anymore get used as calculation guidance parts for the Sniper Bee, so it isnt like theyre just thrown away. This life had been cut away to such an extent that even that simple distinction could not be made. If the numbering was accurate, at least 27 other people had had their brains cut apart, had been built into this system, and had been used up. Why...would you...? Did someone above you make you do this...? You could say that. But dont think of me as some poor victim. If I hadnt chosen this path, I would definitely have met some much worse fate. I volunteered for this to open up a new future for myself. ...There are people in this world who live such tragic lives that something like this looks like their final hope. Hee hee hee What had she been originally? What past would have left her convinced this life in a test tube was a happy future? Kamijou could not even imagine. He tried, but his thoughts simply could not make it that far. Thats fine, said Rensa...no, #029 with a derisive laugh. However, she gave a somehow envious look to Kamijou and Fremea behind him. This is what you get with a happy hero who lives a happy life and protects other happy lives. People who have actually been soaked in the darkness cant save anyone even if they win. Thats why its perfect for that sort of hero to be ignorant of how the world actually works. I dont know what life youve lived up until now, but Id say youve had a pretty easy time of it since you have all of your limbs and internal organs intact. ...You may be able to save people, but you cant win this. The path youve walked is just too different from the one Ive walked. There was no weight in the actual words spoken. However, the meaning carried an intense pressure as this was something that must never be spoken. And this pressure was enough to violently crush the heart of someone who had lived a normal life. Do you get it now? There was never any way of achieving a flawless victory here. Agitate Halation produced sacrifices before it even began. Both in the earlier preparations and today. How much destruction do you think those heroes spread while they were on their way here? said Rensa...or rather, whoever was controlling that body. This wont end in one of those idealistic scenarios you love so much. Saving one or two people now doesnt make up for it all. ...Theres no point in saving every little person. No matter how much you grit your teeth and protect this Fremea brat, it wont change the fact that you didnt protect those others. ... Those words were meant to knock back Kamijou, but they may have also been the central pillar supporting this person who was being called Rensa. It was too late. There was no going back. And so there was no point in aiming for an ideal. It did not matter if you abandoned the life before your eyes. However, doing that would only make the already heaping pile of bodies grow larger. What Rensa was saying was ridiculous, but it may have held some truth. No matter how many excuses he tried to make, there had been lives Kamijou Touma had not saved. No matter what he did, he could not change that fact. There was no point in trying to deny it. Rensa was asking if he could still hold his view of the situation after accepting that. But... To hell with that. Thats no reason to stop trying. He said it. He declared it. Even if there was no way to bring this to the ideal ending and even if he could see no way of defeating the powerful enemy before him... Kamijou saw no reason to give up. If you stop trying just because you couldnt save someone, you lose any small possibilities that may remain. There is no such thing as a perfect hero, so if we dont all bring together what little power we have, we can never protect anyone! Youre contradicting yourself. Did you realize that? Even if I am, thats something for me to deal with. Kamijou clenched his fist anew. He stood as a shield to protect Fremea who was in the most danger here. That isnt something I should be forcing onto the people who need rescuing. I just have to deal with any lies, contradictions, or mistakes myself! Im not saving people to check whether I chose the right answer!! Hee hee hee Fine then. Rensa laughed, licked her lips, and took a step forward. That was my attempt to save you, but if you want to keep going, I dont mind. It just means one more body. You can add a bit more color next to Fremea Seivelun. Those black wings that symbolized death drew closer. Part 10 She did not understand what was happening. She could not imagine what had caused it all to turn out like this. As Fremea Seivelun sat in a daze, her instincts led her to the answer. She realized this had happened because she had wished for it. She used people. She made them do what she wanted. ...At some point, she had vaguely realized it was all too convenient. When the Freshmen had abducted her, Hamazura had come to save her with no thought for his own life. And there had been when so many people gathered around Fr?ulein Kreutune. She had been happy with the end result and had not felt any reason to question it at the time...but it had definitely been twisted and completely wrong. And it was always someone other than Fremea who paid the price in blood. When she wished for it, someone would act. Her world was created by trampling someone else underfoot. Why...? Why had no one told her? Why had no one accused her of doing evil? If they had... Fremea Seivelun might have kept her mouth shut and not asked anyone for help. No... muttered Kakine Teitoku from where he lay half-crushed on the floor with most of his human form lost. That is not something you need to worry about... I was only doing what I wanted to do. And he...is likely the same. So... Did that make it okay for Kakine Teitoku to be defeated in Fremeas stead? Did that make it okay for that boy still standing in Rensas way to be killed? ...Of course not. Fremea used the back of her hand to wipe away the tears that were even now about to overflow. She looked forward once more. She saw more than just Rensa there. She faced the great world that wished to harm her. She did not want to just sit there and be killed. But having someone else hurt in her place was even worse. And so... ...Nyah. Im not going to just hope a hero will appear anymore, she said. She slowly stood up. Even if it was impossible and even if it was reckless, she gathered all her strength and announced what she truly wanted to do. This time, I will be the one to protect everyone!! Part 11 Yakumi Hisako had deepened her existence as an AIM thought being by using the theory of a shading computer on the AIM diffusion fields. At the moment, she was watching the battle between Rensa and the others from nearby. No matter what happened, Rensas advantage could not be overcome. In just a few seconds, Rensa would eliminate every obstacle in her way and kill Fremea Seivelun. (Heh. Eh heh heh.) Yakumi Hisako had thought she would witness something new if she created the ultimate esper. Yakumi Hisako had thought she would witness something new if she bound together the seven Level 5s. But those plans had not met their full potential and had not lived up to her expectations. That was why she had decided to come this far. She had no idea what she could see that would satisfy her. She had no set value for what height she needed to reach. However, she continued to believe that she would naturally know when she witnessed something truly unimaginable. (I can feel it. I can feel the final linchpin holding me to this world! If that is destroyed, I will witness something new!! This will surely be something that cannot be described simply in the framework of science! The ultimate joy that will break me to pieces is surely waiting for me!!) With a medical specialist, one might have thought she sought eternal life or eternal youth, but Yakumi was not interested in such things. Living forever without aging was nothing but sacrilege. What mattered was the instant. She viewed the value of a life in its high score. What mattered was the greatest moment in that life. (Now, Rensa-chan. Do it now, Rensa-chan! Kill Fremea Seivelun for me. I will likely be destroyed when I see what awaits me, but in that single instant I will set an extraordinary and unprecedented record!!) And... Yakumi Hisako suddenly realized something. She was not sure why she had realized it, but she had nonetheless. Fremea Seivelun had raised her head and was looking Yakumi directly in the eye. It seemed like a normal thing...but it was not. As an AIM thought being, Yakumi could not be seen by human eyes. Fremea could easily look in Yakumis direction, but she should not have been able to see her. Nevertheless, she was staring directly at the woman. (What? What is this slippery feeling? This is the same feeling as when my previous plans did not meet their full potential. But nothing here could possibly lead to my failure! Once Rensa-chan kills Fremea, the final linchpin, I will no longer be restricted to Academy City. I will be able to fly out into the entire world. Nothing can change that now!!) And then she heard a voice. It said, ...Nyah. Im not going to just hope a hero will appear anymore. (Wait.) Yakumis thoughts had been wrapped in an inhuman exhilaration, but now an unrefined and raw anxiety filled her. This final linchpin was holding Yakumi Hisako back. It was keeping her human. (The pillar supporting the entire Agitate Halation project was that Fremea Seivelun was the representative of the weak who needed protection. If she becomes something other than a protection target now...!! Wait! This cant be happening...!!) This time, I will be the one to protect everyone!! A sound similar to shattering glass exploded out. In that instant, Yakumi Hisako and Fremea Seivelun were in the same place. Had Yakumi returned or had Fremea joined her? (Honestly, I may have been the one to design her, but who would have thought she would function so perfectly as a final linchpin?) But neither of us has any direct power. We can only wait for the result!! And it is as plain as day what will happen here. You will be killed and I will be released from this city! No one can change that now!! Nyah. That isnt true, decisively denied Fremea Seivelun. It may be incredibly small, it may be almost entirely useless, and you may call us Level 0, but our power is not zero!! It is not true at all that there is nothing we can do!! Those words filled Yakumi with an incomparable sense of disgust. A grimace appeared on her face as an unpleasant feeling raced down her spine. And then she realized something. (What...is this? My face? My spine? I abandoned everything, so why do I have such normal things!? Its... Its almost as if...) It was almost as if Fremea Seivelun was controlling everything. Could a mere Level 0 control the entirety of the AIM diffusion fields? No. However... (The shading computer uses every movement of the target fluid to perform its calculations. In that case, even the smallest power producing the AIM diffusion fields creating me has a connection!!) Even a Level 0 caused changes on the microscopic level. Their powers were referred to as zero because they were of no use in normal life, but it was not technically true to say they could do nothing. And in that case... (Even the smallest unit of information making up the shading computer can influence a giant AIM thought being inside the computer!? Shit. All she needed was to realize it. And I gave her that realization by soaking her too deeply in Agitate Halation!!) A staticky pain raced across Yakumi Hisakos consciousness. She grimaced and then felt something vaguely floating up deep in her mind. Doctor... She could see a hospital room. The white room was filled with machinery gathered around a single bed for a young child. Doctor... She did not know who it was. She could not see the childs face. The childs entire body was wrapped in bandages without even any holes for the eyes. Something dark red was seeping into the bandages from within. A breathing tube was sticking between the bandages at the mouth and it sounded as if each word was spoken with great pain. However... Despite the childs eyes and mouth being covered, Yakumi Hisako could still clearly tell that this child was smiling. That smile was pure and innocent. It held everything that Yakumi lacked. Doctor, are humans really as noble as you say they are...? Yakumi Hisako heard a slapping sound. It was the sound of her hand being forcefully brought up to her face. (Ive never seen this before. Ive never seen this scene before! Is Fremea Seivelun... Is the final linchpin using the gathered AIM diffusion fields to randomly send someones memories into my head!? The data itself has no meaning. Is she trying to crush me by overwriting pieces of my mind again and again until my original mind is unrecoverable!?) The static continued to amplify. She was no longer able to tell what information in her head was actually her own. Its...kay. The human body...occasionally...dern medicine.........heal itself............. You wi.........tainly.........better. I prom.........okay? (I...! I am not that simple kind of tragic villain! But at this rate, I cannot recover. I will be crushed by this massive amount of data!!) Wait!! frantically shouted Yakumi Hisako. She felt intense humiliation over the fact that she had fallen far enough to feel frantic about anything. You do not understand the true scope of this project. The violent side is no more than one small portion of it. If you could see the ultimate goal, surely even you would-...!! I dont need to understand, spat out Fremea. Like a great hero cutting down the symbol of evil, she spoke without hesitation. I have no interest whatsoever in your project! I just want me, Hamazura, the rhinoceros beetle, and everyone else to have their smiles back!! Part 12 A ridiculous snapping sound rang out. It came from within the female cyborg named Rensa as she licked her lips. Oh? She stopped moving. The black wings erupting from her back dissipated in an instant. What!? Wait a second. I dont remember calling in a ridiculous power like this!! Her stomach swelled up horribly large like a lithium battery that was continually overcharged. When Rensa (#028) had tried to use Kamijou Toumas power, she had failed to control the power she could not understand and her arm had exploded. When it came down to it, this was the same. However, this time Fremea Seivelun had thrown the existence known as Yakumi Hisako into Rensa. Abh...gbh... Wait...what is...gagh!! Ghh!! Heh...Eh heh heh. Gjh...This...this is how it ends for me...? Heh heh heh heh heh!! Two voices came from the one body. And as they spoke, Rensas body continued to swell. Her chest, her face, her arms, and her legs swelled. As each point swelled further and further, she began looking less and less human. While lying on the floor and gradually regaining his own human form, Kakine Teitoku calmly spoke to the boy who could still fight. End this...now. I will. Kamijou clenched his right fist even tighter than before. He walked toward Rensa as she continued to change. Rensa rolled her warped eyeballs to glare at Kamijou. Hee hee hee What the hell? What the hell!? Youre going to kill me? Your ideals are full of contradictions and theres nothing right about them!! ... Kamijou Toumas right fist contained a power known as Imagine Breaker. It would eliminate any supernatural power, be it magic or psychic in nature, the instant he touched it. It would only take a single fingertip to erase this abnormality that had entered the cyborg named Rensa. That would be the most efficient way of saving #029 who was having an intense burden placed on her body. However... What do you want me to do? Ha ha! Ha ha ha!! Dont make me laugh. Werent you listening? I wanted this. Yakumi Hisako of the board of directors is my savior for turning me into this! You want me to hand her over? You want me to let go of her? Ill never do that. That is one of the few things in this world I would rather die than do!! That was not unexpected. If she was willing to go along with this cruel project, she had to have some reason for doing so. Even if Kamijou was not aware of any of it, she had a life that she had lived up to this point. Say there are 10 people caught in a crisis. Only 9 can be saved. If nine of them abandon the one and evacuate, it is not considered a crime according to the plank of Carneades. When I was put in that situation, the only options I could think of were to kill someone or to offer myself up as a sacrifice. However, she showed me that there is a third option! Even if I ended up like this and even if those 10 people who were more important than the world to each other are now only nine, no one had to die! ...And this did not just save me or whoever I would have killed. Everyone there was saved from the great pressure of having to kill someone to survive!! And that is why I have nothing but thanks even if I had to take such a cruel path!! ... And this wasnt just me! It wasnt just #029! I havent heard anything from the others, but all of us have our reasons for willingly obeying that woman as we run through the darkness. I wont let you...I wont let someone who showed up much too late take that away from us! To us, Yakumi Hisako, the woman writhing around within this body, is the greatest hero in the world!! He understood that. Kamijou Touma alone could not save every single person in the world who was seeking help. And as long as life continued on, there would definitely be someone saving people he did not know using methods he was not aware of in places he had never been. And of course, there would be people who adored those heroes. I wont let you have her... That is the one thing that-...gggbbhg!! Rensas cyborg body continued to swell up. Her beautiful feminine silhouette was completely gone and some kind of fiber was sticking out. It looked like someone had stuffed a firecracker inside a straw doll and detonated it. Then... said Kamijou through clenched teeth. His voice quickly grew to a shout he could not hold back. Then why didnt you go save Yakumi Hisako earlier!? ...!! If you wait around for a hero, they wont always make it in time. Thats just a fact of life. But what if you had done everything you could until they could arrive!? What if you had desperately fought until they could!? You might have been able to change the outcome!! Before this happened. Before she became an AIM thought being. Back when she was a proper human being. Long ago. How can you say that? said Rensa as her face cracked and grew more warped from the inside. That isnt something I can do! Thats something only you can do! So dont force it onto me!! And Im not talking about how many chances I had to control this body or that I was only a small core in a test tube. Im saying that someone like me cant play the role of a hero! Kamijou did not say you can. He shook his head and gave a different reply. You already are. Youre doing a wonderful job right now. Shut up, cut in Rensa. That cyborg moved her red eyes that had been damaged on the inside and stared at her enemy. I can never be a clichd hero like you! Im just a filthy tool. That is the only way for me to repay her for what she did for me!! Who was protecting who? Who was killing who? Anyone could tell something as simple as that without an explanation. Kamijou Touma tightly clenched his right fist and made an announcement. Lets go, hero. Shut up... I can no longer do anything but destroy. This hand can only destroy your illusions!! So now its your turn to make it in time!! Shut uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp!! Wings shot forcefully from Rensas back even as it collapsed. However, these were not jet black. They were white. This was the ultimate power Academy Citys #1 had once risen to when he had gained a certain something. Rensa had...no, #029 had finally made it that far. Kamijou Touma had no plan. He took a step. And then another. He advanced directly toward his enemy. (Saving #029 is simple. I just need to drive Yakumi Hisako out of her body. But I cant hold back with my right hands power. If I end this, I will be killing someone to save someone.) The fact that this person had no physical body did not absolve him. For example, there was Kazakiri Hyouka who was an aggregation of AIM diffusion fields. For example, there was Fr?ulein Kreutune whose body was fundamentally different from a normal humans. For example, there was Misaka Imouto who could be mass produced as much as was needed. He had saved abnormal people by treating them as human. And that was why Kamijou of all people could not so easily abandon this woman. The path he had walked to reach this point would not allow it. Ah...ogh...Ahghh... As if in response, Rensa walked unsteadily forward with those pure white wings still growing from her back. The internal damage had advanced to the point that she could not even stand up straight anymore and she was not even aware she was staggering, but she still faced Kamijou. (But...) Their gazes collided in midair. A strange power seemed to fill both their bodies. (I know something now. No matter how much you might resent me for it, and no matter how much of a contradiction it is, there is someone standing before me who I can save like this!!) You cant stop me, spat out Kamijou Touma. I will save you. Bgh....ghh... Stop...joking around... Thats...the wrong person!! Their clash lasted for only an instant. Rensa used her cyborg body to charge up to Kamijou at supersonic speeds. She swung the white wings on her back to the right and left simultaneously. That boy should not have been able to do anything. The speed was one problem, but she had also changed her settings to eliminate all slight changes to her expression and the surface of her body. In other words, Kamijou could not use the precognition he had gained via experience. However... Kamijou Toumas body sank down as if they had arranged it ahead of time. Rensa was moving at such tremendous speed that he could never have made it in time if he had started moving after seeing what she was doing. Yet the boy accurately waited for Rensa as if he had foreseen her exact actions. As the destruction continued within Rensas body, even #029 had started to lose control. Even if she had cut off all facial expressions, a slight trembling had returned. No...!! (So...) Kamijou Touma clenched his fist. He clenched it so tight blood oozed out. Instead of using his right hand on the white wings being swung down from the right and left, he evaded them by swinging his upper body out of the way. He then used all his strength to throw his fist at the center of Rensas face as they glared at each other from extreme close range. (So think for yourself!! Think up a way of saving the person you want to protect most!!) His fist flew. A look of surprise appeared on Rensas cyborg face. And... Volume 7, Epilogue: Once It’s Over. to_the_Main_Line. Volume 7, Epilogue: Once It''s Over. to_the_Main_Line. It had to be a medium such as liquid, gas, or particles that could be calculated out using fluid mechanics. To actually be usable, it had to be a medium that could be controlled and manipulated. To make use of the viscosity and density, the medium had to be made up of a considerable amount of the substance. Bhah...!! Pant pant pant pant!! Yakumi Hisako was revived in a dark back alley in District 13. (Th-that was close. I never imagined that right hand could destroy an AIM thought being in a single strike. If I had not prepared this insurance, that would have been the end for me.) If she was to exist as an AIM thought being using the shading computer, she needed a processor to sustain her existence. And this also meant she could be revived any number of times as long as that processing power existed. Yes. For example, she could use the scent being emitted by the swarm of man-eating cockroaches that continued their chaotic group motion. Abh...gh...cough cough!! Ghh... I-it really is hard to keep thinking with so few of them left... Yakumi Hisako was no longer using the AIM diffusion fields, so it was unclear if she could still be called an AIM thought being. However, she certainly could not be called human. And she viewed that fact as a good thing. It meant she still had a chance. Even Rensa had not been told about this final backup. She had lied and told the girl Kinuhata Saiai had destroyed them all. Hiding information from her allies was a bad habit of hers, but it had helped her out here. Now that I am an information life form with no physical body, nothing can stop me. I can try no matter how many times it takes. I can eternally use up more and more resources until I succeed. I can continue on and on and on until they raise the white flag. By turning her thoughts into words, she gradually stabilized her existence. This also gave order to the chaotic movements of the roaches. It is now time to restart the Agitate Halation project. Humans let their guard down the most when they think they have won. I will have no problem killing Fremea Seivelun now. Suddenly... Someone stepped into the alley. This person was all too defenseless. Found you, said a plain young girls voice. I found the bad guy. Yakumi Hisako did not view this girl as a threat. She sent out the swarm of man-eating roaches. The first few dozen roaches began mercilessly eating into that young body. However... Ah...eh...? The girl ignored Yakumis surprise and continued forward. The girl paid no heed to the swarm of roaches eating into the arms, legs, and cheeks not covered by her white dress. She did not bleed a single drop of blood as she approached Yakumi Hisako with smooth movements. Finally, Yakumi began to grow worried. She felt something that no human should have ever felt. She felt the fear of being stared down by ones natural predator. (I-its okay. I dont know what power she can use, but shes just a human. I am a complete information life form with no physical body, so no physical attack can-...gbgh!!!???) She was bitten into. She was eaten. With no physical body, Yakumi Hisako could not be described using the standard parts of the human body such as limbs or head. And yet she could tell. If her existence was described as a percentage, that white girl had taken away over 30% in a single bite. As she saw that girl acting like her cheeks were stuffed full, Yakumi Hisako was overcome with fear. And what frightened her the most was just how cute the girl looked. She tried to move back, but the girl took another step forward in response. That was all it took to fill the gap. And then the girl, that human named Fr?ulein Kreutune, opened her small mouth wide and spoke. Two stars. Not bad. In no time, she munched through the powerful and overwhelming existence that was Yakumi Hisako. The girl did it as easily as a child eating freshly baked bread. Yakumi Hisako was disappearing. She was dying. Just before that moment, she felt an odd peace that exceeded the fear. She had tried to build her existence up with more and more information, but now it was disappearing. And as she simplified, she felt ecstasy. (Is that what it is to die?) But as soon as she had that thought, she learned of an even greater hell. Burp. The frightening white girl suddenly stopped. Only a tiny piece was left. It was just a single bite. She left behind just one piece of that existence like leaving one last scrap on the plate. Now then. ...Wait...What are you-...? This is your punishment. Your punishment for hurting my friend. She had not managed to continue down the path of complexity, and now she was prevented from continuing down the path of simplicity. Just as a fish sliced up to be eaten could never swim through the ocean again, Yakumi Hisako would have to writhe around like this forever. That girl faced her with cold eyes and said, After having a long, long time to think on it, you might truly manage to see yourself properly. If that happens, I will eat the final piece. You can look forward to that at the end of your long, long life. It all came to an end as if someone had flipped a switch. The riot made up of 7500 people attacking Learning Core in District 13 had ended with an eerie silence. The fact that the commotion had ended with the defeat of Rensa and Yakumi Hisako hinted that the two of them had been influencing the rioters in some way. (Although there had been a bit of a delay after Yakumis apparent defeat.) However, there were still some unknown factors about that incident with close ties to Academy Citys dark side. And even if it became fully understood, would the students who took part as rioters be considered truly innocent of any wrongdoing? That was another unknown factor. Oh, no. Oh, no. Dawn had arrived. A woman wearing a cheap suit and a lab coat muttered to herself while taking a walk on a District 13 jogging course along with a golden retriever. The November mornings had grown more cold than refreshing, so no one else was using the course. After an hour, when the temperature had risen some, it would probably be overflowing with health nuts. Well, I had a feeling it would fail, but I may have let her go free for a biiit too long. Yakumi-san was a member of the board of directors and a nice patron. And then she received a response. Are you sure it isnt that you played around too much? The voice sounded like that of a man in the prime of his life. However, the woman in the cheap suit and lab coat was the only person there. The voice had come from the golden retriever on the end of the leash she held. He(?) spoke with his long tongue sticking out. That was the same as the Dark May Project that Kinuhata Saiai and Kuroyoru Umidori went through. You implanted your intellectual curiosity into Yakumi Hisako and it fused with her original field of expertise. I do understand that you could not get her to understand how we Kiharas think otherwise, but still. That was why Yakumi Hisako had continued with such dark research. It was possible that the bonds placed on her by the Dark May Project had been partially broken around the time she had lost control to Fremea Seivelun. She may have mistaken it for being buried by strange external information, but the truth was the opposite. What Yakumi Hisako had thought was the base of her being had been a lie. Heh heh heh heh. She had been wondering why she got along so well with me. She had my thoughts implanted into her, so of course we got along. She was excellent as a patron who let me do anything I wanted. It was like she was my knight in shining armor. I had all the funding I wanted and all the authority I wanted. You went too far. And Ive seen the error of my ways, honestly admitted the woman in the cheap suit and lab coat. The conversation sounded like a teacher speaking with a student. You have already started playing around with a new candidate to hide behind, havent you? With a member of the board of directors gone, they need to bring in a replacement. Ive already identified the top 3 likely candidates, so-... ... Yes, yes. I know it would be way too suspicious. I really do. But preparing insurance and having a plan B just isnt very Kihara-like, you know? What is your plan? I was thinking of going with the Shadow Ruler plan. ...Is there really some convenient organization you can use? No, but theyll take action if we make them think there is. Even in this city of science, things like jinxes are all over the place. If I manipulate a bit of information to make certain facts seem true, they will bring the pieces together themselves to form the jigsaw puzzle that shows a giant monster. The method is used all the time. Think of the M-Fund or the UFO Investigation Committee. Now, lets go deceive some important people. I suppose the basics are the best way to get back on your feet. I can give you two or three people who seem unintelligent enough to use in your plan. They have plenty of money, but are frustrated at their inability to gain any real social standing. They should jump at any chance you present to them. Do your best to prod them in the right direction. Thanks as always, said the woman in the cheap suit and lab coat. It was hard to imagine how a Kihara in the form of a dog could make connections with such prideful people, but he(?) was actually the most influential of the Kiharas in many different fields. Agitate Halation is as good as dead now. What should we do about it now? I was never particularly interested in it, but can you really call that a failure? ? Against Yakumi Hisakos wishes, the Level 5s gathered in one place. And despite that Imagine Breaker presumably negating any influence from the AIM diffusion fields, that boy appeared on the stage of his own free will to end the incident. ...Yakumi Hisakos experiment may have ended in failure, but what if Agitate Halation was simply too much for her to handle? There may still be something hidden there that would make your eyes sparkle in excitement. Ugh. Now that you mention it, youre right. You truly never show any motivation if I am not keeping score for you, said the golden retriever in annoyance However, the woman in the cheap suit and lab coat only scratched at her head in embarrassment. Im getting that same feeling as always. Yes. Once more, the world is simply filled with science. The incident came to an end. And that meant there was one piece of business that had to be dealt with. ... Tsuchimikado Motoharu was waiting for someone on a metal bridge in District 7. As he looked down at the river flowing below at the same rate as ever, he heard quiet footsteps approaching him. Despite hearing them, he did not turn around. While still leaning against the railing, he waited for the footsteps to walk up behind him. Finally... Tsuchimikado opened his mouth to speak. Is your eye okay? Its been eight hours. That was enough time to transplant a new one in and get used to it. It doesnt even feel like I have something in my eye anymore. Thats good, he muttered. The strained atmosphere did not disappear. The girl behind him asked, Are you ready? Do you really think I wouldnt be? I see, was the only reply. In the next moment, several gunshots rang out and Tsuchimikado felt a burning pain in his back. Kumokawa Seria held a large military handgun in her right hand. As Tsuchimikado was leaning on the railing, the impact sent him tumbling over it. While bleeding, he fell into the river. Kumokawa heard a loud splash. She moved forward and looked down into the river with unfeeling eyes. She hid the gun below her clothes and instead pulled out a handheld device. She was of course calling Kaizumi Tsugutoshi of the board of directors. Is it over? he asked. I have finished the execution. The incident had ended and Tsuchimikado Maika had been protected from Yakumi Hisakos organization that had been running the Agitate Halation project. However, that did not tie up all the loose ends. If something was not done, the battle would never end. If it was all left up into exchanges of emotion, Tsuchimikado Maika would end up involved again at some point. Tsuchimikado Motoharu had realized that and had offered up his own life to avoid it. Will you be retrieving the body? asked Kaizumi. No. Someone will pick it up for us. ...We know each other fairly well, after all. If we took care of the body, it would create some strange conspiracy theories. People would claim the execution was an act and that he was secretly living somewhere after we announced he was dead. I see. So it is best to let our enemies pick him up. Exactly. Of course, a simple investigation here would show I wasnt using some cheap trick like firing blanks. With that offhand comment, Kumokawa Seria ended the call. She looked back down into the river, but Tsuchimikados body had already flowed downstream. She could only see the clear surface of the river. (Now then.) Kumokawa Seria now thought silently so no one could overhear her. (That should convince those that were watching the execution. Those paint rounds had his blood inside. That should help fool the forensics team Tsuchimikados enemies will send.) What mattered was convincing them. Even if it came out later that Tsuchimikado had survived, they would not pursue him any further after they had given the sign that they were convinced. That was the etiquette of underground society. And that was why those watching the execution would be so careful in their initial determination of his death. They would have sent specialists out. However, Kumokawa Seria was not exactly a kind person. After all, she had fired several paint rounds at his back from close range when he was not wearing a bulletproof vest. It would not have killed him, but the impact would have been quite something. It could very easily have knocked him unconscious. And he had then been dropped right into the river. Even with that trick, his life was still in danger. Kumokawa felt it was a fair punishment for taking her eye. She had no reason to save Tsuchimikado Motoharu for nothing in exchange. If he was her enemy, she would kill him. If he needed to be executed, she would not hesitate to carry out the ceremony. The reason she had not done that here was quite simple. (I need to thank him for not telling that boy about me. ...That really is all there is to it.) Hamazura Shiage was in a District 7 hospital. His injuries were the type that would raise questions yet Anti-Skill was not hanging around outside the hospital room. He felt like he had been placed atop a conveyer belt to prevent a commotion. Something about it all seemed strange. Hey. It was just past noon when someone called out to him in the hospital hallway. It was Kuroyoru Umidori who was sitting in a wheelchair in the rest space next to a line of vending machines. When he saw who it was, Hamazura was not sure what to say. ...Um, we both had a pretty rough time of it, didnt we? At least youre still alive, replied Kamijou Touma. All three of them had white bandages wrapped all over their bodies. If they showed up in a school at night, they could likely start a new ghost story. Kamijou must not have been at his best either because he was leaning up against one of the vending machines against the wall. From what the doctor told me, you two had it worse than me. How bad is it? Im just here for the time being to be safe. Kuroyoru will probably take a while, though. Its not a problem. Kuroyoru took her hands off of the handles connected to the wheelchairs wheels and playfully spread her arms. Her overall movements were awkward, but her arms moved oddly smoothly. As long as I can move my arms, Ill have no problem living in the hospital. And it isnt like my injuries will have any lasting effects. ? Kamijou frowned slightly. He could not quite place his finger on it, but he felt like there was something a bit different about how Kuroyoru was acting. When she noticed him looking at her, Kuroyoru looked away slightly. ...Ill be fine. If you say anything unnecessary, Ill kill you, she said in an oddly low voice. It seemed there was something she did not want them to bring up, so Kamijou and Hamazura did not say anything more. Hamazura had been forced out of the fight partway through, so he had a few questions for Kamijou. So how much did you find out? Its hard to say. Kamijou gave a heavy sigh. That cyborg named Rensa was defeated. She was completely destroyed, so she wont attack again in revenge or anything. I guess we can relax for the moment then, said Hamazura in disgust. He may have been plagued with nightmares of some immortal monster continuing to walk toward him through the flames even after being hit by a tanker truck and blown up along with an entire building. Kamijous image of her had been different. Her machine heart was destroyed. What? That isnt something my right hand can do. It may simply have been destroyed as she lost control, but... He did not think that was what had happened. From what #029 had said while controlling Rensa at the very end and from what Fremea had told him afterwards that had sounded like a dream, he knew that the monster known as Yakumi Hisako had been brought inside the cyborg body and that had started to destroy the cyborg. And Kamijou Toumas right hand could negate any and all supernatural powers. What if #029 had wanted to protect Yakumi Hisako at all costs? Was it possible she had destroyed her own heart to throw off the balance of her body enough that it lost its functionality as an output point that could take in esper powers and supernatural beings? Was it possible she had done that to expel Yakumi Hisako to let her escape? What they had done was by no means praiseworthy. However, that decision #029 had made just before her defeat prevented Kamijou from feeling nothing but scorn for her. In that moment, #029 had crushed her own heart to protect the person she cared about most. In that instant, she may have surpassed Kamijou Touma. I know that someone named Yakumi Hisako was behind all this. I know that Fremea Seivelun was placed at the center of a project known as Agitate Halation. But beyond that, I know nothing. Although it seems all sorts of dangerous things were found in the university hospital Yakumi Hisako used as a base. ...And youre satisfied with that? whispered Kuroyoru. She sounded half in shock. Then its over. The truth will never come to light. Once those dangerous things are found, its over. No one will find the truly dangerous things hidden further in. The truly dangerous things are the ones that would make anyone who sees them go insane. Hamazura frowned. Are you saying there are still people out there who will try to use Agitate Halation? It doesnt have to be anyone directly related to the project. There are people who dont want the light of day to reach the darkness in any form. Good and evil, likes and dislikes, gains and losses, strength and weakness... All sorts of things are wrapped around a single organization. This will be covered up for many different reasons. ... Hamazura fell silent for a moment. Even after World War III, the citys malice was as strong as ever. In fact, being destroyed once may have caused it to mutate into something even worse. I know that, replied Kamijou with a bit of bitterness mixed in. He pulled out two hard objects from his pocket. Thats why I retrieved these. They were transparent cylindrical containers about as thick as a little finger. They contained something red. Hamazura could not even guess what they were. Even after that huge incident, you were still running around doing things? You didnt head straight to a hospital bed? ... While Hamazura asked questions, Kuroyoru stared at the containers with a grim look in her eyes. As a cyborg herself, she may have guessed what they were. Kamijou sighed and said, This one is #028 and this one is #029. Apparently theyre still alive even like this. ...Up to #40 were stored in Yakumi Hisakos lab. They were all forced to operate that cyborg and they were left on standby when not in use. When not placed inside the mechanical cerebrum and cerebellum prepared inside Rensa, they cannot even think. The possibility for a flawless victory had never been there. That was what #029 had told him from within Rensa. If enough cyborg bodies identical to Rensa were created, they could be given a certain sort of freedom. But that could not happen. The meaning behind Rensa was so great that even an amateur high school boy like Kamijou understood it. There was no way to save them. At the very least, there was no way in the current social system of Academy City. Kuroyoru Umidori stared at the finger-sized brains and asked Kamijou a question. What are you going to do with them? I gathered all of them up to #40, so for now Im going to have them put in cold storage. I dont like it, but all I can do is buy them time until some real method of saving them is found. I can only hope that a method of allowing them to walk around like normal people will be completed with the next generation of technology. Kamijou returned the containers for #028 and #029 to his pocket. He turned his back on Hamazura and Kuroyoru perhaps to go hand those containers over to a doctor. Hamazura called out to his back without thinking. What are you going to do now? The same thing as always, replied Kamijou Touma without turning around. No matter how many times I reach game over and no matter how many times I must pathetically hit continue, I will not stop moving forward. Honestly, my shoulders are so stiff, said a carefree voice along the path to the hospital. A nun in a white habit walked along that path with a schoolgirl wearing the maid uniform of a certain maid school. The one in the maid uniform was sitting seiza-style on a drum-shaped cleaning robot. The schoolgirl was lightly massaging her own shoulders. When I suddenly received a request to clean an external institution as an extracurricular activity, I was wondering where it was. I never thought it would be an automated factory in District 17! It was so dirty!! And oil stains in a car factory are not an opponent a maid should have to fight! Touma didnt come home for an entire day. And then Ryouran Maid School tells me it must have been a misunderstanding because they know nothing about it! I spent all night making it squeaky clean and I dont even get any credit points for it!! Touma really is stupid!! There was nothing but bread, cereal, biscuits, canned food, ham, bacon, bananas, and apples in the room! Does he not know that people can starve to death!? Honestly, what is wrong with this world? I know! Its so hard to get by!! The two girls were as indignant as ever. And they had no way of knowing just how much had been fought to protect that. A certain elementary school in District 13 was filled with chaos once more. The dispute would likely continue all the way to December 25. Nyah! Santa really does exist!! Why cant you understand something so simple!? You liar! Theres no way Santa Claus exists!! I heard the trivia king on TV saying his clothes are only red due to a soda advertisement!! Nyah, nyah! Thats a conspiracy. Theyre lying so they can hog all the presents for themselves!! Dont be stupid!! The adults dont get any presents!! In the first place, youre already being tricked. The adults actually-...!! Fremea and the others were almost grappling each other with no concern for boy or girl. And then the intellectual girl (with glasses) nervously spoke up. U-um...Fremea-chan? Nyah! In the first place, what is it!? Then is that black Santa Claus I saw before real, too? Previously, this may have temporarily wrapped Fremeas class in terror just like when they discussed the mysterious people spotted after school. To make sure they did not forget the magic words that would save them, they might have begun reciting them. But that is not what happened this time. Fremea puffed out her chest and blew air from her nose proudly. Nyah! Dont worry. In the first place, Ill do something about that!! A frightening incident had occurred. A lot of people had been hurt. Something even greater had been lost. However, it did not end there. Something had been gained from it all. If one continued forward, one could grab it. Volume 7, Afterword Volume 7, Afterword To those who have bought one volume at a time: welcome back. To those who bought them all at once: welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Okay! This was a science side story!! But with Kamijou Touma in a leading role, it cannot be said to be wholly science. Then again, it didnt have any magic mixed in, so it falls along an odd line. This may be one of the benefits of having that spiky-haired boy walk through so many different worlds in the course of the incidents he has experienced. Here in Volume 7, I brought out a lot of the material I had been building up since the start of New Testament. I had been thinking for a while that this kind of surprise turn of events wouldnt be too out of place if the series continued this long. And one of the reasons I added New Testament to the title was because Academy City has finally made it this far. A boy who sacrifices everything to get vengeance for his step sister, a brain that rules over the darkness with nothing but her speaking skills, a cyborg that uses up multiple brains to keep a single body running, an AIM thought being that abandoned her physical body, a gathering of the Level 5s, and even an artificial heroine who can freely lead around all of the heroes. ...I think this volume was filled with a lot of crazy people that just scream Made in Academy City. What did you think? I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editor Miki-san. With a cyborg and a formless final boss, this had to be one of the most troublesome volumes to deal with. I am truly thankful that they stuck with me this time as well. And I give my thanks to all the readers. I think it is thanks to how accepting you all are that I can write these stories that lean all the way to one side or the other of magic or science. I hope you will stick with me from now on too. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Heroes must work on a floating exchange rate. It causes problems when there are too many of them. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 8, Prologue: Return of the God of Magic. None_Signal_Island. Volume 8, Prologue: Return of the God of Magic. None_Signal_Island. They were not recorded on any map or sea chart. They were not treated as land under international law and they were not indexed for determining national territory or exclusive economic zones. However, all local fishermen who knew those areas of the ocean knew of these islands and would never approach them. They were known as a Sargasso, a ship graveyard. But when magicians used that term, it did not refer to the area around the Gulf of Mexico. It referred to the mountain of sea wreckage that naturally gathered in areas of sea which met certain conditions: several currents striking each other, flotsam and driftwood gathering together like in the drain of a sink, and a reef or something else that caught at and allowed that flotsam to accumulate. The remains of many different ships would gather there: fishing boats, transport ships, passenger ships, one-man kayaks, and military ships. Those corpses had lost the ability to sail on their own but were not so badly damaged that they completely sank to the ocean floor. They would be swept more than 100 kilometers over the ocean, gather in this one spot, and pile up into a mountain. This created something like a giant ant lion trap that consumed that rotting wood and rusting steel. Countless fragments and remnants would gather as more and more ships ran aground on the shallow reef. Eventually, the ground underfoot would be perfectly stable. It would become a true island. Were there dozens of them or hundreds of them around the world? No one had ever counted. However, they continued to be feared as legends by the local fishermen. And she had returned to one of those Sargassos. How are the preparations? She was Othinus. The field of magic was kept hidden from the society at large and the concept of a Magic God had not been proven to exist even in that field, but she had taken a step into that territory. Her external appearance was that of a girl of about fourteen. She had long, wavy hair and a glittering green eye. The other eye was covered by an eyepatch made of black leather. And it was not just that eye that was bound by leather. Her black outfit was wrapped tightly around her entire body and traces of a witch-like design could be seen here and there. For example, the cape and hat. Weve gathered everything we need, replied a magician named Marian Slingeneyer. She was a Dvergr. In Norse mythology, those were the beings who created the weapons of the gods with techniques surpassing those of the gods themselves. In recent years, a theory had been created saying they were a small group of people rather than a fictional race. Marian was the legitimate successor to that group. The many half-broken ships were sitting diagonally or toppled on their side, and objects similar to stainless steel ladders bridged the gap between them. The two of them safely crossed one of those alloy bridges illuminated by industrial lights. We used the massive volcanic energy at Hawaii as a reactor core, we carried out the holistic esper thought experiment at Baggage City, and...well, we failed to acquire Fr?ulein Kreutune at Academy City, but we filled that gap by acquiring a substitute. We can start at any time. How is Bersi doing? Well enough. He should be performing the final test on the parallel processor now. Gremlin had chosen Sargasso as their base for a few different reasons. It was a good magical site due to the ley lines, it allowed them to remain hidden from the Anglican Church, Ollerus, and any others who might interfere, and it was simply an easy location to construct a fortress. And there was one more reason. Not only did it allow them to accomplish their goals from a magical perspective, but it also allowed them to borrow the power of science. Their large goal required the installation and use of a large-scale and high-speed parallel processor. Marian shrugged lightly. Theres nothing but junk piled up around here, but with fishfinders and marine radars, any proper ship is going to have a computer of some sort on board. All hes doing is hooking together all of those and modifying them a bit to work in parallel, but it will apparently make a small supercomputer. Sargasso was made up of the ruins of ships that could no longer sail, but some of them had been swept away while their engine still worked. Using those engines as generators gave them a power source. As long as it helps create the lance, anything is fine, said Othinus as if spitting out the words. Will Bersi also handle this...whatever this thing in the cooler is. Academy Citys #2? Anyway, will he handle Fr?ulein Kreutunes substitute? No one but him can. After all, the point of that parallel processor is to send the proper signals in to make the substitute spit out Dark Matter in the form we want. The #2 that Gremlin had taken from Academy City was more accurately that which was once called Academy Citys #2. A few of the organs from when he was a flesh-and-blood human had been preserved, but the Level 5 esper (?) known as Dark Matter had already freed himself from the constraints of a flesh-and-blood body. To put it simply, what they had at Sargasso was similar to the dregs or empty husk of the #2. However, Gremlins goal was not to capture the #2 Level 5. It did not matter if this was just the dregs or the empty husk as long as they could draw out the power they needed for their goal. Bersi, the magician who had once been known as Kihara Kagun, had been literally working day and night as he prepared the parallel processor needed for the Dark Matter. There was no inconsistency in his movements. He had been working for dozens of hours at an even pace like the second hand of a clock or a conveyer belt. And there was a good reason for this. He had truly died once and had been brought back by Magic God Othinus as an Einherjar. ... Othinus silently looked upwards. A giant transport ship had broken in half at the middle and that break rose up like a cliff. It had broken due to the welding points corroding and coming apart with age and exposure to the sea breeze. On the deck over ten meters up sat a boy with long blond hair. The magic god called his name. Thor. Yeah? Once the lance enters the actual production phase, we will be unable to move. You know what you must do, right? Destroy everyone who gets near. Got it, got it. Either way, it doesnt look like theres much for me to do here. How much of Gremlins resources are you planning to use to intercept any attackers? Can I use Mj?lnir? She will be used to support Marian. I see. The lightning god Thor let out a light sigh. In that case, I feel sorry for our enemies. Do not head out as the lightning god. Start as the Almighty Thor from the beginning. You can use anyone and anything you want outside of Marian, Mj?lnir, and Bersi. I will even lend you the goddess Freyja and the giant M?kkurkalfe. At any rate, if anyone tries to interfere, give them a death at sea. Will do, casually replied the lightning god Thor as his legs dangled from the edge of the transport ship. And then, But will anyone really attack with such interesting timing? They will, replied Magic God Othinus immediately but with no real emotion. But not because the Anglican Church or the Roman Catholic Church are effective systems and not because Ollerus and his group are powerful. ...It is because of my infinite possibilities as a magic god. My odds of success and failure are always half and half. The more work I accumulate towards success, the more a card leading to failure will grow somewhere in the world. It is like a shadow that follows my every move. That isnt good. Does that mean the enemy heading this way is you yourself? Yes, in a way. I am telling you to knock back the misfortune that I call in. Do not think you can manage this with any normal amount of effort. This is on a level high enough to bind a magic god. Having said that, she motioned for Marian to follow her and then headed toward one end of Sargasso. She was likely headed toward the passenger ship that Gremlin used as a living space. It even had an undamaged indoor pool. That would be the ideal place to create the lance. The lightning god Thor lay down on his back. He stared blankly up into the sky and thought to himself. (Now then. Is it about time for me to cause some real damage?) Anyone who looked at that long blond-haired boy would have said he was the lightning god Thor. However, he was actually Ollerus, the man who should have become a magic god. He had used a high level disguise to change his looks and infiltrate Gremlin. His objective was simple: stop Gremlin from creating Gungnir. Magic God Othinus had obtained frightening power, but that power was too powerful. She could not fully control it herself. Having infinite possibilities sounded good, but it meant she had all positive possibilities and all negative possibilities. In this state, it was impossible to predict whether she would win or lose a game of rock paper scissors with a child. No matter what she did, the odds of success and failure were always half and half. To solve that dilemma, she had to twist those even odds to one extreme. To do that, she needed a single lance: Gungnir. Once Othinus obtained that, the world would literally come to an end. There would be no way of reversing the situation. A single human will would bring about a world where the infinite reaches of history would be eternally under a tyrannical rule. However... Even Ollerus would have a hard time defeating Magic God Othinus in a direct fight. And if Ollerus could not do it, it would be reckless to leave it to anyone else. That meant he had to wait. He had to wait until that true magic god had her hands full with the construction of the lance. (For now, Ill check on the location.) Ollerus looked up into the sky while lying on his back. On the way here, he had been inside the hold of a cargo ship, so he had not been able to check on the position of the stars or anything else. For that reason, he had infiltrated his enemys base while not knowing where it was. He had ways of gathering information while speaking with the other members, but he would stand out too much if he alone began asking questions like a tourist. (I need to know where this Sargasso is. Once I know that, I can draw in the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, or another major force that wishes to defeat Gremlin. I doubt that will be enough to defeat every last member of Gremlin, though. Theyre all too skilled in their own individual ways.) He stared up at that dead-looking sky that did not contain a single sea bird. (Once her hands are full with this important work and an obvious enemy has arrived, even Othinus will be distracted. An opportunity for me to stab from the side will come. It will all come down to an instant. This will truly influence the flow of history from here on.) Volume 8, 1: Preparations in the Background of Peace. A_Terrestial_Globe. Volume 8, Chapter 1: Preparations in the Background of Peace. A_Terrestial_Globe. Part 1 Let us go over a certain fact one more time. Kamijou Touma was surrounded by misfortune. When he properly finished his homework printout, the mischievous wind would blow it away. When he got on an elevator, it would trap him at one of the highest floors for no reason. When his stomach started hurting, no nearby convenience store would have a bathroom. When he walked five minutes down the road, he would run smack into a girl needing help. And of course, he would be chased around by magicians surrounded by a deadly aura and espers deeply dyed in the colors of bizarre science. There was a baseless urban legend saying a humans luck evened out over their lifetime. Those who met with misfortune were simply building up their luck and they would have so much good fortune later that it would weigh them down. However, Kamijou did not believe in that. For those with true misfortune, not even that evening out process would work properly. There was a place that god would tilt his head and wonder Ahh, ahh. Free will is great and all, but why did you have to get yourself stuck down there? Those with true misfortune were stuck in that place from the moment they were born and they would not leave until the day they died. That was what Kamijou believed. And thanks to this, Kamijou Touma was absurdly good at adlibbing. He was used to having absolutely nothing go according to plan, so the only way to reach the success before his eyes was to make his way there by adlibbing. Several times in the past...no, about a dozen times in the past...no, no, several dozen times in the past, he had made his way through unthinkable deadly battles like that. No battle had ever followed his expectations from beginning to end. Whenever he was perfectly surrounded, he would destroy it all at the root by using an unexpected method that would only work in that specific instance. Now. Keep all of that in mind. It was possible a survivor of so many battles would find the current issue to be no big deal. It was possible he could clench his right fist as usual, maintain his warm humanity in an extreme situation that would make any normal person fall to their knees in tears, face an ultimate difficult problem head on with his shoulder cutting through the air, fight until his body was bruised and beaten to protect the kind of smile found anywhere, and protect everything as if it had been nothing. And... The stopped second hand of the clock began to move once more. Kamijou Touma awoke in the bathrooms bathtub he used in place of a bed. For some reason, two girls had climbed into the blanket on either side of him and fallen asleep. ......................................................................................................................................................Okay. Stay calm. As an unpleasant sweat flowed from his entire body and he trembled from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, Kamijou, that veteran of countless deadly battles(?), did not let out a shout. He understood. He understood all too well. If he gave a common reaction like that, these mystery girls with their sleeping faces looking like the symbols of peace would immediately jump up and Kyahh! What are you doing!? Crash!! Wham!! And then his roommate, the white nun named Index, would come running when she heard the commotion. She would charge in and What are you doing, Touma!? Chomp, chomp, crunch!! It might be a bit hard to understand with all the sound effects, but a more detailed description would sound like something from a depressing snuff film. There was a good reason to keep it mild. It was possible the mincemeat-like remains would be eaten by the calico cat named Sphinx. (No. Please no!! If you represent my remaining life with a thick candle, this kind of terribly pathetic mission is sure to wear down over half of the candle!! And I get the feeling the accumulated damage from this sort of thing is more than Ive taken while seriously fighting magicians!!) Kamijous mind was in such chaos that his speech grew oddly effeminate. However, looking away from a harsh truth would not end the danger. There was something he had to do if he wished to survive. ... He decided to begin by determining who these girls were. He could not decide if it was a small piece of fortune or if it only made the situation worse, but he recognized the girls curled up and sleeping on either side of him. The first was Leivinia Birdway. She had slightly fluffy blonde hair and white skin. She looked as if every pore and drop of blood was special made. It was as if she had been designed according to the golden ratio. If she had been introduced as some legitimate noble girl, he would have believed it. However, she was actually the boss of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, the largest magic cabal in the great magic nation of England. She could grab a magicians hair as if pulling a large radish from the ground and swing them around, and she could make her wand sparkle and cause a highway junction to come crashing down. The second was Lessar. She was an imp-like girl whose waist-length black hair was braided at the end. She was an official member of a group called New Light which had even fewer ties of obligation than a magic cabal. She had grinned while taking part in a great commotion concerning the usurpation of the British crown, and she had enough skill to make her way unassisted throughout Russia while it was the main battlefield of World War Three. To put it simply, if these girls who were cutely breathing in their sleep woke up, their Kyah! Pervert! could easily lead to someone no longer being recognizable as human. (For one thing, it isnt normal for Birdway and Lessar to be together. Are the outlaw members of the already secret magic side joining forces!? I can think of them as special versions of the mafia or gangs. I dont know why theyre in Japan, in Academy City, and in my bathroom, but it cant be good news! I bet theyll grab the nape of my neck and drag me overseas!) These questions would never be answered if he was smashed to a pulp. Kamijou Toumas top priority was finding a way to ensure his own safety. Everything else had to come later. (I need to tread carefully here.) War involved more than just firing missiles and shells at each other. Accurately detecting the threat, learning what enemy had to be defeated, and determining the conditions for victory were all part of the intelligence gathering stage of war. And so... Kamijou Touma gently grabbed the thin blanket covering him (and the two girls). He lifted the blanket bit by bit while paying very close attention to make sure his actions did not wake up the girls. Make no mistake. Kamijou Touma was not a complete pervert who wanted to check on the pajamas of these defenseless sleeping girls or wanted to experience the aroma of the pearl-like drops of sweat that had appeared on their skin. What mattered was whether those two girls held anything in their hands. In other words, were they armed? In general, it could seem like magicians could do anything, but the scale of their destructive power changed greatly between being empty handed and carrying plenty of spiritual items. To properly understand the threat and properly put together a means of escape, Kamijou wanted to know whether they held any deadly weapons. Fortunately, he could not see any unrefined swords or any wands that looked like they would curse anyone who picked them up. Incidentally, Birdway was wearing a chic blouse, a miniskirt, and thick black stockings (meaning her panties were very nearly visible) and Lessar was wearing an outfit similar to a blue and white lacrosse uniform with bike shorts (meaning he could likely see her panties if he stood up). It was possible they were hiding a weapon behind their back or in their skirt, but Kamijou did not even consider carelessly checking on that. The instant he stuck his hand around their neck and down their back, he was sure it would end with Kyah! Pervert! Crack, crack, crunch! To repeat, Kamijou Touma was surrounded by misfortune. He had to act based on the assumption that anything and everything would happen at the worst possible time to invite misunderstandings. (Okay, okay! They either dont have any fearsome spiritual items or they have to take some time to pull them out. I wont search any further than this. Anyway, anyway. I dont have a perfect grasp of the situation, but I need to get out of this blanket and leave the bathtub before they wake up. Thats the only way to escape this threat!!) The skill needed for a battlefield sniper was not the swift movements of a roach. It was the slow but certain movements of a slug. Kamijou desperately suppressed his urge to shout at the top of his lungs and tackle his way through the bathroom door. With the delicacy of someone working with the colorful cords of a time bomb, he kept the blanket lifted up and slowly folded his extended legs like springs. By bending his knees, he could pull himself out of the warm tunnel created between the bottom of the bathtub and the blanket. Partway through, his big toe caught on a cloth thinner than the blanket. He prayed it was not Birdway or Lessars miniskirt. That would ruin everything with a Kyah! Pervert! Kamijou spent over 45 seconds moving from his lying position to a sitting position with his knees in front of his chest. P-pant... Pant, pant... Sweat dripped from his cheeks and down to his chin and he was breathing so heavily he could never explain it away if someone heard him. But this was what the situation demanded. Given how destructive these girls magic was, it was no exaggeration to say this was similar to having stepped on a landmine that had yet to detonate because he had not lifted his foot up. It would have been more unusual had he remained calm in this situation. (I need to place the bottom of my feet on the bottom of the bathtub. If I picture myself standing straight up and try to move accordingly, Im sure to fail. What I need to do is lean my back up against the wall and lift myself up ever so slowly.) He could do this. Unless a large amount of pepper blew in from the ventilation fan and made him sneeze repeatedly, he could stand up without Birdway or Lessar noticing. Once he managed that, there was nothing left to be afraid of. He could step out of the bathtub, open the bathroom door, and say good morning to Index and the calico cat. It would all be over. He could safely overcome this! But then... Garbage collection! Do you have any unwanted bicycles, unicycles, skateboards, or anything else!!!!!? Suddenly, a middle-aged male voice played through a speaker at high volume blasted in from outside. Kamijou Touma distinctly felt a thin string in his mind snap. And for a while after that, the boy saw nothing but a pure white expanse stretching to the horizon in all 360 degrees. This calm and gentle mental scenery severed the link between time and space. It may have been what would be seen in the very, very end by a hermit who spent all 100 years of his life training and meditating. It was a perfect trance. Reality gradually returned as if it were eating into the edges of his vision. Kamijous tear glands burst. Nn... What is it? Keep it down... Kamijou clearly saw Birdway and Lessars lips moving while they rubbed their eyes. The gates of hell had opened!! The boys rational mind finally crumbled. No!! Its over. Im done for!! This just isnt fair. What did I do to deserve thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssss!? Kamijous intense fear brought his voice into a falsetto as he returned to the panicked effeminate speech from before. But the situation veered in a direction he had not expected. With a look of annoyance, Birdway and Lessar pulled the blanket back over themselves. The reaction that could break through a concrete anti-explosive bunker never came. In fact, they only gave the following casual comments. Mh... Quiet down. Do you have any idea what time it is? Mumble mumble... Im really jetlagged right now... Ugh, Im tired. So very tired... Kamijou still could not believe it. The sensitive heart of an injured boy would not recover so easily. Then again, if he used the secret technique of rubbing their heads or letting them use his lap as a pillow, their affection values would have exceeded the max value all at once. Kamijou managed to escape that effeminate mode, but he was still trembling like a fawn. N-no, I get. I get it now!! You want me to say Oh, is that all? You scared me. Eh heh heh. Then, when my guard is down and I turn my back, you send some amazing attack at the back of my head! That has to be it!! You shouldnt target the medulla oblongata!! ...I dont care what you think. Just let me sleep. Ill kill you if you dont. U-uuhh.... You can touch my breasts as long as its over the clothes, so just let me sleep... Their reaction seemed more like that of someone with a hangover than sleep deprivation. Feeling like a criminal when the guillotine blade continually refused to drop, Kamijou nervously checked on his situation. (Am I safe? Am I in the clear?) No!! I cant relax yet. I cant!! For one thing, I dont know how or why you two are here in my bathroom!! I wont let my guard down until everything is clear!! How...? As Lessar tried to steal the blanket from Birdway, she somehow answered Kamijous question in a low and truly annoyed voice. The wall... Theres another concerning statement!! What does the wall have to do with sneaking into here!? Are you saying you opened a giant hole in the wall and sealed it up afterwards!? Lessar seemed to have completely given up. She rolled herself up in the blanket like a cigar. Having lost the blanket, Birdway began jabbing her small knee into the cigar to reclaim the blanket. (What in the world is going on?) With the risk of instant death growing more distant, Kamijou was finally calm enough to arrive at the obvious question. But... He had forgotten something. Namely, the risk of instant death due to a commotion in the bathroom did not only come from those two. Kamijou Touma had left a much closer and much greater danger unattended. He heard it coming from outside the bathroom door. Touma? Are you up? Im really hungry! Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!??? Kamijous entire body began twitching oddly. This was bad. Very, very bad. Two girls were sleeping in the bathtub he used as a bed. There was only one blanket. How great a misunderstanding would this cause and how much destruction would it lead to? He did the calculations and it was obvious it would become a horrifically gory scene that would need to be censored. (No!! The bathroom door is locked. I dont need to panic!! ...But wait. Birdway and Lessar snuck in here, right? Did these sleepy girls really lock the door before climbing into the blanket? Hypothetically speaking, what if they got in bed with the door unlocked?) Fhnn!! Like a scene from a Hollywood movie, Kamijou leaped over the edge of the bathtub, rolled along the bathroom floor, and slammed his foot into the center of the door as if trying to kick it with the bottom of his foot. This all-out defense came just as the doorknob began to turn. Surprised by the loud noise of Kamijous foot slamming into the door, Index spoke up. Hyah!? Wh-what is it, Touma!? Oh, sorry, sorry! Kamijou-san is in the middle of washing off his sweat from the night, so dont come in right now. Just as he made up that excuse on the spot, Kamijou heard a creaking sound. Kamijou felt an odd sensation in the bottom of his foot that was pressed against the door. Specifically, all resistance disappeared. A perfect rectangle in the wall one size bigger than the door collapsed outward. Kamijou recalled Lessars sleepy words: the wall. Index frantically escaped to the side while holding the calico cat. She just barely avoided the falling wall at the last second. While trembling on the floor in his rolling kick position, Kamijou exchanged a silent glance with Index who was curled up like a pill bug. And finally, something happened. Indexs beautiful green eyes gained a beast-like ferocity. Touma, how did you leave two girls so exhausted this early in the morning? And you tried to take me out of the picture and use the confusion to make it look like an accident... What...? Why is this misunderstanding so much more like something from an extreme soap opera!? But Kamijou Touma has overcome the battlefields of World War Three, clashed with Gremlin, and survived fighting with the Freshmen and the rest of Academy Citys dark side. I am not going to be taken out as easily as before. Today, I will get in at least one attack of my-... Kamijou Touma would later describe the rest of the scene as being dyed in bright colors. Part 2 New York, United States of America. For better or for worse and wanted or not, a large part of the world was constantly influenced in some way by this leading city. It was both the symbol of and the center of the financial world. It was not as technologically advanced as Japans Academy City, but Wall Street was still the heart of financial activity. Of the five boroughs making up New York, Manhattan had the strongest image of money. But despite being the center of the financial world, it was a fairly special location. Because it was an island located between two large rivers, the buildings were tall and the population was dense. Transportation was almost completely dependent on countless bridges and underground tunnels. If all of the bridges and tunnels collapsed for some reason, the population density would mean the residents had a great risk of drying up. (Ironically, Hollywood had made several films involving Manhattan being isolated by a natural disaster, accident, or attack.) Finances, theatre, music, fashion... Manhattan was the prominent place for many different fields. However, there was one other building there with important meaning: The UN Headquarters. What? Wouldnt it have been safer to hold it at the White House? It was the middle of the night. While it was not at the level of Las Vegas, the streets were filled with an unnatural level of artificial lights. On one of those streets was a muscular man in his forties who looked like he could flex his muscles and rip apart the expensive suit he had been given by a group backing him. He was Roberto Katze. A plaza exited in front of the UN Headquarters building and Roberto was sitting on a shallow stone staircase there, eating a hot dog he had bought at a nearby stand. This did not seem like something the president of the United States would do, but the one responsible for security was not this unprecedented president. That responsibility lay with the skilled secret service members filling the area. Standing tall next to Roberto while flipping through a memo pad was Roseline Krackhart. With her blonde-hair, blue-eyes, and tight skirt suit, she looked like the perfect skilled secretary. However, the unfairness of the world could be seen in the fact that she was the one people thought looked out of place when she stood next to the president. Incidentally, she worked as the presidents aide, so it would have been stranger if she was not with him. The residence of the president has too much political pressure. Those that do not want America leading the solution to this issue would refuse to gather there. And more importantly, DC has too many journalists wishing to get rich quick. It will be easier to resolve this in secret if it is done in New York. How many times have I explained this to you now? Isnt this place overflowing with journalists, too? Yknow, like the paparazzi who spend all year chasing after Hollywood actresses asses nonstop. I get it, so stop pointing that disgusting pin-up magazine this way. I will sue you for sexual harassment. Anyway, it is an issue of quality. There is so much information here, that the truth is easily buried. The third-rate paparazzi of the entertainment world and the political reporters of the journalism world will grab different types of information from the same scene. And even if this does get out, much fewer people would believe the paparazzi. An emergency financial meeting of the G14, hm? To prevent this gathering of heads of state from looking unnatural, we secretly intervened in the stock market. Did the folks on Wall Street scream when the stock prices fluctuated so wildly? Everyone would be better off if they are taken down a peg or two. And we kept the losses at a low enough level to keep anyone from hanging themselves or jumping in front of a train at the end of the week. In an incarnation of capitalism like the United States, those comments would have been enough to destroy their administration, but Roberto and Roseline showed no sign of caring. They knew that the value of information was always judged by the price tag of credibility. The president and his aide would never talk about state secrets in a place like this. Anyone with that common knowledge would ignore those comments as a joke. The human brain would selectively accept the information before ones eyes according to ones own tastes. Having a secret strategy meeting in a hidden place and constantly looking over your shoulder with a serious expression would add a lot more credibility to what you said. Oh? Speak of the devil. The London market has arrived. If you noticed, then wipe that ketchup off your face, you bandit. The president meaninglessly tried to make himself look good by licking it off of his thumb but ended up almost writhing around when he put a large amount of mustard in his mouth. The beautiful aide seriously contemplated stomping on him with her high heels. A black luxury car with a small flag on it silently came to a stop in front of them. The bodyguard that stepped out of the car first was not a well-built man in black. It was an Asian woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail and an extremely long Japanese sword at her waist. When the bodyguard opened the door to the backseat, an elderly woman wearing a gorgeous dress stepped out with motions so smooth she did not seem to have a center of gravity. This woman was Queen Regnant Elizard. With the Curtana Second, sword of succession, she stood at the center of an entire nation. She looked down at the bearded man sitting on the stairs while eating a hot dog and reading a pin-up magazine. Whats this? An American welcome certainly has become casual. Even an old man hosting a weekend party at least stands up to welcome his guests. Do you happen to transform into an intensely beautiful girl during the full moon? If so, Ill think about it. Also, that looks good. Where was the stand you bought it at? Ill tell you if you tell me where you hired that bodyguard girl. I want some beauty to add to my security team. Despite her appearance, Kanzaki Kaori is one of the worlds fewer than twenty Saints. At the very least, that is not something you can buy at a street-side stand. I know. Thats why I dont have one already. I could see her on the cover of this thing. My secret service is all so muscular. When she finally remembered Englands leader was fairly ridiculous too, Roseline Krackhart felt faint. The look of pity from the British bodyguard woman was the worst part. However, the suffering for Roseline and her common sense was far from over. Another group arrived, weaving through the crowded sidewalk in another direction. The short child who visually could have been a boy or a girl was the Russian Orthodox Churchs Patriarch. And on either side of him was...Roseline was not sure what. On one side was a woman in a red nuns habit carrying a bucket-sized soft drink container. On the other side was a blonde girl wearing chains and binding clothing and armed with saws, pliers, and other torture tools. They spoke as they walked. When you come to America, youve gotta search around for some grotesque zombie games that havent been released overseas, right, Sasha-chan? My faith normally lies solely in Japanimation, but you cant forget that their modern works are based in American culture! We can use our diplomatic rights to bring back the ones too gory to get past customs. Gahah gahah!! A question: What if I pointed out that you should not be declaring faith in things such as that when you are a member of the Russian Orthodox Church? A supplementary comment: Arent you afraid of falling victim to the inquisition for saying such things in front of the Patriarch who rules the church? I-I wouldnt do that. Anyone would have said the Patriarch was the most powerful one of the three, but the bodyguards on either side had such strong characters that he was completely buried. (Ahh, does having common sense put you at a disadvantage and mean your entire life will be spent cleaning up after others?) A distant look entered Roseline Krackharts eyes. Despite being in front of the representatives of several nations, Roberto Katze was openly reading a pin-up magazine with a special feature entitled Top 100 Bunny Girls in Las Vegas. He spoke to his beautiful aide who was trying and failing to suppress her headache. Where are the others? The French are already inside. The Roman Catholic Churchs new pope should arrive soon along with the Italian Foreign Minister. The meeting should begin on time. A general offensive against Gremlin, hm? muttered Roberto as he held the pin-up magazine in one hand as if waiting for a shaky washing machine to finish in a coin laundry. He then added, Why does it have to be a time like this that we cant reach that bastard Aleister at the top of Academy City. America claimed to be the world police, but they had been left out of the loop during World War Three. After receiving direct damage during the disturbance in Hawaii, they would take severe political damage if leadership of the attack on Gremlin was taken by Academy City. But on the other hand... Receiving no cooperation at all was disturbing in its own way. Just because they could not contact the chairman of Academy Citys board of directors did not mean the city would not take action. Academy City could always do something on their own. If that happened, not only could America have the prize snatched from them, a failure in teamwork could lead to Academy City and Americas forces clashing instead of targeting Gremlin. While Academy City was a single city rather than an entire nation, their advanced technology and massive amounts of next generation weapons and unmanned weapons allowed them to compete in a worldwide war. When making such careful planning, having such a major factor as a complete black box was not good for the heart. (Well, this isnt the first time theyve insisted on secrecy. Suspecting every unknown factor just leads to restraining yourself for no good reason.) Okay. Lets all go sit in those luxurious chairs and get this strategy meeting started. In that case, close your vulgar magazine and do something about that protrusion in your pants. Even if this is unofficial, you cant enter the conference room like that. You could always take care of it for me. Heh heh. The instant after the president got carried away, Roseline mercilessly and unsympathetically stabbed her high heel into the center of his back. A sound like a giant drum being beat rang out. It had been such a fascinatingly sharp strike that the surrounding secret service carelessly watched it happen before coming to their senses. Did that wake you up? Ofhh!? Cough cough!! ...Th-thats what you call a swordfish... Enough about ocean romance. The sound of Roselines high heels tapping against the ground sounded like a beast threateningly gnashing its teeth. That eerie noise urged Roberto into the UN Headquarters along with the representatives of England and Russia. S-some illegals are taking part in the meeting, right? They of course cannot enter this building, but they will be connected by a line that will leave no records. Our top priority is Gremlin and we will use whatever means are available to us. They will be taking part in real time from the other side of the globe. I dont know the details about magic or whatever, but what kind of people are they if they can stand on the same level as representatives of entire nations? And in a certain student dorm in Japans Academy City, the boss of a magic cabal elegantly crossed her legs and fidgeted with a cell phone. People like me, she muttered. Part 3 In that early morning dorm room, Birdway ended a call on her cell phone and stuck it into her skirt pocket. She spoke with the expression of someone plotting a worldwide conspiracy. The preparations are complete. Hm? Did you order a pizza? I travelled to the other side of the globe. If I was hungry, I would order sushi or soba. A battered Kamijou gathered his hazy consciousness and listened to Birdway and Indexs heartwarming conversation. If he was honest, he really did not care about the direction in which the world was headed. He was more concerned about doing something about the hole cut out of the bathroom wall, but Kamijou was much too afraid of losing his deposit to go crying to the dorm supervisor. He began trying to escape from reality by wondering if there was some mysterious masked carpentry group that could repair the wall to as good as new. The secret battles in the dark side of Academy City had all evidence and traces of destruction covered up, so he was convinced someone like that had to exist. The problem was he had not the slightest clue how to contact them. To preserve usage of the bathroom in the meantime, he had covered the hole with a blue tarp. Having the bath and toilet exposed would have been too extreme a living environment. At any rate, the distant look in Kamijou Toumas eyes may have been because of blood loss. After all, his head had been given a slight pomegranate-style decoration from the ferocious white nuns fangs. With an energy-drained look on his face, he muttered something with his mouth opening and closing like a ventriloquist doll during a safety lecture. Ugh, just look at me. I let my guard down. I wonder if the day is coming when I will be forced into a serious fistfight with 120% beast mode Index or enter a drawn-out battle to the death with a dark shadowy gathering of misfortune given physical form... Seeing you relatively fine after just wrapping a few bandages around your head makes me realize how many mysteries humans contain. And I thought I had seen everything there was to see about the human body, inner universe and all. With that quick comment, Birdway, who was sitting at the kotatsu, turned a dissatisfied look toward the toast and salad in front of her. It seemed she wanted a breakfast of white rice and miso soup since she was in Japan. Meanwhile, the white wild beast nun named Index split her toast in two, forced her salad (which had no dressing) in between the two pieces, and devoured the entire thing. Touma! I finished this in 15 seconds, so it doesnt count as a meal! I want bread, ham, and eggs too! More, more, more!! Your method of eating it was too over the top!! Kamijou-san will not let you say this is the same as a hot sandwich! Index, that is nothing more than the it all mixes together in your stomach strategy!! Lessar, who still looked sleepy, tore off a piece of her bread, dunked it in her hot milk, and ate it. It looked like she was trying to bring back the temptation of falling sleep by going with a night cap rather than a meal. Kamijou was a bit worried she would get cavities. The TV that just so happened to be on was saying something about the G14 in New York. At this time in the morning, most channels only showed the news or variety shows for elementary school kids. Kamijou wished at least one station would show a gaudy comedian performance. He also wished they could just get through with the headlines and the weather forecast in 30 seconds. In that way, he was no different from the average high schooler. He was the type who never checked the newspaper or TV schedule. Index on the other hand would always drool at Todays Bento Corner and copy it into her mind with her perfect memory. The truly annoying part was her complete inability to cook despite that perfect memory. I wont do it. Ham and eggs are banned!! Giving your meal a healthy balance is what matters most! The reason you dont feel full is because you didnt take your time eating it, Index!! What!? In that case, Ill try to eat Sphinxs food! If you dont want Sphinx to be starving, make me ham and eggs!! What kind of inhumane terrorist attack is this!? When Index picked the plate up from the floor, the calico cat stood up on its hind legs. Sharp claws silently appeared from its front paws. Grudges over food could be scary. Birdway sipped on a milk shake made from putting eggs and sugar in milk (although she insisted it was a nonalcoholic eggnog cocktail) and jabbed her legs into other peoples legs under the kotatsu. While quite relaxed, she spoke. For some reason, coming here makes me really start to not care about worldwide disturbances and an allied attack plan. Stop acting like this is your second home!! The trouble you bring with you is on a completely different level from other girls! ...And did I hear some really dangerous terms mixed in there? Yawn... After giving up on her food, Lessar rolled over on the floor and let out a yawn. If the kotatsu had not been there to guard her, her panties would have been on full display within her miniskirt. She took the jerky she had given up on and held it out toward the cat which had had its food taken by a tyrant. Were here...to make sure the...um...trump card can be used at any time... We need to make the preparations...mumble...and keep Imagine Breaker ready to be used... Hey!! Dont fall asleep in the kotatsu! Youll catch a cold!! And explain this to Kamijou-san! This sounds like youre going to get me involved, so at least explain it to me!! Yawn... We played rock-paper-scissors in New Light... I won, so I got to go sightseeing in Asia... I won the plane ticket after beating down Floris who almost cried during the final match... I wasnt asking about the details of how you got here!! I want you to explain the general dangerous atmosphere hanging over all of this!! shouted Kamijou. However, Lessar seemed to have decided it was too much effort. She listlessly gave the cat bread crumbs and jerky. This effectively threw firewood onto the flames of Indexs jealousy. Heres the thing, cut in Birdway simply as she put butter and powdered sugar on her toast. The groups that are finding Gremlins methods to be an eyesore are gathering together. Theres the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, normal militaries like the American one and the Russian one, and...well, theres a lot. ....................................................................................................................................That has nothing to do with me, right? Why would I come to this cramped room for no reason? You fool. Dont tell me youre thinking of this as no different from your neighborhood childhood friend coming to wake you up. What does any of this have to do with me!? Youre the one that complained about this before!! Who do you think it was that said he would sulk if he wasnt thrown into the most dangerous place in the world!? Do I need to retighten the screw in your head!? Hold up. I think your mental translation of what I said is a bit-... Wait, wait! Birdway, that wand isnt supposed to go in there!! Ill listen, so calm down!! Like a scene from a Hollywood movie, Kamijou Touma leaped forward and somersaulted away as he desperately tried to put some distance between himself and Birdway. After escaping to the wall, he finally gained the calm needed to sort through the information. So...um...Hasnt this escalated pretty quickly? The alliance is still doing everything it can to search for Gremlins headquarters. Once its found, they will mount a unified attack against it. Gremlin is extremely powerful on the individual level, but it most likely does not have the organizational foundation needed to be called a world power. The fact that they are keeping their headquarters hidden is an admission that a large scale attack on it would be bad news for them. This really has escalated quickly! ...But if you plan to attack them head on, does that mean you can properly fight that magic god? Kamijou had once met Othinus in Eastern Europes Baggage City. He had not stood a chance. She had torn off his right wrist as easily as plucking a fruit from a tree and he had all too easily passed out from the blood loss and pain. If Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right had not arrived, Kamijou could not guess what would have happened. If powers from around the world gathered, they might be able to defeat her. Or could they? Kamijou was not very confident. He could not imagine her kneeling down before anyone. And even if it was possible, that would mean a power rivaling Magic God Othinus would be clashing with her. How great a disaster would that cause? However... Birdway, a magic specialist, did not seem particularly concerned. Well, were up against Gremlin which still holds plenty of secrets and Othinus who has taken a step into the territory of a magic god. And they are also in the process of putting together an extremely annoying spiritual item called Gungnir. Defeating them with any normal method would require a lot of work. That is why we want to keep an ace up our sleeve that will help us resolve this much more quickly. ...Wait. Dont worry. We arent going to throw you out in front of Othinus. Youd die instantly if we did. But there are crucial points in any plan. For example, when that spear is on the verge of being completed. We will send you in then and have you break Gremlins joint in a single blow. Your role isnt to fight a lengthy battle from beginning to end. Were just going to use Imagine Breaker as a wedge we hammer in at a single opportune moment. You can survive that kind of fight, right? Why does it sound like everyones already decided Im going to fight!? Oh, so you wont fight? Huh? Is this the legendary go right ahead, go right ahead argument? After seeing the disasters in Hawaii and Baggage City, Kamijou was not about to leave Gremlin and Magic God Othinus to do as they wished. This felt much closer to home than a war in a distant country. Gremlin would go anywhere and invade anywhere that was necessary to accomplish their goal. Academy City may have been surrounded by tall walls, but it was no exception. The next time he turned on the television, he might find that history had greatly changed and a new trauma had been carved into the world. It was possible that news would be about Academy City being wiped off the map. They had such overwhelming power that Kamijou assumed they could do that and they had taken such aberrant actions that he doubted they would hesitate to do so. Gremlin had an objective and it seemed all of their actions had been taken in order to construct Gungnir, but Kamijou did not know enough about magic to know the exact conditions for that. For him, it looked like they had been throwing darts at the world map and attacking the spot they hit. I guess...we have to do something... If we had any other method, we would not use an amateur as the cornerstone of such a large scale attack plan. I try to keep in mind how powerless I really am. Just to be clear, I could never defeat the likes of Othinus. Were worlds apart. I solidly lost to the Lightning God Thor. And if Marian Slingeneyer had seriously drawn Dinsleif, who knows how that would have turned out. ...To be blunt, Ive never had an honest win against them. Are you sure youre prepared to leave your life in the hands of someone like that? But you can turn that around and point out that you survived against all of those monstrous opponents. Placing your objectives too high is never a good idea. All that matters is understanding that we still have a chance. They were not expecting him to fight properly. They were expecting nothing of Kamijou Touma. Their hopes were placed in Imagine Breaker. In other words, this boy was being treated like the warhead of a precision guided bomb that would be dropped from an airplane. Professionals would guide him to the precise target and he would only need to swing his right hand at the optimal time and in the optimal place. Nothing more than that was expected of him and trying for anything more would be leaving the optimal course. Even if he could not defeat this powerful enemy head on, he had another way of doing serious damage. Kamijou let out a deliberate breath. So where will you be taking me? The alliance is searching all over the world for the exact location. It could be as far north as the North Pole or as far south as the South Pole. Assume anything is possible, replied Birdway as if making a decisive announcement. We dont know if Gremlin even has an official name for the place. In fact, were not even sure if there is any meaning in giving it a name. But for conveniences sake, I and the rest of the alliance are calling it this. She paused for a moment. It was as if speaking this name would decisively change the flow of events. And Birdway spoke the name as if the word held some special meaning. Sargasso, the ship graveyard. Part 4 Lets go back over the events, began United States President Roberto Katze in New Yorks UN Headquarters. He was in a conference room, but it was not the large scale room for over 100 representatives that was often seen on the news. That would have been too large for 14 heads of state to argue with each other. This was a rectangular room given perfect soundproofing with a double glass partition. A long table cut down the center of the room and the heads of state of the anti-Gremlin alliance sat around it. The room had no outside windows, so day and night meant nothing. The building did not have extreme differences in the number of people coming and going based on the time of day; it was always busy. Now. Kanzaki Kaori and Vasilisa, two of the bodyguards, were not inside the small conference room. While armed guards were effective for defensive firepower, they constantly held the risk of harming the other VIPs. Under the na?ve assumption that the representatives would not attack each other because they all had the same objective, all bodyguards had been removed from the room with the exception of Americas secret service as America was the country responsible for security within the conference room. However, Kanzaki and Vasilisa possessed exceptional power even among those known as magicians. The glass met all soundproofing, bulletproofing, and explosives-proofing standards, but they could break through it with their bare hands and instantly move to act as a shield for their protection target. They could also send a curse at a hypothetical enemy inside the room without having to break the glass. As Vasilisa watched the president through the glass, she muttered something in sync with his mouth movements. Okay, lets see... Gremlins objective is the construction of a special spear. To accomplish this, they caused the incident in Hawaii, performed some kind of experiment in Baggage City, and infiltrated Academy City. ...Are you bored? asked Kanzaki in annoyance. Vasilisa shrugged. I cant have fun with Sasha-chan here because too many people would start glaring at me. A question: Do you mind if I split your skull open? immediately added the Russian bodyguard wearing a binding outfit. Vasilisa ignored the girl and knocked on the tempered glass. Naturally, not even a slight vibration reached the conference room on the other side. What do you think, Miss England? I find it hard to believe this Magic God Othinus even exists, but this is no longer a situation I can judge with my common sense. Kanzaki gave an exhausted sigh. She had fought an official member of Gremlin on a mobile fortress moving to Academy City. Her opponent had apparently been a girl, but her appearance had been that of a thick, black, drum-like cylinder. Gremlin was willing to rearrange the human body that far in pursuit of efficiency. Kanzaki did not know what future they hoped for, but if they gained control and that became normal, she doubted it would be a good future. Gremlins objective is bringing Magic God Othinus to her perfect state. To do that, they must construct Gungnir. In Hawaii they used the massive energy of a volcano as a reactor core, in Baggage City they proved their theory about the development of holistic espers to reach an area impossible to reach with simple magical theory, and in Academy City they were searching for the actual person to use. Some portions of their theory seem impossible to verify to me, but perhaps I should assume their techniques have exceeded my understanding. Kanzaki Kaori could not ignore an issue concerning the Norse spear of Gungnir. When the Saint Brunhild Eiktobel had completed a prototype of that spear, Kanzaki had fought and defeated her. Well, I agree with you there, but the problem is that all of this information comes from the illegals, said Vasilisa disinterestedly. You mean the Dawn-Colored Sunlight? Not just them. The Saint Silvia and the half magic god Ollerus as well. Powerful people we had recently doubted even existed are showing up one after another. I hear one of them has successfully snuck into Gremlin, but how much can we trust them? Magic cabals were like the mafia and gangs of the magic world. The possibility of them joining forces with Gremlin to destroy Christianitys control of the magic world was just about the worst possibility imaginable. However... If the common knowledge of our world is enough here, I do not see why the Dawn-Colored Sunlight would betray us. Why not? A world with Gremlin in control would be riskier than one with Christianity in power. Yes, modern Western magic is based on secret tricks of Christianity. Gremlin specializes in Norse mythology. If they filled the world with that and eliminated the Christian materials as if overwriting the culture, that would be a fatal blow to the Dawn-Colored Sunlight. Based on what benefits them, we should be able to trust them for now. And even if we cannot trust them, we should be able to determine when they will betray us and take the initiative. Perhaps, agreed Vasilisa casually. She was not simply agreeing with an opinion that put her at ease so she could gain a peace of mind she depended on. Nor was she simply being optimistic without giving it much thought. No matter what happened, she would ultimately bite into her targets windpipe and finish them off. Kanzaki could sense that icy will in the core of Vasilisas relaxed body. And Vasilisa herself was carefree. Most likely, even if she stood on the brink of mankinds utter destruction, she would enter that final battle while perfectly carefree. After travelling around the world gathering the materials they needed, Gremlin has holed up in their hidden headquarters. The time limit until the spears completion is unknown. And if that allows Othinus to wield the legendary power of a magic god, the world has no chance of winning. I want to finish this before the spear is completed. The spy in Gremlin has to check the arrangement of the stars to determine the location of Sargasso, right? I just hope everything comes together in time. Part 5 Now then. No matter what resided in his right hand and no matter how many times he had almost died, Kamijou Touma was essentially a high school student. After eating breakfast, he had to prepare for school. However... Hey, after breakfast, were heading to District 23. Ive spoken with one of the twelve board members I was able to access. A supersonic passenger plane has been prepared for us, so we should arrive at Sargasso a few hours after its located no matter where in the world it might be. ...Youre basically being treated like a ballistic missile. I dont think so!! Kamijou-san is a student, you know? My attendance is already in serious trouble! At least let me go to class until you need to call me in. I want to at least be there for the roll call this morning!! I see. Birdway folded her arms in a meaninglessly pompous manner. You can do that if you like, but I need to make sure you can leave at any moment. I wont be leaving your side. If you insist on going to class, you have to do so while I sit on your lap. Is that okay? The class would never calm down! And I just know Aogami Pierce would get especially worked up!! Lessar had completely ignored her breakfast and slept for twenty minutes or so, but she finally woke up and blinked her eyes blearily. She spoke to Index who was still complaining about being hungry (despite Kamijou having ultimately made her the ham and eggs). Huh? Youre a strict Anglican, so I thought for sure youd be insisting an amateur high school student cant be sent into a magic battle like this. An illegal like me has no problem with getting him involved in all sorts of things, though. I already know that complaining about that wont stop Touma, immediately replied Index while giving a snort. And in that case, I have an idea. ? Lessar tilted her head in puzzlement, but Index gave no further explanation as she held the calico cat. After a much too uneven vote between those who wanted to go to school and those who did not, Kamijous actions were restricted considerably. After stubbornly changing into his school uniform in the bathroom covered by the blue tarp, the boy was half-dragged outside by Birdway. It was early morning. They were walking down the same path students used on their way to school. As those other uniform-wearing boys and girls made their way to school as usual, Kamijou Touma alone walked in a completely different direction along with three girls (who were all rather small). In both appearance and direction, he moved against the flow of the others who were moving out of his way because they were true Japanese who preferred to passively avoid conflict. This is painful... This may be fairly subdued, but its still really painful!! Due to the powers development, this city is relatively respectful of individual freedom, but I can tell Im really, really standing out right now! Can girls born and raised in England not sense this tremendous awkwardness!? For some reason this caused Lessar to put her hands on her hips and puff out her chest. Hah hah hah! We are from the country that makes travelers eyes open wide in surprise when we treat them to homemade cooking! We are from the country where guidebook recommendations are for some reason filled with Chinese restaurants! Did you really think we would falter when faced with alienation on this level!? Kh. I wish I had the confidence to tell 6 billion people its their sense of taste thats wrong... And Lessar, you know how to cook? I didnt know that! It seemed they had to take a direct bus to District 23 rather than a train. But unlike the buses that travelled around the city areas, not many people used this bus. And that meant there were large gaps between buses. Despite already gathering such unpleasant attention, they were forced to wait at the bus stop for a while. I never knew simply sitting on a bench waiting for a bus could squeeze at my chest so much!! Kamijou complained, but then Leivinia Birdway vigorously sat down on top of his lap. What are you doing!? Arent you going a bit far for a one-off gag!? Sit next to me! Next to me!! Dont joke. I am wearing a skirt. I would never sit on a bench chilled by this early morning November air. Try to respect my basic human rights, you fool. Im pretty sure nothing I said was wrong, so why am I being scolded so harshly!? Yawn... I would also like to ask why Lessar is sitting next to and snuggling up against me. What is going on, lovely lady from the support center!? ...My drowsiness is back. Jetlag is terrible... Birdway held Kamijou down from above and Lessar completely restricted the movements of his right arm. He felt soft sensations all over and a sweet smell filled the air, but a sudden electric current-like shock ran through Kamijous head from the right temple to the left. Touma. ...Please wait a moment, Index-san. I never thought I would have to bare my fangs again before my anger had fully faded. I didnt expect this either! Please just wait! I request a compromise concerning your standard tsukkomi punishment of biting the back of my head! Lets limit it to once a day. Lets not go any further than tha-...gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!? Part 6 On the way to school, Misaka Mikoto stood silently with one of her cheeks twitching. That spiky-haired idiot was once more pulling off repeated miracles that could never happen in a normal life. Who was that imp-like girl snuggling up against him on that bench? Who was the dangerous blonde girl sitting on his lap who he had been seriously fighting just the other day? And was having that silver-haired nun biting into the back of his head supposed to be a normal occurrence? So much information came pouring in at once that she could not settle any single issue in her heart. To put it a bit more colloquially, she was having difficulty deciding what she should get mad about first. Normally, Mikoto might have used her control over massive amounts of magnetism to rip the entire bench up into the air and shout Ventura, Ventura!! while launching it high into the sky. However, she was different today. She spoke in a low, quiet voice that was almost a groan. ...Im sick of this position. Oh? Is that Misaka-san standing here all alone and trembling? Mikotos shoulders jumped at that sudden sugary voice. She frantically turned around and found an unfamiliar woman in a showy suit. However, Mikoto put her guard up even further when she saw the star-like object twinkling in the womans eyes. She was being controlled by the #5, Mental Out. What are you doing here, Shokuhou? Nothing really. And does it really matter? But what are you doing here, Misaka-san? Does it have to do with the gentleman sitting on that bench? Sniff sniff. Sniff sniff sniff sniff... Dont smell me! Dont smell me! What do you hope to learn from that!? If you want to know whats going on, why dont you just go over and ask him? said the woman in a whisper. Wha-!? Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-what!? Mikotos entire face explosively turned red. The woman in the showy suit who looked either like a career woman or a sexy teacher lightly clenched her fists and rubbed them together up near her mouth. Arent you curious? Arent you curious? N-no, Im not!! Not at all and not one bit!! Mikoto could not afford to show the slightest opening to this expert in controlling minds, so she denied it as much as she could. However, the #5 Level 5 outdid her. Well, I am curious. What!? And so I think Ill go check on this issue that Misaka-san is not at all and not one bit curious about. After all, if I smile at him with her appearance ability, I should be able to win over most any guy. The woman in the showy suit struck a pose and pressed a sideways peace sign against her eye. And even if an adult woman isnt in his strike zone... If I bring in this much variation... Hes sure to like at least one of them Another nine girls lined up next to the woman and struck the same pose. There was everything from a literary girl with braided hair to a sports girl with brown skin. Mikoto was reminded of the skits put on by connecting puppets to ones arms and legs with long horizontal rods so they would dance along with you. The girls spoke with star-like objects glittering in their eyes. Fwa ha ha ha ha! If I use the same barrage ability as a fighting game with only girl characters, not even his denseness can save him!! I will be able to control everything, Misaka-saaaan!! Stop that! If you destroy the male-female ratio any further, this will fall into complete chaos!! And dont tell me you have some strange connection with him from the past! Mikoto would gain nothing by letting her cause any more trouble. In fact, she had a distinct feeling that if she let those ten girls and women continue on, that idiot would miraculously win over all ten of them and somehow manage to drag Shokuhou Misaki herself out onto the stage as well. And so... In order to prevent unnecessary interference from the #5, Academy Citys #3 Level 5, Misaka Mikoto, thrust her hands forward, controlled a massive amount of magnetic power, and targeted the metallic portions of the bus stop bench. She let out a shout from the bottom of her gut. Ventura, Venturaaaaa!!!!! Part 7 The nun named Agnese Sanctis was in the giant library connected to the UN Headquarters building. During the night, the number of people inside fell drastically. However, that silence seemed appropriate for a nun. She was officially a member of the Anglican Church, but ever since World War Three, she had been working to return to the Roman Catholic Church. She had transferred from the Roman Catholic Church to the Anglican Church under special circumstances and her current work was one step in the process to return now that the friction between the two churches had lessened. The work she had been left with was very simple. Nothing here. Theres no danger of any magic power or anything else having been hidden inside. Ugh. Theyve gathered over 300 pages from newspapers alone today, havent they? Yes, and that is why there is a risk of malicious magical symbols or circles slipping through. Working with Agnese was Lucia and Angelene. They were also nuns who had moved from the Roman Catholic Church to the Anglican Church and were now working to return. The tall one with long blonde hair was Lucia. The stooped one with braided blonde hair was Angelene. Honestly, if theyre really afraid of an attack from Gremlin, they should stop anyone from bringing published items in during the meeting. Doing that on our authority would cause other problems. UN headquarters is fundamentally neutral. If a single religion began selecting what published materials could be brought inside, it could lead to an international issue. I-in other words, the normal people dont understand the danger of the problem were dealing with. World War Three had been a large-scale conflict in which science and magic had directly clashed. Towards the end, cover-up efforts had not made it in time and a lot of people had seen magic. However, it seemed no one had incorporated magic into their proper studies, technology, or everyday lives. As far as the churches could tell, no one had even tried. All that had cropped up were small spiritual and eschatological groups. What do you think about this united attack on Gremlin? I think it all hinges on whether they can locate Sargasso. It seems they are using a large-scale ceremonial ground to search out all the suspicious points around the world, but the real deciding factor is probably that spy who has slipped into Gremlin. Th-that spy will send a signal from Sargasso and our search team will detect it, right? The conversation trailed off there and Agnese let out a sigh. She spoke with the sharpness of driving in a wedge. How far we can trust this spy is an unknown factor. True. I think you almost have to be suspicious when you hear that this person has a way of sneaking into Gremlins headquarters and has in fact already done so. B-but it is true that it would be hard to find anyone else who can deceive a group as elusive as Gremlin, right? More importantly, this spy has no reason to betray us... Id say its more accurate to say that Gremlin has no reason to make a bluff like this right now. So we have no choice but to trust this person because they want the same thing we do. Is that it? Up to this point, Gremlin had perfectly hidden themselves despite having a large-scale force including a magic god. Searching for them with normal means was unlikely to turn up any results. They had no idea how this spy had infiltrated Gremlin, but sending the signal would have to be a great risk for him. If Gremlin grew suspicious of him partway through, it would all be for naught. And if Gremlin detected the signal after it had been sent, they would begin to search for the traitor. If he could not ensure his safety on his own until the attack began, there was no guarantee he would survive. Just checking the records concerning Hawaii and Baggage City was enough to know Gremlin was a merciless organization. Lucia stood tall and spoke. And even if we locate Sargasso without issue, that leaves the unified attack. That will mean both sides must wear each other down until this is resolved. Our opponents are thoroughly trained magicians and a true magic god. ...I doubt this is an enemy we can defeat without sacrifices. But keep in mind that Gremlin is currently hiding, said Agnese. In other words, they think it is to their benefit to remain hidden. They arent descending grandly into the middle of the battlefield like Fiamma did. At the very least, locating Sargasso will crush one of the advantages Gremlin assumes they will have. I-I just hope this isnt a case of poking at a bush and having a snake come out. Everyone there thought the same thing. However... It was also true that being afraid of a snake was no reason to leave the bush alone and allow the snakes to breed inside. If that would happen, someone needed to take the risk of sticking their hand into the bush, grabbing the snake, and exterminating it. The problem was that someone had to push the branches aside, knowing they would be bitten. Part 8 In that moment as Kamijou Touma stared into the distance, the image of a boy flying through the night sky with an alien friend in his bicycle basket appeared clearly in the back of his mind. Here is why: Before he knew what was happening, the bench shot to the side like a shell. Kamijou was still sitting politely on the bench, Birdway was still sitting right on top of his lap, Lessar was still nestling up against him, Index was biting onto him from behind, and the calico cat was digging into her white hood with his front claws. They all crashed into a nearby river. But there was no great splash and they did not sink into the river. With a few smaller splashes, the bench flew in low arcs and jumped back up whenever it touched the waters surface. It was similar to a skipping stone. Not a single drop of water reached Kamijou Touma as he sat on the bench. The bench crossed to the opposite bank of the river, decelerated as its legs scraped across the asphalt and sent orange sparks trailing after it, and ultimately came to a stop. Kamijou then shouted out at the unfairness of it all. What the hell was that!? Has Kamijou-sans misfortune finally become completely indiscriminate!? And Index! Dont support your entire body by biting into the back of my head! Are you trying to finally rip off my scalp today!? Birdways expression remained relatively unchanged as she let her crossed legs dangle down from Kamijous lap. Hey. Academy Citys technology is twenty or thirty years ahead of the rest of the world, right? Is it normal for benches to fly through the air and skip across rivers in the future? It seemed the two girls had made a fundamental misunderstanding, but Kamijou did not have it in him to join the discussion. A new enemy had appeared. This new enemy descended from the heavens. Two legs landed on the back of the bench as if driving stakes down into the ground. Misaka Mikoto bent over and peered upside down through the tunnel she had created by spreading her legs apart. And she glared at Kamijou Touma. She asked a blunt question. Explain this. Thats my line!! Between the Lines 1 Musicians had a difficult life. Those who played instruments, conductors, lyric writers, and composers were all referred to as musicians and they all possessed a common dilemma. All musicians loved music. They could identify sounds more accurately than anyone else, they researched sound more than anyone else, and they could produce more wonderful sounds than anyone else. As a result, they would use their ears more than a normal person, so it was not uncommon for them to go deaf. Due to pursuing beautiful sounds more than anyone else in the world, they would wear out their ability to detect sounds. However, this irony was not limited to musicians. Artists would wear out their eyes and cooks would taste their food so much they would lose any balance to their nutrients and health. Baseball players would ruin their shoulders and soccer players their knees. Anyone who continued down a single path far enough was destined to have their body worn down by that path. Understanding that yet still being prepared to continue down that path may have been the very first condition for one who wished to master a certain path. And in that case... ... A man known as Kihara Kagun in Academy City and as Bersi in Gremlin was silently working on Sargasso, a pile of many ruined ships on the ocean. It was November and a white haze was rising from the ocean surface as if visually representing the chill of the air. Sargasso was wrapped in that thin mist, but no white breaths could be seen leaving that mans mouth. He was not breathing. He did not show any signs of feeling this biting cold air or any sign of the normal reflexes and reactions of a living creature. He was an Einherjar. He was an emotionless object that carried out precise movements based on the magic power externally poured into him instead of the life force at the core of a living being. He had joined Gremlin for a single purpose. And in exchange for (in a way) perfectly achieving that purpose, Kihara Kagun had worn down all of his sensory organs and lost the spirit needed to receive those stimuli. Even though his heart was beating and his brain continued producing thoughts, he was essentially something that was already dead. Kihara Kagun worked with the uniform speed of a clocks hand and the precision of a loom. His job was to find the computers from the radios, fishfinders, navigation control systems, and other devices installed on the dozens or even hundreds of ruined ships that had drifted to Sargasso. Once he found them, he would connect them with cables and make some programming adjustments so they could function as a parallel processor. This high-speed and large-scale processor was necessary to use the empty husk of the #2 which had been retrieved from Academy City. This was the other side of Gremlin. This man was the cornerstone of their science side technology. He was completing the final preparations needed to construct the lance. Kihara Kagun had lost the mind he needed to think about what his actions meant, so he merely silently connected the cables to create the giant processor. This would most likely swallow up something he had once wanted to protect, and yet he continued. He spoke into the small radio in his hand. Im done here. The refrigerated organs can be used at any time to remake the empty husk of the #2 into the machine to create the lance. Volume 8, 2: Miniature Garden Within the Investigation. Area_No.23. Volume 8, Chapter 2: Miniature Garden Within the Investigation. Area_No.23. Part 1 There was a fair bit of conflict on the way, but as planned(?), Kamijou Touma arrived in Academy City District 23 by bus. His party had started out with Index, Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, and the calico cat as members, but Misaka Mikoto had joined at some point. What happened to Japans compulsory education? he asked her. Unlike you, my school trusts me. I dont have any problems with attendance, so I can miss a few days and be fine. Trust, hm? Yeah, I dont have that... Wait. Why are you staring off in the distance so much today? Are you tired??? If Kamijou Touma wrote down a detailed time schedule, he had a feeling it would be in violation of some kind of labor law, but unfortunately for him, clenching his fist and punching people did not legally qualify as labor. The terminal building for District 23s international airport had a very open design that used a lot of glass to allow plenty of sunlight in. It was a weekday and Academy City was strict about who it let in and out, so it was not filled with sightseers. Nevertheless, it still had plenty of people coming and going. One group was wearing the traditional outfit of some distant country. There was a businessman wearing a custom suit that was obviously not premade and probably cost as much as a domestic family car. The person with him was either a secretary or translator. The great number of people in work clothes was due to Academy Citys lack of any entrances by sea sending that traffic to the land and air routes instead. We made it this far, but what do we do now? Nothing, simply replied Birdway. As I explained, we are waiting for further instructions right now. The supersonic passenger plane is completely chartered, so we dont have to line up at the reception counter for some airline. We can also skip the metal detectors and X-ray scan. We head out to the runway through the crew exit and ride an electronic cart straight to that monstrous plane. We also have the highest rank for takeoff priority, so we dont have to wait for other planes to take off. I cant believe that, muttered Mikoto who had been half-listening. Academy City is full of scientific information. There may have been takeoffs and landings that ignored the standard procedures during the confusion of World War Three, but this kind of special treatment could be used to slip proprietary technology out of the city. And theres enough danger now to warrant that risk. This is on just as large a scale as that war, if not larger. This is no time to worry about the smaller issues. Wow. That sounds bad, cut in Lessar as if it had nothing to do with her. But if were waiting for orders, that means this is essentially free time, right? Then I want to go to the shopping mall over there. Theres something I want to buy duty free while I have the chance. What is it? asked Index as she held the calico cat. Well, replied Lessar immediately. A showy swimsuit. ............................................................................................................................................................ For an instant, Kamijou Touma lost his ability to chain events together as if a stun grenade had gone off nearby. Why? It was November. What would she be doing that needed a swimsuit!? As confusion fell over Kamijou, Mikoto silently grabbed the collar of his school uniform. She shook him back and forth and asked him questions with all her strength. Hey!! What kind of space-time exists around you!? Do you have some special characteristic that distorts the rules of the world around you toward the color pink like some kind of black hole!? This! Isnt! My! Fault! I! Dont! Know! What! To! Tell! You!! Kamijou gained the new experience of hearing the Doppler Effect on his own voice, but it was not something he could enjoy. His semicircular canals were on the verge of being completely destroyed and he did not want to vomit before even boarding the monster airplane. Listen. We may be fighting alongside the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church for now, but we arent going to get along forever, said Lessar as she shrugged. Once we make our united attack and finish things with Gremlin, who will their next enemy be? Theyll naturally want to defeat the thorn in both their sides while working together. ...And they will work fast to defeat that enemy while they still know where it is. So thats it, spat out Birdway. She looked calm, so she had likely already anticipated that problem. Yes. A southern resort on the other side of the world would be a good place to hide until the heat dies down. Ah, that was my vacation plan! Please dont come along! Youll just make some odd mistake and bring them after both of us!! As the two girls argued, Kamijous party was dragged to the duty free shopping mall. It was obvious the word swimsuit would bring nothing good with such a dangerous group. (He was especially worried about a heavy tsukkomi coming in the form of biting or high voltage electricity.) However, he had no answer of his own as to how to kill time until someone contacted them. In fact, a normal high school student had no way of knowing what was inside the service facilities of an international airport or where any of it would be. The aforementioned shopping mall was a vast three-story building with the center opened up between all three floors. According to the posters hung up here and there, the building contained over one thousand stores. Kamijou had a feeling a glance at a map of the place would make him dizzy. I doubt there are even 1000 different kinds of stores in the world. How much internal competition is there in this place? While not listening to Kamijous comment, Birdway and Lessar stared at the guide map that had a touch screen to search for the store one wanted. This has the same layout as a prisons cell block. When you want to cover as much of the facility as possible with as few cameras as possible, you naturally end with something similar. Kamijou wondered if it was normal for their chats to have such dangerous words mixed in. He also thought they would stand out in a tropical resort right away no matter how proper a swimsuit they wore. So where do you want to go? Have you found a store that caught your interest? 50% Less Skin Covered. That isnt proper at all! You really arent trying to blend in, are you!? You fool. We are going to an international resort where youre free to have fun however you like. You try going there wearing a mass of cloth that some hick would wear. You would stand out more than the shining sun. N-no. Kamijou-san doesnt have it in him to oppose the entire idea of swimsuits in November even if it is a turn of events on the level of having the whatever-theyre-called lines on your palm turn at a right angle. But I would at least like to turn your choice of store in a more normal direction, okay? H-how about this one called Tropical Bright Girl? Thats for hicks. Go apologize to the people working there!! I promise Ill bow down with you!! Kamijou could tell this was bad. From that store name alone, he could tell he would be thrown into a mysterious space of comedy. It would start with an Okay, Im going to go try this on, and then Oh, no! The changing rooms curtain!, and finally a series of blows. He could not let that happen. He was with Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, Misaka Mikoto, and Index. If those four ganged up on him, he would turn into something unrecognizable! Kamijou Touma was not a pure saint. If the goddess of some spring appeared and asked him if he wanted her to wear a swimsuit made up of a lot of cloth or one made up of little cloth, he would choose the one with little cloth. He might even ask if no swimsuit at all was an option! However, his answer would change when he knew reaching out for it would cost him his life!! (Wh-wh-wh-wh-what... What am I supposed to do? When it comes to the genre of girls swimsuits, Birdway and Lessars opinions pack more of a punch than mine. Can I not win with the logic of a guy!? What do I need to push this in a more normal direction!?) Ah! Thats it! Okay, okay, okay!! Kamijou-san suggests we hold a democratic vote! Where do people want to go: 50% Less Skin Covered or Tropical Bright Girl!? Birdway gave an understanding look. Dont be shy, boy. You actually want to head in the direction of more skin, but youre hesitant to boldly suggest it yourself, arent you? Dont worry. We will give you the justification you need. Okay? Youre being considerate of the exact opposite of my feelings!? In fact, Im fine with pointlessly stripping down right here. Why would you do that!? That really is pointless!! This may be getting repetitive, but a romantic Kamijou Touma that wanted to pursue girls bare skin did exist within him. However, his experiences told him this would end in a great tragedy brought on by his usual miraculous misfortune. He had to bring this to an end somehow. He did not want to leave behind the ultra silly dying words of I think Ive lost more blood at times like this than during World War Three. (Misaka-san, Misaka-san! This is in your best interest, too. Could you help Kamijou-san out here?) Eh? What? This has nothing to do with me. I have no plans to visit a tropical island, so why would I go into a swimsuit store and buy one? (Letting your guard down will end up showing that truth is stranger than fiction by giving you a three bandage set.) That has no connection to the past, present, or future, but it does seem like anything could happen when Im with you. I dont want that!! (And Index-san! Between 50% Less Skin Covered and Tropical Bright Girl, you would choose the latter, right? Right?) I dont know what either of them are. But tropical sounds delicious, right? Youre right!! I agree with Touma!! That was a complete non sequitur! shouted Mikoto in surprise, but Kamijou did not care. Fwa ha ha ha ha!! With my vote added, thats three against two. Birdway, Lessar, your ambitions have come to their end!! What? Its too soon to think youve won. Your suggestion has a single loophole. You arent going to raise the cats paw to make it three against three, are you? This is a more fundamental issue. Birdway snapped her fingers and spun around the cell phone she pulled from her skirt pocket. You said we would have a vote, but you never said who could vote or how many people could vote! In other words, I can gather as many reinforcements as I need with a single phone call! Boy, dont underestimate the personnel network of one of Englands...no, one of Europes...no, one of the worlds leading magic cabals, the Dawn-Colored Sunlight!! What!? I-if you can do that, then I can... Are you going to get help from your friends and classmates? Do you really think that can stand up to the scale of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight that has spread across the world!? A democratic vote is essentially violence in numbers. You were quite the fool to challenge the boss of a magic cabal in that arena. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Birdway gave the perfect villainous boss laugh, typed out an email with her thumb, and sent it out to the world. Countless responses arrived from a few seconds later to a few dozen seconds later. That speed showed just how tightly she held the reigns of her men. And then Birdway glanced down at the screen. From: Mark Space To: Leivinia Birdway. Sub: We dont have time for this nonsense. Have some sense. Body: / / It was an extremely rough email with no body. .................................................................................................................................................................................... Okay, lets begin the vote! Birdway? Kamijou Touma took on the role of host, but Birdway only stared at the cell phone screen while trembling and not raising a hand for either option. The battle was over. The Kamijou Party changed their destination from 50% Less Skin Covered to Tropical Bright Girl. Come to think of it, no one needs Kamijou-san in the store, right? I-in that case, I can wait here. He tried to compromise even further, but Birdway gave a cry of desperation. I told you the plan was to throw you in a supersonic passenger plane and send you anywhere in the world as soon as we got word, you fool! We need to stay a single group to make sure you dont get lost at the crucial moment!! Kamijou ended up being dragged away like a vacuum cleaner being pulled along by a young housewife. Mikoto and Index followed from a short distance. Hey, are things always this crazy with him? Do you never question the overwhelming unfairness of it all? Toumas usual chains of incidents go much further than this. This is still at about the third link on the chain. Kamijou walked around the shopping mall while being pulled along by Birdways small (and extraordinarily powerful) hand. He glanced at the different stores to see what they were selling. They were all airport duty free stores, so they primarily sold what would function as souvenirs. On top of that, there were a lot of fashion stores. Kamijou could only think they were targeting the fashionable people who were winning at life or that they wanted to give a fashionable impression of Academy City to the tourists and businessmen who came through. There were also plenty of stores that sold electronics, but all the products were very focused on design. They were all small devices with smart, streamlined shapes not seen in foreign models that looked like they could look up the days recommended recipe in a colorful kitchen. They looked like something from an economics magazine article titled The Ideal IT Life of the Worlds Top 100 Influential People! ...Or so Kamijou had expected. What? These are all really old models. Thats because these are duty free stores meant for visitors, cut in Mikoto. These are meant to be brought out as souvenirs, so putting in Academy Citys latest technology would allow the technology to leak out. In other words, everything here is kept at a level that is acceptable to have leak out. Um... Then I dont see how we could enjoy looking at any of this. Ohh? Does this disappointment come from the sexy swimsuits you hoped to see those tea-drinking, cake-eating British nobles wearing? Is that what you mean? Is it? Why!? Why is everything so difficult to deal with today!? Kamijou-san was only trying to find some small objective amid this hopeless away game of visiting a swimsuit store with a guy-girl ratio of 1 to 4! I was only desperately trying to turn my focus to the guy-like interests of electronics and gadgets! Thats all I was trying to do!! D-dont call me difficult to deal with!! Ahh! Things just got even more difficult!! As his mental escape paths continued to dwindle, Index walked up next to Kamijou and spoke while holding the cat. Im fine with any store as long as it has food. Youve finally reached the point that youll eat swimsuits? Or do you mean the cell phones? I can smell cafs and bread shops all around here! Thats a caff mocha and thats a fresh butter roll!! What kind of new skill is this!? Is your sense of smell the amazing part or is your accuracy when comparing the smell to your memories the amazing part!? There may be a twenty or thirty year difference, but food doesnt change! A fried egg was perfected as a fried egg a hundred years ago!! So theres no problem!! As long as theres food, Ill eat it!! Oh? Dont underestimate the advances science has made, Silver Sister. Touma!! Short Hair gave me a mean nickname!! And what do you call that you called me!? Well!? Mikoto almost flew off track, but she used the power of her rationality to hold back. Research into the inosinic acid deeply related to the maturing of meat has advanced quite a ways in the past few years. A maturing method has been developed that uses supercooled water and endothermic alloys to cool raw meat with previously unheard of pattern graphs which really draws out the savory flavor. What is treated like trash meat here in Academy City is much better than the average in the outside world. In that case, what would A5 top-class meat here taste like? Toooouuummmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! Even if you shout out like youre on the top floor of a burning building for the final battle, no top-class meat is going to appear!! For a poor student, a large gyudon is as luxurious as it gets!! But despite what they discussed, Birdway and Lessar were still the ones who decided where the party went. And so they soon arrived at the swimsuit shop. The shops in the shopping mall were divided into small unit blocks. If a store wanted more space, it would rent two or three of those blocks and take out the walls between. The swimsuit store used only one block, so it was only as large as a small convenience store. However... Wait a second. Do I really have to go in here? Im not quite sure how to put it, but I feel some kind of...pressure. There was nothing particularly outrageous visible from outside and this store did not stand out from those around it. It was merely a part of the scenery. But. Kamijou could not enter that store as casually as he would a gyudon restaurant. He was not allowed to. He could feel an aura or pressure that told him as much. This in itself was no crime. The problem came from the store being a poor combination with a high school boy like Kamijou Touma. For example, no one would question seeing menstrual products lined up on a shelf at a drug store. If a suit-wearing OL or female teacher picked one up and carried it to the register, no one would bat an eye. But what if an obviously adolescent high school boy like Kamijou Touma brought that same product to the register? That combination was out of the question. That left nothing but mystery. Doing so was not a crime, but there would be a massive pressure over the short distance to the young woman at the register. That overwhelming pressure would be like the winds of a giant hurricane. With that in mind, Kamijou glanced over at Mikoto. Why do we have to go look at swimsuits in November? Well, I could always go to the southern hemisphere for New Years. She was a bit annoyed, but was sucked in toward the entrance fairly easily. What was going on? He turned to Index now. I smell a sweet aroma. Sphinx, I think this might be a heaven of fruit! She ran into the entrance for a reason completely unrelated to swimsuits. And then Kamijou caught on. I get it now! This is like the pink tile barricade of the girls locker room!! Damn. Its unfortunate, but theres nothing I can do!! Why do you know the girls locker room has pink tiles? Anyway, this isnt a problem, so come on in. Well, this store is for commoners instead of experts, so I dont expect to find much. But Ill post some half-truths about the place online if they dont at least have a slingshot. However, the truth remained that their destination had changed from 50% Less Skin Covered to Tropical Bright Girl. This was no longer the hellish situation in which any option would ultimately lead to a head injury for Kamijou. He was guaranteed some safety! Or so he wanted to believe. However, he could not help but feel a chill as he stood in front of the store. The human tow truck that was Birdway dragged Kamijou into the dreadful pressure of that store. Instead of shelves, the store contained several stainless steel rails. Each of those rails had over 100 special hangers on them and countless swimsuits divided up the store like hedges. The walls and ceiling were made of marble and the walls were covered in thick curtains despite there being no windows. The floor had a black and white checked pattern similar to a chess board. They may have wanted to give the place a luxurious feel, but the lights were so strong it had the bright atmosphere of a movie theater after the movie finished playing. Using only indirect lighting would have fixed that, but that would have made the colors of the products too hard to see. The store had definitely been created with the customers in mind. Oh? It looks like they at least have a full selection of micro bikinis. Ohh! Is this a ribbon swimsuit that uses silicon material to stick directly to your skin!? ...You really can find the best things in the most unexpected places. I think I will be able to enjoy myself here! Gwa ha ha ha ha ha!! Youre kidding me!! You promised Kamijou-san we would be going to a normal swimsuit store! If this is whats considered normal, what kinds of swimsuits cover 50% less skin than this!? As Lessar grew overly excited, Kamijou held his head in his hands. Birdway then spoke up as she reached for one of the hangers with a swimsuit fixed on it. Hey, Kamijou Touma. I found a cow-print slingshot, but I think this kind of animal symbolism is going too far. As a guy, what would you think if you saw me wearing this? Umm... That it was a self-deprecating joke? Kamijous honest answer earned him a most welcome knee to the crotch that left him writhing on the ground. As Birdway threw the hangar back onto the stainless steel rail and went back to choosing a swimsuit, she showed no sign of concern for her servant. Hey. Wait. Hey! Just a second, Misaka. This hopping around is important. To a middle school girl like you, it may look like Im jumping around as a joke, but this is the brink between being able to return to the battle or not. Let me focus here. ...I need to enter the zone for a moment. ? Mikoto frowned and tilted her head as Kamijou jumped straight up two or three times and somehow managed to recover from the status effect. He breathed a sigh of relief, but Mikoto did not understand any of it. Anyway, Im going to look at the swimsuits over there. Why!? Do you have some reason to flee Japan!? The reason Birdway and Lessar wanted swimsuits in November was because they wanted to hide in a southern country on the other side of the world while the Anglican Church and other groups were pursuing them. That had nothing to do with Index or Mikoto. Kamijou could not let her get caught up in the moment and lose sight of the situation. No, but I think they made a new indoor pool in the leisure facilities of District 6. My mama said swimming is one secret to beauty, so this is a good opportunity. If I buy a swimsuit now, I can head to the indoor pool before I decide its too much effort. Y-you dont need to make such a carefree decision in such a chaotic place. Wouldnt it be safer and easier to buy one at a sporting goods store later? If I wait until later, Ill just decide its too much effort. And the swimsuits in that corner look normal enough, so Im just going to look through them, said Mikoto. Also, if you peek on me while Im choosing, Ill kill you. Im not joking. Dont worry. Dont worry. You dont need to bother with a warning. No matter what you do, I always end up on the verge of death. He tried to casually turn aside the comment and ended up with a one billion volt lightning spear flying toward him. If it had not been for his right hand of mystery, he might very well have died. Dont scare me like that!! Do you have some kind of grudge against Kamijou-san!? Pay attention to what people say to you. Hmph. With that comment, she headed to another corner of the store. This left only Kamijou and Index. Just so you know, Kamijou-san is quite relieved that you stay the same no matter where you are, Index-san. Ahh... I dont see how you can care about swimsuits when its so cold. More importantly, Touma, when will the delicious bread, cake, black tea, red bean soup, matcha, coffee, and hot dogs be served? Way too many of those are from the same genre. And thats too much caffeine, sugar, and carbs!! What could possibly bring you to that combination!? All those different smells are floating around, so I cant help it!! Im not really sure what it is that you cant help!! W-wait a second. Are you the type of person that would cause devastating damage if I brought you to a fish market!? Heh heh heh. Are you talking about the legendary Tsukiji Market, Touma? Of course I would go around eating everything! In fact, when will you take me there!? Im really interested in seeing Ryugu-jo, that fantastical kingdom made up of countless types of seafood, revived in the modern age!! It seemed there would be devastating damage even if the rescued turtle brought Index to Ryugu-jo. She would see Otohime and the others who greeted her as nothing more than one half of beef or fish, so she would show less mercy than Momotarou on Onigashima. Kamijou doubted he would get any support from the cat in Indexs arms. The cats shameless expression seemed to say, Do you find it sad? This is survival of the fittest. Meanwhile, Mikoto returned to Kamijou and Index. She held a hanger with a swimsuit on it. I made up my mind, so Im going to buy it. ...Dont look at it. What? Are you a comedian in front of a boiling bath? Are you saying you actually want me to-...prhah!? Mikoto fired a lightning spear for each na?ve question. It seemed she could not stand having the sight of a girl and a new swimsuit remind him of a man in his forties in a clichd situation. However, Kamijou Touma was not the type to notice such subtle things. Mikoto had chosen a sporty one-piece that looked like a racing swimsuit with more focus on streamlined design. Kamijous imagination may have been lacking, but it did not look particularly revealing from what he could see on the hangar. And so the boy gave his opinion. Thats not really something you need to hide, is it? Wha-!? I told you not to look!! It doesnt look that much different from a school swimsuit. You idiot! Its completely different!! Dont tell me youre the type who looks at a fashion magazine and complains that all the clothes look the same! Look. This part here and this part here are completely different!! Mikoto blushed and began arguing her point while pointing here and there on the swimsuit. Having her fashion sense questioned seemed to have caused the blood to rush to her head, but this resulted in destroying the original condition of not looking at the swimsuit she had chosen. The more Kamijou tilted his head, the more Commentator Misaka Mikoto-san (14) increased the speed of her gesturing. And then... The cloth of the swimsuit in Mikotos hand peeled right off from just below the chest all the way down to the very bottom of the abdomen. This shocking removal reduced its defense stat by 85%. As Kamijou watched on, he silently covered his face with both hands and crouched down on the ground. He let out a groaning voice. ............................................................................................................................................................Misaka has finally broken, too. N-no! Idiot!! I didnt know about this!! And now shes started zapping things!! Is the end of the century about to begin? No, theres still time! If I can defeat Misaka before the flames spread to Birdway and Lessar, I should be able to avoid a truly hopeless situation!! Defeat!? What do you mean defeat!? Okay, Misaka-chan. Go on, go on. Blush and put that swimsuit back now that youve changed your mind. Thats what you meant!? As she was pushed from behind and led with the uncaring motions of a construction worker making 900 yen an hour as he guided traffic around the construction zone, Mikoto returned to where she had gotten the swimsuit. There was a lot she wanted to say, but she wanted to avoid having him think she was intent on buying that swimsuit. Kamijou Toumas plan had worked this time. However, there was no guarantee things would go so smoothly every time. He was not a martial arts master whose motions were like the branches of a willow tree. And if a billion volts or metal flying at three times the speed of sound hit him, he would seriously die. On both the science side and magic side Kyah! Pervert! situations were done on reflex, so there would be no discretion or mercy. Bringing together girls who had great firepower was more dangerous than mixing different cleaning agents. (I need to stay as docile as possible. Jizou mode on!) Trying to leave the store could draw the girls attention, but he desperately wanted to avoid helping them excitedly choose a showy swimsuit followed by some unexpected misunderstanding. He would not let it happen. He had to deal with Index, Misaka Mikoto, Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, and the calico kitty. That was too much firepower. Any reflexive and impulsive strike brought on by shyness (and targeting Kamijou Touma) would clearly exceed the max damage value. An outsider might think it sounded like something to add to a daily album, but the situation could literally smash his body to pieces. He wanted to avoid that at all costs. (Your mind is empty, Kamijou-san, your mind is empty. ...First, I need to move from the most dangerous spot. That would be the dressing rooms lining the wall. I cant imagine how approaching them could be a positive thing for my life.) Kamijou moved toward the opposite wall to distance himself from the wall giving off a difficult to detect but definitely present negative aura. For some reason, there were a few chairs without backs sitting near the thick curtain on the wall. Kamijou sat down in one and breathed a sigh of relief because nothing had happened. He truly entered Jizou mode and tried to make time pass more quickly by becoming a sensory time traveler to the future. (Adolescence is like a wild beast that can attack at any time.) By the time Kamijou heard that girls voice and tried to destroy his Jizou field from within, it was already too late. He was grabbed by the back of the neck and pulled backwards. Kamijou Touma suddenly disappeared from the area covered by the stores security cameras. Wh-whaaat!? There was nothing but a wall behind me. H-how did I end up here? Ive already been attacked, but I cant tell what happened. D-dont tell me! Do you have a power that lets you freely control an alternate space that ignores Euclidean geometry!? Cmon. If you struggle too much, the others will realize were hiding behind the curtain. It was Lessar. For some reason, she had been hiding behind the curtain and she now looked down at Kamijous sitting form with the eyes of a feline toying with its prey. Wait! What possible reason do you have for this!? What are you going to do to Kamijou-san now that you have dragged him in here!? With someone as experienced as you, something will definitely interfere if I try to use any normal approach. ...It was New Light that wanted to use someone with such rare ability, so Im not going to sit idly by while a big shot like the Dawn-Colored Sunlight barges in before the enticement plan is complete. ??? More importantly, it looked like there was a full complement of people perfect for interfering with this kind of thing. With the stereotypical dressing room under such heavy guard, I had no choice but to use a trickier method. What do you mean experienced!? And I get the feeling this strange difference in opinions will lead to serious trouble... L-Lessar-san! Lets calmly go over our thoughts so we can be on the same page!! Shut up. If you dont go along with this, Ill strip naked and then strip you naked too. What kind of unprecedented suicide strategy is that!? Fwa ha ha. If you are seen naked with an innocent girl outside of the dressing room zone, what will the 6 billion people of the world decide happened? Wh-what do you want? Tah dah! You get to decide what swimsuit I wear!! At some point, a swimsuit hanger had appeared in each of Lessars hands. Okay, Kamijou Touma. Did you drop this sexy black wired bikini? Or was it this sexy white skeleton one-piece? Those names are too specialized for me to know what they mean and I get the feeling either option will not end well!! Oh, by the way, an honest person gets a lovely present as a third option. I can only assume that means I have a time limit!! Lessar gave a disappointed sigh when she saw Kamijou looking as cowardly indecisive as someone ordered to disarm a precision time bomb while blindfolded. Um, as you can see, the wired bikini is a bikini made almost entirely out of wires. The triangular portion is nothing but a wire outer frame. But that would show off something that shouldnt be seen, so a triangle of cloth has been placed in the opposite direction of the triangular frame to hide the important part. So its basically a deadly weapon! Got it!! But as the name suggests, the skeleton one-piece is essentially a perfectly normal one-piece swimsuit. It isnt that different from the ones worn by girls at Japanese schools. Sigh... So theres actually a normal option. In that case-... But when it gets wet, it becomes perfectly see-through. Then its pointless!! Its entirely pointless!! Oh, the crotch of course has a different cloth attached on the inside. Then again, its only the size of a bandage. Its actually hard to tell it has that extra cloth there. It ends up looking more like some air happened to get inside so that spot isnt touching the skin. At any rate, both options would cause the lifeguards to begin shrilly blowing their whistles anywhere but at a nudist beach. In an RPG, the swimsuits would probably have strange curses. Kamijou raised his knees, buried his face in them, and spoke his thoughts in a groaning voice. Lessar. Living in a small island nation like this can sometimes make it hard to tell what is normal for the rest of the world. What are you talking about? These are special terms that would only be recognizable somewhere as advanced as Academy City. If you searched these swimsuit names on the internet outside, you probably wouldnt find anything. All of a sudden, I have no idea what Academy City is trying to do!! Are you saying this will be the norm around the world in twenty or thirty years!? By the way, wearing the wired bikini over the skeleton one-piece would bring out a different style altogether. Heh heh. It would be like a cocktail of sexy swimsuits. Is that the punishment for running out of time!? Kamijou had the feeling his life would switch over to a completely different and amusing set of rails if he was naturally able to give a gourmet-like comment here. In the right hand was a black wired bikini. In the left hand was a white skeleton one-piece. Now, which will you choose? A spiritual item that resembled an arrow-shaped tail extended from Lessars miniskirt as she spoke with the expression of a demon asking him to sign a contract. Which one!? Part 2 The air was cold and wrapped in mist-like weather. The lightning god Thor walked through Sargasso, the headquarters of Gremlin made from a great number of ruined ships. Technically, this was Ollerus disguised as Thor. (Now then.) This environment was not foolish enough to let him bring in a cell phone with GPS functionality. The quickest way to find Sargassos location would be to check on the location of the stars and sun. But at the same time, this was Magic God Othinuss base and she was currently focusing all of her power and skill on producing that lance. While she was focusing all her senses to eliminate as many impurities as possible, she would take issue with any magic Ollerus used that was not related to Gremlins actions. Even Ollerus could not survive if he was surrounded here. Then again, the most fundamental problem was his inability to defeat the magic god on his own. (I could cause some serious trouble and secretly use investigation magic in the middle of that...but that wont work here. The smaller the trick the better. The odds are good Othinus would detect my preparations for the diversion.) Due to his great power, Ollerus did not seem the type for this kind of covert attack. However, he had lived a peaceful life as a recluse while slipping through the gaps in the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and other world powers search networks. That great power of his had given him the skills at covert operations that not even your average intelligence agent or spy had. (That means I need to go about this the normal way.) Sargasso was made up of the rusted ruins of everything from small boats to naval ships, but the members of Gremlin preferred to use the luxurious passenger ship that had broken in half. It seemed even crazy magicians found a high-class hotel room more comfortable than a cave. Ollerus crossed a makeshift bridge that looked like a ladder on its side and made his way inside the passenger ship. Marian. Hm? What is it, Thor? The brown girl was holding some strange device with a lot of red and flesh-color on it. She turned toward Ollerus and frowned. Im about to be pretty busy, so I cant do anything for you. Arent you supposed to be guarding the perimeter of Sargasso? I already performed the final check before the real deal begins. You know what my output is. Since I cant use Mj?lnir, Ill have to head out as Almighty Thor. But I dont want to go nuts with no limitations and hinder the production of the lance. Ive had enough of Othinus cutting off my arm. That would be bad for both of us. Im not taking the blame for a mistake here. Id rather not lose my head because of you. As long as our magical symbols dont overlap or conflict, nothing should happen. What direction are you going to draw power in from when you put together your temple? I can ask Bersi about the scientific stuff, so that only leaves the reactor. Wait, wait. I have a memo pad in my right pocket. You can check that. When one wanted to avoid any illegitimate and unnecessary actions, sticking to the legitimate actions was best. When performing a large-scale ceremony, the effects of ley lines and the movement of the stars had to be taken into consideration. For that reason, one had to check on the terrain and coordinates. If he could not use investigation magic, he just had to get his hands on the data that was already there. He could gather that data without Magic God Othinus catching on. While holding the memo pad filled with Gremlins secrets that could not be viewed so easily, Ollerus thought to himself. (She must be the type with a strict line between enemy and ally. This is what shes like once she thinks of you as an ally.) Hm. He flipped through the memo pad evenly. He found a page on which Marian had written down the information on the sun and stars she had calculated out, but flipped right past the information he wanted and looked through every page. He did not want her to know he was focused on a single point. Got it. Got it. I understand the gist of it. There shouldnt be an issue. Is that so? Thats good. One other thing. M?kkurkalfe is Freyjas territory, but its a mountain-like giant made of clay. It can change the ley lines around it as if a mountain really does exist where it is standing. Once the actual production of the lance begins, keep an eye on its location. I know that. Im more interested in its core. You know, that heart on the plate. Even though its exposed like that, it still beats like a proper heart. Just seeing it makes my mouth water. How about you have Freyja give it to you once this is over? said Ollerus with a shrug. Ill do that, she replied honestly. It seemed this brown girls sensibility was different from the others. Ollerus parted ways with Marian Slingeneyer and continued down the corridor. (Now I need a method of getting this data out. Once again, using any unnecessary magic would alert Othinus. I need some way of disguising it.) At that point, Ollerus stopped thinking and turned a corner in the corridor. He had spotted Bersi walking down the corridor with a pace as regulated as the second hand of a clock. He could not meet with him. Bersi was different from a pure human or a pure spiritual item. There were several ways of deceiving a living being and several ways of deceiving an inorganic object, but he wanted to avoid meeting with that man who was somewhere in between. Of course, acting too suspiciously to avoid meeting him would be getting his priorities backwards. (I need to deceive them using a legitimate line.) Ollerus thought for a moment. (In that case, I can use that heart on the plate mentioned just now. That heart kept here in Sargasso is the driving force for that giant, mountain-like M?kkurkalfe. Its set up to control it remotely. I should be able to borrow that line and send a message to my contact with the Anglican Church.) Part 3 In the UN headquarters building in New York, one of the several small conference rooms was filled with the light of fluorescent lights. It was filled with those who directly ruled a nation, supported one from where the light of the sun did not reach, or mentally supported the people as religious symbols. America. England. Vatican City. Russia. France. To sum up, said the presidential aide Roseline Krackhart in order to check back over everything. Unsurprisingly, an adult woman like her chose how to speak based on who she was speaking to. She was sensible enough to not enter full S mode and verbally crush a foreign head of state under her foot. This illegal force named Gremlin has a hidden base called Sargasso somewhere on the seven seas and they are developing a weapon of mass destruction called a lance. They will not hesitate to use it and there is a great danger of them using it as soon as it is complete without bothering with negotiations. ...Does that properly cover the information that has been discussed thus far? There was a reason she had repeated all that. When the British or Russians had been speaking, there had been a lot of terms she had not understood: magic, magic power, spell, spiritual item, ley line, demon god, Dvergr, holistic esper, Gungnir. The United States of America was in part a religious nation that promised freedom to worship any number of religions with Protestantism being first and foremost. However, when Roseline saw these people seriously discussing all this in front of her, it ended up sounding like a very distant issue. It was as if they were philosophically analyzing the world of some picture book. World War Three. Hawaii and Baggage City. The conspiracies of the military-industrial complex that America knew so well were not enough to fully explain the great force that had left its mark on the history of the world. Roseline had even been directly involved in one of those. But even so, it lost any hint of reality whenever she thought back over it. It felt as if her own memories were wrong and that forgetting any of it had happened was the right thing to do. She could not sustain a sense of danger. The memories faded all too quickly. Before she could come up with an actual countermeasure, it all grew muddled and vanished into the shadows of history. Just like the odd jobs of everyday life stole away ones free time, this disaster that should have been their top priority as the world police was dissolving away into the passage of time. Something like this may have been more frightening than direct violence. That was why she had restated it in her own words. This was something the conspiracies of the military-industrial complex could not fully explain, so she had to make sure the phenomenon did not escape the common sense in her own mind. Otherwise, she felt she would lose more and more information once that first bit leaked out. Thats more or less accurate, lightly commented the head of the British Royal Family. She was Queen Elizard. This information comes from a spy inside Gremlin. He is quite skilled. To be honest, he is so skilled not even we can control him. What matters most is the creation of the lance at Sargasso. To be blunt, this is very dangerous. If we do nothing, it will be completed in less than half a day. And if that happens, the six billion people of earth have no chance of winning. I dont really get it, said United States President Roberto Katze. But can I think of this lance like a nuclear weapon? Can a single nuclear weapon kill every single one of the planets six billion people? If not, then think of this as a new weapon. Call it a supernova missile or a black hole bomb or whatever you want, but this gives someone that fantastical power in reality. This is on such a large scale, it might be difficult for it to feel real, added the young Patriarch at the top of the Russian Orthodox Church. He did not directly cut in because he was the leader of a religion that put an emphasis on mental activity. If this Othinus becomes a complete magic god, a world will come where all that power can be wielded at the discretion of a single individual. If she takes a liking to you, you will gain vast riches. If you irritate her, she will slaughter you. ...We do not actually know what Gremlins ultimate objective is, but an age will come where a single individuals ideals cover the entire world. In that age, straying from those ideals even slightly will be enough to have your severed head displayed in the public square. That great power will remain forever, but an individuals ideals will not necessarily remain the same. This time, the Roman pope spoke up. The pope had been replaced during the confusion of World War Three, so the position was now held by an old man named Pietro Yogdis. It may begin as a truly idealistic reality. Evil may be temporarily wiped out, peoples negative thoughts may be removed, and miraculous solutions may be found to the planetary concerns of the remaining fossil fuel resources and the destruction of the environment. ...But how long will that last? Five years? Ten years? Fifty years? One hundred years? If a single gear falls out of place somewhere, an eternal age of personal pleasure and slaughter may begin. With no doctrine to follow, an individuals mind is made to easily stray no matter how strong their will is. Normally, that mind is corrected by many external factors, but here... If the one with power strays from the proper path, no one can tell a magic god she is doing something wrong. Handing the decision-making power for the world to a pure child does not mean the world will become pure, said a blonde woman with a sickly complexion. She had been confined deep underground in France for a long time but had still functioned as the cornerstone to the countrys important political decisions. So before this untouchable baby grows too fat, she must be stopped. Someone must stop her while she can still be stopped, said Queen Regnant Elizard immediately. What matters is the location of Sargasso. Even if we only have half a day, Gremlin has not finished making this lance. That means this is our last chance. This specialized spiritual item will let her control her power as a magic god. ...Its creation has to be a delicate process. If the world gathers its strength and attacks Sargasso, the shock could be enough to drive the creation of the lance to failure. Elizard did not say it would be enough to defeat the magic god. As an anti-magician expert, she could not view the situation so optimistically. And how do we find it? casually asked President Roberto Katze. I dont know any details about magic, but this place wont show up on the cameras of normal satellites or surveillance drones, right? These...magicians rely on manual methods. How are you going to search every corner of the globe like that? The seven seas cover 70% of the earths surface. Do you know how many tens of thousands of meters the earths circumference is? Its impossible to check through all of that in only 12 hours. It is not impossible, immediately replied Elizard. Roseline was taken aback, but the queen continued regardless. We can divide 70% of the earths surface into 1000 blocks and send five magicians to each block. For the magical nation of England, it is not hard to find that many people. A magical investigation of the entire globe would be quite difficult, but it can be done using overwhelming numbers and common spells for investigating a limited area. This is the strength of working on a national level. She was also revealing that England had a secret transportation network that allowed them to fill the entire world with those known as magicians without anyone knowing. This statement held great meaning diplomatically and defensively. But Elizard showed little sign of caring. Hm? If were talking about playing dirty, the Roman Catholic Church has us beat by a long shot. After all, they are the worlds largest denomination and have two billion followers. All of them at least have a cross around their neck and the many churches and cathedrals that are the nearby symbols of their faith exist all over the world. ...What if they have some large-scale magic that uses all of those together? It seems to me there is a much more massive pool of data resources there than in the recent conspiracies about SNSs and online stores. I can think of a few, but those projects were all completely frozen upon the destruction of Gods Right Seat. And they will not see the light of day again as long as I am around. That is my duty as the inheritor of this position. Despite being in the middle of an (unofficial) international conference, Roseline let out a sigh. She was reminded of the legendary Echelon during the Cold War or the F.C.E. surveillance system that had covered America and had been controlled by a single corporation. This made both of those seem like nothing. In other words, you have already constructed a limited system for locating enemies all over the world. Is that what you are saying? Yes. But only on the level of expert magicians. Given Gremlins habit of disregarding profit, there is a risk of overlooking Sargasso if we only search for it from outside. And that is what the spy is for, is that it? said the Russian Orthodox Churchs young Patriarch in a heavy tone of voice. Sargasso is probably hidden by a special barrier, but the British magicians scattered throughout the world will be able to detect the signal sent from within. Is that right? They had known this from the beginning. They only repeated it to make sure everyone understood and to bridge the gap between those who knew about magic and those who did not. There was no need for discussion because there was no other effective method. Elizard slowly spoke up. The standard forces will primarily come from America, Russia, England, and France. The magical forces will be led by England, Rome, Russia, and France. This will require some countries to do double duty. Are any changes necessary? That is not a problem. I do not recall having such a weakly-made country. Russia and France readily agreed. The focus then turned to Elizard and President Roberto. If we do locate Sargasso, how much firepower can you use? The House is still practically boiling over in their desire for revenge over Hawaii. Im stopping it from getting anywhere, but I can get immediate approval for an attack on Sargasso if I open up the gas. I can officially use the military stationed at four overseas bases in allied nations and if Sargasso is in international waters or the territorial waters of America, the EU, or any other allied nation, I can fire ballistic missiles in the name of having a test launch. I cant use any NBC weapons, but I can at least fill the warhead with bunker clusters. Hm? Elizard frowned. I thought we had a treaty banning those. I seem to recall my military-obsessed daughter shouting shrilly about it. As usual, the worlds largest possessor of them didnt ratify that. ...Also, could you introduce me to this daughter sometime? Im sure well get along great. Shed probably clap her hands in joy if I gave her a tour of Area 51. If you are after her body, go to the corner of the room and use your right hand instead. Ahem. Anyway, the normal military forces will run into trouble if Sargasso is in the territorial waters of a neutral or enemy nation or territory. We do not have time to try trickery. In that case, well have to rely on this Secret CIA Notebook that thoroughly covers diplomacy, trade, major industries, and the sentiments of the people. The aide Roseline Krackharts cheek visibly twitched. That was apparently not something he should have said during an international conference. We have important people from America, Russia, England, France, and the Vatican. Even if they do not get along with one of us, they will likely have a close relationship with another. And the country in question would never be able to recover if the thick pillar of that relationship were broken. The only question left is who the dirty work will fall to. Who will put a few cracks in that thick pillar to force this through? This should work no matter what country it ends up being. I just hope it does not turn into a century-long grudge, groaned Roseline as she spoke quietly to the president. Which is better, that or having the world destroyed today? To be honest, Im not sure I can answer that, replied Roberto. Fortunately, they would not be wiping out an enemy hiding in a large city of the target nation. They would only be attacking a ship graveyard on the ocean. There was almost no chance of collateral damage. They were only targeting an uninhabited island. It would officially be recorded as a request to use the military power of the world to attack a pile of trash in their country. Air-to-surface missiles cost one million yen each and stealth fighters cost twenty billion yen each, so there would probably be a lot of confusion over why they were doing it. So, said the Russian Patriarch. Any guesses where Sargasso is? An area of the ocean with close ties to Norse mythology. And they went to Hawaii for the volcanic energy, so somewhere without any submarine volcanoes or at least with no active ones. An internal phone began to beep. Roseline picked up the receiver just as Elizard spoke. Heres my guess: the North Sea or the sea near Iceland. Part 4 The black wired bikini. The white skeleton one-piece. Either one would be full skin mode. Everything was happening so fast that Kamijou half expected Lessar to begin changing right in front of him. And unfortunately, not all people could be brought to the new era. He would probably lose his life after having his skull bitten off by Index. However, Lessar did not seem kind enough to end this because they had run out of time. That was when Kamijou Toumas survival instincts instantly and explosively increased the functionality of his brain. This was the same thing that occasionally happened during his run-ins with expert magicians. Lessar, think back. Do you remember what you said? Hanya? The white skeleton one-piece becomes see-through everywhere but the crotch when wet. And the hidden crotch looks more like it just so happened to not stick to your skin because some air got in. Kamijou Touma forcefully grabbed the hangar containing the black wired bikini. So here is my choice!! Eh? You want me to wear the wired bikini? No!! You put the wired bikini on first and then wear the skeleton one-piece over it!! You will wear that combination!! Kamijou made his announcement in such a loud voice it seemed like lightning should have struck behind him. If there is some air or any other kind of gap between the cloth and the skin, you cannot see through the skeleton one-piece!! The wired bikini is a crazy swimsuit that creates the pattern of a bikini by placing wires as a frame, but the silhouette alone looks like a normal bikini. The wired frames and the upside down triangles of cloth will push up from the inside, causing the same effect as having air inside. It will merely look like you are wearing a black swimsuit underneath a white swimsuit. The exposure will be no different from a normal bikini!! And thus you will have no eroticism left!!!!! Wh-what!? Lessars expression made it look like she had been struck by another bolt of lightning. I give you the two sexiest swimsuits I can find and you find a way to escape without a hint of sexiness? How much of an expert are you!? Y-you were not on this level when we were wandering through the snowy plains of Russia!! Hah hah hah!! Do you have any idea how many times I have been unfairly bitten by Index!? Kamijou-san has overcome all that pain, built up tear-filled experiences, and continued to move ever forward! I will not let girls push me around any longer!! Kamijou Touma gathered strength below his stomach to speak while using abdominal breathing that would surprise an opera singer. Watch in frightened awe as Kamijou-san comes up with an answer no one ever expected and stands on a brand new stage!! Kamijou let out a roar of victory as he held the wired bikini hangar in his right hand and the skeleton one-piece hanger in his left. And then... The thick decorative curtain was forcefully drawn to the side. Index, Misaka Mikoto, and Leivinia Birdway stood on the other side with blank expressions. He had just barely made it. If Lessar had begun changing, Kamijou Touma would have gained one more memory stained with blood due to a great misunderstanding. But... ...Touma. Dont tell me... Everyone is free to have their own tastes, but thats going a bit too far... This was odd. Their reaction made no sense. The elation filling Kamijou Touma silently froze over and he finally regained the ability to view the situation objectively. A girl was on her knees after having those sexy swimsuits ripped from her grasp. And a high school boy was holding those sexy swimsuits while declaring Watch in frightened awe as Kamijou-san comes up with an answer no one ever expected and stands on a brand new stage!! If this led to the misunderstanding he was thinking of... N-no!! You...you have it all wrong. I didnt take these from Lessar because I want to wear them! D-dont be ridiculous. That misunderstanding is just too out of left field. I mean...think about it! That wont make anyone happy!! Not a single person!! He had expected a fierce barrage of abuse based on the misunderstanding. But for some reason, the girls would not look Kamijou in the eye. Their blank expressions looked past him. W-well, our father in heaven respects human free will... Its a good thing this is a free country. (deadpan) I seem to have been a bit mistaken about Japans culture. I suppose it makes sense. This is the country that has always loved the fundoshi. I had completely forgotten. There was not a single You pervert! or biri biri. The situation did not turn toward action. It was ruled by a perfect stillness. W-wait! Please dont go!! Th-this...This isnt right. I never knew having no grand tsukkomi could be so heartrending. I may have won, but I didnt get anything for it. At least let me explain everything!! Part 5 Carissa was unmistakably Britains second princess and also the woman who had plotted a revolution to usurp the throne. William Orwell was a mercenary who had once conquered under the name Acqua of the Back. And Knight Leader was the man who led one of the magical forces of England as the head of the knights. Two of them had been imprisoned in the Tower of London on the charges of treason (Knight Leader had not been charged with a crime, but he had his own issues), but they had been temporarily released for an emergency situation. They stood in a naval port on the northernmost edge of Scotland. Carissa spat out some words while the sea breeze struck her cheek in the darkness of the night. I cant believe they brought out the princess who lost Curtana and the injured man whose insides have been churned up. England must be really shorthanded right now. Mr. Macho, will you really be any help? I have of course lost my powers as a member of Gods Right Seat and as a Saint. However, the methodology for freely manipulating great power still remains within me. I can parry, deflect, and otherwise handle whatever your average magician can throw at me. You are speaking to the second princess, you know? You certainly treat her differently from the third princess, muttered Knight Leader in shock. That third princess had not been informed of this personnel usage. She was usually quite gentle and obedient, but she would likely come along while carrying a giant crossbow if she knew William was heading to the battlefield with his severe wounds still unhealed. That sheltered girl (or rather, princess) had gained a desire to take action during a certain incident, but it had a way of working out for the better or for the worse depending on the situation. And if the third princess took into consideration that the young second princess would be together with William the mercenary, the target of her crossbow might change considerably. That was another reason to keep her in the dark. How many of the mobile fortresses can we use? The recently commissioned Queen Mermaid and Hotel Ariel for sure. It might be difficult to get Fly in the Heavens ready in time. The others are either in for maintenance or needed to maintain a military balance elsewhere. But World War Three is over... The ones that were not ready in time for the war are just now being completed. We had hoped to retire them without ever once using them as a sign of peace, but oh well. The fact that such large-scale mobile fortresses were being prepared suggested a certain fact. Namely, they had had a decent guess as to Sargassos location from the beginning. While the mobile fortresses could move quickly across the sea and through the air, they could only be deployed instantly within a certain range. Carissa, William, and Knight Leader were making preparations under the assumption that the enemy base would be located within that range. The North Sea or the sea near Iceland, hm? Do you know what month it is? If were unlucky, well have to head into the Arctic. A naval battle at this time of year should be exciting. The cold of winter is a great enemy that has frozen even tanks. Check the weather forecast down to the minute. Taking the weather lightly will lead to nothing good. If Gremlin is staying in such an extreme environment, does the location hold some special meaning? Knight Leader was a member of adult society, so he spoke differently depending on if he was speaking to his old friend William or the second princess. The reports we have received make it clear they are based in Norse mythology. However, the spread of Christianity destroyed most of the documents on Norse mythology throughout Europe. ...And the name of their base is Sargasso. There may be a spot in the ocean where fragments and ruins of ships have gathered after floating aimlessly for hundreds of years. There may be more documents remaining on the ocean than on land where they have been destroyed by fire or acid rain. And it was not just those three who thought Sargasso was in the North Sea or the sea near Iceland. Otherwise, Knight Leader would never have been removed as the Queen Regnants bodyguard in New York. Elizard was not narrow-minded enough to let a grudge from the past affect others. In fact, Carissa and William were only imprisoned in the Tower of London because they had refused her amnesty and entered the cells on their own. There was a job more important than protecting the queen while she visited another country. Knight Leader stood here now because Elizard had made that decision. And it had likely been more than just Elizard. Anyone belonging to a group familiar with magic would have guessed at the same place before the investigation even began. No one had said anything, but a large number of magicians were waiting for the signal to attack while in the cities bordering the northern seas of the EU. And then a cell phone rang. It was Knight Leaders. As the young man answered, Second Princess Carissa gave him a sidelong glance and spat out some more words. It looks like we wont get to use Fly in the Heavens. Well have to use Queen Mermaid and Hotel Ariel to their fullest. ...Lets make them regret ever trying something like this right in front of us. Part 6 The misunderstanding had been resolved. It had to have been resolved. (Please let it be resolved!!) Kamijou could only hope, but for some reason, Index, Misaka Mikoto, and Birdway disturbingly gave him an oddly kind smile and unconditionally agreed with him like yes-men. I dont want to be here anymore, muttered Kamijou blankly. The group only replied kindly once more. Birdway and Lessar stopped choosing swimsuits without purchasing anything and led Kamijou out of the store. Lessar understood the truth, but her ability to think properly had been destroyed by the sense of defeat from having him so splendidly escape her erotic trap. For the moment, they had decided to calm down and find somewhere to drink tea, so they were searching for a caf. However, this was surprisingly difficult. It was not that they could not find a caf in the airport shopping mall. The problem was the great number of them. Kamijou felt putting over 1000 stores in the same building had been overkill. There were too many redundant stores. It was often said that humans had trouble choosing when there were too many options. Indexs revolutionary idea of going around to all of them and ordering coffee and sandwiches at each one had been immediately rejected. Kamijou and Lessar were useless now that their spirits had been broken, so the uproar over which caf to go to was mostly between Misaka Mikoto and Birdway. They each seemed oddly picky about it (and mostly in a negative way). Having a single high-class girl with you was convenient and added some beauty, but this scene proved that gathering more than one together was never a good idea. While Kamijous soul was partially detached from his body in search of an escape path, a girls voice called out to him from behind. Hm? Oh, that guy over there is...Kamijou Touma was it? What are you doing here instead of at school? It was a maid with an outfit eccentrically colored in the yellow and black of a bee. Technically, she was only a maid in training. She was a student at Ryouran Maid School. Her name was Kumokawa Maria. Touma has won over another girl I didnt know about!! What do you do to know so many girls!? I do not know who she is, but perhaps I should study your unstoppable skill at creating connections between people. It could be useful for the cabal. Heh...heh heh. First you escape my sex appeal and then you treat me like this? I need to study more to make sure I am not lost within the crowd. Everyone except for Kamijou and the calico cat exchanged a glance. The look said, What? Do none of you know this girl? A lot of what had happened in Baggage City had occurred in something like a black box. Meanwhile, Kamijou began speaking with this potential maid who had wonderful black ringlet curls. (Oh, its almost heavenly to have a friend who hasnt made any strange misunderstandings.) Why arent you at school? Arent you a middle school student? I am in the middle of some on-site training. I have to use different languages to guide foreign businessmen. And with a smile so they do not find me suspicious or annoying. I wish the EU would standardize its language like it did its currency. It was obvious Kamijou could not keep up with this, so Mikoto shrugged and spoke. She needs to learn how to actually speak the language rather than just read the textbook. The etiquette and position one takes with a guest changes subtly between countries, so the ability to instantly determine that kind of thing is needed to handle visits from unexpected guests. An international airport and a world-famous amusement park naturally gather people from different races, so they are decent training grounds for languages. Unlike the amusement park in District 6, everyone is walking around restlessly in the airport. Not many people give off a welcoming aura. Its important to know how to skillfully interrupt, have them stop, and speak with them while not making them feel uncomfortable. Um... Do you do this too, Misaka? None of my excursions have been this involved. Mikotos words of denial felt like a sort of salvation to Kamijou. After all, he was the only one who only knew his native language. And yet he was obviously the oldest one! He had felt the common knowledge below his feet warping as he grew uneasy and wondered, Wait... Am I the wrong one here? And then Mikoto said something else as if it was completely normal. It was a lot easier at my school. Everyone drew a card with a foreign language written on it and we had to speak that language for the rest of the day. I would have to speak English while listening to French, so it was some nice mental exercise. And all the voices around me were speaking in different languages. Kamijou Touma thought silently. He decided giving up was not something to be ashamed of. That does not sound like something middle schoolers should be doing. I do think its a problem that I only know Japanese, though. Wait a second. Then how did you get to Baggage City in Eastern Europe? A lot had happened in the world. Whether in France during riots, England during a coup detat, or the snowy plains of Russia during the intense battles of World War Three, Kamijou Toumas rare skill allowed him to charge through with nothing but Japanese. He was on the same level as an old woman who spoke the Kansai dialect. How have things been since then? You dont seem to be suffering from any odd aftereffects. No. My heart was stopped, but it didnt leave any kind of arrhythmia. Oh, and Im email friends with that mixed martial artist. That ninja disappeared somewhere, so I dont know about her. But she wasnt the type to die easily. ? Kamijou frowned. He did not fully understand the circumstances surrounding Baggage City. Im still not satisfied with what happened to my teacher...to Kihara Kagun. I was sure he had completely died back then, but then that eyepatch girl arrived. She did something to him and he stood back up. But unlike us, it didnt look like his stopped heart had started again. Anyone would have said he was dead. Kihara Kagun... Kamijou did not know much about him either. He only knew he was one of the people he had not saved at Baggage City. And due to what he had left behind, he had indirectly given Kamijou the first step toward rescuing Fr?ulein Kreutune. He had left behind several backdoors while working as a researcher in Academy City, he had fled from the city, and he had been closely related to the lightning god Thor of Gremlin. That put him in at least as rare a position as Tsuchimikado Motoharu. And that was the very least. It was possible he had lived somewhere even deeper. That was a world Kamijou could not even imagine. He actually felt guilty for casually wanting to know more. Who was that eyepatch girl? asked Kumokawa Maria. While in Baggage City I saw those people who were not from Academy City, but she did not simply seem the same as them. The sword that brown girl had wasnt normal either, but I could not even comprehend the fear I had for that eyepatch girl. What kind of creature is that girl who took away my teacher? Where does someone like that stand? She was a magic god. She was Othinus. And Kamijou himself had experienced a portion of her power in Baggage City. It had not simply been a case of being able to do nothing. It had not simply been a case of being defeated the instant the battle began. She was in a completely different dimension. He was left wondering when the battle had even started. And without even knowing that, a decisive final line had been crossed. As if it had been left behind by something, a hopeless sense of defeat had arrived a moment later. That strange feeling was all there was. Even after his defeat, he was left with nothing but mysteries and questions. Kamijou had suffered defeat at the hands of a few different monsters in the past, but none of those defeats had been that overwhelming. He had not been told the rules, what the stage was, or what the time limit was. The next thing he had known, it was already over. That was the kind of competition it was. What kind of creature was a magic god? In what world did a magic god stand? It was as if he had been told someone who did not know those fundamental facts could not even take part in the fight. If Kamijou Touma was thrown in front of Othinus once more, what could he do? He was not sure he could do anything. He could find no factor that made him think he could manage with his right hand that could negate anything. However... We will know before long. ? We will know. I dont know how dangerous a monster she is, but we will finish this. And once that happens, you might be able to meet Kihara Kagun once more. You mean-...? Kumokawa Maria began to ask a further question. But then Birdways cell phone rang. That elegant magic cabal boss did not hold her phone in one hand and move to an abandoned area. She raised her index finger to silence everyone there and boldly answered the phone amid them all. Okay, got it. It was a short conversation. The next thing she said was addressing those around her rather than the phone. Its time. We finally have our cue. Part 7 A certain simple cabin was made from a number of logs. However, not even a single breeze was allowed within that space and the kind heat from the fireplace evenly filled the air. A space was not defined by the monetary value of the furniture and other items within it. It would contain what the person who arranged it saw value in. That obvious fact was driven into this room with tremendous force. The softness of a sunbeam coming in through the window seemed far more elegant than a gaudy furnishing made of pure gold. One room contained a few chairs and a wooden table that looked like a cross between a piece of furniture and a camping supply. Sitting at the table was a blonde woman wearing a thick work jacket, thick work pants, and a work apron. On her blonde head, she wore large goggles meant to protect factory workers eyes. Her name was Silvia. She was one of the fewer than twenty Saints in the world. She was also one of the most skilled of the royal maids that looked after and protected the British Royal Family. Everything she wore was unrefined and would only bring the word austere to mind, but the way Silvia wore them, they somehow produced the silhouette of a delicate maid. This was due to her occupation and her natural disposition. Another woman spoke to her. The woman speaking to Silvia was named Brunhild Eiktobel. You could pretty much call this the last supper, so why is the table covered in sandwiches? I would also like to ask about the simple water filling this glass. When in a country and region where you can drink water fresh from a spring, it is sacrilege to boil it and steep tea in it. In fact, most of the world sees delicious water as a luxury. This is similar to how the truly top-class fish is only eaten by fishermen. I wont insist you tell the difference in taste, but at least give it some thought before complaining. I find it difficult to be thankful for something with no flavor. So if I filled your glass with salt, would you give it perfect marks? Brunhild was a Saint as well, but she also had the unique characteristics of a Valkyrie which drew out special Norse power. However, the two powers did not work well together, so they would alternately strengthen and weaken on a fixed cycle like the waxing and waning of the moon. During the worst time, the powers cancelled each other out, leaving her no different from a normal human. She had long, wavy blonde hair and she wore a dress with denim pants worn under the short skirt. Over that, she wore a bulletproof jacket, supporters to protect her knees and elbows, and a feathered hat. Altogether, her outfit used modern materials to produce the silhouette of a legendary warrior maiden. The joints of the chair held together by nails creaked under Brunhilds weight. Have you received word yet? I already passed the message along. Then we do not need to wait around any longer. Yes, its about time we began the destruction. After that short exchange, Silvia took a single sip of the chilled water in her glass. Brunhild grabbed two or three of the sandwiches containing various contents, lifted them up as if crushing them in her grip, and put them all in her mouth at once. She then asked, May I ask a question? Youre surprisingly talkative. I thought you would be more silent and harder to deal with. Are the picture books scattered across the table part of standard British hospitality? she asked while licking her thumb. Among the books on the table were Peter Pan, the Golden Axe, and Snow White. The collection had no obvious connection such as all being from Grimm, Andersen, or Aesop. The only possible connection was that they all contained fairies or characters that could be interpreted as being fairies. They were likely meant for children as they were thin books with few pages, but the parchment used for the covers exuded a kind of tension that made even Brunhild hesitant to touch them. It may have been similar to how a stuffed bear was cute, but seeing one floating in a ditch filled with rushing water made one think something terrible had happened. They are a trump card, spat out Silvia casually. A trump card against the magic god. I see. Brunhild did not press further. She had not known them for long, but when Silvia and those not currently there said they had an idea, it was difficult for a normal person to understand yet tended to be constructed so as to always achieve results. There was no need to ask for details to understand it. The preparations are complete and the time has come. Is there any reason to stay here any longer? asked Brunhild instead. No. And with that, the two women stood up from their chairs. The mass of metal Brunhild called a sword was lying on the ground, so she kicked it up and caught it in one hand. Silvia gathered what looked like a bundle of laundry rope in both hands. They opened the door of that simple log cabin. The wind roared as it blew in. They abandoned that log cabin more easily than a cheap tent as they headed for the battlefield. Part 8 The North Sea could most simply be described as the ocean between England and Norway. It was near the Arctic, so no one would want to throw themselves into that dark nighttime ocean during November. This was one of the places one could call the garden of the Vikings who had once conquered the Arctic by ship. For that reason, there could easily be a pile of documents in the ruins of ships that contained the Norse knowledge that had been lost in the storm of Christian conversion. Sargasso. There were said to be tens or even hundreds of them throughout the world, but the exact number was not known. Here was one of those twisted islands that could be said to be both manmade and natural. A large number of military rubber boats approached it. The main members of the group were Second Princess Carissa, William Orwell the mercenary, and Knight Leader. This was an allied anti-Gremlin force mostly made up of British forces. Carissa wore a showy red dress and she brought an unrefined radio up to her mouth as the quickly moving boat rocked beneath her. Gentlemen, it looks like America and Russia will be a little late. They will enter as the second wave of the attack just as I explained before. You know what we must do, right? We must take all glory for ourselves before they arrive. Good. This pile of trash isnt on any map, so lets blow it away to make reality match!! While the North Sea was a former garden of the Vikings, it had another important role as well. It was a large-scale offshore oil field. The towering shadows of cranes could be seen here and there in the white fog covering the ocean. Red lights blinked at fixed intervals at the ends of those cranes. England owned half of the offshore oil platforms in the North Sea. Carissa and the others had used the heliport on one of those oil platforms to arrive by air and then continued toward Sargasso by boat. William Orwell spoke from within the same boat. When will that right arm boy get here? He should make it in time for the second wave. Academy Citys supersonic planes can travel around the world in just a few hours. He might even arrive before the normal forces from America and Russia. Many mysteries still remained concerning Magic God Othinus, so that boys rule-breaking right arm was needed to destroy the equipment used to produce the lance. However, he was not needed for anything else. They could raze Sargasso and then have that right arm boy dropped from the supersonic plane like a bomb. Several dozen military boats travelled through the cold ocean water while almost skipping along the surface. Something like a giant mountain became visible through the white fog. At the same time, they all heard the low noise of something tearing through the air above their heads. Carissa spoke into her radio. Dont hit the oil platforms. Immediately afterwards, several aerial bombs were let loose at an altitude of 10,000 meters. They mercilessly exploded above Sargasso. These were known as fuel-air bombs. A special combustible substance packed in a metal case was chemically made to expand, turned into an aerosol, scattered over an effective range of several hundred meters, and ignited. This allowed the weapon to cover a broad area in flames and explosive pressure. It was classified as a normal weapon that did not use nuclear technology, but it was rumored to have the destructive power to produce a mushroom cloud if used on a large enough scale. In this case, a parent metal case produced several dozen child cases, each child case produced several dozen grandchild cases, and those finally scattered and detonated great amounts of the combustible material at just several dozen meters above the surface. The darkness of the night was blown away. A flood of light, heat, and noise filled that small world. And it did not end after that single bomb. There were five, six, seven... By the end, thirteen such bombs had been dropped on that same location. Even if a mushroom cloud had been produced, no one would have been able to see it. The explosions swallowed up the other explosions and that worthless scenery spread as far as the eye could see. Silver Bullet A here. Every grape jelly we dropped hit. We will begin dropping the Mont Blancs. Good. We will move in close while you do so. Remember to check for toxic gas when you land. It is possible the high temperatures caused a chemical reaction in the ruins of those ships. A few more explosions occurred. This time, the blast was used to drive thousands or even tens of thousands of sharp metal stakes downwards. That was why the weapons nickname was a chestnut dessert. Your methods never change, said William without moving his eyebrows in the slightest. The incident you caused in England is well known around the world. Gremlin may have analyzed your methods. If you remove all the waste and search for the optimal usage of your weapons, everyone will ultimately arrive at the same place. What a military run by a nation needs is an attack method that is impossible to avoid even if you know its coming. As that downpour of deadly weapons fell on Sargasso, the group of military boats continued toward it. Carissa was not optimistic enough to think that bombing was enough to kill all the members of Gremlin. But whether they were a magician or a magic god, they still had the physical body of a human. They would have to use a good amount of their magical power on defense to push back that storm. Carissa and the others would attack Gremlins flank while they were wholly focused on defending from the front. That way, they could exterminate Gremlin before they could use their many strange spells. The young British soldier operating the boats engine gave a report to Carissa. No toxic substances were detected. We do not need masks! Good. Lets accept the invitation to this home party. Ladies and gentlemen, lets remain sensible, mind our manners, put on a gentle smile, and use plenty of flowery speech while we eat all the food prepared on the table!! Even as their boats approached the coast, they did not slow down. They crashed up onto Sargasso all at once like a large killer whale hunting seals on the beach. Everything was dyed black. No toxic gas had been detected, but Carissas shapely nose detected the stench of melted plastic. Oh? She heard a voice. It was an elderly voice. Carissa and the others looked up toward a tanker sticking up diagonally across Sargasso. On the front of the tanker stood an old soldier holding a cane and wearing a silk hat and tailcoat. He looked like an illusionist or a stage performer. That impression was emphasized by the complete lack of hostility or malice he gave off even as he faced those who meant to kill him. However, that did not mean he was not a threat. It was the exact opposite. Someone with no hostility and someone able to completely hide their hostility appeared the same on the outside, but were completely different on the inside. I did not think this island was on any map. Did you ask the local fishermen perhaps? You certainly have grown soft if you are willing to entrust your life to the rumors spreading through the city. He spoke politely enough, but he had a mocking smile on his lips. Carissa ignored his light comment. The second princess spoke quietly with the head of the knights and the top mercenary on either side of her. Who is he? You may call me Loki. Lady Othinus gave me the task of protecting this place with my-... To repeat: Carissa ignored the old man. She ignored him from beginning to end. A flying blade similar to a giant arrowhead stabbed directly into the center of the old mans neck and pierced through. This happened an instant after the second princess raised a hand. Robin Hood. This was an Anglican spiritual item. It was a magical arrow accurately guided by the knights spell. It dealt enough damage to take Lokis life in a single blow. The spells of the knights who protected an entire nation had evolved in a different direction from the average magicians who aimed to stand at the top as individuals. On the assumption that an excellent statesman would manage its use, all ideologies were stripped away. Their techniques were simply made to be powerful, to be easy to use, and to assuredly kill their enemy. They would not know how heir enemy planned to evade or defend, but they would attack head on to crush that enemys armor and smash their shield. They would not hesitate to stab their blades into the soft flesh beyond. And... They would take that enemys life. Gh...bh? Loki tried to say something, but Carissa continued to ignore him. She spoke to the men behind her rather than to her enemy. Continue on and eliminate everything that moves. The fully armed and armored knights moved in an organized manner throughout Sargasso. The old man fell from the tip of the tanker sticking up diagonally and slammed into the ground, but no one bothered to watch. And then... Carissa, Knight Leader, and William began walking past Loki who was just a corpse on the battlefield. But they heard a small noise. It sounded like the clattering of a window during a stormy night. The noise continued and refused to stop. Cough cough cough cough cough... Well done, second princess of the country of knights. I cannot assess your performance any other way. The stench of rusty iron quickly spread out. As he lay on the ground, Loki tried to forcefully pull out the Robin Hood projectile that had pierced through both his windpipe and his spine. It was a rough action that did not look like an attempt to heal himself or prolong his life. Instead, it looked like he was removing it so he could speak more easily. Carissa did not look down. She faced forward and spoke to the old man for the first time. Do you want to suffer as you die? Loki spreads chaos through both the gods and their enemies to guide the entire world toward the final battle. He is a character who could be called the source of malice. The old man smiled despite having received a wound so fatal that it was hard to tell if his voice was coming from his mouth or the dark red hole in his throat. But at the same time, Loki is not an all-powerful lord of evil. Even in the legends, he is captured and harshly scolded by the gods whenever he spreads chaos. Sometimes he cries, sometimes he fails, and ultimately he is bound to a giant stone and eternally tortured until the beginning of worlds end. ...In other words, the trend of the situation has no bearing on my strength or weakness. It has no bearing on my victory or defeat. They heard a noise. It sounded like countless insects flying around by their ears. Wait. Dont tell me... My victory was assured from the moment you set foot here. The noise grew. And grew. And grew. As the bearer of the name Loki, it is my style to deceive both my enemies and my allies. Lady Othinus said it was unnecessary, but I still maliciously doubted every single member of Gremlin! I gave thorough thought to what a supposed traitor would need to determine the location of the true Sargasso. The answer I arrived at was the signs in the sky such as the stars, the moon, and the sun. So what if I had a spell that could encase all of Sargasso in a dome and display false stars like a planetarium? And with enough precision to fool both this enemy and my allies! What if I took such a selfish action that could even affect my allies ceremonies!? As the sound of wings grew ever louder, the old mans body began to disappear. And it finally vanished altogether. It dissolved into the fog as if nothing had ever been there at all. Only his voice remained. The Territory of Vepnir may have cracked my bonds with my comrades, but it has proven my theory correct and given me certain victory!! I even altered Marians memo pad! Now, you sublime supervisors of war who have challenged Gremlin head on, be struck down by the malice of someone as lowly as I!! All that remained at Carissas feet was a bloody doll the size of a human palm that appeared to have been cut from a large wooden board. Carissa stepped on the Robin Hood stabbing into its neck to completely destroy the wooden board. At the same time, a magical transmission arrived from the knights. I have a report. Teams A through F have found no trace of the magic god or the production of the lance. I repeat: we have found no trace of them! This Sargasso is completely empty!! So we picked the wrong target. All men, do not even think about escape. We dont have time!! Focus all your power on defense, so you can outlast the-...!! Before she finished speaking, something else happened. Sargasso was swallowed up by an explosion and disappeared from the planet. Part 9 What...? The presidential aide Roseline Krackhart frowned within one room of New Yorks UN headquarters building. She glanced over at Queen Regnant Elizard without thinking. What do you mean? The nun Orsola Aquinas was providing support with information organization and analysis in Londons national library. When she received the report, she exchanged a glance with Sherry Cromwell, the brown magician who specialized in using a golem. Wait... In Academy Citys District 23 international airport, Leivinia Birdway initially thought she had misheard. But the subordinate she was speaking with over the phone, Mark Space, repeated the exact same words. We received a second report. The spy noticed a trap set by the enemy and corrected the information. The real Sargasso that Gremlin is using as their headquarters is located... The background noise was loud. A violent impulse rose within Birdways chest that made her want to fry every single thing that could produce noise. But that was nothing more than her impatience and tension rising to the surface. Her subordinate continued speaking. ...in Japan. It is almost in the very center of Tokyo Bay!! They are already on the move!! Part 10 This is no joke, muttered Birdway as if spitting out the words. Her voice quickly grew louder. This is no joke, dammit!! It had nothing at all to do with the layout of the ley lines or the historical foundation of the location? Damn Gremlin!! Was freeing themselves of those locational conditions part of their preparations around the world!? Hey, Birdway, whats going on? Unsurprisingly, Kamijou and the others had not heard everything said to Birdway over the phone. The-... Just as Birdway started speaking, something else happened. They felt a low rumbling in the earth. Small objects floated down from the ceiling. They were pieces of various materials that had scraped off. What? Kamijou looked up. That was distant. It sounded like thunder, but...was that an explosion? To hear it this far away, how big was it? This is no time to be worrying about that, said Birdway quickly. They placed their Sargasso base in Tokyo Bay near Academy City!! Academy City has given no official opinion on the destruction of Gremlin. They arent part of the international conference in New York! Units have been sent out to places all over the world in preparation, but the area around Academy City is the one place where the usual military balance wont work. After all, this one city caused a world war! Gremlin is using that fact!! Wait... Hold up... From that commotion just now, I assume Gremlin has learned the investigation is over. And to deal with it, theyve started an attack of their own! I dont know if this is a preemptive strike out of fear of Academy Citys military might or if theyre targeting your right hand!! Wait a second, Birdway!! Tokyo Bay? Gremlins in Tokyo Bay!? But thats a terrible place for them to be... With Gremlin in the bay and Academy City to the west, the primary battlefield between the two of them will be...!! Thats right. Even Birdway was showing some panic. Even so, she spoke clearly. The battlefield today will be Japans capital of Tokyo. And it will be the 23 special wards at the heart of the city where most of the administrative agencies are!! Kamijou felt faint. This was insane. Gremlin had placed their base right next to Academy City. If they launched an all-out attack on Academy City, the city would not remain silent. They would do whatever they could to set up a defensive line in the center of Tokyo. If that happened, the two forces could end up mercilessly clashing throughout Tokyo. It would be Baggage City all over again. And this time, it would be in the capital of a nation, even if Academy City tended to overshadow it. Kamijou could not even guess how far the effects would spread if the city was paralyzed by a battle that made one want to cover ones eyes. But this was no time to be standing around in shock. No matter how they spent their time, the crisis would arrive just as soon. Birdway struck Kamijous back and shouted at him. We need to get to the supersonic passenger plane. Pass through the employee gate and get to the electronic cart!! Were going to run away!? Even though we know blood is going to be shed here!? The only way to stop this is sinking Gremlin with a swift attack before the two forces collide! And right now, the only way to stop the production of the lance is with your right hand! We need to get to Sargasso no matter what. We can jump out of the plane with a parachute if we need to!! You need to assume each decision you make here could lead to a capital citys...no, an entire nations destruction!! Dammit... He did not even have time to worry about Index, Mikoto, or the others. He did not know how exactly Gremlin would attack. Depending on the route they chose, a large-scale battle could occur right next to the part of the city his parents had moved to. Where the hell is the employee gate!? He started running through the airport. Even if they did not know what exactly was happening, a slight commotion had started running through the airport. The electronic displays were saying all flights had been cancelled due to an emergency. At first Kamijou thought a lot of foreign businessmen were rushing toward the airline reception counters, but it turned out that was not the only place people were headed. An announcement began cycling through different languages. After a few loops, Kamijou finally heard the Japanese announcement as he ran. Please head to the special shelters. Halls A3, E4, F2, and H3 have underground shelters large enough for 2000 people each. For information on the situation, please check the displays throughout the airport or the official site. Please get to a shelter that has room left. District 23 had the citys aerospace development facilities contained within it. In addition to the terrorist countermeasures common to all international airports, this one had airtight underground shelters in case rocket fuel containing toxic components leaked out. However, this was the first time Kamijou had ever heard this announcement. The announcement sounded gentle and calm at first, but that hinted that the situation was actually quite out of the ordinary. (Damn. The atmosphere has grown tense.) Kamijou grimaced as he ran in the opposite direction of the flow of people. (Do I really have to smell this stench here? This dangerous stench!! Can wars really start this easily? I thought this was only supposed to happen when someone made a decisive mistake as they steered history!) Wait! Wait up, you!! He heard a loud voice. He turned around while still running to see Misaka Mikoto behind him. Tokyo is going to be a battlefield? Like in Hawaii!? You have to be kidding. Please tell me youre kidding!! I dont know whats going on either!! But you can tell things are bad from the smell, right!? My mama lives there! I need something more concrete than that!! Kamijou clenched his teeth. And he spoke. Come with me! Thats better than just watching, right!? Index ran up behind him as well. That white nun holding a calico cat looked indignant. Touma! Why arent you relying on a magic expert when youre about to fight a group of magicians!? ...Fine!! He did not have time for these questions. If it came down to it, he could have just him and Mikoto parachute down when they passed over Sargasso in the supersonic plane. This was not the time to get bogged down in an argument. Wheres the employee gate anyway!? Did you just start running without thinking!? Part 11 Kumokawa Maria thought over the conversation she had heard just before the situation began to move. (Gremlin.) She felt overwhelmingly more fear toward that organization than she did hostility. She wanted to keep her run-ins with them to a minimum. After that one incident, she simply never wanted to see them again. Bersi. Kihara Kagun. Kumokawa Maria understood that teacher of hers was already dead. She had accepted that. The problem was that the eyepatch-wearing girl who called herself Othinus was controlling Kihara Kaguns supposedly dead body. She would not have done so for no reason or with no need. That eyepatch-wearing girl did not seem as violently emotional as the brown girl Kumokawa Maria had once met in Baggage City. She would use someone because they were useful. She would ensure she had something because she could use it in her plan. In that case, why had she done that? (His life should have ended there. No one would ever accept it, but that had to be the best end for him! Yet... Yet...!! Shes using his empty shell to do something? That oppression could twist what kind of person he truly was!!) She would take him back. She had been unable to rescue the human named Kihara Kagun, but she could not let her teachers honor be disgraced any further. And so she set her sights on retrieving that teachers body no matter how frightening an opponent it put her up against. The thin thread she needed to do that lay before her eyes. That thread was Kamijou Touma. This meant she would cross paths with those monsters from Gremlin once more. It had been a miracle that she survived in Baggage City. It could be even worse this time. She might not come back alive. (I will do this.) But Kumokawa Maria could not stop. (I will do this!! If I overlook this chance, I will live a life of regret, so I need to focus my entire life here. I will make sure I am decisively rejected and then give up! I will bring an end to everything related to him!!) Part 12 They could not even spare the time for a detailed explanation. Kamijou and the others jumped over the employee gate like it was a hurdle and ran down the narrow passageway while ignoring the cries of the airport employees. They threw open an oddly thick stainless steel door and jumped into the electronic cart waiting there. Birdway and Lessar must have used a shorter route because they were already aboard. But something else happened before the cart could move toward the supersonic passenger plane on the runway. Wait!! It was Kumokawa Maria. Instead of using the carts door, she practically climbed in through the window to force herself inside. Im going, too. Ive already made up my mind, so you cant talk me out of it!! Ill do anything, so please take me with you to where Gremlin is!! Gnyaaah!? She managed to casually climb on the lap of my target, Kamijou Touma. Such exquisite negotiation skills. And shes also a maid that managed to slip in the fact that she will do anything!? I-I may have been mistaken about who my greatest rival is!! Lessar raised her voice in confusion, but Kumokawa Maria did not seem to be listening. From what I heard, it seems Gremlins base is in Tokyo Bay. In that case, I dont need my passport. Adding on a last-minute passenger shouldnt be a problem!! N-no, wait! Theres still the hurdle of leaving Academy City without permission! All of you are slipping past that restriction, so that means theres a loophole here, right? We dont have time to argue, cut in Birdway. We can easily take someone with a death wish to the battlefield. What matters right now is getting Kamijou Touma out of Academy City! If Gremlins primary objective is Imagine Breaker rather than Academy City, then we can draw their aim away. That might prevent the two forces from entering into direct conflict!! Birdway tapped on the drivers seat headrest and the driver set off. The electronic cart produced no engine noise and moved surprisingly smoothly toward the unique silhouette of a supersonic passenger plane. It was a civilian craft that used bomber technology. And since it would now be carrying what firepower they had (i.e. Kamijou Touma), its role was not much different. It looks like the engine has already been warmed up. Get on! Well take off in five minutes!! Urged on by Birdway, Kamijou and the others climbed up the stairs and into the plane. The plane lurched before they had even sat in their seats properly, much less fastened their seatbelts. That would have been bad enough in a normal airplane, but this supersonic plane could fly at 7000 kph. They could easily be freed from the bonds of gravity while in a narrow tunnel-like space. Sorry about asking you to do this, said Kumokawa Maria just before they took off. But I just couldnt let go of this last connection to my old teacher. This might be the point where my life switches over to another set of rails. So...!! Its fine. Kamijou did not know the details of the situation. But he did not think that was a major issue. It was rare for someone to truly understand the situation another person was in. She wanted to accomplish something for the sake of someone else. Kamijou had met several people with similar feelings hidden within them. Kumokawa Maria had the same light in her eyes. Ive lived my life so far by doing the same thing. Its nothing admirable, though. The place you think you are is not as much of a dead end as you think it is. Y-your panties are striped yellow and black, too!! Youre too shocking! Your seat is over here!! Lessar dragged Kumokawa Maria away, but they truly took off before she managed to sit down. Kamijou frantically spoke up because he was familiar with the world of 7000 kph. H-hey! Hurry up and fasten your seatbelts! Just grabbing on with your hands isnt enough! Youre still focusing on that bee girl!? Are you trying to turn me into a jealousy character!? Hearing that, Mikoto covered her face with one hand. Bee girl? That reminds me of her.[1] No, I cant have her showing up here... The sense of acceleration pressing against their gut grew. The supersonic passenger plane left the international airports runway and glided nicely up into the air. By the time Kamijou looked at the scenery outside the window, thinking they would be outside Academy City soon, the cityscape below had already greatly changed. They were no longer in Academy City. He was seeing the scenery of Shinjuku or somewhere similar. At this rate, he thought they might arrive at the Sargasso on Tokyo Bay before reaching 7000 kph. But he was being na?ve. With a great roar, some kind of giant monster flew alongside the plane outside the window. .....................................................................................................................................................................Wha-? He did not have time to voice his question or give a warning. The creature was the size of the passenger plane and it looked like a lizard with bat wings added on. Its entire silhouette appeared to be formed from massive amounts of red thread. However, one would never find this creature in an animal encyclopedia. In picture books, it may have been called a dragon. A giant eyeball with a vertical, snake-like pupil rolled in the creatures head and looked at Kamijou Touma through the window. It did not breathe fire. Instead, it gave a large flap of its giant wings. In an instant, that crystallization of cutting-edge technology was mercilessly sliced in half. Kamijou Touma, Index, Misaka Mikoto, Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, Kumokawa Maria, the calico cat Sphinx, and the pilot were all mercilessly thrown out into empty air. The plane may not have made it to its proper altitude yet, but they were still three hundred meters up. And they fell toward the center of Tokyo. Between the Lines 2 The power of Academy Citys #2 Level 5 was known as Dark Matter. No matter where the essence of that power or the primary personality ruling it may have been at the moment, he was undoubtedly the one who had first brought that #2 power into the world. His name was Kakine Teitoku. He was currently known as an empty husk because he was nothing but a collection of a few organs including his brain. Bhah!! Those few organs began unnaturally wriggling like a worm as if an invisible hand had grabbed a bag filled with water. A pure white and sticky substance gathered around those organs. Details began to form and pale color appeared on the surface. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into something that could not be distinguished from a beautiful human boy. Ghahhh... Cough cough! Cough!! The sea breeze stung at his nose. The merciless chilly air stabbed at his exposed skin. He was lying atop a strange land made up of the ruins of countless boats. He realized he had several cables attached to his body here and there. He had seen something similar before. That was back when the dark side of Academy City had hooked him up to a life support device and had him do nothing but produce Dark Matter as a material for weapons. The equipment around him now was junk compared to back then, but he thought it was praiseworthy to catch up to Academy City using nothing but junk. He heard a female voice coming from somewhere. It looks like hes conscious. A gloomy male voice answered. That does not matter. I only need to have him produce what we need. It seemed they were indeed after his Dark Matter as material for a weapon. The reason him being conscious did not matter may have been because the man thought he could eternally control and restrain his physical body by sending special electrical signals into his brain. That was not entirely wrong. Or at least, it was not wrong when talking about the Kakine Teitoku who had sunk into the depths of Academy Citys dark side. A new age has arrived. He slowly moved his lips. This must have been an unexpected reaction. He could clearly tell focus had turned to him. He heard the sound of some kind of meter being operated, but no change came over him. His smile did not vanish. The old age is long over. I dont know who you are or what youre after, but your fate is clear now that the age has left you behind. How sad. If you had tried this exact same thing just a few weeks ago, you might have gained everything you wished without issue. I really do feel sorry for you. The sounds of narrow tubes breaking from the inside could be heard. The Dark Matter ate into the objects around him as if flowing back through the electrodes and cables meant to control the device known as Kakine Teitoku. All color turned to white and the electronic devices at the other end of the cables were swallowed up in an instant. Ha ha ha!! Ogaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! It seemed they had set up a parallel processor by constructing a giant system out of hundreds of computers, but it did not matter. It was too late. He spread out through each and every one of the cables set up like a spider web. He devoured all of the computers, all of the power sources allowing those computers to run, and everything else they were connected to. He bit into them, swallowed them, digested them, and turned them all into a part of him. I dont care who you are. It doesnt matter what youve built up. Im not interested in what youll give to the world. Good and evil? Kindness and malice? Gain and loss? Positive and negative? We can let historians decide that 100 years from now. All I know is what fate you deserve for trying to use me as a tool!! A horrible noise continued as if he were breaking every last bone in his body from within. Pure white wings extended from his back. They spread out like plants growing in fast forward. They were not merely a few dozen meters long or a few hundred meters long. In an instant, those wings enveloped that giant pile of ruined ships that could be mistaken for an island. They formed a dome around it. They formed a cage of slaughter. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! The situation was thrown off track. The situation tilted and then toppled over in a direction no one had imagined. During the Cold War in which both sides had thrust thousands of nuclear missiles before their enemy as a threat, the most feared thing had been an uncontrollable chaos. That nightmare was blooming here. And an instant before that chaos arrived... An eyepatch-wearing girl unhesitatingly grabbed Kakine Teitokus neck in one hand. Not even a subtle change could be seen on her face. Even with that horrifying result before her, her entire body appeared perfectly relaxed. Bh...gh...? For a while, he did not understand why there were groans coming from his mouth. The eyepatch-wearing girl had grabbed Kakine Teitokus neck with a single hand and lifted him up. No, she was not just grabbing his neck. Her fingers were digging into it. Those fingertips sank deeply into that body made of Dark Matter. She used pure strength. Her fingertips had dug in deep enough to reach his spine, but she increased that strength a bit further and those fingertips sank even deeper. The sensation of that hard bone being crushed was followed by indescribable pain filling his entire body. It only took a single attack. The dome-shaped cage of slaughter covering the entirety of Sargasso shattered and floated down like snow. Gh...gbh!? Gagugh!! I see everything is on schedule. This is the scientific material needed to fill the gap magic left in the construction of the lance. Any pure specimen tough enough to withstand the development into a holistic esper can be used, so Fr?ulein Kreutune specifically is not needed. We do not need any combat ability from the device that produces the material. The eyepatch-wearing girl and the gloomy man exchanged a few short words. All the while, a cracking sound could be heard as the girl poured tremendous strength into Kakine Teitokus neck. Listen, you piece of scrap. I only expect one thing from you. Just one. The eyepatch-wearing girl spoke slowly to him. Be of use to me. ...If you cant, Ill carefully remake everything about you until you can and do. It will be like holding a girls head down and beating her face into something completely unrecognizable with your fist. Ah... Uh... The sounds of breath escaping had no connection to Kakine Teitokus will. The girl dug her fingertips inside his spine and disturbed what lay within. That stimulus caused his body to involuntarily convulse. He was like a ventriloquist doll made of living flesh. Wheres you answer? Say as you wish. ...Azzzz...yuuu...wISh...!!!??? Good boy. And with that, a dull sound exploded out. This was nothing as simple as breaking his neck. It was unclear what force was acting on him, but the object that made up Kakine Teitokus human form was compressed from all directions and transformed into a mass the size of a volley ball. A distorted pattern could be seen on the surface similar to when transparent glass was forced against someones face or someone wore a stocking over their head. The eyepatch-wearing girl grabbed the ball in one hand and tossed it to the gloomy man. Do what needs to be done. You should be able to finish this before the same happens to you. Understood. Suddenly, a deep noise similar to a dinosaurs roar burst out overhead. The vibration of the air filled Sargasso and a few of the ruined boats rolled down the pile. The girl looked unconcernedly up into the white steam-filled sky. M?kkurkalfe and Neh?ggr. So their turn has finally come. It took you a while to find this one little base, spat out the girl. However, she showed no interest in the enemies surely making their way toward her. She was speaking only to what lay within herself. The production of the spear is in its final stages. Bring in Marian Slingeneyer. Have her finish the work with the skills of a Dvergr. Notes 1. The hou of Shokuhou Misaki means bee. Volume 8, 3: Doubt at the Edge of Decision. Turning_Point. Volume 8, Chapter 3: Doubt at the Edge of Decision. Turning_Point. Part 1 In truth, Kamijou and the others had been wearing lightweight parachutes before the plane took off. Unlike normal parachutes, these ones had no secondary chute and no safety feature to automatically open based on an altimeter. These alterations shaved away at their life-saving features, but allowed the packed parachute to be as small as a thin school bag. However... A parachute could not be used under certain circumstances such as extreme wind. And did you know one of those conditions was being below a certain altitude? The parachute would not be able to provide enough deceleration, so the wearer would slam into the ground. Shit!! His vision spun around and around until he had no idea which way was up. He could only feel a strange fear inside his gut. He had been dropped from 300 meters up, so he could not avoid an instant death if he struck the ground. He frantically reached behind him and tried to pull the string, but he could not get a good grip on the thin string being blown around by the air. It took three to five seconds. He tried not to think about how far he had approached the ground in that time. He squeezed his eyes shut, grabbed the string, and pulled as hard as he could. The bag on his back exploded open. An intense burden was placed on the shoulder straps, but something was wrong. Kamijou had never thought a parachute could reproduce the phenomenon of a dwarf slowly travelling through the sky with a large umbrella seen in picture books, but he was falling much faster than he had expected. The deceleration was insufficient. He was still falling rather than descending. (Youre kidding me... It didnt open properly!? Did it get tangled up!?) He looked up to see the fabric of the parachute had not formed a proper circle. It had formed an odd shape similar to a half-moon with pleats. A parachute could not open and function properly in every position. Forcing it open while spinning through the air had increased the risk of it not functioning properly. His altitude was also insufficient. Even if he had used the parachute properly, the landing would have provided enough of an impact to break a bone if he got his footing wrong. It was blatantly obvious what would happen if he slammed into the asphalt now. To put it simply: instant death. (If I fall...Ill die!!) Kamijou flailed his limbs around despite knowing it was hopeless. And then his body stopped as if it had caught on something. The impact knocked the breath out of him. After a short delay, he realized he was swaying back and forth like a clocks pendulum. What...? He looked up and saw something sticking out in a straight line. It looked like an improvised rope forcibly made out of a curtain or something similar. At the end, he could see it was tangled around a silhouette resembling a giant fishing rod made of steel. (A crane... Is this a high-rise building under construction?) A quick glance told him he was over 30 stories up. He was over two hundred meters from the asphalt surface. The building was incomplete, so this was not the roof. The crane was made to have its height extended after the exterior of each floor was completed. As Kamijou dangled down, the highest floor was approximately seven meters below his feet. That was no different from jumping off the roof a two-story house. However, the crane must have been in the middle of lifting steel beams up from the ground because it was protruding out from the building. If Kamijou let go of his parachute bag, he would not even graze the building as he fell to the surface. Kamijou heard the disturbing sound of snapping fibers from overhead. If a parachute was blown away from its landing point, it could enter a forest. If it got caught in a thick tree and left the wearer hanging for long periods of time, it could cause serious enough damage to crush the artery under the armpit. What if that risk had been eliminated by having the silk fabric woven such that the parachute was strong to the even force of catching the air but weak to more narrow impacts? What if it was made to quickly break when it was caught in a tree? (Not good.) Kamijou immediately grabbed at the wire holding him up. The sound of the fabric tearing grew louder. (Not good!! If the parachute caught on the crane tears, Ill fall straight for the asphalt! I need to climb up to the crane before that happens!!) However, this was not as easy as Kamijou imagined it would be. He was dangling from the bottom of the wire which was attached to his back, so he had to climb up while supporting his entire bodyweight with his arms. In movies and documentaries, special forces were often seen quickly climbing up or down a wire hanging from a sheer cliff or a hovering helicopter, but that was because they distributed the weight bearing down on their grip by having their legs grabbing onto the wire as well as their hands. Trying to crawl using only ones arms shows how surprisingly difficult it is to move forward. This was the same but with the bonds of gravity at their greatest due to advancing vertically. It was near impossible for anyone but a competitive weightlifter. Before he even made it three meters up, an unpleasant pain started coming from the insides of Kamijous upper arms. He had pushed his muscles past their limit and they had raised the white flag. Youre...kidding... The ripping of the complexly tangled parachutes fabric was now visible. Once it completely tore, there would be nothing he could do. His all-negating right hand gave him no way of safely landing from that hellish free fall. (Am I going to die this easily? I dont even know whats going on and havent even seen the person attacking. Can this really happen!?) Suddenly, he heard a sound similar to roaring wind. But this was not the common sound of wind blowing between high-rise buildings. It was not even wind. It was a giant form. It was that dragon-like flying monster that had flown alongside the supersonic passenger plane and cut it in two. It circled through the sky and charged directly toward where Kamijou dangled as if destroying its previous steel prey had not been enough. ...Oh!? He did not even have time to complain about the cruelty of the world. The steel crane Kamijou hung from was completely smashed and flew through the air. He could not even hear the sound of the impact. The scenery transformed into distorted flowing lines. He could tell he was being swung around like a morning star. He felt an unpleasant chill as if his heart had shot up from his feet. Even as his vision was thrown into disarray, Kamijou was just barely able to tell he had been thrown further away from the building and toward a road wide enough to land a small Cessna on. And then he grasped the situation. (The crane broke and is falling toward the road!?) A snapping sound cut off Kamijous thoughts. The parachute fabric binding him to the crane had finally reached its limit. As if he had slipped out, Kamijous body was thrown from the remains of the crane as they rotated and fell. It was like fixing a stone to the end of a stick with double-sided tape and then swinging the stick around as hard as one could. Even so, Kamijou did not reach the top floor of the partially-constructed building. He was mercilessly tossed into a floor partway down which had not yet had glass added to the windows. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? His cry of pain was drowned out by the roar of the remains of the giant crane reaching the ground. Unable to withstand the pain, Kamijou curled up in the fetal position. He rolled around and continued screaming. He was not simply trying to distract himself from the pain. He was doing it without realizing it, but he was screaming in order to release the limiters in his head and intentionally secrete certain substances in his brain. It was the same thing done in certain track and field events such as the hammer throw. U-uhh... Kamijou finally unsteadily rose to his feet on that floor with exposed concrete, exposed steel columns, and no interior whatsoever. The monster from before shot by just outside the building, so Kamijou hurriedly hid behind a thick column. But it did not try to attack. That monster which was completely covered in red thread must have been satisfied with destroying the crane. It flapped its giant wings and flew off without checking on the damage it had done. (Wheres Index? And what about Misaka, Birdway, Lessar, and Kumokawa Maria!? What happened to them? Did they make it to the ground safely with their parachutes? They werent attacked on the way down, were they!?) He pulled out his cell phone and called Indexs number. She tended not to answer her 0 yen phone, but he had no choice but to gather what information he could, one by one. But... What? Index did not answer. In fact, it did not even ring once. Instead, a recorded female voice gave a looping announcement. The lines are currently extremely congested. To give priority to emergency services such as the police and firefighters, we ask that you refrain from making unnecessary calls or emails. To check on the safety of your family and friends, please use the cell phone companies emergency voice message service. Calls would not get through. Emails were out, too. He could not display the simple message board for cell phones either. The screen displayed a communication error and froze up. He tried routing around the issue with a wireless LAN app that used wi-fi, but it would not work either. He doubted all of the phones services would work here because it was an Academy City phone, but this was too much. For an instant, he wondered if the communications network had been intentionally knocked out, but he decided against it. There was something else to suspect before resorting to conspiracy theories. If the lines were overloaded, something must have happened to overload them. ... Kamijou looked back toward the glass-less window. He had rolled a good way along the floor, so he was over ten meters from the window. He could not check on the wide road down below from there. To check, he had to approach the window and peer down. He realized he was feeling an intense aversion to doing that. This was not a fear of heights. It was not a refusal to remind himself he was in a dangerous place. He was afraid the scenery down below would have transformed into something he could not even imagine. But... Whether he checked or not, the truth would not change. And the sooner he gained that information, the more options he might have for his next action. Kamijou slowly and unsteadily moved out from behind the steel pillar. He walked toward the glass-less window. He took one step, then another. Each time the soles of his shoes touched the ground, he felt the tension inside him grow. It was like playing Russian roulette and seeing the odds of the bullet rising bit by bit as each empty round went by. He took the final step. Kamijou stood on the edge of a steep cliff with nothing to grab on to. With motions so stiff they seemed to make creaking noises, he lowered his gaze. And he saw... He saw... He saw... Part 2 Misaka Mikoto was thrown mercilessly from the supersonic passenger plane. She calmly grabbed the string to her parachute, but she spotted a white form falling quickly toward the ground. It was Index who was holding a struggling calico cat. The parachute had no safety device to automatically release based on an altimeter. If she did not know how to use her parachute, she would literally plunge headfirst to the ground. Oh, honestly!! Mikoto stopped using her parachute and stretched out her arms and legs as if diving into a pool. With a sensation of accelerating toward the ground, she quickly approached Index who was chaotically rotating as she fell. Come here, you!! She reached out a hand and grabbed the white nuns arm with her fingertips. They were less than 100 meters from the ground. Even if she opened her parachute now, it would be impossible to stop their combined weights before hitting the ground. They would slam into the asphalt with plenty of momentum to spare. She gave up on that. She switched over her focus and began controlling magnetism. Mikoto felt bad about how much the cat in Indexs arms began to struggle, but she had more important things to worry about. She bent her legs and pressed the bottoms of her feet against the wall of a giant train station building and slid down with tremendous force. She decelerated so quickly it was amazing orange sparks did not burst out. While detecting the stench of leather being burnt by friction, Misaka Mikoto finally killed their falling speed and came to a stop at four stories up. Mikoto glanced around while supporting Index and the calico cat in one arm. Is this Shinjuku Station? Ive only ever seen pictures online. More specifically, it was the east entrance. The familiar TV studio from a certain national midday TV show was there. Mikoto had imagined it was filled with non-Academy City fashion shops, but the signs for consumer electronics stores stood out more prominently. They could be seen all over the place. But she did not even consider dropping to the ground and looking around from there. There was a simple reason for this. What is all this? It looked like the tide going in and out on fast forward. It looked like marching army ants. The true identity of this strange sight was people. People young, old, male, and female filled the streets and plazas to the extent that Mikoto wondered why they were not in school or at work (even if the same applied to her). They had not gathered from across the country for some event. They had nowhere to stand. Mikoto could not tell what color the sidewalk was. No matter where she looked, she saw only heads, heads, and more heads. And this was not limited to the sidewalk. With no regard for the color of the traffic lights, the streets were filled with long lines of congested traffic and the gaps between cars were filled with large numbers of pedestrians. The sight seemed to twist ones sense of what was normal. The area was so packed that one began to wonder why no one was standing on the hoods or roofs of the cars. Its Gremlin. muttered Index as she hung down. Gremlin did something. That may have been the case. However, they could not tell what exactly that was. A giant shadow cut by over their heads. It was that fairy tale monster which had sliced apart the supersonic plane earlier. However, it only passed by in the sky. It gave no concentrated attack on Mikoto and Index and it did not indiscriminately destroy the buildings or people in the area. Mikoto suddenly pictured the face of her mother, Misuzu, who lived in the city. She used her powers to access her cell phone while holding Index in both hands, but received no response. All of the lines are overloaded. I cant connect to anything but the disaster message board. And it looks like theres no message there. Just to be sure, she set it to record the message on her phone if one came in. She then released her control over the phone. (Shinjuku is right in front of Academy City. If these Gremlin people are advancing from Tokyo Bay to Academy City, they should have no reason to stop here. Why arent they charging straight into Academy City?) The gigantic traffic jam and all the people spilling out onto the streets meant it was likely some major roads and bridges had been taken out somewhere else. However, that stance seemed somehow insufficient. They could try to attack Academy City without doing any damage to Tokyo in the middle or they could view Tokyo as an obstacle and destroy it as they advanced. However, they were causing sporadic damage without leaning toward one stance or the other. Mikoto could see no obvious conviction or benefit from doing that. However, they had to have a reason. She thought for a while, and then... It cant be... Part 3 Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, and Kumokawa Maria had no particular sense of camaraderie between them. They had all boarded that supersonic passenger plane because they wanted to stick with Kamijou Touma for their own individual reasons, so that should not have been surprising. Unlike the other scattered members of the group, they had calmly controlled their midair orientation and opened their parachutes. Their falling distance had been a bit on the short side, but they had greatly bent their knees upon landing to absorb and soften the impact. That had allowed them to land on the asphalt without injury. Birdway unfastened her parachute, balled it up, and tossed it in a nearby trash gathering spot. Where are we? The wind blew us a good ways. This shabby disorder makes me think of Kabukicho. Look, the overall cityscape is identical to the one in Tatsu no Gotoshi[1]. Oh, wheres the Nice Middle Japanese tattoo shop? Dont think of that as normal scenery in Japan, you damn Westerner. And...ugh. The area above us is filled with power lines. If we had hit those, we might have been electrocuted. Lessar and Kumokawa Maria gave casual comments, but this was Japans largest shopping district where girls their age would be taken in by the police if they were found walking around, even during the day. Kumokawa Maria would receive an especially thorough questioning since she was a minor wearing a suspicious-looking maid uniform. And they soon stopped talking. But not because they heard police sirens or because a black luxury German car attacked them. It was due to the low rumbling below their feet. Near a baseball stadium, even the buildings and train stations built of reinforced concrete would physically shake during a dramatic come-from-behind homerun. When tens of thousands of spectators stood up and stamped their feet at the same time, it would produce a shaking detectable on a seismometer. As magicians, Birdway and Lessar had experience with areas of unrest and Kumokawa Maria had acquired an antenna to detect danger while in Baggage City, so they all detected the dangerous scent immediately. This is bad. I dont know who, but a large number of people are headed this way. Wow. Is this that one where you think its gonna be about yakuza, but its actually about zombies? Wheres my gun!? I need to find a cabaret club right away!! Again, that should not be what reminds you of Japan, you damn Westerner!! ...Are you always joking around like that because youre trying to motivate yourself? At any rate, they would be trapped if they were surrounded by all those people. The three girls began running away from the source of the rumbling without checking where they were going. That was a large train station over there, right? asked Birdway as she looked over her shoulder. Yes. I just hope the destroyed plane didnt crash into it. We play dirty with our countermeasures to prevent technology from leaking out, so you dont have to worry about that. As soon as it can no longer fly, a special jet fuel and powerful acid are used to thoroughly destroy the entire plane. The only thing that reaches the ground is a black dust of which the components cannot be analyzed even with a microscope. Oh, I see. So what happened to the pilot? Theyre professionals at this sort of thing. We can only pray he wasnt stupid enough to screw up his escape. There were others in their scattered group who had been thrown out into the sky, but those were their only worries. They each seemed to understand that normal common sense would not work with the others. I dont like getting separated from Kamijou Touma at a time like this. His right hand is the cornerstone for attacking Sargasso and stopping the production of the lance. While they continued running from the source of the noise, they heard a similar low rumbling coming from a different direction. The directions that noise came from continued to increase until they were surrounded. Kumokawa Maria pointed arbitrarily to the side. Lets go to a nearby building. The nearby multi-tenant buildings were of uneven height and had disorderly decorative lights on them. A dirty metal staircase that was of dubious usefulness as an emergency staircase could be seen between two of the buildings. The three of them ran up that narrow staircase that looked like a collection of folded metal rods. Immediately afterwards, two waves of people suddenly met up in the narrow intersection as if colliding. It looked like a beach during midsummer. People filled the space so thoroughly that the color of the road could not be seen. Occasional sounds of breaking glass could be heard. Either the overflowing people were breaking through the shop doors or the scooters parked alongside the road were being knocked over. A deluge of voices came from the crowd. They sounded both angry and uncertain. Dammit. How far do we have to walk to catch a cab!? Oh, no. That flying thing isnt going to come here, is it? Wait, my cell phone seriously isnt working? But now I cant upload the video I took! I know Id get tons of views if I uploaded it!! Ow! Dont push me, you idiot! I want to get to the station. I need to get a delay certificate... However, none of the voices were completely panicked. None of them seemed to feel their life was in danger. It felt more like the extreme of the complaints when traffic was stopped due to a large scale traffic light malfunction. This is Gremlins doing. Birdway clicked her tongue while looking down from the staircase landing. They destroyed a few choice roads in the city to paralyze the transportation network. That must also be why that dragon-like thing is flying around but not attacking Academy City. What do you mean??? Theyve made a human wall, she said in a displeased voice. She may have experienced something similar at some point. Its the same as a hardening of the arteries. If you take out an especially large road, the cars have to take a detour down another road. That causes congestion on that smaller road. Once the cars and buses arent working, the people start going by foot. This fills the sidewalks and walking paths with people, preventing anyone from moving along them either. The entire system grinds to a halt before long. So they filled the mesh of roads in Tokyo with people so no one can get through. Thats what happens when you have 17 million people living in such high density. If you destroy even a small number of important points, a barricade of living flesh sets itself up on its own. One could not walk from the front of a train to the very back when it was filled with people during rush hour. This was similar to making all of Tokyo the same. It made sense. But something seemed off to Kumokawa Maria. While in Baggage City, she had personally experienced how fiercely Gremlin could attack. Is Gremlin really a group that worries about keeping damage to a minimum? If they wanted to create a barricade, they just had to destroy enough buildings to cover up the roads. Masses of concrete seem more reliable than trying to control uncertain flows of people. Thats true, readily admitted Birdway. But who is this barricade meant to hold in check? Do you really think a group willing to make an enemy of the entire world would only be worried about us? ...? Then who are they trying to stop? A much larger framework, said Birdway. Lessar shrugged and gave her guess. They are maintaining a situation with little damage but where they can cause great damage and bloodshed at any moment. Theyre trying to distribute what people have to gain from this. Part 4 Everyone heard the sound of the air being beaten. The Tokyo Sky Tower was a new Japanese broadcasting tower over 600 meters tall. That giant steel tower was expected to become more of a landmark than the domed stadium and it had quietly landed at the very top. Its giant form was made up of a massive amount of red thread. It had thin membrane-like wings, similar to those of a bat. That strange monster stared down at the concrete city like a bird of prey sitting atop a tree watching for a small animal. Shit, isnt that dangerous!? Posting it online can wait. I need to film that thing!! The guy who finds a new type of animal gets to give it a name, right? Is that in the order you send it in? Where do I send it!? The Tanaka Wyvern is right there!! Something that huge must eat a ton every day. Kh. I hope it eats plankton like a whale!! It did not breathe fire and it did not knock down buildings with its giant body, but the majesty of its size and the clear look of a predator in its eyes was enough to put a great pressure on the human psyche. And that effect spread to the vast area from which the Tokyo Sky Tower could be seen. Do not fire! I repeat, do not fire!! Do not shoot at it!! A particularly noticeable shout rose amid the wave of people large enough to crush anyone fighting against it. A police uniform was designed to stand out in any situation, but a newcomer who had only just graduated the police academy had lost sight of the owner of the voice. He shouted out while searching for the figure who had to be somewhere in the darkness. Why!? I doubt the handguns we were issued can do anything against that dinosaur-like thing, but a police officer isnt supposed to just stand by doing nothing!! If that thing charges into all these people...!! Thats why Im telling you not to provoke it!! Are you prepared to take the blame if an attack causes it to take action? Right now, theres still a chance it wont do anything. So dont do anything to make it move!! Simply put, that was Gremlins aim. During World War Three, countries around the world, whether from the science side or the magic side, had gathered in one spot to bring an end to the war. And that had ultimately been enough to defeat the giant force led by Fiamma of the Right. Someone may have taken the lead. Someone may have been the symbol of the group. But in the end, it had been a large number of people fighting for a common goal that had safely brought an end to that large war that could have easily wiped out mankind. That overwhelming power had miraculously stopped the tragedy that should have occurred. And so... Gremlin had planned to distribute that. They had distributed what people stood to gain. It was possible they might not draw the joker. If they did not do anything to draw Gremlins attention, Gremlin might overlook everyone but those opposing their objective. That meager hope destroyed the peoples unity. Even though Gremlin, an obvious enemy, stood right before their eyes, something weighed down one side the scales in their minds so heavily that they averted their gaze from what normally would have been their top priority. And this did not stop with the people of the city fearing for their lives and homes. Could the people who ran the Japanese government choose to abandon the countrys capital city of Tokyo? At the same time, could they allow a battle between Academy City and Gremlin? United States President Roberto Katze had brought together many different nations and powers to prepare a unified attack on Gremlin. However, that was stalled as well. They all wanted to protect different things. Gremlin had used that obvious fact in the worst possible way. People could not gather into a single group. The situation was now one of multiple scattered individuals. This seemingly small trick had sealed the miracle which had occurred during World War Three. If Gremlin destroyed the most dangerous elements of those scattered individuals, one by one, only a group of those too weak to fight back would remain. That crowd that uncertainly moved about was destined to be destroyed by Magic God Othinuss power once Gungnir was completed. Until that instant, the sweet illusion that everything might turn out okay would remain. What are the riot police and JSDF doing? Theres a monster flying overhead that can fly from one end of Tokyo to the other in just a few minutes!! Stay focused, newcomer!! The new police officers hand was tugged on forcefully. He was dragged to a slight space below the staircase to a pedestrian bridge. The flow of people cut off there with almost laughable abruptness. Guiding the people to evacuation points comes before glaring at an enemy we cant hope to defeat! If people start falling like dominos here, how many do you think will be crushed to death!? All of the surrounding roads are blocked up with people. Do you know how dangerous it is to not be able to call in an ambulance!? I do, dammit!! Just as the new police officer shouted in desperation, a large number of voices burst out like an explosion. He looked over and saw the flow of people in one direction was being stopped by something. The people were pressing forward with the force to flip over a car, so this had to be something significant. Had a new monster appeared? Tension ran through the police officers, but their guess was wrong. The sound of rubber tires tearing at the ground rang out. Several armored vehicles appeared in a large intersection while scraping alongside the line of cars stuck on the road. These were not the high-pressure water trucks the riot police used. They had tank-like turrets attached on the roof. Low pressure smoothbore guns!? They brought those in!? Im not obsessed with that kind of thing, so I dont know what that means! Anyway, where did they come from? I thought all of the streets were packed. More of the same armored vehicles appeared. That was when they finally caught on. The subway tunnels!? Did they force them through there!? Has the JSDF decided to seriously take that thing on? A few seconds later, the new police officer realized he was being too optimistic. The armored vehicles cut across the intersection and stopped such that they blocked off the flow of people. Their guns would never reach the monster on the tower from there. And most telling of all, the guns on top of the vehicles were not pointed toward the monster. Every single one was pointed directly toward the crowd. It was as if they were fighting back against the people pressing in. That road, Roppongi Street, is one of the representative routes to Kasumigaseki!! Theyre solely focused on keeping the VIPs happy at a time like this!? Call center! Shut down all of the computers. Remove the server cables in order. Hurry!! A middle-aged man in a plain suit shouted into a rectangular room filled with nothing but rows of computers like a school computer lab. An office lady inside was wearing the tight skirt uniform required for employees despite having no one around to see it. She whispered to a colleague in the neighboring seat. As this counted as work time on her time card, she made sure to keep her hands moving as she did so. Whats that about? Are you serious? Have you not looked out the window at all? The city is in a complete panic. It seems the phones and internet are overloaded, so they cant check their SNSs and message boards. I dont want to hear that from the person who toys with her phone while handling customers. Anyway, what does that have to do with shutting down the server? Our selling point is our 24/7 consultation. Keeping the server up seems important to me. Thats just how bad the panic is outside. They dont want to give any careless answers until coming up with a proper policy. If we start paying out insurance money to all of our clients, well go under. Eh? Is it that bad outside? Yes. Insurance companies were businesses that dealt with the small using the large. Statistically speaking, someone grew ill, had an accident, fell victim to a crime, or was hit by a natural disaster every day. However, those sorts of trouble would only happen a few times in any one individuals life. The company would gather an equal amount of money from a large number of customers and pay money back only to an extremely limited number. The company could provide a large amount of insurance money to each individual client by keeping that ratio intact. So... What if a nations capital was utterly destroyed, over 15 million people received some kind of damage all at once, and 20% or 30% of an insurance companys clients requested insurance money at the same time? Simply put, the amount would instantly exceed their available funds and a large corporation known as a financial monster would be felled overnight. The higher ups are probably in a panic right now. Theyll be digging through the contracts and usage agreements. Theyll probably weasel their way out of it similar to how normal fire insurance doesnt cover fires started in an earthquake. But that only works because they specifically state that it doesnt cover that. Insurance money is enough to influence the rest of ones life, so I think theyll get some arguments if they say they dont cover it just because it isnt mentioned. After all... As the office lady began to continue, the entire floor shook sharply. A female worker near the window let out a short shriek. Something large had flown right by the window, but it was not an aircraft. It was a living creature that resembled an eagle. The monster was made up of a great amount of red thread. It looked like a fighter one could only see in a movie. No one had ever imagined something like that would attack. And if no one had imagined it, it would not be described in the contracts. Yeah... I think it would be best to stay here for a while. I hope the company still exists tomorrow. I can only pray the higher ups arent gathering up all the contents of the safe. What do we do? asked an annoyed man in a dark back alley. He was wearing a dark blue work uniform and a similarly colored helmet that did not look like it was for construction work. The front of the helmet had a clear face guard attached and a simple baton made of oak wood hung at his waist. A dully-shining silver duralumin case sat at his feet. He worked for a security company in a group that transported cash. Several men and women wearing the same outfit stood in that back alley. It was technically a private road and a stainless steel fence and door were set up at the entrance to the alley, so it had not been swallowed up by the flood of people. However, that could change at any time. With that many people, the door could break from the great burden and then people would surge in. We cant get back to the transport truck. And even if we could, it cant get through those crowds. The nearest branch office is three kilometers away and its possible it will have the shutters lowered and the drop-off window sealed up. How many hundreds of millions are in there again? asked the youngest woman while kicking the silver case with the tips of her toes. A man with a slight beard and a constant smell of cigarettes spoke up from the side. If you hit it too hard, it will send an emergency alarm to the main office. Will they send a helicopter if that happens? If so, Ill beat the crap out of the thing. Their cell phones could not get through. Their company radios were filled with noise that could just barely be identified as human voices. Only the police and firefighters did not seem enough to overload that. Someone somewhere must have realized the radio was usable and was sending out signals everywhere, radio laws be damned. All of them came up with the baseless assumption that it was a panicked investor trying to contact the financial market. Security guards who risked their lives transporting money naturally thought of investors when it came to selfish and senseless people. What are the companys regulations? Whats the punishment for abandoning the money and running away? I doubt its paying back the full sum. Even if that was the rule, no ordinary worker could hope to pay back that much. Then the company would go bankrupt. There are already only a small number of clients for cash transportation. Once the company loses trust in one neighborhood, the clients will disappear like the receding tide. Then will our manager sue us? Wow. So its a life of hellish debt one way or another!? However, it was likely impossible to transport hundreds of millions of yen three kilometers by any normal means. They understood how much of a commotion was occurring. Something similar to a giant dragon or bird was flying through the sky and highways, elevated railways, and other important points of the transportation network had been destroyed. It was hard to tell if this was a coordinated attack or a natural disaster, but the people crowding the roads had lost any means of transportation. They were not boiling over with malice or hostility. However, that did not mean they could be 100% trusted. Someone might suddenly think they would not be caught because the phones were down and the police cars could not drive along the roads. That duralumin case was much too dangerous. It had enough destructive force to burn away someones ability to reason. After thinking through the situation that far, one of the men from the security company moved his eyebrows slightly. What is it? Thats an odd expression. Lets change clothes, said the man quickly as he glanced around. They were in a back alley which was a private road, so trash bags and plastic buckets had been gathered without worrying about complaints from the neighbors. He checked through those and chose a few old rags. The womans face stiffened. Seriously? It looks like this household put their kitchen trash and paper together as burnable trash. If we wear reinforced outfits as if we are protecting something important, people will target us. Lets go with this. If were dressed like we dig through the trash for food, no one will think were transporting cash. Their uniforms were made of synthetic fibers, so they were somewhat waterproof. They unlocked the duralumin case, divided the bundles of bills into a few different groups, threw them inside their coats after tying off the sleeves, and collar, and finally tied off the bottom hole. They tossed those inside bags of kitchen waste. ...It would stink a bit, but they would have protected the cash as long as it was in good enough shape to be exchanged at a bank later. Peoples dissatisfaction could explode into a riot at any moment, but you want a fair maiden like me to change out in the open? ...Wont that call in even more danger? Dont worry about it, Miss Judo. And if you were good looking enough to draw in men like that, you wouldnt be stuck working at a security company that can call you in at all hours. I did aikido, not judo! Thats the slender and delicate Yamato Nadeshiko course!! And why are you all staring at me!? Cant you be even a little considerate!? No matter how unusual the situation was, it would not all end that day. In order to return to their normal lives tomorrow, they dove into the maelstrom themselves. A bitter look covered President Roberto Katzes face as he made a call over a phone line too crude to be called a hotline. I dont care if its Atsugi, Yokosuka, or what!! We are preparing to scramble right away. As soon as you give consent, we will help fight that thing!! Yes. The response from the phone was awkwardly-spoken English as if the speaker was working to pronounce the words exactly as it was written in the textbook. But we have a duty to protect our citizens, so we have decided the capital of Japan must not be made into a battlefield. Unfortunately, we also have not found another way of attacking the source of the problem. We are monitoring the situation in your country using satellite images. Your unit deployment has no connection to Gremlins location. You are cutting off major roads while showing no concern about crushing your own people. You arent simply trying to buy time until the Diet building can evacuate to the shelter in Nagatacho Station, are you!? We would never dream of it. We always make the best decision to protect the people of our country. ...Um...We fear your suggestion of an allied attack would apply unneeded tension on the Asia-Pacific region, so...lets see, lets see... Are you holding the phone in one hand and a script in the other!? As soon as Roberto slammed down the receiver, the phone made a hard sound and broke. Queen Regnant Elizard disinterestedly raised her index finger and spun it around and the Russian Patriarch boy looked around nervously. The gloomy French woman sipped at her coffee that had long since cooled. Elizard stopped moving her finger while it was pointed at the president. Before breaking the phone, you should have asked what Academy City intends to do. Everyone else there barely matters. Do you really think the people who barely matter will know what Academy City plans to do? That is a true monster that waged a major war as an independent city. The presidential aide, Roseline, held her head in her hands. The Japanese government is divided on the issue. Academy City has made no announcement and they could view a force gathered to attack Tokyo Bay as an enemy. If Gremlin intentionally created this power balance, they did an amazing job. Sooner or later, someone had to make the decision to attack the Sargasso on Tokyo Bay. The Japanese government would not want their capital city trapped between Academy City and Sargasso for long. They would have to fight eventually. But the situation was currently a race against time. Japan would be having their politicians escape to shelters, preserving their assets, and transferring their administrative cloud systems and financial trading servers. However, Roberto could not wait around until they had backed up the functions of the capital, secretly dispersed them to several regional cities, and otherwise made sure they would be fine even if Tokyo was reduced to a pile of rubble. They only had half a day. Those 12 hours would decide the history of the world. Academy City should make their move soon, quietly said the Roman pope, Pietro Yogdis. The question is whether they will bother distinguishing between Gremlin and our allied force. If they choose to kill everything that uses the phenomenon called magic which they cannot understand, the situation will fall into complete chaos. For one thing, it is hard to say we are completely trusted by Academy City. The French woman removed the coffee cup from her lips and spoke in almost a whisper. Academy City may think another magical group will try to attack them within the confusion caused by Gremlin. If so, they will begin an utterly meaningless multi-sided attack. They will increase the bloodshed that no one but Gremlin wants. B-but... This doubt and these constraints are all part of Gremlins attempt to buy time, right? We need to work to have as many people we can trust, even if only slightly, said the Russian Orthodox boy. However, no one voiced full agreement with him. There was no time to sow the seeds and wait for them to bud. President Roberto Katze scratched at his head and spoke. I hear that Academy City and the Anglican Church joined forces during World War Three. Do you have a hotline we could use? That was the Anglicans doing. The Royal Family was barely involved. ...But I doubt it would help. It seems they have been unable to contact Chairman Aleister since the war ended. Some have even questioned whether he is in the city at all. So even the Anglicans who are closest to them have no idea whats going on there, is that it? Even with this allied force, there were a lot of unknown factors concerning whether they could sink the Sargasso which functioned as Gremlins base. And on top of that, Academy City was a giant black box. They could not tell what would happen. How much damage would be done? Could they stop the crisis to the world even if some damage was done? All they knew was that the time limit until the completion of the lance grew ever closer. And as it did, the odds of the allied forces attack succeeding dropped. And once those odds reached zero, they would never again have a chance to fight back. Their decision could cause a great number of people to sink into pools of blood. Later historians might curse them and textbooks might call them truly foolish leaders. The power of what if bound the actions of every force with the power to oppose Gremlin. President, said Roseline quickly. Hearing that, Roberto Katze finally gave a small smile. What we must do hasnt changed. Lets take a vote. Are we using a democratic decision to distribute the responsibility? No. Only those who agree will go along with this. Any true fools who arent afraid of death will come with me. Part 5 Communications are still down and theres no message on the disaster message board. Kamijou thought as he ran down the exposed metal stairs of the partially-constructed building. Returning to Academy City was not an option. For one thing, Academy City was surrounded by thick walls. He had left by irregular means, so he would have to explain the irregular situation if he turned back. He doubted he could manage that without Lessar or Birdway. On top of that, Gremlin was sending a powerful force out from their base on Tokyo Bay. Kamijou did not know where Academy City would set up their defensive line, but the walls around the city would truly become the final line of defense. They might very well seal off all entrances into the city. (That means my objective has to be Sargasso!! I need to stop the production of the lance and defeat the source of all of this. I dont see any other way to ensure safety than to calm down this commotion!!) He would have to cut across almost the entire capital city, but he could not use the normal roads after descending from the building. The remains of the fallen crane had blocked off traffic, but both the road and sidewalk had become filled with waves of people in only a few minutes. It would be difficult to walk through there, much less use a bus or taxi. That left... (Where am I anyway? Im not too familiar with the area outside Academy City.) The partially-constructed building had no windows or outer walls. Outside that building of exposed floors and metal pillars, he saw a strange building that looked like rugby ball stood up on end. (The subway! Even if the trains are stopped and the station is filled with people, the tunnels should be almost abandoned!!) While standing perpendicular to the station buildings wall, Misaka Mikoto used both hands to hold Index who she had been supporting with only one arm. Here we go!! She altered the aim of her power to control magnetism in order to move from building to building. Index desperately held onto the calico cat so it did not fall and managed to shout out while being tossed about by their midair movement. Go where!? If I know that idiot, he wont give any thought to retreating or getting to safety. The city may have fallen into chaos, but heading to that base called Sargasso should be the best way to meet up with him again! We may be taking different routes, but we all have the same goal!! She jumped between the rooftops and walls of the high-rise buildings. The surface was as crowded as the starting point of a marathon wherever she looked, but the sky was surprisingly clear. However, that did not mean there were no risks. (How far is it to Tokyo Bay? Twenty kilometers? Thirty? I hope I dont run out of energy before I get there. In fact, this only really begins once we arrive, so it would be really bad if I was out of breath there.) Short Hair! Hey, Short Hair!! Damn you!! Is that any way to talk to someone who is currently in the process of saving your life!? Watch out! Somethings coming!! Mikoto saw motion before Index had even finished speaking. While holding Index in both hands, Mikoto landed perpendicularly on the side of a high-rise building. As soon as she did, she saw sparks floating down from over 100 meters up as if during a forest fire. When each spark struck the glass-covered wall, it produced a giant pillar of fire perpendicular to the wall to match Mikotos orientation. Those pillars of fire twisted and gained form. They produced countless human figures. This is a Norse mythology based spell. It uses the symbols of army, enemy, flame, and heat. ...Is this the Muspell? This might be a group of automatic attack spells set to feel artificial hatred for those who match certain conditions. Mikoto did not understand any of what Index was muttering under her breath. However, the physical threat was obvious enough. Below the feet of those flame figures standing perpendicular to the wall, the glass began to glow orange and melt like candy. The melting point of glass was approximately 1400 degrees, so these figures could easily kill a human by embracing them or even just breathing on them. Cheh, lightly spat out Mikoto. A hostile look filled her eyes. I guess the path to reach that idiot isnt going to be easy!! Theres something here, said Birdway. She, Lessar, and Kumokawa Maria had decided to use the rivers rather than the roads, railroad, or air. First, they had entered the sewers through a random manhole. If they followed that path, they would arrive at the drain that emptied into a river. From there, they could follow the bank until they arrived at the ocean. Ideally, they could steal a motorboat or something on the way, but they could always walk otherwise. But something happened while they were still in the sewers. Fluttering sparks flickered within the almost completely dark space. And yet there should have been no way for those sparks to blow in from a distance in that sealed location. As expected, they have a trap spell that automatically detects and attacks people who are not stalled. This monster is set up to appear when people exceed a certain speed. ...The businessmen and investors who tried to flee with helicopters and chartered planes might have been wiped out. Just as she spoke, a tremendous noise was followed by giant pillars of fire appearing to block their path through the sewer. They twisted oddly and gained form to produce human figures. The flame army of Norse mythology! The Muspell! They oppose the gods with the giant Surtr as their leader, right!? Birdway and Lessar seemed to understand, but Kumokawa Maria did not. All she could guess was that the close quarters combat she specialized in would not work on these collections of flames. What are you two talking about!? Im amazed someone so ignorant could survive Gremlins attack on Baggage City. Are you the kind of person that gets by on luck? Could you maybe pay attention to the enemies moving in as you chat? With the unnerving sound of the air being sucked in, the flame figures known as Muspell swelled up like round balloons. Wait, dont tell me... A certain unpleasant thought came to Kumokawa Maria, but she could see no way of countering it. Having this happen in a sealed sewer tunnel was very bad. And the enemy was not going to wait around. After taking in all of that air and heating it up to over 1400 degrees Celsius, they would blow it back out with tremendous force. It would be less of a hot blast of air and more like the orange spear that was stuck inside a furnace. Being struck by that would fry a human as much as sticking them in a steam oven. Breathing in just a bit would horribly burn the trachea and lungs. Ones hastily shut eyelids would melt and the eyeballs inside would boil. Almost anyone could easily imagine how difficult it would be to physically avoid a wind being blown at them. Even if one knew that wind would be fatal, there was nothing they could do. And this was a sewer tunnel. Kumokawa and the others would be hopelessly cornered like a bug in a bath pipe while the pipe was being cleaned. However... A blazing wind. ...Flames. Or is it primarily wind? Anyway, as long as you know the proper attribute, it is simple to deal with. Adding on some little tricks does not change its true essence!! At some point, a wand had appeared in Leivinia Birdways hand. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a sword. The color is yellow, the shape is a dagger. With the action of defense and the symbol of flow and change, one of the five great internal symbols of my temple shall be contained in my hand!! It twisted. It distorted. The massive blazing wind which should have filled the entire closed space began to spin around the dagger in Birdways hand. The compressed and pointed tornado this created looked like a giant sword. Birdway thrust the tornado sword raging about her hand into the sewer water flowing down the center of the tunnel. With a sound like water being thrown on a hot metal plate, the tornado vanished. Norse mythology is a mythology of mutual destruction. There are enemies prepared for each of the gods. ...And the same applies to the Muspell and their king, Surtr. Lessars voice was followed by a reverberating metallic noise. Kumokawa Maria did not know where she had been hiding it, but Lessar was holding a strange tool that looked like a mechanical arm created by adding multiple blades to the end of a long handle. Lessar began shouting something nonsensical while opening and closing the blade fingers of the hand. The king of the world of fire and the weather god Freyr both die after battling each other. The deer antler carried by Freyr could not be removed by the followers of the king! The masses who cannot match the king even as a group can only accept defeat!! Let the subjugation of the strict scales fill you with the order of my temple!! Lessar complexly folded up the blade fingers as if forming a special sign and then swung it to the side. In response, every last one of the flame figures was ripped apart regardless of distance. It looked like a powerful gust of wind blowing out the unreliable flames of a few candles. Before Kumokawa Marias eyes was the frightening scene of the reason of the world being twisted for an individuals convenience. However, she did not have time to be overwhelmed by that result. Dont cause a reaction between the sewer water and those explosive flames! Are you trying to create dioxin!? Either way, we cant stay here long. This wont be too bad if this is completely automated and we just get more of the same enemy, but I doubt it will be that easy. To put it simply, we should expect a more powerful enemy to come now that weve defeated these ones. The three of them ran toward the exit to the river. The other scattered members of their group were likely in the same or even more dangerous situations. At any rate, we need to head for Sargasso. We wont necessarily be able to use Kamijou Toumas right hand, but we have to do the most we can. If he alone reaches Sargasso, hell die before he is able to use that right hand of his. And if we do nothing, the world is scheduled to end in half a day. It would be most constructive to bet on the possibility of him arriving, no matter how unlikely it might be. However, none of them raised a voice of worry. They were all on their way to the same place, so they would meet up eventually. Part 6 There were plenty of sports gyms, fitness clubs, and athletic gyms in the city. Japans capital city was mocked for having rabbit cages for houses, so it needed other areas prepared for exercise. In one such facility which was centered on an indoor pool, Kamijou Shiina and Misaka Misuzu were watching the commotion. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. What is going on? Wow. The entire road outside is as crowded as a store during a major sale. Are they having a parade or something? I dont keep up with the international soccer games... A young instructor was yelling something into a megaphone near the entrance to the pool. It seemed they did not want anyone leaving the facility until the crowds died down. Misuzu pulled her waterproof cell phone from the chest of her swimsuit. The internet and email are frozen. Oh, even the phone will only connect to the disaster message board. Now we cannot know what is happening. Shiina had tried to watch a 1seg news broadcast, but the reception was too poor to display the program properly. She did not understand it well enough to know that the many irregular signals being sent out were creating too great a burden. Shiina elegantly tilted her head while wearing her wet swimsuit. What should we do? I live alone, so Ill be fine even if I have to stay here. What about you? I should be fine. As she spoke, Shiina held her cell phone in one hand and began pressing buttons one at a time with her other hand. Shockingly, she was operating it entirely with her index finger. Misuzu asked a casual question. Who are you calling? I dont think you can get through to anyone. Yes, but I thought I would leave a message saying I am fine on the message board. I see. I guess it would be best to leave a message. While chatting, the two housewives attempted to use the unfamiliar message service. Even as various boys and girls fought Gremlin with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, these two were as carefree as ever. Part 7 Unlike the ground which was paved with asphalt roads, people often held an image of freedom and wide open space when it came to the sea and sky. However, reality was different. As the terms like sea route and airway suggest, the sea and sky had fixed routes as well. Focus was usually placed on the shortest distance in order to minimize fuel costs, but that was not always possible. There were power balances along national borders, weather conditions, and most importantly, the overwhelming number of ships and airplanes travelling every day. Those masses of steel filled the air like a mesh pattern and it had become normal for takeoffs and landings to occur every few minutes at international airports. In these conditions, one had to follow a set route guided by a precise control system to avoid having ships or airplanes collide with each other. In that case, it was not too difficult to seal off the routes of the sea and sky that seemed to stretch on forever. It only took one point. If one controlled a single important point on the invisible traffic network in the sea or sky, one could paralyze transportation across those vast territories. In other words, it was not much different from causing a giant traffic jam by blowing up a highway or railroad. A formation of Russian air force bombers was flying through that constrained sky. The formation contained three subsonic bombers which could carry nuclear weapons and eight large fighters for protection. They were not accompanied by an aerial refueling aircraft. In order to protect the worlds most vast country, Russian-made aircraft were often developed for long-distance reconnaissance and could therefore fly for hours at a time. Those fighters even had a simple kitchen aboard. Is there any point in this? We dont have any bombs loaded. The world police told us to knock some sense into Japans indecisive head. As usual, those comrade bastards get to be the allies of justice while we in Russia have to play the rogue villain. Someday, I want to blow away Geneva and New York. Do you think this will make those Hinomaru Bentos act? Its about having a nice balance. If America did it, it would cause an international incident. The bomber formations mission was to send a threat to the Japanese government. They would be saying, The allied force is going to take action without your approval. In fact, we already have Shooting your fighters down over your cities would be a pain, so stay out of our way. It was mostly a bluff. And there was a reason why Russia had acted first. That reason was not simply because they were so close to Japan. Its amazing, really. Russian spy planes and bombers encroach on Japanese airspace so often that only the most important parts of the government are informed. Talk about getting your priorities backwards. I heard that, during the Cold War, a bomber loaded with a nuke flew right over Tokyo for some sightseeing and they still didnt panic. Theyve been trained like Pavlovs dog. They baselessly assume theyre safe no matter what we do. But then the Hinomaru Bentos wont act, will they? Were leaving a sign to show we arent just sightseeing. The door boys will be making their way here before long. Well shake their hand and without a rock paper scissors tournament. If we hit them with a targeting radar signal, theyll pale and report it. If Russia interfered in an argument between Japan and America, the situation would begin to move bit by bit until an avalanche built up and the allied force was making their way to Tokyo Bay. It would become a horrible problem later, but politicians excelled at having soldiers simply move their arms and legs rather than trying to use their insufficient brains. Occasionally, it was time for those politicians in charge of the brains to suffer. The tactical bombers had nothing major loaded inside, but that was impossible to tell from the outside. And if told to clean the toilet, a soldier would immediately grab a brush and cleaner. If told to perform in a play at a school arts festival, they would put on the animal costume. They would hum and chow down on some pirozhki while not hesitating to trick someone into thinking the world was coming to an end. That was when it happened. There should have been no difficulty, but none of them had let their guard down. Yet someone suddenly dropped down and grabbed on to the main wing of one of the bombers. Unlike passenger planes, bombers did not have plenty of windows along the side. As such, the crew of the bomber in question could not see what had caused the abnormality. The first report came over the radio. It came from the fighter flying quite nearby. What? Hey, what!? Theres something clinging to your wing... Youve gotta be kidding me. The altimeter and speedometer are working properly, so what is that!? What is it, newcomer. Frogs and fish are sometimes spotted 10,000 meters up. Tornadoes and the like send them up. At the very least, it isnt the doing of UFOs or aliens. Its a human. A human is clinging to your left main wing!! Shake him off. Shake him off of your wing! I dont know why, but this looks dangerous!! ...??? The bombers crew had no idea what that meant, but every other plane in the formation changed course as if twisting around. If they were left behind, there could easily be a collision within the formation. The pilot frantically moved the bomber to follow which naturally shook the main wing. No good. He wont fall off! What is he!? Newcomer, explain whats going on! Keeping this up will just leave us flying in circles!! His hand...is glowing. ...Hey. What is that? What is that!? Is it a bomb or welding blowtorch? Youre kidding... Is he trying to cut off the main wing!? A horrible chill ran down the pilots spine. And in the next moment, the giant bomber shook unnaturally. And... The boy known as J?rmungandr among his comrades jumped along the main wing of a Russian tactical bomber. He should have been blown away by the subsonic wind of the planes speed and even standing unprotected at 10,000 meters was not normal, but he landed a short distance away as easily as a child playing in a park. The vibration from before had not been the boys doing. It had been the interference of someone else trying to stop him. Oh? J?rmungandr laughed. He laughed as he saw the pillar of fire unnaturally spreading before his eyes. Technically, it was not just a pillar of fire. It was a three meter tall monster in the shape of a human. It was a type of spell known as Innocentius. In modern magical combat, it is easy enough for magicians to fly, but causing them to fall is just as easy. Thats why the standard theory is to not rise above ten meters, said J?rmungandr while ignoring the fact he had flown up there. He then used his index and middle finger to grab something that was flying through the air. It was a rune. That laminated card contained a character that held Norse power. By using no magic to send these up into the air, they cant be shot down with magic. Did you use the strange phenomenon you occasionally hear about where frogs and fish fall from the sky like rain? Did you blast a bundle of cards up in a tornado and only then activate the attack magic? A voice replied to J?rmungandr. The boy could not tell if there was some other type of card or if Innocentius was speaking. You may think it is reliable and not very interesting, but that is why it has no weaknesses. For one thing, that which stands before you has no concept of damage. Go right ahead and attack it and crush it as much as you want. I do not have time to deal with small fries. Ha ha ha. The boy could not hold back his laughter as he clung to the main wing. Did you think the attacks would only go one way because you arent here? Dont be so na?ve. I can find your true location from the site of the tornado. And... As he spoke, he raised his index finger. A sphere of purple-glowing light grew to the size of a ping pong ball on the tip of his finger. J?rmungandr is a giant serpent that wraps around the entire world. However, the legends do not have it crush its enemies with its giant body or swallow its enemies whole. J?rmungandrs greatest attack is the symbol of what allowed it to kill the lightning god while also being killed by him. He pointed that finger not at Innocentius before him but at the Sea of Japan far below. And he spoke. That is its immensely poisonous breath which can even kill the gods in heaven. Immediately afterwards, something purple and carrying lethality shot straight down toward the ocean like ultra high pressure water being used to cut sheets of steel. It was one against one. A battle between magicians began with no safe areas and with both their lives hanging in the balance. Part 8 The area was filled with such great confusion that there was nowhere to stand. But at the same time, it had happened too suddenly for most stores to close their shutters. Part of it came down to not wanting to take unneeded actions. By not doing anything differently than normal, they hoped to avert their gaze and not accept reality. A lot of the store clerks had likely decided to stay at the register because they were afraid to go outside. At a fishing pond in Ichigaya near a subway station, someone halfway between being a girl and a woman had a fishing line dangling down while sitting on an upside down beer case. She was fair skinned, her eyes were blue, and her hair was short and wavy. She looked just barely old enough to be in college, but she was wearing a maternity dress and her stomach stuck out as if in the last month of pregnancy. Yes, yes. The fishing pole was not getting a single bite. After all, the entire area was filled with people. Just a single step outside of the fishing pond area was a crowd of people like in a train during rush hour. In fact, it was so packed that it made one doubt if they could enter into that wave of people. Just as a commotion at a large stadium or concert would shake the ground, the tension had to be transferring into the water. Yes, yes... Well, I went ahead into Tokyo just as Thor asked. I suppose Thor and M?kkurkalfe will take root at Tokyo Bay. Hm, what about Bersi? Well, that doesnt matter. This is so boring. Dammit... I havent caught a single fish. I want a nice healthy one. And... The woman in the maternity dress showed no sign of caring about the commotion. There was something different about her when compared to the other fishers who were staring blankly into the distance to escape from the reality of the situation. It was not that she was slow to accept reality. Instead, she had already adapted to it. The improvised Neh?ggr I gave birth to is resting on top of the Tokyo Sky Tower after circling around the city. Yes, and the Muspell are reacting here and there. Everything is going as planned. Ha ha ha. I knew it would. When we drive most of the people into a standstill by distributing what people stand to gain, a few irregulars are bound to appear. ...But that just means we have to crush them one by one before they can gather. The woman spoke disinterestedly while pressing something against her ear. Even if they did not know what she was saying, the people around her began to pay attention to this action. The great confusion in the city had left normal cell phones unusable. When no one could check on the safety of their family, friends, lovers, and others close to them, a communication device was as valuable as a jewel. It seems the Muspell are being destroyed, so I need to prepare something nastier before long. I guess I cant just sit around here any longer. Hey... That woman with short wavy hair had a large protruding pregnant belly that did not match her young age. Some people felt they could not act violently toward her once they saw it. Some people felt they would have an easy time attacking her once they saw it. Wait a second. Thats a cell phone, right? Hey, could I borrow it. Please let me borrow it! Just a minute! I just need it for a minute!! A man called out to her from the side. By the time the woman realized that, the man had already grabbed the slender hand she was holding to her head. But she paid him no heed. She merely glanced over and muttered something under her breath. In the next instant, something leapt from the fishing pond, took the mans body into its mouth, and instantly dragged him into the water. Everyone there had to have seen what it was. However, none of them would have been able to explain it. None of them would have been able to draw a picture of it. All that remained in their minds was terror. It held such overwhelming dignity that they felt their minds would burst if they did not turn their focus elsewhere. Okay. With that, Ill head out to the place where the most Muspell have been defeated. No one was able to do anything. No one restrained the woman in the maternity dress and no one rescued the man who had sunk into the water. The woman merely leisurely held the fishing pole. The pole suddenly bent like a bow. However, this was no ordinary bite. She had clearly not caught a fish. But it was not the unidentified monster from before. The sound of something splashing against the waters surface could be heard. The barbed fishing hook had stabbed into some part of the man from befores body. The woman in the maternity dress stood up from her seat made of an upside down beer case and casually tossed the pole to the closest fisher. She yawned a bit and walked toward the exit without showing any concern for her large belly. She walked toward that crowd that looked like something a woman as pregnant as her would want to avoid at all costs. Lastly, what the woman held was not a cell phone. It was a wooden charm. It was a communication spiritual item that had a few runes burned into it. So wait for me, formidable enemy. The fertility goddess Freyja will be your opponent Part 9 The only way to the nearest subway station was to force his way through the crowds. After leaving the partially-constructed building, Kamijou moved along with the flow of people and desperately made his way forward, bit by bit, even as the great crowd tossed him about. Once he arrived at the entrance to a subway station labeled Imperial Capital Metro Marunouchi Line, he opened an emergency disaster prevention door instead of using the normal stairway down. Bhah!! Finally freed from the waves of people, Kamijou placed a hand on the wall and let out a large breath. He felt so hot he almost forgot it was November and an unpleasant sweat covered his entire body. (How am I supposed to reach the platform from here? At any rate, I need to get back to the normal areas of the station.) He began to run. Unnatural sparks floated about in the air. They produced pillars of fire and several flame figures appeared, but Kamijou did not stop running. He did not know what made them appear or how they attacked, but Imagine Breaker in his right hand could negate any supernatural power. As such, the best option here was to not give it much thought and simply blow them away before they could attack. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Flames and explosions were symbols that would bring fear to anyone, but Kamijou shouted as loud as he could and forcibly suppressed those instinctual feelings. He held back his heart that wanted to put on the brakes and he ran toward that oddity as quickly as he could. He approached, swung his fist up, and defeated them before he could even determine what they were. Fortunately, they did not seem to have the same extreme regenerative ability as Innocentius. He blew away that wall of flames and continued running. (Is something calling these things in? Is it random or are they targeting me? Are they locating me somehow? How does it work?) A few theories appeared in Kamijous mind, but his knowledge was no match for Indexs or Birdways. He merely had guesses floating around in his head with no proof or foundation. There we go. At the end of the long passageway was a stainless steel door that opened toward the corridor. If it had opened the other way, it most likely would not have opened. That was how many people there were on the other side. Uuh... What? Is this really the station platform? He felt a bit guilty over entering without buying a ticket, but this was not the time to worry about that. The platform was a little different from the roads above. It was packed with people from one end to the other. The people who had been waiting for a train that never seemed to arrive had collided with the people who had gone to the station as their last hope after the busses and taxis obviously were not going to work. If many more people entered, people would start falling from the platform. From the looks of things, it would take a while to even climb down into the tunnel. But just as Kamijou thought that, a mass of steel shot by with tremendous force and produced a great roar. It was a five-car train. It had no intention of stopping at this platform. It shot from the exit of one tunnel and into the other without slowing down. Even in this confusion, some people must have decided to complain to a station worker because angry shouts could be heard. (The subway is running? They obviously arent keeping the usual schedule, so maybe the police or the government are using them. At any rate, this means walking through the tunnels wont be safe.) However, that presented a new possibility. Kamijou did not know how often the trains ran through the tunnels, but if he could jump onto the roof of one... (The tunnel. Is there no way to get up above the tunnel? Is there a ventilation duct maybe? I need something to drop down onto a train from above the platform.) The ventilation ducts in subway stations connected directly to the surface and merely allowed one to feel the flow of air when a train passed through. It was most easily described by the image of the worlds most famous Hollywood actress having her skirt blown up. Of course, the surface was too crowded to remove the cover there and climb in. However, the ducts themselves were made quite large to allow in a lot of air and prevent a lack of oxygen yet were focused on the one exit point on the surface. In that case... (It doesnt matter where. I just need some way into the duct so I can travel directly above the platform.) He returned to the evacuation corridor. He glanced around in search of a duct and spotted a notice he had not seen on his way there. It described the route to avoid smoke, so it gave the area and height of the station and tunnels with actual numbers. (The way the tunnel gets quite low at some points scares me, but this is no time to be complaining. I need to drop onto the roof and stay crouched down.) He looked up and spotted the cover for a duct on the low ceiling. He grabbed it with both hands and it easily came off. He stretched out both hands, grabbed the edge, and forcibly climbed up as if performing a pull-up. Dammit!! Its all sticky in here!! There were shops and restaurants inside the station, so steam and smoke would often flow through the duct. The slight particles inside had collected over long periods of time. Kamijou had to crawl through it all, so he could only pray it had not become the home of flies and roaches. It was mostly a straight path, but it had a few right angle turns. He had the feeling he was taking a long way around, but he could not back up now. He was forced to follow that winding path toward the area above the platform. In truth, he travelled maybe fifty meters. As he began rubbing at his eyes, Kamijou finally arrived at his destination. He may have cleaned the duct somewhat with his school uniform. None of the sparks or flame figures from before appeared. He began to wonder if it was due to moving below a certain speed or due to being in such a cramped space. He removed the duct cover and could tell he was directly above the track running alongside the platform. He was only a few meters up, but he felt a different kind of chill than when he was hanging from the crane on that building. He could actually imagine this height in his head and he also had to fear falling down, spraining his ankle, and being hit by a train. When the previous train had passed by, there had been no announcement. He needed a different sign to judge the timing. (When a train arrives at a subway station, it brings a gust of wind because it pushes the air. I have to use that as a sign.) This was not a definite answer. If he was wrong and messed up his timing, he could fall down in front of the train. In fact, he was not sure he would be fine even if he did land perfectly on the roof of the train. He had no choice but to entrust his life in something he knew almost nothing about. The overwhelming pressure of that fact made him want to roll over and give up right then and there. He had no safer plan and the situation would only grow worse as he tried to search for one. He heard a low rumbling. His throat grew dry. He waited one, two, three seconds. And then it came in an instant. Something filled his vision. A clunking roar struck his ears a moment later. He was too late. And by the time he realized that, the five-car train had already disappeared into the other tunnel. If he had dropped down that time, his body would have slammed into the track. An unpleasant sweat spread across his entire back. He could tell his breathing was gradually growing erratic. ... (I know the timing now. To a certain extent. It comes five seconds after hearing the wind. After five seconds, the train passes by. If I throw myself down with that timing, I should land on the trains roof.) Fortunately, there was not a long gap between trains. After a few minutes, the next train came. He waited. And this time... Just as the train arrived, Kamijou Touma forcefully jumped down from the duct. A metallic thud exploded out. Kamijou had safely fallen on the roof, but a tremendous force caused his body to spin like a top the instant his body touched it. Finally, his hip struck a protrusion similar to an external air conditioner. He cried out as intense pain ran up his spine and he reached out to grab onto the protrusions of the trains roof in a desperate attempt to not slide off. The five-car train instantly entered the tunnel. Gh... Pant pant!! He caught his breath and somehow put up with the pain as he lay on his back. (I-Im finally making my way to Tokyo Bay. If this train turns out to be headed the other way, Im going to get seriously depressed.) The distance to the ceiling was shorter than he had expected, but it was not so short that he had to lie down in order to not touch it. In fact, the height changed frequently. In the higher areas, the walls and ceiling were often covered in construction sheets. (In the areas where old infrastructure is being repaired, are they raising the ceilings to give smoke somewhere to go during fires? But an amateur like me has no way of knowing how far the tunnel repairs will last. It may be safer to remain lying down for a while.) Kamijou actually had no idea where the train was headed, but it at least seemed to be moving east which was toward Tokyo Bay. As he thought that, Kamijous vision was suddenly filled with bright whiteness. !? His eyes had grown so used to the dark tunnel that this sudden shock caused physical pain. It took him a bit to realize the train had merely left the tunnel and appeared aboveground. And... He heard a loud thunk. He desperately blinked his dazzled eyes and tried to look in front of him. Someone seemed to be standing there. It looked like a woman just barely old enough to be in college. However, something was odd. Kamijou could not figure out what it was at first, but he finally caught on. It was her stomach. She wore a loose maternity dress and her stomach swelled out like a woman in the final month of pregnancy. Nheh heh I decided to check on the target with the highest Muspell kill count, and it looks like I have to fight after all. Well, I intentionally left this one track intact in order to draw in all the most formidable enemies. Who are you? Freyja. Is telling you Im a Norse goddess enough for you to catch on? Just because were on a train is no reason to worry about the pregnant woman. There are no priority seats on the roof and it doesnt look like youre in any condition to do anything anyway. Norse mythology. That could be called the foundation of Gremlin. The train shot back into another tunnel. The magician going by the name Freyja continued speaking while her eyes sparkled in the slight light of the fluorescent lights. You should be honored. I have decided you are currently the biggest threat to Gremlin and thus must be defeated first In the next moment, something burst from behind her that further overwhelmed the darkness. Between the Lines 3 It resembled a flower. Dark Matter that resembled a carpet or flower petals spread out in the eight directions around a beautiful white girl. All of it, including the girl standing in the center, was a single system. Gungnir could not be completely constructed even with the use of every kind of magic. This was the result of reaching into the realm of science to forcibly fill that technical gap. At its essence, it was a simple device. It had a human form but no mind. It could not really be called a living being. There was no fire in the furnace. As soon as their objective was achieved, this hollow doll would be destroyed and disappear. My role is complete, said a gloomy man. He went by two names: Bersi and Kihara Kagun. He had just finished stabbing the final of countless cables into the eight giant flower petals stretching from the girls feet. This holistic esper and everything else are Marian Slingeneyers territory. I see nothing more I must do. Give me my next instruction. The girl named Othinus did not even turn her one uncovered eye toward Kihara Kagun. Head out to intercept our enemies. Destroy everything you need to destroy and buy us time. That is all. Understood. The fact that Gremlins base was located on Tokyo Bay was already known around the world. That was not a problem for them. They did not intend to hole up inside Sargasso forever. It was only meant to let them complete the lance. Once Othinus had the lance, she could destroy everything in the next moment, so it was no problem at all. Once that moment came, it would all be over. Kihara Kagun walked across the countless remnants of ships that made up Sargasso. His pace had the uniformity of the second hand on a clock as he walked to one end. A few usable motorboats were located there. He climbed aboard one and travelled out into the ocean. The mountain-like M?kkurkalfe formed a shadow behind the white steam covering the ocean. Kihara Kagun travelled toward the Tokyo coast. He rode the boat up to the concrete coast at the harbor. Several dozen to several hundred figures were visible there. They were police officers, riot police, and JSDF. They all belonged to different organizations and groups, but they all seemed to be those who preserved the peace of the country. To ensure their enemies did not gather into a single large group, Gremlin distributed what everyone stood to gain so everyone would naturally get in each others way. For that reason, no unified force had come against Gremlin and everyone had stayed put despite knowing what a crisis lay before their eyes. In other words, the situation was engineered so no order could be given to attack Gremlin. However, it seemed a group of volunteers had gathered together without waiting for official orders. Special vehicles were visible here and there. That situation alone would normally have been a large enough incident to show up on tabloids. Sargasso was visible even from that distance. Or more accurately, the giant shadow of M?kkurkalfe was visible as it slowly circled around Sargasso. Kihara Kagun felt nothing even as he watched that group attempt to motivate each other. His entire body had ceased to function, including the portion that controlled emotions. In life, he had had a single objective and he had already perfectly carried out that revenge. He had built up a great amount of magic for that objective. And that empty shell which had lost all ideals and belief now unhesitatingly charged toward that group while armed with that powerful magic. Notes 1. Means Like a Dragon. Ryuu ga Gotoku, also meaning Like a Dragon, is the Japanese title of the Yakuza series of video games. Volume 8, 4: Disaster in the Depths of Fertility. Goddess_of_Fertility. Volume 8, Chapter 4: Disaster in the Depths of Fertility. Goddess_of_Fertility. Part 1 The unrest and tension had spread even to Kanzaki Kaori, Vasilisa, and Sasha Kreutzev, the skilled magicians acting as bodyguards beyond the thick glass. Did you read what they were saying inside? More or less. Vasilisa gave a simple shrug and a thin smile as she watched the movements of their lips. It looks like things have gotten a bit crazy. Their base is right in front of Academy City in Tokyo Bay. This makes me feel like being here as a bodyguard was part of Gremlins manipulation as well. Some powerful people had to be sent to protect the VIPs, so they could remove us from the front lines by having an unofficial international conference held. We still dont know anything and youre already worrying about everything and doubting everyone? You Anglicans are surprisingly weak to information warfare. Thinking about all that wont help. What matters in an emergency is to do everything as you always would. Its better than panicking and falling into confusion. Having said that, Vasilisa pulled something from her hair. It was a small charm made of parchment. Okay, did you hear that, everyone? Crush every member of Gremlin hiding in Russia. That should allow the normal military to head to Japan. Protect our precious citizens. You can handle this if we keep things simple, right? Are you sending out soldiers while ignoring the chain of command!? Kanzakis eyes opened wide in shock. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church was doing everything he could to control the situation beyond the glass. For better or for worse, not many people would be willing to act without his permission while in front of him like that. But Vasilisa showed no concern. His biggest selling point is his purity. I dont have to tell him about all the dirty jobs behind the scenes. Sasha, who wore binding clothes all over her body, lightly stroked the crowbar at her waist. You do have to. A question: do you really think I, a fellow member of the Russian Orthodox Church, will overlook a traitor? Yes, yes. And my answer is the same as always: the results will prove who is-...gbh!? Vasilisa was cut off because Sasha unhesitatingly gave the crowbar a full swing toward her head. With a tremendous noise, Vasilisas upper body bent sideways at a right angle at about the waist. However, she recovered like a metronome and she never stopped smiling. Even afterwards, Vasilisa continued smiling as if nothing had happened. Anyway, everyone go all out to crush Gremlins diversion team! Teach them that were the only magicians allowed to use the name of a fairy!! You perverts, muttered Kanzaki. A question: could you at least refer to me as a monster instead? protested Sasha. Part 2 Kamijou Touma lay on the top of the trains roof as it rushed through the subway tunnel. He slowly stood up as the car unsteadily shook back and forth. The train was made up of five different cars. It was not even 100 meters long. As Kamijou clenched his right fist, the woman named Freyja who wore a maternity dress took two or three slow steps backwards. However, a smile could be seen on her face thanks to the slight illumination from the fluorescent lights that seemed to flow in the opposite direction of the train. She was not running away. She was not being forced back. Most likely, that was the ideal distance for Freyja. She was preparing to attack. And once she had finished, the girl slowly swung her palm. Come forth, Brsingamen. Kamijou heard the sound of a hard object striking something. At some point, a glowing jewel had appeared between her fingers. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Svaeilfari. Something occurred immediately afterwards. As a single jewel shot into the air with a roar, what looked like red thread appeared and wrapped around it. That torrent of thread looked like a red tornado and it quickly compressed and tightened until it was solid. In the blink of an eye, it then twisted into the form of a giant red horse. It was a mass of kinetic energy made entirely out of powerful artificial muscles. With a glittering jewel on its forehead, the giant horse gave a tremendous neigh and charged toward Kamijou. Depending on the breed, even normal horses could weigh 400-500 kilograms. This horse was two or three sizes larger than that and it showed no concern over its head scraping against the tunnel ceiling that shot by at such high speed. If that thing struck a flesh-and-blood human, the human could easily be smashed to pieces. However, Kamijou Toumas right hand held a power called Imagine Breaker. The strength of his opponent did not matter. All that mattered was that his opponent was supported by the supernatural power known as magic. He could then smash them to pieces with a single fist no matter who or what they were. Ohhhhhhh!! Kamijou stepped forward while desperately suppressing the desire to surrender to this giant horse that was even destroying the fluorescent lights on the tunnel roof as it advanced. He slammed his fist against the chest of the horse that looked more frightening than the bumper of a large truck. The aggregation of tightened red thread burst like a balloon and disappeared into thin air. Kamijous weapon was his fist, so he had to approach Freyja who was backing away. However... Cost 1. White. Call / / Muninn. Cost 1. White. Call / / Huginn. In the time it took Kamijou to destroy the giant horse, Freyja had already thrown two new jewels into the air. Red thread appeared from somewhere and wrapped around them. They transformed into two giant birds that charged at Kamijou from the right and left. (Not good!!) Kamijou had already grasped the overall situation. But even so, he could not find an effective way out of it. Freyja could produce monsters faster than Kamijou could destroy them. In the time it took him to defeat one, she would produce two. In the time it took him to smash two, she would bring forth four. In the time it took him to destroy four, she would create thirteen. Her mass production would continue on and on. Freyja only needed to use the slight time she built up to repeat the same simple task over and over again. It was similar to the summoners in RPGs, but Freyja had no more attachment to the monsters she used than to a projectile in a barrage. Being on top of a train also helped her because Kamijou could not work his way around the monsters. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Ratatoskr. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Hrungnir. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Hymir. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Svaeilfari. (My right hand isnt enough. Im going to be pushed back by this barrage!) Three large, dark red men stood before him. Another giant horse stood with them. And a mass of muscles that looked like a squirrel chased after the others, causing them to charge in a frenzy toward Kamijou. It was not much different from having the quickly-rotating blades of a lawnmower or shield machine approaching him. They mowed down and cut down everything in their path as they advanced. If Kamijou did not stop them, he would be smashed to pieces. If he did stop them, twice as many monsters would rush at him. Freyjas incantations would continue as long as it took to exceed Kamijous ability to handle them. It would continue until the overwhelming violence produced by those masses of muscle crushed that boys skeleton. The sound of something soft being squished reverberated loudly throughout the tunnel. As it did, the fertility goddess Freyja let out a whistle. She bent over and laughed while showing no concern for the large stomach pushing out her maternity dress. Ah ha ha!! Amazing. Simply amazing. I never thought you would crush my surefire method like that! ...! Kamijous choice had been simple in concept. He did not have time to crush each individual monster with Imagine Breaker, so he had given up on defeating all of them. He had first stomped his foot down on the small squirrel-like animal driving the other monsters into a frenzy. He then drove his right fist into one of the large men approaching, causing him to burst apart. The other large men and the large horse had been packed in closely as they rushed forward, so they recoiled from the impact of the man exploding. During that time, Kamijou had slammed his full body weight into one of them with his shoulder. Normally, that giant body would not have budged, but it toppled because it was already off balance. The rest fell like dominos. The monsters fell from the quickly moving train and struck the ground rushing by down below. That impact may not have been enough to destroy them, but it did not matter as long as they could not catch up. Kamijou ran down the path created between him and Freyja. Freyja responded by throwing a jewel. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr...Uh, oh. The pregnant woman with short, wavy hair bent her back and crouched down. Kamijou frowned slightly at that action that put pressure on her large belly, but then... Wah!? The large man given birth to by Freyja collapsed as if his head had been struck by a hammer. Seeing that, Kamijou finally caught on. (The tunnel ceiling just got a lot lower!!) He crouched down as quickly as he could. The top half of the large mans head had been crushed, he lost his balance, and he fell off the train and onto the ground. Freyja giggled while still bent over. Despite the darkness, she somehow had an accurate grasp of how high up the ceiling was. She straightened her back once more and scattered a large number of jewels. (I wont let her recover here!!) Kamijou sprang up from his crouching position and ran forward. Meanwhile, Freyja repeated the same incantation. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. She sent forth a barrage that seemed to nullify all of Kamijous efforts thus far. Multiple large men appeared. However, the variation from before was gone. That may have shown she did not have the leeway for creativity now that Kamijou had approached. And when the exact same type of monster charged down a limited route with the exact same movement pattern, Kamijou had a much easier time dealing with them. They did not fly around like birds and ignore the footing. They did not crawl along the walls of the train like snakes and circle around behind him. If they all charged at him at once, he would have an easier time of causing another domino effect. And if he could break through that wall... I can reach her. Kamijou tightly clenched his right first. He charged toward the large men himself. I will reach you, Freyja!! However, Freyja grinned in her maternity dress and flicked a single jewel up with her thumb. She gave the incantation. Cost 1. White. Call / / Hildisvni. As she spoke, dark red thread produced a boar behind the men and closer to Freyja. Kamijou was cautious, but it was smaller than the men. And more importantly, the men filled up so much of the limited space on the train that the boar would not be able to move properly. Once he began the domino effect, the boar would be struck by the other monsters before it could reach him. If it fell to the ground, that was the end of it. But even if it remained on the roof, he could destroy it with Imagine Breaker while it could not move. Either way, it would not be much of an obstacle. Or so he thought. It turned out he was wrong. Freyja pointed her index finger forwards and made an announcement. Eat them!! Kamijou heard an unpleasant sound similar to something wet bursting. The boar at the back mercilessly bit into one of the large men that had his back turned to it. A crunching chewing sound followed. The aggregation of dark red thread wrapped around the boar and the boar even took in the jewel. The boars silhouette grew by one size. Cost 2. White. Shift / / Hildisvni. (Not good.) Kamijou could instinctually tell this was bad. He could not let that boar continue to eat those men. He had a feeling the situation would change in some definitive way if it got any larger. He had to eliminate the boars food before that happened! Cost 3. White. Shift / / Hildisvni! Cost 4. White. Shift / / Hildisvni!! Cost 5. White. Shift / / Hildisvni!!!!!! But he was too late. He had miscalculated. Each time the boar known as Hildisvni grew, its mouth and stomach grew, so the time needed to swallow one of the men lowered. By the time Kamijou tried to defeat one of the giants, all of the food was already within the boars stomach. Norse mythology is a mythology of mutual destruction. It was set up from the beginning so over 99% of the gods and their enemies would die while fighting each other. By constructing a spell that accentuates that fact, I can create an attack that allows good and evil, white and black to devour each other! And... The boar had grown so large that it almost crushed the train car below it. It seemed to fill the entire half circle space of the tunnel. Its body was constantly scraping against the walls rushing by at high speed, but it did not seem to be taking damage. In fact, the tunnel was noticeably being destroyed. Kamijou naturally thrust his right hand forward. (The number of enemies has decreased. This is my chance! If I can defeat any monster in a single strike, the strength of that monster doesnt matter. I just have to blow away this boar with my right hand and charge for Freyja!!) Ah ha ha!! laughed Freyja. Not even the top of her hair was visible from behind the giant boar. Are you forcibly trying to motivate yourself? That isnt gonna work. After all, this is the child I, fertility goddess Freyja, have given birth to. Now that its grown up to Cost 5, your mental state isnt going to change anything. Child...? muttered Kamijou as he felt a great tension from that special phrasing. One big reason behind his question came from his desire to look away from the very real danger before him. But Freyja continued speaking. Yes. I am not calling these children in from some other place. I am creating them myself. I guide my magic power through the womb to give it a specific directionality of germination, I pour that magic power into a Brsingamen jewel, and I create a completely different design using that jewel as the core Kamijou then heard a sound similar to rustling silk. Freyja may have been rubbing at her stomach. Kamijou may have been able to guess that, but the words she spoke next exceeded anything he had imagined. But I suppose this child is the same. Ah ha ha! My own magical sense is hopelessly lacking. I had no choice but to borrow this childs brain and body to use magic. Damn you... After being trapped in here for two full years, not even I really know whats going on in here. Ah ha ha. Im not sure how to say it. Maybe its like when a leftover has been sitting in the back of fridge for a looooong time and youre afraid to check on it. What do you think a human life is!? Or maybe its just that thinking about it wouldnt do any good. Just as she said that, the giant boar that filled the entire empty space of the tunnel attacked like an approaching wall. Ah... No matter how powerful the opponent, Kamijou had assumed he could manage as long as he could slam Imagine Breaker into it before it could attack. In fact, the larger the target, the easier it was to hit. This could even be called a chance to make a comeback. Even as he forced himself to think positively like that, he tried to stop his trembling body. He had been completely wrong. As the boar charged, Kamijous feet floated up from the trains roof and he was blown backwards. When a subway train arrived at the platform, an odd gust of wind blew through the station. The large mass of the train passing through that sealed space pushed the air like a piston. The giant boar named Hildisvni did the same. It had grown so large it filled the entire upper portion of the tunnel and scraped against the concrete tunnel walls. What would happen if that giant form charged straight forward with tremendous speed? Naturally, a mass of air with nowhere to escape would be sent straight into Kamijou. (Youre kidding... That can happen even on top of a running train!? Does that boar have some strange ability to draw in the air around it!?) Gh...!? He subconsciously flailed his arms and legs around, but it had little effect in midair. In midair with no footing, he could not even change the orientation of his body. And... Hildisvni continued charging toward Kamijou at an even greater speed than he flew backwards. If he continued to be pushed by that explosive gust of wind, he would be knocked off the back of the train. If the giant boar touched him, he would be changed into a pile of flesh more gruesome than if he was hit by a train. (Is there...) Kamijous throat grew dry as that giant form approached. Even as alarm bells rang in his head like sparks from a short, he tried to think up some way out of this. (Is there no way to overcome this!?) Part 3 Ugh... In London at night, a muscular man with a messy beard groaned at a bar on the outskirts of the city. He was Misaka Tabigake. He was Misaka Misuzus husband and Misaka Mikotos father. He sat at a table on one end of the dimly-lit bar, opened the kind of unrefined laptop used at public construction sites, and called someone using a satellite phone. A number of windows were open on the computer, but they all said transactions suspended in various languages. Hey, hey. I finally get started with that undersea water pipe project connecting the southern tip of Spain to north Africa and everywhere has suspended transactions! How am I supposed to bid for construction contractors now? Whats going on!? Preparations for war, president. Iron, copper, rare earths, and jewels. Instead of making proper deals, the influential people have decided to get rich selling everything valuable until the world passes the boiling point. All the contact points have been closed up and they wont open again until this crazed excitement is over. Do you have any idea what the self-sufficiency rate for food is!? If both sides stop trading, everyone will dry up before that get rich quick scheme pays off!! Dont look at me. Honestly, I want to get out of Africa. Its only thirty kilometers to Europe. You should be grateful Im making an effort to stay put. Despite what the person on the other end of the phone said, he did not seem all that troubled. That showed just how much experience he had in that continent of hot sand. More importantly, Misaka-san, should you really be in London right now? I hear Tokyo, Japan has become a battlefield. What kind of father doesnt rush off to save his family? I tried every method I could think of. All the airlines have shut down and I cant use my connection with the RAF. My calls and emails arent getting through. I went back to working on this job because nothing worked. It scares me how you mentioned the air force so casually there. I tried getting a civilian space trip, too. You know, one of those things that gets you in space after only thirty seconds of ballistic flight. But that didnt pan out either. Everyone is in a complete panic over this imaginary war. No matter how much I say Ill pay with my black card in hand, they say they dont want to send anything into the air during these unstable circumstances. ...Damn. Maybe I should buy a Soviet warplane from the European mafia. My personal funds should be enough for an unarmed long-distance reconnaissance plane. I get it, I get it. You care for your family to a reckless degree! If I wasnt holding your reins, youd probably split the planet in half. I get it, so lets focus on our work. Tabigake brought a hand to his forehead when he heard the voice coming from the satellite phone. He took a long, slow breath and consciously calmed his heart rate. Gwaaah!! I cant stand it! Im returning to Japan right this instant!! There has to be some way. I know! I could buy an old ballistic missile and climb inside as the payload!! You havent calmed down at all!! You wouldnt survive that even if you wore a spacesuit! Part 4 A single small boat floated under the sun in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean. The small boat seemed to be made of wood and might have appeared charming had it been floating in a pond at a park. But with only water visible in all 360 degrees, it gave the more sinister image of being stranded. A girl in a dress stood in the boat. The dress may have originally been as pure white as a wedding dress, but more than a third of it was stained red and black as if splattered in her enemies blood. And the same was true for the girl herself. Her skin had stiches running in every direction like a battered stuffed animal that had been repeatedly repaired. And when the skin had been grafted onto her, it appeared there had been little concern over the moisture. Some of her skin had the youthfulness of a young girls skin, some of it was as wrinkled as an old woman, and some of it was discolored a dark blue. This added to the cobbled together impression she gave off. Here they are, she said as lightly as someone who had spotted the person they were waiting for in front of a train station. The girl casually pulled out a small kitchen knife and threw it toward the ocean surface. The change only took a few seconds. The ocean water for over 100 kilometers around the small boat completely froze into a thick layer of ice. The girl in the bloody dress took an elegant step onto the ocean surface that looked like a lake during winter. The ice palace reassuringly welcomed the girl with a hard sound. The girl smoothly walked across the ice like she was being escorted by the hand of a well-mannered noble. Several military ships had their path blocked by the sudden appearance of the ice. It was as if a special chemical had been used to harden the oil in a wok with scraps of vegetables still inside. And the ice did not stop at the fleet on the ocean. The ocean was likely frozen all the way to nearby Saipan. Wars are not only fought by the super heroes wielding machineguns. If one crushes the supply ships and their routes, the super heroes supply of ammunition will dry up, muttered the girl in a dress with the lightheartedness of someone reading back their shopping list. The supply ships had several escort ships with them and were armed with autocannons themselves. Even if they did not understand the details of magic, they at least understood that the instant large-scale freezing of the ocean had occurred with that small boat in the center. A deep voice gave a warning in English using the speakers meant to communicate with pirates. Stay where you are! Immediately disarm yourself and put your hands up. If we determine you are a threat, we will fire!! You have plenty of weapons to drive off pirates, blow up cruise missiles, and shoot down planes, but you have nothing ideal for killing a delicate maiden, do you? I suppose I should commend you for hesitating to tear me to pieces. Her voice remained carefree. And she continued. The queen of Niflheimr can draw out a locations causes of death. Lights appeared. And not just around the girl in a dress. Small candle-like flames floated up over the entire 100 kilometer area of frozen ocean. They numbered in the hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands. The girl raised her index finger and scooped up one of the candle-like lights. She brought it to her lips. And she breathed something in. Analyzing the residual information of the death. Arnold Mackenzie, male, 24 at time of death. While taking a trip on a cruiser, an acquaintance aboard questioned him about a romantic relationship. It developed into a fight and he was stuffed head first into the oven in the kitchen space. He died of shock due to the intense pain of burns all over his body. ...Oh? I wonder if he had any relation to Freyja. She tilted her head and reached for the chest of her dress. She pulled out a shiny black revolver. The supply ship immediately reacted to this obvious weapon. She has a weapon! All crew on deck, stay on your guard!! Throw the gun away within five seconds or we will assume you are hostile and-...!! The voice suddenly stopped. A high-pitched sound similar to feedback came through the speaker and the girl stopped moving for a moment. Finally, a new female voice spoke over the speaker. We quieted down those men who dont know how this works. It was very childish of you to use such a large spell on people who know nothing of magic. How about we actually enjoy a fight between experts? Wait. Im not the type to enjoy fighting, said another female voice over the speaker. The girl in the bloody dress tilted her head so far one began to worry she would snap her neck. And she spoke. Who are you? I am Silvia and this is Brunhild Eiktobel. Simply put, were your enemies. Fine then. Without hesitating, the patched-together girl pulled the revolvers trigger. With a dry gunshot, a highly deadly 45 caliber bullet was fired, but it was no match for the mass of steel that was the ship. It would do nothing more than scatter a few orange sparks and make a sound similar to a pot being struck. That was all it should have done. That was the common knowledge of the world. And yet... With a great roar, the entire steel supply ship was enveloped in crimson flames. Nothing had been ignited. Even if all the fuel stockpiled aboard the supply ship had caught fire, the flames would not have spread so evenly. It would have instead exploded at a single point, breaking the ship in two. The unnatural flames had been caused by the girl in the bloody dress. I can draw out causes of death from the residual information of the dead, store them in existing weapons, and swap out the causes of death. I can strangle you with a sword, drown you with a train, crush you with a blowtorch, and burn you with a handgun. That is a suitable reason to bear the name of Hel, the queen of Niflheimr who rules over the dead. When the ship had been struck by Hels bullet, it had been heated all over as if it had been stuffed head first into an oven. Everyone aboard, be they expert or amateur, soldier or magician, would be roasted like turkeys. However... A sound like shattering glass exploded out. The flames enveloping the supply ship were suddenly blown away and the ship appeared unscathed from within. It was similar to peeling away sunburned skin. The supply ships exterior was actually a bit shinier than before. A womans voice came from the speaker as if nothing had happened. Sorry, but barriers are my specialty. If you want to kill the crew of this ship, youll have to take care of me first. I see, was the girl named Hels only response. She spread her arms to show off the candle-like flames scattered as far across the icy ground as the eye could see. Ten thousand fifty three causes of death have appeared here in all. As expected of a location deeply related to the worlds largest gun nation, many people have died here. ...I will use all of these to kill you. And if I kill you, I will use your cause of death somewhere. Hel, hm? said the other female voice. It was a bored-sounding voice. People once called me Hel. I never thought I would run across an idiot who proudly showed off the sinister name of that queen of the underworld. Now you have my interest. Not mine. Lets just get this over with. Part 5 Misaka Mikoto held Index who held the calico cat. While in that matryoshka doll-like situation, Academy Citys #3 Level 5 used magnetism to jump from wall to wall of the high-rise buildings. Orange sparks floated down from nowhere shortly after they passed through. A long, long line of those sparks trailed after them. At first, Mikoto had repelled each and every one of them, but she had quickly learned they could not move quickly enough to pursue her. If she jumped away in the time it took the sparks to transform into pillars of fire and then flame figures, they would lose sight of their target and disappear. Once she knew that, she saw no point in wasting her time shooting at them. She manipulated great magnetic power more quickly and precisely in order to jump from building to building. Either due to the magnetism, the speed, or the height, the cat fiercely struggled. This stabbed at Mikotos heart. Where are we anyway? Is this Sendagaya or Yotsuya? Damn, if only I could use my phones GPS. How am I supposed to know? Are you useful for anything!? Academy City was technically a part of Tokyo, but it was surrounded by large walls and one could not come and go freely. That was why Mikoto had a poor sense of the area. She was boldly travelling through the air based on the vague idea that she would reach Tokyo bay as long as she continued east. No matter where we go, the surface is covered in people. Is that idiot really trying to break through the center of all that? He could be crushed or... She trailed off. Multiple giant aircraft had flown by quite nearby while clustered together and seemingly competing with each other. A tremendous blast of air sent Mikotos body into a harsh spin despite her magnetic support. She concentrated entirely on the bottom of her left foot and focused on controlling her body. She finally fixed herself in position by pressing her foot against a sign sticking out from a wall. What...was that!? On one side was a next generation fighter from Academy City. It was clearly different from the fighters people usually thought of that were approximately twenty meters long. This huge fighter was easily seventy or eighty meters long. The maneuverability and turning that was needed for the swift movements of a fighter were all forced through with trajectory alterations carried out by the engine. In fact, it overwhelmed other fighters in those regards. This was the monster that had swept across the battlefields of Russia. Just that fighter which could achieve a top speed of 7000 kph would have been surprising enough. (Academy City has finally begun a rampage in the skies of Tokyo!?) However, a different shadow flew in the sky as well. It was less than thirty meters long, but it was not made of metal or composite materials. It looked like an eagle. It had no feathers. Its entire body was a mass of muscles formed from tightened wet red thread. It flapped its wings to travel at acute angles with supersonic speeds. When one side fired an air-to air missile filled with precision electronics, the other side would complexly move its giant wings to produce a spear-like gust of wind to knock the missile out of the air. It would sometimes use the wind to throw the explosive back at the pursuing fighter. Thats Hr?svelgr, said Index while she held the cat and Mikoto held her. That is the great eagle that devours the dead in Norse mythology. It is so large that flapping its wings creates all of the wind throughout the world. Gremlin took portions of that legend to create this. Mikoto did not understand what that meant, but the sight before her eyes was overwhelming. Multiple explosions occurred in midair. Two giant forms weaved through the gaps and repeatedly attacked each other and evaded. A spear-like gust of wind was fired and the giant fighter flipped over and just barely avoided it. The fighter then fired a missile but more like it was placing it in the air than aiming and firing. The surrounding explosive blasts and spear-like gusts of wind knocked the un-ignited missile around like a pinball. It flew through a complex trajectory before dropping down. And it fell directly in front of the giant eagle known as Hr?svelgr. The explosive blast was filled with a wet sound that had been absent previously. The mass of muscles had lost its head and... Its falling!! shouted Mikoto. Instead of a building-lined street overflowing with people, it fell toward a wide open space that was either a park or a sports field. Thick trees were snapped apart as easily as a bundle of pasta before putting it in the boiling water and a large cloud of dust rose into the air. The lack of screams led Mikoto to assume no one had been there. The massive flood of people was formed from the people stalled after losing any means of transportation. People were still not trying to evacuate, so they had not yet started to gather in the parks. Or at least, Mikoto hoped that was the case. Watching from where she was would change nothing and remaining still would allow the orange sparks to surround her. Mikoto thought as she once more travelled from building to building with magnetism. (Academy City and this Gremlin group are both seriously planning to fight here. But do they really understand what that means? If they set up a defensive line in such a densely populated area, who knows how many people will be dragged into this!?) The situation had developed in an even odder direction. As Birdway, Lessar, and Kumokawa Maria travelled through the sewer to reach the river, they were forced to walk through the sewer all the way from Shinjuku to the Takadanobaba area. After exiting into a river, they had stolen a small boat as planned. However, the river was only knee deep. They had obtained a dark rubber boat. Kumokawa Maria did not know enough to tell it was a JSDF military landing boat with an engine attached on the back. Youre going to return it with a message card later, right? I can have a certain president replace it for them. That should make a good memory for most anyone. The tiller attached to the engine at the back of the rubber boat was being operated by a 12-year-old blonde girl, but no one challenged them. It was obvious to everyone that this was not the time to worry about that. That bridge is about to collapse, commented Kumokawa Maria from the front of the boat as they passed under a small bridge covered in people. Lessars nose began to twitch from where she sat next to her. I sense an odd presence. You too? said Birdway without turning around. Academy City and Gremlin have finally collided. Everything was limited to the air before, but a few pieces of wreckage have crashed into Tokyo. The looks on the peoples faces have changed. Theyre changing from simple dissatisfaction to panic and fear. However, there was nothing those three girls could do. The phone and internet lines were overloaded and they had no way of speaking to all of the people at once. And even if they did, they could not think of anything to say which would calm them down in this situation. Dissatisfaction held much more energy than people thought it did. It was more difficult to understand than the more obvious emotions, but that meant it was difficult to defend against. It could cause a real change in peoples mental activity. When a leader controlled a single administration, he needed to detect the quantity and quality of the peoples dissatisfaction and establish a means of reducing it before it exceeded the tolerable limits. That showed just how important it was. And the quality of that dissatisfaction was changing. The stabbing sensation approaching from every direction was likely anger. Birdway gave a sneer and spoke. Those damn pacifists have turned their anger toward Academy City. Why? Gremlin is the one attacking. That dogfight just now only happened because Gremlin targeted a foolish passenger plane that didnt change its course during this emergency situation. Academy Citys supersonic fighters may look flashy, but all theyre doing is trying to intercept Gremlins attacks! They arent observing this so calmly. Lessar dragged over the cooler sitting in one corner of the military rubber boat. The normal people will know some strange creatures had been flying around until now, but they werent attacking. It was only once Academy City interfered that they started going on a rampage. And so Academy City is the villain? Thats no different than ignoring the hornets nest on the eaves of your house. This is part of their distribution of what people stand to gain, readily replied Birdway. Doing the right thing but having the majority mad at you is not fun on the political side of things. I doubt thats enough to break Academy City, but it should at least slightly dull the decision making ability of those on the scene. And Gremlins plan doesnt end here. Theyre trying to tangle up hundreds of threads to bind everyone from multiple directions. Understanding even a bit of the structure is enough to know how unpleasant this is. Part 6 A bubbling sound could be heard. Sargasso contained the remains of a luxury passenger ship. On the deck of the giant rusted ship was a giant rectangular pool. It was filled with a thick, transparent liquid. It seemed to be at quite a high temperature because the air bubbles of a boiling liquid floated up here and there. Perhaps due to the stickiness of the original liquid, it looked like a monsters gastric juices or a dark swamp with a corpse submerged in it. No one would have thought it had originally been pure gold. In the Norse areas, gold was both a symbol of wealth and the material used for the weapons of the gods. After Gremlin had concentrated all of their techniques into extracting the weapon material side of its meaning, the gold had already lost its chemical properties and meaning. People from the science side would have hesitated to even refer to it as gold. Three girls stood on the poolside: Magic God Othinus, Dvergr Marian Slingeneyer, and Mj?lnir who took the form of a drum. They were all central members of Gremlin who were focused on producing Gungnir which could control and stabilize the power of a magic god which was too powerful to use properly. However, they were not constantly and unendingly uttering incantations. So this is what its like once it begins, said the eyepatch-wearing girl. Igniting it is the hard part. This girl here did a good job of taking in and controlling the volcanic energy we acquired in Hawaii. We should only have to wait now. Marian traced her fingertips across the surface of the black drum and the girl who had been given that form shook happily. Most people would associate the name Mj?lnir with the weapon of the lightning god Thor. It had immense power, it would pursue and directly hit its target when thrown, and it would return to its owner like a boomerang. However, it was exceedingly heavy and could only be used by the chosen one. That was the standard image. But just as Thor was originally an almighty god in charge of the weather, terrain, and farming, the hammer that symbolized his power was a convenient tool that could be used for many different tasks. It could be viewed like a magic wand. Even after Thors abilities were limited to those of the lightning god, that hammer retained the vestiges of his power over farming. Thor could eat the goats he owned and they would return to normal with just a wave of the hammer. Mj?lnir was a spiritual item that could be used for anything. It was a joker that let one pass over a single hole in any experiment. Putting it that way showed just how rare an existence that drum girl was. She was so rare the entire magic side could easily fight a war over that single girl. Now that its started, we only have to watch the process. We only need to interfere if we decide a manual recovery is needed. Are you saying I should go take a nap? At the very last, I will not let my guard down until it passes that stage. Ha ha. Othinus, Im surprised a magic god like you can still get nervous. This is not an issue with my abilities. This world is unskilled and untrustworthy. That stage. There was one obstacle they could not overcome even with a magical joker that let them fill in a single inadequacy. They knew the lance could never be completed with the existing techniques of the magic side. Mj?lnir could fill in any one magical symbol, but only within the field of magic. Mj?lnir could do nothing when any kind of magic was useless. To fill in that deficiency, they had stolen the power of the science side. Specifically, a holistic esper. The remnants of Academy Citys #2 had been forced to create a specimen in the form of a girl and Kihara Kagun had made some alterations to that specimen. They now had a truly unique disposable item. Othinus would occasionally use the Einherjar who sat on the line between living and dead, so she knew the truth of the matter. That specimen was not an object created from a living human. It was a human-shaped object that had been altered. It was a soulless existence. What we are doing is essentially a magical ceremony, said Othinus. But it cannot be completed solely with magic. In other words, the automatic work will stall somewhere. To accurately throw in the holistic esper and continue the ceremony with the proper timing, it needs to be switched over manually. I remember a toy where you had to rearrange the rails a train was travelling along so it wouldnt derail. I guess this is similar. A bubbling sound could be heard. Something was visible at the bottom of the pool. It was a cylinder as thick as a 500 yen coin and as long as a ballpoint pen. That was the bottom of a lance. How long is it supposed to be? 250. ...It will grow quickly once it begins. Part 7 Chehh... I can only access the disaster message board service. Well, its not like I could rush there even if I could contact them. A middle-aged man in a shabby suit and with a slight beard spoke in an exhausted voice. His name was Kamijou Touya. He was the father of a certain high school student. He was a foreign capital salaryman who was on trips to other countries year round. He was currently in America. Specifically, he was in a characteristic designers building in the center of Silicon Valley. However, his thoughts were completely focused on Japan. His wife Shiina lived in the 23 special wards of Tokyo. His son Touma lived in Academy City. The area they both lived in had fallen into complete panic. As a father, he could not help but be worried. From the simple sites he could browse on his phone, it seemed all of the airlines had shut down reservations for flights. It was not that all the flights were full. Instead, they were refusing to send out passenger planes when the safety of the air was not confirmed. Something was happening in Tokyo. No, that was only the tip of the iceberg. That was only the part that showed up the most. Touyas expertise in finances showed him the greater confusion lurking below the surface. Sorry about the wait. A voice as high pitched as a whistle filled the reception space. It belonged to a young girl. Touya frantically put his phone in his pocket and stood up from his seat. A blonde girl not even ten years old had entered. Her name was Lindy Blueshake. After the fall of the Data Queen of the United States, Olay Blueshake, this girl had inherited her kingdom. She was the new queen that controlled a large pillar supporting the value of the United States and its currency, the dollar, by controlling the worlds largest search engine and several other internet services. During the incident in Hawaii, rumors had spread of the corporations bankruptcy and dissolution, but it seemed the people had not wanted to see such a convenient service disappear. It was now back in business thanks to the support of several financial investment companies. For example, Kamijou Touyas parent company. Lindy trotted over to the table with a gait that made one think she should be wearing colorful rain boots. Um, I have looked over the paperwork. I just have to sign here, right? she asked. Well, yes. ...Excuse me, but did you read over it at least three times? I know it is odd to say this as the one making the proposal, but this kind of contract usually has some king of cruel wording hidden inside it. D-dont worry! I read over it with my lawyers and accountants! It seemed she was not giving much thought to the possibility of opposing factions or bought industrial spies within her own company. Touya suddenly wanted to explain the basic workings of the world to Lindy, but the large man standing behind her lightly cleared his throat. He was a tanned and muscular man with sunglasses completely hiding his eyes. The black suit did not suit him. In fact, it was the wrong size. It looked like it would rip in places if he started running. Touya guessed he was a native Hawaiian and the man spoke with a voice as deep as one would expect. There is no problem. We have a system for revealing corrupt personnel. Very well then. ...It is not our problem if your group begins to decline because of this. ???? Lindy looked puzzled and Touya exchanged a quick glance with the large man wearing sunglasses. He watched that young hand sign the documents on top of the reception space table. As Lindy moved her hand, she spoke. Does it bother you? What? Well, um... The situation in Tokyo. Touya gave a bitter smile at how readily she said that. Lindy continued her struggle against the many documents. Specialists like us can tell right away when communications are overloaded in an area. Ha ha. It looks like it is difficult to hide anything from you. But it is strange. Using the internet normally should not overload it to such an extreme. Unless everyone in Japan took simultaneous action to overload it, information should not be cut off so cleanly for a localized area. Are you saying someone or something is guiding this large flow of events? As Touya answered, a different piece of information passed through the back of his mind. The New York Stock Exchange, the London Stock Exchange, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Berlin Stock Exchange, and the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This information dealt with the flow of money and objects. (Iron, steel, car, and aircraft stock as well as the standard futures in oil and grains. Those hasty people are buying and selling everything like a war is starting. And all of the deals are ones that will pay off if the confusion grows.) Does it bother you? she asked again. Touya raised his head to find Lindy continuing to battle the paperwork. He could not tell how much she knew. The eyes of a child could sometimes see through the deception of adults with a special kind of instinct and logic. Touya viewed her comment as just as dangerous as womens intuition. There seem to be a fair number of people who would be happy if this commotion dragged on for a while. Um... If one gathers and analyzes search results, SNS posts, and message board posts, one can create a graph of the worlds trends. It gives a logical framework for what is known as big data. Anyway, it seems that arrow is pointed in quite a dangerous direction. (What an unpleasant age we live in.) Touya kept that thought from showing on his face. Instead, he spoke. In the financial world, there are plenty of people known as traders of death. However, it is more than just the specialists this time. We are catching glimpses of innocent young man and housewife day traders who want this confusion to continue. It appears that some hints have been left to ensure those people voluntarily think that way. Do you not know who exactly left those hints? Big data does not collect information that would allow us to specify individuals. Once we do that, it becomes a spying and eavesdropping system. ...That is what my mother did. If someone was making posts online to foster this confusion, could their location be used to search out the source behind all of it? (No...) Touya rejected his own idea. (The true agitator will have manipulated complete strangers to make those posts. The true villain does not commit evil deeds where anyone can see them. I doubt they would remain in the kind of location anyone would think to check.) By the way, said Lindy as her fountain pen raced along the final document. If we use the packet pattern file structure of the Japan-America hotline connecting the White House to the prime ministers residence, we should be able to break through the overloaded line network with a top priority VoIP connection. Want to try it? I wouldnt care if it got me arrested, but I cant have my wife charged on some national crime. Part 8 Repeated sounds of solid objects being destroyed rang out. Those were the sounds of the giant boar Hildisvni charging toward the back of the train while destroying the fluorescent lights and other objects on the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. The boar was only a temporary mass of flesh, so it did not possess the standard instincts of a living creature. It ran right off the back of the train and the crash of the track being crushed burst out. The maternity dress-wearing magician named Freyja gave a long sigh. Nothing remained on top of the trains roof and Hildisvni had not been destroyed by Imagine Breaker. After being thrown into the air, Kamijou Touma had either been crushed by the giant boar or thrown to the side and fallen to the ground. Either way, he was certainly dead. With her job done, Freyja reached into the pocket of her maternity dress and pulled out a communication spiritual item with several runes burned into it. Now then. Ive crushed my top priority, so now I can go to the location of the next greatest problem. Lets see, the Muspell destruction report list says... Just as she began carelessly muttering to herself, she heard an ominous creaking noise. ... At some point, a glowing jewel had appeared between her five fingers. She looked toward the source of the sound. It was quite nearby. It was on the edge of the trains roof. While looking to the front of the train, it was on the right. She saw what looked like fingers. No. They were fingers. There were five of them. Someone was holding onto the quickly-moving train with just the strength of their hand. She peered over at this person and realized who it was. It was Kamijou Touma. Well done. Freyja grinned and began to release the jewel in her fingers. But before she could, Kamijou used his free arm to swing around the coat of his school uniform by the sleeve. He had removed it in advance. The powerful wind caused the cloth to swell out and it covered Freyjas entire face. It robbed her of her vision. She lost her vision while peering down from the edge of the train. Part 9 There was one more. A young man named Fenrir walked through a dark snowy plain in Alaska. During the night in the Arctic, the air was cold enough to feel like a deadly weapon, but the young man showed no sign of caring. He was like a wolf walking through the snow. Is this the way to the secret NORAD base known for ballistic missile defense? Ultimately, the most effective means of stopping the allied force was to seal off their intelligence network. In the modern age, intelligence killed more people than bullets. It could be military satellites, the internet, or anything else. If all of those communication methods were cut off, the globe that seemed so small would quickly return to being a vast planet. The more countries and people involved, the more area that had to be understood. And the more area that had to be understood, the more serious the effects of losing coordination. While walking through a conifer forest covered in white snow, Fenrir came across a rope stretched out between the trees. The rope had an upside-down triangular cloth attached and that cloth had a skull mark in the center. It seemed the area ahead was a minefield, but Fenrir ignored the warning and continued on. After walking a little further, the forest suddenly ended and he could see a large space surrounded by a chain-link fence. It was a radar base with a large number of parabolic antennae inside. Does the weight of the snow not break the dishes? After uttering that surprised comment, Fenrir heard a noise from the surrounding trees. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Immediately afterwards, all of the thick trees in the area were sliced in two at waist height. It seemed to have been a long blade using wind or something similar. The blade had been several dozen meters long and it had been created by a single card ripped from a set of flashcards held together by a metal ring. The card said Wind Symbol in yellow writing. This was known as Shorthand. It was a disposable grimoire developed by a certain female courier. The structure that allowed an original grimoire to automatically send out spells had been extracted and weaponized. However... Stop that. The traces of damage were interrupted around where Fenrir stood. A different color was mixed into the pure white of the snow. A number of black cracks had appeared as if space itself had been directly torn. One of those had bitten the wind blade. I dont even need my canine teeth for this. If I release just my central incisors or lateral incisors, I can tear you to pieces right away. The sound of something breaking rang out. The wind blade did not disappear or break. It was swallowed. The cracks disappeared like the surface of clay being smoothed over with water. That long blade was swallowed up by those disappearing black cracks as if it was water being sucked down the drain of a pool. The young man turned around. He calmly observed the glamorous blonde courier named Oriana Thomson. Dont be so afraid. This is just a trick. Its not like Im damaging another phase and throwing it into heaven or hell. Not even I can do that. Then what are those cracks? Its simple. I distort the flow of power a bit. The young man shrugged. Eastern feng shui is the same. The existence of mountains and rivers changes the flow of energy through ley lines and the like. In that case, you can create a ditch that draws in the surrounding energy by creating a new mountain or river. Its the same as how the rainwater will naturally flow toward an irrigation canal and be swallowed up. Fenrir was the beast that would devour Odin during the final battle of Ragnar?k. The gods had feared him and so bound him and stabbed a sword into his mouth through the lower jaw so he could not close his mouth. When they had, the drool that had flowed from Fenrirs giant maw had created a large river. He had used that legend. By incorporating the same symbols as a river into a location, he created a large ditch that swallowed up the massive power of the ley lines. It forcibly swallowed up the magic power that constructed magic and swept it away. In response, Oriana Thomson lightly spun the set of flashcards in her hand. And she spoke. This is not my first time doing it with an enemy of magic. I have yet to use them on that boy, but I have simulated some countermeasures. Oh, you mean that right hand? All I do is have the magic swept away. I cant completely annihilate the occult, so I cant take on the exaggerated role of being a reference point for the world. The space around Fenrir grew distorted. Several black cracks appeared. But with this, I can drag in plenty of other things along with the massive amount of energy. You could say its like sucking a human down the drain of a pool. Part 10 Even on Tokyo Bay, repeated earthquake-like rumbling noises could be felt vibrating in ones gut. A few more Hr?svelgrs that Fertility Goddess Freyja had given birth to ahead of time flew from Gremlins base of Sargasso. That base was only a few dozen kilometers from Academy City which was sending out bombers and fighters which could fly at 7000 kph. It was even possible a shell fired from within the citys thick walls could fly in a large parabola and strike Sargasso. Lightning God Thor (or rather, Ollerus disguised as Thor) stood directly on the ocean, listening to the rumbling. Technically, he was standing on a large amount of goat fur he had scattered on the ocean surface. Needless to say, this was a spell constructed using the symbols of the goats that pulled Thors chariot. A disguise could be a lot of work. (Now then. Everyone knows Sargasso is in Tokyo Bay, so there is no more need for me to remain within Gremlin. To reduce the danger from Academy Citys attack or Magic God Othinus tearing me apart if my cover is blown, I should leave here right away. On the other hand...) He heard a great roar overhead that was deeper than the distant explosions. It came from M?kkurkalfe. That giant was known as mountain-like and it really was large enough to fit that description. Despite being made of dried clay, it rose almost 500 meters above the ocean surface, so its great mass alone could function as a weapon. And unlike Ollerus, M?kkurkalfe was not using a spell to float on the surface. It was so overwhelmingly large that one could forget its feet were touching the ocean floor. M?kkurkalfe had been patrolling around Sargasso at a uniform speed, but it was beginning to focus primarily on the region of the ocean in the direction of Academy City to the west. A few shadows flying through the air slipped through the net of Hr?svelgr giant eagles and charged toward Sargasso. They were Academy City bombers. (Well, that isnt going to work. Even if I leave this to them, there is no guarantee they can do any real damage to Othinus. And if they do not stop the production of the lance, not even fleeing to the other side of the world will be enough to avoid the destruction. ...In that case, I should continue this recklessness for a bit longer.) The force trying to destroy Gremlin approached. Ollerus calmly calculated that they were not powerful enough and made an immediate announcement. Knock them from the air. M?kkurkalfe mercilessly swung its giant arm which produced a great roar as it tore through the air. It was because he could do this that he had been able to infiltrate Gremlin. It was because he could do this that he had grown somehow twisted. Part 11 Kamijou had been blown toward the back of the train by an artificial blast of wind and the giant boar Hildisvni had tried to charge at him. However, he had grabbed at the coat of his school uniform. Even if he flailed his arms and legs around while in midair, he could not move as if swimming through water. But what if he had something that could fan the air even more? What if he unbuttoned his coat and spread it out? ! Kamijou intentionally opened up only the right side. He had no guarantee it would work. It was a complete gamble. As soon as he did, his body moved as if being greatly twisted. The gust of wind was powerful enough to easily blast a human into the air, so it was obvious what would happen if he prepared a makeshift sail that increased the air resistance. As his body spun, he was pushed to the side. And he fell. As the giant boar scraped along the top of the tunnel, it ran directly along the roof of the train. By that time, Kamijou had already avoided it by grabbing onto the edge of the roof with both hands and pressing against the wall. Hildisvni was large enough to fill the empty space, but that was only the area above the roof of the train. The gap next to the trains wall was wide open. The wind produced by its giant form did not reach down there either. Gh... Pant, pant. He had survived for the time being. But if he climbed up now, Freyja would begin her attack once more. And she might not wait until after he had finished defenselessly climbing up. He needed a way to fight back. Fortunately, Freyja would likely assume she had won. With that much destruction, checking for a body would be difficult. He had to make his preparations during that slight period of safety. Currently, Kamijou was supported only by his ten fingers and was about to fall to the ground which was rushing by with tremendous speed below. The biggest obstacle was removing his coat. Removing his arms from the sleeves meant he had to temporarily support himself with only one arm. With his removed coat in hand, Kamijou supported himself as if performing a pull up and slowly moved toward Freyja while clinging to the side of the train. Once he was close enough, he only had to wait. He waited for her to peer down at him. All he did was throw his coat up to block her vision. Dammit! Thats your decision!? shouted Freyja. It seemed even a magician felt a bit fearful when her vision was blocked at the edge of a train. If she carelessly stepped off, she would fall straight for the ground. Kamijou had to climb up onto the roof in that time, but it was still not enough. With her vision still blocked, Freyja purposefully dropped the jewel in her hand. And she gave the incantation. Cost 1. White. Call / / Muninn. (I dont have time to hesitate!!) Kamijou faltered because his opponent was pregnant. He was quite hesitant. However, hesitating here would mean his death and Freyja would continue to use the baby inside her for her own purposes. If her shocking statement about two years having passed was true, he could not leave this be. Japans laws seemed to not give a fetus human rights as long as it was inside the womb, but he felt those laws could eat shit. He would bet on the possibility of saving that child no matter how slim it was. (Sorry!!) While apologizing to the baby rather than Freyja and supporting himself with one hand, Kamijou swept his other hand along the roof. While Freyja struggled nervously with her vision cut off, he swept her feet out from under her from behind. Kamijou was considerate enough to have her collapse onto her back rather than her stomach. He had no way of knowing how dangerous an act it was either way, though. Kh!! Before checking to make sure Freyja had fallen to her butt, Kamijou climbed up onto the trains roof. While lying face down, Kamijou saw the jewel on the floor gathering wet red thread. He frantically stood up. Just as it took the form of a giant bird and attacked, he smashed it to pieces with his right fist. (Her attacks come from those strange jewels she calls Brsingamen.) After making sure the bird had been destroyed, Kamijou quickly turned toward Freyja. (If I can steal or destroy that, she wont be able to attack. I will settle this no matter what! If I dont take advantage of this timing, this will turn into a long, drawn-out fistfight. I want to avoid that for the babys sake!!) A maternity dress was meant to reduce the burden on the mother. Its material was not made any thicker than necessary and it did not have a large number of unneeded pockets. He could clearly see her body lines through the dress and the only pockets were the ones on the left and right. There!! If the Brsingamen jewels were supported by magical power, he would not even need to steal them. Simply sticking his hand in her pocket would destroy all of the jewels she had stocked up like bullets. This was checkmate. But as soon as he thought that... Dont... He heard a horribly low-pitched voice. Freyja bent her right knee just once and pulled it back like compressing a spring. Her heel shot forcefully toward Kamijous gut. Dont touch my mother!! Kamijou felt an impact in his solar plexus and heard an odd shout. The breath was knocked out of him and he rolled backwards. Meanwhile, Freyja stood up and threw away the coat covering her upper body. As the coat was tossed by the powerful wind, Kamijou coughed and caught it in one hand. And then he saw it. He saw the fertility goddess Freyja. On the large stomach of the woman who had given that name, a complex pattern was written in light as if rising up from within the maternity dress. It cant be... He had been mistaken about something. He had made a misunderstanding during his initial assumptions. Kamijou could feel a strange chill running down his spine. He had thought he was faced with the magician known as Freyja and the fetus being used as a calculation device. But he had been wrong. He recalled what she had said. The mother had no magical sense, so the fetus was using magic. In that case... Is it you? muttered Kamijou in shock. His voice said he still could not believe the thought that had entered his head. He was looking toward the woman in a maternity dress, but he was not looking at her. He looked at her large stomach as he spoke. Are you Freyja!? Part 12 It was often said that fetuses could hear the noises and voices of the surrounding world before leaving their mothers stomach. That was why she had understood. Even if she did not have the ability to accurately analyze and understand language, she had been able to distinguish the nuances and emotions of the words sent her way, at least to a certain extent. Even if she had not wanted to, she had understood Her mother had lived while everything in the world tried to crush her. She had understood that this was due to her being inside the mother. She did not know how she came to be inside the stomach of a mother so young, but she was certain she was not a child that the world wanted to be born. From the moment she was born...no, even before that, she had been hated by a large number of people. And amid all that, her mother had desperately fought against that unreasonable world. Even as that world tried to crush her mother from every single direction, that mother had desperately tried to protect the new life growing inside her. In that crucible of malice, a deluge of verbal abuse had constantly washed over her mother. She had no way of knowing how painful that had been for her. But... If her mother had abandoned her, wouldnt it have all been over? She had thought that but had been unable to do anything. Even as a baby inside the womb, she had at times been able to move her arms and legs with her own will. However, her readiness to give up her own life to save her mother had come to nothing. Each time she swung her arms and legs, her mother had misinterpreted the act and only smiled and kindly rubbed her belly. In the end, it seemed her mother was simply too kind a person. She had lost all of her personal relationships, her parents and siblings had stopped supporting her, and she had been driven from where she lived. Even as she watched everything she had built up come crumbling down around her, the mother did not hate her child. It was not that she worked to drive the thoughts from her mind; she never even considered it. Despite having no assurances of a place to sleep or food to eat, her mother had knitted, told old stories that focused only on the good, and enthusiastically repeated a baseless magical charm meant to ensure her child was born safely. That was the kind of person her mother had been. And it may have been because her mother was like that that she had been able to think there was at least one good thing in that world otherwise blotted out by the color black. The mother had done everything she could to protect her child. The child had done everything she could to save her mother. However... Part 13 There is... While swaying, Fertility Goddess Freyja slowly stood up on the trains roof. No, that was not technically accurate. She was controlling the mother through the umbilical cord connecting the mother and child. ...someone I must save no matter what. The tunnel ceiling grew a bit lower. Kamijou bent his back without thinking, but Freyja continued standing tall. Seeing the ceiling rushing past just above the top of her head squeezed at Kamijous heart. There is someone in such a hopeless situation that they will receive no comfort whatsoever even after ten years of work and one hundred years of research. I know that to be the case. Kamijou did not know the exact situation, but he could take a guess as to who she was talking about. If the child really was controlling the mother and the mother could not even stand on her own feet without being controlled, what had happened to the mother? What does this have to do with Gremlin and all the destruction they spread everywhere? Something had to have happened to that mother and child. Something so terribly painful it would almost break his heart to hear it. They want to destroy the world. Are you saying youre going along with that!? You still havent truly seen what Gremlin is. A self-deprecating smile appeared on the womans face. That smile appeared based on the will of the child that was borrowing her body. Even if ten years of work and a hundred years of research would all be meaningless, that magic god can ignore those restrictions. It does not matter how much malice fills her. As long as the lance is completed, that person can be saved from this nightmarish situation in which she will hit an inevitable dead end!! ... For an instant C just an instant C Kamijou thought about that possibility. What if Magic God Othinus was not a bringer of destruction but instead reached out to help people? But... That was not the case. Someone who could calmly call the incidents in Hawaii and Baggage City a success could never have such a decent heart. And once that lance is complete, Othinus wont have to listen to what anyone says!! Thats fine. Either way, this stopgap method will not last forever. I may be controlling my mother through the umbilical cord right now, but that is putting her in a detached state where her sense of self grows gradually thinner. She will eventually reach a limit and completely vanish. But if I am removed, my mother will not even be able to keep her organs running. It is over either way. There is only one way to protect my mother from the destruction that is coming before long. I can only take in the contradiction and borrow the power of that magic god!! Do you still not see the truth!? Othinus is only using that as a convenient tool to guide you. Its the exact same thing happening in this city! The people think something is wrong, but by making them think going along with it is to their advantage, everyone splits apart and no organized resistance rises up! Thats all Othinus is thinking with you!! My mother collapsed while protecting me!! If she had abandoned me, she could have returned safely to her former life, but she stuck with me!! Those words sounded like she was coughing up blood and they seemed to be accompanied by a physical blow. A mere high school boy like Kamijou Touma did not have the foundation needed to deny those words. However... He was sure that woman in the maternity dress had fought amid all that. She had fought to protect a life in some place Kamijou could not even imagine. So stay out of the way. Kamijou heard a sound like something solid being scratched at. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late. Until that time when I can return her body, I will not let anyone hurt my mother!! It came from below. But there was nothing on the roof of the train below their feet. It came from further below than that. They were standing on a five-car train. There was a large space inside that giant box. When he had outwitted Freyja by climbing along the wall, he had been so focused on supporting his body that he had looked only at the hands supporting his weight. He had never looked inside the train car. But what if Freyja had made effective use of that space? What if she had called in a large number of monsters while fighting Kamijou and had fed them all to a single monster to fatten it up? Cost 70. Black. Shift / / Neh?ggr Vol. 02!! Just as the five-car train left the tunnel and appeared aboveground, Kamijous entire vision was filled with bright sunlight. An attack came in that instant he was blinded. Freyja cried out and something inside the car Kamijou stood on ripped it apart like plastic. A much too large red dragon appeared with its maw pointed upwards. Freyja took three or four steps backwards and moved to the next car forward. By the time Kamijou saw that, the entire destroyed car had already been tossed into the air. The following cars were dragged along and derailed. He could not land on the roof of the remaining cars. He would be smashed to pieces along with the back cars being turned to scrap. (Shit.) The woman in the maternity dress stood out of reach in front of him. That was the much too young magician named Freyja and the mother who had tried to protect her. That mother and child had been forced to rely on the slight possibility of Magic God Othinuss powers even if they knew Othinus was using them. (I cant let it end like this... I still havent grasped anything in my hand!!) Suddenly, the falling motion of Kamijous body clearly changed. This was due to external interference. When he realized that, Kamijou finally noticed someone was grabbing onto the back of his school uniform. It was a girl who had fallen from the sky. It was a girl who had carried out the acrobatics needed to jump onto the roof of the subway train. It was a girl who could jump from high-rise building to high-rise building with her free control over magnetism. It was a girl who already held a white girl in one hand and had saved Kamijou from a hopeless situation with her other hand. It was Misaka Mikoto. Academy Citys #3 Level 5 and the ace of Tokiwadai Middle School landed on the roof of the train like an arrow stabbing into it. Only two cars remained. Even after they landed and Kamijou sank to the roof, he still lacked confidence that he was alive. What a pain, said Mikoto simply as she released Index from her right hand and Kamijou from her left. I finally caught up to you, you idiot. Just because our cell phones dont work is no reason to run off on your own and get cornered! Did you forget that you only have one life no matter what kind of power you have!? The white nun holding a calico cat sighed. Saying that wont change Touma. And because nothing will change him, we have no choice but to compromise. Sorry, Touma, but Im joining in this time. No matter what you say, Im not backing down. There may have been people who would say this was pathetic. There may have been people who would mock him as powerless. There may have been people who would criticize him for getting others involved for his own selfish purposes. But... ... A cell phone fell onto the train roof. It had fallen from Kamijous pocket while he was thrown from the train and roughly rescued by Mikoto. Some button must have been pressed during the fall because the small electronic device began playing a message. He had set it to record the message to his phone if there was a new message on the disaster message board service. It was a short message only a few dozen seconds long. He heard a familiar voice. Hey. I wonder if they can hear me. Touya-san, Touma-san. Is this reaching you? It was a female voice without a hint of unease or worry as if nothing at all was happening. A mother. That was a person that, unless special means were used such as Academy Citys cloning technology, anyone born into the world had one of. That was an adult that it was perfectly normal but occasionally irritating to have around. It looks like there is some kind of commotion outside, but Im perfectly fine. Dont worry about me and wait until all this dies down, okay? There was a mother and child who had not been allowed to give or be given that completely normal thing. Not even once. The child had not been born into the bright world and they had never seen each others faces. That overwhelming unfairness lay before Kamijous eyes. In that case, he could not worry about appearances. It did not matter if it was shameful, pathetic, or embarrassing. If it would allow him to destroy this nonsensical precipice, he would use anything. He would use anything and get anyone involved. That was... That was definitely... That is Freyja, a Gremlin magician. Her true form is the baby in the womans womb. It seems she used some method to save the collapsed mother which gave her temporary control over the mothers body. Kamijou picked up his scratched cell phone, squeezed it, and spoke. And he thought. (But that is definitely not wrong.) Please. Lend me your power so I can save them both. In that instant, Index, the Anglican nun wearing a white habit and carrying a calico cat, fell silent for a moment. She slowly narrowed her eyes and thought on the meaning of the words coming from Kamijou Toumas mouth. In that instant, Misaka Mikoto, the girl with the nickname Railgun and wearing the blazer of Tokiwadai Middle Schools winter uniform, stopped moving as if thinking over the words she had heard. They did not think it was too much to ask. They did not find it to be a bother. They had been waiting for those words for so long. How long and painful had that wait been? The boy who had naturally spoken those words did not know how those girls felt. It would have taken hours or even days for them to say everything they wanted to say, but that did not matter for the moment. The answer they had to give here was not something so long and unending. They could take their time with that once this was all over. They knew what would currently feel best as an answer for that boy who felt cornered and was seeking help. Leave it to me. Leave it to me. The two girls took a large step forward to protect Kamijou Touma. At the same moment, the train shot back into a tunnel. Ahead of them was the Gremlin magician named Freyja. Behind them were the sounds of destruction as Neh?ggr Vol. 02 charged into the tunnel. It was clearly too large for the half circle space of the tunnel. If it continued forward, it could easily blow away the two remaining cars of the train. A powerful enemy lay ahead and behind, but Index and Misaka Mikoto both gave thin smiles. They had nothing to be afraid of. Their enemy was most likely unaware that they now stood in the place they had long dreamt of being in. Part 14 It sounded both like the cry of silk being torn and the unique singing of an undiscovered culture. As the white girl stood in the center, eight giant flower petals bloomed while fused to her ankles. It looked like the calculated beauty produced in nature to draw in insects for reproductive purposes. It looked like the artisanal beauty woven into the artificial subtleties of an analog clock face. A great number of electrodes were sticking into the petals and various signals were being sent into the girl via cables. For better or for worse, those signals were producing extended high-pitched screams that stabbed at ones heart. Good, good, good, said Marian Slingeneyer from the poolside on the ruined deck of the luxury passenger ship. A lance handle the length of a human arm sat at the bottom of the pool filled with a thick, transparent liquid. It was gradually growing like watching a burning candle in reverse. The growth was gradual but constant. The temporary switchover from magic to science went well. If this keeps up, we will surely make it through without issue. You should stop using the word surely. It is meaningless. The production of the lance could not be completed with a magical ceremony alone, but the solution involved more than simply switching over from magic to science. The ceremony was still based in magic. To avoid that insurmountable barrier, they would temporarily switch over to the rails of the science side, but they could not complete the lance if they remained in the realm of science to the end. After overcoming that great barrier, they had to switch the rails back to magic. Marian must have been nervous because she licked her lips even though they were not dry. Now then. This is the last tricky part. If we can manually overcome this, the rest will finish on its own. No, wait, said the eyepatch-wearing girl in a low voice. The girl-shaped flower tilted to the side as it continued to emit that strange voice that sounded both like screaming and singing. Its lustrous and moisturized skin began to loosen like baggy clothing. Something was collapsing within. It resembled a decomposing corpse. Marian Slingeneyers expression changed. Oh, crap... Its going to take another 10 minutes to switch back over. If the holistic esper collapses before then, the ceremony will hit a dead end here!! ... Where are the dregs of the #2? He made this specimen, so he can replace the crumbling tissue!! Othinus did not reply to Marians cries. She instead took a step toward the white flower. She crushed one of the eight petals underfoot and stared at the face of the girl-shaped specimen. With one hand, she thrust her fingers toward that specimens chest as if attempting to crush it. The screaming and singing did not stop. Othinus forced her hand inside and grabbed the area corresponding to a humans lungs. She squeezed like a pump to force air out. Othinus!? Do you really think that empty husk will help us if he knows our plan will fail without him? In the time we spent negotiating, the production of the spear would fail. Othinus used her one eye to stare at Marian. Do it. We only need this thing to last the 10 minutes until you switch back over. ... The white flower crumbled. Brown and black stains and wrinkles spread across it, so it could no longer be called white. Even so, the voice continued. Dark red blood trickled from Othinuss eyepatch. She had immense power, but things did not always progress as she wanted because her infinite possibilities held an equal number of successes and failures. Sticky sounds could be heard. It was impossible to distinguish the sounds of the magic god crumbling from those of the flower crumbling. Finally, the cruelly decomposed flower bent at the neck and the entire head fell to the poolside floor. It completely burst with a splatting sound. It looked like the remains of a fruit that no one had picked and not even any animals had shown interest in. The singing stopped. Marian Slingeneyer collapsed to a sitting position on the ground. We did it. Not all of it. Okay, fine. We managed to switch back. We can just sit back and watch the lance complete itself. There is no way it can fail now!! I see. The eyepatch-wearing girl removed her foot from the discolored remains of the flower petal that had completely crumbled. It was reminiscent of a flower that was returning to the earth after dropping its seeds and completing its role. The core of Othinus shook. Othinus? You said we can just take a nap now, right? I will focus on mending myself. If I did it here, the great power could blow away the ceremony. Then why dont you rely on one of the other members? You still might not succeed, after all. Lets see, I think Ieunn and Sif are free, so-... The eyepatch-wearing girl held out a hand to stop Marian from continuing. She then walked away from the pool. As Marian Slingeneyer watched the girl leave, the other girl who had taken the form of a black drum clattered next to her. Marian looked toward the pool. The lance had already reached two meters in length and a sharp blade was forming on the end. Just a bit more, she muttered. The lance was intended to reach 250 cm. Just a bit more and you wont have to go to all that effort, Othinus. With those last 50 cm, the world would change. Part 15 It did not matter how many new enemies arrived. Fertility Goddess Freyja held a key that ensured her victory. While ignoring the tunnel ceiling growing lower again, she stared at her enemies and shouted. Cost 1. White. Call / / Hildisvni! She threw a jewel, a great amount of wet red thread wrapped around it, and a boar was born. That was all she had to do. Hildisvni was the beast the goddess Freyja rode in Norse mythology. She would have it play that role here. Even Freyja would be killed instantly if she jumped from the fast-moving train, but she could survive with a cushion between herself and the ground. She would use the boar for that. Now she merely had to send Neh?ggr Vol. 02 charging in from behind. The attack would fill the entire tunnel and smash the train to pieces. That would annihilate her enemies. Both Freyja and her enemies would be thrown into the air, but Freyja alone would have a cushion to allow herself to escape unscathed. No matter how dirty the method, she would make sure to protect her mother. She would not let anyone lay another finger on her. Destroy everything, Neh?ggr Vol. 02!! She gave the final command. That giant dragon gained an extra burst of speed as if crossing the final line. That dragon had cost 70 jewels. Even if it ran headlong into a ten-car linear motor train, it would smash the train without taking any damage itself. However... Something happened just before the dragon struck. Shut up!!!!! Mikoto jumped back as if performing a backflip. Powerful magnetism pulled her forcefully toward the back of the train. It looked like she was throwing a dropkick with the force of a shell. That short and slender girl would be smashed to a pulp the instant she touched any spot on the tunnel, but she did not hesitate to jump from the safe zone and toward Neh?ggr Vol. 02. The greatest roar yet burst out. And that roar was followed by many more. As Mikoto launched herself horizontally toward the dragon, she could be seen pulling several arcade coins from her skirt. She fired repeatedly at point blank range. This was the attack that gave her the nickname of Railgun and she fired it again and again to her hearts content. The entire tunnel shook ominously and small fragments fell from the ceiling. It...cant be... The giant dragons advance was stopped in an instant. Freyja and the others on the moving train saw what could only be called its remnants disappearing. Their minds had numbed to the point that they could understand nothing more than that. Now that Neh?ggr Vol. 02 could not destroy the train, Freyja had to rethink her entire plan. But Kamijou Touma and Index were not going to give her that time. Just as the tunnel ceiling rose up, the two of them took a large step forward. They boldly moved straight toward her. Tch!! Fertility Goddess Freyja scattered many, many jewels across the roof. Brsingamen was especially popular and well-known even within Norse mythology, so it had been studied by plenty of researchers. Nevertheless, it remained a black box with unknown effects and unknown symbolism. When she threw the core which held that name, she would construct a unique spell using the mothers body and the womb. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Trymr. Cost 1. White. Call / / Hrmfaxi. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Hymir. Cost 1. White. Call / / Huginn. Cost 1. Black. Call / / Svaeilfari. Who would produce what and what would eat what? She spread her options as wide as she could. She could force her way through with numbers or she could crush them with one giant monster. She expanded a spider web-like flowchart that allowed her to adapt to any number of situations. However... S F O C I C R Y S!! (Fill in the missing gear of the song for the blessed child!!) Freyjas entire body stiffened as the white nun gave her incantation. This was Spell Intercept. Index used a shorthand code called Notarikon to interfere with an opposing magicians incantation and take control of the spell. Index could not refine magic power on her own, but she had put together this single compilation of skills to take part in battles using the supernatural power known as magic. That girl took all the knowledge contained in the 103,000 grimoires stored in her head to instantly analyze her opponents attack method, search out the most effective method of interfering, and use that against her enemy. At the same time, Kamijou Touma spoke to Index who was facing the enemy magician. He told her to analyze the magic being used to give birth to those children. Now that I think about it, it didnt really make sense, said Kamijou after letting out a slow breath. You said you worked to protect your mother from within her womb. But how and where did you learn magic? Was your mother a magician? Perhaps, but seeing as your magic is specialized toward giving birth to children, I can guess what it is all based on. Do you know what that is? ... Magic used to safely give birth to your child, said Kamijou as if thrusting the words at her. The original magic was made to ensure you were safely born! I dont know if that was a spell involving an actual procedure or if it was nothing but a magic charm, but it wasnt something meant to hurt people!! You remade it into attack magic so you could join Gremlin. If thats true...!! So what if it is? asked Freyja with a voice so low it sounded like she was chanting a curse. No matter what it originally was, it failed in the end!! If I leave my mother and she loses my support, she will be unable to even breathe. She will die. But if I stay in here, her sense of self will gradually fade away. Either way, I cant protect her with any normal means!! I cant escape this dead end without a magic gods power to make the impossible possible!! Then let Index finish it. Let her use her collection of knowledge that can reach the level of a magic god if used all together!! replied Kamijou Touma without a moments hesitation. Those 103,000 grimoires can bring this to an end without the power of a magic god!! You could say you and your mother have reversed the normal relationship between a mother and fetus. Until a certain point, the fetus lives off of the blood, nutrients, and oxygen of the mother, but a switch is thrown so the child can supply all of those on her own once she is born. This is the same. If we can reveal the spell meant to allow the child a safe birth and send it into the mother that is fully reliant on you, your mother should be able to keep her heart beating on her own just as when a child leaves its mother!! The magician named Freyja was using her mothers senses to make her way through the world, but she was actually a tiny life curled up in that mothers stomach. In that instant, she was unable to grasp the identity of what it was descending upon her. The world was overwhelmingly dark and filled with malice pressing against her from all sides. She had been hated by a great number of people even before being born and her mother had desperately tried to protect her amid all that. Just how great a disadvantage would her birth be? Even as her mothers body was about to break while desperately working to support her, someone had attacked that mother. Unable to fight back, she had been knocked to the dark road surface. At the very, very end, she had used her hands to protect not her own head but her large stomach. That was likely why the mothers life had been damaged beyond the point of no return. And so Freyja had given up. She had given up on hoping for anything from that dark world. The one soft and bright thing in her life had been cruelly taken for someone elses benefit. In a world in which even that would be taken, there could not be any light remaining whatsoever. And so she had not hesitated to twist the laws of that world. As her mother lay on the road with something crucial broken within her body, Freyja had not hesitated to take control of that body. She had instinctually known that her mother would stop breathing otherwise. And she had already decided she would do anything to protect her mother. What she had needed to do first was exterminate the masked attacker who stood before her mothers eyes. And so she had distanced herself from the warm future her mother had wished for her. That mother had been a truly harmless woman who knew nothing of magic. At some point, she had learned a magic charm to give birth to a healthy baby and she had desperately repeated it over and over. Freyja had thoroughly analyzed that charm down to its numerical values and the logic behind it. She had rewritten it and built up the magic she needed to endure fighting in that dark world filled with nothing but bogs and shed blood. She crushed her mothers ideals in order to save that mother. She had needed no reason. She had never thought up a single excuse. She had not seen herself as having fallen so low as to worry about that kind of thing when it came to rescuing her mothers life. However... I... For one thing, Freyjas current state was not normal by any stretch of the imagination. Normally thinking, a fetus could never control the mother. Even if the pregnancy had lasted two years and even if she had taken control of a portion of the mothers brain, she should not have been able to fully use logic and language at such in immature state. She had used magic to twist all of that. Index was attempting to accurately analyze it all. It went beyond how she used the Brsingamen jewels as an attack. Index was essentially attempting to hack into the single system known as Fertility Goddess Freyja that was made up of the mother and the fetus. I decided I would protect my mother no matter what I had to do. Even if I had to sell my soul to a magic god and even if I had to spill great amounts of innocent blood as a pawn of Gremlin, I decided I would do this! I decided I would do it myself!! Its over, cut in Kamijou. He repeated himself. Its over now. You no longer have to use that bare hostility as a weapon to protect your mother. That horrible unfairness is over, Freyja. You can trust people now. A great cry exploded out. It was accompanied by a heavy roar. A large man and a giant horse had taken a step forward. They were both made from a complex collection of wet red thread. There was no meaning in this fight. Now that Fertility Goddess Freyja no longer had to obey Magic God Othinus, she had no more reason to fight for Gremlin. The reason Freyja did not back down was because she did not know how to trust people. But Kamijou did not think that was wrong or meaningless. After all, it was completely natural. That was something she could learn bit by bit after being born and facing this wide world. What was wrong was the great burden that much too small body had borne for so long. Index. Kamijou once more stepped forward to face the approaching threat. He spoke without turning around. Ill take out everything that tries to interfere. Ill buy you the time you need to prepare. You can focus on this one thing without worrying. He stared forward. He confronted those monsters of muscle that held frightening strength. He confronted them and he spoke. So do this. Kamijou and the monsters ran full speed toward each other. Their clash lasted an instant. While it was an important element that would decide the trend of the situation, it was a trivial matter that did not produce a single scratch. The white nun muttered an accurate incantation under her breath. The young child trying to protect her mother let out a bestial cry. Kamijou naturally smiled as he used his right fist to blow away the monsters of muscle that were made up of dark red thread wrapped around a jewel. Its over, Freyja, he said without thinking. All of this had just been a long rehearsal. Her true performance was yet to come. So lets end this and bring on the next age. Were waiting for you in the wide world ahead of you!! The battered train left the dark, dark tunnel. And it entered the bright, white sunlight. ...Uh? The train no longer held any monsters with the strength to crush a human in a single blow or any Gremlin magicians who possessed the frightening power and skills needed to keep the head of a nation from acting. Um, excuse me. Where am I? This was the same pregnant woman as before, but she asked that question with a frailty that was completely different from before. This was no longer a mother whose fetus had been forced to take control to keep her alive. This mother and child were no different from those found anywhere. Part 16 The train carrying Kamijou, Index, and Freyja continued on. Freyja had lost consciousness as if sleeping and Kamijou and Index did their best to stay down. They did not want to be thrown from the roughly shaking train and the ceiling came frighteningly low at some points, so they did not want to stand up if they could avoid it. The subway train continued all the way to Tokyo Station before stopping. Damn. So it wont take us all the way to Tokyo Bay. Moving to a different train is a pain right now. Shinbashi or Shiodome would have been closer to Tokyo Bay. It was not that far from here, but that distance would feel a lot longer while walking through those crowds. They had to think up some other means of travelling. (...?) For some reason, the large station was completely deserted. The main entrances may have been sealed off early on and the remaining people may have been led out through the staff entrances and evacuation corridors. They had actually wanted people out so they could use the station themselves, but the official reason had likely been to protect the people from being killed by the smoke if a fire broke out. This subway facility had handled the situation very differently from the one on Shinjuku. That alone showed just how confused the station workers were. (What? The platform is covered in tons of wooden boxes.) They could not stay on the trains roof forever. If it set off again, they would not be able to climb down. Now then. Kamijou had been worried because over half the trains cars had been damaged or derailed, but after climbing down and checking inside, it seemed the train had held no normal passengers. A single man sat in the drivers seat and the passenger areas were filled with tons of wooden boxes. Kamijou did not even need to check on the contents. The man in the drivers seat did not look like a normal driver hired by the railroad company. The camouflage he wore was a dead giveaway. (The riot police or the JSDF are using the railroad to transport materials. Those boxes arent full of ammunition, are they?) He was worried because a dragon had broken through the roof of one of the passenger cars and several of the cars had derailed, but it seemed no one had been hurt. Freyja may have intentionally set it up that way. That child had been fighting against the unfairness of the world to protect her mother, so she may have wanted to avoid sullying her mothers hands as much as possible. Kamijou wondered how difficult it had been to get Gremlin to recognize her as a useful member of that inhuman organization. At any rate, the driver looks fine. Kamijou knocked on the door to the drivers area and called out to the man but received no response. He and his organization had likely been trying to stop Gremlins invasion in their own way, but he had apparently fallen into mental shock upon seeing Gremlins destructive power up close. Index spoke from the roof. Touma, what should we do? Im probably a high priority target for Gremlin. Not because of my strength or anything but because my right hand can stop the production of that lance. The best way of keeping her safe would be to keep her as far away from us as we can. On the other hand, they could not just leave Fertility Goddess Freyja while she was unconscious. She was a member of Gremlin and could possibly regain her great strength under the right conditions. Gremlin would want to capture her to regain her power and the defenders would want to capture her to defend against Gremlins invasion. I see. So you give top priority to the girl. I see, I see, said Index. I havent done anything wrong, so why are you glaring at me like Im a terrible person? Either due to passing out or due to the child inside her stomach, the woman in the maternity dress showed no sign of waking up after closing her eyes that first time. According to Index, her breathing and heart rate were normal. However, her sense of self was quite thin due to giving control of her body to someone else for two years. It would apparently take some time before she could naturally accept that role back and fully regain control of her own body. It would be similar to regaining feeling in a limb that had gone to sleep. It took some doing to lower her from the train roof. Fortunately, Indexs spell to return control from the fetus to the mother was not needed after the switch had been made. That meant Kamijou could touch the mother with his right hand with no ill effects. Index worked from above and Kamijou worked from below to lower the calmly sleeping woman to the platform. Index looked like she was about to jump down after her, but Kamijou frantically recommended she instead use the ladder on the side of the train. Touma, I hear a clanking sound. It seems the other tracks are running, too. They may be using Tokyo Station as a relay point for transporting supplies. That sign is covered in so many colorful lines that I cant tell what it means! The Japanese salarymen who can read this really are amazing. They walked down some stairs, headed for a different subway platform, climbed over the ticket barrier, and succeeded in boarding a different train. The subway train was being used as a cargo train, so the car was filled with wooden boxes. That gave them plenty of places to hide. And due to the structure of the train, all of the doors opened when boxes were being loaded or unloaded, so sneaking aboard was easy as well. If this place was safe, we could leave Freyja with the station workers. You arent going to? If this station is being used as a central supply base, Gremlin might target it. And if the people working here learn Freyja is a member of Gremlin, things could get bad. As the train shook, it took them to the harbor area that bordered Tokyo Bay. Just as Kamijou thought they would arrive at the station, the train passed right by and continued through the tunnel. It came out above ground and arrived at a switchyard near the bay. Is this Shinbashi? No, Shiodome? Kamijou lived within the walls of Academy City, so he had little knowledge of the 23 special wards in the city. However, even he had to tilt his head here. Was there a switchyard in a place like this? It may have been a facility belonging to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency or Ministry of Defense that had not been officially announced. But if that was the case, an amateur like him would find nothing if he searched the internet for the answer. Once again, all of the doors opened. Lets get off here. ...Help me out, Index. Ill climb to the ground first and you take care of Freyja. Meanwhile, a rubber boat with an engine attached passed by along a nearby river. It was headed toward the mouth of the river. Kamijou recognized the girls on board. They also noticed him, so the rubber military landing boat decelerated, made a U-turn, and came right up to the edge of the switchyard. Youve caught yourself another strange girl? And this ones pregnant? It was Birdway. She was operating the tiller and engine while Lessar and Kumokawa Maria sat in the boat. Index looked like she was about to be crushed under the weight of the woman and it would be a big deal if she was dropped, so Kamijou could not leave Freyja (technically, it was her mother) with Index. However, if Kamijou held that sleeping woman in his arms, it seemed things would develop in an amusing but chaotic direction. You three would be amazed if you knew whats happened while youve been leisurely floating around. But something else happened before he could get to an actual explanation. With the sound of scattering sparks, Misaka Mikoto fell from the sky and used magnetism to land on the metal railing alongside the river mouth. Honestly!! You make that big announcement about fighting together and then leave me behind after the very first attack!? ...And why are you forcing yourself on the pregnant woman who was trying to kill you not long ago? Please let me answer one question at a time!! Youre chaining them together like some kind of competitive puzzle game!! A great number of sparks appeared along the path of the rubber boat and Misaka Mikotos descent. Between fifty and one hundred flame figures appeared, so they did not have time to stand around talking. Birdway held up her wand and Misaka Mikoto flicked a coin up with her thumb. With a great roar, the army of automatic soldiers was blown to pieces before it could begin to attack. Lessar calmly placed a hand over her eyes and looked off into the distance. Hmm. It really does look like these attack automatically if you exceed a certain speed. Does it check over a distance of 10 meters? I ran into some at the subway station. Is that what calls them in? By the way, Im perfectly fine with a guy who cant help but go for a pregnant woman. Im not fine with that!! protested Kamijou. Kumokawa Maria wore a maid uniform colored in black and yellow like a bee and she slowly looked away from Kamijou. Thats going a bit far for me. I know you should try to value as many things as you can, but thats just...yeah... Its going a bit far for me, too!! What is with this? Can no one see anything but what they want to see? If you think you can escape your lack of knowledge by typing your favorite words into a search engine, you are sorely mistaken!! However, he did not have time to spend hours solving the misunderstandings. For one thing, Kamijou Toumas life was made up of a series of those misunderstandings. The bitter flavor of his life was stronger than that of a pain reliever made from 50% kindness. Birdway smacked the cover of the rubber boats engine. Well, at least we managed to meet up. Gremlins base of Sargasso is located on Tokyo Bay. Well be heading straight there. They may have destroyed the major roads and railroads to set up a thick barricade of living flesh with the crowds filling Tokyo, but that has no effect on the ocean. Now that weve come this far, it finally looks like we can actually do something. Magic God Othinus. I have serious doubts whether that monster can be killed with direct strength. However, shes currently producing that lance. If we interfere in the large-scale ceremony that Gremlin is pouring all of their power into, the energy that has lost anywhere to go will bare its fangs toward the spell user. Even if we cant kill her, there is a decent possibility her own power can be used to kill her. Most likely, none of them fully approved of the word kill being used there, but they all knew Gremlin had to be stopped. Setting aside the question of how far they would go, they needed to prevent Magic God Othinus from doing anything more. If you understand, then get aboard. We cant waste any more time. ...And dont tell me you plan to bring that pregnant woman along with you. To be honest, I cant figure out what to do with her. Do you think the hospitals are running properly right now? And is there a safe route to get her there? From what I heard, the child has been in there for two years. I have no idea what will happen or when, so I cant just leave her in some warm place and-... He trailed off because a powerful gust of wind blew through. A shadow appeared overhead. Kamijou looked up and his face stiffened. It was Neh?ggr. That giant monster which had glared down at the people from the top of the tower earlier was now soaring very close nearby. That dark red dragon passed above Kamijou and the others and then slowly circled around in midair. After turning 180 degrees, it charged toward them again. The first pass had been to locate its enemies in preparation. The second pass was the attack. As the dragon charged at them with tremendous speed, it showed no concern about striking the ground. It flapped its wings to pick up more speed as if it was fine with creating a giant crater in the ground and causing that coastal area to crumble and allow seawater in. With his hands full due to holding the woman in a maternity dress, Kamijou shouted to Mikoto. I thought you defeated that thing! I did!! This one is a lot bigger. It looks easily over 100 meters long! If a mass that large slams into the ground with the speed needed to catch up to a supersonic passenger plane...! This is different from those sparks from before. It has some special conditions for attacking. Does it have to do with that pregnant woman? Birdway and Lessar prepared strange spiritual items. Neh?ggr may not have been trying to exterminate them. Fertility Goddess Freyja had been the primary person sealing off Tokyo, so her defeat may have triggered a rescue attempt by the dragon. It may have been ordered to do that from the beginning. But it was all for nothing. Freyja no longer wanted to be rescued by Gremlin and this violent method would smash both enemy and ally to pieces. Freyja may have originally intended to provide adjustments for this simple rescue order, but she could not do so anymore. The impact from that great mass would tear into the planet. None of them could stop it. Even if they tried to run, they could not escape that dragon. The destruction would be on too large a scale and it was not a simple mass of stone falling from the sky. It flapped its giant wings to adjust its course and accelerate. It would follow them if they tried to run, so they had no way to escape. (Dammit.) The enemy was approaching from the sky, so Kamijou and Kumokawa Marias hand-to-hand combat was of no use. They could only rely on Misaka Mikoto, Birdway, and Lessar. But could those three push that dragon back? Kamijou glanced around in search of something to use as a shield or wall, but he found nothing. The switchyard had a number of trains stopped in it and it had warehouses that were likely used for maintenance, but none of those were strong enough to withstand this attack. They had to worry about both the initial impact and the immense shockwave it produced. The trains would roll like empty snack boxes and the warehouses would be smashed flat. When the attack would eliminate all unevenness in the area and leave only empty land behind, thinking about cover was hopeless. What can I do!? Stay out the way!! roared Birdway. A coin was fired at three times the speed of sound and multiple explosions followed behind it. It did have an effect. The dragons silhouette crumbled as if its temporary flesh was being torn away. However, the dragon ignored it. Neh?ggr continued charging toward the ground at full speed. (It didnt work!!) Kamijou began to squeeze his eyes shut. But then he saw something else. He saw a mans silhouette. The man grabbed a cranes wire and flew through the air like a pendulum. He appeared in the space between the dragon and the ground. Neh?ggr did not hesitate to tear this intrusion to pieces with its giant maw. The man made no attempt to dodge. His body was taken between the dragons teeth and the destruction began. It was as if the man had wanted that. Immediately afterwards, a bluish-white blade of light extended from the dragons mouth and sliced its giant body two or three times. Ah... said Kumokawa Maria without thinking from aboard the rubber boat. She recognized the silhouette. She recognized that man who had constructed a spell to neutralize only the fatal wounds he received and a sword spell that amplified its tremendous sharpness the more he was injured. Ahhh!! The man had not sliced the dragon into pieces. That would have left the pieces of that giant corpse to rain down on the switchyard. The countless flashes of that sword of light did not fully slice through the dragons body. He left the pieces attached like vegetables cut by a terrible cook. All he needed was air resistance. He needed to throw off the dragons balance. Neh?ggrs giant body could no longer maintain its orientation, so the direction of its flight greatly changed as if a giant invisible hand were moving it off course. The dragon now headed toward the river instead of the land and it crashed into the water, starting with its battered head. Water flew in every direction with incredible force and the rubber boat shook, but that was all. A hopeless situation similar to an asteroid strike did not occur. The man in the air twisted his body around a few times to adjust the direction of his fall and landed on the gravel-covered ground after falling from a height of over ten meters. The bluish-white blade of light extending from between his index finger and middle finger slowly disappeared. He was Bersi. He was Kihara Kagun. This man was officially a member of Gremlin and had supposedly died during the commotion in Baggage City. He had risen again with the power of Magic God Othinus, but that had not meant his life had been saved or that he was once more working for Gremlin of his own will. He was still dead even now. He had completely lost the life force he should have produced. Instead, he was a doll that never rotted and moved using the magic power injected into him from outside. The look in Birdway and Lessars eyes showed those two girls of the magic side had silently put up their guards. But Kumokawa Maria was a bit different. Kihara Kagun was acting somehow different from the lifeless doll she had seen at the end of the incident in Baggage City. And finally, she found it. There was a slight scar on the back of his neck. Part 17 The eyepatch-wearing girl in Sargasso narrowed her one eye slightly and looked up. Part 18 That man had once devoted everything to take revenge on and kill a certain Kihara. He had thought of every possibility and left behind backdoors with which to escape any dilemma. One of his ideas was a countermeasure for a very dirty and Kihara-like method. From the beginning, Kihara Kagun had considered a certain hopeless possibility. What if he failed in his revenge and, upon his defeat to Kihara Byouri, control of his physical body was taken in some way? What if he was ordered to attack one of the people he most wanted to avoid baring his fangs against? To escape such a situation... Theres something embedded in here, muttered Kumokawa Maria. That freed him from being controlled like a doll!! It was nothing more than a small semiconductor. A list of how Kihara Kagun would act given certain conditions had been inserted as a string of 1s and 0s. Kihara Kagun was not thinking using the brain of Kihara Kagun. However, a tiny effect would appear only when he was forced to do something that was not like him. He wanted to ensure that he would take the actions that were like him based on the list he had inputted into the device. 1. He would exterminate his enemy, Kihara Byouri. 2. As long as it did not interfere with 1, he would limit the loss of life of both enemy and ally as much as possible. 3. To achieve 2, the damage or destruction of anything other than human life was allowable. No one but Kihara Kagun himself knew those rules. He had already fought a few times along the coast of Tokyo Bay in order to fulfill those conditions. It was not limited to this attack on Neh?ggr. He had only run across Kumokawa Maria by coincidence and had recklessly tried to save the people there while he saved Freyja. It was the same as that time when he had held a shovel and stood before a killer in order to protect a few children. ... He would no longer say anything to her. That device most likely did not support something so complicated. No one could ever know the truth of the matter. However... Im going to stay here, said Kumokawa Maria. She stepped out of the rubber boat and onto the concrete bank of the river. Someone needs to take this pregnant woman to a safe place, right? Ill take her. ...And she might not be the only one in an urgent situation. Even if the rest of you go to defeat the cause of all this, it wouldnt hurt to have someone in the city, right? Kumokawa Maria slowly took Freyja from Kamijous arms. You understand...right? asked Kamijou. I have already accepted that he is dead, she readily said. This is just the last remaining trace. Its like finding his will after the fact. Most likely, he wasnt trying to save me. Nor was he only trying to save this woman. ...In the end, he hasnt changed. He tries to save everyone around him even if it wears away every last piece of his own body. Someone needs to reward his foolish selfishness. She was not trying to run from reality. She did not think she could save this moving corpse. In that case, it was her problem. Kamijou Touma had no right to stop her. Were counting on you, then. Were counting on you, too. With that short exchange, Kamijou Touma and Kumokawa Maria went on their separate ways. The boy climbed aboard the rubber boat along with Index and Misaka Mikoto. Birdway steered the small boat away from the shore. They continued into the fog-like steam covering Tokyo Bay. They moved toward Gremlins base of Sargasso. Part 19 As Kihara Kagun moved his feet as precisely as the second hand of a clock, Kumokawa Maria followed behind with the pregnant woman in her arms. She had not noticed before, but a large number of men in camouflage were collapsed in the area. They seemed to be riot police and JSDF members. Most likely, they were volunteers who had attempted to fight Gremlin without knowing what a threat the group was. The armored vehicles and self-propelled guns had been sliced to pieces, but the people were almost entirely unscathed. If a single shell had been fired at Gremlin, the counterattack would have caused such great destruction that the people would have been smashed into too many pieces to count. Kumokawa Maria could clearly imagine that simple truth after what she had seen in Baggage City. Kihara Kagun had carried out an obvious act of destruction. It may have been a quick decision after receiving an order from Gremlin. However, he had ultimately protected the lives of his enemies. ... Seeing that, Kumokawa Maria knew that man never would have changed. She had once viewed him with nothing but respect and admiration, but her impression of him had changed after her short but deep contact with him. He was definitely not suited to being part of a household. She doubted he could fit within the structure of society even in his job. No matter how old he grew, he spoke seriously of dreams and ideals, he refused to look at problems realistically, and he smiled at the small results he gained even as he lost so much more. That was likely who he truly had been. He had not been perfect. In fact, his personality had contained more negatives and problems than anything else. While young, Kumokawa Maria had just so happened to see the lovely side of him. However, she did not feel disappointed. In fact, even if it was all over, she felt fortunate to have seen the human side of him that was closer to his true self. She no longer distorted her view of him or deified him. She could now speak properly about this man who had been lost. Ill stay with you. Kumokawa Maria walked alongside that man while holding that unconscious pregnant woman in her arms. I have no choice, so Ill stay with you. Just like leaving flowers by a grave, this is nothing more than self-satisfaction, but whats wrong with one person being led around by this awkward will? I will not stop you anymore. Just like in Baggage City, you will probably wear away every last piece of your body to achieve your goal, but I will watch over you as you do so. That man gave no response. She knew he would not. So... This was a living human replying to a will. It was no different from speaking to a grave. So... But... Kumokawa Maria did not think it was meaningless. Just because those words would not reach anyones ears and just because science could not prove her actions would accomplish anything, this was not something one could make light of. Once you see this selfishness through until you cannot move a finger, you truly lose your human form, and you face true death as nothing but a pile of flesh, then we can return to our city. Below that chilly November sky, a certain girl was able to stand next to a certain man after several years had passed. In that instant, she accepted the death of someone she cared about. That was an instant anyone had to overcome at some point. Volume 8, Epilogue: Lance. Lance_of_"Gungnir". Volume 8, Epilogue: Lance. Lance_of_"Gungnir". Birdway guided the rubber military boat through the steam covering Tokyo Bay. In addition to her, the boat contained Kamijou Touma, Index, Misaka Mikoto, Lessar, and the calico cat. A gray curtain that could cause one to lose their sense of direction filled the space around them evenly in all directions. The scenery looked like some kind of eerie illusion rather than a part of Tokyo. They have to have noticed us, said Birdway quickly. Even now, those sparks floated down around the rubber boat because it was moving above a certain speed. However, Birdway did not wait around for them. She kept the boat running at full speed and passed by the sparks before they could materialize as fire figures. The fire figures therefore lost sight of their target the instant they were born, so they sank into the ocean without doing anything. Thinking back, Kamijou realized it had been Neh?ggr that initially attacked the supersonic passenger plane. No flame figures had appeared inside the plane. They may have divided up which targets they went after. The rubber boat continued toward Sargasso with an eerie trail of orange light behind it. Gremlin will have long since noticed our approach. The question is whether theyre too focused on producing the lance to send anyone after us or... They then heard a low rumbling as if from an earthquake. A giant mountain-like shadow suddenly appeared in the gray fog surrounding them. They had to have been a few kilometers away still, so the overwhelming scale squeezed at Kamijous chest. This was even larger than the dragon from before. That giant humanoid shadow rose over five hundred meters from the surface of the ocean. Kamijous common sense was shaken by the thought of something that large standing on two legs. What...is that? he muttered. Is that part of Gremlin, too? How much nonsensical power are they hiding!? This is the group that sent a mobile fortress several dozen kilometers long flying through the air. Dont act so surprised to see an enemy measured in kilometers. If they had truly wanted to destroy Tokyo, they could have done so at any time. The only reason the city still retained its form was because the strategy they chose had happened to be one of distributing what people stood to gain. Dont let it get to you, snapped Birdway. We cant get past without defeating this thing. If we focus our attacks on a single leg and keep it from moving, we can get past. Dont forget that this is just the opening act. Were here to stop the production of the lance. Before Kamijou could respond, the giant shadow split into a few chunks and sank into the ocean. What!? Before you start asking questions, shut your mouth and hang on!! You dont want to bite your tongue or get thrown out, do you!? After a lag of a few dozen seconds, a great wave mercilessly struck the rubber boat. Birdway tried to keep the front of the boat as perpendicular to the wave as possible to ride over it. A few undulations measuring several meters passed by. The rubber boat was light and it could not right itself very well. It could have easily capsized. Thats the cornerstone of Sargassos defenses, right!? I doubt it would crumble on its own. Did someone take it out!? Dont ask me! Isnt there only one option if it wasnt us? Lessars comment caused Birdway to frown as she desperately worked to control the combined tiller and engine. You mean it was done from within Sargasso? Amid the many remains of ships making up Sargasso sat a single plate. The plate was made from dried clay and a dark red heart sat atop it while continuing to beat. It belonged to M?kkurkalfe. M?kkurkalfe was an enemy of Thor in Norse mythology. It was an artificial life form that was made from a mares heart contained within a giant mountain-like body of clay. The legend said the mare was so cowardly that M?kkurkalfe could not fight properly and Thors servant destroyed it. So if the defective heart was replaced with a more powerful item, one could create an overwhelming power worthy of being an enemy of the gods. A slender arm held that heart. It belonged to Lightning God Thor. As if acting out the legend, that boy picked the heart up from the plate while ignoring the iron-smelling liquid staining his fingertips and palm. No. Technically, that was not what was happening. He may have looked exactly the same, but this boy was someone other than Lightning God Thor. ... He did not hesitate and no change came over his voice or expression. The boy crushed the dark red heart. With the sound of a rotting fruit being thrown against a wall, the remains of the heart fell to the ground like kitchen trash. Immediately afterwards, one could hear the deep sound of something large crumbling. What are you doing? asked a girls voice. This blonde-haired, green-eyed girl had one eye covered by an eyepatch and wore a witchs hat and cape. Despite her lovely appearance, she was known as a magic god and held the power to end the history of humanity at any moment. She was a rare life form that sought that lance not because she lacked power but because she had too much. She was Othinus. The girl had suddenly appeared behind this killer disguised as Lightning God Thor, but he only shrugged. I just thought it was about time. A great roar exploded out. One section of Sargasso was filled with a pure white flash of light. It came from Mj?lnir who was connected to Thor. She had also been helping Marian Slingeneyer with the production of the lance. I doubt that will be enough to kill her, but it should be enough to keep her out of action for a bit. Now, Othinus, how high on your list of priorities is the Dvergr? Show your true self. Do you want to die in disguise? At some point, the boy became a young man. He was tall yet somehow melancholic. He had the expression of someone who was a bit disappointed with either life or the world. He too was an existence of whom legends were told in some places. He was Ollerus. Originally, he would have been the magic god of the modern age. However, Othinus had usurped the single method and chance. His role was that of an old god. He was the ruler of the old laws that was to be defeated in order to prove the new gods power and legitimacy. Ollerus had been dragged down to that position, but he was still qualified to confront the single person to have reached the territory of a magic god. The eyepatch-wearing girl narrowed her eye and lightly touched the brim of her witchs hat with her slender fingers. Why are you here? You have risked your life for this plan, so I doubt that was it. If it was, I will kill you right this instant and return to producing the lance. I am a god of magic that can bend the laws of life and death to help me in my fight. Did you think someones life or death would be enough to stop my plan? Im glad you didnt see through my plan all at once. That puts my mind at ease. It looks like your infinite possibilities sent your power in the negative direction. I can only add humans to the ranks of my Einherjar, muttered the girl in disappointment. I have no way of sending a god to join them. I will truly obliterate you. You dont mind, do you? Ha ha ha. Dont get so pessimistic, Miss Almighty Magic God. No one can stand on your level at the moment. Dont treat me like a true monster just because youre lonely. ... The girl known as a magic god closed her single eye just once. It looked like she was trying to take her mind off of some truly hideous clown. An instant later, the slight space between them was filled with tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of strange explosions. If the theory of relativity that summarized the relationship between time and space would allow a black hole-like object to exist under certain special circumstances, the extreme compression of space by their frightening clash may have twisted the continuity of time. That was how extreme this series of attacks was. A wall of explosions completely filled the space between those two monsters. It showed no sign of ending and seemed to completely ignore the concept of numbers. I thought you had a bit more sense back in Baggage City, said Magic God Othinus while only slightly opening her lips. Despite the noise from all the explosions, her voice sounded oddly clear. But it seems I was mistaken. Or did you lose your mind at some point? Either way, think about it from the perspective of those who have to deal with you. The world does not revolve around you. Only I may claim that. I never thought I could win with this cheap trick, replied Ollerus carefreely. And it does not matter if I dont win. Immediately afterwards, Ollerus suddenly ended his side of the eternally even exchange of explosions. The eyepatch-wearing girls great number of attacks approached with the force of surging waves. Ollerus did not defend or evade. He instead stepped into the deluge of explosions himself. His bones could be heard shattering and his flesh could be heard bursting. An arm flew off, but Olleruss expression did not change even slightly. Before it could, he rushed up to Magic God Othinus as quickly as possible. His hand was palely glowing. Only someone who has touched the territory of a magic god can research one. And only someone like that can find how to oppose one!! He jabbed his palm into the center of the girls chest. What looked like a stake made of light shot forcefully out. I will turn you into a fairy. Time stopped. The explosions disappeared. In that silent space, Magic God Othinuss eye was opened wide. Only Olleruss words filled the stillness of Sargasso. I built a spell out of a historical fact the great Christian powers carried out without realizing it. Simply put, they shrank down the pagan gods. The king of the forest transformed into a dwarf. The queen of the sea was remade into a female monster that sank ships. The god that is hit by this spell will be dragged down from the territory of a magic god and forcibly returned to the territory of a human!! One theory said the gods of the many old religions that conflicted with Christianity were reclassified as evil gods who fell under the category of demons. Those became clear enemies, but there were others that had been remade into beings that lived alongside mankind. In other words, fairies. These small neighbors were frightening beings that kidnapped people and ate their insides, but they would also help with ones job or housework if certain conditions were met. The religious powers had once forbidden belief in them, but they had remained in the peoples hearts. These beings had not been completely remade as enemies or completely eliminated. Unlike the evil gods whose great power was recognized but were seen as merciless enemies, most of these had managed to remain unchanged in peoples hearts on the condition that they were made powerless or shrank down. Ollerus had created a system from this and contained it within a single spell. The word fairy was not all that rare. Religions did not treat it as taboo and it filled childrens fairy tales and picture books. However, very few people had accurately extracted their true form and original role from the flood of information. It was similar to how the great mixture of information on the modern internet diluted the trustworthiness and credibility of the information found there. And that was why only one who had taken a step into the territory of a magic god could extract the spell to kill a magic god. It was a twisted method, but it was obvious what would happen if that spell struck Othinus who had reached the territory of a magic god. Even if all of mankind worked together, they would have no way of opposing the being known as a magic god. And that simple truth does not change even when one includes those of us who only barely remain within the territory of a human, said Ollerus. He spoke of the beginning of a certain death. So instead of trying to bring mankind higher, I will drag you down. I will tear off your wings, strike you from the air, and throw you to the throngs of people who can only crawl along the ground. ...This is the end. Even if humans cannot kill a god, we can manage against a fairy. Gh... The eyepatch-wearing girl twisted her body and a groaning voice escaped her lips. Was she trying to endure the pain? Was she trying to suppress the rapid change occurring within her body? Ollerus assumed that was the case. Heh heh. But he was wrong. He was na?ve. Othinuss shoulders shook and her voice reached his ears along with her sweet breath. Thank you, Ollerus. ... For an instant C just for an instant C even Olleruss mind went blank. She laughed. He could not even imagine why that girls shoulders would be shaking as she suppressed laughter. That was why it took him a moment to realize it. Despite having pressed his palm against the center of the magic gods chest and having fired the stake of light into her, the tip of that stake had not stabbed into Othinus. It was not that a thick wall had appeared to stop it. Olleruss senses told him it had long since extended all the way out, but Othinuss senses said it was only partway out. It is a simple thing, Ollerus. A truly simple thing. I deceived your senses. You gave your victorious speech before you had pulled out your secret weapon. That is all. And once you know the trick, sleight of hand has nothing left to surprise you. !! Also... Ollerus frantically tried to pull his arm back, but he was too slow. This had been a one-shot suicide attempt. He had given no thought to a way out. Magic God Othinus did not hesitate to grab Olleruss wrist. I can make use of this now that I know it exists. It may have been a waste of time for you, but it is an unexpected reward for me. After all, I finally have a way of finishing things with this damn annoying person from my past! You brought the means of your own defeat!! A great noise rang out. Othinus had slammed her other hand against the young mans chest. Her hand was palely glowing. A sharp stake of light stuck out from her palm, thoroughly destroyed the interior of Olleruss body, and forcefully shot out his back. Ha ha ha. She pulled back her hand and the stake sticking from it. The young mans body staggered. The eerie and overwhelming presence from before was gone. It had all vanished. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! The eyepatch-wearing girls back arched backwards as she laughed. It was as if she felt this was much more of an accomplishment than completing the lance. And... The young man spoke even as it appeared he would collapse at any moment. My first hope failed, but my second hope is still on track. ...? Magic God Othinuss eyebrows moved in pure confusion. A moment later, another fairy stake accurately pierced straight through her heart. Dah... She did not even have time to turn around. She mercilessly filled the space behind her with explosions thats numbers reached at least nine digits. Something was crushed and a great roar stabbed through the wrecked ships piled up around them. She could not breathe properly. Othinus turned around with the awkward motions of a machine in need of oil. Finally, she saw the second attacker. Fiamma...of the Right...!? I performed a valuable experiment back in Academy City. The one-armed young man wearing red gave a slight smile while half-buried in the wreckage of ships. A dark red liquid trailed down from the corner of his mouth. I checked to see whether I could completely hide my presence on a battlefield filled with powerful members of various powerful groups. It seems my method was effective even on a magic god. ...And thanks to that, I managed to hit you with the fairy spell. I... Ollerus brought a knee to the ground in intense exhaustion but still spoke with the expression of the victor. I no longer have any interest in being a magic god. But I could not allow someone to misuse that which I had hoped to be. To stop you and take away your status as a magic god, I do not regret giving up that which makes me special. ...You misread that about me, didnt you? Thats why you thought you had won from the moment you turned me into a fairy. ................................................................................................................................................................................. Now that it had come to this, the completion of Gungnir did not matter. It was not a spiritual item that amplified a magicians power. It was nothing more than a tool to control a magic gods great power and make it easier to use. Now that Othinus had lost her power as a magic god, it would not benefit her in any way. It was all over. The infinite possibilities had left her grasp. As those thoughts filled Olleruss mind, he saw something he could not believe. Even a monster like him could not believe it. Heh heh heh. She laughed. The eyepatch-wearing girl had not broken. But that could not be. Ollerus could not believe it. He could see no way it was possible. Othinus had been struck by the fairy spell and thus lost her power as a magic god. Creating the lance no longer had any meaning and Gremlin had lost the symbol behind the organization. There was nothing that could lead to her victory now. Or at least, there should not have been. Even if I do not win, thats fine with me, said the eyepatch-wearing girl in a groan. What matters is unifying my infinite possibilities. Success and failure were always half and half. No matter how much experience I built up and no matter how great a defeat I suffered, it had no bearing on what would happen next time. I never knew which direction to work in or which way to turn. ...I wanted the lance to escape that situation. Instead of having half success and half failure, I would have 100% success. You cant mean... Ollerus finally caught on. But this truth was truly a nightmare. You cant mean!! I only needed it to lean in one direction or the other, she announced as a grin split across her face. It did not matter if I completed the lance and gained 100% success or became a fairy and gained 100% failure. My actions were sealed by the constant 50% balance between success and failure. I could never know if my actions had achieved heads or tails, so I could never know if I could build on top of that action. Moving forward with constant heads is one possible path. But if I know every path I choose will come up tails, I can achieve 100% success by always moving in the opposite direction of the path I choose!! Failing as a magic god acts as a guidepost towards success as a magic god!! ...You two meant nothing from the beginning. Whether I won or lost, you could not stop me from becoming a complete magic god!! If she had won, she would have become a complete magic god. If she had lost, she would have become a complete magic god. Thats why that Imagine Breaker was so irritating! In a way, it did hold the possibility of driving me to 100% failure, but its role as a reference point and repair point for the world meant it clashed with my desire to change the world. With that method of achieving 100% failure off the table, I had no choice but to invite 100% success with the lance. I never thought you would bring such an interesting alternative approach!! She had only needed to obtain one extreme or the other. Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! I was afraid of ending up in a twisted situation where I thought I was constantly failing but hit a dead end while walking down the opposite path. Once you reach my level, it is hard to experience such a thorough defeat that it is impossible to recover. That is why I had hoped you would do it for me. I knew you would eventually come to kill me! You really are a genius! Ha ha. A genius at being used by me no matter what you do!! By the point Othinus had built up that plan, her battle against the world had essentially been over. No matter what the result, she would accomplish her goal. The lance had not been an irreplaceable piece of her plan. It had been nothing more than one of a few different branches on a chart. And she had managed to hide that fact. So let me say it again: thank you, declared the eyepatch-wearing girl with a smile splitting across her face. To use your own words, the lance was my first hope and not using it was my second hope. I cant deny that this is making me feel a bit ill, but the end result is the same. Now, the time has come for me to spread my wings. I will rule over this world in my proper form!! No one had done anything wrong. Her plan had been made so this result would be reached no matter what anyone did. ... ... Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right exchanged a quick glance. And they both took action. Success and failure, heads and tails... None of it matters to me anymore, said the girl with the smile splitting her face. She spread her arms as if welcoming an old friend. After coming this far, do you really think you have any chance of fighting back? The two of you were only able to crawl through the dirt because you could not leave the territory of fragile children of man. Kneel before me as you witness history. This is 100% success!! The rubber military boat approached one end of Sargasso. Kamijou Touma did not have time to be surprised that such a giant structure had been hidden in the middle of Tokyo Bay or that their base had been so close to Academy City. He took a step onto that island made up of countless wrecked ships. A strange sensation rushed up from his foot and stabbed into his brain. He thought he might pass out right then and there. Something was wrong. He almost doubted this was part of the real world. He felt as if he had been plunged into a nightmare horrible enough to kill a human from shock and he could not even tell when the switchover had happened. Yes. (This doesnt feel real. Is this Gremlin? Are they able to twist the world this much?) What had happened with the lance? What about the magic god? With those questions in mind, Kamijou saw something fall from the deck of a passenger ship that had broken in half. It was the man named Ollerus. Kamijou could not tell if the bloody young man was breathing. Hi there, said a girl standing atop the passenger ship. Kamijous head slowly turned in that direction. It was as if his head were being forcibly pulled up by an invisible wire. He could not tell what was happening outside his vision. Index, Misaka Mikoto, Birdway, Lessar, and the calico cat had been aboard the boat with him, but he could not hear any of them speaking and could not catch even a glimpse of them out of his peripheral vision. Were they frozen in place like him? Or, as much as he did not want to think of the possibility, had they disappeared somewhere? Standing above was a human-shaped singularity that distorted the world more than a black hole. Magic God Othinus alone smiled. Its already over. You were too late. ...But none of that matters now. This was destined to happen whether you were late or early. ...I was too late? Kamijous eyelids twitched oddly. He could not believe it. Are you saying that the lance...that Gungnir was already completed!? Oh, the lance, said the eyepatch-wearing girl with the look of someone recalling a trivial fact. Marian Slingeneyer failed. Hawaii, Baggage City, and the attack on Academy City over Fr?ulein Kreutune all ended in failure. Ollerus destroyed it all. ...? He could not relax even for an instant. Despite what she said, Othinus was not concerned or angry. But none of that ever really mattered. The eyepatch-wearing girl gave a light shrug. The lance was nothing more than an item used to complete my position as a magic god. As long as I had a way of doing that without using the lance, it didnt matter at all. For example, there was the one and only means of killing me that Ollerus secretly developed. ... Also, all of Gremlins actions may have been working toward the production of the lance, but that was not necessarily the only way of creating it. The method using Dvergr Marian Slingeneyer was just one more decoy. I could have made the lance on my own, but if I revealed that, all of you might very well have interfered. I went out of my way to gather those weaklings and had them carry out that decoy plan alongside my own. It was all so all of you would work to stop that decoy instead. Youre...kidding... About what? That I could so easily overturn the assumption that there was only one method of producing the lance? Or that my subordinates and your comrades could be so easily deceived? mockingly asked the eyepatch-wearing girl. Did you know this? The Norse god from whom I took the name Othinus is known as the god of war, magic, art...and also betrayal. He would deceive people to spread chaos and cause unnecessary disputes all to more efficiently gain the souls of dead warriors. ...All of your information about that lance was spread by me. Gremlin and its enemies were manipulated by the information they found where I had conveniently left it for them. No matter what anyone says, that is the truth. Even Ollerus was deceived. .................................................................................................................................................................................... Kamijou could not keep up with the situation. His brain refused to comprehend the information. The great organization known as Gremlin had shaken the world so greatly, but all of that had been pointless effort that held no meaning? Hawaii, Baggage City, and the fighting over Fr?ulein Kreutune had been nothing but a safety measure meant to hide the true time limit? She had done it all alone. The eyepatch-wearing girl known as a magic god had manipulated the entire world. Now, its time for some fun. Kamijou heard a sound like a rock landing in some mud. It came from the head of the blonde-haired, green-eyed girl named Othinus. The black eyepatch was pushed out from within. An object covered in a dark red liquid shot out from the empty eye socket. It continued on and on. Ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! The magic god laughed arched her back. An unpleasant noise rang out. The tip of the lance was not a sharply pointed blade like on a knife. It was a wide blade as if a double-edged sword had been forcibly attached. What would happen if that was forcibly dragged from her narrow eye socket? The sound of a joint popping continued on and on with a sticky sound mixed in. No, that was the sound of something breaking and splitting. Her eye socket may have been spreading and distorting like a hole in a rubber band. It may have even grown larger than the girls small face. ...Ah... Kamijou Toumas body froze as if paralyzed while he watched this overwhelming sight. He could do nothing but watch. He could not even guess how much pain that would cause. He could not imagine what was going on in that girls head as she continued to smile. And... A lance covered in a dark red liquid made its horizontal entrance into the world. Othinus grabbed the Gungnir she had produced from within her own body and looked down on Kamijou once more. Her face had returned to normal. Had it truly possessed the strange elasticity of rubber? Or had she somehow instantly repaired her smashed and destroyed skull? Either 100% success or 100% failure would have completed my status as a magic god. Ah... Thanks to all of you, I have gained both solutions at once! Do not think of me as a mere magic god any longer. I will now show the world what Othinus truly is!! Ahhhhhhhh!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He shouted, screamed, and cried out. Finally, Kamijou Touma was freed from the bonds keeping him frozen in place. Without paying any attention to his surroundings, he ran so he could get as close as possible to Magic God Othinus. She stood atop the towering passenger ship, so there was no way the boys legs could have brought him to her. However, he was afraid his mind would collapse if he did not oppose her in some way. And... Magic God Othinus lightly spun the lance around in one hand and pointed its tip toward the heavens. She spoke slowly. She uttered two short sentences. These small fights are such a pain. I think Ill just end the world. And exactly as she had announced, everything was immediately destroyed. Volume 8, Afterword Volume 8, Afterword To those who have bought one volume at a time: welcome back. To those who bought them all at once: welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. The series with the New Testament label is already on its eighth volume. The fight with Gremlin has continued for that long. This time, the focus is placed on Kamijou Toumas small objective of saving those he confronts even as he is caught up in a major battle. At the same time, focus also falls on Ollerus and Othinus. Someone has to fight back against Othinus somehow, but who can hurt such a terrifying opponent and how? When faced with that question, Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right attacked as a combo that doesnt play fair. All of the foreshadowing laid out in the background of New Testament volumes 5 and 6 was used for this one-shot attack. How did you like it? Perhaps because of her beauty, Freyja is a popular goddess in Norse mythology, but she is a mysterious existence with many other sides to her. Among those are more aggressive traits such as being Odins lover and having free control over half of the gods army of Einherjar. But this time, I used the most basic trait of being a goddess that gives birth to life. No matter how great a mission a hero has, I hope they do not crush this kind of character underfoot along the way. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. The stage this time had to have required a lot of work in a different way from Academy City. I am thankful they continue to stick with the unreasonable things I write. I also thank all of you readers. I think this is the first time the story has taken place in Tokyo but not in Academy City. I think you will see many different stages from now on as well. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Now, what will happen to the world that was ended without hesitation? -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 9, Prologue: The End of a Certain World. Game_Over. Volume 9, Prologue: The End of a Certain World. Game_Over. In the UN headquarters at New York, United States President Roberto Katze spoke before the gathered national leaders. Our allied forces will perform a joint attack on Gremlins headquarters of Sargasso. Everything will be decided by our ability to find the enemy and work together. After all, it seems the Magic Gods lance will be completed in another twelve hours. Once that happens, theres no way we can win. And that goes for all six billion people on Earth. The man who should have become a Magic God, Ollerus, had infiltrated Sargasso while disguised as Lightning God Thor. (Now, then. Its about time I took action.) After arriving in Japans Academy City, Leivinia Birdway spoke to Kamijou Touma. This is our last chance. I do not think you can defeat Magic God Othinus. But if we throw you into the middle of her delicate work, you might be able to stop the production of the lance. You could say your role is similar to a precision guided bomb being dropped from the sky. Queen Regnant Elizard responded to her subordinate while taking part in the meeting of heads of state. Heres my guess: Sargasso is in the North Sea or the sea near Iceland. A British unit containing Second British Princess Carissa, Knight Leader, and Mercenary William Orwell began a preemptive attack against Sargasso where it floated in the North Sea. There, they met an old man in a tailcoat who called himself Loki. I have splendidly deceived my powerful enemies! This may only buy a small amount of time, but that time can influence the direction in which the world is headed!! When Birdway received word, she grimaced. The real Sargasso is in Tokyo Bay!? Academy City existed on the western side of Tokyo. Sargasso floated in Tokyo Bay on the eastern side of Tokyo. If the two clashed, the 23 special wards would become a battlefield. To stop it, Gremlin had to be crushed before they could truly begin their attack. Kamijou Touma, Index, Misaka Mikoto, Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, and Kumokawa Maria boarded the same supersonic passenger plane for their individual reasons. But they did not arrive at Tokyo Bay. Just as they left Academy City airspace and passed over Shinjuku, a mysterious creature resembling a dragon attacked them and their plane exploded in midair. They used parachutes to land but were scattered in the process. For now, we can only head for Sargasso. That is the goal where we can all meet up!! Every road was congested and all transportation was paralyzed, so Kamijous method of travelling quickly was to jump on top of a subway train. However, a Gremlin magician named Freyja appeared before him. I purposefully left this hole open to lure in a powerful enemy, and it looks like I ended up with exactly the card I expected. The fertility goddess Freyja will be your opponent With the help of Index and Mikoto, Kamijou somehow managed to defeat Freyja and once more set out for Tokyo Bay. He was attacked by Gremlins defense mechanism named Neh?ggr, but it was defeated by Kihara Kagun. Kumokawa Maria said the following. I will remain here. Even if he is already dead, at least one person needs to go along with his selfishness. At Sargasso, Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right used their anti-Magic God spell on Othinus. That spell was meant to shrink a Magic God down to the level of a fairy and it succeeded, but Othinus remained calm. It could be either success or failure, so you have given me the chance I needed to become a complete Magic God. Your desperate strategy has merely given me what I needed. When Kamijou and the others finally arrived at Sargasso, Othinus was waiting for them. She pulled the lance from behind her eyepatch and spoke. Marian Slingeneyer and Gremlin were mere decoys. If you knew I alone was creating the lance, there was a chance that attempt would be hindered. Kamijou tried to deny Othinuss words in an attempt to look away from the hopeless situation, but Othinuss reply was one of disinterest. These small fights are such a pain. I think Ill just end the world. Immediately afterwards, everything in the world was truly and seriously destroyed. Volume 9, 5: Further than the Farthest Reaches. Point_Unknown. Volume 9, Chapter 5: Further than the Farthest Reaches. Point_Unknown. Part 1 You have failed. Magic God Othinuss voice slipped into Kamijou Toumas ears. Initially, he was unable to grasp the all too strange and hopeless situation. You have failed and this is the result. I am honestly not interested in what you will do now, but this is reality. It is boring and ultimately nothing leaves ones expectations. ... Kamijou finally realized he was lying on his back. Once he sprang to his feet, he was left speechless. Everything around him was odd. It was black. Nothing but black. The ground was perfectly flat. It was even more level and free of defect than the silicon wafer for a semiconductor. From where he stood to the horizon, the ground did not rise or fall by even a micron. What is this place? Nothing natural could be seen. Nothing unnatural could be seen. Despite the previous use of the word, it was unclear whether the term horizon even applied. Both the ground and the sky were colored pure black, so it was impossible to distinguish between them. He turned around a full 360 degrees, but the scenery did not change. He stopped at the spot he thought he had started at, but he was not even sure that was correct. With nothing to use as a landmark, he could not be sure. He could, however, see a blonde-haired, green-eyed girl. One of those eyes was covered with a leather eyepatch and she held a lance. The uniform world of darkness emphasized her golden hair and white skin like the full moon. A strange sense of reality gradually assaulted Kamijous heart. He had never before felt such hostility and rejection toward a feeling of reality. What is this? I thought we were in Tokyo Bay. We were in Gremlins headquarters of Sargasso!! What? Does this look like some other place to you? Wait a second... The Magic God seemed oddly close. Compared to when he had chased her to the other side of the world in Eastern Europes Baggage City, she seemed so much closer. But she also seemed distant. He had never been so far from understanding this eyepatch-wearing girl. In that sense, she seemed further than the ends of the earth. This isnt Sargasso. You carried me somewhere else while I was unconscious. Thats the truth of what happened! After all! Um... After all!! Anything else would be a major problem!! Why do you think the world revolves around your convenience? Then what happened to Sargasso!? What happened to Tokyo Bay!? Does it look like any of it remains? Then what happened to the people there!? What happened to Index!? Or Misaka!? Or Lessar and Birdway!? A-and not just them! What about all the people living in Tokyo!? Do I look like someone who would care about that? .............................................................................................................................................................................. His understanding of what lay before him crumbled. He forgot how to produce anger or sorrow. Such things had been so natural that he had never before thought about the process. But his mind was in such disarray that he no longer understood how his own heart functioned. Youre lying... How long are you going to keep talking? Youre lying!! You, um, used some kind of trick to make it look like thats what happened!! That would be easier. Instead of destroying Tokyo Bay and killing all those people, it would be easier to bring me to some other place!! So...!! It no longer matters how you perceive the situation. Who it was that disappeared is a trivial matter. The problem that lies before you is that only the two of us are here, said Othinus disinterestedly. She sounded like someone who had downloaded an app to kill time late at night but found out it was even more boring than expected. And you seem confused as to the scale we are talking about. What? Are you saying theres more? Why are you talking about this on the tiny scale of Tokyo Bay? What I destroyed is not contained to just the small planet known as Earth. Kamijou Touma laughed. He could not help but laugh. He completely gave up trying to grasp the situation. All of his emotions came to an end. He had no idea what emotion his expression was based in. It may have been the expression of a marionette after its strings had been cut. Even the expressionless look people considered neutral may have been partially regulated by the facial muscles controlled by that persons will. It did not matter. He would gain nothing by speaking with Magic God Othinus any longer. He could not have a proper conversation with her. She was lying. She had to be lying. He could not bear to think about the alternative. He simply had to check on the situation himself. That would bring an end to this farce. Ha ha. If you want to see it that badly, go right ahead. But you do not have to see it. In fact, you might be happier if you dont see it. Othinuss mocking voice struck his back. He had no intention of responding. He began walking unsteadily through that uniformly black world. He was turning his back to someone as powerful as Othinus, but he was no longer able to feel any direct threat to his life. Index, he muttered. There were no hills, structures, or objects that could hide someone. If someone was standing there, he would have seen them right away. Misaka. There were no mountains, no valleys, no oceans, no rivers, no sun, and no moon. As he walked and walked and walked and walked and walked, he found nothing but the same level ground. He called out several names, but they disappeared into the darkness as if being swallowed up. Lessar! Birdway!! They were not there. They were not anywhere. The truth picked up by his senses was all too clear, but it took his mind a long, long time to understand it. He refused to accept that truth, so he rejected the idea with all his might. There had to be something somewhere. There might be a valley somewhere in that world of uniform black. They might all be hiding there and he simply could not see it from such a distance. Surely that was the case. It had to be the case. While keeping that thought in mind, Kamijou Touma accepted his baseless speculation as fact and continued walking. And... And... And... Part 2 ... ......... .................. Time had passed. By the time Kamijou realized that, he could not remember how long he had been walking. There was no sun or moon to judge time by. There were not even stars. He was surrounded by a pitch black dome. He may have only been walking for half an hour or so, but he might have been walking for three days and three nights. Whatever the case, that was when his mind reached some kind of critical juncture. One could say the thin thread of his tension had snapped. There was no one there. There was no one anywhere. He could not find a single person. Ah...ahh.... And where was he? Sargasso could not possibly be this large. Walking in a single direction should have brought him to the ocean eventually, but nothing changed no matter how far he walked. The ocean had vanished. It was like a passage from a picture book meant to provide children with an odd philosophical feeling. Had he really wandered into such an absurd and surreal world? Or had the world been changed to take this form? Ahhhhh. Where am I? For the first time, Kamijou Touma properly asked that question. And once he did, it was all over. A great pressure squeezed at his heart from every direction. He stood on a black plain that did not change in height by even a micron. The sky was equally black and provided no landmark to follow. There was nothing he could use to judge where it was he stood. He might have been walking in an accurate line like a machine or he might have been circling around in a narrow area. He had no way of proving it one way or the other. He could feel that which supported his feet and his mind crumbling underneath him. Ahhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! He was alone. He was all alone in this vast world with nothing in it. His mental state was similar to someone exploring some ancient ruins and finding their thread leading to the exit had snapped. Strength left his legs. He collapsed to the ground and curled up in the fetal position. He screamed as loudly as he could. In a world this distorted, the concept of being lost or not knowing how to return may not have applied. The scenery may have looked exactly the same no matter what coordinates he stood at. Even so, he was afraid. He was unbearably afraid. He was afraid of being unable to return to a location that remained only in his head. He was afraid of having no way to meet the people he had previously spoken with like it was nothing. He had never known this kind of fear existed. He had never thought about the possibility of experiencing this kind of fear. He had thought about the possibility of dying someday. But this was different. It was the polar opposite. This was the fear of him alone living on. This was the fear of everything but him disappearing. He had not built up a resistance to this kind of fear. It was wrong to have ever done so. This was something that should never have happened. Among all the different possibilities, this was the absolute worst. Kamijou Touma was thrown into this situation that should never be experienced even once. By the time he reached the question of what to do, his thoughts ground to a halt. This world had nothing to indicate what to do. He could circle in all 360 degrees and find nothing in this world. Say the main character of an RPG is standing in a field. He can walk to the north, south, east, or west. He walks for an hour or even a day, but does not find any villages or towns. He does not find anyone. Whether he continues on or turns back, the same field continues on and on forever. ...What was someone supposed to do in that situation? Could anyone really consider continuing on and going along with the wishes of whoever had created the hopeless situation? That was why Kamijous heart ached for some kind of indicator. It could be a small village, a bridge over a river, or a conveniently placed sign. He just wanted some kind of landmark. ...There is one, he muttered. He straightened out from the fetal position and unsteadily stood back up. It appeared in his mind once more. The option he had completely rejected appeared in his mind once more. A single foreign element shined like the full moon in that dark world. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Theres still Othinus, the source of all this. Part 3 He may have been approaching the heart of the issue. Or he may have been trying to escape the reality he faced. Either way, Kamijou Touma began to walk once more. He walked back the way he had come so he could meet with Magic God Othinus once more. Once his stalled mind began to move, question after question came to him. Each and every one of them weighed hopelessly heavily on his mind, but he could not advance if he ignored them. And more importantly, all of the answers connected back to that Magic God. With nothing to use as a landmark, he was not confident he was headed in the right direction. Nor did he know how far he had to walk. Even so, he continued on. He walked. Oh? said Othinus casually. The tip of her lance was stabbed into the black ground and she was leaning against the handle. She continued speaking lazily. And here I thought you had broken and collapsed to die out in the middle of nowhere. Kamijou did not respond. Just like her, he said only what he wanted to say. There was nothing here. I told you that at the beginning. But this isnt the end. Magic God Othinus straightened up from the lance sticking vertically up from the ground. Her one eye narrowed slightly, but Kamijou continued. There has to be some way of returning this world to normal. There has to be a way of meeting the people who have disappeared!! Are we back to your special brand of optimism? I was wondering how you managed to overcome seeing the end of the world, but it looks like you simply deluded yourself. Othinus shrugged. Listen. The world has ended. It does not matter how. It is gone. Your right hand can negate magical flames and you might be able to protect yourself from them, but can it revert something that has been burned to ashes? This is no different. The world has ended, so there is nothing you can do. Really? asked Kamijou. According to Ollerus, Imagine Breaker was created from the selfish hopes of all magicians. He said it is a reference point and restoration point they can use if they have twisted the world to the point that they dont know how to fix it. ... And that is exactly what has happened here. He formed a fist and held out his right hand. I dont know what youre thinking and I may not even be able to understand it, but none of that matters. ...I will crush all that here. I will find a way to revert everything you threw out of order. I have the tool needed to do it. Fine then, said Othinus simply and quickly. To be honest, I had thought you would be the final barrier. Specifically, your right hand and wrist. Imagine Breaker takes on different forms depending on the era and location. You are literally trash, but killing you and having it reside somewhere else could be a problem. ...? And so. Othinus paused for a beat before continuing. Rather than smashing every last bit of you to pieces, it would be better to break you mentally. I will use you as a cage to trap Imagine Breaker. That power of yours will be completely useless. Bring it on. Either way, were the only ones here. Even if Im at a disadvantage and even if this is reckless, I cant rely on anyone or anything else right now. Me? Fight you? She frowned and even tilted her head. It may be hard to believe, but I am a god. Do you really think the great Othinus would bother to fight a puny human? She grabbed the handle of the lance she had previously been leaning up against. She pulled the tip out of the black ground. A Magic God does not need to do anything directly to crush a single kid. Have you forgotten? A Magic God is one who can manipulate anything in the world using magic. Everything is under my control. Any annoying bit of work can be left to my pawns. It glowed. The spear gave off light in that world filled with nothing but darkness. This was a clear change. Or perhaps it was a sign of creation. What are you doing? I already told you. I am breaking you mentally. Magic God Othinuss tone was perfectly casual. She looked at him as if watching a death row inmate being carried along the conveyer belt of a fully automated execution device. I will take that which you wanted to protect, the places you wanted to return to, the faces you wanted to see once more, and everything else. I will fundamentally overturn them and destroy your recognition of them. I will show you the insignificance of everything you have gained in your fifteen or so years of life. As soon as she finished speaking, the entire world was dyed white. It was not that his vision was being filled with bright light. He was not being blinded. The empty world of darkness was now shining. It was changing. Starting from the lance, everything was obeying the Magic Gods will. Something was happening. Between the Lines 4 Small scratches had been made in that empty place. Straight scratches had been made with someones fingernail. Did they count the passage of time or the number of times someone had passed by there? The person could no longer remember. But that number that slowly grew provided a slight sense of accomplishment. It had no meaning, but it provided support. One time the person passed by that place, the scratches had disappeared. Thinking they were in the wrong place, the person had walked around that world of uniform black, but they had not found the scratches. The person had wanted something definite. They had wanted something unchanging to support them. Even if it was completely natural, they knew this was a difficult wish to grant. People aged and things broke. Food rotted and metal rusted. Towns changed and cultures were twisted. Not even nations and civilizations stayed the same forever. Even if they were not in this black world, finding something that truly did not change would have been extremely difficult. Even so, they wished for it. They wished for it specifically because everything had come to an end. There was a lot to do. Where had the missing people gone? Could replacements be made for the lost buildings? Could food and water be found in this urgent situation? There may have been no direct link between those objectives and something that did not change. But the presence or absence of such a thing would make all the difference. It would be different from a collection of tiny scratches that could disappear at any time. There was something in that world of black that would count. Having something definite like that would have meaning. And so... Volume 9, 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Alpha. Volume 9, Chapter 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Alpha. Part 1 ...Ah!? Kamijou awoke. He did not know where he was or have any memories of what had just happened. He was lying on a cheap bed. He did not recognize anything. He did not know exactly where he was, but he thought it might be a ready-built house in a residential district. He was in a square space that resembled a small bedroom. A small penguin doll sat on a shelf on the wall. There was a good reason he was not sure about what this place was. The room had no roof. The wall bordering the outside had completely crumbled. A burning smell reached his nose within the rubble-strewn room. The stars glittering in the sky above suggested it was night, but the scenery past the broken wall seemed oddly bright. A faint orange light seemed to shine from beyond the horizon. (What was that world of nothing but black? Was it a dream?) Nothing was clear. He had no confidence one way or the other. His situation lying in this destroyed house did not seem real. If he was asked whether his previous experience or this current one was a dream, he would not have an answer. (Where is this anyway? Where is Gremlin? Or Sargasso? Academy City is filled with student dorms, so Im not there. Is this somewhere in the 23 special wards of Tokyo?) The only possibility he could think of was that he lost consciousness during his confrontation with Magic God Othinus at Sargasso in Tokyo Bay. He had no memory of it, but given the situation, he doubted it had been successful. Index, Misaka Mikoto, Lessar, and Birdway had headed to Sargasso with him, so one of them had likely taken him with them when they withdrew. If so, the person who had brought him here was likely nearby. Staying put until they returned would be better than wandering randomly. ..........................................................................................Or would it be? Unpleasant sweat poured from his face. There was no way he had made it all the way here from Tokyo Bay on his own. As his enemy, no one from Gremlin would have considerately laid him on a bed after he fell unconscious. A stranger would have no reason to suddenly intervene. In that case, it was most natural to assume one of the people travelling with him had carried him. He had no reason to doubt that conclusion. Nevertheless, an intense feeling of rejection came over him as he tried to take that easy way out. It was like pitching a tent over where old and rusted unexploded ordnance was buried and being told to rest there because it was safe. He felt as if he were ignoring a precondition that he could not afford to overlook. He heard a staticky noise. While surrounded by an odd burning smell as if someone had failed making dinner, a pale white light appeared to his side. He looked over and saw a rectangular light. It was an LCD TV. It seemed to have turned itself on somehow. The news came on. A female Japanese announcer in a suit was reporting on what looked like a war in a distant country. The nighttime cityscape behind her was undergoing a complete blackout, so none of the usual city lights were visible. Even so, the silhouettes of the buildings were still vaguely visible because of the orange flames burning here and there. Wait... muttered Kamijou. Just like a piece of trick art that holds a different meaning when flipped upside down, he finally realized what was truly being shown on the TV screen. Wait! I know where that is!! A horrible feeling began at the tips of his fingers and rushed deep into the core of his body. The female announcers voice finally entered his ears. The international coalition army is continuing its joint invasion of Japans capital city of Tokyo in order to eliminate Kamijou Touma who is hiding within the city. We have word that seventy percent of the 23 special wards in the heart of the city have already been reduced to rubble, but there are concerns that the large-scale destruction will leave doubt as to whether Kamijou Touma is actually dead. ................................................................................................................................................................................................... He had no idea what this meant. From what Leivinia Birdway had told him, it seemed the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the United States of America, France, and other powers had joined together to attack Gremlins headquarters. The true Sargasso had been in Tokyo Bay, so it was possible they had fought Magic God Othinus and the rest of Gremlin. But how did that lead to this news report? He stared blankly at the news which seemed even more cut off from reality than a war in a distant country. It sounded like a bad joke, but then he remembered the burning smell. And this strange houses roof and wall had been destroyed. He stiffly turned his head and once more looked out at the city through the bedrooms destroyed wall. Orange light flickered there, but they were not city lights. The entire city was undergoing a blackout. The lights he saw burning were massive flames which had been set to burn someone to death. ... The broadcast cut to different footage. It looked like a press conference and countless camera flashes lit up the man standing in the center. United States President Roberto Katze puffed up his chest and spoke. I will skip all the unnecessary details. For one thing, we all know there was no room for argument. The Japanese government may have admitted Kamijou Touma is hiding in their country, but they have hidden this fact for a long time. That is an insult to the people of all nations who wish for a stable and peaceful international society. Wh-what? Kamijou spoke his question aloud despite no one being around to hear it. That familiar face was speaking with an unfamiliar expression. We are forcing great hardship on the people of Japan, especially those who live in the city center. That is an undeniable fact, but we cannot end this onslaught until we have definite and undeniable proof of Kamijou Toumas death. Even those of you who insist on pacifism must understand deep down. For true peace, we must slay that demon now!! The translated voice speaking over the presidents actual voice spoke oddly calmly when compared to his actual expression and tone. What he was doing was little different from reading off a list of those who were to be shot. Even if opinions are split in the present, historians a century from now will surely applaud our decision. If Kamijou Touma is allowed to escape and once more disappear into this wide world, nothing but rubble and corpses will remain in a century!! In accordance with the goodness of all mankind, we will make sure to bring his life to an end!! A deluge of applause followed. Kamijou felt lost as he watched the world respond enthusiastically to the presidents speech. He began to wonder if they would shed tears at an announcement of 98 yen cartons of eggs (1 per person) as long as it was given the label of presidential speech. He did not even know where to begin. In a sinking boat, anyone would know to plug up the hole in the bottom of the boat. But the number of holes was simply too great. He was not even calm enough to think about plugging them each in order, so he could only watch the destructive scene play out. And as a result, he averted his gaze from the truth and tried to gain peace of mind by overturning the original assumptions. (Is this a type of information warfare? Are they trying to trick Gremlin to lead them somewhere? I cant think of any other reason to give the world such mistaken information.) But his thoughts were interrupted. Hi there. A new voice suddenly slipped into the destroyed bedroom. His shoulders jumped and he turned around. He found a girl folding her arms and leaning against the wall. She wore a witch-like hat and cape, leather clothes bound her body, and one eye was covered by an eyepatch. All of those things gave certain symbols to this persons silhouette. No. She may not have fallen within the category of person. Magic God Othinus!? The world has heated up nicely. That girl who stood in the territory of a god was spinning the TV remote in her hand. She randomly flipped through the channels. She looked like someone killing time during their spare time after dinner, but every single channel showed shocking footage that threatened to squeeze Kamijous heart until it bursted. One channel showed the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church speaking to a crowd in front of a solemn sanctuary. Please, everyone. Lift up your prayers for this day. God respects mans free will, but we must not naively support peoples mistakes. Mistakes must be corrected. The one named Kamijou Touma is a stagnation created by misusing the freedom man has been given. Our ability to purify ourselves is being tested. Another channel showed the Queen Regnant sitting in a palace parlor and speaking with someone from the TV station. It is an extremely unique situation, but we should fight here because our honor is at stake. It is quite rare to see evil on this level these days. Recently, even mafias and gangs have been speaking of good. We are honored to carry out the role of a modern day dragon slayer. It looks like their engine has finished warming up, said Othinus. The world is boiling over. They have realized this great commotion will never end unless they find the head of Kamijou Touma in the rubble. I am a little surprised that no one has attempted to use nukes despite the extreme situation. Perhaps that is because they want to confirm your death after the fact. What did...you do? Kamijou somehow managed to move his trembling lips and speak. His voice quickly grew to a shout. What did you do to them!? I dont see why they would ever stop targeting you! Oh, come on. Do you think I threatened them and gave them a wanted poster? No one would go along with that. They would refuse and I would have to take their pitiful lives. Surely you understand that. ... Also, the continuity of the world no longer matters. The world truly came to an end. Sigh... I went out of my way to show you, so please dont tell me you have already forgotten. This is not a nightmare you will eventually wake up from and it is not a meaningless illusion. This is the current world. I am a god and I made it this way. You can delude yourself if you like, but only one fate awaits you if you refuse to deal with the reality before you. The Magic God shrugged while still leaning against the wall. You will die. At this rate, nothing will change that. Bright light shined in from outside. It seemed to belong to a powerful flashlight. Kamijou looked around the destroyed bedroom while half-blinded, but Othinus was nowhere to be found. In her place, he heard multiple violent-sounding voices from outside. Hey, I heard a TV in there, but it cant have been a 1seg TV for disasters. To preserve the battery, they dont let you turn the volume up that loud. But the power is out over the entire area. No one can run a giant TV. They must be using some kind of trick. Someone might be living here in secret. Lets check it out. It might be him. Unpleasant sweat poured from Kamijous entire body. He was pretty sure the destroyed bedroom was on the second floor of the house, but he could still hear the loud noises of someone entering the house. And those sounds were not that of a clattering doorknob, the door being kicked down, or anything else he would have expected. They immediately broke a window. The high-pitched noise stabbed into his eardrums. ...!? These people were not operating under the normal rules. But did that only apply to this angry group that was breaking into someone elses house? It was odd enough that the city was burning. Where had the owner of the house gone? Was the owner of the penguin doll in the bedroom safe? But all of that had to come after he escaped safely. Whether it was these people who were crazy or the entire era, he doubted he could have a proper conversation with people who did not hesitate to break someones window. And Othinus seemed to have done something because even the people on the TV had been acting strangely. He did not know who these people were, but he doubted anything good would come of meeting them. He focused his thoughts on surviving. (A small house like this will only have one staircase. If I try to leave normally, I will run across these people. Escaping along the quickest route would have the opposite effect. However I ultimately escape, I need to wait this out. Its the only way.) He instinctually turned toward the destroyed bedrooms door. It had no lock. He could use the chair and other objects in the room to keep the door from opening, but that would have the opposite effect. The intruding group would certainly look through every room. If one of the doors refused to open, it was obvious what they would think. (Where can I hide? Under the bed? In the closet? No. The safer a spot I choose, the more likely they are to check there. I need somewhere that barely counts as a hiding spot. I need to hide behind the opened door or something equally suicidal. Those spots will escape their expectations and act as a mental blind spot.) He heard footsteps beyond the thin floor. He let out a long breath and tried to control his nerves. (The exits are the door and...the broken wall.) While making sure not to make any noise, he walked from the bed to the wall. The wall did not simply have a large hole in it; the entire wall was gone. It looked like multiple rooms had originally been connected by a metal balcony, but the supports had vanished along with the outer wall. The scraps that remained of the metal balcony could be seen on the torn-up ground that had originally been a yard. The ground below was dirt. He would likely survive jumping down from the second story, but the remains of the wall and balcony were in the way. Also, if he injured his ankle when he landed, the men in the house were more likely to catch up to him. (Can I make a rope? The remains of the curtains could work. Once they check here and begin searching the rest of the second floor, I can climb down from where the balcony was. As long as they dont have a bow gun or normal gun, I should be able to escape.) After deciding on a general plan, Kamijou pressed against the wall so he could hide behind the opened door. (I need to meet up with Index, Misaka, or someone else who knows whats going on.) But he had been too na?ve. He realized this once the footsteps on the first floor never came to the second floor. He also began to detect a burning smell. A burning smell had been filling the area for a while, but this one was much stronger. When he heard a crackling noise, he finally caught on to just how urgent the situation was. (Th-they werent trying to search through the house! They were setting fire to it to smoke out anyone inside!) His expectations meant nothing. The idea that this sort of thing was normal was spreading through the world. If he remained, he would be burned to death. If he charged out while coughing, he would be captured. There was no proper means of resolving the situation. If he was to survive and learn why the world had become the way it was, he had to use a method even more unreasonable than the unreasonable situation. Part 2 Kamijou Touma did not have time to think up a means of escaping safely. This crazy group had set fire to a house just because they heard a TV, but even they would not want to die in the house they set on fire. Kamijou used that timing. What he did was quite simple: he jumped down from the large hole created by the crumbled wall. But he did so such that he landed on top of the men leaving the burning house. This was no time to worry about his opponents. He focused solely on neutralizing this threat, so he did not hesitate to fall forcefully on top of the group of three or four men. He heard the dull sound of something being crushed. A scream erupted nearby. The men did not fully absorb the impact, so Kamijou rolled into the junk-filled yard. The remains of the balcony and the blocks of the wall jabbed into his back. Nevertheless, he frantically got up and leaned over the concrete fence until he fell onto the other side. A dry explosive sound burst out. As he lay on the road, Kamijou realized what that noise meant and began to sweat. (A gun!?) But he was not concerned only because this was a deadly weapon with a long range. In the country of Japan, there was a single primary profession that was allowed to carry such weapons. Does that mean theyre police officers!? His shout was answered by more gunfire. Disconcerting sounds of breaking and chipping came from the concrete wall between them. Kamijou simply ran. He took every turn he could, so he ran in a zigzag along the city streets that were arranged like a Go board. All of the buildings were destroyed and only the occasional one was still mostly standing. Black smoke rose everywhere and great pillars of fire rose in some areas where the underground gas pipes had been damaged, but there was no sign of firefighters arriving. He had assumed those people had been the strange eccentrics only seen on TV that were given as representatives of young people these days. But they had been police officers. That was the profession meant to protect law and order, but they had set fire to a strangers house because they had heard a TV inside. Judging from that basis, Kamijou did not want to think what normal people would do. He heard a roar overhead that resembled the sound of cloth flapping in the wind amplified dozens of times. He came to a stop and looked up into the blazing sky. A helicopter was shining a powerful floodlight onto the ground. He did not know the details, but it was likely a military helicopter. As it traveled in a straight line, it shined the light on a pile of rubble and seemed to find something. With a continuous explosive roar, it fired a line of tracer bullets that looked like fireworks. Kamijou gasped for breath while leaning up against a telephone pole which was something he did not often see while living in Academy City. His throat stung. This was more than exhaustion from running. He felt something ominous hanging in the air. So you overcame the first trial, said a girls voice. The Magic God sat on the top of the telephone pole with her legs elegantly crossed. Kamijou moved from the pole and shouted up at her. What in the world did you do!? I did nothing, replied the blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl with a slight smile. I merely changed everyones point of view. Othinus vanished in the blink of an eye. He looked around but found no sign of the girl. Instead, he found a few people in the rubble. They were not moving in the slightest. ... There was no obvious sign of violence like with the helicopter or police, but it did not take a specialized coroner to tell what had happened to those bodies which were dried up like mummies. They had starved to death. A disturbing voice came from the emergency radio in one of their branch-like arms. The UN resolution has cut off all diplomacy, trade, and food assistance for the country. Japan is less than 40% self-sufficient in its food supply, so more than one in two people are expected to die. There is no real need to fight. After the war, Japan was set up such that it would dry up on its own without help. You could say we gave it a collar. But it seems that country will try to eat tree roots and human flesh if it needs to, so it is best to make absolutely sure. Kamijou was fed up with it all. He left that area and walked through the residential streets. Something quite heavy must have driven along them because they were horribly cracked. After walking for a while, he finally gained a hint as to where he was. At a ninety degree turn, he found a metal road sign. It was scorched black due to exposure to flames or high heat, but he could still make out the place name. ...Shibuya? A chill ran down his back. This pile of rubble was Shibuya? This is the place Ive seen on TV so many times? One might think of Shibuya as a place filled with the sources of new fashions, industrial facilities, and high-class brand-name stores, but it actually had a peaceful residential district and bars only a few hundred meters from the station. (Of course, the prices of the houses were laughably high.) It seemed Kamijou had made his way from the residential district and into the industrial district. None of it felt real. This was partly due to living within the walls of Academy City, but the sight before him was also very different from what he had seen on TV. There were no buildings taller than fifteen meters. The ones that had been there had crumbled into rubble. The elevated roadways were in pieces. The cityscape had been smashed by an overwhelming force and only the bases of buildings remained after taking fatal damage. (Did Gremlin do this? Or was it the coalition?) It wasnt me, said a voice. Inside a shop with shattered windows and all its brand-name items stolen, an eyepatch-wearing girl rotated in front of a large mirror. And it does not seem to be over yet. She vanished as if she were made of smoke. The city had supposedly lost all power, but a cheerful voice came from the stores speakers. It seemed to be a Japanese translation of some foreign news. Great effort has been put into evacuating the students from Academy City, but the coalition refuses to allow it. They say they will nip all negative possibilities in the bud by bombing every place that accepts the evacuees. How scary. A peaceful world truly is best. Kamijou saw some lights. They looked like shooting stars, but there were too many of them. It seems precision bombings of Saitama, Yokosuka, Shizuoka, and Kofu have begun. Its over. They arent going to let them out of Kantou. We have a warning to all you good boys and girls! If you dont want your home blown to smithereens, dont let them into your city! Inviting in the evacuees will end badly, baby! Twenty to thirty flashes of light passed over Kamijous head. They stabbed into the central structures like the subway station. The cheerful voice provided commentary. The voice implicitly indicated how this was viewed by those on the outside. Hey, Ive got some more hot information. This time, its Shibuya! Lets begin the countdown until the villains are slain. Ten, nine, eight, seven... Its time for a happy new age!! Hoo!! The attack landed. A flash of light burst out. A great roar followed. And everything burned. Kamijou did not even have time to get down. Shortly after the flash of light, a wall of dust spread out to visually represent the shockwave. The cruise missiles had targeted the subway station over one hundred meters away, but his body was still thrown into the air. He did not know what he hit, but a dull pain exploded in the back of his head. Gh...wah!! Cough cough!! He had hit his head, yet a powerful urge to vomit rose up from his stomach. However, he did not have time to leisurely check on his injuries. Kssssshhhh!! The stores speaker seemed to have been damaged in the blast because it only produced static. But Kamijou remembered what that the voice had said. The bombings were targeting the students who had fled Academy City. In which case... It cant be, he muttered. Familiar faces filled his aching head. This isnt a joke, dammit!! He ignored his woozy head and ran toward the station. As he approached, he felt a stinging pain on his skin. He belatedly realized the air was extremely hot. The building had completely lost its original form and it truly collapsed as he watched. What if a large number of people had been hiding in there? (No. No!! Ive heard Shibuya Station is built like a giant vertical hole leading dozens of meters underground. If the people were trying to evacuate, they would head as far down as possible. Just because the building on the surface collapsed doesnt mean they were wiped out!!) Dont be so sure, said a girls voice. For some reason, she rode up alongside him on an electric two-wheeled vehicle that she had picked up somewhere. Things might not go as nicely as you think they will. !! He tried to punch her, but the Magic God and her vehicle disappeared like smoke. By the time he reached the station building, the pain on his skin was the same as on a midsummer beach. Even with the thick soles of his shoes, the bottoms of his feet hurt worse than his exposed face. The ground may have been heated like a frying pan. He would not have done so regardless, but he was not about to sit down for a breather. (Wheres the entrance?) He looked around. The building itself had been reduced to a pile of rubble, so it was difficult to decide what part had been where. Concrete blocks were piled up with no gap between them. There simply was not any space for someone to enter. (Shit. How am I supposed to get in!? The people inside will suffocate like this!!) Suddenly, he heard some heavy rocks crumbling. And then he saw it. But it was not the entrance he saw. Fuki...yo...se...? His voice was trembling. He finally saw a familiar face. He wanted to rescue this classmate as soon as possible, but he also desperately wished she was not here. Fukiyoseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! She was a girl whose primary features were her large breasts and her long black hair which was parted to expose her forehead. She was collapsed at the foot of a pile of rubble. She lay atop the ground which stabbed through Kamijous shoes as if it was a rock heated in the flames of hell. He ran over and frantically picked her up. Her black hair covered her face, so he could not see how much damage had been done. However, she was still breathing shallowly. Something could be done. Dammit!! Are you okay!? Ill do something about this. I will save you!! It felt like he was lifting up a thick and heavy clump of rubber. An amateur like him could not tell what had happened inside her body, but he knew he had to treat her burns. Finding ice in a powerless city would be difficult, but he thought he could find water. ...Ah... Her cracked lips moved ever so slightly. He stopped her with a hand. Dont try to speak. You need medical treatment first, so lets get you away from here. The announcement had said the bombings were targeting the students who had evacuated Academy City. If classes, school years, or entire schools were traveling in groups, others he knew might also be in Shibuya. There was so much he wanted to ask her, but her safety came first. With that in mind, he stood up while still holding her. He looked around. (Is there anywhere where I can safely lay her down? Then I need water and a towel. I might not be able to find ice, but there might be some cold spray left in a can. It shouldnt be hard to find a sporting goods store in Shibuya.) As he thought, his classmate stirred weakly in his arms. He paid it no heed. But that turned out to be a mistake. He heard a small noise. It was the noise of her stabbing his side with a shard of glass she held in her hand. Eh? Ah...? For an instant, he did not understand what had happened. He was so confused that he did not even feel the pain. It only started feeling real the second time. Fukiyose Seiri was undoubtedly supposed to be on his side, but she moved her trembling hand and twisted her wrist while holding the glass shard. Eh? Gbh!? Gah! Gbheh...!! Intense pain travelled along his spine and assaulted his entire upper body. Strength left his extremities. (Not good.) He could no longer support Fukiyose, so she fell to the scorching tile of the sidewalk. He could not suppress the urge to vomit. The most he could manage was turning his head to the side. Cough cough!! Gbgh!! Gbhah!? What spewed from his mouth was not vomit. It was a red liquid. He finally realized just how serious the situation was when he imagined how that blood had travelled through his body to overflow from his mouth. Ah... He stumbled backwards. He reached down for the glass shard which had been dyed red. Feeling the hard object in his side made him shudder, but he managed to pull it out. And he coughed up more blood. He could no longer even guess how much of his life this action had taken away. He heard the sound of dragging cloth. Fukiyose was slowly trying to stand up from where she had fallen to the ground. How can... She spoke. He had never seen this expression on her face before. He even forgot to hold his wound as he stared at her. How can you talk about saving me? Resentment. That word gave his classmates words the fierceness they needed to wear at his very soul. Kamijou Touma. If you had not done what you did, no one would have had to die!! Her words felt like a physical blow. With the sound of scraping metal, his classmate pulled a scorched piece of rebar from the rubble. But Kamijou Touma did not understand. What had he done? What had happened during the confrontation with Othinus at Sargasso? Even as she raised the blunt weapon before his eyes, he could not move. That boy had fought many magicians and espers. He had even brought an end to World War Three, but he was going to be easily killed by a mere classmate. But just before it happened, an LCD TV buried in the rubble came to life for some reason. A second and third wave of cruise missiles will soon be fired from the sea. Look at this footage. Those lines of light are thought to be the missiles. They will hit...now!! A deluge of light and sound swallowed up everything. Fortunately (if that word even applied in this situation), the missiles which numbered in the double digits seemed to land on the other side of the pile of rubble which had been the subway station. The black silhouette of that giant hill was the only thing visible as the color white filled the world. But that did not mean they were safe. A whirl of tremendous heat swept over them. The leaves of the broken and fallen roadside trees changed color as they were audibly scorched. Kamijou frantically shut his eyes and held his breath, but he felt his shut lips stick together to an odd extent. And more importantly, the solid ground below him suddenly crumbled downwards. That was when he recalled that Shibuya Station had a large open area that extended deep underground. Part 3 He fell. He seemed to fall forever. Even if a structure several meters deep had completely collapsed and become a single giant hole, he would not fall for this long. Or perhaps the explosion had knocked him unconscious and this was a dream. Amid his vague sense of reality and the passage of time, Kamijou heard a girl speak. Do you understand now? It was Magic God Othinus. The blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl spoke to him while falling upside down alongside him. This is a world with a different point of view. What? What point of view did you change to make this world!? Do you still not get it? She laughed mockingly. Their point of view concerning you. Kamijou Touma awoke to a dull impact. The lack of electricity meant he was surrounded in almost complete darkness, but he seemed to be in the underground portion of the subway station. He had not fallen all that far. He could see the broken portion of the ceiling he had fallen through and the destroyed cityscape was visible beyond it. That allowed a bit of light in. Fukiyose Seiri was not with him. It seemed she had not been caught in the collapse. Gwahhh!!!??? When he tried to move, intense pain rushed from his side and into his entire body. He had been stabbed in the side by Fukiyose. Not only that, but she had twisted the blade to widen the wound and further damage his insides. It had been the action of someone intending to kill. He brought a hand to the wound and discovered the pool of red blood on the floor was larger than he had thought. He doubted an amateur wrapping bandages around it would help at this point. But hoping for something he would not receive would not help his situation. He doubted anyone would call an ambulance for him and he doubted an ambulance would come if someone did. He could not rely on the off chance of a doctor happening to pass by. ...Ow... He had no idea how much strength he had left, but he gathered what he had and tried to stand. He removed his coat, balled it up, and pressed it against his wound. The LCD monitor meant to display railroad information turned on. ~Topic: Confirmation of Academy Citys Destruction~ Academy City, the city which produced Kamijou Touma, has had all supply lines cut off with multiple nuclear landmines placed around their territory. The city is known for its unusually high level of self-sufficiency due to its multistory vegetable factories and other technologies, but it cannot sustain itself with no supplies whatsoever. CThis has been WNP news. Not again. Kamijous wavering vision desperately raced across the text. There was still a lot he did not understand, but he had at least come to understand that most of the people in the world hated him and that any people or organizations that were even remotely connected to him were being indiscriminately attacked. The one thing he did not know was why. And he belatedly realized this was not the time to worry about why. Thats right. What if Kamijou Touma were being treated as an absolute evil? What if every last person with even a slight connection to him was being attacked? Where are my parents!? The monitor died again. But darkness did not return. In place of the monitors light, a bright light appeared in front of him. It seemed to be a powerful flashlight. Someone was approaching. Whoever it was, he could not let his guard down. The deep wound in his side proved that. Kami-yan... He heard the familiar voice of a classmate. This made him grimace. When the violent policemen had set fire to that house, he had felt horribly uneasy due to being alone. At the time, he would never have thought it possible to feel such fear over meeting a friend. He spoke this friends name. Aogami Pierce. I never thought Id run across you here. Im impressed. I really am. Im not sure how you managed to avoid being surrounded on your way here. Right now, everyone would applaud and cheer if you were crucified in the public square. The stabbing malice in the boys voice caused Kamijou to slowly shake his head. He could not hold a proper conversation with him. Just to be clear, they havent been brainwashed, said a girls voice. Othinus was leaning her back up against his back. I havent added anything new. As I said, I merely changed their point of view. You had already done what it would take to be treated like this. It was just that no one C yourself included C had realized it before. He quickly turned around, but there was no one there. Magic God Othinus was still behind him. You always charged headfirst into some kind of incident, used your fists to defeat your enemy, and protected someone and their small world as a result. By accumulating enough such incidents, you even managed to bring World War Three to an end. You were treated as a type of hero and only that positive aspect was emphasized. That is what happened in the world you know. She whispered the words. Rather than beating him down with her words, she let them slip deep inside of him. But what if their point of view is changed? You bare your fangs toward anyone you dont like, jump in and steal every girl you so much as set your eyes on, and relentlessly swing your fist toward anyone who resists. That is another side of the person known as Kamijou Touma. You chose your fists as your means of solving problems. It may seem cute compared to a sword or gun, but you managed to influence the outcome of World War Three with that method. It is strange for people to silently accept an incarnation of violence like that. The hatred people have toward national dictators is not enough for you. The scent and warmth of the girl leaning up against his back cleanly vanished. His (supposed) classmate, Aogami Pierce, spoke as if he had not seen any of that. Kami-yan, I know you have your own issues, but why did you have to do it around us? He sounded disgusted. The light of his flashlight spun around as he altered his grip on it. It was now a baton-like weapon that used the weight of the hard and thick casing and the batteries inside. If you were gonna do that, do it on the other side of the planet!! No, do it on the other side of the moon or the other side of Mars!! I dont understand why we had to go through this. If you had only stayed put and did nothing, none of this wouldve happened!! Those words settled it. Kamijou had not been na?ve enough to think his words would get through to his classmate, but now he shook his head. And he did so with clear intent. I cant do that, Aogami Pierce. He had been indirectly struck by the blast of cruise missiles, a girl from his class had stabbed him in the side, and his body was otherwise battered, but he gained the energy for a counterattack. That energy increased each time he spoke. All of this may have happened because of me and all of you may have nowhere left simply because you knew me. Deep down, he wished he did not have this strength at a time like this. But even so, he continued speaking. But I will never agree that staying silent and overlooking what happened was the right thing to do. I never... A creaking sound filled the darkness. By the time Kamijou realized that, the metal flashlight had already been swung up into the air. I never intended to debate the issue!! ...!? Kamijous body was battered both inside and out, so he could not expect to move quickly enough to dodge the attack. His only focus was on preserving his right hand. The instant he held up his left arm to protect his head, the flashlight dropped mercilessly toward him. With an unpleasant smashing noise, incredible pain exploded not in the skin but in the core of his arm. The pain felt like a dentists drill amplified many times. His bone had either cracked or broken. He tried not to think about the fact that the blow had been with his classmates full strength. He used his remaining right hand to grab Aogami Pierces collar. He pulled him forward before the second blow arrived. At the same time, he pulled his own head back and swung it down like a hammer. His hard forehead smashed into the bridge of his classmates nose and directly rattled his brain. Gh...bah!? Im sorry, Aogami Pierce. His left arm hung uselessly at his side. He ignored the swelling pain rising within it and spoke. There is something I have to see with my own eyes. I want to know what happened to my parents, so I cant be taken out here!! ... I promise I will do something about this. If all of this really did happen because of me, I swear I will do something about it. So get out of my way. I beg you...cough...move out of the way. He heard a clattering noise as Aogami Pierce dropped the flashlight he had used as a blunt weapon. As it rolled along the floor, it cast its circle of light all over the place. Kamijou and Aogami Pierces expressions were hidden by the darkness. And then Kamijou Touma heard his classmate whisper some words. Do you really still have hope? The two clashed. To make sure he finished off Kamijou who could not use one arm, Aogami Pierce tried to tackle him at the ground and climb on top of him. If Kamijou could not use his legs, it was over. But Kamijou understood his own weakness. He took a softball-sized fragment of concrete from the ground and kicked it up to waist height. It rose to the exact same height as Aogami Pierces face as he performed his tackle. Fortunately, the area was dark. Once he heard a dull noise, Kamijou grabbed Aogami Pierces hair, tripped his feet, and used his one working arm to throw him down onto his back. He heard the boy coughing and swung up his foot to aim a strike toward the solar plexus. If he put his weight into the blow, he would be able to knock him unconscious. ... But then he stopped. He stepped back from Aogami Pierce, turned around, and ran off. He was surrounded by darkness. He did not know where to find an exit. If you want to feel despair that badly, have at it. Aogami Pierces words stabbed into him from behind. Theres nowhere left for you in this world! We lost everything, so I wont let the source of it all be the only one saved!! This was the worst feeling Kamijou had ever experienced. The farther he went, the farther he seemed to fall. ...Ah. Gh. The stab wound in his side was quite bad. His left arm hang limply down beside him. Pain seemed to stab into his entire body and it was mixed with a chill coming from his spine. He felt as if a large hole had been opened in the vessel holding his life. He could feel the strength he needed to move draining away. He could not even guess how much longer he would be able to stand. (Still...) He placed a hand on the wall and tried to support his limp body as he gasped for breath. The flavor of iron filled his mouth. (I need to see if my parents are okay. If I dont...) How brave of you, said a voice. A blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl hung upside-down from the ceiling like a bat. But if you want to see it for yourself, I wont stop you. ...? Also. Othinus smiled thinly while upside-down. You should be more cautious of your surroundings. The question in his mind caused him to react an instant too slow. He felt a sharp blade stab into his soft flesh. This time, he realized that it was really and truly over. The attack had come from behind. He reached around with his usable right hand and found a much bigger and thicker handle than he had expected. If the handle was this large, it had to be a true kitchen knife that was larger than a fruit knife. His determination and will crumbled away. After feeling himself tilt to the side, he leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor. He gathered all the strength he had left and slowly looked up at the attacker. He wanted to see who it was that had blood covering their hands. Komoe...sensei...? Kamijou-chan... His homeroom teacher was only 135 centimeters tall and looked like a child. She had not been the type of person to do this. This had to be the same as the police officers. If she was doing something like this, the very era and world had to have been on the road to destruction. Im sorry, Kamijou-chan... Burning pain exploded in his back. It seemed her small hands had pulled out the knife. Naturally, she was not doing so in order to treat his wound. The next strike was coming. He knew it was coming, but he had no strength left. As he sat while leaning against the wall, he finally completely collapsed to the floor. But I saw...all sorts of horrible things happening to the class. None of that...none of that should ever have happened. I have to take responsibility. ... He could no longer move his mouth. He moved only his eyes as he tried to take in as much information as he could. And then he saw bright light fill the dark underground area. The light came from LCD monitors and TVs installed throughout the station. It is true that Touma is our son. There is no denying that. That familiar voice brought his sinking consciousness back to the surface. The light reflecting off the bloody knife seemed to be showing the inside of a building. It resembled the courthouses he had seen in dramas, but Kamijou was unsure if it was a real courtroom. It may have been one from overseas. And two people he could no longer reach were in the center of the screen. They were being charged with the crime of giving birth to Kamijou Touma. And here he was collapsed and unable to save them. Both of those facts brought him shame and he apologized again and again in his heart. This must have been what Aogami Pierce had meant. And this was the future Othinus had spoken of with such delight. Komoe-sensei slowly approached him while soaked in his blood. She held the deadly knife in her hand and had her back to the rectangular box of the LCD monitor installed near the ceiling. Tears poured from her eyes, but the resolution in her gait told Kamijou there was no hope of talking her out of it. (Im sorry.) He did not know what exactly had happened. He did not know what specific effects the change to peoples point of view had caused. Even so, he caught a glimpse of what had happened. And that was enough to floor him. (Im so sorry.) The footage of his parents seemed to create a halo behind the murderers head. He continued apologizing in the direction of both them. And then he heard more from his father. But we have realized something!! To destroy the absolute evil that is Kamijou Touma, the help of those who know him best is needed. You can judge us if you want, but please do so after it is all over! Please give us a chance to right the mistake we have made!! The world filled with cheers, applause, and comments of praise. It reminded Kamijou of a giant gear beginning to move toward a bright future. (Ahh... True despair never stays within your expectations, does it?) He could no longer move anything but his eyes, but he saw Tsukuyomi Komoe slowly raise the large knife. He had no way to defend himself. In the end, who actually saw you for who you are? whispered Othinus happily. She was staring down at him while crouching down next to where he lay. She looked like a child watching a strange bug crawl around. I used the lance to regulate my power as a Magic God and created this world with a different point of view. On one side you are a hero and on the other you are an incarnation of destruction. But what does that matter? If people had seen you for who you really were, at least one person might have come to save you. It seemed like time had stopped. Or perhaps only this place where Othinus was had changed. It may have been like a waking dream or when ones life flashed before their eyes. No matter how many people surrounded you, none of them were actually looking at you. After seeing your name, your outer shell, and a list of your actions, they decided for themselves what kind of person you must be. That is why their impression of you was so easily manipulated by changing their point of view. Othinus continued to speak while ignoring Komoe-sensei raising the knife. Now, is all this really necessary? She knew the answer, but she asked again just to check. Is this really worth risking your life to protect? All of you are nothing more than different individuals. ... While collapsed on the ground, Kamijou Touma moved his eyes slightly in response. For some reason, he regained the slight strength needed to form words. ...It is. ? Despite all that, it is certainly worth protecting. No matter how much tragedy a person was thrashed by, they deserved a chance to stand back up. Some people had twisted their relationships, surrounded themselves with hatred, and gave no thought to living a happy life, but even they had the option of reversing each of those decisions. That was how Kamijou Touma had overcome a few different incidents in the past. He had seen people who returned to the light. It was now Kamijous turn to struggle. He may have been the source of this world, but he was prepared to accept it all, make up for all of it, and continue forward. Everything would return to normal. He would make sure of it. I see. Othinus smiled a bit. It was a dark, dark, dark smile. It seems you are no different from the foolish frog that does not notice the heat of the water he is being boiled in. I had thought the immutability of your right hand was my greatest enemy, but it seems another obstacle has presented itself. But it is so pathetic that it would be foolish to face it seriously. In that case, I will make a slight change of plans and enjoy this. What are you going to do? He received no response. The girl known as a Magic God gave an exaggerated snap of her fingers. In the next moment, time sped back up to normal and Tsukuyomi Komoe swung the knife forcefully down. Volume 9, 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Beta. Volume 9, Chapter 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Beta. Part 1 ...Ah!? Kamijou awoke. He was in Academy City. Specifically, he was in the usual classroom of his school. His classmates were away from their desks and freely enjoying themselves. Their teacher was not present. The smell of lunches reached his nose. It seemed he had fallen asleep while lying on his desk at lunchtime. Kamijou slowly tilted his head. What was that just now? His palms were covered in sweat, but he found no stab wound when he reached for the side of his uniform. His left arm was not broken either. It made sense. That horrible hell of flames, smoke, rubble, and blood would never happen in real life. But even so, Kamijou found it hard to breathe for a while. Once he patted himself down and found he was not even scratched, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. What are you doing, Kamijou Touma? He heard an exasperated voice from a nearby desk. It was Fukiyose Seiri. Her long black hair, forehead, and bountiful breasts were her primary features. Fukiyose!? What? Are your burns okay!? You dont seem to be bleeding. Are you sure you dont need a doctor!? W-w-wait! Why are you groping me all over the- Where the hell do you think youre touching me!! After a wonderfully healthy sound of impact, Kamijou rolled across the classroom, knocking away several chairs and desks in the process. I do not know what kind of dream you were having, but how about you wake up!? Eh? Ah? ...A dream? Kamijou stared blankly at her. That was when Aogami Pierce and Tsuchimikado Motoharu leaned in to join the conversation. Meh heh heh. We all have those dreams, but only Kami-yan would go right ahead and start groping her. Yeah, what was with that? Grabbing at Fukiyoses melons while half asleep is quite the technique, Kami-yan! I certainly dont have the courage to do it with such a straight face!! So this is how a true master does it!! Okay, you two. Thank you for volunteering to participate in a scientific experiment to see if heaven exists. With that deadpan comment, Kamijou climbed up onto his desk and jumped down to attack his horrible friends. Aogami Pierce and Tsuchimikado Motoharu caught the attack and then lifted him extremely unsteadily up into the air. At the same moment, the classroom door slid open. Kamijou assumed their homeroom teacher Tsukuyomi Komoe had rushed in upon hearing the commotion. However... Touma! Im not satisfied with the lunch you left for me! Ive suggested it countless times, but now I have to make an official request to introduce a second lunch!! You have to!? And how is that a reason for someone as suspicious-looking as you to barge into our school!? ...Wah! Stop it, you idiots! Dont silently toss me up into the air like that! Im going to hit the ceiling! And how can you two lift me up so easi-...egch!? Okay, its time for our first afternoon lesson. Meanwhile, Komoe-sensei arrived despite the chime not having rung yet. Today, we will be referencing the records and testimony related to Mifune Chizuko, an esper who existed before the establishment of the quantum theory system. We will-... Eeeee!? Wh-wh-why is Kamijou-chan hanging down with his head stuck in the classroom ceiling!? ... Who wouldve thought there was a duct opening there? commented Aogami Pierce. Hm? Wait a sec. I-is this the beginning of a long, long afterschool labyrinth leading to the captivating girls locker room? Im more interested in how Komoe-sensei immediately knew it was Kami-yan despite everyone wearing the same uniform from the neck down, nyah. Once Kamijou realized no one was going to save him, he took action himself. He pressed his palms against the ceiling and pushed to force his body downwards. Fwooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! He let out what sounded like the cry of a pervert who had awoken to a strange new path and his head popped out of the ceiling. Freed from his restraints, Kamijou fell upside-down, struck his back on his own desk, and ended up writhing in pain on the floor. A group of girls in one corner of the class began shouting. Quiet down, Kamijou! Your loud voice is scaring the kitty. Uryah! You can have the salmon flakes left in the corner of my bento box Index refused to stay silent when she saw this. Sphinx has already gained his next meal without me!? Touma, th-that is exactly what I mean by a second lunch!! D-do you not know how to feel worried about your landlord or feel happy for the satisfaction of your cat? Kamijou was literally having trouble breathing, but the white nun did not seem to care. She showed no sign of leaving until she was given a new world of bread and rice, but the cafeteria and school store would be sold out with the lunch break almost at its end. This would primarily be a problem for Komoe-sensei. His classmates would love skipping their first afternoon class, but Kamijou had no intention of being the bad Santa who provided that kind of outlaws dream. And so he made a suggestion. Index-san. What is it, Touma-san!? You can have a scraped-together meal here or you can be patient and have a luxurious dinner tonight. Which will you choose? Part 2 Almost every event linked directly to food with the girl named Index, so her concept of love did not seem very developed. And her idea of a school likely had all the windows broken, all the partitions and stall walls broken in the bathrooms, and modified motorcycles running through the halls. Her worldview was in a post-apocalyptic state. Oden! Ive heard that Japans oden is one of the worlds leading healthy hot pot dishes. You can eat as much as you want without getting sick!! I-Is this a miracle Im witnessing? That gluttonous monster actually has the sense to worry about her health and cholesterol!? ...Touma? Fine. Today we can have a merciless oden fever! My finances may be just barely scraping by, but this is no time to worry about that! If this isnt a time to celebrate, what the hell is!? Touma! Wait, Touma! I didnt like the sound of some of that, so dont continue on before I can get angry! Lets take care of it all one by one! For a week starting tomorrow, every meal will be nothing but bread crust and a clear soup of broth watered down five times, but thats okay, right!? Its all for the sake of todays oden fever, so we have no choice!! Touma, you just said something really important! Im disturbingly on board with this idea, but lets calm down and think it through!! Index was actually applying the brakes for once, but Kamijou refused to give in once he had decided on something. As he dragged the white nun along, he did not head for the usual ultra-cheap supermarket. Indexs fear grew as she saw them approach the department store district in front of the train station. At this rate, she might really have to live off of bread crust while reminiscing on the oden from tonight. The calico cat on her head gave a carefree mew. His food was already divided up by day in a paper carton back in the apartment. Part 3 Two sisters walked along the path home from school. They were Kumokawa Seria and Kumokawa Maria. One was the brains behind one of Academy Citys board members and she controlled peoples hearts purely with her words rather than with an esper power. The other had an ability named Violence Donut that allowed her to manipulate centrifugal force and she was training at Ryouran Maid School to be a top-rate maid. (Her power had nothing to do with being a maid.) They were both nice to look at, but the younger sister snapped at the older sister as they walked alongside each other. You changed where youre living again, didnt you!? I wont ask about the details, but at least contact me if youre going to move! Yawn... I do have my reasons, you know? Also, does it really matter if I dont tell my family about it right away? Its not like I have a serious chronic disease and well still live in the same city no matter where I move. It would be fine if the few days it takes me to find your new place wasnt enough for the area around the kitchen sink to reach such a disastrous state that it almost destroys my ideas of femininity. Living in an apartment instead of a student dorm is great, but you have to be more careful when leasing. Dont the dishes from that delivery service turn to oil if you leave them out? Decomposition is a part of the food chain. Thats how you attract flies and roaches! Do I need to explain this to you from the parts that give me goose bumps just to think about!? Based on independent research conducted by Ryouran Maid School, its students families tended to have people who were terrible with all housework, so all the work was usually left to the maids-in-training. However, it seemed pampering them too much could be a problem. On the other hand, Im relieved. About what? That your obsession with working only applies to your sister. I was worried you would go live in some guys house. Bfff!? Specifically, I thought you would end up living with my schools spiky-haired boy. It wasnt me you were worried about at all!! And he may have saved me in Baggage City, but my feelings never went beyond normal gratitude. I dont plan to steal your favorite boy, so you dont have to spy on me like that. I have no idea what youre talking about. I am still perfectly calm. Then why do I see tears in your eyes and why are your legs trembling? She was an expert at manipulating peoples hearts, but it seemed her own heart was the exception. And the heroic tales of Academy Citys #5, which Maria had heard via her classmate Tsuchimikado Maika, suggested that Level 5 was the same. Just as Maria let out a sigh, she heard a boy and girl shouting behind her. Touma! I want to ask you something before we get to the oden! Why were you so surprised to hear Im worried about my weight and my health!? That doesnt matter!! What matters is that we go with this miraculous flow and buy the ingredients for some oden! After all, theres always the risk of you waking up from this delusion and demanding a fried chicken festival instead!!!!!! How can you say it doesnt matter!? I-I wont let you go any further!! Stop that, you idiot. Dont grab my hand and slam on the brakes like a spoiled child. ...Wah!? Dont just let go all of a sudden either!! Hearing a strange comical sound effect, the Kumokawa sisters both frowned. Hm? they said in unison. Kamijou Touma had suddenly shot forward and landed face up with his head between the legs of Kumokawa Marias bee-like maid outfit. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. Time seemed to freeze. The theory of relativity seemed to break down around Kamijou Touma as he entered the tunnel created by the girls legs and waist. Somewhere, Einstein had to be crying. In a way, this was a perfectly normal occurrence. It was so normal that Kumokawa Seria began to tremble. So you do have a connection!! That gratitude of yours was just the first step toward ensnaring him!! What!? Youre mad at me instead of the one who did it!? Are you sure you arent turning into Hera from Greek mythology!? Then let me ask you this: how do you feel about giving him a panoramic view of your underwear? I would think a normal person would reflexively jump back and try to end the situation as quickly as possible. Because of my Violence Donut, I purposefully wear panties Im fine with people seeing, so theres nothing to worry about. See!? If you have to choose yes or no, youre leaning towards yes!! By the way, is anyone going to do anything about this boy? He must have a lot of freedom. I think shes going to handle it. Kumokawa Seria used her thumb to point at a nun in a white habit who was approaching with a bewitching glitter in her eye. Kumokawa Maria began to contemplate the unfairness of her sister glaring at her but showing no concern about the other girl. Touma!! Get out of there right this instant! You look like someone hiding under a table during an earthquake!! O-only because you grabbed my hand and suddenly let go. Touma!!!!!! Hearing that high-pitched shout, Kamijou Touma frantically sat up as if his alarm clock had just gone off. But that was a mistake. He forgot to check above him. The top of his head mercilessly struck the ceiling of the tunnel formed by Marias legs. G... Even if she commonly imitated capoeira while wearing a miniskirt maid outfit, this was far enough out of the ordinary that her entire face and even her ears turned red. Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? Wait! No! Stop! Bgh!? While confused as to what had happened, Kamijou felt a fist strike the back of his head through the skirt. He seriously thought it was going to leave a dent in his skull. As Kumokawa Seria watched on, a distant look entered her eyes. Ahh, I dont know why Im so surprised. This may be a horrible situation, but I knew this would happen if I didnt do anything!! Meanwhile, Index gnashed her canine teeth and gave off enough of a predatory aura to remind the calico cat she held of its animal instincts. Touma. Im not going to explain anything more, but you understand whats going to happen, right? The tiny people within Kamijou Touma (who were in charge of defense) spread their arms to block the way and warned him of the coming danger. His instincts were boiling over as they told him to do whatever it took to avoid having the back of his head bitten open. And he found an extreme solution with incredible speed. Wah!! Wait! What are you doing!? Its called a piggyback ride!! shouted Kamijou in desperation. He changed his position within Kumokawa Marias miniskirt, stuck his head between her legs, gathered strength in his own legs, and groaned as he straightened his back. Index was on standby to bite at the back of his head, but she gained a look of surprise when she finally realized how serious the situation was. Wh-what!? I want to bite at the back of your head, but I cant attack because a girls butt and thighs are in the way!! Mwa ha ha ha!! How much damage do you think my scalp has taken, Index!? ...Actually, Id like to know that myself. Anyway!! I have already analyzed your attack pattern!! Now, how about we bring this entire series of events to an end, little girl!? Wah! This is scary! Stop it! I feel like Im about to fall!! Kumokawa Maria cried out as she was more or less taken hostage to act as the human helmet to protect Kamijou Toumas head. She was only at shoulder height, but the way she wobbled back and forth above the hard road was bad for her heart. She instinctually gathered strength in her thighs to keep her balance, but the instant her soft flesh squeezed, an aura of malice flowed out from her older sister. Meanwhile, Kamijou did not have time to worry about that. A jinx had captured his heart. If he ended up bitten after taking such drastic measures, he feared nothing would ever work. ... Calm down, Index-san! Put away those fangs and give this a peaceful resolution. If you dont, Ill have to go buy the ingredients for oden like this! You dont want that, do you!? I dont want that either!! Are you going to carry me around on your shoulders as you shop!? ... Youre right, Touma. If youre willing to cause such a commotion, I guess I have to make a compromise. Specifically, Ill master some techniques using my arms and legs!! Please no! If you head down the course of a martial arts master, I wont be any match for you!! Was I right and Index really is the final boss!? ... W-wait. Dont tell me you really do plan to walk through the city like this. St-stop. Dont move your head like that. Its rubbing against me. By the way, why is that person on top of you grinning a little bit!? That was when something snapped within Kumokawa Seria. Specifically, it was the bag of patience spoken of in the old days of Japan. She cast aside her usual cool and intellectual aura of an upperclassman. Darassshhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! She leaped into the air while wearing her sailor uniform, gathered her feet, and performed a merciless dropkick on the center of Kamijou Toumas back. Bgweeeeehhh!! With a cry like a crushed frog, the boy flew forward. Left in the air above him, Maria fell down and was caught by Seria who had landed face up on the ground. Meanwhile, Kamijou Touma could tell he was rolling along the ground, but his vision suddenly blacked out. He panicked as he wondered what had happened, but he quickly caught on. He had once more ended up deep within someones skirt. And the only person in front of him had been the white nun. As he trembled in fear, the voice of the judge arrived from the heavens above. I hope youre ready for some pain, Touma. Part 4 She was true to her word. After the Kumokawa Maria is a Human Helmet!! plan failed spectacularly, Kamijou fell prey to Index. The bee-colored maid-in-training then used her Violence Donut to damage all of his joints. Lastly, Kumokawa Seria inexplicably began stomping on him here and there with the heel of her loafer. But Kamijou Touma refused to give up. He had already decided they were eating oden that night. Not to mention that Indexs anger showed no sign of dying down and the oden was necessary to extinguish those flames. After parting ways with the angry Kumokawa sisters, Kamijou and Index entered the underground zone filled with high-class department stores they normally never allowed themselves inside. It was once he saw the price tags that Kamijou Touma came back to his senses. Um...Index? I dont think this is going to work. But we came this far! Im not rejecting the idea of oden altogether. Well still have oden tonight. ...Buuuut how about we go with an economical oden pack at the supermarket? Or we can get two or three different kinds at the convenience store and have a more extravagant version of our usual stir-fried vegetables, grilled fish, rice, and miso soup dinner. I already saw the best one!! If we turn back now, this desire will never disappear. If we lower the grade now, my oden craving will remain within me no matter how much I eat! That wont save anyone!! Can you please explain why you assume that will be a bad thing for not just you but me as-... Never mind. When he saw Index snap her teeth together like some kind of trap, Kamijou realized he could not back out now. He began thinking silently with a distant look in his eyes. (Hello, bread crust. I will be seeing you a lot for a while.) Huh? What are you doing here? His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. It was Misaka Mikoto. He guessed that a true rich girl had a habit of always heading to the places with high-class in the name. But he soon realized something was off about her behavior. And then it hit him. She was in the grocery section of a high-class department store, but she did not have a cart or basket. Wh-what? Dont tell me youve gone beyond vending machines and started full-blown shoplifting! I really will blast you into the sky. How far would you like to go? The moon? Mars? When the girl known as the Railgun made a threat like that, it was no laughing matter. It would not have surprised him if she could gather various objects to construct a peaceful human mass driver in the middle of Academy City. Im not here to shop. So you are here to shopli-... You dont get a third chance. The genuine rich girl raised her middle finger as she gently warned him. Irritation filled her tone. It seems my schools dorm has been getting tons of junk mail telling people to come by and try samples of their new foods. The mail has been so full that some of the girls are too afraid to check it. They seem to be taking the name Tokiwadai too lightly, so Im here to have a word or two with whoevers responsible. ... It seemed having the approval of a rich girls school was enough to greatly increase the sales of a high-class department store. It was a bigger deal than having a popular entertainer in their commercials. Those girls simply lived in a different world from Kamijou. If I dont do something, I get the feeling theyll start standing in front of the dorm with a cooler in hand. I want to put an end to it before that happens. ...Anyway, I hear Floor 12 and above is their headquarters. This kind of dispute would normally be Kurokos territory, but she seemed busy. Hm? Index tilted her head next to Kamijou. Short Hair, does this bad guy have food? I suppose. If I grab him by the collar and shake him, I bet a pile of sweets will fall out. That settles it!! Touma, I will head deeper into the dungeon for the sake of the world!! Wait, Index! You cant put shortcakes or Mont Blanc in oden!! In order to avoid having a truly chaotic hot pot that night, Kamijou did his best to stop Index. Mikoto seemed to want to talk more, but she sighed after checking the time on her cell phone. She cracked her neck and started toward the industrial elevator. The topic then returned to dinner. If its going to be hell afterward regardless, why dont we go all out and have high-class sukiyaki instead of oden!? I think well have fewer regrets then!! But that wont get rid of the oden craving filling my chest! And now youve given me a sukiyaki craving!! Dont be stupid! Theres no way both is happening!! We only get to choose one and then our hellish bread crust life begins! We could divide the pot in two...like this...and fill half with oden and half with sukiyaki. The number of pots isnt the issue! The ingredients are super expensive!! Do you understand? His terribly pronounced attempt at English at the end seemed to enrage the legitimate British girl. A carnivorous beast attacked the back of his head. Hnyaaaah! His scream shook the entire multistory department building. Heh... I get the feeling Ill lose my life to fill your stomach one day. Just like this insane situation on my head right now!! It was unlikely even the calico cat on the girls head had given those fears as much thought as the herbivorous boy named Kamijou Touma. Meanwhile, the carnivorous (or rather, omnivorous) girl named Index brought her hands to her hips while skillfully keeping the cat on her head. So what will we do? she asked. After coming this far, I refuse to back down from the oden. ...Lets do it, muttered Kamijou while rubbing his bitten head. His voice quickly grew to a shout. We came this far, so lets do it! Ill throw this really expensive one labelled Kyoto style into the basket! Ill show you that I can come through when it counts, Index!! Part 5 Kamijou Touma was enjoying himself. Every day was undeniably enjoyable. He would likely end up involved in all sorts of trouble and he would end up clenching his fist while covered in mud, but he could keep going because of this everyday life. It was this place to return to that allowed him to step deep into unexplored darkness. Today would come to an end. But he would have tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. Kamijou Touma knew from the bottom of his heart that these enjoyable days would continue on and on. Part 6 And as evening fell, a boy sat at a desk in the classroom. He sat at the very edge of the very back. No one had so much as looked his way and no one had found it odd for him to be sitting all alone. He... Kamijou Touma trembled while all alone. What...what was that? Everyone had surrounded someone else. Kamijou Touma did not recognize the person known as Kamijou Touma. None of the people around that other boy had noticed anything wrong. And yet that Kamijou Touma had been a completely different person. His height and weight were different. His facial features and hair color were not even similar. There was no way anyone could have mistaken the two of them. You have to ask? A girls voice came from the teachers desk in the twilit classroom. The eyepatch-wearing Magic God sat on the desk while elegantly crossing her legs like the sort of female teacher teenage boys only saw in their dreams. That was Kamijou Toumas everyday life. Surely you recognize it. That isnt what I meant!! For them, it did not matter who it was. Othinus spoke as if slowly explaining something to a student who refused to listen. The chalk began to move on its own and wrote on the blackboard behind her. A and B. It wrote those two letters. You met various people in the past, resolved their problems, and expanded your circle of friends. From a gods perspective, it was all a ridiculous farce, but those may have been praiseworthy acts for a mere human. ... But their trust was established because you saved them, right? As long as they were saved, it could have been anyone, right? If someone other than you had been the one to save them, their trust and good will would have turned in that other persons direction. Anyone could have become Kamijou Touma. It could have been a greasy middle-aged man or a dried-up old man. ...Whats wrong? Had you deluded yourself into thinking you were the sole original in the world and no one but you could have walked down the path you travelled? Othinus spun her index finger around. No one was truly looking at you. The chalk danced about in sync with her finger. No one would be particularly troubled if you werent there. The chalk drew a large X over the A on the blackboard. And it drew a circle around the B. As long as they had someone who could resolve their problems, their lives would continue on just fine. You decided to give up your life for such a shallow relationship. ...How pathetic. You are worth nothing more than that. You are no different from a battery that is swapped out once it runs out of power. No one cares about the appearance or personality of a battery. And a battery cannot accomplish anything as only a battery. Nothing at all. Kamijou was unable to even feel a chill. The world felt distant. Nothing felt real. He was sitting in a chair, yet even his footing felt unsteady. Remember what I said last time? said the female teacher giving a lecture on the end of the world. Is there any need to so persistently risk your life for this? As long as it saves them, they would worship a piece of gum someone spat on the road. Kamijou Touma remained silent for a while. He silently looked around the lines of chairs and desks with no one in them. It felt horribly empty. It felt bleaker than a planet that had turned to desert after excessive development destroyed the environment. He felt no salvation or warmth in that scene. One might be able to live in that world, but living there held no appeal whatsoever. Can you still continue on? asked Othinus with her legs crossed atop the teachers desk. Changing one simple point of view is enough to bring hell to the surface. If you insist on remaining idealistic, thats fine, but that will only lead to even more horribly intense darkness. You will break at some point. The very path you chose will break you. What good is denying it? muttered Kamijou Touma. No matter what anyone says, this is my world. I protected this. To someone known as a Magic God, it may only look like a tiny miniature garden, but its valuable enough for me. Oh, really? Like a magic trick, a lance appeared in Othinuss hand. As long as I have this, something can be done. ... The world is a simple thing. You have seen what I can do. I can rearrange everything with the ease of pulling a dove from a hat on a count of three. After all, I am a god. What are you suggesting? I am waiting for you to despair. Why? You can create as many new Kamijou Toumas as you want. There is no meaning in tormenting a brand new doll. A new doll has no sins. Anything created by me, is not allowed to oppose me. The blonde girl whispered with a delighted light in her one eye. Despair over what once happened. Think back on it. If you do, I will return them to their proper form. I will give them back enough of their reason to feel sorrow when you are buried in your grave. Othinus might have been able to do anything to the world. If she announced she would give him half the world, Kamijou might have truly been given his own country. One light wave of her lance might have granted the ridiculous wish of having every guy in the world as a friend and every girl as a lover. But... That would be meaningless, Othinus. ? You already said it yourself. Creating new dolls is meaningless. No matter how comfortable it might be, it would be empty. If you filled the world with those dolls and granted your every desire, you would find it all to be hollow. There would be nothing left. Well said. But are you saying the scene before you is not mistaken? Are you saying nothing needs to be corrected and you should be abandoned to this loneliness? Yes, he immediately replied. Othinus wrinkled her brow at the speed of his response. That human boy did not hesitate to oppose the girl who had become a god. I was abandoned and someone I dont even know has taken everything from me. ...But I have no right to insist on having things my way. They are free to do what they want and their decisions are valuable and should be honored. This is what it means for something to be beyond your reach. Having everything go exactly as you want would be all too hollow. ... So, Othinus, if you said you were going to correct everything that has left me, I would stand in your way. Everything here gives me nothing but pain, but that doesnt mean I can force it all away for my own convenience!! Her eyebrows moved slightly. This was the look of someone seeing a harmful insect moving after it had supposedly been crushed under their slipper. Let me ask you one thing before I crush you. Othinus spoke quietly with the expression of someone whose plan had gone awry. What will you gain from that? Nothing, he immediately replied once more. I was never fighting to gain something from it. I see. And I may have been separated from them, but I can always rebuild those connections. Several of those relationships started out with mutual hatred and a lack of understanding, but we made it to a point where we could smile at each other. Those bonds are much, much stronger than you think they are. Just because Kamijou Touma has stolen those bonds from me doesnt mean I will never have a chance to create new bonds with them. I see. Othinus brought that line of conversation to an end. Her shoulders were trembling. Kamijou thought she was suppressing anger, but it turned out she was suppressing laughter. Heh heh. That is quite a wonderful opinion you have there, but I have played a rather cruel trick on you. To be honest, I never thought you would come to this conclusion, so this is kind of awkward. It is not often that a god admits a mistake to a human. It is so rare that such instances are spoken of for the rest of that humans life. What? Kamijou frowned while sitting at the desk. What are you talking about? Something quite simple. Othinus pointed toward the exit. She pointed toward the hole of nothingness through which everyone had left. The boy who disappeared through there was referred to as Kamijou Touma by everyone. He himself truly believed that he was Kamijou Touma. Only the two of us remain now. Your own assertions are meaningless here and all of my statements have been filled with ill will. ...Doesnt that bring a certain obvious question to mind? ................................................................................................................................................................................................ This was not good. He could not let her continue speaking. An unbelievably unpleasant feeling raced across every inch of his skin like some kind of disturbing insects. And when Othinus spoke, her voice was filled with scorn. Who is this lying pathetically at your desk? Who are you? She seemed to be enjoying herself as she used the trick she had held in reserve. Is someone who merely sits around complaining really the Kamijou Touma everyone knows? Part 7 He no longer knew who he was. Part 8 That boy... Kamijou Touma sat in shock in the very corner desk of the classroom lit by orange light. His arms and legs hung limply down and his eyes blankly viewed Othinuss slightly altered world. His breathing was erratic. He grew negligent even in the bare minimum of actions he needed to live. She was right. In this twisted world where how people viewed themselves and others had completely collapsed, could he truly rely on a name? His own concept of Kamijou Touma was no different from other peoples concepts of Kamijou Touma. They could both be easily manipulated. He had just seen that very concept altered to a laughable extent, so why had he thought it did not apply to him as well? If so... Who was he? He had truly believed himself to be Kamijou Touma, but who was he really? Hi there. The blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girls voice seemed to come from outside the solar system. He heard a light noise. Othinus had hopped from the teachers desk to one of the empty student desks. Tell me your name. The Magic God hopped from desk to desk as if she were crossing a clear stream using the rocks sticking above the surface. She was approaching the boy. It was a simple task. And she finally arrived at the boys desk. With her feet planted on the desk, she looked down on the puny boy from the heavens above. Kamijou Touma, what kind of person were you originally? ... As you filled with righteous anger and challenged a god for the sake of your friends, what kind of people surrounded you? Who did you abandon in order to protect someone? Unpleasant sweat poured from the boys face, back, and entire body. There had to be someone. It may not have been on the level of that ridiculous harem boy, but the real you had to have had someone. Someone you wanted to protect with your life even if it meant fighting someone you knew you could not defeat. Where is that person now? Where are they and what are they doing while you are denying the real you and insisting you are Kamijou Touma? All heat seemed to have left his body. He was cold. A chill enveloped his body and threatened to freeze its core. Tell me, said the Magic God. She toyed with the initiative. As thanks for letting me kill some time, I will return you to your former position as long as you tell me your proper name. ...You can return to your friends, lover, and family. If you can find your true self, I will return you to the people who hold a connection to that true self. Silence followed. The boy slowly raised his head, but Othinus was still standing triumphantly above him. At some point a photograph had appeared between her index and middle finger. But having you choose from all six billion people on earth would be a bit much. To match your position as a mere human, I will give you a hint. Human entertainment is no fun if there is no chance of winning. The photograph fluttered down. It slowly fell as if tracing the lines of her body and landed perfectly at her feet on Kamijous desk. It was a class photo. Needless to say, it showed Kamijou Toumas class. The dozens of classmates were lined up on different stairs of a staircase and their homeroom teacher, Tsukuyomi Komoe, stood a short distance away. You are one of the people in that picture, whispered Othinus. You need only choose one of them. This is a much easier choice than having to spin a globe around, isnt it? She was unlikely to hesitate. This Magic God had given him this chance on a whim and she would likely mercilessly abandon him once she lost interest. You are one of them, said Othinus once more. If you choose correctly, I will return the correct answer to you. I will return your world, your life, and your existence. She said nothing about what would happen if he chose incorrectly. The boy slowly looked at the class photo. They all had flat smiles that looked like someone had stamped an identical seal on their faces. None of them stood out any more than the others. It simply looked like a large painting that was only complete with all of them present. Even so, the boy focused on the half of the class where the boys were gathered. You cannot rely on sex, cut in Othinus as if she had read someones mind. Your appearance can be changed with the lance. Sex and age mean nothing in relation to who you originally were. ... She had mentioned age as well as sex. In that case, Komoe-sensei standing a short distance from the group may have been a candidate as well. Do not worry about the time. This is your final decision. You can worry over it until you starve to death if you like. Both boy and girl were options. Both student and teacher were options. He had no information with which to find the right answer. There was no common scar or unique way of standing that he could look for. His only option seemed to be choosing at random. In Russian roulette, the odds of death were 1 in 6, but this was worse than that. Guessing right would be a rare occurrence. His eyes hurt. He was unsure if that was due to tears or sweat pouring from his forehead. Yet his lips felt oddly dry. He could almost feel the blonde girl watching him. I... Someone slowly spoke a name. I am Kamijou Touma. I am no one but Kamijou Touma!! As soon as he spoke, Othinus grimaced in utter displeasure. This expression clearly held more danger than any other she had given. She had lost interest. With a girl who had risen to the position of a god, that fact had to be accompanied by great fury. Finally, she clicked her tongue loudly and sighed. When did you catch on? ... Dont tell me this is more baseless confidence or optimism not far removed from not thinking at all. I had a hint, he answered quietly. You gave me a hint. I did? If your goal was nothing more than making me suffer, you would never have given me that class photo. That meant you had a reason to show it to me. Isnt that right? ...I see. You said the real me was in there, but you never warned me that it was someone other than Kamijou Touma. You were hoping to see me choose wrong when I could have easily chosen correctly. Also, she had said there was no point in creating a new Kamijou Touma and tormenting him. If she saw no meaning in setting up someone else as Kamijou, the one she was torturing had to be the real one. So you saw through my malice. And here I thought it would be an interesting experiment in destroying your identity. I dont know how, but you wrote on the blackboard, pulled out that photo, and set up other tricks without using your hands. If I had given another name, you could have simply applauded and praised me. You could create as much false evidence as you needed to prove I had chosen correctly. As if interrupting or as if standing up from a theatre seat while watching a boring comedy, Othinus snapped her fingers. The world vanished. Kamijou Touma stood in a world where the ground, the sky, and beyond the horizon were all black. He could not see the Magic God anywhere, but her voice slipped into his ear. It seems this was on too high a level for an idiot like you. I suppose having no worries could be called a talent when it reaches this extreme. I am honestly impressed you feel so little unease about yourself. Her voice resembled the almost exasperated surprise of someone watching a simple life form moving around energetically after slicing off a portion of its body. But how many cards do you think I have in my deck? ... Do you think it stops in the mere tens of thousands? The next threat would soon arrive. Between the Connected Points He saw countless worlds and experienced countless forms of despair. Some clearly cornered Kamijou Touma and attempted to crush him. Strange false accusations were forced onto him and a noose was put around his neck. He was stranded on a mountain with some acquaintances and he was forced to distribute his flesh to the others so they could survive until rescue arrived. He was lying unable to move on a hospital bed and was simply stuck like that all the way to his funeral. He was buried in humus and began to decompose while still alive, starting with the ends of the arms and legs. Earth was rendered unlivable and he was thrown into outer space to wander aimlessly in a capsule-like spaceship. As a puny human, he was destroyed by a giant robot or an asteroid. The heart had no actual form, but Kamijou clearly felt his breaking. It was not being destroyed as if struck by a hammer or sliced in two by a sword. It was a quiet destruction as if termites had eaten into it and it was too late by the time the symptoms began to show. Amid it all, he somehow managed to gather his thoughts bit by bit. But he did not suddenly come up with a means of reversing or resolving the situation. He was instead using his bloody hands to build a path there, piece by piece. You... He spoke quietly in his hazy mind. You arent actually destroying anything. Othinus seemed surprised that he was only now realizing this. The blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl stood directly in front of the boy. So? She was so close that he thought he detected a sweet aroma. The world had become a vague marble pattern. There arent thousands or millions of worlds. This is still our world. This whole time, we havent moved anywhere. Why are you acting like you know what you are talking about? Also, I do not recall saying anything about parallel worlds. He did not know how it worked. But the worlds point of view was changing. Othinus was changing it. Kamijou was merely experiencing what was around him, so it appeared to him he was travelling to completely different worlds. Othinus spoke in a disinterested tone. Have you ever heard of phases? ...? This world was not pure and untouched to begin with. Christian, Buddhist, Celtic, Indian, Shinto, Incan, Aztec, Greek, Roman...and Norse. The various religions have placed layer after layer of various phases over the world like thin veils or filters. There is heaven, hell, the underworld, the Pure Land, Yomi, the abyss, Mount Olympus, the fairy island, Nirai Kanai, Asgard, and many others. At any rate, the world you have seen so far has been viewed through various colors of cellophane. You havent destroyed any of those colored glasses. As his vision wavered and he was unsure who he was speaking to, Kamijou managed to keep his mouth moving. When it comes down to it, you are a person who creates. It may be filled with malice and it may be similar to representing crushing a house as creating a pile of rubble, but it does not change what you are. You are a person who creates. Call me a god. And what I have done is simple. I have created new filters and placed them over the world so the world appears to have changed. That is why the world appeared changed to you. This is a lot easier than destroying everything and building it back up every time. And your right hand contains the power to level out any foreign elements in the world, so it has difficulty functioning when I change the world itself. ...Still, results are everything in the world. In the end, history will record it like this: the Magic God repeatedly destroyed the world and created new ones to make a single boy suffer as much as possible. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. The man who names himself the Silver Star seems to have been attempting to directly tamper with the pure world beyond all the filters...that is, the world of science that is unaffected by religion. ...Honestly, you are quite fortunate to see this. Not even the Golden cabal of Europe that dreamed in Tibet was able to reach this point. Kamijou could not guess how much value this had. If Index saw it, she might have felt differently. But... (She is the extreme form of one who creates. She forces unnecessary or mistaken gears into the world and that completely changes the scene before me.) Kamijou Touma tightly clenched his right fist. (That must mean Imagine Breaker is special to her. It destroys. It does the opposite of what a god does. This hand holds the possibility of erasing what is unnecessary. In that case, it should be possible to fix the gears that have been thrown out of order.) Ollerus had said Imagine Breaker was the selfish dreams of all magicians. If their twisting of the world produced a disadvantageous result, that reference point or restoration point could return it to normal or erase what was done. And wasnt this exactly such a case? It seemed the filters Othinus spoke of were existences or concepts identical to heaven or hell. He was unsure if he could destroy something so massive. In fact, he could not even imagine what kind of phenomenon would be produced if he touched heaven or hell. But there was a possibility there. He still had a chance. The thin, thin thread connecting back to the world containing Index, Misaka Mikoto, and the others had not broken yet. Oh, dear. Othinus cut in with an expression that said she knew exactly what he was thinking. She spoke slowly and gently. And yet a truly dangerous smile covered her face. Are you sure you want to reach for that last thread of hope? What? I am saying that hope and a chance of victory can lead to a fatal blow. He did not understand what she meant. On the other hand, she seemed to understand everything just by looking at his face. And she continued speaking. You will understand soon. You will understand all too well. Volume 9, 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Omega. Volume 9, Chapter 6: Shifting and Fluctuating World. Version_Omega. Part 1 ...Ah!? Kamijou awoke. He had grown used to blankly wondering what had happened to him. It was similar to being punched so many times that his entire face felt warm and he could not distinguish the individual injuries. He had been beaten to that extent. His heart had been torn to pieces and threatened to scatter every which way. His instincts led him to desperately gather the pieces of his heart, but his own outline had thinned so much that he could not even remember how many pieces he needed to gather. Even so, an external stimulus caused Kamijous index finger to move. It was forcibly made to move just like when someone reflexively held a hand up to block a bright light from their eyes. He was in a park filled with gentle sunlight. He sat on a white bench and it seemed he had been sleeping while leaning against the back of the bench. He wanted to wonder how long he had been asleep there, but he doubted the question had much meaning. It was possible this place had been created the instant he had woken up. This place was likely a cruel construction put together by Othinus as she watched on from above. Just like the ones before it, it would deny his very existence and strike him with a sense of helplessness. Anywhere that initially seemed calm and peaceful would always bring thorough destruction in the end. His soul would be smashed by the sight of people he knew screaming and sinking into pools of blood. And so he tensed up defensively. After everything he had seen, he would not sit idly by and optimistically watch the change occur. (Ill make the first move.) His hazy mind focused on a single point in the center of his head. He felt his circulation grow stronger throughout his body. (Fortunately, Ive been able to keep my memories this entire time. That gives me a chance to put together a means of resisting Othinuss seemingly infinite power. ...Ill save them. No matter what happens to me, I will return everyone to normal!!) What would happen if his heart broke even once amid these many shifting and fluctuating worlds? He had not given that any thought. He had more important things to focus on. Othinus would begin soon. Once it began, the destruction and collapse of the world could not be stopped. Fortunately, he was never made to wait for 100 years in a vast empty desert. She most likely did not want to wait around either. No human would try to kill an unsightly roach by caring for it in a bug cage until it died. This was the same. He had to figure out what was going to happen. He had to compare the different variations of destruction and calculate out Othinuss range. He had to find any common traits and determine what the Magic Gods habits and dispositions were. There might be a small hole somewhere. There might be a thin, thin crack that was not noticeable at first glance. Or there might be something tiny that not even Othinus had noticed. There might be something somewhere. (So dont look away. Face it head on. Face it and overcome it!! It doesnt matter what happens to me. It doesnt matter if these repeated scenes that surpass every limit end up frying my brain. I cant let her manipulate Index and the others any longer. I will return everything to normal and retrieve their honor!!) He gathered strength in his entire body. He began to spring up from the park bench. But something else happened first. ...llis. He heard a voice. It seemed to be speaking English, so he was unable to understand the details. All he could make out was a name. But no name would surprise him now. He had even seen a complete stranger being called Kamijou Touma by his class, but he had overcome it. And so he knew he could overcome this as well. But then the full name slipped into his ears. Wait up, Ellis! It was just for an instant, but Kamijou Toumas breathing most definitely came to a stop. He completely forgot to stand up from the bench. He turned just his head and slowly looked toward the speaker. A small girl with wavy blonde hair and brown skin ran by. A boy ran ahead of her. He recognized the girl. (But...) Wasnt Ellis the name of the golem belonging to the magician named Sherry Cromwell? And didnt the name come from a close friend of hers who had died long ago? ... Kamijou stared blankly C truly blankly C as the boy and girl ran off And then he heard another voice. It was speaking either French or Italian. Either way, it was a language he did not understand at all. Even so, he could tell the voice was happy. He turned toward it and found a young girl and a young couple sitting on a plastic picnic sheet laid out on the green grass. They would occasionally pull sandwiches out of a wicker basket and happily eat them. Their expressions said the happiness came more from the situation than the flavor of the sandwiches. The young girl had brown hair formed into thin braids. Kamijou was reminded of the nun named Agnese Sanctis. But had he ever heard anything about her having parents? It cant be... He gradually felt a large shadow form over him. The girl known as Vento of the Front walked hand in hand with her young brother. The man known as Terra of the Left had not been executed by his colleague and drank iced coffee under the same parasol as the other members. The woman named Oriana Thomson did not work as a magical courier and instead smiled with a few different children and old women. There you are, sensei. That voice seemed to belong to Kumokawa Maria who wore a strange maid outfit. That meant Kamijou did not even need to check to know who it was she was had spoken to. It was Kihara Kagun. It was someone who had definitely died and should be dead. Reject it. Those two words stabbed into Kamijous chest. The malicious voice belonged to the blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl named Magic God Othinus. If you insist that the changed worlds and the act of changing the world are evil, then reject this twisted world with no crime, debt, or broken hearts. ... Othinus leaned in from behind the bench, pressed against him, brought her cheek in close, and almost lightly bit his earlobe as she whispered to him. Kamijou said nothing. He had no rebuttal to give. Destroying the world is easy. Either kill me or destroy the lance I use to control my power. I doubt a human can accomplish either, but it is at least worth trying. You will fail in either one and you will be unable to take everything from me, but you might create a bit of static. That would be enough to shatter this makeshift world created with an incomplete phase. You would be able to eliminate one of the worlds you believe to be so hideously distorted. At some point, a lance had appeared in her hand. That was Gungnir. That spiritual item helped control a Magic Gods power. It was the key to it all. It brought about changes to the world while ignoring the wishes of the very people it affected. That single point connected to the heart of the issue. Othinus was embracing Kamijous shoulders from behind. And she was also holding the lance. This put it well within reach of his right hand. Right now, he could destroy it. Hurry, quietly urged Othinus. Her long hair gave off a sweet aroma. It is wrong to twist the world toward bliss. It is right to return it to normal. That is what you said and you are probably right. So show it with your actions. Test out your own idea of justice. Do it. (Can this really happen?) Othinus had been freely using her absolute power to manipulate everything. He had assumed she was an absolute evil. For her own convenience, she had repeatedly destroyed the world, brought people to ruin, and shown Kamijou hellish worlds of agony. During it all, the thought of returning everything to normal had supported him. That had been his goal. But... I said this before. As she watched this world of happiness, Othinus whispered in the trembling boys ear. The world does not really need you. Even without you specifically, their dangers were avoided. The number of deaths, peoples groups of friends, the amount of peoples assets, and the headlines on the news may change a bit, but the world does not stop. Peoples lives, jobs, and romances continue on. ... You saved them in one way. I saved them in another. That is all. In this world, I stood up to those unreasonable incidents in your place. This is not an issue of good and evil. There is no use in arguing who was right. It is an issue of the options available and the actual results produced. Those two factors differ greatly between us. And that affects peoples lives, finances, love lives, and a lot more. Then... The puny boy finally moved his trembling lips to speak. What have I been doing all this time? You did well for a mere human. Othinuss answer was simple. But did you forget? I am known as a god. I can save people in ways you cannot. That may have been the theory in various mythologies. It might have been made more complex by the minds of those who believed in them. But... That isnt fair. Perhaps. Ellis was already dead by the time I met Sherry. It had happened twenty years beforehand. No matter how much I struggled, there was no way I could save that boy. I wasnt even born then. Then you did nothing wrong. Its the same with Oriana and Agnese. There had to have been tragedies I didnt even know about. I cant know everything about peoples debts and hearts. How am I supposed to save people from those things? No one is blaming you. A paper airplane cut across in front of them. A small girl chased after it along with some girls with the exact same face as her. Kamijou turned in the direction from which the paper airplane had been thrown and saw two Level 5s. They were the #1 and the #3. This was likely a slightly different future where they had perfectly reconciled their issues. I couldnt save them. It was impossible for me!! Thats right. Over 10,000 clones were killed. If I had realized it sooner, there might have been a different option!! It was my fault for accepting that. I just thought it was all resolved because I had saved the one or two people in front of me!! If you stop blaming yourself, everyone else will accept it. Then... What did my choice accomplish? The truly correct answer was likely the one before his eyes. It was unreasonable and it required to cheat and turn back time, but Kamijou could not think of any answer better than that. Did my choice accelerate some tragedies? Is it possible I caused unnecessary deaths? Did I make someone suffer, did I force a great debt on someone, and did I destroy someones chance at love? I was satisfied and thought I had saved them, so what does that make me!? Was changing things truly evil? Was returning them to normal truly good? Could he still say that after seeing such a wonderful world? Even if someone was controlling that world? Othinus had protected the smiles Kamijou had been unable to, so was she in the right? Was this actually a form of just government rather than world domination? A soccer ball rolled up to Kamijous feet. Othinus gently removed her arms from his neck. Freed from her grasp, he looked over. A small form approached him. It was a nun wearing a white habit. My ball... Hearing that voice, Kamijou instinctually reached for the soccer ball at his feet. As Index approached the ball, she almost looked like a puppy. A few other people were visible behind her. Stiyl Magnus. Kanzaki Kaori. And some priests and nuns he did not recognize. Oh, he muttered. Due to losing his memories, he had lost the actual events. But he more or less understood based on his knowledge. This was a future where they had not failed and had not had their role stolen by Kamijou. ? As the silver-haired girl took the large ball from him, she looked at his face and tilted her head. Whats wrong? Does your stomach hurt? she asked. He figured he was making a very strange face. Would something change if he reached out with his right hand and rubbed her head? Or would nothing at all change? For an instant, his right palm trembled ominously. No. Kamijou formed a smile. He quietly clenched his right fist on his lap. Its nothing. Im fine. Kamijou watched the girls back as she jogged away. That sight of her joining another group had to be the one those people had seen so many times in the world he knew. Had that really been a form of salvation? Who had he been saving by continually providing those people this horrible sense of loss? Protect or destroy, whispered Othinus as she sat on the back of the bench and leaned her back against his. You can only choose one or the other. And that decision will affect not only you but everyone you know. It will decide everything for all of them. What are you asking me to do? asked the boy as he trembled. You will save the world even if I dont do anything. You just showed me that! So what do you want from me? What is there left for me to do in this utterly perfect world? What are you entrusting to me!? It is quite simple. Othinuss tone was so carefree it almost seemed she would start whistling. As you said, this world is perfect. Utterly perfect. Everything is protected by the golden ratio calculated out based on the assumption that Kamijou Touma does not exist. But think about it in reverse. Your mere presence here will cause a malfunction in this world. An unnecessary gear or a single wedge can obstruct the movement of every other gear. ...That is the current state and it will soon begin to collapse. I do not know if it will happen one second from now or one month from now, but it will happen. It will happen the instant this world remembers that you are still here. Magic God Othinus glanced at Kamijou with her one eye and gave her conclusion. Bring an end to your life. There is no other way to protect this world. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... For an instant, Kamijou gave a relaxed expression that resembled a bizarre smile. But anyone could tell he was definitely not smiling. Othinus ignored it. I could kill you, but I am sure you have realized the problem with that. You have a way of somehow escaping dangerous situations brought about by external factors. Your inability to die when you should may be the greatest of all misfortunes you have been constantly exposed to. I can kill you with odds greater than 99%, but if you want to fill the gap and reach 100%, it would be faster to end your own life. That would be the most wholesome option for the world. Kamijou heard a quiet sound. Something had fallen from the sky. It was a loop of thick rope used to hang oneself. As soon as he realized what it was, more objects fell around him: a knife, a charcoal grill, a handgun, detergent, a car, pills, a thick plastic bag, a broken hair dryer, a silver sake cup, a knife in a wooden scabbard, a filled gas can, and clothes with rocks filling the bottom in place of weights. It was a colorful, comical, and surreal scene reminiscent of the raining sweets seen in a childrens picture book. Choose on your own and make up your mind on your own. If you are prepared to bear it all, then you can battle me and destroy the lance. If you are not prepared to do that, then you must end your own life. Kamijou slowly turned toward Othinus. But she had already vanished. The boy was left all alone. The all-too-enormous weight of that happy and perfect world pressed down on his shoulders. Between the Lines 5 The person thought about justice. They had a feeling it was in some place as distant as the names of the extinct dinosaurs. The person thought about peace. They had a feeling it could be created even without justice. One by one, the person gathered the conditions needed to create the scene in their head. While performing that work, they tilted their head. They thought back over it all from the beginning, thought it over from the beginning again, and finally came to a realization. It seemed the person was an unneeded element toward bringing peace to the world. The people the person knew would smile, those people would take the hands of people the person did not know, many things would develop, and the many problems that had piled ridiculously high would be thoroughly resolved. And after that shining ideal that looked like an example from a textbook was accomplished, there would be no place left for the person. If the world had peace, it was likely that no one would complain. If the world had peace, it was likely that no one would raise any questions. If the world had peace, it was likely that everyone would ignore the process used to reach it. If the world had peace, it was likely that everyone would rejoice at the result. If the world had peace, it was likely that everyone would say it was right. That equal and selfish answer would crush the convenience of an individual. But there was no other option. Justice had already been lost. Only the fossilized relics remained. Needless to say, peace had great value. Past history proved it was worth considering the sacrifice of half the world just to acquire. If it could be purchased with a single life, anyone would leap at the chance. Historians would praise that great deed of mankind, a new number would be carved into the list of great dates, and even a holiday would be made. All of humanity would smile as they committed that murder. Grinning and armed with that theory, they would look away from the truth and rejoice in their lukewarm and unpleasant peace in which everyone forgot what justice is. This led to a question: Did the person wish to cling to a world like that? Volume 9, 7: A Normal High School Boy”. Black_or_White. Volume 9, Chapter 7: A Normal High School Boy. Black_or_White. Part 1 Kamijou Touma could not move. He could not even stand up from the white bench. He had nothing left to guide him. Even if he could move his legs to walk and even if he had the strength to clench his right fist, what could he do? After seeing such a perfectly correct answer and after seeing such happiness, did he still have the courage to interfere and charge in toward someone elses misfortune? It was true he may have resolved something. But there may have been another way. What if he could have travelled back in time and stopped those tragedies if he had only not been fooled back then and had known the answer from the beginning? Anyone would have said that was nonsense, but Othinus had done it. It may have been like seeing ones opponents hand before playing ones own and it may have exceeded what any human could do, but it was obvious whose answer had been more correct. ... Evening had fallen. The people gathered in the park had gradually left and Kamijou was soon left alone. Even so, everything he had seen there was burned into the insides of his eyelids. What possible reason was there to destroy that? Could he find a motive for fighting Othinus? He wanted to return to his original world. He wanted to return everything to normal. He wanted to return to that normal everyday life he had believed would continue forever. He wanted to take back the life of the boy named Kamijou Touma. But... He was the only one that wanted that. He had believed that doing so was in everyones best interest, but that had been meaningless. If he had to weigh the wide world against himself, he had always known which one to prioritize. Othinus referred to herself as a god, and she had produced a result that lived up to that arrogance. If that god protected this world of peace, created the peoples smiles, and behaved impeccably, what title befitted the person who opposed her? There was only one answer. Yes. Kamijou covered his face with his hands as he sat in the bench. If anyone should be called evil, its me. He could no longer move. He understood, so he could not move. No matter what else he did, he would only trample on everyone elses lives. The most he could do was feel he had saved them, but that self-satisfaction would destroy the balance of the worlds golden ratio. He could not do that. That was undeniable evil. If he saw someone else trying to do that very same thing, he would set everything aside and try to punch them. And there was no way of justifying treating himself as an exception. It was over. He had wondered what would happen if his heart broke during the many subsequent worlds. This was probably the answer. He would lose even the bare minimum of what it meant to be a living creature, he would be unable to move even a finger, and he would begin to rot while still alive. But... Letting it end like that might also be evil. He could still do something for everyone. Othinus had said his mere existence would eventually cause destruction. It was possible she could simply create a new world, but there were some things that would still be destroyed: the smiles of Index, Misaka Mikoto, and everyone else he knew. And not just that. He also bore the futures of people he did not know. There was no greater happiness than this, so any change would have to be a negative. The role he had been given could do nothing but mess up a good thing. If he had become a trigger for nothing but that, he should bring an end to it now. That had to be the case. After all, that was the undeniably right answer. I get it. So... So... So... I get it, Othinus. Ill go find somewhere to die. Slowly and silently, the boy stood up from the bench. The motion resembled a balloon floating up into the evening sky after its string snapped. His small back seemed to melt into that orange world. The countdown of his footsteps began. Part 2 How should he kill himself? Kamijou vaguely pondered that question as he wandered aimlessly through the streets. The answer would change where he had to go. He had never given it thought before. Othinuss comments had been right on the mark. He had become so used to experiencing such unreasonable misfortune for so long that no normal trouble would kill him. Whether he was aware of it or not, he would somehow avoid death. If he chose his method poorly, he would survive. And that would undoubtedly damage this world of peace and smiles. In which case, he could not casually and impulsively decide his own fate. He had to think over it carefully. He needed a method which left no room for survival. Once he made the action, there had to be no way of turning back no matter how much pathetically he trembled and had second thoughts. There had to be a clear point of no return. He did not know when the destruction would occur, so he had to come to the right answer on the first try. ... As he wandered on unsteady legs, he realized this place was modeled after Academy City. However, the cityscape was a bit different. Most likely, the things unneeded in a perfect world were gone and new things had taken their place. For example, the laboratories of the dark side that were disguised as private institutions. The most noticeable change was the lack of walls around the city. If the disputes between the magic side and science side were completely resolved, they would be unnecessary. As he wandered about, he glimpsed the faces of the people who had left the orange-dyed park. They were all returning to their own small worlds and grasping their own happiness. He turned toward some loud voices and saw a four girl group sitting around a table through a large restaurant window. In the end, I think your short temper is due to those salmon bentos, Mugino. I dont know if you would call it chemical substances or chemical seasonings, but you need to watch out for any strong flavor like that!! What? Frenda, I dont want to hear that from someone who eats canned foods year round. Come to think of it, you two eat salmon and mackerel. Why are you so super focused on seafood? Try to make your characters more super distinct. ...You two get along surprisingly well. A few more people walked by in front of Kamijou. They passed through the restaurants glass door and headed toward the girl groups table. Nyah, nyah! Whats that delicious-looking stuff youre eating, onee-chan!? Is it a new dish? Are they having a canned food fair!? Fremea, I think she brought that in without asking. Look, the waitress over there is stiffly looking this way with a bitter smile. Hamazura, you need to apologize for being super late! Also...those two are Komaba and Hanzou, right? Why is efficiency super dropping now that we got more underlings!? Tch. Thats because Hanzou said turning back there was a shortcut. Dont blame me! It was because Leader Komaba wouldnt leave that vending machine! Yknow, the one with the roulette!! In the end, I cant help but ask why my little sister is so attached to that extreme macho man. Kamijou had no intention of entering the restaurant, but the smell of food stimulated his hunger. It seemed he still felt hunger at a time like this. He felt disgust at his own despicableness. He patted his pocket and found he had his cell phone and wallet. After walking a while longer, he found a food truck stopped on the side of the road. It seemed to be selling hot dogs. L-look, Sister Lucia! The hot dogs there are 2000 yen each! They must taste heavenly! That is both gluttony and greed!!!!! A nun must not eat something like that!! Lidvia, you say something, too!! Unfortunately, it appears Sister Orsola has already started eating one. The price was ridiculous, but this would be his final meal. He did not hold back and bought one along with a cup of soda. After he received his food, a boy and two girls with brown skin passed by. Etzali, what are we going to do now? Ask Tochtli. Shes the one that heard the commotion. Wait. Dont pass this off onto me. Shes practically your little sister and it isnt easy calming her down once she starts pouting. As he sat on a guardrail and ate the food, he heard several voices from a nearby pedestrian bridge. First, he heard a gloomy teacher and a girl wearing a brightly-colored bee-like maid outfit. Neither of them noticed him. Sensei, what are we going to do now? I hear an event is being held nearby. It appears to be a simple festival, but we should probably check it out. Heh heh heh! Ha ha ha! So you mean this will be a festival date in yukatas? My Violence Donut is going to let out a roar! You appear to have jumped ahead in the conversation like a scratched record, but try to calm down for now. Behind them were two girls with breasts larger than one would expect of students. They were glaring at each other so intensely it seemed sparks would fly. They both had long hair. One had black hair that almost looked wet and the other had blonde hair that shined like honey, but they were both specialists at manipulating peoples minds. Dont you think that was a bit much? Oh, dear. I apologize, but I believe my comprehension ability is too poor to understand what you mean. Oh, is that so? Is it that hard to comprehend that you shouldnt recklessly use your Level 5 powers to cut in front of a line of elementary school children just to buy a hot dog!? Ha ha ha. I told you I have poor comprehension ability Trying to kill himself with overconsumption of sugar and cholesterol would take too long. After finishing his meal, Kamijou threw the containers in the trash and began walking through the orange city once more. He passed by a woman in pajamas and a wheelchair and a girl with smartphones and other handheld devices hanging down from her neck. Oh, dear. As a Kihara, this peace is so boring. Does it really matter? As long as we can play around with science, it doesnt matter if its for good or evil. We might as well live in a way that fits this place. ...That is what a Kihara would say. Anyway, did you see that project summary? We have to research and develop new standards for garbage disposal. What a joke. That wont even take three days to finish. In a way, he was eliminating his regrets. The process was similar to having a large number of hairs tangled up in the water and cutting them away one by one with a pair of scissors. Bit by bit, his body grew lighter and the ritual would prevent any recoil-like reaction when he tried to cross the point of no return. (If I wrote a will, I might be able to gather my thoughts better.) But there was no point because there was no one to read it. As he thought, he heard the distant noise of a beating drum. A group passed him from behind. Thor!! Hurry up!! Wait, Marian. It just started, so therell be tons of people. Being a bit late would be perfect. By the way, I spotted Bersi. He was secretly with that ringlet curl maid again!!!!! Oh, wow... Well, thats Bersis decision. Besides, you should probably give some thought to Mj?lnir shaking next to you there. I think shes gonna explode out of jealousy before long. Kamijou smiled slightly as he watched their backs disappear ahead of him. It seemed all conflict had truly come to an end. As Othinus had newly built up the interpersonal relationships throughout the world, it seemed some strange new connections had been made, but the current form was likely happier than the original form. This world was created with pleasant feelings taking precedence over slight out-of-place feelings. The festival was not being held at a Shinto shrine. Instead, festival stands had been set up along a large river in District 7. Overall, it felt more like a fireworks festival than a religious festival. And in the end, that fit Academy City. Wow!! shouts Misaka as Misaka gives up on trying to process all the information in front of her and just expresses her joy! If you abandon any attempt to understand, it will stop our processing ability as well, so please try harder, says Misaka as she feels dizzy. What the hell am I doing here? Whats wrong with getting a little excited? Saving every last one of the 20,000 plus Sisters deserves at least this much. But it does cost a lot! Look behind you, #1. All those clones are staring restlessly at the food stands!! And Misaka Worst-chan, that mass of ill will and foundation of the Third Season project, is egging them on!! Kamijou instinctually tried to find the sources of these voices in the crowd, but he could not. Instead, he spotted a man and woman wearing lab coats. They had nametags clipped to their chests. The tags read Yoshikawa and Amai. They were watching on with smiles on their faces and Kamijou guessed they were researchers of some kind. Ow! Honestly, this is too many people. And where did my onee-sama get off to!? Yeah, its going to be impossible to find her with all these people who look just like her. Oh, Uiharu. I just remembered. Is it true Arisa-chan is coming here in secret today? Yknow, that perfect mode created once the two became one. I saw that doll-like child president wandering around earlier, so she is probably here somewhere. He continued walking. As he listened to the voices, he walked slowly through the festival built alongside the river. He grew more convinced that his coming action held meaning. He understood the weight of their smiles and what it was they had gained. This was not simply a number on a document. He learned that it truly was here. And... Wait! Kamijou Touma heard a certain girls voice. A small figure ran toward him. She was a nun in a white habit that had golden embroidery as if on a teacup. He knew this girl by the name of Index. Stiyl, Kaori! Its wrong to only let me choose three things in this food paradise!! Im already starving!! Kamijou raised his head of his own free will. He wanted to burn the scene before him into his mind. As the silver-haired girl ran out of the crowd, she held a calico cat in her arms. She had already spotted who she was looking for, so there was no hesitation in her actions. And... Without slowing for an instant, she ran right by Kamijou. She had not been looking at him. He heard voices behind him. But the boy did not look back. He had made up his mind now. He felt as if he had seen what he truly needed to protect. He began walking once more. He followed the river downstream as he walked all alone through the lively festival. Beyond the cheerful voices and decorative lights, a large building towered above them. That was his destination. He had to reach that roof. It was not just the elevator or escalators within the building. The happy festival built along the river was also part of the stairway leading up onto the execution stage. He walked slowly. He entered the building. He boarded the elevator and pressed the button for the roof. As one would expect of Academy City, the elevator was silent yet quick, but it still took over a minute to arrive. He did not know the exact number of floors, but it had to be well over three hundred meters. If he fell from the roof, there would be no kind way of describing what would happen to his human body. Even if there were trees or a thick mat prepared by a rescue squad below, there would be no saving him. Yeah. And with a soft electronic tone, the elevator stopped. The metal door automatically slid to the left and right. This should do it. A dazzling world opened up before him. The sky was now closer to gold than orange and the wind refreshed his heart as much as a cup of water in the desert. He slowly crossed the roof to reach the edge. The area must not normally have been open to the public because it had no fence to prevent people from falling. Beyond the roof, the scenery was unobstructed. No world could have been happier. Every single light before his eyes seemed to praise youth and the festival music could just barely be heard up on the roof. He heard no harsh sirens of Anti-Skill or ambulances. He doubted they were needed anymore. That was why he heard none. This is the best possible spot to end my life, Othinus. I couldnt make something like this on my own. He had desperately worked to resolve many different incidents in the past. The Daihaseisai. The Fuse Kazakiri incident on September 30. The coup detat that covered all of Great Britain. World War Three. But what had happened afterwards? He had not wanted to protect the world. He had not wanted to save something as exaggerated as the human race. But had the short history after those events really been what Kamijou Touma had wanted? Othinus was the leader of Gremlin. If she had not caused such violence, it may not have turned out that way. But at the same time, would everything have ended happily ever after if Gremlin and Othinus had not acted? Really? Even if they had not appeared on the stage, someone else might have appeared to ruin that world. In a way, Gremlin and Othinus had brought an end to that series of events. No matter how many problems there were with their methodology, he could see the results before his eyes. That someone who Kamijou feared would most likely not appear here. Othinus would not allow for the imperfect fluctuations of misfortune or tragedy that were needed for that someone to naturally appear. Even if it was due to unilateral control brought about by self-righteousness and arrogance and even if that tidy and sensitive god was not actually thinking about the individual people, her actions still brought about true peace and happiness. Even if they were being manipulated, everyone had been equally given success. In that case, the people would not care how it had happened. Everyone wanted to be happy. Ultimately, every human was attempting to move in that one direction. It was not the methodology or process they wanted. They wanted what was left in the end. They wanted that high score. ... For a while, Kamijou stared off into that gold-tinged world. Oddly enough, the boy still felt a bit of hesitation and fear toward the simple act of jumping despite having coming so far. He had spent quite a bit of extra time on the rite of passage meant to numb his senses, but he had been unable to rid himself of all of it. It somehow made him feel very pathetic. No one would gain anything by him fighting this. His opposition was nothing more than an empty desire. There was no logic or reason behind it. He felt as if his heart had been scraped away bit by bit and he was now viewing what remained at the very, very end. That was this desire. This despicable desire. He had said so much about rescuing people or saving the world, but this puny desire was what lay hidden in his bottommost depths. This was why the Magic God had seen right through him. It was only natural she was disappointed in him. It may not have simply been Othinuss attacks that had left him with no place left. Why would anyone make a place for someone like this in the first place? But that would end soon. ... Kamijou slowly closed his eyes. The roof had no fence or railing. If he just stepped forward, it would all be over. He only had to imagine. There was a path before him. A path leading to that which should be in the form it should take. A single unnecessary piece had been mixed in with a giant puzzle and it could never be completed as is. So he would remove that piece. He would create a path and move that piece off the table. That was all he was doing. While thinking this, he accidentally smiled. Off the table. That seemed to be the answer. After forcibly rejecting his desires, all that remained was escape. As his heart trembled at the thought of annihilation, it seemed he was trying to move his heart somewhere other than here. And yet no such place existed. That meant it would disappear. He took a step. With his heart numbed over as if it had been dunked in icy water, he finally managed to step forward. He took a second step. He moved forward. He walked down the path. He walked toward the result everyone had to want. He took a third step. With each step, he grew more used to the bizarre action. There was no fourth step to take. Even so, he did not open his eyes. He would follow the same action and move his foot forward again. This would end it. There would be no miracles or coincidences. There was no way he could somehow or other be saved. Othinus had rejected that sort of vague concept. And so he would die. He would disappear. He would be no more. This was not a sweet story of taking a journey to a better place. He would simply be annihilated. And he began to fall. Part 3 Something happened just before he fell. Uraah /return!! I was trying to just sit by and watch, but give it a rest already, dammit /return!!!!!! Suddenly, a girl shouted at him angrily from behind. Before Kamijou could do anything in his surprise, an intense impact struck his back. By the time he realized he had been hit by a dropkick and he opened his eyes, he had already flown forward and the gold-dyed cityscape spread out below him. H-huh /escape? Wait /return!! I was only trying to stop your suicide with a light tsukkomi, so why did I end up pulling the final trigger /escape!? The girl with the strange speech pattern seemed to be yelling out toward him. ???? He heard her while still flipped upside down. Yes. Oddly enough, he was not dead despite falling from the high-rise building. Whats this /escape? Oh, youre caught on the window washing gondola /return. Sigh, thank goodness /return. I thought it was all over before I even had a chance to begin /return. Someone was peering down at him from the edge of the roof. She wore Tokiwadai Middle Schools summer uniform, had short brown hair, and had unrefined military goggles on her forehead. She was not Misaka Mikoto. She was... Misaka...Imouto...? Wrong /return!! The girl used her arms to form a large X mark. You made this mistake back during that incident too /return. You directly met two of the Sisters /return. The one you saved was #10032 or Misaka Imouto /return. And the other... /return. #10031. His vision seemed to twist around. Speaking that name and speaking with her caused him to realize anew just how great a deed Othinus had done. The Sister I just barely missed saving... Thats right /return. But /backspace, Im technically only borrowing her body, so you have no reason to blame yourself over this /return. Still /backspace, we all form a single large will together, so anything I say is the same as hearing it from her /return. Wait a second. Do you mean...? The Sisters. That large number of military clones. A single large will formed from all of them. This is the first time youve actually met me, but youve done a lot for my physical terminals /return. She bowed her head as she spoke. I am the large will created by the whole of the Misaka Network /return. Nice to meetcha /return. Part 4 Like I said, it seems Othinus has free control over the life and death of humans, but I think she has two distinct pieces of software, one for the living and one for the dead /return. Like a god, I guess /escape? Like a heavenly world and a human world /escape? Like heaven and hell /escape? It might be based in a religious concept I dont really understand /return. ... But Im a single organic system created from 20,000 units, yknow /escape? Or if you want to get technical, 20,001 units /return. Theres also that Third Season, but thats not my territory /return. Shes more like someone thats hacked in, so I dont really accept her /return. Anyway, the network forming me contains information from both the Misakas who are currently still alive and the Misakas that are currently dead /return. In other words, Im alive while dead and dead while alive /return. ... If you look at the entire system of 20,000, about half of the cluster has been taken out, but dont think of it like an apple sliced in half /return. Its more complex than that and its all mixed together like Schr?dinger''s cat /return. I know its more romantic to think the moon doesnt exist anywhere when no one can see it, but Im in a strange state that no normal human can reach even when having a near death experience /return. ... That means you cant call me part of the living or the dead /return. And Othinus only has software to handle those two cases, so I slipped through the cracks and she cant manipulate me /return. Unfortunately, I cant be certain about any of this because its related to technology from outside Academy City /return. ... Hey, are you even listening /escape? Please dont tell me you think youll be praised as a good listener if you just sit there silently /return. Cause it has the opposite effect /return. You need to try to drag the conversation out of me /return! Excuse me, sensei /escape? This guys silence is too much for me /return. The girl borrowing #10031s body had been talking on and on and on. It was as if she were releasing pent up resentment after keeping her silence until now. This kind of machinegun conversation was usually only seen when meeting a seldom-seen relative on a holiday. The two of them were sitting on the bed and floor of a white room with only the furniture that came with the room. It was Kamijou Toumas student dorm. Or rather, the empty room that should have been his student dorm. This shining sky thats all about appearances isnt like you /return. Ill take you somewhere much more Kamijou Touma-like /return. After that comment, the girl known as the Will had led him here. It was nothing but an empty white room. That rectangular space symbolized Kamijous current state. That bleak empty space contained not even the slightest scent of Index or the calico cat who had lived with him. The golden light entering through the window formed shadows and complete darkness would fall before long. If I had to guess... Kamijou finally spoke. Id say the software that manipulates the living and dead is based on the Einherjar spell. The spell was only able to move dead bodies without them rotting, but she must have updated it to its perfect form with the lance or something. Nnn, are you talking about the world known as magic /escape? Im not too good with the occult /return. Well, even Im still human, so I dont really understand things like ghosts /return. ...By the way, this isnt an English textbook, so could you stop only responding to direct questions /escape? Youre talking to a girl here /return. Do you really get that /escape!? These two foreign elements existed within the perfect world the Magic God had created. There was no way Othinuss calculations had accounted for this. But Kamijou could not simply rejoice. He was unable to decide on his own whether he should or not. ...Why are you here? You were being really spineless, so I came to punch you /return. Back when that Lightning God Thor guy came by, he really pissed me off and I wanted to challenge him to a lightning competition /return. But now I kind of understand how he felt /return. There are times when you just feel like punching someone /return. Despite the outrageous comment, she had a giant smile on her face. Plus, she had already kicked him once which had almost killed him. After coming this far, Kamijou wanted to avoid another fight like his one with Thor. (And looking back on it, what was the deal with that fight? Did he just want to fight? If so, I want to go punch him for letting his obsession with fighting get in the way of what mattered.) At that point, Kamijou came to a realization. Worrying over that sort of thing no longer mattered. The boy known as Thor had found happiness in this world. Digging up the past would help no one. In fact, the boy might not even remember it. This was a world of all sorts of happiness. And it rejected everything Kamijou Touma had done. So what will you do now /escape? He was blocked at every turn. The stage had already been perfectly set. Anyone could have seen that, but the Will of the Misaka Network asked that question almost nonchalantly. Kamijou could not figure out what she meant. What? Lets try this again /return. She spoke as if repeating a shopping list to a child who had lost the original list. Now that you know this is a perfect world of nothing but happiness, what will you do /escape? Wait... To be blunt, are you sure you did a proper job of searching for a way out of this /escape? Are you sure there is not a single contradiction in this ideal world Othinus has created /escape? I wouldnt be so sure /return. An amateur high school boy like you struggled the best an amateur high school boy could and managed to survive this far /return. If you put your mind to it, you could manage something /return. In fact, my very presence here is something /return. Wait a minute!! Why would I try to turn this around? Im not talking about whether I can do something. Turning this situation around wont accomplish anything. If it will only cause everything to collapse, why do I have to fight!? Hmm, I think you should only talk about whether you can do something or not when it leads you to a more positive line of thinking /return. The Will borrowing #10031s body tilted her head disinterestedly. Her concept of life and death may have been a bit off. And did you really not realize this would eventually happen as soon as Othinus gained god-like powers /escape? ... Dictators are still human /return. If they can do whatever they want, they will make their own home as pleasant as possible /return. And thats what she did /return. Simply put, thats what happened here /return. She removed any tragedy from her surroundings, removed all conflict, removed all failure, and removed all objections /return. ...However /backspace, is there perhaps a kindness that had to be completely eliminated in this world of happiness /escape? I understand, muttered Kamijou. After seeing the battles in Hawaii, Baggage City, and Tokyo, I understand that Othinus isnt the type to worry about the people around her. She didnt create this new world out of concern for them. She didnt do away with tragedy because it was making people sad. ...It was an eyesore, so she corrected all of humanitys problems as if burying the tragedy out of sight. I understand that much. And /escape? But that still saved everyone! She even saved people I couldnt save!! This world has no blood, tears, death, crime, debt, or broken hearts. After seeing all that, can I really say its right to return everything to normal? That would be evil. It would be right but evil! I would be robbing all of those smiling people of their smiles and lives just to take back my own place in the world!! Perhaps /return. The girl known as the Will did not try to avoid the issue by using ideals. But /backspace, can I ask you something /escape? What? Were you ever fighting because it was the right thing to do /escape? Were you ever punching people because they were evil /escape? Kamijou hesitated to answer. And the Will smiled. Of course not /return. You couldve done that, but you didnt /return. You never used that card when it would have helped, so it makes no sense to let it crush you under its weight the instant it becomes a problem /return. If those were the rules you were playing by, you dont need to suddenly change the rules now /return. Whether something is good or evil means nothing when it comes to what you will entrust your life to /return. But that reasoning will only save me. Dont lie /backspace. Without a moments hesitation, the Will lightly rebutted Kamijous spat out comment. And she continued before he even had time to be taken aback. Youve already caught on, havent you /escape? Othinus cheated in one very boring way /return. And Im not talking about leaving you alone unsaved /return. She made one extremely simple change to all of those who she has set up to look saved /return. ... If you were too stupid to realize this, I doubt you wouldve lived this long /return. Subconsciously, you started hoping that Othinus is right /return. Thats why youre doing your best to avoid looking at a certain point that you had to have already noticed /return. ...I wont tell you the answer /return. After all, Ive already given it to you without saying a word /return. There was indeed a tiny aspect of that scene in the sunny park that had felt wrong. But what did that matter? This result existed in reality, so that aspect did not change the score. There is a meaning to it /return, said the Will quietly as she sat on the simple bed. Even if it doesnt change the result before your eyes, its presence or absence completely changes the situation, so it does have meaning /return. To put it another way, why are you hesitating to say it /escape? If Othinus has truly created a perfect and ideal world, nothing you say should create any cracks in it /return. Well... Like I said, you really do understand /return. If you put it to words, it will create a crack /return. And youre afraid that small crack will cause this seemingly perfect world to come crumbling down /return. But /backspace, that very unease proves it /return. This is not an ideal world /return. Its just that this one trick meant to make it look that way is preventing you from judging it properly /return. That isnt true. Index had been smiling. Stiyl and Kanzaki had not lost her. The Sisters had been smiling. Misaka Mikoto and Accelerator had been washed of the sins they bore. Ellis had been smiling. Sherry Cromwell had never held hatred toward science. Oriana Thomson, Vento of the Front, Gods Right Seat, Kumokawa Maria, and people Kamijou Touma did not even know had been saved from the incidents, debts, and broken hearts that would have plagued them. The source of it all may have been twisted. Someone who had seen both the before and after may have found it strange. But their smiles could not be said to be false. Kamijou doubted he could create happiness greater than that. That scene was not something that a mere high school boy could selfishly destroy. That isnt true. Othinus accomplished it perfectly. This isnt some strange illusion. We arent satisfied with seeing something that isnt actually there. She truly did save everyone. She did what I could not. Then prove it /return, readily said the Will. If this is truly a perfect world and nothing anyone does can cause a single crack in it, then prove it /return. ... Hearing her words, Kamijou slowly shut his eyes while sitting on the dorm room floor. And he covered his face with his hands. It was evening. It was the short span of time when day turned to night. In the society of children, it symbolized saying goodbye. And in that orange-colored world, Kamijou Touma slowly breathed in. And he spoke. They dont remember the original world. Part 5 Yes. It was a simple issue. A very, very simple issue. Index, Stiyl, Kanzaki, Mikoto, Accelerator, the Sisters, Sherry, Ellis, Agnese, Oriana, Vento, and everyone else had accepted the current scene as normal. Normally, they would have been deeply moved by the scene. They might very well have embraced with tears and snot covering their faces. And yet they had acted like they knew nothing other than this. They had not known how precious and irreplaceably valuable the things they were experiencing were. But... What does that matter? asked Kamijou Touma. No matter what they think, they really were saved. That doesnt fall under the category of being tricked. Having their memories or not changes nothing. What are you talking about /escape? It changes everything /return, said the Will in exasperation. Then what about everything up until now /escape? You werent risking your life for anything obvious like money or power, right /escape? Occasionally, you even turned your back on those things as you fought for something more formless /return. So it makes no sense to change the rules here /return. If youre suffering under a handicap, then play by the rules you used before /return. ... Othinus was afraid /return. She readily spoke of what was going on in the heart of the Magic God who had truly become invincible. But not that people would find it strange that dead people were standing before them /return. After all, that wouldnt really matter to them /return. Having someone you care about alive is better than having them dead /return. They might question it, but they wouldnt reject it /return. Its the same thing you did /return. If an unreasonable situation is working in your favor, you tend to think its okay to accept it /return. Until it shows its negative side, that is /return. Then... Theres one major negative side here /return. As she spoke the Will of the Misaka Network pointed at a certain boys face. Yes. Kamijou Toumas face. If everyone remembered the original world, everyone who was saved here would be unable to accept losing you /return. That is what Othinus feared /return. It isnt just a positive /return. Once they knew about this obvious negative side, some of them might reject this perfect world /return. It was that thought that led Othinus to cheat in such a boring way /return. Im pretty confident thats what happened /return. For an instant, the boy had trouble determining the meaning of what he had just been told. The girl smiled when she saw his face. She seemed to find it funny that he could not understand something so simple. You seem to be thinking about protecting everyones smiles by casting aside your place in this world /return. ... But there are quite a few people who would not like it if they lost you /return. To be honest, Im one of them /return. Then again, the ones who havent even realized it might have the most charm /return. She was not simply being idealistic. Othinus and Gremlin had always kept that in mind while making their strategies. At Hawaii, Baggage City, and Tokyo, they had drawn out the dark sides of peoples hearts, torn apart the trust between supposed allies, and distributed what people had to gain so that people could not use the power they actually had. They had never ignored the slight strengths that people held. Whether it was a bloody race for rescue gear and boats on a sinking ship, a deadly fight over the last remaining food in a snowed-in mountain cabin, or any of the other tragedies so commonly seen in dramas and movies, nothing that complicated would actually happen during such extreme situations in reality. Kamijou and the others had proven that. The end of World War Three proved it most of all. No matter how hopeless the situation, people could get along. Just imagine /return, she said. Lets say all of the conditions are met and all of the people who have been lost can be brought back, but you will be lost in exchange /return. Nothing says everyone would readily accept those terms /return. Some people would probably carefully weigh the two options and worry their way through the decision /return. Some people would probably reject the salvation hanging before their eyes /return. Othinus feared that /return. She was absolutely terrified of everyone gathering together to save you, so she hid that fact /return. By hiding that possibility and your situation from them, she made sure they would not think beyond the happiness they have /return. To be blunt, that wasnt fair /return. She cheated /return. Just because people stood in an extreme situation did not mean they could make an extreme decision. When presented with the unconditional return of the lost lives, anyone would praise Othinus. But what if a clear sacrifice was needed in exchange? What if they were told to exile the boy named Kamijou Touma or tear him limb from limb? Would they accept that fact and live in their world of happiness? Could they move on to their days of happiness as if nothing had happened and with no sorrow at all? They would have broken /return. The Will spoke as if she could see into peoples hearts. If they knew their current happiness was created by killing and burying an innocent boy, their hearts would break /return. Of course they would /return. It was because you could not allow that sort of thing to happen that you stood up to countless unreasonable situations regardless of good or evil /return. This is something you were never able to accept, so are you really willing to happily force it onto someone else /escape? That doesnt make sense /return. Kamijou Touma did not know how much weight his own existence held in other peoples hearts. After seeing everyone smiling happily in a world without him, he had honestly assumed it must not have held much weight at all. No matter how far he went, he was nothing more than a normal high school boy. There were six billion people in the world, so he had felt there had to be tons of people who could do what he could and tons of people who could do even better things. That doesnt matter /return. The Wills muttered words seemed to cut off his thoughts. It may have been something simple that anyone could do /return. It may have been a coincidence that you were the one that came across it and anyone else might have made the same choice if they had been there /return. If A and B were swapped out and someone else had saved them, they might have ended up surrounding someone else /return. She spoke of a truly trivial fact that meant nothing to the world as a whole. But at that time and in that place, the one who recklessly ran in and saved them was you /return. Even if anyone could have done it, it was you that actually did it. And everyone is thankful /return. Kamijou Touma could not move. And the Will slowly continued. You would be saved /return. Getting your just deserts doesnt have to be a negative thing /return. The path you have walked so far would save you /return. Everyone might worry over the issue, cry their eyes out, and occasionally get into fights over their precious people, but they would definitely save you in the end /return. ...After all, theyre not bad people /return. Even if they got a little twisted and went a bit nuts in the past, they werent too insane for you to find a foothold toward reaching an understanding /return. So in the very, very end, everyone would rush to you /return. If they knew you were about to be crushed by all the smiles in the world, they would cast it all aside and join you /return. They would do exactly what you have done all this time /return. ... And so Othinus took away that option /return. She changed the settings so you could not receive your just deserts /return. Thats not right /return. It doesnt make sense /return. If its okay to just change what people think, then she could have just made everyone happy with a world full of corpses instead of bringing those people back to life /return. Thats how low a level shes cheating on /return. He did not reject the Wills words. He listened to them and thought them over. But... That just makes it even worse... What /escape? If this was a truly perfect world that cant be cracked no matter what, it might be okay to try to do something. After all, Id know it would fail. But if there is a contradiction in this perfect world and there is a foothold toward breaking through, I definitely cant go along with that! After all, they might reject all this. They might reject this happiness that they could normally never get back again! I cant make them do that!! Hm, muttered the Will as she kicked her feet back and forth while sitting on the bed. Maybe youre getting stubborn because this has to do with peoples lives /return. What? So lets think about this more simply /return. Lets set aside all that confusing stuff like the morality and mystery surroundings human life /return. She then moved in close to Kamijou as he sat on the floor. She approached so close that their lips were just about to touch. And she spoke as if challenging him. Does it really not bother you that Othinus just appeared out of nowhere and stole everything you had built up /escape? It was a simple question. A very simple question. And that was why it stabbed into Kamijous exposed heart without anything to soften the blow. He remained silent for a while. The sun had completely set and stars twinkled in the sky. It was not that time had sped up. That was just how long he froze up. And finally... Finally... Finally... Kamijou Touma slowly moved his trembling lips. Tears spilled from his frozen tear glands. And he spoke. Part 6 It bothers me. Part 7 Of course it bothers me. Of course it bothers me!! What was I doing all that time? I didnt want some huge sum of money and I didnt want to make my own kingdom with a ridiculous amount of power. I just wanted to wake up in my dorm, make food for Index, go to school, and hang out with my friends after school. I just wanted that normal life back. So why do I have to be treated like an absolute evil!? Thats ridiculous. Othinus saved every last one of the six billion people on earth to make me suffer. Theres something seriously wrong with her sense of scale! Why the hell do I have to go through all this? What was I calling misfortune!? I had always managed to slip past all that and used every trick I had to reach a compromise. I had managed to strike a nice balance! But she destroyed it all. Of course it bothers me! Even if its meaningless and no one else cares who it is as long as theyre saved, it still bothers me!! I coughed up blood and shed tears to somehow make my way along that path, but Othinus easily did it like it was just a game! She stole everything from me!! She stole everything I had C even the path I walked down C and she did it so skillfully that I feel stupid complaining about it!! What the hell was that? If she could do that, why didnt she save everyone in the first place!? If that was an option, why didnt she use it more seriously!? And I doubt it will even last that long. Once Othinus gets bored, shell just destroy this world too. If you can easily create something, you have no problem with destroying it. But I cant create anything better than this. It doesnt matter what complaints I make when she can give everyone a smile with a wave of that lance. And this isnt someone else deciding that it doesnt matter. Its me! Me!! She showed me it doesnt matter if I oppose her!! Its all a deception created to corner me, but it doesnt matter to me if its all fake!! Its almost like a game to her, but the smiles shes given Index and the others are something I could never give them even after a century of hard work. I couldnt do it without inventing a time machine, but she did it without even trying. Am I supposed to stand up to that!? Why did someone like her have to appear in front of me!? If she was going to do this, couldnt she do it on the other side of the planet? No, why couldnt she create this paradise on the moon or Mars and be happy there!? She could leave all the people here alone and create a new human race on a desert planet she made livable!! ...I dont want to fight anymore. I dont want to oppose a monster like that. I was never fighting because I wanted to. Its just that I always saw someone holding back tears in some horribly painful situation. Even if they cried and cried, no one would have complained, but they put up with it anyway. ...And I couldnt allow it to go on. I clenched my fist like an idiot, charged in, and somehow resolved the incident. I didnt do it to be thanked. I didnt do it because I wanted anything in return. But overcoming those things increased the number of people around me. I began to think those connections with people had some kind of meaning!! And this is where it got me. I had everything taken from me. As you said, someone might rush over for my sake if they knew. They might cast everything aside and join me even if it meant making an enemy of this entire world run by Othinus. But! That doesnt matter!! It never mattered. That tiny illusion is not worth abandoning this miraculous situation where lost lives have returned. I wanted to have fun with everyone some more. I never bothered to realize how comfortable my position was. If nothing had happened yet and Othinus suggested bringing back all those lost lives, I would probably have rejected it based on some random ideal or another. I would say their deaths had meaning or that you cant toy with peoples lives so easily! But shes already done it. To return things to normal now would be no different from killing those unknowing and smiling people with my own hand!! No matter how many excuses you make, that fact does not change. A decision that I make would kill every last one of them!! Theres...theres nothing I can do. What good is it to take away this world without crime, debt, or broken hearts!? Even if I defeated Othinus, returned everything to normal, and justly slaughtered everyone who shouldnt be alive, would I really return to the world I picture in my head? How would I ever face the people who are living their normal lives, ignorant of what had happened? Could I really just smile? Could I really smile like an ignorant fool when I really knew the truth!! Like hell I could!! Nothing would remain for me either way. Whether I defeat Othinus or not and whether I live or die, I cant return to normal!! No matter what happens and no matter how this ends, there is no way for me to succeed. Even if I dont fail in whatever I choose to do, I will still have complaints and it will all fall apart in the end. In that case, theres no reason to fight!! Why should I destroy this miraculous situation!? If every path leads to destruction, why not just accept Othinuss victory? Why not let the number of people saved decide it!? Who saved more people, me or Othinus? The answer is obviously Othinus!! I knew from the beginning I couldnt hold a candle to what she did!! What else can I do? After...after everything shes done, theres nowhere left for me to go!!!!!! Part 8 The Will of the Misaka Network listened quietly while sitting on the bed in the dark dorm room. She silently accepted the many words that gushed from Kamijou Toumas heart. It was certainly not a beautiful thing. It was certainly an ugly thing. But... To be honest, Im a bit relieved /return, she said. If you had still responded like a perfect saint after everything I said to you, there would have been nothing more I could do /return. I would have decided I had been wrong about how humans work and I would have given up /return. Then what are you telling me to do? spat out Kamijou. The situation isnt going to change no matter how much I shout or rage. I cant outdo Othinus. If I destroyed everything here and returned to the original world like nothing had happened, the weight of my sin would crush my heart. Theres no point in doing that. Probably /return, readily admitted the girl known as the Will. After all, this was done by a god /return. As a resident of the science side, I dont entirely understand, but she has probably entered a territory beyond my own /return. My processing power is nothing to laugh at, but I doubt we could come up with a better answer even if we had a nice brainstorming session here /return. Then... Kamijou began to protest, but the Will cut him off. But /backspace. She said it so readily and simply. Lets move back a step /return. Her tone made it clear she had wanted to say this from the beginning, but Kamijou had been unable to keep up. A slight look of irritation showed she had been waiting to arrive at this point. Why do you feel the need to unconditionally place yourself below everyone else /escape? He did not know what she meant. As he stared blankly at her, she rubbed her index finger against her own temple with a twisting motion. Theres nothing wrong with deciding for yourself who to prioritize /return. She readily rejected everything up to that point. Theres nothing wrong with prioritizing yourself just this once /return. The Will who had seen death more than anyone else spoke. If you think you should rescue everyone equally and you think you should hold out your hand toward anyone holding back tears as they suffer through an unreasonable situation, you should save yourself as well as others /return. There is not a single thing wrong with that /return. Call it conceited or whatever you like, but that isnt something you can easily weigh and pass judgment on /return. ... That is how you have always lived /return. That plan to create a Level 6 by killing 20,000 clones could have been justified when faced as an issue of good or evil /return. But /backspace, you would never have allowed someone to simply weigh the numbers against each other /return. And you must know of some actions that were not justified in the grand scheme which still saved a few lives and hearts /return. That isnt the issue /return. Yes, said Kamijou Touma. It was not that he had accepted the Wills opinion. He was afraid to accept it. If he did, he would be letting go of the miraculous situation here. But if I returned to the normal world like that, I would be destroyed. As I continually forced a smile in front of everyone who knew nothing, I would eventually be unable to stand it anymore. Perhaps /return. Once again, the Will did not deny it. And she continued. But that just means you dont have to hide it /return. Who says returning to the original world means you have to hide the fact that you didnt save everyone /escape? Thats just you not wanting to disappoint them /return. Isnt that right /escape? Hearing that, Kamijou smiled a bit. He felt as if the issues at hand were gradually coming into view. Theyd kill me. Then apologize /return. Tell them everything and apologize /return, she said casually. Thats what youve done all this time, isnt it /escape? When great tragedy built hatred in your powerful enemies hearts, you solved it all, one by one /return. This is no different /return. You brought an end to an entire war like that, so you can return everything to normal no matter how bad it gets /return. In fact, doing it that way would be a lot more like you /return. Its much more like you than putting on a fake smile because youre afraid of angering them and ultimately wearing yourself down on the inside /return. Kamijou sat motionlessly on the floor for a while. In this world, everything and everyone but him had been saved. But needless to say, it was a world that would bare its fangs toward him. And so... Is that really okay? he finally asked. The girl known as the Will was listening. Can I really oppose this dazzling world for nothing more than that? You can /return, she immediately replied with a smile. If there truly is no way to return to the original world where you praised your youth, then why not destroy it all and build those relations back up from the beginning /escape? Relationships do not always improve /return. Sometimes they decline /return. But /backspace, it still counts as a victory if it all works out in the end /return. Lets keep it at that /return. The Will of the Misaka Network sounded carefree as she spoke. Also /return. She paused for a moment. I was the one that urged you on, so Ill stick with you if they get mad at you /return. Even if they treat you like an evil demon king, we can start out as just the two of us /return. And then you can work to gradually reclaim your shattered circle of friends /return. It wont be easy, it will leave scars on the most sensitive part of a person, and it will directly affect the survival of people around the world /return. But /backspace, it will all work out in the end /return. Ill stick with you until it does /return. He could not see into the future. No one could say what would happen. Choosing to be destroyed here was likely the most overwhelmingly right decision in the history of the world, and Kamijou Touma was an absolute evil for fighting against it for his own hopes and desires that he refused to abandon. But... I want to... As he hung his head down, a quiet voice escaped Kamijou Toumas lips. This time, the boy truly let out all his pent-up tears as the words spilled out. It may be conceited and it may not make anyone else happy, but I want to go back... Some might have called it evil. But these were the tiny feelings of a normal high school boy. They were horribly wretched, pathetic, and worthless, but this was the true voice of his exposed heart. The girl narrowed her eyes slightly. He simply could not abandon that desire. Even though he knew it would bring misfortune to others, he could not let go. And the girl did not think it was a bad thing. In fact, if he had easily given up based on documents filled with systematic measurements, she would have been angry. Yes. She had actually been sulking up until now. It was a very human thing to do. That settles it /return. The Will shrugged and gave her conclusion. She was as carefree as someone suggesting to stop somewhere on the way home from school. Go surprise that true god who got a bit carried away with her perfect victory /return. ...Yeah. Kamijou Touma slowly stood up. His eyes focused on a single point: the dorm room door. What he had to do had not changed. He had always passed through that door when charging out into the wide world. Its time to bring this to an end. Its time to fight a god. The simple sound of the door opening and closing seemed to continue on forever. Part 9 The Will of the Misaka Network had watched that boys back as he left. She was now all alone in that empty white room. In that dark rectangular space, something like white glowing flower petals floated through the air. Honestly, you dont make this easy /return, she muttered. Her short hair glowed white as if coming apart at the ends. Her body was a borrowed one. It belonged to #10031. Something invisible scattered as if peeling away from that physical body. The Will had actually had a much faster way of motivating that boy to fight. She was a thought entity created in part from what was learned in the deaths of over half the 20,000 clones. By saving all of the clones, Othinus had greatly twisted the Wills form. As things were, her very existence would not be erased, but she would change into something else as if the data were being overwritten. And so she had only needed to say one thing. Please save me before this world crushes me. (But it would have been all over if I had said that /return.) That would likely have been enough for the boy to tightly clench his right fist. No matter how many enemies it would have made, he would have willingly accepted the burden of all those sins to save the Will. Also, she was an existence created by gathering the consciousnesses and egos of more than 20,000 Sisters. She had recorded their state of mind in their final moments and perhaps even for a few seconds after their deaths. In other words, the idea that only the dead could truly understand the feelings of the dead did not apply to her. The Will could have lessened the burden on Kamijou Toumas heart by drawing on the feelings of the Sisters and telling him what they had been thinking. On top of that, the Wills data included a few recordings of the words and actions of people he knew well. She was a collection of espers who could manipulate electricity, so she could have burned the voices of the people in the former world into a cell phones memory or a hard disk. That might have been enough to stimulate his emotions. What was real and what was false had long since been overturned. If he grew angry that the voices he was hearing were being treated as false, he would have easily regained his strength to fight. But she refused to use those methods here. She had hidden those cards. Something resembling white flower petals peeled away from the borrowed body and scattered through the dark room. (If he had to rely on me here, that boy would certainly crumble eventually /return. He needs to stand firm here, so I cant spoil him now /return.) Before long, the Will would be blotted out. In a way, it felt much more repulsive than simply dying. As one who had indirectly experienced death over ten thousand times, she really could make that judgment. Now, what should I do /escape? said the Will bluntly. She was temporarily saying goodbye to this world. She had to decide on her final words. I wont say Ill see you in the next world /return. She smiled a bit. See you in the original world, Kamijou-chan /return. Part 10 She had wavy blonde hair and white skin. A large black leather eyepatch covered half her face, so only one green eye was visible. Witch-like designs had been added into her outfit in places, so her silhouette showed a pointed hat and cape. She was Magic God Othinus. She stood in the schoolyard of a high school in District 7. It was a symbol of a certain boys everyday life. It was no exaggeration to say this world had been created solely to crush Kamijou Touma from the inside, so it was an important point. It was a pole of that world with more value than both the north and south poles. She had of course noticed the presence of someone who should not be there. I went out of my way to provide you with a last meal before your execution, so what is with that look? she spat out. She spoke with a clear irritation in her voice. You have mistaken your position here and lost your way when you should have died. Everything is already settled. Are you not even a little ashamed that you are still breathing? She glanced over at another form standing in the center of the schoolyard. Someone was approaching this important point. A single boy was entering this symbol of an everyday life he needed to protect. Othinus spoke quietly as she glanced over at him. So what has gotten into you now? Something you wouldnt know about. That was all it took. Magic God Othinus had already seen through it all, so she did not refer back to this world where Index, Misaka Mikoto, and the others had gained their smiles. She did not try to use them as hostages so he would back off. Instead, she waved her slender arm horizontally. At some point, a large lance had appeared in that hand. It was Gungnir. It was the symbol required to control her massive power as a Magic God. I am sick of trying to crush an idiot with the world. She narrowed her one eye. If you will not break, then I will kill you. I may achieve more stable control if I transfer Imagine Breaker to a more fragile container and break that. Between the Lines 6 The conclusion had been reached. There were no more words to be spoken. They had no interest in the shifting worlds and they had found no value in a peace that held no justice. They would accept the sin of turning their back on it. At that time, two singularities existed there. They were close yet distant. It was only natural that they would never come to an understanding. Nothing would remain after victory. Even if they won, the world they longed for would not arrive. Nevertheless, they could not stop from fighting. They were not fighting in order to gain something. Their honor and pride were on the line. For both of them, that was enough. What would be gained through victory and what would be lost through defeat? What would be lost through victory and what would be gained through defeat? Did they understand the conditions? Did they comprehend the threat before their eyes? The battle began. No excuses were necessary. They would fully enjoy this battle of individuals for individuals and by individuals. Volume 9, 8: Girl Phase, Hundreds of Billions. Create_V.S._Break. Volume 9, Chapter 8: Girl Phase, Hundreds of Billions. Create_V.S._Break. Part 1 Everyone knew from the beginning that he ultimately did not stand a chance against her. It only took an instant. Othinus did not even take a single step. By the time Kamijou Touma tried to dash forward with his right fist clenched, the situation had already decisively changed. Something exploded right in front of him. ......!!!??? The explosive noise arrived late and Kamijou felt it through his bones more than his ears. By the time his comprehension caught up, he was flying high through the air like a soccer ball. This result had to have already appeared in Othinuss head. All Kamijou had managed was to slightly alter the trajectory of his flight and the spot he landed in. He remained in the air for several seconds. His time there was clearly too long for a human-sized mass. What did that mean? Before fear could devour reality, his back struck the dirt of the schoolyard. Without exaggeration, a massive amount of dark red liquid rose from his organs and spewed from his mouth. Ksh Ksh He had trouble breathing. Even as he tried to draw in air, it felt like something was clogging the path. Cough!! Cough cough!! Cough!! While lying on his back, he rolled to a crawling pose and stuck a finger deep into his throat. He had lost a lot of blood, but securing his windpipe came first. He coughed up the sticky fresh blood clogging his throat and somehow managed to breathe in. Whats wrong? The blonde girls voice slipped into Kamijous ears. It sounded much, much more distant than before. I thought you liked simple battles. So why are you moving back rather than enjoying yourself? Othinus never moved from that one spot. She merely held up her lance. That was all. A giant hole opened in the night sky. It looked like a pitch black moon. Something had split open. Kamijou caught a glimpse of that evenly black world he had seen before. No warning was given. That moon merely fell toward the schoolyard to crush a single boy. Ksshh Ksshh Kamijou leaped to the side with all his strength. He could not worry about appearances. He merely rolled along the dirt to move even a centimeter or millimeter further from that whirl of destruction. All sound vanished. A hemispherical crater ten meters across appeared in the ground. This was not the scar left by an explosion. That space had been carved away in the exact shape and size of the black moon. (I need to get close.) A fierce light resided in his eyes. He moved from defense to offense. After switching over his train of thought, he sharply altered his direction as if switching the position of his feet around. (I need to find a way to get close to her!! If I can get right up to her, shell have to let up on the massive attacks for fear of hitting herself! I only have my fist. Whether Im attacking or defending, I cant do anything without forcing down my fear and moving in to-...) Too slow. Othinuss lovely voice was accompanied by the sound of Kamijous knee bending in an odd direction. Ksssshhhh!! Ksssshhhh!! Kamijou Touma used both his legs to charge forward at top speed. He was right in front of Othinus. Fortunately for him, he was still in one piece. Just one more step. As he clenched his fist and came into range, he let out a short breath. He judged the timing, cut down his extreme tension as much as possible, and did not hesitate to put his entire weight behind the blow aimed at the eyepatch-wearing girls face. And then Othinus vanished. The next thing he knew, the blonde girl had moved up so close to him that they were almost touching. The action she took was quite simple. The lance was in her right hand, so she used her slender left hand. With a horrible creaking noise, she grabbed Kamijou Toumas neck and unhesitatingly lifted him up. Kssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Ksssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Just realize it already. I already have. Kamijou Touma and Othinuss gazes crossed for a moment. Yes. When it came down to it, no matter what Kamijou Touma did, he could not stand up to a Magic God like Othinus. This was not an issue of training his body further or coming up with the right idea to turn things around. On a more fundamental level, a human could not defeat a god. The one slight possibility of defeating Othinus through strength alone would be for Kamijou himself to ascend to Magic Godhood, but that was not much of a hope. It was not something so easily done and she would not call herself a god if it was. And so... This wasnt an even fight, groaned Kamijou while held up by the neck. This isnt the first time weve had this fight. I dont know if this is the tenth time or the hundredth time, but weve repeated it again and again. And each time, I was probably blown to pieces by the first attack. The only problem left was the integrity of my memories. I subconsciously refused to accept the pain and fear I felt, so I rearranged the memories in my head to look like a fight following a single path. Thats what made it look like I was somehow holding my own. That answer is worth 50 points. Perhaps. Is this schoolyard not the starting point? Do I have to start from the empty black world I first woke up in? One hundred times, one thousand times, or even ten thousand times. Othinus merely had to repeat this. Each time, Kamijou Touma took slightly different actions and made different choices than the time before. Once he ran into a dead end doing that, he would break. It might happen in the direct battle or in one of the countless worlds. If just once, the boy wandered into a dead end and collapsed, Othinuss objective would be achieved. But at the same time... But I gradually realized something. What does a human have to say to a god? No matter what happens, you wont kill me, declared Kamijou while a vice-like grip squeezed his throat. Its not that you cant. If you wanted to, you could at any time. Yet you havent. Even when you have announced you would. ...There has to be something there. You could just kill me and end this, but you have some reason not to. If I had to guess... ... Id say its something like bonus points. He said nothing more. With an odd snapping noise from his neck, Kamijou Toumas consciousness was overwhelmed with static once more. Ksssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! Part 2 Now for a hypothetical story. Say there was someone with the wonderful power to save and load as much as he wanted like in a video game. Say that person became a detective and tried to stop an unavoidable plan to exterminate humanity that would begin in exactly one week. Who has the advantage there? The detective or the criminal? Normally, one would think the detective has an overwhelming advantage due to his strange power. No matter how many times he fails, he can always try again, so it will never end until he wins. But that is not necessarily how it would end. After all, after making countless attempts, the detectives mental exhaustion would be on an entirely different level. Even if each attempt is only a week long, four tries is about a month and twelve sets of four is a year. What if he continued for years or even centuries and was never able to stop the destruction? The direct competition between the detective and criminal would not matter. After choosing to rush into the cage of time, wouldnt the detectives heart break and be crushed? Yes. The detective with the power to save and load would have another option. When faced by too great a challenge, he could switch off the game and give up. In the end, Kamijou Toumas battle was the exact same thing. Magic God Othinus could control everything. Without exaggeration, she controlled the world itself. If she wanted to, she could have galaxies collide to kill Kamijou Touma. Or she could break the bonds between the particles making up his body and cause his very existence to disperse. If she was the slightest bit dissatisfied with something, she could turn back time, re-lay the rails of fate that led to the future, and create the exact result she wanted. He could not win by fighting normally. Just as the eyepatch-wearing girl had said, there was too great a difference between the basic specs of a human and a god. Any external stimuli from Kamijou Touma or a third party could never defeat that monster. But what if Othinus herself created a situation that would crush her from within. And she had made a certain comment before the battle began. She may not have realized it, but she had certainly said it. I am sick of trying to crush an idiot with the world. She was sick of it. It might sound like an arrogant or prideful comment. But after Othinus had risen to the territory of a true god, nothing ordinary should have been able to do any mental or physical damage to her. There had been something already there which made her feel that way. How many repetitions had Kamijou accumulated before he realized this? It was as if a cup had already been filled to the brim and he merely had to wait for the instant in which the surface tension reached its limit. The level of internal damage that threatened to crush Kamijou Touma was nothing but a slight scratch to that monster, but what if she had already reached a point where that scratch was enough to begin the collapse? It was a matter of persistence. Kamijou Touma could not rip a single victory from her grasp. But there was a possibility he could earn one by losing enough times. Part 3 Othinus heard a noise come from her head that sounded like her very skeleton creaking. It almost looked like small snakes were squirming on the inside of her faces skin. This was the pulse of her blood vessels. (His rate of exhaustion should be greater.) They had repeated this tens of thousands of times, hundreds of thousands of times, and even millions of times. All so that puny boy would fail just once somewhere along the line. (I of course have the more accurate continuity of memories, but he still retains fragments of memories. And ignoring the amount of pure information, the static of pain and fear ensures he will break first. He is nothing more than someone who does not know his place. The more he clings to the hope of a victory that will never come, the greater the shock when it vanishes before his eyes. That is when he will break. He has merely walked down the path of destruction of his own free will.) It was a simple truth that required no real thought. And even if it required no real thought, thinking about it would not change its truth. And yet... Why wont you break!? Have you lost sight of what you are doing after reaching the verge of death so many times? Surely you arent the type of person who will proudly state he is an idiot!! Othinus shouted in irritation. It was rare for a human to enrage a god to this extent. At the very least, it had never happened in Gremlin. The confrontation with Ollerus in Sargasso had been close. It seemed the Magic God now saw this boy as equal or even greater than that other opponent. Why would I break now? In that nighttime schoolyard, Kamijou Touma insolently answered the magic god he faced. I just have to overcome this. You just have to break once. That gives me hope of continuing on. I might be able to regain the place I had lost. As long as I still have even a 1% chance, Im not going to break!! ... This situation was beyond help and it surpassed the mercy of a god. Just as she lightly bit the edge of her lip in irritation, half of Kamijou Toumas body was blown away like sherbet. And while going along with this, Ive started to understand the heart of the issue. Im not being unilaterally defeated. As long as I can accumulate the information in my head, I can slowly analyze the situation. In the next battle, that was all he could say before his torso was sliced apart. Just to say those few sentences, he had wandered the pitch black world, traversed seemingly infinite worlds, and experienced countless forms of pain, fear, and despair. How could he withstand it? These were true hells with a density great enough to drive any normal person insane before they could overcome even one. And reaching this point did not release him from it. After saying nothing more than that, he was smashed by Othinus and forced to repeat all of the infinite apocalypses he had finally overcome. There was no hope in that. Connecting his fragments of words to form a conversation would not change anything. On a fundamental level, he was not winning. Not at all. He had no assurance Othinus would break if he repeated this tens of thousands or even hundreds of millions of times. He had no foundation to support his theory. Not to mention that a human and a god had fundamentally different specs. It was no different from writing data to an old cassette tape and a cutting edge hard disk at the same time and seeing which would fill up first. This is like two mirrors facing each other. And yet... And yet...!! This world which you can freely alter is like creating an infinite landscape by setting up two mirrors to face each other. Saying you have the ability to freely walk through that landscape sounds like something from a dream, but if you took a stroll using that ability and turned back, your face would pale. After all, the exact same world would continue infinitely. There would be nothing to act as a landmark. Where had you come from and where should you return to? Youd naturally start to get worried!! She used an invisible power to split that impudent boys top half from the bottom half. But in the next battle, Kamijou Touma continued talking as if nothing had happened. However, that did not mean he did not remember. He knew what had happened, but forced the memory down and continued speaking. Othinus, I have a fundamental question for you. She stabbed him with the lance. She smashed open his skull with the butt of the lance. In what looked like a joke, she hit a home run using the handle of the lance. But that insolent human boy would not stop speaking. He felt the fear, but he continued to challenge this god. A long time ago, before you gained Gungnir, before you took your spot at the top of Gremlin, before you ran across the non-standard monster named Ollerus, and before you took the name Othinus... She smashed him!! And crushed him!! And destroyed him!! Did you make this mistake? Did you gain a wonderful power and charge forward without thinking to look back? And as a result, did you not know where to return to? Part 4 Kamijou Touma was not very knowledgeable in the occult, so he had no way of knowing, but this is what history said: It was said belief was initially centered on a hammer-wielding lightning god, but it shifted to a lance-wielding god of war at some point. It was said the god of magic had fulfilled a contract by sacrificing his own body by hanging himself from an ash tree. It was said the Norse god that became the origin of the name Othinus was a muscular one-eyed old man with a huge beard. Each of those was unmistakably true. The occasional discrepancies between accounts were nothing more than differences in interpretation between the many different compilers. But what if the past compilers had made no lies, misunderstandings, or speculations and had only sincerely and accurately written down what they had actually seen? What if there was something that drew a straight line, connecting all of the fragmentary information? Didnt a certain girls labyrinth possess both the power and nature needed to accomplish that? Part 5 That would explain most of it, said Kamijou Touma slowly. His slaughter at Othinuss hand had stopped at some point. I was crushed in world after world, but you never rejected or took away the Imagine Breaker in my right hand. That means what I think it does, doesnt it? She was a Magic God, so the human lifespan did not necessarily apply. Ollerus had spoken as if he knew what he was talking about, but he was nothing more than a human. Even if he knew a thing or two about gods, he may not have understood the true scale of it all. Simply put, it was possible Othinus had been a Magic God long, long before what Ollerus had spoken of. Had that power resided within her all that time? Had she cast aside her own power at some point? I dont know the details of this whole phase thing, but you have the ability to freely change the shape of the world like clay. Due to that, you completely forgot what world you originally lived in. You desperately tried to create a world based on the scenery you remembered. You added in and removed phase after phase. ...And this was the work of a god. It was probably so close to perfect that no human could tell the difference. But as a god, close to perfect wasnt good enough for you. After seeing the world she had created with her own power, she had turned back without meaning to. Given that, she must have feared her own power. If she had truly accepted it with nothing but joy, she would not have tried to turn back. In a later era, you wanted the lance and you wanted to alter the world. That must have been because your unease came back. You were concerned that your supposedly perfectly-made world was not so perfect after all. You wanted to work some more on the artwork you had already presented to the public. I dont know what you did to regain the power you had cast aside, but something must have happened for that know-it-all Ollerus to hate you so much. ...You longed for the next world because you wanted to add another layer of paint to the canvas. That would explain your internal conflict. ... Yes, internal conflict. You weighed A and B on the scales and could not decide which one to go with. You had another option whose value rivalled that of the new world. Isnt that right? Kamijou Touma lightly thrust his right fist forward. He held out Imagine Breaker. He thought of its original meaning. According to Ollerus, Imagine Breaker is an accumulation of the hopes of all magicians. He said its a reference point to return the world to normal after it is twisted by their desires. I dont know if thats its true origin, but it can be used like that. You could say this is the other card you could play. It represents the original world. Instead of adding on another layer of paint, you can use this like a palette knife to slowly peel away the previous layers. The original world and the next world. If the gods actions were perfect, there might not be any difference between the two. From a humans perspective, it was possible nothing out of place could be found. But this Magic God was too perfect. In which case... Even if it is the same result, you couldnt throw away your first and ideal hope of returning to your original world by removing all of the phases you had put in place! Of course you couldnt. The six billion people on Earth truly believe this is the same place as always, but you alone know it has changed. Your second hope of creating a diorama world would be different from the place in your head, so you couldnt throw away the other option!! You could have easily added in a new phase and fled to a new world, but you couldnt give up on your first hope of returning to your original world!! Thats why you continued resetting everything and going along with my selfishness even when you could have killed me ten thousand or maybe a hundred million times by now!! In that case, this really was a one-on-one battle. It was a battle allowed for Kamijou Touma and no one else. Imagine Breaker vs. Gungnir. The original world vs. the next world. The battle between those two cards would literally decide the fate of the world. But there was one thing worth keeping in mind. Kamijou Touma was undoubtedly standing on this great stage, but he was nothing more than a human. On the stage of the gods, his role was as minor as a tree or the grass during a school arts festival. You should be able to do it. In other words, this was a fight to see which card Magic God Othinus would choose. Or perhaps it was the ultimate presentation to convince this blonde-haired, green-eyed girl which card she should choose. I dont know how to use this thing. Maybe not even the professional magicians who have completely immersed themselves in this field of magic know. But you should be able to do it. You stand at the peak of magic! Youve risen to a position with the title of god! You have to have some idea how to repair the world using this reference point!! If one thought about it, this was the proper form for a relationship between man and god. Song. Dance. Military exercises. Prayer. Entreaty. Offerings. Dedications. Man did not battle gods. Man had negotiated with the gods to overcome crises such as disasters and plagues. A human could not defeat a god. But he might be able to slightly alter that gods path to align more closely with what was convenient for mankind. Lets try to take even the slightest possible path leading back, spat out Kamijou as he tightly clenched his right fist. I wont say its for everyones sake. Ive already rejected all the smiles I saw here and decided to return to my original place even if it means completely separating myself from everyone I know. Even if it takes decades to completely reconcile with them, Ive given up on running from the pain. Im not going to let myself chicken out just because Im up against a god! Ill do whatever it takes to have you choose my card!! Do you really think I would have done all this if that would work? The lance creaked slightly in Othinuss grasp. Her face showed she had treaded deeply into that territory. It didnt work. I tried it and it didnt work!! Even with a palette knife to peel away the paint and even when I peeled it away in extremely thin layers, I wasnt satisfied with the result. There is no longer a convenient path leading back to the way things were. The age can only advance. If what I want is not before my eyes, then my only option is to create the next world!! You must understand, Othinus. Understand what? Is a human child going to impudently act as if he knows what a god is thinking? Your tiny head cannot even understand a fraction of the trial and error spent reaching this point, so do not think you can conveniently beat me to the conclusion!! That isnt what I meant. Kamijou slowly shook his head. It isnt an issue of ability or theory. Im sure you know what it is I long for. We have both wandered through this exact same black labyrinth! So you must understand!! Returning means losing everything and being hated by everyone, but it also means eventually being able to smile at each other again! You must know just how much you can cast aside for nothing more than that!! ... It seemed those words were sufficient to silence Othinus. Even if only for a moment. Even if only for an instant. All thats left is a test of endurance. Lets repeat this billions or even trillions of times. Im returning to the original world. I wont move on to the next world. The original world Im talking about might be different from the original world youre thinking of, but Im going to force this through regardless. Do you understand, Othinus? Im saying Ill make my dream come true even if it crushes yours!! Fine, then... So lets get serious, Othinus. Stop laughing and draw out everything you have as a god. I wont save anyone. Im fighting for myself. Were the only two here, so no one can save me but myself!! Ultimately, this is not a fight between you and me. This is a fight for me to make my decision. In which case, I must stop hesitating. I will truly exterminate the fool who is treating my failure as his own accomplishment!! Part 6 He stopped counting. Even the fact that he stopped counting had left his mind. ... Kamijou Touma did not win even once. He was crushed, sliced, smashed, ripped apart, blown up, and torn to pieces. That normal high school boys flesh was always accurately destroyed. Whenever the light of life in his eyes flickered weakly like a candles flame and began to go out, a slight wave would rise in Othinuss heart. Give up and move forward. It is not too late to go back. She could only make one choice and two options presented themselves to her. After the slightest hesitation, Othinus would wave her lance and return everything to the beginning before that light completely vanished from the pieces of flesh flying through the air. She returned everything to that black labyrinth she found so detestable. She did not think about making up her mind just once and bringing it all to an end. Nor did she think about shaking off her hesitation when faced with her sporadic choices. But... Othinus gradually gave up. Her feelings were tilting in one direction. She was leading them that way. It did not matter if she was deceiving herself. Self-suggestion was fine. Once she made a sharp turn in the very, very end, she would be stuck on that path no matter how much she regretted it later. After overcoming the 10,031st slaughter, she received her answer. She did not even smile. She would end it here. She would end her dream. Once the dream was over, only reality would remain. Having cast aside her first hope, she would quickly create the next world and return to a normal everyday life. No one but her understood the value of this battle and it would finally be over. She would have nothing left to do but persuade herself this had been the best option. Otherwise, this unease might return once more. Most likely, her senses would die. A blue sky overhead and a green forest around her would no longer move her heart, but in exchange, she could bring an end to the fighting and live a peaceful life. She had no interest in value or gaining anything. She fought in search of meaning. And so... (It ends here.) After her many victories, the heat within her had cooled. The soft portions had been scraped away, so her heart had hardened. She gradually transformed into something resembling a system. (My hesitation is vanishing. I can tell that. I can see the path I must travel to simplify my thoughts. Now I can part with this foolish dream and obtain reality in exchange.) The wavering in her eye vanished. Her pupil grew fixed. It became something that merely reflected light. And in exchange, she obtained true victory. No change had come over Kamijou Touma. Despite all his talk, he had no plan to turn this around. He was only hoping for weakness in Othinus herself. Once she understood that, Othinus truly cooled. She realized the dream she believed in had been nothing more than that. And so... Yet... An intense headache suddenly surged out from the depths of her head. What...? Without meaning to, she stopped moving. After slaughtering him only a few more times, she would have completely given up on her first hope. An invisible cutting attack shot right by Kamijou Touma and blasted the reinforced concrete school building behind him to pieces. He did not even turn around to look at it. He only stared directly at Othinus. He stared at his enemy. He stared at that Magic God. He stared at Othinuss face as it twisted in pain. Finally. The word slipped from the corner of the boys mouth. The first attack had missed. Kamijou was not bleeding. Even so, he was not looking very good. That was the cost of being unilaterally slaughtered more times than he could bother counting. If peoples hearts were visible, Kamijous would have been torn to pieces. It finally...looks like I might win. But he still said that while directly facing the blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl. Do not...be ridiculous. Are you saying I was stopped because the repeated battles have worn down my mind? Im not that kind of esper, so I cant see inside peoples hearts. That means you have to decide for yourself. Im not the only one on the verge of giving up. I may not look good, but youre looking even worse. Othinus grimaced slightly. But not due to Kamijous words. It was because her head felt like it was about to make a creaking noise. Even if I was being worn down, too, our specs are fundamentally different! If we were being exposed to the same pain, your head would be fried first!! So...what is this!? You dont know the answer? I thought you were a god. Or are you saying you are experiencing the exact same pain yet pretending to be fine. No, that would be impossible. A human could never keep up the deception when faced with enough pain to make a god suffer. If you were feeling this same pain, your head would have changed shape long ago!! Hearing that, Kamijou Touma smiled thinly. He desperately suppressed the core of his body that threatened to make him stagger if he lost focus. Youre wrong, Othinus. What? You and I have spent the exact same time in the exact same place. It might seem natural to think we have suffered the exact same damage, but we actually havent. She did not understand what he was saying. But she doubted it was complete nonsense. A definite difference in mental damage had shown itself. This might be too common a metaphor for a true god, but its the same as in a video game, Othinus. What are you talking about? When a weak player challenges an overwhelmingly powerful boss and is defeated, he doesnt get bored. He cant win and hell complain, but its fun to try all sorts of things against a normally unbeatable opponent to analyze their attack pattern. It may leave no data behind, but he feels like hes accomplishing something. Not only that, but fighting an enemy thats out of his league feels like it has meaning in and of itself. Saying he ran across a rare boss that no ones ever seen can make for a decent conversation. ... But what about the opposite? If an overwhelmingly powerful player fought extremely weak enemies on and on, he would obviously get bored. His focus wouldnt last for even half an hour. It would be nothing but work. Theres no room for trial and error and he doesnt even gain any significant amount of experience points or money. And theres no meaning in fighting enemies well below his league. Saying he ran across a weak enemy everyones seen makes for a terrible conversation. They may have stood on the same stage, but their roles were completely different. The weak one saw meaning in his reckless challenge. The strong one was sick of going along with it. Ultimately, there was no clear standard for how much ones mind was worn down. It was all reliant on the state of ones heart. We repeated this countless times. We shared the exact same events. We walked through this hellish labyrinth together. ...But it was still different. We werent the same. We were worn down at completely different speeds!! And that difference overcame the difference in specs and caught up to you first! We cant repeat this again, Othinus. If I cant stop you here, youll crumble from the inside!! It was an invisible knife. Kamijou Touma had been unable to swing his fist at Othinus even once, but he had succeeded in finding a weapon that could easily provide a fatal wound. He had found the material he needed for his negotiations with the Magic God. Fine, then. Her voice was low, like a growling beast. I will give up here. ... I will cast aside my first hope of the original world and resign myself to my second hope of the next world. If I cannot put it off any longer, I will give up on your life here. This is indeed a good opportunity. You know what this means, dont you? Her tone of voice showed there was one thing she could not accept above all. But it was not the headache throbbing deep in her head. And it was not the vague state of her heart. It was that the human before her thought he stood above her. I will not return. I will not repeat. I will not be trapped by my hesitation. I will give up on everything and proceed forward. ...Once I kill you this time, there is no next time, human. You cannot win. You have not won even once. The next attack will take your life!! Othinus did not even need to move from that spot. She only had to lightly raise the lance. An invisible explosion would immediately smash Kamijou Toumas body to pieces. She had made this same attack countless times before. She had done it so many times that she could not distinguish her memories of doing it in the past from her vision of it happening in the future. The result was already known. The ideal destruction in her mind was nothing more than following the past, so there was no chance of failure. The actual results from the thousands or tens of thousands of previous times ensured the current result. Yet... In the next instant, Kamijou accurately evaded the invisible explosion by leaping to the side. Part 7 (Dh...!!) The intense pain striking Kamijou Toumas entire body caused him to grimace. He had somehow escaped the lethal area, but the explosion still hit him in midair. He struck the dirt ground after being thrown further than his expected landing point. His excess momentum sent him rolling even further. Even so, he endured. ... Othinus turned her one eye toward her target and held up the lance once more. A gapless wall of explosions was sent toward Kamijou Touma. There were so many explosions that they seemed to blend into each other. He did not hold up his right hand. Instead, he turned his body to the side as if weaving his way through a crowded train and stepped slightly forward. That was all. The puny boys body slipped skillfully through the wall of thousands or tens of thousands of explosions. What? The result and Othinuss theory did not match, so she spoke aloud with a puzzled expression. What happened!? You should not be able to keep up with me with your specs!! No, I cant. And these repeated battles havent increased my physical strength. Nor have I unlocked a hidden power in Imagine Breaker or anything like that. Im still me. I havent become anything else. Then...!! The twinkling of the stars in the sky was an ominous ill omen. Each and every one of them transformed into a sharp spear of light and poured down like rain. However... Then how can you survive!? Have you forgotten, Othinus? Or was it such a lame metaphor that you ignored it? Its fun to try all sorts of things against a normally unbeatable opponent to analyze their attack pattern. It may leave no data behind, but it feels like youre accomplishing something!! You cant mean... Even if I cant level up like in an RPG and even if theres no change to my physical strength or supernatural ability, Ive been analyzing you all this time. While you killed me again and again, I gradually memorized your combat patterns!! I dont even have to think about it anymore. I can move on instinct!! I had plenty of chances to do this. After all, you stuck with me until I stopped counting altogether!! This was similar to retro shooting games. The path to the next level was more dependent on the real-life player improving his skills than on the in-game ships parameters increasing. On a difficulty setting that looked monstrous at first glance, it may seem impossible to beat. But after playing enough times, one began to notice specific traits to the movements and barrage of enemy bullets. After building up footholds bit by bit, the player could defeat the boss with almost automated movements and advance to the next stage. You mean you used all those deaths? Unfortunately, I truly could not defeat you. I wasnt holding back. I gave it everything I had and was still killed in the end. But I wasnt being killed for no reason. I purposefully chose how I was killed to test out all sorts of things. In death, I learned. It may be different for pure gods, but this is how lowly human entertainment works. There may not have been meaning to it. He may not have gained anything other than a sense of satisfaction. But... Im the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. My right hand may contain a bit of a special power, but that isnt enough to call me an expert. Even if I managed to evade a gods attack here, Im still me. If I fought a normal magician, Id normally lose. My specs arent any higher than that. Even as Kamijou spoke, a whirl of explosions pursued him. But the destruction could not catch up. He would slip through even the slightest gap or he would betray Othinuss expectations of where he would move next. In one way or another, he would just barely prevent his body from exploding. But Ive put together your pattern. Even if I would normally lose to another magician, I can slip through the cracks against you!! You claim to have the power of a god, but youre a Magic God who rose up from the position of a human. This may be rude to you as a god, but youre somehow easy to get along with. You have desires which lead to hostility. As long as I can systematically find the clues to understanding those desires, you arent that difficult to deal with!! Kamijou Touma was not an expert on the type of magic common on the other side of the planet. But without knowing it, he had pointed out a common characteristic of polytheistic gods such as the Greek and Norse gods. Polytheistic gods had emotions. And those emotions were not limited to positive ones like love or justice. They also displayed the negative side, such as fear and jealousy. When the opinions of all the many gods were gathered, it created a single flexible system. As long as that system ultimately led them down the right path, everything was fine. Those existences were known as gods, but they still had doubts and failures like anyone else. And so... Most likely, you arent absolute. The gods reached the perfect answer when combined in a single group. By complementing each others weaknesses, they created a sturdy defense system that could not be overcome by any foe. That was one characteristic of polytheistic mythologies. If only the central pillar of those gods manifested herself without the world of heaven or the other gods, nothing said she could wield perfect power. Even if you have perfected yourself as Othinus, that doesnt mean youre absolute!! ... He was making guess after guess. No one had taught him any of this. He had never read any books on the topic. This rough answer had simply soaked into his mind after everything he had experienced. But that method gave Othinus a greater quiet sense of danger than if he had diligently educated himself on the subject. Her reaction was not surprising. This was not contained to superficial knowledge. This had soaked in to the point that he expressed it with his actions. It had reached the level of usable skill. And Norse mythology was a giant system built around battle. Othinus stood at the top of that system, so it was only natural for her to focus more on filthy experience grasped through combat than on clean theories drawn up at a desk. It made no difference if that experience was on the enemys side. I see. The lance audibly sliced through the air as she lightly swung it. That was not a sign of an attack. She slowly moved the lance to hold it in both hands. I had grown sick of my unfortunate connection to Ollerus, but I had thought that was the limit of opposition this world would present. ...? However, I suppose the time I have spent with you has surpassed that connection. To think this place would create someone who understands me even more than him. The world seems to enjoy throwing difficulties my way!! Her shout acted as a trigger. Kamijou Touma and Othinus both moved at once. It ended after one step. A whirl of destruction burst out. Time stopped. Space was compressed. The standard concepts of time and space no longer had any meaning. The lance of the head Norse god was named Gungnir. Its handle was made from the wood of an ash tree, the same as the world tree, its sharp tip was made from gold, and it had tremendous power due to the runes personally carved into the Dvergr-made base by the head god. It had a few different characteristics. 1. The lance was made to be thrown. 2. The lance would always hit its target once thrown. 3. The lance could not be shot down or destroyed mid-flight. 4. The lance would always return to its owners hands after piercing the target. Returning to its owner seemed to be a relatively important ability for projectiles. For example, C Chulainn from Celtic mythologys spear did not possess that ability and he was ultimately killed when his own spear was thrown back at him. Lightning God Thors Mj?lnir in Norse mythology and Light God Lughs Fragarach in Celtic mythology were both said to have this ability. It was possible those weapons characteristics were meant to make them wonderful weapons only the special gods were allowed to use and that no human could ever make. And even with all of those characteristics, the lance of the head Norse god had yet another characteristic that put it a clear step above the weapons of the other gods. 5. That lance would destroy the symbols of human power. That came from when Gungnir had broken the legendary sword wielded by the father of Sigurd the hero. When necessary, the head Norse god would take power from humans, implying it was their time to die, and add their soul to the army of the gods. A human could not defeat a god. The convenience of the god had priority over everything in the humans world and the workings of the world would act accordingly. No other characteristic felt more strongly like the power of a god. Rather than showing simple destructive power by blowing away a mountain or vaporizing the sea, it bluntly indicated the precedence of the god. In other words, the instant that lance left Othinuss hands, the world would be blown to pieces. Time returned to normal. Kamijou once more felt space spread out around him. As the lance was fired with tremendous force, the happy world was smashed to pieces as if space itself was being torn apart. As a fragment of the world approached with the force of a raging wave, it took on the shape of a giant lance. The walls of all the phases were crushed, transformed into a swirl of deadly weapons resembling sharp shards of glass, and approached their pitiful target as if to swallow him whole. Everything was ripped up. The black labyrinth, which had used up all of its possibilities, showed itself. Magic God Othinus had the ability to create, so she was technically not destroying anything. This may have been a change brought about by adding a new phase into the world. Nevertheless, it was blatantly obvious what the scene before Kamijous eyes would produce. It was the same as referring to the utter destruction of a luxurious palace as creating a pile of rubble. This was undeniably a torrent of destruction. The convenience of the world of man meant nothing. The destruction carried out by the god took precedence. Its greatest effect was causing any resisting human who saw it to give up. It provided such an overwhelming feeling of resignation that even an experienced hero would fall to his knees and end his challenge. Most likely, no one could have escaped that lance when attacked head on. No matter what form of defense or evasion they attempted, they would have had no hope of surviving. That attack had been given the parameter of no human can oppose it. Unless one left the territory of man, one would be smashed to pieces. Not even Fiamma of the Right or Ollerus could have done anything when faced with it. There was no way a normal high school boy could overcome it. Even with a special power in his right hand, he would be smashed to pieces before he could use it. However... (Werent you listening, Othinus?) Kamijou Touma thought to himself as he silently stared at the tip of the giant lance created by sacrificing an entire world. (Im not a special person, I might normally lose to a professional magician, and Im nothing more than a high school student.) In the instant of firing the lance, Othinuss face twisted slightly. She must have seen the look on the boys face. Yes. Kamijou Touma was smiling ever so slightly. But right now, I can overcome you!!!! The action he took was simple. He tightly clenched his right fist and used his entire body weight to thrust it forward. No one would have been able to keep up with its overwhelming speed. Their bodies would have been smashed to pieces before they could even hope to follow the tip of the lance with their eyes. But the experience he had built up accurately guided his movements. He had achieved a surefire attack that would work on Magic God Othinus and no one else. Kamijou Toumas right fist was sucked in toward the one point that no one else would have been able to reach. His fist reached the sharp tip of Gungnir. In that instant, all sound vanished from the world. The kind world vanished and everything was dyed in black. When Kamijou Toumas right fist struck it, the lance veered sharply upward. When Othinus held up her hand, the lance rotated complexly and began to fly back to her hand through the black sky. But it never completed the action. The lance broke apart in midair and completely disintegrated before returning to Othinus like a boomerang. ... Kamijous fist did not escape unscathed. The middle and ring finger of his supposedly tightly clenched fist had been twisted at a distinctly odd angle. Even so, the boy smiled. As battered as he was, he smiled. Its...over... He could feel that this was the case. I...ended it... You cant...escape my dream... Othinus could not return the situation to the beginning. The damage to her mind was approaching its limit. If she repeated the battle any more, she would be destroyed from the inside. And the more she repeated the battle, the more experience Kamijou would accumulate. If she let him challenge her again, she would only be defeated by a gradually more skilled Kamijou. Just like the player of a shooting game, his level of experience determined how great an obstacle was. That was why she could not escape. She could only view the simple reality that she had lost. Do you... Othinus muttered in a daze. The sound of small cracks entering something could be heard. Do you really think that is all it takes to end this? The sound was likely coming from behind the eyepatch she wore. Even while looking on from the outside, Kamijou could tell something was pulsating inside. Gungnir did nothing more than point my powers in the direction of 100% success. But the fairy spell Ollerus used on me at the very end gave me another possibility as a Magic God: 100% failure. That possibility means all of my actions will backfire. But if I know I will always fail, I can achieve victory by always choosing the exact opposite of my initial impression. ...Even without the lance, a Magic God is still a Magic God!! This is not even remotely over!!!!!! Perhaps not... Kamijou felt something like a chill run along his back. He could feel something gathering in his broken right fist. The destruction or severing of that fist seemed to act as some sort of trigger. He could feel in his skin that something was about to burst out. But I will most likely defeat you. ...!! This was different from his earlier baseless confidence. In his interception and destruction of the lance, Kamijou Touma had overturned a myth. Even if Id lose to someone else, I will defeat you. Our specs no longer matter, Othinus. My experience has surpassed a certain point. Even if I was blindfolded and I held the controller behind my back, I could try for a no miss clear. .................................................................................................................................................................................Fine then, muttered Othinus quietly. An instant later, the sound of shattering glass filled the area. A spear of light seemed to stab through her back and into the center of her chest. Kamijou did not know the details. He did not know this was the secret fairy spell that Ollerus and Fiamma of the Right had worked together to attack her with. He did not know how the Magic God had used it to give her the negative possibilities of her power. You have only risen so high due to my failure as a god. In that case, I will correct that failure here. It is time you learned your place and prostrated yourself in the depths of the earth, human!! Cracks of light spread from the center of her chest and out to her entire body. And it did not remain contained within her body. After the lances attack had blown everything away, only the black world remained. The cracks spreading from Othinuss back ate into that entire world. A strange symbol spread out seemingly endlessly. It resembled neither wings nor a flower. Did her power extend to the farthest reaches of the world? Was the world ultimately a part of her? Gungnir had brought about a positive territory. The opposite position was a negative territory. Even as Kamijou Touma viewed that other possibility for a Magic God, he smiled and clenched his right fist. And he spoke once more. Yeah, this is fine by me. ...What? What you bear isnt so light that I can convince you with words. I can understand that now. So lets not hold back. I dont care if its hopeless or hellish. It wouldnt be any fun if we dont squeeze out every last drop. That acted as the trigger. In fact, the boy had likely understood his words would enrage the Magic God. And Othinus responded. She was so angry that he heard the sound of her canine tooth biting into the edge of her lip. As she tasted blood, the Magic God took action. Othinus, or the head Norse god which became the origin of the name, had left behind many different legends as the center of the system making up a mythology. That god did not necessarily use only one weapon and there were records of that god defeating various different enemies with various different blades. And there was one weapon specifically associated with Othinus rather than Odin. It was simply known as a crossbow. No one knew its official name, much less how it was produced. That phantom weapon had left only a description of its frightening destructive power in the texts. That symbol of the head god was too obscure to be called a legend and had mostly been covered by the mists of time. It was said that crossbow could simultaneously hold ten arrows in a fan shape. It was said firing that crossbow could exterminate any army. The entire world could be heard creaking. Kamijou looked up slightly. He saw the disturbing symbol bursting from Othinuss back and providing the color of light to the entire black world it covered. He heard the creaking sound of it gathering tremendous power. In the end, the world was her crossbow. As soon as Kamijou Touma realized that, ten pieces of destruction rained down from the heavenly dome above. Part 8 What exactly could this be compared to? Perhaps a super-long railgun that targeted someone on the planets surface after eternal acceleration using straight guiderails stretching from one end of the universe to the other. Perhaps a singularity weapon that created destruction unexplainable with Newtonian physics by directly messing with the smallest particles dealing with mass and motion such as the bosons and the Higgs particle. In all likelihood, expressing it with words was meaningless. Even if one gathered everything that could be expressed with words, it was unlikely one could shoot down that crossbow. It merely hit. ...!!!??? Kamijou Touma leaped to the side with all his strength. ...The first shot fell vertically from the heavens. It held the destructive power needed to easily wipe out a planet or two, but it was beyond the point of creating anything like a crater. This was no different from a rifle bullet fired with the initial velocity of a sniper rifle piercing glass without breaking it. The arrow had been fired with such great speed that it pierced the pitch black ground without waiting for the impact to propagate. Even so, Kamijou ran. His distance to Othinus was close yet far. It felt like an infinite wall. ...The second shot seemed to skim the ground as it was fired behind him and diagonally to the left. Kamijou crouched down and the arrow passed over his head and swept across the world. Its trajectory was angled downward slightly and it created a giant valley in that black-dyed world. Othinus did not move from her spot. She and Kamijou had to be the same. They were both pouring all their strength into defeating their opponent. ...The third and fourth shots burst up through the ground. They stabbed up a few meters away on either side of Kamijou. It was a trap. If he rashly moved even a step to evade, he would be smashed to pieces. The more unnecessary actions he took, the farther he would be from victory. He sharpened his senses like a needle and pictured himself stretching forward and piercing Othinus with that needle. ...The fifth shot came from directly in front of him. His movements to the left and right were already sealed off and now Othinus had thrown a straight pitch. For the first time, Kamijou swung his right hand. But not in a straight impact meant to destroy. He scooped his hand up from below, traced his hand along the surface of the arrow, and diverted its trajectory upwards. He ran straight forward. His fear and self-interest threatened to shake that simple action. ...The sixth and seventh shots scraped across Othinuss shoulders. The two arrows were fired from behind her and they collided in midair before reaching him. With a tremendous explosive noise, the two arrows trajectories changed complexly. The boy evaded one by ducking his upper body down and then jumped over the other with a great leap. Devoting himself to evasion was meaningless. His path threatened to waver, but he used the power of his will to desperately keep himself on course. ...The eighth shot overcame the restrictions of the third dimension. Kamijou felt a static electricity-like spark on his spine and immediately swung his head to the side as hard as he could. An instant later, space suddenly split open and an arrow assaulted the world. He focused on his trajectory. The several meter path to Othinus appeared clearly in his head. ...The ninth shot ignored the concept of numbers. The arrows that fell from above colored the night sky like fireworks and glittered like stars covering the heavens. Every single one of them was fatal, but Kamijou did not freeze up. No matter how torrentially they rained down, there was always a safe space left to step in. He was going to reach her. He glared at Othinuss face and clenched his right fist tighter than before. ...And the tenth shot... (I can reach her.) Kamijou gritted his teeth. He sharply moved right up to her. (Ill reach her no matter what!! It doesnt matter where the final arrow comes from! I can punch her after evading it or punch her before she can fire the arrow. Either way, Ill end this here!!) Othinus!! In the instant he shouted out, he was certain of his victory. He stopped thinking about the tenth shot altogether. That was why he had reached the idea of ending this before she could fire it. But his mistake was understandable. The final shot approached from directly behind Magic God Othinus. And she did not move a single step. In other words, the arrow unhesitatingly pierced through Othinus. The final arrow broke through the girls entire body and assaulted Kamijou from the blind spot directly in front of him. ...Ah. Time stopped. He was too slow to react. By the time he heard a dull sound, the final arrow had already been absorbed into his chest and accurately targeted his heart. This was nothing as kind as piercing or breaking him. In the instant of impact, Kamijou Toumas body was smashed to pieces from the chest down. As his heart continued to writhe in midair, the tip of the arrow caught it and blasted it to the farthest reaches of that world. All that remained in that place were the boys arms, shoulders, and head. At that level, this could only be called his remains. Kamijous body spun at least twice through the air and Othinus caught it in one hand. She had supposedly taken the exact same damage, but not so much as a single scratch remained on her smooth skin. The destruction had indeed occurred, but the wounds had immediately repaired themselves like watching the destruction of gelatin in reverse. Othinus spoke with a cold light in her one eye. It is over. ...Dammit. Maybe so. Kamijou had lost again and again and used those losses to analyze Othinuss combat patterns. That was why he could battle this Magic God. However, that had only been Othinus when wielding her lance. That had been Othinus with her positive possibilities. He had not been able to accurately pursue her actions once she opened up the negative possibilities using the fairy spell. That was why he had made a mistake at the very, very end. He no longer felt any pain. His organs had been destroyed and even his heart had been taken. It was strange that he was even conscious. He had heard cruel rumors of criminals heads blinking after being decapitated by a guillotine or people complaining to witnesses after being torn to pieces when hit by a train. However, he had never imagined he would one day test it out himself. This was simply a mistake until the blood left his head. It was a slight illusion until death caught up to him. Either way, I may never have had any chance of winning. It is a bit late to realize that. Without your help, the victory I had decided on would always have been out of reach. ... Yes. Kamijou Toumas goal was not to take revenge on her for taking his world from him. Nor was it beat up Othinus and prove he was stronger than a Magic God. If he had killed her, he would have gained nothing. That would have left him with a bleak future of loneliness in that pitch-black world. Imagine Breaker was a reference point for the world, so it could restore everything. But he could not open the door to the world in his dreams. Othinus narrowed her eye slightly. If you knew that, why did you challenge me? I thought I could reach you. The boy sluggishly moved his lips while held in her arm. I had no clue whatsoever, so a deadly fight was the only option left. But...just running around wouldnt have solved anything. I wanted my words to reach you and to set something in motion, and I thought my only option was to stand before you despite the danger. But nothing is left for you now. You have simply lost. The world you wish for will never arrive again. ...Thats fine. Kamijou was not even blinking anymore. He seemed to be gradually losing the strength he needed to form expressions. That was my personal selfish desire. Its failure wont make anyone but me sad. ...So thats fine. The world hasnt failed. No one knows about this loss. This place has no crime, debt, or broken hearts. The people I wanted to protect wont shed any tears. In the end, what had this boy truly wanted? Most likely, not even Kamijou Touma knew that. He had been cornered by ridiculous situations, the entire world had acted as if he had betrayed them, and he had even had his existence fade into the background. He had pushed down the option that held only peace and smiles and he had longed for his original world despite knowing it was wrong. Had he truly wanted to destroy it? Had he truly wanted to protect it? It would have been strange if he had been able to think calmly about it. Only a coldhearted person who viewed the world with cold eyes could have done that. It was because he cared so much for it all that he had wanted to protect it, been unable to allow it, wanted to take it back, wanted to watch it go, wanted to give up on it, and wanted to make it his once more. It had all been contradictory and the puny head of a human could no longer find an answer. His thoughts had been such a mess that he had only been able to escape into the action of fighting. He may have wanted someone to give him the answer. That answer could have been to save the entire world. That answer could have been to bring about his own death. ...Can I ask for one thing? I have no reason to grant your wish. Youre pretty intolerant for a god, said Kamijou with his sluggish lips. Othinus expected him to ask for the happiness of the residents of the world he loved. But she was wrong. This is what he said: Make good use of this. ...? My right hand. I was only able to use it for fights, but you must know a better way to use it. You can use it as the reference point for the world that Ollerus mentioned. I already told you I have no reason to grant your wish. The battle is over and you will soon die. No one will praise you if I create a selfish miniature world for you, so there is no meaning. That isnt what I meant. Kamijou slowly shook his head while Othinus still held him. The battle is over, so its fine. Use this and take back your world. Take back your first hope. ... Do you think that isnt necessary because you can create an identical world from the ground up? You think its the same as returning to your original world because no one can tell the difference? ...Thats wrong, Othinus. Even if no one else knows and the world is filled with smiles, it will be nothing but a tragedy as long as you know the difference. He spoke as if he knew what he was talking about. That great criminal had continued with his own selfishness even after weighing the happiness of all mankind against his own life. That was why he was able to say this. Othinus had presented her first and second hopes. Would she return to her original world or create the next world? Even if the result was the same, the process was different. It was a natural diamond versus an artificial diamond. That tiny difference would constantly give her the same sense of alienation that Kamijou Touma had felt when left out of that world filled with peace and smiles. Othinus was the victor of the era. And unlike Kamijou, her selfishness would bring happiness to a later era. Even if that era was created from her own arbitrary judgment and actions, the actual result lay before the boys eyes: a god. He could see her acting in a perfect enough way to be named as such. Once he accepted death, swept away all his regrets, and carefully observed her once more, he could tell. If he left everything to her, the world would continue on just fine. Before long, he would die. His selfishness would vanish from the world. So... I have a challenge for you, Othinus. The loser spoke quietly. Strangely, their positions were reminiscent of Mmir granting wisdom to the head Norse god. Even after he was beheaded due to the schemes of the gods and giants, Mmir continued giving advice to the head god like a friend. Over eighty percent of this body had been blown away and he had even lost his heart, but the boys right arm slowly moved like a broken clockwork toy. He stretched that arm toward Othinus who still held what remained of his body. It looked like he was trying to stroke her cheek. Or perhaps, despite being the loser, he was using his thumb to wipe away a childs tears. And yet the cold-hearted victor should not have had any tears to wipe away. There should have been nothing but filthy blood stains. Be selfish if you wish. Forget about good and evil. It doesnt matter what your reasons are. Maybe something irritates you or maybe something is an eyesore. Just act the way you want. Youve already shown me that doing that will lead to everyone smiling. So do as you wish. ...What is it you wanted to do in the very beginning? Unless you make that come true, you will become what I was: a pathetic lost child crushed by the happy world. That was all. Kamijou Toumas arm hung down and his eyelids stopped moving. ... Magic God Othinus stood alone in the pitch black world. The boy she held in her slender arm did not speak any longer. He may have had some blood left in his head, but he did not have enough strength left to think. He had lost most of his organs, including his heart, so it was right to classify him as dead. A few cells might have still been functioning, but the boy had been lost. That was the truth. Before long, Imagine Breakers power would transfer into something else. It could be a person or an object. If she removed all matter from the world, that power might pour into Othinus herself. It was no different from playing old maid against an opponent who only had one card. Even if you knew that card was the joker, you had to take it. She had won. She had buried her final enemy. No one remained to get in her way. However... Oh, muttered Othinus in that lonely world. If she wanted a lively world, she could snap her fingers and create a world of peace and smiles, yet she stood all alone. This was the deepest part of the hell Kamijou Touma had feared most. In exchange for his own defeat, he had reminded Othinus where she stood. She had no interest in what she could create. She had to return to her original world no matter what. But what had made her think that way? Where had she hidden what it was she had originally wanted to do? For example, there was the time she had wished for something that did not change as she stood before the collection of scratches that had vanished in a night. For example, there was the time she had thought about justice and peace in a world of nothing but unpleasant smiles. For example, there was the time she had achieved that clear confrontation between the only two people in a twisted world. Returning to her original world had been a means to an end, not an end in and of itself. Why had she wanted to return? What had she thought she would achieve with this victory? As she thought, the answer revealed itself. This was a path someone had once walked down. That was why that boy had been able to speak as if he knew what he was talking about. When she thought about it, it seemed obvious. It had been Othinus herself who had created that hell. Did I want him to understand? She spoke slowly as if exhaling. Did I want someone who understands me? This was unlike her relationship with Ollerus. He had held the same type of power but had only been an enemy. This was unlike her relationship with Gremlin. They had merely had similar goals and had been bound by fear. She had no interest in a smiling group that joined together in fear of her great power like the international coalition. In this world that was ever-so-slightly off, she had wanted someone who would understand these wounds of alienation and help soothe them. She had found no such person in the changed world, so she had hoped for such a person in her original world. She had wanted to return there no matter what. It was the same as a lost traveler in the distant land of a foreign tongue wanting to return to her homeland. She had believed that she would find warmth there once she arrived. But... Was there anything like that there? Othinus tried to recall that distant era. It may have been due to the thick wall of time that she was having difficulty. Or perhaps it was because she would have to remember pain to reach the answer. Wherever she had gone, she had been a feared tyrant who constantly spread death and violence. Even in the endlessly glorified history books written by the winners, she had been so horrible that she was known as a god of war and other similar titles. So... Was there really someone who would conveniently understand me in my original world? She had no answer to that question. The boy she held had already ceased to function. And yet that may have been what she had wanted to obtain even if it meant destroying the current world. She had travelled an eternal journey for the possibility of obtaining it, but she had destroyed it with her own hands. That was why she was alone. It had been unavoidable. That boy had not had any detailed plan or chance of winning. But it had definitely been that boy who had provided her with this sense of loss. To put it in other words... That was...a truly cruel attack. She held the reference point of a right hand needed to repair the world. She possessed the power and knowledge of a Magic God needed to use it effectively. She only had to wave her hand. The odds of success had lowered to 50/50, but she still had the right to take the challenge. However, while they both used the term original world, the one in Kamijou Toumas mind and the one in Othinuss mind were slightly different. Even if the difference was so slight that no one in the world would notice, it tormented her horribly. She had to make up her mind. Which world would she use this single chance on? Her own world? Or Kamijou Toumas world? She could only choose one. The boys words replayed in the back of her mind. He had said the following: What is it you wanted to do in the very beginning? That settled it for her. Returning to her original world had only been a means to an end. What if she could not find it even if she searched through every nook and cranny of the original world she had been born and raised in? What if it did exist in the original world a certain boy had been born and raised in? Her options had narrowed down to one. Volume 9, Epilogue: Will You Accept It, or Not? Continue. Volume 9, Epilogue: Will You Accept It, or Not? Continue. ...Ah!? Kamijou awoke. As he was standing on his feet, it may have been odd to say he had been asleep. He was unsure if a human could pass out on their feet, but that must have been what had happened as he had just woken up. He was not in the pitch black darkness or the happy world. He was on a single giant island created from countless wrecked ships piled on top of each other. This was Sargasso. Once he recalled that name, Kamijous consciousness rapidly focused on reality. (What is this place? Is this a paradise created for Othinuss convenience? No, something isnt right. Wait! Dont tell me...!!) It was enough of a shock for his heart to beat oddly. (Did she return me? Did she rewind it all? But why!? This world where I was born should be a little bit different from her world!!) He looked around in surprise and saw a few familiar faces: Index holding the calico cat, Misaka Mikoto, Lessar, and Leivinia Birdway. A black JSDF rubber boat was moored at the waters edge. Something other than the joy of this reunion caught at the edge of his mind. It was too soon to relax. Some major trick remained. That warning came from the instincts at the source of his heart rather than from his reason. And then he saw it. Othinus...? The blonde-haired, eyepatch-wearing girl stood at the edge of the cliff created by a broken ship. When he compared their positions, he finally realized what was happening. She did not hold the lance. But otherwise, the situation resembled... (Just before the world was destroyed? But Othinus became the victor of the era. She didnt need to return to this point. The only reason I can think of is to...concede the world to me!) Kamijou could not have returned here on his own. Magic God Othinuss cooperation would have been essential. He did not know how much his words had gotten through to her. He could not guess what kind of change had come over her heart. But there was something different about Othinus even as she gave an arrogant and evil smile. She had not brought only herself back. The lack of the lance that symbolized her power proved that. For an instant, he was unsure what to say to her. She had been the one to initially create the situation, but she had also been the one to end it and return Kamijou here. If his guess was correct, she had abandoned her objective for this. So should he thank her? As he thought about that, Index began speaking by his side. She glared directly at Othinus. Youre Othinus, arent you!? You brought chaos to Tokyo and caused trouble for everyone!! We wont let you do what you want anymore!! Kamijou truly stopped breathing for an instant. That threatening aura and hostile tone of voice were not like Indexs normal self. Yet no one found it odd. Next, Mikoto, Lessar, and Birdway spoke. I dont know whats going on, but you got my mama involved in this! Sorry, but Im not going to hold back!! Well, lets just get this over with. Just because were on the magic side doesnt mean we want to be at war with the science side at all times. To be honest, the chaos Gremlin is causing is quite a nuisance. Youre a bit too twisted for one of my research subjects. To be blunt, youre not to my taste. People like you need to be crushed right away. Otherwise, youll go hide somewhere and cause problems later. Until that moment, Kamijou Touma had not truly understood just what it meant for Othinus to go along with his selfishness. Returning Kamijou to his original world meant bringing Othinus there as well. Youre...kidding... he muttered in a daze. He could not keep up with the flow of time. His mind could not catch up to this scene that was best described as a final battle. Othinus had conceded the world to him. She had conceded everything to him. She had wanted to return to her original home even if it meant making an enemy of this entire world and using the members of her own group of Gremlin. But she had cast aside the sole method of returning there in order to save Kamijou who had been wandering through another world just like her. He did not know what change of heart had led to that, but the result told him everything he needed to know. After everything had ended, something had to have happened. Something had sprouted within her and now he had to fight her again? He had to join together with all the other allies of justice and drive her away in the name of peace? No... No! Wait! That isnt the case anymore!! So...!! Kamijous words did not reach those around him. For one thing, he could not explain it properly. He had no proof. The world had ended, but it was back to normal now. And in between, something had happened to reach some sort of conclusion between him and Othinus. There was nothing he could use to rationally and objectively prove it. The threatening noise of sparks burst from Misaka Mikotos bangs. Lessar and Birdway held up their respective spiritual items and muttered enchantments. Violent lightning and crimson flames swirled together and flew straight toward Othinus. Index sang an eerie song to prevent her from using defensive spells. Kamijou could only watch. He thought he saw Othinus smile slightly as the destruction reached her. And a mere instant later, he heard a disturbing bursting noise and her small form flew through the air. She made no attempt to defend or evade. Kamijous lips trembled. He clearly felt they had done something horrible. To him, that tiny scene looked like a delicate girl being cruelly beat down by overwhelming violence. What the hell...? Othinus was knocked backwards. She had been standing on the cliff-like edge of a giant broken ship, so her small form completely disappeared from Kamijous vision. What had happened to her? What was going on!? What the hell is this!? Othinus, you knew this would happen, didnt you!? You knew this would happen if you saved me!! Eh? Ah? ...Touma!? Wait a second! Whats wrong with you!? The next thing Kamijou knew, he was running. The voices of his allies did not even reach his mind. As he ran desperately across that ground made of countless wrecked ships, he cursed his own foolishness. When he thought about it, it was obvious. In his original world, Othinus had been the leader of Gremlin, the group which was threatening the world. The international coalition had been on the verge of attacking her. He should have been able to predict what kind of world she would find herself in if she gave him his wish and returned here. If she had wanted to, Othinus could have opposed the entire world. Not only that, but she might have won. It did not matter if she had the lance or not. But she had changed. Kamijou Touma could not determine which of his words had affected her so greatly, but she had changed. Most likely, she no longer intended to fight and had no intention of destroying this world. Kamijou had made that the case. He had broken her fangs and then sent her back to the battlefield. Othinus! Where are you, Othinus!? He searched everywhere. There had been hints everywhere. There had been those countless cruel worlds that had been made to tempt him or mentally corner him. He had been pursued by the international coalition, he had seen someone else take his place, he had seen a world filled with smiles and peace that only needed him to disappear, and he had seen so many other types of despair and forms of hell that he had stopped counting. But had Othinus truly created those on a whim? What if she had modeled them after something? For example, what if they were all based on the painful memories Othinus herself had experienced. If that was the case... Dammit, muttered Kamijou while almost in tears. His voice quickly grew to a shout. When I said I couldnt stand that place any longer and decided to flee that nightmare world, was I forcing that same nightmare onto you!? Are you experiencing the same world that made me give up!? He heard static. Something hung from a cord caught on the edge of an old boat. A female announcers voice came from that cheap emergency radio. He felt as if he had seen this in that nightmare world. Or perhaps this was the original scene. It seems a means of resolving the chaos in Tokyo has been found. We have information saying the coalition military is beginning an attack on the headquarters of the criminal organization behind it. ...What are those? Missiles? No, there are far too many of them. I can see something that looks like shooting stars moving toward the center of Tokyo Bay!! ... Kamijou slowly raised his head. And there he saw... Othinus lay on her back. In her blurry vision, the sky was filled with countless lights. The Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Russian Orthodox Church. Heh... To think they would start getting along now. This was what she deserved. This was her punishment. She understood that. To achieve her goal, she had used far too many things. She had angered organizations around the world, driven fear into normal people who knew nothing of magic, and even trampled her helpers in Gremlin underfoot. Once Gremlin knew of her personal objective, they would likely rebel. They would say they had not risked their lives for such a petty thing. No matter what happened, she had no future. She had known that from the moment she had returned here. She could win if she wanted to. She had intended to destroy this world from the beginning. But Othinus knew of no way to win while preserving this world. And if she could not do that, returning would lose all meaning. All that was left for her was to be attacked by everyone around her. She had wings to fly through the air, but she would be slowly devoured by the ants on the ground. The pain would likely last a long time. That was the price she would pay for briefly obtaining someone who understood her. Othinus had made her decision because obtaining that for even an instant had outweighed the next world she would have created. Honestly, muttered Othinus as she lay on the ground and stared up at all the twinkling stars overhead. You cannot kill a god with that, humans. I knew this would happen, but this is going to take forever. This is like wearing down bone with a file. She gave a small smile. The stars fell. But just before they did, someone stood in front of her. With their back to her, someone held their right hand up toward the heavens as if to protect Othinus. As if using a sturdy umbrella, that one spot was protected from the stars raining down. That lone girl opened her one eye wide in surprise. She could not believe what she was seeing. The boy spoke while still staring up into the heavens. You knew, didnt you? Knew what? You knew this would happen!! You achieved victory in every possible way and you could have created any world you wanted, but you conceded it all to me for some reason. You abandoned your ideal to save me and you knew the entire world would attack you in exchange!! You kept quiet about that and saved me!! So what if I did?" muttered Othinus with a self-deprecating smile. Either way, I wont last much longer. What? I was creating the lance in order to control my power as a Magic God. But then Ollerus used the fairy spell he had developed in secret. At first, I used that to control my power in the negative direction to create another form of a Magic God. And I succeeded. At first, anyway. What...are you saying? An improvised method doesnt ensure your safety. I could feel the cracks gradually running through the inside of my body. I could not use the lance and the fairy spell at the same time. Kamijou looked down at Othinuss chest. At the end in that pitch-black world, she had opened her other possibility as a Magic God by using the great scar of the fairy spell. If that was making her suffer and he could negate that sort of spell with his right hand... It is too late. Othinus spoke quietly from the ground. It has already wreaked havoc inside my body. Even if you negate the stake with your right hand, the pain will not vanish. I will not conveniently return to being a mere human. She could not be saved. Sooner or later, the good will and justice of the world would slowly devour her in her powerless state. Hurry and go, she spat out while collapsed on the ground. The coalition army you all prepared will soon attack as planned. I am slowly losing my power as a Magic God. With the entire world after me, I will eventually meet my end somewhere. There is no need for you to come with me. That would remove all meaning from returning you here. But what will you do? A voice responded to her. Painfully enough, that was the voice of the one who understood her enough to have taken her dream from her. Youre different now, right!? You need to atone for what you did and that might take a long time, but this is wrong. I no longer sense any evil in you that warrants killing you like this!! You really are stupid. What good would it do to throw me in a prison cell? The official members of Gremlin would never accept it if I surrendered now. They would destroy even the strongest cell and hold me up as their symbol once more. The worlds leaders wish for a break from this chaos, so they do not want a repeat of all this. If they know I will simply be taken away, they will not imprison me in the first place. Killing me would provide more certain peace of mind. She had nowhere to run. There was no safe place. After all, the entire world hated her. She had done enough to be treated that way and she had shown no reluctance to do so. There was nowhere for her to run. There was nowhere for her to hide. This was the end. Othinus herself had accepted that fact. The people of earth would take her life on this day. They would celebrate that fact and they might even create a new holiday to commemorate the coming peace. They would happily live in a world without her. Then... Othinuss thoughts were cut off by Kamijou Toumas voice. The boy who understood her spoke in a voice that showed he could not tolerate that. Then I will save you. Even if it means fighting the entire world!! The entire worlds hatred was focused on a single person. That girl had been driven to the verge of death while all alone. It may have started as something she deserved and the tragedy may have been a result of the world punishing people properly, but Kamijou Touma did not want to see the word justice causing someone to suffer like this. He could not accept a future where people lived in peace after accepting a girls slaughter with a smile. It was not that anyone was at fault. The Anglican Church, the Russian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the United States of America, France, Academy City, Ollerus, Fiamma of the Right, Birdway, Lessar, Misaka Mikoto, and Index were all blameless. None of them set up this situation for malicious reasons. It was simply an issue of shifted timing. There was an interruption of time that only Kamijou Touma and Othinus knew about. She had changed. Unless he could find a way of explaining all that and immediately bringing an end to the fighting, he would have to fight them, even if just for the moment. He could not let the good will of Index and the others bring about unnecessary bloodshed. The boy had longed for this place so much that he had said farewell to all the smiles in the world. And now he turned his back on it once more. But that was not because he did not understand its value. In order to truly return there, Kamijou Touma gathered strength in his right fist and silently made up his mind in front of a battered girl. Now, fight. Clench your right fist to protect the life and smile of a single girl. Volume 9, Afterword Volume 9, Afterword To those of you who bought one volume at a time, welcome back. To those of you who bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Ideally, every incident would end in a single volume and the only exception would be the occasional two-parter, but here we are at the middle of a three-parter. As you know if you have read the volume through to the end, the next volume will be a boss rush of all the monsters Kamijou has dealt with thus far!! You can look forward to seeing a high school boys actions after he carelessly makes an enemy of the world for the sake of the troublesome circumstances of a single girl!! Anyway, this volume was completely focused on the battle with Othinus. I was wondering what a battle with a god would be like. The simplest and flashiest method would have been to have her call in an army of the monsters and gods from her mythology, but then I wondered if keeping things simple was the way to go if its supposed a battle against an existence known as a god. As a result, I decided to smash both the chronology and understanding of the protagonist to pieces. I will be deeply moved if you felt you could never win against that. On the other hand, simply writing a battle that leaves no hope is not enough, so I gave Kamijou a strategy that is based in a familiar concept. That is why I used RPGs and retro shooting games as examples. ...After all, this is a story of a lowly human challenging a god. Rather than a head-to-head competition of tricky logic, I thought having Kamijou bring out this common sort of thing with a serious expression would create a contrast between them that shows his high school boy side. After repeating the loop for thousands or even tens of thousands of times, Kamijou has quickly reached the position of a martial arts master in a kung fu movie or an ancient little girl that speaks like an old woman. But I figure Kamijous personality and manner of speech would stay the same even as an old man, so I had him make it through the entire thing with no real change there. Of course, if he was an old man and still acted so energetically, that might give him the position of a martial arts master in its own way. And just as the Will said in the novel, this truly became the story of Kamijou fighting for his own sake. Can Kamijou Touma never make any selfish demands? He had to ask that question after being driven into quite an extreme situation. I thought I would show his human side in a story like this and I felt it was fine to finally show him crying, but what did you think? I must thank my illustrator, Haimura-san, and my editors, Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. I used many different methods to destroy Kamijous sense of good and evil and his comprehension, so the illustrations had to be really difficult. I am thankful that they stuck with me. And I must thank all the readers. I was finally going to have a Magic God going all out, so I wanted to have a type of battle you couldnt see otherwise. What did you think? I just hope you enjoyed it. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Okay, everyone. Its time to see a truly lovestruck blonde-haired, green-eyed goddess. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 10, Prologue: A Certain Boy Becomes Humanity’s Enemy Introduction_00. Volume 10, Prologue: A Certain Boy Becomes Humanitys Enemy Introduction_00. There was no need for any difficult thoughts. That girl was heading towards death all alone. She may have brought it all on herself, but a certain boy could not allow that conclusion to happen. And so he fought back. He had many reliable allies in the place he had so yearned to return to, but he clenched his fist once more in order to proudly return there properly, even if it meant turning his back on all of them for the time being. Now, fight. Clench your right fist to protect the life and smile of a single girl. To be absolutely clear, Kamijou Touma was not going to unconditionally write off all of Othinuss crimes. He simply could not allow this frenzy in the name of justice to kill her without passing proper judgment on her. If a legitimate judgment was passed on her and she was shut in a dark cell for decades to come, it would have been none of his concern. But even if that had happened, he would have never abandoned her. He would have visited her countless times. No matter how much time it took and even if they had to wait until they were old and wrinkled, he would have made sure she was met with a smile when she finally was released from that cell. And once all of her crimes had been made up for, they could walk together in the light of the sun. That was the true form of this fight. He did not think the reason of the world was forceful enough to rob even that possibility from her. No matter what it took, Kamijou Touma would save Magic God Othinus. So... That girl with long wavy blonde hair, white skin, and one eye covered in an eyepatch looked at Kamijous resolute face and asked a question. I understand what you want to do. This is just more proof that you cant fix stupidity. They were in the complex labyrinth inside the countless drifting ships making up Sargasso, but they could not stay there forever. But not because they would eventually be found. The odds were much higher that the entire landmass would soon be destroyed by missiles. So what exactly do you plan to do? Were currently surrounded by ocean, so how do you plan to safely and covertly escape? .........................................................................................................................................................Thats actually a really good question. Wait... Dont tell me you hadnt given this any thought at all. Unpleasant sweat poured from Kamijous body and he poured all his energy into averting his gaze. The girl known as a god heavily, silently, and unsteadily stood up. You make such a big show of rescuing me and then you do this!? And what did you hope to do if we did escape? Imagine Breaker wont work against cruise missiles that dont rely on the supernatural and Im currently on the road to death thanks to that fairy spell. How!! In the hell!! Do you hope to rescue me!? Well!? Wait, wait! Othi-chan, dont climb on top of me!! Do you have any idea how revealing that outfit is!? Dont call me that!! Even if you understand me, thats getting too friendly, human!! And I dont like how it makes you sound like my uncle!! Im not trying to make fun of a god or anything. And if were gonna bring up what things sound like, lets get into why I dropped the nus. I think that would make most people think of the word anu-... Im gonna punch you! I really am gonna punch you!! Even with her spear gone and while suffering due to the transformation to a fairy, she was still a god. She could easily beat the snot out of the boy who stopped World War 3 with a single fist. While gasping for breath (on top of Kamijou Toumas stomach), Othinus finally realized this was no time for this. Lets sum up the important points. U-ubfh... The first problem is of course the fact that the entire world is after me. No matter how we end this, there has to be some clear dividing line. Kamijou was as red as a tomato, so she shook his collar and kept his mind from travelling to Valhalla. And the second problem is the fairy spell that Ollerus hit me with. It is currently destroying my body from the inside, so we have to stop its advance in some way. Is there a way of doing that? Someone apparently said that god does not play dice, but I have to leave this up to chance. I cant see the future, she spat out. But there is a hope for that second problem. The fairy spell was created to be used on a magic god, so it wont work on a human. Wait a sec. Kamijou frowned a bit as he thought over the information she had just presented to him. So if you go back to being human... The internal destruction will stop. But it means sacrificing a lot of power. She placed a hand over the eyepatch. I rose to the position of magic god by gouging out my eye and offering it to a spring. It was a ceremonial act of destruction. You could call it a systematic sacrifice. The eye is still at the bottom of that cold spring and all that makes me special will vanish if I retrieve it and place it in the eye socket. I didnt use this method even when I abandoned my power before. Thinking back, that was a sign of my lingering regret. All right!! shouted Kamijou. Othinus let out a surprised voice. This was simply because he had hugged her without thinking. That means we can save you!! Its not just a dream!! We dont have to create a goal out of thin air or anything. There was a goal prepared for us from the beginning! In that case...!! H-honestly! Dont get so friendly, human!! She pushed him away with her small hands, but his smile did not wane. After all, he had just received the best news possible in that hopeless situation. The hatred and desire for Othinus primarily came from her inhuman power. She had previously suggested that some would appear to raise her up once more if she were placed in a cell, but this would eliminate that danger. Once he was finally torn from Othinus, he continued speaking. I had no idea. If Id known about that weakness, we might have been able to resolve this more peacefully and skipped the tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of deaths. Those deaths are not my responsibility. Plus, that was the single safety in case I lost control. I could not reveal it even to the others in Gremlin. She had now revealed it to Kamijou Touma. That was surely due to the essence beginning to grow inside her. No matter how many disagreements or misunderstandings there were, that was not to be trampled on. She felt as if she had found something she had to do. So our goal for now is retrieving that eye. Where is this spring? Denmark. Mmirs Spring lies deep in the land that refers to Odin as Othinus. My eye lies submerged in that spring of wisdom even now. This did not solve the first problem. It gave them no way of suppressing the worlds hatred and fear. But neutralizing her power would certainly help in getting them to disarm. Just to be clear, you dont have to go with me. Isnt it a bit late for that? And be honest, god-chan. Youre breathing a sigh of relief inside, arent you? Dont push yourself too far. Have you forgotten you thought about killing yourself after you were inundated by the worlds malice and good will? That same tragedy is going to arrive now. And this time, you dont need to experience it. And more importantly, there is no fixing the world this time. Fail once and you lose everything. Perhaps, but Im not facing it alone this time. The world looks different now. She clicked her tongue and looked away. While still sitting on top of him, she asked a question. Then lets bring this conversation full circle. How do you plan to escape Sargasso? Were in the middle of the ocean and both magic and science have us surrounded in every way possible. Any ideas? Help me, Othinus-chan. So youre all talk and your only option is praying to god? In her annoyance, Othinus most likely did not realize that it was actually quite rare for Kamijou to ask someone else for help like this. Their understanding was not a one-way ticket. Listen. This is truly the last time you can do this. Ill be using every last ounce of strength I have as a magic god, so dont rely on me again. The internal destruction would smash me to pieces. As she spoke, Othinus pulled something from inside her witchs hat. It was a straight bone that looked perfect for a dog to hold in its mouth. It looked like some kind of animals leg and the side had strange writing carved into it with a blade. This is called the Bone Boat. Just like the crossbow, this magic item is used by Othinus but not Odin. I can freely change its size and it can cross all of the worlds oceans in an instant. In an instant? Wait a minute. If it teleports you, I cant go along. My right hand would negate it. Then rethink your viewpoint, she muttered while rubbing her fingers along the writing on the side. It does not move the two of us. It moves everything except for us. It rotates the whole planet around. An instant later, the scenery grew distorted. Index, Misaka Mikoto, Leivinia Birdway, and Lessar searched their surroundings after being left on Sargasso. And they reached a certain conclusion. There was no other conclusion they could reach. They vanished. Birdway sounded annoyed and Mikoto snapped back. Wait. What is going on!? That idiot made a complete 180 the instant he arrived here! I thought we were all in agreement about defeating these Gremlin people! Hmm... It seems unlikely that he was messed with using brainwashing or suggestion, but she is a magic god. To be honest, we dont have any idea what exactly she can or cant do. ............................................................................................................................................................... The only one to remain silent was the girl in the white nuns habit. Index held 103,000 grimoires. She was a living treasure trove of wisdom that could supposedly reach the level of magic god if she used them all correctly. From her position, she could predict what a magic god was and what a magic god could do. Birdway scratched at her head in displeasure. Whatever the case, we need to find out where he disappeared to and tear him away from that magic god. He may be somewhat special, but hed die instantly if the entire coalition army attacked and he could easily be caught in the middle and killed as the magic god destroys that army. Hee hee hee. Are you upset that your precious big bro was taken from you? What? While the two short girls (although there was a plain difference in the chest) butted heads, Mikotos cell phone rang. ? She had received an email. She casually opened it. (Huh? But I thought the panic in Tokyo had cut off all communications?) And then she was left dumbfounded. What is this? A certain group was more deeply troubled than any other by Othinus and Kamijou Toumas disappearance. They were inside the UN Headquarters building in New York. The group was made up of the leaders of the worlds most powerful nations and largest churches. This isnt good, groaned United States President Roberto Katze. Below them was every piece of information gathered from soldiers on the scene, UAVs, and military satellites. In a way, they had more accurate and detailed information than Mikotos group who were actually on Sargasso. The boy who was Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church politely raised his hand before speaking. This does not fit with Kamijou Toumas previous behavior. Does anyone have any ideas? He has had contact with Gremlin a few times before. Roberto held his head in his hands. Hawaii, Baggage City, and its unconfirmed, but something seems to have happened in Academy City. Magic God Othinus supposedly has absolute power, so why did she let him live at Baggage City? ...There may have been some complicated reason for that. The truth of that is not the issue, cut in a sickly-looking woman. She controlled Frances politics from deep underground and was known as the Femme Fatale. Queen Regnant Elizard then spoke up in annoyance. Once those doubts begin, saying hes innocent because we know him isnt enough, hm? The only way to stop this worldwide frenzy is to attack and eliminate the source. Isnt that the same theory used during the witch hunt? For us, that never came to an end. You can be as idealistic as you want, but if we dont do this, human society will soon boil over with fear of Othinus. From the English revolution to World War 3, the queen had seen Kamijou Toumas power firsthand. No matter how it happened, having him as an enemy was a painful piece of information. The Royal Family, the Knights, and the Anglicans were made up of magicians who belonged to an organization yet focused on the individual. If they were forced to go up against that boy, it was impossible to predict how they would react. They had already begun contacting the leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The leaders of those three major churches were likely releasing the restrictions on specially sealed spells. Elizard had her own thoughts while watching them prepare spells that could literally destroy a nation. (It might be best to leave this to the official groups like the SAS and MI6. Extreme irregulars using supernatural power might actually give him a way out.) Roberto let out another heavy sigh. It may have come from his position as the leader of a nation or it may have come from his position as the protector of something even greater. And then he spoke once more. In that case, we can only continue as normal. We find the Othinus faction that has made their way through the world and we destroy them equally. Thats the only way to prevent society from growing any more unstable. The email was sent out to all of them at once. What the hell is this? What is that piece of shit doing? Academy Citys #1 clicked his tongue in displeasure. I cant believe it. This city is still doing this kind of thing? Academy Citys #2 was confused. What is this? Academy Citys #3 felt the hand holding her cell phone tremble. Denmark? What a pain. If they dont pay travel expenses, even if you killed them, youd barely break even. Academy Citys #4 made the calculations in her head as usual. Oh? I dont know what happened, but it looks like I have more to do now Academy Citys #5 gave a fearless smile that gave no hint of her true feelings. ... Academy Citys #6 toyed with the phone. What kind of email is this? Its got no guts at all. Did this come from some intellectual with no common sense? Academy Citys #7 cracked his neck. Those screens opened simultaneously in different locations displayed a short text: Requesting the death of Magic God Othinus and Kamijou Touma who is traveling with her. While standing on the deck of a cruiser, Stiyl Magnus placed his cell phone to his ear. The storm had calmed down. The Russian bomber formation flying above and J?rmungandr of Gremlin had both disappeared. Kanzaki, what do you mean Kamijou Touma vanished along with the magic god? I am checking the information as well, but it doesnt seem to be a joke. The Gremlin members who were sealing off the important transportation points around the world are also vanishing one by one. This must have been a surprise for them as well. I see. He lit the cigarette in his mouth and looked up into the sky once more. His opponent had not had a reason to flee. If it had continued, Stiyl was the one who would have been in danger. Then what do we do? he asked. We work for an anti-magician peace preservation organization. We dont do anything until we receive official orders, but we should be summoned before long. And if that happens... Well be asked to go fight Kamijou Touma to the death. The magic side, the science side, the official organizations, those who worked behind the scenes, and even Gremlin who acted in absolute secrecy would be pursuing those two. They had truly made an enemy of the entire world. This was six billion vs. two. What is he thinking? But if he''s betrayed her, Im not opposed to killing him. In an unknown place, the Will of the Misaka Network writhed about. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! /return. If she had possessed a physical body, she would have been laughing. She would have been holding her sides and had tears in her eyes. As I started to disappear, I certainly didnt expect this /return. She spoke with no one to listen. But /backspace, he wouldnt be Kamijou-chan if he didnt exceed my expectations /return. She was closer than anyone. She was more distant than anyone. She spoke slowly as if watching the back of a rock star who had broken out of a long slump and was stepping back up onto the stage once more. Welcome back, Kamijou-chan /return. Meanwhile, Kamijou Touma and Othinus had arrived near the Arctic. The boy shivered in the white snowy scenery. B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bh-b-bh-bh!! If you want to speak, use human language. Stop creating a language not even a god can understand. Youre destroying the laws of the world. M-min-minus fifteen degrees!? What is this number my cell phone is showing!? Th-this isnt accurate, right? Heh. Eh heh heh. The thermometer broke, right!? Well, it is cold enough to break a thermometer. Othinus looked perfectly calm despite her outfit covering no more area than a bikini. But this is odd. On average, the climate here shouldnt be enough for snow like this even during the winter. Well, I hear theres been strange weather everywhere recently. I guess this kind of thing happens. Bfhah!! I-I-I-I-Id rather be in Russia than h-h-h-here!! I doubt it. It gets to fifty below freezing in some parts of Russia. (Is she really dying?) Kamijou could not resist any longer, so he spoke up while wrapping his own arms around his shoulders. Wh-why is my breath sparkling? Did we wander into a shoujo manga or something!? Thats diamond dust. Want to take a picture? I-I-I-I-I cant take it. I need to buy a coat somewhere. D-dont worry. Im sure they trust the Japanese yen here!! Do what you want, but dont stand out too much. And do you even know what language they speak in Denmark? I can manage overseas using body language! Beef or fish! Sightseeing!! Kamijou may have been hallucinating due to the cold because he started shouting nonsense and running through the white scenery. He spotted a man clearing snow from the roof of a pastoral brick house and he began trying to communicate with the gestures of a broken robot. After a few minutes, he returned. His drooping shoulders suggested he had not had much luck. What did he say? He said acting out in your youth is fine, but this winter is too cold so we should stick to car sex if we want to let loose outdoors. I-Im going to destroy this world!!!! Kamijou Touma was forced to physically restrain the dying magic god. He unexpectedly gained some warmth from her skin. Volume 10, 9: V.S. The One who Bears White and Black Wings and Opposes the World” Round_01. Volume 10, Chapter 9: V.S. The One who Bears White and Black Wings and Opposes the World Round_01. Part 1 Kamijou Touma and Othinus trudged through the white snow. There did seem to be an asphalt road, but it was under too much snow to see. The ground was just a white plain with conifer trees sticking up in places. There were occasional road signs, but they could see no houses or even telephone poles. The boy spoke in annoyance as a bit of snow accumulated in his spiky-hair. Why is the population density in Europe so messed up? In the large cities, houses are crammed together like a kids toy box, but it quickly turns to this once you leave those cities. Speaking from the worlds standards, Japan is the strange one. You dont often find an island nation where you can never see the horizon. Kamijou thought the horizon would be visible in Hokkaido, but he abandoned that line of thinking once he reached the image of warm ramen. While walking through this near-Arctic environment in his school uniform, he felt his heart would break if he thought any longer on that trinity made of salt, butter, and corn. Where are we anyway? Hj?rring... No, were probably a bit further south than that. You can see it on the signs, right? And where do we need to go? The Kv?rndrup area. Specifically, Egeskov Castle which floats above a lake. ................................................................................................................................................ He could only give a stiff smile. Fortunately, Othinus-chan quickly caught on. Dont tell me... I dont know any of that! Why would I!? You cant expect your average Japanese high schooler to draw a map of Denmark!! Oh, dammit. Do I have to explain Denmark itself to you? She used one hand to toy with her hair and gave an annoyed sigh. Listen. Denmark is a country located north of Germany. It is made up of a large peninsula bordering Germany and nearly 450 islands. It may sound like the peninsula is the main part, but the capital city of Copenhagen is on one of the islands. Right, right. It is part of NATO and the EU, but they still use their own currency of the krone and ?re instead of the Euro. Its similar to the British pound. That shows you how they distance themselves from the surrounding nations, right? Right, right. Their official language is Danish, but they understand English. In the southern portions, German works too. Its easy to think their main industry is sightseeing, but they actually focus more on manufacturing such as shipbuilding and the heavy industries. They are primarily protestant, but theres a fair bit of Catholicism as well. They view Norse mythology as an important sightseeing resource, but almost no one actually believes in it. You can think of it as similar to Stonehenge. Right, right. By the way, I want to check one thing. Im not trying to doubt you, but are you actually listening to me, you bastard? Eh? Well... Kamijou looked puzzled. I was thinking that you must like explaining things, just like Index and Birdway. I switched over to simply taking it all in instead of interrupting. What? Oh, dont worry about me. Keep going, keep going. Did you think I was taking time to explain for my own benefit!? Wait, Othinus!! Dont put me in a headlock while dressed in that new style of bikini that would shock even female wrestlers! Itll do more damage to you in the en- vwah!! Even with a girls soft underarm and arm pressing against his head, Kamijou Touma remained a gentleman. But once the vise-like pressure arrived a few seconds later, he realized he had other worries. Abah!! Ababababahbababhabhaba!? We are in Hj?rring which is near the northernmost end of the peninsula while Egeskov Castle is on a southern island. We can travel on land using the bridges, but it is still three or four hundred kilome- What is it? Why are you convulsing like that? Once Othinus finally released Kamijou Touma, he was completely limp, but the eyepatch girl ignored it. Weve been walking south on your suggestion, but that is a difficult distance to cover for a human. I-if youre gonna conveniently teleport us around the planet, why didnt you bring us closer? Dont be silly. How many tens of thousands of kilometers do you think that spell took us? This is a decent margin of error. Really, you should be praising my skill since we didnt crash into the Himalayas on the way and we werent dumped into the middle of the ocean. Quick question: did the other members of Gremlin do everything they could to stop you from using that spell, by any chance? Did they insist on using boats and airplanes when traveling? Shut up. We need to get back on topic. How do you plan to safely travel three or four hundred kilometers? The coalition forces will be laying out a search network as we speak. I actually have an idea concerning that. Kamijou was still lying on the snow. Stealing a car or a bike would actually help them track us and theyre sure to be watching the public transportation such as buses and trains, but hitchhiking is surprisingly useful. All focus is on the driver at checkpoints and they let their guard down when it comes to the passengers. Did you learn that during World War Three? But this time were both wanted worldwide. Will that really be so much of a problem? Im one thing, but how many people know that Magic God Othinus is a girl? Gremlins rampage may have kept the existence of magic barely hidden, but for better or for worse, the magic side should view your existence as highly classified. If they let people know about you, more people might try to use you. I really cant imagine the Anglican Church or Roman Catholic Church handing out information on you left and right. With that, their plan was to travel south by foot and try to hitchhike whenever they saw a car. It was exactly like the ridiculous overseas plan of a young comedian. Othinus had her doubts, but Kamijou Toumas face was devoid of worry thanks to his experience of travelling from England to Russia while only speaking Japanese like an old woman from Kansai. He was either quite accustomed to travel or very stupid. However... Theres nothing at all. No, there isnt. I havent seen a single car for a while now. Th-this isnt good. My teeth are chattering from the cold. W-what country is A Dog of Flanders from? I feel like Im experiencing the authentic version of that. Dont worry. That was set in Belgium. Phew. Denmark is the home of The Little Match Girl. Oh, god. Thats fifty or even a hundred more steps into the realm of tragedy!! Illusions of salt, butter, and corn started appearing in the back of his mind again. Letting ones guard down while lighting a match could lead to having ones soul taken away. Someone who has been badly burned must not be given water to drink, and this was the opposite version of that. Othinuss large witchs hat swayed as she tilted her head. If youre hungry, go search through that cave over there. As is the case in snowy countries, bears are always quite close by. This just keeps getting worse!! Theres no way my death will be peaceful!! Even as they chatted, they did not let their guard down concerning their surroundings. They were aware they were being pursued, but they did not expect the attack that arrived. It began with a flash of white light directly overhead. Part 2 A middle school girl named Amano Kaguya ignored gravity while floating curled up in the fetal position. Her anachronistic long black hair and junihitoe trailed out behind her. No, that was not quite accurate. Where she was, there was no gravity to ignore. She was inside the Hikoboshi II, one of Academy Citys three satellites. The giant structure was five kilometers long and Amano Kaguya was its master. Hi there. Her casual words contrasted her lovely appearance. She spoke as one people wanted to keep around but did not want anywhere nearby. The twenty meter spherical space had the formal title of Zero Gravity Biological Impact Laboratory, but it could also be called a cell. Seeing it that way would hurt ones conscience, but that was not enough to change what the irresponsible adults would do. I had a feeling youd be contacting me eventually, but this was sooner than I expected. Are you still acting like youre his ally? Or are you in the role of the maiden who stops thinking about it altogether because she doesnt want to believe it? The girls body lived up to her name. She was overflowing with inhuman beauty, but even if the men of the world would desire her, that did not mean the women of the world would envy her. Anyone who knew the hardships of dieting would feel a chill down their spine as soon as they saw her. And that held true even with the junihitoe almost entirely hiding the lines of her body. You want to know what Im doing? Who do you think I am? We may have different affiliations, but Im one of the abominable brains that supports the board of directors, just like you. Of course, my range of influence is limited due to my director specializing in the aerospace industry. Ha ha ha. I know, I know. I was just teasing. Dont get so mad. Any girl would think this girl had inimitable beauty, but they would also see something blatantly wrong with the position and balance of her face and body parts. Unless her skeleton and organs were cut down in size, that shoujo manga figure would not be possible. Yes, yes. Just as youve guessed, Im aiming the S5 toward the earth. Sad, isnt it? The package that just arrived by SSTO is loaded in the cargo space. Honestly, this is supposed to prepare a stupidly huge amount of sports drink into a beam, slam it into a desert planet, and create a giant cloud made of primordial soup. The cargo space is meant to hold seeds of plants that can withstand extreme environments. Its supposed to be filled with the hopes and dreams of children, so why do you humans who crawl along the ground insist on using it for things like this? And if Endymion were still functioning, we wouldnt have had to reconstruct this useless thing. Just because its all according to that guys plan doesnt make it hurt any less. Her long stay in space (or rather, her maddening long confinement there) had given this modern-day Kaguya-Hime the ultimate beauty. In exchange, she could no longer eat or walk on two feet while in the 1G environment of the earth. And, well, this isnt the story of a Lv. 01 hero heading out to defeat the demon king, so theres no reason to start with the weakest and continue up from there. Instead, we decided to make this an impossible game where the final boss is dropped down from the very beginning. Yeah, yeah. A fifteen kilometer area will be wiped out, so the poor little hero with his wooden stick and cloth armor should be wiped out. Something giant lurked truly silently beyond the thick window that could keep out cosmic rays and withstand debris. That giant object was a ring with a diameter of over twenty meters and it was accompanied by several dozen more identical rings lined up vertically. They resembled a tunnel or the barrel of a cannon. Amano Kaguya curled up once more, floated upside down in relation to the earth, and smiled thinly as she gazed out the window. It was Kihara Yuiitsu who insisted I use the S5, but I should probably keep that a secret from the package loaded in the cargo space. Part 3 Space Save Supply Shoot System C S5, entering input standby mode. Mode Attack set. Cargo shell size-C chosen. Commencing final non-destructive scan with electromagnetism and ultrasonic waves. Airtightness, cushioning, and heat-resistance all clear. See report for details. Combustible gas, magnetism, and electromagnetic firing system synchronization complete. Liquid shaft magnetism and conductivity confirmed. Commencing redesign of molecular bonds using vibration control. Initial velocity upon leaving barrel set to 1500 km/h. Final velocity upon reaching the surface set to 31,000 km/h. Securing ballistic trajectory. Solar wind, debris, geomagnetism, gravity, and centrifugal force all clear. See report for details. Displaying message: Commencing final check for erroneous input and illegal remote access. Please manually reenter target coordinates and weapon release code. All inputs received. Number of errors: 0. S5, entering final firing mode. Beginning countdown. Firing liquid shaft and cargo shell. Part 4 The bright flash of white light was first noticed by Othinus as she held her witchs hat with one hand and looked up into the cold sky. Here it comes. For a moment, it did not feel real to Kamijou. His brain was filled with the unrealistic idea that there were two suns in the sky. It is often said that people only believe what they see with their own eyes, but that fact worked against Kamijou here. The overwhelming sight destroyed his rational thought. It took several seconds for his thoughts to finally come into focus. Oh, crap. He instinctually grabbed Othinuss hand and began running across the snow. Crap!!!! An instant later, something fell into the Danish countryside. A crater 15 kilometers across was created around the impact point. It was as if a sword had fallen from the heavens and split apart the earth. Who would have realized it was nothing more than a giant mass of H2O, aka water. The word intense did not do its speed and pressure justice. An overwhelming explosion of steam occurred directly above the impact point and a circular shockwave covered everything. This was no different from spraying a hose at a line of ants on the ground, but this was actually happening. A massive wall of dust gave the shockwave visual form and it knocked over the conifer trees at four or five times the speed of sound. The wall of liquid and steam had transformed into a ferocious wall of heat. The thick layer of snow melted in an instant and the exposed ground was heated to orange. As all this happened, Kamijou Touma and Othinus dove into a cave that had been half buried in snow. It was the place she had earlier pointed out as a good spot for hunting bears. The straight line attack from the heavens lasted for several seconds. The shockwave swept across the surface, so they somehow survived within the cave. But the heat assaulted that underground area. Despite the narrow cave entrance, the heat still made its way inside. The air dried in no time and stabbing pain raced through Kamijous eyes. He started to cry out in surprise, but Othinus covered his mouth with her palm so he would not breathe in the scorching air. About half a minute later, the rumbling continued, but the two of them turned toward the cave exit. Kamijou hesitantly breathed in through his nose, but it did not burn his lungs. The temperature outside was negative fifteen degrees, so the heat had been cooled off quickly. He headed for the cave exit with Othinus and looked outside. The scenery had completely changed. What...is this? He did not find a silver world of thick snow or a brown world of exposed dirt. He saw glass. The surface of the fifteen kilometer crater was completely covered in translucent glass. Glass and porcelain were normally made of silicon, so it could be made by harshly heating sand or dirt. Even if it made sense from a rational standpoint, the scenery still looked like a completely different world. He felt he had wandered into an uncivilized planet filled with silicon life forms from an old SF novel. There may have been a good reason for that. He had no way of knowing, but the S5 had not been created for military purposes. It was a giant terraforming device that would send a massive amount of water mixed with nutrients to the moon or Mars. That would produce clouds and blessed rain which would cover the desolate land with primordial soup. The distances to other astronomical bodies were massive, but the weightlessness of space removed the decay of speed. Water could transform between solid, liquid, and gaseous states, but that was due to the behavior of the molecular bonds. In special states such as flash boiling, water would forget the behavior that turned it into a gas when heated to 100 degrees and it would remain as a liquid. The water for the S5 used vibrations to artificially redesign the molecular bonds. Until it passed through the atmosphere and struck the surface, the water was made to forget the behavior that said it should be a gas. Simply put, it was a powerful bomb using nothing but pure water. Its military use by aiming it at the earth had been an excuse to get funding out of the higher ups who were unlikely to pay for a project that could only be used for developing other planets. However, the boy was not looking at the glassy alternate world. He was looking up because his mind was fixated on that which had caused the intense impact. So much dust filled his vision that it felt like looking through a sandstorm. He felt as if the sun was suddenly producing much less light. But he still saw what resembled a giant tree towering up toward the heavens. He had the unrealistic idea that he had wandered into the monochrome footage occasionally seen in documentaries. That was how far-removed this scene was from a high school boys normal life. The true identity of that mythical tree was a mushroom cloud. He had not simply been thrown into the cloud of dust. He had been enveloped by that unique weather phenomenon that was still expanding. ................................................................................................................................................ He stared blankly at the scene before his eyes. Turning the ground to glass was another well-known phenomenon associated with nuclear explosions. As he stood there, someone tapped on his shoulder from behind. Dont worry. It was Othinus. Mushroom clouds can be created by more than just nukes. Any explosion with enough force can do it. Large fuel-air bombs or thermobaric bombs should be able to pull it off, so... No, muttered Kamijou. Only Academy City would be able to do this. And if theyre going this all-out, itll never end this easily! Mass-produced military clones, AIM thought entities, supersonic bombers, powered suits, cyborgs, and Rensa. I havent seen everything, but the glimpses I have seen are enough to know theyll go farther than this if theyre serious!! The word enemy filled his mind. Academy City had fired something from the sky or C more likely C from space. But had they done so in order to directly crush him and Othinus? Had they made all those preparations for firepower that could be escaped on foot? If not... Get back, Othinus. What are-... This is only just beginning!! His shout was immediately followed by a violent gust of wind that destroyed the mythical tree of a mushroom cloud in an instant. But this pressure did not come from outside. The giant tree was ripped apart from the inside, from the blast site. Othinus narrowed her eye at the scene before her. Academy City was a collection of all sorts of science and technology, and Kamijou recalled the primary example: esper development. In that case, what was Academy Citys most powerful and reliable weapon? The answer stood directly in front of them. Academy Citys #1 Level 5, Accelerator. That true monster who could control all vectors stood in the blast site. Part 5 A mass of metal resembling a five meter rugby ball was buried at the center of the glass world. It had been fired at the tail end of the massive pillar of water and the huge steam explosion had cushioned its fall and allowed it to land without a parachute. Even so, it was unimaginable how much technology was needed to let it retain its shape and protect its contents with that much of an impact. However, none of that entered Kamijous thoughts. His mind was ruled by an even greater threat. Of all people... His lips subconsciously moved. Youre the very first one!? As he shouted, Kamijou raised his arm and knocked Othinus to her back on the translucent glass. A moment later, Accelerator calmly moved his slender leg. He gently tapped his transport device as if preparing to juggle it like a soccer ball. The mass of metal was the size of a light vehicle, but it flew forward with tremendous speed. ...!!!??? Kamijou Touma leaped to the side with all his might. The mass of metal almost grazed his clothing and it passed right over Othinus as it became a wrecking ball wielded by a giant. Hey!! Stay on the ground! Ill handle him!! Kamijou fixed his posture as he shouted toward Othinus and then faced forward again. But it had been a mistake to take his eyes off that monster for even an instant. The spot he had been in was deserted. A blank filled Kamijous mind just before a white face filled his vision. The roar of four tornados whipping up the air from Accelerators back reached Kamijous ears after a short delay. God!! That deadly hand of reflection reached for his side in order to reverse his bodys blood flow and electrical signals. Dammit!! He twisted his body while just barely managing to swipe away that demonic hand with his own right hand. He went on to launch his fist upwards and right into Accelerators jaw. A dull sensation passed through his fist and into his wrist. ... Red eyeballs stared back at him without the slightest change in expression. A chill ran down Kamijous spine, so he leaped backwards without thinking. A mass of air slammed into and split apart the ground where he had been. A massive roar of shattering glass burst through the air. (Whats going on? Hes quicker to recover than before and this isnt shaking him. He can take a punch more than before!) Yknow... Finally, the white monster opened his mouth. What the hell are you even doing? Playing the hero with no thought to your own interests may be nothing new, but youre showing a serious lack of vision this time. His voice contained no hint of urgency. He sounded like someone talking about a far off problem they had seen on the news. However, the fury covering the world was like hell itself. He lightly kicked the snow that was already beginning to accumulate on the glass and Kamijou crouched down as if twisting his upper body around. The white snow melted and the liquid split through the air at frightening speed. It looked a lot like a laser beam. When used in shipbuilding machine tools, simple H2O could slice through thick steel sheets like butter. The bizarre sound cutting just barely above his head sent a chill down Kamijous spine and he attempted to approach while crouched down. What the hell are you doing!? he shouted as he did so. Sure, Gremlin did a lot of damage at Hawaii, Baggage City, and Tokyo, but you hold the position of the strongest! Did you really take enough damage to warrant killing people!? I dont have a reason like that. Accelerator lightly clenched his fist. When I was using my power, I didnt have any crazy ideas about saving the world or protecting mankind, you dumbass!! A great roar split the air as fist struck fist. Im only gonna bother looking after the people in my cell phones memory. But that person you have behind you might destroy everything in the world and kill off all of mankind. Among those six or seven billion are the few I know, so thats a good enough reason for me to fight her. I wont let you say otherwise. This may have been the opposite of Kamijou Toumas path. While saving the people close to him, Kamijou had gradually expanded his field of vision and eventually been shown problems on a global scale. Accelerator had been able to reach that worldwide level from the very beginning and he had used that power to save someone nearby. All the while, the decisions he made contained enough destruction to bring down the entire world. I cant go down the path youre on, said the monster as he stared Kamijou Touma in the eye at close range. And that former monster continued. But thats no reason for me to feel inferior to you. Wings burst from Accelerators back with tremendous force. Rather than black, they were white. As they pressed their fists together, the pure white wings stretched to several dozen meters and swung down toward Kamijou Touma like blades. Kamijou leaped to the side as if sliding and somehow managed to intercept each wing as they fell from overhead, one after another. Rather than stopping them and destroying them, he touched their side and moved his hand to redirect them. Accelerator spoke quietly while sending those fierce attacks. If I can either kill her or not kill her, then I might as well kill her. His voice pierced Kamijous chest more sharply than the great din scraping at the planet. The sharpness of his words may have been another reason the #1 was such a monster. Even if he could guess at what went on in another monsters head, he would not sympathize with them. The fact that he treated her as identical may have made him that much harsher on Othinus and her ability to destroy the world. If thats the most surefire, absolute, and safe way of ensuring their safety, then I might as well kill her. Im not a fan of getting swept away by pointless emotion and getting stabbed in the back for my trouble. And Im even less of a fan when its someone elses back getting stabbed. Yes, thought Kamijou. He was angry that Accelerator did not understand, but he did not resent the #1. And that was not simply because he had not explained the situation and had no time to do so. That was a path Kamijou Touma himself had gone down. Those had been his exact thoughts when the 23 special wards of Tokyo had transformed into a battlefield and he had been swept down the easy path while thinking he was a hero of justice. In fact, Accelerator used his violence while fully aware of what it truly meant to defeat an enemy, so one could say he was much, much wiser and more responsible. Hey, whats the matter? Ive said my bit and youre still putting up a sad fight, so youve gotta have a reason for ruining what Im trying to do here, dont you!? A reason, huh? Kamijou had difficulty holding off all of the white wings with just his one right hand. To intercept each and every one, he did the best he could to up his number of attacks. For most of everyone in the world, its probably true that Othinus is someone thats not really worth saving. And logically, not saving her may be the better option, so you might as well protect your own safety! But even so!! He used his fist to deflect one of the white wings to the side and simply shouted his reason forward. If you can choose between having her or not, its gotta be more fun to let her join the group!! It may not be logical and it may not be efficient, but this has got to be more enjoyable than throwing her out! Thats my reason!! The several dozen wings froze in place and Accelerator spoke in a quiet yet clearly irritated voice. Youre not even trying to convince me, are you? Thats how true motives work. Kamijou grinned. If you had a reason that would convince anyone the moment you gave it, itd be a manufactured argument you created for the sole purpose of convincing people. After traversing that nearly infinite hell, all Kamijou Touma had acquired was the elementary school level idea that we should all just get along. That was simply how much experience was needed to go from thinking he understood it to truly understanding it. Kamijou was the same in his lack of a grand objective. He wasnt talking about the fate of the world and that wasnt what he was fighting for. But, said the #1 as his countless wings creaked. Arent you being a bit too trusting in human nature to ask me to stop with nothing but that? I dont expect you to, immediately replied Kamijou. Thats why we fight until we reach an understanding. ... Accelerator fell silent for a moment, but took action. Academy Citys #1 flapped his white wings and rose to an altitude of 5000 meters in an instant. Kamijou saw a pure-white light fly in a large arc and then start back toward the surface. He had no way of knowing, but this top-speed rush using the white wings had saved many people from the Star of Bethlehem at the end of World War Three. (My only chance is with a counter.) Kamijou calmly moved his body. (I cant hit him with anything but my right fist, but he can take a punch better than before and Ill probably be torn to mincemeat if I dont finish it in a single hit.) Before the clash, Kamijou crouched down and used his left hand to pick up a stone the size of a babys head. Accelerators reflection prevented any attacks not made with his right hand. Throwing the rock would not even function as a distraction while that reflection was working. But that was exactly why Kamijou did what he did. In the instant of the clash between heaven and earth, Accelerator accurately attacked his target. He saw every action Kamijou Touma took while holding his right fist toward the heavens. The monster did not even think about evading, but not because he was overly reliant on his reflection. He was well aware how unique that right hand was and he decided to rush in despite that hand which would pierce his absolute defense. As long as he remained conscious and could continue his calculations, he would crush the boy before him. He understood the power of that hand. (...?) Or so he thought. Kamijou Touma took an odd action. He first made a cross counter, just as Accelerator had expected. Aiming for the center of the chest rather than the face was certainly out of the ordinary, but it was within the range of options he could take with that fist. The problem was what came later. Kamijou swung up the baby head rock with his left hand. He first neutralized the reflection with his right hand and then he applied a tremendous force to Accelerators heart, even if it meant crushing his own right fist in the process. The impact from the rock was much greater than anything he could have caused with a mere fist. (Ah.) Accelerators mind went blank. With a tremendous noise, the thoughts that controlled his calculations cut out for an instant. Part 6 ... Accelerator awoke buried in snow. The ground of cracked glass was nowhere to be seen below the thin layer of snow covering everything. The earth was working to return the scenery to normal even after that strike from a terraforming device. Kamijou Touma and the eyepatch girl were gone and a new figure had appeared in that silver world. The girl had short brown hair and eyes devoid of emotion. She wore a white coat and a cold-resistant hat with earmuffs. She was reminiscent of yet different from the person Accelerator had seen in Russia during World War Three. What does a clone want? he asked in annoyance. Hah hah hah /return. I was just so very, very worried about Kamijou-chan that I used my ticket and took control of this girl /return. Im glad to see he could resolve his own problem, though /return. The giant grin looked out of place on that military clones face. The one speaking was not the clone herself but the will of the network created by all of the clones. While there was technically no division between the Will and the clone, anyone closely involved could understand the concept behind this difference. But /backspace, you werent going all out there, were you /escape? If their top batter of the #1 didnt take action, there was a greater possibility of the other Level 5s taking action randomly /return. And if the #1 was defeated right away, the higher ups would hesitate to use the rest of their precious seven for fear of losing them /return. Heh heh /return. Back when you knew nothing but winning and being the strongest, you wouldve never thought about gaining something by losing /return. I think youve grown some, Accelerator /return. The white monster clicked his tongue and gave a displeased reply while sitting on the snow. Is it really that surprising? Youre only here now thanks to my loss. Im saying its mature of you to be able to think about it like that /return. The Will waved her index finger a bit. I was really, really worried about Kamijou-chan, but he should be fine now /return. And since Ive been using this ticket so much lately, I probably cant come back out for a while /return. But /backspace, I did get to see something nice firsthand /return. How long until the next time? Dont rely on me /return. The Will chuckled. This world belongs to all of you /return. As someone who floats around the Misaka Network with no physical body, Im an outsider here /return. I may be able to give some outside advice, but I mustnt be presumptuous enough to think about actually joining in /return. Some static mixed in with the girls voice, indicating that something was coming to an end and the time of parting was nigh. And as an outsider, I have one last piece of advice for you /return. Do you ever shut up? Just get it over with. The difference between you and Kamijou-chan is that one of you views us as an embodiment of good and the other truly views us as nothing but human /return. They may seem similar at first, but theyre completely different and it isnt something you can consciously overcome /return. Maybe its like focusing too much on eliminating discrimination and instead trapping the person in the role of victim /return. If you truly intend to face us, then you have to do something about that first /return. With that said, the shorthaired girl fell forward into the snow. Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance, but then realized something. Wait. What am I supposed to do with this unconscious girl? He received no response. At the end of it all, some shackles had been prepared for that monster. Being played that perfectly ticked him off. Part 7 The battle had ended, but the pain had not. Kamijou Touma groaned as he walked across the greenery of the glass plain and trudged through the deep white snow. Gh... Two things tormented him. The first was his shoulder. The intense force of the #1 falling from the heavens and onto his raised fist had almost dislocated the shoulder. The second was his wrist. Smashing the large rock into his own hand had put a heavy burden on that fist. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? He let out a cry. It may have seemed meaningless, but it worked as a brief pain reliever. It was the same theory behind hammer throwers shouting to intentionally release certain substances in their brain. They did not have time to stop and leisurely perform first aid. He continued screaming at the top of his lungs to endure the pain. This was not over yet. Accelerators arrival meant the coalition force most likely knew he and Othinus were in Denmark. Another pursuer could arrive or Accelerator could return and bare his fangs once more. Cool the injury with snow. Othinus scooped up some white snow in both hands. Numbing the nerves is a dangerous method, but it can temporarily stop the pain without any special medicine. You need to make sure you dont give yourself frostbite, though. While trapped in a whirlpool of pain, Kamijou initially accepted it without question. But partway through, he realized something. Unlike him, Othinus had no visibly obvious injuries and her hands did not tremble as they scooped up the snow. But that was exactly what did not make sense. When grabbing a hunk of snow without gloves, it was only natural to feel cold. Her fingertips should have been trembling. Othinus? He faced the girl walking next to him, but she had not noticed the oddity herself. Seeing her puzzled look, the doubt inside him grew to conviction. Othinus!! When did you lose your sense of pain and cold!? He ignored his own pain, grabbed her shoulders, and shouted in her ear, but she was the same as always. She did not even reflexively draw back in surprise, but he interpreted that as sluggishness rather than calm. Hm. Thats a good question. He felt he should have noticed sooner. She had casually walked through this near-arctic environment and performed a headlock with vise-like strength. He had simply assumed she retained some of her power as a magic god and was still far from being human, but what if that was not the case? What if her senses were vanishing and her bodys limiters were ceasing to function? That too could explain her strange resistance to the cold and her tremendous strength for such a slender girl. Also, she had said from the beginning that using the Bone Boat was truly the last bit of her power. She had told him not to rely on her after that. Not even the slightest piece of her special status as a magic god had remained. Dammit!! Kamijou did not know if he could do anything about it now, but he lent her his shoulder. She felt heavy and he could tell she could not fully support herself. Most of all, she was cold. She felt like a pillar of ice. An amateur high school boy could not determine how much her bodily functions were being restricted. Im fine, she said. I can walk on my own, so you dont have to do that. You idiot! Forcing yourself to move might be destroying you inside!! What scared him most of all was how Othinus herself felt no danger. She was so far gone that she could not even do that. It reminded him of a soldier with a fatal bullet wound to the gut who smiled as he forgot his pain in the very, very end. Staying here wont help, so lets get to Egeskov Castle and end this, Othinus. As the road continued on and on, the white landscape seemed to reject any and all life. Nevertheless, Kamijou Touma stared forward and continued on. No matter whos waiting for us up ahead, I will save you. I swear it. Volume 10, 10: V.S. The Fury of Two Billion” Round_02. Volume 10, Chapter 10: V.S. The Fury of Two Billion Round_02. Part 1 They were far from human civilization. Kamijou did not know if Othinus had frostbite, hypothermia, or whatever else, but he had to take her somewhere warm as soon as possible. Unfortunately, he did not know how he could do that. There had been almost no traffic on the road in the first place and the previous commotion would only keep vehicles away. The two of them would be buried in snow before they made it anywhere. Or so he thought. The situation completely betrayed his expectations. They say its a meteorite! Thats so cool! Too bad I didnt manage to record it with my smartphone! I couldve been the hero of a video site right about now!! The amount of traffic increased considerably. More and more people drove up to see (what they mistakenly thought was) the unexpected astronomical show. They were all quite carefree because it had fallen in the middle of nowhere rather than in a city. After walking for about ten minutes, Kamijou and Othinus started seeing stands selling roast pork or salmon salad sandwiches. He fully expected them to be selling fragments of the glass ground as souvenirs. (Hmm. I hope Accelerator is okay lying around at the blast site.) Kamijou and Othinus carried out their hitchhiking plan and received the help of an RV remodeled into a food cart. Othinus acted as a translator and it seemed the food cart had sold out of roast mutton and was on its way back home to gather more ingredients. Kamijou parted with some of his precious few yen to buy some vegetable scrap and lamb bone stew. It seemed to be the food supplied for the workers. He had a feeling the price they charged him was exorbitant, but he was still glad to be able to warm themselves up. Hey, Othinus. Where are we headed? Aalborg. ......................................................................................................................................................... F-fine. I apologize for the overly short answer, so dont give me that teary look, human! Were travelling thirty or forty kilometers south from that plain near Hj?rring. Were headed in the right direction and we arent going too far out of our way by hitchhiking. The representative transportation methods for a high school boy like Kamijou Touma were walking and bicycling, so forty kilometers felt like a long distance. However, that distance could be cleared in twenty or thirty minutes in a car on the highway. That realization gave him a small desire for a license. Othinuss complexion was looking better than before and she could move her limbs normally. It was likely due to both the warm soup and the vehicle protecting her from the outside air. However, her senses were still numbed over, so he had no choice but to continue keeping watch over her. Once the RV food cart arrived at a large city, Kamijou bowed to the workers and left. Othinus stood tall in a grand pose like always, so he could not use her to judge what proper behavior was. Ten seconds after leaving, the cold began eating away at their body temperature. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. W-we need to buy coats. All our skin will turn purple if we dont. Ive heard enough about that. How weak are you? Youre only saying that cause your senses are numbed over! That triumphant look isnt very convincing when your lips are turning blue!! Overall, the city was colored the hue of brick. Several factory smokestacks rose from the waterfront, but everything from the apartments to the fire station were made of stone. The population was packed together in this one area like a collection of variously-shaped building blocks, but there were few buildings taller than seven stories. Why is all of Europe like this? How do you handle the security deposit or key money with three or even five hundred year old apartments? Do they not care about fire laws? They just have a large deposit. And if you look at the entire world, Japan is the odd one out. You wont find another country with nothing but 2x4s and reinforced concrete. By the way, I was sure something would happen when we passed through that undersea tunnel. I was prepared to have to race a giant wave of water out after the tunnel was blown up. They think they have to fight a magic god at 100% power, so they dont think submerging me under the ocean will kill me. Kamijou and Othinuss overall goal was to find someone else to hitchhike with or walk to the next city, but they needed proper clothing first. Before that, they had to exchange Kamijous Japanese yen for Danish krone. If they continued with those RPG errand quests for too long, they would become a real-life Little Match Girl, so they hurried along. I-I dont see anyone on this street and all the shops are closed. Its still early in the day. Where is this anyway? Virgin Anne''s Street. It was originally developed as a large-scale prostitution district. ..................................................................................................................................................................(Really, really not sure how to react.) Did not hear me say originally? Its just filled with bars now. And do you really have time to be getting your hopes up? That bitter look came from hearing a beautiful girl bring up a topic like prostitution!! Come to think of it, was all this even necessary? Why are you explaining things and then getting mad about it!? They exited that bar district and entered a normal shopping district. Unlike Japan, all of the buildings were centuries old and made of stone or brick, but that was not what caught Kamijous attention most of all. Whats with the statue of a muscular macho man? Does sliding it aside reveal a stairway below it? Thats a statue of Odin, aka me. You can find these statues all over Scandinavia. Below the chilly sky, Kamijou looked back and forth between the lovely girl and the macho statue. Well, there goes the beautiful girl image... Hey, just how much were people afraid of you? Sh-shut up! Thats how I was treated in one of the worlds in the opposing mirrors!! The information about me is not always accurate, but its still a record left by a third party. And those records ended up remaining while I was continually remaking the world. But why is the statue wearing nothing but pants and a cape? Then again, with you... If you say I could see it happening, Ill punch you. Keep that in mind. They exchanged currencies at an ATM-like device on the road. It was surreal seeing the machine directly embedded in the five hundred year old building. The strange bills filling Kamijous wallet looked like toys to him, so he did not feel like he had any actual money. A-anyway, we need to buy coats. Please dont tell me there are only made-to-order tailors around here. What kind of place do you think Denmark is? Lets just say I wouldnt be surprised to come across items named herb or potion around here. All of the stores were small, had no show windows, and were in centuries old buildings. Kamijou was more afraid to enter them than to head to a ramen shop run by a stubborn old man for the first time. He feared finding a high-class world where a single handkerchief would set him back 10,000 yen, but Othinus quickly found the best store and entered. It looks like a cheap one will only cost about 2500 krone. How much do you have? Sensei, I dont understand krone. 2500 would be about 50,000 yen. How in the hell is that cheap!? Does that coat have a CPU inside!? Cmon... Dont you dare bring up my ability to support myself. Im a high school boy who was launched overseas with almost nothing but the shirt on his back!! This cheap piece of junk cant repel water at all. Well need to buy an umbrella as well. Yknow what? The normal boy named Kamijou Touma took a step back and held up his thumbs and forefingers in L-shapes to create an imaginary frame. I think we might need to start as far back as getting you some underwear. Oh, I get it. Youre insisting on mocking me at every turn, arent you? How about we take this outside? Part 2 Approximately half an hour earlier, preparations were underway. Around the world, Denmark was well-known for sightseeing and manufacturing, but in Northern Europe it was known for dairy such as cheese. In fact, seventy percent of its territory was farmland. Most large agricultural areas were never lacking in topics of discussion such as crop circles, but the situation was a bit different in the Aarhus area near the center of the peninsula. Several military vehicles were parked there and air force soldiers were guarding them. The flat, snow-covered farmland had been levelled by tractors to clear a two or three kilometer stretch. It looked like a giant piece of duct tape had been attached to the ground and ripped up. The biggest oddities were the several large aircraft politely stopped on the side of that straight line. They were the United States representative bomber. While a little less well-known than the V-shaped flying wings, they had a certain level of stealth ability, could travel at Mach 1.3, and could carry strategic nuclear weapons. However, these did not carry any dangerous NBC weapons. But in a way, they had transported something even more dangerous to Denmark. Yes, yes. We cant go to Aalborg air force base as planned. Because of that supposed meteorite!! Theyre keeping absolutely everyone out of the airspace there! Please send an official complaint to Academy City! I mean it!! Theyre getting in the way!! Nuns in black habits disembarked from the bombers. The brown-haired nun in the lead was Sister Agnese Sanctis and she was speaking into a cell phone. We had to make an emergency landing at a field airport near Aarhus. Yes, these ruins were quickly prepared during World War Three and we just had them repaired once more. It wasnt fun. The paving is all cracked, so the landing was really bumpy. ...But anyway!! I cant believe you would cram people inside a place as unlivable as a bomb bay! Eh? Its a lot faster than a transport plane? I dont care!! Agnese and the other nuns sent by the Roman Catholic Church exited into the silver world, but those few hundred were not the only ones there. A quick glance around showed the faces of elites from the Anglican Church and Russian Orthodox Church as well. This was not their destination. They were preparing to use cars, trains, domestic flights, helicopters, and other means of transportation to arrive at different destinations and find Magic God Othinus and Kamijou Touma. Despite being in the same place, they were all focused on different places. They were sharing information to a certain extent, but they all had different interpretations of that information. Is this really all of the information? They arent giving us false information to take the credit for themselves, are they? If we give away their position, wont the targets avoid them and come straight to us? If we attack right after the target fights through them, wouldnt we have a much better chance of defeating them? No ones going to attack us and make it look like the magic gods doing, are they? Agnese concluded that the biggest reason for all the suspicion was the power of their opponent. It was an improper example for a nun, but she felt it was similar to a high-stakes game at a casino. They were betting the fate of the world or the right to steal and analyze the power of a magic god which could influence the fate of the world. The level of pressure was much greater than a childs game of poker. We will be following our information and heading to Aalborg. Ask the pope to make the preparations on his end. The other forces will most likely lay in watch on the alternate routes and watch what we do. We have the greatest numbers, so theyre probably viewing us as bait or something to scare them out of hiding. But if we get a bite, they might come rushing in. While speaking, Agnese gestured instructions to her subordinates. They had no one-man powerhouses like a Saint or Gods Right Seat, but they did have the strength of two billion believers worldwide. They held the great mental strength of 1/3 of humanity. Part 3 A loud, staticky noise filled Aalborg. It came from the disaster prevention speakers set up around the city. What? B-bbbh... While lightly beating her partner outside the tailor, Othinus stopped her hands and looked up. Incidentally, having the lovely maiden sitting on top of him had sent Kamijou straight into swine mode. This is a warning for Kamijou Touma or Magic God Othinus. We already know you are hiding in this city. Please disarm yourselves and surrender at Ansgar Church within ten minutes. The confused looks on their faces did not come from the dangerous content of the warning. The warning was given in Japanese. No matter the reason, if you do not comply with the aforementioned demands, we will view you as hostile and begin an attack. Also, do not attempt to use civilians or historic relics as a shield. Such an act would be meaningless before our spell. To repeat... The voice filled every corner of the city, but it was unlikely many of the people looking up understood what it meant. Some younger people assumed it was some form of event and began whistling. While lying on his back, Kamijou lightly shook Othinus who sat on his stomach. What do you think? I dont understand why they would bother warning us, but they must be confident to not try for a surprise attack. They must be prepared to kill a magic god at 100% power. Othinus let out a short, white breath. Weve already seen the fairy spell as an example. They would have to be insane to attempt a straight fight, but they may have some weakness they can exploit. ... Kamijou fell silent because something seemed odd to him, but he decided it was not important at the moment. Once Othinus got off of him, he stood up on the snow. What should we do now? asked the eyepatch girl. Kick their asses? When we dont know whos here or how many? They said ten minutes, so that means they wont attack until then. Whether were gonna run, hide, or fight, we need to gather some information. For one thing, do they really know where were hiding? They might be playing this warning in every major city in Denmark to get us to react. I wouldnt be so sure theyll wait the full ten minutes. The shopping district road was pedestrian only, so Kamijou jogged along it and peeked out on a larger road. Shit! He immediately pulled his head back and pressed his back to the wall. Othinus looked doubtfully at the Asian pretending to be a spy. What is it? Dont go around that corner. Youll stand out like a sore thumb dressed like that. A few nuns in black habits were wandering around near a bus stop on that larger road. Kamijou recognized the habits; they were the same ones worn by Orsola Aquinas and Agnese Sanctis. Its the Roman Catholic Church. First the strongest esper and now violence with numbers. Othinus, we cant fight through this one. If we head out without thinking, theyll push back and crush us. We need to think up a way out of this city. I may not be one to talk now that Ive lost my power, but arent they just a mob of weaklings? Wouldnt it be more realistic to defeat a few of them and continue on our way? We can only rely on my right hand here. Its useful against great firepower from a single direction, but theres nothing I can do about repeated attacks from every direction at once. In a way, this is a worse opponent for me than that monster from earlier. Ahh! Dammit! Why didnt I think of that!? Othinus-chan? Why do you look so regretful? At any rate, they decided to fall back and try to escape Aalborg on a different route. On the way, they spotted several more nuns with the exact same habit design. Some noticed them and some kept an eye on them while pretending not to notice. It was possible every single one of them had noticed the pair. From the flow of people and cars, it doesnt look like the roads have been blocked off. If it comes down to it, we might be able to jump onto the back of a truck to quickly leave the city. Othinus, are you confident in your athletic ability? Who do you think youre talking to? Im a god of war. Just to be clear, this is without the support of the spells you cant use any more. ... Magic God Othinus fell silent!! Kamijou brought a hand to his forehead. It was possible he would have to push on Othinuss petite butt to help her into the back of the truck. However, it turned out the two of them had made two small mistakes. First, they had not been accurately counting down the ten minute time limit. A flash of light suddenly burst from a nearby wall. It was some kind of spell that resembled a laser beam. The instant Kamijou realized that, he twisted his body around and held up his right hand. Second, they had grown conceited. They were not up against a Saint or Magic God. They had Imagine Breaker at their disposal, so Kamijou had assumed he could deflect any attack spell as long he was not surrounded and over-saturated with attacks. That had been a fundamental mistake. The instant he received the attack, his right arm was knocked backwards. The intense impact twisted the joint of his right shoulder and sent his entire body spinning at least twice through the air. Part 4 (Ah...) At first, Kamijou Touma could not feel the pain properly. His vision spun dizzyingly around and the idea that his right hand would work was destroyed. Confusion filled his head and he could not process even the most basic of sensations. The intense pain finally exploded out once he crashed into the snow. Gah!? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? Shit! Othinus was right next to him, but she sounded so very far away. She grabbed his unharmed left arm and half-dragged him to another alley. A few similar beams shot out along the road and several footsteps followed. The nuns seemed to have lost track of them, but that would not last forever. More importantly, Kamijou could not think about a long-term plan with his right arm almost destroyed. He clenched his teeth and put up with the pain. Ill be touching it. With that warning, Othinus lightly traced her fingertips along his right shoulder. He was assaulted by a feeling of intense heat rather than pain. He felt as if the entire shoulder had grown two sizes larger. It isnt broken. Its only dislocated. This will hurt a bit, but an external impact can get the joint back in place. Othinus grabbed an edge of her cape. Bite this. Itll keep you from biting your tongue in pain. ...? What is this? Whats the matter? Well, this is really...sweet and salty? Wait a second. Is this your sweat? Hnn!! After some unthinkably painful noises, Kamijou could move his right arm once more. There was no medical basis for it, but he felt as if he were going to cough up a clump of blood. Anyway, what was that? He tried rotating his shoulder and heard some dull cracking noises inside his body. Was it not magic? My right hand couldnt negate it. That was definitely based in human magic power. The beam pierced through the walls yet didnt destroy the walls. It passed right through them. Its clearly meant to target us while inside the city. My guess is its a spell that takes an offensive interpretation of stories about lightning and divine punishment. And its structure is simple enough for anyone with a bit of Christian knowledge to put together. The beam of light would pass through buildings and passersby while accurately roasting only its target. With a spell like that, they could fight all out even in the middle of a city. But that doesnt make sense. My right hand didnt work. Have you never seen exceptions before? You should understand your right hand better than anyone. He realized there were indeed spells that Imagine Breaker could not negate in time, such as Stiyl Magnuss Innocentius and Fiamma of the Rights Third Arm. So is the spell itself simple, but the power is...no, the numbers are too great? If so, this might be a dangerous situation. Were up against the Roman Catholic Church, the largest denomination in the world. If the pope released their lock, they can do whatever they want. It should have been obvious something out of the ordinary would be coming. They did not care about Kamijou, so they had been preparing to fight a magic god who could destroy the world. They would use whatever means necessary to raise their odds of success by 10% or even 1%. You should assume that all two billion of them are consciously or subconsciously your indirect enemy here. Worst case, they might be using a standard spell two billion times at once here. Part 5 They considered the layout of Aalborg. The enemy was the Roman Catholic Church. That enemys primary weapon was a spell cannon with two billion times the output thanks to gathering the magic power and processing power of two billion people across the world. The nuns scattered through the city acted as the eyes and ears of the cannon. If they caught sight of Kamijou or Othinus, the immensely powerful projectile would attack in a straight line while ignoring all buildings and passersby in the way. The ability to pass through obstacles meant they could not use anything as a shield. If they were found, it was all over. Kamijous right hand could not completely negate it, so his arm would either be dislocated again or broken. Needless to say, Othinus would fare even worse now that she had lost her powers. We need to do something about that cannon, said Kamijou with all that in mind. Eliminating a few of their eyes and ears wont do any good. Yes, that seems to be the only option. We dont know how accurate it is or what its range is, so we cant be sure leaving Aalborg will bring us to safety. Othinus began by agreeing. But where is this cannon? And we dont know how many eyes and ears there are in Aalborg. There could be hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands. Slipping past all of them wont be easy. If we try searching through every corner of the city, well be shot a million times over. Othinus drew a crude map of the city in the snow and Kamijou pointed at one spot after looking across it. Its probably here. Why? Let me ask you this, Othinus. If it was you, where would you put the cannon? In a safe place surrounded by thick walls? Or would you hide it in the middle of the closely-packed population? Othinus thought for a moment. She had not simply relied on her power as a magic god. Until the lance had been completed, she had plotted against the entire world. Somewhere with a good view. Whether on its own or with help, that cannon uses visual targeting, so the best spot would be somewhere with no obstacles such as a desert or plain. That way any approaching enemy could be shot before they arrived. In that case... Kamijou tapped on the snow. Theres a giant hole in the cityscape to the southwest where the churches and art museums are. There must be a park or something here. This is where I would put it. And it has a convenient 100 meter tower named Aalborg Tower. Make fun of the name if you want, but their cannon gets a view of the whole city from there. With that, their plan was set and Kamijou gave a suggestion. Ill go. Othinus, you hide somewhere. Do you want me to punch you? At least let me explain the decision first!! Fearing a crushed skull, Kamijou quickly explained with plenty of gestures. He told her what had seemed odd about the announcement given to the entire city earlier. I see. So you arent just trying to show off. What kind of person do you think I am? Just how much of your showing off do you think Ive had to put up with? Othinus brought a hand to her chin and thought for a while. But if youre going to destroy the cannon, you need a way to get close. If you just ran up, youd be shot. Uuh... Dont worry. I know what kind of person you are, so you dont have to worry about disappointing me. Ive already decided to punch you a few times once this is over. It seemed his only paths to happiness were to convince her to not punch him or to accept it as a reward. B-by the way, do you have any good ideas, oh great goddess? That title is a good start, so I suppose Ill give you the answer you want. Part 6 In a straight line, Aalborg Tower was less than two kilometers away, but Kamijou would be pierced by magical lasers a million times over if he tried to head straight there. He had received a secret strategy from Othinus, but he could not unconditionally make use of it. He avoided standing out by running and instead walked through the streets while mixed in with the crowds. (When you think about it, there were a few odd points to that announcement.) Thinking about this was the same as admitting he was decisively cornered. And admitting he was at a disadvantage did not give him a comeback plan. (The warning was in Japanese and it addressed Kamijou Touma or Magic God Othinus. That means it was primarily addressing me rather than Othinus.) As he stepped through the snow, he lost himself in thought. (And were those beams really a spell meant to use on a magic god? The Roman Catholics may not know just how much of a threat a magic god is, but isnt that spell more of an Imagine Breaker countermeasure?) Needless to say, the threat to the world was Othinus, not Kamijou. He could not complain about how they treated him now that he was travelling with her, but the enemy should not have been focusing on him all that much. Nevertheless, this group of two billion was prioritizing his elimination. He could only think of one reason why. (Their original plan was to attack Tokyo Bay and utterly defeat Gremlin and Othinus. Why would they be giving us a chance to surrender now? The situation should be even more urgent than before, so why does this feel like the exact opposite?) In other words... (Theyre trying to take me out of the fight early.) In other words... (They dont know if Im truly an enemy, so theyre taking me away from Othinus and then attacking that true threat with unwatchable destruction.) In other words... (Theyre giving me a chance. If Othinus is with me, theyll have no choice but to mercilessly attack, but they can put that off if Im acting separately from her. Why would they be this kind? Am I up against someone I know?) Once he came to that conclusion, he entered a main road. His gaze met that of a nun in a black habit. She pointed at him and gave some sort of instruction. A moment later, a tremendous flash of light burst out. He did not feel any kindness in this at all. He instinctually started to rely on his right hand, but he instead crouched down as quickly as he could. As the beam of light shot by overhead, it passed through the passersby and cars, but it did not harm any of them. They seemed to think it was some kind of light show similar to projection mapping. Kamijou began running with all his strength. I was na?ve!! That wasnt what they were doing!! Theyre definitely trying to kill me!! The nuns must have been contacting each other because more and more of them began appearing from different alleyways. All of those eyes and ears corrected the aim of the cannon spell. Kamijou felt a chill run down his spine, but he had no choice but to evade while moving forward. Due to his pain and confusion earlier, he had not been able to carefully observe the attack, but he was able to estimate the general direction the attack came from this time. Just as he had predicted, it came from Aalborg Tower. His only option was to focus all his attention in that direction. But that idea proved a mistake. Another beam burst out at close range from the side. (What!? Thats a completely different direction!!) He was caught entirely off guard. He could not evade in time, so he raised his right arm and received a tremendous impact. Just as before, pain exploded in his right shoulder and he was sent spinning through the air. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? He continued running with his right arm dangling limply down at his side. Intermittent beams of light attacked from countless directions. (I misread it.) His consciousness wavered and not just because of the pain. (It wasnt multiple eyes and ears supporting a single cannon. Do all of the nuns function as both the eyes and ears and the cannon!?) He could no longer use his right hand now that the shoulder was dislocated. He had completely lost and the beams of light pursued him from behind. A moment later, the boys body vanished from the streets of Aalborg. Part 7 In the group of other nuns, Sister Lucia and Sister Angelene cried out as they saw the boy suddenly disappear. Too far! Thats going too far!! Stop firing the Fish of the Supper! We were supposed to safely take him out of the fight! Whos the one who killed him!? However, complaining would accomplish nothing after the fact. The nuns gathered around the point of his disappearance and then noticed something. S-Sister Lucia, what is this? asked the girl with a bent back. They were all focused on an opening in the stone-paved road. The square hole was about sixty centimeters across. Ansgar Church was located in the same green belt as Aalborg Tower and the modern art museum. Inside it, Agnese Sanctis was groaning at the report she had just received. A secret underground passageway!? What are you talking about!? Just from looking in from the entrance, it seems to be dug by hand. At the very least, I doubt its from the past 100 years. We are requesting documents from the city hall, but we have received nothing yet. What do you think it is, Sister Lucia? Aalborg has had the misfortune of being destroyed by war a few times in Danish history. If this was secretly dug by the residents at the time to protect their property and lives, they might stretch around the entire city like a spider web. Then contact the gas company, the water department, and the subway contractors. Ask for any records of construction stopped because they ran into some old ruins. We are already doing so, but will we make it in time? Stop asking questions that only god knows the answer to. Nuns are forbidden to test the Lord. Agnese ended the communication, leaned back in her chair, and stared at the ceiling. She had been given a map for distributing her personnel, but it seemed she needed to draw a great number of new lines on it. She looked down toward the map on the table once more, but the map and table below it were suddenly knocked away. Some great force had pushed up on them from below. What!? She very nearly jumped out of her chair in surprise, but then she saw it. A square hole had been opened in the floor where the table had been. In other words, it was right below her chair. In other other words, it was between her legs. In other other other words, a spiky-haired boys head was approaching in the perfect position to see up her short skirt. Wha-...bu-...!! Do you have some kind of grudge against me!? Ask yourself that. And are you multiplying your magic by two billion!? The spell isnt called inflation, is it!? The sight of the perverted submarine named Kamijou Touma making an emergency surfacing was so shocking that she forgot to kick her chair away and move back. Once she finally came to her senses, she glanced around without even trying to grab her Symbolic Weapon named the Lotus Wand that was lying on the floor with the map. Wait! Wait! Please give me a break! What were you going to do if I was really planning to kill you? You wouldnt try to kill me after warning me in Japanese and telling me the name of the church. Once I knew everyone functioned as a cannon, that ruled out Aalborg Tower and a Roman Catholic leader would definitely stay in a church. It isnt a rational thing; its more like your instinct. Anyway, I knew I would find someone who knew me if I came here, but you guys got a little carried away and almost vaporized me on the way!! Why are you here? Ill explain my reasoning, so please overlook us. And if I say no? Youre the breaker, arent you? said Kamijou from his low angle. Ive seen several different kinds of Roman Catholic power: the Croce di Pietro, the Queen of the Adriatic, the C-Document, and the Star of Bethlehem. None of them were made with completely parallel functions. There was always a leader in the center and everything was made evenly parallel below that. ... Kamijou was speaking about an idiosyncrasy of the Christian Church that stated that all mankind was equal yet viewed the Twelve Apostles as special. The Roman Catholic Church in particular said god used his power evenly and peoples beliefs reached god evenly, but they still liked to put an intermediary in between man and god. In that case... Your group is known as the Agnese Forces, so the intermediary here is clearly you. You may just be a breaker in case the others lose control of the spell, but that still means youre the spells Achilles heel. If you refuse to cooperate, Ill do what I have to do. Ill destroy that inflation magic and leave the rest to Othinus. Or do you have another trump card? Thats what I dont understand. You were working with the coalition force to stop Othinus from producing her lance, so why are you relying on her now? Youll listen? Youll let me explain!? Really!? I have a feeling Ill regret it. And whats with this annoying air of someone speaking about their sweetheart or bragging about their pet!? If he suddenly told her the world had been destroyed and Othinus had used Imagine Breaker to return it to normal, Kamijou doubted she would understand. For that reason, he changed his outlook slightly. Would you believe a huge amount of time took place between our arrival on Sargasso and the attack on Othinus, but no one in the world realized it? I would have a hard time of it. Then can you explain why Othinus suddenly changed her plan? If she had completed her lance at Sargasso, she could have checkmated the world, so why did she suddenly abandon it and head to Denmark? Now that you mention it... Agnese frowned in her chair. Kamijou was using a psychological trick. One gave an initial demand that would never be accepted and then switched to an easier demand. Statistical data showed that made it easier to accept the second demand than if it had been given first. He was truly glad he had been paying attention in Komoe-senseis class. Othinus is trying to give up her power and she needs something in Denmark to do it, he said slowly. This isnt a bad deal for us. Letting her disarm would be more constructive than splitting the earth in two in an all-out war. That would be ideal, but I dont see why Othinus would have a sudden change of heart. Please dont try to tell me you seduced her. In truth, it was due to the long time that only he and Othinus knew about, but Agnese would never accept that explanation. He decided to keep it short and with as few lies as possible. Othinus was afraid of her power. Even though she filled the world with chaos to obtain it? It was because she obtained it. To be honest, she had already completed the lance by the time we arrived at Sargasso. She had used a different method than we expected, but she became a completed magic god and learned the truth of that power. ...And that truth did not exactly delight her. The most painful part was the fact that he could not explain how Othinus was nearly powerless already. Explaining it would only spread more confusion, but not explaining it made her out to be a villain. Othinus left Sargasso to give up her power as a magic god, but Gremlin will view that as a betrayal. Shes prepared for that and she has come this far. If we act now, we can avoid the clash that would be the worst case scenario both for the world and for Othinus. We might be able to save both of them and I want to bet on that possibility. ........................................................................................................................................................................... Agnese remained silent for a while. Even if she did not understand everything on the emotional level, Kamijou felt he had helped her answer some of the questions concerning the current situation. By the way, she finally said. What will you do if I still refuse? Then I have no choice but to fight. He could hear the creaking of his clenched teeth. But you of all people must know I wont go down easy when I have someone to protect. Then... A heavy sound of metal filled the church. Agnese had snatched the Lotus Wand from the floor and thrown it overhead. After the Symbolic Weapon flipped through the air, she grabbed it in one hand. Its time you showed me that fact again!! The pressure of attack magic amplified two billion times crushed every inch of the churchs floor. Part 8 A clattering sound filled Ansgar Church. Agnese Sanctis stood alone inside the church with the Lotus Wand resting on her shoulder. She was contacting the distant nuns. Yes, yes. He came here. I crushed him with the Lotus Wand, but it didnt seem to have much effect. I didnt feel a good solid hit, so he may have escaped. Expand the circle. Her voice held no emotion. He also showed his intent to fight and escape, so abandon the plan to knock him out of the fight early. Yes, tell this to the outsiders as well. Her voice held no highs or lows and she went on to state her conclusion. Kamijou Touma is wholly on Magic God Othinuss side and it would be impossible to separate them. As such, there is no way to target her without killing him. She ended the communication and let out a short sigh. She spoke quietly toward the empty church. Now how about you actually start escaping? The church itself was deserted, but a response came from the square hole in the floor. Sorry about all the trouble. You had better be. Dont forget that I have a role to play here. The best excuse I can manage is that Heinous Criminal Kamijou Touma slipped past my attempts to stop him and escaped. I will repay you for this. Do you have any idea how difficult this will be? The spell we used is called the Fish of the Supper and it has a few complex conditions that must be met to activate. First, the pope has to personally order it to be released. Second, two billion people must hold a common hatred. All of the worlds fear is currently gathered on Othinus. Not a single one of them C myself included C would think of trying to protect her. Or at the very least, thats what is widely believed. Reversing that will not be easy. Nevertheless, I will bring this madness to an end. I swear it. Agnese scratched at her head. This method had saved her in the past and it had also tripped her up in the past. Someone who had seen Kamijou Touma from the standpoint of enemy and ally was surprisingly rare. And because of that position, she had made an objective decision to give Magic God Othinus the opportunity to surrender. It may have been an absurd and extreme decision based on what she had said before, but she knew it was possible that boy was truly thinking something so ridiculous. (If he pulls this off, itll be worthy of a statue in the public square.) The boy then gave a final comment. Oh, and sorry about looking up your skirt this whole time. Since she already had the Lotus Wand ready, Agnese once more released a spell amplified two billion times. Volume 10, 11: V.S. The Nuns Wavering in God’s Majesty” Round_03. Volume 10, Chapter 11: V.S. The Nuns Wavering in God''s Majesty Round_03. Part 1 Hnn!! Magic God Othinuss grunt was followed by an explosion of dull yet intense pain in Kamijous right shoulder. She had fixed the dislocation. Abah! Abababababababah!! Be more careful. Dislocate it too many times and itll become a habit. D-do you really think anyone does it for fun? They had safely escaped the city of Aalborg, but they had not had time to procure cold weather clothing. The snowy road had little traffic and no opportunity for hitchhiking had presented itself, so they were travelling through the extreme environment on foot once more. I thought we could look for coats and a car in the next city, but that was too na?ve. Were gonna die out here. We really are in the middle of nowhere!! Well reach the next city after travelling about ten kilometers south. Our pursuers will definitely be waiting for us along the way, though. Ten kilometers on a snowy road in below freezing weather? How is that any different from being stranded? During war, armies often march one hundred kilometers a day in the snow. Despite what she said, they gave up partway through. They were forced to hide in an old car abandoned on the side of the road at around the five kilometer mark. Argh! This is hopeless. This has got to be more than ten kilometers!! The cold has become our greatest enemy. This feels like one of those games where youre caught in a disaster! We wont have to burn our remaining money to stay warm, will we!? The experience was similar to lightly freezing a tangerine, warming it with a kotatsu, freezing it again, and repeating the process. The abandoned cars heater would not start and the rusty chassis let in the cold, but it still felt like heaven to Kamijou. They were cut off from the outside air and their body heat gradually warmed the inside of the car. A while after they settled down in the backseat, a change came over Othinus. Her witchs hat began gently swaying back and forth. Othinus? Nh. The hat stopped moving once he called out to her, but it soon started up again. Othinus. Yeah, Ill admit it. Ive been feeling really tired for a while now. She rubbed the eye not covered by an eyepatch. But we should assume we wont have a chance to get a good nights sleep from here on out. The number of pursuers here in Denmark will likely increase as time goes on and their information on our location will grow more accurate too. We should get short bits of rest when we can, even if its only five or ten minutes. Just to be sure, you are okay, arent you? Im not about to die or anything. In fact, not getting any rest would only make things worse. As long as she did not say the fairy spell had caused severe damage to her body, Kamijou had no objections. A few minutes after he stopped asking questions and started looking outside the grimy window, the intervals of her breathing grew more regular. She had fallen asleep. Seeing the glass gradually fog up told him the car was slowly warming, so he breathed a sigh of relief. He then heard something fall to his lap. He looked down and found Othinuss hat. He looked over and C if one ignored the fairly imposing eyepatch C found a lovely girl there. Her blonde hair and white skin may have strengthened the impression, but he felt she would look perfectly at home hugging a giant stuffed animal. This may have been the true essence of a human. Birthplace, personal history, achievements, crimes, official position, etc. People were bound by many things, but when all that was stripped away, everyone looked fairly similar. Not even a magic god was an exception. (...) Kamijou was glad he was able to stand by her side. He was glad he had not given into cheap anger or passion and joined those who would cast her aside. With a faint smile, he toyed with the witchs hat in his lap. But then he slowly looked up. Through the filthy windshield and past the falling snow, he saw something that did not belong. Two points of red seemed to reject the pure white of that silver world. His expression silently changed when he realized he was seeing special nuns habits. He said nothing to Othinus. He merely placed the hat on her blonde head and opened the abandoned cars door. He would stand by her side and it was once more time for him to prove it with his actions. Part 2 Kamijou walked across the white snow. His opponent this time was a group of two. He had only noticed them four or five hundred meters from the car because of their red nuns habits. He recognized that red outfit, but he technically did not know these people. As he approached, he recalled that strange interpersonal diagram. Sasha, you sure have strange tastes. Its seven below zero, so why are you wearing that formfitting restraint outfit? Are you the type that wears shorts year round? My answer: I would be wearing a normal coat if it were not for unnecessary instructions from you. An additional explanation: I would also avoid wasting so much magic power on life support. Fwa hah hah!! A coat over that restraint outfit? You might think that reduces the exhibition angle, but it actually takes it to a whole new level!! But I wouldnt expect any less from my Sash- dwefh!? The pair was speaking in a foreign language as they approached him, but he was not about to mistake his position here. Their cheerful and casual behavior was certainly not directed toward him. One of the pair was Sasha Kreutzev. Kamijou had met her in the past, but that had only been Archangel Gabriel using her outer appearance. They were technically not acquainted and he could not rely on that meeting to determine what magic she used. The other was a complete unknown. He could guess she belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church due to wearing a habit the same color as Sashas, but that was all. The Russian Orthodox Church was one of the three great Christian denominations alongside the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholics had shown kindness, but that would not happen here. After all, he was not acquainted with them. And as one of those three great denominations, they could easily use some secret spell on the same level as the one used in Aalborg. As Kamijou trudged through the snow, he called out to them. Do you understand Japanese? I dont have any real reason to answer you, but yes. The older woman laughed and pointed first at herself and then at the girl. Im Vasilisa and this is Sasha. Not that you need to know that. She smiled and the pair came to a stop. They already knew what they had to do. No cheap persuasion was needed. The words the woman spoke and the smile on her face were given under the assumption of a fight. ...Is this the world you wanted to see? During that infinite hell, Othinus had asked him that question time and again. The question had been meant to pressure him, but it had also pressured her. (I already know this isnt a perfect world. Ive seen perfect with my own eyes, so I know that all too well.) Kamijou Touma gave his answer in his heart. (But even if its imperfect and incomplete, I still want to be glad I was born into this world. I want to be proud of that fact!!) He stopped once he reached a set distance from the pair. Is there any way to avoid a fight here? Trying to persuade us with some sob story wont work, so dont bother. You can do that in some dark basement, so this really isnt the place for it anyway. How do you view me? My answer: in your past interactions with Gremlin and your direct meeting with Othinus on Sargasso, she may have made some form of contact. Whether your interests happened to align or she used some sort of suggestion spell is still under investigation. I see. That answer seemed to puzzle the two nuns. The puzzlement likely came from his lack of argument, but Kamijous understanding came from something else. I was just thinking how tough it is to be a hero of justice, he continued. Seeing it from the outside gave me a renewed appreciation of that fact. After all, it clearly doesnt make sense. You have to have had doubts about Magic God Othinuss and my actions and that answer cant have been enough. What happened with Sargasso? What about the production of the lance? You cant explain why she threw all that away and fled to Denmark. Not only that, but she left all her trustworthy Gremlin members behind and brought a single pawn whose aligned interests or suggestion could be undone at any time. Theres no real reason for us to understand it. Thats the answer you wanted. Thats all there is to it. He spoke as if challenging her. You wanted to think your opponent was absolute evil with no room for argument. That way you could stand on the side of justice as you crushed her with unquestioned violence. Anything else wouldve been a problem. He silently yet tightly clenched his fist. Even the slightest shred of goodness in Othinus would be a problem for the heroes of justice who hurt her, wouldnt it? He spoke not to Vasilisa and Sasha. He was declaring war on the much larger gears of the world that stood behind them. Pathetic. Im not about to condone what Othinus did, but what youre doing isnt much different. A dull sound exploded through the silver world. Kamijou Touma and Sasha Kreutzev took action at the same moment. They ran full speed along the shortest path, Sasha swung down her L-shaped crowbar, and Kamijou forcibly grabbed the grip of the tool. Hot pain burst through his entire palm and blood dripped from between his thumb and forefinger. However, the metal crowbar broke like it was made of packed sand. It may have had some sort of magical effect. Kamijou had no need to focus on that one tool. What mattered was using the instant that his enemys trusty attack had been negated to bring his fist in range. He clenched his fist with such force that he could have sworn it produced a creaking noise. To prevent her from reading the timing, he even stopped his breathing as he threw the punch. ...!! Just before impact, his pivot leg slid to the side. Sasha had determined she could not evade, so she had swept his leg out from under him. But by the time he realized that, he had already tumbled spectacularly into the snow. Here. Vasilisa casually tossed something the size of a drink can toward Kamijou as he lay on his side. (What? Is that a grenade!?) It was a wild assumption, but it was not an impossibility given the situation. At any rate, he rolled to the side to move as far away as possible. But it was not a grenade. It was an extremely professional-looking radio that likely belonged to the Russian military. Ksshh... Can you hear me, Kamijou Touma? (...?) The voice from the radio spoke Japanese and the speaker was likely younger than Kamijou. He was unsure whether the high-pitched soprano voice belonged to a boy or a girl. Naturally, he did not have time to leisurely listen to the voice. Sasha pulled an unrefined saw and pair of pliers from the belt at her waist and charged in, so he kicked up some snow to blind her. We have constructed a unique spell to use against the magic god, continued the voice. It is not meant for use against humans, but it should be plenty effective against you. Will you still challenge us even after hearing that? Like hell thatd stop me!! I never thought one of the three great denominations would only send two people! Thats far too kind for this world!! He had no time to check to see if Sasha had flinched back, so he hurriedly stood up while jumping back. Old cannibal woman of the one-legged house. A female voice with a bewitching ring to it oozed into his ears. He did not know what it was saying as it was speaking Russian, but the tone was enough to make his spine tremble in eerie discomfort. Vasilisa had secretly kept a safe distance behind Sashas fierce attacks. Please give me the skull lamp. Please give me the skull lamp to burn my cruel stepmother and sister to death. A ring of roaring flames spiraled around Vasilisa. Shit!! He removed his jacket and wrapped it around his left arm. A moment later, Vasilisas crimson flames expanded. The explosive flames quickly approached while instantly melting the snow on the ground. There was nowhere to evade to, so negating it with his right hand was the only option. As he twisted his body and raised his right hand, Sasha approached from a different angle to slice him. She swung her saw horizontally to tear through his chest from the side. But Kamijou had not removed his jacket in order to deal with Vasilisas flames. If he used his right hand to deal with those, he had known he would have to handle the next attack without his right hand. !! The serrated saw blade tore into the jacket wrapped around his arm, but it did not reach his skin. (My right hand destroyed that crowbar, so the same should work here!!) He swung his left arm as hard as he could and threw aside the jacket, but the jacket did not even fall to the ground. Several long narrow scraps came apart and blew in the wind. ... The eyes hidden behind blonde bangs viewed their target at close range. Kamijou had now negated Vasilisas flames, so he was free to use his right arm. I see. You overcame many dangers, brought World War Three to an end, and even stood in the center during the conflict with Gremlin. You thought someone like that would have a chance to accomplish what others could not. The radio began speaking from the snow once more, but Kamijou ignored it. His right fist struck the large pliers and Imagine Breaker destroyed the spiritual item. (I can do this.) He tightly clenched his fist once more. (I need to start with one. If I concentrate on one of them and take them out, the threat of attacks on multiple fronts is gone. This opponent can only use magic. I just have to force my way forward until my fist is in range! I can defeat this enemy!!) It happened a moment later. But that means a special individual such as yourself is trampling on the wishes of the whole. Isnt that a bit prideful? Kamijous legs suddenly collapsed out from under him. Part 3 No intense pressure had appeared from above. Nor had invisible hands dragged him to the ground. It was the opposite of that. The strength inside him had vanished. Unlike a poison or numbness, it felt like the upper limit of his strength had been lowered. His inner ear was shaken and he fell to one knee as if he were anemic. What...? Is this a...long-range attack? It is one part of our anti-magic god process. I did warn you it would affect you. (Is this a type of psychological attack or memory manipulation?) If supernatural power took the form of a sword or bullet, dealing with it was easy. He merely had to destroy it with his right hand as it approached. But the type that peered into his heart or stimulated his emotions was different. An attack with no medium could not be negated beforehand even with his right hand. He could not deal with something invisible or untouchable. (But I just have to touch the affected part of my body. Its not a 100% guarantee, but itll fix some things!!) While crouching down on the snow, he hurriedly touched his legs and upper body. As soon as his palm reached the point directly over his heart, he felt like a thick rubber band had snapped and his body was freed. But... This could be called the Russian Orthodox Churchs secret spell and it required funding and preparations on a national level. Isnt it prideful to think you can overcome it so easily just because you have a special right hand? As Kamijou tried to stand, his strength left once more. No matter how much strength he gathered, his muscles would not tighten. It was incredibly frustrating for his body to not do what he asked. Christianity and plenty of other religions have made their own compromises between differing traditions and legends. For example, Shinto took in Buddhism and the Hindu gods to create what is known as the Shinbutsu-Shugo. Christian editors have altered documents and caused Celtic, Norse, and other religions to lose their original form. In Christianity, we view the gods of other religions as demons, accept the heroes of other religions as our patron saints, and do plenty of other things as well. Kamijou was reminded of the concept behind the fairy spell, but there was no need to mention that here. If he gave this opponent a hint that led to the development of an even nastier spell, it would be Othinus who suffered. But we changed that method of compromise a bit, said the cold voice. This spell brings other gods into our system and then reevaluates them by judging them according to our rules. Lust, pride, sloth, gluttony, envy, greed, and wrath. Lets start with the simple Seven Deadly Sins. Power obtained in an improper manner is not permitted and each sin will eliminate 1/7 of that power. Once all seven are gathered, you will lose even the strength needed to move the muscles of your heart, so be careful. Two figures approached through the snow. If Kamijou was defeated here, they would target Othinus with this power. As they had announced, they would not listen to what he had to say and they would simply tear the girl apart based on the reasoning of the victor. They were not even trying to see who she truly was and they would celebrate with a fancy parade afterwards. Kamijous fist creaked, but the radio continued speaking. As long as it accomplishes your goal, you have no problem punching girls in the face? Such horrible wrath. More strength left his body. If the speaker had been telling the truth, he had 5/7 of his normal strength. Dont be...ridiculous. When lives are on the line, who wouldnt get angry!? And so you shouldnt even try? How slothful. He felt dizzy. He was kneeling on the snow and he could not stand back up. He was gathering every last ounce of strength, yet he was having difficulty supporting himself at all. And his opponents did not hold back. Sasha Kreutzev swung a hammer horizontally as if swinging it in a circle. The blow would hit his face and crush his cheekbone. He did not have it in him to focus on everything at once, so he simply used his arm to protect his face. After a dull sound and intense pain, he was knocked sideways to the snow. Why are you going this far to help Magic God Othinus? continued the voice. Kamijou wished he had started by crushing that radio underfoot, but it was too late now. Was it greed for the magic god that was such a threat to the world? Or were you simply moved by lust for her appearance? Either way, you are filled with base desires. 2/7. Even rising enough to crawl was difficult and he felt something oozing out of his mouth. It took several seconds before he realized that it was drool and that he had almost no strength left in his jaw. If his right hand touched his heart, he would be temporarily freed from these bonds, but his hazy mind made even that simple task difficult. The distance from his fingertips to his heart was much too great. That leaves gluttony and envy. The nuns trudged toward him through the snow once more. But Im sure you understand already. You yearned to be on the side of justice. That is the role for large religions such as us, but you wanted to believe you could accomplish it on your own. You envied us. That is a definite sin. He could not breathe properly. Feeling gradually left his fingertips. If he could only use his right hand, he had a chance to eliminate an invisible attack such as a psychological one after the fact. (There were of course exceptions.) But if it brought immediate death before he could use his right hand, it was all over. He was at 1/7. One more and it was checkmate. His muscles would lose all strength and he would be unable to keep his heart beating. Only gluttony remains. But something seemed off in Kamijous hazy consciousness. He examined each of the sins the voice on the radio had charged him with. Gluttony is normally used to mean eating more than necessary, but it technically has a wider interpretation. The sin of gluttony forbids any excessive eating, drinking, or drunkenness. The diaphragm moving his lungs was not moving properly and the lack of oxygen was preventing his brain from functioning properly. His consciousness faded in and out as the voice continued. And couldnt we sum up your current state as intoxicated? Once again, that is quite a sin. Part 4 All seven had been gathered and the boys last strength had been taken from him. Sasha Kreutzev stepped up to Kamijou Touma and poked at his head with her finger, but he did not react. The falling snow was trying to blot out his skin with a thin layer of white. Sasha, what are you doing with that corpse? My answer: it would be a problem if he is feigning death and I have received reports of the head Norse god using corpses. We cannot let our guard down just because he is dead. Then are you going to take him home with you? I think they might complain at customs. An additional explanation: I wish to eliminate the possibility of the corpse beginning to move after it is transported to Russia. So... Sasha adjusted her grip on the saw and held it to the boys neck. I will thoroughly destroy the body so it cannot be reused. This ends now. She did not hesitate. That was how much of a threat she saw in Kamijou Touma...no, in Magic God Othinus. But the saw was stopped as she swung it down. To repeat, Sasha and Vasilisa had no reason to show kindness here. No... Thus there was another reason for this. This isnt over yet. With that said, Kamijous right fist smashed Sashas saw. He slowly tried to stand up like a broken clockwork doll and he would clearly be no threat in a purely physical battle. He should have been wrung dry by the Seven Deadly Sins and his heart should have stopped beating after his strength reached zero. It was unclear how he had escaped that situation, so Sasha quickly tried to finish him off. But Vasilisa stopped her with an outstretched hand and Kamijou shouted out. Is silencing people with violence and not hearing them out how your god does things!? If so, thats an incredible level of pride!! Not good!! Vasilisas cry was not in response to Kamijous words. It was in response to where those words were directed. (Cutting off his words with violence is prideful. If our boy views it that way, our intervention will work against him!! We cant interfere any further!!) That was a mistake. You messed up, Russian VIP. Instead of trying to force that last deadly sin, you should have had these two finish the job with six out of seven complete. That was your mistake. What are you talking about? Trying to pin gluttony on me was a little too forced. Even if it applies to drinking and drunkenness too, thats a sin related to alcohol. Trying to say someone whos only had vegetable scrap soup is gluttonous because hes drunk on himself is as ridiculous as trying to tie up the tiger in a folding screen, said Kamijou. And because not even you were confident in that sin, the last one didnt work. Gluttony never activated and thats when it all came to me. Slowly but surely, strength gathered in his legs and he stood up on the snow once more. These Seven Deadly Sins you prepared arent a spell that automatically activates to punish any sins on the battlefield. He recalled each of the sins in turn. Wrath? Perhaps. As the possibility of solving the problem with talking was swept aside and he had to use strength instead, he may have felt some anger. Pride? Perhaps. He felt he could save Othinus and he felt he alone stood by her side. If he changed his viewpoint somewhat, that might look like he was reveling in his sense of superiority over others. Sloth? Perhaps. He had declared he would save Othinus, but he could not think of any concrete method of doing so and had been saved by her own ideas. It was not surprising that some would view that as lazy. Envy? Perhaps. As he watched people pursue a single girl using enough power to move nations and the entire world, could he really say he had no dark feelings of what he could do differently if he had that much power? Lust? Perhaps. He said he simply wanted to save this girl who had nowhere else to turn, but could he truly say for certain that there was not the slightest bit of ulterior motive mixed in below that desire? He had faced his shameful regrets and desires in that infinite hell and he would no longer deny the ugly feelings and desires lurking at the bottom of his heart. But... Gluttony? Could that really be applied to him? And most of all... Greed? What? His motive was making Othinuss great power his own? Even though she was a delicate and weak existence that would soon stop breathing if left alone? Your spell works based on the judgment made by you as you watch on from outside the battlefield. You find fault in other religions and strip them of their power. It doesnt matter if youre right or not! That spell takes your one-sided complaints and transforms them into real attacks!! Thats truly horrible, but once I know how it works, I can use it to my advantage!! Use it to your advantage? Are you saying your individual desires can outdo the efforts of a large organization? Do you prioritize your own morals that much higher than those of others!? That is an astonishing amount of pride!! Perhaps. Kamijou readily admitted it, but that did not mean he had given up resisting. Im not a perfect saint or anything. As long as Othinus can be properly judged, spend a long time making up for her crimes, and smile with me again once its all over, thats good enough for me. This has nothing to do with good or evil. Its all about my personal desires. ...But you were wrong about something. Strength gradually returned to his knees and he understood why. Being a normal boy doesnt mean I have to give up on challenging the world!! There are things I wont agree to, things I wont accept, and things I wont give up on. If you think you can suppress all of that with the power of a group, youre a hell of a lot more prideful than me, Russia!! That was the first point of his counterattack. And do you not care how much chaos you spread around the world for those things? asked the voice. Protecting Magic God Othinus and running away with her is enough of a sin in and of itself!! Which of the seven does that correspond to? No, it doesnt matter. You want to talk about spreading chaos? Ill throw that one right back at you, Russia. What? Think about it. Magic God Othinus has truly been made out to be a villain. She is at the center of the worlds chaos. But if shes killed here, the truth of Gremlin will never reach anyone. Why did this happen? How could it happen? What made it happen? If you kill her without getting a detailed explanation for that, how do you expect people to accept it!? Even so, the vast majority of people would view killing her as safer than letting her escape!! When faced with definite victory and definite peace, the state of peoples hearts can be ignored!! Youre wrong, Russia. You said it yourself: spreading chaos is a sin! Othinus may be the final boss, but will it really bring peace to kill her? Of course it will!! It wont. Oh, and was that wrath? A mocking tone filled Kamijous voice as he pointed out the second sin. Who would believe you if you said Othinus was dead? The remnants of Gremlin would definitely claim she still lived and what would the rest of the world think? If you suddenly said someone so dangerous was dead but refused to give any details, do you really think they would just accept it!? Even if she dies, peoples fear of her would remain!! People would speculate that shes hiding out somewhere or someone is her reincarnation and all sorts of false accusations would be made. If you dont go through the proper process, no one will be able to accept the truth. Doing that would bring a century of chaos, Russia!! Are you trying to say she would become a sort of legend? Nonsense, isnt it? But thats probably what would happen. Her threat has spread throughout the world, but most people dont even know if shes male or female. I doubt it would feel real when people hear a vague existence like that has been eliminated. Even if you display pictures of the corpse or even the corpse itself in a museum, people will whisper that you framed an innocent person or that it was a body double. The reality of the situation would be destroyed in an instant and the unseen fear would return. We could eliminate that fear by continually providing accurate information in that coming age. That is no reason to forgive what she has done!! Perhaps not, but how many people would die in the process? How many people would die who would have survived had you let Othinus surrender? Can you really call that a trivial sacrifice? If you arent willing to put in the effort to do the best job possible, isnt that called sloth? That was the third sin. ...!! And another thing. Why is the Russian Orthodox Church so desperate to kill her? Is it because you want the honor of defeating her for yourself? Isnt it wrong to want honor so much youre willing to sacrifice people youve never even met? Some might call it greed. Kamijou brought the radio to his mouth as he indicated the fourth sin. Or is it jealousy? There was nothing good about World War Three for Russia and America has been demonstrating its power since Gremlin rose to the forefront. That gives you another reason to want this victory for yourselves. Can you really say that there is not a hint of that feeling behind this? The fifth sin. Oh, right. Where are you now? A Russian palace? Or the UN headquarters building? Either way, you must be relaxing in a warm room with a roof over your head. Enjoying some tea or coffee while people are risking their lives in battle might qualify as gluttony, you know? The sixth. Why? The voice that could belong to a girl or a boy spoke probingly. Why are you going this far to stand by the magic gods side? You should have no reason to behave like this. Perhaps not. At the very least, I didnt until I set foot on Sargasso. I innocently believed everything would return to normal if Othinus was defeated and I was willing to take the first shot against her. Then why would you-...!? I have a reason. Kamijou cut in before the voice finished. I do have a reason. You wouldnt believe me if I explained it, but Im not doing this without a good reason. However, it was you who suddenly attacked me without listening. You became obsessed with the idea that it would be easier to just kill and you lost your humanity. He spat out the words of his judgment. Youve never actually met Othinus and youve never spoken with her, so this isnt something you would understand. You cast aside that option and decided it would be too troublesome to face her in the very, very end, so you thought it was easier to just kill rather than patiently talking it out. That would be the root sin behind all of your other sins. Part 5 The radio fell silent. All strength had returned to Kamijou Toumas muscles, so it seemed the battle was over. Come to think of it, I couldnt force lust onto you. I guess it stops at six. He tossed the radio into the snow, but it was not over yet. Sasha Kreutzev and Vasilisa, the two-man combat team, were still there. Well? Will you continue this without any support? Its something worth considering, but I think well call it quits this time, answered Vasilisa. We could forcibly kill you now, but that would probably lead that boy to trap himself in the Seven Deadly Sins. Damn. Maybe we shouldve taken a lesson from the Roman Catholics and prepared a breaker on the scene. She cheerfully raised her hands and waved them, but Kamijou was certain the smile on her face would not budge even as she killed someone. That made it more frightening than eerie. Oh, right. We cant touch you because that spell is still active, but Ill give you a piece of advice. ? Its about the scope of the spell. First, it includes any Russian Orthodox believer within a certain range. Second, it includes anyone the Patriarch has deemed an enemy. To do that, he needs a name, a photo, and some way of sensing the individual with one of his five senses. Any such individual falls under the overall scope of the Seven Deadly Sins spell. What are you talking about? A blind spot. Vasilisas smile remained as she spoke. In other words, if an assassin that is not a Russian Orthodox believer kills you, it will not feed back to our boy. By the time he caught on, it was too late. After a dull sound on the side of his head, Kamijou Toumas consciousness was instantly taken from him. Volume 10, 12: V.S. The Four Demon-Slaying Swords” Round_04. Volume 10, Chapter 12: V.S. The Four Demon-Slaying Swords Round_04. Part 1 Kamijou was unsure how long he had been unconscious. He shook his hazy head and saw the white sky covered in snow clouds. He could feel a low rumbling in his gut. The sound was coming from below, so he wondered if the ground was shaking. While still lying on his back, he looked down and gave a confused look. First, he was on a wooden floor as large as a school gym. Second, he could see the white sky to the side as well. (Where am I? This isnt just the ground. In fact, it isnt the surface at all. Is this place flying through the air!?) Do not get up. He heard a low male voice below...no, within the cold sky. He recognized that voice. We do not particularly care about you. It would be best if you simply watch as we bring this to an end. Acqua...of the Back? He had once been a member of Gods Right Seat and was supposedly imprisoned by the Anglican Church. That told Kamijou who his opponent was this time. Oh, youve woken? How boring. Letting you freeze here on the deck would have been a decent punishment for causing so much trouble around the world. Second Princess Carissa. Should we really have done this? We already had what we needed to handle Magic God Othinus. We did not have any real reason to bring him with us. Knight Leader. We dont know what the other Gremlin members are doing. Its possible they would have met up with that boy, so I see nothing wrong with nipping that conflict in the bud. And...Kanzaki Kaori!? He had learned all too well how powerful these four were during the British coup detat known as British Halloween. He could not handle even one of these monsters and four of them were gathered here. He got up without thinking and began backing away from them, but that distance was trivial against an opponent that could exceed the speed of sound. And more importantly... Hold on there, said Carissa. You can back away if you want, but youll fall off if you go too far. This thing doesnt have any railings. ...? He frowned and Kanzaki continued. This is a mobile fortress named Hotel Ariel which is floating at an altitude of 1500 meters. You can think of it as a 30 kilometer fish that swims through the sky. We are currently on the fishs head. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. This was an indisputable checkmate. Even if he miraculously defeated those monsters, he had nowhere to run. Do you understand the situation now? Wait... Wheres Othinus!? How would knowing that help you? Carissa held something between her index and middle finger. It was a sharp fragment of silver metal. The fragment came from Curtana Second which symbolized England and could simultaneously cut through all dimensions. With a quick swing, a brightly glowing sword of light appeared. This gigantic piece of junk acts a booster giving me limited use of Curtanas power outside of England. I dont even need to get close to that magic god. I can chop her to pieces while keeping my distance. Othinus was apparently still on the surface and Carissa would create a sword measuring more than 1500 meters and cut her apart from the sky. Kamijou knew just how sharp Curtana was. It did not matter how hard the object was. That blade could simultaneously cut through all dimensions, so the target would be cut in two along with any shield it tried to hide behind. If that was turned against Othinus now that she had lost her powers... Youre...kidding, right? I wish I was. I dont like heading into battle with no guarantee this will kill her. But even if it doesnt, it will slice her apart. In the worst case, we can gather all of the living parts, bottle them up, and seal them around the world to eliminate the threat. The tone of her voice made it clear this was no idle threat. She seemed truly concerned this was insufficient to kill a magic god. No one questioned the excessive use of force. Once this truly did chop Othinus into tiny pieces, they would likely all tilt their heads in confusion. With that in mind, Kamijou forcefully slammed his fist into the wooden floor. It had a tremendous effect. That mobile fortress was moved by magical power, supported magical power, and amplified magical power, so its deck mercilessly crumbled. Kamijou and the other four on the fishs head fell inside it. The inside of the fortress was another vast space. In fact, it was too vast. It was even larger than a school gym. A high school boy with little knowledge of magic could not even guess what the facility was for, but the lines of rectangular boxes the size of industrial refrigerators reminded him of the university supercomputers that would occasionally appear in the newspaper or on the news. They fell into that space from directly above. The fall from about two or three stories up sent an icy feeling along his spine even though the situation was entirely his doing. However, the four monsters remained unfazed. Carissa. Acqua. Knight Leader. Kanzaki Kaori. All of them were a great force that represented Britain and they were all either a Saint or the possessor of an equivalent level of power. They would occasionally move at greater than the speed of sound, they would occasionally singlehandedly wipe out an army, and their power was said to be proportional to a nuclear weapon. The boy had no way of eliminating the impact of falling from that height. He messed up his landing and heard an unpleasant noise from his right ankle, but the expressions of the other four did not budge. He has taken hostile action. They all turned toward Kamijou Touma who stood in the center. The battle would likely end in an instant. We will do our best to hold back, but you will probably still die. Part 2 The primary premise behind this fight was Kamijou Toumas inability to exceed the speed of sound. He could not put up a fight against a Saint or a princess supported by Curtana. Acqua and Knight Leader had supposedly lost their former power, but their magical skill would be far from ordinary. Even with their power lost, they were formidable monsters. That left nothing for Kamijou to do even if he clenched his fist and faced them. He was at a disadvantage in pure combat skill and in numbers. This was a poor match for Imagine Breaker, so it was blatantly obvious what would happen if they approached at unthinkable supersonic speed. Under all those conditions, there was only one thing he could do in the instant the four figures tore through the air and approached. Out of Carissa, Acqua, Knight Leader, and Kanzaki Kaori, he chose to target just one of them. He kept his gaze fixed and took a step forward, knowing he could never keep up. He moved toward Kanzaki Kaori. As said before, there was nothing he could do in a fight against a Saint and this one in particular did not wholly rely on magic. He would be unable to evade the first strike, not to mention land a punch. Then what was he trying to do? The answer was simple. In that instant, he moved into the path of Kanzaki Kaoris sword. He intentionally moved to a position of certain death. Part 3 Kanzaki Kaori herself was likely the most surprised by that decision. What!? When she saw his much too reckless decision, she stopped just before drawing Shichiten Shichitou from its scabbard. She had a certain personality trait. Salvare000. A hand of salvation for the unsaved. Just as that Magic Name said, she would never kill no matter the situation. (He used that against me?) She thought while working to rein in her own power. (No matter where he tried to run, I could correct my course and knock him unconscious. That meant my greatest blind spot was the point directly in front of me where he would be killed no matter what he did!) He immediately made his next move. But from the perspective of a Saint who could move at the speed of sound, it would be more accurate to say that he began to make his next move. His decision was simple. He did not punch or kick. He crouched down and curled up in a ball. (Oh, no.) One method a ninja would use to escape pursuit was to suddenly stop and curl up on the spot. The pursuer would be unable to brake fast enough, so the ninja would escape the pursuers swinging sword and trip them. Kanzaki could not eliminate her momentum, but striking him with her foot at this speed would undoubtedly smash him to pieces. She immediately hopped up to jump over him, but the tip of her boot caught on the edge of his clothing. Kanzaki could feel the boys ribs crying out through her foot, but focusing on that had been a mistake. Carissa, Acqua, Knight Leader, and Kanzaki Kaori had rushed in from all four directions to deal with Kamijou Touma. There was naturally another attacker on his other side. Ah. She spoke in surprise and collided with Knight Leader at tremendous speed. Even if the boys fist could not cause much damage, another monster was a different story. The sound of destruction that burst out rivalled that of Kamijous ribs a moment before. While still curled up and vomiting up blood, Kamijou slammed his fist against the floor again. Everything collapsed and the boy felt an unpleasant floating sensation. Part 4 Tch!! As she fell, Carissa raised her voice while stabbing her sword into the wall to slow her fall. Where is he trying to go!? No matter what he does, he cant escape this prison at 1500 meters!! She landed on the lower level and found Acqua who had jumped down ahead of her. He had apparently lost sight of Kamijou Touma, but the wall had been destroyed. I see. So that was his plan, muttered the large man without answering Carissas question. He then shouted upwards. Is Kanzaki Kaori stopping him!? Eh? Oh, now that you mention it, shes gone. Acqua frowned at Knight Leaders response from overhead. Carissa pulled her sword of light from the wall and spoke. I suppose searching each and every room is our only option. Hes going to be cornered in the end, so I hope we can avoid any unnecessary damage. We may not have time for that. What? Ive figured out what hes after, but it relies on others a bit too much to call it a proper plan. Part 5 Kamijous tactic was incredibly simple. The direction did not matter. He simply continued destroying walls and floors with his right hand to reach an edge of Hotel Ariel as quickly as possible. And what did he do then? That too was simple: He jumped off. Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? Despite it being his decision, he began screaming after he flung himself into the sky and the wind raged about him. He had decided to jump off a building and kill himself in that infinite hell, but he would have chosen a different method had he known it was this frightening. He dove from 1500 meters. Naturally, Imagine Breaker had no ability to help him in this situation. He was relying on something else. You idiot!!!! A female voice burst out from much closer than he had expected. It belonged to Kanzaki Kaori who had jumped from Hotel Ariel just like him. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! I knew youd come for me! You wont allow people to die no matter what, so I trusted you to help me if I ran down a path of absolute destruction!! Are you stupid!? No, really! Are you stupid!? You mean you didnt give this any actual thought!? You threw away all hope of surviving on your own and relied on me!? And did you really believe I would conveniently decide to join your side for no reason!? It doesnt matter whose side youre on! In a way, youre way better suited to being a hero than me!! If you see someone about to die, you have the power needed to save them whether theyre an enemy or an ally! ...Yeah, thats right. I may be an enemy to you right now, but you wouldnt let that enemy die so easily. Thats what happened, isnt it!? ...!!!!!! Kamijou could have sworn the sound of her grinding teeth reached him. Due to how high up they were, they had time to continue speaking even as they fell at tremendous speed. But in that case, why were you sent on a mission to kill Othinus!? Did you think it was okay just because shes a magic god? Did you justify it because you thought shes on a higher level and wont die after being chopped up by Curtana!? Let me be very clear: that decision will make you suffer. Even if the entire mission went perfectly and peace filled the world, you would be suffering the entire time!! Oh, honestly!! She grabbed his collar, slammed her forehead into his, and continued shouting from close range. I dont need you lecturing me while acting all high and mighty!! And do you even have a way of resolving this other than eliminating her!? Dont beat around the bush with euphemisms, Kanzaki! Say youre going to kill her!! ... No matter her origin or background, Othinus began as a normal human. You need to remember that!! .............................................................................................................................................................................................!!!!???? That was likely the last thing Kanzaki wanted to hear. She had likely prepared argument after argument to do everything she could to avoid looking at that fact. She clenched her teeth so strongly Kamijou was afraid she was about to bite right through his head, but then she spoke quietly. Is there one? One what? Another way!? A way to end this without killing Magic God Othinus! Is there some convenient other way!? Thats what we were trying to do until all of you interrupted!! She loudly clicked her tongue. Even when part of an organization, magicians focused on the individual over the whole. When she thought on the Magic Name in her heart, she knew what she should do concerning Othinus. It thoroughly irritates me that you used this part of me so easily, but we can start by making a safe landing. Great. But how are you going to slow us down? We dont have a parachute. I want to punch you right here and now!! While quickly falling, she grabbed his collar and shook him. That violent behavior would have immediately gotten her license revoked if skydiving. I will use the Nanasen wires. By spreading them out and slicing the air, we will slow down. It may be closer to creating lift with a great number of wings than using a parachute. I dont care as long as we can survive. Kamijou pointed straight up while she held his collar. And is it just me or is that glowing like crazy? I-it looks like that princess is on a rampage!! Their distance finally gave him a full view of the giant manmade fish named Hotel Ariel, but the stomach of the fish was suddenly sliced apart from the inside. The sword of light was visibly growing and it finally reached a kilometer in length. Not good. Shes planning to take us out along with the magic god. Uh, ohhh. This is baaaad. Id definitely die if that hit meee. If only a Saint could use her full power to repel it and- bggbvh!!!?? Kamijou finally received an iron fist to the face and heard an unpleasant noise from his neck. Kanzaki could not suppress her anger, but it was true she had to deal with this. Ill slow us down first!! Please hold on tight!! What exactly are you going to do!? Curtana technically only works inside the United Kingdom. Think of this as the second princess relaying the source of its power via the mobile fortress. He reached his arms around from behind and almost touched her chest, so she swung her fist down. From his lower position, he almost buried his face in her butt, so she swung her fist up. After that, he covered his face with his hands and started sobbing, so she wrapped his arms around her waist and continued her answer. I will form a three-dimensional magic circle with my wires to embed additional magical symbols that will disturb that relay route. It will divert her power to the side...no, in a U-turn and destroy Hotel Ariel itself!! Part 6 Following the supposed meteorite near Hj?rring, a giant flash of light was seen in a snowy plain near Aalborg. The great Saint had not given any thought to the explosive blast, so Kamijou was mercilessly blown away as he tried to cling to her waist. He crashed into a conifer tree forest, received scrapes from the prickly branches, and somehow managed to survive the fall into a thick layer of snow. It sounded like a joke, but one element was anything but funny. Dammit. Y-youve gotta be kidding me. A thin branch was stabbed into his thigh like a fork a kid had stabbed into a piece of cake. For a while, he could not decide whether he should touch it or not, but nothing would improve if he came to a standstill. He held his hoodies sleeve in his mouth, clenched his teeth, and quickly pulled it out. As he writhed around in pain, he heard approaching footsteps in the snow. He grew cautious, but he naturally relaxed once he saw it was Othinus. A clenched fist struck him a moment later. Where have you been!? U-ubfh... Were you running around trying to find me? Young lady, were you worried when you suddenly found I was gone? Those might be your last words. Are you sure you dont want to say anything else? He had no choice but to bow down with all his might. She stood tall and looked around. A lot must have happened while I was asleep. Are these pieces of a mobile fortress scattered around? Yeah. I wonder if people are going to think a UFO crashed. What exactly happened? Even with your right hand, you would have to approach to point-blank range. Um, well, thats not quite what happened. While I did play a role in destroying it, it wasnt entirely me. As he tried to explain in more detail, sharp sounds of clashing metal reverberated over the entire area. Kanzaki Kaori was holding off Acqua and Carissa. Even though Kanzaki was supposedly working with him for the moment, he had a frightening vision of two horns growing from her head and phosphorescence leaking from her mouth. After being used the way she had, it was only natural for her to be angry. He wondered what would have happened if he had tried it with Carissa or Knight Leader, but it went beyond anything he could imagine. Thus he made a wise suggestion. H-how about we discuss this while we walk? This area is still far too dangerous. Volume 10, 13: V.S. The Blacksmith who Releases the Magic Sword” Round_05. Volume 10, Chapter 13: V.S. The Blacksmith who Releases the Magic Sword Round_05. Part 1 After everything, they arrived at the next city on foot. The city was named St?vring and they had decent success there. They still could not find reasonably priced coats, but they bought a small, cheap thermos. They did not particularly need anything to drink, but it and its mug would function as portable heaters when filled with hot coffee. They also found a truck willing to carry them south to their next destination of Billund. It was a 150 kilometer trip and it would take them from the northern end of the peninsula to the center. Everything was going well. Until the long-distance truck carrying them stalled out, that is. This isnt good. Isnt this what people call being stranded? groaned Kamijou. Looking forwards and backwards along the road only showed the white horizon. Othinuss senses must have still been dulled as she walked next to him because she looked disinterested and stuck her index finger through the empty mugs handle and spun it around. The driver said theres a gas station nearby. We just have to swap out the battery and the truck will be up and running again. As long as we have a clear goal, were far better off than someone who is truly stranded. The driver was fighting his beloved truck in search of any possibility, but there was likely nothing he could do without a new battery. That may be true, but you arent going to collapse on the way, are you? Giving up on the truck and walking the rest of the way would be 100 times longer than a trip to and from the gas station, so are you sure youd prefer that? The snow grabbing at their feet and the uniformly white ground threw off Kamijous sense of distance. He lost track of how far a mere ten meters was and he began to think he would find nothing no matter how far he walked, just like that pure black world. Fortunately, they arrived at the flat-roofed gas station after walking for three hundred meters. Oh, no, groaned Kamijou. Is this place self-serve? Theres no one working here! Why is that a problem? Ive never heard of car batteries sold in a vending machine. In addition to the coin-operated gas pumps and half-frozen car wash, there was a boxy office-like space. That space contained new tires, suspensions, and other car parts. It was possible the station was not self-serve year round and had a worker on site on some days. The worker may have avoided showing up on especially snowy days. See, they have batteries, pointed out Othinus. Lets break the glass and take one. Shut up, you Viking. The door isnt locked and its theft to take it just because no ones around. As they spoke, the two of them entered the deserted office. It was an unfamiliar site for a Japanese boy, but it seemed to have simple food and other daily necessities in one corner. The lineup was greater than a train station store and less than a convenience store. We just have to leave a bunch of money on the counter, right? Denmark doesnt have a tipping system, so the unexpected extra money should make the worker happy. About 500 krone should cover it. Sensei, I dont understand-... Thats about 10,000 yen. Why is everything so expensive!? Can that battery play Blu-rays or something!? However, not procuring a new battery would leave them stuck in the blizzard. Kamijou was very nearly in tears at essentially having to burn money to stay alive. The boy pulled the battery from the cardboard box and attached metal clothespin-like terminals to it. The cables led to a tester. What are you doing? asked Othinus with a frown. The box was covered in dust and the colors were faded, so I thought... Damn, I was right. Its dead. I dont know if its been sitting here for too long or if the cold did it, but it needs to be recharged. Are you going to use the outlet over there? Stealing electricity is theft too. We paid a lot for this, so we can turn a blind eye to a bit of loose change! The boke and tsukkomi had completely swapped places from thirty seconds prior. Money had a way of motivating people. Othinus sat on a sofa in what seemed to be a smoking area. Oh, right. While we wait, go borrow some sweet breads from the miscellaneous section over there. Viking. You can always put more money by the register. By the way, are you hungry already? We just got some soup. Do you really think well be able to have a nice well-mannered meal at a restaurant next time we want to eat? Id rather get some food while I can than have trouble finding any once Im hungry. The people who say that always end up eating it while carrying it around. What was that? After that, the troubles only continued: Kamijou was the one blamed for blueberry being the only flavor of jam bread in stock and he discovered the beef stew bread he was buying for himself was a week past its expiration date. After the girl essentially wearing a swimsuit and cape grew tired of complaining about human knowledge, she lay down on the sofa. By the way, what time is it? Do the clocks even mean anything anymore? When you used that...what was it? Bone Boat? Anyway, you spun the earth around, didnt you? After rotating everything except the two of us, I rotated the entire heavenly body while we stood on it to put the earth back in its proper position. The international standard time will still work. The scariest thing about a magic god is how you can handle things like that as if its a minor annoyance. They could not leave the truck waiting for too long, so they stopped recharging the battery after twenty or thirty minutes and prepared to carry it back. The rectangular box was slightly warm and would act as a small oasis in the bleak snowscape. The worst thing I can imagine is getting back and finding the truck gone. The driver couldnt do anything without solving the battery problem, so theres nothing to worry about unless he froze to death. As soon as they left the office/rest area, the snow-covered gas station was suddenly split in two like a fruit. Both the office and the gas pumps were sliced apart by an invisible blade. Kamijou was unable to properly perceive the entirety of the destruction, so he simply tackled Othinus to the ground to cover her and protect her from the glass shattering before his eyes. The diagonal slice caused the flat roof to collapse and the gas pumps to fall over. That was when a stinging odor caused Kamijou to grimace. A large scar was left on the concrete floor and something was gradually staining it. A haze filled the air like sugar water. Not good. Get up, Othinus. Kamijou grew pale, frantically stood, grabbed Othinuss slender hand, and pulled her up as well. The underground tank was damaged! If we dont get out of here, the gasoline will ignite!! He held the battery in one hand, pulled on Othinuss hand with the other, and ran. He moved from the building to the white snow. He did not know if the harsh scent still surrounded them or simply lingered in his nose, but he refused to stop running until it was gone. However, that refusal was cut short by something else. Sparks from some broken electronic equipment contacted the vaporized gasoline and the gas station violently exploded from the inside. The shockwave struck their backs and literally sent them over a meter through the air. After being thrown onto the snow, Kamijou had the breath knocked from him, but taking in a large breath only filled his chest with a scorching pain and made him cough. Even though the flames had not reached him, the heat wave had roasted the surrounding air. What...happened? His throat would not open up and his voice was hoarse, but Othinus was staring in a completely different direction while lying on the ground nearby. Do you remember me? The freezing wind carried a female voice. Kamijou did not recognize the language, but he recognized the voice. Do you remember me, Othinus? Marian Slingeneyer, muttered Othinus. And Mj?lnir. The girl wore glasses and had her long silver hair gathered in two braids. Overalls covered her brown skin. Mj?lnir was an object that resembled a cylindrical drum made of stone. Kamijou was unsure whether it was a weapon or a person, but with Marians skills, it could easily be both. Marian frowned at Othinuss words and began speaking in Japanese to match her. Bersi is dead and I dont know where his dead self is either. But this isnt just about him. Gremlin was fighting all over the world and we havent heard from a lot of them. Do you understand, Othinus? Thats how many people gave their lives to you in order to grant a wish they couldnt grant any other way. Marian had what looked like gold bracelets on her wrists. And that isnt all. There were sacrifices before we joined Gremlin. Im only standing here now because of all the other people who dreamed of reviving the Dvergr. And it isnt just me. Everyone who desperately made their way to you had dreams theyve only held on to after many sacrifices. But youve trampled on all that, Othinus, and Im going to make you pay for it. Those bracelets expanded to a diameter of thirty centimeters and remained in place like the rings of Saturn. Are those...? Yes. Theyre components of the lance you abandoned. You could call them Draupnir. Because you ran off, I had some extra materials for the weapons of the gods. It isnt as powerful as Gungnir, but it lets me freely bring together any magic sword or divine spear on the level that a human can use. You abandoned everyones dreams, but that gave me the power to a kill a god. This is the concentrated power wrung from Gremlins blood! This is all its good for now, Othinus!!!!! A bright light burst from her hands and the gold bracelets were gone. In their place was a sheathed sword. That gold glowing sword was legendary in a negative sense and Kamijou had seen it before. He felt a pain like his heart was being bound by fishing line. Merely seeing it made him think of death. That blade was said to end the world when it was removed from its scabbard. Dinsleif!? asked Kamijou in fear. Youre using that thing again!? Yes. I said I was going to kill a god, so whats wrong with using enough firepower to destroy a world or two along with her? Personally, I dont think this is enough. The brown girl held the scabbard in her left hand and the hilt in her right. I used Hrmfaxi to get here. It made quite a show, so the others should catch on before long. But I wont let them interfere. I will definitely finish you here, Othinus. In Baggage City, she had driven Kamijou to the verge of death using just the scabbard, but she would not stop there this time. And I wont hesitate any longer, Othinus. I dont know what you newly discovered about this world, but its obvious you did so by crushing us underfoot. I will destroy whatever it was along with you!! Marian Slingeneyer gathered strength in her brown hands and held the sword and scabbard horizontally. She forcefully pulled them apart as if tearing them from each other. This was a never-before-seen threat. The blade that would end the world breathed in the icy air. Part 2 Dinsleif. Marian Slingeneyer walked across the white snow while wielding that golden sword of dreadful power. Her gait seemed to express her persistent spite. Her legs wobbled unreliably yet she never fell. It was as if the soles of her feet were stuck to the ground with pure black coal tar. Othinus could not use any real magic, so Kamijou Touma stepped forward in her place. From a distance of twenty meters, Marian willfully swung the sword as if brushing cobwebs off a tree branch. Cut away Olympus of the Greeks. Summon Titan, the cursed giant. An instant later, something burst up from directly below Kamijou and raised him up 120 meters. Gh...bah!? At first, he did not even realize he was holding his breath. His vision was spinning and filled with white. The distance to the ground quickly grew overwhelmingly large and he finally realized he had been launched to a height rivalling a thirty-story building. Only then did he notice what had launched him so high. It was a colossal humanoid figure. A man as large as a high-rise building burst from the ground. That mass of muscle and bones with five meter fists rose up from directly below Kamijou. Rather than being struck, Kamijou had been lifted up on top of the giant. As the boy was swung around in every direction, he was not slammed to the ground far below. He instead fell on the giants upper arm which was right below his feet. Bgah!! Ghh! Pant pant...cough cough!! He began to crawl, coughed again and again, and could not take in a proper breath. Are you valuable to Othinus? The brown girl stood on the giants shoulder about fifteen meters ahead. Then I should start by destroying you. Marian casually swung the gold blade. Cut away the first sun of the Aztecs. Summon Ocelot, the man-eating beast. The skin of the giants arm swelled up ominously like bubbling from gas in a swamp. That bubble burst from within and an earth-colored four-legged beast appeared. It was quite large. At ten meters, it was more than enough to keep a humans legs pinned to the ground in fear. Simply being a feline wild beast like a tiger or lion would have been bad enough, but this one had a crocodile like head attached. It was obvious how this beast would attack. Without time to wipe the cold sweat from his face, Kamijou clenched his trembling hand and the fantasy monster charged at him. Shit!! He doubted the beasts physical strength was simply proportional to its size. And at its great size, it could easily crush him to death without even biting him. For an instant, he considered jumping off the bridge formed from the giants arm. But then something else happened. The giant must have felt as if a lizard were crawling along its skin because it let out a great cry as if it were a steam engine and it slapped at its upper arm. The palm tore through the air as it approached and it reminded Kamijou of a ninja mansions suspended ceiling. Ohhhhh!? He ran and somehow managed to slip between the meter thick fingers. The tremendous noise bordered on being an actual shockwave and the large man-eating beast was crushed in an instant. Kamijou himself was knocked up into the air and landed on the back of the hand that had been slammed down. Marian clicked her tongue and swung Dinsleif. The act seemed to double as a punishment for going against her wishes because one of the giants arms was sliced through at the shoulder like butter. The giant let out another cry. The high-rise building of a man went on a rampage like a child stung by a bee and swung its remaining limbs wildly. Kamijou was launched from its hand and into the white sky. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? There was no ground below his feet. His body filled with the fear of having that standard fact destroyed. However, he did not have time to linger on that fear. Marian had already swung the sword and she now spoke the words necessary to complete the spell. Cut away Asgard of Norse mythology. Summon Surtr, king of the fiery hell. A different part of the snowy plain split open and a larger, pitch-black form rose up. Like a baseball batter, the demon king wielded his giant flaming sword and waited for Kamijou to arrive. Part 3 Left on the ground, Othinus loudly clicked her tongue as she looked up at what happened over 100 meters above. She understood what Marian Slingeneyer was doing, but there was nothing she could do for the boy. The restriction of losing her powers irritated her to no end. (First, she seals off a limited portion of the world and then she chooses particular phases of different religions or sects and cuts through them.) The giant that appeared first was one of the Titans that appeared as Zeuss enemy in Greek mythology. The beast that appeared second was the man-eating beast and god of death that destroyed the first humanity in Aztec mythology. The demon king that appeared third was the leader of the giants that were said to burn away the nine worlds in Norse mythology. (Heaven, Asgard, Mt. Olympus, the Pure Land, Nirai Kanai... Cutting away the homes of the gods removes the protection and blessings of those gods and thus releases the calamities being restrained by the gods. In a way, Marian is able to freely choose and wield the different endings told of in the worlds scriptures.) It sounded extreme, but the basic technique was not all that rare. The ceremonial grounds used in modern Western magic and the cathedrals and churches of Christianity were formed by dyeing a certain space in the colors of a single religion. No one would pray with an image of Buddha sitting next to a cross and a Buddhist priest would not add talismans or mandrake roots as accessories to his rosary. Convenient elements from other religions would sometimes be adopted, but the simplest way to create the purest and most valuable brand was to maintain a single form and color. But Marian took that concept to extraordinary levels. Just as ultra-pure water created by thoroughly removing all impurities behaved differently from normal water, the phenomena created by cutting off a portion of space to obtain a unique color had tremendous power. It was as if she were using a single hand to create and control the refined despair of all the worlds religions. Just as a summoned angel was manifested using condensed Telesma, these rulers of the end were likely masses of the type of power stored in their respective religion or phase. However, these were nothing more than power focused into the images of the calamites people had imagined and so they would not necessarily look exactly like those gods of death or demon kings, but the raw power that presented itself made that fact easy to forget. A sword that closes the path to the power of the gods...no, the path to heaven, muttered Othinus. Before the battle even began, Marian had likely used the sword to cut through the surrounding space and create a sort of barrier around the area. If she had not, the appearance of the different mythical figures would have created a mysterious phenomenon much like Angel Fall. Or the power could have exceeded the limits of the world itself and everything would have shattered like glass. Having destroyed the world herself, Othinus knew that was no exaggeration. That truly is an appropriate weapon for opposing a magic god. If Othinus had been at full strength, she could have crushed Marian in a single blow. There would not even be a need to kill her. She could simply throw her into a world of happiness. But that was no longer the case. Things had changed. She could not even produce light from her fingertips, so she had no way of stopping Marians actions. Her life was so puny that the giant would crush her underfoot and Marian would not even have to turn the sword her way. This was what Othinus had wanted. Retrieving the eye she had gouged out was meant to neutralize and defang her so the chaos around the world could end. Nevertheless, the loss of that power tore at her heart now. The power refined to kill a magic god was being turned toward a mere boy, yet she could not stop it. ...? Just as Othinus clenched her teeth, she spotted another figure on the battlefield. Wait a minute. What are you doing over there? The figure said nothing in response. Part 4 The fire sword flew horizontally. The seventy meter blade roared with flames and the sound of it slicing the air added a frighteningly deep noise. This was the same threat as placing a building on its side and swinging it. As Kamijou flew through the air, he clenched his fist with desperate conviction. Ohhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! They clashed. The instant the right fist struck the fire sword, the huge blade broke in two. The outer half of the blade spun through the air and stabbed into the one-armed giants chest. That giant screamed and collapsed. The flames of the swords bottom half had been extinguished. Kamijou crashed into it and rolled across it, but he did not have time to take a breather. Imagine Breakers power continued to destroy the giant sword. It felt like running across a collapsing stone bridge. He desperately ran toward the base of the sword and the pitch-black giants arm, but Marian Slingeneyer interrupted. Cut away heaven of Christianity. Summon Abaddon, king of evil consumption A great number of black objects formed a cloud in front of him. It was a swarm of tens or even hundreds of thousands of locusts. The brown girl rode the swarm like it was cloud in a picture book and it carried her to the giant sword that continued to be destroyed. Marian!! Let it end, you brat. Just like our hopes were taken from us for someones personal convenience!! Their gazes clashed between them. Kamijou forgot all about the crumbling footing approaching from behind and he clenched his fist with all his might as he faced the enemy before him. A voice answered him. Cut away Takama-ga-hara of Shinto. Summon Yomotsu-Shikome, the group of black impurities. Kamijou saw a great wave of black coal tar rapidly approaching. It was entirely composed of long, black hair belonging to filthy women. Their slender, branch-like arms could be seen sticking through the gaps in the wave. Kamijou did not know, but this came from the legend of the infinite impurities of the Yomi-no-Kuni and its master Izanami taking human form. This power was the source of all peoples death in Japanese mythology. But not knowing may have been the better option. One was happier not knowing certain things, just as Izanagis realization of the truth had opened the furnace of death. In his ignorance, Kamijou was able to slam his fist straight forward. With the sound of a large amount of human hair being swallowed by a bath drain, the black wave parted down the middle. However, Marian Slingeneyer may have expected that. She waited beyond the wave with the gold sword in both hands. She swung it horizontally as if to lop off Kamijous head. A high pitched sound rang out as Kamijous right fist made it in time. Marians Dinsleif broke at the base and the blade spun and broke to pieces as it fell. Everything came to a stop for a moment and Marian spoke quietly from close range. She was our hope. Her sticky words oozed out. We had hopeless dreams and perhaps we should have simply given up, but we were drawn in by the special abilities of Magic God Othinus!! It was because of her that we kept from going mad! It was because of her that we made it this far!! Those words reminded Kamijou of a certain mother and child. The young magician known as Fertility Goddess Freyja had met an unreasonable fate before even being born and she had seen no good will or hope anywhere in the world. To her, Othinus may indeed have been something like a spider web. That child had been willing to do anything to save the mother who had unfairly lost her life. She stirred up our hopes and brought us to the ends of the world! And then she ran off on her own!! This is her responsibility. She must pay for what we have become! If it hadnt been for her, we never would have gone down this path!! Kamijou felt his heart cool at those shouted words. Rather than burn in anger, it cooled. Are you kidding me? In a way, Othinus may indeed have been a negative hope. It may have been that every monstrous Gremlin member had a situation similar to Freyjas that had made it all inevitable. But... Othinus is an undisputed villain. Without her, none of the chaos after World War Three would have happened. But! It was your decision to go along with her!! You made up your own mind and you weighed your own situation against the peace of the world!! You chose to bear that sin, so you dont get to act like a pure and innocent victim. Just because she did horrible things doesnt mean you get to place all your crimes on her too. If were going to fairly judge her crimes, your crimes have to be judged too!! It doesnt matter. Marian gave a desperate laugh while holding the broken swords hilt. As long as I... As long as we can get back at her for taking our lives from us, nothing else matters. In that moment, Kamijou Touma had forgotten one thing. His right fists destruction of Dinsleif had helped him forget, but Marian had already swung the sword. In that case, she only needed to speak the proper words to send in the fury of an ending. Cut away Amaravati of Indian mythology. Summon Vishnu Avatara, the ever-changing god!! Part 5 An ending or the end of the world may have held the image of the power of gods or faith waning and an evil one wielding great power. Some may have viewed it as the white and glowing things being blotted out with darkness. But in some religions, the gods themselves descended to the world and took part in wars. Shiva, the Indian god of destruction, may have been the most well-known, but there was another god that was just as popular. Vishnu was the god of preservation. Brahma, the god of creation, was born from him and he worked to preserve and develop the world that Shiva would destroy. To do this, he used Avatars. The term Avatar may have been best known in its use on the internet, but Vishnu would switch between ten different physical bodies while ending the different wars and calamities on the earth. Those who worshiped Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva were divided on who the central god was, but they all generally agreed that the three of them formed a trinity that demonstrated its power as the primary god. In other words, this ending did not call in a core of chaos or evil. It was incomplete and its form was greatly changed, but this beam of light was on the level of a top-ranking god. Part 6 The final attack was fired. Technically, Kamijou Touma was unable to see it. In all likelihood, only a highly-advanced Rishi would be able to see it and any inexperienced person who attempted to look would be blinded. Vishnu had always been closely associated with the sun and it went without saying what would happen to anyone presumptuous enough to look at the core of the sun with the naked eye. However, a scene did appear in the back of Kamijous mind. He saw the moment when he had certainly died. To ensure she killed him with her crossbow of certain death, Magic God Othinus had sacrificed her own body. She had hidden the attack behind her so that it would pierce through her and her target. Marian was supposedly attempting to take revenge on Othinus, but instead of focusing on Othinus herself, it seemed she had prioritized making the girl watch someone important to her die. As long as she could kill Kamijou Touma, it did not matter what happened to her. And so Kamijou immediately took action. Marian!!!!!! He pushed down her small brown body and threw himself on top of her just before the brilliant beam of light shot down from overhead. As he was lying on his stomach, the boy could not see what it was, but he felt an intense burning pain stab into his entire back. It felt like a red-hot metal plate was being pressed down on him. He screamed at the top of his lungs. The swarm of locusts flying defenseless through the air evaporated. Even the flame-controlling black giant was brought to its knees by the tremendous light. Kamijou and Marian were tossed into the air. Her fight had likely ended as soon as this final attack was launched, so she had passed out. Kamijou grabbed at her with both hands in midair. He ran from the broken sword and over the giants shoulder, dropped down to its shoulder blade, and made his way down its curled-up back. He slid down like it was an insane water slide from a foreign resort. Part 7 By Othinuss reckoning, Vishnu Avatara had manifested for less than ten seconds. Dinsleif was said to end the world, but it was still a magic sword made to be wielded by human hands. Even if it could create an embodiment of symbols of evil or sin, it could not perfectly and purely summon one of the top-ranked gods of one of the worlds four largest religions. There were said to be ten different avatars, but summoning a chaotic and indistinguishable amalgam for a few seconds had been the limit of that sword. Even so, the level of power had been incredible. Demon King Surtr slowly collapsed to the side. That giant violently crushed a great amount of snow and conifer trees while disappearing as if dissolving into the air. Kamijou and Marian had been close by before, but she saw them slide off Surtrs back in the distance. They had only survived because Vishnu Avatara had prioritized the greatest evil first. If the manifestation had lasted even a second longer, they too would have been roasted as an element of conflict. ? Suddenly, Othinus realized that the previous figure was nowhere to be seen. Mj?lnir had disappeared. Part 8 The girl had held no real complaints about her circumstances. Even with her body as it was, she viewed it as nothing more than the result of optimizing herself. She had lost her normal body and gained a drum-shaped one. Those around her may have found it odd for her to remain by Marian Slingeneyers side when Marian was the one to alter her body like that, but the girl did not view it as anything out of the ordinary. She had given her body to Marian because she was a trusted friend. That was all there was to it. But the girl had come to a certain realization. As she had listened to her friend and comrade-in-arms Marian Slingeneyer shouting, she had made a fairly meaningless realization. Oh. I really am a pitiable girl, arent I? In her anger, Marian had shouted, If it hadnt been for her, we never would have gone down this path. To this girl, her body was nothing more than an extension of her normal, everyday life, but to Marian, it was apparently something she could not allow without some sort of excuse. Marian had modified living enemy soldiers and returned them to destroy the enemys morale. She had also showed off her strange taste in human furniture. Those things had likely been the result of planting the idea in her mind that such things were enjoyable. It had likely been a way of letting her look away from some unbearable fact. And as she had done those things, the line between her true feelings and the fa?ade had vanished and she had truly begun enjoying them. To the girl, that trivial difference in perception felt like a rift between them. Hey. The black giant had vanished and the boy sat on the snowy plain. Marian Slingeneyer lay next to him and she appeared to be unconscious. Unlike Kamijou, she had been lying on her back in the final moment. Seeing the partial manifestation of Vishnu Avatara up close may have thrown her consciousness into disarray. Who were you again? asked the boy. You work with Marian, right? Are you going to fight, too? The girl shook her drum body. This was equivalent to shaking her head, but she doubted it got through to the boy. She knocked over her cylindrical body, rolled across the snow, and supported Marians collapsed form from below. She sprang up by 90 degrees like a clockwork toy and carried Marian on the top of the righted cylinder. What are you going to do now? asked the boy. The girl did not respond. He searched through his pockets and used a pen to write a ten digit number on the back of a receipt in his wallet. It was a cell phone number. He stuck the scrap of paper in the pocket of Marians overalls. Im too busy with Othinus right now, but call me if you need something. Ill stand by your side next time. Again, the girl did not respond. Just once, her drum-like body tilted forward as if giving a bow and she moved off into the white-covered world while carrying Marian. Behind her, the boy began walking toward his own destination. Just as Kamijou Touma was standing by Othinuss side even after being killed a million times, the girl would stand by Marian Slingeneyers side no matter what. Volume 10, 14: V.S. The Police of the Front Stage” Round_06. Volume 10, Chapter 14: V.S. The Police of the Front Stage Round_06. Part 1 Everyone may have forgotten, but Kamijou and Othinus had been walking through the snow to buy a replacement battery from the gas station because the truck they were hitchhiking with had died in the cold. This is scary! First theres that meteorite, then a UFO crashes, and now there was that giant shadow in the distance! Was that some kind of ancient superweapon? Have the mysteries of the world decided to gather in Denmark today!? The driver had been on the verge of wetting himself, but he had been unable to escape without a running truck. For better or for worse, that had meant he continued waiting without abandoning the hitchhikers. At some point, the jam bread from the gas station had ended up in the agitated drivers stomach. He may have wanted sugar to keep his brain running. This had angered Othinus enough to grow violent, but Kamijou had successfully restrained her. She was apparently unaware that hitchhikers were at a lower position than the people who picked them up. Eventually, they arrived in the city of Billund at the center of the peninsula. The plan had been to find another vehicle there, but that was looking unlikely. This isnt good, muttered Kamijou. Everyone around here looks really dangerous. It feels like the special forces in a Hollywood movie. Is this the American military? Id say its the Danish military acting on Americas behalf. They have checkpoints set up on all the major roads, so hitchhiking isnt gonna be easy. By the way, how much further to the spring your eye is in? Were a full hundred kilometers to Egeskov Castle. Unless you can run a full marathon, thats too far for human legs to travel all at once. The Japanese were sometimes said to live in rabbit hutches, so travelling 100 kilometers through the snow was much too far removed from Kamijous normal experience. Not to mention that he lived in Academy City where everything was crammed together and it was praiseworthy to skip the train and walk when travelling even two or three kilometers from home. Staying here wont do us any good, said Othinus. We need to start toward Fredericia. Its a large city about fifty kilometers east of here. Egeskov Castle is on the island of Funen, and we need to cross the bridge in that city if were taking the land route. But that means... I dont know if theyve figured out our objective, but this route also leads to the island of Zealand which contains the capital city of Copenhagen. Weve been sighted on the peninsula, so we should assume theyre blocking off that bridge. Kamijou held his head in his hands, but Othinus seemed cheerful. The more enemies around, the more we can steal from them. If we swipe a military vehicle, we wont have to test our luck with hitchhiking anymore. And whos going to drive that rough thing along the slippery, snowy roads!? Try that like its a go-kart and youll spin out and crash into a tree not ten minutes into the drive. He began seriously considering getting a motorcycle license once he returned to Academy City as he and Othinus left Billund. For the moment, they were on foot. They walked through the white world with the extremely vague plan of sneaking aboard the back of a truck if they saw one favoring safety and thus driving slowly along the snowy road. Needless to say, plans growing vaguer as time went on was a good sign of a coming loss. Part 2 Kamijou checked his cell phone and found it was currently twelve below zero. (Why are we trying to walk this distance in such light clothing!? Im going to lose a finger or an ear!) Even though he began complaining to himself, that was actually a sign of him calming down a little. He had smashed a large rock on his right fist, dislocated his shoulder, been hit on the side of the head, fallen from a great height, had a tree branch stab into his thigh, and been caught in a gas station explosion. He was injured all over and travelling by foot, but he had travelled nearly two hundred kilometers from the city of Hj?rring on the northern end of the peninsula. He had been complaining about wearing his school uniform in below freezing weather, but he was getting by somehow or other. One hundred kilometers remained which was only half of the distance already travelled. They had already made it through the worst of it. If they only continued on as before, they would reach the goal. Or so he naively assumed. They were sighted more often as time went on and thus the accuracy and frequency of interference from the coalition force and Gremlin would increase. A simple 100-meter dash and the 100-meter hurdles required completely different levels of strength. And when the number of hurdles shot up like a quadratic curve, the rest of the path would be nothing like the path so far. The scene that appeared before their eyes proved that quite well. They saw tanks. These perfectly normal weapons were not the cutting edge weapons of the science side or the magic side, but more than fifty of them blocked their path. Hey. Othinus caught on first. She stopped walking when she saw snow being thrown up into the air as something dug into the ground four or five kilometers ahead. This is bad. Get down. The snowscape is filled with American generation 3.5s. They have giant antennae, so they must share a certain level of targeting information via C4I. They dont seem to have noticed us yet, but if they continue forward while scanning, theyll pick up on our body heat. The sound of the treads digging into the ground was audible even at a distance. It was not that each and every one was loud; there were simply that many of them. Kamijou nervously crouched down and spoke uneasily. American? Is that who our next opponent is? Not necessarily. Denmark imports plenty of American weapons and Academy City took the leadership role during World War Three, so theres a glut of made in USA weapons that were brought to Europe. This could easily be the Danish military pulling out some rentals they have yet to return. That really isnt the main issue. Kamijou exhaled a white breath and looked at his right hand. This enemy is made up of pure bullets that dont use magic or esper powers. In a way, this is the worst enemy to come across!! Part 3 At that time, Sergeant Ingrid Martin had already accurately located the two targets. She lay on the snowy plain while wearing a white ghillie suit made by adding powdered paint over conifer tree camouflage, so even the UAVs flying overhead would have a hard time locating her. People viewing the area from a distance with the naked eye would have almost no chance of detecting her. The large tank unit was a diversion. A large unit could not be brought in on such short notice, so all the American tanks sitting around after World War Three had been lent to the Danish military to stir up the area. Meanwhile, Sergeant Ingrid and the other elites would slowly move alongside the tanks, locate anyone trying to escape them from a different angle, and eliminate them. In truth, it would have been enough to add a papier mache turret on top of construction equipment and paint them up to look military. They only had to frighten the target into movement. Voices from the others on the same commando unit reached her over the radio. This is Lynx. Target located. Securing line of fire. This is Jaguar. Same here. Together with White Lion and Lynx, we have them surrounded from three points. Roger that. Sergeant Ingrid spoke quietly. Just out of curiosity, why am I White Lion? There are a lot of better cats you could choose. Yknow, the kinds people make stuffed animals out of. Didnt you agree to it because lion cubs are fluffy and cute? And even their cubs can bite off a human finger. Its perfect for you. She kept her eyes on the targets, but spotted her comrades from the corners of her eyes and sent deadly thoughts their way. However, not even she could have spotted them without already knowing they were there. The same likely went for them. Their targets, Kamijou Touma and Othinus, were not even looking in the right direction because they were focused on the tanks. A single pull of the trigger would kill them. But knowing that produced an annoyed comment from Sergeant Ingrid. The leader of the bad guys is one thing, but isnt the other one the hero who saved Hawaii? This is Lynx. He cancelled that out with what hes done now. My sisters husband is from there, she said. If we end it like this, I cant avoid a fight with her. Damn, and I was just starting to get along with my shy niece. This is Jaguar. Everything about us is classified while working across borders. Start talking about your weekend house party and the Company isnt going to be happy. Im way more afraid of my sister than those necktie wearing bastards with their thin smiles. As Im sure you know, shes the worlds strongest housewife with a grip of 200 kilos and shes the type to break a safe barehanded if she cant remember the combination. White Lion, please stop giving out personal information. It defeats the purpose of the codenames. Her family yells at her for her loose tongue, too. She even told the rest of the family who her nieces first love was, so you cant expect her to-... Jaguar, youre not doing much better. However, this was not a Hollywood movie, so the soldiers could not let their personal feelings affect the mission. As they continued their observation, the two targets crouched down to hide themselves. It was far too thoughtless when faced with the sensors of modern weapons, but hiding was hiding. Even if it would accomplish nothing, it indicated their intent to fight. Given the situation, Sergeant Ingrid could only assume the worst. If they had stood with their hands up, the soldiers would not have had to shoot. This is White Lion. Lynx, Jaguar, get set. This job is as depressing as a Monday on your period. Lets get this over with and go home. This is Lynx. Roger that. This is Jaguar. Roger that. And you actually have girly things like periods? After a count of three, Sergeant Ingrid slowly and silently stood up. She was only two meters behind Kamijou Touma and Othinus. Part 4 Kamijou did not understand what had happened to him. He found himself unable to breathe and his vision filled with white like an overexposed photograph. Heat quickly gathered above his neck and he could not move his head well, so he reached for his neck and finally found a dry sensation. An arm was strangling him from behind. By the time he determined that, he had already lost feeling in his limbs. Rather than crushing his windpipe and preventing him from breathing, the attacker was placing pressure on his carotid arteries to keep blood from his brain. Before he could even resist, his consciousness slipped into a world of darkness. Damn you!! Othinus shouted toward the person who wore a white ghillie suit that looked a bit like a yeti costume. The attacker did not hesitate to use the unconscious boys body as a shield while keeping their arm around his neck. The attacker was plenty cautious of Othinuss power. Even with no detailed knowledge of magic, the memory of the United States army and administration being brought down in Hawaii was still fresh. That was why the attacker had started by attacking Kamijou instead of Othinus. Her power was unknown, but she was travelling with Kamijou Touma and would thus want to keep the boy with her. That was why he would function as a shield. With her attention forced onto that fact, Othinus froze in place, but then the snow unnaturally burst up at her feet. It was a gunshot. The fact that they were surrounded further dulled Othinuss thoughts. The attacker decided this was the optimal moment and slipped a hand inside the ghillie suit. That hand came out holding a knife with a blade longer than thirty centimeters. While using Kamijou Toumas unconscious form as a shield, the attacker did not hesitate to throw that knife toward the center of Othinuss head. The entire process took only twenty seconds and it ended with a dull noise. Part 5 Ugh... Kamijou Touma let out a quiet groan. He could tell he was collapsed somewhere, but he could not tell whether he was on his back or stomach. His mind was so muddled he doubted he could even tell if he had won in a game of rock-paper-scissors. He heard someone speaking in the distance. It was fluent English and it was filled with slang not found in textbooks. It might as well have been a completely unknown language to Kamijou. You shouldve just killed her with the knife back there. Did you forget the mission objective, chicken head? This Othinus girl might get up again even if we stab her or shoot her. We still dont know the details of that magic she used at Hawaii, but she at least needs to think to pull it off. Thats why we defeated her while she was too confused to think, but now it seems like it was too easy. He felt no heat. His consciousness was drawn inwards like he had severe anemia and everything in front of him seemed a long way away. And thats why you knocked her out with the knifes grip? We have to wait until the video line to the UN headquarters building is up. She was connected all the way up to the media queen in Hawaii. Having this intercepted could lead to her soldiers interfering, so it isnt surprising a secure line is taking a while to set up. A pair of feet wearing military boots was travelling back and forth in front of him at short intervals. Once the line is up, we can move on to mission objective beta. Lets go back over the process. He tried to look up and only then did he realize he was lying face down. The reports from Baggage City are hard to believe, but given the possibility of a fake or body double, we will kill Othinus in front of a camera sending the footage to the president in real time. A.45 caliber handgun will be used to reliably destroy her brain and heart. Once her death has been confirmed, three different poisons will be injected into her at twice the lethal dose. Also, her major tendons and nerves will be severed with a knife, the surfaces will be sealed with instant glue, and her body will be flown to Alaska. Dont forget to take a DNA sample. ...And are they seriously going to preserve the corpse? Wont the remnants of her group view it as a symbol of revival and try to steal it? This is what the higher ups decided, so it isnt our place to argue. If the body was incinerated, we would have no proof if the remnants began to claim she was still alive. The higher ups are probably afraid of that. His hazy mind gradually came into focus. At the same time, he had a question about this situation he had been accepting as normal. Othinus...? He finally understood the situation. Wheres Othinus!? He frantically tried to get up, but a great force pressed down on his back and he heard a metallic noise. He could not see above from his position, but he assumed someone was stepping on his back and aiming a gun at his head. The pair of military boots in front of him was contacting someone over a radio and that rectangular device was tossed in front of him. The boots produced a female voice that spoke in Japanese. The president has something to tell you. ...! The pressure on his back remained, so he reached out and grabbed the radio while still on all fours. A familiar voice came from the device. I dont know why you started this, but didnt you know this would happen eventually? But this cold voice sounded like a completely different person from the man he had worked with in Hawaii. An individuals feelings would not get through to this man. Speaking of debts would be meaningless. Growing violent because the man was not listening would accomplish nothing. After all, Roberto Katze was making his decisions with every United States citizen C if not something even greater C weighing on his back. That was a great burden, but it also supported him with a great power. This was not a one to one conversation. This clash of wills was at least one to two hundred million and possibly even one to six billion. Despite that, Kamijou had to win. He had to invent a reason for that great number of people to hold off on killing Othinus. Since youre even bothering to talk with me, can I assume youre at least a little hesitant? Im just killing time while the video line is confirmed secure. We should have about ten minutes left. I wont let you kill Othinus. You have ten minutes to explain why I shouldnt, if you can at all. Incidentally, I have enough reasons for killing her that I could make a three-day, three-night speech on it. Hearing that coldhearted voice, Kamijou licked his lips. His opponent was not refusing to talk. Even if that was only to give time for the execution to be prepared, his words could still reach the man. He could not afford any mistakes here and he felt an unpleasant pain in his heart. You still dont know everything about Othinus. You know shes fled to Denmark, but you dont know why. Listen. Wouldnt it be a bad idea if America eliminated the big boss without knowing her objective or motive? You mean it would damage our reputation as the world police? That doesnt matter. The definite stability of the world is more important than some formless reputation. Youre out there on the scene, so for better or worse, you probably have a better grasp of what Gremlin is. But the vast majority of the world doesnt know any of that. Do you have any idea how much damage is being done from rumors, primarily on the internet? If we dont do anything, itll develop into a witch hunt. Rumors that a certain country is supporting Gremlin will gain false credibility and a new war will break out. That was the situation in the eyes of America...no, the eyes of the six billion residents of the earth. They knew nothing of Othinus. They did not even know if she was male or female. They were more worried about the threat to their own lifestyles than some unknown persons life. You arent wrong, said Kamijou. But thats all the more reason why you cant kill Othinus. Oh? Killing Othinus wont make Gremlin peacefully disband. Just because they lose their overall objective of completing the lance, they arent going to commit mass suicide. With no one to bring them together, the members will scatter randomly. The loss of their objective will leave them with great anger and their first target will be the peaceful world and America, the country that leads it. We are prepared for the fight to continue. Do we look like a country that will forgive a villain in fear of a distant future? If you think that fight will be hunting down the remnants of the group, youre dead wrong, Mr. President. Kamijous words stabbed out. Gremlin has already proven even a superpower like America can be brought to its knees. The world learned that perfectly well at Hawaii. In fact, Im amazed no one has tried copying them yet. Now, a copycat wouldnt be that big a problem, but what if the other members of Gremlin gather together? I dont know a thing about politics, but would I be right in assuming there are a surprising number of people who would like to defeat America? Keeping Othinus around would lead to an age of war just the same. Would it really? If you want to predict where the other members are hiding based on their behavior patterns, youll need to learn the secrets of Gremlin from her. And as long as their leader lives, none of the other members can name themselves the new representative. Her survival would at least somewhat hold off their reorganization and regrouping. The slower the enemy is to act, the less chaos will spread through the world and the fewer people will die. But Othinuss power is unknown. I dont know what happened with the supposed lance in Tokyo Bay, but she can do something similar or even worse in the future. Theres no good reason to let her go. Even if we close her in a nuclear shelter somewhere, we cant guarantee Gremlin wont be able to attack and break her out. Then we just have to take her power from her. He finally arrived at their objective. The question was whether the president would believe him or not. Were trying to permanently remove Othinuss power and then surrender to you. That unknown power will become a simple zero. That way she can help the world in the future and she wont be a threat even if she is taken away. That removes any reason to kill her, doesnt it? Is there really a convenient way of doing that? You all probably dont understand because it happened so suddenly, but we didnt come all the way here without an objective in mind. It would have been safer to hide out in some quiet mountain. Lying on his stomach put pressure on his lungs, so he had difficulty breathing. Listen. Were not asking you to write off Othinuss crimes. Once this is over, you can lock her up for decades if you have to. As long as you go through the proper procedure, we wont stop you. So do you still feel the need to kill her!? All were doing is preparing her to be sent to an American prison! I dont know much about that side of things, but isnt this kind of person usually sent to England or somewhere like that? Weve already run across the Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, and Anglican Church, but it was no good. Theyre all determined to kill. That may be normal to them since they have direct connections to the crusades and witch hunts, but I just cant get used to methods from 500 or 1000 years ago. ... Do you really have to execute her? Im just a high school student and I dont know much about law, so I have to ask. In your country and under the rules that act as the global standard, is there really no path left for her except death? If the answer was yes, the future would grow pitch black for Kamijou. Even then, he would not overlook Othinuss crimes. It would simply make their goal that much more difficult to reach. Well... There was a pause. Rather than mocking the boy, the president thought and gave an accurate answer. Crimes against humanity are severe. As war crimes, she would be charged with attacking a country without declaring war and indiscriminately attacking civilians. She would certainly be executed. As you know, she attacked Hawaii, Baggage City, and Tokyo...and Im sure more problems would come to light later. It would be a hard case to win even after paying mountains of money for an army of lawyers. Kamijous breathing grew erratic, but the president was right. He suppressed his desire to deny it and did his best to accept it. On the other hand, Gremlin is not accepted as a nation under international law, nor are they registered as a legitimate military force. Funnily enough, that means some of those war crimes might not apply. Itd be quite a trick to pull it off, though. ...But even then, she wouldnt be innocent. After directly attacking America, the jury would have a terrible impression of her. Shed at least be imprisoned for 100 years. If we successfully sent a manned flight to Mars, found a gene that completely eliminates cancer, formed a peace treaty with the little greys, or otherwise had a national victory, its possible she could get a pardon to lessen her sentence, but it would be best to think theres almost no chance of her ever again coming from behind bars. Heh. Hearing that, Kamijou could not help but laugh. Thats fine. As long as theres even the slightest bit of hope, I can accept it. Ill jump at the chance. We C Othinus and I C will be satisfied with that. Are you sure you understand? Its a whole lot better than some ridiculous ending where shes killed in a frenzy, no one feels any guilt over it, and no one questions holding a holiday in the name of her killer. ...And I have to apologize. Until now, Id always thought about the major players being Academy City on the science side and England on the magic side. Id never thought of America as being all that important. But you were the most rational ones when it came down to it. You did what the science side and magic side couldnt. Is that so? That was all Roberto Katze said. After a pause, he spoke to someone other than Kamijou. For our national interests and the stability of the world, Operation Norse Wind is suspended as of now. The commando unit shall release Kamijou Touma and Othinuss bonds and continue their infiltration with the channel open for further orders. Repeat it back to me. The female soldier who had tossed the radio to Kamijou responded. Yes, sir. Operation Norse Wind is suspended as of now. The two targets bonds shall be released and we shall wait on standby until we receive further orders. With that, the pressure left Kamijous back. He coughed, rolled over on the snow, and looked around. He saw three soldiers in white uniforms and a blonde eyepatch-wearing girl lying a short distance away where the soldiers could keep an eye on her at all times. Othinus. He tried to get up, but pain ran through his hips and he could not manage it. He half-crawled along the snow and approached the unconscious girl. Othinus!! He did not carelessly grab her shoulders and shake her. He shouted in her ear until he finally heard a groan from her lips. She seemed to have come to. We wont attach an obvious collar with a bomb inside or anything, said the voice from the radio. The United States will be watching over you in hiding and maintaining a position to kill you. That should be enough to replace an actual collar. Part 6 A heavy silence hung over the conference room in the UN headquarters building. Time had passed since the president had ended the transmission while showing off. As the leaders of England, France, Russia, and the Roman Catholic Church stared at him, the large Hispanic man shrank back uncomfortably. Sorry, he said. It looks like Im your enemy now. Part 7 After confirming that Othinus had come to and that she was not bleeding from the head, Kamijou finally grabbed her shoulders and pulled her from the snow. Her body was surprisingly cold. It was hard to judge from her expression and attitude since she had lost her senses, but her legs and waist were not supporting her properly. He lent her his shoulder and she was finally able to stand up. Kamijou looked the soldiers in the eye just once. They paid him no heed and put the yeti-like ghillie suits over their uniforms. That alone messed with Kamijous sense of distance and they seemed to blend into the background despite standing right in front of him. It was not simply an issue of camouflage. They cut off their breathing and other things that indicated their presence, so it did not feel like a living creature stood there. In the blink of an eye, he lost sight of them. He could tell they had left due to the footprints in the snow, but even that trail would vanish in the blizzard. Lets go, Othinus. Sure. Their next destination was Fredericia. To get there, they would have to pass the unit of tanks in front of them. Roberto had said the tanks were a diversion and they were not meant to actually fire. With the entire operation called off, they would have no problem walking right past the tanks. Or so they thought. As soon as they took the first step, the group of tanks in front of them was enveloped in a white explosion. A deluge of sound rushed at Kamijou and Othinus, and they were knocked to the ground. Something had swept across in a horizontal line. Kamijou belatedly realized the white explosion had been a great mass of snow being tossed into the air. Of course, it did not end there. The tanks hatches opened beyond that veil which reached ten meters or higher and the soldiers began to frantically leave the tanks. The second wave arrived shortly thereafter. One after another, the sturdy tanks burst from within like balloons. Crimson flames and black smoke scattered everywhere and sometimes the turrets were launched straight up. If all those soldiers had been a little slower to escape, they would have been roasted in giant ovens. But what had happened? Lying on the ground, Kamijou moved only his eyes and spotted it. He was looking high in the white sky. Another group of weapons seemed to be looking down on the tanks from there. Their unique silhouettes resembled a praying mantis. In place of the arms, they possessed overly-powerful weapons that gathered railgun barrels like a Gatling gun. As the weapons flew through the air by vibrating their thin wings at high speed, some writing was visible on their bellies. Five_OVER. Model_Case_RAIL_GUN. Dammit. Theyre finally here, groaned Kamijou in fear. Our next enemy is Academy City!! Volume 10, 15: V.S. The Merciless Scientific Vanguard” Round_07. Volume 10, Chapter 15: V.S. The Merciless Scientific Vanguard Round_07. Part 1 Hamazura Shiage had once fought a certain special weapon to protect Fremea Seivelun. Its name was Five Over, Model Case Railgun. The weapon had been built to recreate Academy Citys #3 Level 5s Railgun with purely industrial technology and to provide more power and accuracy than the original. When Hamazura had fought it, it had been a type of powered suit and thus required someone to pilot it. It had used high-level electronic control, but it had still required a human brain to control it as a weapon. The machine had been dependent on the human. But reports had said the same model had not used a pilot when dropped on Baggage City. At that point, it was a completely unmanned weapon. Saying that was simple enough, but that change would have required modifying the very framework of the weapon. They had completed that in less than a month. They being Academy City, that city that gathered all forms of cutting edge technology. The research lurking in the depths of that city could overturn peoples expectations in extremely short periods of time, much like bacteria going through mutation after mutation. Part 2 Kamijou heard an electronic tone followed by a feminine synthesized voice. Beginning biometric scan for Othinus and Kamijou Touma. Any interfering elements shall be physically eliminated. All noncombatants, please display your intent to disarm immediately. Kamijou initially assumed the voice came from the weapons flying in the air, but it did not. The source of the noise was much lower. It was coming from the surface in the distance. Thats coming from the warning speakers on those tanks. Are they being hacked? If you do not display intent to disarm, you shall be eliminated regardless of the reason. To repeat, beginning biometric scan for... There were around 150 Five Overs stopped in the white sky. Approximately half of them were descending to the surface. The soldiers who had fled from the burning tanks could be seen raising their hands, lying on the ground, and placing their hands on the back of their heads. The composite material praying mantises passed right by them. The tanks may have been getting in the way of the scan because one of those 70 ton masses of steel would occasionally be blown away like an empty box of chocolates. As Kamijou stared blankly at the sight, he felt a powerful grip on his shoulder. It was the American soldiers who had vanished into the landscape with their white ghillie suits. Hey! I thought you talked this out with the president. Why is Academy City attacking the tanks!? The female soldier was shouting wide-eyed into his ear, so he shouted back. Do they look like theyre on my side!? I may live in Academy City, but Im just a high school student! Quit complaining and think rationally, said Othinus. If that ridiculous warning is accurate, their targets are the boy and me. As long as you disarm, they wont eliminate you. Can you do that? Were forbidden to be taken prisoner no matter the circumstances or situation. If were captured, we die. We have a bullet in our breast pocket to act as a protective charm against capture. Then we should work together. Hell give you information on Academy City, so you tell us how to survive this. Othinus received a loud click of the tongue in response. After the others started staring at him, Kamijou gave a flustered response. Ive ridden on them a few times, but Academy Citys supersonic planes can carry materiel and personnel around the world at 7000 kph. They can send this kind of firepower to the opposite side of the globe in only a few hours. They used them to fill the skies with parachutes during World War Three and Baggage City. Sounds like something that would infuriate the Company. What about those praying mantises? I saw a few of their remains lying around in Baggage City before they were retrieved. They say Five Over on them and, as hard as it is to believe, each individual one has the power of a railgun and it can fire them like a Gatling gun. Their attacks are as or more powerful than the #3s famous attack and they can fire thousands of them every minute, so they might be able to slice an Aegis ship in two. The Ghillie suit soldiers looked up toward the heavens as they heard that explanation that sounded like it was written in crayon next to a childs drawing of a superweapon. That ridiculous sounding threat ridiculously blocked the sky from view and they could only curse god in their hearts. Why is Academy City actively attacking our troops? Their internal affairs are disturbingly unclear, but they want to defeat Othinus just like us, dont they? But did Academy City take part in the international coalition? It seemed to me they were acting on their own during the battle in Tokyo Bay. Even so, not even Kamijou could tell what Academy City was doing. Rather than executing Othinus, were they going to capture her like they had Fr?ulein Kreutune? Or had they simply not trusted all the other world powers to have what it took to kill Othinus? In that infinite hell, Kamijou had seen a world where Academy City had been defeated and its people were starving. That may have been a convenient scenario crated by Othinus, but it was relatively accurate that the city could not sustain itself on its own as far as food and resources were concerned. What was Academy City trying to do while risking that hopeless future? Something else caught my attention, added Othinus. I dont know how well these Five Overs scans works, but why are they scanning this area specifically? If they had located us by satellite, they would have ignored the tanks and come right here. Hm? I thought they were scanning all over the place because they didnt know where we are. If they didnt know where we are, they wouldnt have narrowed it down to this plain. They have some general information telling them were in this area, but they dont have our exact coordinates. That vague information had to have come from somewhere. One of the yeti-like ghillie suits shook unnaturally. It looked like the awkward behavior of a local mascot after some kind of project failed. Dont tell me the American militarys transmissions were intercepted. Its true that we hide our location from the operation leaders and president to increase our level of secrecy. The diversion unit doesnt know were here at all. Othinus snapped her fingers, made a handgun gesture with her thumb and index finger, and pointed it at the ghillie suit. You owe us one now. What!? None of this would have happened if it wasnt for you, terrorist!! Kamijou tried to calm down the two and they both grabbed his collar. Life was tough for the sensible jack of all trades. A-anyway, this means the Five Overs know to check this area but dont have our location yet. Well be fine if we escape now. We might be able to avoid having our bodies turned to sponges by a downpour of steel. After summing up the situation, the fighting finally settled down. Arguing isnt going to help, said the ghillie suit. Lets get out of here and do whatever we can. Their enemies this time were completely unmanned weapons. Personal emotions and discussions of the overall pros and cons would not work here. Part 3 With the yeti-like ghillie suit soldiers in the lead, Kamijou travelled across the snowscape while lending a shoulder to Othinus. They were moving away from their destination, but escaping the 150 Five Overs came first. This aint good. Once those things start firing, were fucked. One of the large yetis spoke, but Kamijou could not understand English filled with that much slang. Did you know that Denmark is only 150 meters above sea level? The whole place is flat as a board. Theres nothing we can use for cover. Jaguar, I doubt anyone can understand you without living in a rundown Brooklyn apartment for half a year. For some reason, the Japanese are satisfied with their insane English education, so its a bit much to expect him to understand. Rumble rumble rumble. And who was it that just said flat as a board? Rumble rumble rumble. Youre not supposed to say rumble rumble out loud, you hypersensitive flat-chested woman! I understand youve been reading a bunch of comics to have something to talk about with your niece, but still!! Flat-chested? I see someone has a death wish. Youre gonna see hell on the plane ride back home. The ghillie suit yetis were whispering back and forth. Kamijou turned toward Othinus, but she only gave an exasperated sigh. It seemed she had no intention of translating. The snowy plain continued as far as the eye could see and the ghillie suits were trying to get as far away as possible while hiding inside the conifer forest. Kamijou and Othinus followed them into the forest. The Five Overs synthesized voice was still coming from the warning speakers on the hacked tanks. Beginning biometric scan. As soon as they started holding their breath, the conifer trees were mowed down with tremendous force. Rather than a sequence of individual noises, a single great whirl of noise assaulted their eardrums. The instant they got down on the ground in surprise, trees thicker than Kamijous waist were sliced through like a lawnmower cutting through weeds. Sharp fragments much like a pencil broken in half rained down. Kamijou lay over Othinus to protect her and scorching pain stabbed into his back. He grimaced and shouted over the din. Theyve already found us!! But we cant stop here! Jaguar, dont fight back. Theres no point!! Frightened by the explosive noises and almost crushed by his fear, Kamijou pulled up Othinus and pursued the ghillie suits backs while staying low. All the while, the horizontal torrent of steel continued. After a while, the female soldier realized something. Wait. None of the shots are hitting us. Are these supposed to be warning shots? They have too much power, answered Kamijou while crouching and supporting Othinus. The #3s railgun bullets melt after about fifty meters, but theyre firing from kilometers away here. When too far away, the air resistance may melt the surface of the bullets and alter their trajectory. Otherwise wed have been torn to pieces long ago. In other words, were safe for the moment? Not necessarily. Theyll have analyzed the situation too. See, theyre approaching all at once!! Some tore up the snow on the ground and some vibrated their giant wings to fly through the white sky, but they all moved closer. It looked exactly like the advance of an army of giant insects from an old disaster movie. Kamijou felt a much more primal and raw fear than simply being pursued by accurate unmanned weapons. They ran with all their might, but they were on foot. They could never play a proper game of tag with the Five Overs that functioned in place of tanks and attack helicopters. And once those weapons arrived close enough, they would truly be torn to pieces. Kamijou ran while lending Othinus his shoulder and he called out to the ghillie suits leading the way. You all need to surrender! Theres no point in sticking with us any longer!! If we could, we already would have. Do you know why were called commandos and not rangers? Its because we arent assigned official ID numbers. We work across borders year round, so we cant be taken prisoner! Itd be a bigger scandal than a CIA member defecting!! They arent taking prisoners. If you put your hands up, theyll pass right by you. This is your chance to give up your pride and survive. They silenced fifty tanks in a matter of minutes. You have to know how much of a threat that is a lot better than an amateur like me! The distance shrank. The clanking sounds of the insects squirming legs gradually approached. The ghillie suits seemed indecisive for a moment, but after a loud click of the tongue, they stopped and raised their hands. Kamijou passed by them and did not have time to turn around. You abandon me too! shouted Othinus while supporting herself with his shoulder. Youre only of interest because you sided with me, so youll go back to being a normal person if you turn me in!! Dont be ridiculous. You heard that warning. Ive already been deemed a target. Were in the same position now, so I can no longer turn back!! Othinus viewed Kamijou from the side as he shouted in desperation and she saw something unbelievable there. The deep snow was grabbing at his feet, he was trembling from the cold and his own fear, he was supporting the extra weight of Othinus, and he was fleeing with no concern for appearances. But Kamijou Touma was smiling. Lets find a way to get out of here, no matter what it takes! And what then? Even if we somehow do manage to escape, an even more brutal enemy will arrive next. That will continue on and on. Surely youve asked yourself what happens once we really do escape it all! Thats not my question to answer!! Its your life, so you get to decide!! His teeth were chattering as he shouted out. Youll retrieve your eye from that spring, cast aside all your power, surrender with your hands in the air, and make up for all your crimes with a long prison sentence. And after thats over, its your life! That means you get to decide. You can start a bakery or a flower shop or whatever else!! Once its all over, theres no reason for anything to be taken from you in the name of the world or peace!! As he spoke, he looked at the girl known as a magic god. Her cheeks had relaxed ever so slightly. And even then, the countless deadly weapons approached from behind. They were reaching the range where they could reliably kill with mechanical accuracy. Part 4 Visual identification, gait identification, bioelectric scan, and 47 other identification scans complete. Combined probabilities of 87% and 98%. Identities confirmed. Self-analysis of Gatling railguns complete. When firing normal bullets with a wind speed of 7 meters and a temperature of -12 degrees, an unallowable error occurs at greater than 1000 meters. Electronic calculations and actual test firing have produced identical results. Altering spec sheet and sharing via network. Distance to targets: 1208 meters. Time until altered absolute kill range: 10 seconds. Whoops... Now, lets see. Have I hacked into the system yet? Illegal packet format detected. Infiltration route scan...failed. Subsystem activation...failed. Shared network purge...failed. General threat assessments: 0. The system is free of erorrrrrr ???? Ksssssssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Okay, time to let that idiot have it!! Part 5 The group of Five Overs swarmed Kamijou and Othinus all at once. Some came from the white sky and others tore into the group behind them. Anything within range, from a human to an air-to-surface missile travelling at Mach 4, could be shot down with a high level of accuracy. The two of them were targeted with the great arms that were the Gatling railgun barrels used to tear their prey to pieces. In that moment, one Five Over in the air lost its balance. After that, all of the advanced weapons filling the sky began to crash, one after another. Some even collided with the models on the ground. Shit! What is going on!? Kamijou crouched down while holding Othinus. As he did, the danger pouring down like a meteor shower tore up the surrounding snow and dirt and he heard several explosions. Finally, the disturbance settled down. What happened? Despite surrounding them from only five meters away, the Five Over barrels did not spew their steel downpour. In fact, the weapons were completely motionless. However, there was a clear order to it all. The insects covering the snowy plain all had their heads tilted as if focusing on one fellow machine in particular. From overhead, their formation may have looked like a strange giant flower. Kamijou heard a hard clank as someone stepped up on the head of the queen receiving all the others focus. What? The short girl had short brown hair and she wore an expensive-looking duffle coat over a Tokiwadai Middle School uniform. More importantly, this was the Level 5 the Five Overs were based on. Misaka!? Just to be clear, Im not about to join your side for no reason. Im not that convenient a girl. She spoke indifferently and spread her arms to indicate the army she had made her own. Ive hacked all of this firepower. If you dont want to die here, then defeat me and continue on. ... Kamijou lowered Othinus to the snowy ground and clenched his right fist once more. As he prepared to confront the #3 Level 5 while surrounded by 150 Five Overs, he asked a quiet question. ...Are you mad? Yes, quite a bit! When did you become a spy for Gremlin!? Volume 10, 16: V.S. The Heaven-Sent Child Loved by Electrons” Round_08. Volume 10, Chapter 16: V.S. The Heaven-Sent Child Loved by Electrons Round_08. Part 1 There was no definite chance of victory. Normally thinking, Misaka Mikoto was using excessive force. All she had to do was snap her fingers and Kamijou and Othinus would be torn to pieces and destroyed to the point of being a mushy soup. That meant Kamijous only chance was to make a gamble. For the boy who constantly bore the weight of misfortune, this was an extreme longshot. He dashed over to the closest Five Over and slammed his palm against it. Misaka Mikoto had said she acquired this firepower by hacking them. If she had used her ability to control electricity for that hacking, a touch from Kamijous right hand would release them from their queens control. He would leave the rest up to the machine. Would they prioritize killing Othinus and Kamijou Touma as before? Or would they prioritize eliminating Misaka Mikoto who had hacked into the military network? Ah! Wait!! Mikoto frantically spoke up, but the Five Over aimed its giant arm toward her. Seeing the bundle of railgun barrels begin to rotate, she paled and used powerful magnetism to levitate a different nearby unit as a shield. Piece after piece of the shield was torn through with a deafening noise. Give it... All the trees in the area had been felled, but a sound akin to rustling leaves could be heard. It came from a large clump of iron sand vibrating as it rose from the ground. ...a rest alreadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! As the iron sand sword rose like a whip, it severed the two arms of the Five Over that had gone out of control (or regained control?). The machine tried to tackle her, so the sword went on to chop off its head. Mikoto gasped for breath and tossed the shield aside. Honestly, why are you making a girl... She trailed off when she saw what Kamijou had done during the time she spent dealing with the one Five Over. He was running around pressing his palm against machine after machine. To preserve their system, each and every one of them attempted to physically eliminate the source of the cyber attack. ...do this kind of thiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggg!? From there, it developed into a war between Five Overs. Mikoto remotely controlled the 150 machines spread out across the snowy plain while Kamijou could only secure the machines he could physically touch with his hand. As far as total numbers went, Mikoto had an overwhelming advantage. However, that turned out to be a problem. Yes. Mikoto had no way of distinguishing enemy from ally. Needless to say, even Mikoto would be blown to pieces if she was hit by a railgun. In order to prevent unexpected attacks from a blind spot and to secure her safety, she chose to destroy every machine she had reason to suspect. As a result, she destroyed more machines than necessary and began wearing down her own numbers. (Im still going to push onwards! Of course I am!! I have an overwhelming advantage in numbers and I can corner him from multiple angles using a mixture of my own powers and these pieces of junk. Theres no way he can overcome this with nothing but a special right hand!!) After seeing the out of (Mikotos) control Five Overs dropping in number, the #3 became certain of her victory once more. But then she made yet another mistake. She had grown so focused on the atmosphere of strategic simulation parameters that she had forgotten that the number of Five Overs did not really matter. This was a fight between Misaka Mikoto and Kamijou Touma. (Wait a minute. Whered that idiot get off to!?) She sent out orders to the Five Overs and used all their sensors to scan the area. She received a result quite quickly: directly behind her. The target, Kamijou Touma, had circled behind and climbed onto the same Five Over as her. Hey, Misaka. The boy smiled as he tightly clenched his right fist. If possible, Id rather not use this on you. Are you still gonna make me? The railguns of the Five Overs were powerful, but being Gatling guns, they exchanged accuracy for the ability to fire a massive amount of bullets. They could be used to hit the target somewhere on the body and kill them from the shock, but they could not be used to shoot off the head of a match like a sharpshooter. And the concept behind the Five Overs was to outdo the original Level 5, so there was a danger of a stray bullet piercing through even Mikotos greatest defenses. In short, the safest place was right next to her. Even when surrounded by over 100 Gatling railguns, ordering them all to attack would blow away Mikoto along with him. She was rational enough to understand that premise. And so she gathered a large quantity of iron sand around her. Each individual one was not much different from her iron sand swords, but these were not held in the hand and there were more of them. Her anger seemed to take physical form as many black whips writhed about her. Heh...heh heh. Did you think you were safer fighting me than those pieces of junk? Did you think youd have an easier time of it? I see, I see. When did you start using tentacles!? Will you never get tired of mocking me!? Im going to settle this once and for all. I dont know what happened with you, but Im going to beat the rotten roots of it right out of you!! The back of the deactivated Five Over supplied less than ten meters of footing and Misaka Mikoto used her eight whips to clash with Kamijou Touma and his single fist. Part 2 In truth, Kamijou felt the iron sand sword was the most frightening of Misaka Mikotos repertoire of attacks. The lightning spear and railgun travelled in a straight line and did not turn once they had been fired. Their overwhelming speed and destruction were a threat, but they could be handled by throwing off her timing or causing her to fire on the wrong trajectory. On the other hand, the iron sand swords moved about like a living creature. Kamijou could only negate them with his right hand, so a blade that could complexly alter its trajectory like a living snake was a symbol of fear to him. If he tried to grab at an obvious attack, it was possible he could be pulled forward and have his hand cut off. And now there were eight of them. Rather than an octopus or squid, this felt more like extremely long spider legs. A black sphere of iron sand floated behind her back and the whips shot out from there, passed over her shoulder or under her arm, and attacked him. They wriggled as if alive and attacked simultaneously from eight directions at once. He could not handle that with a single right hand, so he would simply be tormented to death. However... As soon as he grabbed one of the whips flying toward him, all eight of them fell to pieces. .............................................................................................................................................Huh? She was defenseless. Stripped bare. Her thoughts ground to a halt and he turned a dull look toward her. Well, all eight of them were connected to the sphere behind you. Whenever I touched your iron sand sword, it would vanish from tip to base, so I guess the destruction transferred to all eight of them with just one touch. Huh!!!??? What is this nice feeling? I was risking my life with all those legitimate threats, so this is a nice change of pace. Its so relaxing. Stop! Dont put me in the comedy battle category!! Yknow what, Misaka? You feel a lot like a hot spring in a snowy mountain or an oden stand during winter. Dont treat me like some old woman!! Youre older than me!! Bluish-white sparks flew from her bangs. Kamijou prepared himself for a lightning spear, but something else happened. The Five Over underneath them suddenly rotated as if a skewer from the front had stabbed into it and rotated. Kamijou was thrown onto the snow and Mikoto jumped toward him from close range. You! I thought we were working together to destroy Gremlin and their base in Sargasso! Werent we stopping that Othinus person from creating some lance!? And when did you start getting along with that blonde girl in the eyepatch!? Well!!? Not go- bh!? Not good!! I cant do anything about normal fists that dont use- bgh!? Bweh. I have my reasons!! Kamijou somehow managed to swing his head away from Mikotos fist. As she tried to climb on top of him, he rose up and rolled along the snow with her. She used her clenched fists and sometimes her elbows and forehead to strike his face. What happened to defeating Othinus!? We dont need to! We dont need to do that anymore!! Why not!? Um... Im not sure where to start, but the world was destroyed!! And what does that nonsense have to do with you and Othinus being together!? This isnt just about her anymore!! She refused to get off of him, so he folded his right leg until the knee reached his chest and placed the bottom of the foot against her stomach. As if releasing a spring, he launched her away from him. The two of them stood up on the snow and a short silence fell. It was Mikoto who whispered a question amid the many weapons. What do you mean? There was a really long time between when we arrived on Sargasso and when the attack on Othinus began, but everyone else didnt notice. Kamijous voice was shaking. I know this is really hard to believe, but its the truth!! He doubted this would get through to her. He was more tormenting himself than anything. And during that time... Oh, dammit. I thought Id gotten over this, but I just cant make up my mind. At any rate, a lot happened. So very much happened. ...For example, would you believe this? I saw all 20,000 Sisters alive and attending a festival together. You didnt have to suffer at all and all of you were smiling together as friends. That era really happened. And this wasnt an illusion or suggestion and it wasnt a parallel world or dream. This world truly did have that happy era!! Mikoto only looked dubious. It was not that she was forgiving him. It did not feel real to her. That was why she did not get angry. It was horribly unfair of him to assume that meant she had accepted his actions. So... I destroyed all those peoples happiness to come back here. It wasnt just you. To come back here, I rejected a world where all 6 billion people were perfectly saved! I dont have the slightest clue what youre talking about. The very fact that you dont shows that Ive trampled on your dignity!! Mikoto had tried to let it slide with a vague smile, so he shouted out to grab her attention and spoke clearly. Ill try to understand. Ill work to understand what exactly you gained and what you lost!! But I need Othinus for that. No, if you learn the truth and remember that happy era, you might stop hating Othinus. And then you could easily turn that hatred toward me. You may not understand, but you shouldnt make up your mind and forgive me until you do!! You...? Of course, I dont want to destroy myself anymore. I know all too well that Im not some chosen hero. If...If its at all possible that we can all live happily together in this world, then I want to. But thats exactly why I have to settle everything and pay for all my sins. And her testimony is needed for that! I cant avoid the issue by letting her die here and be hidden from public view!! I cant return to a peaceful city after that!! I have so much I have to pay for!! I may even have done more than Othinus!! Naturally, Misaka Mikoto did not understand the true feelings behind Kamijou Toumas cries. Without sharing the same time as him, that was unavoidable. There was a world where all 20,000 Sisters were saved and everyone could smile without grief? Mikoto had a certain thought as she grasped a fragment of what had spilled from Kamijous mouth. After everything, why would you cling to a convenient and terribly na?ve world like that!!!? Part 3 If all six billion people could smile, that would certainly be best for the world. No option could be better and that should be prioritized above all else. Ultimately, Kamijou had overcome that ultimate argument with his personal hopes and desires, but he had yet to bring himself to directly defeat that ultimate argument. If he had to choose right or wrong, the answer Othinus had shown him was definitely right. He had wanted to reject that answer even if it meant bearing the sin of being wrong. That had been the truth. Or it should have been. Do you really think thats the same thing as saving people? Misaka Mikoto walked straight toward him through the snow. A different sort of anger was clearly visible in her eyes. Theres no set definition of happiness. As soon as you unify everything under a single set of values, the next round of misfortune and discrimination has already begun. An explosive noise burst out as Misaka Mikotos fist struck Kamijou Touma at close range. Bluish-white sparks flew from her arm as she spoke. I dont know what happened to you. I cant even imagine it. Youve probably seen a deeper part of the world than I have while staying in Academy City. Her legs moved and he jumped back, fearing having his legs swept out from under him. But that doesnt mean youre right 100% of the time. No one has to accept what you say. He could not relax just by gaining some distance between them, so he immediately crouched down and thrust his fist toward the pure-white snow. Bluish-white sparks burst from her feet in every direction and Imagine Breaker just barely negated the high-voltage current even more intense than a train tracks overhead wires. Even if a big bang happened right this instant, the world and universe were remade from scratch, people lived there with no crimes, sins, or mistakes whatsoever, and someone named Misaka Mikoto ignorantly smiled there...!! Centered on her clenched fist, a tremendous amount of sparks burst from her entire body. That doesnt change the fact that I took more than 10,000 lives in the past! Even if everything and everyone is saved a second from now and all the documents are rewritten, I dont want to run from my sins!! For an instant C just an instant C Kamijou Toumas thoughts came to a stop. And that was when the second wave arrived. A high-voltage current expanded along the surface of the snowscape and attacked his feet that were buried in the snow. Gah!? Theres no such thing as a perfect world. He felt a pressure around his heart and his footing grew unsteady, but Mikoto grabbed his collar to support him when he started to fall. Even if it looks perfect on the surface, youll find something twisted if you look at it differently. It was the same with the #1s experiment. You wouldnt accept it when I said my way would make everyone happy! If you understood it back then, why did you change your mind now!? After a sound like a swinging metal baseball bat, her forehead slammed into his. (Not good.) But it was too late. A lightning spear of a billion volts produced a tremendous noise as it stabbed into Kamijous head from point blank range. Vwah!? Agwah!! As he lay in the snow, his limbs trembled and he could not get up properly. His heart, brain, and nerves all cried out in pain. Those six billion people were swallowed up!! That was a world where a single set of values was forced on them all and they were only allowed to smile!! Anyone who doesnt smile is treated like they dont belong!! If you see something like that, you arent supposed to sit there looking jealous!! No matter how painful and hard it is and even if youre all alone, isnt it your role to clench your fist and say its wrong!? Misaka Mikoto did not hold back. She climbed on top of the collapsed boys stomach, grabbed his collar with both hands, violently shook his head, and shouted at close range. You came back to this world? You sacrificed everyone else to do so? If so, you arent supposed to envy what you turned your back on!! Youre supposed to be glad you returned to this world! Even if its imperfect and incomplete, you should be glad you were born into this world!! You should be proud of that fact!! As if twisting his neck, he desperately looked up at her face. Of course...Im going to change my mind, he spat out. You were smiling. You may not remember, but in that golden world, you were truly happy and smiling!! When I see that, Ill attack my previous thoughts and admit I was wrong!! Im not some stuffed animal on a conveyer belt!! If I know continuing on will drop me off a cliff, Ill readily change my beliefs or ideals!! A great sound burst out as Misaka Mikoto swung down her fist. Something split within his mouth, his cheek felt oddly hot, his right eyelid was swollen, but he continued shouting and ignored the fist as it swung down again and again. Im just a high school student! Im not the 47 Ronin from the Chushingura!! Ill change what I say any number of times based on what I think is best at the time!! Even if I said something different three days ago and even if Im saying the exact opposite, its still a win as long as someone is smiling in the very end!! Hearing that, Mikoto gave a thin smile and stopped her fist. Oh, so you do understand. ...? Theres no reason to fall off the cliff while bound by meaningless principles and ideologies. If youre reaching for the happiness you alone believe in, its fine to choose the best arguments for the situation. It doesnt matter if you have to spit on your own words, as long as it all works out in the end. Mikoto looked Kamijou Touma directly in the eye. So theres nothing saying you have to bear the weight of my future or the fate of six billion people to the point of your own destruction. She spoke and smiled while sitting on top of him in the snow. She reached her arms around to his back in a gentle embrace. And a moment later, a tremendous high-voltage current burst from her body and his consciousness was finally blown away. Just before everything fell to darkness, he thought he heard her speak. This is the first time Ive beaten you... Its a lot emptier than I thought it would be. Part 4 The world flickered before Kamijous eyes. He grimaced as a pain stabbed from the back of his eyes and directly to his brain and his mind quickly came into focus. He was still lying in the snow, but he could not feel the cold. Only after coughing and somehow managing to sit up did he realize Misaka Mikoto was quietly sitting right next to him. Are you awake now? Yeah, he groaned. In that infinite hell, the Will of the Sisters had saved him by saying he could pursue his own selfishness over the ideal of saving the world. And now he had been taught that humans were not so simple that saving the world and recreating it into a convenient form was enough to make everyone unconditionally happy. He began to wonder what he had been doing all this time and he slowly stood up amid the snow. Sorry, Misaka. Ill be going. Because you have to? No. He wiped the snow off of his back and hips. Because I want to. Hearing that, Mikoto gave a small shrug and showed a different smile from before. Then how about you get going? What, you arent going to stop me? I cant. I may have easily beaten you ten minutes ago, but I doubt I could beat you now no matter what I did. He turned his back on Mikoto and walked off into that white world once more. He did not turn around, but he waved a hand in parting. She watched him leave for a while but finally let out a white sigh. There was a simple reason why she had not said she was going with him. Now, then. She stood up and walked in the opposite direction of him. She heard a grinding noise. She had used Academy Citys Level 5 #3''s ability to hack in from the outside, but all the Five Overs were gradually breaking free of those electronic chains. This was a modern battle. The girl gave a ferocious smile while facing the weapons sent to reliably destroy a certain boy. I think its about time to do my part. Volume 10, 17: V.S. The Master of the Library and the Magic Queen” Round_09. Volume 10, Chapter 17: V.S. The Master of the Library and the Magic Queen Round_09. Part 1 Kamijou Touma and Othinus made their way to the city of Fredericia. However, that was a fifty kilometer trek east from the battle with Mikoto and they could not walk that far in -12 degree weather after so many battles. They could not hope to hitchhike either, so what were they to do? Continuous metallic noises gave the answer. Othinuss upper body was sticking up above the turret. I never thought we would end up driving an American tank. This is seriously scaring me!! Is this thing really going straight? Ive never driven anything more than a bicycle! You cant make a high school boy whod be nervous on a unicycle drive something like this!! To put it simply, they had borrowed one of the tanks used for the diversion. In this, it doesnt matter if you slip on the snowy road or run into a tree, said Othinus with a hand on her headset. Unless we reach a populated area, it doesnt matter how far off course you end up. I get that, but still!! The latest tanks supposedly used a steering wheel, but this may have been a downgraded version because it used the old levers. Just like excavators, bulldozers, and other construction equipment, the right and left treads were operated with separate levers which handled forward, reverse, and turns. Stopping the right tread and moving the left would turn right, the reverse would turn left, and moving both would take them forward. You have to admit, its nice to have air conditioning, commented Othinus. My sense of heat is almost gone, but I can feel my skin softening up. Eh? Are you sure this isnt all exhaust? And this canned meat is pretty good. It tastes like a mix between Salisbury steak and a meatball. No matter what I eat, it all tastes like smoke! Kamijou had assumed taking a tank for a drive would quickly get a squad of police sent in, but other than photos taken by cars passing by, it went peacefully. All sorts of weapons were gathered around Denmark and tanks may have been a rare sight in modern times. This gave Kamijou and Othinus a chance, but it also frightened him. And before long, he could no longer worry about those bigger issues. A major problem presented itself much more close to home. Hey, this is probably a good place to stop, said Othinus. The oceans right over there. Keep going and well fall in. Huh? How much further? Here? The entire tank lurched, but the mass of metal did not stop moving. Othinus grabbed her headset and shouted in annoyance. That was the shift lever!! Hurry up and bring the tread levers to neutral! Both of them!! Which are those again!? Which levers!? Fine, just put that shift lever in neutral! Thatll stop it too!! Ahh, I think its too late. This thing''s going into the ocean!! Othinus jumped from the cupola on top of the turret and Kamijou opened the round front hatch and rolled out into the snow. A moment later, the 70 ton machine dropped into the cold ocean like someone getting too aggressive in a game of chicken. Othinus strangled Kamijou with both hands and shook him back and forth. Why! Are! You! So! Useless!!? I told you a tank was too much for someone who cant even roller skate! And wait. How much does a tank cost? There was that blown up gas station and destroyed British mobile fortress too, so how much am I going to owe once this is all over? Incidentally, when sold to a foreign country, a generation 3.5 tank would cost about a billion yen. The worlds most luxurious vehicle was not a black German car or a red Italian car. Anyway, the citys over there, said Othinus while pointing with her thumb. Lets get over to the bridge there and cross to Funen. The city of Fredericia was large. They looked around cautiously while walking through the major streets, but they did not see any military vehicles setting up checkpoints. Whats going on? I dont know. Maybe theyre avoiding conflict in populated areas, maybe some of the soldiers have left since you settled things with America, and maybe theyve predicted where were headed and have gathered all their forces there. Whatever the case, we need to get through while there are no interferences. Some warmer clothes would have been nice, but they could not risk having the bridge blocked off while they shopped. They wanted to avoid swimming through the icy ocean, so they resisted and made their way to the bridge. The steel frame and concrete bridge looked out of place in that city of stone pavement and brick. The giant bridge had both a road and a railway. It was perfectly straight like a runway, it continued for more than a kilometer, and two people were standing in the middle. As soon as Kamijou saw them, he felt his throat dry up. Youre...kidding. One was a nun wearing a white habit with gold embroidery. The other was a girl wearing a coat over monotone clothes with a chic piano look. As allies, they were endlessly reliable. So how much of a threat would they be as enemies? Index and Birdway. He immediately held one hand out horizontally as if protecting Othinus behind him. He knew this combination was dangerous. They were bad enough as individuals, but they were definitively dangerous when working together. One was a grimoire library that had accurately stored 103,000 grimoires and the other was an extremely high-level magician who could wield that knowledge as real power. They were greater than the sum of their parts. In fact, they were greater than the product of their parts. He could not even imagine how high their strength could grow. Im not going to bother with questions, said Birdway bluntly. I can take my time doing that after defeating and restraining you. This situation needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Touma. The silver-haired, green-eyed nun who was always by his side now called his name. But she did so from a distance and not from his side. I dont think its right to apply our worlds reasoning to someone like you, but I cant back down here. The person behind you is a threat under our rules. Index and Birdways stances were clear. They would defeat Kamijou and Othinus and bring an end to the chaos. It did not matter how this had happened or where they were headed. Kamijou could talk or not. Whichever he chose, those girls would defeat them. Realizing that, he tightly clenched his right fist and opened his mouth to speak. Ehh? I just settled all this with Misaka, so do I really have to go over the same stuff again? ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Index and Birdway came to a stop. Othinus was well-known as the queen of ignoring the atmosphere, but even she began to fidget awkwardly behind him. He then gave the finishing blow. Oh, I know! You can just call Misaka. Itd be faster to have her explain it. That way we dont have to get into a fight here. Heh...heh heh. Birdway shook slightly while hanging her head. We have 103,000 grimoires here. If used correctly, that crystallization of knowledge is said to provide the possibility of raising one to the level of magic god. In this short time, weve been able to make a good guess as to what happened between you two back then. Eh? Ah! W-wait a sec. You mean you understand that there was an infinite hell in that short time!? Then theres no reason for us to-... There is now, you fool!!!!!! Birdways shout was accompanied by physical lightning dropping from the heavens. I-I was planning to go easy on you and taking over for you, but I cant forgive you now. I really will make a crushed frog out of you!! Kamijou trembled in fear and turned to Index for help, but the silver-haired nun shook her head with a completely blank expression. Touma, I think you need two or three months in a hospital bed to recover. With that, those magical monsters created by thoroughly honing irregular skills took action. Part 2 Index and Birdways formation was obvious. Birdway took a step forward and Index took a step back. One was the front-line fighter and the other was the support unit. That division of roles was simple and optimal. (Are they cautious because of Othinus? Do they not know shes falling apart inside due to the fairy spell?) However, Indexs primary means of attack were Spell Intercept and Sheol Fear which were meant to be used exclusively against magicians and clergymen. Kamijou doubted those techniques could do much when he was relying on Imagine Breaker. Birdways direct attack magic was a threat and it scared him more than anything that she was being supported by 103,000 grimoires, but if there was a communication lag between each attack, his chances were best if he moved to close range for some infighting. He would not remain unharmed, but he could still win if he forced Birdway down before he collapsed. But his plans did not exactly pan out. Hey, Othinus, said Birdway quietly. You can fight too if you want. A moment later, a lance grew from the girls hand with a ridiculous sound. Kamijou recognized it. It was made of gold and it had a tree-like design. That weapon of the gods had toyed with the entire world and cornered him in that infinite hell. Gungnir!? shouted Othinus. Werent you listening? If used right, the 103,000 grimoires in her head contain the possibility to reach the level of a magic god. She grabbed the lance that grew from her palm, rested it on her shoulder, and smiled. I hear you stole the plans from Brunhild Eiktobels head, but there were other ways. ...Then again, this isnt the gods weapon itself. A gods weapon can only be used by a god, after all. I fine-tuned it for human use and that twisted its properties a bit. Wait a minute. Kamijou glanced at Othinus over his shoulder. I thought Gungnir was meant to properly control the power of a magic god. It shouldnt do anything if a human uses it!! Do you really think it ends at what you see before you? Birdways words sent a chill down his spine. (It cant be. It cant be!!) What do you call someone who wields the lance of the gods? Magic God Othinus had not been born a magic god. She had used a special method to obtain the knowledge, performed a unique ritual based on that knowledge, and broke out of her human shell. In that case... You mean...youve become a magic god!? No, denied Othinus. If you truly possessed the lance and you had truly become the head Norse god, you would have needed to sacrifice an eye like I did. That is unavoidable if you want to become me. Even if you start from 100 different points, you cant travel down the proper route without passing through there. That means you arent Odin, you arent Othinus, and you arent Woden. It doesnt really matter. Birdway slowly rotated her hand to move the lance from her shoulder. She was not preparing to thrust the blade at her enemies. She was preparing to throw it. All I need to do is produce the same phenomenon as the thrown lance, even if just once. Its a bit presumptuous to call yourself a god just for wielding the power of destruction, but rude as it might be, it should still give me the right to kill a god. Kamijou felt as if the world were growing black before his eyes. He knew the genuine destruction produced by that lances surefire strike. That spell would split apart the entire world, gather the whirl of fragments, and create a giant spear tip out of them. The world of man would be destroyed for the convenience of a god and the surging violence would create a nightmarish attack to wash away an individual. And this time, there was no way to recreate the world. If it was destroyed, it was all over. Wait, Birdway!! That isnt the convenient tool you think it is!! I see you think your understanding is greater than mine. When did you become so important, boy? That cannon of the gods could only be used once. It would slaughter all ones enemies, but it would destroy the entire world along with them. Before it could be launched and before the world could be transformed into that pure black landscape, Kamijou Touma charged forward. Part 3 Leivinia Birdway had not actually become a magic god. Even with the support of 103,000 grimoires, the lance was not actually real. What she was doing was simple. Index and Birdway knew two things: 1. Othinus had become a complete magic god. 2. Kamijou Touma and Othinus had fought somewhere without their knowledge. Even with the knowledge of the Index Librorum Prohibitorum, they could not turn anyone into a magic god that quickly. A magic god was a monumental feat that could only be achieved after someone who met certain special conditions made astronomical amounts of preparations. On the other hand, not reaching the level of a magic god was not the same as not being able to kill a magic god. (Its simple.) Birdway smiled while holding the lance. She used her absolute poker face to suppress the headache eating into the inside of her skull. She was making full use of 103,000 grimoires worth of knowledge, so the poisonous knowledge flowing from Index was continually contaminating her mind. In her long life, she would only have one chance at this. But magicians were the type who said it was a small price to pay if it allowed them to kill a magic god with human hands. (Othinus and the boy both know how far a magic god can go, so I just have to draw it out of them. I cant reproduce the gods or their weapons, but if I can draw the phenomenon of destruction from their heads, Ill have the means to kill one.) Spirit-reflecting incense, astral projection, ungaikyo, vengeful spirits of the living, doppelgangers, the temptations of Satan or Mara, the cat that defeated the Norse thunder god in a test of strength, etc. While not the same as the ghost seen by Macbeth, there were legends from all over the world where the traces of the deceased, the form of ones false convictions, the target of ones intense fear, and other things that only exist in ones head were drawn out into reality. Of course, how well humans could create actual techniques based on those legends was a different story. Some created illusions in smoke and others created imitations using virtual matter such as ectoplasm, but the spell used to embody it was not what mattered. The image source was most important. (I get the feeling that shes hiding some other trump card beyond the lance, but thats too vague to get a good grip on. We can only rely on the lance that we can understand here in this world.) Her lance could not control a magic gods power. Nor could it recreate the world. It instead focused on the head gods attack. It took that single fragment of the great power of the gods and allowed a human to make a high-quality recreation of that phenomenon which was included in the lance. What was magic in the first place? A fragile human could only contain so much. A small human hand could only scoop up a tiny amount. That meant they could not make the legends of the gods their own and they could not completely take the actions of the gods for themselves. That was why they cut it down to size. Rather going broad and shallow, they would go narrow and deep. They would extract a single point, repeatedly hone that one point, occasionally expand the interpretation, and ultimately reach an independent and individual technique. (You could call this an imitation divine technique.) This was the original form of spells. It was a strange system that humans created to grant their own wishes, even if it meant desecrating the gods. And thus it was detested by many religious people and clergymen. (Man cannot kill a god, but a phenomenon extracted from a magic god should be able to reach that magic god!! She will be destroyed by the very system she created!!) Not even Birdway knew what would happen once she released that lance. Her only expectation was for it to be an attack that even Magic God Othinus would believe. She prepared to launch it. And a moment before she did, Kamijou dashed right past her. ...!? She was taken aback for a moment but quickly recovered. (Hes not after me!? Is he planning to eliminate my power by defeating the Index Librorum Prohibitorum supporting my spell!?) She frantically turned around while still holding the lance and realized what he was truly after. You monster!! Youre trying to use the Index Librorum Prohibitorum as a shield, arent you!? It doesnt matter where I am! If you launch that lance, the whole world will be blown away! She ignored his nonsense and carefully corrected her aim. The weight of the lance seemed to change in her hand. This was a weapon to use against a magic god, so it was so very powerful that it was not suited for such a small scale. Part 4 Kamijou forgot to even breathe as he ran full speed across the bridge. He was heading toward Index behind Birdway. He felt a subtle vibration on his cheeks. Index appeared to be silent at first glance, but her mouth was opened ever so slightly and she was taking long breaths. That was the source of the vibration. She was singing. Just as ultrasonic waves produced ripples in a cup of water, her song was beyond the range of human hearing and yet she was providing information to Birdway in front of her. Given the situation, she was clearly providing the knowledge of her 103,000 grimoires. (I need to stop that singing no matter what!!) His fist was tightly clenched, but he opened the hand and spread the fingers. He did not need to knock her unconscious. She was not much of a threat to him as he did not know magic. Birdway was enough of a threat on her own, but she was not a special existence that individually rivalled a magic god. If she did have that power, Othinus and Gremlin might have chosen a different path. And so... (I just have to cover her mouth and stop the singing!! As long as that lance is gone, I can find a way to handle Birdway!!) He charged right up to Index. That girl had always been by his side, he had sworn to protect her no matter what, and he now reached out his right hand as he confronted her head on. ...!! The silver-haired, green-eyed nun silently moved back to escape his hand. But she only seemed silent. In truth, she was likely still singing. However, it was too late. From a purely athletic standpoint, the grimoire library was not much of a threat. That small distance would throw off his aim a little, but his palm could still reach her. A moment later, his right hand missed her mouth but reached a different point on her body. Namely, her modest chest. ......................................................................................................................................................Ah. By the time he noticed, it was too late. Her incantation ended with a shrill scream, the lance in Birdways hand grew unstable and exploded, and the nuns full collection of 32 teeth spread out before his eyes. Part 5 Touma! You have no delicacy at all!! Its like you only think about winning or you think anything is acceptable as long as you win!! Winning isnt the only thing that matters! I highly recommend you read Le Morte d''Arthur, The Song of Roland, and other things to further your education!! Are you even listening, Touma!? ............................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................. There was no way he could be listening. He and Birdway were lying face down on the long, runway-like bridge and twitching. Othinus was crouched down next to him and poking at his spiky head with her index finger. He was reminded of when she had spun around in front of a mirror and ridden around on an electric two-wheeled vehicle in that infinite hell. As he and Birdway lay unmoving so close that their heads were almost touching, he asked her a question. How much do you know about what happened to us? Nothing specific. But if the lance was completed and the magic god used her full power, she wouldnt bother with mere physical attacks. Presumably, she would remake the entire world into one where none of those unnecessary things existed in the first place. Rather than just being destroyed once, the world had been remade into millions or even billions of forms to break Kamijous mind, but it seemed their imagination had not brought them that far. Magicians prioritized the individual over the whole, but they had not thought of one thoroughly remaking the world for a one-on-one battle. What did you see in the changed world? asked Birdway. Im not sure... Now that I think about it, there may not have been anything new there, he spat out. But I was reminded of a really basic thing. Thats all. ...And now that I know that, I can no longer innocently act in the name of justice. I cant kill Othinus anymore. Im going to try to stop this worldwide chaos with whatever other method I can. I can never again choose to kill Othinus. I can never again choose to kill a mere girl and smile about it. Hah. Birdway raised her head from the ground. You just called her a girl, didnt you? This is Magic God Othinus, leader of Gremlin. Shes already destroyed the world...maybe even more than once. I know. Kamijou removed his head from the snow as well and looked her in the eye. Do you have a problem with that? Now it all finally makes sense. She rolled onto her back and brought a hand to her forehead. I should have known. This is exactly the kind of person you are! Goddammit!! I was thinking about the fate of the world, the leader of Gremlin, when you had a chance to communicate with them, and what information you could have leaked to them! But now I feel like an idiot for taking it all so seriously!! Because shes a mere girl, hm? You really are hopeless, dammit!!!! Hearing that, he slowly stood up and looked to the other side of the bridge. It seemed to continue on forever. Well be going. Touma!! Im not done speaking with you!! Index tried to snap at him some more, but Birdway wrapped her arms around the nuns legs from the ground. How are you going to settle this? asked Birdway. Neutralize Othinuss power and hand her over to America. Do you have a way to do that? If not, I wouldve broken long ago. That answer caused Birdway to hold Indexs legs even tighter and the silver-haired nun almost tripped. Then it would be a bad idea to bring this girl with you. If she perfectly memorized the trump card to use against a monstrous magic god, the threat around her as the Index Librorum Prohibitorum would rise to the next level. Id be lying if I said I wasnt interested, but I like the idea of having you owe me one. Then look after her. Will do. Birdway wrapped her arms around Indexs waist as she took on the role of restraining that girl who was almost guaranteed to get lost on her own. Kamijou and Othinus travelled down the bridge and Birdway muttered to herself as she watched their departing backs. From the looks of it, he watched the destruction of the world. Yet even that wasnt enough to change him. Volume 10, 18: V.S. The One who Opposes the Magic God” Round_10. Volume 10, Chapter 18: V.S. The One who Opposes the Magic God Round_10. Part 1 They crossed the bridge and reached the island of Funen, but Kamijou was unsure how exactly it differed from the peninsula. They were still surrounded by snow and it did not even feel like an island. It may be called an island, but its 50 kilometers across, explained Othinus. It wont seem much different than before unless we follow the coast. Where do we go next? Were almost there. This is the same island as Egeskov Castle where my eye is submerged. Well arrive after passing through the city of Odense. Funen had not been the site of frequent battles, so the chaos had yet to spread there. A few cars were even travelling along the snowy roads. They tried hitchhiking for the first time in a while and easily got a ride. Tourists on their way to the railway museum carried them to the Odense in their rental car. The boy in the back seat continued pestering Othinus, so Kamijou finally asked her about it. Hes asking me what picture book witch I am. He seems to think this is a costume from an Andersen story. It was likely better for the boy not to know the truth. Odense was another stone-paved and brick city, but it was much larger and livelier than the previous cities. It had a large number of church steeples and similar structures, so it looked like a conifer forest silhouette made in stone. Kamijou quickly left the rental car. L-lets finally buy some coats. I dont want to freeze right at the end. After coming this far, dont you think well be fine like this? Youd be more convincing if your lips werent blue. They walked around the shopping district but found nothing worthwhile. They did find coats, but they were all too expensive. Odense is one of Denmarks leading tourist areas and they know what their customers are going to be looking for. We wont find anything reasonably priced here. Youre kidding. I feel like the snow is about to pile up to my head. That meant they needed to hurry up and find the next vehicle to hitchhike with. Just twenty kilometers to go. It isnt too far to walk if we have to. Even though we dont know whos waiting for us? I dont want muscle pain to trip me up and get me defeated right at the very end. They would find the most vehicles in front of the train station, so they walked through the city to reach the station north of the theatre. A large park was located between the theatre and station. According to Othinus, it was known as the Kings Garden, but Kamijou frowned as soon as he set foot in it. No matter how much it was snowing and how much snow covered the ground, it was clearly odd for there to be no one around in this tourist area. Snow was apparently rare in Denmark, but wouldnt that mean children would be taking advantage of the great event by playing in the snow? There were plenty of fun things that could only be done in the snow, yet there was no sign of anyone else in that white landscape. Not good. A people clearing field. Its standard practice, but theyve set one up in the middle of the city and in broad daylight. As soon as they spoke, two new figures appeared to cut off their path in the white park. Kamijou had no idea how they had approached. There were no extra footprints; Kamijou and Othinuss were the only ones. Do you remember us? We did meet in Academy City before. One was a woman with short blonde hair and who wore thick pants, a sweatshirt, a work apron, and goggles to create the overall silhouette of a maid. The other was a woman wearing a short dress, pants, a bulletproof vest, and elbow and knee protectors to create the silhouette of a warrior woman from a video game. Kamijou did not know the details, but he recognized these two as being on Olleruss side. Im Silvia and this is Brunhild. Were both Saints, but I suppose that isnt all that unusual. After all, you already ran into one from England, didnt you? He shuddered at how carefree her tone was. Two Saints. Those monsters could move at supersonic speeds and attack from two directions at once. And this time there were no invisible blind spots he could exploit as he did with Kanzaki Kaori. Fighting normally was his only option and fighting normally would undoubtedly lead to his death. And on top of that... Does this mean hes here too? he asked while moving his eyes around to check his surroundings. Ollerus isnt here too, is he? Silvias eyebrows twitched at that question. He did not know what had become of Ollerus. Othinus had told him the man had used the fairy spell, but he did not know that the man had been weakened with the exact same spell or that he had been defeated by the fierce attacks of a full-power magic god. And so he rubbed her the wrong way. Hes here too, replied Silvia. But theres a good reason why he isnt out here. Othinus, you should understand why. And you should understand what I want to do after seeing that horrific scene. ... Othinus merely narrowed her one eye. She was not going to say much. As Kamijou looked over his shoulder, the woman named Brunhild shrugged. Just so you know, Im not part of her personal grudge. A dull sound filled the air as she kicked up the giant sword at her feet and grabbed the hilt with one hand. But if this magic god will bring harm to that boy, I have no choice. I will ensure his peace even if it means turning her to a stain on the road. (This is bad.) He had no hope of winning. He could not even picture the first step in his mind. No matter which direction he moved in, he could only imagine himself being instantly killed. And that line of thinking was not wrong. Silvia vanished, a tremendous impact struck him, and he flew over ten meters like a bullet. Part 2 His mind couldnt keep up. Gbah!!!??? The next thing he knew, Othinus and the others were incredibly far away. His lungs were trembling too much to take in a proper breath of air, his legs were shaking, and he heard a horrible scraping noise from his back. He did not feel the pull of gravity. It took him several moments to realize he was floating above the surface. It took him several moments more to realize his back had struck the thick trunk of a conifer tree and he was falling to the ground from there. Cough...cough cough!! Gweh! Gbah!! His body slid down and the white snow covering the grass was dyed red. More clumps of blood flowed out every time he let out a breath. Human!! Dammit! Othinus tried to shout something, but she was suddenly cut off. Instead, he heard a sound of impact so spectacular he thought it had used gunpowder. His vision was blurry and his consciousness was sinking into darkness, but that sound sent his blood boiling. He could barely move his limbs, but he bared his bloody teeth and shouted out. Othinus!! Stop... Dont touch her!! His desperate attempt to stand was enough to produce strange popping noises from his body. The impact may have dislocated some bone or another. He ignored the continuing waves of intense pain from an unknown source and gave a yell as he stood up once more. All sound vanished. Silvia had already approached right before him. Their eyes met for an instant and her eyes contained the emotionless look of an insect. Another impact came. Her slender arm and small fist stabbed into the center of his chest as if targeting the heart. His back was slammed against the thick tree as if by a wooden hammer. The impact and inertia pinned him to the tree and Silvia whispered to him at close range. Your circumstances no longer matter. Another impact. I dont care if you were in cahoots with Gremlin ahead of time, if Othinus gave you some kind of suggestion, or if you truly came to understand the girl named Othinus and joined her side. Another. Joining her side is enough. Joining with the one who not only took all of that giant idiots power but also tore his body apart is enough! Thats all it takes to be in my murderous sights!!!!!! Another. Chest, gut, face. Her ultra-heavyweight fist struck him again and again. One strike would knock away his consciousness, but she would not allow him to pass out and the next strike would shake him back to consciousness. During this, the hard sensation on his back vanished. The thick trunk had broken from the impacts passing through his body. With nothing to support him, he flew further backwards. He was almost nothing but a bloody lump and he stained the snowscape as he bounced across it. Gah...ah...ha... He could no longer speak properly. Most of his vision had darkened, but even in that narrow dark tunnel exit, he could see the monster known as a Saint approaching. If that was all, he would not have had the strength to stand back up. But he remembered something: there was another Saint. Why had the monster named Brunhild not attacked him? If she was not targeting him, who would that Saint be attacking? ... After thinking that far, strength returned to his legs. His head shook and he could barely tell up from down, but he still desperately stood on unsteady legs. But that angered the Saint named Silvia all the more. Fine then. He heard the sound of a group of fine threads tearing. It was the sound of the corners of Silvias mouth splitting in the shape of a smile. Ill disembowel you with my bare hands and show each of your organs to that magic god. Youre the treasured partner she abandoned all of Gremlin to be with. Even a magic god wont find it easy to watch as youre vivisected before her eyes. The threat approached. Part 3 He watched on. Brunhild Eiktobel narrowed her clever eyes. She stabbed her large sword into the snow and dryly observed. As she watched, a wooden bench was smashed to pieces and an eyepatch-wearing girl lay in the center of the rubble. She had not held back. In fact, she had been more cautious than necessary. (Shes showing surprisingly little resistance.) That was her honest opinion. Was something interfering with Othinuss power as a magic god or was she trying to make Brunhild let her guard down? Brunhild was not sure, but if Othinus wielded the power of a complete magic god, it would not matter if Brunhild had her guard up. Brunhild had once created a high-quality Gungnir. She had not reached the level of magic god herself, but the abilities of the lance may have given her a general idea of what a magic god was and what a magic god could do. In truth, she was bound by her imagination and Magic God Othinuss abilities had gone well beyond that, but that was not the main point here. (Should I simply accept that she cant use her full power?) She used a single hand to pull out the sword that had enough weight to crush a car. She rested it on her shoulder and approached Othinus and the crushed bench. (Is her loss of power temporary or permanent? Its hard to say, but I should kill her while I have the chance.) She frowned a bit as she thought. She herself was a magician whose power increased and decreased between extremes on a set cycle, much like the waxing and waning of the moon. A cruel magic cabal had once taken advantage of that and destroyed those around her. She was doing the same here. But to ensure safety, she would justify her own suspicions and launch a harsh attack. A bitter feeling filled her chest, but she did not stop walking. The boy in his hospital bed was all that mattered. She would put up with contradicting herself for him. Pray. Who is a god supposed to pray to...? The proper answer at times like this is to picture the face of one you love. Brunhild spat out her words and placed her other hand on the hilt of her sword. She would hold it in both hands to crush Magic God Othinus with all her might. He watched on. Just before she acted, something flew over like a bullet. The dark red mass came from the side. She accurately spotted the object flying her way and knocked it to the ground with the bottom of her swords hilt. A disgusting sticky sound filled the air. The object was what had been an Asian boy a moment before. Wait, Brunhild, said a devilish voice. The figure that walked over was stained a dark red. Dont kill her that easily. That isnt enough to pay for what shes done. Before killing that damn magic god, I want to take at least one precious thing from her. That will be a lot more fun. Brunhild frowned at Silvias state, looked down at what was supposedly a boy, and frowned even deeper. I have nothing against killing the magic god now, but I have no obligation to go along with your cruel fun. Then do I need to make another bloody mass like that? I will if you insist. He watched on. The dark red mass was still trembling slightly. He was breathing. That simple fact brought movement to the utterly destroyed bench. The eyepatch girl could not stand, so she moved as if crawling along the snow. She moved slowly and sluggishly, but she still made progress toward the bloody mass lying on the snow. Hu...man... She moved her bloody lips to squeeze out the word. Her eyes sought him. She looked like the Little Match Girl seeing her dream inside the final flame. This is why...I told you...nothing good would come of...going with me... She would not allow that flame to go out. She would not have this hope taken. The way the magic god used her battered hands to drag her body along made that clear. But Brunhild remained perfectly dry. Her expression remained unchanged and she stomped on the magic gods right shoulder. That was all it took to stop her slow progress. What will it take to satisfy you? Isnt it obvious? Ill tear out this brats organs as she watches. Ill make sure hes still alive and moving his mouth the whole time like a fish served alive. Stop... Othinus was pinned to the snow by the great pressure from above, but she reached out her bloody hand. No matter what she tried, she could not reach the dark red mass before her. Youre after me. If you eliminate me, you can end the chaos filling the world. He has nothing to do with it. Just killing me is enough to eliminate your own chaos, so... I dont care. The words spilled from Silvias mouth and more sticky words continued. As long as I can kill you, nothing else matters. As long as I can take revenge for that bastard Ollerus, I dont care if I go insane. You dont understand. You really dont. I dont want to go back to normal. If I do, itll end there. I get the feeling Ill end up forgiving you. But I dont want that. Do you understand? Its not whether I can or not. I dont want to, so Im choosing not to. Brunhild had a silent thought when she heard that. (I need to kill the magic god without waiting for Silvias instructions.) Even now, she was not underestimating Othinuss power. She would show no kindness and she would kill when she could kill. She did not want to allow some fun now and regret it later. Then lets get started, said Brunhild coldly while secretly holding the swords hilt with tremendous strength. In the instant Silvia was focused on the boy, she would crush and kill Othinus. She was prepared to battle an enraged Silvia afterwards, but she would make sure to swiftly kill Othinus now. That was her top priority. Stop... Othinuss dim voice continued and she desperately reached out a hand as if someone had taken a stuffed animal from her. Stop!! He has nothing to do with my sins! Theres no reason to make him bear them! So please!! Her desperate plea did not reach them. The two Saints took decisive action and a tremendous wind roared. He watched on. And so... A sticky explosive sound burst out. The great noise came from Ollerus as he cut between the two Saints. But due to the fairy spell, he did not possess any of his special power from being near magic godhood. The strength of his body and the magic he could use were both weaker than the average magicians. His will made up for what he lacked. The action he took was simple. He enclosed his arms around the large sword Brunhild swung down. However, he could never stop an attack launched at the speed of sound. The incredible friction tore his hands to pieces. Even as his hands continued to be destroyed to divert the path of the large sword, he moved those hands. He tugged so as to pull the sword and Brunhild toward him. He had the sword cross paths with Silvias empty-handed strike. What!? Ollerus!! You idiot!! The women spoke up in surprise, but it was too late. A great roar rang out. To someone watching on, it may have looked like the two Saints collided at frightening speed and collapsed into the deep snow. The two Saints had been defeated at the cost of Olleruss arms. Those arms fluttered in the wind like plastic string and it was clear the damage had gone well beyond a broken bone. Have you... Othinus coughed up blood and could not even stand. Have you come to kill me too? Do you remember what I said before? answered Ollerus with a composed face and with his bloody arms dangling down. I have no more attachment to the bonds of being a magic god. As long as I can defeat you, nothing else matters. ... But it seems it was someone else who accomplished it. He smiled thinly. I had hoped he would act as bait to lure you out, but I certainly didnt expect him to take it this far. You have reason to kill me, dont you? Undoubtedly. His tone was calm. But if Kamijou Touma dies here, you will develop into a more frightening monster than anything you have shown so far. Similarly, if you die here, a great change might come over Kamijou Toumas nature. I do not like the sound of either one. As I said, I have no more attachment. If you hold a relationship that will weaken you more than anything else, acting to preserve it is not a bad option. Your kindness is as irritating as ever. Thats just who I am. Im aware Ive lost quite a bit because of it, though. Is that kindness really worth choosing even if it means defeating your own allies? The one with you has done the same. Silvia especially is the type who wont be swayed by words, but shell return to her usual clever self if she has time to cool her head. He looked toward the two collapsed in the snow. Ill work to persuade them and Ill keep at it until they understand, so you dont have to worry about anything. While coughing, Othinus finally managed to stand on unsteady legs. She stroked Kamijous back as he continued to breathe even as a dark red mass. She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and somehow managed to get him to his feet. I wont...thank you... Even this is an attack against you in my mind. Ollerus shrugged while ignoring his arms swaying as they dangled down. Only after cautiously backing away to a certain distance did Othinus turn around. She lent her shoulder to Kamijou who was barely conscious and Ollerus asked her one final question. Did you find what you were looking for? You werent the one who understood me. He was a lot stronger than you. With that, the distance of their destinies opened infinitely wide. Volume 10, 19: V.S. The Hammer-Wielding Almighty God” Round_11. Volume 10, Chapter 19: V.S. The Hammer-Wielding Almighty God Round_11. Part 1 Egeskov Castle was made of brick and constructed atop a foundation of countless oaks. Great effort had gone into constructing that fortress and, even five hundred years later, it was a great boon to Odense and other nearby cities as a tourist attraction. But the castle itself was not what mattered to those gathered there. They cared about the lake. Long before the giant castle was built, Othinus had used that lake for something. The castle had been built with no knowledge of that, so not even the front line magicians had noticed the traces of the enormous ritual that had occurred there. However... Well, I guess I shouldnt be surprised, said the woman known as Hel from the white wasteland next to the lake. Even if the coalition didnt catch on, we were all part of Gremlin, said the boy named J?rmungandr. We might not be able to reach the level of magic god, but we can guess what shes thinking. Im glad I didnt leak the information for fun, said the young man named Fenrir. It looks like they still havent figured it out, so were the first ones here. They were the direct combat members of Gremlin and each of them could singlehandedly battle an entire army, but they were not alone. Dozens if not hundreds of figures could be glimpsed in the white curtain of snow blown into the air. Is Loki here too? Even if he is, hes probably hiding behind someone. Thats just the kind of guy he is. Its hilarious that the rear guard such as Ieunn and Sif are here too. It looks like were all pissed. The members of Gremlin did not understand the purpose of that lake. They did not know she was trying to cast aside her power. They thought it contained the key to some true plan that she had hidden from them. That was enough of a betrayal. They had all helped Othinus become a magic god and fought so she would grant their wishes. No matter how cruel the task, they had dirtied their hands. They would make her pay for dangling that dream in front of them and then snatching it away. And that payment might include physically tearing her to pieces. Suddenly, a new figure walked up through the snow. The many figures beyond the curtain of blowing snow parted to create a path. The person who boldly made his way to the center was not someone Fenrir, J?rmungandr, and Hel could ignore. Thor. Yeah, its the real one this time. He raised a hand in greeting while grinning. This is pretty amazing. Are all of you waiting here to kill Othinus? Its kind of sad that no ones sticking with her. Youre here to kill her too, arent you? Well, yeah. But Im not doing it out of hatred. It sounds like a fun fight, and thats all that matters. Id be lying if I said I was never interested in the experience points Id get for defeating her. He spread his arms and made a suggestion. But if were gonna present our complaints to her, why not come to an agreement first? Lets decide on a representative. If we all start shouting complaints from every direction, itll just be a deluge of noise. You want your complaints to actually reach her, dont you? They all perked up at the word representative. For better or for worse, Gremlin had always been gathered underneath Othinuss absolute charisma. Now that they had lost her, who would lead the organization? Would they go with the standard and choose the lightning god? Or would they prepare a new position? How exactly will we decide on that? asked Hel. Did you think I was going to use anything as boring as tradition, influence, connections, or assets? asked the other god while closing one eye. Lets figure out whos strongest in a giant free-for-all. That sounds like the most fun. Part 2 Kamijou Touma and Othinus were soaked with blood. They could not hitchhike in that state and so they walked through the white blizzard. Have you decided yet, Othinus? Decided what? What path youll head down once all this is over. Kamijou spoke quietly as they leaned against each other for support. I said it could be a bakery or a flower shop or whatever else, remember? So have you found what you want to do? Ha ha. Im not cut out for those cute things. I dont know how much youll have to wait, so it can be anything. It doesnt matter if it doesnt suit you or isnt like you. Find whatever it is you want to do the most. Thatll make it all the more worthwhile to root for you. What I want to do, hm? She fell silent for a while. Can it really be anything? Why are you asking me? Because I want to ask you. Can I really pursue any dream I want? She stared at the side of his face from close up. He had lost a lot of blood and his swollen eyelids must have narrowed his vision because he did not notice her expression. Of course you can, he immediately replied. I see. Hearing that, her mouth opened in a small smile. What? Did you find your dream? I have no reason to tell you what it is. ...? He turned his battered face toward her, but she had already returned her expression to normal. Asking further would accomplish nothing, so he continued on while hoping she would eventually tell him. He was unsure how long they had been walking. He had lost almost all feeling in his snow-covered feet. Eventually, a giant shadow came into view through the white snow blowing through the air. Egeskov Castle, said Othinus with trembling lips. Kamijou moved his head sluggishly. So weve made it. That castle isnt filled with traps like in a room escape game, is it? The castle doesnt actually matter. I threw the eye in the lake before it was even built. The lake is the important part, but no ones found the eye because everyone focuses on the castle that came later. While taking shallow breaths, they somehow arrived on the edge of the lake surrounding the castle. But then they noticed something. Something they would much rather have not noticed. Hi there, said a voice. A giant stairway and throne lay beyond the white curtain of blowing snow. No, it was not a throne atop a stairway the boy was sitting on. They were humans. He was sitting at the top of a pile of fifty or even one hundred people. Lightning God Thor!? Oh, these are all Gremlin members. If you ask Othinus, shell probably give you an explanation on each and every one of them. She can be arrogant, but she loves explaining things while looking down on you. They were planning to gang up on you, but I went ahead and crushed them all because that sounded boring. I didnt even get all that much experience for my trouble. But you arent about to let us through, are you? asked Othinus. Thor gave a short bit of sarcastic applause. Of course not. Im not your ally. In fact, being your enemy sounds like more fun. Oh, and Kamijou-chan. This is a lot more like it. You had completely rotted away when I saw you back in Academy City, but I think I can enjoy myself plenty now. Having a monster like Magic God Othinus as an added bonus just makes it perfect. Honestly, this is one of the greatest servings of experience Ive ever seen. I really think my stomach might burst. Watch out, whispered Othinus. We already dealt with Mj?lnir, so he isnt being supported by his hammer. That means hes lost his power as the lightning god. ...? Wait. You make it sound like that doesnt weaken him. If he was acting as the lightning god, even you would stand a chance of defeating him, she spat out. But that isnt the case if he brings out his power as an almighty god. This massacre was his doing. Simply put, a mere lightning god couldnt do this much damage. Hah hah hah. Thanks for the explanation. See? Told you she likes explaining things. While speaking casually, Thor slowly stood up from the pile of humans. So whatll you do? Attack me together? Or will this be one-on-one with Kamijou-chan. Im fine with either one, but hurry up and decide. Why have you decided that I cant use my full power and will not be fighting? Thats easy. If you were at your full power, you wouldnt be relying on Kamijou-chan in the first place. In that comment alone, his tone was icy. Thor had betrayed Othinus to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune. He likely had his own reasons, but Kamijou could not deny that he had rescued a girl from unreasonable circumstances for nothing in return. And from Thors standards, it was only natural for him to scorn the actions of the former Othinus. Othinus tried to say something, but Kamijou held out a hand to stop her. Itll be one-on-one, he said. Ha ha! Now were talking! I knew youd say that, Kamijou-chan!! Thor laughed as he descended from Gremlins throne and walked down the steps made from human bodies. In that case, I wont be holding back. Thatd just be rude. The stage has been set so perfectly, so Ill show you Almighty Thor. He spread his arms to show himself off. And a moment later, a tremendous noise burst out. Someones fist had smashed into Kamijou. He looked down and gradually followed the fist to the arm, the arm to the shoulder, and on from there. Finally, he found Thors face. Let me enjoy this, baby. Kamijou did not understand what had happened. The impact spread throughout his entire body and he literally flew to the side. Part 3 Kamijou rolled along the snow. Instead of breathing, he coughed up dark red blood. Gh...kah...!! His breathing sounded sticky as he drowned in his own blood. He could feel his consciousness flickering in and out, but he also had another thought. The force of the fist had been no less than that of a normal human. At the very least, it had not been as violent as a jackhammer. He was only coughing up blood because of the previous damage accumulated in his ribs. However, that did not eliminate the threat. What had just happened? What sort of phenomenon had it been? Teleportation? Try to be a little more imaginative. Thor shook his bloody right hand while smiling. Im known as an almighty god right now, yknow? If Othinus hadnt gouged out her eye, Id be leading Gremlin. You need to widen your view if you want to talk about me. In that moment, Thor was standing over five meters away. But the next thing Kamijou knew, the boy had grabbed his hair. As he tried to stand up, he was slammed back to the snow. Thors heel dropped on his chest and his gut again and again. He repeatedly applied pressure to Kamijous organs as casually as crushing an empty can. Gah...fh!! Kamijou tried his best to reach out his arm while all the oxygen was forced from his lungs. He tried to grab at Thors ankle. Thor vanished again. He was about one meter above and he gathered his feet to crush Kamijous gut with his full weight. An unpleasant noise came from his body. Bgh...hah!!!?? (Its not just that I cant touch him. He returns with an attack at the same time. Is this some supernatural power that lets him make a cross counter with 100% accuracy!?) While lying on his back, he reached a trembling hand toward Thors leg. A dull pain rushed through his side. Almighty Thor had jabbed his toes into his side as if kicking a soccer ball and the great force sent him rolling along the ground. For an instant, Kamijou thought the white sky had grown distorted. He simply assumed it was his failing consciousness. Hm. If it was night, that mightve worked as a simpler hint. What...? You mean...that wasnt an illusion? Im not moving. Hearing that, Kamijou placed a hand in the snow and grabbed a few stones underneath it. He threw them all at once. Theres no need to bother heading out just to kill my enemy. Theres no need to bother heading out just to kill my enemy. Theres no need to bother heading out just to kill my enemy. Thors voice seemed to blur into several different voices. Several Thors stood there such that all of the thrown stones missed. No, that was not accurate. Those were the afterimages of the boy naming himself an almighty god. I told you to widen your view, didnt I? The next voice came from directly behind him. Thors clenched fist had already jabbed into Kamijous spine. He launched his elbow backwards. His elbow flew through empty air and Thor was already standing directly in front of him. The boys knee jabbed forcefully into the center of his gut. Kamijou could not breathe. He started to stagger backwards, but Thor grabbed his collar with one hand and pulled him forward. Thor swung his forehead down and Kamijou fell to the snow once more. The distorting sky. A method of moving in an instant. A method different from the teleportation seen in Academy City. A technique within Gremlin. Something Kamijou himself had seen. Something he himself had experienced. How had Othinus taken him to Denmark? You arent the one moving... While taking shallow breaths, Kamijou moved his bloody lips. His expression made it clear he could not believe his own theory. Its the world thats moving. You just have to stand still and the entire world is altered like a conveyer belt to carry the desired target to you. Took you long enough. Itd be one thing if you hadnt had any hints, but I already showed it to you in that Academy City container yard and I assume Othinus showed you her precious Bone Boat when you two vanished. Maybe I shouldve held back a bit and made it look more like some mysterious attack. I couldve said something like Mwa ha ha. I can stop time. The game piece of Almighty Thor remained in place while the world map laid below it was moved. It sounded simply unbelievable, but Kamijou knew of a technique that would make it possible. The battles in Baggage City were also an experiment to see if holistic espers existed. That ridiculous system would smash together multiple distant galaxies to fire flames from the hand. Are you saying youve reached that? Thats not what this is. Do you understand why? Thor grinned and placed a hand on his hip. It was obvious he was waiting for Kamijou to steady his breathing. He sought an even more stimulating battle to gain even more experience points. That would eliminate Gremlins reason for targeting Fr?ulein Kreutune, said Kamijou. If you already had a holistic esper, you wouldve used it in your plan. Im similar but different. It might be a lot like the relationship between Ollerus and the #7. Im the approximation of someone from the science side. I can produce almost the exact same phenomenon, but Im not actually one of them. I really am a magician, so Im not an esper in any way. ... Kamijou felt as if he had caught a glimpse of why Thor had risked so much to rescue Fr?ulein Kreutune. She was similar but different. She was in a position he could have ended up in. She had not looked like a stranger to him, so he had made an enemy of every side involved to rescue her. That may have been why he had gotten so angry when Kamijou had been indecisive about rescuing her. However... What youre doing is on a huge scale. Moving the entire world is so far out of the ordinary that almighty might be right on the mark. But the actual life-size phenomenon should be no different from teleportation. You cant accomplish this level of accuracy like that. Stop it. I dont like being praised like that. You saw Othinus at full power, didnt you? If the predicted specs I calculated out are accurate, her power would go well beyond mine which is limited to the world were in now. How many times was the world destroyed on your way here? In fact, howd you even defeat her when she had her lance? ...No, merely winning in a fistfight wouldnt get you back to this world. It was true that 100% Almighty Thor would likely be killed in an instant if he faced 100% Magic God Othinus. Thor ruled a single world while Othinus created infinite worlds. That was an obvious and insurmountable wall. But that was not the current problem. Almighty Thor stood before Kamijou as a real threat and Othinus could no longer use her power. To move on, Kamijou would have to defeat him with the fists of a puny human. Just to be clear, I dont designate the coordinates. For one thing, coordinates on paper are meaningless in an ever-expanding universe. ...? The condition isnt to always move into your blind spot either. Thatd only be around Level 3 in Academy City, right? Embarrassingly enough, Im known as an almighty god, so use a little more imagination. ..........................................................................................................................................It cant be. The idea made Kamijou forget about the intense pain filling his entire body. That effect would be convenient, unfair, hopeless, and exactly what a god would do. Does your spell always move you to the point that will let you win? Well done. Its technically the world that moves, though. Thor had already disappeared. A dull shock ran through the center of Kamijous chest. Part 4 How many times had he felt his fists smash into flesh and blood? How many times had he watched the boy roll through the deep snow? He heard a trains wheels striking the track in the distance. The next thing Thor knew, they had moved away from Egeskov Castle. Were they a few dozen meters away or a few hundred meters? He turned around, but the castle had vanished in the white scenery. Kamijou Toumas repeated and futile attempts to move away and the countless blows knocking him through the snow had added up to that simple result. He had lost sight of Othinus, but that was not a problem for an almighty god. The concept of distance was meaningless to him. If necessary, the world would adjust for him. As long as she was on the planet that he held in his hand, he could instantly arrive in front of her even if she had fled to the other side of the world. Although technically, she would be arriving right in front of him. ... This magic automatically adjusted position and distance so he only had to swing his arm or leg to land a clean hit. This spell produced the conditions needed for none of his opponents attacks to reach him and for only him to attack. A win or a draw were the only options. Almighty Thor could always avoid defeat, so not even Academy Citys #1 Level 5 could kill him. Without the ability to destroy and remake the entire world in an instant as Magic God Othinus had done, he could not be killed. When a god died, so did the world. Thor let out a sigh as he watched Kamijou struggle to his feet and take shaky steps away from him. That action was meaningless. Distance and angle would be automatically readjusted. Are you done already? he asked casually while taking a step forward. With his powers as an almighty god released, that action seemed empty and dreary. It felt like unreal effort as if he were walking on a treadmill with a false, backwards-panning scenery displayed around him. If it felt like this for him while he was limited to this world, he wondered how the world had appeared to Othinus when she had gained her full power. This is all I have. From beginning to end, its nothing but this. With Mj?lnirs support, I can add in the fusion blades and make it a little more acrobatic, but this is all I have now. To be blunt, this is your chance. Youll never have a better opportunity. Even with that incomplete power, he had fought over one hundred Gremlin members and defeated them all unscathed. Even if he enjoyed attacking at his enemys weak points, he had still been taking on almost the entire organization that had caused so much chaos in the world. If you have so much power, what did you want from Othinus? asked Kamijou as he moved further backwards. I cant imagine you relying on anything. In fact, did you even need to join Gremlin? Remember what I said before? No matter how high you go, theres always someone higher. The pursuit of power never ends. Im not all that different from the rest of Gremlin. I joined them in order to grant my desire. There was nothing more to it than that. Thor smiled while lightly clenching his fist. We may have officially wanted to destroy the science sides victory during World War Three, but that was only one of our many desires. Gremlin was an organization to allow Magic God Othinus to perfect her power and have her grant our desires with that power. Thats why everyones so pissed. Othinus ran off without paying us for our work. The Magic God Othinus that Kamijou had seen in that infinite hell could have accomplished that. In fact, she most likely had done it in that perfect world where everyone was happy. Kamijou had been the one to destroy their dreams and Othinus had been the one to return the world to normal. They all had similar complaints, so it wouldve been disgraceful to cause a giant fuss all together, dont you think? Thats why I brought them all together. Just to be clear, Ill be killing Othinus. Ive got nothing against having a nice refreshing fistfight with you here, but a definite tragedy comes afterwards. Othinus had not made an enemy of the world on her own. Every member of Gremlin had rejected the world and relied on the unique possibility of the magic god. They had followed her orders at the risk of being ostracized by the great gears of the world. For that reason, they might be warranted in holding a grudge against Othinus after she stepped down from the stage. But after thinking that far through it, Kamijou spat out some words. Are you kidding me? Oh? I see the fire hasnt left your eyes. That doesnt make up for what shes done, though. You were in a position to stop it. You knew Othinus before Gremlin did all that and before you made an enemy of the world!! Magic God Othinus had truly been a frightening person. She had created the lance on her own. To prevent her plan from being found out, she had prepared a dummy plan, caused major incidents around the world, and finally destroyed and recreated the world millions or even billions of times. Without exaggeration, that was the greatest evil he had seen up to this point. I stopped Othinus. I cant exactly say I defeated her, but I still stopped her. That wasnt something only I could do. If you had tried to get to know her... If you had truly tried, anyone could have done it!! And yet...!! But that was not all. She had returned everything to normal to protect Kamijous dream even if it meant abandoning her own dream. She had saved him, knowing it would lead the entire world to attack her. Even when Index, Mikoto, and the others had let loose fierce attacks, she had accepted it head on without even trying to defend or evade. You gave up from the start! You gave up on understanding her!! You decided that was easier and you didnt want to risk falling victim to her anger, so you didnt truly try to face her and you made no attempt to speak with her!! ...And now youre trying to put the whole blame on her? You gave up on making your own dreams come true, you forced those dreams on someone else, you turned a blind eye to the pressure that put on her, and now youre blaming her for failing!? To hell with that!! It shouldnt have been me standing by her side. It should have been all of you! There were fifty or even a hundred of you and yet not even one of you managed to reach this point, so stop trying to act like youre any better!!! They had been in contact with Othinus long before Kamijou had faced her, so why did they not understand? Were they satisfied with simply throwing her into the category of frightening magic god? Why hadnt they been able to find even one bit of good in her? Why hadnt they found it odd that they did not find anything? Magic God Othinus was undoubtedly a villain, said Kamijou. But you hold some responsibility for not stopping her! Dont run from your sins, Almighty Thor. This isnt some unrealistic expectation. I did it! I did what anyone could have but no one tried to do!! None of you managed, but that wasnt because it was impossible. It was simply because you had already given up on her!! Perhaps, thought Thor. None of the Gremlin members, Thor included, had thought the words of a human would get through to Othinus. Even if she could understand the language, they had all thought she would not understand the human thoughts contained within the words. In that way, Kamijou Touma had accomplished something unprecedented. He may have been stronger than any of them. However... Thats not the issue here, Kamijou-chan. Almighty Thor vanished. He had already secured the position that would allow him to defeat the boy. Part 5 No matter what, Almighty Thor could evade any and all attacks. In his battle with Kamijou, the entire world would automatically move in order to position him such that he evaded all of the attacks and could most effectively attack. All he had to do was swing his arm or leg. As if playing a dumbed-down fighting game in which smashing a single button would provide a flawless victory, he could always achieve victory if he spent enough time on it. It did not matter what his opponent did. Just hitting that same button would overcome it all. This made him undeniably invincible and yet it made the fight unimaginably empty. Even after thousands or tens of thousands of victories, he would obtain nothing. If he used that almighty power too much, the information on the rotation and revolution of the earth would become irreversibly skewed like a video tape that had been redubbed again and again. He was taking such a huge risk, yet this victory would not give him even the slightest hint of knowledge. This was why he so desperately sought battle experience points. If he had known Kamijou had opposed Magic God Othinus in that infinite world by repeatedly dying and learning, he might have clapped his hands and laughed uproariously. (I thought I could escape this with you as my opponent.) He felt a dull sensation pass through his fist. By the time the positioning was complete (and he seemed to disappear to others), the attack was already over. Once he vanished it was too late to evade and moving before he disappeared was meaningless. (I wouldnt be able to do a thing to Othinus at full power and the other members were too weak to gain anything. Id thought you were at a nice spot between the two, dammit!!) He heard a clanking sound. He did not know how much longer he had to keep hitting the button, but there was no way for Kamijou to escape the situation. Thor realized he was on the path to victory and that realization cooled his heart. The fact that he would gain nothing no matter what he did brought a dead look to his eyes. The clanking sound grew louder. ...? Only then did he finally catch on, but it was already too late. He was no longer standing on the snowy ground. A hard railroad tie lay underfoot and he stood on a railroad track. He had punched Kamijou from behind and caused his body to bend like a bow, but the boy looked over his shoulder and still had life in his eyes. Your magic moves the world to put you in a position to win your fight with me, right? The will to fight remained in his eyes. Then can you handle something unrelated to our fight? ......................................................................................................................................................... After turning and looking at the approaching mass of steel, Thor froze in place. An instant later, the 12-car freight train plowed through. It passed by with tremendous speed while just barely grazing Kamijous clothes. Part 6 A deafening sound of scraping metal filled the air. The freight train was belatedly slamming on the brakes after hitting someone. Orange sparks flew from between the rails and metal wheels. ... Kamijou Touma sank to the ground. His entire body was battered and he could no longer distinguish the pain of one injury from another. He felt as if his body had expanded and was completely covered in the heat of pain. He did not know what had become of him on the inside and he was afraid of what a detailed examination would show. He was not even sure he had all of his bones and organs anymore. Even so, it was not over yet. Defeating Almighty Thor had not been his goal. Othinus had to take her eye from the lake and abandon her power. Suddenly, a male voice spoke from the slight space between the bottom of the train and the ground. Hey. Thor!!!??? All of Kamijous hair stood on end. He had not been trying to kill Thor, but there was nothing else he could do if the boy could get up after that. That surprise attack would not work a second time. Thor was covered in blood, but he appeared to be in one piece. He had no special ability beyond freely twisting and moving the world, so his body was no sturdier than a normal persons. That meant the freight train had not directly hit him. He may have switched out his target at the last second, avoided a direct hit, and fled under the train. Oh, dont worry. Im not asking to continue the fight. That was a decent bit of experience. Including the exchange of verbal blows. I havent felt this great in a while. Thor slowly waved a blood-soaked hand. What are you two doing here in the first place? I could guess Othinus was hiding something here, but I dont have a clue what. She apparently gained her special power as a magic god by throwing her eye into the spring here. By retrieving it, she can abandon her power. Our goal is to have her surrender after that. I see. Yeah, that really is like you, Kamijou-chan. But in that case, shouldnt you hurry back there? Is there still someone else? asked Kamijou in annoyance. However, Thors answer was certainly not what he had expected. You still havent caught on? ? Your final enemy isnt me. Anyone could figure it out if they gave it some thought. Part 7 At that moment, Magic God Othinus was kneeling next to the lake. Both her knees sank into the snow and her hands were placed on the freezing lake. She muttered something under her breath. The entire lake emitted a blinding blue light and it quickly condensed into a single point within the icy water she had scooped up in her hands. A sphere the size of a ping pong ball appeared in her hand, but it was very different from a human eye. The blue sphere was hard like a jewel. No matter how a human organ was preserved, it would not obtain that color. The invisible structure of a human and magic god may have been fundamentally different. That was her eye. By sacrificing her body part to the spring, she had gained the special body of a magic god. By placing it within the eye socket hidden by her eyepatch, she would return to the body she had before becoming a magic god. That would save the world from the chaos produced by its fear of that great power. If she then surrendered, the turmoil begun by her and Gremlin would come to an end. However, she had a certain thought. Words of rejection filled her mind. (Is that really okay?) The key to it all lay in her hands and it felt immensely heavy to her. (Should I really be saved?) She had watched the blood-soaked boy. She had watched the boy as he became a shield against what she had wrought and as he had continued to fight even as he literally coughed up blood. He had fought his supposed allies, his injuries had grown one by one, and it had become hard to find a part of him that was not injured. As she had watched him, the thought had come to her. (Should I really be saved?) After all, she had done so much and caused so much trouble for so many people. After all, she had not made up for any of it and she had not asked anyone for forgiveness. After all, her success was built on that boys sacrifice and she had done nothing herself. And yet... If she were to ask him, she knew what his answer would be. Kamijou Touma, the one who understood her, would undoubtedly say she should be saved. But could she really cling to those words? Could she rely on him, lean on him, weigh him down, drag those words out of him as if it was normal, and ultimately say she had been saved? Could she really entrust herself to that boy who would unconditionally save her? Wasnt that the same as saying he was to blame for the fact that she had been saved, that she had let herself be swept away by the events, and that she could not stop herself from overly relying on him? She would be lying if she said she did not want to be saved. After running all this way, she wanted to accomplish something rather than have it all end while leaving nothing behind. That was what she truly thought. But... Could she really cast that boy into the whirlpool of hatred? Could she really let herself be saved while knowing he would have to bear her sins from then on as well? Could she really use a trick to escape that truly painful journey and leave the blame for that injustice on this boy? So she made up her mind. No... She heard a light sound as the blue jewel fell to her feet. I just cant do it. She covered her face with the hands cooled by the negative degree lake water and she gave a clear announcement as if groaning. I cant save myself. Part 8 A tremendous vibration attacked the entire area evenly. ... Kamijou Touma hesitantly turned toward the center of the blast. There, he found a familiar despair. Ten wings seemed to fill the entire world. They looked like wings, but they were not. Those complex patterns that extended forever were the crossbows that acted as Magic God Othinuss final trump card. This was the ultimate weapon that not even Kamijou had known how to handle after somehow overcoming the lance in that infinite hell. But Othinus could not use proper magic right now. She was risking her life by forcing herself to use it. What is going on? I thought we came here to get rid of that power! I thought you were going to abandon your power as a magic god!! So why are you doing this? You still dont get it? Something crawled out from under the train. It was Thor who was just as blood-soaked as Kamijou. Youre supposed to understand her, right? I dont know what happened on your way here, but you had to have seen it with her. She isnt alone and she has someone to rely on, but the more she relies on him, the more she hurts the one she cares for. ... When she held the lance, she might have been able to happily leave herself all alone without batting an eye. But what about now? You know a side of her that Gremlin doesnt, so you should understand. He could not believe what he was hearing and the definitive statement soon stabbed into his ears. Othinus doesnt want to be saved. Shes choosing to reject your salvation. Shes already seen what it means to save her, so shes keeping you from bearing that sin in the future. If she dies while fighting you, she assumes it will cancel out what youve done. Othinus knew her body would be destroyed if she used any more magic. Nevertheless, she had decided to use magic. She was punishing herself. She knew Kamijou Touma would try to stop her once he knew, so she was making sure to stop him. She was silently saying that a monster like her should not seek salvation. Dont... Kamijou understood what Othinus was doing. He faced his final enemy and clenched his right fist with tremendous force. Dont run, Othinus!!!!! He shouted with every last ounce of strength in his gut. He stood from the snow, clenched his fist, faced those ten dreadful crossbows, and let out a further cry. You were a horrible villain!! The entire world hated you!! You had a special power and deflecting all that hatred was a piece of cake!! You were born special and you crossed the point of no return when you threw your eye into that lake!! From that point on, there was nothing normal or average about you!! You didnt fit in this world and there was no place for you here!! But!! He walked across the snowy field as he shouted. He approached little by little. The girl at the base of the ten crossbows had a glowing wound in the center of her chest and something like a stake was pierced through it. That was likely the fairy spell and cracks were spreading from there to every part of her body. An ominous creaking sound came from her and she looked like she had been dunked in liquid nitrogen and was about to break. Despite all that, you chose to face the world, Othinus! You decided to become normal and average!! So dont run. Dont run from paying for your sins, Othinus!! Dont turn your back on happiness!! Thats...Thats not humility and its not justice. Youre not saving anyone like this. Youre just running from a painful journey!! He had been unable to defeat this surefire attack in the very, very end. This had taken his life. He once more faced that true despair and he prepared his fist head on. What are you going to do? asked Thor. Most likely, not even that almighty god could escape this tremendous attack that was fired in exchange for her life. Thor would be no help here. No one in the world would. Isnt it obvious? This fight was between Kamijou Touma and Magic God Othinus. This was Kamijous homework that he had been unable to complete as he wanted back then. If she thinks its better for her to die, and if that ridiculous idea is giving her the mistaken impression that shes saving me by running from that painful path... He thrust his fist forward as if once more issuing a challenge to this true god and that puny human boy made his announcement. Then first Ill destroy that illusion!!!! Volume 10, 20: V.S. ???” Round_12(Secret). Volume 10, Chapter 20: V.S. ??? Round_12(Secret). Part 1 In truth, Kamijou Touma and Almighty Thor were not the only ones watching that scene. For example, a black cat that did not mew even once stared intently at it from the snow. For example, an American UAV turned its inhuman camera toward it from 30,000 meters in the air. For example, Amano Kaguya laughed from orbit even farther up. While wearing a white ghillie suit and lying in the snow, Sergeant Ingrid Martin focused on the information she was gathering via parabolic microphone. She had heard their conversation. After that, she asked for instructions over the radio. What should I do? Were trying to figure that out, too. Dammit, so this is how it turns out in the end. Most likely, the president on the other end of the radio did not have a proper grasp of the situation. The same went for Sergeant Ingrid. What were those things growing from the eyepatch girls back? Could anyone answer even that simple question? Can you continue to keep track of their conversation? asked the president. Theres been a lot of static, but it should be possible. I know this is a difficult request for you since youre tasked with cross-borders operations. The president paused for a moment. But I want to declassify this footage. I want to show those two to the world as they are and I want to ask the world for forgiveness. Will you help me? Hearing that, she initially took a meaningless action. She tried to bring a hand to her forehead. If it was a request from the president, so it would be different from amateurishly uploading the footage to a video site. He would ask the world in a speech and he would take more of the blame than anyone on the actual scene. That was what he was asking. With all due respect, that would definitely harm your approval rating. Not to mention that these two are not American citizens. She knew it was useless, but she spoke anyway. The response was exactly what she expected and it came with no delay. So what? She felt as if her vision were darkening, but an order was an order no matter how reckless it was. She had been given fewer jobs that left a bad taste in her mouth since he had become president and she decided this was a good way of thanking him. And... Dahhh!! It looks like Americas made up their mind, so when is our boy going to show off his good side!? Make me wait any longer and Ill be really mad! Really, really mad!! Something suddenly rose up three meters behind Sergeant Ingrid and let out a shout. Sergeant Ingrid drew her handgun in surprise, but she saw a nun wearing a red habit. It was amazing the woman had managed to hide in the pure white snow dressed like that. Next to her was a girl in a habit that looked more like a bondage outfit. My question: do you have any faith at all? What are you talking about, Sasha. The people in religious paintings are always beautiful, so justice lies in beauty. Next, a different patch of snow rose up. A girl in what looked like a lacrosse uniform and with a tail-like object growing from under her miniskirt wiped snow from her head. Yes, yes. Everyones adorable Lessar is here. And who left this black cat here!? Does that mean you dont need me? I want to eat tangerines and cheese fondue in a kotatsu, too!! Wearing skimpy clothing, of course!! Sergeant Ingrid was so overcome by confusion that she abandoned her mission and shouted out. Wh-what is all this!? When did all of you get so close!? Oh, whats with this failed local mascot costume? This is just the best spot for observing them. You were actually late to show up. ??? The imp and the red nun looked perfectly at home. In her job, Sergeant Ingrid had fought with the special forces of various different nations, but their behavior was different from any of those. The imp completely ignored her and contacted some other place. I see, I see. So what about England? Yeah, I suppose so. It seems France is talking about withdrawing as well and being the only country still fighting probably wouldnt be a good idea. Then pass it on to the queen. Itd cause problems if an outlaw like me contacted her directly. Part 2 In the UN headquarters building in New York, United States President Roberto Katze rose from his seat. Ill be holding an emergency press conference. What will all of you be doing? Queen Regnant Elizard waved a hand in annoyance. Ill leave that to the people who want to stand out in public. Ill handle the internal announcement. Im especially worried about my military obsessed daughter who was so eager to get out there. Her mobile fortress was destroyed, so it isnt going to be easy calming her down. Ohhh? Youre not dead set on killing them anymore? Please do not tease her too much. The boy who held the position of Russian Orthodox Patriarch let out a heavy sigh. I will focus on reaching those in places Americas voice cannot reach. I can provide some assistance as far as that is concerned, added the Roman pope. That left France. As everyones focus turned to the unhealthy-looking Femme Fatale, she shrugged with a somehow triumphant look. France never sent anyone in the first place, so we have no reason to struggle now. It seems one of this worlds problems is how the clever have a way of going unnoticed. As soon as Elizard spat out that comment, a small fight broke out. Part 3 Someone spoke from a television in a warm living room far removed from the conflicts in the world. Today has been a day of trials. I can imagine a lot of people have been glued to their TVs and the internet to receive peace of mind as soon as possible. I would now like to ask you all a question. The image of the president on a giant train station screen spoke quietly. Is Othinus, the leader of Gremlin, evil? No one would hesitate to answer that question. She is undoubtedly a villain. Tokyo, Baggage City, and even our own Hawaii. The scars she has caused are enough to determine what kind of person she is. The passersby in front of the many electronics store televisions stopped for a moment. But is Othinus truly irredeemable? Young soldiers in a Florida air force base stood in a line and listened to the speech. The people involved in these incidents or the people who have seen the scars they left may have a strong desire to punish her. I do not think they are wrong to feel that way. But is it right to strap someone to the electric chair if they truly regret their crimes and are attempting to save someone at the risk of their own life? I dont know any complicated philosophy about good and evil. When I was inaugurated as president, I placed my hand on the Bible as I made my oath, but Im not a clergyman or an intellectual theologian. Thats why I want to ask all of you. In a distant country, a spy under a false identity listened to the voice on the television while pretending not to recognize it. Im sure there are some hearts that would be saved by taking harsh revenge. Im sure there are other hearts that would be saved by giving her a single chance after all this hardship. Many people watched their LCD screens via satellite broadcast or video sharing sites. But what do you think? The Russian Orthodox Patriarch spoke in front of many cameras. Othinus has indeed committed many sins, but is it truly in accordance with our beliefs to declare her irredeemable? I would like to reconsider that question. An office worker watched the small television attached to his passenger plane seat. Some of the apostles initially denounced the Son of God, but when they came to regret their mistakes, the Son of God forgave them. We are being tested. Will we give in to our weak hatred or will we have the strength to forgive? A young man watched his car navigation screen in his parked car. I want you to cast aside your preconceptions and look again with unclouded eyes. Look once more on that girl shedding tears. If she had done nothing, she might have been saved, but she cast aside that opportunity and brought further punishment on herself even if it destroys her body. And she has done so in order to save a single boy. On a cruise ship, an old man watched the television so intently he ignored the beautiful scenery outside the window. If there is any sin in that, it is the sin of so easily being swept to suicide. Our teachings are not kind enough to condone suicide. She must live on and make up for her sins. And once she has made up for those sins, I want her to be saved. By showing that even Othinus can be saved, I want to show the light to the many other people who are heading down the wrong path. While waving for a passing helicopter to rescue him, a young man in Tokyo listened to the Roman pope on his cell phones 1seg broadcast. I believe there are many ways to resolve this. All we must do is choose one of those options. A middle-aged worker used heavy equipment to remove the rubble from the remains of Baggage City and listened to the voice over the radio. Will we watch over the goodness budding within the evil that is Othinus? Or will we crush that bud of goodness along with the evil? If you place a hand on your heart and listen to the voice of truth, you will know which answer will not leave a bad taste in your mouth. The soldiers on the snowy plains of Denmark held sniper rifles between head and shoulder, warmed their hands with mugs of coffee, listened to the broadcast, and looked up into the white sky. I believe Othinus is a mirror that reflects our own hearts. Giving into justifiable anger is simple and perhaps even enjoyable, but those who drown in it will learn the truth about themselves. Violence is still violence and it will be their own faces they see reflected in the mirror. While continuing to hold off the British monsters one-against-three, Kanzaki Kaori spat blood to the snow and listened to Queen Regnant Elizards voice. Until now, killing Othinus was the only option we could think of, but a certain boy showed us a completely different way. As head of state, I wish to show my respect for that. It could not have been an easy path. He overcame anguish, doubt, fear, anger, and all sorts of other emotions to reach an answer that none of us could. Second Princess Carissa was a step away from defeating the Amakusa Saint and she clicked her tongue at the voice. We lost, but not to Magic God Othinuss power or that boys courage. Lets all admit it: we surrendered to our own fear. As chaos filled the world, we were obsessed with the idea that killing was the best option. And now that we have admitted it, we must carry out the duty of the loser. Tears had begun to fill Knight Leaders eyes as he found himself unable to keep up with the two women whose faces contained ghastly expressions, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Dragon slaying is a great feat, but a great hero cannot save the dragon. That is what this boy has accomplished. Is it truly a good deed for a great hero to rush in and slay that dragon now? I do not think so. What about all of you? William Orwells expression did not budge. If you have your answer, then pray. That boy has reached an answer that not even a great hero could, so pray that he will show us a sight we could not even imagine. Kumokawa Maria listened to the presidents speech from a hospital room television. The aftermath of fighting that was Kihara Kagun was no longer with her. As soon as Gremlin had scattered from Tokyo in all directions and the disturbance had come to an end, he had stopped moving. Will we kill the evil that is Othinus? Or will we forgive it? Sleeping peacefully on the bed was a pregnant woman. Fertility Goddess Freyja was one of the people he had tried to protect in the very end and Maria had taken over for him. Today, I would like to do one thing. And in the end, United States President Roberto Katze finished his speech on televisions around the world. I would like to test the strength of humanity along with all of you. The world creaked. Massive power gathered in the ten crossbows. The girl that was Magic God Othinus had rejected Kamijou Toumas salvation. And in exchange, she would die. Thor, get down. Kamijou would not hesitate any longer. He clenched his fist until it was as hard as rock and spoke without turning back. A single hit from this would blow the planet away. I doubt even you would survive. He took a step into the snow. As long as he could take that one step, he would make it. His feet would not stop. He walked, ran, and then dashed full speed through the snow. He rushed toward Othinus. He made his way to the girl who had put too much of a burden on herself and was about to break apart. Othinus!! The eyepatch girl faced him with her one eye. The other eye was still not inside her eye socket and the cracks continued to spread through her body. Even if he was going to do something about the eye, he had to stop those crossbows first. She had lost her lance, so the source of her power as a magic god was the fairy spell wound in her chest. That was the trump card against magic gods that Ollerus had developed. But it was magic, so his right hand would be able to destroy it. ... Meanwhile, she held out her slender hand. Her index finger pointed at the boy. She had finished targeting him. Next, she would fire. The ten embodiments of destruction rushed out all at once. To the boy named Kamijou Touma that was an absolute wall. It was death itself. It had truly and completely killed him once in the past. Just as all living creatures could not oppose their own lifespans, that great firepower was the ending point for him. (I wont let myself lose here.) However, he did not look away and he charged straight forward. This time, he would overcome it. He was determined to. (Theres no reason to give up after coming this far!!) The sound arrived after a short delay. One beam of concentrated destruction shot by his side. He had not avoided it with his athletic ability. It had been an intentional sacrificial pawn meant to restrict his possible routes. In that infinite hell, it had been the final shot that killed him. He understood that, but he continued to run. More arrows raced past him and they all narrowed his range of motion. His freedom was reduced and his death approached, but he still ran with all his strength. Each time an arrow was fired, the cracks crawling along Othinuss skin would have an explosion of growth. He could not allow that to happen no matter what, so he ran. He forced down the fear to reach her as quickly as possible. In that hell one step away from death, his eyes met with hers. She had a slight smile on her face. It was the same smile she had given when silently accepting Index, Mikoto, and the others attacks on Sargasso. It was as if she were saying everything was returning to its proper position. (Thats not what this is.) The destruction of Othinus continued and her body inexorably crumbled. To hell with this!! You brought me back to life, returned everything to normal, and saved me! You understood what a small piece of happiness was!! You cant possibly think its right to sacrifice yourself like this!! The gods answer was to fight back. The death that invited him in took clear form and assaulted him head on. (Ahh.) He could not evade it now. The previous arrows had guided him and worn down his freedom of movement. Even if this was an open area of land, it felt no different from a straight and narrow tunnel and a final attack seemed to fill that entire tunnel. This was unavoidable death. As he watched it approach, he had a sudden thought about when he had died before. (Come to think of it, I never tried this back then.) He clenched his right fist. He could not evade, so that left only one option. His right fist clashed head on with the magic gods arrow. In the instant of impact, he realized he had failed. An ominous noise passed through his arm. Imagine Breaker was not enough to completely destroy this attack and he could feel his arm being pushed back. (I dont care if it gets broken, crushed, or ripped apart! As long as it isnt torn off, I can still negate the stake in her chest!!) He swung up his right arm that had become a spiral of intense pain. With a sound like a rubber band snapping after being stretched beyond its limit, the arrows trajectory was diverted slightly upwards and he slipped below it. The girls surprised face lay before him. I win, Othinus!!!!! He had made his way up to her, but he did not clench his fist as he moved his red-stained arm. Rather than punching, he embraced her slender body in both arms. He wrapped his arms behind her and his palm touched the stake of light piercing through the center of her chest. He gathered his last strength in those five fingers. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! And he pulled it out from her back. I wont let you run away, he whispered in her ear. His body was completely battered, but he still gathered strength in his fingers. That was enough to smash the stake of light to pieces. I promised, remember? I said I would save you even if it meant fighting the entire world. Yes...you did. Othinus narrowed her eye as the boy held her in his arms. She looked happy. She looked truly happy. But you dont have to worry. He heard a cracking noise. It was a very quiet noise. I was... But it did not stop and it did not come to an end. As the sound of thin ice breaking continued from her body, the blonde girl in an eyepatch smiled. I was already saved from the moment you said that to me. He saw light. He saw particles of light. By the time he noticed the change, he could no longer feel the girl in his arms. Her slender body crumbled. He could not understand it. Her crumbling body was more fleeting than snow. It turned to smooth particles of light as it fell to the ground and those were swept away by the wind. He had been one step C just one step C too late, and in that moment, he thought he heard her voice once more even after she had vanished. Thank you. Before he could determine whether that voice had been real or imagined, something within him reached its limit and he collapsed onto the snow. Volume 10, Epilogue: What does the Right Hand Grasp After the Fighting? Finale_∞. Volume 10, Epilogue: What does the Right Hand Grasp After the Fighting? Finale_. Yes. If we were to interfere, would this be the time? It may have been wrong to refer to that place as dark. In fact, the word place was not entirely accurate either. Non-existent things could not be explained. Nevertheless, a few voices lurked within where no one could interfere. We have no more attachment to Othinus herself, but this ending could hinder Kamijou Toumas future. Then again, I doubt anyone but us could resolve this now that a magic god is involved. It would be a shame to have the direction thrown off so much for something so trivial. High Priest[1], were thinking about influencing events by interfering with the existing world, arent we? Dont worry, Nephthys. The old man isnt so foolish he wouldnt calculate all that out. This shows just how different an existence Othinus was. Although I doubt she realized the truth behind Gremlin. Othinus was a failure. She reached the level of magic god, so there is no reason to be that cruel. High Priest, youre as kind as ever when it comes to judging others. If it didnt come from looking down on everyone, you might have actually achieved enlightenment. Nephthys, we are all lacking in some way. Othinus was remarkable yet went a bit too far, but that is just the kind of person Gremlin gathers. Gremlin, the name of a plain fairy that is not dyed in the colors of any existing religion. Instead of being a fusion of science and magic, its an organization that every magic god of every religion can take part in equally Oh, Niang-Niang. Where have you been? The concepts of distance and time dont matter here, remember? And I cant leave regardless. Even if I did, Id just end up gathering unwanted attention on a global scale like Othinus. I was a hairs breadth and an infinite distance away. Does the same go for the others? Old man, did you start forgetting things once you became a mummy? The zombie girl, the chimera, and everyone are here. Its just in destinys hands whether we run across each other in this place where the tiniest gap extends to an infinite distance If you think about it, you could call this our way of being ecological. We do it because the world is too small for us to live in, but it isnt easy putting up with being here. Thats why Im so mad at Othinus for being so selfish Yes, but the strength of the world was enough to withstand everything she did. It will not have any real effect on the situation. Then can we continue as planned? Most definitely, Nephthys. The High Priest has just corrected the disorder caused by Othinus. From here on, Gremlin will show its true value. The conversation came to an end. In that place that did not exist in the world, they prepared to scatter apart. But something happened a moment before they could. Hello there. Ive finally found you, Gremlin. The darkness audibly split apart. An external power caused a vertical tear. Othinus and Kamijou Touma had been wrong about one thing. They had thought that world of darkness had been the full extent of the world. They had assumed that pitch black despair had been the product of destroying everything and leaving nothing at all behind. But in truth, there had been one more layer. It was as uniform as a thin membrane, it had not even the slightest seam, and it could not be detected or destroyed by anyone, but one last phase had existed. This black world was the place not even Magic God Othinus had been able to destroy. Oh? Someone narrowed their eyes at the intense white light from outside. That someone watched as the perpetrator set foot in that divine territory. I had noticed you had not shown yourself recently, but I see you were busy with a touching side job. The hoarse voice went on to speak a somehow nostalgic name. Aleister Crowley the Human. This magician had silver hair that reached his ankles and wore a green hospital gown. That human looked both male and female, both childlike and aged, and both saintly and sinful. His expression as he answered could have been interpreted as any number of emotions. Letting Othinus run free would have been a problem, but I left that to the strength of the world. The world was temporarily led to destruction as a result, but I still had to prioritize this. It wasnt easy converting coordinates filled with non-existent numbers into decimal. Their safe territory was gone. They would now be thrown out into the existing world and pursued by the people who lived there. Someone spoke after calculating out how much this truth would influence their plans. This someone spoke with a graceful voice. Your attempt to destroy magic is quite eccentric as well. If you had turned that obsession in the right direction, you could have been a part of Gremlin too. I made some adjustments to myself to ensure that would not happen. That way I can control something different than you bizarre magicians who can only live in a distorted phase. I see, replied someone with a hoarse voice. I am only an outsider, but is science really wonderful enough to indulge yourself in to that extent? None of you would understand even if you spent eternity trying. Oh? And this has nothing to do with the single remaining tearstain in your journal? ......................................................................................................................................................... All expression vanished from the face of the human known as Crowley. He held a twisted silver staff in his hand and his lips carried a single name. Beast666. That name had once been used by the man who led the worlds most famous modern Western magic cabal to destruction from within. You really are human. Im a little jealous of that emotion, but that isnt enough. I am about to tie it all together, so could you stick around a little longer? Oh, youre gonna tell him about that said a girls voice with a giggle. This is about Aiwass, that cornerstone of your plan that you went to such great lengths to raise. The old mans voice contained a cruelty unfitting to his age. Far from reaching enlightenment, desire dripped from his words like juice from a thick cut of meat. Its a complete failure, young one. Youre going to be at your wits end before long. A moment later, a clash occurred somewhere in the world. When Kamijou Touma awoke, he was not in a Danish hospital surrounded by a foreign language. He was in the usual Academy City hospital room. He had a feeling the fact that he could call it the usual hospital room was a problem, but he felt as comfortable waking up here as he did in his student dorm. ... He opened his eyes but could barely move his body and could feel bandages wrapped around him. He gathered all his strength to bring his right hand in front of his face, but the movement was restricted by an IV, a blood transfusion tube, and electrode cords. His elbow and most of the rest of his arm looked like it was covered in as many cords as a computer. Wait. Should you really be pumping so much stuff into me? That all looks disturbingly colorful! I dont think they give you this much at once even in the great supplement nation of America! The frog-faced doctor entered after hearing the ruckus and gave an explanation. You should be more worried about your body that was in such a bad state that you wouldnt have survived without taking these kinds of inhuman measures. I already know that doctors say extreme things on the first day in the hospital to scare their patients. I saw it on a documentary! I wont let you trick me like youre training a dog!! Well, I wont stop you from thinking that if you want. Eh? That was surprisingly dry... Ehh? Really? I really wouldnt have survived without all this? I was wrong! A doctor that wont say anything is the scariest!! Healthy enough to shout: check. Okay, I think I can allow visitors now. With that, the frog doctor quickly left the hospital room and taught Kamijou just how frightening an unhelpful doctor could be. Just as he left, someone else entered. The first visitor was Index, that girl in a white nuns habit with gold embroidery. Even in the hospital, she had a calico cat on her head. Touma, she said as soon as she entered. I think you have something to say to me. Okay, lets start by creating a comfortable atmosphere for conversation by not showing off our canine teeth like that. Touma, I seriously look down on people who dont say thank you and Im sorry. I would absolutely love to bow down to you in apology, but I cant move with all of this on me!! As he struggled to move on the bed, he was as awkward as a battery-powered teddy bear that had been hit about three times with a hammer. Indexs expression clouded over when she saw the bandages covering his right arm from shoulder to fingers. Are you okay, Touma? I am. He fell silent as he too looked at his arm that had appeared from under the blanket. But I couldnt do anything about Othinus. I think the cracks had already spread too far by the time she rejected being saved and started that final battle. No matter what I did with my right hand, it wouldnt have changed the result. ...Touma. What does it even mean to save someone? Kamijou gathered some strength in his barely moving right hand. She was smiling. Just before she fell to pieces, she was definitely smiling. Even with the way it ended and even with the hellish process leading up to it, she said she had already been saved. She smiled and said that had saved her. He did not think saving people was a simple matter, but he was still having trouble grasping the meaning of Othinuss final smile. Could he really view that as saving her? Did it count as saving someone as long as they were smiling? Could an action that went against someones wishes be called saving them? Maybe I was too presumptuous to think I could save someone. His right hand could only destroy. It was the opposite of the magic god that could create. In that infinite hell, he had thought that was more than enough. But I wanted to see that smile in a different way. Thats all I wanted. Was that simply his own selfishness? Was it not about saving or not saving? Was it about what he personally viewed as good or bad? Whatever the case, that was what he legitimately thought. Othinus had wished for and accepted her death and vanished from the world. A bitter feeling ran through his chest, but he would have to accept it as fact and continue on. He remained behind, so he had to live out the rest of his life. But then... Hey, is it just me or are you acting like Im dead? A familiar voice suddenly reached him and a small figure poked out from under his pillow. The girl was only about fifteen centimeters tall, but her identity was plain as day. Othinus!? But...how!? How? You were part of the reason. The palm-sized Othinus lay down next to his head. First, I had yet to put in the eye and was thus essentially a magic god and not a human. Second, you destroyed the fairy spell with Imagine Breaker before I fired the final crossbow shot, so I was not completely destroyed. Third, having her body crumble was not enough to kill a magic god. His mind could not keep up with the sudden explanation. He immediately looked over to Index, but her eyes were opened wide too. Her 103,000 grimoires only had the knowledge needed to make a magic god out of a human, so they may not have included what would happen afterwards. Othinus waved her index finger while lying face down. At that point, Magic God Othinus was 99% destroyed, but it seems the remaining pieces gathered together on their own. My body changed form somewhat and I can no longer use my former power, but it seems I have remained behind. It was absolutely ridiculous. The idea of a human gathering together again after being smashed to pieces sounded like complete nonsense, but he could not question it further when he was talking about a magic god. If Othinus said that was how it worked, he could only accept it. In fact, he himself had seen it happen before. In that infinite hell, she had hidden the final crossbow shot behind herself and pulverized her own body along with his, but her body had soon regenerated as if nothing had happened. (But would my body automatically re-form with no intervention from my will? I still have my questions about that.) The small Othinus stared off into the distance, but Kamijou had a completely different question. So...can I touch you with my right hand like this? Wha-!? Were you planning to touch me all over without warning me? That isnt what I meant! And stop snapping your teeth tougher like a bear trap, Index! With precedents like Kazakiri, I want to avoid having you vanish the instant I touch you with my right hand!! There was no problem when you touched me as a neutral magic god. I cant say for sure as we havent tested it, but my basic properties shouldnt have changed with the downgrade in size. I see... At that point, his brain finally caught up to reality. Othinus was right in front of him. He could speak with her once more. As he thought about that simple and basic fact, he was not sure what expression was on his face. At any rate, he repeated himself once more as if letting out what had gathered in his chest. I see. Hmph. Othinus averted her gaze a bit, but another question entered his mind. Wait. Werent you supposed to be punished? You were supposed to be in an American prison, but did you get that changed to Academy City? About that... She trailed off. The cat on Indexs head had been slowly waving its tail in great interest, and it suddenly jumped onto the hospital bed. More accurately, it jumped toward Othinus whose short form with glittering blonde hair looked like a lure. Magic God Othinus had truly destroyed the world and repeatedly remade it as she saw fit, but she now felt all her hair stand on end next to the pillow. Wait...Y-you idiot!! This combination just isnt right! I dont know of any myths involving a one-eyed god being eaten by a cat, but... How about you stop staring and actually help me!? Id love to help, but does Robot Dance Kamijou look like he can do anything that skillful? The inevitable scream filled the hospital room. Looking like a stolen fish held in the stuffed animal-like cats mouth, the fifteen centimeter Othinus stared into the distance. She pictured the conversation that had occurred in Denmark after Kamijou Touma had fully lost consciousness. She had spoken with the president and Queen Regnant via a radio thrown over by a soldier in a white ghillie suit. Looking like that, there would be no way to keep you from breaking out of an American prison. If you straighten your back, youre only about fifteen centimeters, right? You could slip through the bars or even the food slot. If you abandoned your pride, you might even be able to escape by flushing yourself down the toilet. Theres no point in throwing you into even a maximum security prison. Once the president was finished, the Queen Regnant spoke. Even if your form and the total amount of power contained within it have changed, you are still closer to being a magic god than a human. You have been weakened too far to ever use magic again, though. To be blunt, do you even have a lifespan? If throwing you into a cell for a hundred years wouldnt add a single wrinkle, imprisonment wont accomplish anything. We need to create a new punishment that will be especially effective against you and only you. They were not her friends or her comrades in arms. They had coolly analyzed her actions and they dryly gave their answer. You must forever watch the world of happiness you went as far as suicide to look away from. That is the greatest punishment humanity can give you now that we have achieved victory over a magic god. Notes 1. The original term refers to a Buddhist high priest. Volume 10, Afterword Volume 10, Afterword If you bought each volume one by one, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Weve finally reached the tenth volume since the New Testament label was added. As mentioned in the previous volumes afterword, this had the highly irregular three-part structure, but I thought it would make a good ending to settle everything with Othinus. I will protect you even if I make an enemy of the world. Such a hackneyed, overused, and unarguably cool phrase. This volumes theme was trying it out for real. That made this volume about a boss rush. I focused on breaking through the center of a true hell in a world with no redos and on Kamijou Touma taking his revenge after doing nothing but lose in the New Testament series. With Marians Dinsleif, Almighty Thor after he broke from the shell of the lightning god, and Magic God Othinuss crossbow that once took the life of the protagonist, I added in everything I could that had been built up in New Testament. In New Testament 9, Kamijou Touma learned he was not a hero of justice but a normal high school boy, but in this volume, I wanted to show that being a normal high school boy doesnt mean he cant challenge the world. Even as he shivers in the cold, is soaked in blood, and exchanges blows with the allies he had previously relied on, the protagonist continues to fight for a single girl. How did you like it? - Chapter 9: V.S. The One who Bears White and Black Wings and Opposes the World Round_01. When you hear the term boss rush, you might think the enemies will gradually grow stronger at each new stage, so I immediately sent in one of the strongest. I even showed a superweapon hidden in the shadow of Endymion to make even his entrance exciting. I also immediately used the badly damaging attack method of using the left hand to swing a weapon on top of the right hand to show that this would be a truly hellish boss rush. I quite like Amano Kaguya who is neither good nor evil and views the earths events from an outsiders perspective, but Im not sure Ill ever have a chance to really use that in a story. - Chapter 10: V.S. The Fury of Two Billion Round_02. After Academy Citys #1 comes the Agnese Force. I figured that sequence would have you laughing and asking what Agnese could possibly do, so I used the surging inflation spell that multiplies personal magic by two billion to quickly corner Kamijou. My main purpose was to show at an early stage that letting your guard down for an instant would get you killed this time. Or to put it more simply, I wanted to write a scene of Kamijou spinning through the air and dislocating his shoulder! - Chapter 11: V.S. The Nuns Wavering in God''s Majesty Round_03. Now for the Russian Orthodox Church. Their power aside, the important point with them was being the first opponent in the boss rush that Kamijou barely knew and thus would show no kindness. The Seven Deadly Sins spell they used is meant to weaken pagan gods by defining them by ones own set of rules, so it is a lot like Olleruss fairy spell. However, the Seven Deadly Sins spell would probably tend more in the demon direction (Their power is looked down on, but they remain a symbol of fear. In some cases, they become seen as an even greater force.), so it might have led to Othinus retaining her powers and gaining an even crueler personality. - Chapter 12: V.S. The Four Demon-Slaying Swords Round_04. After the Romans and Russians, its the Anglicans. The last of the three Christian groups has the most vertical freedom. Regardless of his right hand, Kamijou Touma fundamentally cannot defeat a Saint, so he chose the frightening tactic of taking the path with a 100% chance of death. The difference between him and Bersi is that he (in a way) completely trusts Kanzaki Kaori. The most important point is how the Priestess looks somehow happy even as watching spoiled Kamijou throws off her pace. - Chapter 13: V.S. The Blacksmith who Releases the Magic Sword Round_05. Dinsleif was never truly used in New Testament 4, but now it attacks at its full specs. Partially calling in all sorts of hells and endings seems like complete inflation of power to me, but I decided to go for it anyways because the dwindling of peoples faith acts as a sign or omen of coming destruction in a lot of religions. By the way, as I wrote this, it scared me how quickly the user would run out of their stock of summons when using this attack. And if Marian had not made a limited barrier before the battle, something similar to Angel Fall in the old Volume 4 might have happened. - Chapter 14: V.S. The Police of the Front Stage Round_06. The opponent Kamijou Touma completely lost to was not a monster from the magic or science sides. It was a normal soldier who had gathered as much normal power as possible. This functions as an important brake in this series. If he can ever defeat someone like that without thinking, the series is as good as over. The ghillie suit is a truly terrible combination from a moe perspective and its a pain to describe in detail, but I really wanted to put one in somewhere! Sergeant Ingrids sneaking was partially a way of showing how skilled she was, but then it was made fun of by Lessar and Vasilisa later. That is another important balancer in this series. - Chapter 15: V.S. The Merciless Scientific Vanguard Round_07. The rush of Five Overs. There was no way he could win, so I made some drama as they ran away. The theme of this chapter was a reckless elopement. I was trying to make the hopeless situation seem as refreshing as possible by bringing up far-off dreams such as the bakery and flower shop. - Chapter 16: V.S. The Heaven-Sent Child Loved by Electrons Round_08. In a way, this was another revenge match from New Testament 9, but this time it happened with Kamijou losing. The main point here was Mikoto defeating Kamijous argument with a similar yet different argument to the Wills in the previous volume. The gist of it was from whose perspective is it a perfect world? Kamijou could only overcome the ultimate argument with his selfish desires, but Mikoto saved him in a different way than the Will by pointing out that everyone else has their own selfish desires and its too simple to think mechanically forcing salvation on everyone is the best option. By the way, the final attack was because I decided to go with a special attack hidden behind seemingly kind and accepting behavior similar to rubbing their head and exploding, kissing them on the forehead and exploding, or hugging them and exploding. - Chapter 17: V.S. The Master of the Library and the Magic Queen Round_09. Kamijou Toumas tension lessens the closer his relationship with the person is and that showed its true value here. ...I just wish there had been a character there to make fun of Birdway for loving her big bro so much!! And since I was making Birdway into a pseudo magic god, I kind of regret not giving her the costume along with the lance. - Chapter 18: V.S. The One who Opposes the Magic God Round_10. As any reader who has made it this far could probably guess, getting off easy for two or three battles is a sign of things are about to get much worse. This time it was Silvia going yandere after Olleruss defeat. She went all out with breaking a large tree through his body and throwing over the bag of blood he had become to restrict the actions of her partner. She was so angry that she went for hand-to-hand while completely ignoring her well-reasoned spell using a clothesline shown in New Testament 6. She likely wanted to feel the sensation of his flesh being smashed to fulfill her desire for revenge. On the other hand, Brunhild was (scarily) calm. Kamijou and Othinus gave up on talking right away, but she is the type who can be reasoned with. If they had persuaded her, the battle may have developed in a different direction. If Kamijou is the current one who understands Othinus, then Ollerus is the one who best knows her past evil deeds that are wrapped in mystery. First she took his chance to reach the level of magic god and then she took the special power remaining in his body. Othinus had twice taken everything from him, so I thought him forgiving her would hold an important point in this story. Ollerus had lost all his power, but I made sure he did not let that weakness show. The important point is how lonely he is as the one who could not understand her. - Chapter 19: V.S. The Hammer-Wielding Almighty God Round_11. Almighty Thor defeated Kamijou in an instant at the end of New Testament 6, so I think this was an important revenge match for him to overcome. He said not to view his ability as mere teleportation, but Musujime Awaki might be able to do something similar in her perfect mode. It isnt for nothing that she was determined to reach Level 5 if not for her trauma. Thor looked up to Kamijou Touma not for the power in his right hand but for the environment he is placed in and how bravely he chooses to throw himself into that environment. Thor automatically evades all attacks and takes the optimal position, but that means he must abandon the weak and his allies and only he can hide in safety if something happens. With all that and his conflict with brooding Touma in New Testament 5 and 6, it hints that what he truly longs for is not the strongest sword but the strongest shield. Kamijou became a battered shield after he made decisions that anyone could have made if they thought about it and ultimately made an enemy of the world to save a lonely goddess. To Thor, he may have looked like a giant mountain after gradually gathering up all of those experience points. To that obsessed mountain climber, he must have looked like the greatest peak. - Chapter 20: V.S. ??? Round_12(Secret). In that cold world where everyone had announced they would kill Othinus, who would the final enemy be? After a lot of thought, I decided on Magic God Othinus herself rather than some other murderous person. She decided a monster like herself should not be saved. To Kamijou Touma who wanted to save that girl no matter what, no other enemy could have been as powerful. And when she became his enemy and rejected salvation, there was a line I definitely wanted to have him say: Dont run, Othinus. That isnt a line you would normally hear from a protagonist to a girl who is almost entirely cornered, but Kamijou himself chose suicide in New Testament 9. Because he knew how she felt all too well and because he understood her, he was able to speak more harshly. I thought that would express their strong bond better than some flowery words. With Othinus as his enemy, the final barrier he had to overcome was of course the crossbow. He was only able to be pushed onwards in New Testament 9, so I wrote this while thinking he could only stand on his own once he overcame this attack. Also, the presidents speech was exciting, wasnt it!? A bit sad that it would be changed to a headmaster or board chairmans speech in a school story. Speaking of the speech, I used it to stretch out the beginning of the fight because a drawn out battle against the crossbow was impossible. I was trying to make it like a duel in a Western or jidaigeki. Thats also why there was almost no dialogue between Kamijou and Othinus in the battle scene. I wrote this while swearing I would give the volume a happy ending, but I still gave that punishment to view the happy world in the very end. Just hearing that may sound like a light punishment, but if you re-read New Testament 9, you should find its true value and see humanitys ironic counterattack against Othinus. It was a happy ending but it had what could be seen as the ultimate punishment, so I will end this with a line from the novel. Despite all that, you chose to face the world, Othinus. I give my thanks to my illustrator, Haimura-san, and my editors, Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. Writing nothing but exciting battles increases the amount of work and the readers will gradually get used to it, so this had to be another difficult volume for them. Thank you very much. I also give my thanks to all of the readers. Id been holding off on Ill destroy that illusion since starting New Testament, so how did you like having it released here? This was a story of hope where the small bits of good make up the majority even when the world seems harsh and filled with hostility and hatred. I hope you enjoyed it. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. By the way, how did you like her lovestruck side? -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 11, Prologue: A Certain Entrance — No.05_Open. Volume 11, Prologue: A Certain Entrance No.05_Open. Hey, you lazy Zashiki Warashi. What is this Hi no Enma thing anyway? I suppose you could call it a Japanese succubus. Its counted as a blood-sucking monster, but its actually an enemy of Buddhism. In other words, its a female Youkai that uses her charm to get in the way of asceticism. Oh, a succubus, you say? I see, I see. A succubus!? You mean like the one in a micro-bikini living in our attic!? Dont act like that, Shinobu. Its disturbing. And I believe this kind destroys the victims family as well. Thats why Im so mad!! But I wonder how they worked the Hi no Enma into the criminal Package. Especially into a Package to attract all the girls around you. It sounds ridiculous, but its no laughing matter. The market toward people who want to be popular is huge. In a broad sense, it covers fashion. In a deeper sense, theres plastic surgery. And if you want to get into the shadier stuff, theres the power stones you can buy on the internet. If you include love songs and movies that virtually fulfill that desire, it might be the biggest market in the world. But the Hi no Enma is a female Youkai and primarily messes with male ascetics. You mean it wouldnt make girls fall for people like this Package does? Thats right. And I might have called it a blood-sucking monster, but it cant turn other people into its own kind like a vampire. So did they use that fact to create a Package that creates more Hi no Enmas? That is, the target girls are made identical to the Japanese succubus? Made identical? You mean instead of having the Hi no Enma attack them, the targets are drawn in by doing the same thing as it? Hi no Enma... Japanese succubus... Enemy of Buddhism... Interferes with asceticism... Sucks blood... Hm? Wait. What is it? You say its a blood-sucking monster, but whats the definition of blood here? Human blood, of course. I doubt it counts if they eat a rare veal steak. But what if anything counts as long as its human blood. Theres more than just A, B, AB, and O. Theres also artificial blood. Shinobu, you dont mean... And calling it artificial blood is a bit of an exaggeration. Its nothing more than a few minerals and electrolytes added to saline. In that case, weve already seen the artificial blood theyve been spreading around. Those sports drinks and oral rehydration fluid. This popularity Package turns the girls who drink those things into succubi and makes them obey your will. But its nothing to worry about now that we know the trick. Cmon, lets go unmask them! Theyve really developed this restaurants broadcast ability, muttered Shokuhou Misaki. She was one of Academy Citys seven and Tokiwadai Middle Schools two Level 5s. Her long legs were wrapped in stockings with spider web embroidery and those legs dangled down near a stools support column. The amber polished counter reflected the doll-like features of her small face and her long, honey-blonde hair. People found it hard to believe her proportions were those of a middle school girl and those proportions seductively pushed out the blazer of her Tokiwadai winter uniform from within. She impolitely rested her elbows on the counter and turned her bored eyes toward the flat screen monitor installed over the employees head. In the old days, it had been common for professional baseball games or horse races to play at ramen shops or set meal restaurants, but that was technically against the law. That led to a demand for programming that store and restaurant televisions could play without relying on TV broadcasts. However, the spread of those had only accelerated peoples trend away from television, so there really was no winning in that business. (Is that a magnetically controlled monitor? Instead of RGB colors, they use CMYK. Ive heard they dont produce blue light and can display resolutions higher than 4K8K for things like art museum and art introduction shows, but they tragically never caught on because the broadcast signals couldnt keep up.) If they had a screen like that here, she guessed someone in the restaurant loved gadgets. At any rate, what did a truly high-class girl eat? There were a variety of answers, but Shokuhou Misaki never touched any of the foods in convenience stores or family restaurants that would list a single vague ingredient such as Salisbury steak. On the other hand, living solely off of high-class French food requiring a reservation seemed even cheaper and felt like something a steak-loving middle-aged man would do. Sorry about the wait. There is your cheeseburger, French fries, seven veggie salad, and orange juice. Is onion dressing okay? Thank you We will prepare a mini custard pudding pie for your dessert. Please do. She smiled and looked down at the tray on the counter. It all looked like the foods found at fast food restaurants the world over and none of it was particularly expensive. Nevertheless, she had a good reason for choosing this as the ultimate luxury. Beef bowls, hamburgers, hot dogs, rice balls, sandwiches, ramen, curry rice, sodas, and ice cream. Those were the main draw of countless restaurants across Japan, but what if they were made naturally delicious by a natural professional using natural ingredients? This restaurant was the answer. The ingredients were kept cheap, so there was no major risk. But at the same time, the restaurant did not raise their prices solely to improve their image. The fa?ade of fancy words was thrown aside and they made something anyone would want if they knew just how difficult it was to naturally enjoy what was natural. Restaurants like this were hidden around Academy City and only those who knew the list could avoid the many landmines and enjoy these natural foods on a daily basis. In Academy Citys case, most restaurants used cloned meat and vegetables grown inside farming buildings, so finding natural ingredients better than that was a high hurdle indeed. The bottles of water and caf desserts Shokuhou ate on a daily basis were also hidden masterpieces buried on the shelves. However, there may have been another, completely different reason why she ate those natural things so often. Even among specialists, opinions were divided on why people developed preferences in food. One theory said there was a deep bond between the sense of taste and memories. Liking the taste of your mothers cooking was proof of growing up in a happy household. Conversely, a child who was always lonely with both parents at work would associate the flavor of ready-made convenience store meals with those negative memories. What this theory said about disgusting prison food went without saying. People often said their tastes changed when they grew up, but that could be interpreted as overcoming their unpleasant memories as time went on. Chomp? Shokuhou Misaki grabbed a large paper napkin from the counter, wrapped it around the cheeseburger, and accomplished the miraculous task of elegantly eating that handheld food which was much larger than her small mouth. One look at the hint of relaxation around her eyes was enough to see that something comfortable had come to mind when she tasted that combination of juicy meat, melted cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomato, and spices kept subtle enough to not overpower those other traits. She was naturally enjoying this natural thing. There was no need to get excited and she did not let her high-class world take this from her. (Come to think of it...) With the giant cheeseburger in one hand, she looked to the side. This was an area primarily targeted toward university students and the first floor of this building contained a convenience store. But from the second story window, she could see a small intersection. (Thats the intersection where I first met him, isnt it?) Those two people with no previous connection had bumped into each other there. Their paths had crossed. It was not a particularly beautiful location and it had not been the kind of lovely meeting seen in dramas. However, it had been a special event for the girl named Shokuhou Misaki. Even if it had all come to an end and their paths would never cross again, it had been important enough to strongly influence what had happened to her from then on. Shokuhou Misaki still remembered even now. That was when she had first met the pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma. That time in August of the previous year was a strong contender for the happiest period of her life. Volume 11, 1: Reminiscence >> Front Hall — Episode_the_Girl”. Volume 11, Chapter 1: Reminiscence >> Front Hall Episode_the_Girl. Part 1 When she thought back on the entire incident, the first time Shokuhou Misaki had run into Kamijou Touma could easily be called a false start. That was oftentimes how reality worked. Kyah!? S-sorry!! The loud cries of cicadas and the great heat of midsummer filled a completely ordinary intersection in a completely ordinary district. When a pointy-haired boy ran against the flow of people and crashed into Shokuhou Misaki, a short and slender girl who was still developing, the contents of their bags audibly scattered all over the asphalt. Her brand new stationary and other items newly bought after entering middle school went everywhere. The boy who had run into her was most likely two or three years older than her. He crouched down until he was practically on all fours while quickly gathering up all of her belongings and pressing them into her arms. Im really sorry, but Im in a hurry. You arent hurt, are you? Bye! Eh? What? Wait!! She did not even have time to get angry. The pointy-haired boy ran off with his belongings in his arms and the crosswalks green light began to flash. On top of that, she was honked at by an emergency vehicle from an emergency response service that had recently made a name for itself as a civilian ambulance. She decided it would be stupid to turn back in pursuit of that intruder and have to wait through another full light cycle, so she quickly made her way across the road. Huh? She found an unfamiliar object mixed in with the belongings in her arms. It was a cheap cellphone. The screen was locked with a password, so she could not even try to find the owners name. However, there was no need to do that. She knew whose it was without looking into it. One of the boys possessions had gotten mixed in with hers. She turned around, but a stream of cars blocked her since the light had changed and the pointy-haired boy was nowhere to be seen on the road past that. What am I supposed to do about this? She had no real obligation to return it and hunting him down sounded like a real pain. However, she felt she needed to at least hand it over to Anti-Skill or Judgment later. Even if it was cheap, an electronic device seemed different from a pencil or an eraser. She was hesitant to just throw it away, so she was unsure what to do with it. If this is a new trick for hitting on girls, then its quite something. That was all she said before leaving the intersection. That meeting had surely been nothing but a false start and it had been completely meaningless. In fact, she did not even count it as a meeting. In that case, Academy Citys #5 had to have experienced another meeting that did hold great meaning. That second chance meeting was the one that held real value for Shokuhou Misaki and Kamijou Touma. Part 2 It had not been until several days after crashing into each other in the intersection that things had truly been set in motion. There may have been signs from well before that, but this was the day and the time that held great meaning for Shokuhou Misaki. She had not wanted to meet anyone. During an oppressively hot night, she had staggered through the familiar student areas and continually made her way as far from any other people as she could. She always chose the quieter and emptier direction. As she did so, she crossed into another district, left the asphalt and concrete scenery, and entered a winding mountain trail surrounded by the trees of a dark forest. This was District 21. The mountainous region had a rare amount of preserved nature for an urban center like Academy City. It was filled with observatories and valuable water resources such as dams or artificial lakes. But even then, she kept moving. She could not accept it. She walked on and on without end and ultimately found herself at the peak of one of the few mountains. There she found a circular artificial lake with a diameter of over fifty meters. Something like a metal tower rose from the center of the lake and the lakes edges were entirely made of concrete. From space, it may have looked like some strange ruins, but it was actually an experimental geothermal power station that stuck a heat conducting rod one thousand meters down into the earth. The sun had already set and the moon was out. It was far past her dorms curfew, so the dorm manager and the like were probably causing an uproar. But Shokuhou Misaki had grown sick of all that. Ahh, ahh. Still in the brand new summer uniform of a first year in middle school, she collapsed onto her back next to the perfect circle of the artificial lake. No one else was around, so she spread out her limbs despite her short skirt. One could perhaps call it giving into temptation, but she pulled a TV remote from her handbag and toyed with it in her hand. She spun it around like a gunman in a western and a little thought began to grow larger and larger inside her head. It was just like frozen moisture wrapping around the dust in the air to form a large snow crystal. She had already settled the issue involving a giant **** to increase **** which was very important to her. The related incident involving a **** named Dolly who had lived hidden in a tall building was also over for the moment, as much as she hated to admit it. Enough time had passed since then for her emotions to cool. And that may have been the reason why. Was she finally relaxing or had she grown lax? It was at this moment, when some time had passed after all of her immediate problems had been dealt with, that her heart fell into a decayed state much like an overly serious freshman growing depressed shortly after starting school. She was an esper who could control peoples minds, so some might have found it strange for her to fall victim to this kind of thing, but she had not had many opportunities to use her powers on her own mind. And this may have been one of those opportunities. I dont know if you call this my weariness ability or what, but Im just sick of it all. Sick of memories. Sick of relationships. Sick of everything like that. She stopped spinning the TV remote and pressed it against her own temple, just like she was committing suicide with a handgun. She was one of the few Level 5s among the 2.3 million residents of Academy City, so it was not unusual for her to be used for the benefit of the adults, in experiments, or as part of some sort of conspiracy. And during the intense time spent dealing with those conspiracies, she had not had time to think about this sort of thing. If, during one of those times, she had seen herself now, she might have angrily grabbed the remote and eliminated that self-indulgent denial of peoples bonds even if it meant altering her personality. But that was why one could say she had given into temptation. She had grown lax and let her guard down. Otherwise, she would never have said what she did. Why not reset everything inside my head? Would that free me from all these heavy thoughts? Speaking it aloud may have been an imprinting ritual meant to convince herself of what she was saying. It would be a simple task. So very, very simple. She only had to move her thumb and press the button on the remote pressed to her temple. That would immediately activate Mental Out, historys strongest mental esper power, and reset all of her memories. She would not regain all that time and nothing would physically change, but she would definitely return to being innocent in a certain way. She felt like something was holding her thumb back, but the desire to escape the strange weight in her heart was stronger. Her thumb twitched and her powers were about to activate. But in that very moment, something else happened. Huh? What are you doing here? She heard a male voice She first thought a worker at the geothermal power station was out patrolling the area, but the voice was far too young for that. She concluded it must be a student who had ignored the no entry signs like she had, but she could not work up the willpower to sit up and speak with him. What does it matter? I really dont think you should be doing that. What, are you with Judgment? No, but... Then what does it matter? Oh, uh... But I really dont think you should be doing that. I guess its not really my place, though. He sounded terribly indecisive. She questioned whether this was some new method of hitting on girls, but he spoke again before she could sit up and see what he looked like. I mean... When youre lying all sprawled out like that, I can see right up your skirt from over here. You should really cover up. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... For an instant C truly just an instant C her entire face grew beet red from the tip of her nose to the edge of her ears, but as a gorgeous and elegant lady, she did not do anything as unseemly as frantically reach out to hold her skirt down. Instead, she sat up as slowly and silently as the shimmering heat, removed the TV remote from her temple, and pointed it at the boy standing a short distance away. Erase his memories!! she shouted. Her thumb moved and the pointy-haired head swayed. Mental Out never failed, so the memory of what color of flower garden was inside her skirt had been banished to eternal darkness. Or so she thought. ? The boy grew unsteady on his feet as if feeling faint, so he slowly shook his head while holding his head with his right hand. Hm? I get that youre embarrassed, but why would you think that would erase someones memories? he said with a dazed look on his face. And I dont know who you thinks interested in you and that flat chest of yours, but I wont tell anyone, so just stand up already. What!? He showed no sign of having lost the memory. If anything, he was adding to it. Just to be sure, she asked a question. I-incidentally, can you remind me what Im wearing today? Whats with that spider web pattern? Have you thought about something more your age? And does that even cover up the important bits? Erase!! But no matter how many times she tried, nothing came of it. It was an endless spiral of memory erasure dizziness right hand to the head confused look. After the failure of the powers she had absolute faith in and what seemed like a tremendous obsession with her panties, Shokuhou Misaki threw aside her ladylike aura and let out a shout. Ive erased your memories thirty-eight times now, so why are your eyes still glued to my underwear!? Just how great is your pervert ability!? Hm? Wait. Dont tell me you really have a power like that! Thats a bit of an overreaction to some panties, dont you think!? A puzzled look came over her as she watched the pointy-haired boy hurriedly move back. She felt like she recognized him from somewhere. Youre the guy who ran into me at the intersection with toast in his mouth. I did not have toast in my mouth. Come to think of it, that means youre the one that brought my phone to Anti-Skill. Thanks for that. She grew suspicious as he pulled the cheap cellphone from his pocket and waved it a little. So was all of this some new way of hitting on girls? Oh, I get it now. Thats Tokiwadais uniform, isnt it? Ive run into a painfully self-conscious little lady, havent I? Part 3 The current Shokuhou Misaki laughed without meaning to. As she did, the large breasts swelling out from within her winter uniform shook. She had finished eating and started back toward her student dorm in the School Garden, but she had naturally chosen to use the underground malls heated corridor. The reason she liked the underground mall may have been because its spider web of intricate passageways reminded her of the unreal feeling of a labyrinth in a picture book. She enjoyed the ethereal feeling of not knowing where she was or which direction she was facing despite being in familiar territory, but she also recalled what had happened back then. That had been a terrible meeting. But in her depraved state of mind at the time (which thinking back was a despicable and spoiled way to act), it had been like a perfect-score shot in the arm. There were times when fancy and by-the-book words would not reach you. There were also times when you would harshly reject anything just because it came from your parents or teachers. Sometimes a gag manga or comedians skit that adults mocked as meaningless and worthless could bring life back to a weakened heart. And the fact that Shokuhou Misaki had made it this far without resetting her memories was surely due to that horrible meeting. But for better or for worse, that had been nothing more than a meeting. The two had not even learned each others names. It was here that they had learned that and that he had made some kind of definite connection with her. This underground mall had been the stage for that. Part 4 It was apparently known as the Summer City Flood Prevention Program. Uuh... What is with this? Academy City District 7 was a city of asphalt and concrete that could be called Shokuhou Misakis home ground and she was currently standing there wearing her schools designated racing swimsuit. This was the summer of her first year in middle school, so the swimsuit was almost brand new. Simply put, this event used the city for disaster training. It was a large-scale test period to ensure the underground malls drainage equipment worked and the emergency shutters could withstand the water pressure. The spider web of underground passageways and some of the aboveground roads were intentionally flooded by guiding river water into them after passing it through water purification equipment. That was the basic outline of the event. This essentially turned all the citys shortcuts into flowing pools and the students swam all around with their wallets and stationery in waterproof bags. Lets play with this! If we dive with it, its gotta be fun!! Eh? Whats so great about a radio-controlled submarine? Youll see once you dive! Small children were running around and shouting in excitement. Whether it was the ocean, a river, or a pool, teenage students would go nuts as long as they had a body of water on a hot day, so this event had latched onto their hearts and would not let go. Or at the very least, no one complained about it. Except for the small minority like Shokuhou Misaki, that is. (Uuh... I had to wear my swimsuit because Im not about to reveal my pathetic lack of ability by saying I cant swim at my age, but what do I do now?) She could move from one end of the city to the other without entering the underground mall, but the underground passageways were best if she wanted to take the shortest route that avoided the really long red lights at the main roads and the railroad crossings. Also, the air-conditioned underground passageways that protected her from the hot sun were an urban oasis for people like her. (Its 38 degrees out here. Im not going to melt like ice cream before getting back to the dorm, am I?) But now that she had made a show of wearing her swimsuit, she did not want to use the trains or busses. She was not going to be quite that welcoming to the molesters of the world. On this day of summer break, simply heading out to the store had turned into this living hell. Unlike the girls excitedly running to the stairs down to the underground mall while carrying floats and beach balls, Shokuhou alone felt dark as if she were in a reverse spotlight. That was when she heard footsteps. Despite the crowds around her, these footsteps sounded oddly loud in her ears. Huh? What are you doing drooping down in the middle of the street? You dont have heatstroke, do you? Youre the guy who ran into me at the intersection with toast in his mouth and then tried to hit on me at the mountain peak. The names Kamijou Touma, golden girl. I am the great Shokuhou Misaki!! That young lady of Tokiwadai Middle School immediately shouted back in an all-out rejection because she feared having that weird nickname stick with her forever. Shokuhou? That sounds like its spelled with some crazy characters. And why are you wilting like that? Are you lost? You just insist on mocking me, dont you? Could you leave me alone? I was having a bad enough time simply having to walk back to my dorm through the incredibly hot sun at two in the afternoon. Eh? Why would you do that? Just use the underground passageways. Theyve turned into air-conditioned flowing pools so theyll feel almost too cold. Kh!? Her shoulders jumped more than necessary. And if you arent going to head underground, why are you walking around in a swimsuit in the first place? This was not good. She would rather die than let it out that she was walking around in the swimsuit to show off despite not being able to swim. Yet saying she was going around town in a swimsuit for no reason would just make her a pervert. This was really, really bad. Ho...ho ho ho. What are you talking about? I was just about to head down there with plenty of ability to spare!! I have no idea why you sound so defiant, but why dont you get going? I will! Okay. I really, really will!! Okay? Why do I feel dj vu? Is it just me or is this a lot like the lead up to entering a boiling bath? Shokuhou Misaki trudged off toward the stairs to the underground mall like she was preparing to commit suicide. She hesitantly turned back on the way, but the mystery pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma was still giving her a skeptical look. She favorably interpreted that as her hips simply being too attractive for her own good, but she did not stop. She could not stop now. ... The rectangular entrance leading underground showed a stairway that was flooded partway down, but it looked like a giant monsters maw to her. A raw chill ran from the inside of her legs to the back of her neck, but her hyper high-class aura refused to let her give up. (Its...) She moved hesitantly but gathered strength in her gut so those around her would not notice. As she did, she heard the cries of playing elementary school children who easily ran down the stairs past her and into the labyrinthine pool below. This water guns amazing! It really is!! Look!! Ah, wait for me! Meanwhile, Shokuhou Misaki quietly clenched her teeth and tried to motivate herself. (Its okay. Even those children can laugh and play here! It doesnt matter if you cant swim! The water isnt five meters deep or anything. You can walk along the corridor like normal and reach the exit like normal. Normal human ability is more than enough here.) But whatever she said on the surface, she was more than panicked, so she overlooked a small fact. One child lagging behind the passing group gave a shout of Wait for me! And a moment later, that slower child crashed into her back. Without even time to scream, her face produced a tremendous splash as it broke through the waters surface. In all seriousness, fear for her life filled her entire being. Under the water, everything sparkled brightly and she could not even tell which way was up. C-cough!? She flailed her limbs around, but that did not help. She was like a hamster running and running in its wheel. Meanwhile, the oxygen inside her body was converted into something else and a strange heat wrapped around her mind. Oh, honestly!! She thought she heard a voice and a large clump of air bubbles burst into the water nearby. It grabbed her slender flailing arm and dragged her up to the surface. It was the pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma. Cough! Cough!! He shouted at the (self-proclaimed) beautiful girl from close range as she coughed. The water isnt even a meter deep here!! Are you the kind of person that causes problems for the part-time lifeguard by drowning in a kiddie pool!? Sh-shut up. The group of kids, including the one who had run into her, was nervously looking their way from a short distance away. Shokuhou should have been the victim here, so why did she feel so guilty? And if you cant swim, thats fine. Why are you getting so angry and charging in here? But if youre really not feeling well, I can call a civilian ambulance. I said shut up!! She shouted in desperation with her face completely red and even the very top of her head soaking wet, but then she grabbed onto Kamijou Toumas arm. What the hell are you doing? Hmph. Whats so great about being able to float in water? Do you really have to swim the breaststroke like a frog to be a winner in life!? If people who live on land hadnt forced themselves to invent these techniques of moving through the water, people like me wouldnt be stuck having to pretend! But what does any of that have to do with grabbing my arm!? Now that its come to this, I have no choice but to bet my pride on travelling through this pool that used to be an underground mall. But I cant let anyone see me relying on a float, so I need a more elegant alternative. Essentially, she was afraid the surrounding people would spread a rumor of Miss Shokuhou Misaki almost drowning in a pool less than a meter deep, so her desperate objective was to suppress that rumor with the image of her travelling through the pool without issue. And instead of using her arms and kicking her legs to swim through the pool, she would elegantly walk through it while holding a boys arm. However... Theyre touching me! Youve been pressing them up against my arm for a bit now!! You really, really need to shut up! I have more important things to worry about!! No matter how modest they might be, a girls breasts are still a girls breasts! What did you- bgh!? Just as she began to snap back at him, a beach ball struck her square in the face. A short distance away, a few girls in swimsuits were panicking at the wonderfully clean hit and Kamijou Toumas words provided the finishing blow. Not again. This is just like the trouble you caused by not noticing that kid coming up behind you. Its your fault for not seeing it coming from right in front of you. Does this go beyond swimming? Are you just hopelessly all-around unathletic? Heh heh...heh heh heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh. Shokuhou Misaki no longer cared about appearances. With some dark laughter, she stuck a hand in her bag, pulled out one of the many remote controls inside, and pointed it in every direction. Ill erase your memories!! Ill erase every single memory of my pathetic lack of ability!! Wait! Arent you being a little tyrannical here!? Incidentally, Kamijou Touma was included in the targets, but the bit of dizziness once again caused him to grab his head with his right hand and negate her command. Meanwhile, she continued through the flowing pool of a passageway while dragging the dumbfounded boy along as a human float. I have a feeling Im being casually forced to help with something awful. Hmph. You have the privilege of accompanying Mental Out Shokuhou Misaki, one of Academy Citys Level 5s, so this will naturally be the highlight of your otherwise dreary summer break. Level 5? Thats right. Mental Out? Thats right! Do you have a problem with that!? Y-youve gotta be kidding. But the rumors said the Level 5 with the greatest mental powers was a young woman with an amazing body!! I am a young woman!! I have always been the most mature one in my class! But for some reason, Kamijou Touma gave her a kind look. Shokuhou-kun. Shokuhou Misaki-kun. Before, I may have said that, no matter how modest they might be, a girls breasts are still a girls breasts. Wh-what about it? Listen, little girl. When I refer to a young woman, I mean someone who manages a student dorm and has the tolerance to give anyone advice if they want it. And there is one thing you lack as far as thats concerned. Do you know what that is, little girl? There was no way she could, so she gave him a confused look and he gave the answer. These common breasts of yours disqualify you from providing the support of a young woman. Give up and try again later. What!!!??? Part 5 The present Shokuhou Misaki held her head in her hands. As a student at a girls school, she did not have enough contact with boys to know what an average boy was like, but she still wondered if that pointy-haired one was one of the worst. (Well...) While reflecting on those stupid words, she lowered her gaze. With an odd shaking sound effect, two large masses pushed out the chest of her winter uniform from within. (It does look like I grew even more than necessary thanks to that) She had met him a few more times around the city, but they had never exchanged cellphone addresses or anything like that. They may have seen some special value in only ever meeting by chance. And she had set up another personal rule: she never looked in his mind using Mental Out. Why had she decided that? She must have seen some special value in that as well. She climbed the stairs and left the underground mall. The chill of the late November air stabbed at her skin and she felt no hint of that summer heat. She then walked along a large road for a while. Perhaps due to limited land, all of the buildings in this area were quite tall, but there were occasional gaps. One of those was a park entrance. She suddenly stopped and turned to that entrance and the poles preventing cars from entering. The casual remnants of memories could be found here and there and this park was one such place. Part 6 One day, Shokuhou Misaki had found the pointy-haired boy sitting on a park bench. Whether it helped much or not, he had chosen a bench in the shade to escape the heat. She wanted to say he was reading, but that may not have been quite right. He was looking through a notebook, but he held nothing to write with. What was he doing? Curious, she had asked and this was his reply. Hypnotism! I can get anyone to do what I say with this!! Hypnotism? That upperclassman sure is amazing. High school girls can do anything! They can ride motorcycles, work part-time, and casually answer anything you ask. Taking that step from middle school to high school really is amazing. Shes such an adult!! What!? Are you trying to piss me off!? Shokuhou had only just entered the middle school zone this year, so she did not like the sound of that theory. It made her feel several levels behind. But at the same time, she noticed the boy had mentioned asking this high school girl something. In that case... (Hm. Could he be studying psychology to have more to talk with me about?) He was way off the mark if that was the case, but why not help with his efforts? She sat next to him and he continued with the notebook in hand. But doesnt Academy Citys Curriculum use hypnotic suggestion? Well, there are some kids who use abreaction, hypermnesia, self-hypnosis, and that sort of thing as triggers or safeties, but I seriously doubt that involves dangling a plastic pendulum from a string and waving it back and forth. Cmon, just this once! I just want to try it out once! Ill only try it a little!! Fine, but if you succeed, its my turn. Ill do to you what you did to me. Her warning would make him too afraid of her revenge to give any inappropriate orders. With that in mind, she watched as he held a power stone pendulum in front of her eyes. All the while, he was looking down at the notebook instead of her. Okay, here goes. Um... First, stare at the pendulum. (It would actually be pretty scary if this was enough to mess with someones mind. This is like performing surgery without knowing what youre doing.) She followed his instructions while working to keep her thoughts from showing on her face. But now a surprise attack!! He clapped his hands right in front of her face. There was in fact a way of inducing a hypnotic state with an unexpected action. For example, you could rub their back as they focused on the movements of your finger. But it was hopeless when the method was this straightforward. Did it work? he asked the surprised girl. P-please relax. (Controlling people isnt that easy!!) ... She swallowed her thoughts and followed his instructions. She let her eyes glaze over and shoulders go limp. The pointy-haired idiot called out to her and waved his hand in front of her face to test her reactions, but he finally seemed to believe in his own power. It really worked. Amazing. That upperclassmans notebook is real! Shes really something else to make a method even an amateur like me can use. High school girls can do anything! They really are adults!! (What!? Why is my effort improving his opinion of that old woman!?) The middle school girl briefly contemplated throwing it all aside and attacking him head-on, but she decided ruining this would not be any fun and so continued her act. Now that Kamijou had gained the right to freely use another person, she wanted to see what kind of commands he would give this (self-proclaimed) beautiful girl. Um, okay. Time for the first command. He looked down at the notebook titled Kumokawa Serias HypnotismNotebook. And then he said it. You have a strong desire to stand up and lift your skirt in both hands. ...!!!??? She thought her heart would leap from her throat. (He...he...he... He completely gave into his desires once he thought hed succeeded, didnt he!?) She began to tremble, but Kamijou did not seem to notice. He looked at her face in confusion, tilted his head, and looked back down to the notebook. Odd. Its not working. But it says right here to test that first. ...? Shokuhou moved just her eyes to glance down at the notebook sitting in his lap. Someone had used a highlighter all over the page, but one area was emphasized more than the rest. Embarrassment is an important parameter for showing a humans resistance. To check whether they are under your control or not, you first need to test a command that will cause great embarrassment. For example, you could ask them to lift their skirt. (That girl is just making things up!!) In fact, the false notebook was written to carry things in an obscene direction no matter what happened. Most likely, that upperclassman had realized Shokuhou was involved once Kamijou made his request. In her jealousy, she had created this nonsense manual and given it to Kamijou. It was exactly the sort of method she would expect of that old woman. Next time they met, she swore to control her with Mental Out, dress her in a risqu swimsuit, and have her put on a one-man samba carnival, but how to handle the current situation took priority. B-but this isnt good. Wouldnt it be bad if I hypnotized her but left her hanging like this!? Oh, damn. Is there a way to stop the hypnotism!? Like a purge switch or something!? What had he planned to do if this was real? She grew more and more irritated as he flipped through page after page, but she realized she had bigger things to worry about. Namely, the page his hand stopped on. Here it is! Lets see, lets see. Emergency hypnotism release. If the hypnotism fails, it could cause catastrophic damage to their memories or personality, so do not hesitate for a second when performing this emergency release. However, shouting to them or slapping them wont help. Their embarrassment is what is interfering with your commands, so you must increase that to its maximum. (Eh? Wait.) For example, by removing their panties. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!!??? She lost control of herself and jabbed the corner of her handbag into the very middle of his pointy-haired head. Part 7 ................................................................................................................................................................................. Shokuhou felt like holding her head and writhing around, but she used all of her strength to suppress the urge. That had not actually been the pointy-haired boys fault. That old woman was at fault and he had simply been tricked into it. It would have been something if he had understood what was going on and went along with it while playing the role of victim, but she doubted he was that crafty. She was inside a chilly park covered in brown dried leaves. It must have been a common point between their spheres of activity because they had shared a few other memories there. For example... Part 8 Shokuhou Misaki could no longer hear the loud cicada cries. There was a simple reason for that. On that summer day, she was entirely covered in pigeons. ... Wahh, wahh, wahh!! The pointy-haired boy frantically swung his school bag around to drive away the fifty or so pigeons. All of the popcorn in the cardboard container had already been wiped out and she had only managed to eat two or three pieces. I look away for just a second to get some drinks and this is what happens! What are you even doing!? But...I... That wasnt my fault! I was the one attacked by the park pigeons!! This goes beyond simply being unathletic. What!? Why does it seem so familiar? Do you maybe have the same tendency for misfortune as me? N-no, I dont. A perfect queen like me would never have that kind of negative ability displayed on her status screen! However, the boy fished through his bag with a pitying look in his eyes. He pulled out a silver whistle in a plastic bag and handed it to the slender girl who still had feathers on her summer uniform and in her hair. It resembled the kind of whistle used for soccer matches and the like, but it had likely been customized for emergencies. She could use it to let people know where she was if she was stranded or buried alive. I got this in some kind of training, so take it. You need to have something like this with you at all times. Id be worried otherwise. What do you mean by that? Use it if youre in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you. Once she took it because he said to, she realized she had already been pretty well tamed by him. She would never have admitted it, though. (Honestly, this isnt like putting a bell on a cats collar.) Despite being a shiny silver, she found the whistle was made of plastic or something similar once she removed it from the bag. It was a cheap product with the silver painted on and it was probably worth less than one hundred yen, but the whistles had probably been handed out to all of the students at a school and thought of as a bargain if they would help at all. She casually began to place it in her mouth, but then she froze. (Wait. Given this things secondhand ability, would this be an indirect kiss?) Her face rapidly grew red, but Kamijou only yawned. She had a sudden urge to hit him, but she reconsidered it. He had handed it to her while it was still in the plastic bag. He had likely gotten it during some disaster training and then never used it. She was essentially being used as a garbage can here. That irritated her a bit, but she relaxed and placed the whistle in her mouth. Will this thing really be any help? Who knows. But it should be easier on the throat than screaming. I tried it out once and it was really loud. A horribly distorted whistle rang throughout the park. The indirect kiss was an indirect kiss after all. Part 9 The current Shokuhou Misaki sighed. That whistle was still in her handbag. She had never had need to use it, but she had found no reason to get rid of it either. Ultimately, she had not rid herself of her lingering attachment to the point of cutting all ties. This could be said of anyone, but there were discrepancies between who she wanted to be and who she really was. And that boy was one of the few areas in which she was willing to admit that fact. (Come to think of it...) Inside that park which was nearly empty due to the cold, a certain girls face came to mind. That girl was Misaka Mikoto. She was a fellow student at Tokiwadai Middle School and Academy Citys #3 Level 5. The two of them were like oil and water. In fact, they were barely comparable. At any rate, she would always end up in an argument whenever she saw the girl. (And these memories may be part of the reason I just cant stand her.) An older boy and a Tokiwadai lady. Her special power did not work on him. An indirect kiss. The paths they had travelled down with that boy were similar on all counts. If it were not for the problem with his memories, Shokuhou might have been the one there. She knew she should really give up, but she was also not about to stick the remote against her head again. She had already cast aside the option of forgetting everything. What a pain. She cut across the nearly empty park and made her way outside the other exit with the short skirt of her winter uniform blowing a bit. She walked further through the many tall buildings of the city. Countless narrow alleys could be seen in the dim darkness between the buildings. She suddenly stopped in front of one of those. This was the place. Not all of her memories with Kamijou Touma had been enjoyable ones. Some perfectly matched the atmosphere of dangerous darkness filling that narrow alleyway. And this may have been yet another way that Misaka Mikoto had resembled Shokuhous own path with the boy. Simply put, an incident had stood in her way and it would never have reached her had she not been a Level 5. And she had defied it along with that boy. Part 10 Pant pant!! Kamijou Touma panted like an exhausted stray dog as he ran through the hot Academy City night. He was not alone. His hand held the hand of Shokuhou Misaki who wore a brand new summer uniform. Technically, she was the one being targeted. They ran past a sign at the base of a wind turbine notifying them of a recent murder. The two of them took a turn and left the main road. W-wait! Why would you go out of your way to enter an empty alley!? Given their speed, a wide street is more dangerous! When theyre moving that fast, they shouldnt be able to make tight turns!! That idea may not have been wrong, but their pursuers abilities exceeded their expectations. The words on the previous sign returned to Shokuhous mind. There had been a murder recently and a single mistake here could give the two of them a similar fate. She heard the sound of wheels burning the ground below them. Their pursuer was a boy in a red riding suit and a full-face helmet. However, he had small inline skate wheels attached in over fifty places: bottoms of the feet, knees, elbows, shoulders, wrists, waist, back, chest, etc. On top of that, he had two tiny jet engines on his back. They were twenty centimeters wide and fifty-five centimeters long. The pursuer charged toward them while generally leaning forward like a speed skater. He did not do anything as sensible as kick off the ground. It would be more accurate to say he kicked off the wall. Dammit!! He exceeded two hundred kilometers per hour. That incredible speed rivalled a roller coaster and he would temporarily change his field to the walls or even the ceiling. Even a simple tackle from a human-sized mass would be a fatal impact at that speed. And yet the boy held something resembling a bazooka over his shoulder. It was actually an explosive-driven pile bunker. If they crossed paths, Shokuhou and Kamijou would be taken out in a single strike. Altogether, the equipment was known as Queen Diver. True to the initial impression it gave, the weapon system had been created from the ground-up to crush Shokuhou specifically. Its overwhelming speed let one charge in before she could control you. The concept was to kill a Level 5 even if it meant your own destruction. Shokuhou swung around her TV remote regardless, but that method had a certain weakness. Her personal rule was to divide up her too-powerful Mental Out ability in order to make it easier to use. And her personal rule required her to aim the remote at her target. When the enemy was moving around and around at high speed, her targeting was too slow. Yet even when she was certain she had aimed in time, the enemys movements did not fully stop. (Does that helmet detect the abnormal brain wave ability and switch control of the suit over to a program!?) Mental Out may have been the most powerful mental ability, but even it did not work on pure machines or non-human animals. This equipment had clearly been made specifically to target her. (Beyond the issue of strength, this is just a poor match. And I dont have time to remove that limiter when hes moving around so fast. They went out of their way to create a weapon with absolutely no use beyond its ability to kill me!!) While she thought and clenched her teeth, Kamijou snatched the remote from her hand. Wai-... Before she could protest, the pointy-haired boy had thrown the remote at the red riding suit as hard as he could. This was a complete waste, much like throwing a gun without bothering to pull the trigger, but it was still effective. As soon as the remote hit the full-face helmet, the riding suit lost its balance while clinging to the wall and trying to pierce through Shokuhous body. And once he lost control, that pursuer riding the rails of an invisible roller coaster became quite fragile. He flipped over and fell to the ground. Beyond that, he plowed through everything on the ground at two hundred kilometers per hour. He passed by Shokuhou and Kamijou and crashed into an old bike and some trash cans left in the alley. That was when Shokuhou heard an explosion and saw orange light burst out. Youre kidding. Even Kamijou, the one who had supposedly defeated the pursuer, was so dumbfounded that he stopped running. Did the shock of the fall mess with the jet engine!? Just how dangerous are these things theyre relying on!? It did seem they had put in the bare-minimum of safety measures. They heard the sound of a shaken soda opening but magnified several dozen times. Something like white steam surrounded the skin-tight Queen Diver suit. It was likely some sort of incombustible gas. The pursuer had probably been wrapped in flames for less than ten seconds, but the burning temperature of the jet fuel had been extraordinary. It was not clear what material the suit was made of, but it might have melted onto his skin like cheese. A civilian ambulance must have passed by the main road because a siren experiencing the Doppler effect reached their ears. The din was unpleasantly reminiscent of death and violence. Then, just as Kamijou began to run forward to help the criminal who had targeted their lives, something else made him stop. More Queen Divers were approaching. With the unpleasant sound of their wheels scraping along the ground, they blocked the boy and girls path in front, behind, and even above. They all wore red riding suits and full-face helmets, but their silhouettes suggested the group contained both boys and girls. Based on their heights and shoulder-widths, there was a large range of ages as well. Kamijou held Shokuhous hand while giving an annoyed yell. He was with you, wasnt he!? Arent you worried about him at all!? We wont let first aid get in our way, replied a male voice. We have something more important to deal with. They all hid their faces behind helmets that blocked mental attacks to an unknown extent and they all aimed their explosive-driven pile bunkers at the boy and girl. Death to the Level 5. A deluge of noise surrounded them as the pursuers prepared their weapons. The human malice created a cage more frightening than the weapons. Death to the Level 5. It sounded like the ritual of some strange cult. Their resentful voices would overpower anyone who heard them but showed just how misguided they were. Death to the Level 5 who has taken everything from us. Part 11 The current Shokuhou Misaki recalled those events while facing the alley entrance in the chilly wind. It might have sounded absurd, but even outside this city, it was common to find attractions where one raced down a slope in a wheel-covered riding suit or to find special-made suits that used inline skates and a jet engine on the back to reach over one hundred kilometers per hour. That group had combined a few such things and added the high stability and handling of electronic control to create the weapon known as the Queen Diver. The name of that red riding suit group came to her mind. Deadlock. The group using that English word as a name could be described as the students whose powers development had reached a standstill and would not progress any further for some reason. They belonged to a great number of different schools and years. Some were genuine high-class ladies and some were delinquent boys. The ideology that bound Deadlock was shockingly simple and the actions they actually took went beyond shocking. Shokuhou set foot in that alley for the first time in a long while. She normally never used such areas (and she could not let any of the Tokiwadai students know about somewhere that made her as nervous as this), but she was in the mood today. The abandoned bike and trash cans were of course gone, but the general location had not changed much. Halfway down the alley, she stopped and looked straight up. Yes, yes. It was right here. The sky spread out while confined to the shape of that narrow alley and a rusty old emergency staircase invaded the space of that limited sky. There was a small chain-link door at the entrance to the staircase, but she could easily climb over it if she ignored her short skirt. While treading on each red and rusty step that could break through at any moment, she climbed the emergency staircase. She was not interested in any of the doors on the way up. She was on her way to the roof of the small multi-tenant building. Beyond that was the final location. The final location she and Kamijou Touma had run to. Part 12 They had jumped from building to building, rooftop to rooftop. But having to bring along Shokuhou Misaki and the fluttering short skirt of her brand new summer uniform had to have been a great detriment to Kamijou Touma. She was willing to admit it now: she was terribly unathletic. During the athletic test in April of that year, her awful results had led her to manipulate the memories of everyone around her. She had to go to the great effort of working up her courage and then taking a running start to cross the ravines that were not even a meter wide, so Deadlock and their Queen Diver suits naturally caught up in no time. They were surrounded on every side. Deadlock must have been communicating by phone or something because more riding suit students arrived along different routes. More than thirty of them had gathered on the roof. Shokuhou could try to use her remote to have them take each other out and Kamijou could clench his right fist, but if Deadlock charged forward while prepared to be caught in a jet engine explosion, the two of them would not escape unharmed. One of the scarlet Queen Divers spoke to Kamijou rather than Shokuhou. Are you sure you want to keep this up? He was telling Kamijou he would be saved if he backed off now. But... Of course Im sure. Kamijou Touma did not hesitate to reply. Shokuhou Misaki could not understand what he was saying even as his back protected her. She was just a passing acquaintance to him. They were not childhood friends with a decade of history, they were not blood-related siblings, they were not dating, and they had no other special relationship like that. So why had he responded so readily? What was it that drove him? It seemed the riding suit boy had the same question. You must be a pretty powerful esper to say that. But dont take us lightly because we rely on tools. Even Level 4s arent uncommon in our group. Im nothing that amazing, spat out the boy. Im a zero. A Level 0. ...But there are still things I cant allow. And when it comes to those things, Im ready to clench my fist. I see. So youre one of us. The Queen Diver boy did not mock him for it. In fact, some of the calm in his voice vanished. The tone of his voice suggested that C in a way C facing a Level 0 boy had greater meaning than facing that Level 5 girl. That may have been the case for them. He raised a hand to stop his impatient comrades and spoke. Dont you find it odd? Find what odd? Everything. The riding suit boy did not make any meaningless or self-important theatrics. In this alone, he was sincere. He took the shortest course to the crux of the matter. From the very fact that youve decided to fight for Shokuhou Misaki in this hopeless situation, doesnt it seem like shes already controlling you with her Mental Out? Part 13 The current Shokuhou Misaki felt the chilly wind on the square roof of the multi-tenant building. She was not about to jump from building to building. She was aware of her own lack of athletic ability and she was wearing the short skirt of her winter uniform. Instead, she stayed here and thought to herself while almost feeling left behind by her past self. ... There was such a thing as an AIM Diffusion Field. It was a tiny, tiny power subconsciously emitted by an esper. With Pyrokinesis, it was heat. With Psychokinesis, it was pressure. With Electromasters, it was electricity. It always matched the espers type of power and it was so weak it could only just barely be detected with a microscope or precision measuring device. But no matter how weak it was, power was power. That power was definitely emitted. And what was Shokuhou Misakis power? In Mental Outs case, what kind of power did she subconsciously emit into the outer world? That was the group named Deadlocks motive for keeping an eye on Level 5s and occasionally putting together a suicidal plan to crush them. Someone was bending the world in a way convenient to them. They were likely a powerful esper, so they would naturally be one of those at the top. The worlds fairness had been twisted to those peoples benefit and the unfairness that created was forced onto many others. And to top it all off, the ones twisting the world for their own benefit even if it meant mass-producing misfortune and tragedy were not even aware they were doing it. Because they were not aware, compromise and negotiation would be impossible. They could not stop it even if they tried, so the only way to bring fairness back to the world was to kill them. Deadlock had asked her a few questions. Have you ever thought your life was going a little too well? Have you never thought something might have been sacrificed to give you your high-class status or the growth of your powers? Yes. Just like Kamijou Touma as he threw his life away for her sake. Part 14 Ah. Shokuhou Misaki let out that quiet voice while the boy protected her despite being surrounded by Queen Divers on the multi-tenant building roof. The doubt brought worry. The worry brought fear. Had her power thrown someone elses life out of order? Not only that, had it caused anyones death? Had it happened without her realizing it? Had it happened without her being able to control it? The murder notification at the alley entrance came to mind. The refrain of civilian ambulance service sirens played again and again. Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? She was no saint. She had no problem with using her power to manipulate peoples minds. She simply saw nothing wrong with using what was hers. But at the same time, she felt she had to use people properly when they were under her control. If someone she controlled died or killed someone, she would have to be punished as the one in control. She had that much resolve and dignity. But what if that was meaningless? What if she had already controlled countless people without realizing it and that had led them to lose fortunes, closed off their futures, or even taken their lives? If she still claimed to be safe and normal after all that... She looked around her. All of them wore the same red riding suits and full-face helmets. If her own success was what had stolen the lives of those faceless students and even robbed them of the possibility of proudly showing their faces, just how should one describe her? She could always claim she had not known, that it was not under her control, and that it was therefore not her fault, but who would those words actually save? What a joke. But even though Shokuhou Misaki had put him in this dangerous situation, the pointy-haired boys words cut straight through the stagnant atmosphere. Is it fun blaming others for your own failures? The harder it is to prove something, the harder it is to argue against it. You all made up a reason why it was okay for you to fail. That way you could rest easy as you got lazy. ...You know very well this girl isnt what caused your setbacks. Perhaps, said one of the red Queen Divers. He was completely calm and showed no anger. Even I wonder if were right about this. Every time I think about attacking the Level 5 named Shokuhou Misaki, I feel something like a conscience throbbing inside me. It says this is all the work of a monster created by our own weak hearts and the external factor of Shokuhou Misaki has nothing to do with it. But he went on to reject everything he had just said. But doesnt that seem really suspicious to you? ... You cant deny the possibility that this throbbing I think is my conscience was actually created for someone elses benefit. Normally, that would have been nothing but a delusion. It would have been the crazy ramblings of someone who could not control his own heart. But with her, it was possible. With Mental Out, it was possible. And she could only face the world on the conscious level, so not even she could be certain because she subconsciously emitted some of her power. That is why I wont call your anger wrong. The riding suit boy readily prepared the pile bunker on his shoulder and viewed Kamijou Touma as a clear enemy, but his voice showed he recognized him as a fellow human. But that is also why you should wonder where that emotion comes from. Its wrong to die for something like this. If you know that but still stand to protect her, something doesnt add up. So what created that distortion? Think about who motivated you to stand there and why. Shokuhou Misaki was certain that clinched it. No matter how much she tried to deny it, her words would never reach Kamijou Touma. She had not even rid herself of doubt, so her words would never get through to someone else. And if he abandoned her, it was all over. She could control the Queen Divers with her remote, but if they charged toward her at two hundred kilometers per hour from thirty different directions, would even swinging around two remotes be enough? Even if she had them take each other out, it would not be easy. They were set to switch to program control once she took over. Deadlock was prepared to die as long as they could defeat Mental Out. Even if a head-on collision at that speed would crush their bodies and even if they risked a large explosion if that JP-5 jet fuel leaked out, it was all worth it to them if they could defeat this Level 5. Thus, it was over. She would either be torn apart by a pile bunker or roasted in a jet fuel explosion. Whatever happened, her slim chances of survival vanished once Kamijou Touma gave up on her. That was the future that should have awaited her. However... None of that matters. She heard a quiet voice. At first, she thought it was an illusion brought on by her weak heart. That crazy conspiracy theory has nothing to do with this. Listen, you thugs. It doesnt matter if these feelings came from my own heart or if they were placed there by a Level 5. It doesnt matter if I really think this or if Im being deceived and manipulated by someone. ...Eh? A hoarse voice escaped her throat, but the boy did not turn toward her. He stayed put so he could protect the girl named Shokuhou Misaki while also allowing his voice to reach the boy in the red riding suit. Even while surrounded by countless deadly weapons, he tightly clenched his right fist. He did so despite knowing he could never take on this many people at once. And he spoke with his back turned. If it leads me to stand here and protect a girl with tears in her eyes, I wouldnt want anything else. It was likely that instant that a decisive gear began to turn within her. That was the instant in which the most powerful mind-controlling esper realized these feelings still slept within her. Heh. On the other hand, the boy in the red riding suit laughed. But it was not a mocking or despising laugh. Ha ha! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! He had accepted the person named Kamijou Touma. That living example of a possibility they could not copy may have shown him an aspiration different from his resentful feelings toward this Level 5. Guided by the boy, Kamijou laughed quietly too. Even from behind him, Shokuhou could see his shoulders shaking. At first glance, the scene held the gentle atmosphere of a conclusion. But rationally-speaking, that mood was quite unnatural and it was soon destroyed by the Queen Divers next coldhearted words. Then I hope youre prepared, you damn clown. You bet. And I hope you guys are willing to put your life on the line and come at me with everything youve got. With a great roar, the boys and girls of Deadlock rushed in from thirty different directions while wielding their explosive-driven pile bunkers. They had recognized their opponents broad-mindedness but would still kill him. It was like the one-on-one clash between well-known commanders during an ancient battle. That was the form this battle took. Part 15 The current Shokuhou Misaki let out a small breath. Sigh. That ended it all. Since she and Kamijou Touma lived to this day, it went without saying who had won that fight against the student group named Deadlock. And after a few more incidents, the two had parted ways. She would be lying if she said she had no regrets. There was no point in asking if she had accepted it. (Im starting to feel a little sentimental.) She was aware of it, but she made no attempt to fight the urge inside her. She left the multi-tenant building rooftop and began walking through the cityscape of Academy City. On the way, she entered a subway station and took a train to another district. She knew where she was going. It was the one place in those memories she had not visited today. That would be District 21 and the circular artificial lake on the mountaintop that formed a part of a geothermal power station. It was the place where everything between them had begun and an important support for her entire personality. I thought I would go for the complete set of locations while I was at it, she muttered while walking along the winding mountain path. She was already soaking with sweat which was unbefitting of an elegant lady. Honestly! Why do I have to go to all this effort? Did I really trudge all this way back then!? She had started this memory tour on a whim, but after coming this far, she was reluctant to turn back. Just as she used the remotes to regulate her power, she was often pulled around by her own personal rules. She was now walking up the mountain path in complete desperation. (Honestly. And I know perfectly well that doing this isnt going to change a thing.) By the time she reached the peak, the sun had set and night had fallen. Pant pant pant pant. She bent over, placed her hands on her knees, and frantically tried to catch her breath. She was completely exhausted, but she tried to encourage herself by saying this was for the best because it recreated the atmosphere from back then. Finally, she raised her head to look at the area from her memories. Ignoring the initial false start, this was the wonderful location where she had met Kamijou Touma. The clouds covering the moon must have cleared because the scene suddenly appeared before her night-adjusted eyes. And she saw it once more. ..........................................................................................................................................Huh? Something slowly ran down her spine. It was a terrible, horrible, indescribable feeling that went beyond a common chill. Reality seemed to leave her. She was overcome by such great confusion that she no longer felt even the pull of gravity. There was indeed a geothermal power station there. But it had an entirely different design from the one in her memories. (Did I get the place wrong?) The lake was much larger and the tower in the center was a different color, height, and shape. However, there had only been the one winding path, so she could not have taken a wrong turn. Not to mention that there was only the one mountain peak. No matter what route she had taken, this is where she would have ended up. There was no way to get it wrong. In that case, what was this? What would lead to the scene before her eyes? (Was the power station itself demolished and rebuilt?) She suggested a possibility, but it was most likely impossible. Demolishing such a large facility would require a lot of work, including explosive blasts. The vibrations that caused would have affected the dam and radio telescope on the same mountain. If the shaking stirred up the mud and filth accumulated at the bottom of the dam, the standard purification process would no longer suffice. But Shokuhou had not heard of a large-scale water restriction to stop water pollution in the city. And after eliminating every other possibility, only the simplest of explanations remained. She had left this one for last because she had not wanted to think about it. That being... I was wrong? she muttered in a daze. My memories were wrong? My memories with Kamijou Touma didnt exist? When she hesitantly voiced that possibility, she shuddered at how repulsive it was. Like the bottommost card in a pyramid had been roughly snatched away, the series of kind memories that had begun here all came tumbling down. No. That couldnt be it. It just couldnt. Remembering something, she frantically dug through her handbag. Mixed in with the remotes she used to control her powers was a cheap emergency whistle painted silver. That boy had personally given this to her with the following words: Use it if youre in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you. If she had that whistle, it should have meant her memories were accurate. (But.) She wanted to believe that, yet she rejected her own hope. (What if some unknown third party gave me this along with the false memories? Then this whistle doesnt qualify as material evidence.) Her anguish continued. Because this concerned formless memories, it was difficult to set a stopping point and draw a conclusion. But at the same time, was this even possible? Could someone else manipulate her memories such that she would not notice for such a long period of time? She had the Level 5 powers of Mental Out, so no one could match her when it came to peoples minds. She would never have allowed someone to mess with her own memories and then not notice the change for so long. And on top of that, these memories were the most important to her and came from the gentlest part of her. (But...) The great deviation between her memories and the scene before her shook her mind as she tried to fight the doubt. (What if someone did accomplish it?) Whoever it was would have been using something truly bizarre. This went beyond that Deadlock group that she was no longer sure had even existed. She knew of the deepest darkness of this city thanks to Dolly who was related to the mass-produced military ****** and the ******* Project that created a giant version of a certain Level 5s brain, but she doubted even the people related to those incidents could outdo her so perfectly. My... In that case, if this scene was right and her memories were wrong, it meant someone even more powerful than those people had attacked her without her even knowing it. My memories... She brought a hand to her head and could feel something explode inside her chest. That something was anger. Her rage was directed at the one who had set foot inside the most important part of her and trampled on everything there. What did you do to my memories? She removed the glove covering her fingertips, pulled out a digital recorder remote, and pressed it against her own temple. Category 044 / Extract the past years memories from the object I touch with my right hand. This was the path she had once walked, but no information came from the guardrail. She found nothing, even with her mindreading ability. What did you do to my memoriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!? Even now, that pointy-haired boys smile flashed through the back of her mind. The great warmth of that smile only shook her all the more. Were those memories real or not? What had truly happened in those days back then? A battle was beginning for Mental Out, the #5 Level 5, who was overcome with anguish. She would fight to find this unseen enemy and grasp the truth. Between the Lines 1 A certain golden retriever did not like pet cafes. Or perhaps he should be called the researcher named Kihara Noukan. They were officially a welcoming place that advertised their many dishes specifically designed for pets so the owners could enjoy themselves with their pets, but once he actually crossed the threshold, he found the humans were treated superior. Or rather, the animals were meaninglessly treated as inferiors. All in all, it felt like he was being mocked. Look, look, sensei. This puppy cake is low fat and low sugar, but its still really sweet. Cmon, say ah. Cmon, cmon. Say ah. Ahhh!? What is this mass of artificial sweetener supposed to be!? Honestly, it pisses me off!! The surrounding customers looked surprised when the refined voice of a middle-aged man came from what was clearly a dog, but this was Academy City. Nowhere else in the world had as much of an affinity with or persuasiveness concerning technology. In fact, it had almost reached the level of a religious belief. The people began lively but misguided discussions along the lines of that talking collar is nice or I wonder what site sells it. But the woman in a cheap suit and a lab coat paid them no heed. Cmooon. I ordered this nice puppy cake thats made for a dogs body, so eat it. Youre always saying not to waste food, right? If you want to buy me a treat, make it a cigar. I wont accept anything less than a top-class Cuban, though. That doesnt sound like something Id hear from a resident of Academy City where everythings produced in agriculture buildings. Yuiitsu-kun. What is it, sensei? Oh, do you want me to brush you!? Get to the point. Cafes like this are awkward enough for guys. Only after you finish the puppy ca-... Sorry, I got carried away. Anyway, it looks like Shokuhou Misaki has noticed. And it seems the ant views the bees movement as a trigger because she has started moving too. So that means she will... Yes, she has finished biding her time. Ive lost contact with the entire section, so it was probably taken over from within. ...She is a queen ant now. Just like a samurai ant, hm? Right. Thats the kind that attacks other colonies to create slaves, isnt it? This means things are going to get rough for a while. Ah hah hah! Isnt that perfect for your work!? Yuiitsu-kun. The golden retrievers voice grew even deeper. This may be an irresponsible and out-of-place comment as a Kihara, but I am not particularly fond of that Kihara-like side of you. ... We can sincerely carry out what destruction is necessary, but I dislike unnecessary destruction. Of course, this is an issue of like and dislike, not of good and evil. I really dont get you. Kihara Yuiitsu childishly pouted her lips. She looked a lot like a child pretending to be a poor student to get the teachers attention. After all, that means youd be willing to place thousands or even millions of people on the dissection table as long as it was necessary, right? How is that any different from us? As I said, it is an issue of like and dislike, not of good and evil. And unfortunately, reality sometimes brings about situations like that. And that is why there will always be a place for horrible individuals like myself. Volume 11, 2: Blank Paper >> Labyrinth — Broken_road. Volume 11, Chapter 2: Blank Paper >> Labyrinth Broken_road. Part 1 Shokuhou Misaki pulled out a thin ribbon. She passed it through the emergency whistles fastener, formed a large loop, and wore it as a necklace. She then pushed it inside the chest of her uniform as a hidden treasure. She could not even trust that treasure, but whether it was real or false, it was her one physical connection to those summer days. If real, it was a connection to that boy. If false, it was a clue to the truth left by the mysterious culprit. Either way, she could not let it go. She could not have it stolen while disguised as pickpocketing or purse-snatching. Now, then. With that done, she had to go back over the information. The scenery that formed the foundation of her heart was nowhere to be found. At its supposed location, she had found a completely different structure. She had tried to search the area with her mind-reading ability, but she had not turned up any residual memories from that time. Then what was the scenery in her mind? What were her memories with Kamijou Touma that had started there? ... She was the #5 of Academy Citys seven Level 5s and she possessed Mental Out, the strongest purely mental power. No matter what power, technique, or device someone used, it should have been nearly impossible to outdo her and manipulate her mind. It was no different than challenging Misaka Mikoto, the #3, to a hacking competition or picking a fight with her using only a stun gun. She would not say it was absolutely impossible, but unless one had a tremendous amount of skill, facing a Level 5 with her own special skill was suicidal. But if someone could have pulled it off by force, who was most suspicious? Who could use pure skill to take on a monstrous Level 5 and yet smile fearlessly the entire time? Thats right, groaned Shokuhou Misaki in the nighttime mountains of District 21. There is one, now that I think about it. That brain of the Board of Directors stands on almost equal footing with me despite not using any kind of power!! That relationship may have been similar to the one between Misaka Mikoto and Uiharu Kazari. She was a close approximation yet also a sort of natural enemy. She was someone who shared the same past yet also possessed the concrete techniques needed to abuse that fact. And her name was... Kumokawa Seria!! Shouting out may have sounded dramatic, but she was still in the mountains of District 21 and she would have to walk down the path she came on to reach her home ground in District 7. Pant pant. While breathing far too heavily for an elegant lady and dripping sweat, she made her way down the winding mountain path. Like peeling back the metal plating on an object, the fear and determination that had shaken her upon seeing that changed scenery was worn away by simple exhaustion. Just you wait! she shouted in desperation. I swear Im going to punch you with my own hands!! Most likely, even the mastermind behind this was not prepared to handle an outburst like this. Part 2 Lactic acid. Simply hearing that term might bring an image of dairy products to mind, but the exhaustion filling Shokuhou Misakis entire body left her in no state for that. She had completely forgotten that Academy Citys public transportation stopped running once the curfew hit. She had been at a loss once she saw the shutters covering the entrance to the subway station. While trudging between districts on foot, she pulled her cellphone from her skirt pocket. Devices like this were not her forte, but she logged onto the simple SNS she had done nothing more than join. And she posted a short question. //Queen Bee: Are you familiar with the artificial lake on a District 21 mountain? Not even a minute later, a disappointing triple digit number of responses reached her. She was the Queen of the largest clique within Tokiwadai Middle School and she had plenty of connections outside the school as well. This was just how many people were still clinging to a dead SNS account she had left empty after being urged to join. //Shigu-nyan: I am sorry I cannot live up to your expectations, but I am not. //Matsu: Do you mean the experimental geothermal power station named Ground Geo? I searched it and found this official site. //Cat Claw: Is this for homework? I can look into it if you want. //Bunny 44: Hawa!? Queen, have you decided to become a factory field trip girl!? //Eternal Beginners Luck: If so, the factory district in District 17 is the more traditional choice. Etc., etc. (No good, huh?) She sighed and looked away from the phone. It had been such an important place that she had never told anyone about it, but that had completely come back to bite her. All of them either said they did not know or had only just then searched for it. Also, all of the information they found did not match her memories. It simply cornered her even more as she fought on her own. She rethought her plan and asked a different question. This time, she attached a photo she took with the phone. The photo was of the cheap emergency whistle that was painted silver. //Queen Bee: Do you know what company makes this? Again, the comment field filled up in no time. It grew as busy as a beehive. //June Bride: I just searched it and it is made by PM General Security, a company that makes police batons and stun guns. //Blatant Lie: Looks like it isnt sold in stores. They cooperate with Anti-Skill to hand them out at schools or public facilities. //Chiffon: There are apparently many different variations. Just looking at the colors, there are twenty-three different types. The silver ones are distributed in District 7 and some collectors try to get their hands on a complete set. //Red Riding Hood: But putting that paint in your mouth does not look good for your health. //Bamboo Leaf Panda: And Queen, our schools faculty room has some in a box labelled please take one. Etc., etc. (No useful clues here either.) Hearing the silver color was distributed at District 7 schools sounded important, but both Tokiwadai and that boys school were in that same district. In the worst case, it was possible she had been made to think he had given it to her when she had actually picked it up at her own school. None of this allowed her to relax. She logged out and placed the phone back in her skirt pocket. She felt as if she had needlessly increased her weariness. By the time she made it back to her home ground in District 7, she felt completely exhausted, both physically and mentally. She sat on a park bench and gasped for breath while massaging her thighs with both hands. The sight of a middle school girl with such a nice body doing that might have seemed a little inappropriate, but she could not avoid that right now. Her lack of exercise may have been catching up to her because her thighs and calves were twitching unnaturally. I-Im gonna die. Im gonna die before this conspiracy can do anything to me. After spending a good twenty or thirty minutes, she finally got over that mountain of potential cramping and hesitantly stood up from the bench. Uuh... Now, then. (Kumokawa Seria will be moving from stronghold to stronghold for safety, but is she still in that last place?) As far as Shokuhou knew, Kumokawa Seria was the only person who could outdo Mental Out and manipulate her mind, esper powers or not. (Is she the one behind this, is she working for someone, or did someone learn or steal her techniques? At any rate, it looks like I need to speak with her.) She left the bench and headed for the parks exit, but she passed a brightly-shining drink vending machine on the way. She recognized a few of the soda bottles in it. They were the ones that pointy-haired boy had always tried to drink, but she had always stopped him. That thought nearly brought a smile to her lips, but it never arrived. She could not rely on that when she still did not know if the memories were even real. After deciding that, she left the vending machine. Part 3 Instead of visiting a student dormitory in District 7, Shokuhou made her way to an apartment complex meant for school faculty. Kumokawa Seria often used that method when choosing a hideout. However, a slightly unexpected voice reached her from the side. Queen. The voice belonged to the gorgeous ringlet curl girl from Shokuhous clique. She was another elite from Tokiwadai. Shokuhou frowned. I do not believe I gave you any orders. There is no need. We have our own independent information network. And of course we are going to think something is amiss when you suddenly ask cryptic questions on an account you have not touched in over three months. Around ten other volunteers are waiting for orders. You need not explain the details and we can go without knowing the big picture. ...Can you simply tell us what to do? ... She was not opposed to receiving orders. Shokuhou was surprised to find how common such praiseworthy people were. For an instant, she thought of the boy who now only existed in her memories. Were those memories real or not? She still did not know, but she smiled a little. I will if I need you, but now is not a good time. The more people with me, the greater the danger of being controlled. I see. When you need us? Then how about we at least create an alibi for you leaving the dorm, Queen? That I will ask you. Please, please do! After that honest plea, Shokuhou took a step away from the clique girl. The ringlet curl girl perceptively frowned. Queen? This is a request and not an order, said Shokuhou Misaki with a gentle smile. Leave me alone for now. The person I am about to meet is just as dangerous as me. The more people with me, the greater the danger from her manipulation ability. Understood. This clique girl was not so crass as to protest. Just be careful. Thank you Shokuhou entered the faculty apartment building on her own. She got through the lock by controlling the dorm manager to get her hands on the master key. She reached her destination floor with the elevator, stopped in front of Kumokawas door, and prepared to stick the master key in the lock. But that was when she stopped. She removed her glove, traced her fingertip along the surface of the door, and pressed a digital recorder remote against her own temple. Category 044 / Extract the past twenty-four hours worth of memories from the object I touch with my right hand. I was right. She removed her hand from the door and opened the door to the neighboring room. She circled around to the balcony, climbed over the simple divider that could be destroyed with a tackle in case of fire, and broke into Kumokawas room through the balcony window. She looked toward the entrance from the empty living room and saw the same information she had obtained a moment before. A few sensors were attached to the inside of the door. They could have been simple alarms or they could have been rigged to blow up the entire room, but either way, she was not about to touch them. (Now, theres no sign of her even after breaking in like this, so is she not home? Or is she hiding in the closet hoping to make a surprise attack?) That was when her cellphone vibrated. She answered it and heard a familiar voice. Cmon, isnt this visit a little sudden? Are all Tokiwadai girls like that? I would rather not hear who you are comparing me too, but can I assume you have something to feel guilty about since you made such quick use of your escape ability? I cant understand why anyone would want to be anywhere near you when you can use all those remotes of yours. Then how did you predict I was coming? Because Ive scattered cameras around the area to make a personal security network. Youre ridiculously powerful when it comes to the human mind but weak against machines. Although at this rate, youre going to turn into the foolish college girl who has to ask for help wiring up her video system. Then something else happened and it happened silently. A red dot smaller than the tip of her little finger reached the center of her chest. (A laser pointer!? But I didnt find any information on this.) Oh, cmon. You werent completely relying on your mindreading, were you? Thats easily fooled by temporarily overwriting your own memories and going around touching everything. The girl sounded both mocking and surprised. The clique members who were all high level espers of Tokiwadai would be waiting outside, but they would not make it in time even if Shokuhou contacted them now. The finger on the trigger would be faster. She naturally looked out the window. Im pretty sure you had no sniping ability. Do you have a new pet? A foolish assassin in sunglasses had some misguided suspicions about me, just like you now. A beast Id thought I was done with was still hanging around, so Im using him in exchange for a peaceful school life. Oh, and hes about as uncomfortable a chair as you can find. Kumokawa Seria did not sound the least bit amused as she continued. By the way, the sensors on the entrance activate a detergent bomb that will scatter chlorine gas and the hot water heater is modified to fill the place with carbon monoxide if you so much as touch it. Im fairly certain Academy Citys #5 cant disarm all of that at once. If she had wanted to kill Shokuhou, she could have done so at any time. But despite announcing that, she did not go through with it without warning. Are you saying you are at least willing to talk? I could say the same about you. If you had given yourself as many pawns as you could without worrying about who you sacrificed, I wouldnt have escaped unharmed. Kumokawas composure never wavered. Now, how about we get down to business? What exactly do you want to discuss? To be clear, Im a little ticked you entered my place with your shoes on. Depending on your answer, I may just have a new chair. The summer of last year, began Shokuhou Misaki. It was between him and me, but you played into it a little. I want to hear about all that again. ... Kumokawa Seria briefly fell silent. Shokuhou hated how very similar they were. Especially how the gears so easily fell out of place when he came into the picture, despite how perfect and powerful they were. Finally, the girl gave her response. And it came in the form of a new figure standing directly behind Shokuhou. !? Sensing a presence behind her, she frantically moved away. Kumokawa Seria ended the call on her phone, erased the smile on her lips, and spoke. In that case, lets do this in person. Not that this is a casual topic. D-didnt you say you dont want to be anywhere near me. I dont, but I have no choice. Not once his name has been mentioned. Kumokawa sounded utterly annoyed. By the way, Ive given orders to shoot immediately if I start acting oddly. And he doesnt seem to like me, so that trigger will feel really light. Just know that using me as a hostage wont do any good. That doesnt matter. Not until Ive heard what you have to say. Kumokawa gestured to the sofa and Shokuhou fell so heavily into it that she bounced. The rooms owner sat on the opposite end. Now, what about him? Everything. Embarrassingly enough, I have lost my ability to say for sure if my memories are accurate. But if I have some evidence from someone else who interacted with him back then, it might help me make that judgment about my past. I see. So thats why you suspected me. Kumokawa crossed her legs in annoyance. But that question is meaningless. We spent the same time with him in the past, but we only had him as a common acquaintance. We never set foot in each others private affairs. ... You dont know anything about my incident and I dont know anything about yours, so we cant exactly compare notes here. Shokuhou clicked her tongue and pulled the silver whistle on a ribbon from her chest. Do you recognize this? They hand those out everywhere in District 7. And not just at schools. You can find them at libraries, hospitals, and any other kind of public facility. They pass them out every year during the disaster training, so there are just too many of them everywhere. Theyre a lot like pocket tissues, but theres no use for anything past the first one. This was further confirmation that the whistle did not qualify as material evidence. Anyone could get their hands on one if they wanted. That means the only other person I can rely on is him himself. But... Yeah, that wont work. You must know perfectly well whats happened to his memories. Kamijou Touma had lost his memories. She could not rely on Kamijou or Kumokawa who had shared that past with her and she could not trust her own memories, so she was beginning to think there was no way of proving that past had existed. How about trying this from a different angle? asked Kumokawa. I dont know what exactly has happened to you, but this would be something that got the better of Academy Citys #5 and kept you from noticing for quite a long time. That would require a high level of technology. I had thought you were the one behind it. What would I gain from messing with your head? You would get him all to yourself, immediately replied Shokuhou. Of course, that would only make sense if I was still in contact with him. Kumokawa fell silent. However, she was not trembling in rage over a false accusation. Youre right. I couldve done that. Damn. Why didnt I ever think of it!? Wait. But about this. Kumokawa held her head in her hand. It had to have taken quite a bit of technology to pull off, so whoever it was must have something to gain thats worth that. Do you know what memories were falsified and what theyve led you to do? And if so, who benefits from that? If we knew that, we could narrow it down a good bit. Who benefits, you say? The Kamijou Touma in her memories had become a spoiling and kind support for her. Had someone set things up so she would help him? He himself did not have the high level of technology needed, so was some third party trying to control both of them much like in the Agitate Halation Project? The only other hint I can think of is the actual technology used. Whether an esper power, a technique, or a device, it had to have been something highly specialized if it fooled you. If theres any kind of trace left, I might be able to find where it came from. Shokuhou shook one hand back and forth. It couldnt have been an esper power. No one could ever outdo me there. Youre probably right about that. And I already pointed out your biggest weak point...or rather, blind spot. Do you remember what that is? What? Shokuhou looked confused, but Kumokawa continued immediately afterwards. As I said earlier, youre powerful when it comes to the human mind but ridiculously weak against machines. What would happen if someone used a machine that manipulates the human mind? ... This caught her off guard. She was left speechless and Kumokawa gave an exasperated sigh. Some espers with high basic specs can get by on pure strength alone, so they get lax in checking the small loopholes in their powers. Thats the type that tends to get beaten up by him. With that said, Kumokawa stood from the sofa. For some reason, she urged Shokuhou to stand as well. Okay. Ill help, so come with me. Help with what? Like I said, we might find a trace of the device used on you. There could be something embedded inside you or a wound where something was injected into the skin. Cmon, you can use my bathroom, so its time for a thorough examination. Wait! The bathroom!? Wait, wait! I can do this on my own!! I said wait!! Theyve already messed with your head, so it might have a security system that makes you look right past the oddity. Honestly, its not like I want to see you naked. The red dot in the center of Shokuhous chest vanished. At the same time, Kumokawa Seria dragged her toward the changing room with a surprising amount of strength. They closed the door from the inside. Just to be sure, would you rather remove your clothes on your own or do I have to do it? Oh, honestly! I can do it myself, so look the other way!! Shokuhous face and then entire body turned red as she shouted back, but Kumokawa did not comply. Half in desperation, Shokuhou removed her blazer. She just about stopped with her hands on her white blouse, but pursuing the mystery of her memories was more important now. With that in mind, she quickly removed it. Now wearing a fully-exposed white bra (with a lace spider web pattern that just barely covered everything) and a pleated skirt, she asked a simple question. Th-the skirt too? I said it was going to be a thorough examination, didnt I? Personally, Id find it creepier that some unknown person had messed with my body and some trace might still remain. She lowered the side zipper and the skirt fell to the floor. She finally wore only her underwear, long gloves, and knee socks. Um, the underwear too? Fine, fine. Ill spare you that for now. But if this turns up nothing, youll have no choice but to remove that as well. For some reason, Kumokawa was acting irritatingly superior. Standing in her underwear, Shokuhou pulled her hair up with one hand and stared into the distance. Sigh. If I think of this as art using my far-too-radiant beauty ability, this isnt all that bad. Sounds like your brain has been nicely fried. Think what you want, but face that way so I can check your back. Fine. By the way, are you really in middle school? Cant you do this digitally!? I can feel all sorts of heat gathering inside me!! Even as she shouted in protest, Shokuhou somehow managed to carry out the businesslike work. Specifically, she looked back down at her body and touched around with her palms to see if anything felt off. (There really isnt anything.) Hm. Your skin is a lot shinier than I was expecting. Ah? Wait! What do you use? It isnt oil. Is it a type of mud? Wai-...! Dont run your finger down my back like that!! She shouted in anger and tried to turn around, but Kumokawa tightly grabbed her neck, ignored the #5s look of surprise, and spoke. Here it is. H-here what is? Somethings attached to the back of your neck....No, is it sticking into your neck? Dont move. With that, Kumokawa grabbed something, or at least it felt that way. Was something sticking into her? After hearing that, Shokuhou imagined a small hook like an insect leg or an IC pin was digging into her skin. However, the long pulling sensation that came afterwards froze her spine. It was long. Very long. It was like a hair had burrowed into the back of her neck. Got it. After hearing Kumokawas confirmation, Shokuhou turned around. She held the object between her thumb and forefinger. The main body was made of plastic and only a few millimeters long. But something else continued below it. The single fiber was thinner than a hair and she estimated it at more than twenty centimeters long. Had it extended up or down from the back of her neck? Neither option did anything to mitigate her fear. Put on your clothes. Thats indecent. Kumokawa gave that disinterested comment as she glanced down at the bizarre object between her fingers and she began to leave the changing room. W-wait! Thats an important clue to solving the mystery of my memories!! And Im saying Ill look into it with all the power of the Board of Directors brain. Besides, what can you even do from here on? Perform an amateur online search? Do you think posting it on a question site will get you the answer right away? With that said, Kumokawa Seria truly did leave. Shokuhou wanted to pursue her right away, but she could not in her current state of undress. She hurriedly put on her uniform and practically tackled open the door. Kumokawa had already connected her handheld device to the living room computer and finished some sort of authentication process to access a database normal people were restricted from. You sounded pretty confident, but can you really figure this out? Most of the time, people use illegal modified equipment. Killing someone with a registered weapon will get Anti-Skill knocking on your door right away, after all. But theres always a technology its based on. If I check through the research that matches the materials, appearance, and functionality, I should find something. She sounded proud of herself, but her fingers did not race across a keyboard like a hacker in a movie. She was apparently using some kind of program as an agent. When Shokuhou thought about it, Academy City was a collection of countless research institutions, so it would have a massive number of patents and academic papers. Rather than just let them pile up, they would need a specialized system for quickly searching for and finding them. Here we go. Even with the automated selection of papers, she had over thirty given to her. She rejected the ones that did not match and displayed the final remaining one. This is probably it. Its called a Strobila. The name apparently comes from one of the stages in a jellyfishs life cycle. This gives basic research theory on highly-accurate mental control of a human without interfering with the brain that is so closely related to esper development. Oh, so thats it. Peoples minds do not consist solely of the brain. In addition to the chemicals released there, your mind is influenced by the various hormones secreted by your other organs. In the Strobilas case, it stimulates the heart to alter the balance of secreted hormones and thus manipulate your mind without ever touching the brain. In that case, that fiber must have run all the way to your heart. The very end of the paper suggested it could be used as a new restraint for out-of-control espers or a method of efficiently controlling the espers in juvenile hall, but those uses had likely been tacked on later. Researchers generally gave no thought to making compromises with society except when it came to getting funding. See? It really wasnt me. Thats your fault for always sneaking around in the background. Even he called you a mysterious and creepy old woman who wore too much makeup and had disgusting lumps of fat. What!? H-he didnt, did he? You just tricked me, didnt you!? Not to mention that I thought we couldnt trust your memories!! Kumokawa Seria was brought to tears far more easily than anyone would have normally thought possible. She just barely managed to recover from the shock and resumed explaining the specs of that strange device. I-if you look into the people connected to the research institution that developed the Strobila or anyone who could have stolen the data, you should reach the culprit behind this. Probably. I truly thank you for this, said Shokuhou. However, her tone contained almost no ambition toward having something to do or anger at being used. But when was this attached to me? Yeah, I dont like saying this kind of thing, but... Go ahead. Since you had a Strobila or a derivative device attached, it would be best not to trust your memories and actions too much. I see. Shokuhou took a small step back and brought a hand to her head. Why had she wanted to search out the truth? It had not been to hunt down the creepy culprit and have them punished. It had been to find out that her memories with that boy were accurate and that the warmth inside her was real. But that path had been cut off. The memories inside her heart were all lies. Her past with Kamijou Touma had never existed. It was possible she could find the person behind it, reveal their conspiracy, crush the entire incident, and ensure those who had trampled all over her memories experienced a living hell. But what would that accomplish? Were her feelings so trivial that this would erase them or replace them? What will you do? Now that weve removed the Strobila, youve left the culprits expectations. They might target you again, but for now, youve escaped the greatest threat. Will you continue on or turn back? Its up to you. Youre right. Shokuhou Misaki sounded weary and wilted as she replied. Ill decide what to do from here on. Part 4 By the time Shokuhou Misaki left Kumokawa Serias faculty apartment, the night was growing late. Sigh. She had been unable to stop sighing for a while now. Queen. A member of her clique silently appeared and spoke to her. It was the ringlet curl girl from before. Shokuhou had only asked for her help when the time came, but she had apparently been waiting all this time. You do not look very happy. Is something the matter? No, Im fine. If you are in some kind of trouble, you only need to tell us what to do. Yes, but unfortunately, working alone is best for now. If I really do need you, I wont hesitate to give you an order. With that, Shokuhou disappeared into the dark streets. The memories that had supported her more than any other had been created for someone elses benefit. Continuing to pursue the truth would only increase the risk and she would not find what she wanted there. Her hopes would be completely sidestepped. She had left the Strobila with Kumokawa Seria. That had surely been enough to tell that girl that Shokuhou was burned out. (Really. What should I do now?) That question was not only directed at her immediate situation. On a much larger scale, where was she headed now? Would she continue to drag around those nonexistent memories of Kamijou Touma or... (Or?) The handbag hanging from her shoulder by a thin chain was her armory filled with remote controls, but it felt awfully heavy now. Was there any point in holding onto false memories? If someone had created them to manipulate her, wouldnt it be best to throw them away? It would only take a single press of the button. She only had to place the remote against her temple like committing suicide with a handgun. It would be a simple reset. ........................................................................................................................................................................ She felt as if an unavoidably and hopelessly cold wind was passing through her body. As she stood there, she felt as though, this time, she truly would lose sight of it all. With her greatest support and reference point lost, she did not know what to base her decision on. Why not do it? If it was a lie, why not make it a lie? And if she could throw that away, was there anything in her own memories that would be even harder to part with? She thought of her position as Tokiwadais queen, the largest clique, her strongest mental powers, Dolly, the former ***** Project, before she came to this city, and her own birth. Even if any of that was important, was it really important enough that she would not be able to throw it away if something like this happened? And in that case, did she really need to keep those memories? Wouldnt she be happier if she erased everything that fell into the category of unnecessary? She normally would have laughed off that question, but now she could not deny it. She no longer had what it took to do that. ... She stood perfectly still for a long, long time. Not even she knew how long she had been there. However, a change finally came from outside. She heard the sound of tires screeching along the ground and a white station wagon stopped nearby. The roof had red flashing lights attached, the back door normally meant for loading and unloading luggage rose straight up, and a few men in white coats exited while pushing a stretcher. It reminded her of... (An ambulance?) Are you Shokuhou Misaki of Tokiwadai Middle School? One of the men in white coats spoke to her while she watched in a daze. I am Yamakawa of Emergency Aid. Do I need to explain your situation and our duties? Emergency Aid? she repeated while thinking on the term. Oh, youre those civilian ambulances. 119 was overburdened with all the pointless reports, so your service was started to take on some of the work. Have you expanded into transporting out-of-control espers who the school infirmaries cant handle? After all, if the school doesnt call 119, there wont be an official record of the esper being taken to the hospital. We do not use the term out-of-control. When drugs, electrodes, suggestion, and other methods are used to stimulate the brain for esper development during the already unstable hormone balance of adolescence, it is expected for a certain number of incidents to occur. The man calling himself Yamakawa mechanically rattled off this explanation. We were unsure if we should head out in your case, but given the type and scope of your powers, we decided we could not ignore this. We have contacted your school and you will be transported to a facility inside the School Garden, so do not worry. Just out of curiosity, what triggered this? When you trespassed on someone elses residence. All the wandering around you did earlier was also a hint of danger. When she heard that, she gave up. It was even possible Kumokawa Seria had noticed the abnormality and set this up. At any rate, please get inside. We would prefer not to strap you to the stretcher if at all possible. Thank you for your concern. Whatever the case, she had to do something about the memories implanted inside her by the Strobila. It did not matter if she erased them with her remote control suicide or through high-level treatment by the specialists at Emergency Aid. It was time to say goodbye. This was the perfect time. She was not enough of a romantic to drag around false memories and hold onto a baseless admiration. Pushed on by those thoughts, she prepared to enter the white station wagon. But something occurred to her just before she did. Yamakawa-san was it? Yes. What is it? You said the trigger was my trespassing and how I was wandering around several hours ago. Yes? But that doesnt make sense. She kept her head lowered as she spoke. If you knew I had trespassed, it means you knew from the beginning where I was going or had the ability to detect my location. But after sneaking into her place, I spent several hours of investigation before leaving. Just look how late it is. Shokuhou-san. That means you should have shown up earlier than this Since you didnt, I can only assume that trespassing was not the trigger. Perhaps it was-... Shokuhou Misaki-san. Conspiracy theories and delusions of persecution are a common symptom. We truly do not want to strap you down like some kind of spectacle, so please calm down. Perhaps it was this right here. You lost contact with the Strobila embedded in my neck here, so you came rushing out here. That way you could embed a new one while disguising it as treatment. A loud sound of impact filled the area. One of the men in white coats had snuck up behind Shokuhou Misaki, swung his long flashlight up like a baton, and slammed it down against the back of her head. Or so he believed. Gah!? He had actually knocked out the man named Yamakawa. She had altered his perception of the people around him. In fact, all four or five men who claimed to be from Emergency Aid had been made to think a different person was Shokuhou Misaki. She spun a remote around and muttered in annoyance. Well, Im not going to make this easy for you. With several sounds much like beating a bag of wheat with a bat, they reduced their own numbers. After confirming they were no longer moving and that no reinforcements were coming, she stuck a hand in her handbag. (I really dont want to dive right into these dangerous peoples minds. I guess Ill start by asking from the outside.) Category 081 / Shokuhou Misaki is Direct Superior A. Get up. Cmon, get up. Hurry. She spoke slowly and kept her voice low, but that was enough for the man (supposedly) named Yamakawa to force open his own eyes. He could not stand up from the road, but he groaned and worked to look Shokuhou in the eye. It seemed his superior had thoroughly trained him. What are you doing there? S-so-sorry! Shokuhou is... Damn, whered she go!? This is no time to be looking away. What did I assign you to do? Repeat it back to me. Of course. I was told to quickly contact Shokuhou Misaki and attach a replacement for the Strobila that ceased functioning. And what was that for? I do not know. You said I did not need to know. Simply holding this conversation made her feel empty inside. Her memories of Kamijou Touma really had not existed. The deeper she dug, she only found more of some lowly villains plan and was dragged further from her lovely memories with him. What was the point of this? A bitter feeling grew in her chest and she considered ending this, but he continued just before she did. But there was one odd fact about the Strobila you supplied. Are you sure it was set up right? And what was that? She asked that question almost on autopilot. And that was when the man calling himself Yamakawa dropped a bombshell. There was no data inside the Strobila. Even if we manage to attach it, I dont think it will function. ................................................................................................What? This time it really happened. The situation really and truly surpassed anything she had imagined. The Strobila given to Yamakawa and the others disguised as Emergency Aid had not contained any data. Even if they had secretly attached it, it could not have altered her mind or memories. Then what about the one Kumokawa Seria had removed? Their objective had to have been to return the situation to normal, so it made no sense for the new one to be empty when the original one actually did something. That meant she should assume the one Kumokawa had retrieved had been empty in the first place and they were returning the situation to normal by attaching another useless Strobila. But what good did that do? Why had they disguised themselves and contacted her only to attach a useless device to her? W-wait a minute! What do you mean? Why didnt the Strobila have any data inside!? Eh? So it really was a major mistake!? Tell me the facts as plainly as you can! O-of course. The Strobila you gave us had no data and neither did any of the backups. I sent a message asking if this was a problem, but the mission began before I received a reply. It had not been just one without data and his question had gone unanswered. That meant... (It wasnt a mistake. It was set up that way from the beginning?) I see. Shokuhou brought a hand to her forehead. Filled with a certain type of conviction, she changed her question. In your opinion, what were the odds of success in this plan to manipulate Shokuhou Misaki using a Strobila? Can Mental Out be fully controlled with the power of a simple machine? As long as you give the orders, I would even-... Tell me the truth. The preliminary calculations suggested the odds were less than 30%. And even if it succeeded, it would have difficulty lasting long-term. (I knew it.) She reached her conclusion with the expression of someone who had just swallowed a mass of pus oozing from their own body. (The Strobila was a decoy and their plan was to trick me into thinking those memories were false so I would erase them myself. That was how they would manipulate the mind of the most powerful mental esper. I cant think of any other reason to give me a Strobila with no data inside.) Knowing the enemys objective meant nothing to her. A much more important fact lay before her eyes. (My memories with Kamijou Touma really were real. Otherwise, no one would go to this much effort to have me erase them!!) Something welled up within that girls heart. It initially felt like a tiny, tiny point of light, but it quickly exploded and she found herself unable to control it. First, she felt the muscles of her face tremble unnaturally and then relax. The tremble tried to run down her spine and spread to her entire body, but she held her body in her arms to suppress it. However, she failed to do that and she ended up lying on the ground and rolling back and forth. Hee hee She writhed around like a girl holding a stuffed animal in her bed and thinking about her crush. Ha ha ha. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! She pulled out the silver emergency whistle she had turned into a necklace using a thin ribbon. She wrapped the cheap plastic in her palm to ensure it was there. It had indeed been given to her by that boy. His request for her to use it if she was in trouble had actually happened. The mind had no real form. From a purely physical perspective, it may have been nothing more than electrical signals and chemical reactions. However, people would do anything for it. They saw great meaning in it. Now, Ive overturned two major assumptions and circled 360 degrees to end up right back where I started? But what does that mean exactly? Also, this completely changed the overall picture. The issue had started with the difference between the scenery in her mind and the actual artificial lake and geothermal power station tower on that District 21 mountaintop. Such a large facility could not be rebuilt or demolished so easily. It would have had a large effect on the dam and observatory on the same mountain. Shokuhou had naturally assumed she was wrong and her memories with Kamijou Touma had not existed. But what if she was right? What if her memories with Kamijou Touma had existed? (That means the current artificial lake is wrong.) She did not know what that meant, but she felt as if the conspiracy surrounding her was directly connected to that unnatural power station and lake. She turned to the man in a white coat who went by Yamakawa. Who am I? she asked. I do not know your name, he immediately replied. ? Who are you? Wait. I am your immediate superior, so we should see each other on a daily bas-... You- yoooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuu-you-you-you-you-you-you-you-you. Oh, honestly!! Once his ability to speak broke down, she frantically reached into her handbag, pulled out a variety remotes for televisions or air conditioners, and lined them up on the road. She would look after the people she controlled. That was a rule she had set for herself. She checked the back of his neck, but he did not have a Strobila attached. However, his unnatural reaction made it clear he had some kind of bomb installed that had activated at a set keyword. And if it was not a machine... (Was it an esper like me? I cant recommend peeking inside a contaminated mind like this, but I have no choice.) Category 005 / Locate the bomb set in the indicated individual. For about ten seconds, she read his mind as if tracing her hand along its surface. Category 401 / Return the indicated individuals mind to its state just before the bomb activated. She restored his broken mind like using a computers recovery system. Category 030 / Leave the indicated individual unconscious for twenty-four hours. Uuh, ah? What? Youre Shokuho- gwah!? Thank you for your cooperation. He was then safely rendered unconscious with no lasting effects. Mental Outs greatest weapon was its overwhelming power and number of applications. Of course, its great strength left even her unable to grasp its full scope without dividing it up using the remotes and her other personal rules. Helping someone who will never thank you feels so empty. She did not know how much his mind had been contaminated, so she wanted to avoid diving deeper to search for the name of whoever was behind this. But even though she did not investigate with her powers, she still made some guesses based on her knowledge and experience. Yamakawa...no, all of those claiming to be with Emergency Aid may have been controlled by a single individual. They were given false identities, they had received false orders, and they had taken false actions. That meant Yamakawas observation about no data in the Strobila lost any credibility. Everything was reverted to a blank state. Even so, the world seemed to have changed from before. As before, the situation was 50/50. Her memories of Kamijou Touma were on the borderline between existing or not, but she had found something to investigate regardless. (That geothermal power station and artificial lake in District 21.) She had a clear objective and she faced forward once more. (That is the center of the entire distortion. If my memories are accurate, there has to be something there. And if there isnt anything there, it will prove my memories are wrong. Either way, if I check there, I can settle this once and for all.) She would use everything. She would go all out. With that in mind, she pulled out her cellphone. She called a member of her clique. The gorgeous ringlet curl girl did not sound remotely irritated despite how late it was. Do you need us now, queen? Yes. That queen bee and #5 monster of Academy City did not hesitate to answer. I will now be using you completely and utterly for my own benefit? Can you gather together only those who are willing to be my pawns? That was all. Nothing more was needed to set in motion a group of individuals who each had powerful and dangerous abilities. Between the Lines 2 Overview of Ground Geo (For external PR) Classification: Experimental geothermal power station. Output: 2,027,000 kW. Method: Deep magma heat conduction. Location: District 21s New Mountain. The facility far surpasses the output of a nuclear power station, but as the energy is directly extracted from the magma deep underground, it has no effect on the environment and is extremely clean. The power is extracted using a method that has previously been considered in theory. Namely, a 1000 meter heat-conducting rod is placed vertically down from the mountain peak and the magmas heat is transferred through the liquid flowing within the rod. We will only achieve what is perfectly natural. We hope you will view this as a high level of trust in the design and construction. The primary problem is the production of extremely faint earthquakes that are too weak for people to feel, but they should not affect everyday life in any way. The plan to place a heat-conducting rod deep underground was primarily seen as an experiment toward the future construction of a space elevator, but we assure you this will be even more valuable in a way. The facilitys greatest peculiarity is its high level of computer control. Normal operation is fully automated. Every part of the facility is naturally monitored by a total of 32,000 sensors and the slightest abnormality will be immediately reported. However, the fact that it has been running for more than three years without issue may prove just how flexible it is. While previous geothermal power stations had to be constructed on active volcanoes that could grow unstable in the future, the heat-conducting rod method allows these facilities to be constructed in flat urban areas or even the ocean floor. Just like the wind turbines that are Academy Citys primary method, these facilities can be freely constructed anywhere and their applications are endless. Volume 11, 3: True Motive >> Gallery — Another_Answer. Volume 11, Chapter 3: True Motive >> Gallery Another_Answer. Part 1 Did she really have to go back there? Annoyance filled Shokuhou Misaki as she imagined the path back to the power station and artificial lake in the mountains of District 21. For an instant C truly just an instant C she seriously considered controlling twenty or so people and creating a luxurious palanquin for herself, but she rejected the idea at the last second. Even she had a concept of shame appropriate for her age. While gasping for breath on the winding and pitch-black mountain path, she held her phone to her ear. I looked into it some more since you left, but Ground Geo is definitely the one you saw, said Kumokawa Seria. I checked the construction blueprint, the photos attached to the basic overview, and even the government office bulletins that no one would normally be able to see, but it all matches. Or at least, all the official records depict it that way. Hm? That was an odd way of putting that. All of the documents my searches turned up had their last modified dates altered. It looks like all of those were actually put in quite recently. What do you think about that? Its hard to say. A few days ago, she might have been overjoyed and latched onto this news. She would have seen the evidence of altered data as proof that her memories were accurate. If they could change those dates, we cant be certain about what you say actually happened either, can we? Its possible someone in the past added in the data with the time set to the future True. Also, we cant say altering data is the same as altering the truth. They might have overwritten the accurate data with identical accurate data. That way I would assume the data is false when I found the evidence of their altering ability. She had already seen the Strobila and Emergency Aid. She still did not know who the enemy was or the full scope of the incident, but she needed to assume this much given what she did know. When you took the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse of the reverse, did you end up with the original or the reverse? At any rate, the altered files were classification rank S. Whoever they are, they can easily reach a level a step beyond the highest classification level known to the public. Theyve clearly broken away from their loyalty to the Board of Directors. I cant tell if this is real or a bluff, but I do know they have the power and conviction to do something like this for nothing but a step in their preparations. You should be careful. I already know that. Shokuhou elegantly wiped sweat from her brow with a handkerchief. Besides, this already went well past my predictive ability from the moment someone knew enough about the incident with that boy to pull off an attack like this. I will not be foolish enough to look down on them. I dont really care about you or anything, but he isnt strong enough to handle someones death. So dont go off and die. If you do die, Ill give you the proper decorations, so make sure you contact me. That goes for both of us With a quiet laugh, Shokuhou Misaki ended the call. She then stared into empty space and muttered in her heart. (When did she gain that impudent skill for being tsundere?) Thinking about it was not going to give her an answer and it disturbed her to get too involved with that older, large-breasted tsundere who was actually an immature old hag who refused to grow up. Shokuhou decided spending any more thought on this was a waste of her time and so changed her train of thought. She could see the artificial lake and tower now. The facility was so massive that it was difficult to hide. Normally thinking, it would be impossible to remove it without affecting the surroundings at all. The fact that it looked so very different from her past made it the singularity for her personal mystery and contradiction. It was supposedly constantly monitored by countless cameras and sensors, but all she saw from the outside were a metal fence surrounding the lake and a gate sealed with chains and a padlock. Whether it had changed form or not, it was still the place she had once wandered into and collapsed on the ground. Despite her miniskirt, she climbed over the gate and inside. There, she walked along the concrete shore. ... Even this created an intense discrepancy between her memories and reality. It was not that a specific aspect was wrong; she was having trouble finding anything that was the same. And that went beyond the lake. When she looked over her shoulder and down from the mountaintop, it was blatantly obvious that the shape of the dark forest and mountains were completely wrong (or that her memories were). The locations of the rising surfaces of rock and the taller trees were clearly different. (Of course, landslides and development can easily change the natural landscape, so it isnt that strange for it to differ from my memories.) She removed her glove and traced her fingers across the ground, but she found no information connecting it to that day. Her mindreading power was no comfort. Even so, she faced forward again. She looked to the circular lake surrounded by concrete and the metal tower standing up from the center. This was where she had sprawled out on the ground back then. It was the exact spot where she had met the boy named Kamijou Touma. But this spot was no exception. Its different too, she muttered aloud without thinking. At the very least, nothing she could see matched her memories. The difference was so thorough to make it almost refreshing. She tried lying down just like on that day. Not only were the lake and forest different, but the locations of the stars were too. (Well, that was summer and this is winter, so the constellations will naturally be different.) She made that decision and then reached a conclusion. When something was different, there was a reason for it. This discrepancy between her memories and reality would not happen for no reason. Were her memories wrong or was the scene before her eyes wrong? And was it intentional or coincidental? Setting all that aside, she knew there was a cause somewhere. She then sat straight up. She reached for a cheap plastic bag from a discount store that she had brought along with her handbag. It contained an item she had bought earlier. It was a twelve-piece screwdriver set. In addition to different Phillips head and flathead varieties, it included one for removing frames that resembled an awl. She removed it from the case. She brushed her palm across the area she had just been lying on. She felt the solid sensation of concrete. It absorbed the chill of the late night mountain air and seemed to reject the warmth needed for life. And then she swung down the awl as if hammering in a metal nail. Normally, she would never have been able to pierce the concrete meant to hold in the massive amount of water filling the artificial lake. Even if she slammed a hammer against the bottom of it, the cheap screwdriver would have broken first. But her wrist felt an odd sensation much like something crumbling. It was like the sensation of hardened sand losing its form. I knew it, muttered Academy Citys #5 Level 5. This had actually completely fooled her and filled her with confusion, so that comment was disingenuous. However, this was the only method she could think of that could have actually fooled her. She pinched the crumbled sand between her thumb and forefinger and rubbed the fingers together to feel it. Meanwhile, she looked back across the lake. She looked at the giant concrete structure and the dark forest and mountain surrounding it. She looked at all of it. Thats right. The entire landscape visible from here was transformed by covering it with this. Competition to be named the standard occurred with any technology and it had occasionally occurred in the television industry. A certain technology had competed with OLEDs before quietly vanishing from the stage. That technology was magnetically-controlled monitors. Whether CRT or LCD, the standard television used the RGB color system or added in black for a four-color composition. On the other hand, the magnetically-controlled monitors constructed the image using the CMYK structure. The basic idea was simple. A fine powder given the basic colors was mixed into an ultra-thin water tank and magnetism was used to manipulate them and form the image. Due to the method, it produced no blue light and it could more accurately reproduce watercolor or oil paintings than a traditional television, so they held overwhelming possibility for educational programs providing an introduction to art. However, the cost for a single unit was too expensive and the producers and distributors were used to the traditional RGB coloration, so they lost the competition to become the standard for television. Incidentally, that unknown television technology had later been used in an entirely different field. Namely, military camouflage. The pattern could change in real-time just like a television and the bright colors did not require a backlight as LCDs did, so they had become the next generation of high-tech deception. That was placed over everything I can see from here, muttered Shokuhou Misaki half in annoyance. Even her mindreading powers had found nothing about that day in the lake or even the surrounding guardrail. But that was not because reality had changed. It was due to the magnetically-controlled monitor powder covering it all. Even if the infrastructure for mass-production was established with a large-scale factory, it was feared a single television would have cost over a million yen. And yet the basic component for those televisions had been spread all across the mountains visible from here. They certainly went a long way to mess with a girls memory. Well, that must mean they actually have the ability to see the true value of the #5. At any rate, her memories had not been wrong. The lake had looked exactly as she remembered. She had only thought it had changed because it had been overwritten by massive amounts of a camouflaging substance. However, this would not happen on its own. Someone had done this. And would they merely accept that she had found the truth? The answer was a resounding no. This was where it truly began. The enemy would contact her no matter what now. Part 2 Just as Shokuhou Misaki expected, someone began to move. Academy Citys #5 Level 5 was sometimes told her body did not look like a middle schoolers and the same could be said of this person. However, it was meant in the exact opposite way here. Labored breathing filled a vehicle. The forty foot container was pulled by a large truck and was by no means small. In the West, it was not uncommon for people to make similar modifications and then live in them. Even if it had been built here to constantly monitor District 21s Ground Geo and the area around the power plant, the intense oppressive feeling undoubtedly came from the girls appearance. She may have weighed as much as three hundred kilograms. The Tokiwadai Middle School uniform was pulled tight and looked about to burst. Not only did she have no division between face and neck, her silhouette even had an unclear division between face and shoulders. Her breathing sounded so labored because her own flesh was crushing her windpipe. Hee hee. Doo hoo hoo. ...Ahh, ahh. So she has at last crossed the final line. Now I cant back off either. In strange news stories from the West, one would occasionally hear about people who grew too fat to walk on their own and had to be rescued because they were too big to fit through the door and leave their own house. This girl looked like she fit that description. With a wet dripping sound, this thing that had lost all resemblance to a girl licked her lips. While continuing to have trouble breathing despite no one strangling her, she gave a laugh that seemed crushed by her own flesh. She grabbed a headset with a sweaty hand and placed it against one ear. The action resembled a DJ from an older era, but she had no other choice because the standard equipment was too small for her head. Wheeze wheeze... How goes the OSs synchronization? It is running smoothly. And the other one? The capture was somewhat rushed, so it will take a little longer to test it and make sure the various sensors dont cause any conflicts. How much longer? Cough cough. My estimate is forty minutes at the most. Then...cough...thats fine. But try to force it through ahead of schedule. With that, she tossed the headset aside. Her eyes turned to one of the countless monitors on the containers wall. Shokuhou Misaki was displayed there. That girl had just regained her life and looked brighter than anything else in the world. You have still stolen me. She used her partially-crushed vocal cords to speak in a very, very low voice that just about left the audible range. So it is time you were punished, Miss Bee. Part 3 When Shokuhou Misaki first noticed something was off, she thought it might be a breeze. That was because a wave ran through the entire scene just like unseen wind blowing through wheat. But that was not right. This was not a field filled with wheat; it was the thick concrete shore of an artificial lake. The wind would not be enough to create a wave there. Her common sense rejected the scene before her, but her knowledge soon told her that common sense did not apply. The scenery around her was technically a collection of magnetically-controlled monitor powder. Everything she could see was a giant screen that could display any image. ...!! Theyre already here!! She took a few steps back, tossed aside the screwdriver set, and reached for the handbag on her shoulder. She selected the remote she wanted by touch alone. Her opponent responded. With the sound of scattering sparks, a portion of the scenery burst. Less than ten meters in front of Shokuhou stood what looked like a giant mass of flesh. Bahh, said the figure jokingly. Shokuhou did not hesitate to pull the remote from her bag. Like a fast draw from a western, she used her thumb to spin the volume dial on an audio set remote. Category 330 / Prevent the indicated individual from detecting the passage of time for sixty minutes. But... That wont work She heard a voice, but it came from directly behind her. What!? (Was the figure approaching from the front just an image!? Can the powder create sound and voices by rubbing together like a crickets wings!?) She frantically turned around and a mass of flesh surrounded by feminine subcutaneous fat filled her vision. But that was not just because the figure was so close. This person had to weigh two hundred or even three hundred kilograms. It was doubtful she could even walk on her own and she wore the same Tokiwadai uniform as Shokuhou, but it almost looked like someone had drawn the uniform on a balloon before inflating it. At first, Shokuhou had not recognized the uniform that was about to burst from within. Looking like that, Shokuhou was certain she would have at least heard of this person even if she was in a different class or year. And so she asked a natural question. Are you really in middle school? Heh heh heh. I could ask you the same thing. Shokuhou felt like the figures oddly sweet tone of voice was an imitation of her own, so an unpleasant feeling rushed across her entire body. She took a few steps back with uncertain footing. She moved away without even thinking about it. What was this thing? Academy Citys #5 once more pointed the audio set remote at her target. I already told you that wont work, said the mocking voice. If I thought it would, I would never actually show myself to you, now would I? Shokuhou heard a bizarre sound like gathering static electricity or an old CRT TV being switched on. What? Her right arm changed color up to the shoulder. The glove and sleeve of her winter uniform blazer did too. A shiny black pattern covered her arm as if someone had drawn a marble pattern with sticky heavy oil. Next, it arrived. The low rumble resembled the previous static electricity sound, but it was something else. This was the sound of countless insect wings. It was a swarm of giant hornets that could attack as a group and even kill a large bear to protect their hive. There were a thousand or maybe even more and they rushed at Shokuhou with the density of a sandstorm. Specifically, they rushed at her right arm. Did you know? Hfh gfh. Even children know that giant hornets will gather on black things. You...!! And Mental Out only works on people. Its useless against a military dog or a swarm of insects. Isnt that right? Meanwhile, the swarm of hornets the size of her thumb approached to envelop her. But a moment later, orange light flashed in the late night. An incredibly powerful mass of flames appeared in empty space and intercepted the swarm of hornets. The insects were roasted in an instant and their corpses fell while twinkling like sparks. However, not even Shokuhous Mental Out allowed her to use a different esper power with a remote. So what had happened? Doo hoo hoo. Found one in the forest. The mass of flesh laughed. Shokuhou followed her gaze and saw someone trying to hide by slipping between the trees that swayed in the night wind. However, that single portion of the dark forest changed to a neon pink. The pink formed an accurate circle with a five meter radius. It was much like a painted-on spotlight marker. I believe you can only accurately control about fourteen people at once. All of your hidden pawns are powerful espers, arent they? Now, where are the others hidden? Once I cut off all your arms and legs, only the head will remain. Only the brain that cant even crawl along the ground. Category 330 / Prevent the indicated individual from detecting the passage of time for sixty minutes. Shokuhou ignored her and turned the remotes dial. The enemys giant round head shook back and forth. But... I already told you, continued the voice. That wont work Youre...kidding. (This one isnt an image made with the display ability of the magnetically-controlled monitor. I really truly did activate the remote toward her. Does that mean...my power really doesnt work on her!?) Before she could gather her thoughts, the next oddity attacked her. A swarm of tiny insects crawled up from her feet and toward her neck. An indescribable sense of revulsion travelled from her fingertips and up her spine. No, this is just paint made to look like that! Well spotted. But there is such a thing as a primitive fear you cant avoid even if you know it isnt real. The descriptions of the hallucinations had during withdrawal can be used to analyze a pattern of fear common to the entire human race. The talking lump of flesh shook oddly. A moment later, a giant eyeball appeared on the swollen flesh. As soon as its gaze pierced through her, Shokuhou almost stopped breathing. She seriously felt the movements of her diaphragm slow from a mere mental attack. Ah...kah...!? All girls love Greek mythology which were familiar with from astrology, but that mythology also included Medusa. You know, the female snake monster known for her petrifying eyes. This intentionally transformed person gave a thin, thin smile. But that wasnt originally a story of eyeballs with a mysterious power. Medusa was a former beauty who was cursed by a god and given a face too horrifying to behold. The fear that filled anyone who saw it would make them freeze up as if they had turned to stone. But that was too boring, so it changed to the story of eyes that truly turned people to stone. The idea of a woman with a horrifying face or a beauty waving her hair around in anger was one of the patterns of fear seen around the world. In Japan for example, the traditional art of Noh included a mask called the Hannya. It was a representation of the frightening yet uniquely bewitching side of a beauty dyed in the colors of rage. This was the extreme representation of that. The visual fear that everyone held had been drawn out and transformed into a technology to drive that fear into a targets heart. Gasp...gasp!? Keh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha!! I see youre finally talking like me, Miss Bee. Shokuhou ignored the mocking laughter and doubled over. She clenched her teeth and made up her mind. A roar burst out a moment alter. A tremendous impact struck the entire area, including Shokuhou and her enemy. A trembling pain ran up from her feet and spread from her bones and into the surrounding flesh. This was electricity. For an instant, the magnetically-controlled monitor dust lost control. With the sound of a sandbags contents spilling everywhere, the insects crawling on Shokuhou and the giant eyeball both vanished. Gyah!? Keh heh heh. But now Ive found the second. The enemy produced a wet sound while trembling. Another portion of the scenery turned an unnatural neon pink. How many more? As long as I know where they are, I can go crush them. You may arrogantly control people, but you couldnt stand to see one of them die, could you? Now, how much longer can you maintain control of your pawns? ...!! Oh? Does that look on your face mean you ordered them all to withdraw? That only saves me the trouble. Shokuhou Misaki could only wonder who this enemy was. Even after all this, she had no idea who the girl could be. Even with all this technology, outdoing Mental Out in psychological warfare was not normal. To Shokuhous knowledge, only Kumokawa Seria could pull that off. That was why she always kept tabs on that girls actions. She did not know what kind of life this person lived, but Shokuhous network would have caught her if she used this kind of power on a daily basis. Also, this enemy was too familiar with Shokuhous personal past and the loopholes in her powers. Was she simply a dedicated stalker or... Do you have some connection to me? Heh heh heh hah hah!! Cough, cough. Of course I do. Geh heh heh. Otherwise, I would have no reason to resent you!! But Ive never seen you. I dont know who you are. Doo hoo hoo!! Of course you dont. If you had ever met me, I wouldnt have been able to resist killing you then. Their lives were closely related, but they had never met before. They had never seen each other before, but intense hatred had grown within this girl. After going over the available information, Shokuhou came to a conclusion. You really are insane. Gyaaa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Thats the thing! Thats the thing, Miss Bee! People like me... People like us readily manipulate peoples minds, so who can prove we still have sound minds of our own!? Shokuhou did not bother hearing her out. With the useless remote in her hand, she faced the mass of flesh head on. Of course, the enemy noticed and calmly began to alter the surrounding magnetically-controlled monitor. But first, Shokuhou threw the remote toward the mass of fleshs face with all her strength. Wha-...!? Abhah!? Why do you look so shocked? Since you set foot in my memories with him, you should know these remotes can be used like this. Shokuhou approached as she spoke. She reached into her bag, pulled out another remote, and threw it. In truth, Shokuhou had difficulty even throwing a plastic bottle in the trash, but she managed fine here. The target was simply that large. As the dull sounds of impact continued, the mass of flesh gave a short cry and tried to cover her face with her hands. This may have been a shockingly pathetic fight from a combat professionals point of view, but Shokuhou knew anyone who took the easy route by controlling peoples minds would not bother to train their body. All the while, she made her way closer and closer. She knew what she had to do. (Even if something seems mysterious at first glance, it isnt just a vague and mysterious phenomenon. Just like the lake was covered by the transformation ability of the magnetically-controlled monitor, there has to be reason my powers dont work on her.) Her opponent was easily three hundred kilograms. Classes of martial arts were divided by weight because differences in body size could sometimes mean more than the presence of a deadly weapon. However, Shokuhou did not hesitate. She doubted the bloated girl before her had a method of transferring her weight into destructive power. (And Ive already seen a technology that could provide a resistance to my Mental Out, even if the odds of success were low.) Her goal was the mass of fleshs neck. More accurately, the back of the neck. She accurately grabbed a small plastic point attached like a larval jellyfish. A Strobila. You tried to trap me using this, didnt you!? She pulled with all her might. The terminal was apparently attached directly to her heart, but Shokuhou had experienced the same thing and so showed no concern for her opponent. And... Category 011 / The indicated individual must answer accurately to all questions. Ah...gah!? The mass of flesh let out a short and thick cry, but that was all she could manage. She stopped moving and a dead look entered her eyes. That was the sign that this still-unknown enemy had finally, finally, finally fallen under Mental Outs control. Part 4 Shokuhou Misaki spun the television remote in her hand. The three hundred kilogram girl stood stock-still in front of her. She moved back and forth in front of that enemy while trying to gather her thoughts a little. But she simply could not gather them. Everything this enemy had said had made no sense whatsoever. I guess Ill just have you give me some spoilers for everything I dont understand She stopped the spinning remote, pointed it forward, and asked a question while pressing the button. Are you the one behind this? Or is there someone beyond even you? No, I am the deepest point. I was the only one C cough C giving orders. It seemed the coughing was legit and not just an act. What is the backbone of your power? I work alone. I simply control useful-looking people from valuable underground organizations, research institutions, prestigious schools, and the like to give the illusion of an organization. And how do you control them? Five Over OS. Be more specific. A Five Over is a military technology that reproduces a Level 5s power with pure industrial technology. However, OS stands for Outsider, so it exists outside that mainstream method. Simply put, it uses techniques fundamentally different from the Level 5s power to produce a phenomenon resembling the Level 5s power. (I see. So the concept behind this large-scale magnetically-controlled monitor might be a version of me using a different method.) Shokuhou Misaki directly manipulated the internal structure of the human brain. However, the knowledge within the larger category of ones personality was defined as that which adapted to an unknown environment. There was a report that sounded more like a dubious urban legend that said, if a human was closed inside a pitch-black and empty room, their personality would collapse within only a few days. That was the opposite of Shokuhous process. Instead of controlling the mind from within, they would thoroughly decorate the external world to convince someone the contents of their mind were wrong. It was the same thing Shokuhou had experienced at the artificial lake. Why did you do this? For revenge. To punish you for stealing me. Be more specific. I do not think I can retrieve me. I am simply fighting to satisfy myself. Her responses were too abstract. But if that was what she believed, no more information could be drawn from her. Also, Shokuhou had forgotten to ask the most important question. Who are you? I... Shokuhous powers meant the enemy had to answer accurately to any question asked of her. That could not be fought with willpower and the Strobila had already been removed. That meant it was impossible for her to lie. And yet... I am Shokuhou Misaki. I am here to take revenge on you for stealing me. Part 5 She did not understand what that meant. Part 6 Shokuhou Misakis legs and mind grew unsteady. The massive three hundred kilogram girl still stood in front of her and she had called herself Shokuhou Misaki. They looked nothing alike and anyone asked if they did would have asked if you were joking, but Shokuhou herself knew better than anyone that this girl could not lie. In that case, what did she mean? What was that answer? Wait! Wait a second! Youre Shokuhou Misaki? Do you really think that? Yes. Then who am I? Who is the person everyone else believes is Shokuhou Misaki? I do not know. I thought I would reveal her true identity here. But...but you cant be Shokuhou Misaki. Shokuhou Misaki is more beautiful and cute! She has a figure anyone would be jealous of and she shines all the way to the tips of her nails! It is not my fault I ended up like this. It was the malice of a third party that turned me into this. ... She could not think of anything else to ask. What was this? That girl was under an inviolable rule forcing her to accurately answer all questions, so she could not lie. This was not a lie, but it was a delusion far removed from reality. So did this girl truly believe this delusion? Or... Or...? (No, wait! Wait, wait! Dont let her trick you. Or rather, dont get swallowed up in her delusion. No one would let something like this be a transformed Shokuhou Misaki. Besides, I have Mental Out. Thiss the power of Academy Citys #5 Level 5 and it cant be mass-produced. It proves Im the real one beyond a shadow of a doubt.) But did it really? What if the Strobila in her neck had not been a method of avoiding Shokuhous attack and it had instead been used by a third party to restrain her power? And it had already been proven that the Strobila or Five Over OS could control a human mind on a high level without relying on Level 5 powers. What if some strange technique had been used without her knowledge? No. What if she had been under that techniques control and she had only thought she was controlling others? .................................................................................................................................................................. What was it? What was the answer? Which one was the real Shokuhou Misaki? Was there any way of objectively proving it one way or the other with only the two of them here? She of course truly believed that she was Shokuhou Misaki, but what value did that belief or her memories hold when faced with techniques of freely manipulating the human mind? If she overturned all of her assumptions, could she even say who she really was? Just like that, a disturbing sense of floating assaulted whoever she was. But then a supposedly impossible voice reached her ears. Just kidding. A mocking voice came from the motionless mass of flesh. That alone was enough to overturn Shokuhous assumptions, but the next thing she knew, something long and thick yet obviously not a rope had wrapped tightly around her body. What!? Ah ha ha ha ha ha!! Gefh, geheh. I already told you! I already tolllld you! How many times do I have to say it? Your powers dont work on me!! Tremendous pressure squeezed at Shokuhous organs. And as she struggled to breathe, she saw something. The three hundred kilogram girls flesh split open at the wrist and something flew out. Overall, it was cream-colored. It was a joint-less, flexible manipulator arm with countless suckers covering it just like an octopus or squid tentacle. Five_Over (Out_Sider). Modelcase_MENTAL_OUT. Shokuhous face froze when she saw those words written on the cream-colored side. Designers Gel. Thats the name of this artificially redesigned fat. Shokuhou had forgotten until now. The Five Over OS would need a base unit like a powered suit. It would have to be hidden somewhere. The ink that sprayed out on my command is part of it too, you know? With a sticky sound, something clearly split off from the three hundred kilogram girl. It was a yellowish cream-colored object much taller than a person. Countless tentacles extended from the bottom half of the giant sphere, so it looked something like an artificial octopus. This was Five Over OS C Modelcase Mental Out. The surface of the round head-like body had large eyeballs written on it like hieroglyphics. Perhaps using the magnetically-controlled monitor, those drawn eyeballs rolled about and even blinked. Shokuhou was still restrained by one of its tentacles, but she was focused on something other than the bizarre technology. She was focused on the obese girl...no, on the girl who had worn that artificial fat. Heh heh. The far-too-big Tokiwadai uniform fell to her ankles and revealed a special outfit that resembled a racing swimsuit and looked like thin rubber made to match a human silhouette. But other than that, the girl standing before her was Shokuhou Misaki. The long honey-blonde hair, the plentiful breasts that looked out-of-place on a middle school girl, the narrow waist, the long legs, and everything else were the same as the ones she saw in the mirror every morning. As she watched in a daze, that face suddenly melted away. It was like a collection of giant leeches or slugs had been forcibly shaped into a human face. While watching her own face crumble away and splat onto the ground, Shokuhou let out a cry. Who in the world are you!? You still dont know? With that reply, the grotesque cascade of flesh suddenly stopped. The magnetically-controlled monitor dust attached to the other girls body burst away in an instant. This time, her true face was revealed. Eh? Shokuhou Misaki spoke in confusion. The girl did not resemble her at all. Her chocolate-colored hair was as fluffy as cotton candy which was the exact opposite of Shokuhous straight honey-blonde hair. Shokuhous breasts were larger, but the other girls legs were more beautiful. They were more than just long and slender and Shokuhou honestly felt she had lost to the flowing lines of this other girls legs. Altogether, this was a complete stranger. And yet she sensed something familiar in this girl that she had never sensed in anyone else before. She could not put it to words and not even she could quite grasp what it was. You are similar. She gave voice to this powerful sense of unease. You are undoubtedly similar. Of course I am. The other girl replied with a slight smile. My power is Mental Stinger. Im stuck at Level 3 now, but I was originally meant to reach Level 5. Eh? There is a secret file known as the Parameter List. It is an internal document used to pick favorites. It tells them whose powers to develop and whose to give up on for the sake of research, for the sake of profit, for the sake of developing the human race, and just for the sake of what the adults want. Have you heard of it? Shokuhou recalled what this girl had said. They had never met, but she hated Shokuhou to the point of wanting to kill her. They had never seen each other before because she would have killed Shokuhou right then and there if they had. I am Mitsuari Ayu, the ant who could not become the bee.[1] That was what had happened here. Sometimes, people would take someones life from them without ever even passing them in the hall or seeing them. They could be the loser in an idol audition or the person whose lottery number was just slightly off. Had this girl been caught up in a similar situation? And I am the other fruit that was cut from the branch in order to let you grow. Between the Lines 3 Confidential. For the Board of Directors. I have received an interim report on Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu, so I am submitting it to you. The old theory that they were controlling bioelectricity has been proven false. We have learned they actually manipulate moisture to produce a variety of phenomena. Primarily, they control the secretion of chemicals in the targets brain and control the distribution of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, etc. in the brain. Rather than directly controlling the bioelectricity, it seems they change the conductive efficiency by controlling the fluid that acts as a catalyst for the electricity to flow through. As such, there seem to be cases when their powers do not function against espers who can directly manipulate their bioelectricity, such as Electromasters. However, some speculate they would be able to force their way through that defense by raising their power. Their method of reading minds without relying on anothers brain is likely also related to moisture. Based on their genetic information and their school counseling, we can find no points in common between their bodies or minds. Nevertheless, the basic theory and scope of the power that has manifested in them is almost identical and the Tree Diagram has given both of them the possibility of reaching Level 5. (*Important Note: This point holds the possibility of overturning the fundamental idea of researching the brain to develop esper powers. The brain is a necessary component, but there may be more than just that. I hope you treat this part especially carefully.) While this is an extremely unique situation, the two of them will end up plateauing at around Level 3 if they are given the standard Curriculum. We must prune one of them and focus on the other. We must make the decision before they enter the harsh hormone fluctuations of adolescence to ensure their talent is not crushed. To decide between Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu, please reference the attached Parameter List. And whichever one is chosen as the master, I recommend leaving the other as a slave. If the master happens to die, the equipment and funding focused on her can be reinvested into the slave for a second chance at developing a Level 5 under the same circumstances. Notes 1. Mitsuaris name contains the character for ant and Shokuhous name contains the character for bee. Volume 11, 4: Chance Meeting >> Audience Chamber — Duel_in_the_Mind. Volume 11, Chapter 4: Chance Meeting >> Audience Chamber Duel_in_the_Mind. Part 1 Bees and ants. They were both known as insects with a high level of society centered around a queen (although a lot of bees lived solitary lives), but the species were actually extremely closely related. By the technical definition, they both belonged to the Hymenoptera order. But that did not mean they could coexist. The fiercer bees or wasps would attack ants and the more clever species would even lay their eggs in the ants underground colony. Ants on the other hand would mercilessly swarm a bee that lost its strength and fell to the ground and they would carry its corpse back to their colony. These two separated girls may have been similar. The Five Over OS was made up of an artificial fat called Designers Gel. That wearable weapon resembled a giant cream-colored octopus and one of its tentacles was wrapped around Shokuhou Misakis body. Our relationship might be similar to Shirai Kuroko and Musujime Awakis, said the girl named Mitsuari Ayu. She gave a smile that did not at all match her appearance and she pulled out a palm-sized smartphone as if preparing for a card trick. It was not the Strobila or the Five Over OS that deflected your power. My power may be weaker than yours, but it is the same. All I did was use it to obstruct the interference you caused As she spoke, the number of smartphones grew. It was reminiscent of all the remotes Shokuhou used. So thats why youve directed all your hatred ability my way? Shokuhou groaned while held by the giant tentacle that looked like it could crush a small car like balling-up a tissue. Everything was chosen based on some file called the Parameter List and our futures were decided based on what the adults wanted, so youre the victim and Im the culprit? What about it? Shokuhou wondered what she would have done if the situation had been reversed. What if some stranger she had never even met had used her as a stepping stone and stolen every possibility from her? What if her talent had been crushed? What if she had never been allowed in Tokiwadai Middle School? What if she had not been a Level 5? After considering that, the girl named Shokuhou Misaki spoke. Are you an idiot? Thats nothing more than an excuse for falling to a life of crime. Mitsuari remained smiling. And while smiling, a disturbing spasm came over her face at not quite her temple and not quite her cheek. It was as if small insects were running around below the skin. Shokuhou ignored it and continued. She found herself able to ignore it. Your success was stolen from you? You had talent, but you werent placed on the proper stage? You can find similar situations anywhere you look. ... Do you think every country can provide their Olympic athletes the same funding and equipment? How many countries do you think want to go to space but cant carry out realistic space development? It isnt rare for competitions to be influenced by more than just ones pure skill. Competing in the exact same environment and under the exact same conditions is something you only see in the lukewarm miniature gardens adults prepare for children. That only applies to school tests that have no bearing on your actual life. Her words stabbed out at the other girl. Her words mocked this girl who had lost her way. And those clear words continued. But its human nature that leads us to win regardless. If doing everything right isnt enough to win, the winners will work two or even three times as hard. Theyll show off what they can do by with a method no one else had thought of. Thats what leads to the instant an athlete who trained by running through the wasteland defeats the elite athlete who trained in a cutting-edge gym. If you want to reach space, you make your way to a realistic launch pad even if it means leaving your home country. ...When adults fight, it comes down to a conflict between adults with childlike looks in their eyes as they work to both stay true to the type of race their predecessors established and also to produce shocking results that completely overturn those expectations. So there was no reason to feel inferior. There was a reason she had been chosen. Mitsuari Ayu was no different from the people who shamelessly begged a lottery winner to treat them to something. Except she was not even an old acquaintance; she was someone Shokuhou had never even heard of before. Shokuhou was not about to let someone like that take everything from her. The loss of a single possibility had been enough to make Mitsuari rot and she now wanted to be a child with a mature look in her eyes, so she would never have been able to withstand the pressure of holding Academy Citys #5 ability. And I happen to know something else. Shokuhou continued to challenge the girl even as her stomach was squeezed to the limit. I know of an older boy who stuck to his own path without rotting despite being a Level 0. On that day back then when he spoke with his back turned and protecting me, he clearly surpassed me and my all-too-pathetic Level 5 ability. Your actual skill doesnt matter. Coolly calculating out all the numbers is pointless. No matter how many arguments you prepare, you have no choice but to accept defeat once he walks in from beyond the horizon. I am very familiar with a Level 0 like that What was it that kept Mitsuari from shining like that? Not becoming a Level 5? That was not enough to deny someone their humanity. Having her possibilities stolen by the adults? If that was enough for her to give up, had she truly put in any effort in the first place? Did that mean any crime of hers could be forgiven? That was the same as treating all Level 3s and below like criminals. You are weak, summed up Shokuhou Misaki. From the moment you could only use your life as an excuse for committing crimes, you insulted that very life. You didnt notice, you were afraid of noticing, and you went around destroying everything that could make you notice, but you have also crushed your ability to ever gather respect. Even if you managed to reach the position of Level 5. Heh. At that point, Mitsuari Ayu switched from listening to laughing. And the crazed expression from before had changed. Heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh hah hah. Ahh, ahh. It sounds like you met a lovely person, Miss Bee. Was this what you were hoping to say to get me to give up? If you had met him, a different path might have opened for you? ...? It was a calculated expression. It was not the expression of a girl going mad with rage after having her entire identity rejected. There was something more there. Did the core of Mitsuari Ayu lay elsewhere? But that wont work here. The ant stood next to the bee and that other queen played her final card with a calm smile. After all, I too spoke with Kamijou-kun quite a bit. ...........................................................................................................................................Eh? This time, Shokuhous mind truly, truly went blank. This blank was larger and deeper than when her own memories had been rejected or when she had learned her own Mental Out powers were the result of being chosen for the adults convenience. I told you, didnt I? The smile vanished from Mitsuaris face. The smile vanished from the face of the girl who had continued to smile even as her very existence and the path she had taken were rejected. Im taking revenge to take back what you stole from me. ...How would you feel in my situation? What if someone you didnt even know stole that person you were so proud of. ... I was there back then too. She approached Shokuhou whose torso was still restrained. With a smartphone in each hand, she gently grabbed the sides of Shokuhous head. The chill of the LCD screens tormented her mind. And then the decisive words arrived. It may be a beautiful past for you, but I was not saved by Kamijou-kun. That is why I can say you stole everything from me. If it wasnt for you, he would have made it in time. She brought her face so close that Shokuhou could not focus her eyes. And a moment later, Shokuhou felt a strange sensation pass through her mind. It was like invisible wires running through her head had been gathered together and suddenly pulled out from her forehead. While pressing their foreheads together and placing the smartphones on either side of Shokuhous head, the other girl spoke without even a hint of a smile. This is Mental Stinger. In my case, I set the target with cameras and my fingertips. Ah...kh!? But with identical types of power, any interference can be deflected regardless of strength! Only if we both reject it. With the strange sensation in the center, the outer edges of Shokuhous vision grew distorted. Bright colors danced about. But what if I accept it all? What if I intentionally open a port and allow an exchange of identically-formatted packets? This...isnt your power. Shokuhou finally caught on. This is an ignition to make me lose control of my Mental Out!? Well done. I can drag you into my head using your own power. Welcome to a life of despair and resignation. Its time you experienced what I did when you stole everything from me. With those words, all of Shokuhou Misakis senses far exceeded the threshold of what could be described in terms of the real world. Part 2 A girl stood alone on the shore of a geothermal power stations circular lake. Her consciousness had been dragged into someone elses mind. That was what she had been told anyway, but it may have been an image constructed around Mitsuari Ayus memories, much like a child listening to a picture book before going to sleep. However, the feel of the place suddenly changed. The massive amount of water turned to bright green melon soda, the dark mountains turned to masses of cream, the thick trees became cookies shaped like playing cards, and even the round concrete structure holding the water was replaced by an overwhelming amount of chocolate. It looked like a kingdom of sweets. The bee and the ant were fighting over the sweet nectar that was their memories of this artificial lake. This may have been how she pictured this stage. The oppressively sweet aroma surpassed hunger and stimulated ones desire to vomit. Both salt and sugar were necessary, but too much of either was harmful. Had her memories reached that lethal dose? I... The voice came from behind. Shokuhou turned around and saw Mitsuari Ayu wearing a Tokiwadai Middle School uniform. She wore a summer uniform despite the season. I died here. I stuffed lots and lots of large rocks in my clothes, stood on this concrete shore, and jumped into the lake with my hands together like diving into a pool. And I sank. This happened a mere three days before you thoughtlessly tried to destroy your own memories. This revelation came suddenly, but Shokuhou did not laugh it off. Her own memories refused to let her reject this. On the night when she had met him at this lake, she had sprawled out on the ground and pressed her remote against her temple like committing suicide with a handgun. But that scene was now repainted in entirely different colors. Wait a second. You mean...the reason he was at that power station so late was... She had found it odd. Meeting him around town by chance was possible. But District 21 was a long way from District 7 where they lived and most of it was deep in the mountains. Ground Geo was at the peak of a mountain, so he would not simply have been there for a late night walk. So why had Kamijou Touma been there? Why had he been able to meet her there? He did not make it in time. And to lament that fact, he visited the site of the suicide? She recalled what Kumokawa Seria had said. Shokuhou and Kumokawa had both spent time with Kamijou at the same time in the past, but the only connection between the two girls was that common acquaintance. Neither had set foot in the others private business. Kumokawa did not know about Shokuhous incident. Shokuhou did not know about Kumokawas incident. What if? What if another individual had also spent that time with him and dealt with another incident besides theirs? I dont really care about you or anything, but he isnt strong enough to handle someones death. So dont go off and die. If you do die, Ill give you the proper decorations, so make sure you contact me. What if those abusive words of Kumokawas had held an entirely different meaning? And when he arrived, he saw another girl in the same Tokiwadai uniform as the one he had not arrived in time for. He didnt know what she was trying to do, but he saw a younger girl who was obviously wallowing in despair. He could not help but call out to her. He did not want a repeat of his previous failure. Shokuhou remembered the boy she had spent time with when she would occasionally see him around Academy City after that incident at the lake. She had decided not to peek at his memories. But what had been her subconscious reason for that decision? Had she not wanted to find any boring reasons or motives behind that small miracle? Had she wanted it to remain pure coincidence? Kamijou Touma may have been worried about her. And he may have been comparing her to someone else. So why do you think he didnt arrive in time for me? What...? He has no esper power, he has no superhuman strength, and he isnt particularly smart. ...But for some reason, his drive has saved so many more people than anyone else. I agree with that. But then, why did that miracle not occur in my case? .......................................................................................You...cant mean... That twisted result would not happen for no reason. With those words, the kingdom of sweets crumbled. The entire melon soda lake flickered like a giant screen and it displayed the kind of intersection found anywhere in Academy City. An intense tremor filled Shokuhous mind. She recognized it. That was the intersection at which she had run into Kamijou Touma like a false start. They had simply collided, barely even exchanged words, and then went on their ways. That initial meeting had seemed like some kind of mistake. But something must have happened then. Something an outsider like her would not have noticed, but something those involved could not overlook. He accidentally gave me something of his, she muttered in a daze. There was a cheap cellphone I didnt recognize mixed in with the things he handed me. Yes. Mitsuari Ayu agreed with a difficult to describe expression. It looked angry and on the verge of tears yet also relieved at finally conveying the truth. That was why he did not arrive in the very, very end. A simple lack of communication caused that perfectly reachable salvation to slip from his fingers. And then Mitsuari had jumped into the lake. I was not the only one suffering due to the Parameter List, she said as if to remind Shokuhou of something that had already ended. You stood at the center of your own incident, didnt you? Deadlock. Those poor students who held an unreasonable hatred of the Level 5s and believed your AIM Diffusion Field was the reason for their lack of growth. ... But that was not the true reason. They may have hated the right person, but killing you would not have put their lives back on track. Just like me, they were fruits cut from the branch thanks to that Parameter List the adults had created. When placed in a true dilemma, people had two options: external destruction or internal destruction. They could blame their failure on society and their surroundings and begin stabbing or shooting random strangers in the name of revenge. Or they could place full responsibility for their failure on themselves and desire to be anywhere else even if it meant taking their own life. The attackers of Deadlock had made one decision. The girl named Mitsuari Ayu had made the other. Oh. In that case, Shokuhou Misakis bright memories were repainted in entirely different colors. She recalled their conversation at that artificial lake. Youre the guy who ran into me at the intersection with toast in his mouth. I did not have toast in my mouth. Come to think of it, that means youre the one that brought my phone to Anti-Skill. Thanks for that. What had Kamijou Touma really thought back then? When he said that, he had to have known that the disappearance of that cellphone had prevented him from protecting a life. Whether by coincidence or not, she had been the root cause of his failure to save a girl. So what feelings had filled his heart when he had seen her blindly wishing for her own destruction at the scene of that very suicide? He should have shouted at her. She could not have complained if he had punched her. So why had he hidden it? Why had he hidden it and worried for her instead? Just how endlessly good-natured was he? I wanted to be saved, said Mitsuari. She directly stated her own desire. Taking my own life may sound irresponsible and selfish, but even so, I really did want to be saved. It was unclear just how serious Mitsuari had been about committing suicide. Had she truly intended to die or had she wanted to go through the actions so someone would worry about her? She had waited for her own personal hero, but Kamijou Touma had not shown up. He had not come. And so that lonely girl, that life left behind by the world, had felt throwing herself to the depths of that dark water was her only choice. (Oh.) Mitsuari had said she was taking revenge on Shokuhou for taking everything from her. According to her, Shokuhou had twisted her entire life even though they had never met and had avoided contact because she would have killed Shokuhou the second she saw her. It all finally clicked in place. They had shared the same time in the past, but they also had no real connection. Even so, every last thing had been related to Shokuhou: the Parameter List that had led to her suicide, the cellphone that had been the final trigger, and even that spot next to Kamijou Touma after her suicide. What if their situations had been reversed? Shokuhou might have been able to handle the Parameter List issue. But what about causing him to lose his phone? What if the girl who had unknowingly given that final shove was then happily walking by that boys side? (I probably couldnt have forgiven her. Whatever else may have happened, that alone would be unforgivable.) As Mitsuari was now attacking her as a real threat, her suicide must have ended in failure. And once she had woken, she would have learned everything. That was what had broken her. That was why she had sunken into the deepest darkness of Academy City and gathered enough power to reach the Strobila and Five Over OS. Answer me one thing honestly, queen ant. Just one, Miss Bee? Why did you wear the Five Over OS? The unit made from Designers Gel can move on its own, cant it? Then you wouldnt need to swell up to that three hundred kilo body. Its easier to see people for who they are when they look down on you, so I intentionally ruined my looks to-... No, not that. Shokuhou cut her off. The bee and ant were similar. She had asked the question after already realizing the answer. And Mitsuari must have realized that because she spoke in resignation. I couldnt exactly let myself be seen like this. She was covered in the filth of pitch-black hatred. And the cracks in that hatred allowed a glimpse of the girl who had to have exited back then. I said I wanted to help people. I really did say that during that same time you spent with him. And yet...this was the only path available for me. I could never let him know that the Mitsuari Ayu he knew still lives as the utterly-changed ruins of that person. Shokuhou heard those words. She confirmed her own thoughts. She had grasped the core of this girl. And now she could not abandon her. Shokuhou Misaki had finally found just one thing that allowed her to think that. She switched to a new train of thought. A clear difference appeared in the colors filling her vision. This changed nothing of what Mitsuari had done. She was a criminal who had immersed herself in Academy Citys dark side, altered all sorts of documents, attacked Shokuhou using men disguised as Emergency Aid, used the Strobila and Five Over OS to have her destroy her own memories or personality, and was even now trying to take her life. But even so, something changed inside Shokuhou. It may have been the same for that boy. She had been the root cause of that girls suicide, she had been the one to give the final shove, and she had even defiled the site of that suicide, but he may have found something inside that thoughtless girl. It only had to be one thing. Just the one thing that made you not want to kill them. Hey, Mitsuari Ayu. What? It may be too late and nothing I do now may have any ability to actually change things. Shokuhou Misaki made an announcement as if challenging the other girl. But Im still going to save you? Because I know thats what he would do. He had saved her like that. She stood here today because of his decision. And so no matter how pathetic, ridiculous, or meaningless to others it might be, she refused to reject that salvation. No matter what. Part 3 She thought back over the basic assumptions. Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu stood at a circular artificial lake of a kingdom of sweets where the scene was constructed from cream and melon soda. In truth, the #5s Mental Out power had been used to drag Shokuhous mind into Mitsuaris mental world. However... (Even if you have a method of doing that, I am the Level 5 with the strongest mental powers. No one would want to expose their mind to me.) Shokuhou powerfully and deeply searched out the pieces she needed to turn this tiny sensation into a victory. (In that case, she must have a reason to force herself to use this strategy. For example, what is happening to my body right now? If she had preprogrammed the Five Over OS, it could be dragging my body away, implanting something inside it, or whatever she wanted.) Hee hee. I can read all of that. Shokuhou frantically turned around and saw all of her thoughts written out in melted chocolate ink on the cream mountains. And the work is already done. Even if you begin fighting now, there is no way to turn it around. Is that so? As soon as she spoke, her words appeared on the sweet mountains. Her mouth and the writing had the bizarre synchronization of movie subtitles. If you really had that much time, you wouldnt have needed to reveal everything about your embarrassing past to me. It was valuable to me, but it was meaningless to you. In that case, I can only imagine you were stalling for time. The situation is not progressing as smoothly as you would like. But that changes nothing. I will make sure it does. (What is she trying to do with the Five Over OS? Kill me while I dont have the ability to defend myself? No, then she could leave it to that tentacle that could crush a car. My ability doesnt work on machines, so Mental Out wouldnt be a problem if she left it to a program. More importantly, I cant even sense the pain while my mind and body are separated. This situation doesnt fit with her supposed intent to take revenge by killing me.) Even though her thoughts were leaking out, she kept thinking as quickly as she could. The mountains were already filled with chocolate ink writing and it began to fill the terribly bright night sky that had candy sprinkled through it. (So she must be after something beyond that.) She was being buried by her own thoughts, but she did not waver. She stared out at Mitsuaris world. (She must have in mind a crueler punishment than merely killing me. But what is it? How is she planning to use the Five Over OS to bring an end to that awful past that began with the Parameter List and ended with me being saved instead of her?) You wont find the answer. A voice disturbed her thoughts. But it led Shokuhou to realize something: that voice was clearly unnecessary. Her thoughts were getting nowhere fast, so not giving her any new information would be the best option as her enemy. And yet Mitsuari spoke those unneeded words. Just like my words and thoughts are set to be exposed in chocolate ink as time goes on, are you not able to lie inside your own mind? Thats right. But either way, you wont make it in time. It is already here. Its already here? Not just on its way? And that is why you did not make it in time. She used the past tense again. A moment later, a great shock ran through that mental world. The cream and chocolate kingdom of sweets melted away as if intense sunlight washed over it. (This isnt good. Shes throwing away the mental cage herself. That means she has no reason to keep it around and she has already put my body in checkmate back in the real world!) I want to make that past mine and mine alone. Mitsuari Ayus expression remained unchanged even as she too was swallowed up by the torrent. That is why your memories are not needed. And if I cant alter them with the Five Over OS, I have to bring in a higher-level machine. You dont mean... The Five Over OS was a devilish device that rewrote the scenery surrounding the target and used that twisted information to indirectly influence their memories and mental state. If there was a truly superior machine, it would have to be... It cant be! Part 4 It resembled a bee or a wasp. However, this was not a honeybee or giant hornet that created a hive and lived as a group. This was a lone-wolf species. It was a scorpion wasp. Like a crane fly, it had six oddly long legs and a slender abdomen. Its most notable feature was the stinger which was formed by a delicate tube that extended more than three times the length of its body. Normally, that stinger was used to pierce into the larvae eating into a tree and then lay its eggs inside them. This weapon was designed after that bizarre parasitic wasp, its main body was four meters long, and its thin wings were twice that length when extended. Its abdomen was a translucent device filled with a sticky fluid. If anyone had seen it, they might have compared it to a coffin because it was clearly meant to contain a human body. This was the Five Over Modelcase Mental Out. It used pure industrial technology to completely reproduce the phenomena of a Level 5s powers and, unlike the OS, it used the same basic theory as the Level 5s powers. On top of that, it was meant to exceed the originals output. This was the final trump card the ant had hidden away to challenge the bee. Part 5 A giant form stood at the center of the world as everything melted together and formed a marble pattern. It was a bizarrely long and narrow weapon that looked like a crane fly given the details of a wasp. It was likely due to that weapon that Shokuhou and Mitsuari had been able to compare answers in that world of no lies. Five Over...? muttered a dazed Shokuhou Misaki. Id heard one modelled after that foolish #3 had been mass-produced, but I didnt know there was one for me. In fact, I thought even the researchers couldnt agree how exactly Mental Out works. Hee hee. To be honest, this thing breaks the rules. I doubt the higher ups would have agreed to build it under normal circumstances. ? After all, it doesnt contain anything to reproduce an espers powers using industrial technology. It doesnt fit the definition of a Five Over. Shokuhou did not understand. That would mean it was nothing more than a flying powered suit shaped like an insect. But she rejected that idea. No, nothing that lacking in ability would show up after all this. Very true. To correct what you said earlier, I believe they understood the general process Mental Out uses, but the exact distribution was a mystery. Even with a refrigerator full of ingredients, you cant reproduce the flavor of a restaurants dishes without the recipe. This was the same. Mitsuaris voice filled the melting world. That is why I will put you inside the machine. ... I know its getting the priorities hopelessly reversed, but its the only correct answer. That Five Over is crammed full of eight thousand output devices. By placing you inside and having you activate your powers, it can monitor exactly which devices to use and how. By taking sample data from the real Level 5 just once, we should be able to mass-produce it without end. For just an instant, Shokuhou imagined a world where Mental Out could be bought at any store just like a cellphone. Youre completely insane. Ha ha! So youre allowed to have it, but no one else is? No ones going to listen to you if you say that. Mitsuaris words gave no thought to the future. She was not thinking about what would happen to the world even three days later. And its a little late to be shocked by this. This was tested quite a long time ago. What? Lets talk about the past again. Remember Deadlock, that group of students who attacked you for the wrong reason, even if their anger was justified? Do you remember one peculiar element of their Queen Diver weapon systems? Thats right. The helmets blocked your mental attacks by putting a program in control once their brainwaves shifted. Are you saying they did more than that? Did those thoroughly scan the brain structure of the people I was controlling and send a report back to someone? In the end, that information failed to produce a working Five Over. That said, I dont know if it was a simple technical issue or if it was because the adults leading the project were blown to pieces in a highly unusual accidental explosion. Mitsuaris tone was entirely unconcerned. Based on that, Shokuhou decided those adults were not anyone Mitsuari had particularly known and the girl had likely not been involved in the supposed accident. And the people leftover decided they would never get anywhere even with data from tens of thousands of victims. They realized they would never create a true Five Over without data from the culprit herself. That meant they needed a system to force your power out of you using electrodes or something like that. The present was built on the past, but every single thing was intertwined with those days. It felt like the past itself was a giant arm dragging Shokuhou away. I will complete your Five Over. Was that Mitsuari Ayus revenge? Would she fill the world with Mental Out to reduce Shokuhou Misakis value to nothing? No. Shokuhou knew that was not it. The core of that girls heart was not her comparison with Shokuhou. That core was somewhere else. I have no future and I dont care who is there now. But...in the past...in those days, I played the leading role. I will take that back. You are not needed in my memories of him, so I will erase you. I will use your own Mental Out to smash your memories to pieces. Who exactly was she directing her revenge toward? Shokuhou Misaki? That boy? Academy City? The entire world? Those days should be mine and mine alone. You are not wanted there. All of a sudden, Mitsuari was nowhere to be seen. That melting and crumbling landscape was her mental world, so she might have melted into it. Shokuhou had lost track of her target. The already hard-to-bear saccharine smell mixed together even further. Only Mitsuaris voice filled that marble-patterned world. This is already over. The Five Over simply has to place you inside while you cant even touch your own body. Once the electrodes are attached across your body and your powers are forcibly drawn out, this will truly be over. You can drown in this melting world until then. Do you really think Ill let you do that? Theres nothing you can do. Your mind is split from your body and trapped in my head, so you cant move your body back in reality. You cant even blink. Meanwhile, both the Outsider and Five Over are programmed to move on their own. And dont forget you are trapped by the OSs tentacle, so you couldnt do anything even if you could move. It is only a matter of time before you are automatically brought inside the Five Over. Shokuhou listened to that and thought on that hopeless checkmate. However, her next words contradicted that. Are you sure? A tremendous shock ran through the sweet marble-patterned world. This was blatantly different from the previous smooth flow of melting. This strange scenery was Mitsuaris mental world, so any change here signified a change in her. What? I would suggest returning us as soon as you can said Shokuhou in a mocking tone. I didnt have enough spare ability to hold back, so could have killed you if you were unlucky. Kssshhh!? What is C kshhhh! C going on here? What did you-...? What do you think? How did you attack my body in the outside world!? How do you think? Part 6 Ghah!! As if forcibly dragged out by her bodys warning signals, Mitsuari Ayu got up on the shore of the artificial lake. Something was wrong with her organs. They were convulsing and she could not breathe properly. To find the source of the oddity, she looked down to her stomach. It was only then that she realized what was happening. O...S? A giant yellowish-white octopus tentacle had sunk into her stomach as if performing a body blow. Agh!? Why...Why have I lost control of the Five Over OS? She just barely suppressed the rising urge to vomit and slowly looked up. There she saw the #5 who had been constricted so tightly she should have been spewing her organs from her mouth. However, the girl had escaped the grasp of that giant tentacle. In fact, the Outsiders giant form had changed position to protect her instead. You...took control of it? But...thats impossible. Your Mental Out is supposed to be useless against pure technology!! Thats right? Shokuhou spun a television remote around in her hand. So heres a question. You used a variety of methods to locate the bodyguards I had hidden around and I ordered them to leave so those unrelated espers wouldnt die. But where exactly did I send all those powerful espers? You cant mean... When I thought about it, it didnt make sense. The #5 lady smiled with her intense exhaustion visible on her face. I get why my Five Over couldnt be mass-produced. After all, it was an incomplete product that lacked its core Mental Out ability, so it had yet to prove itself worthy of mass-production. ...But what about the Five Over OS? Its effectiveness has been proven and it has a detailed blueprint, so why hasnt it been prepared for military use? In other words... The Five Over OS is a prototype with plenty of unresolved problems remaining. For example, it cant perfectly overwrite the scenery from just your viewpoint. After all, youre using the magnetically-controlled monitor to overwrite an entire power station...no, to overwrite the entire landscape visible from here in real time. To pull that off without anything feeling out of place, you need to monitor the entire target area from multiple angles to check for abnormalities. Mitsuari looked down at her own smartphone. Are you saying you went after that? Did you locate the people providing the Five Over OSs different viewpoints, attack them, and steal their lenses!? Correct Shokuhou laughed. So. What if we took over all of the lenses forming that ultra-wide range network that even crosses into other districts? What if we used those lenses to provide malicious feedback? Could that maybe allow us to take control of your precious toy like tugging on a marionettes strings? ... Besides, we are two sides of the same coin. Just like me, you should be ridiculously strong against peoples minds but weak against pure machines. You werent giving detailed commands to the Five Over OS, were you? Once the data being sent in from around the area was gathered together, you would give general instructions with small gestures and the machine would take care of the rest. ...In that case, can someone so terrible with machines recover from this even if you know whats going on? You couldnt possibly pull that off. I have thirty-nine different viewpoints that perfectly blend into the city as normal people. Do you seriously expect me to believe you instantly located, attacked, and defeated them all to take control of the OS without me noticing? Think what you want, said Shokuhou with an air of importance. But its because we can do that sort of thing that were called Tokiwadai Middle Schools largest clique Part 7 A girl with black twintails ran through the trees at tremendous speed. She ignored the winding mountain road and dashed along the steep slope of that deep forest with the momentum of a racecar. Target incapacitated. Please give me the next target. In a distant room, a girl with bobbed hair traced her index finger along a map with her eyes closed. Next. District 7, exit A2 of Western Mountain Station. The target is a man in a knit hat sitting on a bench. A girl with voluminous ringlet curls quietly stood behind a man in a knit hat who blended into the city while messing with a smartphone. Understood. I will now incapacitate him. It no longer mattered to the girls whether they were being controlled. They did not care if this would only help the one who stood in the center. They may not have been powerful enough to be called Academy Citys #5 or #3. They may not have been powerful enough to be called an ace or a queen. But one could not forget that they were young ladies of Tokiwadai Middle School. That position alone meant they played more than minor roles. Every single one of them did. While a beehive had a queen, it was mostly run by the soldier bees who flew around the surrounding area. Part 8 Now, said Shokuhou. I think Ill take this toy of yours? The entire landscape changed. Like switching off a television, it transformed into the dreary gray of the artificial lake at night. This scene matched Shokuhous memories perfectly. And the tentacles of the giant octopus device rushed toward Mitsuari. Now, how about we enjoy this!? ...!! Five Over!! As soon as Mitsuari Ayu shouted out, the true Five Over that resembled a scorpion wasp collided with the imitation OS. The two girls did not follow the weapons with their eyes. They both pointed their television remote or smartphone lens toward each others faces. They had nothing left to trick each other with. No further truth remained hidden. (When it comes down to pure power, I should have the advantage with my upwards compatibility. But her inferiority complex should give her the ability to know that all too well, so she wont choose to fight that way!) With a dull sound of impact, the scorpion wasp Five Over slammed into the octopus Outsider. As it did, the long, thick tube that resembled a scorpion wasps ovipositor snapped like a whip and forcefully struck Mitsuaris back. The impact knocked the breath from her and launched her forward. As she flew through the air, she turned a look of clear hostility toward Shokuhou. (Shes going for a physical battle instead of a psychological one!?) Deadlock had once cornered her in the same way. To kill her before she could control them, they had approached too quickly for her to use her remote. They had even taken the concept to its extreme with their Queen Diver equipment. Mitsuari tightly clutched her smartphone and swung her fist toward Shokuhous face. The girl shot toward her. You...!? Shokuhou cried out while forcibly blocking the fist with both her arms. She once more tried to thrust her remote toward the girls head, but the girl grabbed her arm at the wrist and shoved it outward. And now that she was unguarded, the girl swung her smartphone-holding fist at her face. Pain could leave one in a dazed state. A stun grenade was known as a non-lethal weapon that blinded people with a flash of light and loud noise, but that explanation was not quite sufficient. By assaulting people with more information than they could handle, they were left in a daze for a few seconds to a few dozen seconds. A fist to the face could produce a similar phenomenon. And Shokuhou had not lived a life that left her accustomed to pain. The gap between Level 3 and Level 5 was obvious, but who could say what would happen if the Level 3 power was used against the Level 5 in the short gap this created. But... (If you think this remote is my only weapon, youre sorely mistaken!) Outsider!! Rather than the machine, she was speaking to the girls of her clique who had stolen all of the nearly forty smartphones which were sending massive amounts of data on the changes to the landscape. A moment later, a giant hieroglyphic-like eyeball attached to Shokuhous body. This was the same method Mitsuari had used. One of the sources of fear that people of all cultures and regions shared was the face of a beauty swinging her hair around in rage. This was an effect extracted from that and it was designed to stir up peoples emotions as much as possible. Once Mitsuari fell for this and her movements dulled, Shokuhou could use her remote. However, Shokuhou saw the other girl hold up the smartphone in her palm to cover her eyes. Instead of using her own eyes, she viewed the scene through the camera after running it through some kind of filter. Ah. Shokuhou recalled that Mitsuari had mentioned the story of Medusa when using this tactic. In that story, hadnt a shield polished into a mirror been used to avoid her gaze? You will... Mitsuaris other hand grabbed Shokuhous honey-blonde hair. She tugged downwards to point Shokuhous head toward her own clothes. You will be the one to experience this digital petrification!! Oh, no... Shokuhous entire body stiffened. Soon, the fist holding the smartphone flew toward her. It jabbed into her cheek, shook her head, and briefly blanked out her thoughts with the sudden pain and the vibration of her inner ear. (Not good.) Mitsuari pointed the smartphone lens toward her. A disturbing number of blood vessels were swelling out on the girls small face. Most likely, she had failed to completely escape the origin of fear used by the OS. She moved her arms and legs as if they were being eaten into and as if she were breaking free from chains. She was tenacious. She had no future and her present contained nothing but tragedy, but the mistaken yet utterly pure heart at the core of her being wished to have the past all to herself. And for this brief moment, that surpassed all else. Her fingertips moved across the smartphone and Shokuhous vision instantly fell into darkness. Part 9 Where was she and what had happened? For a while, Shokuhou Misaki did not understand anything. Her cognitive ability had dropped considerably like when half asleep. She could not think logically and even her five senses and sensation of gravity were blurred. Everything around her wavered and she had lost any sense of temperature. After several seconds, her mind rapidly cleared. It was then that she realized the ambiguous information coming from her five senses was not mistaken after all. She was stuffed inside the transparent coffin that formed the abdomen of the giant scorpion wasp combat machine called the Five Over Modelcase Mental Out. Her vision was blurred and her sense of gravity and temperature were unclear because of the pale red fluid filling the coffin. The coffin was opened on the wasps back and Shokuhou found she had no trouble breathing despite being completely immersed in the sticky fluid. She heard a bubbling sound and Mitsuaris wavering voice came from beyond the strange fluids surface. You really are amazing. There was no hint of praise in her voice. After all that preparation and even some coincidences in my favor, I was only able to knock you unconscious. And you woke up only three seconds later. If you had recovered any sooner, I would have had to grab your hair and hit you again. ... But its already over. With a bubbling sound, Mitsuaris hands sank into the red fluid. They extended toward various parts of Shokuhous body. They pulled up her coat and even reached below her skirt, but the #5 no longer had the strength to move. The reason why was simple. Damn, my fingertips are tingling. I get why the conducting fluid needs a slight anesthetic effect, but why can it get through my suit? Mitsuari was attaching wired medical electrodes to Shokuhou. Submerging her in the conducting fluid prevented her body and mind from resisting and the electrodes would give the specific commands to draw out her power. If that alone was how the machine was meant to artificially produce Mental Out, it could somewhat be called a success. But Mitsuari had other intentions. She would monitor exactly how Shokuhou used the eight thousand output devices to obtain the detailed recipe for controlling someones mind. By sending that recipe back into the machine, she would have reproduced the #5s power with purely industrial technology. And that stolen power would be used to completely erase Shokuhous memories with Kamijou Touma. Her own power would crush her very core. Done. Finally, Mitsuari removed her hands from the sticky red fluid. That satisfied word was enough for Shokuhou to gradually realize what was happening to her. Now, its time to end this ridiculous revenge. You will lose everything, have every last memory altered, and have nothing left to prove those days ever existed. The only memories will remain in my heart. Jewel boxes are made to be closed, after all. ... She was right. Shokuhou Misaki had lost. And that loss meant her only option was to lose everything and live an empty life without even knowing what she had lost. Yes. If she and Mitsuari were the only two in this world, that is. Honestly, its unbelievable. She was unsure if her voice was actually reaching Mitsuari beyond the surface of that fluid, but the other girl may have been able to read something from her expression and the movements of her lips. Its always at times just like this. Everyone can tell its checkmate and even the person in question has accepted their defeat, but then someone shows up and refuses to accept that defeat. What...are you talking about? You cant tell? The girl in the fluid could not move her arms or legs, but something floated up from her chest. It was a cheap silver emergency whistle attached to a thin ribbon. Even if she could bring it to her mouth, it would produce no sound inside this fluid. And even if it did, it would not reach anyone. She knew that, but she still placed her small lips on that link to her past. She remembered his words. Use it if youre in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you. Even as a tingling pain reached the tip of her tongue, she smiled inside that coffin. Maybe you wouldnt recognize this since he didnt make it in time for you. At times just like this, when a girl is facing her ruin and has forgotten to even cry, someone will always come rushing in for them. Mitsuaris face distorted so much it was amazing it did not make any noise. No help is coming. Yes, it is Nothing has suggested that! He has no information to lead him here!! Besides, he has completely lost his memories beyond anything our powers can do, so he doesnt know who Mitsuari Ayu or Shokuhou Misaki are. He doesnt remember us! He cant even picture our faces!! So...!!!!! Nevertheless, hell come, said Shokuhou. It has nothing to do with whether he knows the person or not. It doesnt matter if he has anything to gain and he doesnt have to follow a proper course of foreshadowed hints. He did not have extraordinary athletic ability. He did not have the intellect or skill of a superhuman genius. He did not have the fortune needed to run a nation. He did not have the deductive ability to resolve any incident from his easy chair. He did not have the beauty to ruin a country with a smile. He did not have the political power to change history with a snap of his fingers. He did not have the unbelievable power of a Level 5. But... Nevertheless... He is my hero. Shokuhou looked straight up at the wavering face beyond the surface. She was certain it was more than just the fluid and the anesthesia causing that face to waver. I dont care how others see him. He can be someone elses hero too. The authenticity of his righteousness doesnt matter. But none of that changes his ability to be my personal hero. ...So he will come. Even if he has forgotten everything and even if someone else is smiling by his side, just this once, its my turn He wont come, muttered Mitsuari. A moment later, two arms burst into the sticky red liquid with an explosion of bubbles. He wont come. He wont show up like that! After all...he didnt reach me. He didnt catch up to me. He didnt make it in time for me!! Being our hero doesnt make him almighty. If the conditions arent just right, he wont show up. Because you got in his way, my hero failed to show up!! The two slender hands wrapped around Shokuhous neck. They squeezed with unbelievable strength. Gah...gh...!? She tried to stop Shokuhous breathing even if it meant ruining her entire plan. She wanted her to feel the same pain she had felt as she sank into that dark water while still waiting for him to arrive. She strangled the other girl with a splendid look on her face. The thin ribbon around Shokuhous neck broke and the physical link to her past left her mouth. That cheap silver whistle symbolized her bond with that boy and it floated up and away through the fluid. You wont be saved! No help is coming! It wont arrive in time!! Just like with me. Just like I lost everything. The only path left for you is to be destroyed as you long for someone who will never arrive!! Then... With the blood vessels of her neck constricted and heat pressing down on her entire head, Shokuhou forced out what barely counted as a voice. And she said it. Who...is...that...? ............................................................................................................................................................... The pressure on her neck vanished. With her hands still plunged inside the red fluid, Mitsuari turned her head to look at something. No. At someone. It cant be. Why not? Because this is District 21. Its so far from District 7 and no one would come to an unmanned power station deep in the mountains while out on a walk! Thats what I did. Both of us have vanished from his memory, he would never think to come save you, and he shouldnt have any way of learning about this or even imagining it could be happening!! He doesnt have to start from the beginning. It isnt uncommon for him to show up midway to save someone. He didnt make it in time for me. He didnt arrive because he lost his only hint. But... But... Theres more to him than just that. But why... Why did he make it this tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime!? A tremendous sound burst out and Shokuhou clearly saw the scenery distort around Mitsuari. Their powers technically manipulated peoples minds by controlling the moisture in their brains. The changes they caused were normally microscopic and they could not cause any physical phenomena visible with the naked eye. But she overturned that assumption with her anger. The actual phenomenon may have been similar to freeze-drying. In that process, the pressure was increased by compressing the moisture in the air while the water molecules inside the target were removed to fill the object with microscopic holes like a dried sponge. Here, it created a demonic territory that would cause any living creature to crumble like dried paper mache and that territory burst out from Mitsuari in every direction. The mechanically-controlled monitor dust turned white while producing the sound of bursting sparks and that color change swallowed up the entire landscape. Shokuhou was only saved because of the special fluid of the Five Over, but what about the person outside? ... She slowly tilted her head and managed to get a view outside the transparent coffin. Her wavering vision saw a certain boy with an arm in a cast hanging from his shoulder in a sling. Mitsuaris demonic territory approached him. The magnetically-controlled monitor dust turned pure white and that color began to envelop him. What he did in response was simple. He swung that arm to the side. And it came in contact with that demonic territory. The cast shattered, his right hand was exposed, and the hopeless attack was eliminated in an instant. That was the sign that the pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma was back. Most likely, he knew nothing. He did not know what was happening here, who the people involved were, or what feelings had led to it all. Use it if youre in trouble. It might give me more chances to save you. He would not even remember that tiny promise he had made when giving her the cheap silver whistle. Nor would he remember the person who had relied so heavily on that tiny promise. Nevertheless, he would save her. He would never overlook a girl suffering before his eyes. ... Shokuhou saw Mitsuaris lips mouth the word why. She was the girl he had not arrived for. This was the scene she had waited so very, very long to see. And Shokuhou felt like she really had heard what that girl said when she saw that scene from the viewpoint of the enemy. (I have been saved enough.) That was Shokuhous honest thought in that moment. And so... This is your homework. She mercilessly spoke as if giving a push to the trembling back of that other girl. Go get his help. Get enough of his help that youll actually accept it this time. A moment later, there was a clash. Volume 11, Epilogue: A Certain Exit — No.05_Closed(and_Next_Door). Volume 11, Epilogue: A Certain Exit No.05_Closed(and_Next_Door). I see. So, Touma, you took off your cast even though youre not a doctor and thats why youre in so much pain now? It sounds to me like it was entirely your own fault. Why are you being so cold!? Hey, dont give him any attention. Hes the type that will grow addicted to the kindness people show him when he has a cold. We need to correct his behavior before it becomes a habit. Simply put, ignore him. Youre being downright coldhearted, Othinus! I dont have to hold back anymore, right? I can go ahead and bite him, right? I hope you arent looking down on me because Im only fifteen centimeters tall now. Do you want me to show you what happens if I jab an arm or leg into your eye or ear? Wait! Stop! Especially you, Othinus! That would be actual torture!! After the storm passed, Kamijou Touma escaped to the hospital courtyard while trembling like a weary old man. At the end of November, the courtyard was plenty cold even in the sun, but it still seemed to function as a place of healing. He spotted some other people here and there. As he sat on a bench and let out a heavy sigh, someone gently sat next to him. Its been a while ...? Kamijou frowned when a girl with waist-length honey-blonde hair spoke to him. For one thing, she was really close. Far too close. He hesitantly moved away while asking a question. Um, who are you? Ah ha ha. Dont worry. Thats the normal response. You always forget me right away. Hm? Thats the same Tokiwadai uniform Misaka wears. Wait, are you really in middle school??? Heh hehn. You can make a thorough inspection if you want. Im quite proud of what Ive grown here. For some reason the girl responded to his impolite gaze by brushing her hair from her shoulder and meaninglessly puffing out her chest. He could not figure out what she was trying to do. However... Hmm, have we met somewhere before? ... Well, you might not want me to mention it, but...is this the smell of your hair? That honey scent seems somehow familiar. Ah ha ha. ...Sigh. Thats just not fair. There shouldnt be any chance left, but thats going to give me some hope. What? Just talking to myself. Someone you know may use the same perfume or shampoo. Is that it? Kamijou tilted his head, but the girl moved onto the next topic. Do you have anything to ask about Mitsuari Ayu? Mitsuari? Oh, that girl from yesterday. But why do you know about that? Sigh. You remember the enemy but not the one you saved. That really is a strange memory ability. The girl sounded exasperated. The Five Over and Outsider prototypes were completely destroyed and I was just about to clean up the design data. That means theres no chance of Mental Out being mass-produced and spread around the world, so dont worry Mental Out? Oh, right, right. That person was involved in this! Huh? But what kind of person were they again? Its fine if you dont know. As for Mitsuari Ayu herself, she was officially sent to juvenile hall for a juvenile crime, but who knows what really happened. However, I do know she ignored her organizations plans, went on a personal rampage, and gathered power by helping herself to items from a variety of different positions, so its possible a number of different assassins will be sent after her. We probably need to watch over her for protection more than making sure she doesnt head back to the dark side. But leave all that to me. You dont need to worry about it. Is that so? muttered Kamijou. The girl seemed to scoot even closer and looked a little irritated at how little he reacted. By the way. What? Why did you suddenly show up at that artificial lake last night? Oh, that. He looked up at the blue expanse of the sky overhead. An upperclassman told me that its her birthday today, so how about setting a flower out for her. I didnt know what she meant, so I thought I would visit that mountaintop to find out. I see. A somehow kind look entered the girls eyes. It was a strange look much like someone giving applause even after the magician revealed how the trick worked. So who are you anyway? Youll just forget, so its hard to work up the motivation to name myself. Instead... Just as he heard that last word, her face suddenly moved in close and he felt the soft sensation of her lips on his forehead. Wh-what are you doing!? Ah ha ha. Dont worry. Youll forget all about it soon enough. The girl with honey-blonde hair gave a teasing yet somehow sad smile as she stood from the bench. She said one last thing without turning back. I am a girl you once saved. Feel free to think of me like that There was actually a short continuation to the past shared by Shokuhou Misaki and Kamijou Touma. The student group called Deadlock had attacked them with their Queen Divers that used countless wheels and jet engines to produce overwhelming speed. They had offered to spare Kamijou if he abandoned Shokuhou and he had obviously insisted on fighting to protect the girl. However, he had been unable to end it all unharmed. Shokuhou had assisted using her remotes. She had successfully reduced the number of targets surrounding them by having them take each other out or twisting their understanding so they charged in the wrong direction. But it had not been enough. Kamijou Touma had used his own body to forcibly hold back those she had failed to intercept. Shokuhou still remembered the awful rusty smell that had filled her nose. Once it had all ended and an ambulances siren rang through the night, the familiar boys arms and legs had been convulsing in a disturbing way she had never seen before. Stand back! Damn, hes gone into shock. Just leave this to us!! The EMTs tense voice had suggested this was a shocking sight even to those people who were used to scenes of bloodshed. The sharp fragments of a ruptured fuel tank tore into his stomach. You have to do something about that at least! I know! But we cant do anything right now. Hes convulsing from the shock, so any attempt at treatment would only open the wound further! But he wont make it to the hospital! Cant you do something with your anesthetic ability!? He went into shock because of the drop in blood pressure. Using an anesthetic would only lower it further and that could easily kill him! We cant do something that dangerous!! ... The EMT had used his radio to contact the hospital, but that had seemed to be bad news as well. They had been told to use a different hospital. They were not going to make it and he was going to die. Shokuhou had clenched her teeth and made a suggestion. If there was a way to eliminate his pain without using anesthetic, could you give him emergency treatment here? What are you-...? I have Mental Out, a mental power ranked at Level 5. I can cut off his sense of pain using that. That should have the same effect as anesthetic without lowering his blood pressure any further. The EMT had seemed hesitant. That would be taking a gamble with a patients life using a makeshift method not in any manual. And it could easily end up dirtying the hands of a normal person and of a child. Many different problems may have spiraled through his head. But after he simply could not come up with an answer, he had slammed the radio mic onto the hook and spoke. If it has a chance of working, then lets do it. There was one fact Shokuhou had not told the EMT back then. Her power controlled peoples minds by manipulating the moisture in their brain. She had no guarantee her power would work properly when his blood pressure had dropped so radically and the moisture in his brain was out of balance. Later, a certain doctor had told her the following: This isnt really damage to his memories. Its more like damage to the pathways that call in the memories. Even if the boy can talk about you, he wont be able to remember you. If you think of the brain as storing peoples faces and names, you could say your section alone was physically crushed. I dont think there is anything you can do even with your powers. But when she had done it, Shokuhou had not considered anything like that. She had simply been worried about whether she could save his life or not. She had realized nothing could outweigh that and so she had immediately acted. If... Somewhere and sometime, she had spoken these words. Since he would always forget again and again, the specific ordering of events may not have mattered. If someday you do manage to overturn the expectations created by the adults and you remember me... The timeline did not matter. It may have been the past and it may have been the future. At any rate, Shokuhou Misaki said these words. Then lets have an important talk. A very, very sweet, kind, and important talk. She knew it could never be. She knew she was simply dragging out an issue that had ended long ago. But... Even so... In the farthest reaches of the world closest to him, that girl continued to wait all alone for a tiny miracle. A golden retriever did not particularly enjoy taking walks at night. The darkness produced idle thoughts and being near his workplace was the ideal environment for him to relax. Unlike the other Kiharas, he made no distinction between work and play but was not much of a workaholic either. He was currently on his way to District 15 which was well known for entertainment. It may have looked like the woman in a cheap suit and lab coat was walking her dog without a leash, but their relationship was nearly the opposite of that. Sensei, whenever you are ready. Right. They stopped in front a high-rise building covered in glass. It was a giant aquarium called the Celestaquarium. However, it was less a place to observe aquatic life out of academic interest and more a place to build up the proper mood for young couples. The golden retriever had a job to do here. And of course, it was a job as a Kihara. Noukan-sensei. He turned toward the voice and found Kihara Yuiitsu with her heels politely pressed together, her hands clasped near her navel, and her head lowered to the proper angle all like a well-trained maid. She spoke in a dignified voice as if seeing the large dog off to the battlefield. Good luck. Right. ...You wait somewhere away from here. I have a feeling this will get rough. The golden retriever parted ways with the young woman and snuck inside the building on his own. The electronic locks and alarms he came across were of no use against him. With all the lights out, the aquarium felt creepier than a hospital at night. He boarded an elevator located where no normal visitor would ever find it, stood on his hind legs, and pressed a button with his front paw. When expecting an indoor battle, one would normally never use the elevator. After all, you could be locked inside it or it could be dropped from the top floor. The fact that he ignored those possibilities suggested the golden retriever had done something to this building. With a soft electronic tone, the elevator doors opened. This was the top floor. A blue world filled the entire space. In addition to a giant donut-shaped water tank, glass covered the entire ceiling and a massive amount of seawater covered everything. The lights of the city and the moonlight collided within the water and created spectacular artwork out of that light. This was a guaranteed date spot that lowly fashion magazines said was more effective than aphrodisiacs. I hope you will excuse me for this late night visit. The golden retriever walked into the center of that floor. He was quite large for a dog, but he looked tiny compared to the aquatic life. The creature facing him beyond the thick reinforced glass was a giant killer whale measuring over five meters long. This was the king of the ocean who had no natural enemies. The golden retriever once more spoke to that white and black creature playing in the water. Do you think you can fool me by acting like an animal? Someone calling himself a Kihara has appeared to you. That alone should tell you how serious the situation is. After a few seconds, the creature finally looked the dog in the eye. As the fierce king of the oceans mouth moved, the aquarium speakers produced the refined voice of a middle-aged man. Oh, dear. I thought she would be somewhat useful, but has she been captured already? This was a conversation between a large dog and a killer whale. That may have sounded like something from a childrens book, but what lurked between them was far different. This was the dark side of the city. They were surrounded by an all too dangerous stench that symbolized that fact. How many sacrifices did it take to reach your current brain? asked the golden retriever who bore the title of Kihara. Quite a few. The elephant and whale didnt work. The capacity of their brains far exceeds that of a humans, but they had difficulty accepting me. On the other hand, a gorilla or chimpanzee was too boring. They have intelligence, but the structure seemed more inferior than anything. However, I settled on a killer whale both for those anatomical reasons and because of my personal preferences. Not having to worry about wearing any clothes really does make you inhuman, doesnt it? The overwhelming difference between humans and other animals was their brain structure. That was something even children could sense despite having no understanding of anatomy or zoology. But perhaps that was because they could not think of any other way humans were superior to other animals. But didnt it seem odd? What about the human brain was superior to others? From a purely anatomical perspective, an elephants brain was overwhelmingly larger than a humans. Their bodies were larger too, so that was hardly surprising. Even if all the wrinkles in a humans brain were stretched out to expand it, it could not match the elephants. Nevertheless, the human intellect far surpassed an elephants. No other animal had the intelligence or emotions of humans. Why was that? It was because those other animals lacked something that humans had. So what if that insufficiency was filled? More specifically, what if a human brain was broken apart, the minimum number of parts to make a human a human was attached to an animals brain, and an exchange of electrical signals was established? As previously stated, plenty of animals had brains with more capacity than the human brain. If that which made humans special was attached to those brains, was it not possible to create a superhuman monster? That was exactly what had happened here. Shundou Toshizou. You are the representative of the adults who once tracked down Deadlock and lent them those Queen Divers you acquired elsewhere to steal Mental Out even if it meant sacrificing Shokuhou Misaki. You are one of those who ignored our plans. ...You were supposedly killed in a past explosion like the others, though. I must admit I am at least slightly surprised to find you had gathered the fragments of your brain and turned yourself into a monster. Ha ha. Id say someone who achieved so much intelligence by expanding a purely canine brain is a lot more of a monster than someone based in a human brain. And Ive never heard of a dog with a lifespan of eighty years. I doubt that samurai ant accomplished all that on her own. You were the one acting behind the scenes without her ever noticing, werent you? Why should I care if you know that!? What can a puppy like you do? It would seem you do not understand what position I hold within the Kiharas. What, are you an assassin that can only wag at his owner? A tremendous sound burst out. It sounded like the roar of jet engines and it came from a mass of two-meter spheres that rolled in from the four entrances located in a cross shape. Each one weighed over a ton, but they floated into the air using the powerful jets coming from the thirty-two deep holes covering them. Those massive weights surrounded the large dog in no time. These are called Molar Teeth, but you can think of them like wrecking balls flying around without using a crane. They can be merely used as a massive weapon, they can be used to block bullets, and theyre quite good at pouring mental pressure onto your enemy. Overall, theyre quite useful. ... There are thirty in all. So what can the puppy that came to kill me do about this? Hm? You can go around breaking the water tank if you like, but that just means I can wield my own power as the king of the ocean. ... What, too scared to speak? Or are you hoping for reinforcements? Ill have to abandon this body thanks to you, but I can always transfer my brain over to a new one. If I kill you, no one in Academy City will be able to capture me, so you need to die for my sake. I cant give this any better than a failing grade. I was actually a little hopeful when I chose my equipment, but it looks like that backfired. The golden retriever narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. And that was all it took. A moment later, the giant water tank that truly covered the entire floor shattered. What!? The king of the ocean was not surprised by the glass shattering. Given how much water the facility contained, breaking the glass would only turn the floor into a giant pool. And if he attacked the dog with his killer whale body, he could kill him instantly. However, something was missing. That something was the seawater. Shundou Toshizou was quickly having his movements sealed like a fish out of water. Theres a hole in the outer wall? A dumbfounded voice came from the speakers. The seawater was vanishing so quickly because it was flowing outside. Dont tell me something fired on the building from outside! At that point, the killer whales voice came to a stop. Several impacts struck him and several giant containers stabbed into the floor around the golden retriever. They all opened as if creating geometric nets and the dog was rapidly surrounded by countless machines, arms, weapons, ammunition, and armor. It went beyond arming him and reached the level of building a fortress around him. With the sound of a dryer, the mountain of weapons floated few centimeters off the floor. The excessive pile of military equipment did not form into a robotic silhouette. It simply fired and simply killed. That far too villainous concept was revealed in all its glory. On top of that, the Molar Tooth assassins had been crushed from the moment the containers had flown in. Those thick spherical shields could deflect a shot from a tanks gun, but they had not stood a chance. What is that!? groaned the king of the ocean who had been knocked into the air. All men love combining robots. Learn to appreciate it, young one. His weapons included guns, cannons, swords, spears, missiles, lasers, flamethrowers, liquid nitrogen emitters, and even molecular vibration electromagnetic wave emitters. And on top of those countless weapons, a small arm moved to place a cigar in the golden retrievers mouth. Yes. Even within that great torrent of water, he successfully lit the cigar. No, not that! Why is the water moving out of the way to leave a perfect circle around you!? Oh, that. The large dogs blunt comment was accompanied by a puff of sweet vanilla-smelling smoke. The esper cyborg Rensa was created to crush the seven Level 5s in case they all rebelled against Academy City at once. My role is similar, but unfortunately, my target is not those homemade espers. Then...what is your target? Ladylee Tangleroad, Fr?ulein Kreutune, and Codename Dragon. ..? Oh, was that too difficult for you? At any rate, I am the safety when it comes to a realm that people like you could never comprehend. Normally, I wouldnt need to deal with odd jobs like this. A tremendous roar burst out. The golden retrievers territory had only been a small circle around his large machine, but it quickly expanded. The water vanished and Shundou Toshizous borrowed killer whale body was thrown to a truly empty floor. Putting it like this might make him upset. It was like that king of the ocean was laid out on the chopping block. And the chef who wielded great firepower spoke coldly while puffing on his cigar. Have you ever heard of the special powered suit called the Anti-Art Attachment?[1] A few minutes later, the golden retriever left the giant building and spotted the woman in a cheap suit and lab coat waiting among the crowd of onlookers while holding an umbrella. I thought I told you to wait somewhere else. Heh heh heh. Yeah, but I couldnt help myself. They boldly left the scene of the crime without particularly worrying about all the people around them. Even if they were seen here and even if dog fur and pieces of flesh remained on that top floor, no one would think he had done it. As an animal, he lived outside the laws that could only judge humans. What time is it? Its already four. How about getting a quick meal, sensei? It would give me indigestion, so I would rather not. I may not look it, but I am an old dog. Nooo, youre a dandy gentleman!! I cant get enough of that voice!! I sometimes have difficulty telling whether youre looking up to me or down on me. Either way, could you stop hugging my neck like that? As they spoke, the golden retriever sent a communication request that existed only in his head. A hotline soon opened with the Windowless Building. Boo. Sensei, someone as important as you doesnt have to suck up to that guy. I appreciate your high opinion of me, but you are wrong. Besides, the Kiharas cannot defeat the ruler of this city. Oh, you mean because of the Archetype Controller? Thats just cheating! Archetype was a psychological term for a common understanding or sense of values that developed as each member of a race or group dealt with an identical problem in the same way. These included religious concepts such as the palace of the gods being above the clouds and the prison for sinners being below the earth. In an extremely broad and shallow sense, the idea that the Japanese loved rice and Americans loved burgers was an archetype. But what if you could control those? What if you could create them, send them out into the world, and even destroy them? He was the one that used the terms Academy City, esper, and science side and tossed them inside a framework that could be called mankinds worship of science. To go a step further, the category of the Kiharas is another example. That is why we cannot defeat this ruler. If he wanted to, he could cut us off from our surroundings using the archetype of heretical science and cause the very definition of our existence to vanish into thin air. We might manage to survive, but we would become defanged cowards. And I shouldnt have to explain what happens to a defanged and declawed beast thats thrown out into the wild. (On top of that, he brought glory to the archetype of modern Western magic during the Golden period and it is still strongly influenced by him. He could always use that archetype to affect the very foundation of todays magic side.) While keeping that part to himself, the large dog spoke to the person on the other end of the hotline. He spoke to the citys ruler, Board Chairman Aleister. Im sure you were spying with Underline, but I dealt with Shundou Toshizou. Thats the last of the seventy-two requests you made. Every last one of those who grew during your absence and refused to regroup has been defeated. Are you satisfied with my work? This is nothing more than the beginning. Have you found something to make up for what happened? asked the golden retriever walking with Kihara Yuiitsu. It was clearly a mistake to contact the Magic Gods at that point. Did you finally learn your lesson now that you have to recover from getting a third of your body burned so badly? It was necessary regardless. You have a bad habit of sounding rational when youre actually handling everything through emotion. Scientists must be romantics and they must always work to fill people with dreams. Those are your words, I believe. The golden retriever sighed at having that pointed out. If he could change his expression like a human, he might have smiled. Youre right. Romance is important. It is what separates the men from the beasts. Am I wrong? How about you ask your attending physician instead of me? But if I had to give an answer from a Kihara perspective, it would definitely fall on the evil side of good and evil. Not only that, but its a terribly bland sort of evil. The dog looked up at the starry sky as he spoke. Those mysterious lights filled the citys magazines as a symbol of astrology and other strange occult ideas unreachable with human science. But it would fall on the like side of like and dislike. It would seem even I have a heart. The blazing colors of dawn filled the sky ahead of them. The purple of that starry sky which symbolized the mysteries of the world was gradually dyed orange. I have now returned order to your rule, just as you asked. The scientists spoke while facing that golden sunlight. It looked like they were using human intellect to challenge the worlds irrational side. Now, how about you use the power I have returned to you. Use it to destroy all those irregularities known as magic. Notes 1. Kanji: Anti-Magic-Type Powered Suit Volume 11, Afterword Volume 11, Afterword If you bought each volume one by one, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Lets start with some inside information! This series was leaning pretty heavily toward the transcendent global magical battle centered on Othinus that ended last volume, so this story was mostly meant as a correction to bring things back into balance. Thats why the topic was entirely science side and the battle would only resolve extremely personal problems no matter who won or lost. Basically, I turned the rudder in the exact opposite direction from the last couple of volumes. And the protagonist this time was Shokuhou Misaki. I had actually planned out her past early on but later realized it would be difficult to actually use. However, I decided it would be a waste to never use it when I already had the idea, so I worked to reconstruct the story. Shokuhou herself (much like Mikoto) is a difficult character to use because shes almost too convenient, but after the personal breakthrough that was New Testament 9, I decided I could handle a tricky psychological battle using her and had her actually enter the fight this time. Before, she was something like the other familys girl visiting Dengeki Bunko while Mikoto was staying over at Dengeki Daioh, so she had felt like a guest instead of an actual family member, but this might have broken free of that. However, I thought the readers would be disappointed with a story that takes place entirely in the past, at least timeline-wise. Instead, I had Shokuhou pursuing those days along with the reader while afraid that her past may have changed. I was hoping to make a story that left you unsure what the truth was as the story progressed and I hope you found it thrilling. As for the enemy character, Mitsuari Ayu, I actually used an initial rough for Shokuhou that Haimura-san submitted. I thought nothing could be more perfect for a girl who could not become Shokuhou and insisted that he use the design. I am truly grateful. Her name means honey ant because there is a famous ant that gather so much sweet honey inside itself that it swells up like a ball and cant walk on its own. (Its stomach grows translucent too, so its surprisingly pretty. Its something like a glass ball.) I named her that because she first shows up in that three hundred kilogram form, because she filled herself with so many emotions that she couldnt move, and because I wanted to include the character for ant to act as a counterpart for Shokuhou. With Shokuhou, I initially wanted to give her family name a queen bee motif, but most everything I could think of there had already been used. I finally settled on her current family name with the idea that she eats into the entire societal structure and not just the queen at the top. I apologize to anyone who was shocked when they first saw a name meaning bee eater, but I did put some actual thought into it. As for Shokuhou and Mitsuaris given names meaning control and pray and love and joy respectively, you might be able to catch a glimpse of where their hearts lie and what their differences are by comparing them. Both of them control peoples minds, but neither of them looks down on peoples minds or hearts. Sometimes, they will risk their lives to fight for those things or start down the wrong path because of them. I wanted to write a story about girls like that. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san, my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anana-san, and for the first time, all of the Dengeki Daioh staff starting with Fuyukawa Motoi-san. I relied on a lot of people to flesh out what was nothing more than lines of text in the plot and eventually create the beloved character named Shokuhou Misaki. Without all of their help, I would never have finished this story centered on her. I am truly grateful. I also give my thanks to the readers. As I already said, I wouldnt have given the go-sign for this story without the success I felt from New Testament 9 and this might have forever remained nothing but an idea in my notes. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the push I needed. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. But the connection between Kumokawa Seria and Kamijou Touma is still a mystery! -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 12, Prologue: Limit of the World’s Allowance — Foreign_GODs,or_Evil_KINGs. Volume 12, Prologue: Limit of the Worlds Allowance Foreign_GODs,or_Evil_KINGs. Darkness covered the entire area. Not only could one not see an inch in front of their face, but the darkness seemed to pass through their eyeballs and bear down on their mind. However, the people drifting through that darkness showed no concern. They implicitly said that this was the natural state of the world or that someone had yet to whisper let there be light. Direction and depth were indistinguishable in that black space, but three distinct presences existed there. So have we managed to finish in time, Nephthys? An old mans voice spoke in the darkness. More than simply wrinkled, the voice was better described as dried-up. The responding voice sounded like a young and bewitching beauty. Yes. That zombie girl is useful at times like this. Thanks to her background of actively drawing in a great number of cultures, she has an affinity for most anything. But, High Priest, cut in a girls voice that sounded even younger and also childish. Miss Zombies theory is essentially the same as holding up opposing mirrors, right? By splitting up our power infinitely, we can intentionally weaken ourselves and avoid destroying the world whenever we move an arm or leg. What about it, Niang-Niang? Im just wondering if the symbol will really grow weaker when you split it up. I dont want to smash the world up like stained glass the first step I take. Were not like Othinus. It doesnt matter if its a mere deception as long as it works. Just like a Moebius strip or a Klein bottle, some concepts are allowed to exist even if they cant be properly defined, Niang-Niang. Yeah, but I prefer practical ideas over theories. You could say Im the inventor type instead of the scientist type. I have a hard time believing itll actually work just because the theories all add up. I cant rest easy until I try it out for myself and see that it works. Then how about we try it? Are you sure we should turn the world into our toy so casually? Despite her comment, the girl called Niang-Niang giggled and showed no real sign of hesitation. The three presences intentionally all looked in the same direction. That produced directionality in the all-encompassing and heavy darkness. That directionality took the form of depth and finally defined the entire space. The woman called Nephthys sang in a sweet voice that seemed to enchant the brain of all who heard it. Hello, world. A heavy metallic crash burst out. Hello, science side. A vertical line of thin, thin white light appeared in the surface of darkness. Hello, Academy City. Double-doors opened. The three Magic Gods filled their lungs with the air of Academy City. Academy City did not border the ocean, so the air routes and land routes were crucial. District 11 was a base for the latter. Metal containers were piled up like a mountain there and the Magic Gods took a casual step out from the box at the peak. One was the High Priest. His body was as skinny and covered in wrinkles as the dried branches of an ancient tree. He wore a purple Buddhist priests robe that covered that skinny frame and gave him a more voluminous outline. Great greed could be sensed in the sword he pressed to the ground like a staff and the glittering gold rakusu worn over his robe. He was the product of Buddhist self-mummification, where one starved themselves so their human form would transcend the six paths and become a Buddha in just one generation. Another was Niang-Niang. The girl wore a short white China dress with extremely baggy sleeves, but her utterly pale complexion was even whiter than her clothes. She wore a hat and had a unique charm attached to her forehead. Simply put, she was a Shijie-Xian of ancient China. The last was Nephthys. She was a beautiful woman with long silver hair whose chocolate-colored nude body was completely covered by white bandages. Her eye color changed at a whim and she had teardrop tattoos below her eyelids. She was the goddess said in Egyptian mythology to have shed large tears upon the death of Osiris, but strangely enough, no other stories were known about her. For that reason, some speculated her divinity had been built up by human hands based on the crying woman hired to attend funerals. For now... The High Priest spoke with his physical voice while moving fingers that looked like they would break off if he so much as bent them and shaking his head that looked like human skin pasted to a skull. It would seem to have worked. There is no sign of a tornado occurring on the other side of the world as with the butterfly effect or a holistic esper. Then I guess its about time for us to get started, too. Niang-Niangs carefree comment elicited an exasperated warning from Nephthys whose entire body was bound by bandages. Dealing with the primary issue is fine, but that is going to be taking action soon. Now that were existing here in the real world, well be detected before long. Yeah, we probably do need to do keep things in check. In a way, that is even more of a troublemaker than Othinus. What a pain, said the High Priest while massaging his shoulders. Niang-Niang pouted her lips as she continued. Honestly, why did Aleister have to thoughtlessly destroy our hidden world? Maybe we really shouldve killed him. We are not like Othinus, replied the High Priest. You yourself said so, Niang-Niang. Not that we can shamelessly call ourselves harmless. His gentle and soothing voice led Niang-Niang to raise both hands. But she was not saying she had been persuaded by his virtuous sermon. Dont act so high and mighty, old man. Youre the one that got pissed and tried to kill him first. I have no idea what you are talking about. Thats the problem right there. You completely rewrite your definition of whats right based on how you feel at the moment. What could be more dangerous than a god that makes a complete 180 between what he said five seconds ago and what he says five seconds later? The worst part is that youre not even aware of it, so you really do believe its all connected by a continuous thread of logic. Anyway. Rather than dodging the issue, the High Priest truly did change the subject completely naturally. We have lost our hidden world, so we have no choice but to stand on the game board here in the real world. Aleister, Gemstones, and Kamijou Touma. We have a lot of work to do. Or rather, a lot of unnecessary work has piled up. ...But now that we are standing on this board, we cannot just passively watch on. Once our turn arrives, we will be forced to act. We can no longer stand still and entrust ourselves to the flow of time, so we need to pay some attention to where we stand. Yeah, yeah. This may be similar to experts working to hinder each other. Part of the blame lies in the fact that we are much too powerful to act as game pieces, but there is a possibility that each seemingly meaningless move will completely alter the situation on the board. However, he did not say they should not move across the board. He was not a man of such great character. So if at all possible, I would like to lend our help whenever someone is going to make a move, but will that be willing to accept that condition and abandon the role of troublemaker? As she listened, Nephthys placed a hand on her hip and looked down on the cityscape that stretched into the distance. The mountain of containers at her feet was reminiscent of the somehow nostalgic graves of the pharaohs. That is, the pyramids. Her captivating lips moved and formed words. If she wanted, a Magic God could mold the world like clay and create a perfect paradise, so it was rare for the concept of an enemy to apply. Before even considering whether someone was strong or weak, the very categories of enemy and ally as well as the entire reason for fighting were kindly and coldly eliminated. It may have been that the only possible enemy for a Magic God was another Magic God. That other Magic God could join the struggle for the resource that was the one and only world to bend to ones will. Nevertheless, Nephthys uttered a name and a related legend. Instead of grouping it in with the many others, she clearly singled it out. Queen Anne. Now, what meaning would she attach to that? The god continued speaking. So King Arthur had a twin sister and a shield to match his sword. Volume 12, 1: Steamed Buns and Diamonds — to_the_DIANOID. Volume 12, Chapter 1: Steamed Buns and Diamonds to_the_DIANOID. Part 0 From the narrow back alley, only a small rectangle of the clear blue sky of winter was visible. A short boy was sprawled out in a collection area piled high with garbage bags. He only appeared to be about twelve. He had shoulder-length semi-long brown hair, a black hooded jacket, shorts, and boots. His socks and the innerwear visible within his jacket created a stark contrast. They left a strong impression with their bright sky-blue color and the lines drawn on with a highlighter. His face could be described as childlike, so the bright swelling around his eyes and the blue bruises on his cheeks were all the more painful to see. He let out a slow breath. The boy recalled the conversation he had had not long before. You really shouldnt get anywhere near there. Its too reckless, even if you claim you need to rescue some missing friend called Frenda. He was certain his aching head was due to more than just being punched. Those words had torn into his heart. Im not trying to act tough and look down on you here. I really am trying to help because I feel sorry for you. You can tell the difference, cant you? It had been a stereotypical city delinquent. And not merely someone disguised as one; it truly had been one. I dont know much about this citys dark side and Im not soaked in it either. That means Im still on the honest side of the city. You can call it a gray zone, but I still just barely fit in that honest category. ...But there are times when its more convenient to use people like that. Like now, for example. If someone from the underside of the city directly silenced someone, it would reveal that the underside was involved. That was why that role fell to the honest people. Of course, they made sure it was impossible to trace the job back to the dark side. Countless middlemen were used and the payment was made through some complex method. Listen, wherever the money gathers so does the dark side. They arent all your target, but a lot of them will grow to hate you even if all you do is try to search them out. Thats just how it works. You simply dont have anywhere near enough power. Not only will you not even get close to your actual target, youll make five to ten times as many enemies in the process. ...At this rate, youll get yourself killed. And Im not saying that lightly like when a delinquent like me threatens to kill someone. I truly mean that you will end up dead. Do you get the difference? ... The boy sat up on the pile of trash. He had been turned away at the gate. Ads played on TV for that massive complex, so anyone should have been able to freely enter and exit it. However, anyone entering with malicious intent would be searched out before they set foot on the premises and the interception team would head out. Was there something there that required going that far? Was there something hidden there that they could not let anyone see? The boy wanted to know what had happened to his friend who had vanished into the dark side. And he would make sure to rescue her, no matter how deep into the darkness he had to venture. There was a secret worth crushing those desires. No, that required crushing them. But Im sure youve heard about this. The delinquent had given a heavy sigh while speaking to the boy. If your level of rarity isnt enough, then theres a way of disguising yourself as some well-known person. For example, Academy Citys #6, Aihana Etsu. No one knows that Level 5s age or sex. ...Which means anyone disguise dress up as them and no one can tell the real from the fake, right? No one knows what the originals like in the first place. The boy could not slip past security. He could not access the data. But... What if he was not himself? For example, an airport worker could slip past the gate without having his baggage checked and a police officer would not be stopped at a checkpoint. For the president, the White House was literally his home and an astronaut could take a nap in a space station no one else could hope to reach. What if he did the same? He had nothing and was turned away at the gate, but what if someone else would not be? What if he had the title of Level 5, the greatest rarity of Academy Citys students? You want to know why the person stopping you would tell you that? The delinquent had given a shrug that did not suit him at all. Because your story is just too sad. Stopping you here is the right thing to do, but its human nature to want to tell you at least one little trick. ... The short boy rubbed his red cheek with the back of his hand. He sucked in the chilly air and let out a warm breath. He quietly gathered his resolve while sitting on the pile of trash. He would do it. It did not matter how he did it, but he would become Aihana Etsu, Academy Citys #6 Level 5. Part 1 Morning came early to Kamijou Toumas dorm room of District 7. After all, the pointy-haired boy was in high school and yet raised a pet cat and a girl. That prevented him from just throwing some food in the microwave or eating out because that was too much work. He had to cook for himself. Flavor could take the back seat because quantity was what mattered. He painstakingly worried over improving his cost performance and found himself saying things such as Huh? Wouldnt ramen work better if I dared to stretch out the noodles? Yes, I do dare! N-now I just have to figure out the bare minimum before the flavor reaches lethal levels! or The core of a cabbage? You can eat that! You just have to slice it up in a juicer, throw in some milk, honey, and apple peels, and then hit the switch again! He was always struggling to improve in what seemed more like a practical joke than cooking. However, this morning began far too soon. Index was asleep on the bed and Kamijou Touma was sleeping inside the locked bathrooms bathtub, looking like he was pretending to have entered cold sleep. So the one who was up so early was the newcomer. She was a fifteen centimeter Magic God. The pale girl with long, wavy blond hair and an eye covered by an eyepatch was Othinus. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? She was running as quickly as possible across the wooden floor as a hell beast approached from behind. The fluffy mewing creature was apparently a Japanese calico cat, but at Othinuss size, it was no different from a relative of Cerberus or Orthrus. Ever since Othinus had arrived, the cat seemed to have viewed her as emergency food or a cat toy, so she had already stopped counting how often she had been attacked. He growled and dropped his front right paw, so she dodged and then rolled out of the way of the stomp from the approaching left paw. Othinus was making her way to the bathroom. Unfortunately, her fifteen centimeter height prevented her from reaching the doorknob which was almost a meter high. Fortunately, that was not her target. Hnn! As if making a head slide in baseball, she stretched her arms forward in a crawling pose and threw herself toward the floor. The bathroom door had a two or three centimeter gap at the bottom and she slipped below it to slide inside. At the same time, she heard a bang on the door behind her. The cat had pounced but lost sight of its target and slammed head-first into the door. The girl gasped for breath but finally stood up. She heard surprisingly pitiful meowing from behind the door, so she held her hands together, stomped her feet in annoyance, glanced toward the door, and finally crouched down to check through the gap at the bottom. At that exact moment, a paw guillotine dropped down from above. Tch! I knew I shouldnt have worried about you!! She frantically pulled her head back in and wholeheartedly cursed the animal. Nnnnn... Othinus, whats with this hell of panties? Youre getting lazy with these new worlds now, arent you? Zzz... The sound of grinding teeth and a ridiculous comment came from the bathtub. They relaxed the thread of tension and symbolized the absolute safety of this place. Now that she had escaped to the bathroom, she would be safe. A mere cat could not hope to open a cultural convenience like a door. Triumph filled Othinus, but she froze when she heard a clattering from the door. (It cant be... It cant be! Did he jump up to the doorknob and hang down by his front legs!?) Unpleasant sweat poured from Othinus, but then she calmed. This was no mere door. It was the bathroom door. That meant it was locked from the inside. A cat was nothing but a cat, so he could not understand the concept of a lock. No matter how much he rattled the knob, it would never open. (Your efforts are wasted! Ah hah hah!!) Or so it should have been. (Wait... That door is locked, isnt it?) Doubt gradually filled her head and fear soon followed. She looked far up above. A metal knob was placed over the cylindrical lock. It was oriented horizontally, but what did that mean? It could be horizontal or vertical, but which meant locked and which meant unlocked? She never opened the door when entering the bathroom, so she had no way of knowing. (Its locked, isnt it!? If that kid was so sleepy he forgot to lock it, hes in trouble!! Specifically, Ill attack his Achilles tendon!!) The door knob began to rattle so violently it felt like a murderer was breaking in. Othinus stared up at the door while taking a few steps backwards. She knew prayer would not be enough, so she frantically turned toward the bathtub. A life-sized boy was contained inside, so she could escape this hell beast with his protection. However, she could not reach him. She was only fifteen centimeters tall, so the sixty to seventy centimeter bathtub was no different from a sheer cliff. And the smooth plastic material left no handholds for climbing. Shouting was her only choice. Heeeeey!! Wake up!! Wake up!! A gods life is literally on the line here, so cant you be a little flexible!? Mumble, mumble... Yes, Miss Dorm Manager... Youre immersed in the worst kind of dream, arent you!? If I die, Ill make sure to curse you!! Her shouts did not reach him. He did not hear her pleas. And behind her, she heard a very, very quiet and yet definite sound. It was a creak. Hm? Othinus? You dont usually get up this early. Is everyone in this dorm room too hungry to wait for breakfast? Yawn... ...................................................................................................................................................... He received no response. The god was held in the pet cats mouth like a stolen fish and taken quietly away. Part 2 This treatment isnt right, complained Othinus on the breakfast table. Instead of sitting at the table, she literally sat on the table. Her small breakfast was placed on the upside-down cap to a plastic bottle. Now, I am aware my life here is meant as a special type of punishment. I am aware of that, but surely there has to be more than this!! Even in prison, people have a place to exercise and can receive items from visitors. At the very least, I think you should do something about managing that monster! Steam blew from Othinuss head, but Indexs sleepy eyes suggested she was not paying much attention. Cats had a habit of presenting captured bugs or mice to their owners, so the nun had yet again had an unwanted gift pressed against her face that morning. Kamijou covered light brown toast with margarine and passed it to Index. You say that, but hes just a playful kitten. Is it really worth getting that upset? You just have to put up with it until he wears himself out. Multiply the size by four! For you, this would be like a three meter, two hundred kilogram Siberian tiger leaping at you! You are keeping that in mind when you speak, arent you!? Angry, Othinus started on the stir-fried vegetables in the plastic cap. She grabbed a toothpick with both hands, stabbed into the diced pieces of vegetable, and crammed them into her mouth. Then what am I supposed to do? asked an exasperated Kamijou. Ensure my safety. Make sure I never, ever have to live in fear of that wild beast again! How exactly do I do that? I want you to make me a place to hide. A place just for me that the cat cant break into. But I already made you one out of cardboard yesterday. That was torn to pieces in only five minutes! Not even the Three Little Pigs made a house out of paper, you fool!! Hmm. But what else is there? Index, whered those blocks go? Yknow, the colorful plastic ones you made that dinosaur out of. Theyre broken apart in a box in the closet. You two have no intention of making me a house that wont be destroyed, do you? At that point, the cheerful voice of a female announcer came from the TV they had left on. Today marks the beginning of December, which is when the Christmas sales war begins! This years theme is mini-luxury, so toys custom-made by artisans are gathering a lot of attention. These hand-made music boxes, dolls, and dollhouses all have classic and artistic value. ... The most popular of them all is this dollhouse from a famous designer! Just look! Each of these pieces is the size of a caramel, but they are real bricks baked in a furnace and mortared together! Only a designer skilled in everything from art restoration to construction could have made this! Thats it, muttered Othinus. The answer is right there! Fine, fine. Later, Ill make you something like that out of empty snack boxes and tape. The answer is right in front of you, so stop trying to avoid it, you fool!! Im telling you to buy me exactly that on the screen there!! Eh? That thing...? Kamijou had a simple reason to be concerned. The cheerful voice filled with Christmas spirit on the TV continued speaking. The dollhouse we introduced just now is available in the Dianoid complex of District 15, Academy Citys #1 shopping district! If you are interested, please stop by!! District 15 was the largest and greatest fashion location. Not only that, but the Dianoid was a landmark for the rich and famous that contained an entire major TV station and housed entertainers on its apartment floors. As its name suggested, every wall, pillar, window, door, light fixture, and piece of furniture inside the seventy-story building was supposedly made of diamond. And on top of all that, the Christmas season would fill it with couples. Altogether, it brought a weary thought to Kamijou Toumas mind: If I set foot in there, Ill die. My bad mood would kill me. Part 3 December 1. The scenery had changed like a switch had been thrown. Strings of LEDs were wrapped around the roadside trees, stuffed reindeer travelled here and there, and the ladies handing out tissues had transformed into miniskirt Santa Clauses. Misaka Mikoto let out a white sigh as she walked through all that. She wore a coat over her winter uniform, but the outfit did not look brand new since she had already taken trips to the freezing lands of Russia and Denmark. (Things are still pretty quiet around here, but what are they like in the shopping districts?) Not long before, the world had been reaching the boiling point over whether they should wage an all-out war against an international armed group (?) named Gremlin, but everyone was cheerful now that the danger had passed. It was possible the rebound from that fear would make the Christmas celebrations especially lively this year. But at any rate... (Christmas, huh? Not that it means anything to me.) Mikoto attended Tokiwadai Middle School which was known for being a high-class girls school even in the field of powers development. It was not a mission school that would have a packed schedule on Christmas day, but they would certainly be banned from leaving in the name of forbidding any inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Just like the year before, the students would be locked up in their dorm with no choice but to wait for the storm to pass. (I could probably get out with some help from Kurokos teleportation, but then she would be the greatest barrier standing in my way.) As she made her preliminary plans, she suddenly frowned. Hm? What exactly did she have set as her ultimate goal? Why was she assuming Kuroko would get in her way? There should not be an issue if she disobeyed the school rules, left the dorm, and met up with Kuroko, Uiharu, and Saten for some girl talk. (Wait, wait, wait! Wait just a second here. I have a bad feeling about continuing on this line of thought, so stop. Just stop. Why am I picturing that idiot in my head!?) She rubbed her temples with her fingertips like a weary office worker, but... Oh? If it isnt Misaka-san. ... Mikoto froze in place, turned toward the source of the voice, and found a college-aged miniskirt Santa in glasses and with her black hair tied back. She was clearly being controlled, so Mikoto shook her head and quickly walked away. Misaka-san? Misaka-saaaan? Can you hear me? I dont need any tissues and I dont want my palm read. I dont need anything and you look like a fraud. Oh, dear. Is your old lady ability so strong that youre getting hard of hearing? I suppose you do have the aura of someone whos been in middle school for about a decade. What!? I could say the exact same thing about you and your suspicious breasts!! Only after shouting back did Mikoto realize she had fallen for the girls trap. The miniskirt Santa brought her index finger to her chin and spoke. I really didnt want to make this decision, but Im here to discuss something with you. Why me? Christmas is coming, right? Despite knowing she was playing right into the other girls hands, Mikoto stopped moving. Im the #5 and youre the #3, but neither of us can do anything when Tokiwadai bans us from leaving. To be blunt, the teachers defensive ability is too much. Yeah, the dorm supervisors defense routine was even directly adopted by the maximum security juvenile hall. Fighting it is hopeless. With Level 3s at the bottom and two Level 5s at the top, Tokiwadai contained a total of around 180 espers, so the dorm supervisors needed the ability to manage them all. And those adults had to do so with technology and martial arts instead of esper powers. It made Mikoto shudder to calculate out how much of a monster her dorm supervisor had to be. But, said the person controlling the miniskirt Santa. I think we lost last year because the Level 5 ability was separated. The two of us are in different dorms, but that was probably intentionally set up by the adults. Wait. So I think we could break through those solid defenses if we plan things out ahead of time and cover for each others weakness. The forecast says well have a white Christmas this year, so wouldnt it be too boring to spend a second year in a row stuck in our rooms? ... She had a point. Whether it was direct or long-range support, their freedom of movement would increase dramatically with two Level 5s working together. It might give them the chance they needed to clear the walls of the impregnable high-class Alcatraz that were the Tokiwadai girls dorms. But... Why do you want to enjoy Christmas so much? You mentioned it pretty casually, but it sounded like you tried this last year and failed. Ehhh? What does that matter? And since you brought it up, what is it thats tilting the scales in your mind? Bfh!! I-I wasnt thinking about anything!! How suspicious. Yeah, well I feel like working with you would be about the same as rescuing someone from a cell only to find out theyre some violent criminal. At any rate, no matter how much they disliked it, they had a common goal and joining forces for the time being seemed like a good idea. And after thinking it through that far, both girls had the exact same thought at the exact same time. (Yes, but Id better betray her at the very, very end.) With that, they poured all their strength into smiling and shook hands. At the same time, something else happened. A boy with spiky hair poked his head around the corner of the road. Mikoto and the miniskirt Santa immediately let go of the others hand. Mikoto focused on the boy like normal, but for some reason, the Santa gently looked away and tried to vanish into their surroundings. Mikoto was curious about that, but she faced Kamijou instead. There was no real reason to call out to him, but it bothered her how his shoulders drooped in contrast to the cheerful lighting. She knew he had an annoying habit of meddling in other peoples business while keeping his own problems entirely to himself. Whats the matter? Ahh... What!? Why do you look on the verge of tears!? What had happened? When he had confronted Academy Citys #1 on his own, when he had not taken Mikotos hand despite knowing that would mean a fall from Russias skies, and when he had been surrounded by countless Five Overs and lost to the #3, he had not shown any tears, so the situation would have to be truly dire for him to be on the verge of giving up. It was possible the moon would fall before Christmas arrived. Mikoto gulped and hesitantly asked again. Wh-what has you feeling so cornered? Dont worry. Your big sis Mikoto will help you. Theres got to be some way out of whatever it is. Youll listen, Misaka-san? Youll really listen to what I have to say!? She had a feeling listening to him would send her straight into some kind of combat space in an alternate dimension, but she could not just ignore this. She gave a small nod to urge him on and sorrow filled his face. I... His tone of voice made it sound like the world had been destroyed once and he had gone back in time to try and fix it this time. I have to take two girls to the Dianoid, that fashionable date spot that stands at the top of District 15 which is already Academy Citys #1 shopping district. I could not be dreading this more than I am. ........................................................................................................................................................................ Silence fell for a while. Once Misaka Mikotos entirely blank mind recovered, she let out the very first word that came to her mind. Ahhhhhhh!!??? Eek!? I know Ill be completely out of place here, but I have no choice. I have to go there! District 15 is no place for me and the Christmas season only makes it worse. In all seriousness, Ill be crushed!! The entire world is going to crush me from all sides!!!! What is this? Are you the kind of person who says hes afraid of steamed buns? Thats not it! I really am scared!! The people in District 15 are from an entirely different world! I bet they all play guitars and ride motorcycles around! What even is a club and what do people do there!? I doubt I could understand a word theyre saying even though theyre speaking Japanese!! Kamijou trembled and, presumably due to the route he took to school, began walking down a different road from Mikoto. At some point, the miniskirt Santa with a blank expression appeared next to her. Shokuhou. Yes, I know more or less what you want to say. They both reached out their hands and exchanged a handshake with far more strength than necessary. If their goal was Christmas Eve, they had twenty-three days until their escape from Alcatraz. Just like digging a tunnel with a spoon or pouring miso soup on the metal bars each day to induce rust, a long, long battle had begun. Part 4 Hamazura Shiage was in Academy Citys District 2. That district was dyed in the colors of heavy industry, especially in vehicles and ammunition. The districts borders were famous for the special soundproofing barrier created by emitting reverse phase sound waves and, due to its field of research, it was commonly talked about in relation to weapons development. However, Hamazura was not involved in any of that. He was on a racing circuit. As was common in District 2, it was packed in tight like the eighteen holes of a golf course. No one was going to complain about the great din of the engine. Traffic laws did not apply on private roads, so a student could drive around without police motorcycles beginning pursuit. A middle-aged mans voice came from the radio built into the full-face helmet. The parameters have stabilized. Id like for you to make another two laps so we can get some averages. Keep up your current pace. Is it just me or has the fuel efficiency dropped? The sound gets all warped every once in a while! Its supposed to work that way. We arent building a sports racing machine. Its meant to be used in dirty car chases. Recovery speed matters more than top speed. A smooth and solid black suit covered Hamazuras entire body. What he rode was clearly no normal motorcycle since it had a jet engine installed. It had no set name. It was the successor of the prototype originally known as the Dragon Rider, but it was intentionally having its specs lowered to bring the cost down enough for mass production. Of course, if that affected its stability, it would all be for naught. There was a simple reason for him to be riding that unannounced prototype. Youre the best at getting on its good side. It may have been unofficial, but youre the only test driver whos used the Dragon Rider in battle. That was almost entirely thanks to the suit. Even so. Aneri perceives the outside world through you. Just like with a word processors IME, its fastest to have the original user do it. Hamazura put the machine through all the requested work by travelling at just above the sound barrier and sliding around the curves more than turning. Doing that for even two or three minutes meant a lot at those speeds. It was a dense time that was more than enough to end someones life. Thanks for the hard work. After finishing the set number of laps, crossing the goal line, and slowly coming to a stop, a female voice reached him. If he was remembering correctly, her name was Stephanie Gorgeouspalace. She had short blonde hair and wore white and gray snow camouflage in an extremely casual manner. She was apparently a former Anti-Skill member, but she was full of mysteries, including how she had ended up here in District 2. Hamazura removed the full-face helmet with both hands and got down from the large motorcycle. He did not put down a kickstand, but the bike did not fall over. It automatically kept its balance using the two gyros on either side of the front wheel. I think that went well. The first week is enough to know whether someone will make a good test pilot and Id say youve passed as far as thats concerned. I mentioned this before, but isnt this just leaving everything to the suit? I think you would get the same results with anyone. Ah ha ha. You dont want some great fighter or veteran warrior as your test driver. Are you letting robot anime influence you too much? What you want are communication skills and the ability to adlib in case of unexpected trouble. More specifically, you want someone who can objectively explain anything that seems off to them. In other words, a talkative person who says whatever comes to mind is best. Oh. Hamazura nodded despite not really understanding. He had a simple reason for doing this. Mugino Shizuri, Kinuhata Saiai, and Takitsubo Rikou still belonged to Item, but he did not want them doing any jobs for the dark side. But could he provide a raison d''tre...or rather, a foundation of income in their place? And could he do it without stealing cars or robbing ATMs? He was not very smart, he was hopelessly stuck at Level 0, he had no weapons he could put down on a resume, and even his abilities with cars and lock picking were useless in the adult world without the proper credentials. He had searched for something he could do despite all that and he had ended up here in District 2. Oh, right. Your phone has been vibrating for a while now, so if you take a break, you should probably check your email. Thanks. Ill do that as soon as I submit the report to-... He trailed off because he heard the quiet rumbling of an engine and then felt a heavy impact on his hip. He looked down and found the nameless prototype pressing up against his side. The action was a lot like a cat throwing itself against the newspaper to keep its owner from reading it. Stephanie burst out laughing. Ah ha ha. Aneris jealous. Its just driver assistance software, isnt it? I doubt it can analyze things like that. Suddenly, Stephanies phone began to ring. She pressed the mobile to her ear, exchanged a few words, and glanced toward Hamazura. (Hm? What was that for?) Yes, yes. Understood. Dont worry, dont worry. I can manage with just one truck. You dont need a license to use a Power Lifter, so itll all work out as long as I grab someone who has nothing else to do. See ya. She hung up and announced the decision she had already made. Hamazura, are you interested in seeing District 15 during the Christmas season? What? The big TV station inside the Dianoid has requested we carry something in for them. It has to go from District 2 to District 15, but to move the air freight container inside, you have to use the stairs or the elevator which rules out a forklift. Well have to use two Power Lifters instead. Wait, wait. Power Lifters? I have no idea what one of those looks like, much less how to use it. Dont worry. Its mostly just a unit you wear on the back with two huge steel arms attached. Add it to your body and its like having four arms. Oh, okay. Well, if its as easy as using stilts... You have until this evening. If you learn how to use it now, you wont have to worry about tripping on top of someone and killing them. Thats plenty to worry about!! You mean this could kill someone!? Part 5 Even when lunchtime rolled around, Kamijou Touma was still in a gloomy mood. Currently, he, Aogami Pierce, and Tsuchimikado Motoharu were surrounding a single desk and engaged in a three-way death match. However, they were not grappling with each other. Instead, they had made small paper fans from loose leaf paper and were attempting to throw them at a target sitting on the teachers desk. One might wonder why this refined game had gained popularity here, but it had started with a comment from their history teacher. It had gone something like this: Fan throwing was enjoyed from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period, but in modern times its only found at traditional restaurants in Gion or Akasaka. (Teacher) What!? You mean its a geisha game!? I want to play it! I so want to play it! I want to play with a geisha! Or at least feel like I am!! (Idiots) And so... Nyah. When you first mentioned it before homeroom this morning, I thought you were crazy and wanted to pick you up and chuck you out the window, but now that Ive had time to think about it, sneaking into District 15s Dianoid would be scary as hell. Those fashionable areas caught up in Christmas sales wars are super scary! Even if nothing happens, it feels like some kind of field effect is wearing down your health!! I just let it slide since it was Kamijou Toumas doing, but what happened this morning seems worth ending up in the newspaper to me. They had already eaten their lunch, so they were now competing over who had to throw out the stinky classroom trash. However, leaving the loose leaf paper fans lying around would make Komoe sad, so they would need to clean that up too. Thats why they would have to copy down their math and physics notes on crinkled paper. If you want to see miniskirt Santas, the glitzy District 15 really isnt your best bet. District 12 with its theology and economics or District 14 and all of its foreign students are the places to go for that. But if you prefer slutty part-timer girls, I wont stop you, Kami-yan! Just as Japan is the land of countless gods, its also the land of countless fetishes!! Youre going to piss off some important religious person like that, Aogami. Anyway, I hear the entire Dianoid building is made of diamond. Are they messing with us or something? Your informations gotten twisted after an unintentional game of telephone there, nyah. Its technically made of carbon materials like carbon fiber, carbon frames, and carbon nanotubes which have some artificial diamond inside, nyah. If it was all diamond, it would actually be really brittle and itd break apart after a good gust of wind or an earthquake. And diamond burns when you set it on fire, nyah. ... ... Eh? Eh? Why arent you two saying anything, nyah? You keep saying how scared you are of the place, but you sure know a lot about it, said Kamijou. Do you think hes the type who tries to have his cake and eat it too by constantly calling himself an otaku but secretly being popular? I wont allow it. Ill never allow iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttt!! Aogami Pierce stepped outside of tolerant society, threw a loose leaf paper fan like a shuriken, and just barely grazed the edge of the target (Tsuchimikados pencil case) on the teachers desk. Actual fan throwing apparently had over fifty standards by which to judge a throw, but since these idiots had trouble enough even hitting the target, they simplified it as much as an old-folks cellphone and said whoever hit it first would win. Tsuchimikado then made use of the kind of strength one gains in a crisis. What!? When have I ever claimed to be a full-blown otaku!? Im a perfectly normal person who just so happens to love his step sister, nyah!! Heh. Im relieved, Tsuchimikado. From the moment you claim having a thing for your step sister is normal, youve proven yourself a proper Japanese otaku who can go anywhere without feeling shame. Im relieved that youll never escape that label. You son of a bitch. Are you insulting the worlds little sisters? I never put one fetish over another. Even if she has the lower half of a snake or a spider, I say you gladly accept. Whats that? You were expecting a girl with cat ears but got a full realistic cat head? So what!? Kamijou Touma had been left out of the conversation for a while, but he was avoiding scattering fans like a submachine gun and instead carefully taking aim like a sniper. And like an assassin hidden in the bushes, he stabbed his friends in the back. Yknow, youve dyed your hair blond and wear sunglasses in class while youve dyed your hair blue and pierced your ears. It looks to me like you two want to be popular more than anyone else. What!? D-dont be ridiculous, Kami-yan. Can you stop changing the Akashic records!? You keep calling yourself an otaku, but it feels like youre trying to place yourself higher than others by thinking of yourself as better than those other otaku around you. G-g-gbaaahhh!!!??? Wh-whered this come from? What did we ever do to you, Kami-yan!? Its not like you were wanted alive or dead and the entire class chased you around trying to kill you, so nothing calls for that kind of cruelty!! With his competitive spirit worked up, Demon King Kamijou Touma raised his right hand. He held the fan up gently as if placing it on a current of air and he made a declaration. Whether as a wife or whatever else, its gotta be a lovely dorm managerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! The loose leaf paper fan flew like a knife, but unfortunately... Ah. The pencil case fell over before the fan reached it. It seemed to have lost to Kamijous lung capacity. And the three idiots toppled over as well. Part 6 After school, Kamijou Touma returned to his dorm and then left again with Index and Othinus. Their destination was District 15 and the giant Dianoid complex that was its primary landmark. Wow, it really is December. Its only 5:30, but its already dark out. Kamijou was wearing his normal school uniform because he had decided any attempt at fashionable clothing would be trounced by the real deal. Index was wearing her usual white nuns habit and he did not really want anyone to see Othinus in the first place. When they had left, Othinus had been in his coat pocket, but she had climbed out at some point. She was now sitting on his shoulder and inside the scarf around his neck. You cant see any stars in the sky from here. Is this a part of sciences insistence on sterilizing everything? Touma. I hear a flute over there. Is that the charumera[1] Ive heard so much about!? Stop it, Index. If we take a detour here, Ill definitely lose my nerve to visit the Dianoid! And if we eat ramen at a roadside stand, I can only imagine Othinus will end up falling right into the bowl when I lean over!! They used the subway to reach District 15. As always, Index had trouble with the automatic gate not opening even when she put in her ticket and Othinuss small body was just about swallowed up by the machine along with her ticket, but they somehow managed to overcome their hardships. The trains hanging advertisements and flat-screen monitors were filled with the Christmas spirit. They were on a direct line to the Dianoid, so there were a lot of advertisements for it. The diamond tower that towers above District 15 as a landmark. The Dianoid is filled with ultra high-class brand-name shops that have all passed our unique selection criteria, so you can find anything here. Whether you want time, space, freedom, or relaxation, you can find what your life is lacking. This is a notification of public live broadcasts. TV Orbits Dianoid broadcast office is seeking audiences for its programs. The December programs are as follows: 12/1 C Hysterical Prize Quiz. 12/8 C Quiz Video King Finals. 12/13 C Craftsmen of the World. 12/19 C Afternoon Siesta. 12/24 C Music Stream Awards. 12/25 C Illumination Top Hundred. 12/30 C Christmas Backstage Secrets. 12/31 C Enter the New Year Roaring with Laughter. The fifth public lot selection for the top floors apartment area begins soon. These nine room apartments have become known as hideouts for celebrities, so why not nab yourself a luxurious status symbol and join the elites? Each consecutive advertisement filled Kamijou further and further with despair. He began wondering if this was a completely different world that was no place for someone who tried to make sure the ramen would last as long as possible to help with the food bill. Meanwhile, Othinus spoke cheerfully from his scarf. Its all so worldly. Not to mention that theyre presenting it all in a way to make it seem high-class instead of letting it naturally feel that way. Whats even the difference between celebrity and luxury in this one? I just want to get the shopping done with so we can have more time to eat, said Index. Were here for my home, you fool. Use your perfect memory to memorize the scene of our meal and think about it later, energy-saving nun. Mh. Sphinx!! Gyaaah!! Othinuss hair bristled and she retreated inside the scarf. Once the calico cat attempted to dig her out, Kamijou felt the need to stop it. Meanwhile, the train arrived at the District 15 station. Kamijou followed the current of people out onto the platform. A lot of them were around his age, but few of them were the sparkling type who looked like they had stepped out of the TV. It was possible they would soon transform into that in a bathroom or karaoke box, though. This is District 15? Hmm, it doesnt look that different, said Index. Thats because were still underground. You said the Dianoid is made of diamond, right!? Touma, can we go there now? The sooner we finish this errand, the longer we can eat!! Were already there, actually. His answer caused both Index and Othinus to tilt their heads. The cat was the only carefree one as it mewed in the nuns arms. The subway station is built into the Dianoid, so youre automatically there once the train arrives. Hmm... Index looked up at the ceiling that was not all that tall and not all that pretty. T-Touma, wheres the overwhelming feeling of being in a big building? That was not his problem. Part 7 He had always thought calling people girly was a little insulting to girls. Regardless, he hated how much of a crybaby he was. But no matter how much he hated it, his knees would start shaking whenever he was shoved a little or driven into the slightest predicament. The tears would start welling up in his eyes and, before he could even think about stopping them, his mind would go blank and he would find himself unable to think at all. In the end, its all about how you look at it. A blonde girl had once told him that while standing by his side. I mean, if you look at it the other way, it means you can shed tears for anyones tragedy, right? Thats nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, I think you can be proud of it. That girls casual words had saved him. But at the same time, she had spoken them from a sort of distance as if saying it was amazing because she could not do the same thing. He did not know what kind of world she lived in. They were together when walking down the streets, but it was like they belonged to two large circles that only overlapped ever so slightly on the edge. There was an extremely thin yet definite gap between them that gave him that impression. She never mentioned it, so he assumed she did not want to talk about it. She did not reveal the truth, so he assumed she did not want him to know. He had decided to respect her decision. It did not matter what world that blonde girl lived in as long as she would come to visit him. He was certain there was a place for him in her heart. It may have been a tiny place driven far out of the spotlight, but that was enough for him. Until the day she had suddenly vanished, that is. ... The boy held his hand up toward the purple sky that was shifting from evening to night. He held a small card in that hand. Aihana Etsu. Academy Citys #6 Level 5. That would be his title from now on. Student ID cards had dozens of anti-counterfeiting techniques worked in and not even the currency printed outside Academy City could compare, but he had managed to secure the name Aihana Etsu. The photograph, blood type, and a few other pieces of data had been altered, but the rest was identical to the real one. Then again, the concept of real and fake may not have applied here. Aihana Etsu was a mere student, so he of course did not have the means of producing a card that slipped through those anti-counterfeiting techniques. Even after his very best effort, he could only give it the mere appearance of the real one and any specialized reader would immediately identify it as fake. However, he had torn the card he made into three pieces. Currency for example had watermarks and holograms that could not be copied, but if they were torn apart so only those portions were missing, they were indistinguishable from a real one. And if two thirds of a bill were brought to a bank, it could be exchanged for a real one. With only the torn puzzle pieces, the clerk had no way of telling if it was real or fake. Aihana Etsu had done the same thing. He had intentionally destroyed his incomplete counterfeit card and omitted only the portions he had no way of faking himself. He had gathered the remaining puzzle pieces and boldly sent them to the real Aihana Etsus school with a document saying his school ID card had been destroyed and he needed a new one. Fortunately, that process was automated. If a live clerk had handled it and spoken to the real Aihana Etsu, the jig would have been up. (Still, this isnt going to fool them forever. At most, itll last a day or two after the card was sent out. This is my only chance to use the real ones reputation. I need to make my attack on the Dianoid and find a clue to bringing her back in that time.) This was based on something the blonde girl named Frenda Seivelun had said. She apparently had a secret base in a high-class apartment on the upper levels of the Dianoid. She had said it was a truly free space that had no connection to the light or the dark. She had not necessarily vanished there, but it was the one clue Aihana Etsu had. If that was a place where she could reveal her true self, then some information related to her disappearance could remain there. If she had gotten into some trouble in the darkness that he was unaware of, then he might be able to get a look into that darkness through the Dianoid. Whatever he was going to do, that was his first step. No matter what happened, he would bring Frenda back. It did not matter how reckless people said he was being. Okay. He clenched his small hands. Something switched over within him and he shifted his gaze from the purple sky and to the area directly ahead. Some dangerous people had already slipped into the scenery. Before he had become Aihana Etsu, people much like these had dragged the boy into a back alley, given him more than ten warning blows, and then thrown him onto a pile of trash. He did not know who they had been hired by or why, but he knew they would wield violence against him. His heart leaped into his throat. Sweat poured down his face. He squeezed a hand against his chest and tried to control himself. The timing was the same as the other day. They were not the exact same people, but that may have been to not rouse suspicions when the same person was sent out again and again. Whatever the case, he could not fool anyone if he did not fool the very first person. If that happened, he would not be able to continue on. He stared ahead. He used all of his strength to restrain his true weak self that threatened to appear on his face. There were more than ten of them. They pretended to be unrelated passersby, but they were undoubtedly cruel people working together. In that case, aiming for the weakest one would have the opposite effect. To mentally overpower them all, he had to start with the strongest one. He slowly walked toward a large man in a thick leather jacket who had barbed wire wrapped around his sleeves. Aihana Etsu finally began his fight. Are you the one I was promised? What? Im Aihana Etsu. I take it youre the commendable professional punching bag whos willing to be my guinea pig for money? ... Aihana Etsu thrust forward the ID card and the guy stopped moving briefly. He was understandably skeptical. No one would be stupid enough to take Aihana Etsu at his word. But that just meant the boy needed to change the direction of that doubt. Oh, cmon. Dont tell me you thought you were going to get ten thousand yen just for letting some neighborhood kid hit you. If so, youre in for a rude awakening. Someone must have lied to you. Then again, youve already received the money for becoming a Level 5s guinea pig and recovering in the hospital, so I dont want to hear any complaints. You... His mind very nearly went black. It would have had it not been for his opponents next comment. Youve gotta be kidding me! Aihana Etsu!? So thats why this seemed like such a good deal!! It never developed into an actual conversation. That mass of muscles had seemed like an unpassable wall, but he turned right around as if the wind had blown him. He ran off as quickly as he could. He even ran into a group of illegally parked bicycles and tripped quite spectacularly. When the others saw their mental pillar gasping for breath and crawling away, the confusion and panic spread to them. Aihana Etsu held the card between his right hands index and middle fingers and thrust it forward like a knife. That was enough for the men gathered around a distant wind turbine to fall onto their butts. It was not that they were especially cowardly. He slowly moved the card from one target to the other, which was enough to send those grinning pawns to the ground where they backed away. The next thing he knew, they were all gone. He had eliminated the barrier. His blanking mind, racing heart and trembling knees had all stopped. Aihana Etsu had become Aihana Etsu. Heh heh. Laughter escaped his lips. With only a single card as a weapon, Aihana Etsu doubled over. Ah ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! He used his index finger to wipe away the tears in his eyes and he thought as his cheeks flushed. (To hell with Academy City. To hell with Level 5. To hell with the hierarchy! To hell with the pyramid structure!! I overcame it all. Ive made it through the first gate! Now... Now no one can stop me. Ill have you show me where youve hidden that girl!!) He walked toward the Dianoid. He walked toward that carbon labyrinth that contained the hint he needed to rescue his missing friend, Frenda Seivelun, from the deep, deep darkness. Im Aihana Etsu. Half for practice and half to put himself in the role, he whispered that as he walked down the empty path. Im Aihana Etsu. He was certain he would be saying that more often from now on. When he needed to rely on that, he would be under a great pressure that would threaten to peel back the disguise. Im Aihana Etsu. Suddenly, a dumb-looking girl appeared around a corner. She must not have expected him to be there because she stared at him in surprise. They were within a meter of each other, so they could have easily collided had they been careless. And they both spoke in unison. Im Aihana Etsu!! Im Aihana Etsu!! Aihana Etsu was shocked. As if aiming handguns or knives, their arms crossed each other and held out student ID cards that were identical save for the photo. He doubted this girl was the real one and she most likely doubted he was. Their minds were synchronized. Their hearts skipped a beat and they both squeezed a hand against their chest. (Oh, no. Shes the same as me!!!) (Oh, no. Hes the same as me!!!) The next thing they knew, the two Aihana Etsus had scattered in different directions. Both identity thieves complained in their hearts that the distant Level 5 needed to guard his or her identity better. Part 8 The city was decorated with lights and the roads were filled with wine red or mustard yellow sports cars, but on that night, a large truck raced through District 15. Stephanie Gorgeouspalace was driving and Hamazura Shiage sat in the passenger seat. Wow. Now thats amazing. You mean the Dianoid? There is that, but also this truck! Isnt this one of those decorated trucks youd see on Truck Yarou or something!? And the sides are covered in a huge picture of some singer! It completely ruins the mood!! Do you have something against District 15!? Heh heh heh. Well, I am the representative of single women everywhere. Ahh, it pisses me off how all these brats use their love lives to escape reality and forget all about being a student. I so want to blast a confiscated dirty song at full volume!! Okay, how about you start by apologizing to single women everywhere. You cant just pick yourself as their representative!! Ehh? It doesnt annoy you to see a place filled with so much consumption and couples? Doesnt it make you want to shout, Uraaah! Were the ones who are stuck at work on the 24th! Actually, I have Christmas Eve off and I plan to spend it with my girlfriend. Okay then. It looks like someone is about to have a full day...no, three full days of consecutive shifts for the 24th and for New Years. You monster!! As he shouted at her, the out-of-place truck approached the Dianoid. It was carrying a two meter air freight container meant for transporting art as well as two special pieces of heavy machinery called Power Lifters. This kind of place really scares me. If I ever invited someone here, theyd just assume I was trying to get into their pants and give me a cold look. Oh? You never came here looking for marks during your delinquent days? The amount in a wallet here wouldve been completely different. If we targeted places like this, the back alleys wouldve been wiped clean in a heartbeat. The building was a giant hexagonal prism rising seventy stories high. Whether for decoration or reinforcement, several thick wires extended diagonally down from all sides. District 15 was packed full of high-rise buildings, but the wires slipped through the gaps between them all. The central building and the surrounding wires were brilliantly illuminated by the lights on the ground and its majesty stood out clearly in the dark night. To emphasize that this was a form of optical art and not just illumination, the coloration changed as time passed. Its primarily divided into the upper level, the mid level, and the lower level. Our delivery spot is TV Orbit on the mid level. After using the delivery entrance, its a single elevator away, so there shouldnt be any way to get lost. Were taking those on an elevator? Hamazura turned around even though he could not see them from there. Stephanie laughed. The upper level contains a high-class hotel and apartments. They take in plenty of grand pianos and home theater systems, so the elevator is rumored to have a huge weight limit. But if it doesnt work, well be stuck using them to carry the container up the stairs. The Dianoid supposedly doubled as District 15s subway station and the elevated highway and subway line were apparently laid out to cross each other like an intersection. There was a main entrance at all four cardinal directions, but the ridiculously decorated truck used a delivery entrance prepared in a more inconspicuous location. While Stephanie rolled down the window at the gate and spoke with the worker there, Hamazuras cellphone beeped. It was an email rather than a call. He checked it and Stephanie asked him about it while humming and turning the steering wheel. Who was that from? Some friends. Theyre waiting for me on the Dianoids mid level. The mid level? Isnt that entirely taken up by TV Orbits offices? Part of its opened up to the public. Theres a viewing platform, a pool, a gym, and some other things there. Its of course made so the normal people and the entertainers never cross paths, but they have to be there. I hear they like to go have some fun after finishing a days work. Eh heh heh. I see youre enjoying your youth. Maybe I can go there once Sunazara wakes up. The gate led to an indoor parking lot. It was surrounded by cold manmade walls, but not from the gray concrete normally found in parking decks or parking garages. The ground, the ceiling, and the thick columns positioned at set intervals all looked like they were made of wood. As a whole... It looks like a misguided attempt at a medieval Japanese building in a Hollywood movie. It may look like that, but its all made from carbon. I could ram the truck into it and it wouldnt leave a dent. I really dont get fashion. Stephanie parked the truck in a large guest space and they both got out. She spun a key ring around her index finger, but before she could circle behind the truck, Hamazura used two wires to open the lock on the container. Yknow, skills are really in how you use them. A sexy spy and a greasy stalker are really doing the same thing. ? Hamazura opened the double doors with a confused look on his face. The first thing he saw was a silver die larger than he was. It was actually the artwork container. Beyond it were the Power Lifters. Several rubber belts stretched down from the ceiling to secure the large metal backpacks, giant arms extending from them, and smaller legs were added for stability control. The arms were so large they nearly reached the ground when dangling down. There were two of them. One for Hamazura and one for Stephanie. That was probably also meant to provide a spare in case something happened. How are you with a Power Lifter? I worked my ass off studying those things for five hours! Do you have any idea how often I almost got my flesh caught in the front joint!? Aneris assisting you, so youll be fine. Hamazura roared complaints as he stepped inside and removed the rubber belts. Unlike a military powered suit, the Power Lifter did not cover its wearer in armor. Much like the difference between a tank and a power shovel, it was probably an issue of regulations for civilian products instead of a logical decision. They were controlled by two joysticks connected by cables and by the foot pedals that attached ones feet to the legs. It seemed outdated compared to the powered suits that detected the movements of ones muscles and it felt more like a vehicle than a suit. He climbed in, something like the safety bar on a roller coaster lowered to hold him in place, and dancing light assaulted his vision as soon as it powered on. Wah! Dammit!! Wait, wait, wait! That things two tons, so please dont flail your arms and stumble around. Sorry, but Im just not used to this. Oh, the AUD? asked Stephanie. Hamazura massaged his temples with his fingers and shook his head because bluish-white light had appeared to form windows, bars, and warning messages. The images seemed to have appeared in empty air. The air is locally heated or cooled to create an abnormal refraction of light that displays the necessary information on top of the scene behind it. From what I hear, its kind of like a mirage, but not really. I get the idea behind it, but thats not the problem. Sight worked by the brain analyzing the information captured by the eyeballs. AR, 3D goggles, and head-mounted displays used the eyes in ways they were not made for, so they would confuse some peoples brains. For example, some people who watched intense action movies on a head-mounted display would get motion sickness in less than five minutes. On top of that, a warm hairdryer-like wind and a cool wind were constantly changing the temperature of the air right in front of his face, so his eyes got all dried out. But if they were going to add any thick protective glass, they might as well go for a goggle display to begin with. (I guess this is about what I would expect of an Academy City prototype.) No errors in the two primary power sources, the spare power source, the stability control, the processor, or the fly-by-light. Actuators 001 through 400 have completed their triple auto-test. The system is all green. Manually release the final safety. Fortunately, the Dianoid is entirely made of solid carbon materials down to the last sliding door and lantern, so you wont damage anything if you trip. Just take it easy. Are you sure I should be doing this just because it doesnt require a license? Itll be fine as long as you dont kill anyone. Please stop scaring me!! During their exchange, they completed their preparations in the truck. Hamazura took his first nervous step and reached for the container more as something to support him than to get the job done. He slowly moved the giant steel arm over the edge of the die and finally used both arms to grab the handhold. Stephanie moved with surprising grace as she slipped herself and the Power Lifter between the container and truck wall and circled to the other side. Finally, they lifted the container like two movers carrying a sofa. Unlike with his actual fingers, Hamazura could not feel the strength of his grip and was worried he was holding it too tightly, but at the very least, the metal fingers did not break through the container. (Is this...actually going to work?) Hamazura, lets step out like this. Can you do that backwards? I have more experience than you. They slipped out of the truck as they chatted, but... ? The Power Lifter was a three meter mass of steel. It was not a military device, but its reinforced arms could still easily lift up a small car. Afraid of having someone caught in its path, Hamazura was being overly attentive to his surroundings and that may have been why he noticed this. A small form was sneaking between the cars. The person had semi-long brown hair, a hooded jacket, shorts, boots, a bright sky blue shirt, and similarly colored socks. (Um... Is that a boy or a girl?) Teacher. What? This isnt directly related to our job, but lets say a small child is hanging around near our work truck. If they look like theyre about to duck below a car, what should a good worker do? Even if it isnt directly related to our results, anything that could be a risk to our business needs to be eliminated. In other words, hey you!! Wah! Dont let go of the container!! Stephanie manipulated the three meter body to raise its steel hands. A moment later, a shocked small form jumped up from behind a car. They tried to run away while almost falling over, but they messed up, collapsed into a sitting position, trembled on the ground, and held out what appeared to be a student ID card. I-I-I-I-I-I-Im-I-I-Im-Im Academy Citys #6, Aihana Etsu!! Hamazuras throat instantly dried up. He felt a squeezing in his heart. Uncontrollable warning signals filled his entire body. Thanks to his time wandering the back alleys as a Level 0, he knew firsthand just how frightening powerful espers were. But Stephanie Gorgeouspalace cut the kid off with another yell. Yeah!? Well, Im a teacher! Youd better not be underestimating athletic Miss Stephanie and her esper containment combat routines!! Hyaaah!! Hamazura finally caught on when he saw Aihana Etsu hold up his hands to protect himself from this grown adults full-volume shouting. Wait, teacher! Theyre just a kid! Now youre pissing me off! Youre a kid too, so stop trying to act like an adult!! I think youre the one that needs to be contained right now!! As the two three meter machines finished grappling next to the container, the previous...boy?...girl?...was nowhere to be seen. Assuming one of the steel arms had not scored a home run on the kid at some point, they must have run off. Part 9 Kamijou Touma, Index, and Othinus took an elevator from the subway station and to the shopping area of the lower level. The shopping area covered the first to twentieth floors, but the center of those floors had been opened into an atrium. Looking up gave one the bizarre sensation of being sucked up into the heavens. Most of the lighting was indirect and filled the building with soft flesh tones. The most notable characteristic was the interior. The structure itself was that of a high-rise building, but each individual part was much more similar to Japanese-style construction. The seemingly wooden flooring was polished to an amber color and the space was divided up by sliding doors and screens rather than Western doors. Even the aforementioned lighting came from square paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The Christmas spirit seemed to have vanished the second they set foot inside. Kamijou spoke his general impression aloud. I get the feeling Kanzaki would like this place. If she had heard that, she might have angrily shouted that all this was fake, but he could not help it since it had the same image. The only other notable feature was the decorative flat-screen monitors installed here and there. Some were attached to the walls and columns and others hung from the ceiling on thin arms. When Index saw the footage they displayed, she tilted her head. Touma, what TV is that? The newspaper didnt list it. Im not sure whether I should be amazed youve memorized the TV guide or concerned that you have that much free time, groaned Kamijou. Thats a behind-the-scenes broadcast from TV Orbit. The mid level up above is a TV station, so an AD or someone goes around backstage with a small camera. It isnt broadcast over the air, but some idol fans come to the Dianoid just to see it. TV station? Oh, damn. I have to start my explanation there? The flat-screen monitors hanging from the ceiling were currently displaying footage of male idol Hitotsui Hajime asleep on his dressing room couch. The clear division between cheers and boos coming from the crowds was just plain cruel. And instead of just one behind-the-scenes video, it switched to a new one every few minutes. Like a DJ choosing songs, the segues between footage seemed to form a single presentation. The viewing platform on the mid level is known as the Aqua Palace due to its focus on water art which includes the worlds largest indoor fountain. As Kamijou listened to that announcement, he heard Othinus speak from her position on his shoulder and inside his scarf. So where is the store selling the artisan-made dollhouse? Wait, wait. I printed that out at the convenience store. He dug through his pocket, unfolded the map, and checked on the location. Okay, its on the fifth floor. Taking the escalator would probably be faster than the elevator. Touma, Sphinx is getting really restless. I wouldnt if I were you, calico cat. I know you want to sharpen your claws, but everything here is made of carbon materials and I bet even the sliding doors would stop a bullet. Your claws cant even scratch them. With that, they took the escalator to the fifth floor. Because the center formed a giant atrium, only half the space was usable. Even so, 350 brand-name shops had been crammed inside. They were located across from the atrium (which meant on the outside edge) and they ranged from the size of a small convenience store to larger than a tennis court. Mh. Once they arrived on the fifth floor, Othinus spoke from his shoulder. Index also stared blankly ahead while holding the cat in both hands. It looks crowded. Well, it was featured on the morning news, so other people must have decided to stop by just like us. Wait a second. I dont mind if its popular, but if we miss out on the dollhouse, what happens to my days of peace!? Hmm, groaned Kamijou while looking up at the ceiling. I guess I could make a box out of cardboard and tape it together. The cat would tear that apart almost immediately!! If you dont want it destroyed, then live in something smooth and without joints, said Index. You could put an upside down wash basin down over yourself. Dont you get that the cat is smart enough to lift up the wash basin!? Those two did not understand the threat. Othinus realized she could not let things continue like this, so she pulled herself from Kamijous scarf. I refuse... She jumped down from his shoulder. ...to accept this!! As soon as she landed on the wooden-looking floor, she took off running through the crowds feet and toward the shop. This was a problem for Kamijou and Index. That girl!! How does she plan to buy it when shes fifteen centimeters tall!? In fact, I could see her being mistaken for some new kind of doll and ripped apart to see how she works!! This is an emergency, but dont worry, Touma. Sphinx, go!! Ahhh!! Thats just adding fuel to the fire!! By the time Kamijou cried out, it was already too late. The cat gently landed on the floor and took off after Othinus like a hunting dog. Crushed underfoot, torn apart, or caught by a feline hunter. Kamijou grew quite blue as he imagined what could happen to Othinus in the near future. A-anyway, we have to find her! Listen, Index. Keep your eyes down. Do not! I repeat, do not step on her!! Hm? Im not kidding!! Dont you step on Othinus!! Part 10 Even here, Takitsubo Rikou was wearing a pink track suit. The Dianoids mid level contained the TV Orbit office, but that included a viewing platform, indoor pool, gym, and other facilities that were set up so there was no overlap with the entertainers and production team. The lower level was filled by high-class brand-name shops where one bought products, but the mid level was filled with movie theaters, beauty salons, restaurants, and other services that were consumed on site. Unlike the lower level, the Japanese-style construction included a focus on water here. For example, narrow waterways made from wooden troughs ran along the side of the corridors like the canals of Kyoto. But these girls were inside a caf that took up the entire perimeter of the floor to provide a view of District 15s dazzling night scenery. It was built to provide a relaxing atmosphere, so the guests could set the aroma, music, light intensity, and light color in each individual partition. They could also rent massage chairs and footbaths. This was the type of caf that made its money on the extra table fees instead of on their coffee. Currently, Takitsubo spoke while her chair vibrated for a massaging effect. Hamazura says hell be here in another half hour. Oh? Thats super fast for him, replied Kinuhata Saiai, a girl with a brown bob cut who sat at the same table. She would occasionally breathe in from a clear mask attached to an oxygen tank and tilt her head as if wondering how it was supposed to be relaxing. However, she did not stop there. She went on to hesitantly turn around. The real problem is all the shopping bags weve super collected already. What? Hamazura was the one who told us to kill time until he got here, said Mugino Shizuri, the culprit, as she crossed her legs. Kinuhata gave an annoyed sigh. He just meant to wander around for a while! Why did you start buying a super lot of stuff all of a sudden!? Because I have a card. I super cant see how someone like her managed to work underground jobs!! Mugino, Kinuhata, think about the other customers. However, the other two girls were not the type to listen to Takitsubo. And what is this!? You have pair after pair of super identical pumps!! You cant tell the difference between El Asine and White Snake? Are you my grandmother? Shut up, Miss Celebrity! Im the one thats super mad right now! No matter what Mugino buys, she always breaks the heels off so she can move better as soon as she gets into a fight. Thats why the El Asine twin heels have a hinge. The heels fold down when you need to move. Then you super dont need the heels in the first place! Wear some flat sneakers already! ...Honestly, if we werent paying attention, youd super buy an apartment with that card. Are you trying to say its all on me? Its all my fault? Mugino, dont use Meltdowner here. Yeah, it is your fault. And whos going to carry that pile of bags? What a pain! This is why I super suggested we should go see a movie to kill some time. Takitsubo breathed out through her nose and let her eyes wander. They had ordered a goldfish tank as an option and it calmed her heart to see the red things fluttering around. Meanwhile, Mugino gave a mocking shrug. A movie? You mean that one where they strap you in your seat for twenty-four hours straight!? That is not some time! At a full day, thats pretty much imprisonment!! Hypnos is a super experimental visual experience that works in the visions you see when youre woozy from sleep deprivation! This is the problem with people who super feel like talking about movies without doing any research. Sounds like a D movie. You super casual! Thats not even a real classification!! The situation quickly devolved into chaos. They constantly called him their underling, but Hamazura had rapidly become the grease needed to keep Item running smoothly. Part 11 A great number of people moved throughout the Dianoid. A girl must have wanted to knit because she was looking at the wool. A boy was visiting multiple stores to see if he could get the exact same product any cheaper. A wealthy man simply looked lonely. A high school girl had come here for the status but could not find anything to actually do. Among them all, a group faced completely different directions yet communicated their thoughts as if whispering. St. Germain is about to move. One leaned against the wall. Even a conservative estimate puts it at more than ten centuries. After the long journey, St. Germain has finally found it. One passed by the other people in a wood grain corridor. St. Germain will gain it all before the other Magic Gods. Two remained back to back. Like a gentle ripple, the power of a gentle thought propagated from person to person. Finally, it gathered in one point of the Dianoid and urged on a certain action. So why not throw in a bit of harassment? Why not destroy his so-called plan? Part 12 Kamijou Touma had gotten separated from the others in the crowd. Palm-sized Othinus and the cat were one thing, but Index stood out like a sore thumb with her nuns habit and yet there had been no sign of her since the wall of people had blocked the way. Heeeey! Index? Othinus? He called out for them while making a circuit of the atrium but found nothing. Wondering if they had moved to another floor, he turned toward the escalator. That was when he noticed something. P-pant, pant. Someone was leaning up against a column with a hand in the center of their flat chest. Were they a boy or a girl? Either way, the short persons cheeks were red and they were gasping for breath. There were also large beads of sweat on their forehead, suggesting they had just completed some heavy exercise. What was this? H-hey, are you okay? If its too stuffy in here with all the people, you should go rest on the benches over there. Pant, pant... I-Im...Im Ai... Calm down. This country has these wonderful things known as vending machines. I know it seems wrong to have to spend 140 yen on water, but why not get something to drink before trying to talk? Kamijou grabbed the persons awfully warm hand and the person followed him with their head lowered. The two of them left the area filled with brand-name shops and arrived in a vending machine corner. There, Kamijou held his phone up to the vending machine reader without thinking. What? Waters more expensive than a sports drink? Has the market gone crazy? Well, I guess it doesnt matter. He bought a bottle of mineral water that was known for how well the bottle decomposed, but he was pretty sure just drinking water from the tap would be more eco-friendly. Regardless, he handed the bottle to the... (Boy? Girl? Which is it!?) If youre too dazed to drink, you should probably just go to the infirmary. That means theres a problem with your autonomic nerves, so its best not to have an amateur decide how to treat it. ...Thanks. The boy took the clear bottle, removed the cap, and wrapped his hands around it. Gulping sounds soon followed. Phew. He let out a gentle breath. Even after a few gulps, he did not cough anything back up, so Kamijou decided it was not too serious. The short boy held the plastic bottle in both hands and looked over at the line of vending machines in order to avoid looking at Kamijou. A few high school girls were gathered there and they spoke shrilly in front of a machine covered in an LCD screen. It used the hesitation in ones finger when choosing what to buy in order to analyze the customers personality and search for other recommended products. But you dont need to worry about me. Im not suffering from heat stroke or dehydration. It would be nice if that was something people could be so sure of. Its true. Im sweating because I was running. ...Honestly, I have to search out the Dianoids secrets to find a way to rescue that girl, but I ended up having to run away from those weird things right off the bat. That girl? Run away? Kamijous tone dropped a bit, so the boy frantically waved a hand in front of his face and shook his head. A-anyway! That was only because I dislike spilling unnecessary blood and kindly let them have that victory! If I was serious, the world would come to an end! I wasnt serious there at all!! ??? Youre doubting me, arent you!? I may not look it, but Im Academy Citys #6, Aihana Etsu! The surrounding air seemed to shake. The boys and girls passing by clearly looked over in shock. That was the frightening power behind the name Aihana Etsu. Some people even hurried away. That was why all the focus on Aihana Etsu could be divided into one of two categories: viewing him as the real deal or concluding he was a fake. However, Kamijou soon spoke up. Oh, so youre one of them. Does that mean you know Accelerator or Misaka? Eh? What? You dont seem like the type to zap someone as soon as you meet them, so I guess it doesnt matter. ...More importantly, what was that about running away? ......................................................................................................................................................... (Oh, no.) This person in front of Aihana Etsu had skipped the stage of debating whether he was real or fake. Even if he was 100% real, this boy was not even remotely afraid of him. (Thats District 15s Dianoid for you! Its like a den of monsters!!) Oh, right. I guess its rude not to introduce myself. Im Kamijou Touma. Nice to meet you, Aihana-san. Hyaaaah!!!??? Aihana Etsu fell onto his butt as soon as he heard that name. Unable to get up, he slid back along the floor. Um...? K-Kamijou-san? he asked in a trembling voice. Y-you mean the Kamijou Touma!? The boy said to run around the city at night, knocking out even the most mighty warrior with his clenched fist and snatching up every girl in his path no matter how young or old!? Oh, god... My head hurts!! This is reminding me of that world!! This triggered the trauma brought on by Magic God Othinus (who he now realized had been very immature) and the pointy-haired boy was left covering his head in his hands instead of making a snappy comeback. Normally, he would have asked what had become of peoples image of him. But the next thing he knew, Aihana Etsu had vanished into the crowd of people. Kamijou could still hear a scream, so he could tell which direction the boy had gone. At the same time, a hard clack reached Kamijous ears. All of his previous assumptions were thrown out the window. By the time he realized it was the sound of a cane tapping on the floor, the color of his surroundings grew distorted. A man of forty or fifty stood still, ignoring the flow of people around him. He wore the sort of comical tailcoat found in costume shops and the kind of silk hat worn by stage magicians. He even had a monocle in his right eye. The cane he held made one think of an illusionists stage costume more than actual ceremonial garb. People were wearing a variety of costumes for the Christmas season, but this man was noticeably different. Rather than changing his outfit to match the surrounding atmosphere, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to change to match his outfit. Hi. His casual voice pinned Kamijou Touma to the spot. That mans focus had fallen on him. That prevented him from averting his gaze for even a moment. It was a fatal development. His physical body sent out warning signals before his instincts or experience could. All of his previous assumptions had been blown away. He could feel all other sounds receding from his mind. As his senses created a world containing only the two of them, Kamijou hesitantly asked a question. Why was he hesitant? Not even he knew the answer to that. Who...are you? I could name myself, but a boy with little knowledge of our side might not know what that means, you negative gap in the lattice. He laughed. It was a quiet but somehow artificial-sounding laugh. The result of mastering 103,000 grimoires. One who began as a man yet surpassed mankind. That which lies beyond magicians. But if I were to say it in a way you would understand... The illusionist made his declaration. I am one who has gone beyond Othinus. Does that simplify things? In all seriousness, Kamijou briefly thought his heart had stopped. (A Magic...God?) Hopeless thoughts filled his mind. (A Magic God? A Magic God just like Othinus? A Magic God at full power!? What do I do? What do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do!? Othinus was a good person. She still had some kindness in her that let us settle things after talking it out, but what if he doesnt? What if he really is nothing but a mass of power? What do I do against a Magic God? What is he after? Can I settle this by talking it out? If I cant, theres nothing I can do! I never even beat Othinus! That only ended because she handed victory to me!!) A strange heat filled his head. Meanwhile, his surroundings were already beginning to change. The scene around him melted and distorted. It looked like a chocolate house placed on the burner. All the while, the Magic God remained perfectly motionless. It was unclear if even basic concepts like walking applied to him. If I harm you here, it will cause some trouble for those who have built up over-complicated plans. I cant wait to see the looks on their faces when I fill the gap and level out the lattice. Wha-...? Kamijou was unable to say any more than that. Chambord. He thought he heard a whooshing sound and something jumped up from the floor in front of him. He thought it was a liquid at first, but it was actually the floor itself...or what had once been the floor. It had twisted, distorted, and formed a sharp spike which shot toward his chest like a bullet. He immediately raised his right hand and the spike shattered. However, that had only been a distraction. A Magic God had control of the entire world. ...!!!??? By the time he noticed, it was too late. The wall, floor, and ceiling had all melted and more than one hundred spikes approached from all 360 degrees in every direction. It looked like an inside-out hedgehog. The simple and yet frightening saturation attack seemed to mock his outstretched right hand. But even as this occurred, countless people had to be walking about inside the Dianoid. And the space between Kamijou and the wall was no exception. What was going to happen to them? No, what had already happened to them? The answer was simple. There were holes. Gaping holes opened. The people had provided cover, but fist-sized holes opened in their chests, sides, legs, or heads and the sharp spikes passed through them. The spikes never actually tore through the flesh and blood. Instead, the flesh and bone themselves opened a path for the spikes to pass through. Ignoring the organs and skeletons of all those people, tunnels opened for the more than one hundred spikes approaching from every direction. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? On that day, Kamijou Toumas understanding ground to a halt once more. Between the Lines 1 The Dianoid was the primary landmark of Academy Citys District 15. The massive hexagonal prism of a building was lit up in a variety of colors and a great commotion had already begun around it. What do you mean we cant get in? I dont know, but the revolving doors wont budge. Oh, crap. The trains are stopped, too. But the last train leaves once the curfew arrives! The doors would not open. Neither would the windows. In a normal building, that would not be too great a problem. In the worst case, one only needed to break the glass to escape. But things were different with the Dianoid. It was made of carbon fiber, carbon frames, and carbon nanotubes which all had artificial diamonds built in. Even if a dump truck crashed into the front entrance at top speed, it would not break through. Even what looked like windows or sliding screens were strong and tough enough to easily stop a handgun bullet. Wait. Are you sure this is just a system error? If someone messed with the air conditioning too, they could set it up so the people inside will suffocate. One of the people in the crowd made that suggestion, but not because he was seriously worried. As proof, he had his cellphone pointed toward the Dianoid building. He would never admit it, but he had to have been filled with the somewhat inappropriate hope of becoming a hero on video sites if that did happen. Nephthys spoke next to him. Well, I doubt this is so simple, but in a way, the lethality of being inside there is probably even greater than that. After all...St. Germain has begun to move. Eh? Wah!? The boy in the crowd casually glanced to the side and then shouted in absolute shock. One could hardly blame him when the person standing next to him was a silver-haired beauty with nothing but white bandages wrapped around her brown skin. Even if costumes were common during the Christmas season, this was not normal. His modern reflexes caused him to point his phones lens toward the source of his surprise, but her appearance was enough to make him question whether he should be filming it. And on his other side, the High Priest split his dried skin to speak. Yes, but his tastes baffle me. Although it is fortunate that he does not chaotically destroy the world to the extent Othinus did and that he sees a clear division there. Eek! Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? The boy in the crowd could not help but scream when he saw a corpse or a mummy completely devoid of moisture standing next to him. But by the time he thought about pointing his phone that way and by the time the others turned around to see what he was screaming about, the two Magic Gods were already gone. The boy who had cried out for a perfectly good reason was left alone to receive those curious gazes like a clown. Notes 1. An instrument commonly associated with ramen stands. Volume 12, 2: Chance Meeting between a Magic God and a Liar — St.Germain,and_LIAR. Volume 12, Chapter 2: Chance Meeting between a Magic God and a Liar St.Germain,and_LIAR. Part 1 At the time, Hamazura Shiage was looking up overhead. A few seconds after some irregular shaking, the elevators digital display unnaturally stopped at 29. The lights did not go out and red emergency lights did not activate like in the movies or dramas, but it was obvious something was wrong. It stopped? Looks that way. Hamazura and Stephanie were using the three meter steel Power Lifters to carry an art container, but the elevator was large enough to hold them with room to spare. It was apparently made so it could carry the contents of a small storeroom. That may have been why no acrophobic tremble filled Hamazuras legs. The elevator was so thick and sturdy that it was hard to imagine the entire box was dangling from a wire. Regardless... What are we going to do? We have to get this to the mid level TV station by the indicated time, right? Thats true, but do they have any right to get mad at us if were slowed by a malfunction in the Dianoids own facilities? Besides... Stephanie used her cellphone inside the giant machine she wore. Im not picking up the signal from TV Orbits broadcast, but that isnt just because were in this box, is it? Youre kidding. You mean theres been a terrorist attack or something!? Hamazura was worried about someone else more than himself. Takitsubo, Mugino, and Kinuhata of Item were waiting inside the Dianoid. He doubted there was much that would cause them trouble, but there were always exceptions. If Academy City #4s strength was absolute, then Hamazura himself would no longer be alive. Teacher, can you call TV Orbit? What about email? Im not getting a response by email and the phones are on an infinite loop of hold music. Which means...? Isnt it obvious? Until we get an explicit cancellation notification, we have no reason to quit working. They exchanged a glance to confirm their intentions and then turned to carefully observe the elevator. After checking the walls, ceiling, lights, air conditioning fan, and everything else, they arrived at an answer. It looks like theres a floor panel. Look, here. But how do we open it? We have these Power Lifters, dont we? We break through it with the legs. The three meter machine stomped on the floor, but the panel did not even dent. The Dianoid is entirely made of carbon materials, isnt it? Hamazura sounded annoyed. They use the same materials in bulletproof vests and space elevator wires. Oh, honestly. Then, why dont we burn it? Messing with a Power Lifter battery to send a high voltage current through it might work too. Im pretty sure Ive heard lightning is the big weak point of space elevator wires...ah! With a low thunk, Stephanie sank down. Some kind of latch must have broken after the fact because the panel opened and the leg on top fell into empty space. Stephanie frantically recovered her balance. That was close. And wow, this sure is the mid level. I cant see anything below us. Hamazura peeked down through the rectangular hole and fear of their great height finally reached his legs. He had pictured an elevator as a large box suspended by a wire, but he could see rails on the walls that the sides of the box fit into. He was not sure if this was normal or if it was unique to this heavy-duty elevator, but Stephanie gave an explanation. This is a linear elevator. Do you have any idea how far apart the lower, mid, and upper levels are? A normal pulley system would leave people waiting and cause a ton of congestion. The elevator shaft was surprisingly noisy. It was filled with an intermittent rumbling much like a washing machine. Thats probably noise from the pumps. The mid level is known as the Aqua Palace and it includes indoor pools and one of the worlds largest fountains. I see. Then what do we do now? Given the size of the maintenance entrances, we should be able to get out in the Power Lifters. What about the container? Well of course be escaping while carrying the thing with us. Is that a problem? The Power Lifters legs can grab it just as well as the arms. It doesnt matter if were upside down or holding it with a single arm or leg, so lets try some tricky acrobatics to get out of here. Are you serious? groaned Hamazura, but there was no other way out. The situation in the TV station was unclear, but if they had been in the middle of a live broadcast, each second lost could mean greater losses than from a train accident. They had to get the container there by the designated time no matter what it took. Whether adult or student, they had to complete the job given to them. Stephanie opened and closed not just the fingers of her mechanical arms; she opened it through the wrist and to the shoulder like an alligator mouth. For now, lets grab the wire, make our way down to the nearest floor, and force open the door with these arms. Ill take the lead, so you stay on standby. Lets avoid swinging the container around until we have a route set up. In movies, the elevator always recovers and comes to crush you as soon as you start working out in the shaft. Thats true. Are you the kind of person who starts gleefully talking about a legendary murderer if you find yourself trapped in a mountain mansion during a blizzard? Dont you realize the threat falls on you as much as on me? Part 2 The entire world changed color. All around Kamijou Touma, more than one hundred spiked weapons shot from the walls, floor, and ceiling like an inside-out hedgehog. Due to the Christmas season, quite a few boys and girls were walking in the area between him and the spikes. Holes opened in all of those barriers of flesh as if clearing a path. They had not been stabbed by the spikes. Fist-sized tunnels were created in their chests, stomachs, or in the middle of their faces, but not a single drop of blood was shed. The one hundred piercing attacks passed through the center of those tunnels as they approached. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? Kamijou Touma could not help but scream when he saw the overwhelming scene. It was the psychedelically transformed world and not the immediate danger that threatened to shut down his mind. Where was this? Was it really the same place he had been standing just one second earlier? Was this the same world that Magic God Othinus had thoroughly destroyed and then brought back? His mind went blank. He was unable to think clearly and what he needed to do so sparked and dispersed. What if this illusionist man truly was a Magic God? What if he had the same abilities Othinus had? Kamijou had been able to persuade her. She had always contained the kindness that made that possible. But did this man? Would Kamijou have to pass through that darkness and traverse those near-infinite worlds of despair just to find out? And what if he did all that, had his mind and body left in tatters, and still found nothing? What if this man was wielding his power out of pure selfishness and had no real reason or cause for it? That would be like crossing the desert without preparing a single drop of water. It would be the same as optimistically assuming there would be an oasis and stepping out onto the scorching sand with only the clothes on ones back. And Kamijou knew how frightening a Magic God could be. He understood the heat and length of that desert far too well to make an ignorant and reckless decision. He could not win. He could not. That was true of the one hundred deadly weapons assaulting him from every direction as well as the true power of a Magic God that he would have to face if he survived. But in the instant all those thoughts filled his mind... Oops. It was a quiet voice. By the time Kamijou realized it had come from the tailcoat man in front of him, the scenery had changed again. The melted walls and ceiling had returned to normal. The boys and girls walking by obeyed the normal flow of time and had no extraordinarily unnatural holes in their bodies. The inside-out hedgehog of one hundred spikes had vanished as well. It was as if everything Kamijou had seen had been a mistake. (No.) Kamijous experience kept him from taking that optimistic path. (Im not going crazy and it wasnt an illusion. And there is only a single path of time. Theres nothing running parallel and you cant turn back. That really happened. The scenery really did change, one hundred spikes really did shoot out, and tunnels really did open in everyone to provide a path. And after that...was a phase added in to recreate this peaceful world!?) This was the perfect opportunity, but it would be a shame to lose that. A voice cut off Kamijous overheating thoughts. The heat trapped in his body burst out in the form of sweat. Meanwhile, the Magic God was looking elsewhere. He showed no sign of caring about the person clenching their fist right in front of him. That is why I am here. It would be a shame to lose my chance while dealing with this side job. A clacking sound reached Kamijous ears. By the time he realized it was a cane tapping on the unscratched floor, a couple cut in between him and the Magic God. Once they passed, the Magic God in a tailcoat was gone. .......................................................................................................................................... His legs were shaking. Strength left his hips and gravity pulled him to the ground. He could not even regulate his breathing in a proper rhythm. Touma, what is it!? I take my eyes off you for a second and you cause a commotion? How useless. All of a sudden, he found Index and fifteen centimeter Othinus approaching. The commotion the latter mentioned did not seem to be a reference to the Magic God. Kamijou Touma had suddenly screamed and fallen to the ground. That was the only record that remained in this world. Othi...nus? ? He began hesitantly. He turned to the one girl who he felt had spent that relevant time with him and he asked a question with an almost tearful smile on his face. Is this still our world? What? Youre the one that brought this world back, so I want to hear it from you. We arent inside some never-ending labyrinth, are we? Part 3 Pant, pant. Behind a pillar on the same floor, a pair of small hands was held to a mouth and a small butt was pressed flat against the floor. Someone else had been there. It was a boy with semi-long brown hair, a black hooded jacket, shorts, boots, a sky blue shirt with the brightness of mint ice cream, and similarly colored socks. It was Aihana Etsu. Despite the hands over his mouth, some of his heavy breathing was escaping between his fingers. (What...was that?) He could not comprehend what he had seen a moment before. People often said seeing is believing, but was it really this much of a burden on someones heart when they witnessed something they could not believe or had difficulty accepting? (What in the world was that!?) The scenery had changed entirely. Countless spikes had shot out like spears. The word Chambord had been spoken just before it happened, so was that its name? To secure a path for those spears, fist-sized tunnels had opened in all of the people walking by. And then it had all been repaired in an instant. It had been so vivid and he would have missed it entirely had he blinked at the wrong time. (Is that the Dianoids secret?) Perhaps. Perhaps not. (No, it doesnt matter if this isnt what Im looking for. If Im wandering around in the same building as that, the odds are good Ill run across it eventually.) He had come here to pursue his missing friend. He had even counterfeited a student ID card for Aihana Etsu, Academy Citys #6 Level 5. The friend had owned a secret hideout in the upper level apartments and a clue to her disappearance might remain there. But... Even so... (Can I...keep going?) He shook. He swayed. His weak self made an appearance. Whenever something happened, the very core of his being would tremble, his mind would grow blank, and the tears would flow before he could even think about stopping them. Every single mental dam would raise the white flag in an instant. Large teardrops welled up in his eyes. Just like with surface tension, he could only just barely keep them from trailing down his cheeks. (Do I... Do I really have the courage to make my way further into the Dianoid when a monster like that is wandering around?) A whispering voice told him to leave. A tempting voice told him to give up. You obviously wont be able to accomplish anything here. Youve never stuck with anything to the end in your entire life. You always curl up, wrap your arms around your knees, and shed pathetic tears. And in the end, you give up without ever getting back on your feet. So throw in the towel here. Be satisfied that you managed to even take a stab at it. Its not like you didnt do anything. You worked hard to make it this far, so you can at least get an award for participation or effort. At that point, a different voice flashed through his mind. In the end, its all about how you look at it. This voice did not come from within Aihana Etsu. This was a crystallization of someone elses thoughts that had been input from without. These were the words his friend had given to him when they would walk through the city. I mean, if you look at it the other way, it means you can shed tears for anyones tragedy, right? Thats nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, I think you can be proud of it. (...) Screw this. He was still curled up on the ground. Even so, he used the back of his hand to wipe away the tears that were on the verge of spilling down his soft cheeks. As if turning off a tap, he mentally restrained his overflowing tear glands. He hated that he was a crybaby, but a friend had accepted that side of him. She had said it was not wrong to shed tears when he wanted to cry. She had said that was a way of supporting someones tragedy, a way of sharing someones emotions, and the sign of someone who could look after others properly. He did not know who that friend had been. He could not imagine what she had truly been. But he remembered her smile as she had said those words and he could not allow that to be erased or made to never have existed. I wont cry. He doubted that the tears he had been praised for had been so lead colored. Those tears had not been shed when he gave in, let go of something, and smiled in self-deprecation. This isnt where Im supposed to cry. Aihana Etsu attempted to take the first step beyond the identity he so hated. With his back pressed against the thick pillar, he gathered strength in legs that trembled like a newborn deer and slowly stood up. He would search for his friend. He would track her down. If he lost this chance, the fake student ID would be discovered. He would never be able to make an attack on the Dianoid again, so this was his first and last chance. It did not matter if it was only a fa?ade or if he was borrowing someone elses reputation. For the time being, he was the #6. He would complete this as Aihana Etsu. He slowly exhaled and faced forward once again. Hi. A man in a tailcoat stood directly in front of him. He lost even the strength he needed to continue thinking. His mind began spinning and left reality behind. Part 4 On the lower level of the Dianoid, the revolving doors appeared to be made of glass, but they were actually strong enough to endure a dump truck running into them at full speed. The main entrance was crowded with boys and girls trapped inside. No amount of pushing or pulling accomplished anything, but some voices whispered amid the despair. At last, we have one. Are they going by Aihana Etsu now? Regardless, at least we have them. Something was clearly out of place. And it was viewing the situation from an objective perspective. The container has also safely entered the TV station. We could have created it from scratch, but I suppose retrieving an already existing one takes priority. No matter how carefully you produce it, a natural one cant be beat. And we have no intention of repeating the mistake that left Othinus wandering on the border between complete and incomplete. They evaluated the situation. And that evaluation adjusted a few imaginary rails. That leaves Kamijou Touma. He could always be ignored, but we need to keep in mind what happened to Othinus. There may have been no real point in speaking out loud. It may have been better to simply continue their evaluation. He is enough of an irregular to negotiate with a Magic God. Perhaps he should be viewed as a negative gap in the lattice. He has low priority. But the voice continued. It was as if they were placing extra space between a machines parts to prevent unexpected trouble. But once the current task is complete, it may be best to use any excess strength to eliminate him. Part 5 A great roar burst out. The elevators automatic door, which resembled a sliding door made of wood, was removed from its rails and the wheels were kicked off. Phew. I think we can finally take a break. Stephanie Gorgeouspalace crawled out with surprisingly smooth motions for a Power Lifter. Next, Hamazura Shiage successfully escaped from the elevator shaft. And they of course brought the die-like container with them. They were in the Dianoids mid level. The lower level had a central atrium with small shops surrounding it like a beehive, but this floor was made to feel much more open and spacious. Perhaps due to the carbon materials, the floor looked like the wooden floor of a dojo or Japanese theatre stage more than that of a gym. Indirect lighting was provided by square paper lanterns. The main features of the mid level were the water tanks embedded in the walls like windows, the decorative waterways unobtrusively located on the edges, and all the other decorations that were oddly reminiscent of water. The type of people walking around was somewhat different too. They were not dressed as fashionably as one would expect of District 15. A lot of people were casually dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans or in a long wrinkled skirt and a turtleneck. It looks like we came out in the TV station side. What? I mentioned how the mid level is divided between TV Orbits offices and the indoor services like the viewing platform and pool, right? Oh, right. And we were using an elevator connected to the staff parking lot. That makes it feel like we used a secret vertical tunnel created so the entertainers can leave without being seen. Lets go check in as visitors at the gate and deliver the container. Yeah, it looks like theres a bit of a commotion going on right now. The gate was not far from the elevator hall. A cheap revolving door was made from two poles crossing each other and two guards wearing navy blue uniforms stood to the side. The general reception desk must have been on a different floor because there was not a receptionist or a counter here. Their Power Lifters could have easily broken through, but there had been a checkpoint on the way to the secret vertical tunnel, so they would only have been here had they been trusted. It was no different from how strict security was for an international flight and yet there was no conflict between passengers after they had passed through the gate. Hi there. We have a container for Producer Endou of Hysterical Prize Quiz. Do you want to scan the contents? After Stephanie spoke with the guards for a bit, they opened the delivery gate located next to the revolving door. Some younger men arrived pushing some kind of monstrous dolly, so it was time to leave things to them. They gently placed the die-like container on the dolly, secured it, and signed a document saying they had handed over the container. Thank you very much, said one of the guards with a bow. Sure. By the way, do you know whats going on outside? Outside? The guard looked puzzled, so Stephanie smiled and waved one of the Power Lifters giant arms. Oh, sorry. We were just trapped in the elevator, so I felt like asking. If the elevator doesnt start back up, well have to take the stairs down. Of course, weve got the Power Lifters, so it wont be some hellish mountain descent or anything. As soon as she said that, a young woman spoke up. She wore a cardigan over a long dress and seemed to work on the production rather than as an entertainer. Wow, they really sent in something amazing. Is that special equipment for Anti-Skill or Judgment? Well, it doesnt matter. If youve got those big things, can you hurry up and do something about this? Confused, Stephanie answered the womans question with a question of her own. Whats going on? A rampaging esper? Or did some celebritys fierce pet get loose? You really dont know whats going on, do you? Im talking about the exits. For some reason, theyre all sealed up. Not only are the elevators out of order, but we cant open the door to the emergency stairs. The woman must not have left the office for several days because her hair gave off a very feminine scent as she continued in annoyance. It isnt that its locked or the electronics are on the fritz. Whether its the hinges or the rails, some part has melted and fused together. They wont budge no matter how much we push or pull. The lights for the elevator wont even come on, so I have a feeling the entire building is locked down like this. I see. You have no idea what she means, do you? Hamazura cut in, but Stephanie completely ignored him. The woman in a dress continued from there. You destroyed the elevator door earlier, didnt you? Can you do the same thing to break open the door keeping us out of the emergency staircase? Hamazura and Stephanie exchanged a glance. Everything in the Dianoid is made out of ridiculously sturdy carbon materials, isnt it? Oh, crap. I bet even the emergency doors are made overly solid here. Will these Power Lifters even be enough to break through? They trudged over in the machines to check. The young men and women clogging up the corridor by the door parted like the Red Sea as they approached. (Although that was entirely due to the impressive-looking Power Lifters.) Their looks of hope were probably a result of how helpless they had been before. The mid level approximately covered the area from the twentieth to the fortieth floor. With the elevators and stairs blocked off, there was nothing they could do. Breaking a window and escaping that way would not be easy. Unlike in the movies, no one would want to brave the harsh winds and climb down the outer wall with an unreliable lifeline in hand. Even climbing down the stairs from this height was somewhat hopeless, but they could not just continue waiting for the elevators that might not begin working again. Whether they would actually use the emergency stairs or not, they needed to try to open that door first. If they did get it open, they could relax as they waited for the elevators to recover. It would provide some mental leeway. However... Huh? Oh, damn! This thing wont budge at all!! Stop! Wait, teacher! The arm cylinders are making a grinding noise and Aneri is warning that youll burn them out if you keep that up! To sum up, no amount of pushing, pulling, or hitting accomplished anything. They could not even dent the door, much less break through it. It did not matter how much they slammed their steel fists into it. Thats carbon for you. I feel like nothing could be stronger or sturdier. And it looks just like a normal sliding door made of wood. The disappointment in Hamazuras voice quickly spread through the surrounding air. No one called them useless or threw stones, but the way the focus on them scattered was a lot like a silent protest. This was awkward for lower class Hamazura, but he had other things to worry about. He traced the Power Lifters thick steel fingers over the emergency door. What even caused this? From what weve heard, it doesnt sound like an accident. Are you saying someone did this? But if they did, why did they want to trap us here? Thats the question. And I doubt they can keep us confined here for long. ? As I said before, carbon materials are weak to fire or high-voltage electricity. These doors may not budge even if we punch, kick, and drive a dump truck into them, but once Anti-Skill notices somethings wrong they should be able to bring in an acetylene torch and burn their way through the door from outside. Id rather not set the building on fire when we dont know if the firefighters are coming, so Im not about to try that in here, though. There was no reason to stay by the emergency door they could not break, so they looked away from it. So do they only need to buy a little bit of time? Will they be able to accomplish whatever their goal is in just this short time? What a pain, said Stephanie. Not even the negative ion effect created by the waterways small waterfalls was enough to calm them now. The stairs and the elevator were out which left only a single route: the elevator door they had broken and the elevator shaft beyond it. Climbing up or down it with flesh-and-blood arms and legs would have been suicide, but they had the strength of the Power Lifters. Fortunately, we managed to deliver the container, but it isnt over until we get out of here, so we need to create an escape route if at all possible. I had a feeling youd say that. They decided on that as they returned the way they had come. Hamazura sounded noncommittal because some of his friends had come to the Dianoid. They were also on the mid level, but the TV station was not connected to the viewing platform. That was to prevent people from ambushing the entertainers. If he wanted to meet up with Takitsubo and the others, he would have to first make his way to the lower or upper level or search out a secret tunnel in the mid level itself. Either way, it would require a lot of work. They could not use the elevator or the stairs at the moment, but they could use the Power Lifters to climb up or down the elevator shaft. Still, they were only borrowing the machines for their work. It was hard to suggest to Stephanie that they should use them for something else. Hamazura. What? A single path to freedom lay open before them. Stephanie spoke from a step in front of the elevator shaft. Im sure you already know this, but this equipment is not our personal property. Even if theyre civilian equipment that doesnt require a license, you can still kill someone if you use them wrong. He prepared to say he understood, but she cut him off. But to keep safety a top priority and to nip any trouble in the bud, we need to quickly eliminate anything that could affect the efficiency of our work. Even if it has no direct connection to our job. He had no words. Dumbfounded, he looked up at his boss and saw a teasing smile on her lips. With this much confusion, no ones going to check carefully enough to see we took a bit of a detour. I doubt anyone back in District 2 is monitoring our actions while were trapped inside the Dianoid. Eh? But... Oh, cmon! Its not like you just want to meet up with them to have some fun, right? Go check to make sure theyre okay and then get back to work! Ill take the Power Lifters back to District 2, but you need to at least get yours back to the truck in the parking lot!! Stephanie slapped him on the back. However, she seemed to have forgotten she was using a Power Lifter that could pick up an air freight container in one hand. Hamazura was peering into the open elevator shaft through the door they had broken through, so what would happen when someone struck him on the back? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? He flipped upside down and fell. The culprit scratched her head with the hand holding a cable-connected joystick and she gave an irresponsible sigh. Ahh, ahh. You give that guy an opportunity and he wastes it. Part 6 It was an odd situation. The elevators and stairs were sealed off and everyone was trapped on the mid level floor. The worried people meaninglessly rushed toward the exits, but no one tried to actually touch them once they realized they had been tampered with. As a result, they were packed in tightly enough that they could all topple over like dominoes at any time and yet a gap remained around the closed emergency exit. Even with all the noisy people around her, Takitsubo Rikous eyes still wandered aimlessly. Mugino Shizuri and Kinuhata Saiai were speaking in front of her. I checked the joints on the emergency exit and theyve all been super fused. It isnt just locked and it doesnt just have furniture piled up on the other side. The gaps have been filled to create a solid wall. So did an esper do this? At this stage, it could still be a type of technology, but either way, this feels super intentional. I dont know who did it or why, but dont super rich people use the Dianoid as a vault because of its solid construction? Especially in the apartments on the top level. Those didnt feel like a place for people to actually live. Yeah. Mugino sounded like she was vaguely recalling something. Didnt Frenda have a hideout there? She probably thought it was a secret, but it was super obvious. So do you think it was for some kind of side business? She had decent chemistry skills from her explosives, but she didnt seem like the type to touch either uppers or downers. She was so suspicious she wouldnt even take cold medicine, so she wouldnt have been making anything like rock candy. It was probably a test plant for new explosives. That was dangerous enough in and of itself, but it was not enough to shock Item. They were taking a break from working at the moment, but they still mostly belonged on the darker side of things. Takitsubo tilted her head and asked a question with her eyes still wandering aimlessly. What are we going to do, Mugino? It doesnt really matter. I have no interest in breaking into a vault. We need to make up our mind, but I see two real options here. The first is to find Hamazura whos probably somewhere else on the mid level. Whats the super second one? To create an escape route ahead of time. Like this for example. As she spoke, Mugino casually held out a hand horizontally. A moment later, a brilliant beam of light surged outward and tore through the Dianoid wall that could withstand a direct hit from a battleships gun. This was Academy Citys #4 Level 5, Meltdowner. The ultra high firepower strike prevented electrons from taking on the properties of a wave or a particle and fired them as-is. The emergency exit and the surrounding wall were transformed into a perfectly circular hole two meters across. The edges were a scorching orange and there was no hint of what had happened to the materials that had previously formed the inside of the circle. The sight almost seemed to ignore the fundamental law of conservation of mass. The surrounding noise had already quieted down. First, the general pressure of being trapped inside a giant building had been overpowered by their direct fear of Mugino Shizuri for having instantly melted the carbon materials. Second, the exit had finally opened, but no one wanted to approach it when the edges of the perfect circle were still heated to orange. And third... With a sound like a rope being stretched until it nearly broke, countless lines shot horizontally and vertically across the still scorching hole to form a lattice. Their path to freedom had not remained open for even five seconds. The building materials oozed out and spread further as they began to repair the wall. ? With a girly tilt of the head, Mugino fired a second shot. From there, she fired a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. W-wait, wait, wait! Mugino, wait! Youre shooting way too much! Mugino, thats way too super much!! And why do I have to take over Hamazuras role as your brakes!? But it regenerated. Mugino, that isnt an excuse. And stop super pouting your lips! Everyone around us is ultra freaked out! Try to read the atmosphere!! Nitrogen girl is telling me to read the atmosphere? Heh heh heh. Youre really risking it with that one. Ahh! This is getting to be too much for me to handle! Dont you get whats going on here!? Kinuhatas blood vessels bulged out on her face and Mugino grabbed her forehead to hold her back. Track suit wearing Takitsubo spoke blankly. What do we do now? We have two options. First, we can give up on escaping. Well find Hamazura, search for some way out of this, and see if the bastard who caused this is inside the Dianoid somewhere. Whats the super second one? Thats obvious. Kinuhata regretted her question once she realized this was going the same as last time she asked, but it was too late. She heard multiple sounds much like light filling a neon tube. Yes, multiple. Ten to twenty fist-sized lights hovered around the #4. We continue trying to make an escape route. For example, we can see just where this things saturation level is. A moment later, she provided an encore presentation. One of the Dianoids walls was left riddled with holes. Part 7 He did not think she had any real allergies, but the friend in his memories had insisted on never taking even cold medicine. No, Im fine, Im fine! Sleepings enough to get over a cold, so I dont need that bitter stuff. Medicine works quickly, but it lowers your bodys overall capacity instead. Its like something that recovers HP but shrinks the max HP bar. I dont even need to explain why antibiotics are dangerous, do I? Then why was all that canned food okay? In the end, any real canned good is given heat treatment and sealed so germs cant grow. Cheap ones are a different story, but normally, no chemicals are needed to sterilize, preserve, and store the food. And thats why canned mackerel is the best. Got it? She had all her arguments ready, but he was pretty sure she simply did not like the medicine because it was bitter. Ugh... A groan escaped Aihana Etsus small mouth. The first thing he felt was a stabbing chill. His eyelids parted a bit and he sensed a vague light. He was seeing District 15s night sky. The normal starlight had been swept away and the lights of all the buildings and bright decorations reflected back down at him. But why was he outside? Hadnt he been inside the Dianoid? Without an answer to his questions, he slowly sat up. (Where am I?) He could not remember how he had passed out. He only had a feeling he had run across something incredibly sinister that he could not afford to forget. ... He was in a gray garden covered in fine gravel. Short pine, maple, and cherry trees were planted there and a vermilion lacquered bridge crossed a small pond. He had been lying on a bench located below a large paper umbrella which looked like the storefront to a Kyoto teahouse. This mismatch with high-tech Academy City confused him further, but a certain possibility soon occurred to him. Is this the Dianoids roof? And... A man in a tailcoat sat next to him on the bench. Hi. ...!!!??? He frantically tried to move away but only managed to fall from the bench and land on his butt. From there, he tried to scoot himself back with his hands. (I remember.) (I remember, I remember, I remember!!) The floor, walls, and ceiling had all bent into over one hundred blades like an inside-out hedgehog and this man had used that strange world to skewer a certain boy. To attack with maximum efficiency, this monster had opened fist-sized tunnels in the flesh of the crowd in between and sent the blades through them. The man laughed as he spoke. You certainly are afraid. Is this just like how large jewels are often said to be cursed? Well, I believe I am generous enough to view your fear as awe towards a higher being. Ah, aahh, aaahhh... Aihana Etsu placed a hand in the center of his flat chest and trembled. The monster looked down at the small teary-eyed individual, but he maintained his soft gentle smile. You fainted due to mental shock instead of dehydration and you clearly have plenty of energy left, but why not drink something regardless? A 250 mL drink bottle had appeared in the mans hand at some point. It was about the size of an apple, but where had it come from? Aihana Etsu was not even sure of that. (Another drink. Do I look that susceptible to heatstroke?) Still sitting on the ground, he glanced toward the bottle of mineral water the man had set on the bench. Suddenly, the man in a tailcoat and overcoat had something else in his hand. It was the kind of rectangular translucent container used to hold mint pills. But when the man shook the pill case, an incredibly old-fashioned kind of black pill came out. I do not need normal food. As long as I have water and wheat, I do not age. Thanks to that, people have mistakenly assumed I secretly possess the philosophers stone. Wh-what are you talking about? Well, to be honest, I am not what matters here. That would be you. Having focus casually turned his way, Aihana Etsu felt sweat flowing down his small face. His nerves threw off the rhythm of his breathing. As his breaths escaped from between his lips, they mixed with the cold night air and grew visually white. He did not know who this man was, but he was a true monster. It was immediately obvious this man was not the same as Aihana Etsu who had only been able to fake a student ID card. As someone who had nothing, he could tell. The presence prickling at his skin was too great. What could this monster want? Did he have business with Aihana Etsu? Or was it with his true self hidden below the disguise? There are a few reasons why I am here, but one of them is you. And this is one of the higher priority reasons, too. Yes, I am here to see you. If that was all, Aihana Etsu might have thought the man was just a creepy stalker, but things were different here. On a fundamental level, something threatened to cut down the very base of his existence. His heart rather than his head told him being in this mans sights was very, very bad. I-I... Yes? I dont know you. You wouldnt, no. This is the first time I have directly met you. The man slowly spoke as he tossed the pill into his mouth. But that does not really matter. ? Technically speaking, you could say what I am after is you and yet not you. What...does that mean? You dont know? The man smiled with eyes that sparkled more bewitchingly than moonlight, but there was no smile to be found deep inside them. Aihana Etsu does not matter here. What I am interested in is you. And do you really not know what it is you hold? ...? The title of Aihana Etsu was falling away. This should have been a deadly situation, but the sense of danger was vanishing behind the emptiness in his thoughts. With a monster on this level, this would not just be for show, on a whim, or a mistake. But if this was the truth, where was that truth? Aihana Etsu had nothing. It was his painful awareness of that fact that had led him to use a fake ID to get into the Dianoid. And all to find and rescue Frenda Seivelun who had vanished after being swallowed up by the citys darkness. What did this man see in him? What did he have that would make such a monster turn his way? If you truly do not understand, I am willing to explain. In fact, I have lived for centuries to do just that. But where to begin? I could just say everything has gone according to plan, but at the same time, it seems there has been a fair bit of contamination. It feels like Im looking at a stone coated with finger grease. What...What are you saying I have? I am saying... The man trailed off as the entire Dianoid building shook again and again. Aihana Etsu let out a short shriek while still sitting on the ground. He felt like he was on an unreliable suspension bridge. It certainly did not feel like the roof of a giant building supported by cutting-edge technology. The man slowly looked up into the sky while still sitting on the bench. It would seem a new problem has arisen. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wha-!? Do not worry about it. It is only the base isolation causing it to shake so much. It is supposed to do this. The mans expression remained calm. An explosive roar came from within the building each time it shook, but he showed no sign of caring. He seemed to use his indifference toward each new situation to show off how different he was from Aihana Etsu. Well, I can deal with that one later. First, I need the shield that produces a positive gap. If things are going as planned, it should be reaching the TV station right about now. I could always make it from scratch, but that really would be too boring. ??? His words were probably not meant for Aihana Etsu. The boy could not understand any of it. He did not need to reply or smile politely. These words were isolated in that mans own world. He was the opposite of Aihana Etsu. I would have liked to stay here to chat, but it would be no fun if the shield was hit by a stray shot. I will be going. Until we meet again, Gap of Anne. Gap? Anne? What? You do not have time to sit around and chat either, do you? The man stood up from the teahouse storefront bench so smoothly that it barely looked like the movement was produced by bending joints. You had a reason for falsifying your identity to get here, didnt you? If you do not hurry, you will miss your one chance. It seems the sturdy structure of the Dianoid means nothing to the residents of this city and you dont want the last vestiges of Frenda Seivelun to slip through your fingers, do you? When he heard that, Aihana Etsu thought his heart was going to stop. Not because the man suggested the Dianoid could collapse. Not because the man knew he had a goal here in the Dianoid. Not even because the man had gotten his friends name right in one shot. The last vestiges? His eyes opened wide. All of the previous conditions left his mind and he snapped back at the man. You said the last vestiges of Frenda Seivelun, didnt you!? You mean shes...shes already...!! I am not the one to discuss that with. Then who are you!? How much do you know!? I will tell you that eventually. I promise. The man sounded as casual as someone arranging to eat dinner together sometime. As soon as he finished, a portion of the bench jutted sharply out. With a sticky sound, it twisted, sharpened, split off from the furniture, and formed a spear in the mans hand. This was what the man had called Chambord. He rested the strange object on his shoulder and turned his back on Aihana Etsu. I will help you just this once. My top priority is retrieving the shield from the TV station, but I will make a detour on the way there. I will make sure the Dianoid does not collapse before you find a certain secret. The rest is up to you. Use your own strength to reach the truth hiding in this labyrinth. ... Also, the doors and elevators leading outside are sealed, but I will remove that restriction for you. You can move to any floor you want to achieve your goal. The man in a tailcoat continued speaking. In return, I must insist you hear me out once this is all over. You can do that much, cant you? You... Aihana Etsu gathered his thoughts even as he opened his mouth to speak, so his question ended up being quite vague. Who even are you? Come to think of it, I never introduced myself. I have been called the one who understands the rules of life and has achieved immortality. I have been called a time traveler. I have been called a technician who can restore broken jewels. I have been called a number of things in legend, but... The man turned back with a truly childish smile on his face. My name is St. Germain. I am one of those who have surpassed the mere magician. I would appreciate it if you could remember that. Part 8 ... Kamijou Touma sank to the floor in front of Index and fifteen centimeter Othinus. He worried over the issue for a while. He could not even decide where to begin. The situation was just that unreasonable. He felt overwhelming despair. Finally, he slowly looked up and began. A Magic God has shown up. What? I know youre skeptical. But I want to ask something first. Othinus, are there other Magic Gods besides you? Or did you stand at the top of the world? Well... Theoretically, there could be more than one. Othinus let out a small breath. Its nothing more than a final destination reachable by human means. It could be Indian mythology, Buddhism, Greek mythology, Maya, Voodoo, or in this country, Shinto or Shugendo. If people mastered those paths to the very end, it could lead to a few different Magic Gods. Othinuss hand looked delicate enough to break if someone touched it, but she used it to point her thumb at Index. Yes, the 103,000 grimoires inside Indexs head had the additional value of allowing one to reach the position of a Magic God if used properly. Whether that was true or not, the entire magic side viewed a Magic God as an elusive position much like grasping a cloud, but it was also a realistic enough dream that someone was sure to pull it off eventually. In that case, what was that man in a tailcoat? Was he really a Magic God who had bloomed some other way than Othinus? Kamijous face was pale, but Othinus did not hesitate to speak to him. But have you forgotten? How many digits worth of worlds do you think I made and remade when I was settling things with you? If an equal Magic God existed in this world and this age, they would have interfered back then. You mean...? At the very least, there wasnt a Magic God in this world. Doesnt that seem like a reasonable conclusion? Othinus was right. She should have been right. But some uneasiness lingered in Kamijous heart. He felt an intense refusal toward thinking the colorful hell that man had demonstrated was only an illusion meant to look like the world was being bent to his will. His deepest thoughts were telling him it would come back to bite him if he conveniently and optimistically averted his gaze from that harsh reality. That may have been a sense he alone possessed after learning firsthand what a true Magic God was like. (But...) If he had not stopped himself, he might have started chewing on his thumbnail. (What if that is real? What do I do then? Do I have to go through all that again? Do I have to wait for him to break? But this Magic God might not have a single speck of kindness inside him! Thats no different from being told to search Marss deserts for a single grain of gold dust that might not even be there!!) If that man truly was a full-power Magic God, he could remake the world even faster than snapping his fingers. In fact, this world that Kamijou thought was real might have already been replaced by a very similar world. He had to neutralize this opponent no matter what, but he could not afford to provoke him either. It was as unreasonable as being told to remove the very bottom layer of a pyramid of cards because it was in the way. Was destruction the only option remaining? This was the same path as before. Would he have to smash the world to pieces and redo everything from that pitch-black place? ... Still sitting on the floor, Kamijou glanced around. He felt the heated air and saw the soft Japanese lights. Normal boys and girls walked around. The calico cat, Othinus, and Index stood nearby. After looking at each of them in turn, he silently and slowly shook his head. He could not do it. He could not allow it to happen. But at the same time, he could not ignore this. At the very least, that man in the tailcoat was hostile towards Kamijou. Everything had been preserved by some fluke, but that man would surely attack again after finishing whatever task he had to complete. And if they clashed one-on-one, the Magic God would mercilessly destroy the world. He would create a world convenient to his purposes and slaughter Kamijou in a perfect game. Kamijou did not know if it was possible, but he had to settle this before the Magic God could snap his fingers. If he did not switch this off in an instant, the world would end. Until he could find a way to do that, even a careless attack would be a crime. (What should I do?) In Denmark, when the world had attacked to finish off Othinus in her weakened state, the unfairness of it all had enraged him. But when looking at it from the outside, he could understand. The earth, the universe, and the world were nothing but a giant balloon. And a Magic God was a potted cactus wobbling on top of the balloon. That would cause anyone to panic. Once one learned of its existence, they would be worried around the clock that the cactus would eventually topple over as it moved freely about. (Unrealistic ideals dont matter. What exactly are you supposed to do against a monster like that!?) It was absolute overkill. It went far beyond an overflow error. Meanwhile, Kamijou merely knew the Magic God named Othinus. Just because you could brag that you were friends with an entertainer did not mean you could put on a show in front of the camera. If he confronted this man, he would lose. He had to deal with this as quickly as possible, but the situation was so bleak that eternally putting it off until later almost seemed like the best option. What are you thinking about? asked the small Othinus. Are you trying to keep everything to yourself like usual? I wish I could, he spat back with a weight to his voice. But I cant. This time, I really cant. Othinus, I know its cruel to ask a former Magic God this, but how do you defeat a Magic God? Im not talking about tearfully begging them to stop. Is there a specific way to truly defeat one? Hmph. She seemed annoyed that he was still talking about that. She answered him regardless, but that may have been like a parent teaching some magic words to a child who had just had a bad dream. Ollerus used a fairy spell. It was slow, but it conflicted with Gungnir and began destroying my body from within. Used right, it could be transformed into a technique to kill a Magic God. But during that time, she had destroyed the world more times than she had bothered to count. That method would still require a confrontation in that pitch-black hell. Anything else? Is there any way to end this without the world being destroyed even once? Thats a tall order. Youre basically asking for a way to rampage around an elaborate setup of dominoes without knocking even one of them over. With someone on the level of a Magic God, a fight that doesnt destroy the world would be the exception. Those words filled his vision with darkness. But he could not afford to stop here. This man was already his enemy and allowing the man to attack first would only make matters worse. That remained true even with the astronomical difference between human and Magic God. He could not image how attacking first would allow him to win, but if that man attacked first, the odds of his victory dropped to exactly 0.00%. This could not be worse, he muttered while slowly standing. He felt entirely unmotivated, but he knew he would ultimately end up in tears if he did not take the initiative. No matter how reckless it was, he had to take action. He grabbed the atrium railing for support and faced the two girls. Index. What? I know this wont be easy, but I want you to analyze him as much as possible. Help me out with your memory. And Othinus? Tell me what you want, human. Youve rejected the possibility, but its possible the 103,000 grimoires wont be enough for this opponent. So you come with me. You actually became a Magic God, so the odds are good youll be able to tell if hes the real deal, right? Slowly but surely, he put his mind to work and figured out what he needed to do. The situation was no different than with the normal magicians he had faced in the past. He forced himself to assume that. He temporarily set aside how far beyond that this went. He would covertly observe the Magic God and have specialists analyze the spells and spiritual items he was using. If that turned up a weakness, that was great. At the very least, he wanted to know if he could use Imagine Breaker here and what he had to destroy to improve the situation. Of course, there was a definite chance that they would investigate everything and reach the hopeless answer of He doesnt have a single weakness. Okay. He forced the situation into that pattern and tried to fall into his usual routine. If he did not, he was sure he would simply fall to his knees and laugh uncontrollably. At that moment, he did something. Not even he knew why. He suddenly glanced upwards while still holding the atrium railing. One of the decorative flat-screen monitors of the Dianoids lower level was installed there and it was playing a TV Orbit behind-the-scenes video that had been filmed after the trouble began. Simply put, a staff member like an AD had used a small camera to film the mid level. It was more like a documentary than a behind-the-scenes video. The monitor displayed staff members running around the TV station in a panic since the elevators and stairs were blocked off. It also showed footage from the viewing platform and indoor pool. The TV station and the viewing platform were supposedly not physically connected, but there may have been hidden doors for VIPs to pass through. However, none of that was what mattered. Kamijou saw something on that monitor that instantly destroyed all of his assumptions. This isnt good. What is it, Touma? He did not even have time to answer Indexs question. This really isnt good! Damn him!! By the time he let out that shout, he had already started running. Part 9 After Stephanie Gorgeouspalace (carelessly) pushed him down the elevator shaft, Hamazura Shiage managed to catch something protruding from the wall using his steel arm. If this had not been the ultra-sturdy Dianoid, he probably would have broken the object right off of the wall and continued on down. Unpleasant sweat covered his face as he dangled down. However, that was not because the sudden fall was squeezing at his heart. ... He had heard footsteps. A pair of legs walked right by the elevator door without realizing it was cracked open. They belonged to a strange man who wore a tailcoat and a monocle. But where had he come from? If Hamazuras memory was accurate, a giant elevator had lowered down just a moment earlier. Supposedly, no one could use the stairs or elevators, so why was this man an exception? (And...) Hamazura thought while supporting himself with a single arm. (What was that spear?) The man had rested a spear on his shoulder. But that had not seemed logical. For one, he did not know what material it was made from. It did not look like metal or glass fiber. It gave the immediate but eerie impression of being made by melting, forcibly twisting, and sharpening a piece of the Dianoid itself. The problem was not how sharp the spear was. The problem was how quickly and casually it seemed to have been created. The words St. Germain were carved into the side. Hamazura briefly hesitated over how to read it, but he soon made an odd connection. He only figured it out because there was a brand of motorcycle wheels named St. Germain. What it actually meant was still a mystery to him. But hadnt someone said that all of the Dianoids exits had been sealed to trap everyone inside? And instead of just locking the doors or placing something heavy in their way, hadnt the hinges or locks been melted and fused? In that case, what did that spear mean? (Is that the same technique? So is this guy behind it all?) Aneri, the support system originally placed inside the military Dragon Rider, used the AUD to place a warning in Hamazuras vision. Threat level: undetermined. Recommend hiding. That strange warning was much worse for his heart than a direct announcement of danger. And another coincidence followed. A tremendous tremor ran through the floor. Hamazuras mechanical arm was very nearly thrown from the wall. His stomach grew cold, but at the same time, he wondered just how many people were capable of enough direct damage to shake the Dianoid. Only one immediately came to mind. (Mugino?) And if she was there... (Are Kinuhata and Takitsubo nearby too!?) He heard more footsteps. Even an idiot could tell where they were headed. Whatever his goal might be, the man behind this would want to keep the people trapped inside the Dianoid. So what if a group among them threatened to change that? He would obviously want to silence them immediately. Hamazura knew Mugino Shizuri was not easily defeated. Takitsubo Rikou might not be able to help with her full power, but Kinuhata Saiai was formidable too. However, there were no absolutes. Hamazura himself had been saved by that kind of unreasonable miracle on more than one occasion. But before that... (This isnt about how strong or weak anyone is.) He tightened his steel grip on the wall. (Im sick of having all these dangerous people go after them!!) He prepared to use the two cable-connected joysticks and the two foot pedals in order to jump upwards. The man was defenseless at the moment, so Hamazura might be able to knock him out with a surprise attack using the steel arms. Or so he thought. It turned out he was being na?ve. A deafening sound reached his ears. A moment later, a pointy-haired boy fell from directly above, poured his full weight into a flying kick at the back-worn unit of the Power Lifter, and finally tore Hamazuras steel arm from the elevator shaft wall. He did not even have time to cry out. In no time, he was bound by gravity and the two boys fell together. Part 10 Stepping back in time a bit, Kamijou Touma saw Hamazura and the Magic God on the behind-the-scenes video displayed on a flat-screen monitor. Immediately afterwards, he took off running. If Hamazura carelessly contacted that Magic God, the world truly could come to an end. To ensure that did not happen, Kamijou had to prevent them from meeting. He began by checking on the general situation. He pressed the elevator button and ran to the emergency staircase door, but there was nothing he could do there. He touched the melted and fused rails and lock for the sliding door, but they had already solidified and Imagine Breaker did nothing. Dammit! I had a feeling that wouldnt work!! He let out a shout without thinking, but he was still surrounded by unhappy boys and girls. His shout of displeasure was drowned out by all the other complaints. Keeping at this would not help, so he switched over to a new train of thought. He ran to a magazine stand and roughly grabbed a pamphlet on the Dianoid. He glanced through it, but the structure of the building was kept vague enough to not provide any hints to terrorists. The mid levels viewing platform was known as the Aqua Palace. It had a lot of water art and contained one of the worlds largest fountains. I guess thats the only option... He glanced around, looked down through the atrium, and spotted the shop he wanted. Touma, Touma! What are you doing!? I dont have time to explain. Just come with me! He placed Othinus on his shoulder and dragged Index with him as he ran to a sporting goods store. With all the brand-name shops, he had been worried, but the item he needed had a surprisingly normal price. What are you going to do with that? asked the small Othinus. I need to get to the mid levels viewing platform somehow and I need this to do it. He already knew where he had to go. The elevators and emergency stairs were sealed, but the doors to the indoor shops and the escalators were fine. He ran down the stopped escalators until he reached the lowest level he could. He finally arrived in the Dianoids pump room. The wooden-looking sliding door opened surprisingly easily and he found a large group of throbbing machines inside. With the previous purchase in hand, he let out a groan. This is really a bad idea. Hey, explain yourself already, demanded Othinus from his shoulder. He answered while searching around and finding a tool box. I saw that Magic God on some footage of the Dianoids mid level. Even worse, hes about to run into a guy I know. ... We may have our doubts about him, but if he is a Magic God, this is really bad. I dont want to provoke him until we know for sure, so I have to stop the guy about to run into him! But you cant use the stairs or the elevators and the escalators are isolated to the lower level. If you know theres no way up there, why are you in the pump room? Kamijou pulled a monkey wrench out of the tool box, spun it around in one hand, and climbed the ladder to the top of the giant pump equipment. The Dianoids mid level is known as the Aqua Palace and it has one of the worlds largest fountains. For that and the waterways, pools, and whatever, it needs to constantly pump up several tons of water every second. Wait. That means the special water pipes have to be really thick. As long as I have a way to breathe, I just have to let the current carry me up. He pulled his purchase from the shopping bag. It was an ultra-small diving mask with something like a hair spray can attached. Index shouted up from the floor below. Touma! Are you going off somewhere on your own again!? Unfortunately, I only have one mask. I couldnt afford any more. He used the monkey wrench to remove the bolts holding the pump equipments maintenance hatch closed. You can see whats happening on the mid level using the monitors. If I have a connection, Ill send a video with my phones camera. And even if you dont hear anything from me, do what you can to analyze this Magic God. We can share what information we have when we manage to meet up again. The manhole-like maintenance hatch opened with a dull sound. A massive amount of water rushed by just below and it had the same ominous roar as a ditch on an especially rainy day. He put on the diving mask and wrapped the rubber strap around his head. He then lowered Othinus from his shoulder. To be honest, I dont see how I can do anything on my own. Index, Othinus, youre the main players here. Can I put my life in your hands? Hmph. Im just glad you didnt say you had to do this yourself. Othinus crossed her arms and maintained her haughty tone. But are you sure you want to do this? Hm? You can use that thick water pipe if you want, but nothing says itll be a straight path all the way up. If it happens to take a bunch of right angle turns, youll hit them at roller coaster speeds and end up like a stone thrown into the curve of a river. Eh? Wai-.. Kamijou tried to throw on the brakes, but his feet slipped on the water that had splashed up from the maintenance hatch. By the time he felt his vision rotate around, he had already been thrown into the maintenance hatch back-first. Bshhh. S-s-s-such misfortuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnne!? He did not know what kind of route the pipe took. There had been no room for his own will to influence any of it. After feeling a great roar in his heart, he was thrown outside. After a five meter sensation of floating, he felt himself break through the water and realized he was still alive. G-gasp! Bshfh!! Bshfsh!!! He gasped for breath to a disturbing degree and looked around. He was waist high in water. The ceiling was far overhead and the area was brightly lit. He had apparently been spat out the mouth of a giant lion connected to an indoor pool. It saddened him to see the rich young ladies in bikinis staring at him in fear. He tore off the diving mask, climbed up onto the poolside, and thought to himself. (Ive made it to the mid level. Now I just have to figure out where Hamazura is.) Dammit! Please let me make it in time!! He ran from the pool, but something strange happened then. He found himself in the strictly guarded TV station instead of the viewing platform filled with normal people. Wh-what? The two areas were not supposed to be connected, but there must have been a hidden door for the entertainers. And there was another oddity in the TV stations elevator hall. One of the doors there had been broken open by some great force. ... Kamijou looked down into the elevator shaft. The great drop made his legs tremble, but he did see someone inside that darkness. It matched the situation he had seen on the monitor in the Dianoids lower level. Found you. Kamijou Touma made a decision. He did not have a machine like the Power Lifter or any magic that let him fly. He did not even have a simple lifeline. But if Hamazura Shiage and the Magic God came into contact here, he might never be able to feel that normal fear again. He might be once more thrown into that twisted golden world and crushed by that happy world filled with smiles. And so the pointy-haired boy did not hesitate. He sent himself plunging into that deep, deep pit that had to be between twenty to forty stories above the surface. Part 11 Their meeting was sudden. Kamijou Touma collided with the back-worn unit of Hamazuras Power Lifter. The giant steel arm was knocked from the outcropping on the wall. And they fell. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? They fell together into the dark, dark elevator shaft. They fell about three stories worth. Fortunately, the elevator car was stopped partway down. Even so, they produced a great roar much like the sound of a metal pot dropped to the ground amplified dozens of times over. The gyro adjustments of the Power Lifter and the assistance of Aneri allowed Hamazura to make a fairly clean landing, but his opponent had not been so lucky. After bouncing off the top of the Power Lifter, he fell on his back and started coughing. Hamazura gasped when he saw the boys face. Unlike before, the threat level was set to low. Aneri displayed a marker telling him to swiftly neutralize the enemy, but he only shouted at the boy. What the hell are you doing!? Ugh. Cough!! P-please listen to me... Kamijou was having trouble breathing, but he still managed to speak. That man is too dangerous... You cant go up against a Magic God. I know we have to do something about him, but its all over if we screw up even once. Cough! So if youre going to do something, lets do it together. At least wait until Im ready. He was not saying to back off or that he would do it by himself. That alone may have seemed like a huge change to anyone who had known Kamijou before. But Hamazura Shiage looked up slightly and spoke. How long will it take you to get ready? How long? Just so you know, it looks like that guy is on his way to confront some people I know. One of them is my girlfriend. Will we make it in time for that using your method? ... Kamijou Toumas face crumpled at that. That was all Hamazura needed to know. Kamijou was not a bad person. He was not looking down on Hamazura or trying to get in Hamazuras way. He had thought this through the best he could, chosen a way to ensure everyones survival, and decided he needed to keep Hamazura away before he could explain the situation. To do that, he had even attacked Hamazura by jumping down an elevator shaft without a lifeline. He had prioritized protecting Hamazura from doing something reckless. Hamazura understood all that. But... Kamijou did not have a definite solution. That was how much trouble this situation was giving him. He might be able to solve it all eventually, but the people Hamazura knew very well would never be able to board that final train out. So... That isnt good enough, spat out Hamazura Shiage. It was possible Kamijou had saved his life just now, but there was something he could not back down on even if that was true. If you dont have a way to protect them, then get out of my way. Im not saying youre wrong. Youre probably exactly right that Ill be defeated. But I still need to make sure they can escape. You watch me lose miserably and find a way to defeat that bastard. What if... Kamijou Touma did not bother with the details. He slowly shook his head and responded. What if that man is powerful enough to destroy the world? Im not talking about weighing the world against something else. This might destroy the entire world, including everything you care about. Will you still go even then? Sorry. After that quick word, he had Aneri provide him with more high performance movements. With a roar, the Power Lifters steel arm tore through the air. Kamijou clenched his teeth and swung his upper body around. The massive fist missed its mark and broke through the elevator door behind the pointy-haired boy. When Kamijou realized the machine was preparing for a kick, he half-rolled out into the elevator hall to put some distance between them. The Power Lifter slowly stepped forward. Hamazura slammed the two steel fists together and answered the other boy. I dont care if this is reckless or foolish. Even if it means making them my enemy, I still want to do what I can to help them. Thats all this is. ... Hamazuras own words may have gone beyond what he could fully imagine. That may have been something only Kamijou could understand. And with that in mind, Kamijou Touma narrowed his eyes and gave his response. He did so with a slight smile. I was the same. He poured a dreadful amount of strength into his right fist. There was no villain here. The two of them simply stood in different positions. But that was enough. Kamijou Touma and Hamazura Shiage. A clash of two heroes had begun. Part 12 The empty elevator hall provided plenty of space. Kamijou Touma quickly assessed Hamazuras weaponry from seven to eight meters away. (That isnt a military powered suit. Is it a minor model Power Lifter? Those things are for transporting cargo, but the arms are still a threat. If one of those grabbed me and performed a wrestling move, Id be torn to pieces. But it isnt like it has no weaknesses. Maybe its an issue of regulations, but he isnt protected by armor like with a powered suit. My attacks can still reach him!!) His thinking may have been accurate, but he had fundamentally misjudged the scale of his opponent. The Power Lifter stood three meters tall. A distance of less than ten meters was only a step away. The machine took a powerful step forward. The next thing he knew, metal filled his vision. Kh!? His opponent did not try to swing his fist or grab with his monstrous fingers. He swung the entire stabilizing leg toward Kamijou like the boy was a soccer ball. Instead of compressing the air, the action seemed to tear into the air. Kamijou immediately tried to roll to the side, but the edge of his clothes were caught. That was enough to squeeze his torso, toss him spinning into the air, and slam him back down into the seemingly wooden floor a good distance away. Gbah! Cough cough! Eugh, cough!? (Dammit, Im not cut out for this kind of opponent!! Isnt this like taking on a power shovel or steamroller with nothing but your fist!?) On top of that, he did not have time to catch his breath and put together a plan. The three meter mass of steel ran and then jumped toward him. Kamijou was not sure whether it weighed several hundred kilograms or a full ton, but he knew what would happen if it crushed him. (Ill be killed instantly!!) He desperately rolled to the side and managed to evade. As a roar burst out, Hamazura swung the two joysticks around. The arms followed the same motions and a giant press-like palm savagely swung down. Hamazura had predicted his action. With his torso held between the palm and the floor, the flow of Kamijous blood was thrown out of whack. Bghueh!? The arm opened like an alligator mouth, grabbed the boys torso, and lifted him up. It looked rough, but since this was a piece of heavy machinery, the control had to be as delicate as a robot arm picking up an egg without breaking it. Hamazura did not bother saying anything. He would knock Kamijou unconscious as quickly as he could. He could say everything he wanted after the other boy had passed out. His actions made that intention quite clear. Quiet mechanical sounds of gears and cylinders came from within the metal arm. But even as Kamijou could not move his diaphragm much and had difficulty breathing, he desperately swung his arms around. Compared to the machine arm holding his entire body, his flesh-and-blood arm seemed far too fragile. However, the situation soon changed. Kamijou Touma held an oxygen tank the size of a hair spray can. It was the spare for the diving mask. And he shoved it into the metal arms elbow joint. The biting pressure of the joint was enough for the metal tank to burst like a balloon. With a dry popping sound, the arm holding Kamijou stopped moving and he slipped from its grasp. The machine itself had not broken, but the sudden internal shock must have triggered a safety. Aneri? Respond, Aneri!! Damn!! Once he realized the one arm would not move in the slightest, Hamazura swung the other one. However, Kamijou already knew what to do next. He removed his jacket and, like a bullfighter, dodged to the side at the last possible second. The coat remained behind and got caught on the steel arm. Specifically, the moving parts of the unprotected elbow bit into it. This stopped the other arm. A human body would lose its sense of balance if the arms stopped moving. A common experiment had people run for fifty meters with their hands tied behind their back. That alone was enough for people to lose their balance. So what would happen when it was a heavy Power Lifter that had thrown off its center of gravity by swinging its fists with all its might? A tremendous crash reached Kamijous ears. Hamazura and the Power Lifter had fallen to the floor as if from a martial arts throw. The machine lay on its side and Kamijou quickly circled to the stomach-side where Hamazura was visible. He did not even have time to think about getting back at the other boy. He simply planned on kicking Hamazuras solar plexus like a soccer ball to render him unconscious as quickly as possible. However, that never panned out. Just before the kick struck, Hamazura blocked with his flesh-and-blood arm. Ignoring the dull sound, the rollercoaster-like safety bar shot up, freeing Hamazura and sweeping away Kamijous leg. Kamijou was knocked onto his back and Hamazura climbed on top of him. They rolled along the floor and swung their fists down on each other. A dull sensation filled their fists, their visions flashed in and out, the insides of their mouths split open, an iron flavor spread through their mouths, and an intense heat gathered in the ends of their noses. They continued the anaerobic exercise without time to catch their breath and their awareness of the inside and outsides of their bodies filled with the color white. Like I said!! Your way! Isnt enough!! To beat a Magic God!! That doesnt matter! It doesnt!! If I just stick with your way, we wont make it in time for Takitsubo and the others!! Theyre about to run into that dangerous guy!! Right now!! Dont try to take on a Magic God when you dont even know what one is!! Do that and youll end up like me!! I dont care!! I really dont care what happens as long as I can save them!! Most likely, neither Kamijou Touma nor Hamazura Shiage understood what they were saying anymore. They did not have the luxury of choosing another option and their thoughts leaked out like they had been injected with a truth serum. They rolled over again and again, punching all the while. (Im sorry, Hamazura. I know you feel responsible for something important here. And its something important enough to piss you off when someone tells you to back down.) Kamijou was on top. He clenched his right fist as hard as rock, clenched his teeth, and aimed for the center of Hamazuras face. (But leave this one to me. I cant let you end up in that pitch-black hell!) That was when an impact reached his thigh. Hamazura held a skinny metal part that resembled a pen. It may have been a component of the Power Lifter and the round end was buried in Kamijous thigh. It did not draw blood, but dull yet intense pain raced through him. Gah...ah!? Kamijous upper body collapsed to bear with the pain, but that proved to be a mistake. Once their heads approached, he lost the advantage of being on top. Hamazura grabbed his collar and pulled him even closer. Then his other fist gave a howl. Even though Hamazura could not put his hips into the blow, the direct hit to the bridge of the nose was enough to darken Kamijous vision. Kamijou lost his balance, so Hamazura pushed him off and began his counterattack. And... And... And... Even if... At the very, very end, Hamazura Shiage had the upper hand. His own face was beaten, swollen, and dripping with blood from the many cuts. Even if youre the hero who ended World War Three and the double scorer who also ended the fight with Gremlin... He raised a fist dripping with blood. Was it his or his opponents? He did not know, but a smile appeared on his battered face. That St. Germain bastard is after the girl I fell in love with, so its my job to save her. The sound of a dreadful impact rang out. Part 13 ... Kamijou Touma let out a weak breath while lying sprawled out on the floor. He had been punched all over and a groaning pain reached him whenever he moved a joint. Hamazura and the Power Lifter were gone. Only the jacket he had used for defense remained. After the system recovered from the errors, Hamazura had likely climbed back on and gone off to save his friends. (Ahh...) Unable to even cover his swollen face with his hands, Kamijou spoke blankly into the air. I really am weak. He was simply complaining. He had not meant for anyone to hear him. Nevertheless, someone responded. You should have known that from the beginning. I may have survived due to a few coincidences working in our favor, but that wasnt because youre especially strong. Othinus? The doll-sized girl struck a daunting pose on the Dianoids floor and pointed out Kamijous foolishness. Why are you here? he asked. How did you get here? Have you already forgotten? Nothing is impossible for a god. He knew that could not be the answer, so he thought about it rationally. He had made it up to the mid level by slipping, panicking, and being sucked up and tossed around by the giant water pipe. He had not had time to focus on his senses during all that, so was it possible Othinus had used her miniature size to slip inside his diving mask just before he fell in the water? Wait a second. Wait just a second, Othinus. Are you saying Im a pervert who only survived by breathing in a girls scent through that diving mas- gyah!? Can we get back on topic, human? With that low comment, Othinus buried her small fist in Kamijous torso. Despite being a Norse god, she seemed to know a lot about Eastern acupuncture points. An intense numbing pain raced through his body just like hitting ones funny bone. His legs stuck out straight. Bh! Bhfh!? O-Othinus? Were you in the middle of saying something? I was. If it hadnt been for your strange interruption, I would have said this. She gave an exasperated shrug. Make no mistake. If all you were was strong, I would never have been saved in Denmark. ... Your true value is different from that of a Magic God who has to determine superiority by the presence or absence of power. Isnt that right? So feeling ashamed that you lack strength is pure foolishness. Your value shows itself once you accept what you lack and think about what to do without that strength. When he heard that, Kamijous eyes finally narrowed softly. He reached a hand toward Othinus and rubbed her small head with his fingertips. You are being too friendly, human. Sorry. But make sure to remind me. Kamijou spoke without shame. Remind me that I too have something he cant defeat and something I cant back down on. Hmph. Othinus gave a snort but let him do as he pleased. He knew he was weak. He had come this far because he had something he did not want to lose despite being weak. Being weak was not a reason to stop moving forward. She had reminded him of that. So... Dont worry, he finally said. This time, he used only his own strength to slowly stand up. Theres nothing to worry about now, Othinus. I wish I could have stopped Hamazura here, but I cant run off and leave this Magic God to him. I dont want to point at the destroyed world and say it was his fault. However the situation has developed, I need to adjust my plan to match. How exactly? Ill still have you analyze that St. Germain guy, but well incorporate Hamazura and the others actions into it. Letting his friends escape safely comes first. Im willing to act as a decoy for that. At the very least, St. Germain knows what I look like. At that point, he noticed that Othinuss one eye was opened wide in an expression he had not seen before. She then asked a clear question. St. Germain? Part 14 It was said that he had acquired a secret technique of immortality, that he ate nothing but water, wheat, and pills, and that he never aged. It was said that he was a mysterious noble who had made his way throughout medieval Europes high society and that the strange frequency of his appearances led to rumors that he had a technique of traveling through time. It was said that he possessed many magical techniques related to jewels and that he was highly prized by the other nobles for his ability to perfectly repair scratched diamonds. It was said he was an enigmatic individual who wrote a grimoire owned by Cagliostro. It was said there was no accurate record of his birth. It was said there was no accurate record of his death. In other words, the legend of St. Germain was not a thing of the past; it continued into the present. With examples such as Russias Rasputin or ancient Chinas Daji, mysterious people would occasionally appear in a place of politics or high society and bring chaos to that nation or the world. It would be no exaggeration to say St. Germain was the worlds greatest example. After troubling nation after nation, the legends of most others would end when they were defeated by a well-known magician or soldier. Some of the legends, like Japans Tamamo-no-Mae, involved several countries (although this theory says Daji and Tamamo-no-Mae were one and the same), but even she was cut down at the ends of the earth. However, St. Germain did not fit that description. His appearances were spread over multiple regions and scattered across time periods. Instead of just disappearing for years at a time, he would vanish for one hundred years before appearing again. A careful inspection of what he was recorded to have said showed him chatting about information he could not have known in that time period and no one was able to reproduce his jewels and pills. Objects that could not have been produced with the time periods standard level of civilization were known as out-of-place artifacts, but St. Germain felt like a human version of that. Instead of being surrounded by countless out-of-place artifacts, he himself did not seem to fit the time period. And there was no record of him ever being defeated. Any supposed grave was unreliable and no one claimed to be his descendant. His appearances were so irregular that he became known as immortal or a time traveler, but if one carefully read through the various legends, it proved to be no laughing matter. Or rather, the phenomenon that was St. Germain had reached a level unexplainable except by some truly ridiculous ideas. That was why nothing was known about him. He may have truly been immortal. He may have come from ancient times and continually travelled further into the future. He may have come from the future and continually travelled further into the past. There was only one way to know for sure: acquire the same hidden knowledge he had and become the same sort of being he was. Part 15 Hi. And so, the man naming himself St. Germain appeared before the girls of Item with the strange spear known as a Chambord resting on his shoulder. Mugino Shizuri narrowed her eyes a little and immediately realized what the spear meant. She gestured toward the outer wall she had filled with holes. Was that you? It was. To be honest, I do not need it anymore once I get to the Dianoids mid level TV Station and retrieve the Shield that produces a positive gap in the lattice, but unfortunately, I made a bit of a promise. Could you perhaps calm down a little in order to grant someones wish? Kinuhata. Mugino ignored him. If you dont want to die, stay in a position where you can protect Takitsubo with your Offense Armor. Ill take care of this guy. Are you sure, Mugino? asked Takitsubo. What do you mean by that exactly? If youre worried shell go super overboard and kill him, then Ill agree with you. It was the man in the tailcoat who laughed. You think you can escape the grasping fingertips of death with that? Youre pretty full of yourself for some stranger. As he listened to Mugino, St. Germain gathered some slight strength in the Chambord resting on his shoulder. With a whistling sound, it drew a half-circle in the air and pointed at Mugino. I will ask one last time, young lady. If youre going to complain, wait until youre in hell. That is too bad. I suppose this is why they say ignorance is a sin. With a light smile, all hint of emotion vanished from St. Germains eyes. Now, will you be able to say the same thing when you see your own heart beating outside your body? An instant later, Muginos Meltdowner beam mercilessly vaporized the Chambord and St. Germains arm along with it. The mans arm vanished from the shoulder down. The great heat had completely cauterized the wound, so there was no bleeding. Academy Citys #4 spoke coldheartedly to St. Germain as he stared blankly at where his missing arm had been. Are you mocking me? An explosion of emotion soon followed. However, it did not come from Mugino or St. Germain. It came from the frightened crowd gathered on the viewing platform. With earsplitting screams and shouts of anger, they fled with all their might. They moved with such force that they sometimes very nearly all toppled over like dominoes. The people vanished, the area was left completely empty, and St. Germain spoke. Despite the lost arm, he was smiling. By the way, young lady. Do you have anyone you would like to protect? What? If so, you should take this more seriously. Especially when you still have time to be so considerate. Perhaps done in by the heat, a few of his tailcoat buttons fell to the floor. The tailcoat opened up to reveal something like clay strapped to his stomach. Mugino immediately realized what that clay was. You-...!! The man had shown no sign of caring about the loss of his arm and the loss of his life seemed to be no different. Let me tell you one thing. The man moved the situation along while smiling. Even if an individual St. Germain dies, the St. Germain ideology shall not perish. ...It shall never perish. It did not even take a full second. A tremendous explosion assaulted Item as it filled that corner of the floor. Part 16 Ugh... Aihana Etsu held his head on the Dianoids roof. He had come here to pursue his missing friend and rescue her from the darkness. He could not rely on normal methods of searching for her secret, so using the help of an irregular element like St. Germain seemed like it would improve his odds of success. But... A horrific vision flitted through the back of his mind. Countless Chambord spears had protruded from the walls and floor. Just like casually pushing aside an obstacle, fist-sized tunnels had appeared in the bodies and faces of the people passing by. That nightmarish scene still did not feel real and a floating sensation came over him every time he recalled it. Could he really use something like that? Was that really something one could control? In the end, if youre weak, you have to do things the weak way. Another voice suddenly entered his mind which was trapped in that colorful nightmare. He consciously controlled his breathing. Even if it was just a mental image, he focused on breaking free of those self-made bonds. Of course, being strong is best, but as long as you know how much you can do and how far you can reach, you wont go wrong. Whats scary are the people who dont know their own reach. Thats like making a gamble with your own life. ... When she had said that, he had not known what she was talking about. But now he did. St. Germain was too great an unknown. If he relied on that, he would have his feet swept out from under him. He would still search for his friends secret in the Dianoid, but he had to gather his own cards to succeed. He could not leave it all up to luck and just wait for the trump card to come to him. He had a plan now. He looked around and started toward the door leading inside from the roof. (St. Germain said the doors would unlock for me.) He tried the knob and found he could easily turn it. It opened without any resistance and the heated air gently blew out at him. Instead of passing through the door or closing it, he placed a stone from the garden between the door and doorframe as a doorstop. And now... This time, he ran to the edge of the roof. The Dianoid created a seventy-story cliff, so it was hopeless. He could not climb down or even drop something to communicate with someone below. If he wrote a note and threw it, he would have no idea where it would end up. (But if I could let them know the roofs door is open, Anti-Skill could come by helicopter to rescue everyone.) He walked along the edge of the roof. Whether to strengthen the Dianoid or for decoration, thick wires were strung diagonally between the buildings walls and the surface. He of course had no intention of climbing down one of those, but if he slid something down it, he could drop something while softening its landing. He found one of the wires on the edge of the roof. He removed the thin wire holding one of the gardens pine trees in place and tied it into a small loop around the thick wire. He pulled out his flip phone, activated the GPS alarm, tied the strap to the small wire, placed a note in between the folded flip phone, and let go. Just like a ski lift, the cellphone slid down the Dianoids thick wire. When the adults detected the GPS signal, they would hurry to it. If they found the note, they would hopefully learn that the door on the Dianoids roof was open. (But thats all the help I can give.) Aihana Etsu turned his back on the nighttime city down below. He made his way to the open door into the Dianoid. (I have to take action too.) Part 17 You idiot. I was wondering what had you so worried, but you really are stupid! The small Othinus was so angry she seemed about to erupt. Kamijou was confused by her sudden rage. Eh? Um, what? Listen. Othinus pressed her index finger against her own temple. The legend of St. Germain is famous. Its even leaked out of the magic side and reached normal society. If you grabbed a random magician and asked them to name ten famous people, St. Germains name is sure to come up alongside Rosenkreuz and Mathers. Thats how high up there he is. U-um... Kamijou frowned because he had no idea how major a name Rosen-whatever was. Doesnt that mean St. Germain is ridiculously famous, ridiculously powerful, and the protagonist of some ridiculous mythology? But, forcefully cut in Othinus. St. Germain is nothing but a name. Eh? Kamijou did not even slightly understand what she meant. On the magic side, he was probably known as a rare sort of con man. It wasnt uncommon to take on a famous name when sneaking into a party of nobles, but the identity of St. German was built from the ground up. At first, it was a free pass that let you sneak into the most formal of events and acquire any investment you wanted. You could say it was like an appraisers report calling a glass ball the highest quality of diamond. Immortality? Time travel? Those things arent even worth calling tricks. Wait... Wait! Youre kidding, right? I mean... Creating legends of immortality or time travel is a simple matter. He talked about times and places he had never been to or seen. He could have letters sent as proof that he had been there. He probably sometimes added in a time delay like with a time capsule. That throws any alibi out the window. Please wait!! He...he really did bend the entire world before my eyes! It was like...like this... Its hard to explain, but the walls, floor, and ceiling all turned into weapons, tunnels appeared in the people in the way, and they all attacked me at once! Have you forgotten? Othinus sounded almost utterly exasperated. This is the Dianoid. The entire building is made of carbon materials. That means you dont need control over every phase, every dimension, and every element to manipulate everything around you. A magician with control over carbon and nothing else can pull that one off. ... There are two primary legends about St. Germain. The first is how he conquered aging whether by immortality or time travel. His predictions of the future and knowledge of great secrets are derived from the time travel. The second is his ability to control jewels and restore scratched diamonds. Doesnt that seem to fit with the clichd situation we have now? Diamonds were carbon. The building was made of carbon. The human body was organic matter and thus also made of carbon. What did that mean? But...he knew. Knew what? What a Magic God is! Othinus, without you, the idea of a Magic God would just be a fantasy. Even the knowledge of the 103,000 grimoires isnt quite enough to know about that! How could he pretend to be one so accurately!? Dont be stupid, spat out Othinus. Have you forgotten what happened in Denmark? Due to Americas interference, all of that was broadcast around the world. It may not have been enough to know the details of a Magic Gods inner workings or how to use the magic of one, but anyone could have figured out what one looks and how one acts. This person going by the name St. Germain could have checked any video site to find what he needed for his act. As embarrassing as that is to admit. ............................................................................................................................................................... Then what was he? If St. Germain was not a Magic God like Othinus, was he just a normal (if that even meant anything at this point) magician who had not reached that level? But, said Othinus. If we are up against St. Germain here, it creates a problem much different from a Magic God that is concentrated on a single point. What do you mean? St. Germain did not just well up on its own like spring water from the earth. Do you know what created him and allowed him to spread? She answered his question with one of her own. The legend is a fake. It began as a free pass and had no credibility. But someone must have given it life. They used existing legends and magic to see if they could make the legend real. The same process has been seen with the Necronomicon. And using a vast sea of knowledge, they intentionally stimulated the small core and created a real crystal. I dont know if they were fascinated by it or if they were using it to disguise something else, but the actual technique uses the alluring spread of the legend to pass between the people involved and those who wish to be a living witness of the events. And it organizes those people into a single crystal. She went on to give the ultimate answer. His ideology synchronizes peoples minds and infects them. And it does so incredibly easily. Kamijou heard footsteps. And they belonged to more than just one person. He and Othinus were surrounded. They filled every exit leaving the elevator hall. He quickly looked around and saw nothing but tailcoats. At least a few dozen St. Germains calmly observed him. The idea of a central unit may not have applied with them. They were all the control tower and they were all terminals. Losing any one of them would not be a problem. At any rate, one of them spoke. So we meet again so soon, Kamijou Touma. A moment later, their cruelty took the form of countless spears that rushed in from all directions like an inside-out hedgehog. Between the Lines 2 I am used to being called a liar. If you want to call me less than a Magic God to soothe your own pitiful self-respect, go right ahead. There is no point in holding me within the infield of magicians or driving me into the outfield of Magic Gods. My existence can only be described as me. I am a third category. I am neither a magician nor a Magic God. I am St. Germain. No other term can describe me, but it seems some stubborn people have difficulty understanding that on a conceptual level. It is similar to how those obsessed with logic and numbers cannot understand the sparkle of the artificially-stabilized non-equilibrium structure that is a diamond. Arguing against the incompetent is a futile task. There is no speaking with those who fully believe something is common sense just because everyone is too stupid to see the truth. No matter how many times you prove what is true, you will only learn all too well that the skeptics are equipped with a filter that prevents them from seeing the evidence before their eyes. But I will not keep people from that all too pitiful happiness. I can watch in satisfaction as they amusingly age, grow thin, and ultimately wish to rely on my methods of immortality. Of course, I did not slip into high society because I was interested in fame or fortune. Quite the opposite, in fact. I gathered an unwanted and lowly fortune because displaying it was the bare minimum necessary to make appearances at those parties and gatherings. The truly unfortunate fact is that what I desire lies within that high society. They have allowed that framework to decay and become a mere shell of what it once was, but what I desire still lies within it nonetheless. And so I searched for it. I continued to swim through that utterly rotten mud in search of a single possibility. I was half drowning in that sea of people swollen with countless desires. Ah. Boy, have you realized your true value? You seem to have gained temporary strength by viewing yourself as another, but have you realized what name you bear and what power you hold? Not everyone needs to be #1. You need only aim for what no one else has. That idea can be heard just about anywhere, but it cannot be used as an excuse by the defeatists who laugh and reject all competition. It is nothing that simple. Rather than follow the path to the mountaintop that someone else has set out for you, you must clear a new path on your own. That is much more difficult and worthy of praise. Boy, you have already obtained that. I certainly did not expect to find it in Academy City of all places, but it would certainly explain why I found no hint of it in Paris, Berlin, or Moscow. No, enough of that. I should simply accept my failure and continue forward. I should have focused on the fact that the Anglican Church has a hotline with Academy City. At any rate, I am finally able to meet you, boy. The shield to match the sword. How much time do you think I have spent in search of it? It would be a shame if you simply answered since the 1600s. You cannot rely on the history established by the skeptics and those unable to work for themselves. Thinking back, it was a meaningless span of time, but thinking on this instant is enough to wipe the weariness away. Now, it is time to harvest the fruits of my labor. Are you watching, Magic Gods? Just as a magician of ancient Britain used a unique sword to select a single soul, I have acquired something you lack. I am St. Germain. I desire only a single truth. And to that end, I will spread infinite falsehoods. Volume 12, 3: The Vanishing Girl’s Legacy — Hard_MEMORY. Volume 12, Chapter 3: The Vanishing Girl''s Legacy Hard_MEMORY. Part 1 What did Kamijou Touma think of at that moment? It may have been the Sisters, those mass-produced military clones of Academy Citys #3 Level 5. Those girls used their identical brainwaves and ability to control electricity in order to construct a unique living data network known as the Misaka Network. They used it to share their memories, techniques, and knowledge. It may have been the rumors he had heard about Academy Citys #5. That monster was a single person, but she was said to read minds, speak telepathically, brainwash, hypnotize, and otherwise control just about every part of her opponents minds. In a way, she created a great number of puppets controlled by a single control tower. It may have been the C Document that Terra of the Left of Gods Right Seat had tried to activate in Avignon, France to direct the worlds hatred toward Academy City. It may have been the Leshy, a mind controlling spell used in Hawaii by Saronia A. Irivika so Gremlin could take administrative control of the United States. It may have been Yakumi Hisako, a former member of Academy Citys board of directors. She had created the Agitate Halation project to mass produce inferior heroes around Fremea Seivelun. Uuh... Dozens of people in tailcoats surrounded him. They were a mix of ages and genders, but it looked like they had forcibly matched their appearances as much as possible. It was like some kind of synchronization or parallelism. It spread from person to person, transforming them into weapons that produced only violence. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? The hair across Kamijous body stood on end as he screamed. A moment later, they came. They burst from the walls, floor, and ceiling. The entire scenery grew distorted and undulated. Countless spears of countless sizes shot out and rushed toward him like a torrential downpour. A simple calculation suggested there were one hundred Chambords for each St. Germain present. This oddity of a spell allowed them to control diamonds, carbon, and thus this entire building. There was no way Kamijou could negate every attack with just his right hand. So the action he took was simple. He kicked up the fire extinguisher sitting nearby and shoved it forward. As soon as it came into contact with the spears, compressed gas exploded out. The fire extinguishing powder looked more pink than white as it covered everything. Visibility dropped to zero. The countless spears filled the entire space in a lattice pattern and cleanly sliced through the barrier of powder. But Kamijou was already gone. Only the fire extinguisher remained, torn to shreds and pinned in midair. (I was right.) The group of St. Germains seemed to have shifted their focus toward the destroyed door to the elevator shaft. However, Kamijou had run through the smokescreen and passed right by them. He ran, almost tripping, and fled to another area. (If all St. Germain can do is control the Dianoid, there would be no point in him actually appearing in front of me. He could just turn the entire building into a bed of spikes like an iron maiden. He didnt do that...no, he couldnt do that, so there has to be a reason. He must only be able to use his carbon control magic based on the senses of the others synced with or parallel with him. It only seemed like there was nowhere to hide in here because there were that many St. Germains mixed in!) He gulped and desperately told himself to calm down. (Im not up against an almighty Magic God here. He may look that way, but theres a reason behind each individual action. There has to be a limit on those tunnels he opens in peoples body. If not, he would have removed my right arm or plucked out my heart right off the bat.) And the same had to apply to his ability to synchronize with and infect people. (I can figure this out.) He clenched his right fist. He still did not know what he should negate, but even so... (Theyre like walking weapons, but there has to be some kind of gear down at the bottom. If theyve been synchronized or infected, it means these people are the citys teachers and students. If I can remove that, they might return to normal!!) And then... ... ... ... ... All of the St. Germains turned their heads and faced him in unison. Dammit!! Crouched low, he hurried onward. The second wave of spears flew mercilessly toward him. Part 2 Once the countless St. Germains chased Kamijou into a different area, the elevator hall was left empty. However, one of the square paper lanterns set up alongside the waterway was shaking. A fifteen centimeter girl poked her head out from inside it. It was Othinus. (They have surprisingly unreliable senses. Is crystalizing them as St. Germain considered enough of a success, so each individual unit hasnt been properly polished? Has he improved his ability to control diamonds and gained the ability to control carbon as a whole? If the world has only a single chance here, this is quite the troublesome foe.) Othinus had not chosen to hide in the lamp herself. As soon as he had set up the fire extinguisher smokescreen, Kamijou had shoved her inside the light fixture and fled. It had almost seemed like he had chosen a more noticeable action to draw their attention. (If that was part of his bad habit, this would be the time to punch him, but...) She sighed. She guessed Kamijou was after information on St. Germain. After all, Othinus had been a true Magic God and yet even she deemed this opponent to be troublesome. St. Germain had no central unit or terminal unit. They were all synchronized and they were all parallel. The nucleus of a crystal formed around the distribution of the high-concentration solution and the materials that attached around it were completely identical. Diamonds were hard and breaking them did not change their structure. (But...) Diamonds were said to be crystals made of pure carbon, but even the purest diamond was only 99.9% pure. Over twenty different types of impurities existed in that slight gap. And that less than 0.1% impurity would change the properties of the entire diamond. Everything from how hard it was to its electrical conductivity, coloration, and transparency were influenced by that. They were not the center or the nucleus, but those meaningless impurities were the controller that manipulated the entire crystal. St. Germain had to have something similar. He was a magician that controlled diamonds. He was a life form who could control even his own body as carbon-based organic matter. So if St. Germain was viewed as a single giant crystal created by synchronizing and parallelizing a group, he had to have something like a controller or settings file. With that in mind, Kamijou would draw out St. Germains attacks on the vanguard while the analysts on the rear guard would reveal the structure and weaknesses of his spell. That was the correct way to go about this. But still, muttered fifteen centimeter Othinus. Through all of those hundreds of billions of phases, I missed the Misaka Network that manipulated the border between life and death. Does he also contain the possibility to always show up or appear anew in every world or phase I created? She looked to the floor and saw a few clumps of blood. She doubted they belonged to Kamijou Touma. (To him, using up personnel must be the same as using impurities to create gaps in the otherwise even crystalline structure. Maintaining his overall properties even when an individual is crushed would make him a first-class diamond. Im sure he knew what would happen when he forced Academy Citys espers to use magic.) Othinus was surprised to find that displeased her. From an efficiency standpoint, St. Germain was right. There was no reason to worry about their enemies in the science sides Academy City. All lives were not of equal value during battle. Was it that pointy-haired boys influence that would not let her allow it? What a pain... I guess I was fundamentally broken, too. She shook her head and focused on analysis once more. If she was going to search for the optimal answer... (Come to think of it, we left the Index Librorum Prohibitorum behind. Well, if she had been here, Kamijou Touma might have chosen a different course of action.) Her fifteen centimeter stature was not always a bad thing. There were limits to what she could do, but St. Germain could only search for enemies by sealing off all routes that someone human-sized could pass through. At fifteen centimeters, she could take paths unavailable to others. And that went beyond simply crawling below a vending machine and travelling through that slight gap. A cat could jump down from a height of two or three stories, but that was not just because of its body structure and athletic ability. Its light weight reduced the impact of landing, too. Now, my first priority is contacting the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Whether I manage that or not, I need to figure out where Kamijou Touma and St. Germain are, observe them, and find a way to break St. Germains crystalline structure. She sounded irritated, but she had summed up what she had to do. Those were the necessary steps to achieve victory. She was, after all, an individual who had become known as a god of war. Part 3 Then again, Kamijou could not continue dodging the St. Germains attacks forever. Their magic surrounded him with a set of one hundred spears like an inside-out hedgehog, making it a simple yet effective countermeasure to Imagine Breaker. Not to mention that dozens of people were using that same magic at once and more St. Germains were mixed into the people not currently chasing him. His odds of survival were rapidly declining. This would not have been easy under normal circumstances, but this added further irregularities into the mix. Dammit!! There were only so many ways he could block their sight. Also, this was only the preliminary encounter. The true battle began once Index or Othinus analyzed St. Germain and found a weakness. All he could do was run around corner after corner, trying to escape from the St. Germains sight. And he was so focused on the enemies behind him that he ran right into someone else turning the corner ahead. Wah!? This way! The person pulled on his hand and dragged him behind the reception counter to what seemed to be a gym. He could hear several sets of footsteps passing by the corridor beyond the counter. The other person was practically embracing him, but once he pulled himself free and checked who it was, he found he recognized them. What? Youre that Aihana guy, right? W-well, I suppose. You wouldnt be wrong to call me Aihana Etsu. It was the boy with semi-long brown hair. Kamijou gently sighed. Well, you saved me regardless. Listen, Im heading back out when the time is right, but you stay here. If you are going to leave, wait a bit and go in the opposite direction. You havent been spotted yet, but if you are, theyll fill you with holes. Im not sure I can cover for you. No, cut in Aihana Etsu. When he shook his head, a sweet aroma was shaken from his hair. I dont know who they are, but I doubt its anything that simple. They knew we were here, but they overlooked us because they dont want to get me caught up in this. What? For some reason, this St. Germain guy is obsessed with me. He seems to have given me alone the ability to use the sealed elevators and doors. Thats how I got to the mid level. I figured out these St. Germain people were after you from the behind-the-scenes videos, he explained. Theyre all dressed the same, so maybe they all think the same. That means having you head out isnt the best plan here. I should go right into the middle of them. If Im in the center of things, theyll have a harder time fighting. That thought shocked Kamijou, but when he reflexively tried to argue, Aihana Etsu placed his index finger on his lips. The sensation of the boys slender finger silenced him. Whatever his goal is, St. Germain wont kill me right away. Hell want to talk. Thats our chance. If I can loosen his lips and get some information out of him, we might find a way out of this. That would obviously be better than sitting around waiting to be killed and its something only I can do. The boys words were logical, but his face was deathly pale. His shoulders were trembling and they looked so skinny they would break if someone grabbed them too roughly. He had to be scared. It was not clear what St. Germain wanted and he could change his mind at any time. The odds were good he would bare his fangs the instant it was revealed Aihana Etsu was hiding something. And if that happened, there was no escape. If their positions had been reversed and Kamijou was asked to play that role, he honestly doubted he could have done it. And if St. Germain had noticed what they were doing, Aihana Etsus suggestion was not even an undercover mission. St. Germain would already know he was letting Kamijou escape, so it would be more like taking or exchanging hostages. If... Aihana Etsu spoke while looking up at Kamijou. He grabbed Kamijous coat at the chest and his self-made fear brought tears to the corners of his eyes. Nevertheless... If I dont make it back, can you do one thing for me? A girl named Frenda Seivelun has an apartment in the upper level of the Dianoid. There might be something there to tell me what happened to my missing friend. If I have that, I might find a clue to saving her. St. Germain said something ominous about the last vestiges of her, but I dont know if thats true. If I cant do it, please find it for me. If I know someone will, then I can go do this now. Hey, stop. I dont even know what kind of person you are. If youre carrying something you cant back down on, then thats all the more reason why you cant do something like this for me! Dont worry, said Aihana Etsu. He looked Kamijou right in the eye from close range. And he spoke as if to convince himself. He seemed to be forcibly overwriting the fear that was overflowing from his true self. He looked to the person who would believe this was who he was. Im Aihana Etsu. There was no time to stop him. Aihana Etsu removed his hands from Kamijou Touma, ran out from behind the gym counter, and made his way out of the shop. He rushed out into the open where countless St. Germains lay in wait. There was no point in running out after him. In fact, beginning a sudden battle increased the risk of Aihana Etsu being hit by a stray attack. Kamijou understood that. He did, but... ...!! He clenched his teeth, clenched his fist until it oozed blood, and yet had nothing he could do here. He would not waste this opportunity. Ensuring that was his only option here. Part 4 Once he moved out into the open, Aihana Etsus range of options narrowed significantly. First of all, the countless St. Germains all focused on him. They may have already noticed him long ago, but things changed once they stopped acting and let each other know that they were aware of each other. At this point, any attempt to run or hide increased the risk of his actions being viewed as hostile. And if he strayed out of line with only the name Aihana Etsu on his side, he had no way to avoid being skewered. Then again... (The situation isnt going to improve if I dont do anything.) His fear transformed into lightheadedness as he desperately tried to think. (I dont know why St. Germain is letting me go. Hes freely attacking all the other people trapped in the Dianoid and I cant imagine why he would be treating me differently. I cant just do what he says. I have to get off of the rails hes set up for me!! If I dont, I wont be able to do what I came here to do!!) Even if he was risking his life or sacrificing himself, he was still leaving the most important part to someone else. He ignored the situation and had to suppress a smile at just how typical of him this was. Kamijou Touma was a name he had heard while crying as he was punched and kicked in the back alleys. At the time, he had had nothing and had been feeling his way through the darkness and wandering around as if wearing a blindfold. He had no connection to that person. His only interaction with the boy was being given a bottle of water when the boy mistakenly thought he had heatstroke. It was far too cheap to leave his life with someone like that. He had done so anyway because even that tiny connection was more than he had with anyone else in the Dianoid. He had received a bottle of water from St. Germain as well. However, there was a slight difference between a monster attempting to curry his favor and Kamijou Touma who had wanted nothing in return. His only choice was to bet on that. This was just as supremely foolish as someone betting their lifesavings on their lucky color. He knew that, but he still clung to that spider web. And now a great number of tailcoats waited for him. Hi, hi! Should I still be calling you Aihana Etsu? Im a little busy at the moment, but I can free up some time for you. How are things going with the Frenda Seivelun thing? ... Unlike before, it was not just a man. Age and gender did not matter. When alone, their costumes made them stand out, but when a group of them gathered, Aihana Etsu was the one who felt out of place. Didnt I tell you to hurry if you wanted to know the truth? Its interesting how its possible to actually be too kind, isnt it? Or should I have escorted you to the upper level apartments? Aihana Etsu placed a hand on the center of his chest. He switched to a new train of thought and focused on the thin student ID card. He looked up with a challenge in his eyes. My problem can wait until later. More importantly, what about you? Hm? For how confident you sound, it doesnt seem like things are going all that well. Are you sure you can manage? A rusty smell wafted in from the surrounding group. Some of them had bandages wrapped around themselves, but had they really been hit by their opponents? Oh, nothing to worry about. From now on, I will be more careful in my selection. You use diamond to cut diamond, but it seems I used them a little too roughly. I probably should have only used the teachers. ...? Aihana Etsu had never heard of the side-effects of using magic and St. Germain provided no explanation. You did not waste your precious chance to approach Frenda Seivelun just to talk about this, did you? Dont worry. If you take out everyone in my way, I can take my time searching for that girls secret. Ha ha! I suppose so. But kind certainly is an apt description for you. For me, this is like having my reward paid in full up front. One of the St. Germains reached out an arm and suggested they find somewhere to talk. Next, they all extended an arm like the wind blowing through a wheat field. At the same time, Aihana Etsu recalled the words of his friend. In the end, you need to be careful when someone treats you like an old friend the first time you see them. The ones who can fake the expression arent too bad and the ones who only trick you with words are even better, but the ones who fake their own emotions are the truly dangerous ones. Those are the ones who have taken a step outside of what can be described in terms of good and evil. That friends cellphone had included the addresses of easily over one thousand people. She certainly knew more about people than he did. Nee hee hee. Not that Im one to talk with how much I let others influence me. ... He let the St. Germains guide him through a dance hall of swirling death and violence. He was led to an elevator that took him to the rooftop Japanese garden where he had spoken with St. Germain before. A single St. Germain waited for him in the moonlight. This one was far older than him. She appeared to be in college or a new teacher. The adult woman had white skin, blue eyes, and wavy blond hair that reached her waist. There were many different types of tailcoats, but this womans one resembled the stage outfit of a woman illusionist. It was something like a jacket and bunny suit combination. She wore a monocle that resembled a butterfly wing and her face looked somehow familiar. She almost looked like Aihana Etsus friend if she had grown into a beautiful woman. The carbon making up any diamond is nothing but carbon, but the impurities making up less than 0.1% create countless varieties of colored diamonds. What splits peoples personal preferences on diamonds are those miniscule imperfections. I thought you might grow to like me if I shined like this and I hoped that would help our conversation run more smoothly. The blonde St. Germain laughed casually. That woman had to have had her own life, personality, respect, and happiness. But just knowing this was unreasonable was not enough to break free of it. This was not a situation in which the mask of Aihana Etsu was enough. Now, now, now. Where to begin? My mind is filled with things I would like to say, but where should I begin to confuse you the least? Oh, it has been so long. It has been far too long since I came across such a delightful proposition. I want you to promise me just one thing first. No need to limit yourself to just one. Make as many requests as you like. You already know I didnt approach you because Im your friend, right? Oh, you mean the person you desperately tried to let escape? Hiding it wont do any good. Im here now, so dont lay a finger on that boy. If you dont promise me that, I refuse to speak with you. Very well. The blonde St. Germain readily agreed while sliding open a rectangular pill case she had pulled out at some point and dropping a black pill onto her soft palm. I would really rather not promise that, but for you I will do it. And why stop with him? As long as you keep speaking with me, I will promise not to do any harm to anyone inside the Dianoid. When he heard that, Aihana Etsu carelessly bared his true face before this obvious enemy. He gave a sigh of relief. A heated breath flowed white into the night wind. St. Germain smiled quietly as she watched that expression that could only be described as inexperienced. Yes. St. Germain was interested only in a single truth. With anything else, she was willing to tell billions of lies with a smile on her lips. Part 5 He heard a tremendous explosion and felt the building shake, but that was not the most ominous thing Hamazura sensed while searching the Dianoids mid level in the Power Lifter. More than his sight and hearing, it was his sense of smell that got to him. It smelled like fireworks and there was a hint of rust thrown in. Aneris analysis said it was a nitrogen oxide reaction which pointed to a certain possibility. (Dont tell me theres a bomb.) The word naturally came to mind, but his brain did everything it could to reject the idea. That could not be. It just could not. Then what was that strange smell? Where had the person named St. Germain gone after trapping so many people in the Dianoid? What had he done to Item who could possibly open up an elevator shaft or emergency staircase with the #4s Meltdowner? How did all that lead to the same scent he had sensed on the burning snowy plains of Russia? Pant, pant. Despite using the Power Lifter, he was even more out of breath than when using his own two legs. He could tell an unusual amount of sweat was flowing from his brow. Aneri sent out a mental warning and suggested playing a video pattern file with a calming effect, but he did not have time to bother with any of that. What the hell is going on? Goddammit!! The closer he got to the scene, the more difficult it was to keep going. The reason for this was obvious: boys and girls were rushing toward him while screaming in terror or anger. They were not focused on him. They were simply trying to escape the scene of the blast as quickly as possible. His desire to know what happened naturally sent him in the opposite direction, but he could not exactly use the Power Lifters strength to knock them out of the way. His slowed pace and the sensation that the dangerous truth was slipping from his fingers was enough to wear on his nerves. What had happened to the girls who had been waiting for him in the Dianoid? Where was Mugino Shizuri? Where was Kinuhata Saiai? And where was Takitsubo Rikou? He just about cried out, but then he spotted something strange: he was not the only one working against the sudden crowd of people. Far away, a boys eyes opened wide as if he had run into an invisible wall. It was Kamijou Touma. (Him?) The boy looked at the confused crowd of people once more and then turned around. A moment later, a flesh-colored hell opened up. First, an undulation ran through the floor and walls. Next, a large group of spears flew toward Kamijou Touma. Finally, fist-sized tunnels opened in the bodies and faces of the boys and girls and the spears passed through them. A-... It was an inescapably evil scene. No matter what the reason, he could not understand how a vision like that could be allowed. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Like an inside-out hedgehog, one hundred spears all rushed toward Kamijou Touma. Without watching it through to the end, Hamazura Shiage took action while still screaming. Aneri picked up on his intention and swiftly provided assistance. The Power Lifters giant steel arm opened like an alligator mouth and grabbed several of the infinitely extending spears. He used all of his strength to crush them. This created a spear-less gap in one direction of the spherical attack. Kamijou ran in that direction to put some distance between himself and the other spears. The countless spear tips came together like a complex iron maiden. Get out of here!! shouted Hamazura. Hurry!! This was no time to worry about regulations. He grabbed the two joysticks and used the mechanical legs for a mighty leap. By landing on or grabbing pillars or objects sticking out from the wall, he passed over the crowd (that was riddled with tunnels) and landed next to the struggling Kamijou Touma. That had not been Hamazuras own skill. Those acrobatics were thanks to the calculations performed by Aneri. Sparks flew as the legs scraped across the carbon floor. I thought Id settled things with you!! You did! But do you really think theyre going to listen to what we have to say!? Kamijou pointed his thumb backwards. Hamazura looked back and his eyes opened wide. He saw a man in a tailcoat. And the man was not alone. There were five or ten of them walking their way. Just like a diamond, even heat seemed to spread between them in an instant, so they burned with a mad passion. Youre kidding!! You have got to be kidding!! And when I have so many other things to deal with! Its all over if you die! Youve gotten caught up in this, so you should probably run away for now! I still dont know if my girlfriends safe!! It would tear my heart to pieces if I left her alone now!! Damn. I see. Kamijou briefly squeezed his eyes shut and seemed to shake something off. He turned around and faced the St. Germains before speaking. Then well share the burden. You go do what you have to do and Ill hold them off. How!? Ill figure it out! You said youd settled things with me, remember? Then its only natural for you to get the best spot!! So go!! It was Hamazuras turn to rub his brow and shake his head. It would be easy to abandon this boy. If he ordered everything according to priority, there was no way this boys life would rank higher than Takitsubo. But would Takitsubo and the others accept him if he made that choice? Had he fallen in love with someone like that? ...Dammit. He spat out the curse from the very bottom of his heart. The Power Lifters giant arms then grabbed the pointy-haired boy by the back of the neck. Ah! Wait! What are you-...!? There was no time to explain. Still holding Kamijou, he had the Power Lifters leg bite into a thick pillar. The machine bounced around like a pinball. He would occasionally use the walls or even the ceiling as footing, occasionally grab objects on the wall, and crossed the entire floor by irregularly jumping around without ever touching the ground. ... ... ... ... The countless St. Germains turned his way. A moment later, countless spears extended from the floor and flew toward the Power Lifter like a group of surface-to-air missiles. Aneri, ballistic prediction!! And you can switch off the inertial Gs limiter!! He made his way to an area not yet infected by St. Germain. He leaped to a theatre, jumped straight up, and tried to use the second or third story seats to reach another floor. However, St. Germain was faster. A few sets of eyes looked up at him from the bottom seats. The seats and walls twisted into countless spears and approached as another solid surface. The open space of the theatre was working against him. The Power Lifter was nimble, but it could not bounce around like a pinball without anything to use as footing. His movements grew simpler while in midair. The enemy could perfectly aim for him and skewer him. But just before that happened, a great roar filled the air. Another machine came from the theatres third story seats. Like a shooting star, the other Power Lifter performed a flying kick and forcibly broke the approaching spears. Even if it was not a military weapon, the Power Lifter was not the kind of heavy machinery that had spread to the general public quite yet. There were only two of them in the Dianoid, so there could only be one person operating this other one. (Stephanie.) Teacher!? He cried out without thinking, but his grasp of the situation could not keep up with the passage of time. After breaking the pursuing spears, Stephanies Power Lifter swung its arms and legs in midair to balance itself and fell to where the countless St. Germains waited. Hamazura did not know if Mugino, Kinuhata, or Takitsubo were safe. And now Stephanie had jumped into danger. Kh. His steel hand grabbed the railing to the third story seats and he climbed up while taking a breath. After that, a groan escaped his mouth. It quickly grew into a scream. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Part 6 In that moment, Stephanie Gorgeouspalace had to have had a few different options. She had spotted Hamazura Shiage on one of the flat-screen monitors. He had run across...no, was running away from something using strange technology to skewer people. As he flew through the air, countless spears had pursued him from behind. She should have abandoned him. She should have feigned ignorance and focused on her own safety. But for some reason, she had suddenly remembered something. She remembered a time before turning on Academy City because of Sunazara Chimitsu, her teacher as a soldier, and before leaving to see the world as a mercenary. It was a time when she was still in Academy City. Back then, she had been a teacher. She had been an Anti-Skill member who protected childrens lives. So... (I dont really have much choice, do I?) Sparks flew and she tore into the floor as she landed before the enemy and smiled a bit. (Im the adult here! You fall into the category of children, too!!) The violence reached her immediately afterwards. All at once, hundreds of spears rushed in. She swung her steel arms about, but that was nowhere near enough for this. Her flying kick had broken them, so they were likely not much of a threat when hit anywhere except for the very tip. However, they provided a fearsome impact if the tip scored a direct hit. (If only...) She gave up on clearing them all away. She tried to protect herself with the metal arms, but the countless spears smashed, tore, and broke the Power Lifter to pieces. (If only I could have gotten that information to someone else.) The steel-smashing fangs would reach her soft flesh in just a few seconds more, but Hamazura Shiage would be able to escape in that time. That was enough for her to remember the slight smile on her sweat-covered face. However... A brilliant beam of light shot in from the side and overturned the assumption of her death. Every last spear was instantly vaporized. A swirl of scorching heat melted the door leading to the theatres first story seats as well as the surrounding wall. A crackling charge filled the air. Time seemed to stop and extreme violence ruled the scene. Hi there. The owner of that violence stepped into the theatre. It was Mugino Shizuri. She was Meltdowner, Academy Citys #4 Level 5. Her beautiful feminine bodyline was surrounded by countless spherical swirls of electrons that heated her surroundings to the limit. If youre after that desperate bomber man, hes over there. Make sure to clean up after him. Hes causing everyone trouble with the absolute mess he made of the place. The St. Germains all turned toward Mugino. Their deadly sights were trained on her, but the #4 showed no sign of caring. Not only that, but a girl in a knit dress and a girl in a pink track suit spoke up from behind her. Umm, just to be super sure youre aware, these guys are a little strange for being our enemies. If you mercilessly genocide them, it might lead to some annoying attempts at revenge later. Being the target of some hackneyed sob story is the most dangerous part of working for the dark side. Shut the hell up. Its their fault for being controlled. And Mugino, added the track suit girl. Can I make one request? ? Theres an atrium there, right? Fire a shot straight up into it. Oh? Mugino sounded like she barely cared, but she still raised a palm and released a deadly beam of light up into the atrium. Now, time to get down to business. Were you even listening!? If you super genocide what are technically innocent people, well end up chased around by some righteous heroes or something! Then lets see who can take out more of them. If you can safely knock them all out with your Offense Armor, I wont have to use my Meltdowner at all. No fair! Youre just making it super easy for yourself! The St. Germains did not wait for the girls to finish yelling at each other. They launched countless spears at the two of them as a surprise attack. Mugino did not even have time to release Meltdowner. However... Are you serious? She sounded exasperated. First, she lightly swung her head. Next, her perfectly normal slender arm easily grabbed a spear thrust toward her face. No. No, it was actually... I told you your bomber man failed, didnt I? Kinuhata and I tore the bombs from him and threw them away. Thanks to that, no one died and you didnt get what you wanted. With a dull crunch, she mercilessly crushed the carbon spear in her grasp. The smooth motion was accompanied by a quiet mechanical whirring. It was a prosthetic hand. During Mugino Shizuris many battles, she had traded an eye, an arm, and all her skin for artificial replacements. Rather than viewing it negatively, she had modified her own body to match her belligerent tendencies. Dont just assume a Level 5 is nothing but her power. Ill kill you. With those words, the monsters named Mugino Shizuri and Kinuhata Saiai mercilessly charged into the group of St. Germains. Part 7 Among the third story seats, Kamijou cried out when he saw the thick beam of light pierce vertically through the Dianoid. Aneri gave a high heat warning. Wah!? Wh-what!? On the other hand, all of the tension bled away from Hamazura. That was the signal. It was an extremely unreasonable announcement saying that all of the danger would be swept away by brute force. Ha ha. Thats right. They arent the type to die so easily. What do you mean? Hamazura heard something like a hiccough come from himself. At the same time, some slight tears welled up in his eyes. He both cried and smiled. Just talking to myself! It means they didnt need reinforcements. Of course they didnt. Why in the hell did a Level 0 think he needed to help two Level 4s and a Level 5? Ha ha ha ha ha!! ??? Kamijou was utterly confused, but Hamazura had apparently settled something in his heart. He now had the leeway to focus on Kamijou instead of his own issues. He left the third story seats and found a corridor untouched by St. Germains infection. What are you going to do now? I want to rescue the kid named Aihana Etsu. He ran right into the St. Germains C those people in tailcoats C to let me escape. Now its my turn to return the favor. Aihana? Hamazura frowned and pictured the child of indeterminate gender who had been sneaking around the Dianoids parking lot. Is he the real deal? Are you sure he isnt a fake just using the name? It doesnt matter. He risked himself to save my life, so hes a true hero either way. Kamijou continued speaking. And Im curious about St. Germains actions. Hes apparently obsessed with Aihana, but doesnt that seem inconsistent with the other things hes been doing? What? Can you dumb it down a little? If all he wants to do is contact Aihana, he wouldnt need to try to kill us. In fact, he wouldnt need to seal all the Dianoids exits or even do it today. He could have just waited in a dark alleyway and abducted Aihana. Now that you mention it... He didnt take all these unrelated hostages just to speak with Aihana. But that raises some fundamental questions. Is St. Germain even interested in Aihana Etsu? Is that really his final objective? Still, hes using some of his resources to help Aihana. That would mean... He might be using Aihana for some other goal. Or hes pushing Aihana to do something for him. Kamijou chose his words carefully. That makes me curious about the last thing Aihana said. He said somethings hidden in the Dianoid that might help him save a missing friend of his. If he cant, he wanted me to search for Frenda Seiveluns secret in his place. Frenda? asked Hamazura without thinking. Aneri automatically began a search for the name, but they either had no signal or the records on the dark side were sealed off because the window froze up. However, the correct answer was in his head. The girls fate flashed through the back of his mind. Her torso had been torn apart in a frenzy and her upper body had been dragged around while spilling its organs like a torn stuffed animal. There was no saving that life. Did you just say Frenda!? Yeah. Do you know her? Well, yes... Her fate was not an easy thing to explain, but Kamijou did not stick with the issue. If Aihana is manipulated into doing something, this Frenda girls secret is what we need to break him free. We can apparently find it if we search the apartments on the upper level, so we need to do that. I dont know if Aihana is St. Germains goal or just something hes doing for fun, but dont you think we could catch St. Germain off guard if we did remove Aihana from his control? Thats enough, cut in Hamazura. If Frendas a part of all this, then Im in. Thats enough reason for me to see this through to the end. With the Power Lifter, travelling between floors was not difficult. They only had to break through the elevator door and use the elevator shaft. If they climbed that tunnel toward the heavens, they would reach the high-class apartments on the Dianoids upper level. The truth they desired was there. Part 8 She had long wavy blonde hair and white skin. The college-aged woman in a tailcoat sat on the teahouse storefront bench and Aihana Etsu sat next to her. They were in the moonlit garden. On the Dianoids roof, St. Germain took a black pill from her pill case and tossed it into her mouth. St. Germains name became widely known during the 1600s. He was known as an alchemist who knew the art of immortality or a man from the future with a technique to travel through time. However, I have actually been active since around the year 500. Of course, I havent used a single individual from beginning to end. Instead, my primary meaning multiplies without end. ... Why do you think that is? asked St. Germain with a soft smile. What do you think I have lived so long for? Aihana Etsu shook his head. How could I know that? How honest of you. But there is no need to make this complicated. St. Germain is known as a mysterious individual who appears in the high societies of countless nations during countless time periods, but my goal is something you would find in a childrens picture book. At some point, the rectangular pill case had vanished from her hand A closer inspection showed that was due to sleight of hand, not the supernatural. Aihana. How much do you know about the legend of King Arthur? Arthur? You know, the man who became king after pulling out the sword in the stone. Of course, most people only know the first part of the legend and know none of the details about what kind of life the man lived. At that point, Aihana Etsu finally recalled the sword named Excalibur. Then again, he only knew of it as the name of a weapon in a 3D RPG he had played. He pointlessly remembered it had been the third strongest sword in the game and that it let you attack four times in a single turn. By the way, do you know who the strongest knight was in that long, long legend? Eh? You mean it wasnt the king? No. St. Germain shook her index finger. In fact, the king himself was not all that strong. He was chosen by the sword, but he became King of Britain thanks to the knights surrounding him. The king is not necessarily the main character of every story. I see. Its also technically incorrect to say the Knights of the Round Table were the ultimate team. That system was only introduced later and it did not include any of the old knights who had initially supported the king. So if you look through all of the legends, who is truly the strongest knight? She stopped her shaking finger and continued on. The answer is Galahad. He was the ultimate knight born to Lancelot and Elaine, Princess of the Holy Grail Castle. He was a pure knight who surpassed the king and improved upon Lancelots imperfections. King Arthur became King of Britain by drawing a sword, but Galahad is said to have possessed both a holy sword and a holy shield and to have finally acquired the Holy Grail with his purity and strength. ...On the other hand, he was so perfect he lacked any humanity, so he was something like a combat machine. What did that have to do with anything? Aihana Etsu was confused and it must have shown on his face because St. Germain smiled softly once more. Did it go in one ear and out the other since its outside your field of expertise? The king acquired a sword, but Galahad outdid him by acquiring both a sword and a shield. However, that raises a question. Wouldnt the king have originally had two issues to deal with? Wouldnt there have been a shield somewhere in the world powerful enough to act as Excaliburs counterpart? If he had the title of king, King Arthur would have been on the upper levels of society. And a lot of people would have wanted to get their hands on anything he had owned. Information on the shield could easily have been hidden in those high society parties and gatherings. Was that why St. Germain had blended in as a noble? Aihana Etsu wondered that like he was thinking about a fairy tale, but... And have you heard another rumor, boy? ...? That king had a twin sister. Her name was Anne, Queen Anne. She never appears in the legends as a knight or as a princess and no one knows what happened to her. For that reason, she is treated like a false addition to the story. But what if it were true? Some strange kind of sweetness entered her smile. The legend ends when the king and his son Mordred kill each other. Some of his blood remained in distant relatives like Constantine, but the direct line ended there. ...Yet Queen Annes presence would overturn that entirely. King Arthurs blood may have been passed on. If that was true, it would indeed be a big deal. It would breathe new life into an ancient legend. But... Did you actually believe me? The blonde St. Germain laughed. Queen Annes existence isnt the issue. I searched and searched but never found anything. She was probably a fabrication after all. But what matters, Aihana, is that there is a loophole in the legend of the sword. There is still a possibility of a twin sister Anne and room for whispers of a shield to match the sword. The king and traitor were slain together and it ended there. Except it didnt. It isnt a dead end and it isnt over. Yes, the shield is what I wanted. That and the person who was chosen by the shield. I wanted to meet the one who would travel the world with Excaliburs counterpart in hand. St. Germain laughed again. For that, she was willing to be called a liar behind her back. She was willing to be called a con man as she slipped into the money-obsessed high society. She was willing to do it all again and again. And she said it all with a reminiscent look on her face. B-but if thats the case, why are you in Academy City? I dont entirely understand, but shouldnt you be searching in European countries like...um...England or France? I did. I searched and searched and searched for about 1500 years without finding a thing. And then I realized something. I could not find it no matter how thoroughly I scoured the world, so I asked myself where I had yet to search. Aihana Etsu gulped as if swallowing some sweet honey. You dont mean... Academy City. A surprising blind spot, isnt it? No place is more removed from magic and mystery. And yet in emergencies, this headquarters of the science side contacts the magic side via the Anglican Church. It is not a bad place to store a legend born in Britain. In fact, the Index Librorum Prohibitorum is apparently stored here, so I should have noticed the possibility of such an exception more quickly, she said. You asked why I am here. Well, I have a single reason. With a heavy thud, she pressed the bottom of a giant golden glowing shield into the gravel garden. This is the shield to match the sword. Out of respect to a certain fantasy, I call it Annes Shield. Even in our world, Queen Anne is an allusion to someone that does not exist, just like the mirage of a desert oasis. While it is paired with the sword, it would be wrong to call it the kings shield seeing as he never touched it even once. And since it never appears in the legend, there is no mention or proof that anyone else owned it either. Since its owner is unknown, calling it Queen Annes Shield is perfect, is it not? Someone that does not exist. The mirage of a desert oasis. The blonde St. Germain claimed to have searched for this for many long years. Her words were self-deprecating, but they also contained the joy of being freed from those bonds. The Dianoid is said to function as a giant vault to hide the various secrets of the elites. Given the line drawn between the science side and magic side, wouldnt this be the perfect place to hide something you did not want found? ... Annes Shield was scheduled to be transported to the TV station in a disguised container, but now I have it. I swiped it while this citys #4 was focused on my other selves. The blonde St. Germain smiled thinly in the moonlight. Her first goal had been retrieving the shield, but that was not her only goal. She had something else. In the end, I never managed to prove Queen Anne existed. Magic is both a field of knowledge and a set of techniques, but it seems Annes Shield has a safety lock based on blood and it will only activate for someone with matching genetic information. But that is an issue of probability that people often call coincidence. I only had to find someone whose genetic information was similar enough to the bloodline and bloodstains on the few items the king left behind. That was another way in which Academy City was an extremely efficient organization. For their powers development, each school stores DNA maps of its students. Once I had the data recoded from the items left by the king, it was all a search away. It was much like trying keys in a lock. Of course, that required finding someone able to do that and turning them into St. Germain. Thats...unbelievable... How? I went through it, piece by piece, explaining it all. But... Queen Anne? Excaliburs counterpart? This is Academy City, the headquarters of the science world where psychic powers have been created with technology. This...this isnt where you would find some historical figure from a thick book written on parchment. Ha ha. That is only the side of Academy City you are familiar with. ? Ladylee Tangleroad, Fr?ulein Kreutune, and Dragon. Even this city contains some beings that cannot be explained with the official version of science. You just havent been told about them. Or rather, a truly perfect version of science is that much harder to come by. Just as there is no such thing as a 100.0% pure diamond. Eh? What? Wait... I suppose throwing all that at you so quickly was too much. But is it that strange if you think about it rationally? Think of the British Halloween that occurred during the coup detat in England. That clash of modern weapons and countless legends is said to have been a fantastical bout of mass hysteria, but why was it Curtana that made its appearance there? Why was something as well-known as Excalibur nowhere to be seen? Doesnt that feel like a puzzle piece was missing? To me, it seems natural to assume it was hidden away somewhere else. Aihana Etsus mind was approaching panic. The words just kept coming so smoothly and readily that he could instinctually tell this woman was not just adlibbing. There was some logic below it all that he was unaware of. Just like with a book written in a foreign language, he felt his lack of understanding came from a flaw on his end. In that case... If St. German was correct, some child in Academy City had been born with the qualities needed to activate this legendary shield. And it was not due to bloodline; it was a complete coincidence. Just how astronomical were the odds that this person had won against? It had not been determined before their birth and no one around them had arranged for it to happen. Acquiring the shield had truly been entirely up to luck and they had been selected out of the nearly infinite possible arrangements. This absurdly good luck was like randomly hitting keys when entering a password and getting into the highest level of security on the first try. What kind of person were they? For just a moment, Aihana Etsu truly wondered that. He assumed they were entirely different from him, an awkward and useless Level 0 who could not even get into a building without using someone elses ID card. But then St. Germain pointed her raised index finger toward Aihana Etsus small nose. It is you I have yearned for, my beloved king of the shield. Part 9 A loud clanking rang through the darkness. Hamazuras Power Lifter was climbing the vertical elevator shaft by brute force. The steel machine had enough strength to achieve the speeds of a small car. Kamijou was clinging to the back engine unit, but... Oh? Ohhhhhh!! Wh-wh-wha-wha-what!? Its shaking, its shaking, its shaking, whats going on, its shaking!! Aneri!! I know he attacked us out of the blue earlier, but he isnt an enemy! Dont shake him off!! After Hamazuras shouted command, the Power Lifter finally stopped its unnatural shaking. His situation prevented him from even wiping the sweat from his brow, so Kamijou got to the topic at hand with a tremble in his voice. T-to be honest, Im most afraid of St. Germain making Aihana Etsu use magic. Magic? Hamazuras question caused Aneri to start a search, but it had no internet connection and could only pull data from the temporary files left by previous searches. And the only data it found was from game walkthrough sites or videos of Hawaii and Denmark, so it was completely useless. Birdway explained it to you before, remember? I guess it would be easiest to think of it as a kind of supernatural power different from esper powers. But magic doesnt rely on innate talent, so apparently even we could shoot fire or ice from our hands if we wanted to. ...Well, Im not sure about me. Imagine Breaker would probably mess with it. Kamijou said it all so readily, but it would be a huge deal if it was true. Hamazura himself had seen magicians in Hawaii and during the entire Fr?ulein Kreutune affair, but having that possibility presented to him anew was enough to make him feel dizzy. This was an opportunity to destroy the hierarchy set up by Academy City. Level 0s could break free of that title. The Parameter List would lose all meaning. It would bring so many happy changes. However, Kamijou was not done speaking. And what he said next destroyed all that. Its not all good, though. Especially for Academy City espers that use magic. His tone suggested he found this utterly despicable. Hamazura frowned, so he gave the answer. It seems esper powers and magic come into conflict inside the body. When an esper uses magic, it causes an awful malfunction. It damages the bodys blood vessels and nerves. In the worst case, they just die. Seriously? Seriously. Of course, this is all known from failed experiments. Its probably only useful as a way to bind a far-too-powerful magician. Kamijou sounded annoyed with the possibility that came to mind. So if St. Germain convinces Aihana to oppose us, it creates two dangers. The first is obviously the threat to our lives, but the second is that hell be forced to unwittingly play Russian roulette. The damage was not something that accumulated. The side effect of using magic simply caused damage in some random part of the body, so it was entirely possible the carotid artery would be taken out the very first time. This isnt good, muttered Hamazura while operating the Power Lifter. This definitely isnt good. Its just cruel and I cant stand that. Thats why were going to do something about it. And thats why we need to find Frendas real secret, hm? With a loud bang, Hamazura kicked through the wooden-looking elevator door and entered the elevator hall with Kamijou. It was not an issue of a specific location or object. As soon as they breathed in, they could tell they were horribly out of place here. It was like finding you had wandered into a silent art museum while playing loud music on a handheld music player. They were in the upper level apartment area. The rooms themselves were valuable enough without even thinking about what was inside. And they apparently functioned as vaults to hide secrets instead of as a place to live, so VIPs with too much money would buy them for peace of mind. Unlike normal dorms or apartments, the entrances were sliding double doors. At this height, a piano could not be brought in through the window using a crane, so the front entrance needed to be large enough for most anything. Of course, those doors would be made to prevent any kind of forced entry. Aneri began a search to gather information on the entire high-class apartment area. Communications were very nearly cut off, but there may have been a local system accessible within the building. Based on the gathered information, the place was just like the secret banks in Switzerland or the Cayman Islands. As soon as the secret was out, it lost all value. If just one room was broken into, every client would begin to question the peace of mind that was the biggest selling point. Despite knowing that, Hamazura readily spoke up. Ill handle the lock. Im counting on you. But first we have to figure out which room belongs to that Frenda girl. Part 10 He did not understand. Eh? What? Um, what??? Thrown by the sudden announcement, Aihana Etsu blinked and the St. Germain in a bunny girl tailcoat made her next presentation. Yes. Just like a knight before his king, she bent her knee and lowered her head. All while holding the glittering golden Annes Shield. Ahh, do you understand, master of the shield to match the sword? You are a positive gap in the lattice. You bring about a unique change that I cannot as an orderly lattice of carbon. Do you have any idea how long I had dreamed of this before reaching this point? Her lowered head kept her expression hidden, but emotion escaped into her voice. She was overwhelmed by emotion. That was the only way to describe the passion in her voice. People can call me a mere illusionist if they wish. I do not mind if they spit on me and call me a con artist. But. The one thing I can never allow is for someone to deny everything I have believed in. Yes. I have finally been rewarded. I had my body torn apart as I swam through the sea of pretentious nobles who were filled with nothing but money and desire. But that near infinite effort and pain has finally borne fruit. Do you have any idea how this feels? The blonde St. Germain took Aihana Etsus hand. She pulled it toward her and attempted to place the back of the hand on her cheek. She was such a great existence. And yet this was much like petting a faithful hounds head as a reward after capturing its prey. However, Aihana refused. He gathered his strength and pulled his hand back to himself. No, I dont. He no longer had any resources left to use on his act. He simply spoke the words that came to mind. You cant expect me to believe that! And what about you? We only just met, so you dont know what kind of person I am. How...how can you lower your head so easily? How can you hand your dream over to me!? Why? Because standing above others is not what I desire after truly mastering magic. Magic? The legend of that sword includes a man who mastered all sorts of magic, but he never thought of becoming king himself. He only supported the kings rule, said St. Germain with her head still respectfully lowered. I am the same. I have mastered magic, but I have no intention of calling myself a god of magic. I required this skill to achieve my goal, but it would make no sense to lose myself in that power. Rather than be a magician or a Magic God, I only needed to become the unique being that is St. Germain. I wish to be a third category that can only be described with the term St. Germain, just as people do not refer to diamonds as charcoal. That is why I placed myself to the side of the legends peak. I wished to meet the true king who was worthy of my service. But when St. Germain came into being, that king no longer lived. And the value of the sword piercing the earth was not its sharp edge; it was its ability to select a ruler capable of resolving a great problem. The legend had come to an end and the king was dead, but as long as I had the sword, it was possible I could select a new king for each coming age. But the sword too had been lost. And so I searched. I searched and searched and searched. The scales of Anubis and the spear of the Valkyrie. There are plenty of legends concerning the judgment of peoples souls and the deeds they have committed, but the only legend that matched my goal was Annes Shield. And the answer that shield chose...was you. Aihana Etsu gasped. Bloodline is certainly important in the kings legend, but it is not absolute. It may be due to an incidental similarity, but Annes Shield has chosen you, just as machine oil finds the diamond among the rocks. The miniscule odds of this meeting are a sign that the age itself desires the arrival of a new king. He placed a hand on his chest and thought about what he was being told. And he spoke in a trembling voice as if hesitantly reaching toward the head of a new hound. Are you really...not planning anything else? Do you really only want to serve me? It is because they do not see what I gain that people fail to understand me and view me as a con artist. That fact has allowed me to find the king and it is the single trump card that could overpower even those Magic Gods. I overpower magicians and spurn the Magic Gods as they urge me to join their ranks. I remain the truly stable crystal that is St. Germain. They arrogantly call themselves Magic Gods, but they are nothing more than counselors without a king. They are a foolish group that has yet to realize that true power cannot be obtained as an individual. On the other hand, I have obtained you as a nucleus. Ahh, if Othinus had only come to understand Kamijou Touma before losing her power, she might have walked a different path. ... My king, if I am not mistaken, that look on your face says you do not believe you have any power or that anyone would serve you. Still kneeling, St. Germain continued talking as if to unravel the mystery one piece at a time. But if you think about it, that is only natural. England left a rare form of magical talent in Academy City. It would have been a waste to destroy that talent by rudely developing esper powers over it. Simply put, you were given placebos identical to the proper Curriculum. That is why you have no power. They had no choice but to label you a Level 0. It was all so your true ability could emerge at this moment. Each individual piece of information linked together. That shield had seemed as distant as the other side of the planet or even Pluto, but it was gradually falling within reach. It all began to feel strangely real as if there was no other way to explain the many failures and humiliations of his life. You are the positive gap and it all lies within your grasp. The blonde St. Germain intently raised her head and gave her king a suggestion. I will grant you any magic you wish. It can be the other Magic Gods, the unreasonable rules of this world, or anything else you find even the slightest bit unpleasant. You need only point it out to me and I promise I will immediately obliterate that obstacle. What if his position as a Level 0 had meaning? What if he had a special talent that anyone would be envious of and what if he had a bright and shining stardom that would guide him the rest of the way? That would bring such happiness to his life. It would give such meaning to everything leading up to this. Aihana Etsu was not a strong person. In all his humiliating days of being branded powerless, could he truly say he had never looked up to the stories of the Ugly Duckling or Cinderella? Could he truly say he had never wished he would not share the fate of the Little Match Girl? But... That... Aihana Etsu shook his head, sending a sweet aroma scattering from his semi-long hair. He had no intention of touching the golden shield held before him. That isnt what I want. ... Its true Im small. Its true Ive always regretfully wished I had some convenient hidden talent or true power no one had ever noticed. Its true I couldnt even get in here without faking my identity. But this isnt it. He tried to pull away from St. Germain. Theres something wrong if I have to hurt people to prove my power. That isnt what I want to do. Isnt power meant to protect? It may be wrong for me to talk about this since I dont have any power, but even without any power, Ive managed to come this far without hurting anyone. Is that so? So I cant do this. If that power requires hurting people, then I cant accept it. Even so, let me ask once more: Are you sure? She spoke with a sincere voice, yet it sounded like the whispers of a demon. Have you forgotten that I told you to search for the last vestiges of Frenda Seivelun? ...!!!??? Not her possessions, but the last vestiges of her. Surely you are not so foolish that you do not realize the alternate wording changes the meaning, just like with diamond and charcoal. She smiled. And smiled. And smiled. St. Germain activated her ultimate weapon, the ability to flatter others. And there is always a reason behind peoples deaths. Once you run across that reason, will you truly be able to say you have no use for a power that hurts others? Part 11 Countless double sliding doors lined the hall and the same scene filled several floors, so it seemed impossible to find Frenda Seiveluns hideout without any kind of hint. It doesnt look like the room numbers are arranged in any kind of order. Did they let the client choose whatever number they wanted? However, they received some unexpected help. Hamazura Shiage spoke up from his Power Lifter. Between 0 and 9, she preferred 9. ? Between 1 and 8, 1. Between 2 and 7, 7. Between 3 and 6, 6. Between 4 and 5... Aneri seemed to be using its learning function to analyze the pattern, but it required some input from the pilot. Finally, Hamazura raised his head and gestured Kamijou forward. This way, probably. Cmon. The two of them walked down the hallway. The distance between doors suggested each room was given quite a bit of space, but there were still a lot of them. Even so, Hamazura took an almost direct path to their destination. Confused, Kamijou asked about it. You know that much about her? We didnt know each other for long, but she had a bad habit of using the same password for everything because she hated remembering different ones for everything. That restricted Mugino and Kinuhata quite a lot too. Okay, this is the place. They stood in front of one of the sliding doors. It appeared to be made of wood, but it was of course a carbon material. It would probably survive having a car crash into it. But once Hamazura climbed down from the Power Lifter, he traced his fingers over the surface of the door. The two-ton piece of heavy machinery entered autonomous standby mode and observed the locks structure over the boys shoulder. So its a Method Pin Type 29? They claim its theoretically impossible to illegally copy the key, but I should be able to manage with this. How are you going to open it? Think about it in reverse. The key cant be copied and the lock cant be drilled, picked, or melted. ...So what if the owner loses their key? Will the room never be opened again? If the self locking door trapped a baby inside, that would lead to a death. Oh. Naturally, the lock maker doesnt want to be responsible for the actions of a stupid customer, so they always hide an emergency way to unlock it or to remove and swap out the lock. They dont tell the customers that, of course. It entirely defeats the purpose of the lock. Kamijou watched Hamazura work but had no idea what he was doing. However he did it, Hamazura quickly removed the entire lock, pressed on a latch inside, and unlocked the door. The door was made so a grand piano or home theater system could be brought in, so the entire Power Lifter could fit into the entranceway. Once they opened the double sliding doors, they found a large space. However, it was more than just one room. Its an apartment, but this looks like an inns entranceway, commented Kamijou. Wow, theres even stairs. This things just like a villa that costs hundreds of millions of yen, right? Anyway, this is Frendas hideout. Takitsubos one thing, but Im curious what she was hiding even from Mugino and Kinuhata. ? Whatevers hiding in here, we just have to pray it isnt an explosives plant. Knowing Frenda, there might be a self-destruct device set up to destroy the evidence. The apartment showed no sign of having been lived in, but that was not just because its owner had been gone for a long time. While it had been an apartment, it had not been made to live in. It was more like an extremely high-class closet. Or maybe a vault to store anything one wanted to ensure was kept safe. Kamijou and Hamazura could not say for sure without doing a thorough search, but this floor alone seemed to have well over five rooms. How much more would they find if they climbed the stairs to another floor? Listen. Be careful when you step on the floorboards, dont carelessly open the sliding screens, dont touch any switches, dont mess with any weird devices you find, dont get caught by any tripwires or infrared beams, watch out for ultrasonic waves and microwaves, and be very careful of anything that looks like a vegetable or potted plant. Just like a top-class pastry chef can recreate any kind of sweet, she might have camouflaged the materials she used. Whats left that I can do? Whatever they said, their only option was to check all of the sliding screens. They started with the screen straight ahead in the large hall of an entranceway. Normally, this would lead to the living room. With a place this size, it could easily be a game room or projection room. But this is a giant storeroom, so it wont have any kind of normal use. I just hope we dont find a ton of fuel-air bombs in there. Just out of curiosity, who exactly was this Frenda? The only thing worth knowing is that she was Fremeas older sister. After an overly thorough examination of the area around the screen, Hamazura grabbed the knob with the Power Lifters large steel hand. Threat Level: Undetermined. Aneris warning meant they could find just about anything on the other side. Listen. Go any further and its at your own risk. If things look dangerous, get to the ground. If you only take action once the bomb has already detonated, its too late. Frenda had hidden something even from the rest of Item. Aihana Etsu had desired whatever it was so he could pursue his missing friend. Hamazura thought for just a moment, but then he moved the mechanical hand on the knob. And he slid it to the side. Part 12 To be honest. The female St. Germain wore a stage magicians outfit that resembled a bunny suit and jacket and she kneeled in the moonlit garden. I have not dug that deeply into the issue surrounding Frenda Seivelun. I am an outsider, after all. ... Aihana Etsu slowly looked back at St. Germains face. A few strands of hair had blown in the night wind and caught between her lips. The woman with white skin and long, wavy blonde hair laughed. Still, I know as much as I do because of the Dianoid. This is a giant storehouse that Academy Citys VIPs pay good money to hide their secrets in. No place could be more useful for learning the secrets of others. Did you see her room? No. St. Germain shook her head. The Dianoid stores more than physical collections. It also contains carbon-based and organic-based DNA computers. Simply put, it has also taken over management of digital possessions. I can directly manipulate those, so I could not help but make use of it. Then it was in there? It was. St. Germain pulled a pill from her pill case. But it was more trouble than I would have liked since I had to access the DNA computer directly. Even if the machine itself is carbon based, it still uses fiber optic cables. I can control the machine, but I cannot touch the cables. That means I cannot use the extensive security camera network. Such a shame. That doesnt matter, cut in Aihana Etsu. He no longer observed her expression or feared the changes in her waves of emotion, but was that because the submissiveness of this powerful monster was producing a change inside him? Or were his brakes no longer functioning now that his goal had been placed right before his eyes? A somehow dangerous relaxation came over him. He moved his darkened eyes and half-opened lips as he continued. You said before that her room contains the last vestiges of her. How much do you know? What did you learn in the Dianoid? Do you want to know, my king? Answer me. Even if it will cause you to regret every last one of your decisions? Answer me, St. Germain!! The blonde woman snapped her fingers. Another of those playing the role of St. Germain held a notebook-sized tablet toward Aihana Etsu. Without even thinking, he took it and listened to the St. Germain who resembled a grown Frenda. Now see for yourself, king of the shield. This is the regret you have chosen. Whether he heard those words or not, he definitely saw what that screen displayed. In an instant, his mind was filled by several images. An overpass with a subway track running below. A boy and a girl speaking together. The object that girl dragged in one hand like a burst stuffed animal. A familiar friend. Red and black. Far too much missing. A torso. Torn-apart and disturbing colors. Long, wavy blonde hair and white skin had lost all life and looked more like dried papier-mach, empty eyes reflected nothing, the color red trailed down from the corner of the mouth, the long body was missing everything from the lower torso and below, something soft and colorful dangled stickily down from the violently torn edge, the path along which it had been roughly dragged was obvious thanks to the grotesque clumps that had fallen to the- Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? The next thing he knew, Aihana Etsu was screaming uncontrollably. He had not heard anything from his friend for quite a while. She had seemed to live in a different world from him and this worst case scenario had crossed his mind, but he had come this far in order to prove it wrong. If he could clear away all of the gathering darkness and let the light in, he had hoped to eliminate his fears. He had thought the usual scenery would return and he could smile with his friend once more. But... What was this? This went beyond a stabbing, a strangling, or a bullet to the head. Ah...aahh...aaahhh... His tear glands let loose. All that remained after screaming was a despondency much like deterioration and an absolutely empty mind. His limbs hung limply and his eyes stayed open like a broken doll. His resolve and determination had been crushed. His torrent of emotions had nowhere else to go, so they took the form of tears. This was awful. It was horrible. It was too much. There may have been no fundamental difference in peoples deaths. Whether the corpse was perfectly preserved or torn to pieces, they were still just as dead. But then what was this he saw on the screen? Just what kind of sins did one have to bear to deserve a death like that? Her body had been torn in two, dragged along the ground, and shown off like a present. He had always thought it was over once someone died. That was why he had refused to accept this death and taken a step into the citys darkness. But he had been wrong. There was more after their death. Would they have a proper burial to preserve their dignity or would they be dug up and crushed underfoot? Have you heard of this, my king? St. Germain gave a ripple-like laugh and spoke further. A new type of bomb lies hidden in the Dianoid. ... And surely you had at least somewhat suspected that Frenda Seivelun had strayed from the proper path. Are you saying thats what she left behind? That is hard for me to say. At that point, a rumble reached them and the entire rooftop shook violently. Aihana Etsu looked overhead without thinking and St. Germain whispered to him. I suppose that would be Mugino Shizuri. Whos that? The girl in that footage. She is currently taking out St. Germains just like me. A strange trembling and numb sensation reached the tips of Aihana Etsus fingers. That was the person who had done this. And it was not just isolated to the past. The monster was producing violence even now. Make no mistake, my king. Mugino Shizuri is not what matters here. She doesnt matter? He was left speechless. After all, she had done this. If not for her, that would never have happened to his friend. But St. Germain explained. As a hypothetical example, what if a deadly fight broke out over a single scrap of bread in a war-torn nation? Whose responsibility is that? The rules of the world had been distorted, so shouldnt the crimes of those directly involved only be weighed after the distorted system was judged? ... That story was a tragedy, said St. Germain. But the saddest part of all is that the story did not have all the necessary elements. If a single gear had been in its proper place, that horrific event never would have happened. What are you talking about!? shrilly shouted Aihana Etsu. What else is there!? St. Germain answered her king. Kamijou Touma was not present in that story. At first, that comment may have seemed nonsensical. But when it was someone with true strength, that changed entirely. That is all it was. That alone turned everything around by 180 degrees. So there is no real meaning in taking your complaints to Mugino Shizuri, Kakine Teitoku, or anyone else directly involved. Not to start with anyway. First, you judge the system, remove the filter that system placed on the situation, and then weigh the crimes of those involved. If you still find excess fat, then you can scrape it away until everything has been settled. I am not trying to protect Mugino Shizuri. But if crimes are not judged properly, you cannot take pride in your revenge. It did not feel real to Aihana Etsu. He had occasionally heard the name Kamijou Touma while wandering the back alleys, but this was far too extreme and he could not decide how much of it he could believe. And so he asked. If... Yes? If Kamijou Touma had made it there, what would have happened to my friend? It may have been a meaningless question. What good were hypotheticals about the past? But... He would of course have saved someone with that fist of his. He may have the body of a fragile human child, but at this very moment, he is gaining the upper hand against a higher being such as myself. She made it sound obvious. She made it sound like having her plans ruined had been part of her plan. She made it sound like one needed to allow for that much when dealing with him. It was possible that pointy-haired boy had walked a path like that. But... (Why didnt anyone make it in time?) Judge the system. Do not hate the madness; expose the conditions that had led to it. (It didnt matter who, so why wasnt there a single person there to hear her scream?) A grinding came from Aihana Etsus mouth as he clenched his back teeth. He could tell something in his heart was turning in a strange direction. What will you do? St. Germain held the golden shield once more. Mugino Shizuri is undoubtedly more evil than good. If you kill her, you could call your revenge a success. ...But is that enough? Making a judgment without bringing all the evil to light is no more than canceling out the crime. Killing two people and killing two hundred people receive the exact same death penalty, but you would never accept it if a killer of two hundred was executed for just two of those deaths, would you? ... And as things are, what Frenda Seivelun left behind will eventually be brought to light. If it is misused, it will posthumously sully her name. The golden shield reflected the moonlight. As she kneeled, the look in St. Germains eyes spoke clearly to Aihana Etsu. What one could not do and what one did not do were entirely different. And the power that divided the two categories sat before his eyes. Fine then, he muttered. His small hand reached for the golden shield. Ill clear everything up. And to do that, I can wait to deal with a definite answer like Mugino Shizuri. Kamijou Touma comes first. How much was he involved and how much was he unable to be involved? Ill figure all of that out. That is fine. If such a thing as heaven exists, I am sure your friend is smiling down on you. ... He did not speak the rest aloud, but he continued in his head. (If Kamijou Toumas presence could have changed her fate and I can say that the very act of not showing up in time was a crime...) He felt the heavy shield in his hand. (Then Im guilty of the exact same crime. Once this is all over, I need to judge myself as well.) What can Annes Shield do? The shield itself is not important. What matters is you know that it has chosen you. Just as the fact that the sword was pulled from the stone is seen as much more important than its sharp edge. I dont want to make a name for myself. I want something I can use right away. Heh heh. I would like to leave that for a surprise once you use it, but I suppose I will give a general explanation. But understand that this is not the shields power. This is your power; Annes Shield merely prepared it inside of you. St. Germain spoke as if revealing a prized secret. King Arthurs sword was a symbol of the active and positive side of ruling a kingdom through dominance and territorial expansion. As its counterpart, what would Annes Shield symbolize? The passive and negative side of ruling a kingdom. Be more specific. It can shoot down anything. This ultimate defensive spiritual item uses a minimum of light to tear into anything you hold it towards. It would create...yes, you could call it a straw-sized hole. The ultimate? Really? The materials do not matter and it has the ability to pierce through as many as two million knights at once. It is a horizontal downpour of death. Doesnt that seem like enough to exceed the limits of Imagine Breaker and tear him to pieces? Part 13 Hamazura Shiage and Kamijou Touma found an unexpected sight beyond the sliding screen. It was not a new type of bomb or an explosives plant. What...is this? Kamijou looked around the tatami mat living room that looked large enough for a home economics classroom. It did not look lived in either. In fact, the furnishings were not numerous enough or positioned right for that. Instead, the entire room was filled with boxes. Some were as small as bento boxes and others were bigger than refrigerators. The multicolored wrapping and ribbons reminded Hamazura of something. Christmas? No, this is... Looks like birthday presents. And theres a calendar over here. Kamijou pointed at the calendar thumbtacked to the wall. It contained pictures of sea creatures and was marked with a highlighter. But not just one or two days. In fact, more days had marks than did not. Out of the corner of his eye, Hamazura saw Aneri recording the names written on the boxes and building up a database. Come to think of it, Frenda was the most well-connected member of Item. I think she said something about knowing thousands of people if you included everyone from the darkness and not. Then this is...? Are they all birthday presents? This looks like when a company prepares year-end gifts for everyone. Kamijou flipped through the calendar while listening to Hamazuras almost shocked voice. The calendar had not been updated for a few months now, but all of the birthdays had been written in ahead of time. He stopped after flipping through a few months. December 1. That was todays date. The name written there was nothing like Aihana Etsu, but he recognized the face on the small photo sticker placed there. ... (I can see why she didnt want Mugino or Kinuhata to see this.) Hamazura muttered to himself while looking around the room again. Aneris scan picked up a few familiar names on the many boxes. There were no traps, no weapons, and no ulterior motives. This was Frendas most defenseless side. This would have been where she sealed her softest side that was different from the side she showed in the normal world and the one she showed in the underground world. Here, she did not have to behave just right as Fremeas sister or polish her deadly skills for underground work. This was her tiny shelter. Everyone had multiple sides. They were all real and none of them were faked. If one were to judge Frenda Seiveluns humanity based on every part of her, she would likely be judged an evil girl. There was no excuse for everything she had blown up and all the lives she had taken. When she won, she did not give the slightest thought to the feelings of those she had taken away. And if she was about to lose, she would suddenly start talking at length about the sanctity of life. When she killed, she enjoyed it. When she was going to be killed, she would sell out her teammates and desperately beg for her life. She was that kind of selfish and convenient girl. But... That fact did not wholly invalidate what they had found here. A few remote controls were lined up on the edge of the table. What they belonged to was written on the color tape attached: TV, air conditioner, digital recorder, projector, curtains, etc. When Hamazura picked one up and hit the power button, the lines of a spreadsheet program appeared on the one wall left clear of presents. It was apparently a list of what she had discovered the different people wanted. Jaka-jaka-jan. ...No, thats not right. Jaka-jaka-jaka-jan! Is that it? The digital recorder contained a few videos Frenda had recorded of herself dancing. Hamazura assumed she was practicing for some kind of entertainment at a birthday party, but... Jaka jaka jahn jan. There! In the end, it has to be that one. ...Heh heh heh. Muginos gonna be so surprised. ... Hamazura watched that carefree smile. She clearly did not have a single clue what was going to happen to her. He quietly used the digital recorders remote to switch off the footage. Deep in his heart, he told himself he could never let Mugino see that. Kamijou finally looked away from the calendar. Aihana said we would find the reason Frenda Seivelun disappeared here, but should we just assume he was wrong about that? Yeah. I doubt she left anything like that here, spat out Hamazura before adding something else. But it wasnt entirely meaningless. That was when they noticed something flashing behind a pile of presents. It was attached to the wall. Kamijou noticed it first and Hamazura noticed him turn toward it. They checked and found a flat-panel touchscreen and an attached phone receiver. They initially thought it was an intercom, but it was not. What is this? The screen displayed a floorplan of the apartment and the main entrance was flashing red. Oh, I get it. Its a security alert because I forced open the front door. Hamazura leaned forward from the Power Lifter and touched the screen. Hm? What the hell!? He may have used it wrong because the displayed floorplan flew from the screen. And it instead displayed more than just the one apartment. The entire Dianoid was shown in wireframe. Dozens or even hundreds of photograph thumbnails popped up here and there. They showed footage from near the buildings many entrances, inside the lower level shops, in front of the elevators and escalators, and inside the mid level TV station. Kamijou spoke aloud the impression it gave him. Security cameras? But why? This clearly goes beyond her room. Maybe its a special privilege for the VIPs. To sell peace of mind, they handed over the other customers privacy. Aneri was not attached by any cables, but observations of the screen were enough to make some detailed predictions about how to operate the device. This time, Hamazura controlled it like he wanted. He checked the login history and found nothing except once right after the lease was signed. Frenda had likely noticed the device while checking through the apartments security and never touched it since. That meant she had not had it installed and it had come with the apartment. During her underground jobs, she might have gladly used it. The more information she had, the more advantageous her position. And she had not been the type to worry about the privacy of others. But her time in here had been different. There had been no light or dark and no acting or truth. She had simply put together kind plans to give birthday presents to everyone she knew, so anything that might remind her of the rotten truth was only in the way. Annoyed, Hamazura removed his finger from the screen, but Kamijou reached in from the side. He touched one of the countless thumbnails. Hey! Wait a second. Look here. He interrupted Hamazura and expanded the security camera window. It displayed a moonlit garden on the roof. A boy stood surrounded by dozens of men in tailcoats. He was speaking with a blonde woman wearing what looked like a bunny suit and jacket combination. Thats Aihana Etsu. Good, hes still okay. Thats him? He doesnt look like the #6 to me. Not that a Level 0 is one to talk. Unlike normal video footage, security cameras did not provide sound. Fortunately, Aneri displayed intermittent pieces of text at the bottom of the screen like movie subtitles. Come with me, my king of the shield. How can you do so much? Ive only ever heard of Kamijou Touma in rumors, but you know what his true power is, dont you? Didnt I tell you? I have been searching for the king I can truly serve. And he is an excellent opponent to test the kings power on. It is normal to take revenge and reclaim your rightful place. Is this...really revenge? If he had arrived in time, Frenda Seivelun would not have died. Isnt that true? It may sound like a wild leap in logic, but anyone who knows him would certainly agree. ...Kamijou Touma. The term Magic God may not mean much to you, but I assume you have at least heard the news and seen the videos from the incident in Denmark. That was a war waged against a single Magic God who had earned the entire worlds hatred. Even when faced with the deadly desires of six billion people, Kamijou Touma protected that Magic God to the very end. If he could do that, why did he have so much trouble against an element or two of Academy Citys darkness? ... I went out of the way to break into the TV station and steal the container, so use that shield as much as you want. So Kamijou could hear, Hamazura read aloud the information Aneri gave him. They only received bits and pieces of the conversation, so it was nearly impossible to accurately understand it all. But they could make some guesses based on the ominous terms that got through. I dont know what shes talking about, muttered Hamazura Shiage. His confusion soon lifted his voice to a shout. We did transport a container to TV Orbit, but that wasnt a shield. That container was for a show using cutting-edge technology to see just how accurately an antique German grandfather clock can keep time!! ... Kamijou narrowed his eyes. Someone was lying. Was it the person who had made the order with Hamazura or was it St. Germain who insisted he had acquired the shield from that container? Hamazura looked utterly confused. And whats this about King Arthur? Isnt that the king who shows up in RPGs? That just shows how well-known he is. On the magic side, he might have been a real magician or Saint, spat out Kamijou. But Aihanas from the science side, so would a name like that really be enough to convince him to act? I kind of understand. Hamazura thought for a moment. Academy City is all about science, but the morning news still does the horoscope. It isnt about logic. Everyone watches it even though they know its meaningless. If you only believe in Academy Citys rules, a Level 0 is a Level 0. The laws of physics seem pretty cruel when youre weak. So youd panic if you found out there was an entirely different set of rules out there, wouldnt you? ... If theres a loophole, everyone wants to use it. Saying you have hidden talent or havent gotten serious yet are worn-out clichs for a reason. And with some great historical figure or famous weapon, its all prepared in advance, so gaining that for yourself would be like a dream come true. It would be like finding out youre a blood relative of one of the seven Level 5s and have powerful genetic information hidden inside you. Hamazura had tried to give a calm answer, but he could tell the anger that had long burned deep in his gut was welling up as he spoke. Cinderella and the Ugly Duckling may have been nothing but convenient fairy tales. The heroes in childrens picture books did not put in any work themselves. They had special talent from the beginning and they only had to let some special person guide them the rest of the way. In a way, they could be called lazy. And perhaps the people who looked up to those fairy tales could be called the same. But people only did that because they had no other option. If they could change themselves with enough effort or if their efforts ever led to any noticeable results, no one would have had such a hard time of it. They were kept ignorant of the Parameter List and their growth rate was managed for the convenience of the adults, but they still tried to pursue their dreams. Talent that not even the owner was aware of may have been an illusion brought on by a weak heart. Aihana Etsu may not have been a strong person for letting that get the better of him. But... Who had the right to mock him for it? What is St. Germain trying to have him do? I do know your name, Kamijou Touma, showed up in the conversation. Thats it right there. Kamijou narrowed his eyes slightly. Its the idea that it might have worked out if I had gotten there in time. Not that Im that great a person. Ive only achieved what I have by using every trick in the book and receiving the support of everyone around me. What...the hell? At the very least, I bet thats the way Aihana Etsu sees it. Frenda Seivelun, was it? He thinks she died because I didnt notice in that final moment. What the hell is that!? Hamazura shouted in utter confusion. If that argument was valid, it would mean Kamijou Touma was responsible the lives of all six or seven billion people on the planet. If even one of those lives were to slip from his grasp, the blame would lie on him. That was a job for god. And... Thats complete bull. You didnt even know Frenda, right!? In that case, theres no way she would have expected for you to come save her on the verge of death. Aihana and St. Germain arent speaking for her at all!! No, they arent, but thats not the real issue here. Kamijou spoke calmly and thought of the many magicians and espers he had clashed with in the past. People out for revenge arent looking at reality. Its pretty common for them to pretend theyre acting on behalf of the dead while actually being manipulated by what they themselves think. So Aihana Etsus hypothetical doesnt need to be consistent. But!! Hamazuras words caught in his throat, so he slowly took a breath and started again. Its true that incident was horrific. Everyone went insane, the normal safe zones were violated, and the ideals the adults love to talk about so much didnt apply in the slightest. Frenda died and a lot of other people died. The most I could do was bring it all to an end and I cant proudly say I actually resolved anything. ... But we were all putting our lives on the line there! Everyone involved was a horrible person, but we kept pushing onward through the blood in the hopes of survival!! So what is this about Kamijou Toumas presence? To hell with that! That spits in the face of all our efforts there. It shoves us to the sidelines and says its all decided by Kamijou Touma alone, no matter how much work we put in!! I know that. Kamijou shook his head. The world doesnt revolve around me. Its ridiculous to think Im looking down on people when I rescue them. Im just fighting for my own selfish desires and creating the future I want to see. Im not doing anything grand enough that you could claim Im stealing other peoples achievements. But some people did not realize that. Without relying on that illusion, some people could not accept the fact that they had lost someone. It was no different from Cinderella or the Ugly Duckling. It was an illusion created by a weak heart, but who had the right to look down on them and mock them for it? So...what? What is St. Germain trying to have Aihana do to you? Probably not just kill me. If so, St. Germain could just do it himself. He can attack from every direction which is perfect for getting around my right hand, so theres no reason to add in an uncertain element like a complete stranger. Then... Its the opposite, spat out Kamijou in annoyance. Remember the side effects when an esper uses magic? I dont know what exactly that shield does, but I doubt it would be all that useful against me. St. Germain wants to pit Aihana Etsu against me and then have Aihana die. He wants me to bear the sin of murder. Thats his goal here. Why!? That I dont know. ...Maybe he wants to defile the weak illusion we talked about before. There was no consistency to St. Germains actions. Despite supposedly being obsessed with Aihana Etsu, he had sealed the Dianoid and tried to kill Kamijou and the others. None of that was necessary if he only wanted access to Aihana Etsu. But a change of viewpoint cleared that up. Aihana Etsu was not at the center. He was only a part of the whole. St. Germain was using Aihana Etsu to either kill Kamijou or make him suffer. A battle against St. Germain might be difficult, but if he caused the death of Aihana Etsu who had only been deceived, things changed. Say someone desperately fought off a man-eating tiger that attacked them. Now say they crushed a sleeping kitten underfoot. In both scenarios, they were taking a single life, but the thorn in their heart would be vastly different. Perhaps it would even be enough to greatly change Kamijou Touma himself. That pointy-haired boy had occasionally heard people allude to the nature of Kamijou Touma. He was not aware of it, but perhaps there was something special others had seen inside him. He may have found a hint there if he could speak with Ollerus or Othinus, but he could not. And of course, a sickening heat roiled inside Kamijou. To hell with this. You dont just get to decide that Aihana Etsu is weak. That bastard St. Germain is making up his own standards and shoving Aihana into the expendable category!! Wait just a second. Dont tell me youre thinking of going and saving Aihana Etsu. The details might be twisted beyond recognition, but hes still trying to kill you! So what? Didnt I tell you Im not looking down on people when I rescue them and Im just fighting to create the future I want to see? So it doesnt matter if he hates me or isnt asking for help! Ill drag him out of this by force if I have to!! Hamazura Shiage brought a hand to his forehead inside the Power Lifter. He now understood where the other boy got the weak illusion that led him to save anyone and everyone. (He claims to be selfish through and through, but when that selfish desire is to protect everyones smiles, it makes you just like a legit hero.) And he decided going along with this was not that bad an idea. So what exactly are you going to do? Even if you want to go save him, hes surrounded by St. Germain, he has a weapon with a deadly side effect, and who knows if well have the time to convince him hes wrong. We just have to get rid of whats motivating him. Kamijou must have been thinking even as he answered because he spoke quickly. To make sure he doesnt get hit by the side effect of magic, we need to launch a surprise attack or something to get the shield away from him. And after that? ... Wait a second. Dont tell me! Even if its a farce and completely misplaced, Aihana Etsu is being motivated by revenge. If we fulfill that desire, hell stop, so theres no reason to overthink this. He just has to hit me until hes satisfied. With, um...oh, right. With Mitsuari Ayu it was the same...I think. But then what about you!? Im not just gonna sit there and let him kill me. Its not like I want to die. So dont worry. Im fairly confident in my ability to take a punch. Kamijou smiled thinly. But thats another reason why we need to take away his shield at the very beginning. ...And my not wanting to die and the mix of feelings filling Aihana are two different issues. I doubt hell stop just because I tell him I dont want to die. I dont know how the incident in Denmark looked to him or anything, but I need to pay him back for the false hope I gave him. Those were frightening words. That thought process was somehow different from the hero Hamazura had thought he was a moment before. Hamazura recalled the fairy tale of The Happy Prince he had heard as a child. A statue of a prince was decorated in gold and jewels and, with the help of a passing bird, it had shared the pieces of its body with the poor people of the city. Kamijou Touma claimed to be selfishly doing whatever it was he wanted, but his logic had a tendency to treat only himself as a pawn to be used. How many veils would one have to remove before finding the true selfishness below? Or in some twisted way, was this Kamijou Toumas version of selfishness? Listen. Once Aihana Etsu fulfills his desire for revenge, he wont have any reason to fight. And once St. Germains plan falls apart, hell attack from every side. ...Ill be relying on your Power Lifter. Make sure you at least get Aihana out of there. Hamazura was unable to immediately reply. But then... ...? A new red dot appeared at the base of the wireframe representation of the building. It was the same type of warning that had flashed when they had broken into Frendas room. It indicated something was wrong, so something had to be happening there. Kamijou reached his index finger toward the flat-panel touchscreen. And when he touched the flashing dot, the screen displayed... Part 14 Perhaps due to the difference in air pressure when the door slid open, a dully violent gust of wind washed over the St. Germains as they walked into the Dianoids basement. This group had not gone with Aihana Etsu and they had a clear goal. Academy Citys ideas are always so shocking. I have my own ideas on the control of carbon, but this is a gene I lack. They were all St. Germain and they would all think the same thing when they saw this, but it was part of his personality to speak it aloud in a theatrical manner. Some were old, some were young, some were men, and some were women. A middle-aged male St. Germain spoke for all of them. The Dianoid. Yes, the Dianoid. This setup certainly is grand enough to warrant such a name. The panel at his feet was as clear as glass. As the Dianoid was entirely made of carbon materials, it likely had properties similar to diamond. What lay at his feet was the secret hidden in District 15s greatest landmark. Yes. At the base of the Dianoid, the 120 thousand ton building floated ten centimeters off the surface of the earth. One way to protect buildings from earthquakes was to float them a few centimeters off the ground with the power of air. That would protect them from the tremors. But that only applied to normal houses. It was impossible to lift up a seventy story building and keep it standing without it losing balance. Normally, that is. A graviton-style artificial gravity control device, hm? St. Germain smiled. Diamonds are slowly formed when carbon molecules are compressed deep underground. To put it another way, artificial diamonds require mankind to reproduce that extreme high pressure environment. ...But on this level, it goes beyond a mere laboratory. This can probably produce diamonds like candy in a factory. And.... This secret usage of the Dianoid could do more than reliably mass-produce artificial diamonds. For example... A black hole bomb...well, maybe not that much. A dwarf star bomb is probably the most they can manage. Rumors filled the underside of the city that a new type of bomb was hidden in the Dianoid. Anyone who was familiar with the name Frenda Seivelun had assumed that secret was related to her, but... You could say it is like compressing the earth and the moon down to the size of a fist. Matter produces heat when compressed, so I suppose this would create temperatures in the range of ten to twenty thousand degrees. That should be enough to take care of even Imagine Breaker. St. Germain had no grudge against the individual named Kamijou Touma. In fact, he had no real interest in him. From the very beginning, he had not been looking at either Aihana Etsu or Kamijou Touma. Are you watching, Magic Gods? He laughed. He was neither a magician nor a Magic God. He alone formed an entirely new category. And he seemed to be challenging someone. The sword once chose who would be king and I acquired Aihana Etsu with the shield, but you will acquire no one. Your precious toy will die here. So what will you do as Magic Gods? Is this any time to be mocking Aleister without a care in the world? At that moment, a soft chime sounded to say the elevator had arrived. All of the St. Germains turned toward it. When they saw the boy who stepped out, their expressions softened. They looked to their small king holding the golden shield. Hi, my king. I was waiting for you. Aihana Etsus eyes looked somehow dark and sluggish. He looked more like roughly worn down metal than a carefully sharpened blade. With his expression still rough, the boy slowly opened his lips. And he spoke. Where is this? The final stage. The blonde St. Germain standing next to him took over. No matter what anyone says, that rescue-obsessed idiot will notice the change and come running. You need only wait here, king. Frendas legacy will invite in her enemy. That simply? That simplicity is what makes the world so baffling. It makes it all the more strange that he did not show up in time for Frenda Seivelun. ... Aihana Etsu took a deep breath while he listened. Why had Kamijou Touma not arrived in time for Frenda Seivelun? If possible, he wanted to ask that. But he also needed to ask himself the same thing. (Why didnt I arrive in time?) Part 15 Kinuhata Saiai confronted twenty St. Germains. Altogether, her opponents could wield two thousand spears at once and they attacked unendingly from every direction around her. That said, her expression was not grim. Her Offense Armor surrounded her with a barrier of compressed nitrogen several centimeters thick. At full power, it provided enough defensive power to deflect a sniper bullet. Used offensively, she could lift up a car in one hand. So even if she was receiving two thousand attacks at once, they could not break her Offense Armor as long as each individual ones destructive power was below a certain level. She knew what she had to worry about. (Receiving super damage at the same spot over and over again. Even if its only a few centimeters, I need to super shift the spot being hit or they might break through.) Because she could survive those attacks, she had quickly managed to learn how St. Germain attacked. (I thought that ability to open holes in peoples flesh was super dangerous, but...) She focused on the spears deflected by her Offense Armor. Before long, something came into view. (Basically, thin hair-like points extend fifty to one hundred centimeters from what looks like the tip of the spears. And anything they super touch has a tunnel opened for the actual spear to pass through. Thats all it is.) A rumbling burst out. Even against twenty St. Germains, she had no real reason to stay on the defensive. She could stop the spears, so she could also approach and hit them with her nitrogen fist. Fortunately, she was able to knock out the people who had been transformed into St. Germain. If they had continued to get back up, she would have had to break their arms and legs or even kill them. Also, another hand reached in to grab and crush the countless spears shooting toward Kinuhata like bullets. That hand belonged to Mugino Shizuri. She had a simple means of defense. Her mechanical eye would track the spears movements and her weaponized prosthetic hand would swing up with superhuman speed. With a sound like a sewing machine, she grabbed and broke each and every approaching spear. It was simple to describe, but it made for a threatening visual when done fast enough and often enough to form afterimages. The sewing machine roared on and the crumbling spears seemed to form a solid wall in front of them. Tch. What a pain in the ass. Cant we cut down their numbers a little? Watch your language. And dont forget that the people on the front lines here might be from the super innocent side of things. But if they are... Yeah, Ill admit there are some things that super dont add up about all this. As a user of nitrogen, it quickly came to her what St. Germain used: the element of carbon. All they were actually doing was transforming the Dianoids walls and floor into projectile-like spears and launching them. That would be more than enough of a threat to a normal person, but it seemed lacking and too superficial. If they truly could directly manipulate carbon, they should have had a much wider array of attack methods. Did they forget to train each individual unit because they saw them as super expendable? Winning isnt their objective, but what are they buying time for? Damn, this pisses me off!! As the girls wore down their numbers, the downpour of attacks suddenly stopped. The St. Germains were gone. We only took out about half of them, right? Looks like the rest of them fell super back. Bloody boys and girls were collapsed on the floor, but not due to anything Mugino or Kinuhata had done. If those girls had tried to harm them, they would have had a hard time not turning them into mincemeat. The blood looked like it was coming from internal wounds more than from external ones. So did we only take out the defective ones? To hell with them. They know how to take advantage of us. Mugino had mentioned the possibility of them buying time for something, so had they finished their preparations for whatever it was? Ah, said Takitsubo Rikou. As her eyes had wandered aimlessly, they had spotted one of the decorative flat-screen monitors. It displayed a diagram of the Dianoid. There was a red dot at the very bottom level and specialized shorthand symbols provided some kind of additional information. A normal student would have had no idea what it meant, but Mugino and Kinuhata wrinkled their brows in annoyance when they saw the string of letters. What do you think? A graviton-style base isolation structure? Seriously? If someone misused that, they could compress the entire planet to the size of a fist. More importantly, it was obvious why someone would have purposefully let this information get out. Come and get me if you can, hm? I super dont know if this is intended for us, but I cant think of any reason why we cant crash the party. The bottom level of the Dianoid was taken up by the base isolation structure using a graviton-style artificial gravity control device. The floor resembled thick glass and it floated a few centimeters off the ground. Aihana Etsu leaned his small back against one of the pillars placed evenly along the large flat surface. No, it was someone who was only using that name. A former king had vanished and been forgotten, but Annes test remained as it had not been destroyed or lost in the legend. This boy was the one who had overcome that test. The bearer of the golden shield spoke to the female St. Germain standing next to him. Werent you disappointed when you learned the answer you had been searching so long for was a liar who had to fake his identity to not be turned away at the entrance? Hah! Gaps and impurities cause a diamond to shine all the brighter. Do you really think I would be disappointed in the one and only answer after spreading constant deceit for thousands of years? This just means that the truth I spent so much time searching for truly does exist. How could that be a bad thing? Im not like you. You had real power, so dont you regret this? If I had truly gone along with what the ostentatious nobles said, not even the contents of a treasure island would be enough and I see no meaning in going along with them. More importantly, if anyone wishes to speak, they can speak. That suits those people who use their own filter to only see the reality they wish to see, no matter how much evidence is piled up before them. Heh heh. But those are exactly the ones who beg for the art of immortality or time travel once they age and stand on the verge of death. ... More importantly, have you forgotten, my king of the shield? Your value C your positive gap C is something at the level of once every two thousand years. To hide it, you were sent to Academy City where your talent would never be used and your Curriculum was handled with placebos and the kind of acting you would find at a school play. The user of the shield still did not understand. St. Germain repeated again and again that he had been chosen by Annes Shield and that the shields power was his power. Annes Shield could shoot down everything. No matter who he raised it against, a tiny power was guaranteed to tear through them. This symbol of defensive force could put holes in two million foreheads in an instant. Aihana Etsu stared into the distance while dragging around the shield of unknown material. He looked to the stairs, the ducts, the maintenance ladders, and the elevator. There were several entrances to the lowest level. As he imagined who would be arriving through them, negative emotions swirled inside him. I see there is no need to say it all. Your job is to target Kamijou Touma. That is your greatest desire and Frendas final request. I will eliminate all unnecessary obstacles along the way, so you take the path of the king. For just an instant, the familiar face of his friend appeared in the back of his mind. He felt like she was saying something, but her voice no longer came to him. He tried reading her lips but could not convert it into words. He sealed it all away and faced forward. He then slammed the bottom of the golden shield into the floor. Lets begin. A girl in a pink track suit, Takitsubo Rikou, turned her back on the intense fighting and crouched down. However, she was not trembling in fear after losing her will to fight. She picked up a small object she had found running along the floor. What is this? Whoa!? I was found...and caught!? Kh. Release me, human!! ? Takitsubo tilted her head with a fifteen centimeter doll(?) in her hands. It was wearing something like a Halloween costume cut down to the bare minimums and it may have been given gyroscopes and an autonomous control program because it moved around quite nimbly. Meanwhile, Stephanie had left her destroyed Power Lifter and she looked back and forth at both the intense battle and Takitsubo. Time seemed to run at different speeds between those two fields. Oh, honestly! What is going on!? But since theyve drawn the focus towards themselves, we need to go hide. We arent any help in a fight, so staying here only restricts their freedom. Several metallic sounds accompanied Stephanies voice. Takitsubo turned toward the blonde woman while still holding the struggling doll(?). What are you doing? Putting together a PDW. Im dismantling some Power Lifter components and putting them back together here. Owning a completed gun is illegal, but only having the different parts is rumored to be more of a gray zone. Not that its actually that simple! Even though she called it a PDW, it did not actually fire bullets using gunpowder. It apparently used pressurized gas to fire mock bullets made of tungsten steel. However, it still had enough firepower to fill a flesh-and-blood body with holes when fired from within twenty or thirty meters. (It seems wrong that a toy is more complex than an actual gun.) Suddenly, the doll(?) that Takitsubo held made its move. It bit her finger, slipped away when she flinched, and landed on the floor. It then ran down the corridor and around a corner. The track suit girl began to pursue and Stephanie decided this was better than forcibly guiding the girl to cover. But Takitsubo lost sight of the doll(?) after turning the corner. Nothing was moving in the polished corridor that looked like it was made of wood. ? She tilted her head with a blank look in her eyes. The girl did not notice the small duct cover sitting open near the floor on the wall. Fifteen centimeter Othinus did not even have to duck as she ran full speed through the unlit tunnel of the duct. (Honestly, this is no time to be doing this.) She still had not managed to meet up with Kamijou Touma after he drew multiple St. Germains away from her. And now the various flat-screen monitors hinted at a gravity bomb on the lowest level. Given the situation, it was safe to assume this was the work of St. Germain and not some newcomer. She did not know how the situation had taken this turn, but it was clearly meant to lure Kamijou in. Which meant... (I can find him on the lowest level. Still, that isnt enough. St. Germain is a special kind of magician and not a Magic God. Hes a synchronized and parallelized crystal. As a parallel processing network that doesnt rely on brainwaves, he can expand into anyone else regardless of their individual genetic code. I need to contact that grimoire library and work to explain his magic. The properties of a 99.9% pure diamond are determined by the less than 0.1% of impurities. For him, that would be a controller or settings file. We need to find that.) While rationally putting together a plan, she jumped into a pit inside the duct. Climbing up or down was not easy with her small body, but giving into gravity and sliding down was not difficult at all. Given the condition when they had parted, Index would be in the shopping area of the lower level. (But the question is what floor of the lower level shes on. There are at least twenty floors there. I just hope she has enough sense to stay put and wait for us where we left her.) But as Othinus slid down to the lower level, a giant form shot out from the side where the duct had intersected with another duct. O-ohhhhhhhh!? She cried out, but the beast showed no mercy. After a deafening crash and a mewing roar, Othinus was carried out of the duct like a stolen fish. She groaned and hung limply in the bright light. Y-you again? I cant stand this. ...D-do C cough C d-do cats have no reverence for gods? Bad Sphinx!! If you chew her up, Ill be mad at you! A white nun shouted from nearby, but the cat ignored Index and happily presented the prize at her feet. P-pant, pant... M-more importantly, we need to get to the Dianoids lowest level. Now that St. Germain is luring him in, Kamijou Touma is almost guaranteed to go there. His fist may be strong, but that will lead to death if we dont understand his opponent. It would be best if we could determine how St. Germains non-brainwave thought network works. All I know is its based on a crystalline structure that grows by repeatedly synchronizing and parallelizing. Kamijou and Hamazura faced the intercom-like device on the wall of Frendas secret base. The alert about the lowest level had been special information for the upper level apartments, but... I hope that was enough to inform the others. Itll get through to anyone who understands that strange alphabet abbreviation, so thats at least Takitsubo and Mugino. I have my doubts about Index, but Othinus should manage. But, muttered Hamazura from the Power Lifter. The gravity bomb data was sent to all the upper level apartments, right? Shouldnt that have caused a panic earlier than this? These are almost all used as storehouses for the rich. There probably wasnt a single actual resident here. Kamijou took a step away from the flat-panel screen. We did what we could, so lets get going. But a gravity bomb is way too far outside my area of expertise! I wouldnt even know where to begin! No, Aihana Etsu is our top priority. That hasnt changed. Wait a second. Hamazura frowned and asked the question on his mind. The Dianoids foundation floats a few centimeters off the ground for base isolation, right? And those St. Germain people have taken control of the artificial gravity control device that makes it possible. Cant that crush the earth to the size of a fist if it goes out of control!? Then its obvious what theyre really after here! Aihana Etsu was just a decoy!! Are you sure? asked Kamijou. He made for a lousy one if that was the intent. If it wasnt for him, we would never have visited this room. Without him, theres no way we wouldve seen the security alert sent to the high-class apartments. Thats completely backwards. If the black hole bomb or white dwarf bomb or whatever was St. Germains real goal, he never would have left this alert here for us to see. And he would have made sure we never came into contact with Aihana. Wait, wait, wait. Hamazura cut off Kamijou and gently spread his steel hands, as if creating a wall with his gesture. That doesnt add up. If he was really after Aihana, St. Germain still would never have let us in here. If all he wanted to do was convince Aihana to act, it wouldve been best to keep Frendas secret a mystery and use the suspicion to fill Aihana with desire for revenge. Since St. Germain didnt stop us from seeing this, it means he isnt after Aihana or the bomb. Thats right. Unbelievably, Kamijou immediately agreed. Its finally coming together. St. Germains objective isnt Aihana Etsu or the gravity bomb. Hes looking at something else entirely. ...What? Thinking back, his very first attack was strange. He was after Aihana? He was after the shield? Thats why he stopped attacking me and focused on those things? Yeah, right. If he could have killed me at any time, he could have just finished me off and then focused on Aihana. But he didnt. There was something else there that forced him to leave. Then again, I bet even thats only a side issue for him. Theres still more!? Like what!? You dont want to know. Kamijou moved the conversation along. At any rate, we need to stop St. Germain as soon as possible! And for that, we have to start with Aihana Etsu. From the outside, its impossible to tell if St. Germain has a leader or a hierarchy, but based on whats happened, hes been concentrating himself around Aihana. If were going to find out more about St. Germain, the unit closest to Aihana would be best!! Hamazura tried to think through it all, but his understanding was reaching its saturation point. Regardless, Kamijou did not stop. That may have had something to do with how often he had dealt with magic in the past. Listen, the St. Germains have shown no sign of communicating by phone or radio. Weve seen dozens, but there may be over a hundred in the building and their minds are all linked. My guess is theyre using some kind of telepathy magic. I dont know if its complex enough to create one large will, but if so, this system is even more convenient than the Misaka Network since it isnt bound by brainwaves!! Wait, wait, wait!! I know youve seen a lot, but please keep it at a level I can understand!! It means it doesnt matter what St. Germain we attack! shouted back Kamijou. Theyre all the center and theyre all the terminals. It sounds like an infinitely reproducing system with an endless supply of replacements, but it probably isnt. You could say theyre all computers. No matter where a virus enters the network, all of the computers will be infected! We cant let ourselves be distracted by their numbers. We have to focus as much as we can on just one of them!! A virus? Can you be more specific!? I may sound like I know what Im talking about, but Im an amateur too, admitted Kamijou without letting it bother him. He no longer insisted on fighting alone. He would use everything available to him. That was the path he chose. But I know a nun who knows a ton about interfering with magicians like this. If we add some knowledge on Magic Gods into the mix, itll be perfect. ...Yes. Thats right. Original grimoires infect peoples brains. She has 103,000 grimoires in her head, so she might be able put together a specialized method of dealing with that kind of thing!! Youre not making any sense again. But anyway, Aihana Etsu and St. Germain are waiting on the lowest level, right? Thats all I need to know right now! Right. Kamijou slowly breathed out and spoke. Ill do something about Aihana Etsu. And once I do, the St. Germains are sure to focus on me. I said to grab Aihana with that Power Lifter when he comes back to his senses, but scratch that. Ill take care of that too, so you deal with the gravity bomb instead. Youre good with machines, right? Unfortunately, Im a complete amateur with that. If I had that job, Id definitely get us all blown up. Are you still saying that? Theres no point in going along with Aihana Etsus revenge. Unfortunately, we dont have time to explain everything to him. But no matter the situation, we cant just let him die. And is this any time to be worrying about me? Youre going to have to prepare yourself for the worst too. ... Hamazura? ...Sorry. At first, Kamijou did not know why Hamazura was apologizing. But a moment later, the Power Lifters giant palm approached and shoved the boy backwards. Gah!! Kamijous back struck the tatatami mats and knocked the breath out of him, but he soon realized he had more to worry about. Hamazura had already stepped outside of the large living room. The rooms sliding screen forcefully shut, but it was not a normal one made of Japanese paper and a wooden frame. Its cutting-edge carbon materials could easily stop a handgun bullet. What the hell are you doing, Hamazura!? He quickly got up and grabbed the screen, but it would not budge. It seemed to have been jammed shut in some way. He rethought his strategy and kicked it with the bottom of his foot, but it was no use. He heard a muffled voice on the other side. Aihana Etsus revenge just doesnt make sense. I dont care if its part of your strategy; its wrong for you to be attacked for that. What!? Dont you know this isnt the time for this!? But it is, said Hamazura. Ha ha. Oh, I get it. I guess you wouldnt know since you werent there then. ? Do you know the name of the guy who was there when Frenda Seivelun died? ... It couldnt be. A very bad feeling entered the back of Kamijou Toumas mind. Hamazura Shiage gave the answer regardless. It was me. Frenda died because I didnt get there in time. Dammit, spat out Kamijou. His own plan was wrapping the noose around someone elses neck. He finally grasped the situation. So if were going to divide up the work here, it makes more sense for me to deal with Aihana Etsus revenge. Wait, Hamazura... Ill draw the attention of Aihana and St. Germain, so you do something about the gravity bomb. If you cant do it yourself, just get help from someone who knows about that kind of thing. Make sure you do something about it, okay? Wait!! I didnt put together that plan to have you do this!! Hah. The voice beyond the screen grew quieter. No, more distant. Then this is a good chance for you to see how it feels for the one being protected. That was all. The sound completely vanished. Hamazura Shiage had taken the Power Lifter out of the high-class apartment. He was on his way to Aihana Etsu who had a magic shield and the countless St. Germains who served him. Goddammit!! Left alone, Kamijou yelled and kicked the carbon screen a few more times, but it showed no sign of breaking. He then searched around the room again. Wait. His eyes stopped on one point. What he saw would not help him escape the room, but he hesitantly reached for the object placed within a pile of birthday presents. He may have made a fundamental misunderstanding. There may have been a way to settle things with Aihana Etsu without sitting there and taking the boys punches. And if so... I cant let you do this. Kamijou made his way to the kitchen connected to the living room and his eyes stopped on the kind of cart used to carry food in large mansions. He placed a few heavy items on it and tied them on with power cables to increase the carts weight. Letting Aihana die is out of the question, but its meaningless if you die instead, Hamazura! He returned to the living room. He set his aim on the carbon screen, took a ten step running start and crashed the cart into the screen. The screen was knocked backwards as if by a battering ram. He continued out of the room and into the long hallway. Hamazura was already nowhere to be seen. He quickly ran to the elevator hall. As before, just one of the elevator doors was broken. Aihana Etsu and St. Germain were on the lowest level. They were all the way at the bottom. Unless he had a very strange way of thinking, Hamazura would have gone straight down there with the Power Lifter. Kamijou peered into the abyss. He could not see the bottom of the dark elevator shaft, so it looked like a gaping maw. Even with steel arms, there was no guaranteeing ones survival. Doing it with flesh-and-blood limbs was even worse, so... (This is going to be risky.) Kamijou gulped and quickly removed his jacket. He wrapped it around his hand like when training a police dog and grabbed the wire that was slippery with machine oil. He ignored his animal instincts and jumped out into the elevator shaft. Mugino Shizuris Meltdowner beam burned away the door from the stairs. The #4 girl then spoke to Takitsubo and Kinuhata. The hell is that? Is that donut near the ceiling the gravity device? If Frenda secretly messed with it, it could easily be a gravity bomb. What do you super think? Nothing would surprise me with her. She was the type to wash the blood from her hands and head right into a fancy shop with a smile on her face. Talking about good and evil is pointless with her. Takitsubo Rikou asked a question while her gaze wandered. What should we do? Its that obvious? readily replied Mugino. Lets deal with this and get back home. Guided by fifteen centimeter Othinus, Index held the calico cat and crawled through a narrow duct. The two girls opened the duct cover and looked to the many St. Germains and the boy at the center. Specifically, they looked to the golden shield in his small hands. Hey, can you tell what that is? Queen Annes Shield. A legend to match the one of acquiring the sword. But it isnt supposed to exist. That king didnt have a twin sister. To begin with, the legend of the sword had been created when a man who was both a knight and an author gathered various stories of knights scattered across Western Europe and arranged them into a single story. That created a fair number of discrepancies in the same legend and some information had been shoved aside in the process of arranging it all into the one story. Queen Annes existence was nothing more than one of those neglected pieces of information. There was no evidence of someone like that existing. In fact, if one investigated the driving force behind the telling of the story, it was nothing more than what would be the most exciting. During the legend of the king, he was said to have let go of Excalibur and used a different sword instead, but Queen Annes existence was even stranger than that. Searching through the old texts and parting the underbrush would show that her name does appear, but some researchers said her name was An instead of Anne. And in Old English, an was used in place of if, so it was even said to be an allusion or joking reference to the story of that which does not exist which had been taken seriously when the stories were compiled and then transformed into an actual name. A counterpart to the sword had now appeared as possible proof of her existence, but Index gave a calm answer. I think this is a logical reversal. There were some things that anyone could picture in their minds and that they would recognize if someone showed it to them, yet a careful examination would show that there was no clear legend or myth behind it. For example, a continent that sank to the bottom of the Atlantic. For example, a magical sword that was used against the shogunate. For example, the red thread connecting the pinkies of lovers. I read it in that book. I heard it from that person. There were apparent sources, but a more thorough inspection would run into a dead end. Perhaps they had no objective proof in the form of records because it was spread orally, perhaps there had been records on stone slates or frescos that were lost as time passed, and perhaps the authors personal opinions had slipped in during the process of compiling the records. And as the legends spread from person to person, gaining credibility as it did so, they would create something with a rich history and yet which never actually existed. They would grow into something like heaven or hell that no one had ever seen and yet everyone had a common image of. One of those logical reversals was Queen Annes Shield. Index and Othinus had never seen it since it was a nonexistent legend, but they were able to decide this was it at a glance. Its easy to give a physical history to something with a great presence. You just have to create the evidence yourself. Its just like drawing a new treasure map on top of ancient parchment to gain sponsors to dig for buried treasure. So the shield was made by St. Germain? That does sound like something a liar would do. But even if its a fake, magic is still magic. If an Academy City esper uses that... The side effects will tear his body to pieces. If thats part of St. Germains plan against Kamijou Touma, its obvious what he wants. Hes trying to rip apart Kamijou Toumas heart using the death of a failed opponent. Aihana Etsu slowly narrowed his eyes and dragged the golden shield. In his memories, someone was smiling. Even after his friends death, he had relied on her words to make it this far, but he could no longer see the details. Bit by bit, the vision in his head was destroyed like a photo in the flames. The knowledge of Frenda Seiveluns death had likely done more than confirm her death. In that instant, Aihana Etsus heart had died as well. With only his physical body left, he no longer trembled in pain or fear. He did not care if he was going to die here. If he did survive, he would continue fighting until he finally died. The elevator door was loudly broken down by a great force. The person who stepped out was not Kamijou Touma. It was someone Aihana Etsu had never expected. In fact, he did not even know who it was. He had technically seen the boy in the Dianoids parking garage, but he had already forgotten that. And so he let out a low voice. You arent the one I called for. Even if Im the one who let Frenda Seivelun die? ... A creaking sound came from the golden shields handle as he squeezed it. Hamazura remained aboard the Power Lifter and he slammed its steel fists together. I know the general situation, but it makes no sense for you to attack Kamijou Touma. If you want to take revenge for Frenda, theres someone a lot more suitable. Who were you to her? Item, concisely answered Hamazura. It was a very small framework. I may have only been the underling there, but I was still a part of Item. It was my job to support her, so its my job to stop anyone from dying in her name. Instead of Aihana Etsu, it was the St. Germains who reacted. But before the countless Chambord spears could show themselves, Aihana Etsu spoke. You dont have to, St. Germain. But, my king. This is my job. If what hes saying is true, then it matters that I do the fighting. The corners of Hamazuras mouth relaxed a bit when he heard that. Aihana Etsu and Kamijou Touma would not clash. The scenario St. Germain wanted would not come to pass and it was obvious St. Germain was panicking a little. (But this might not satisfy him. Just like serving ramen to someone craving gyudon, he might still feel hungry afterwards.) He remembered the time just after the charismatic Skill Out leader Komaba Ritoku had died. To protect themselves, they had taken on some dirtier jobs and tried to kill an innocent adult. He had not used any of his imagination and simply swung around murderous tools like some kind of monkey. (But this will teach you how bad violence feels. Youll learn that tingling in your fingertips after you stab someone or split their head open. You can only wield that weapon so innocently because you dont know how disgusting a thing it is. So Ill teach you that.) There were people who grew bolder when they held a deadly weapon. Some would grow intoxicated on the destructive power and destroy themselves. But Hamazura doubted Aihana Etsu was that kind of person. He gave the reason in his heart. (When you learned of Frenda Seiveluns death, you learned just how unreasonable death is.) Aihana Etsu would apparently be injured all over if he used the shield, but Hamazura was not going to look after him that much. They were both risking death here and Hamazura Shiage was not as benevolent as Kamijou Touma. So... Cmon then. He raised the Power Lifters arms in a martial arts stance. Im sick of people like Silver Cross and Kuroyoru digging back up this same crap over and over again! When someone tried to take revenge on you in the Edo period, it was apparently not considered a crime if you killed them. You have one chance. Thats as much as Im willing to give you!! So lets do this, Aihana Etsu!! Fine then. Just once, Aihana Etsu struck the transparent floor with the bottom of the golden shield. Then Ill kill you first. Afterwards, Ill kill Kamijou Touma too. And once all of the insane filters have been removed, Ill search out and kill all of the perpetrators and criminals. Ill do what that girl cant anymore. Aihana Etsu felt something stabbing into his own heart with each word he spoke. Each time, the crumbling remains of his memories would break away a little more. Revenge was not an act of harming your opponent. He belatedly realized it was an act of dirtying your own hands, showing contempt for yourself, and killing yourself. But even as he realized that, he could no longer stop. After all, what else was he supposed to do? The friend he had been searching for was long dead, there was no way of saving her, and the crybabys convenient dream of never giving up on his precious friend had been smashed into a million pieces. So what was he supposed to do? His dream was gone, his hope was destroyed, and his ideals were lost. Should he curl up and give up like a crybaby once more? Should he shout that there was nothing he could do and decide the realistic, efficient, and logical thing to do was to not lift a finger and to hit the reset button? Should he throw Frenda Seiveluns existence into the trash and continue on towards tomorrow? No. He could not bear to do that. He did not want to abandon his friend. He did not care if he was being stubborn or patronizing. He wanted to continue trying to do something for her. It did not matter if this was not realistic, efficient, or logical. He did not want to throw her into the trash and he did not want to forget her and move on. So kill your heart. Scrape off all the excess fat and leave only the bones. Become a machine made to take revenge. Ill start with you, he said with the golden shield at the ready. He felt his body temperature gradually lowering as he continued speaking. You can tell me what you had to do with her death while I crush you. Their gazes met. It no longer mattered that this was not Kamijou Touma or Mugino Shizuri. He had not overcome his shortcomings. In the end, he was still Aihana Etsu. He was still a pathetic person who could not stand tall without relying on a fake ID. This was just the opposite extreme. He had taken on too many negative feelings and his emotions had numbed over. And he did not care if that was the case. He only cared about fighting back. Activating the shield and killing Hamazura Shiage would be worth 100 points. But even if the shield refused to activate, he could still knock him down with his own hands and choke the life out of him. What did it matter if his own arm was broken or eyes were crushed in the process? In the worst case, he would not be able to do anything and only add to the pile of corpses. As long as he could avoid that, nothing else mattered. Revenge was an act of tearing at your own flesh, not your enemys. It was an act of killing yourself through your enemy. (Yes.) Aihana Etsu felt like he was gradually seeing the truth of his own being. (I guess nothing St. Germain said really mattered. It doesnt matter if this shield is real or if Im special.) He could feel his scattered thoughts gathering on a single point. They were turning toward a clear goal that was also a dead-end. (Maybe I just couldnt bear to live in a world without my friend.) So he had wanted to leave. He had wanted to vanish to some other place like cutting the string to a balloon. (But Ill leave my mark somehow or other.) He tore through the wind with his shoulder, walked on his own two feet, and directly approached Hamazura Shiage. He intentionally moved within range of the Power Lifter. (I have to do at least one thing for her!! I have to do at least one thing she wanted!! And Ill carve the proof into this guys body!!) This was the preliminary battle. And it was also the lighting of a fuse that could not be stopped once it began. His eyes coldly reflected the light like glass and he prepared to pull that final trigger. But something happened just before he did. Kamijou Touma climbed through the elevator shafts broken door and approached one of the lowest levels evenly spaced pillars. Aihana Etsu stood in front of Hamazura Shiages Power Lifter, he held a huge golden shield, and many St. Germains waited behind him. Was there no stopping him now? Was there no way of stopping his desire for revenge without bloodshed? (No.) Kamijou reached a silent conclusion. (Hell stop. If hes truly doing this for his friend, hell stop.) Kamijou held a single trump card in his hand. If Aihana Etsu came back to his senses, it would bring an end to St. Germains puppet show. The St. Germains would certainly try to dispose of the boy once their plan fell apart and Kamijou doubted he could endure their attacks from all directions with only Imagine Breaker. (So I need you.) Kamijou stared at Hamazuras back from behind the pillar. (Dont die yet. I need you so we can all return from this with smiles on our faces!!) While checking on the focus of their gazes, he moved from pillar to pillar. Little by little, he approached the center of the disturbance. There were more than fifty St. Germains here, but they only had their human senses at their disposal. They did not have eyes on the backs of their heads and they could not scan the entire area with microwaves or ultrasonic waves. All of the St. Germains were watching Aihana Etsus movements, so they would not spot Kamijou as long as he did not draw any attention to himself. (I know someone who truly gave himself over to revenge, Aihana Etsu.) He had met that person in snowy Baggage City. He had gone by two names: Kihara Kagun and Bersi. He had swallowed up both enemy and ally and he had left this earth after perfectly carrying out his revenge. If someone had asked him if he had been happy with the result, he would have definitely said he was satisfied. But Kamijou would have given a different answer if asked if he approved of what had happened. It did not matter if that had been the most correct decision in the world. It did not matter if everyone involved had accepted it or if digging it back up now was unnecessary. Despite all that, he knew he could not walk that same path. If he saw someone falling in that direction, he would not push them on their way. He would grab their hand. (I wont let you end up like that.) He snuck within a few meters of the surrounding St. Germains and thought quietly. He had a reason to make this approach despite the risk to himself. (A desire for revenge is best removed before it has a chance to settle in. Its most frightening when it surpasses emotions and becomes normal. After it shifts to a quieter burn, they can never relax without that desire.) He checked what he held in his hand. It may have had no meaning to the other six or seven billion people, but it was probably the final key to this situation. (So I wont let you end up like that.) He clenched his teeth and continued along a path that bordered death. (I wont let you use revenge as an excuse. You dont have to want my help and I know this is just me being selfish, but I still wont let you degrade what you care about most by using it as a blood-soaked indulgence!! So remember, Aihana Etsu. Remember the very first feelings you held in your heart before ever using that name!!) And then Kamijou Touma took the final action. Something slid along the floor. The surrounding St. Germains noticed, but Aihana Etsu held out his hand and stopped them before the sharp Chambords could tear it to pieces. The boy had seen it. It could not have cost more than three thousand yen, but to him, it was something he could not overlook even if he had to weigh it against the entire blue planet. It was a ten centimeter box wrapped in pale green paper and red ribbon. The ribbon crossed on the top to hold a card in place. It must have had a cheap electronic music player inside because it played a dull birthday melody. It was probably part of a message service. And the voice of the sender accompanied the melody. It was a certain girls voice. Happy birthday to you!! Hey, hey, hey. In the end, its a surprise present for you, Kanou-chan!! ... Aihana Etsu...no, the boy who had only been using that name felt something in the back of his mind. The unrecognizable remnants of something like a burnt photo were restored all at once. There may have been no real meaning in it. It did not change the fact that the girl was already dead, it overturned none of his assumptions, and immersing himself in old memories may have been no different from writhing in bed with an imaginary partner. But... Nee hee hee. Youre the type who forgets his own birthday, arent you? But! Dont underestimate Miss Frendas communication skills! I researched what you wanted long ago! Now, now. Open the box and tremble at how scarily on target I was. Gah hah hah!! Aihana Etsu had decided revenge was an act of scraping away the excess fat from yourself rather than an act of harming your enemy. That excess fat would become a weight that trapped more and more people in the desire for revenge. The boy seemed to be dragged back to being human instead of a revenge-taking machine. He stopped. He sank. He drowned. A warmth he thought he had already lost forced the gears in his mind to reverse. The gears were destroyed one by one and it all fell apart. A memory returned to him. He recalled someone from a time before he had used the name of Academy Citys #6. In the end, you insult yourself and call yourself a crybaby, but its not going to end that way. Im not some kind of benevolent person, you know? Im not trying to get along with all six billion people out there. Youre one of the friends I, the great Frenda, chose and approved of! I think thats something you can be proud of!! Time stopped. Aihana Etsu stopped moving. Something was directly driven into the small boys heart. This was not like St. Germain who spoke about the world while pretending he knew what he was talking about. This was the real thing. These were the words of the friend he had pursued for so long. Your tears are like a safety lock from your common sense. Theyll make sure you dont stray from the proper path no matter how unreasonable the obstacle. Thats something I dont have, so I respect you for having something I could never reach! There are so, so, so many people that will end up doing awful things so easily, but your strength will never allow that. So be proud. In the end, you can be proud of having the strength to cry and forgive anything!! Oh... A heavy sound shook the room as the golden shield slipped from the boys hands and fell to the floor. He no longer needed Annes Shield. He did not need to rely on a legend to stand on his own two feet. He used his freed hands to cover his face. I remember now, St. Germain. He was not one of the Academy Citys Level 5s. He was not someone who created a great legend just like the person who had once been chosen by a sword. But what did that matter? This boy had been born into this world as his own person. He could not pretend to be anyone else and he was an irreplaceable gear to this world, no matter how small and insignificant it might be. Someone had smiled his way and celebrated him. In so doing, she had proven his existence. This was a single trait. It was not some cheap way out. Unlike the first prize earned by following a legend or some other path someone had created to the mountaintop, he had to pave the way forward on his own. Mastering a trait of ones own was a much more difficult and challenging task than reaching some ready-made peak. I remember my name, St. Germain. My name is Kanou Shinka. Even so, the devil on his shoulder continued to whisper in his ear. But he did not care if he was called pathetic, pitiful, unsightly, or embarrassing. He would part ways with the easily followed path and make his own way out in to the world. He would not use St. Germains temptation as an excuse. He would not use Frenda Seiveluns death as an indulgence. He would not rely on the reputation of the mysterious #6 or nonexistent Queen Anne. He would stand with his own strength. He would use his own mind to remember what it was he had truly wanted to do. At the very least, that had not been to fabricate feelings for his silenced friend and throw fresh fuel on the fire of selfish revenge. Frenda Seivelun had kept something hidden and she would not have wanted to invite this boy onto that bloody path from which one could never return. She may have put on an act in the hopes that he would remain in the realm of the sun and she may have thought of him as someone strong enough to cry and forgive anything. If so, what path should he take? What should he do as a resident of that sunny realm? So St. Germain, I can see my true enemy now. This wasnt for anyone else or because of anyone else. It was me!! I was the one that used her death and trampled her underfoot! I used her as a tool of killing!! And I wont accept you!! St. Germain reacted swiftly. With an explosive sound, Chambords forcefully skewered the birthday present from below. The wrapping and ribbons were torn and the box itself was ripped to shreds. But the boys expression remained unchanged and he raised his small hand. A cheap pocket watch fell into it. He wrapped his hand around the silver device and grabbed the fluttering card between his index and middle fingers. Happy birthday, Kanou Shinka. A girl who was no longer among the living had given him this celebration of life and acknowledgment of his existence. He held that proof up like a blade as he spoke. Youre welcome, Frenda. He shed his old skin and shattered the mask of Aihana Etsu. The boy became a man. He was Kanou Shinka and no one else. He would not waste this celebrated life and name. To struggle against the world, he faced his true enemy. In that moment, Kamijou Touma smiled while still crouching. In that moment, Hamazura Shiage sighed from his Power Lifter. The two of them were thinking the same thing. Guess Ive got no choice. Guess Ive got no choice. They were not old friends. They were just one of the six billion that filled the earth. But they knew one thing: It would be a great shame if Aihana Etsu died. And he was no longer Aihana Etsu. He was a man who had overcome his bonds and now used the name Kanou Shinka. So... He had found value in stepping into that deadly place, so he did not hesitate to rush into the crowd of St. Germains. That was when something happened. It was just as St. Germain began to use his countless Chambord spears to dispose of Kanou Shinka now that the puppet show was over. Kamijou and Hamazura cut in and used Imagine Breaker and the Power Lifters arms to break through the downpour of spears. Kamijou grabbed Kanou Shinka through a slight gap, pulled him in, and then pushed him forward. A moment later, a brilliant beam of light surged in. It was the #4s Meltdowner. But once he noticed it was targeting something other than the Chambords, Hamazuras eyes opened wide. Dammit, Mugino!! Why are you trying to kill Kanou!? Eh? But his determination and change of heart has nothing to do with me. He looked like he was on the enemys side, so I cant see any reason to go easy on him. This has lots to do with you!! This has more to do with you than anyone else!! I may not be one to talk, but youre the one that caused all this mess in the first plaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace!! He shouted at the top of his lungs, but Mugino only sighed. As someone who worked underground jobs, she dryly cut through it all. If she could not tell if someone was an enemy or an ally and if they registered as yellow instead of a clear green or red, she would incapacitate them. It could be a reading beyond a wall, a hypnotized innocent, or someone convinced by a third party to take revenge. If they were not a clear ally, a certain type of professional would view them as a target for destruction. So. Mugino Shizuri produced a new ball of light from thin air and faced St. Germain. Youre still as red as can be though, arent you, you piece of shit? There was movement elsewhere as well. Touma!! Oh, honestly. Does everyone have to head out into the open!? It was Index, the nun in a white habit with gold embroidery, and Stephanie, the woman with short blonde hair who was acting as the nuns bodyguard with a PDW. Index also had fifteen centimeter Othinus on her shoulder and Takitsubo Rikou, the girl in a pink track suit, stood behind Stephanie. Kamijou Touma said nothing and Hamazura Shiage did not cut in. Everything the boy needed to do came from his own heart, so they left it up to him. Kanou Shinka stood up once more and made an announcement while flanked by the two heroes. Im taking it back, St. Germain. He faced a monster whose very existence had become a sort of legend. He opposed it as a single being and a single hero. Ill be taking back every last piece of my friends pride that you trampled underfoot!! Between the Lines 3 That golden retriever had an armory in each of the twenty-three districts. Kihara Noukan walked to District 23. He arrived at an aircraft maintenance bay far larger than a school gym. The entrance looked more like a moving wall than a door as it slowly opened to the left and right. The lights inside came on automatically. It was filled with several ejection containers and large trucks to tow them. This was a walk-in closet to Noukan. He could choose the appropriate clothes for the occasion and head out to the dinner party with the optimum outfit. And he would use bullets instead of manners, shells instead of etiquette, laser beams instead of affection, liquid nitrogen instead of hospitality, and killer microwaves instead of respect. The golden retrievers goal was to destroy an irregular element inside an otherwise stable world that followed the laws of physics. Namely, magic. And his greatest hypothetical enemy was... So the Magic Gods have made their move. That said, he had no real grudge against magicians or the Magic Gods that were their ultimate form. Nor did he have any kind of heroic story in which they had taken something precious from him. But he knew the people who had transformed him from a normal dog into what he was now. They were the ones who could be called the original Kiharas. Not even one hundred years had passed since the category of Kiharas had taken clear form. A similar concept had likely been spread around like the roots of grass, but only recently had it been gathered together to form the Kiharas. Even the creation of Academy City was the work of that human when he had used the confusion of reconstruction after an old war to arrive here, so it was not hard to imagine the concept of the Kiharas had also been created quite recently. The original seven had been mere humans who both laughed and cried like normal people. It had not been known what a Kihara was at the time and that had caused more suffering for them than anyone else. Even as they despaired at how completely insane and mad they had become, they had been unable to stop themselves from continuing down the path of science. That was the type of people they had been. The one who had provided the golden retriever with his intelligence had always patted the dogs head while apologizing in human language. As normal people, their reason had caused them to suffer, but as researchers, the reports of successful experiments had brought them joy. Their faces had always contained a complex mixture of emotions. If everything in the world can be explained with scientific formulae, then the world will contain nothing but resignation and despair. Doing that would be much like summoning Laplaces theoretical demon. That was true, but had the hand rubbing his head contained a softness not found in a completed Kihara? But at the same time, it will mean the arrival of a kind world in which the unreasonable side of the world will eternally lose all opportunity to kill people. Now, which view is correct? Those original members were gone now. They had used themselves to define what a Kihara was, summed it up in a way that anyone could understand, and then left the world behind. Even as they grew madder by the day, they had constantly fought the unreasonable side of the world using human intellect. That had led to the completed Kiharas of today. That was why Kihara Noukan had no particular grudge against the magic side. That was why the golden retriever had no interest in the solid yet kind world that the original members had hoped for. Dont worry. Scientific knowledge may not have been able to prove the existence of heaven. The laws of physics may not have been able to measure the weight of the soul. But the large dog still spoke. Even if you have left this world, the Kiharas you left behind are still here. The golden retriever gave an instruction in his head and the countless trucks loaded with ejection containers all gave the initial roars of ignition. A storm of headlights filled the entire scene. A mass of metal sat there. The collection of armor known as the Anti-Art Attachment followed Kihara Noukans movements as he turned around. He stared into the infinite darkness outside and carried countless lights with him as he spoke in his heart. Focus on nothing but being a Kihara. With that wish, he began to work for the people who had transformed a dog into a true being with a heart of his own. Volume 12, 4: A Single Breakthrough — Hand_Made_ROUTE. Volume 12, Chapter 4: A Single Breakthrough Hand_Made_ROUTE. Part 1 The transparent floor floated a few centimeters off the ground. A giant donut-shaped machine was located above the evenly spaced pillars. It was a graviton-style artificial gravity control device. Now that it had been tampered with, gravity bomb may have been a more apt name. It covered everything like an oppressive starry sky. ... The group of St. Germains parted like the Red Sea as they changed formation. One individual had long, wavy blonde hair and white skin. She had likely been intentionally made to resemble Frenda Seivelun to use against Kanou Shinka. Her tailcoat resembled a stage magicians bunny suit and jacket combination. That woman stood at the center of it all, and the excitement spread through them all like heat through a diamond. She pulled a twisted spear from the ground and held it in one hand. Do you really think you can defeat a sturdy crystal structure with nothing but a few different individuals? The blonde St. Germain smiled as she spoke. You seem to be mistaken about something. I am not a magician or a Magic God. I am a third category to go alongside those two. If you wish to completely destroy me, you need the same level of firepower necessary to extinguish the entire category of magician or Magic God. By gathering together, you have merely saved me the trouble of hunting you all down. Enough talk, spat out Kanou Shinka. He shook his semi-long hair while speaking on an equal level as the monster. Come and get us, if you can. Or do you refuse to fight unless someone throws a glove at you? ... St. Germain remained silent for a moment, but her smile remained and she eventually sighed. Almost immediately afterwards, more than five thousand Chambords rushed in at frightening speed from all 360 degrees around him. There may have been nothing he could have done on his own. He might have been overwhelmed by the numbers and had every inch of his body skewered. But Kamijou Touma used Imagine Breaker, Hamazura Shiage used his Power Lifter, Mugino Shizuri used Meltdowner, and Kinuhata Saiai used Offense Armor. It sounded less like shattering glass and more like a pillar of jewels breaking. Even with hundreds or thousands of simultaneous attacks, there was nothing to worry about when St. Germain had a single target: Kanou Shinka. If they all surrounded the boy and prepared to intercept, they could reach the spears that were concentrated together and destroy them. With someone to the front, back, left, and right, they could protect his life. All four of them only needed some kind of nonstandard power. Whats wrong, St. Germain? asked Kamijou. Im sick of seeing what you can do. Its a powerful but repetitive threat, so can we bring this to an end now? This is a real pain, cut in Mugino as she held her palm towards the blonde St. Germain. So basically, we just have to wear down their numbers without actually killing them, right? Well, Academy Citys tech is pretty great; my bodys proof enough of that. They can live a perfectly normal life even if I blow off a limb or three!! A brilliant beam of light surged out, but the blonde St. Germain only smiled a little. She did not dodge with all her might or even shrink back. She simply rotated the spear in her hand. The beam had definitely hit, but... What!? Is it really that strange? asked St. Germain with a smile. This was an attack I had already seen. She had caught it near the top of her Chambord and she had done so as easily as catching a white ball thrown by a pitching machine. What you have been calling spears are no more than the roots of the Chambord. That name comes from the laboratory I once used. Simply put, it provides all of the tools I need to pursue my research themes. You could say it is a vanguard that takes water and nutrients from others, but you could also call it the fragile fingertips that have difficulty maintaining themselves when not protected within the earth. She drew a ring of light by rotating the spear whose point was heated to orange. But unfortunately for you, the roots can grow stronger by twining together. Not to mention the branches and trunk which are always exposed to the external air and external enemies. Their durability is literally orders of magnitude greater. Roots? In his Power Lifter, Hamazura thought on that unpleasant ring of that word. Aneri recorded each individual term and drew connections with red lines. Branches and a trunk, too? What on earth are you talking about? One could say controlling diamonds, carbon, and organic matter is nothing more than a metaphor for life. The ring of light lost its axis and transformed into something like the numeral 8 on its side or the symbol for infinity. And the tip was pointed directly forward. Do you know the difference between plants and animals, you failure of a boy? There are a few notable traits, but the most well-known is the difference between the cell membrane and the cell wall. Plant cells are a single almighty cell that provides all the necessary life functions such as skin, skeleton, and blood vessels, but that has made it difficult for them to move under their own will. One can only laugh at the irony of fate, but at the same time, it leads to an interesting idea. A strange shivering sensation ran up Kinuhatas spine. For example, what if plant cells were fully divided between different functions such as skin, skeleton, blood vessels, and muscles? And what if they were then reunified to stimulate optimization? Now, what kind of evolutionary tree would that produce? If you compare the animal cell membrane and the plant cell wall, the plants is undoubtedly stronger. A beast made of plant matter would be much stronger than one of animal matter, wouldnt you think? They did not wait any longer. Mugino Shizuri fired her #4 beams into the blonde St. Germain again and again. However, there were no screams or cries. The pillar directly next to St. Germain had swelled out unnaturally. Something had shielded her. The overflowing roar sounded just like pressure escaping a steam engine. The Dianoids floor shook as a massive insect slowly revealed its form. To the very top it was just below two meters tall, and it was over four meters long. Its overall silhouette resembled a scorpion with a thick arcing tail in the back. But instead of legs, it had complexly intertwined tree roots; instead of a mouth, white flower petals with a hint of red; and instead of two giant pincers, the predatory pouches of a carnivorous plant. It was a mixture of plant and animal, much like an orchid mantis. The upper body of a man in a tailcoat grew from the tip of the large arced tail where a venomous stinger would normally be found. Needless to say, he was one of the many St. Germains. So in a way, this was essentially a bizarre version of Hamazuras Power Lifter. For an instant, Hamazura thought Aneri had undergone a serious error after succumbing to all the rigorous work he was putting it through. But in reality, the creatures estimated muscular strength was just that ridiculously high. (What...?) The flower scorpion glowed orange in places due to the heat of Meltdowner, but its silhouette remained intact and its countless legs scraped at the ground. The blonde St. Germain thrust forward her spear-shaped Chambord as if it were a conductors baton. I will now reveal to you the secret laws ruling the trinity of organic matter, carbon, and life. The four-meter flower scorpion charged forward like a shell, and the male St. Germain extending from the thick tail produced a deep sound as he swung his own body around. Oh. An instinctual chill filled Hamazuras entire body. He suppressed the urge to leave it all up to Aneri and he adjusted his grip on the joysticks. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! First, Muginos Meltdowner beams continued flying in from long range. But the scorpion maintained its momentum and Hamazura used his steel arms to forcibly restrain its large pincers. With a horrid grinding noise, the Power Lifter slid backwards. Index and Takitsubo escaped to the side more to avoid being crushed by the heavy machinery than by the scorpion. Kinuhata Saiai surrounded herself in Offense Armor and charged in while Kamijou threw his right fist into the ferocious floral maw that resembled a bear trap. Finally, the monsters advance came to a stop. (That should do it.) Kamijou turned his focus from the empty shell and towards St. Germain. But that proved to be a mistake. The back of the crumbling plant beast split open from front to back just like a giant tropical flower. The tail containing the male St. Germain and the back split off and moved around on their own. But instead of a tail, it was now a crocodile made from complexly intertwined ivy and predatory pouches. Its cluttered array of fangs approached the boy who had assumed it would stop once destroyed. Kamijou did not even have time to cry out. The crocodile that was larger than a human directly attacked Kamijous head before he could recover from being caught off-guard. Super take this!! Kinuhata Saiai was the closest by, so she launched a powerful uppercut. The crocodile was thrown way off course and up into the air, and the male St. Germain embedded inside went with it. The belly was the most defenseless point of any beast, and it was now exposed. Kinuhata prepared to throw another punch, but then the crocodile split front to back again. It split and split and split. What the hell is this!? shouted Kamijou. It was like a matryoshka doll. The beast grew progressively smaller, and it now resembled a creepy octopus that attached upside down to the ceiling with tentacles made of ivy and roots. And the male St. Germain spun his spear around as he dangled upside down from the creature. A disturbing pulsation ran through the head... no, for an octopus it would be the body. Regardless, the round portion seemed to inflate like a balloon, and then small flowers opened all over it. It produced a sound like a carbonated beverage being opened. As soon as Hamazura caught a whiff of the odor slowly descending from above, his face grew pale. This was the grim reaper that anyone who worked on motor vehicles or other combustion-based machines were all too familiar with. Aneris compositional analysis provided evidence for his fears, so he shouted its name. Thats carbon monoxide!! Mugino, burn the air! If you dont, were done for!! Beams of light shot in several directions at once. That deadly gas was primarily produced by incomplete combustion; an intense oxidation reaction would convert it into relatively safe carbon dioxide. Aneri had colored the toxin red to visualize it, but that coloration was already vanishing. The remains of the octopus had shriveled up like rotting fruit, and it must have completed its role because it fell down. The male St. Germain must have breathed in the toxin himself because he collapsed to the floor and did not move. While their attention was on him, the blonde St. Germain rotated her spear a few times. The transparent floor undulated. A giant mossy green spider appeared, and a male St. Germain sank into its back as if it were a bed or sofa. A mantis was covered in tough tree bark like armor, and a young female St. Germain had its two scythe-like arms attached to her shoulders and dragged the rest of it like a cape. A giant rattlesnake was made from countless intertwined roots, and an elderly St. Germain vibrated in place of the rattle on the end of the tail. The beasts were not completed beasts. They were nothing more than beings that incorporated the great strength of plant matter. All of the St. Germains held similar Chambords which provided more brutal destruction than any venomous stinger or fang. Let me be clear about one fundamental fact. The blonde St. Germain smiled as she rested her Chambord on her shoulder. She spread her other hand horizontally to indicate the other St. Germains standing alongside her. If you are to face me, then you must overcome the framework of the individual. After all your boasting, I hope you have enough fighting spirit to drive me into overflow. At the same time, the countless St. Germains wearing plant matter armor attacked alongside the surrounding downpour of spears they had created. Part 2 St. Germains attacks had attained maximum intensity. It was like refining oil or alcohol before igniting it. It was like a laser-shaped diamond cutter that fired artificial diamond dust at extremely high speed. It was like a dust explosion caused by a large amount of scattered carbon dust. They would sometimes fire a downpour of spears, they would sometimes transform their plant matter beasts or move to a new one, and they would sometimes wrap roots and vines around themselves to produce enormous springs. The blonde St. Germain jumped freely about, kicking off the pillars or ceiling, and Kamijou Touma remained on the floor, but they briefly collided head-on. Her Chambord caught the boys right hand and it was destroyed bit by bit as the outermost layers were stripped away like a Baumkuchen. They glared at each other like warriors locking blades and they threw words at each other. Enough of your desperate tricks. You cant manipulate anyone anymore and you cant trick anyone with your lies!! I wouldnt be so sure. All I have to do is ensure everything works out in the end. Taking Aihana Etsu out of the equation isnt all that much of a problem for me. The blonde St. Germain smiled thinly. Kamijou finally realized she was completely serious. She was prepared for battle as a con artist. I think you are the one that isnt fully aware of the situation. The gates of hell have already opened. The Magic Gods have already entered the real world. And do you know what they will desire first? Magic Gods? They are of course after you. She forcibly swung her partially broken spear. With a solid clang, some space opened up between them. Just as the sword desired a king and St. Germain desired Aihana Etsu, the Magic Gods long for the one known as Kamijou Touma. That is why they envied Othinus who could move about as she wished. Heh heh. Yes, thats right. That is why they envied her!! Not for using the name Gremlin, and not for twisting the real world as she saw fit! They were only angry that she was monopolizing the one known as Kamijou Touma!! ... Before wondering about my credibility, you wondered how I knew about those hundreds of billions of hells you experienced, didnt you? Well, I understand. I am neither a magician nor a Magic God. But dont you dare say that the category of St. Germain is somehow inferior to that of the Magic God. No matter how perfect and happy a world the Magic Gods try to create, I will always occur at some point, regardless of the possibilities or environment involved. I am a being that transcends causality and the phases. Hamazuras Power Lifter mercilessly charged toward the blonde St. Germain from behind. But before the steel fist could reach her, a green spider rushed in from the side, pressed the Power Lifter to the ground, and caused it to slide like a passenger plane in an emergency landing. Kamijou gave a shout directly below the donut-shaped gravity bomb. St. Germain doesnt exist. Those supposed Magic Gods are a product of fiction! That is how it has turned out, yes. A hint of stickiness filled her smile. But surely you have noticed, boy. When discussing the truth of the world, the real history that everyone accepts as normal is completely groundless. Did you find Othinus when investigating the legends of Odin? How do you link a muscular male god with that girl!? ... You say you heard it from someone or saw it written somewhere. But what meaning is any of that when speaking of St. Germain? Especially when everything you see before your eyes is the truth. His understanding was shaken. Everything he thought was true had been knocked loose by nothing but words. I am St. Germain. I am the third category that easily separated itself from the mere magicians yet refused to join the worn-out Magic Gods. I can only be described with the term St. Germain. Why cant you grasp that simple fact? Just like someone losing depth perception in a pure-white field of snow, Kamijou Toumas mind was thrown into an informational whiteout. And then he spoke. Is that more of your roleplaying? The blonde St. Germains illusionists smile froze, just like cracks entering a jewel. I thought it was strange, spat out Kamijou. If all you wanted to do was trick Aihana Etsu into doing something wrong, there would be no point in sealing the Dianoid and trapping everyone inside. If your goal was blowing me away with the gravity bomb, you would have no reason to trick Aihana Etsu. And whats this about that golden shield he had? If you just wanted to fill him with hate and send him against me, you couldve just given him a knife or a gun. You wouldnt need to make him believe in magic on such short notice, so a simpler weapon would have made it easier to get him moving. No matter where you look, your actions werent logical. ... At first, it all looks like you have some grand master plan, but there wasnt a plan at all. Thats the true form of St. Germain. Whether its a grudge youve held for ten years, a plan youve been working on for twenty, or a goal youve sought for thirty, you just make it up in five seconds and then overwrite your own memories. Of course the plans, thought processes, and morality of someone like that would be an inconsistent mess. You cant keep just one thing up for long. That made it impossible to argue against St. Germain on terms of good and evil. Even if he had killed someone for money, he would claim to have been killing his fathers murderer as soon as someone questioned him about it. And if anyone accused him of wrongdoing during his sob story, he would make them out to be a corrupt cop or a bribed judge before mercilessly slaughtering them. In the very end, his actions would be the just ones. When you first attacked, you claimed you didnt have time to deal with me since youd found Aihana, but that wasnt the truth. You were scared of Indexs 103,000 grimoires and Othinuss experiences as a real Magic God. You were scared of carelessly showing yourself in front of people who knew how this world really works! That one chance meeting would reveal all of your lies and place all the blame back on you!! That was how he had gotten by. After piling up so many excuses and indulgences within himself, he had run out and needed to compare himself to a Magic God. That was how great a magician he was. You arent a Magic God. But St. Germain? A third category? Were not talking about beer here. New definitions dont just pop up like that! Youre nothing but a normal magician. Youre just like all the others Ive seen before. But you were afraid of being called that, werent you!? That brought up another issue. A very fundamental issue. Are you really St. Germain? ... Or are you someone else who found it easier to use that name!? I have no idea what you are talking about. St. Germain gave a wide grin and a few beads of sweat appeared on her small forehead. Needless to say, I am the time traveler known as St. Germain who traversed 1500 years in search of a king to serve and who never seemed to have enough money to keep up with those filthy nobles, so I used my words to get by when necessary and werent they the inefficient ones for maintaining those wasteful and extravagant customs and it was not my fault in any way because I did the very best I could for this world and I would assume you dont want the world to be overrun by Magic Gods when you know firsthand just how much of a threat they are and you know that something has to be done if not just one but multiple have been released into this world and since I have the power to, I must do something about it and you are the one they are after and are certainly built into their plans, so destroying you now would force them to correct their plans and it is a shame we cannot just talk this out, but you simply refuse to understand my perfectly logical explanation and it is all your fault for not understanding, so it is you that is the problem here and not me, so there is nothing I need to worry about C simply nothing at all C and now that I understand that, I can relax and- Defrag complete: Report #1006632901. Kamijou Touma slowly narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He knew she had overwritten everything in just five seconds, but that was exactly why he said what he said. You poor thing. The blonde St. Germain bit into the corner of her lip with her canine tooth, and she swung her Chambord horizontally even though it was broken. One hundred spears appeared from the wall behind her and rushed toward Kamijou. However, Hamazura used the Power Lifters legs to kick the green spider up into their path. The flying spider acted as a shield and was skewered in midair. The St. Germain embedded in the spiders back frantically separated and escaped. Despite the repeated sounds of destruction, Kamijou continued speaking. But it isnt because youre an inconsistent mess with nothing of your own that I feel sorry for you. Kh. You may be able to fabricate your morality and slip into a century of history in only five seconds, and you may be able to continue overwriting and overwriting until an optimum history has been built up in your head. He seemed to throw his words at her. But even after all that, you still cant escape yourself. Thats why I feel sorry for you. After all, every magician has a beginning. You begin with some reality you cant bear to accept, so you vow to overturn it, carve your magic name into your heart, and then become a magician, right? Then there has to be a beginning to your lies. No matter how easily you can lie or how comfortably you can make your way through this world, you cant escape the initial event that made you want to start acting. So none of this works as an indulgence for you. You may be able to deceive everyone else, but you can never deceive yourself. Is that all you have to say? Yes. Thats all I can say here. This whole time, Kamijou only spoke from his enemys point of view. Now its your turn to speak. But not to me. Speak to your own heart, you damn con artist. Immediately afterwards, their clash resumed. Part 3 Cut the line! That shout of anger continually filled TV Orbits production office on the Dianoids mid level. Physically sever the cable if you have to. Just keep us from broadcasting. Hurry!! Needless to say, the greatest fear when a TV station was taken over was not the destruction of the broadcast equipment. It was having that equipment used for nefarious purposes. A TV station or any part of the mass media could lead to deaths if misused. It had only been an accident, but when an American radio station had read a news-style drama about the arrival of aliens, it had led to a nationwide panic that included shootings. If an accident could do that much, just how much chaos could intentionally inaccurate information cause? In the worst case, it would be based on pre-existing feelings of discrimination. The lack of mass production for and high-specs of editing and broadcasting equipment worked together to make them often cost hundreds of millions of yen, but peoples lives were more valuable. And that was not just a nice thing to say. If they were sued, the reparations and drop in the corporations public image would literally make the human lives more expensive to lose. They had already had an intruder and a container had gone missing, so anything was possible that day. But the people in the station were most afraid of someone spreading false information that would cause large-scale riots throughout Academy City. They certainly never imagined it would lead to this. A single footstep rang coldly behind them. Part 4 The number of St. Germains below the donut-shaped gravity bomb was reducing bit by bit. The surprising leader in takedowns was not Mugino Shizuri or Kinuhata Saiai. It was Stephanie. While the powerful espers had their hands full holding back the spears and plant matter beasts, Stephanie was free to fire on the St. Germains with her PDW. Her PDW did not use bullets fired by gunpowder. Instead, it used compressed gas to fire mock bullets made of tungsten steel. Within twenty to thirty meters, it was destructive enough to fill a flesh-and-blood body with holes, so it was about as dangerous as a real gun indoors. Still, there were a number of ways to reduce the damage done. For example, she could fire through clothing or stacks of paper. For example, she could ricochet the bullets off of the walls or ceiling. Quick bursts of gunshots rang out and the St. Germains were struck on the side of the jaw or temple to forcibly shake their skulls. With some slight blood loss, they collapsed from a concussion. Tch. The adults stealing all the good parts! What even is that? Super point-blank sniping? What kind of genre is that!? St. Germain used a variety of attacks using carbon: the countless spears, the armor of plant matter animals, and carbon monoxide spray. But the most dangerous part was the multiple chains of attacks from different angles and used with time delays. Each time one of them was defeated, their attack pattern would change. The group moving toward Mugino and Kinuhata was still relatively thin. Stephanie was of course the same as she freely moved about. The most dangerous area was around the pointy-haired boy with only his right fist to work with and Hamazura Shiage who wore his Power Lifter. There was no real reason to provide covering fire, but the more St. Germains they took out, the less of a threat they were overall. And whether they were controlled or not, Academy Citys #4 was not about to choose her own death just because she could not absolutely guarantee the survival of the hostages. But something moved in the way just as Mugino Shizuri held out her palm. It was not any of the St. Germains or the plant matter beasts that looked like giant orchid mantises. Hamazura himself moved in and out of her line of fire. What a pain. Maybe I should just shoot him too. Wait, Mugino, wait, calmly cut in Takitsubo Rikou. ...!? A moment later, Mugino felt a bizarre tremble run up her spine. She turned around in surprise, but the girl in the pink track suit was staring vacantly into space. (What was that? Did I almost lose control?) Wait!! Whats that super blank look for!? Is this the usual pattern where you make me do all the work but take credit as a team!? Thats super cruel!! When Kinuhata Saiai snapped at her, Mugino got back to fighting. The two of them forcibly stopped the St. Germains from moving and Stephanie knocked them out with accurate gunshots. This demon had taken over the Dianoid, but they had a way to drag him down to a manageable level. I super dont know how many St. Germains there are in the building, but whittling down their numbers would be best! So lets take them all out!! If we can safely take a few samples, the others back there will figure out whats at the root of it all, right? Then lets not push ourselves. We only have to hold them in place long enough to have them knocked out. Mugino was talking about Index and Othinus who waited behind them. They had pulled back one of the concussed St. Germains and were checking over the body and peering into the pupils. Touma said something ridiculous about using the reverse of the process that original grimoires use to infect peoples minds, but... Yeah. For using a name like St. Germain, the method sticks to the basics. It looks like an acting trance is used to overwrite the contents. He views himself as the carbon forming a diamond, so it was necessary to purify his existence while creating the stable crystal. Its pretty logical. When a group attempted to contact the dead, it was commonly said they could not include anyone with doubt in their heart. That often led people to view those techniques as scams, but there was a logical reason for it. By wearing the same uniform, eating the same foods, and going to a set location at a set date and time C especially an underground crypt or deep in the woods C they would create a small world cut off from the outside world. Creating a group dyed in unique colors was a way of bending the common knowledge of that small, isolated society. If one placed a single drop of ink into the sea, it would be quickly diluted, but things were very different when it was placed inside a single cup of water. To complete a ritual, cabal magicians had techniques of instantly filling themselves with the appropriate thoughts. They had ways of twisting their own beliefs and principles in only a few days like turning a dial to match the angel they were summoning, the phenomenon they were producing, the time and date, or the positions of the stars. Ultimately, they would fully purify their own beings so they could synchronize and parallelize. St. Germains legend had that tendency in the first place. He was called unfathomable and no one knew what he truly thought, but he had appeared in the parties and gatherings of royals and nobles which were cut off from normal society. And there, he had used his understanding of the hopes and desires running rampant there to dye himself in their colors. After doing so, he would make thorough use of them. Immortality, time travel, ancient knowledge, and buried treasure were all things that powerful people with too much spare time would leap at. And eventually, their positions would reverse. Instead of dying himself in their colors, the royals and nobles fascination with the legend of St. Germain would be dyed in his colors. They would use massive amounts of money to obtain St. Germain who knew everything and that would place serious pressure on their city or country. At that point, there were no leading roles, minor roles, actors, or audiences. Just as the matter drawn to the nucleus of the crystal was not fundamentally different from that nucleus, they became a single massive crystal known as St. Germain. It was a mad theatre. In which case... He didnt even have to use the toxins of an original grimoire. When magicians start feeling unwell in the middle of a large-scale ceremony, theres a resuscitation technique used to quickly remove them. He just used that as-is. Well, its really nothing but acting, so the roots arent that deep. How about we get started and use this opening to crush the entire St. Germain network? Since he sees himself as a diamond, there must be a controller or settings file as the 0.1% impurity lurking below the other 99.9%, but that may show itself once we shake him hard enough. One of them was an expert in everything up to becoming a Magic God due to the 103,000 grimoires stored in her head. The other was an expert in everything after becoming a Magic God due to being the only member of humanity to observe such things. Together, it would be harder to find something their treasure trove of knowledge did not cover. If they used that knowledge to its fullest, there was no way they could not construct the virus of information needed to release these people from St. Germains control. Mugino, Kinuhata, and Stephanie were holding back most of them, so there was no chance of defeat now. ...? But then Takitsubo Rikou suddenly raised her head. The Dianoids lowest level was a flat surface covered in evenly spaced pillars, but those pillars contained flat-screen monitors. They may have been meant to monitor the artificial gravity control device instead of being purely decorative. Regardless, those monitors were displaying some strange information. Part 5 This isnt over yet. The blonde St. Germain spoke to Kamijou with her mouth split wide in a smile. I am not done yet, boy. No, youre just about at your limit. You arent even looking at your true enemy, so you never had a chance of winning! I am not talking about willpower or fighting spirit. Do not underestimate the third category of St. Germain. She snapped her fingers and the many flat-screen monitors attached to the pillars activated. Have you forgotten? I sealed the Dianoid and trapped countless people inside. You dont mean... And St. Germain synchronizes, infects, and spreads. As long as I can provide the crystalizing stimulus, I can spread without end, just like electricity in high concentration saline. And wouldnt you know it, the Dianoids mid level contains an entire TV station! You dont mean...!! Deafening static assaulted their ears. Image after image danced across the screen, too quickly to follow: discontinuous scenery, a page of an ancient document, a strange graph, a realistic three-view drawing of a skull, etc. Overall, it looked like a bizarre sort of flashing art. Aneri tried to analyze the pattern but quickly produced an error. Hamazura groaned while operating the Power Lifter relatively close to Kamijou. What... what the hell is that!? Dont tell me that weird footage is playing throughout the entire building! And please dont tell me everyone who sees it will turn into a St. Germain! Why do you think it would be contained on such a small scale? replied St. Germain with a laugh. Didnt I tell you? The Dianoid contains an entire TV station. Without thinking, Hamazura Shiage completely forgot about the extreme battle surrounding him and he naturally looked to the side. He could not see outside because the Dianoids lowest level was deep underground and not even Aneri could gather that much information with the Power Lifters sensors, but he had to have been picturing the endless expanse of the nighttime city. What was happening in Academy City? What world would they find once they set foot outside of the sealed Dianoid? This one action nearly broke Hamazuras spirit, but Kamijou Touma remained facing the blonde St. Germain. No. Is this just another of those school plays you love so much? ... If you could put a video online to synchronize, parallelize, crystalize, and grow without end, you would have already created a single crystal out of the entire worlds population. You wouldnt be a third category or whatever; youd be a crystal known as humankind. You may need to imprint information like that, but that isnt the full story. There has to be some kind of decisive trigger at the end. Kamijou Touma continued speaking. Hey, St. Germain. Why did you just lie? Enough with the terrible lines that set your teeth on edge. To you, lying is a weapon and acting is a shield. You must have had a reason for it. How about I delve a little deeper? Youre starting to panic, arent you? Are we actually approaching checkmate here? Thats why you decided you needed to turn things around with your words and destroy our rhythm. ......................................................................................................................................................... The blonde St. Germain smiled quietly. And as she smiled, an unpleasant sweat poured from her face. Veins that looked on the verge of bursting bulged out across her otherwise perfect face. Oh, I know. Kamijous words did not stop. At this moment, he was more talkative than the specialist who had continually deceived royals and nobles with countless lies. How about this? He slowly extended his hand and pointed at something right in front of him. It was time for the decisive answer. The pills. St. Germain is always taking pills. But this voice came from directly behind him. It came from Kanou Shinka who had been driven out of St. Germains focus until now. Part 6 St. Germain controlled carbon. That was true on the micro level and the macro level. In that case, his specialty could not be imprinting information in peoples minds. The method had to use carbon. For example, the black pills inside the pill case. At the very center of his mysterious legends was the fact that he never ate any normal food and had lived for hundreds of years on only his secret medicine, wheat, and water. What if that medicine was actually a certain microbe dried by the thousands or tens of thousands? When dried, their life functions were mostly stopped and they could remain alive in that state for years. As soon as they absorbed a liquid such as saliva, they would resume functioning and invade the body of the human who had ingested them. That was the less than 0.1% impurity in the 99.9% pure crystal. It was not the nucleus or the terminal; it was a complete outsider. And just as with colored diamonds, it functioned as a controller to rearrange the properties of the entire crystal. Someone knowledgeable of such things might think of Last Orders position in the Misaka Network or Fremea Seiveluns position in the Agitate Halation Project. But if all of the St. Germains who repeatedly spread like an ever-growing crystal always needed the pills, then that alone would restrict them. And a diamonds impurity had to remain at less than 0.1%. If it took in too much, it would cause a defect in the crystalline structure. So that impurity was the most unstable portion of the structure. Whether it was a new member, a weary member, or a member that had been worked loose from the crystal and lost control, the settings file worked to stabilize the errors. What if microbes like that were the trigger? What if they could be cultivated in water and wheat and they could infect the human body? What would that make St. Germain who had been whispered of for well over one thousand years? Was he a literal... Part 7 A dignified song filled the room. It came from Index who had her hands folded as she knelt next to a collapsed St. Germain. St. Germains crystallization worked by purifying peoples thoughts using the personality changing technique of an acting trance. This impromptu incantation would remove that and call back the original personality. This was not magic. It was a more fundamental technique. It used no magic power and was technically not a supernatural ability. So when it seemed like St. Germains thoughts were leaking out, it was only an illusion. It was nothing more than words mechanically spilling from the supposedly unconscious St. Germain as if he were trying to fight something. It was much like he was suffering from a nightmare of old wounds. ......... To normal ears, it may have sounded like static, but to anyone with the proper knowledge, that scream of memories was enough to imagine the original sound. It was much like a needle running across the inscribed surface of a record. And it brought several formulae to Indexs mind. (Is this how it works? The pills, the secrets of life, and the identity of what made St. Germain into St. Germain.) It was more than just a voice. The collapsed St. Germains fingertips moved slightly. An index finger tapped out a simple signal of zeroes and ones and a fingertip slid along the floor to form writing. Index added them all into her mental framework. What she discovered was a dreadful truth. (This didnt come about naturally. Those pills and those creatures were manufactured?) But by who? Microbes could not shake the flask used to cultivate them. Just like using bread to grow mold, someone had used water and wheat to prepare the optimum environment to produce them. (Who could it have been?) Index began to mentally reach out her hand. There was a door there. She reached toward the veil of secrecy that led to an ancient world. (Or is that itself part of-...) Dont be fooled. A voice dragged her mind back to reality. It had come from fifteen centimeter Othinus. That doesnt exist. Making you think could it be or is it possible is how this con artist works. It seems impossible by any normal standards, but it would be fascinating if it were true. St. Germain doesnt use credibility to fool people. He uses curiosity. So there isnt actually anything there. All that really exists is the boring reality before your eyes. Besides, their goal was not to perform a full investigation. This was a side road, a meaningless digression. They needed to return to the task at hand without being led astray. To resolve everything, they had to erase it all, including the claw marks hidden in the deepest depths. Part 8 The blonde St. Germains back straightened unnaturally and twitched like she had been hit by a stun gun. Nothing had happened to her on the outside. This was coming from the internal structure of the St. Germain framework. Someone was working to delete them all plus the network itself. And they had been fully caught by that attempt. She would be eliminated in just a few more minutes, as would all the others. Every St. Germain alive in this time period would vanish. Gah...kah...!!!??? Even as her shout and gasp caught in her throat, she produced a new spear from the floor and grabbed the Chambord in one hand. The surrounding walls and floor groaned as plant matter creatures grew from them. Even the blonde St. Germain was attempting to don a monster which had giant blooming flower petals instead of a mane. She was preparing to slaughter her enemy. And that enemys name was... You made one mistake, said Kamijou Touma. With a great bursting sound, his right fist stopped the lion his opponent was trying to wear. And that was all it took for the beast to crumble. It wasnt that you didnt make it to the gravity bomb in time, it wasnt that you failed to control Aihana Etsu, it wasnt that you didnt drive us away from here, and it wasnt that your lies werent enough to deceive yourself. He opened his fist and pointed straight forward. But he was not pointing at the blonde St. Germain. He pointed at the person beyond her who truly stood in the leading role. You mistook the name of your enemy!! Your true enemy was by your side from the very beginning!! Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! St. Germain attempted a horizontal swing of her spear as she turned around. In other words, that was where her enemy stood. It was the #6, Aihana Etsu. No, it was the one-and-only Kanou Shinka who had cast off that shell. Before, that hero had said he would take back his friends pride that she had trampled underfoot. So from the very beginning, Kamijou Touma had not been a necessary part of this story. He had only been there to help fix the jammed gears when Kanou Shinka had hesitated to do what he needed to do. Now that the gears were working again and everything was turning like normal, it was hard for that puny boy to find any reason why he would lose. An explosive roar rang out. That deafening noise was likely the first time he had ever seriously punched someone. The pills that were a settings file had been taken away and a fatal error was spreading, so the St. Germain network was falling apart. The 0.1% impurity in the 99.9% pure diamond crystal had caused it to cloud over and grow as black as peat. Volume 12, Epilogue: End of the Extremely Passionate Quickening — CRAZY_1st_cry. Volume 12, Epilogue: End of the Extremely Passionate Quickening CRAZY_1st_cry. Still in his Power Lifter, Hamazura Shiage stood on a narrow catwalk running across the wall of the Dianoids lowest level. He had a simple reason for this. Oh, crap. This weird donut is trouble! Its making all sorts of weird squeaking sounds!! Was it placed under too much stress!? But Kinuhata Saiai and Mugino Shizuri were carefree as they looked up at him from the floor with their hands on their hips. Washing machines are still doing super fine when they make that noise. This isnt a washing machine!! Its a graviton-style artificial gravity control device! If it blows, the entire planet will be crushed to the size of a fist!! Who cares. If its a problem, I can just vaporize it with my Meltdowner. Again, its not a washing machine!! Not to mention that it supports a seventy story building! If it stops working all of a sudden, the whole building could topple right over!! Oh. Then should we get out of here super soon? She sounded as super casual as someone suggesting to buy mayonnaise now since the price would increase the following month. Eh? Wait. What about me? asked Hamazura. Cmon, Hamazura. That donut on the ceiling is spraying steam everywhere. Cant you super do something about it? Like what!? How should I know? Try grabbing the joint on the hose. Its not a leaky washing machine! Theres no way thats enough to fix it!! Hamazura complained, but he had no other ideas on how to fix it. In the end, he was forced to display his stupidity by trying to hold in the strange steam (if that was even what it was). The Power Lifters giant hands proved useful there. Meanwhile, Mugino and Kinuhata made a quick escape of the lowest level. They started by walking toward the door leading to the stairs. This has been an awful day. You dont believe in the superstition that people have a uniform amount of luck, do you? It all comes down to probability, so we cant even view this as a sign that some super good luck is coming our way soon. Wait! Waaaaaiiiiiiittttt!! Hamazura shouted after the two girls, but they had already vanished. Left alone, he we forced to babysit the giant donut that could burst at any moment. But even if god had abandoned Academy City, it seemed some invisible something C be it blood type horoscopes or big data investment theory C was still looking after the place. After all that extreme misfortune, something arrived to make up for it. Hamazura. Takitsubo-shan? Why is your face covered in tears and snot? A girl in a pink track suit had climbed the ladder to reach the catwalk and she walked up next to his giant Power Lifter. The entrances on the surface have been opened and Anti-Skill should be here soon. Yes, it would certainly be a pretty big problem if I couldnt at least hope for that much!! Hamazura, why do you sound so effeminate? Takitsubo gently moved up next to him. There was no real reason for it. They were in a position where they could lean up against each other without needing an excuse or purpose behind it. Or at least, they had been. A moment later, Hamazura skillfully swung his entire body around to avoid the track suit girl while still holding onto the joint of the hose extending from the donut. With the expected support gone, Takitsubo Rikou stumbled and her expression grew utterly blank. She spoke to her boyfriend with a bland voice that was as frightening as grinding gravel. Hama-...? No, wait. That wasnt me. I didnt do that! Whats even happening here? Oh, wait. Dont tell me it was Aneri! Whos Aneri? Wait, Takitsubo. Dont you think youre taking it a bit too far to be jealous of an assistance program!? Wait, wait. Ill explain. Ill explain it all from the beginning! And Aneri, stop trying to trip Takitsubo!! The surface looked like a dam had burst. The Dianoids entrances and exits had opened upon St. Germains defeat, so all the boys and girls trapped inside had frantically rushed out. Wah, wah! One small boy was dragged along among them. It was Aihana Etsu. No, it was Kanou Shinka who had used that name. He too had been released from St. Germains bonds and had returned the aboveground floors. That was where he had been swallowed up by the human waves. But then a hand grabbed his. Are you okay? It was Kamijou Touma. The next thing they knew, they had been tossed out into the night of District 15. The pointy-haired boy looked over his shoulder and gave the crowds an annoyed look. Looks like meeting up with the others is going to be difficult. I should probably wait for things to calm down and then call them. Um... Oh, the gravity bomb? Hamazura and that Stephanie person will take care of that. Everyone was released from the Dianoid and a proper team from Anti-Skill will be here to take over soon. Theres nothing you have to worry about. No, uh, not that. Oh, right. If youre leaving, Id suggest doing so now. Im going to go talk with Anti-Skill to explain the situation, but what about you? Would you rather not speak with them? Kamijou waved a hand dismissively as he spoke, but Kanou Shinka shook his head. Ill go too. I caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people, but I didnt do anything I need to hide. Is that so? Kamijous expression softened a bit. But I see youre not speaking as assertively anymore. That was just the blood rushing to my head. Your personality doesnt change that easily. Yeah, maybe not. People grew, but the root of their being might not change quite so easily. Kanou Shinka would likely remain a crybaby, but he had gained the strength he needed to hold in the unnecessary tears and continue facing forward. That was the small change he had undergone. He had grown while retaining the part of him his old friend had liked so much. It had been a meaningful experience. After all... Frenda definitely existed, sighed Kanou Shinka. Its too late now and theres no way to save her, but I found the truth about her. And Im satisfied with that. Accepting a difficult truth without averting your gaze may have taken a sort of strength. At the very least, he was no longer the boy who had only been able to keep his trembling legs moving by narrowing his field of vision. Hey. It sounded less like he had just realized something and more like he was asking something he had been wondering about. Why did you hand it over to me? Hm? At the end there. I may have been the one to provide the finishing blow on St. Germain, but...well...it didnt have to be that way. Im sure you could have defeated St. Germain on your own. So why didnt you? Kamijou gave a sudden smile as if the question had caught him off guard. And he went on to give his answer. What are you talking about? The hero here was you, Kanou Shinka. He did not need a Level 5 power. He did not need the title of Academy Citys #6. He did not need a boost from the legend of a shield said to belong to the nonexistent Queen Anne. He was just a boy and that was all the qualifications he needed to save the world. 2.3 million people lived in Academy City and countless joys and sorrows occurred there every day. No one who lived there could claim to live a perfectly happy life. If one paid just a little attention as they looked around, that would be abundantly clear. A small form was curled up and shedding tears. They produced suppressed weeping and sobbing. It came from the kind of student dorm room found anywhere in the city. The tears belonged to a middle school girl. Her rooms lights were off, she had a blanket thrown over her head, and she was trembling. The reason for all this was clear. It was an entirely different story from this one. Every three days, a secret death game was played. She had followed the hellish rules given by the Game Master and overcome countless games. Sometimes she had been alone and sometimes she had worked with other players, but there was nothing going on. A lot of her friends had lost during the previous game and the players who lost were disposed of when the next game began. She had to stop it, but she had no way of doing so. She could only keep fighting according to the Game Masters rules and leaving that framework was simply impossible. Time was running out. If she let it begin, her friends would lose their lives and, once she was completely isolated, everyone else in the game would work against her and she would lose too. There was nothing she could do. Even with her esper power, academic ability, money, family connections, physical strength, qualifications, and everything else that made up her personality, she could not find any way of escaping this situation. And that was when her doorbell rang late at night. ...? Her shoulders jumped in surprise, but that was all. A minute, five minutes, and then ten minutes passed, but nothing else happened. She slowly turned toward the front door and eventually stood up. Still holding the blanket, she approached the door. She saw no one through the peephole, so she cracked the door open with the chain still in place. When she found no one, she tilted her head with emotionless eyes. That was when she noticed something inside the newspaper box attached to the door. It was an A4-size envelope. Fearing it was rigged with a razor blade, she gingerly picked it up and opened it, but it had not been tampered with in any way. As she glanced through the many pages of difficult documents, she frowned. It was a collection of personal information. It also contained a message telling her she could change her identity by cutting and pasting the relevant portions. When she turned the envelope upside down and shook, a laminated card fell out. Her trembling lips spoke aloud the name she saw there. Academy Citys #6? Aihana...Etsu? Meanwhile, a delinquent boy gave a report over his cellphone while nimbly slipping through the security sensors and escaping onto the night road. Ahh, ahh! I transferred Aihana Etsu elsewhere, just like you wanted. Honestly, this is stupid. You have the power of the #6, so surely you could save them directly instead of going to all this trouble. Do you just love looking down on them like this? ... Its meaningless unless they solve their problems themselves? Thats what Im saying is looking down on them, you elite! Not that Im one to talk when Im helping some intellectual with their hobby. This really isnt a job for Yokosuka the Organ Crusher, you know? ... Oh, shut up and go straight to hell. I thought if I worked with someone above the #7 Id be able to find a way to deal with that annoying guts guy, but all Im doing is physical labor for 700 yen an hour. So whats next? Lie in wait to help them escape when their amateurish act falls apart? Wait just a damn second. Im not some kind of hero! To hell with that!! Ill still do it, though!! The delinquent boy gave an especially displeased click of the tongue and ended the call. He briefly turned back toward the student dorm and spoke. Welcome to the underside of the world, Aihana Etsu #...oh, Ive lost count. Hm. In a park not far from the Dianoid, a mummy-like Magic God used a gold sword as a cane and spoke in a dry, cracking voice. He was the High Priest. The branch-like fingers extending from his robe slowly opened and closed. Im glad to see St. Germain was safely defeated. He was much like a virus that always appeared somewhere no matter what kind of phase was added or how golden a world was created. And there was no talking it out with him thanks to that self-made hatred of his. We could have directly interfered, but we are far too powerful for that. It would defeat the purpose if we destroyed the world in the process. Yes, but its over now, whispered a beautiful women with brown skin and silver hair. She was Nephthys whose body was covered in white bandages. The Voodoo Zombie did an excellent job. Im sure of it now that Ive walked around the area a bit. The spell has adapted to our bodies, so now we can move through the world without breaking it. Nee hee hee. Splitting up our power like opposing mirrors, huh? Niang-Niang laughed like a mischievous child. She wore a short white China dress and had a distinctive charm attached to her forehead which she poked at with her index finger. By infinitely dividing our infinite power, weve kept ourselves at a level just barely low enough for this world to contain. ...But in a way, this is the worst possible transformation, dont you think? You could just keep killing and killing us without end. Like a matryoshka doll or an onion, you would have to fight a nearly eternal battle to completely kill us. There is no need to hold back. We are already full Magic Gods, so it would be unnatural to find any way for us to lose. High Priest, this is why you cant reach enlightenment. How long is it going to take you to realize that? At any rate, the Magic Gods had a technique of moving through the world, even if it was like treading on thin ice. And that meant they were about to begin for real. They were no longer leaving it up to the tendencies of others or allowing something else to bring about the conclusion. This time, a group of true Magic Gods was on the move. I suppose Kamijou Touma comes first, said the High Priest while gazing upon the starry sky. Aleister may have laid claim to him and even Othinus has interfered, but it is not a bad idea. We will simply acquire what it is we need for our objective. Old man, jealous men are just the worst, you know? This would be why you didnt get any followers even after staying true to yourself to the point of mummification. Suddenly, static filled the nighttime park. It came from a large speaker that announced the time during the day and provided disaster information during emergencies. Do you really think I will let you do that? asked a familiar voice. Oh, is that you, Aleister? Im glad to see youre still alive and kicking. Sorry about the other day. I really shouldnt have let my anger get the better of me at my age. That was all it took for him to kill. Rather than follow an exaggerated plan or make careful preparations, he acted on the rocky waves of his emotions. The High Priests words hinted at the joy he felt in tormenting the weak. And worst of all, that unenlightened man did not see any of the ugliness inside himself. His surface consciousness did not at all think he was rubbing salt in the wound. He truly believed he was showing his appreciation toward the person he confronted. Then again, we have managed to find our feet here. We might be causing some trouble in your backyard and it might not even still be a city once were done with it, but try to forgive us. After all, we have pretty short fuses. Found your feet? Do you mean that spell that infinitely divides the infinite capacity of a Magic God to trick the world by eternally layering existences that are just barely small enough for the world to contain? Word gets to you quickly. Anyway, this might be an excellent opportunity for you, Aleister. Our power is limited to what can be explained in this world, so this would be the best time to kill us. Even that line had the implied caveat of but it is still essentially impossible. For one thing, no one existed who could kill a being that the world could only just barely contain. Whether a Magic Gods power was divided by a billion or a trillion, a mere magician was still not enough to kill them. The Magic Gods existence was infinitely layered like a matryoshka doll or an onion. A Magic God was impossible to kill in the first place, but one would have to kill them a trillion or a quadrillion times before they would cease to exist. So effectively, no one could stop the High Priest, Nephthys, or Niang-Niang. They could run rampant through the world and anyone who opposed them would be crushed underfoot. The people could only curl up, tremble in fear, and wait for the disaster to pass. And if they happened to be along the Magic Gods path, they would be smashed to pieces for being so unlucky. Needless to say, Academy City had already been thrown into that disaster. However... It is true this might be the time to kill you. ...? As soon as the High Priest frowned, he felt a strange object pierce through his dried chest. Wha...t...!? He was shocked, but he was not the only one affected. Nephthys and Niang-Niang also grimaced with a hand on their chest. If you can predict what must be done and what must happen, you can prepare for the next move. To enter this world, the Magic Gods would need to use a common spell on their own bodies. ...Did you really think I wouldnt take advantage of that? It was the perfect chance to overwrite your internal structures with whatever new parameters I wanted. ... The High Priest fell silent for a moment, but... No, that would not be possible. All you ever achieved was the failure you call Aiwass. How could you possibly prepare a spell that would affect not just one completed Magic God but affect a group of them in the exact same way? And you would need information on us specifically before putting together the spell. Oh, come on, said Aleister with no hint of emotion in his voice. Why do you think I challenged the Magic Gods alone when Othinus was defeated? Wait. Dont tell me. Surely you didnt actually think a human such as myself could be enraged by a simple stain in a journal. You...dont mean... I had to take the necessary parameters by force. That was all. It did get me laughed at by some people I know, though. That was why he had not cared that he had lost. He had only needed steal the Magic Gods parameters through direct contact and then make it back alive. I buried it inside you, said Aleister. That humans cold voice seemed to challenge those gods of magic. What did I bury inside you, you ask? Tremble in fear, true Gremlin. There is great meaning in your doubt turning to impatience and then to fear. Listen, I no longer view you as a threat. You may have forgotten after living for so very long, but it is high time you gradually remembered what death feels like. No, denied the High Priest. That is still impossible. The very foundation of your assertion is wrong. You claim to have prepared something powerful enough to defeat Magic Gods like us and you claim to have used this opportunity to inject it inside of us, but that would require swapping out Zombies spell. Whether you had a spell or not, you would need to defeat Zombie, a Magic God, to replace her spell! Thats no different from locking the key inside the vault. Your initial argument doesnt hold up!! True. Something heavy could be heard tearing through the wind. The continuing fluctuation in the noise suggested it as slowly rotating as it flew. The Magic Gods reflexively turned toward the noise and they saw something fall from the distant night sky. It landed right in the center of their group. It was a cross forcibly made from intersecting steel beams. It was wrapped in barbed wire and it resembled the magical rose symbol more than it did the original symbol of a monotheistic religion. With a deafening roar and a cloud of dirt, the cross stabbed into the ground and it had something attached to it. A human silhouette was nailed to the cross by countless tungsten steel spikes and it was tightly bound by barbed wire. Zom...bie? muttered the High Priest when he saw the girl whose entire body was covered in stitches. I would prefer not to use such inelegant language, said Aleister. He was supposed to be cold and unfeeling both above and below the surface, but a note of contempt seeped into his voice. But by any chance, were you taking me for a fool? ... Far away, a golden retriever narrowed his eyes slightly. With its job complete, the sky-piercing electromagnetic ejection catapult folded up. While a small metal arm allowed him to puff on a cigar, an indulgent memory came to mind. It was of those original people, those people who were no longer with him. He had no real grudge against anyone and he held no hostility toward magic. It simply came down to his way of life. It came down to how he would use the mind they had left him with. Now, then. I suppose I should get started. Sweet smoke escaped his canine mouth as he sighed. The declaration of war was complete. That meant it was time for war. A true conflict between science and magic was unavoidable. I should get started where they left off, even if it means relying on the foreign laws they so abhorred. And I can hold my head high as I do so because that kind of rule-breaking contradiction is what it means to be a Kihara. Focus on nothing but being a Kihara. They had been unable to continue their efforts, but he would make sure what they had done was not wasted. Oh? In St. Georges Cathedral, Archbishop Lola Stuart, a woman whose folded blonde hair was 2.5 times as long as she was tall, spoke with no emotion evident in her voice. So he isnt even trying to hide it anymore. I think hes mocking me. A few pieces were laid out on a board. They represented Academy City and the Magic Gods who would likely oppose the city now. The Anglican Church was well known for its battles against magicians, but these would not be easy opponents even for them. (Normally, I would wait until they had worn each other down and then make my move, but that would be meaningless if I cant fully control both sides actions.) She tapped her index finger on the board as she thought. However, she was not worrying over the enemies she had already seen. The most frightening ones were those whose role had yet to be decided. Those were the forces that could do anything. Then again... With a quiet clack, she placed a new piece on the edge of the board. All of the other pieces were arranged according to some sort of system. They were dangerous, but she could predict what they would do. This new piece, however, was placed far from all the others and no one could ignore it. This piece did not belong to Academy City, the Magic Gods, or the Anglican Church. A certain boys name came to mind as Lola toyed with the pieces head using her finger. What this does may just determine what happens. The next battle was beginning. A few people claimed to fully understand the situation, but were they truly seeing everything on the board? Not even that was certain as far-too-many peoples fates were swallowed up by it all. Volume 12, Afterword Volume 12, Afterword If you bought each volume one by one, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. The theme this time was St. Germain!! He is pretty well-known as far as magic goes, but I had not touched on him yet because of his distance from the leaders of modern Western magic cabals like Mathers and Crowley and because doing any research will turn up as much material treating him like a con artist as material treating him like a mysterious individual. But I wondered if I could mix both the pure and impure sides of him in this series and thus New Testament 12 was born. The real themes were lies, acting, theatre, and roleplaying. For better or for worse, I think these are unavoidable factors in the occult. Not so much in pure religion or mythology, but definitely in the ritual magic organized by the same intellectuals that attended high society parties. To accentuate this theme, I added a liar on the ally side, too. He was fully relying on that lie, but as he overcame a harsh reality, he grew enough to cast off that shell, stand on his own two feet, and announce his own name. And with that truth, he defeated St. Germain who wielded lies. That was the kind of story I wanted to tell. People have various reasons to lie. St. Germain did, Kanou Shinka did, and even Frenda did in her appearance from the past. Each of those reasons approaches the true meaning of lying or acting. Take the lie Frenda told Kanou Shinka, for example. If you focus on why she did it rather than the words themselves, you might just realize that there are several different types of acting. I kept the conclusion with St. Germain vague instead of giving a clear answer, but I do have a definite answer as the author. Was he(?) a rare sort of magician or was he just an incredible con artist? Make sure to give that some serious thought. Also, the Agitate Halation Project in New Testament 7 may look merciless at first glance, but you can also view this story as the answer to what kind of threat that project could have been a countermeasure to had it not been driven out of control by Yakumi Hisako. As an experiment for this story, I kept Kamijou Touma in an assistance role. Thats why he was beaten up by Hamazura Shiage and why he let Kanou Shinka have the finishing blow. It may seem like nothing but bad news for him, but I think his What are you talking about? The hero here was you line in the epilogue shows how much he has grown from always insisting that he do it. What did you think? I also focused on Frenda so that this novel would correspond with New Testament 1. I wasnt exactly hiding it, but when I created Frenda Seivelun in Old Testament 15, I asked Haimura-san to make her extremely cute so no one would immediately peg her as the character who would die. ...But that made her one of the most popular characters even among the massive number of characters in this series, so I could not help but realize this was the work of a true professional illustrator. And so I have defined Frenda as a character that is neither good nor evil. That may be quite a rare position in this series. Since we generally see her working on the dark side, she may seem more weighted on the evil side, but I think she has a number of different sides to her that are all of equal weight. If you start wondering where exactly she wanted to return to so badly that she was willing to betray Mugino, Takitsubo, and Kinuhata in Old Testament 15, you might be able to imagine a side of Frenda that isnt pure evil. Then again, I learned after the fact just how powerful a trait a beautiful but dead girl is. There really is a lot to learn about constructing characters. Speaking of characters, I dug deeper into the character of Kihara Noukan this time. He seems to be a step above the other Kiharas, but his driving force of focus on nothing but being a Kihara is also Kihara Enshuus primary ideology and his feelings for the originals are irrational and fantastical things that go beyond scientific formulas. Despite being at the core of the Kiharas, he also has one paw outside the realm of pure science. He walks through the darkness alongside Aleister who has mastered and yet hates magic. I hope you were able to think about the character of Kihara Noukan based on the various glimpses you had of him. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and to my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anana-san. With the Dianoid, the Power Lifters, the many St. Germains, and the plant armor, there were a lot of difficult elements this time. I truly am grateful they put up with it all. I also give my thanks to the readers. With the various Magic Gods, including Othinus, have you started to realize how Gremlin works yet? The setup is complete, so a full-scale clash with the Magic Gods will finally begin next time. I hope you will keep reading. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now Its about time for Mikoto to have her turn in the spotlight, isnt it? -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 13, Prologue: Another Possible Demise — Before_the_End. Volume 13, Prologue: Another Possible Demise Before_the_End. There might be a discrepancy in our opinions. For now, lets go over what information we have. The world will suddenly end one day. When you put it that way, some people might have a reflexive urge to argue. They assume someone had to be filled with a desire to destroy the world through tragedy, that they had to put together an over-the-top plan, that they had to go through a long period of preparation, that they had to work through a few smaller incidents to act as the ignition, and that they would fire off a huge firework at the very, very end to actually destroy the world. Those people assume ending something as vague as the world would require an absurd amount of work and that, with something on so large a scale, there would be a 99.9% or greater chance of it being detected and stopped ahead of time. However, that is not entirely accurate. How about we think of it like this instead? The world will not be destroyed because some charismatic evil leader stood at the pinnacle of darkness. The world will be destroyed all on its own if left alone. Just as humans wither up all on their own if they forget to breathe or eat, the world will roll down the hill to destruction if it is simply left to the ravages of time. The world has only lasted to this day and this moment because a great many people are desperately holding that giant snowball up and keeping it from rolling down. That is why the end will come suddenly. No matter how hard people work, the worlds end will arrive like an unexpected death. Even if everyones work manages to avoid that end once, there is no guarantee that death will not make a second visit. Through the ages and eons, the world has fallen ill and been in accidents. And one day, it will be tormented by its own lifespan. The world will not be destroyed because something special happens. The world is only being maintained because something special is happening. In that case, it would only be natural to run across such an ending from time to time. Volume 13, 1: The Magic God is Always There — Sword_and_Sheath. Volume 13, Chapter 1: The Magic God is Always There Sword_and_Sheath. Part 1 He roared along. Kamijou Touma raced through the concrete jungle of District 7. He was not riding a normal car. He was on an acrobike. It was essentially a bicycle with electric assistance, but its top speed was over fifty kmh, its electronically-controlled suspension softened any impacts, and the giant disc-shaped gyros on either side of the front and back wheels gave it autonomous stability that kept it from falling over even when tilted to over seventy degrees. It was best known for being able to jump over two meters high using the suspension. The pointy-haired boy violently pedaled the bike. Something was approaching from behind. It was closing in. A great darkness had become a steel gale. It devoured any obstacles in the way. When a normal car drove into it from the side at an intersection, it knocked aside the car like a toy. Normally, there would have been nothing anyone could do. However, Kamijou Touma was an exception. He sometimes used the road and sometimes took shortcuts by making large jumps to ride along the guardrail or sidewalk railing. He pumped out extreme speed without ever giving up. Tightrope walking with a bicycle may have seemed like a tricky stunt, but it was not all that difficult a cycle art using the acrobikes exceedingly powerful gyro functionality. A high-pitched alarm blared and a railway crossing gate lowered in front of him. A train was not going to rush by at tremendous speed. The slow freight train must have run into trouble because it was stopped, forming a long line blocking his way. Kamijous way was blocked to the front and back. However, he did not grab the brake lever. In fact, he placed more of his weight on the pedals. He truly produced his full speed. It looked like he was going to break through the railway crossing gate and collide with the container car, but that was not his plan. He used another cycle art: sliding. He swung the handlebars to the right just before reaching the railway crossing to turn the acrobike perpendicular to its direction of movement. He then tilted it as far to the left as possible and slipped below the railway crossing gate like a sliding baseball or soccer player. He then passed below the freight trains high bottom and let the gyro recovery system right the acrobike again. The dull sound of metal bending metal exploded behind him, but his battle was not over. Without even giving him a break, several four-wheel drive vehicles approached from a different small road. Part 2 Heh...eh heh heh. I-itll be like this, Kamijou-chan. Be sure to make the event as exciting as you-... Theres no way I can do this! Part 3 W-wahh, wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Your attendance was already bad enough in the first term, but things are even worse now that its December and the second term. At this rate, no amount of working things out will save your chances of advancing to the next year, Kamijou-chan!! Thirty minutes had passed since Tsukuyomi Komoe, Kamijou Toumas 135 cm homeroom teacher, had come crying to him. Plenty of arguing had occurred in the intervening time. Dirtied high schooler Kamijou Touma rested his elbow on the hallway windowsill and stared into the distance with a look of melancholy in his eyes. The problem was how he was dressed. First of all, the pointy-haired boy was not wearing his school uniform. However, he was not wearing his PE uniform either. He was of course not wearing a swimsuit, but surprisingly, that was the closest to the truth. It was 9 AM on December 3. Even if he had run away to snowy Denmark with the nearly-naked Othinus, this did not seem like a rational choice, but it was what he was wearing regardless. He wore full-body flesh-colored tights. The only other real clothing was a pair of white briefs. Lastly, he wore a trench coat that looked right out of a Showa era comedy routine. Sigh... When I think about it, Ive been through some crazy stuff. Kamijou Touma, the boy who had ended World War Three with a single fist and made an enemy of the entire world to protect a single girl, dandily muttered that comment while dressed like an absolute pervert. Then again, this would likely have already broken him if he had not been through all of that. He recalled what Komoe-sensei had told him. When youve skipped as much class as you have, Kamijou-chan, extra lessons during winter break arent enough! So your only option is to earn a whole bunch of points with an amazing performance as a criminal in our anti-crime orientation!! Um, youll still need extra lessons even with this, so dont get your hopes up too much, okay? At any rate... (Im up against the entire student body, but its not like a game of tag where I lose if Im caught. I just have to run around shouting for the allotted time, so thisll be easy! And normal! Ill show them the survival skills of normal high school boy Kamijou Touma!!) That was when he heard hurried footsteps coming from the stairway. The anti-crime orientation had already begun and it seemed the others were already chasing down one of the criminals. Kamijou somewhat cautiously looked over because he did not want to get caught up in it himself, but it was a familiar face that ran into the hallway. Huh? Tsuchimikado? N-nyah! Kami-yan, its dangerous here! Hurry and...hm!? Aogami Pierce arrived after him. This created the miraculous sight of the idiot trio gathered together in matching skin-colored tights, white briefs, and trench coats. However, Aogami Pierce took it a step further with a pair of panties over his head. Ohh, Kami-ya-gyhhh!!!??? Before he could finish his first word, it looked like his neck bent in a sideways V. It of course could not have actually done that. It should not have been able to, but that was how it replayed in Kamijous mind no matter how many times he tried to make sense of it. In reality, Aogami Pierces neck had been tightly grasped by the U-shaped sasumata that flew in from the stairway. He was then sent flying to the opposite wall. As he struggled (Or convulsed? No, it couldnt be.), more and more sasumatas flew in to pin his arms, legs, and torso to the wall. What was that? What in the world was it!? A sasumata was a restraining tool shaped a lot like a medieval man catcher. It looked like a mop pole with a U-shaped piece of metal at the end and it was meant to safely hold the criminals body in place, so it was certainly not meant to be thrown like an assassins decapitation tool. G-gyhhh... I-I wonder if its true what they say about it feeling a lot better if you do it while being strangl- gogyhh!? Just as Aogamis suffering began to transform into ecstasy, he received the finishing blow and went limp. Kamijou cried out in his white briefs. Wh-what happened, Aogami!? And we were only given briefs, not panties!! Where did those come from!? Dont be stupid, Kami-yan! This is no time to worry about the dead, nyah! Step. Step. The grim reaper appeared with a sound as methodical as the ticking of a clock. Long black hair was parted wide, a mysterious steam-like aura left the mouth, and red light came from the eyes. As the coup de grace, the vicious fiend used only two arms to hold as many sasumatas as a bug had legs. Now, who was it? Fukiyose-san!? Cmon, this isnt the time for you to finally reveal your hidden power! Besides, wasnt your power the ability to do this with that to make it do that thing!? The crime of making a pure maiden cry is a weighty one, you perverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrts!! To ho ho. As always, this old woman wasnt willing to hear us out. Oh, is that whats going on here? Why did Aogami have to go too far and get us caught in the crossfire!? They showed no sign of trying to save their crucified classmate. Tsuchimikado was entirely focused on running down the hallway, but Kamjiou, man among men in white briefs, had a different idea. He did not hesitate to lean right out the open window. He ignored the rush of sasumatas assaulting Tsuchimikado (who was supposedly one of the greatest onmyouji experts and a spy in Academy City for multiple sides) and made a miraculous escape from the third floor window and onto the drain spout running vertically along the wall. There was a good reason that Kamijou Touma had made it to Part 42 of What if your schools students were replaced by aliens one by one? and What if you took over your school to create a kids kingdom? in just the second term. (It was probably his fault that the amount of alcohol Komoe-sensei consumed had secretly gone up.) He hesitated over whether to escape up or down, but going down scared him because it would require checking how high up he was. For the time being, he kept his eyes on the sky with the safe fourth floor as his goal. However... Huh? It wont open. He shook the window with his feet on the edge of the windowsill. It was locked. Oh, no! It really wont open!! And if I stay here for too long, the Fukiyose army is going to fire up at my ass from below!! Part 4 Misaka Mikoto let out another white breath as she walked through District 7. It was just past nine in the morning. If they had known this lady of Tokiwadai Middle School was wandering around the streets on a school day morning, her elegant foreign language teacher probably would have fainted and the monstrous dorm supervisor probably would have ripped off her coat to let her muscles swell out, but things were different just this once. She held the following printout: Fire precautions! The anti-crime orientation is coming up. This winter in District 7, the boundaries between schools will be lifted for some group roleplaying meant to raise anti-crime awareness. If youre playing a criminal, please surprise everyone. If youre playing a police officer, please capture the criminals. If youre playing a hostage, please run away from the criminals. Everyone will be given a stamp each time they fulfill their role. Aim to conquer your stamp card! A fantastical hidden school lunch menu awaits you!! (This doesnt have anything to do with fire precautions.) It may have started as a small event concerning arson countermeasures and had later grown into an orientation for crime in general that had no hint of the original event left. At any rate, Mikoto had been assigned a police officer role. Then again, the road here had not been an easy one. After all, the area she was walking through was near that pointy-haired boys school. (Shokuhou Misaki put up a quite a fight.) The memory of it brought a tingle to her spine. The game of paper sumo wrestling had truly come down to the wire. Yokozuna Shokuhou had hidden some cardboard in her origami figure and stuck some pieces of eraser on its feet to increase its weight, so Mikoto would have been helpless had she not used a metal clip to let her freely move her origami doll around via magnetism. It might have seemed like those high-class ladies were playing dirty, but they had been fighting over a single prize. (The rights to the area with that idiots high school.) Misaka Mikoto clenched her fist as she relished the flavor of victory once more. Plus, she had an actual goal in mind, unlike that honey-colored succubus. She had a reason worth distancing both Shokuhou and Shirai Kuroko. (How was all that stuff at Tokyo Bay resolved?) Yes. She had worked alongside him at Tokyo Bay, exchanged blows with him in the snow of Denmark, and somehow found herself pushing him onward, but why had that Othinus person ended up on his side, why had he ended up running away from Mikoto and the others without telling them anything, and why had he ended up giving Othinus an emotional embrace on TV? She had never received an explanation for any of that. She might not have cared that much if she had only seen it on an LCD screen from the other side of the world. He and Othinus had likely gone through something only they understood and had reconciled their differences. Everyone else was only seeing the highlight reel. She might have been able to accept that. But Mikoto herself had been a part of it. At the very least, she had been until they stepped onto Sargasso in Tokyo Bay. She had been in a position to make any decision she wanted as one of the central players. Yet in the very end, she found she understood nothing. That filled her chest with noise. Not even she could explain just what emotion it was, but something with a sharp point to it was poking at the surface of her heart. (Neither of us had the time for a long talk then.) She thought to herself in silence. (But now that its all over, I at least have the right to hear just what happened from beginning to end, dont I? In fact, it is over, isnt it?) One day had led into another and Christmas time was fast approaching, but she had no real guarantee of that. In her relief and excitement when returning to Academy City, she had almost completely forgotten, but once the heat faded and she could think rationally, she found she could not relax with things the way they were. She had to deal with this first. There was one thing she was most worried about. (He seemed really cornered back in Denmark.) It had gone beyond simply being pursued by so many people and being physically and mentally exhausted. She had heard that boy complain. She had seen his weak side that he must have normally kept hidden because he was forced into the category of older boy, high schooler, or upperclassman. This time, Mikoto intended to hear everything. She had no reason to hold back on that. But if she did this, his weak side would be the problem. That boy would want to avoid showing off the softest side of his heart with a lot of extra people around. That was why Mikoto had needed to keep the #5 and anyone else away. (Its possible the answer wont be enough to give me relief.) Her preparations were complete. (Its possible my view of that idiot will change the instant I learn the answer.) She had no guarantee that she would be okay with this, but she could only continue down the path she considered right. (But I stood near the center of that commotion, so I still need to learn the answer. Thats why Ive made up my mind. No matter how filthy, pathetic, or hopeless a thing youre holding inside, Im prepared to accept it. I swear I wont selfishly hurt you after I was the one to ask.) She focused her mind and raised her head. She gathered strength in her gut. She had thought about a lot, but the situation changed entirely once she arrived at a certain high school. Her mistake was wondering if there was a small back entrance for faculty because she was too embarrassed to casually cut across the large schoolyard and enter the main entrance. Once she arrived in the courtyard, she saw something. A reckless pervert was peeping into a fourth-floor window while clinging to the wall like a frog. The blowing wind allowed glimpses of white briefs inside the coat and she recognized the pointy-hair of Kamijou Touma. Mikotos mind went entirely blank. It seemed fate was cruelly made. One of them was playing a police officer and the other was playing a criminal. Tokiwadais ace made full use of her mind and even tried falsifying memories to somehow force this into a Romeo and Juliet narrative, but it proved hopeless. That was when anger took over. I may have said Id accept any answer, but that only goes so farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! She jumped straight past using a lightning spear or iron sand sword. An arcade coin flew through the air right off the bat. Part 5 In that instant, there was no way for Kamijou to avoid having his butt pierced at three times the speed of sound, but an upperclassman girl full of mature charm rescued him at the last second. She unlocked the window from the inside, pulled Kamijou Touma in as he clung to the very edge of the windowsill, and brought him to a nearby empty classroom. She had shoulder-length black hair and a winter sailor uniform that showed off her midriff because it was too small (in the chest). She was Kumokawa Seria-senpai. O-ohh, ohhhhhh... Sigh. I dont know whats going on, but things are really noisy today. This is making it impossible to get a midday nap. ...No, given the time, I guess its more of a morning nap. Ohhhhhhhhhhh! Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, senpaaaai!! What!? Why are you crying like a monster that was finally treated like a human being after having everyone throw stones at him!? Kamijou just about leapt into that chest overflowing with motherhood, but this girl had seriously saved his life back there. Based on how the school was still shaking from further blasts, that was no joke. He did not want to bother her, so he gathered the strength of his heart to restrain himself. However, Kumokawa Seria had secretly tensed her shoulders and elbows in preparation, so she pouted her lips when nothing happened. (Hm. Sometimes being a gentleman can come full circle and be cruel.) ? Nothing. She gave up on her welcoming pose, crossed her arms to lift her ample chest from below, and spoke entirely casually. Well, if youre on the run, you can relax here for a while. This is my secret base. At first glance, the empty classroom only seemed to contain roughly piled-up desks and chairs, but looking around the room from the blackboard end showed a space filled with sunny window side spots. It also contained a small cooler full of chocolate snacks, convenience store cake, and bottles of drinks. Manga magazines and a small bath TV were also scattered about. A blanket was laid out on the floor and it was covered by a super thin and warm monster of a blanket. The advertisements he had seen on TV said it was made from some kind of material used on trips to space. Kumokawa pointed here and there while sitting in her usual spot. You can grab whatever you want thats lying around. Hmm. I think Ill pass. He was actually incredibly interested in the snow viewing Mont Blanc that was only sold in the winter, but something in petite bourgeois Kamijou stopped him from eating snacks at school. Even after passing through hundreds of billions of hells, confronting an actual god, and chatting with the US president, some things simply did not go away. Ugh. The bath TVs showing a special on the acrobike. I hear you backed out. How boring. Were you the one pushing for that!? I read through all the documents, but theres no way I can do that! Cycle arts? Doing that in the streets is a good way of breaking some bones!! Kumokawa seductively lay on the blanket, reached for the weekly manga magazine she had been reading, and surreptitiously hid it below the monster of a blanket. She instead forcibly opened a womens fashion magazine to show off her upperclassman aura. By the way, senpai, what role were you given? A hostage, I think. I didnt really care, so I dont remember. A hostage... Heh heh. Looks like you just upped your score, boy. You have a hostage now. Kumokawa gave a bewitching smile that seemed to have some hidden meaning, but Kamijou could not decide whether improving his score as the criminal was a good thing or not when the role had essentially been forced onto him as a type of punishment. This scared him because one wrong step would lead to being held back. As he wondered about that, he heard multiple sets of footsteps racing down the hallway and Kumokawas eyebrows twitched as she lay in the sun by the window. Someones coming. Oh, honestly. They must have heard all the commotion Misaka was making by firing everywhere. And why is she even at our school anyway? How about we choose our words more carefully? Oh, no. It isnt Fukiyose, is it!? Shes scary!! If youre worried, then keep quiet and hide. Get in here. Kumokawa shoved Kamijou under the monster of a blanket covering her legs. This was of course an upperclassman kind of thing that not just anyone could do, but... M-mgh! Senpai, um, theres something...shoved against my face! Quiet. But, somethings...what is this? Its hard? Senpai? Eh? Why? Ehh? And these corners... Please tell me this isnt true. Are girls not as soft as Id been led to believe? This cant be true!! (Tch! Its that manga magazine I shoved in there earlier!!) Kumokawa ground her teeth at the fact that Kamijou had at least not seen what it was, but she could not turn back time. Fortunately, the footsteps in the hallway did not reach the empty classroom. The hallway itself had likely become a scene of unthinkable horrors, so the individuals focus had turned to the attacker down on the ground level. After making absolutely sure the footsteps had left, Kamijou crawled out of his upperclassmans blanket. He felt like he had unlocked quite a few achievements in lifes trophy system over the past few minutes, but all he had actually felt was something with hard corners and the sweet aroma of chocolate. He could get all of that on his own at a nearby convenience store. Pwah. Is Fukiyose gone? You really saved me. The orientation isnt limited to our school, right? If youre really worried for your life, it would probably be best to evacuate the school grounds until the heat dies down. Y-youre right. Okay! Thanks a bunch, senpai! Ill be going now!! Eh? No, wait. I was suggesting I could wander around with you!! He thought she had said something more, but he left Kumokawa Serias secret base as quickly as he could. Staying too long could reveal that base to the others and he doubted she wanted that. He poked his head out the door, observed the hallway (which was almost falling apart thanks to the Railgun blasts), and first made sure no one was there. Kamijou, the warrior in skin-colored full-body tights and white briefs, made his way down the hallway with the speed of a cockroach, descended the stairs, and made his way to the first floor entrance. I-Im glad to see you know how to play the role of the pervert. Huh? Senpai? Why are you here? He turned around by the shoe lockers and Kumokawa Seria cleared her throat. You can head outside if you want, but there will be police officers out on the streets, too. Do you know how youll escape and what youll use for transportation? Yeah, no worries there. Theres that new bicycle...um, the acrobike? Yknow, that electrically assisted monster. Komoe-sensei got a little carried away and ordered one for us, so I can borrow that. (Now, Im getting pissed off. He never thinks anything through, so why is he so prepared now of all times!?) Senpai? Kamijou tilted his head and shoved a hand inside his shoe locker. He felt something unexpected inside. Whatever it was fluttered weightlessly through the air and he grabbed it before it reached the floor. It was an envelope. It was an elegant greenish-brown envelope that seemed to be made of high-quality Japanese paper. It also had cherry blossom decorations here and there. After looking at the front, looking at the back, flipping it over again and again, and otherwise inspecting it, White Briefs Kamijou completed his appraisal with a tight expression. Its a love letter!? Wha-? Kumokawa Serias face instantly went pale. Wha-? Misaka Mikoto similarly tensed up while pressed against the wall near the entrance after being chased around by the other students. But Kamijou Touma noticed neither girls reaction. With the letter in hand, he began to wander toward some place where he could be alone, but he remembered the anti-crime orientation was still underway, hesitantly moved back and forth, and finally tore open the envelopes seal where he was because he could not resist any longer. He checked its contents. The letter was also on high-quality Japanese paper. It was beautiful paper that would probably have been transparent when held up to the light. Slender handwriting covered the paper, but high school boy Kamijou had trouble reading it. Still, he made full use of his inadequate brain to read just the parts he could make out. I...am...waiting...on the...roof...top? For a while, he had trouble grasping the situation, but understanding finally arrived. It sank in like melting ice. He held the letter overhead in both hands and began spinning around in crazed joy. Yahooooooo!!!!! Its finally happened! Its fiiiiiiinally haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappened!! This isnt a drama and it isnt a movie!! Love is real after allllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!! (Im going to kill him!!) (Im going to kill him!!) Both the upperclassman and underclassman types cursed him, but he gave that no thought whatsoever. That was when the cruel side of Kumokawa Seria reared its ugly head. B-but dont you have someone you like, a girl youre interested in, or an older girl youre always thinking about? Like a nearby upperclassman? Thaaaat is a completely different issue!! Getting a love letter and having a girl be the one who confesses her love to you is enough to earn one of lifes trophiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssss!! (Im going to kill him and bury him! District 21s mountains should work!!) (Im going to kill him and bury him! District 21s mountains should work!!) Oblivious to the angry girls, Kamijou tried again and again to read the illegible letter. But what is this? Its got a refined or even old-fashioned feel to it. ...Ah! The anti-crime orientation means girls from other schools might be here! It might be someone from a sheltered girls school!! He of course had no idea a girl from just such a school was curled up and holding her heart just five meters away. The name. What about her name? ...Oh, theres something at the end. Is this it!? H-hi-high? Thats it!! It starts with high!! So is it a school name? I cant read the next part, but I bet its the name of some all-girls high school! Okay, time to go!! The stairs to adulthood await me on the roof!! In his skin-colored tights and white briefs, Kamijou changed direction with a frightening burst of speed. If he had calmed down, he would probably have started worrying about what to say if a girl really was waiting for him, but he was far from calm. And after being completely left behind, Kumokawa Seria (+1) gave a comment of her own. Why would anyone sign a letter with their schools name? Part 6 Once the pervert named Kamijou Touma finished climbing the stairs to adulthood, he flung open the door to the rooftop. The winds of freedom blew through and the rooftop seemed to stretch on forever. And who did he find restlessly waiting for him? Hello. Did you read my letter, Kamijou Touma? It was a mysterious old man (or rather, a mummy) whose dried skin split apart in a smile. .............................................................................................................................................................................. Heh. Kamijou Touma gave a weak laugh. At the same time, he clenched his fist hard enough that he thought it would break and he opened his eyes in such a ghastly expression it seemed tears of blood were going to start flowing from them. I had a feeling it was something like this. I didnt get my hopes at all. Not in the slightest!! Youre probably some magician after Index, so hurry up and attack so I can destroy your illusion alreadyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! Now, now. Not so fast. What good is exchanging blows before you even know who I am? Wasnt it challenging a god of magic so quickly that got you sent to the depths of the abyss with Othinus? God...of magic? Precisely. The mummys purple robe had luxurious pure-gold decorations which made him too gaudy to call a monk. He also pressed a gold sword against the concrete floor as a staff. I am one of the true Magic Gods. My name is...yes, you can call me the High Priest, just as I signed my letter. This was different yet again from St. Germain. He made no exaggerated gestures or turns of phrase that were meant to convince Kamijou. He was entirely casual about it all. His careless usage of the term Magic God gave him an intense presence different from Othinuss. In an instant, bits and pieces of frightening memories stabbed into the back of Kamijou Toumas mind. He had already grown a bit tearful. Then he spoke. Theres no way Im going through hundreds of billions of hells with you!! Yes, I suppose that wouldnt seem like much of a reward. Im not making an enemy of the world and running through Denmarks blizzards either!! Perhaps Nephthys or Niang-Niang would have been better suited for dealing with a teenage boy. That initially seemed like a meaningless comment, but it also seemed to be saying something concerning. First of all, was this mummy (or an old man filled with so much ridiculous technology that it looked like a corpse was living and speaking) really a Magic God? And hadnt he just mentioned a few other names as if they were the same as him? Was it safe to assume there were more like him? Kamijou finally gulped and the mummy known as the High Priest cackled. Good. It is only natural for a human to reach an understanding more slowly than a Magic God would and I am not so impatient that I would let that irritate me. ... You are trying to apply the situations from recent events to me, arent you? That puts your understanding a few steps behind, but I can play along. What you saw in the St. Germain event does not apply to me. You should immediately give up on the optimistic hope that I am a fake pretending to be a Magic God. ... You just wondered why I am here, didnt you? From that point of view, St. Germain is ever so slightly applicable. He said a sword had once chosen a king and he chose Aihana Etsu, correct? Then I have a question for you. What do you think a Magic God would be trying to choose? Well, understander of Othinus? He knew about the St. Germain incident and he knew about the understanding that should only have been known to Kamijou and Othinus. That was enough to indicate this mummy known as the High Priest was something special, but then Kamijou slowly let out a voice heavier than the air. Before that, can I ask you an important question? What might that be? If were going to talk about some unbelievable hidden side of the world, can I take this off first? Yes. As the target of the anti-crime orientation, Kamijou was wearing skin-colored tights, white briefs, and a trench coat. The High Priests eyes opened wide (even if it was unclear whether he actually had eyeballs or not). He then spoke in a tone that suggested he was about to be overwhelmed by the trembling of his heart. You only enter your serious mode when you remove your briefs!? Dont make things up, old man. Part 7 Now. Once Kamijou removed his skin-colored tights, his normal school uniform was revealed. The tights had appeared skintight because he had stuffed them full of cotton to create a silhouette one size larger than his real one. He had gone to the trouble because the freezing December air would have taken his soul away if he had worn nothing but full-body tights. He could still hear the excited shouting of the anti-crime orientation in the distance, but he calmed himself and observed the oddity before him. It doesnt look like I can call this a joke. You really are a corpse. Hm. You accepted Othinus who gouged out an eye and hung herself. I dont see how Im much different. The High Priest rapped on his waist with a dried hand. He should have been dead, but he moved like a living human. It would have been easier to accept if someone said he had metal wires running through him and he was being electronically controlled. Kamijou had met a great variety of people: Archangel Misha Kreutzev, the immortal Fr?ulein Kreutune, and Kakine Teitoku who could create his own body. He had seen plenty of people who had surpassed the limits of the human body, but the High Priest was somehow different from all of them. He was not shifting the burden anywhere else. He simply was a mummy naturally. Kamijou could not even imagine what the old man would have looked like in life. That was how unique a situation the High Priest had created in himself. There was nothing to say whether he was nor was not a Magic God. Kamijou did not want there to be multiple beings on the level of Othinuss full power, but that was a hope, not an answer. I have mostly grasped how quickly you catch on. Now, where should I begin? The High Priest calmly resumed talking as he stood on the rooftop. Oh, I know. How would you define this world? ... The world. No need to grow so defensive. Im not going to quibble about the world being recreated by Othinus after your fight with her. I am talking about your impression of the world. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Not many people would think of every nook and cranny of the planet when they heard the word world. Nor would their imaginations realistically fly all the way out to the whole solar system or galaxy. For Kamijou, the world was only the lines connecting the locations where his friends and acquaintances were. Of course, for a variety of reasons, he personally knew a lot more people than the average person. Dont you find it odd? The High Priest shifted the conversation in a completely unexpected direction. Quite a few world-shaking incidents have occurred to reach this point. In fact, one was quite literally world-shattering. But why did they all occur within your reach? That almost makes it sound like you stand in the center of the world. What? The world is a fragile thing. The six or seven billion people living here do not all support it equally. In that way, Imagine Breaker truly is a thick pillar for the world, but that leads to another question. Why did that exceedingly mysterious reference point and repair point for the world end up inside an individuals right hand? Personally, I think that makes the chosen boy even more unique than the power itself. ... Kamijou looked down to his right hand. It was not that he had never questioned Imagine Breakers presence. He had entrusted his life to it plenty of times. Was there or was there not an answer to that power? That question was constantly in a corner of his mind. But why had it been him? Had he ever asked that before? After giving it some thought, he finally spoke. Thats nonsense. Oh? Its true the world might look fragile to some people. To a Magic God up in the clouds, its something you can remake as many times as you like. ...But thats still wrong. This isnt an RPG that was made to be beaten and it doesnt just reach the end once it is beaten. Im in the center? Im the pillar supporting it? If so, the worlds lifespan is only about one hundred years. That just cant be. Itll continue on even when I die. How na?ve. Or were you too thoroughly imprinted with the idea that all people are equal? Of course they all are. Heh heh. Even though this very countrys laws consider the murder of a doctor or firefighter to be a greater crime than the murder of a normal person? Even though killing a child is considered a greater crime than killing an old man? The punishment is determined based on how many people the victim could have saved in the future or how much money they would have made, so a completely unequal system is running rampant. You might as well be pointing at the normal person who was normally killed and telling them they never would have amounted to much of anything anyway. Thats sophistry. Perhaps. The High Priest readily admitted it. He must not have ever expected to defeat Kamijou with that argument. But the general idea is correct. Namely, that you are positioned very near the center of the world. Otherwise, the Observer would not be serving so nearby. The Observer? Yes. The High Priest paused for a moment. I do not know if you have actually seen them. And even if you have, who can say if it was ever written to your long-term memory. But they are definitely there. Yes, within ten meters of you. ...? Kamijou looked around in confusion. There was no one on the large rooftop except for him and the High Priest and there was nowhere to hide. Who is this Observer youre talking about? Is it you? Of course not. They would never need to meet you directly like this. Nor would they need to ask you anything. The Observer simply remains by your side at all times and watches everything you do. They know the answers to the questions before they are given, they compile it all, and they construct a massive collection of information. What...are you talking about? Let me say it again, you have likely seen the Observer already. Hearing that, something felt a little off somewhere in Kamijou Toumas head. It was like a slight itching at the end of a finger telling him of a tiny hangnail. Think back. They would have always been there: in a corner of the classroom, at school events, at the Daihaseisai, and around the hot pots you ate with your class. ...Huh? There must be someone. Someone who wears the same uniform and blends into the background like they belong, but whose name you dont know and whose voice youre not sure you would recognize. Just saying theyre in your class isnt enough of an explanation. Think back to your nightmares running from alpha to omega that Othinus gave you. The Observer would have blended into the background there looking entirely unconcerned. They may have turned their back or to the side on occasion, but they would always have been keeping an eye on you. Large beads of sweat poured down Kamijous forehead. And they did not stop there. His entire body was soaked. It really was strange. Now that he had it pointed out to him, it really was strange. Her... That girl with the short brown hair and the headband... Come to think of it, who is she!? I feel like shes been nonchalantly showing up everywhere I go!! Then she would be the nameless Observer. The High Priest grinned and revealed a truth of the world. This world is nothing but a story told from the Observers point of view as she makes use of her ability to read minds. Kamijou just about cried out in surprise, but he was cut off. Just kidding!! Just kidding!? All that lead up and it was just a joooooooke!? You really scared me. I was thinking there was some deeper meaning there! But of course shes just a classmate!! Kamijou held his chest as his heart continued to beat unhealthily fast and this time he really did cry out. Its really hard to tell when youre joking!! It was true he was pretty sure he did not actually know that girls name even though she was a classmate, but he brought his mind back on track by telling himself it was just a joke and he would not find anything even if he did look into it. The mummy High Priest cackled and did not seem to mind very much. But, Kamijou Touma, it is not all that wrong to view yourself as very near the center of the world. Youre still insisting that? You have ended up at the center, but that is not necessarily because of your own actions or because of overlapping coincidences. What if someone set it up that way and lifted you to that spot? For example, some people who can destroy something as incomprehensibly large as the world with a single fingertip. ... So youve finally caught on. The High Priest said it suddenly. He pointed at himself with a finger of skin and bones that looked like it was about ready to break off. I refer to us, the true Gremlin. Part 8 A cold wind blew across the school rooftop. The racket from the anti-crime orientation sounded far, far away and seemed empty. Meanwhile, the atmosphere between Kamijou and the High Priest had changed. It was clear the boys caution had grown even more than before. The High Priest, however, remained unchanged. He seemed to be saying that nothing Kamijou Touma could do would be a threat to him. First of all, Gremlin is not a group that mixes science and magic, nor is it a collection of Norse magicians led by Othinus. The High Priest readily spoke some information so secret both Academy City and the Anglican Church probably did not know it. And we true Magic Gods have no interest in ruling the world or exterminating any who oppose us. After all, we can create anything we need. Well, we are weakened at the moment due to certain circumstances, but let me talk about this from our normal position. Opposing someone is a method of using violence to make up for what you lack. We can freely create something large enough to be called the world, so we can produce any missing piece at the snap of a finger. It could be money, fame, social status, the past, facts themselves...and even lives that have been lost. Once you have everything, you lose all reason to fight, dont you? ... When he thought about it, that was a bit of a mystery. Othinus had had a reason to become (or return to being?) a Magic God. It had been based in her desire to return to her own world that only she knew. She had needed to struggle through the human world in order to rise to the level of Magic God. She had needed violence to have her way in human society. But what about the High Priest who already was a Magic God? What did he and the other Magic Gods have? Magic Gods would have no reason to enter into a conflict with humans. It was true humanity had enough weaponry to blow up the planet dozens of times over or to bring about their own ruin hundreds of times over. But if they used every last one of those weapons on the Magic Gods like there was a sale on implements of destruction, could they so much as scratch them? If no attack could even make them budge, there was no point in striking back. It was similar to how Kamijous intestines was full of bacteria, but he had no desire to wipe them all out. And as already said, a Magic God could fulfill anything they needed. People would fight to remove the pain of their inadequacy. If any magicians or espers confronted a Magic God for their past, their own benefit, or revenge, the Magic God could defang them by fulfilling that inadequacy. Just as Kamijou had had no way of fighting that golden happy world that Othinus had shown him, someone obsessed with fighting would be left powerless in front of that perfection. Then what did the Magic Gods want to do here? The High Priest himself had said opposition was an attempt to make up for an inadequacy with violence. In that case, what inadequacy was afflicting them? It is simple. The mummy spoke simply while omitting anything unnecessary. If you reach the end of the finite, it all returns to nothingness. But the infinite is not a mountain of excess. It is nothing other than an elimination of all desire. That itself is the state of enlightenment, but do you at least partially understand, boy? No, I dont get it at all. I may claim to understand Othinus, but I only know her as a girl. I dont understand anything when it comes to her being a Magic God. I see. When I hear that, I cannot help but feel even more annoyance with that Norse Magic God who selfishly made a mess of the world. ... But you are at least faintly aware of it, arent you? The High Priest seemed to be testing him. We Magic Gods have everything. We have the power to destroy the world and remake it from scratch. Also, we feel no threat from the outside world. An attack from anything other than a Magic God would be less noticeable than a mosquito bite. Then your problem is...? Yes. That leaves a struggle over resources with the other Magic Gods. We all have the power to change everything, but there is only one world. Think of it like having ten painters but only one canvas. If they each continually try to overwrite it as they see fit, it would develop into a fistfight. Do you understand what Im saying? The golden world Othinus had shown him had only been happiness as she saw it. If there had been five or ten Magic Gods there, they each would have added their own ideas of happiness and come into conflict. As a result, they might have started fighting to protect their own version of happiness. Simply put... If there had only been a single god, there would not have been a problem. But that is not how it turned out. So theres just too much power between all of you? Hah hah! Indeed. That is a good way of putting it. We have too much power. And Gremlin is the reconciliation council that was created. Kamijou recalled the idea of magic names. Magicians carved those names into their hearts and they represented the original desire that led them to step from the normal path. They all self-deprecatingly said those desires would never be granted, but they still never stopped reaching for that jewel-like glitter. But what if their wishes could be granted in five seconds? They had not known if they could accomplish it even after a long, long lifes work, so what if it was complete after just a few moments? What would they do with the power they were left with? And what if others also had enough power to singlehandedly create or destroy the world? It isnt something we could simply ignore, said the High Priest. Kamijou Touma, do you believe in destiny? Destiny? Ha ha. That may be difficult for someone poisoned by science in Academy City, but you must have always felt that you were burdened with misfortune. ... There is such a thing as unavoidable destiny. There are powerful rails that cannot be overcome by an individuals decisions. But even that is ultimately nothing more than the result of an unseen clash between the opinions of Magic Gods. Of course, we have no intention of harming any specific individual. In fact, the individuals clinging to this puny planet never enter our field of vision. Still, our actions are constantly affecting the outside world and make great changes in the world. It can be quite a problem. Talk of fortune and misfortune reminded Kamijou of the Saints in addition to himself. One of them was so constantly dealt a lucky hand that she feared those around her would always be dealt an unlucky hand. That is the same, readily stated the High Priest. It is true Saints fall on the fortunate side of things, but they had no say in being born a Saint. That means there were some larger rails in place there. The very fact that they receive that fortune as Saints was determined by that unshakeable destiny. At that point, the mummy laughed dryly. Although, if were talking about destiny, then you would be the sole exception. Thanks to your Imagine Breaker, even the vague power of us Magic Gods is uniformly leveled out. That keeps any large waves away from you alone and keeps you in constant misfortune. In other words... We do not bother looking to the outside. ... We are only interested in the others inside Gremlin. A world that is distorted by our own infighting is like a house built on sand. Focusing on it is as meaningless as on a sandpainting that will be blown away by the wind. At this point, have you finally caught on that we mean no harm? The scale was simply too large. It was like someone saying they would destroy the world using only the AIM diffusion fields. It was a proud announcement that there was more than just one of those special beings; there was an entire group where it was entirely normal. If Kamijou had not known better, he might have reflexively argued back, but he knew the power of a true Magic God. If multiple individuals with Othinuss full power existed in a single world, he could see how they would end up in an unmanageable fight over their ideas of happiness. In which case... Then why are you speaking with me? You arent interested in the outside world, right? Buddhism contains the idea of the Six Paths. The High Priest began on a topic befitting the title he went by. That is the idea that all forms of life C whether human, animal, or deva C are reborn again and again as they aim to reach enlightenment. There is no escape, not even for a great priest in a temple or for a holy man who has nearly mastered his path, wears heavenly raiment, and flies through the sky. Except, that is, by achieving perfect buddhahood. No matter how praised one might be in this life, they could find themselves walking the path of a preta or animal in the next life. Of course, I achieved buddhahood in a single life, so I couldnt tell you if that refers to the physical soul or if it is some kind of metaphor. What do you mean? You dont know? The world is divided into different categories: human, animal, deva, preta. But there is no path allowed for those like us who are known as Magic Gods. Yet we did not rise to this position through the normal means, so the gates of the Pure Land or of heaven will not open for us. What did that mean the High Priest and the other Magic Gods wanted? A seventh path that is not contained by the six that already exist. The mummy continued without hiding anything. It can remain closed like a ring. It doesnt matter if it is twisted like a M?bius strip. We simply want a category that contains us. When St. Germain instigated that boy named Aihana...or was it Kanou? Anyway, he brought up Excalibur, remember? This is similar. You could say we want a sheath to safely store the sword of such tremendous power. ... No, that is limited to the human world. To put it on the level of a god, it might be better to call it Mmirs head or the Scales of Anubis. ? Was that too difficult for you? Basically, even the gods are said to have tools like scales or a compass that judge whether they are doing the right thing or not. And, Kamijou Touma, you may be that tool for us. It came out of nowhere, but the High Priest did not seem to be joking. I already said that we have no interest in the outside world. The different Magic Gods are fighting over the limited resources to decide what to do with the one and only world. Whether we peacefully talk it out or exchange blows, our actions could unintentionally shake destiny to the point that the outside world is destroyed. Even for us, there are areas where we do not know what should be done with the world and cannot tell where the world is headed. But what if we could provide a definite directional focus with a singular set of values? Wait. You dont mean... Kamijou Touma, you are the one who stopped World War Three with a single fist and even worked out a compromise with the extreme irregularity known as Imagine Breaker. To be honest, it was a complete miscalculation that you saved Othinus ahead of time and reached an individual understanding of her, but you can do it, cant you? Just like with that one-eyed god, you can use conversation to reach a conclusion with beings like us. ... Kamijou gradually caught on to what the High Priest was trying to say. However, that understanding did not bring calm. In fact, it only brought a tense sweat and a racing pulse, as if he had been walking along blindfolded and was gradually realizing he was approaching the edge of a cliff. The gathering of Magic Gods known as Gremlin could also be called the keyboard connected to the world and to destiny. Simply having someone push or pull at it is enough to distort the current age. It isnt an issue of any individual. We are all bringing about change. And we do so whether we continue forward or turn back. No, even doing nothing affects it. The High Priest smoothly spoke an unbelievable truth. That is why we want a canary in the coal mine. We wanted to set down our feet such that they would not cause anyone any trouble, but...oh? Have we truly not trampled on anyone and is everyone really equally happy? We need to know those answers from a smaller perspective, from one of the ants crawling on the earth. I...cant believe that. We of course are not asking you to do it for free. If we leave the scoring to you, we can considerately make things easier for those close to you within acceptable bounds. This is much like a wish or a prayer with 100% chance of being granted. If you can freely control the distortions caused by the Magic Gods, you can achieve unlimited successes here in the real world. Hah hah. This sounds a lot like St. Germains nonsense. The boy who was chosen by the sword becomes the king who controls all. Kamijou Touma, who was constantly plagued with misfortune, would be able to control the worlds destiny. It was an ironic proposal. It sounded like a bad joke. You mean, said Kamijou with a gulp. Gremlin has no real interest in world domination. Nor do you intend to wipe out the human race. The Magic Gods living there will stay hidden away, living happily somewhere were entirely unaware of. Thats all you are? Correct. And just by staying there, you influence our world, for better or for worse, so you want to do something about that. But what meaning is there in that for you Magic Gods? Why would you be worried about us humans? We arent. Not really. We have no more goals anymore. We just want to bring about our own version of happiness and live as we wish. This is only about a slight concern. ? You know in those...what do you call them? Net cafes? I recently learned about them, but its like the security in those. Even if you know the odds of a problem are small, dont you still feel relieved when you see the no threats found message pop up? Relieved? Thats all this is for!? Youre talking about the Magic Gods possibly helping me and thats all its about!? That is also correct. It would be a problem if the no threats found message was a complete lie, but anything else is fine. For example, if the security software itself takes over the memory and monitors all communications. We are willing to overlook such trivial matters to grant your selfish wishes. As I said before, this is a prayer that allows a human to interfere with the paths set by the gods. We may be weakened at the moment due to certain circumstances, but we can still likely create enough of a disturbance to save or destroy an individual, a nation, or a civilization. Do you understand now? That was all the High Priest said. He was not making himself the king. He was a god placing a man on the throne. It seems St. Germain had partially decoded this much. He may have used pieces of it when lifting up that Kanou Shinka boy. But that is the extent of our goal. A certain sword once chose a king, St. Germain partially chose Kanou Shinka, and we have chosen you, Kamijou Touma. That said, there is no need to worry. We will not burden our scorer with the actions and responsibilities of a Magic God. We simply wish for the external evidence we need to rest easy. The same goes for the seventh path I mentioned earlier. I am not talking about some completely different realm. We simply want a formless sense of calm. It is nothing more than that. Why? Why did we choose you, you mean? I am not saying anything you have done caught our eye. That is getting it all backwards. ? You might think the true Gremlin focused on you because you saved a girl, protected Academy City, ended World War Three, reached an understanding of Othinus, and brought calm back to a world boiling over with revenge. ...But isnt that backwards? The mummy cackled. From the very beginning, you were the scorer meant to view the world. You were the being hypothesized by us Magic Gods who are the gears of the world. That is why you worked toward a resolution without being thrown off track during those aforementioned incidents. Imagine Breaker is merely an addition to your true nature. Or rather, as the wish of all magicians was wandering aimlessly, it was drawn in by your true nature. You could call it a trivial interference. The name Kamijou Touma, or the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons, was not given to the power of your right hand. It was given to you, wasnt it? Thus, the center of the issue is not the records of your past or the power in your right hand. It is you yourself. It was a baffling suggestion, but it may have been something one could only accept without question once reaching the level of that mummy. It is not leaving our blade with your right hand that will allow us to rest easy. We are leaving it with your nature C your spirit C that befits the name of the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons. Human child, think back to your very first goal. You should easily be able to score and regulate the true Gremlin. Was that right? Or was it wrong? Which was it here? And this is not a bad deal for you either, smoothly continued the High Priest. I said before that the various world-shaking incidents had occurred within your reach, but how many people were injured or lost on the way to those conclusions? You completed everything from beginning to end, but have you ever scored a perfect 100 as you did so? ...But if you score us and you alter the world as you wish, the distortions brought by us Magic Gods can change that. That was likely true. He only had to think back to Othinus. A single Magic God had done so very much, but he was being told he would receive unconditional assistance from every Magic God in the history of the world. The puny boys prayers would be placed on the rails set up by the gods. And there were no side-effects and he did not have to give anything up in exchange. It would all be accomplished from some distant place. The High Priest had said something about being weakened, but what did that matter? Mostly any incident would be over in a single second. In fact, would any incidents be allowed to begin in the first place? You will be the security software that gives us peace of mind when you tell us there is no problem and you will gain control of memory. You will literally receive access to the power of the gods and to destiny. It was a decisive statement. By controlling those distortions, you will indirectly be able to mimic being a Magic God. Your world will belong to you and your influence can cover this world in which six or seven billion people live. You can eliminate any tragedy before it occurs, no hatred will ever grow, and you will live in a world where everyone is happy and fulfilled. After World War Three and the business with Othinus, you should already know your decisions can influence the world. There is no reason to think too hard about it. You can simply think of it as gaining the ultimate trump card for everything you...no, everything the entire Kamijou Faction has been doing. Kamijou thought about everything that had happened. He had lost his memories and he had been killed by Othinus, but he had still made it this far. The world may have been blown to smithereens, but he had still continued on to this day. But just as the High Priest had said, could he really say he had ever scored a perfect 100? How many smiles of the unsaved had he seen in Othinuss golden world? Had that proven that the power of a Magic God really could save all of them? Terra of the Left had died. Kihara Kagun had not been stopped. There was also the incident with Yakumi Hisako and Rensa. What had happened to the girls named Mitsuari Ayu and Frenda without his knowledge? He had been oblivious to some things and he had been deceived. He only had one body, swinging his two arms had not always been enough to reach someone, and it had been impossible to save absolutely everyone even if he took the shortest route from beginning to end. But what if he could do that? It did not matter if it was cheating. He could nip any disaster in the bud and resolve any incident before it began. What if that dream of an option lay before him? To wish was to make a wish. To pray was to rely on a god. The Magic Gods had approached him and held out their hand. If that truly was all this was... Now. The High Priest reached out his dried hand as if hoping for a handshake. Become our scorer and obtain the altar of the Magic Gods, Kamijou Touma. In response, the boy looked the High Priest directly in the eye and gave his answer. No. The mummys hand remained in empty air. He could be their scorer. He could be the sheath for the ultimate sword. An altar had been created for him, giving him the controls to the world, but Kamijou Touma rejected it all. What youre talking about is no different from the happy world Othinus showed me in the very, very end. It may look perfect at first glance, but its really a reign of terror that forces your own values on everyone else. Its no different from saying you can be happy in solitary confinement because they give you clothes, food, and shelter. ...Oh? And your entire suggestion is based on the idea that people will end up fighting if you leave them be. You think that conflict needs to be eliminated ahead of time. Kamijou threw his words at the mummy. Who says thats how it works? Maybe people wont cause any major incidents without something out of the ordinary kicking it all off. Are you still going to monitor them 24/7/365 and crush them if they do anything that looks remotely suspicious? Even though they might have been sneaking around in the shadows to surprise their lover with a birthday present? Thats just going to cause new reasons for conflict! High Priest, what youre suggesting is no different from burning people like straw and then stomping the fire out underfoot. How is that any different from an arsonist firefighter!? Are you really claiming people are essentially good after everything youve seen? This is a little too unique to just call na?ve, but that is exactly why I want you as our sheath and scorer. Perhaps it is exactly because you are not eager to accept that you are perfect for what we want. The High Priest actually seemed to be enjoying this turn of events. But this will not change the end result. Are you saying Ill change my mind? Yes. It is merely a matter of sooner or later. Will you catch on before or after losing something? Isnt that right? After rejecting our offer, you are sure to try to resolve the next incident that occurs. And that remains true whether you are aware of it or not. So will you fight the old-fashioned way and create needless damage or will you reach for the cheat codes right away and end it all with no one hurt? ...The path you take may be a little different, but you will find yourself in the same place in the end. You will resolve the incident. The question is how many will have died along the way. ... That is why I find it somewhat baffling why you would not take my hand. You stand before the path to a future where no one has died and everyone is smiling together, so why would you intentionally choose the path of death? And I am talking about the lives of those around you, not your own life. He already knew that, but he still felt dizzy. This was a question unique to a Magic God. He had faced the same question in Othinuss happy world. When faced with the ultimate paradise that seemed impossible for a single individual to achieve, his fragile mind had been swept away all too easily. That was what it meant to face a god. But he could not let himself be deceived. Back then, the Will had told him that there was a distortion even in that happy world where everyone seemed to have been saved. The puny humans only weapons may have been selfishness and a desire to have things for himself, but he had been saved by the fact that people will risk their lives for worthless things like that. When looking at the number of lives, the High Priest may have been right. But his method stripped away everything but the lives. People could easily become puppets when faced with destiny. It was no different from shoving all six or seven billion people into a prison, giving them clothing, food, and shelter, and saying you had created an ideal society with no inequality, starvation, or poverty. That might be ideal for the person grinning down from above. It might be ideal for the puppeteer amusing himself by controlling the people desperately struggling from day to day. If it continued for a century or two, it was possible no one would question it anymore. It would be just like goldfish that had been selectively bred to the point that they could not live in natural rivers. And if they did not question it, they might be satisfied with that twisted environment and they might think they were happy. Index would, Misaka Mikoto would, Kazakiri Hyouka would, and Othinus would. Everyone would, even if they did not meet the normal definition of human. They would accept that happiness with a smile even though everything from the past had been rejected and even though they would die if they were thrown out of their aquarium of artificially supplied oxygen and thorough heat management. But... I cant allow that... ... This may have been an illogical, inefficient, and meaningless complaint. It may have been an imperfect and incomplete issue with no benefits whatsoever. But whether he should unconditionally throw it out was another issue entirely. For one thing, he had not clenched his teeth, formed a fist, and ran forward with all his might because he had wanted to make some kind of change. He had wanted to preserve his unchanging days. He had not wanted anything unnecessary. He would have been satisfied getting along with the others while smiles were the norm and without anything being taken away for some absurd reason. The High Priest was talking about ruling and managing the world, but even if that was a peaceful thing, it would only overturn the normality Kamijou Touma wanted. He did not want to turn Index, Misaka Mikoto, and the others close to him into decorative tropical fish. He did not need a wish or a prayer. There were other ways to protect what was important. High Priest, I wont go with you. It doesnt matter how much power youll unconditionally lend me, I just cant allow that future. And if anyone can give you what you want as long as they have what it takes to be your scorer, then I cant just ignore this. Meaning? You said I could end any disaster before it began, but unfortunately, you look like a disaster-in-the-making to me. I cant just ignore it when someone is willing to lend out enough power to rule the world!! After all, Kamijou Touma knew what that meant. He had seen a Magic Gods power for himself. He had seen it from alpha to omega. That had not been a dream or an illusion. He truly had seen the long, long history of everything mankind had built up come crumbling down at the whim of a god. Knowing a Magic God was coming to destroy the world with that power was frightening enough, but it was even worse for them to hand that power over just because they were not interested in this world. Who could say who would take control of six or seven billion people for their own view of happiness. It was even possible all of those people would become dolls who did not even know they were being controlled. Hm. This is certainly a problem. The High Priest tilted his head with a dry cracking sound. He looked like he was watching someone who did not know the rules make a ridiculous move in a game of go. He seemed truly baffled as to how Kamijou had reached that conclusion. I already told you, didnt I? It is a matter of sooner or later, of before or after you lose something. A moment later, something burst out from empty air beyond the metal fence behind the High Priest. They looked like two large trees quickly flying upwards, but they were not. They were made of dirt or mud. They almost looked like wings placed over the High Priests silhouette, but they were probably arms. It may have been to match Kamijous right hand. The High Priest sighed and tapped the rooftop floor with his golden sword. I truly cannot understand why you would choose to wait until after you have lost something. ...!!!??? All of Kamijous hair bristled in alarm. Something like a surge of electricity ran down his spine. But it was too late. One of the colossal arms swung down. It did not hesitate to crush half of the school building made of reinforced concrete. Kamijous vision and hearing were blown away. He could not believe the sight before his eyes. The sound of something hard crumbling sounded horribly far away. The sudden outcome was less like a bomb exploding and more like stepping on the edge of a candy box sitting on the ground. However, there would have been hundreds of students and teachers inside that box. The High Priest spoke disinterestedly as he stood on the edge of the broken rooftop with exposed rebar hanging from the edge like willow branches. Not enough red. I see. That orientation thing is going on. (? Oh, I get it. They were all chasing after Tsuchimikado and me, so were they all gathered to one side of the building? That means they might not all be dead yet!!) On a normal day of classes, the students would have been evenly crushed in their seats laid out like the boxes on graph paper. But... Not that it matters. If I swing down the other arm, I can crush the other half of the building. There will be no second miracle, boy. The High Priest crushed even that slight hope. No, it was too obvious. He had probably intentionally set it up this way. He was trying to shake Kamijou Toumas resolve. Do you honestly think you can save them all with only Imagine Breaker? If so, you can reach an understanding after losing them. It is a matter of sooner or later. If you had taken my hand sooner and relied on the gods, this tragedy could have been avoided. With those words, the other giant arm began to move. The rest of the school would be crushed like a candy box and hundreds of people really would be killed. And all to rob Kamijou of the small world he pictured in his head. The boy did indeed feel a fine, fine line burning into his mind. High Priiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!! Just before the giant arm of mud and dirt finished swinging down, Kamijou Touma ran straight toward the High Priest. However, he did not clench his right fist and try to smash the mummys face in. The High Priest had already asked if he honestly thought he could save them all with only Imagine Breaker. That was why Kamijou relied on something else. He lowered his hips, hit the High Priest with his shoulder, and threw his entire body weight into him. He did not hesitate to throw himself past the broken metal fence and off of the four story rooftop. The sound of his feet kicking off the surface only seemed to reach him a second later. For a brief moment, he felt like he was floating. The threads of gravity soon captured him again and he felt the heavy force of inertia weighing down on his gut. He was beginning to fall. He had grabbed the High Priests light body so very tightly, but the mummy slipped from his grasp. He did not even have time to scream. A few trees grew alongside the school building. He collided with one of them, a ginkgo tree that had lost all of its leaves. He heard several branches breaking and his descent was slowed in exchange for some scrapes. Still, he did not come to a complete stop and he slammed into the ground. G-gbah!! Cough, cough!? He felt like someone had taken a saw to all of his skin, but the trouble breathing was even worse. No oxygen entered his body no matter how much he coughed and darkness quickly narrowed his vision. He still desperately worked at breathing and felt like a plug had come out deep in his throat. He coughed a large clump of dark red on the dirt and finally felt oxygen filling his lungs. He reached for the tree trunk and slowly stood up while forcing his twitching eyelids to open. (Wheres...the High...Priest?) They had not fallen in the same spot since he had let go of the mummy in midair. That meant the High Priests momentum had not been slowed by the tree and he would have fallen directly to the ground. However... Heh...heh heh. Kamijou Touma saw an old man in a purple robe slowly stand up on the schoolyard several meters away. But something was not right. The mummys dried neck had completely broken and his head was lying horizontally. It shook as he moved, so it was reminiscent of a fruit still on the branch after it had rotted too much for even the birds to touch it. And yet he was still laughing. He truly seemed to be enjoying himself. Kah kah! Kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah!! He used his dried hands to support his shaking head and casually twisted it back into place. He showed no sign of feeling pain or of fearing the destruction of his body. He was different. He was bizarre. (This is hopeless...) Kamijou deduced that via intuition rather than reason. Ahh, ahh. It has been far too long since I felt something like this. Who would have thought losing so much power and being made imperfect would feel so refreshing? I should probably thank him for this. It had been the same with Othinus. When she had used her crossbow in that pitch-black world, she had killed Kamijou Touma by piercing through herself along with him. (This isnt normal. Ive seen plenty of nearly immortal people, but this is completely different. This isnt a kind of defense that makes him immortal. After being so badly damaged, hes actually enjoying that he was damaged for the first time in so long!!!???) This was no time to sit around listening to him. A single right fist was not enough to defeat him. Sticking around would only get the others at the school caught up in it all. And if they were captured by the High Priest, it would only be a matter of time before they were incorporated into that scorer nonsense. He pictured the faces of Index, Misaka Mikoto, and all the others close to him. He imaged a horrible conclusion where they were essentially thrown into an oxygen-supplied and heat-controlled aquarium and made into decorative tropical fish. (I cant let that happen!!) He made up his mind quickly. The High Priest was only interested in him. (I need to draw him away from here. I cant let him destroy the school any further with those huge mud arms. And once I do that, I need a more fundamental solution to this Magic God!!) Over here, High Priest!! Cmon!! He spun around to turn his back and he took off running. He had no idea where his goal was, but he had to lead the High Priest away. Kah kah!! It is merely a matter of sooner or later, but are you that intent on putting it off until later!? Thats fine, though. I will go along with your games, our sheath and our scorer. You will become our as-yet unseen seventh path and the physical form of our formless peace of mind. My power as a Magic God is currently limited and I only retain one thin layer of the power piled up like the infinite layers of an onion or matryoshka doll. But infinitely dividing that infinite power still leaves me with enough power to just barely be contained in this world!!!!! Kamijou did not have time to respond to everything he heard behind him. He ran. He ran with all his might. He just about tripped over the cracks in the sidewalks asphalt caused by the previous attack. Instead of the front gate, he ran to the parking lot to the side of the school. Kamijou usually walked to school, but on this day, he knew he could find the acrobike that Komoe-sensei had overzealously prepared for them. The back wheel was locked, but he easily broke the lock by stomping on it a few times. He pulled out a type of electrically assisted bicycle, but it did not have a basket on the front for shopping. It was based on a mountain bike, there were special gyros on either side of the wheels, and most of the metal frame had thick suspension attached. It was an acrobike. Its predecessors had been used for tricks at circuses and the like, but its electrical assistance gave it a top speed of fifty kph and the springs of its suspension allowed it to jump higher than two meters. However, Kamijou was not exactly an expert at using it. He had only read the documents Komoe-sensei had provided and watched some amazing tricks performed on video sites. He frantically climbed onto the bicycle and prepared to leave the school, but he was interrupted. Ah! What happened to you!? Youre all beat up!! Misaka, what are you doing here? Were you hurt in that accidental collapse just now!? Mutter, mutter (M-my Railgun didnt cause that, did it? This makes it hard to ask about that love letter.) Kamijou immediately looked away from her. On the schoolyard, the High Priests dry skin split apart. He was prepared to rush in at any moment. Kamijou had no idea how fast the mummy was, but he immediately knew he could not get his hopes up about that. There was no time to explain the situation. Dammit. Get on the back, Misaka!! Eh? What? Ill explain later. At this rate, youll be taken out, too!! There was no signal gun to indicate the beginning of the race. To check on the acrobikes abilities and to build up his initial speed, Kamijou tried one of the cycle arts he had seen in a video while bored. (I lock the front wheel, pedal as hard as I can, place the back wheel on the ground, and release the brakes to unleash the power!!) Wah!! This was the R Dash. The acrobike was released with tremendous speed, just like an arrow fired from a drawn bow. To escape the Magic God known as the High Priest, Kamijou and Mikoto shot toward the schools main gate on the electrically-assisted acrobike. Cycle Arts Collection 1 Tightrope Difficulty: 2 Using the acrobike for tightrope walking. Includes everything from literally crossing a rope to using guardrails, railings, or other narrow surfaces. It looks tricky, but it is not actually very difficult since it almost entirely relies on the gyros. Using slanted surfaces like the railings of stairs or escalators goes by another name. Sliding Difficulty: 2 A cycle art using the gyro functionality. First, pedal like normal to build up speed. Turn the handlebars perpendicular to your direction of movement, tilt yourself in the opposite direction of your movement, and continue forward with the acrobike tilted at over fifty degrees. The trick is to go all out in turning the handlebars. And be careful because tilting the acrobike too far will scrape your leg against the ground. R Dash Difficulty: 1 Probably the easiest cycle art. Keep the front wheel locked and pedal with all your might. After accumulating energy between the back wheel and the ground, unlock the front wheel and make an intense start dash. Instead of using it on its own, this cycle art is meant to be the initial action in preparation for other cycle arts. It can build up speed without needing a lengthy approach, so it can lead to some surprisingly high-level tricks. Between the Lines 1 Buddhist self-mummification seems like a truly unique form of achieving buddhahood. A Buddhist priest digs into the dirt to create a small underground room and then climbs inside of his own free will. Afterwards, he completely fills in the one exit except for an opening to allow air in. Until the final moment, he meditates, rings a small bell, and chants sutras. That is more or less the process. As a method of creating mummies, there is nothing all that special about it. Buddhist self-mummification is a method of testing ones faith and ensuring it does not waver even in a crisis. And that is why there is actually one final and uninteresting step to the Buddhist self-mummification. A few weeks or months after the beginning of the ceremony, when the priest inside will clearly have passed away, the other priests dig back up that underground entrance. Then they check on him. They inspect the thoroughly dried-up corpse of the priest. Is there any fear of death or pain of hunger in his posture or expression? Has anywhere crumbled or decayed even slightly? Only after their perfection has been confirmed is the priest considered to have achieved buddhahood. That raises a question, though. What if his buddhahood is not accepted? Simply put, he does not achieve buddhahood. He is treated like the corpse of a failure. But do a few dozen lower priests who have not achieved enlightenment really have a way of accurately checking whether a higher priest has achieved enlightenment or not? And in an age when the government and religion were closely linked, there was also the issue of factions. Based on the influence between different factions, some would interfere because it would be a problem for the other factions priest to achieve buddhahood. Yes. Buddhahood through self-mummification cannot be completed by the priest himself. Possessing power is not the condition needed to achieve buddhahood. It includes a roundabout system in which it is only complete once the others watching on have accepted it. You might not want to believe it, but at times, some might have secretly paid bribes to ensure a certain priest did not achieve buddhahood no matter what. What if there was an old man who really should have achieved buddhahood? What if those around him stubbornly refused to accept it? Now. If this priest had gained the power that came with successful self-mummification but was not accepted as a buddha, just what kind of being would he have become? Volume 13, 2: Run, or Die — Chase_With_the_Girl. Volume 13, Chapter 2: Run, or Die Chase_With_the_Girl. Part 1 Kamijou drove toward the schools main gate with Mikoto on the back seat. Instead of straddling the seat like you were supposed to, Mikoto sat in a more ladylike sideways style, but this was not just because she had an understanding of elegance. It was harder to balance, but she could check behind them without having to twist around. That would give her a better chance of fighting back against the mysterious old man (Is that what he was?) pursuing from behind. The thick sliding chain-link gate was closed, but Kamijou pushed his weight down on the acrobike and used the electronically-controlled suspension springs to send the bicycle leaping upwards. This was the cycle art known as the Jumper and it allowed them to clear the gate in no time at all. The ridiculously thick documentation Komoe-sensei had handed out proved useful after all. However, this was no time to be appreciating that fact. Hold on, Misaka!! They landed with ferocious speed and were about to run into the wall on the opposite side. They did not have time to make a drifting turn. The girls arms tightened as they held on around his waist. Kamijou completely locked the front wheel, lifted up the back wheel and the back seat Mikoto sat on, and twisted the entire acrobike around on the locked front wheel. This was the Flail Turn and it was used to make a turn with almost no lost circular distance. Even as an amateur, Kamijou had pulled it off without toppling over, but that was testament to the acrobikes specs, not to his own skill. The front wheel let out a scream and they safely made the turn. Then they raced forward again. A brief moment later, the thick gate was blasted outward even though it had to weigh several hundred kilograms. The almost explosive sound of destruction came from more than just the gate being broken. The flying piece of metal collided with and embedded itself in the back of a truck driving down the road. And it did not end there. Uho hoi The purple-robed mummy gave a joking cry as he ran through the destroyed gate. His brakes must not have been working because he also slammed right into the back of the truck. He broke all the way through, burst out into the opposite lane, and made the turn with the ground audibly scraping away beneath his feet. A sports car drove straight toward him in the opposite lane, but he used a single hand to toss it aside and into the wall. He ignored it all and continued his pursuit of Kamijou and Mikoto. He easily ignored the limits of his dried mummys body. The dried skin split as he ran full speed with the form of a sprinter. Hes messing with us!!!! With the help of the electric motor, Kamijou pedaled the acrobike with all his might. Its top speed was over fifty kph, but their distance from the High Priest was not growing. It was unclear whether he was taking this seriously or not. In fact, Kamijou doubted there were any obvious conditions for victory in a battle against a Magic God. Even now, he felt like the mummy was just having some fun. It was like an elementary school teacher challenging his students to a back hip circle contest to show the children how amazing he was in a way they would understand. Was this fight simply to make Kamijou understand the situation? Kamijou also felt Misaka Mikoto had to be utterly bewildered after being caught up in this so suddenly. Even if she would not know this was the work of magic or a Magic God, it would not be surprising for her to have given up trying to understand when an obvious mummy was chasing them while knocking aside cars. Curious, he focused on her as she wrapped her arms around his torso from behind. (Wow... Were on a bike together. Im riding a bike with a boy! Eh? Eh? Whats going on here? This isnt a drama and it isnt a movie. O-oh, no. If Id known this was going to happen, Id definitely have worn a white dress. Ahh...) Um, Misaka-san? Ah!!!??? Mikoto had been speaking her strange ramblings aloud, but she rebooted a moment later. Ny-nyothing!! And what is that thing!? Is it alive or is it a stuffed animal with a robot skeleton inside!? Its probably alive. But getting caught by it is a really bad idea!! Even if the anti-crime orientation was underway, they were lucky it was a weekday. Eighty percent of Academy Citys residents were some kind of student. Even if the city streets were their stage, the odds were much lower that anyone else would be caught up in all this as the High Priest pursued them. Mikoto tried to understand the situation using the severely inadequate information available to her. First, she looked behind them. So thats the enemy. Right. Hes trying to harm us. I think thats pretty obvious! Then what exactly are we going to do!? If we do nothing, hell harm us, but if we keep running around, theres a chance some unrelated people will get caught in the middle!! !! (Yeah, thats right, dammit. We have to do something!!) Kamijou clenched his teeth and made a right-angle turn onto a smaller road. He then took another right-angle turn into an alley. He made more and more turns. He barely lost any speed, created burning friction as the tires slid along the ground, and raced through what was more of a gap than an actual pathway. But... Hes still following us! This isnt enough to lose him! Not good, muttered Kamijou. They were moving at about sixty kph. That might not sound like much compared to Saints who could break the sound barrier, but Kamijou felt an unpleasant sweat seeping from his back. The two could not be compared so simply. In fact, one way of looking at it made the High Priest far more frightening. It was true a Saints athletic ability was a threat. They truly did live in the same world as bullets and could dodge one after seeing it flying through the air. In a head-to-head confrontation, there was no way Kamijou could beat them with the physical strength of a high school boy. That was like a barrier in his way. But at the same time, Saints were too powerful. One could say that they were at the mercy of their own strength. They could achieve supersonic speeds with their own body, so what would happen if someone set up piano wire and escaped using countless sharp turns? It might not apply to all Saints, but at least a few of them would self-destruct by decapitating themselves or flattening themselves against a wall. The Saints pushed themselves and pushed themselves further to draw out their strength, so using their physical bodies to their fullest was a way of triggering their own self-destruction. It almost made one suspect that the greatest threat to a Saint was their own strength and not some external enemy. But... Ho ho. Ridiculous laughter reached them from behind. Uho hoi The High Priest showed no sign of pushing himself and pushing himself further. Kamijou was turning corner after corner and choosing all the narrowest paths to make him self-destruct, but he made all the turns accurately and pursued them just as accurately. That was what frightened Kamijou the most. There was a slight difference here. Saints drew out incredible power from their human body, but Magic Gods had taken a step away from having a human body. I guess this isnt gonna cut it. We cant just wait for him to self-destruct! Do we have to attack him!? Attack? But how are we supposed to-...kyah!? The tires slid across the ground and the acrobike left the narrow alley and returned to the main road. Kamijou glanced around, took a wider view as if taking a step back, and made up his mind. He could move in all 360 degrees. But with the acrobike, his freedom of movement was not limited to the ground. Hold on, Misaka!! He intentionally pressed down with his weight and the electronically-controlled suspension sank deep down. He used the reaction to jump. He jumped four or five meters straight up and his eyes met with a young man working on a window-washers platform. Sorry, but Ill be borrowing this!! Kamijou took the bucket the surprised young man had been using and dumped the cleaning solution across the street below. The acrobike landed at pretty much the same time as the High Priest left the narrow alleyway. Ho-... His laughter grew distorted. His feet slipped as he made the sharp turn to continue pursuit. Ho hooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!? He fell onto his side and tumbled from the sidewalk to the road. It all happened in an instant once he lost his balance. He rolled along the file-like asphalt with tremendous speed, as if being pulled by an invisible wire. If it had occurred in a school hallway, it might have been funny. However, it was happening here at sixty kph. This was no different from being dragged along the road with your clothing caught on the bottom of a truck. An unpleasant scraping noise continued for quite some time. The High Priests dried body flew to the opposite lane and collided with an illegally parked sports car. The impact was powerful enough to bend the metal door, cover the glass with cracks, and trigger the shrill car alarm. Kamijou threw on the acrobikes brakes and twisted around to check behind him. Did that get him!? Even as he said that, he was aware of another point of view rationally observing his heart. It was telling him this was an empty and weightless desire. It was telling him he knew the truth deep down. No one equal to or more powerful than Othinus would be taken out by a trick like that. A great noise exploded out. Instead of dislodging himself from the door, the High Priest lifted the entire sports car overhead using one of those giant mud arms. The arm acted just like an arm. It threw the mass of metal toward Kamijou and Mikoto like it was just a brick. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!? Kamijou frantically turned the handlebars, quickly pedaled the bike, and somehow managed to escape the giant fast ball. In what looked like some kind of joke, the purple-robed High Priest formed the crouching pose of a runner. Then the giant arm roared in behind him. It placed itself below the High Priests very first step and launched the dried mummy horizontally like a frighteningly primitive catapult. The concept of distance meant nothing. It was all compressed in an instant. To move even a little bit further away, Kamijou turned his back and tried to race onward. Mikoto was still sitting sideways behind him. However, the High Priest instantly shot by over her head and performed a side flip to rotate around in midair. It looked more like a way to orient himself than to reduce his momentum. With a very light sound, his feet landed right in the middle of the acrobikes T-shaped handlebars. Wha-!? Ho ho. Is that all you have, Kamijou Touma? He used his golden sword instead of a staff. He may have had no intent of stabbing Kamijou with it, but its sharp point was still swaying right in front of the boys face. Then I suppose it is time to harvest the-... It was more than just a whim that led the High Priest to stop speaking. In this hopeless situation, Kamijou had begun pedaling the acrobike with all his might and quickly produced speeds on the level of a motorcycle. But that was not enough to shake off a Magic God. The real reason he had stopped speaking was much more obvious. With an almost comical noise, the back of his head collided with an electronic sign jutting out from a multi-tenant building. Ironically, it was the very fact that he was a Magic God that allowed this to be laughed off as harmless. With a surprise attack at this speed, a normal humans head would have been split open if not torn clean off. The same could be said of a Saint. The signs neon tubes burst, scattering brilliant sparks everywhere. The High Priest wobbled and then fell from the acrobike. This time, Kamijou did not foolishly ask if that had done it. Instead, he pedaled with all his might. Dammit. What are we going to do? Well just be summoning that monster to wherever we run to, so what do we do now!? Hey, wait! Look!! Mikoto seemed to be pointing at something while pressing up against his back. Kamijou caught on only after twisting around, seeing where she was pointing, and looking in that direction. By then, several special vehicles had already passed by the acrobike on either side. Anti-Skill!? Those idiots!! He brought the acrobike to a sudden stop as he shouted out. A moment later, a far-too reckless clash between human and Magic God began. Part 2 Withdraw!? What are you talking about!? I just got here! Target D1 is right in front of me!! Just as the first group rushed in, an Anti-Skill member who had arrived a little late shouted angrily into his vehicles radio. He felt so dizzy by what he was hearing that he parked on the curb to focus on the conversation. Those are our orders, said his commander over the radio. It seems we dont have enough firepower with us. I dont like it either, but orders are orders!! Did you hear that, Shiosai!! I cant accept that. Weve already received reports of the damage D1 has caused. How can we do nothing when we know how dangerous-... He trailed off because of a shadow. At first the Anti-Skill member named Shiosai was unable to comprehend the sight before his eyes. No, his mind was rejecting it and giving up. Several special vehicles had rushed in at their target. They had carried quite a few well-equipped Anti-Skill members. But not one of them escaped. It looked like a toy cracker bursting. Everything was blown in every direction so easily that none of the metal and composite armor seemed to have any weight. Shiosai stared blankly for a moment, but he knew what that shadow was. It was an identical model of special vehicle flying toward him in a parabolic arc. Waaaaah!? He frantically opened the drivers side door and tumbled out. The other vehicle hit a moment later. His waxed and sparkling vehicle was crushed, all of the glass shattered, and its original form was lost. The other vehicle stabbed vertically through it like a gravestone. It was surprising the vehicle did not explode. Shiosai was in a daze, but he heard his commanders (surprisingly calm given the situation) voice coming from the vehicles radio that seemed to still be functioning. Can you hear me, Shiosai! Withdraw! Did you get that!? Were going to respond to D1 with an unmanned unit made up of HsAFH-11s and HsWAV-15s!! If you dont want to spread the damage, then fall back!! The Six Wings and the Ten Legs? Shiosai shuddered. Like having a half-healed scab peeled off, the situation dawned on him. Those are meant for war!! What is that old man!? There was of course no answer. Instead, several unmanned attack helicopters flew through the blue sky as if to mock his obsolete physical labor. Several problem-control armored vehicles passed by Shiosai. Instead of just heavy machineguns, those vehicles had tank-like turrets attached on top. But even all that was not enough. The deep explosion sounded almost empty. The thoroughly-calculated optimal destruction was crushed by something greater and more hopeless. First, a tower-like arm burst from the earth, lifted up an armored vehicle like a toy car, and threw it. Sparks flew through the air near one of the Six Wings and it seemed to take some kind of defensive action, but there was nothing it could do against such a primitive form of attack. The vehicle collided with it and they both fell intertwined to the ground. One after another, those optimal weapons were crushed, brought down, or blown up. Shiosai felt the overwhelming insanity before him further peeling away the scab on his heart. The color white flashed through the back of his mind. He recalled the snowy plains of Russia. During the battle known as World War Three, he had seen similar insanity that the official side of science was helpless against. (Oh.) When he compared the two, all strength left his body. His hips gave out. He had realized the truth. (Has this city truly entered an age of war?) At that moment, an acrobike passed by with enough speed to rip apart Shiosais resignation. High Priiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssstttttttttttttttttttt!! Someone yelled at the top of their lungs. Kamijous mind was boiling over. It may have been misdirected. It may have been strange to get angry at this. But with the High Priests power, he should have been able to settle this peacefully. Regardless, he had intentionally chosen violence. He had chosen it, kicked them about, and mocked them. Anti-Skills special vehicles had been stabbed through and the unmanned attack helicopters and armored vehicles had been kicked about like toys in some hellish sandbox. One of the helicopters had not exploded after falling to the surface and its rotor was flailing wildly like a pinwheel firework. It was a step away from ripping apart some injured Anti-Skill members like a juicer, but Kamijou made a large leap with the acrobike. He jumped over the attack helicopter rampaging across the ground. Mikoto controlled magnetism to redirect the helicopter. The rotor spun rapidly at only ten centimeter intervals, but it missed the collapsed Anti-Skill members and passed by next to them. Meanwhile, Kamijou held a thick wire in his hand. He had borrowed it from the side of a crushed armored vehicle. As soon as he landed, he threw the end toward the High Priest so it would loosely wrap around the mummys neck. Nh? Gravity took care of the rest. The wire had drawn a gentle, sloping arc along the path Kamijou had taken, but now it fell right on top of the still-raging attack helicopter that Mikoto had just barely shifted out of the way. The rotor and wire came into contact. Orange sparks flew. Nhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? In a certain southeastern Asian country, there was a form of torture known as The Helicopter. As its name suggested, the victims hands were tied together and attached to the end of a helicopter rotor. Then, the engine was revved higher and higher. It was a rare form of torture that took advantage of centrifugal force, but it was difficult to control and it was common for the victim to die before they could provide the necessary information. However, the cruelty was further increased here. After all, this helicopter was lying on its side. On each quick rotation, the High Priests dried body was slammed into the asphalt and then flung up into the sky before he could even feel the pain. The intense thrashing only left him visible as an afterimage and the scene was almost comical in an inappropriate way. However, not even this was enough for Kamijou to feel even a fragment of relief. He shouted to the Anti-Skill members on the ground. This is dangerous, so get back!! Eh? Oh... The Anti-Skill members may have thought he meant they would be caught up in the rotating rotor and wire, but the next thing he said destroyed that common way of thinking. That isnt enough to kill that High Priest...that Magic God!! S-s-s-s-s-s-s-so you understand-and-and-and-and-and. This was not quite the Doppler Effect. The reply had a silly ring to it like a small child speaking into a fan. However, no one was going to laugh at this. They were faced with a threat that could treat this much violence like a joke. Some of the Anti-Skill members eyes rolled back in their head and they fainted. Kamijou honestly felt that staying there would be dangerous for everyone. Cmon, High Priest!! Ho hoiiiii!! But of course!! Now, let us fight! It is time you got to know another Magic God! But dont worry. Once it is all over and the distance between us has dropped to zero, you will be a part of us and become our scorer!! As Kamijou resumed his serious flight on the acrobike, the High Priest tore apart the attack helicopters rotor, swung the wire around, and threw the rotor like a hunting boomerang. It was not over yet. This was only the beginning. (Friction doesnt work, busting his head open with a sign doesnt work, Anti-Skills bullets and shells dont work, and strapping him to a helicopter rotor and slamming him into the ground at over 1000 rpm doesnt do a thing!! It all seems so surreal, but I guess a Magic God really is a Magic God. Even a Saint or member of Gods Right Seat tries to protect themselves from an attack coming their way. Even the #1 deflects the attacks. But this guy doesnt do anything to defend himself! So how am I supposed to reach his level!?) Unfortunately, Kamijou did not have a trump card to use here. That was when Mikoto spoke to him from the back seat. Hey, wait! Hey! What is it, Misaka!? I get that this is some abnormal monster. I get that hes after us and that ignoring him is bad news! But I have a suggestion!! Which is!? We have another abnormal monster right here!! W-wait, you dont mean...! Dont be stupid!! We cant just run away. We have to fight. We have to do what we can to stop him here!! Kamijou felt the girls arms slip from around his waist, but there was nothing he could do. Unlike with a car, a bicycle or motorcycle generally required the cooperation of the person in the back seat. There was nothing he could do if she chose to hop off herself. Her hips rose from the seat and she left the acrobike as casually as stepping down from a swing. The soles of her leather shoes pressed down on the asphalt that seemed to be scrolling by below. She may have been using her power to help because she forcefully came to a stop quite quickly. She turned around and prepared to attack the High Priest. Dammit!! Kamijou clicked his tongue and frantically performed a Flail Turn to bring the acrobike to a stop and turn 180 degrees. He was staring in the opposite direction from before. Mikoto seemed to understand that this was not a normal enemy. She did not use a lightning spear or iron sand sword as a warning and skipped straight to pulling out an arcade coin. She was using her Railgun. This attack was her namesake. The cruel attack produced unequaled destruction by firing a piece of metal at three times the speed of sound. The friction of the air was so great that the coin itself would melt into orange and vaporize after traveling fifty meters. But as soon as the High Priest swung his dried arm horizontally, the unleashed strike was deflected directly to the side. Wha-...!? Mikoto was dumbfounded, but Kamijou did not look at all surprised. Before even thinking about winning, it was miraculous enough to be having a fight with a true Magic God in the first place. The High Priest did not even stop running. He had deflected a true Railgun blast as casually as shooing away a fly. One of the reinforced concrete buildings lining the road broke from its base and approached the road. Another tree-like arm of mud grew behind the mummy. It broke out through the asphalt and grabbed the building. He did not use it for defense. Ah. Just as Mikoto tried to say something, the twenty-story building was swung down like a tree branch. Part 3 When an explosive noise crossed a certain line, it actually brought silence. It was like an intense roar blowing out the small flames crackling here and there. It was like a swollen star losing to its own gravity, exploding, and forming a black hole. Existence that brought worry and hesitation would lead to nothingness when it grew too large. This was the realm of impermanence. It was the Buddhist path to enlightenment that the High Priest had walked. ...Hm. A nearby crosswalk continuously emitted a cuckoos cry to warn the visually impaired. An airship flew slowly through the blue sky and the large screen on its belly played some news about the Arrowhead Comet that only approached once every 1700 years. As he swung down an entire building with his giant mud arm, the High Priest finally came to a stop. He had caused a frightening amount of destruction, but he hardly considered that worth focusing on at this point. His eyes were on the building itself. He had swung it down with such great force, but it had not crumbled to pieces or split in two. The buildings structure remained entirely intact. Of course, that was not due to the strength of the reinforced concrete. This seemingly mysterious phenomenon had a legitimate explanation. Quite the interesting trick. Is that magnetism? Shut...up. He thought he heard a voice from beyond the building. If you hadnt done this, I wouldnt have had to go to all this trouble. If I hadnt done anything, who knows what would have happened to everyone inside the building. Hah hah!! I see, I see. So you are here to save the people! That would mean you did more than catch it with magnetism. You must have added in a variety of tricks to make sure the people inside werent smashed to-... He did not have time to finish speaking. He thought he heard someone kicking off the ground and Tokiwadais Ace jumped on top of the side wall of the building that was tilted on its side like a club. She could not have circled around the building while supporting it. Which meant... (Was that voice a fake? Did she vibrate a thin metal panel like with a telephone? Even if she had supported it from below, shards of glass would have rained down on her.) Something snapped from Mikotos arm like a whip. It was a vibrating collection of iron sand. She first used it to sever the base of the giant arm supporting the building and then she sent it after the High Priest himself. But... Watch out there. Thats dangerous. He sounded entirely unconcerned. At the same time, the ground split open again and another giant arm burst out. It pulled up another building and responded to the iron sand sword. He did it all as casually as someone grabbing a chair or fire extinguisher when a suspicious person entered the school. That was all it took for him to use a building full of dozens or even hundreds of people like a disposable tool. This guy!! roared Mikoto after she unintentionally slammed her whip-like iron sand sword into the building. The High Priest did not seem to care. Now then, young lady. There are a number of ways to save people. Kh. The people inside this building will die without pain or fear, not knowing what happened to them. Isnt that one form of salvation? As he spoke, the High Priest grabbed more and more buildings and threw them. Not even Mikoto could hold back all of this. She focused her powers on saving lives by pulling water pipes and rebar from the buildings as cushions that were meant to be broken through, but it was unclear how long she could keep it up. She tried to stop and support the buildings while fighting to prevent the contents from being crushed, but more and more buildings were piled on top. She could not say just how many people would be crushed inside if she made a single mistake. (Not good! If this keeps up, Ill be crushed underneath it all!!) Dammit!! Mikoto suddenly swung her iron sand sword, but not to attack the High Priest. She cut into the ground below his feet and sent him falling into the subway tunnel below. Ho? The mummy actually laughed. He sank down with the calm of an old man delightedly and intentionally falling for the pitfall his first grandchild had made. The dozen or so seconds this gave Mikoto allowed her to somehow use her magnetism to set down the pile of buildings. That was when she heard tires tearing into the ground behind her. As soon as she noticed it, she was scooped off her feet, starting from her heels. Kamijou had approached from behind and used the acrobikes Sliding to sweep her feet out from under her and force her onto the back seat. Thats why I was saying we cant attack him head on!! he shouted. Even if hes been weakened to a billionth or a trillionth of his full power, a Magic God is still a Magic God! Now grab on! Hell be coming after us right away!! A dull sound reached them. The ground swelled up. Both the earth and asphalt crumbled and something approached them like a sharks fin out at sea. W-wait! What is that!? Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah!! As soon as Kamijou righted the acrobike and began to flee, the earth split open. The High Priest burst out with his dried arms spread wide. Two open palms lay below him. The massive arms of mud seemed to decorate the Magic Gods arrival like giant flowers. What will you do now, Kamijou Touma? The mummy gently placed his feet on the ground. I told you at the beginning that you are going to catch on sooner or later. He charged toward them with the force of a rocket engine. Part 4 ... Akikawa Mie remained silent while flipped upside down. She had shoulder-length black hair and a tan that was healthy but a little unusual for December. She wore fairly subdued lip balm and her nails were covered in nearly transparent polish. She wanted to assert herself, but she did not want anyone around her to notice and say so. It was adorable how one could catch a glimpse of that conflicting state of mind. She wore a white long-sleeved sailor uniform, a miniskirt adventurously shortened just a bit more than average, and a mint green cardigan tied around her waist by the sleeves. The cardigan was less meant to fight the cold and more meant to keep anyone from seeing up her skirt when she climbed any stairs. A three thousand yen sports bag hung from her shoulder. She mostly looked like a normal middle school girl, but the problem was her posture. Whether you wanted to call it a pile driver, a backdrop, or a German suplex, she looked like she had just been on the receiving end of a dramatic professional wrestling move. Her legs were spread wide and her butt was sticking up toward the sky, so it was not a pose a young maiden should be making. And what had happened to the aforementioned cardigan? We can keep it a secret that her panties alone were a little too adult for her age. She wondered how this had happened. Then it came back to her. There had not been any normal classes due to the anti-crime orientation and the police officers, hostages, and criminals could move freely between schools to gather points. However, she had been entirely uninterested in that, so she had seen it as a lucky chance to skip school and take a break. She had been inside this commercial building because her mother had asked her to bring her father his lunch. But then something confusing had happened. The entire building had flipped upside down. Not even she could give a good explanation of why it had happened, but it was the truth and there was nothing else to say. And she was not the only one having difficulty there. Again! How am I supposed to believe you when you tell me that? The building flew? It stabbed upside down into the ground? Our employees know the basics of construction and design, dont they? Do you have any idea how many hundreds of tons a twenty-five story building is!? Yes, yes. You are exactly right. But, well... If youre falling behind in your work, at least come up with a better excuse. I will be reporting this to the higher ups. And besides, Akikawa-san, you were the one that made that mistake in ordering the liquid materials, so... Still upside down, she turned toward the voices and saw her father bowing with a troubled expression and a cellphone to his ear. He was polite even when the other man could not see it. He was the one who had been caught up in some kind of incident(?), so why did he have to apologize? Once the TV and internet news picked up on it, everyone would know he was telling the truth. But Mie had a feeling that man on the phone would not apologize even then. Why had this happened? When had the rails veered off course? She could not remember in the slightest no matter how long she stared at those glasses, that comb over, and that too-skinny back. Sigh. Her sigh was much colder than she had expected. Sitting here was not going to help, so she got up from her upside down position and brushed off her butt and back. Her father gave her an apologetic glance, but he quickly returned to subconsciously bowing. She waved his way and then left. She had completed her mission of bringing him his lunch. Shards of glass were scattered here and there, but she still walked along that fairly dangerous hallway (while technically using the ceiling). At the same time, she pulled out her own cellphone and called her mother. I finished my errand. I got caught up in some pretty amazing trouble, though. I heard! The building flew through the air and stabbed upside down into the ground! At first I thought it was from a rival meant to disturb us, but it sounds like its for real. Did you see it happen? Im inside actually. Veh!? Her mother apparently could not ignore that, but Akikawa Mie waved her hand dismissively. After she did, she realized that was not much different from her father bowing over the phone. It amazes me too, but both dad and I are fine. He seems to be having trouble explaining what happened to his company, though. Ah ha ha. I can imagine. I really only see his lame side. Her voice grew unintentionally dark and heavy. It sounded like she was asking why her mother had married him when she was a jewelry designer, earned more than five times what he did, and had enough influence to take part in a project to retrieve a new jewel from the Arrowhead Comet. But that did not seem to bother her mother who replied immediately. Thats because the vaults your father builds protect the jewelry I create. You may not know it, but hes full of amazing charm. Really? Her true thoughts slipped out. Still, her mother continued as normal, as if to say their bond was not weak enough to be harmed by that. Personally, I think a polished vault is a lot prettier than the contents. Jewelry is just a decoration. Literally. Rubies and sapphires arent expensive because theyre rare or because of their red or blue shine. Theyre only so expensive because people give them that value added. Value added? Akikawa Mie thought that was getting too complicated for a middle school girl like herself. Thats right. Im currently working on a liquid diamond project. At five hundred carats, theyre worth six trillion yen. That number sounds like something from a national budget. Ah ha ha! We can inflate the price all we want since no ones going to buy it regardless. Its no different from the worlds largest diamond that was presented to some royal family. Besides, a liquid diamond is theoretically impossible. ? Diamonds dont melt even if you heat them. They have no melting point. The value comes from resolving that contradiction, but its really just modified seawater. Eh? Seawater? Seawater has a lot of precious metals dissolved in it: gold, platinum, rare earths, and even carbon. Condensing that inside a heart or star shaped container is what we call a liquid diamond. Its officially said to be five hundred carats, but who knows if you would even get a single carat if you gathered it all up. ...Also, industrial water jet cutters have diamond dust mixed in with the water, but humans have such a weakness for the word natural. We just put a near infinite price tag on it. Its something rare, something never-before-seen, something thats never existed before. Her mother sounded exasperated. Its such a meaningless business. The excitement over the seventh achondrite with the Arrowhead Comet is the same. It doesnt shine brightly and it looks just like a normal rock if no one explains its importance. ...Thats why I prefer the unchanging luster of a vault over a jewel. The more you accumulate inside, the more you will always have inside. Its honest, its sincere, and its beauty never wavers. ... In the same way, there are so many wonderful things about your father. If there werent I wouldnt have married him. You cant exchange rings if all you have are hopes and dreams. Ah ha ha. For some reason, her mother hung up as she laughed. Of course, Akikawa Mie did not want to ruin her parents relationship and create a messy divorce. She had no problem with a loving and wholesome relationship. ? That was when she heard a dull metal sound. Curious, she looked over and spotted a jewelry shop. There was no sign of a worker. The showcases had completely shattered, scattering shards of glass everywhere, but she knew the rings and necklaces lying on the floor (no, the ceiling) were not worth all that much. Anything actually valuable would be locked up in the vault. That large vault seemed to be the source of the sound. It came from the thick door that her father had made and her mother admired from the bottom of her heart. (She likes this?) She clearly did not understand why as she stared at the door, but something strange was happening inside it. Like chocolate left on the road during a sunny day, the supposedly sturdy door was visibly bending. Wait, wait, wait! What is this!? Mie was surprised, but she worked to calm herself. The vault was heavy. It would weigh dozens of tons if not over one hundred. The walls were naturally quite thick. No matter how many simulations had been done, would they have ever imagined the building would be plucked from the ground, thrown through the air, and stabbed back into the ground upside down? Simply put, the vault had to be crushing itself with its own weight. Unlike the solid walls, the door contained a complex structure and the damage was focused there. The girl watched as she heard the sounds of breaking metal. She had no way of knowing, but she was hearing the destruction of the strong deadbolts meant to lock the circular door. What she did know was that the bent door had creaked open. Wait a second. Wasnt this really bad? She instinctually looked back toward the exit and thought about calling for an adult, but then she heard some young male voices from the corridor. If the building was torn from the ground, all the cables will have been broken. The electronic locks and security cameras wont be working. We can steal as much as we want. Come to think of it, the big vault they were talking about on the news is in here, isnt it? The one holding the five hundred carat liquid diamond. Mie felt a squeezing in her heart. She could no longer rely on an adult...or rather, on a stranger. Her father had made the vault and her mother had worked on the liquid diamond project. Having it stolen here would hurt them both. She made up her mind quickly. Akikawa Mie slipped inside the vault through the door that had bent under its own weight. The inside glittered with a silver light like stainless steel and all four walls were covered with locked lockers. Most of the jewelry seemed to be safe, but unfortunately, the door to the liquid diamond was the only one that had broken. The heart-shaped liquid diamond container casually glittered inside a cylindrical storage tube. Fine then!! She grabbed the liquid diamonds storage tube and turned right around. She had no intention of holing up inside the vault. She ran from the jewelry shop and the young men immediately noticed her. That girl! Damn, so someone else had the same idea. Hey, shes got what they showed on the news. Thats the liquid diamond!! (Im not the same as you morons!!) Their footsteps approached her, but she began to flee in earnest. While many students were making mock escapes in the anti-crime orientation, a legitimate one had just begun. Part 5 That is exactly the point. There are several categories: meteorite, comet, and asteroid. But this is one is known as an achondrite. During the afternoon a boring-sounding educational program played from the televisions lined up in an electronics store window. Hamazura Shiage sat on the road while someone grabbed him by the collar. The small hands grabbing him belonged to Fremea Seivelun. Nyah, nyah!! In the first place, I got the criminal. Thats one stamp for me!! ... The ever-excited eight-year-old girl with blonde hair and blue eyes was not listening to anything anyone said, so she still thought Hamazura was a criminal no matter how many times he explained he was supposed to be a hostage. They had known each other for a while now and he had saved her life a few times, but his villains face seemed to have left a powerful impression on her. ...Of course, Hamazura could not argue too much when he did not think he was a good person either. If I fill up the stamp card, I get to order from the hidden school lunch menu. Nyah! Beef stroganoff!! Youre trying to eat something crazy again, arent you? Doesnt stroganoff sound like the name of a robot? It was beginning to sound like it would be faster to head on to the anti-crime orientations gathering point and have one of the officials explain the situation to the girl, so Hamazura stood up just as Fremea wanted. He then followed her as she tugged on his hand. Achondrites can be generally divided into six types and they are important resources for investigating the creation of the solar system. However, this Arrowhead Comet is gathering so much attention due to the possibility of discovering a seventh achondrite. Isnt it romantic for the unknown seventh to be a clump of mineral in a ball of ice rather than just an asteroid? Hey, Fremea, do you know what the Arrowhead Comet is? N-nyah? In the first place, you need to know your place if you think you can ask me about something that tricky! Nyah, nyah! I can forget sometimes, but you really are Frendas sister. He sounded annoyed, but he revealed the arbitrary knowledge he barely remembered. Some huge star is going to be falling. You should be able to make as many wishes as you want. ... At that point, Fremea began trembling as she held his hand. Nyah, nyah!! I-I didnt know you were that much of a villain. Its too soon to go to the movie version!! Im not summoning the thing and the world isnt going to be destroyed!! That was when Hamazuras cellphone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out, checked the screen, and found he had an email. What the hell? Its from Aneri? He came to a stop while holding Fremeas hand, but the emails text appeared to be corrupted and he had no idea what it meant. Looking at it was not going to help, but he found he could not ignore it and just continued staring pointlessly at it. A moment later, a full-speed acrobike and a purple-robed mummy cut by in front of them. Fremea held her hat down lest the tremendous gust of wind blow it away and Hamazura looked up from his phone in surprise. But by then, there was nothing left. What would have happened had he not received the email and had continued across the crosswalk? The program that knew the truth was monitoring Hamazura and Fremea through the surveillance cameras. Part 6 Surprisingly, they could not lose the High Priest in a pure competition of speed. This was different from a Saint who could break the sound barrier. They were definitely faster when it came to pure speed, but the High Priest was not pushing himself to his limits. He would never self-destruct. Instead of just quick bursts of speed, he had near infinite stamina. In some ways, this was much scarier. Kamijou made several sharp turns with the bicycle, jumped down some stairs, placed the wheels on the railing to slide down it in a Slope Clear cycle art, cut across a park, and raced down a narrow alleyway. With its powerful gyros, suspension, and motor, the acrobike could be used to hop on one wheel across narrow poles, so who could say how many times Kamijou would have fallen with a normal bicycle. Wheres the High Priest!? That old man was at that corner...that corner...ahhh!! Here he comes! Hes still after us!! Kamijou reacted to Mikotos shout by pedaling even harder. A pile of trash filling the alley was in their way, but they would hit the air conditioner jutting from the wall if they made a large jump. Kamijou locked the front wheel, lifted up the back wheel and Mikotos back seat, and twisted the handlebars. That was the same as the Flail Turn, but this time, he unlocked the front wheel partway through. This was known as the Flying D. The entire bike rose up and turned horizontally in midair. It then rotated once horizontally and used the power of the gyros to land safely. After clearing the obstacles both above and below, they continued racing forward. Wasnt that a pretty major trick!? Its actually really easy once you get the hang of it. You can zip along anywhere and even fly through the air. Its the machine thats amazing, not me. You wont fall over no matter what you do. They made a few more narrow turns and the tone of Mikotos voice changed as she checked behind them from her feminine sideways sitting position. Were safe...I think. We cant let our guard down, but I cant see him anymore. Even if they could not outdo him in speed, they only had to make sure he lost sight of them. The basics of losing a pursuer seemed to still apply to a Magic God. Still, Kamijou was afraid to come to a stop, so he slowed down but continued to pedal. They left the back alley and returned to a main road. Pant, pant... What do we do now? Really. At full power, Othinus had been able to destroy and remake the world as easily as snapping her fingers. This may not have been that bad, but a Magic God was still a Magic God. If they thoughtlessly continued a game of tag with him, there was no guarantee Academy City would be leftover afterwards. Academy City had been in danger many times before. Plenty of people had given no thought to human life. But the High Priest was somehow different. He had not begun some over-the-top plan to intentionally take countless lives. He was not avoiding obvious destruction in an attempt to hide the existence of the magic side. He was simply accomplishing his goal. He did not care if merely swinging an arm or a leg took millions of lives. He did not even give it that much thought. What had happened to not wanting to cause any trouble and wanting some formless peace of mind? He was too inconsistent. Mikoto spoke up as she wrapped her arms around him and sat sideways. He isnt going to throw a tantrum as soon as he loses sight of us, is he? He isnt going to indiscriminately destroy the city until we come out, is he? I cant say for sure, but I doubt he would choose to do that. Why not? It isnt an issue of having a conscience. If he liked that kind of method, he wouldnt have come to me when he first contacted me. He would have taken a hostage and led me to the stage where we would meet. Its probably just an issue of his tastes, though. I see. So its like how our #5 will never challenge you to a physical fight. It isnt an issue of what they can or cant do. Still, if we dont do anything, well be stuck with this fear of constantly being chased. It may be big, but its just one city and we cant ignore him. We need to think up a way to turn this around. For now, we need to try not to get anyone else involved, right? Is there somewhere without a lot of people...and without many buildings for him to grab? ...Like a large park or maybe the mountains? That comment seemed so out of place that Kamijou almost started laughing. Not wanting to get anyone else involved in a fight with a Magic God was an obvious desire, but it was a nearly impossible task. He had never even thought of it when facing Othinus at full power. Misaka. If we do find an environment where we can fight without getting anyone else involved, do you really think we can beat that High Priest? Of course! If he doesnt use any cheap tricks, then I could-...!! Misaka. He called her name again and she groaned behind him. She then spoke as if confessing her guilt. I cant know until I try. I will admit he isnt someone I can optimistically say we have a 100% chance of beating. That was an admirable thing for someone so full of self-confidence to admit. Kamijou made a suggestion as he pedaled. We cant randomly attack him until we pull our odds up to 100%. As youve seen, his morals give no thought whatsoever to human life. He isnt going to spare you just because you beg for your life. I know that, but that brings us back to square one. How exactly are we supposed to have 100% odds of defeating that monster? Throw him in a garbage disposal plants incinerator? Run him through a print shops rotary press to crush him flat? Tear him to pieces with the giant lawnmowers used on American farms? I can picture him coming back from all of those with a smile on his face. U-ugh. You sure can come up with some surprisingly gruesome ideas, Misaka. D-dont act so disturbed!! I only gave you those examples because you asked!! Mumble, mumble (Huh!? Was it a mistake to watch all those zombie movies yesterday!?) However, that was the problem for Kamijou as well. How exactly were they supposed to defeat a Magic God? He had once directly fought Othinus, a true Magic God, but that had been an exception among exceptions. He was unsure whether he could really call it a fight and he certainly could not say he had won. And he could not do the same thing against the High Priest. He could not challenge him time and again, waiting for the mummy to break in the very, very end. He understood that. He knew it all too well, but that brought them back to square one. What exactly were they supposed to do? Honestly, you really are hopeless. Suddenly, he heard a male voice, or something like it, and he turned toward it. He found a sort of red paper airplane flying alongside the acrobike. The spiky-haired boy initially put up his guard, thinking it was some kind of tracking device sent by the High Priest, but... Have you forgotten who I am? I am one of the four corners supporting the world and the member of Gods Right Seat corresponding to red and the right. That should be enough to tell you who I am. Fiamma? muttered Kamijou. Mikoto still looked confused as she pressed up against his back. Like with a paper cup telephone, something vibrated on the paper airplanes main wing to produce the voice. I more or less know the situation and I have a countermeasure for the High Priest. After all, I have the fairy spell that produced a malfunction in Othinus. If I hone it and overwhelmingly increase the speed at which it peels away the Magic Gods flesh, I can create a spell specialized for destroying them. For destroying Magic Gods? Kamijou gulped. You mean humans can defeat those Magic Gods? I wouldnt say I could if I couldnt and that is why I am here in the first place. Now, show yourself at District 5s central park. District 5? The one with lots of college students? How should I know? The High Priest will keep chasing you no matter what you do, wont he? If you guide him to that point, I will take over. This isnt my first time facing a Magic God. There is nothing to worry about. ... When he heard that, Kamijou knew he was being released from the seemingly endless chase. His entire body relaxed. Even with the gyros on the front and back wheels, the acrobike required human effort to function. It slowed down and Kamijous feet pressed against the ground. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. This was a brief but definite respite. But in the very next moment... Part 7 The High Priest grinned. Part 8 The ground right next to the acrobike suddenly seemed to swell upwards and something like a giant alligator mouth swallowed Fiammas paper airplane whole. It was actually a giant mud arm that burst from the asphalt and it would be more accurate to say it had crushed the paper airplane in its palm. Wha-? Abnormal tension enveloped Kamijous body. With its job complete, the arm crumbled away. Once the blinding mud fell away, his vision cleared once more. Uho hoi Missed me? A purple-robed Magic God ran toward them while waving a dried branch of an arm. Uuh... Kamijou no longer cared about shame or appearances. He poured all of his weight into pedaling the acrobike with Mikoto sitting behind him. He locked the front wheel, pedaled with all of his weight to build up plenty of energy in the back wheel, and then unlocked the front wheel while lifting the acrobike in a wheelie. The bicycle leaped skyward rather than forward. This was the Takeoff. Kamijou and Mikoto were released like a fighter jet launched from a catapult. Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! He cried out and kept racing forward as he did so. The High Priest also increased his speed. The asphalt split around him and countless giant arms burst out. They approached to crush Kamijou and Mikoto from above. As soon as Kamijou used the acrobikes powerful suspension to jump two meters into the air, a horizontal attack swept by below them. It broke the trees lining the road and sent the blade of a wind turbine flying until it stabbed into a nearby building. What is that!? This really isnt normal!! Mikoto could not help but shout in anger at how unreasonable it all was. The High Priest was giving no thought to making this a one-on-one fight. This was not on such a small scale. Like bringing a powerful vacuum cleaner into a model city, he would tear through the entire landscape and hope his target was caught in the midst of it all. Yes. The High Priest was not fighting. He was unilaterally hunting down his prey. That was his only focus. What are we going to do!? Kamijou clenched his teeth at Mikotos question. He had only one thing he could say. We have to rely on him. On who!? That Fiamma guy I just spoke with!! I heard the term fairy spell a few times during the mess with Othinus and in Denmark. If he knows what it is and has made it his own, then he might be the most knowledgeable person when it comes to fighting a Magic God!! Part 9 For the time being, Akikawa Mie stuck the liquid diamonds storage tube into her three thousand yen sports bag. Meanwhile, she made a call on her cellphone. Listen, Mie-chan. Give up on this stupid idea and get rid of the liquid diamond. I dont mind. But mom! Even if someone steals it, theres no way they can sell a jewel worth six trillion yen. We have the patent and only we know how to make it, so we can quickly track it down on the black market even if its transferred into another container. We can even identify the specific diamond by checking the plankton in the seawater, so we can retrieve it even via international law. So it will be okay. Theres nothing to worry about. You dont need to do anything so dangerous!! But... She bit her lip with the phone in hand. But that will still mean it was stolen and thats enough to hurt you and dad. Itll hurt the path youve proudly walked down! Mie-chan!! This conversation was getting nowhere fast, so she hung up. She ran from here to there, but it was all bad for her heart. The anti-crime orientation was underway, some buildings had been mysteriously thrown around, and there were apparently traffic accidents all over. The roads were at a standstill and people covered the sidewalks, but they somehow all looked like robbers to her. (I-I need to go to moms company. Then I can give this to her.) Oh, are you really leaving now? Youll have to use the train to get home, then. A colleague of mine ran into some trouble. That Shiosai is feeling pretty down. I need to get an investigation started and set up an emergency search. Honestly, whoever grabbed that Anti-Skill equipment has some guts. Hmm. When I see you getting pulled around by your job like this, it makes me wonder if I should get back to some real work. But for now, I think Ill just keep volunteering. Kikyou... Oh, honestly. Adults really do rot when they get used to not having a job. You need to be more careful. Akikawa Mie let out a shriek when she turned a corner and nearly ran into two adult women. They gave her a confused look, but she quickly moved past them. Calling Anti-Skill or Judgment did not occur to her. In this abnormal situation, even they were strangers to her. She could not treat this liquid diamond like someone elses problem, she could not pass it on to someone else, and she could not rely on someone else. Is the subway...? Good, its still running! There was a small traffic jam out front, but that had nothing to do with the tracks deep underground. She held her phone out to the ticket gate instead of an IC card and made her way to the platform like always. Revealing it in public was dangerous, but she was still worried enough to secretly glance inside her sports bag. The liquid diamonds container had not broken. It was worth six trillion yen, so it was not that fragile. She breathed a sigh of relief, but then she noticed something. Some strange text was engraved into the storage tube containing the heart-shaped five hundred carat container. It said 1.5V and 22MHz. (Wh-what is this? Volts? Megahertz?) Mie did not know much about jewels or security, but even an amateur could convert some of it into words and those words covered her in cold sweat. Some other people on the platform spoke from nearby. One was a high school aged girl wearing an ao dai and with a cruel look in her eyes. The other was a small girl wearing the black leather outfit of a punk rocker and a white hooded jacket, except the jacket was simply hanging by the hood. Oh, whats this, whats this? Somethings tingling. Soooomeone nearby has something valuable!! More importantly, can you explain why Im carrying all of your stuff? Youre helping Misaka shop for the first time after her broken bone healed. Of course, if you ignore Misaka, she can use her body to control your cyborg body! Nya ha ha ha!! Youre rotten! Dammit, you really are rotten to the core!! (Wait. Does this thing have a transmitter on it!?) Given the value of the liquid diamond it would have been surprising if it did not. But would that help her in this case? What if someone other than Anti-Skill or Judgment intercepted the signal? Or what if a proper member of law enforcement started having wicked ideas? What if that girl with the cruel look in her eyes had the ability to pick up on it? What if she tried to separate Mie from the crowd or just tried grab the six trillion yen jewel despite the risk? (What do I do? What am I supposed to do?) Mie frantically tried to use her fingernail to scrape at the writing on the surface of the container in her sports bag, but she did not actually know where the transmitter was. Would scraping at it be enough to break it and how would she even know if it was broken? Would putting too much of a burden on the storage tube allow the liquid diamond itself to leak out? It was nothing but unknowns on top of unknowns. Then the subway train slid into the platform. Oh, honestly!! Akikawa Mie put off thinking until later. She ran onto the train with the sports bag hanging from her shoulder. Hell, yeah. Its actually working. Hey, I know where it is! That excited comment came from Kenzan Shouji, a college-aged young man. He was holding a smartphone, but it used a different model of SIM card from any phone available to the public. It was a P-phone made exclusively for Anti-Skill. Just like a police radio, anyone obsessed with that sort of thing would love to get their hands on one. In other words, it was not something one could normally find. There was a reason Kenzan was swinging one around like a toy despite that. He had pulled it out of an Anti-Skill vehicle that might as well have been scrap metal after one of the small-scale accidents occurring all over. A nervous friend of his spoke up from the side. This friend was Okada Ayumu, another college student. B-but anyone from Anti-Skill can pick up that signal, right? Wont the real ones be rushing there already? Wouldnt going for it be dangerous? I dont want to get filled with bullets. Dont worry. Kenzan patted the seat of his pants with his other hand. A lump of metal with a black luster was casually stuck inside his pants there. It was the kind of handgun issued to Anti-Skill. Look at all this confusion. And not all of the real deal are noble heroes. This is six trillion yen were talking about, so theyll be scrambling for it themselves. We just have to fire some in that storm of gunfire and get to the liquid diamond first. It wont be hard just to grab it. Things are looking good for us. The last of the trio, Higata Akio, listened to that in confusion. (How could this have happened?) Back when they decided to steal some things in the upside-down building, it had not been clear whether they were actually going to do it. It had felt unfair to just trudge on home after being caught in that kind of trouble. They had wanted to make up for the misfortune they had experienced. It should have only been a joke born of their frustration. But now they had a piece of Anti-Skill equipment and a handgun. Higata gulped. (Are we really going to do this? We arent just peeking inside some broken vault. That was a middle school girl who ran off with it. And yet...) You gotta problem, Higata? His friend spoke to him with the piece of metal stuck in the back of his pants. W-well, I... You gotta problem? The pressure was unbearable. A strange pyramid structure had formed that was clearly different from their previous relationship. More importantly, the presence of the handgun weighed heavily on his mind. They were talking about a girl, but she was still a stranger. Was he prepared to put himself in danger to save her? No...I dont. Good. Now, lets get started. Heaven on earth is waiting for us. Higata truly did wonder how this had happened. The madness was infecting person after person and they would probably all come tumbling down with no one in the center. Part 10 Fiamma of the Right had the fairy spell that would be their trump card against the High Priest. He had told them to meet him in District 5s central park. That district bordered District 7. But whats the shortest route!? shouted Kamijou while pedaling the acrobike with all his might. The mummy High Priest was still approaching from directly behind them. Mikoto operated her cellphone with a thumb while pressed against his back. Um, Im getting our current location now. Were on Leaf Street, so...turn right at the intersection five hundred meters ahead!! That will take us straight to District 5!! Cellphone? But Kamijous focus turned elsewhere. Thats right! A cellphone!! I could use that to call Index or Othinus!! What!? Youre going to use my phone to call some other girl!? You choose now to get mad? God, what a pain!! They shot straight past the aforementioned intersection while speaking, so Kamijou used a Flail Turn to make a 180 degree turn, returned to the intersection, and ignored the traffic light as he made the turn. (If I speak with them, I might find a more direct weakness in the High Priest. It might only be learning his habits, but I need something to keep us alive until we get to Fiamma!!) He poured his full strength into racing down the road, pedaled the bicycle at over sixty kph, and set an awful example by looking away from the road to operate his own cellphone. But... Ksssshhhhh!! ...The signal in your area is too crowded, so the number you have called cannot be-... What the hell? Theres an interfering signal? Wait, dont tell me... Misakaaaaaa!! I-it isnt me! I cant control it!! Given the situation, he had to abandon the rare opportunity he thought had opened up. He looked back while pedaling intensely and was pretty sure the High Priest was closer than before. Oh, hell. Did choosing the shortest route come back to bite us? Hes faster on a clear straightaway. Hes going to catch up at this rate!! You told me to give you the shortest route!! I didnt say it was your fault!! They drove below a blue road sign that passed over the entire road. If it was accurate, they had just moved from District 7 to District 5. Misaka, how far to the central park!? Only, um, two kilometers!! He felt an intense pressure from behind. The High Priest would catch up at this rate, but it would take too long to reach the central park if they took random turns to cut off his view like before. Either way, their current methods were not enough. The High Priest would catch up and tear them to pieces. Mikoto spoke quietly while pressing against his back. Rather than having a sudden idea, she seemed to have managed to gather her thoughts during the chase. Hey, so we win if we get to the central park before he catches up, right? Yes! The problem is that we dont have any way of doing that!! Forcing the acrobike to go any faster would be difficult. Its already at its limits and using my power for a boost could burn out the motor. And!? What do we do!? Then we just have to slow down that High Priest guy. Kamijou was dumbfounded, but the situation did not stop for them. He had to say something back. Are you serious? Im not shameless enough to make a joke at a time like this. You saw what happened earlier, didnt you!? Even a full-power Railgun wasnt enough to-...!! Yes, I know all too well that I dont stand a chance in a head-on battle!! Strength gathered in the arms around him. She pressed her face into his back and seemed to groan. (It wasnt enough. It wasnt nearly enough!! I thought I was on the same level as you and I thought I could handle this too, but Im not and I cant!!) Her namesake had been easily swatted aside. And what had happened then? Unlike her, that pointy-haired boy had not been remotely surprised by the outcome. He had simply watched it play out as if to say he had known it would not work and that she did not need to worry about it. That, more than anything else, had made her heart boil over. But he was not the only person who had gotten her heart worked up. There was another. Kamijou knew nothing the two of them could do would work, but now this Fiamma person had butted in from a distance. Mikoto was right by his side, but she was of no use to him. Instead, he was placing his hopes on some third party. What was this noisy feeling that had filled her ever since she stood in the center of Tokyo Bay? (You can just barely stand up against that mummy named the High Priest, but I cant reach your level! I doubt I can catch up even if I use my prized Railgun!!) Whats the matter, Misaka? Hey! Its nothing, she said while removing her face from his back. This was no time to sulk. She could not give up. No one was going to wait around for her. Not the High Priest and not the boy so close to her. So I wont do anything that reckless. I know I cant win, so Ill stick to buying us some time. Are you willing to listen now!? How can you slow him down? It isnt impossible if I only have to do it once. Part 11 Hm? The mummy High Priests skin split and his eyelids moved as he raced down the street with tremendous speed. The acrobike was holding its position one hundred meters ahead of him, but then the bicycle swerved to the side. Its tires seemed to have slipped on the dried leaves scattered on the road. It quickly regained its balance, but it had lost some speed. It tried to gain some external acceleration by grabbing on to the side of an unmanned escort truck driving along as part of the anti-crime orientation, but that was not enough to escape the High Priest. He closed in on the acrobike. Once he saw a chance, the mummy took action. The asphalt around him swelled up and giant tree-like arms burst from the earth below. A palm larger than a home economics classroom and a fist harder than concrete shot down toward the acrobike with the force of a shooting star. Suddenly, the giant arms stopped moving, as if they were bound by chains. The different arms twisted around each other like they were caught in a net. While still running alongside the arms, the High Priest instantly saw through it. (That magnetism from before.... Did she cover the area with iron sand so it would naturally be incorporated into the arms?) But when it came to a direct competition of strength, no one could defeat a Magic God. As soon as the High Priest sent a simple command, the giant arms ripped themselves apart. They had been pressed together as if clapping or rubbing together, but they were forced apart. He had retrieved his weapons. This time, he would crush the acrobike to rob them of their transportation and he would acquire Kamijou Touma. But something interrupted the Magic Gods thoughts. ...? At first, he thought it was gentle breeze. But it was not. Ohh... It definitely was not. Ohhhhhhhhhhh!? Is this...!? Misaka Mikoto twisted around while sitting on the acrobikes back seat. She made a handgun gesture toward the High Priest who was approaching from behind. A vacuum may sound like something special, but you can easily make one with a rubber suction cup. In fact, you can even make one in the bath by pressing your palms together. A violent gust of wind blew through, but not because the acrobike was moving at sixty kph. And did you know this? In wind tunnel experiments that use artificial winds to check the aerodynamics of cars and airplanes, they use a big propeller up to a point, but even that has its limits. After that, they either blow in highly compressed air or prepare a vacuum tank to suck the air from the wind tunnel. She had mixed iron sand in with the High Priests giant arms and she had only needed to take control for a few seconds. The gigantic palms had pressed together and created a certain level of vacuum between each other. From there, the High Priest only had to regain control and open the door to that vacuum. But know this. In wind tunnel experiments using vacuum tanks, the gust of wind can exceed the Mach wind speeds of a supersonic fighter jet!! Just like right now!!!!!! It sounded like an explosion. Unlike a wind tunnel, the road was an open space and Kamijou and Mikoto were a fair distance away. It only felt like a powerful blast of wind to them, but what about to the High Priest who had opened that door so close by? Ohh... The mummys feet left the ground. He ignored gravity. Ohhhhhhhhhhh!? Is this...!? Even his yelling voice was swallowed up by the empty air. He was sucked in toward the point in space where the palms of the giant hands were disintegrating. It was not clear what would happen to him. A normal humans eardrums and organs would be destroyed by the harsh pressure change and their skeleton itself could be smashed, but it was a complete mystery how much a normally fatal blow would affect a mummy like him. But that did not matter. Kamijou and Mikoto had a different win condition in mind. I see it!! Thats the central parks entrance!! Okay, here goes!! They did not need to directly defeat him. They only needed to buy a dozen or so seconds of time. Kamijou stopped thinking about what would happen later. He sacrificed all of his remaining stamina to pedal so hard he thought his muscles were going to rip apart. He did it all to reach one of the central parks ten or twenty entrances. He heard a deep sound behind him. The High Priest had already torn through the supersonic wind and taken a new step forward. He had already freed himself from his bonds and resumed his full-power pursuit. That trick was unlikely to work a second or third time. Would this be enough for them to reach Fiamma? Or would the High Priest catch them first? It all came down to that. Get there... Kamijou gave a roar as he stared at the central parks gate up ahead. Get therrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Part 12 That man slowly walked across the grass that had grown light brown in the chill of winter. He exclusively wore the color red and he was missing an arm, but neither the garbage man grabbing an empty can from the ground nor the young wife taking her dog for a walk paid any attention to him. He had erased his own presence so those outsiders would not notice him. His name was Fiamma of the Right. He had once started World War Three in his desire to save the entire human race. (Not long now.) He determined that while feeling calm enough to enjoy rather than curse the freezing December wind. He had not actually contacted Kamijou Touma, but he could hear the distant noise approaching. He had asked that boy to come to District 5s central park and it seemed he had enough sense to keep his promises. Hmph. Fiamma of the Right had learned to use a few pieces of magic even after losing his arm. He had done so through his contact with the abnormal being named Ollerus. The fairy spell was one of those. It had originally been made to defeat the Magic God named Othinus. When he thought about it, there had been something about those two he had not liked from the very beginning. They had mastered magic to the point of becoming a god. They had used the word god so lightly and irreverently, but there had also been no salvation in the fairy spell. That was true whether it had made Othinus powerless as planned or if it had instead destroyed her bodys structure from within. In Denmark, the fairy spell Fiamma had fired into Othinus had been the real problem in the very, very end. A few coincidences had allowed Othinus to continue living, but what would have happened otherwise? How much would it have affected that boys structure? Fiamma had made clear plans to save the entire human race, but not even he could figure that one out. This was a ritual to cleanse himself of that. A number of things had happened after Othinus had become a full Magic God. If not for certain coincidences, the world could easily have still been destroyed, so he had to atone for that sin. ... He had to do the same thing here as with Othinus. With his mind made up, he produced a stake of light in his left hand. But this stake did not fit in just his left hand. In an instant, it grew to five hundred meters long and cut across the central park. (Even this...) He only had to make physical contact with the Magic God. If he shoved it directly into the center of the High Priests body, the fairy spell would rapidly destroy his structure. (Even this is on a small scale for something meant to defeat a Magic God.) Olleruss goal had been to drag a Magic God down to the level of a human, but Fiamma had changed that. That said, he had not altered it much. As soon as he hit, he would simply use the exact same spell 2,070,000 times in a row. Bit by bit, he would widen the distortion and finally destroy the Magic God. This was a Fiamma of the Right original that used his specialization in disintegration techniques. (I suppose this still doesnt bring me anywhere close to that boy who dragged a full-power Othinus out of that quagmire without using something like this.) The sound of tires tearing at the ground grew much louder. The pointy-haired boy shot into the central park. He was covered in sweat, his hair was drenched, and there was not even an iota of composure in his ghastly expression. But if he had been alone, he probably would not have been that frantic to escape. An unfamiliar girl clung to him from the back seat of the electrically-assisted bicycle. He hasnt changed. Fiamma said only that and smiled slightly. He focused on the palm of his remaining left hand. He felt the five hundred meter glowing stake of his fairy spell variant move slightly. If he swung his arm in a side throw, he could fire it like a rocket. The boy seemed to have noticed him. They did not greet one another. They only had to accomplish their respective goals. First, Kamijou and the girls acrobike shot past Fiamma. The red-haired man stared straight forward. The purple-robed pursuer also seemed to have noticed Fiamma of the Right. There was no need to greet him with a nod. Part 13 One of them was a true Magic God and the other was a red-haired man who had wished to save the world. The two of them crossed paths head-on. Part 14 A deafening sound exploded behind Kamijou. He braked as hard as he could, felt that was not enough, and pressed the soles of his shoes against the brick walking path. The acrobike screeched to a stop with a burning smell. It was over. Kamijou gulped. The result was plain as day, but he found it hard to believe what he saw. He felt dizzy. Still, he had to accept it. Otherwise, he could not move on. After all... Kah kah. He heard parched laughter. It did not come from Fiamma. Fiammas laughter did not sound like it came from a whistle made of dried grass. Kah kah kah! Kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah kah!! Dammit! Fiamma!! Shouting was not going to help. It had already been over by the time they had crossed paths. The giant stake of light had stretched all the way across the large park, but it was shattering like glass and vanishing. No, it was more than just that. The one-armed man rotated quickly through the air. He made more than just one rotation. He was stuck in a wild spin with no thought given to control or a safe landing. He was clearly going to slam into the grounds dried grass without bracing himself. It was unclear just what kind of battle had unfolded, but the result could not have been more obvious. Not even Fiamma of the Right had been able to do anything. Not even his prized fairy spell had stopped the High Priest. Kamijou had caused this. He could not see the future, so he could not have known what would have happened. Fiamma may not have wanted Kamijou to blame himself, but if Kamijou had not relied on him and had done something else, this would not have happened. What are we going to do? Mikoto asked the crucial question from the back seat. Was that really your final trump card!? Then what are we going to do now!? Kamijou was worried about Fiamma. He wanted to run over and check him for injuries. He wanted to at least make sure he was breathing and had a pulse. But he did not have time. The High Priest was still going all out and sticking around would only get someone else caught in the mummys rampage. If that happened, the odds of saving Fiamma would drop even further. So Kamijou spoke up. Misaka, call an ambulance here. Okay, but what do we do!? Thats obvious. He was afraid. His breathing was erratic and his heart was beating painfully hard. He felt like sparks were scattering through his mind and he could barely think. But... I cant let anyone else get hurt like that!! So Ill do whatever it takes to beat the High Priest!! Thats the one thing I know for sure!! Kamijou and Mikotos acrobike cut through the central park with tremendous speed. Their race with no goal had begun anew. Cycle Arts Collection 2 Jumper Difficulty: 2 A basic of the cycle arts. While moving, press down with your weight to lower the suspension and then use the recoil to jump. Your original acceleration will change how much forward momentum the jump has. A must have for any performance using obstacles in the street. Flail Turn Difficulty: 3 Build up some speed, lock the front wheel to lift up the back wheel, and twist the handlebars to swing the back wheel around like a bat. Slope Clear Difficulty: 2 A variation on the Tightrope. For this one, slide down the sloped railing of an escalator, stairs, or the like. The trick is to lock both wheels to purposefully slip down. Letting the wheels turn provides too much speed and raises the risk of crashing. Flying D Difficulty: 5 A variation on the Flail Turn. While swinging the bike around, unlock the front wheel, turn the entire bike on its side, and jump into the air. Ideally, rotate the bike at least once while horizontal. If you do not reorient the bike before landing, you will fall over. Takeoff Difficulty: 2 A variation on the R Dash. Instead of unlocking the front wheel, lift the entire bike in a wheelie to launch yourself into the air instead of straight forward. As with the R Dash, it is most important as a lead-in to higher level tricks. Motor Drive Difficulty: 1 Grab onto a car, motorcycle, or anything else with an engine to build speed from an external source. The method itself is simple, but due to the danger of an accident that could involve an unrelated individual, use with extreme caution. Between the Lines 2 That priest truly wished to save the people. He believed he needed to achieve buddhahood because his human body was insufficient. He gave up his social status and possessions, dug a small room in the dirt, and did not hesitate to climb inside. He did everything necessary. He flawlessly performed the appropriate steps, ignored the chain of reincarnation, and should have risen to buddhahood in a single life. I seriously doubt a face so filled with greed belongs to a Buddha. Look, his back is slightly bent. That proves he was begging for his life. Hes collapsed over here, too. We just cant accept this as a proper self-mummification. But he did not achieve buddhahood. He should have, but no one would accept it. This had a lot to do with the pathetic squabbles between temples and the strong link between religion and politics in those days. It came down to different factions competing over influence. It would have been a problem if that priest had achieved buddhahood and gathered the support of the people, so some acted to ensure he was made into someone who had not achieved enlightenment and who had suffered as he died. A mummy who did not achieve buddhahood would not be worshipped. Whatever the situation, they were not allowed in the same graves as the rest and were buried in a detached area. As the younger priests carried out the dried corpse, a group snickered off to the side. They were the court nobles. It was unclear what exactly they had done, but it was obvious they had hoped for this result. Now I can finally rest easy. Honestly, he should have known this would happen if he kept talking about saving all people, regardless of social status. The world needs chaos. Otherwise the pathetic commoners would lose any reason to rely on the government. But remember one thing. Even if no one would accept it, that priest had completed all of the necessary steps. He had worked to reboot himself as a device to save the people and he had begun to gather the information he needed to achieve that goal. That mummy gathered it all. That mummy analyzed it all. That mummy understood it all. And he arrived at a conclusion. I see. So I did not need the position of a Buddha to save the people. This thought just never occurred to me. Hearing that sudden voice, one of the young priests gave a surprised shout and let go. But the dried corpse did not fall to the floor. No, it was no longer a corpse. The mummy gently placed his feet on the wooden floor and stood up. He looked across the people who could not escape their miserable desires. Then I will take on that role. I will be the pathetic, sinful priest who could not abandon his desires and died without reaching perfection. I would not be given a place or a role as a Buddha, so I will become one of the immensely powerful wanderers. There was nothing they could do. I will become exactly what you wanted me to be. I will become a simple High Priest, a mere wandering Buddha. The ones who had grinned as they set this up still did not understand the gravity of the situation. One of them shouted to cut him down, another tried to win him over with money, and another broke down crying and desperately begged to be spared. But it was all useless. There were likely ways to pacify an evil god, but that High Priest no longer had a role as good or evil. No one knew what he would do and could only watch as he bared his bloody fangs. Yes. This was the birth of a new Magic God. Volume 13, 3: Beyond the Broken Spider Web — Nightmare_to_Ray_of_Hope. Volume 13, Chapter 3: Beyond the Broken Spider Web Nightmare_to_Ray_of_Hope. Part 1 Akikawa Mie had thought she would be relatively safe once she boarded the train. After leaving the building with the vault, not many people would be thinking of that liquid diamond. Their greed might be stimulated if they caught a glimpse inside her sports bag, but she would be fine otherwise. That was how she saw it. But reality saw things differently. She heard a heavy metallic scraping and the train lurched to a halt. She had nothing to hold onto, so she bumped into some young people nearby. Dwah!! S-sorry! Her reflexive apology reminded her of her father bowing over the phone and that reminder of their genetic link made her feel a little blue. However, the others seemed to be having some trouble, too. She looked more closely and realized they looked like delinquents. One of them was a skinny boy wearing black clothing and the other was...more of a mystery. The girl wore a yellow mini yukata, had lots of hairpins in her brown hair, and had an unusually dark tan for December. Hanzou-sama, dont tell me you took advantage of the commotion to immerse yourself in a molesters heaven. Thats a complete lie! Someone else bumped into me! Oh, how heartbreaking!! Beauty is the standard among standards of an Iga woman, yet this was enough for you to lose your self-control? Fine then. I, Kuruwa, shall retrain you from square one starting today!! Please noooo! The seduction techniques of a legit kunoichi will only ensure I never trust a woman again!! Mie did not understand, but if they were going to keep the focus off of her, she was fine with that. But before any complaints could erupt from the others on the train, the trains lights went out in the tunnel. The area was nearly pitch black. (What? What is this!?) Everything seemed suspicious. She was worried that masked men were going to break into the train. A speaker somewhere produced the carefree voice of the conductor. Um, a malfunction in a transformer substation near District 5s central park is affecting our train. We have no word on when it will be repaired. I greatly apologize for the inconvenience, but please follow our instructions and make your way to the tunnels emergency exit. I repeat... ... There was nothing she could trust. As soon as the tightly shut metal door opened, Akikawa Mie jumped down to the gravel-covered subway track. Ah, wait!! Its dangerous here, so please dont run! Oh, honestly. If I could see, I could at least teleport over, and...Uiharu! Is the power still not back up!? The words of a girl seemingly from Judgment stabbed into Mies back, but she did not know if the girl was being honest, if it was a trap, or even if the girl was really from Judgment. The middle school girl ran to the exit with the six trillion yen liquid diamond in her grasp. Part 2 As Misaka Mikoto sat sideways on the acrobikes back seat with her arms around Kamijou Toumas waist, she felt extremely uneasy. But not because their lives were in danger. Nor because their city was being destroyed. This was a smaller and more personal issue. She could not accurately put it in words, but that was not because her vocabulary was lacking. Putting it in words would be too much to bear, so she instinctually brought her thoughts to a stop. It was possible she was a horribly tiny and unsightly individual. The answer was covered up and hidden, but she accepted it like that. Itll be okay, said the pointy-haired boy as he pedaled the acrobike. He continued facing forward instead of turning back toward her. He spoke with his back to her. Sorry about getting you wrapped up in all this, but Ive always managed to get by somehow or other. Im sure Ill figure something out this time too. Ill get you back to where you belong, so theres nothing to worry about. He may have had no proof of that. He may have been reassuring himself as much as her. He would protect her, protect that underclassman, protect the girl. He may have been placing himself in that role as a desperate attempt to restrain his uncontrollable heart. But... Something sharp stabbed into Mikotos chest as soon as she heard it. She knew that all too well. Part 3 First, they had to double check their location. Um, were in District 5s central park, so the neighboring districts are 1, 4, 6, 18, and 23! We definitely cant go to District 1 because the administrative facilities are gathered there or to District 6 because its a giant amusement park. Who knows how much damage it would cause if we led him there!! District 23. Kamijou forced out the words as he pushed his body past its limits to pedal the acrobike after using up most of his stamina. District 23 is filled with aerospace facilities, right!? That would be the best place for a confrontation with the High Priest! At the very least, a flat launch site wont get anyone else involved and they should have plenty of firefighting equipment in case of an emergency!! Then are we going to take the shortest route again!? Hell catch up to us if we move in a straight line!! Rather than take the shortest route, they could cut through District 18 on their way to District 23. But wouldnt that mean they were selecting that district to be trampled on by the High Priest for their own convenience? Could they allow that? (What is it I want right now?) Kamijou thought as he gritted his teeth. (It isnt distance or a specific location. Those are meaningless.) It was time. He wanted time to think. (It doesnt matter if were only ten centimeters in front of the High Priest. He can even overtake us for all I care. ...But only if he doesnt know were there and we get the time to come up with a plan.) Ho ho. Are you youngsters having an intimate discussion on methods of murder? !? Before, the High Priest had been approaching from behind. But now he was running alongside them. (Dammit! Are my legs getting heavy because Im more tired than I thought!? If youre going to modify it this much, why not make it a full-blown electric motorcycle!?) Hoi. That carefree word was all it took for the earth to split open and reveal an arm large enough to grab a building. It made a horizontal strike. Kamijou quickly jumped upwards with Mikoto still on the back seat. But Kamijou had waited just a moment to draw the High Priest in as much as possible. It might be miniscule in comparison... What might be? The High Priest must have wondered that without a hint of worry. But its time you had a taste, High Priest!! It happened only a moment later. Oh, is that a concrete mixer? Bfh!? Once the giant arm missed, it tore into the industrial truck parked on the side of the road. The concrete was constantly rotated to prevent it from hardening, so it poured out and onto the High Priests head. No matter how much of a monster he was, he could not do anything when his eyes were covered. The acrobike landed and Kamijou kicked at a metal pole sticking up from the sidewalk. Technically, it was the lid to a fire hydrant. The deep sound of the released water reverberated in his gut and it sprayed upwards like a fountain. As the High Priest awkwardly and unsteadily walked forward, he moved right into the spray of water. The dried mummys body was blasted several meters straight up by the intense pressure. The gray concrete soaking his clothing was stripped away. But neither the concrete nor the water was meant to be a finishing blow. To pull the final trigger, Kamijou glared at the falling High Priest and gave a yell. Misaka!! Use a lightning spear!! Ohhh, I see. Okay!! The explosive zapping sound itself felt like a deadly weapon that squeezed at the heart. Not only was that a one billion volt blast, but his entire body was soaked with water to raise his conductivity. What would happen to someone in that situation? Instead of just having their heart stopped, a normal person would have been roasted alive. But even after all that... Ho ho. They heard lighthearted laughter. The unpleasant sweat pouring from Kamijous back contrasted that jocular tone. Uho hoi Goddammit!!!!!! Kamijou clenched his teeth shut to cut off his heavy breathing and focused on pedaling. He was adlibbing everything. Could he really say he had been satisfied with that previous attack? Could he really call that the best he had to offer? It was true a Saint may not have escaped unharmed. Gods Right Seat, Thunder God Thor, or Marian Slingeneyer may have looked concerned. He may have done an excellent job of putting together that counterattack on the fly. But could he really say it was enough firepower when up against someone on the level of Othinus? And... If he had had ten or even just five more seconds to think, was it possible he could have put together an even more effective attack? The Magic God was approaching from behind like a massive bomb, but they could not hide and take their time planning a counterattack. If they stopped, they would definitely be taken out, but they had no idea what awaited them if they kept running. What if a tanker truck was stopped up ahead? What if a line of kindergarteners was waiting at a traffic light? What if a crowd of people had gathered for a concert or parade? What if they ran into another Magic God? He did not know what waited up ahead. He did not know what would happen. That prevented him from preparing for his next action. They could only go with the flow and their turn to act never came. (I have to do something!!) At that moment, he saw something while pedaling the bike. He spotted something. Hey, stop! Let go! Give that back!! Hell, yeah. This really is the liquid diamond! Ha ha. This things worth six trillion? Really!? And I thought this was gonna be a bad day when the building started flying!! We really can do anything now that the security lines are down. Damn. Maybe we shouldve checked through that broken vault a little more. As soon as he heard it, Kamijou Touma locked both wheels, bringing the acrobike to a rapid stop. Powerful tension burned into the atmosphere. Why are you stopping!? asked Mikoto from the back seat. When the building started flying? It sounds like that girl was caught up in the trouble that the High Priest...no, that we caused. I dont know the details, but someones been taking advantage of the confusion. ... Tokiwadai Middle Schools Ace looked between two different points. The first was the middle school girl surrounded by a group of college students. The second was the rampaging mummy charging their way. Kamijou had to understand how dangerous their situation was. He may have understood it far better than her since she had only gotten dragged into it. But... Misaka, can I make one C just one C incredibly selfish request? What is it? She urged him on even though she was pretty sure she knew what it was. The boy gave the exact answer she had been expecting. I want to save that girl right this instant. She smiled without meaning to. It came out of nowhere. He was ignoring their current predicament. The fear of the High Priest had to have permeated his very being, but he still looked away from the approaching mummy. However, Mikoto did not need to analyze why she was smiling. She simply gathered strength in the arms wrapped around his waist and gave her answer. Dont worry. I wouldve had to punch you if you hadnt said that. Nothing more was needed. They did not even need to discuss what they would do. Kamijou forcefully turned the acrobike in a new direction. He charged full speed toward the other commotion they had created. Part 4 What happened in that instant was extremely simple. An acrobike running at full speed collided with the college student holding the liquid diamonds storage tube. It may have been a light bicycle, but it was still moving at over sixty kph. The front wheel dug into Kenzans side and he really did bend into a shallow V shape. Ghgah!? Bhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!? He was sent flying. He had been holding the storage tube up out of reach, so it was left behind like a game of Daruma Otoshi. Akikawa Mie grabbed it and tossed it from hand to hand like she was juggling it. Wah, wah. Meanwhile, the rest of the college group was not happy. What!? Are they after it, too!? Did everyone have the same idea!? Kamijou ignored them and shouted to only the middle school girl. Hold on to that and get down!! Hes coming!! He did not have time to explain any further. He pedaled with all his might and left with Mikoto. Eh? Ehh!? Wait, where are you going? I thought you were helping me!? Mie felt abandoned, but she soon realized he had been telling the truth. The High Priest arrived. That monstrous mummy charged through, destroying the entire landscape as he did so. It was like fire racing along a trail of gasoline. The Magic God accurately followed the route Kamijou and Mikoto had taken and ran right into the college group that was standing there completely defenseless. Abhaaaaahh!!!??? E-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!? One flew through the air and slammed into a tree. The other seemed to have escaped harm by falling tearfully to the ground. His legs seemed to have given out. Kyah!! Akikawa Mie held onto the liquid diamonds storage tube and held down her short skirt as she blankly watched that disastrous storm move on. Finally, she bowed just once. (I have no idea what just happened...) She then started running as quickly as she could. She could not afford to stick around. As she did, that show of good will filled her heart with warmth. The impression she was left with may have seemed strange to some people. (I was just saved by an extremely powerful old man.) Part 5 Oh, no, said Kamijou while pedaling the acrobike as hard as he could. He knew the pointless speaking would interrupt his breathing, but he could not erase the unease rising from his chest. Oh, no. Oh, no! Oh, no!! Hes even closer than before!! Uho hoi I finally caught a glimpse of it, Kamijou Touma. Now, Im getting excited. So what kind of selfishness will you present this Magic God next? He did not have time to listen to the High Priests nonsense. If they were caught, it was all over. He had known that before taking the detour. Mikoto gave a frantic shout as she looked down at her cellphones map. Wait!! If we keep going this way, well reach a railroad crossing known for causing traffic jams!! Then what are we supposed to do!? For now, turn left!! He did as he was told and sharply turned the handlebars, but that was only a reflexive reaction to the situation. He was not thinking for himself about how to change the rails of destiny. And as soon as he made the turn, something kicked at the acrobikes front wheel. It was a hurdle made from a line of three red cones and a plastic pole lying on its side. It was clearly meant to keep people out. Up ahead, he saw an obvious construction site and the acrobike drove right into a pit that was four stories deep. The large rectangular opening was larger than a schools twenty-five meter pool. Kamijou could only look down at the work lights installed at the bottom of the pit to know how deep it was, but that slight information was enough to make him shrink back in fear. For a while, his sense of gravity vanished. His sense of time also disappeared. As time seemed to stretch out infinitely, he guessed they were constructing a multi-level crossing so the railroad could pass below instead of causing traffic jams. He even had time to wonder if they were building a new underground mall while they were at it. There was a lot he wanted to say, but he only spoke the first phrase that came to mind. Misaaaaka. B-blame the map!! Their sense of time soon returned and the boy and girl were filled with fear and the tremendous Gs of the fall. Part 6 Hm? The purple-robed mummy came to a stop after turning a corner. Part 7 Kamijou and Mikoto were thrown out into the pit, but they did not dive straight down. To lower their speed as much as possible, Kamijou pressed the acrobikes wheels against the side wall. With some help from the gyros, he forced the tires to dig into the nearly vertical wall. Rubber screamed as they slid to the bottom instead of simply falling. Kamijou was too much of a beginner to know, but this was the Rapid S, one of the most difficult cycle arts. Even so, he nearly bit his own tongue when they landed. The powerful suspension caused the acrobike to hop back up and Mikoto floated into the air a bit. The electrically-assisted bicycle somehow regained its balance while swerving in repeated S-shapes. The ground was mostly flat concrete, but some of it was more like rough gravel. Still, they did not blow a tire. However, Kamijou was more worried about pursuit than the tires. While pedaling, he looked back again and again, using the work lights to see when the High Priest would show up. And... He...isnt following us? Afraid to stop, he continued pedaling without a destination in mind. Mikoto also looked back in confusion. I doubt that monster would be afraid to jump down because of the height. Was there a meaning behind it? Or was he trying to confuse them with meaningless actions? They had no evidence for either option, so the phenomenon alone was not enough for them to relax. And it seemed they did not have much time anyway. A high-pitched beeping came from the acrobike. What is it now!? Somethings flashing on the handlebar grip. The green light just turned orange, said Kamijou while pedaling. Thats for the acrobikes battery. Is it running out!? Losing their means of transportation would be disastrous here, so Kamijou frantically reached for the battery pack attached to the frame and pulled out a cable like the ones on vacuum cleaners. Mikoto looked confused. Do they have recharging stations in construction sites!? Look at the plug. A normal household outlet is enough and there are lights all around here. We should be able to recharge if we have half an hour. We should probably recharge as much as we can while the High Priest is gone. He applied the acrobikes brakes. With the disk-shaped gyros on either side of the two wheels, the acrobike did not fall over even when it came to a complete stop and the two of them quickly stepped off. They needed half an hour. If they had that long, they could escape the current danger. But the very next moment, the Magic God rushed straight in, breaking through all the bedrock. His incredibly violent arrival was not going to leave even the terrain behind. The dirt writhed like a living creature and threatened to swallow up Kamijou and Mikoto as they stood there defenseless. !? Get on, Misaka!! Kamijou himself also hopped onto the acrobike. As soon as he felt the weight on the back seat, he pedaled as fast as he could. Sometimes pieces of rock larger than refrigerators were scattered about, sometimes they flew overhead, and sometimes they rolled in front of the acrobike to block their way. Kamijou pedaled the bicycle out of pure desperation. He used the cycle art named Lunatic G. To avoid the obstacles, he used centrifugal force to shift from the floor to the wall for a few seconds. They could not recharge and they had no idea how long the battery would last. Ho ho. They were pursued by what looked like a giant maw. The wrinkled old mans voice reached them from beyond the dirt filing the entire tunnel. Ho ho ho. Uho hoiii Dammit!! Tunnels branched off here and there, but a commercial map app could not tell them where they led. Of course, that was not surprising when the entire area under construction did not show up. They were fleeing with everything they had, but where did this tunnel lead? What if it led to a dead end? Wh-what do we do!? We dont know the way and the batterys about to die!! Misaaaka, can you try putting this plug in your mouth? Dont joke!! The battery pack would probably overheat and explode!! The dirt that was crushing and breaking through everything was right behind them now. They even felt a gust of wind just like when a subway train passed by. A human body would be destroyed instantly if it was swallowed up. Not even controlling rebar and metal beams with magnetism would be enough to avoid being buried alive. What is with this guy? He can move around in a mummys body, he can brush aside my Railgun barehanded, he can swing around buildings, and now hes trying to crush this entire tunnel!! The mass he can use is on an entirely different scale! ...It feels like he can do anything. Is it a waste of time to even give it serious thought!? ... Hey! Are you listening!? Mikoto shouted from behind, but Kamijou remained silent. That was not it. There was something more important than what she was talking about. He could not let himself be distracted by the impressive visual. He could not lose sight of what he needed to think about first. How did he know where we were? What? He must have lost sight of us when we first came down here. But why? ...No, that isnt what we need to think about. Right, thats right. When we left my school and when we were talking with Fiamma through the spiritual item, he immediately interfered. Ahh! For that matter, how did he locate my school in the very, very beginning!? Kamijou left Mikoto behind as he lost himself in his own thoughts. It did not matter how powerful the High Priest was if he could not locate them. Unlike Othinus at full power, he was not attacking by distorting the phase or the world. While they could not defeat this Magic God, it at least gave them some time to think. And if they thought and thought, they could always find some deeper rules. Where could they go to escape the High Priest? What could they do to defeat a Magic God? That was why he could not let this go. He had to shift from passive to active. To alter the rails of destiny themselves instead of simply going with the flow, he had to discover and break down those rules. Does he know where we are once he gets within a certain range? Can he detect us if we stay in the same place for a certain amount of time? No, that isnt it. Give it more thought. There has to have been an obvious point in common. Where did he pick up our tracks... Wait, our tracks? It cant be... After gathering his thoughts, Kamijou looked up in surprise. They continued through the upwards sloping tunnel. It cant be! What is it!? We might be able to do this after all. As long as this battery holds out!! He leaned even more of his weight on the pedals. The mummy High Priest pursued them with a deluge of dirt. The noisy warning continued beeping. A white light appeared in front of them. It was the tunnels exit. Part 8 The dirt carried by a powerful gust of wind made it visible. The dirt blasted from the tunnels exit like when cleaning a bath tubs pipes. The people walking on a peaceful riverside path looked over in surprise, but the High Priest was not bothered by that. Hm. The mummy stepped onto the carefully maintained bricks of the walking path, split his dried skin, and tilted his head. A rhythmic sound came from a work ship passing by on the cold river. The High Priest observed all of his surroundings. Ive lost his signal again. Part 9 A mere fifteen meters in front of the High Priest, Kamijou lay face down on the deck of the work ship noisily travelling along the river. He had used a major trick known as Swing J to make a large jump from the bank. Its dirt. Dirt? Mikoto was lying alongside him. It may have been a sign of her unease, but without realizing it, her hand was tightly holding onto the bottom of Kamijous coat. They had done it all to hide from the High Priest using the raised edge of the ship. After reaching the end up the slope, the acrobike had shot from the tunnel like it was a ramp. Landing on the work ship had been a complete coincidence. But Kamijou felt the result would have been the same had they fallen into the cold water. When you think about it, hes been controlling dirt this entire time. In that case, we should have assumed he was searching for us using the same thing he uses to attack. He finally breathed a sigh of relief. While pedaling the acrobike, my feet were off the ground. When speaking with Fiamma over the spiritual item and when preparing to recharge the acrobike in the tunnel just now, the High Priest attacked the instant I placed my feet on the ground. Its like hes a part of the dirt or like the ground is his skin. Mikoto did not seem to understand what he meant by becoming a part of the dirt. That was not surprising. While esper powers and magic were both supernatural, the science and magic at their base were entirely different. It might have angered a magician to hear it, but the knowledge acquired in Academy City is completely different to the knowledge acquired by magicians. Still, she managed to keep the conversation going. If thats true, if you keep your feet off the ground... He wont know where I am. We just have to stay in the water or on this boat. Of course, it would all be for naught if the High Priest actually saw them, but they could at least escape his radar or GPS-like search. (Of course, this is all assuming it isnt just an act, waiting for us to reach the wrong conclusion and leave an opening.) He could not completely deny that possibility. He would remain cautious, but he felt it was unlikely. He thought back to the Othinus incident. If the High Priest was a true Magic God, Kamijou doubted he would put together that kind of trick against a lowly human. He would use every means available to him and crush his enemy with overwhelming force. They were called gods because they could do that. The High Priest is... Good. It looks like I was right. Kamijou poked just his head above the edge of the work ship to check. It also looked like they could deal with the acrobikes battery. The ships workers had been taken aback by their sudden appearance, but Kamijou had bowed down and gotten permission to use one of the ships power plugs. The workers seemed to think they were from an extreme video site. They had received a quick lecture, but it was not being treated as a crime. (We finally have time to think.) Kamijou sat exhausted on the deck. This could be the beginning of shifting from passive to active, from escape to counterattack, and from going with the flow to altering the rails of destiny themselves. (And I can think over everything again.) He shut his eyes and went back over everything that had happened. The mummy High Priest had accurately pursued an acrobike as it fled as quickly as a car, he had wielded giant arms of dirt and mud, he had attacked with high-rise buildings filled with innocent people, and he had crushed a tunnel with dirt as he approached. He was a frightening opponent who did everything on an extraordinary scale and could fill Academy City with destruction if not dealt with. But... (Im not afraid of you.) Kamijou Touma opened his eyes and confidently reached his conclusion. (This isnt like with Othinus. Back then, I felt like countless fish hooks were caught in my soul and dragging it from my body and I felt like my very existence was being torn away, but I dont sense that madness from you!!) Part 10 Misaka Mikoto slowly exhaled on the work ship. It did not matter that it was temporary. They had at least managed to escape the High Priests pursuit and they had time to think things over. But thinking was not always helpful. (...) Everything she had been trying not to think about swelled up inside her chest. Losing herself in that work had stopped these negative thoughts, but they had started up again. She could not put it in words. If she did, she would be forced to face her own ugliness. She shook her head and forced down the phrase that was rising from her throat. She then turned to Kamijou. H-hey, lets talk about what exactly were going to-... That was when she saw it. She saw a woman whose chocolate-colored skin was hidden only by bandages and a girl with pale skin who wore a mini China dress. Those women had appeared, sitting on either side of the pointy-haired boy. Mikotos mouth flapped opened and closed, but the women did not seem to care. They leaned in on Kamijou from either side and each grabbed one of his hands. They then pressed those hands against their soft chests. Oh, dear. Not even Imagine Breaker is enough. I had thought I would retrieve my original power if the spell inside me was broken, but that power seems to have already completely disappeared. I suppose even this power cant remake an object that was burnt to ashes by a magical fire. ...Niang-Niang, what are you doing? What do you mean, Nephthys? Im trying Imagine Breaker on myself just like you. Then why are you using his left hand? Its only in his right. Oh, I thought any body part worked as long as you touched your breasts with it. Niang-Niang, thats completely backwards. Something burst from Mikotos temple. If she had to say what irritated her the most, it was how the pointy-haired boy did nothing to stop the sudden situation. What. Do. You. Think. Youre-...!!!??? She never finished her furious shout. Before she could, Niang-Niang (who was still meaninglessly pressing Kamijou Toumas left hand to her flat chest) pointed her baggy sleeve toward Mikoto in annoyance. That was all she did. A thick blade shot from her sleeve and mercilessly stabbed into the center of Mikotos chest. Wha-? She had no idea what this meant. She was filled with confusion. Ah? The first thing to pierce into the girls chest looked like a crescent-shaped blade on the end of a spear. But that was not the only one. Now that Mikoto was pinned in place, a great number of weapons shot out to tear, pierce, and slice through every part of her body. A frenzied rush of dull sounds continued for some time. She felt no pain and she shed no blood, but she felt dizzy at the definite fact that she had been stabbed. This was not a mental manipulation like the #5 used. This was physically happening. Dark unease oozed out from the depths of her mind and quickly spread to every corner of her brain. The result had already arrived, but it was such an extreme situation that the physical phenomena could not keep up. It was just like a shockwave reaching the surroundings only after an object had moved at supersonic speeds. It was like the rumble of thunder arriving only a few seconds after the flash of lightning. So once the situation caught up, would she already be...? Misaka!! That was when the pointy-haired boy swung his right hand around. He swept aside the countless weapons connecting the China dresss sleeve to Mikotos upper body. Every last one of the weapons was thoroughly destroyed like fragile glass. To protect her now that she was freed, Kamijou stepped forward to hold back the brown bandaged women and the pale mini-China dress girl. (What...?) Mikoto ran her hands along her entirely unharmed body. (What was that!?) Ahh, ahh. Its no use thinking about it too much. Destroying them all at once like Kamijou Touma did is the best plan. The mini China dress girl giggled. She did not seem bothered that her weapons had been destroyed. After all, each and every one of my Pao-Pei has a different effect. If I release them all at once like that, you cant exactly sit around analyzing each one, now can you? Pao...? Ah ha ha. Sorry. I guess using my own terminology would leave you confused, wouldnt it? They arent from any religious or historical texts. Instead, theyre the weapons used by the sages in an ancient Chinese novel, but there are plenty of similar things lying around. For example, the sages would have a fake funeral to cut their ties to their earthly life and they would place their own staff in the coffin in their place. My country is filled with tools that have no official origin. There are over one hundred legendary foods that supposedly make you immortal if you eat them. When you have so much stuff, you have to categorize them and manage them all, so I just wanted a convenient name and category. Niang-Niang, I dont think thats what they were surprised about. Neh? Then what were those shocked looks for??? To Kamijou, that puzzled atmosphere felt like a different sort of pressure from any of his previous powerful foes. What are you two? He stayed in front of Mikoto as he asked, but neither of them bothered getting up as they calmly answered. Im Nephthys and this is Niang-Niang. You can think of us as the High Priests partners, Kamijou-chan. Part 11 The High Priests partners. The true Gremlin. Magic Gods on the same level as Othinus. That was enough for Kamijou to feel dizzy. Their hands were already more than full with the High Priest. They had been about to start a discussion to find a possible way to defeat him if one existed at all, but now the number of Magic Gods had increased. And not just by one, but by two. Based on what the High Priest had said and done, Kamijou assumed they could not freely add in a new phase to the world like Othinus had done at full power. Still, there were three of them now. Without even thinking about phases, wasnt that enough of a force to split the planet in two with brute strength? On top of that, they were on the same level as the High Priest, but they were not complete copies of him and all his characteristics. He would have to redo everything from the beginning. He would have to analyze what Nephthys and Niang-Niang used as Magic Gods and find a weakness in it. And there was always a chance the High Priest would go on a rampage and fill Academy City with destruction in the meantime. He was shorthanded. His mental resources were nearly overloaded. He had no idea where to even begin. You dont have to worry. The brown-skinned bandage-wearing Nephthys laughed. We arent thinking about destroying Academy City right this instant or anything. Didnt the High Priest tell you what the true Gremlin wants? You mean that stuff about having me score the distortions and destiny created when you Magic Gods fight over resources? And in exchange for a guaranteed wish or prayer. You arent interested in world domination or wiping out the human race. You just want to give me those special privileges for some nonsensical peace of mind! Are you prepared to give us your answer? Kamijou wondered what would happen if he was not prepared. Would they use the High Priests strategy and spread destruction until he changed his mind? He tensed at that thought, but Niang-Niang shrugged and cut into the conversation. Cmoooon. You dont have to look so horrified. Huh? Nephthys, do you think maybe the High Priest scared him a little too much??? Well, he is the type that lets the blood rush to his head and ruins the plan he was working on five seconds before, so it isnt that surprising. He really does like making his own convenient interpretations of impermanence and inevitable decline. What are you...talking about? Sorry if we scared you, boy. Nephthys pressed her index finger against her slender chin without looking remotely troubled. But we have no intention of starting any kind of trouble in Academy City...or in this world at all. How can you be so certain? Because we have no reason to. She said it so readily. I cant speak for the other Magic God, but I quite like Academy City. Even as one of the lives crawling along the ground, you dream of the stars in the night sky and draw up diagrams for them all. Youve even reached the level of building a mass driver and landing an unmanned probe on a comet by matching its one hundred thousand kph relative speed. She removed her fingertip from her brown chin and casually reached her hand toward the sun in the blue sky. The stars can be plucked from the sky so easily, so why are you so desperate to reach them? Its not even remotely logical, but humans are creatures filled with that sort of passion, arent they? That movement of your hearts is the one thing Im honestly jealous of. Niang-Niang was struggling not to laugh as she listened in. Neeephthyyys, youre really, really looking down on them. Oh, dear. But my experience tells me this leaves them with a more favorable impression of me. Well, we are gods. Its true people expect us to crush them underfoot instead of lowering ourselves to their level. Kamijou and Mikoto were right in front of them, but neither Nephthys nor Niang-Niang paid them much attention. There was a powerful division between them like with a waiter in the middle of a party. I got off topic, didnt I? Why are you even here? Didnt you hear from the High Priest? Thanks to him, were weakened at the moment. We had hoped your Imagine Breaker could do something about that, but it didnt work. Not that it really matters. Were not the ones this is a real problem for. I just cant figure out what he was thinking by dragging us into the real world in this incomplete state. You could say were in a state where we can destroy the world but lack the strength to recreate it afterwards. ...!? Niang-Niang. Ah ha ha! Sorry, sorry. You sure were traumatized by that business with Othinus, Kamijou-chan!! Niang-Niang held her small belly with her baggy sleeves and burst out laughing with tears in her eyes. Nephthys could only sigh in exasperation. Sorry about making fun of you. At any rate, well deal with our first goal on our own, but I suppose we do have a second goal we could use your help with. I wont become your scorer. Im sick of thinking about turning the human race into tropical fish for something as ridiculous as peace of mind. I have no interest in making any wishes or prayers. That can wait until another time. Nephthys laughed. The current issue is the High Priest. The High Priest? Even you can tell hes on a complete rampage, cant you? But that doesnt represent the overall will of the true Gremlin. We cant have you thinking were all like that. Th-then... Hesitantly, Mikoto finally spoke up from behind Kamijou. Why cant you deal with him? You know that weird old man, right? Then you go capture him and leave! Nephthys and Niang-Niangs response was incredibly simple. They acted like Academy Citys #3 was not even there. We want you to stop the High Priest, so well give you the information you need. But dont expect us to do anything directly. Wait... Kamijou cut in without thinking. Mikoto was still so shocked she did not have it in her to speak again. But the two Magic Gods did not seem to mind very much. Well, if you tell us to do it, we will. But only if we receive that prayer from our cute little Kamijou-chan. Of course, that would end up with at least Academy City...no, this entire archipelago at the bottom of the sea. You know why, dont you? A fight between us and the High Priest would be a battle between Magic Gods. Wait. The two Magic Gods were entirely cheerful. They sounded just like someone speaking to a friend in class. But that was exactly why each and every word caused Mikoto to shrink down. They felt like physical blows to the girl who was left all alone. The two Magic Gods were cruelly erasing her presence from their mind and acting like she was not there. I said wait, Nephthys!! The next thing he knew, Kamijou had grabbed the bandages corresponding to the brown womans collar. What would happen if he made a single mistake against a Magic God? Even that concern had been knocked from his mind. Oh, dear. He glared at her from close range, but Nephthyss expression did not change. Kamijou Touma felt a strange prickling surround him, as if something invisible were stabbing into his skin. Still, he did not back down. He had no reason to do so. What will you do? A teasing voice cut in from the side. Niang-Niang hid her mouth behind a baggy sleeve and a bewitching smile filled her eyes. Of course, it doesnt matter to us if you say you dont want any divine advice. If you want to do it all on your own, go right ahead. But can you really manage that? You dont even know the basic structure of the High Priests mummy body. ... Kamijou could not answer. A silent confrontation between human and Magic God continued for a while. Fine, then. Misaka Mikoto was the one who finally spoke up. The Magic Gods had not been counting her as part of the conversation, so she spoke to Kamijou. Lets use everything available to us. This is no time to be picky. Misaka... But well outdo them in the end. We can put up with it if we assume that. So lets keep the conversation going. If the High Priest interrupted now after all this, it would make me wonder what we were doing this whole time. He looked like he had just bitten into something bitter, but Kamijou finally let go of Nephthyss collar. He would respect her decision, but his expression made it clear he did not like it. Meanwhile, Nephthyss expression remained unchanged. She had no reason to change it. You dont like it, but you cant refuse us, can you? What of it? You have always been greedy when it comes to victory, so you tend to use any means available to you. And right now you have someone behind you to protect. You would never worry about appearances here. Nephthys laughed as she continued. Now, how about we celebrate our common goal by talking about the High Priest? Part 12 It was a carefree scene. The purple-robed High Priest used his golden sword as a staff to walk along the river. He did not use a people-clearing field to hide himself. He did not try to conceal the existence of magic. He held the position of a Magic God, his presence destroyed the many bonds tying one to the world, and yet his living mummy body shattered everyones common sense simply by breathing. But he gave no thought to any of that. If any problems occurred, he could crush them with his strength and none of the beings living in this world could stop him. His entire body was overflowing with that pride. Now, where did they get off to? Was there really any meaning in the words he spoke? When it came down to it, a Magic God like him had no real reason why he had to settle things with Kamijou Touma right away. His mummy body would continue to function indefinitely. Just as Othinus had lived a long, long mind-numbing amount of time to find someone who understood her, it did not entirely matter to him as long as it was all resolved in the very end. Of course, he was nothing but a disaster to those who only had a one hundred year lifespan and were being constantly targeted in this normal world. In other words, the wait may have been the most frightening part. Kamijou and Mikoto had been desperate to escape the immediate threat, but it may have been even more frightening for him to be out of sight. But as his pride was based in actual strength, the High Priest was not a patient person. Instead of dangling a line in the water and enjoying a relaxing time fishing, he would swallow up all of the lakes water and grab the fish from the dried lake bottom. That was a Magic God. After his walk, he suddenly looked up. He turned in a certain direction and he smiled. Ho ho. Looks like theyre doing something interesting over there. Part 13 As you know...or maybe you dont, but the High Priest is a Magic God from Buddhism. On the work ship, Nephthys began with that. Specifically, from the unique Japanese variety that went through a number of changes after its origin in India and its passage through China and Korea. Now, Kamijou-chan, are you familiar with self-mummification? ? Nephthyyys, youre skipping a step in your explanation, cut in Niang-Niang. In Japanese Buddhism, you cant achieve enlightenment and travel to the Pure Land in a single life, no matter how much you train. It has nothing to do with your social status. By being reborn again and again and going through harsh training each time, you slowwwwly polish your soul and only liberate yourself from your worldly desires in the very, very end. Thats when you become a Buddha. Or thats the normal route, anyway. There is a way of becoming a Buddha in the limited few decades of a single life and that is self-mummification. Were they saying the High Priest had performed that self-mummification ceremony and become a Magic God? But what exactly did that ceremony entail? The process itself is simple. You can tell from his body, right? Its basically the Japanese version of a mummy. And strangely, they dont even remove the blood or organs. They only close themselves in a dark room and dry up. Speaking as the Egyptian version, it makes me worry they would rot from the inside before drying out. That surprised Kamijou. It was true the High Priest did not look normal, but it was still a shock to have it confirmed by someone else. Then he was killed in order to artificially create a Magic God!? Dont be silly. He closed himself in the underground room and chose to starve to death. It wouldnt be self-mummification otherwise. Niang-Niangs nonchalant comment left Kamijou even more dumbfounded. Nephthys did not seem to want to stick on any one point, so she continued on to the next one. Thats why he has a connection to dirt. In self-mummification, the priest wanting to rid himself of worldly desires closes himself in an underground room, essentially burying himself alive, and continues forming mudra and chanting sutra to the end. That creates the mummy. What seeped from his corpse as he dried filled the surrounding dirt and created a connection there. All around the world, people think of the heavenly gods being up in the sky and the sinners being below the earth, but not many cultures view dirt itself as unclean. Take Japans Shinto for example. But Shinto and Buddhism have mixed and contaminated each other, so that influenced the High Priest, too. The dirt. The underworld. A Magic God who could draw out and control the space that had starved him to death. Why did he...? ? Why did he go that far? This had nothing to do with strategizing. It was an honest question. Nephthys replied as if it was nothing. Isnt that obvious? The only reason any priest aims to rid himself of his worldly desires is to save the people. In other words, he wanted to save the entire world. Wha-...? Ah ha ha! Pretty much all of the Magic Gods are the same, yknow? But the salvation our overwhelming power brought was twisted. Or I guess you could say salvation from an individual is no different from an absolute dictatorship. Then again, the High Priests story may be one of the worst. Didnt you find it odd? asked Nephthys like this was nothing more than gossip. There are a few peculiar aspects about the High Priests outfit: his purple robe, the glittering golden ornaments, the collar rising like flames, and the sword made of pure gold. What about it? But he has never once swung that sword, has he? Now that it had been pointed out to him, Kamijou realized it was true. The High Priest had made giant arms of dirt and mud, swung buildings around, and crushed an underground tunnel. Kamijou had been distracted by the great impact of those actions, but the High Priest had never used that obvious weapon of his. Theyre all burial accessories modeled after the Buddhist deity Acala, but they dont represent his own choices. After he died, a faction that did not want him to become a Buddha sabotaged his attempt. No one adorned with those treasures could have abandoned their desire, so no one would think he could have achieved enlightenment. It was basically a blatant negative campaign against him. Kee hee hee. In other words, he has the body of a Buddha but wasnt given the position of a Buddha, so you could call him a wandering Buddha. In polytheistic religions, every god is given a name and a role. The gears of the giant system known as mythology can start turning as long as they have those two things. But the High Priest has neither. Hes a Buddha with no name besides High Priest. Hes a dangerous gear that can appear anywhere inside an already full box. And worst of all, he still fully intends to save the people. He concluded that what happened to him was the desire of the people, so he believes he can save the world by acting as someone who could not abandon his petty desires and thus became a Buddha without a role. Hearing it was enough to make Kamijou feel faint. He had run across quite a few magicians in the past and they had all had their unique issues. But the High Priest was somehow different. The other magicians had done what they did because something had ended or because they feared something would end, but the High Priest was much more rotten. He was like a dried and eternally preserved mummy. Everyone else was working out of fear that their HP would drop to zero, but his alone had already reached negative numbers yet he was still laughing. So you cant convince him to stop. Nephthys provided that simple conclusion and her tone made it clear that was not uncommon for someone with that kind of past. After all, hes rotted so much, but hes perfectly satisfied with where he is now. If the emperor of the Emperors New Clothes was proud of being naked, then there would be no stopping him with words, right? Ah ha ha!! Neeephthyyys! That doesnt sound very convincing coming from someone whos naked except for some bandages! You arent any better since you dont wear any underwear. As they spoke back and forth, the two Magic Gods slowly stood up from the ships deck. Well, despite what I said, if you really dont have enough strength, call our names. If you give an appropriate sacrifice, we can restrain the High Priest in a direct confrontation between Magic Gods. Nephthys laughed. That wouldnt be all that interesting a conclusion, but I suppose it would be somewhat entertaining. After all, it would mean you had accepted the value of a Magic Gods power. She held her slender brown hand out to Kamijou. He could do it now if he wanted. If he gave up here, she would easily end this incident. And he would get a taste of cheating. Once he knew how easy it was, he would feel foolish for ever working at it the old-fashioned way. That was all it would take to save everyone. That would not be a problem for anyone, but... No!!!!!! A sharp yell cut through the gentle downward-sloping atmosphere. It came from Misaka Mikoto. Part 14 In that instant, not even she fully knew why she had grabbed Kamijous arm. She had felt it would be dangerous for him to take Nephthys or Niang-Niangs slender hand. She had felt he would truly leave for some place she would never be able to reach. So she did not care how pathetic it was. She did not care if everyone treated her like a weed or stone on the side of the road, if her pride as Tokiwadai Middle Schools Ace was torn to shreds, or if Academy Citys #3 was entirely useless in the face of a true conflict. Magic? Magic God? She did not understand the words everyone else was using. She could not share in their meaning, she could not imagine what they were talking about, and she could not keep up. That fact was a powerful blow. But she could put all of that off until later. She could go through it all bit by bit based on what she did understand. But that meant she could not allow this. She could not allow Kamijou Touma to carelessly join forces with these Magic Gods. Part 15 Misaka Mikoto clung to Kamijou Toumas arm. She glared at the temptresses like a normal girl. Only then did the chocolate-colored Magic God give her a puzzled look for the first time. The girl named Misaka Mikoto finally entered her field of vision. And... Thats right. Nephthys laughed and shook her empty hand in amusement. The stars can be plucked from the sky so easily, but you humans feel such passion for such unimportant things. ...? What did she see in Mikoto and what assessment had she made? Not even Mikoto knew. But it seemed what had almost amounted to a tackle had drawn the Magic Gods interest. As if switching to a different set of rails, Nephthys and Niang-Niang stood up. I will give you one last piece of divine advice, said the Magic God. If you intend to defeat the High Priest with brute strength, then you need to carefully work out the process of his destruction. Make no mistake; that is not a simple difference in physical strength. What? He is a special being that rose to the level of a Buddha in a single life when that normally takes being reborn into countless lives. He is someone who left the proper path of destiny and skipped a level on his own. He can freely manipulate the intersection of the Six Paths, so it would be best not to assume the cause, the process, and the effect are lined up neatly in order. She said nothing more. By the time Kamijou Touma finished blinking his eyes, the Magic Gods were already gone. Part 16 Kamijou and Mikoto were short on time. The High Priest had not yet located them. As long as they did not stand on the dirt that made up his turf, their location would not reach him. But that was not a 100% guarantee. After all... He only has to think about it in reverse. In reverse? How can we stay safe and not step on the ground? If he goes around crushing locations like that, he might eventually realize were on the water or on this ship. Once that happens, its all over. The chase will begin again. They had finally gained some time to think and the Magic Gods named Nephthys and Niang-Niang had given them some information on the High Priest. If they could not make full use of this short time, they would never turn things around. Like a fox hunt, they would only be tortured to death at the end of a long, long chase. First of all, began Mikoto. Do you think theres any way for us to defeat that High Priest guy? If we cant, then we have to come up with a way of resolving this without defeating him. Kamijou pulled the acrobikes recharging cable from the ships outlet and stored it in the battery pack like with a vacuum cleaner. We need to get to District 23. Well, I suppose we wont get anyone else involved when its just large launch sites and runways, but what do we do then!? I have an idea. Part 17 Ow... someone groaned. It was Kenzan from the group of college students. His vision was still flashing in and out, so he shook his head to clear his mind. The area looked like the scene of some horrible disaster, but only two things mattered. The liquid diamond and the middle school girl were gone. The stolen P-phone was lying on the ground nearby. The LCDs protective glass was cracked, but it turned on when he hit the switch. Okay, its working. ...We can still chase her down. Good. The other boys were not far away. Okada was collapsed face-up on the road and Higata was crouched down near him. Hey. A-ah! Oh, youre okay? I think Okadas in trouble. Hes conscious, but he cant seem to get up. He hit his back pretty hard, so I think he might have broken something. Shut up. More importantly, were going after the liquid diamond. Cmon. That should have been obvious, but Higatas mouth hung open. He froze up for a bit. No, wait. What are you saying? More importantly!? Yeah? Sorry, but this isnt the time. We need to do something about Okada. Um, we need to call an ambulance. Wheres my phone? Ahh! Sorry, but Im not letting you report this! If were stopped here, our six trillion yenll get away!! Higata heard a metallic sound, saw the handgun pulled from the back of Kenzans pants, and looked up. When he saw the look in Kenzans eyes, he made a partial smile. Youre crazy. Youre completely insane. Are you coming with me or are you going to rest in peace with your friend here? Its your choice. ... Higata bit his lip, looked back and forth between Okada and Kenzan, and finally stood up in resignation. Taking that as a sign Higata was coming with him, Kenzan moved the handgun away. Thats more like it. Part 18 The mummy known as the High Priest raised his head. A giant glass case sat near the entrance of an arcade. He was pressed up against that crane game machine. It was filled with strange, round characters that may have been modeled after the Arrowhead Comet that had been gathering attention during its closest approach to Earth. He must have looked like an old man ignorant of the modern world who had dumped too much money into the game, because a male employee unlocked the door and handed the High Priest one of the strange round stuffed toys. You see, old man... Wait, thats what I should call you, right? Ha ha. Or are you a mumm-...no, it couldnt be. (I sense him.) Kamijou Touma, his current target, had stepped on the dirt. He was at a runway or launch site in District 23, but that was a far too obvious location. It was clearly a trap. But the High Priest laughed regardless. It was the opposite. A Buddhist priest as advanced as him saw no value in actions meant to build something up. The world was a fleeting thing, it was going to end eventually, and the path to virtue was to unhesitatingly cast aside everything. Rather than just seeing the world as fleeting, his heart saw elegance in the destruction itself. This was a unique aesthetic different from the original Buddhism of India. This was no different. Impermanence was exemplified by trampling over any and all plans with no plan of his own. Decline was inevitable because the will of god would destroy all the efforts of man. Gathering that which existed to build up ones defenses could not stop the truth brought about by nothingness. The more they built up, the more the High Priest could shine. So there was no need to think too much about it. Even the greatest existence would return to nothingness. He claimed to want peace of mind, but the High Priests actual vector was pointed elsewhere. Just to be clear, these things are worth less than a yen. Thats the magic of mass-production if you can believe it. Were you so desperate to get one because your grandchild begged for one? Sorry, but you can get them pretty cheap at any second-hand shop, so...what are you doing!? The employee gave a hysteric shout. The High Priest had pushed the stuffed toy back into his hands. I no longer need it. You use it as you wish. Use it? And why were you so worked up over getting it, then!? Well, said the mummy without looking back. Unfortunately, I tend to lose interest in things once I get my hands on them. That was true of all things for him. If that boy were to give in to him, the High Priest was sure to immediately behead him without a second thought. It did not matter if the High Priest was aware he would or not. Cycle Arts Collection 3 Rapid S Difficulty: 5 Run horizontally across the edge a cliff with a slope of seventy to eighty degrees and slide down the cliff with both wheels pressed against the wall. It is possible thanks to the gyros, but if one of the wheels leaves the wall even slightly, you will lose the benefit of the gyros and immediately begin to fall. Lunatic G Difficulty: 4 A cycle art using the terrain. Build your speed on the ground, press the wheels against a wall running alongside you, and race across the wall for a few seconds. This uses centrifugal force, so terrain like an arch-shaped tunnel is necessary for the transfer. If you continue on up to the ceiling, it becomes the Universe which has a difficulty of 5. Swing J Difficulty: 2 Generally refers to a flight of over ten meters after jumping from a slope. It looks fancy, but it doesnt require much skill from the performer because it relies on the terrain and the acrobikes specs. Once the jump exceeds thirty meters, it becomes the Over Kp with a difficulty of 4. Add in a full backflip for the Moonsault with a difficulty of 5. Between the Lines 3 Wish upon a star Become a sponsor of the unmanned probe Parasatellite 01 and name an unknown jewel! This new campaign is underway!! Our foundation is accepting sponsors of the unmanned probe Parasatellite 01 which will be launched by a mass driver to investigate the Arrowhead Comet. The method is simple: either log onto our webpage or use a convenience stores multi-copy machine or ticket vending machine. One hundred yen per person! The Arrowhead Comet is rumored to hold the possibility of being a seventh achondrite that does not fit the existing six types. If the samples taken by the Parasatellite 01 prove this theory...wow! The right to name the new jewel will be given to one of you sponsors! The worlds astronomers are paying close attention because the achondrite could be the key to learning the secret of the solar systems birth and the name of the seventh type is sure to spread far and wide as new ones are later discovered. You can name it after your store, make it a wish for world peace, spread the name of your birthplace, give it your own name, or dedicate it to your lover. Why not make a wonderful memory in this romantic month of December by entering for your chance to provide the name? Volume 13, 4: End of an Unwinnable Battle — A.A.A. Volume 13, Chapter 4: End of an Unwinnable Battle A.A.A. Part 1 Academy Citys District 23 specialized in the field of aerospace development and it was covered by flat expanses of gray asphalt. Needless to say, that was to secure as much space as possible for launch sites and runways. The entirely clear blue sky overhead looked like an infinitely open space, but it was scheduled out down to the minute and even second so that countless aircraft of every size could constantly move through it like threads being knit into cloth. Without the digital control guidance, collisions would have occurred constantly. Also, security drones patrolled the area to eliminate the risk of naturally-occurring bird strikes, plastic bags blown into the air by the wind, or even intentional trouble. Normally, the boy stepping down from the acrobike would have been detected before the seconds hand made a full circuit of the clock. That did not happen because of the electrical support of Academy Citys #3. But in that case... Ho. Why was that old man there? His arms and legs looked like dried branches that had long since forgotten the concept of moisture. His splendidly decorated purple and gold robe stood in stark contrast to his thoroughly worn away body. He also used a pure gold sword instead of a staff. So you were waiting for me? Perhaps you were thinking you could turn everything around by fighting in an open space with no risk of damaging your surroundings. ...But surely that wasnt all you were thinking. He did not rush things or act impatiently. That Magic God walked toward Kamijou Touma at a leisurely pace. He did not seem to mind that Kamijou was the only one here. He said nothing about Misaka Mikotos absence. He showed no concern over a possible cheap trick or trap. A Magic God was not so small an existence. I will ask you however many times it takes, Kamijou Touma. After reaching a certain distance, the High Priest stopped and faced the pointy-haired boy. Those of us from the true Gremlin wish to have you grade our power which inadvertently distorts destiny. You would create the seventh path that does not fit in the other six, you would become the sheath to contain the secret sword of our great power, you would remove the hangnail on our hearts, and you would give us formless peace of mind. And in exchange, you would take the position of the scorer who rules the worlds destiny. How about it? Kamijou had only a single word to say. This had not changed from beginning to end. No. I see. The High Priest leaned on his sword with one hand and used the other to scratch at the dried side of his tilted head. Like a child, he seemed truly puzzled how Kamijou had reached that conclusion. It is only a matter of sooner or later. You will eventually accept, so the question is how far the damage will spread before you do. I believe I have already told you this many times. What...? Something was coming. He would make his case with violence. What are you planning now, High Priest!? Sensing that, Kamijou put up his defenses, but to someone as powerful as the High Priest, he only looked like a small creature tensing up to weather a storm. Is this maybe what you were thinking? asked the old man. Your choices always lie in front of you and the infinite possibilities of the future are determined by the choices you will make. Those possibilities include tragedy and comedy, fortune and misfortune, peace and war, and everything else, so you can walk down a path where everyone survives as long as you make the right choices. The thick asphalt of the runway split apart. A giant arm rose on either side of the High Priest like towers. As the mud arms wriggled like living creatures, the mummy gave his disinterested conclusion. If so, you were too na?ve. It arrived so suddenly. Have you forgotten? I have a deep connection with dirt and I have controlled mud to produce a variety of phenomena. But the finite is still finite and I have not altered the conservation of mass. ...What do you think happens underground when this much of the dirt is pulled out? It happened immediately afterwards. A massive cumulonimbus cloud rose from far beyond the horizon. No, it was gray dust. A mountain of dust like that was created when a building was demolished. Since the earth was round, the cityscape may have normally been hidden by the horizon, but this great cloud of dust was large enough and high enough to overturn that. This had to go beyond a single building. The dust was coming from more than one point. Buildings were probably crumbling and collapsing one after another. The amount of dust was growing like the movements of a living creature, like a slithering snake, or like the surface representation of a mole moving through the dirt. Uuh... Yes. It followed the course the High Priest had taken in pursuit of Kamijou and Mikoto. Something had triggered a collapse in the areas from which the mummy had chaotically pulled the dirt. Ah...ahhh...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? The city was being destroyed. Didnt I tell you? It is only an issue of sooner or later. The High Priest really did sound exasperated. You simply did not notice, so you needlessly spread the damage. Now, how many people do you think will be buried in the rubble? The destruction swallowing up the earth was approaching. It was like a bizarre fuse. You were seriously mistaken if you thought you had any say in how much damage was done. The mummy mocked the boys ignorance. Just to be clear, I was the one that destroyed all of this. Then the fuse of destruction reached the High Priests feet. The result was clear as day. And you were far too shallow if you assumed I would not allow myself to be caught in it all. Well, perhaps that is just the carefree way the Japanese think. The sturdy asphalt crumbled all at once. A square area twenty meters across collapsed and the sense of gravity vanished. The puny boy could only clench his right fist as he was easily swallowed up. Part 2 Widespread destruction filled Academy City from District 7, through District 5 and 18, and finally to District 23. Kamijou Touma stood at the final point and he too fell deep underground as the ground collapsed underneath him. But the space did not look like it had been created just from the ground splitting open. An underground facility had existed there in the first place. It was twenty meters across and more than three hundred meters deep. At that size, its height alone made it a deadly weapon. In fact, when the High Priest fell to the bottom of the cylindrical space, dry sounds came from across his body. It sounded more like the breaking of dry branches than of a human body. His purple robe spread out like a beached jellyfish, but it wrapped around his human form once more as if nothing had happened. As for Kamijou Touma... Ho ho. The High Priest laughed. Countless thick power cables were wrapped around the pointy-haired boys arms, legs, and torso. They had distributed his weight and prevented him from dying in the fall. Of course, the mummy did not think for a second that was a coincidence. He knew Kamijou Touma. He doubted someone fundamentally abandoned by luck would experience such great fortune now of all times. Also, the boy himself would never work from a plan that relied on coincidences or miracles. He would have been acting based on the assumption that nothing like that would happen. So... That did not happen naturally. I dont see that girl who was with you... Did you get her help? In that case, were you planning to fall down here from the beginning? What did that matter? What would it accomplish? With a dull sound, dirt overflowed from the bottom of the manmade space and it swallowed up the wreckage around the High Priest like a living creature. It was primarily made of dirt, but countless manmade materials jutted out, twisted around, and formed a giant arm. It was as menacing as being stared down by a plesiosaur. If you have a trick up your sleeve, then reveal it. If you have a trap, then use it. ...But I will crush it all underfoot and continue forward. It is only an issue of sooner or later. Hurry up and feel despair, okay? ... In response, Kamijou removed the countless cables from himself and set his feet down on the metal floor. There wasnt any damage. ...What? With the liquid diamonds storage tube in her sports bag, Akikawa Mie finally reached the headquarters of the precious metals maker at which her mother worked. But that was not the end of it all. Mie-chan!! Mom? Mie was confused. Had her mother been so worried she came out to meet her? But that did not make sense. She had not called ahead, so her mother would not have known exactly when she would arrive. Then why else would she have come out? Mie looked around and saw lots of other workers rushing from the other buildings in the area. Conservation of mass? I knew that. You left a big empty spot underground when you made the giant arms? I knew that. You were setting up a cruel bomb to make me suffer? I knew that. So! I was worried about it from the beginning!! As he spoke, Kamijou pulled out a cellphone. It was a far too common and powerless modern weapon when compared to an abnormal Magic God. Theres a danger of the buildings collapsing!! Please move as far toward the park as possible to escape the collapse and the shower of broken glass!! ...Uiharu! Double check the population distribution. Arrange the routes so there wont be any bottlenecks at bridges and intersections! I already am! Lets see, lets see. Manually reselecting the traffic control centers and traffic light routines. This should optimize the flow of people! A twintailed girl was shouting something. She seemed to be from Judgment rather than Anti-Skill. Akikawa Mies mother wrapped her arms around her. Its okay, Mie-chan. Its going to be okay. What is...? She trailed off as an intense tremor ran through the ground. Who did you contact? Who would believe you if you mentioned a Magic God? And what acquaintance of yours could get so many people to move? It may be true no one in my class would be able to do that. Kamijou readily admitted it. The asphalt ground swelled up in a straight line. It looked like a giant snake or worm measuring dozens or even hundreds of meters long was crawling underneath. It may have been best to leave the realm of real animals and call it a dragon. Buildings creaked and swayed ominously. They were as unreliable as willow branches in the wind and it seemed they would break and collapse at any moment. Misaka Worst in her ao dai and Kuroyoru Umidori spoke to each other inside the underground disaster prevention structure. This isnt good. Are these dampers really working properly? Misaka gets the feeling they cant absorb all this shaking. Now, lets see. Can Misaka slip in some assistance here? Oh? I never thought Id see a collection of malice helping people. Misaka recently realized that theres nothing more expensive than whats given for free! There are luxury boutiques and jewelry shops around here, right? If Misaka gets them indebted to her, she can make all sorts of useful connections! How strange! This is the first time Misaka has gone shopping in a long time and a chance to make a whole bunch of money lands right in her lap!! You really are rotten to the core! And in a completely different way from those of us implanted with the Dark May Project!! But that high-class #3 is a different story. She apparently has connections in Judgment, so she can get the city moving pretty easily. Connections sure are amazing. Getting the word out quickly can be a weapon. Id never be able to do that so easily. ... But it did not happen. The city did not collapse. ...? Akikawa Mie hesitantly looked straight up, but the building still did not fall. Not even a single window broke. Something awful was happening underground, but the damage had not reached the surface. See? I told you. She realized her mother was winking. I told you everything would be okay. That man is protecting the city, so its sure to be okay. Kamijou explained a tiny flow. He explained a certain rule. You thought Academy Citys law enforcement wouldnt understand the threat of an occult Magic God, didnt you? But thats easy to get around. Academy City is still on edge after the incident with Othinus that spread from Tokyo Bay to Denmark. Only a few meters below, a middle-aged man with glasses and a comb-over removed his suit jacket, threw it aside, and gave instructions over his cellphone. Pour in all of the liquid material sitting in the warehouse!! The damage has spread farther than we could have imagined! It looks like someone built a network of tunnels while ignoring every last safety regulation! If the foundation is pulled out, the city above will collapse!! The person on the other end of the phone was confused by these instructions that ignored the proper procedures, but the man placed his middle finger on the bridge of his glasses. The person on the phone could not see it, but it may have been a sort of ritual. Shut up and just do as youre told, you utter buffoon!! Once this is all over and everyones safe and sound, you can banish me over by the window or onto a remote island if you want!! An Anti-Skill woman came over to check on things. Sorry about asking a civilian for help. So does it look like you can pull this off? That fathers answer was simple. I think I can. No, I will. That is my job, after all. His daughter had once wondered why he had bowed when there was no reason to apologize. She had seen the shine leaving his face and she had even wondered why her mother had married him. She had wanted to know how her father had ended up like that. There was of course only one answer. He had found something more important than his own interests or allowing himself to shine. And he would bet everything he could to protect it. They may not have been consciously aware of it, but there was still a scab there. The issues had been resolved and everyone was being swept into the Christmas spirit, but then St. Germain showed up. He tore off that scab when everyone was the most sensitive. Thats bound to leave everyone in a frenzy. Nothing happened. They were saved. Akikawa Mies goal had not collapsed. The large building had not fallen over. If she could take the liquid diamond inside, no robbers could get their hands on it so easily. But just as she was thinking that, someone else began to move. Found you. The anti-crime orientation is normally meant to help people feel more safe by buying up disaster goods they dont know if theyll ever use, but it was probably also a way for us to let off some steam. And then you caused this giant commotion. For better or for worse, people are going to react. Thats going to cause a mess that the main players like us can never predict. In the large crowd, Akikawa Mie was not immediately able to tell who had spoken. But once she did, her mind focused in on him like a piece of trick art. A battered college boy was mixed in with the office workers in suits. She had only ever seen one in movies or dramas, but he aimed a handgun at her. Her mother had not noticed yet. She frantically pushed her mother out of the way, but that was the most she could manage. I dont need to explain the details. I just have to know that everyone is on the move right now! The people here arent good or bad, theyre just people who have desperately thought this through!! And that will create a path!! The High Priest had mocked both Othinus the defector and St. Germain the liar as being below him, but their actions had helped scoop the High Priests feet out from under him. That was how Kamijou and Mikoto had set this up. Hand it over! Hand over that liquid diamoooooooonnnnddddd!! He shouted and placed his finger on the trigger without warning. He seemed to think it made no difference whether he killed her and then took it or took it and then killed her. Akikawa Mie squeezed her eyes shut, but the gunshot never came. Instead, she heard a heavy metallic sound. At some point, another college boy had circled behind him and swung down a metal pipe. So Judgment will be on the move right about now. Once word reaches the adults, Anti-Skill will join them. Everyone will have been evacuated from the buildings in the danger zones. No, all of those people are fighting to reach tomorrow. They really are! No matter how many buildings you bring down, you wont take any lives! Peoples lives arent that fragile!! They may look twisted and they may be divided between good and evil, but everyones working to be what they consider the best!! Even if some of them come into conflict, theyll still decide on the general direction of the era even if they have to do it without us!! At first, the attack from behind did not stop the college student with the gun. He tried to turn around with rage coloring his face. It was another hand reaching in from the side that truly settled things. Whose gun... This new figure wore an Anti-Skill combat uniform. And there was one more. Whose daughter... The two adults both grabbed the thugs collar. ...do you think that is!? ...do you think that is!? Their fists flew at once and two dull sounds exploded out. As Shiosai handcuffed the one, the other college student threw aside his metal pipe. He did not run or hide; he raised his hands and faced the Anti-Skill man who did not know the details yet. The father with glasses and a comb-over raised his middle finger toward the collapsed thug. Finally able to relax, Akikawa Mie hugged him and let him support her, but she still had a question in one corner of her mind. Why? she asked the final individual. She knew it was a silly question. That final remaining college student, Higata, gave a smiling expression of some hard-to-grasp emotion. This is for the best, he said. If he would have become a murderer otherwise, then this is for the best. Were friends after all. No one noticed, but two people sighed from surprisingly close by. They were Hanzou and Kuruwa. They had happened to be nearby and they returned their hidden weapons to their sleeves while slipping back into the crowd. We had our job taken from us. Its best if we dont have anything to do. The one boy did not know every piece of the tragedy. Nor was it all resolved by the strength of a single individual. People wishing to take on that role could be found anywhere. That speeds things up. The mummy High Priests murderous aura grew. The old man smiled while overflowing with a sticky joy. Let us continue our one-sided game. This is only an issue of sooner or later, so-... Sorry, but thats over, too. Kamijou readily cut him off. How many people had ever been able to speak so confidently to one known as a Magic God? Youve done too much, so Im going to tell you something no ones been able to before. Its time you got whats coming to you, High Priest!! The giant arm seemed to block out the sun from high in the sky and it clenched into a far-too powerful fist. But... ...? The High Priest looked up in confusion and observed the fist he himself had made. Kamijou knew why. A deafening sound had come from it, but that far exceeded what the High Priest had been expecting. You make your arms from dirt and mud, but that excludes anything processed, be it by heat treatment or a chemical reaction. After all, you grabbed the buildings to swing them around. If you could directly control what had been transformed into glass and concrete, the high-rise buildings could have bent and attacked us like something from a cartoon. Kamijou paused for a second. But you cant tell if something else has been mixed into your arms. Misaka proved that by mixing the iron sand in to take control. But this is different. This isnt like the iron sand. Yes, because trying the exact same thing again would have been too risky. We went for something a little trickier here. Then again, all we did was leave a bunch of compressed gas cylinders lying around where you were likely to create your arm. And thanks to District 23s focus on aerospace, you can find plenty of liquid oxygen and hydrogen. And of course, Kamijou was not trying to detonate the gas cylinders to trap the High Priest in the explosion. He did not think a gas explosion was enough to defeat this opponent. The explosion was only the trigger leading to a different phenomenon. So what was the gas explosion used for? Did you know this? The earths mantle ranges from 500 to 4000 degrees and the core can reach 6000 degrees. No one ever set them on fire. They just reached those amazing temperatures when the matter was squeezed down by the immense pressure. You dont mean... Of course, this is all based on what a smart girl told me. ...So what if highly-pressurized cylinders are arranged according to a certain pattern to create that core of explosive pressure? What if that great pressure is even partially recreated by artificial means? What do you think would happen to that giant dirt arm you love so much!? Kah kah!! You cant possibly mean what I think you do!! It happened as the High Priest looked up at it. Just as it seemed the giant fist was collapsing from within, a glowing orange waterfall rushed down toward the mummy. Part 3 In truth, even if their calculations had reproduced the intense pressure, only a single point would have reached a high enough temperature to become magma, but that magma melted the dirt and mud around it, creating even more magma. That massive deadly weapon could be seen forming and then dripping down. The High Priest could control dirt and mud, but not if it had undergone heat treatment or a chemical reaction like glass or concrete. And that meant there was nothing he could do once the giant arm turned to magma. In the instant it hit, Kamijou Touma leaped backwards with all his strength, got down on the ground, and placed a hand over his mouth. The tower-sized arm crumbled from the intense heat and rushed toward the High Priest who stood directly below. The glow of the molten rock quickly enveloped the mummys dried branch-like body and erased all sign of him. That syrupy mineral of death spread out from its landing point. It had worked. Everything had gone according to plan. They had made no mistakes and the result they had imagined was right in front of him. Did...we do it? he muttered without thinking. The pile of melted magma looked like ice cream dropped on the scorching asphalt on a midsummer day, so it could not exactly answer him. The boy looked around and then looked straight up. Misa-... Did you do it? Do what exactly? His hope, relief, optimism, pride, and everything else froze over. Kamijous head turned stiffly like an automaton someone had forgotten to oil. He looked back toward the pile of molten rock where everything should have been over. He even asked himself what there was left to check there. Then he saw what awaited him there. Kamijou Touma, I believe I already told you this is only an issue of sooner or later. It was despair. Pure despair. The glowing orange pile of magma split apart and the mummy slowly appeared. His purple robe and golden sword had burned or melted away and his entire body glowed ominously after being covered by magma that easily exceeded one thousand degrees. It looked less like a human body and more like an alien that had stepped out of a strange UFO. Kamijou found it very difficult to accept this had once been a human like him. Given the temperature of the High Priests body, he could kill someone just by hugging them. No, anyone who breathed in near him would fry their lungs. Kamijou was dumbfounded, but the glowing pile of branches tilted his head in confusion. Why was his opponent always so surprised? He truly did not seem to understand. Now, what did you imagine a Magic God was? I am a mummy and all of my bodys muscles, fat, and organs have withered away! Did you really think any kind of external wound or asphyxiation could take my life!? ...!? I was prepared to throw away even my own life and soul to accomplish my goal. How could I be a Magic God without that level of resolve? You would probably be in for quite a shock if you looked into the origins of Othinus who you keep by your side. The orange High Priest laughed. His mouth split open and he spewed toxic-looking black smoke. (This is what Nephthys was talking about.) Kamijou gulped and felt unpleasant sweat covering his body. (The High Priests power doesnt stop at destruction. She said he has free control of the intersection of the Six Paths.) Humans, animals, and devas. It sounded like something from an old story. When people died, they were reborn and might live the next life as some other life form. Kamijou did not know how exactly that explained the current situation. In fact, while the mental strength of mankind was one thing, could anyone C even the occult specialists known as magicians C explain what the soul was? A lot of the magicians he had seen were angrily swearing revenge for someone who had died. Didnt that meant the magicians had not conquered death and could not sufficiently define or handle the soul? But what if the High Priest truly was wielding the Six Paths? The soul was something no one had seen before, but what if he could change its value and rank by switching between the different rails? (Is it a spell to change somethings precedence like with Terra of the Left? Was it not superhuman strength that let him destroy or swing around those buildings? Did he weaken what was to be destroyed or used?) Kamijou felt like he was a step away, but he could not quite grasp it. For one thing, would a Magic God like the High Priest really use the same sort of power as Terra who had remained in the category of human? But that thought process was the same as giving up on thinking. It was easy to conclude that a human mind could not understand a Magic God, but that would mean Kamijou had no chance of winning. He would essentially be moving the chess pieces without giving it any thought. He understood that. He understood it painfully well, but he still just about threw it all aside. That was how overwhelming his despair was. If you accept defeat after merely being killed, you will never leave the category of magician. Those are the rules of the lower world and they do not apply to Magic Gods like us. It was on an entirely different level. It was just too different. It felt like running the 100-meter dash at full speed and gasping for breath while crossing the goal only to find that a 42.195 kilometer full marathon awaited you. Where was the goal? How far did he have to go to end this battle? Kamijou Touma. The High Priest tried to rest on his staff, realized there was nothing there, and idly remembered that the golden sword had melted from the heat. Do you mind if I ask one C just one C pointless question? What...might that be? There is no need to be so defensive. It is a simple matter. The orange and boiling High Priest patted his own shoulders and continued speaking as if nothing had happened. He said just one thing. It feels like everything you are doing here is so uninteresting. He sounded bored. Or perhaps disappointed was the better description. It isnt like you. It isnt like you at all. Kamijou Touma, did all of this logical fighting come from that girls knowledge? Are you being dragged along by her way of thinking? If so, I can understand why this has been so uninteresting. ... Ho ho. I thought so!! For one, why didnt you use Imagine Breaker right away? Normally, when faced with an impossible phenomenon that ignore the laws of physics, the sensible thing to do would be to at least try using your right hands power!! Even if that merely proved it did not work, knowing you couldnt use it would still be a step forward!! Kamijou did not know what the High Priest was getting at, but the mummy continued on regardless. You ran away as soon as you saw me? Boring. You fled all throughout Academy City? Oh, how boring. Just when it seems Ive caught up, you use compressed gas cylinders to create magma? Oh! How! Boring!! All of this has been a complete waste of time!! Think how I have to feel going along with it all! Ive been waiting this whole time for you to use Imagine Breaker against me just once!! To be honest, the one thing that was most like you was the courageous dive from the rooftop at the very beginning! Everything has been so boring ever since that girl showed up!! Youve shrunk down and curled up! Youve only been using petty tricks to reduce the amount of damage!!!!! What...are you saying? That was all he could say back. He did not know what the mummy meant. Theres never anything interesting about fighting. Dont decide on your own whats like me or not!! If I can keep things peaceful, thats obviously for the best! If I can keep anything from happening, what could be better!? Why do I have to purposefully turn in the direction I know to be more dangerous!? Is that only because you feel that girl is still nearby? It did not get through to the High Priest. No normal reasoning would reach him. Kamijou Touma, you are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. All you have is great talent in one extremely specialized area, yet you have risen to a place so very close to guiding the world. Everyone knows what the right thing to do is, but that does not mean they have the courage to act on it. It is the decisiveness to grasp that opportunity despite the great risk that has brought you so high. Someone else was explaining a side of himself he was unaware of. The situation was almost laughable. And yet you have grown so focused on protecting something, that you are abandoning that talent of yours. Youve grown weak, pathetic, exhausted, and a shadow of your former self. Did you mistake that for growth? What has happened to you would better be described as growing decrepit. The High Priest paused for a moment in preparation for his decisive statement. You are letting that boring girl drag you around and it is just sad. You are not so small a human that you should be contained here. Part 4 ! Kamijou Touma was not the only one listening to the High Priest. Misaka Mikoto was as well. A narrow catwalk was positioned by the wall about twenty meters up in the giant cylindrical space. Tokiwadai Middle Schools Ace hid herself with a hand on the wall that said Watch out for secondary electromagnetic waves while using precision medical equipment. Her face twisted like she had been stabbed. If she had been unwisely standing next to that boy, she would likely have worked to control her expression. But that proved impossible when she was on her own. After all, the words of that bizarre mummy seemed to tear into her heart. If that girl is keeping you from using your right hand, that is a distinct negative. There was no ill will there. It was no different from seeing a plastic bag on the side of the road and wanting to remove it. If that girl is keeping you from saying you will destroy my illusions, then she is already tripping you up. That was exactly why it stabbed into her. She had held pride in her position as Tokiwadai Middle Schools Ace, but that meant nothing against this opponent. That was why the sound waves he had not meant to reach her tore into her heart all the more. I simply cannot understand it myself, but is it that hard to push someone aside? I would think it is plain as day that girl is nothing but a burden to you. I cant think of any reason to have kept her with you all this time. The title of Academy Citys #3 was meaningless now. She had no idea how much the category of Level 5 meant in the wider world outside of this city. I can understand fleeing the school with her and I can understand keeping her with you until I lost sight of you. But why after that? If you had thrown her out and had her slip into the crowds, you would have been freed from that annoyance, so why did you keep her with you? A certain doubt had occurred to her quite a while ago. Was that boy walking through some distant world? He was not special himself, but was the world surrounding him on a stage or two above her, was he surrounded by people who knew him better than her, and had she fallen behind to the point that she could only see an afterimage of him? Take that grimoire library for example. The knowledge of those 103,000 grimoires might have been helpful. And Othinus might have been able to give you some accurate advice from the viewpoint of a Magic God. Then you would have been able to clench your right fist and challenge me to a battle focused on Imagine Breaker. That would be the proper way of doing this, but it all fell apart thanks to that girl. What do you think about this situation? She had stretched out her hand, but she had not reached him. She had thought she only needed to reach out a little more, but that was because she had not wanted to admit she had fallen so far behind. Wasnt that all it was? Kamijou Touma. The girl thought. Had she really been of any help to that boy? Had she really done anything that only she could have done? Say it now. Tell her to get behind you. Tell her to curl up in the corner and stay put because she is getting in your way. That attack made her gasp and her mind nearly went dark. But she still could not find any way of denying it. After all, even she could tell. Kamijou Toumas actions this entire time had not been like him. Immediately running from a powerful enemy? Not like him. Facing an opponent with clearly superhuman abilities yet not using the mysterious power that had defeated Academy Citys #1 Level 5? Not like him. Making his final trump card to defeat that powerful enemy a strategy anyone could trigger that was based on normal physics that a girl had told him about? Not like him. Not like him, not like him, not like him. He would always act recklessly, ignore efficiency and logic, and simply reach out to grab victory. Watching him had always been so thrilling, but nothing here seemed like it came from that same boy. In that case, what was forcing him in this other direction? What was making him suppress himself? When he had made jokes as the High Priest pursued them and when he had seemed entranced by Nephthys and Niang-Niang on the work ship, she had thought he lacked any tension. But what if those things had meaning, too? She could not say this applied to it all, but what if a portion of it had been an act on his part? What if he had done it to ensure the fear and pressure did not crush Misaka Mikotos heart? And what if that had placed an even larger burden on that boy himself? The flow of events from Tokyo Bay to Denmark had seemed a mystery to her, but what if that was the same? It had not been about Kamijou. It had been about Othinus. He had simply gone along with her, just like with Mikoto now. He had been determined to protect the girl standing alongside him. That was beautiful. But at the same time, it presented Mikoto with an awfully cruel answer. (Oh...) She felt like all strength was leaving her body. Her life was being directly threatened here, but she nearly forgot even that. (Im only...to him.) She gritted her teeth. Her mind tried to seal that word away to make this even a little easier for her, but she forced it to the surface. (Im only a burden to him!!) This situation strained her very identity. Still, she had to accept it. What if she had not been here? Or what if someone else had been here instead? The boy named Kamijou Touma probably would have walked an entirely different path. He could have relaxed, let them support him, spread his wings wide, used his strong points to their fullest, and clashed with the High Priest head-on. That might have been an incredibly dangerous path, but it might also have had the highest odds of victory. But that path had been sealed. Thanks to Misaka Mikotos presence, the boy who had stopped World War Three and the international terrorist group(?) named Gremlin had been dragged down to a position anyone could fill. She had accomplished nothing. It had seemed that boy had moved far ahead of her and that she had not wanted to accept she had fallen behind, but her desperate attempts to catch up had only hindered him and held him back. Everything she had done had backfired. She had only been a nuisance. Misaka Mikoto could only hang her head. ...oking? But then she heard that boys voice. Are you joking, High Priest? Youre a complete stranger, so quit acting like you know who I am!! The basis of it all crumbled away after that one strike. That was what his words had done. I could have chosen a different path if I was with Index? I could have taken the best possible path if I was with Othinus? Thats not what this is about. How much courage had it taken to speak those words? That abnormal monster stood there nonchalantly even while surrounded by magma easily exceeding one thousand degrees. It was impossible to tell whether that mummy was alive or not. How could they defeat him and end this? Was it even possible to end it? Not even that was clear with him, so how difficult had it been to speak those simple words? But that boy had done it. He spoke like it was normal. It was because Misaka was with me that I made it this far. She kept my trembling legs moving, supported my heart as the pressure bore down on it, and kept me in a position to make jokes. With Index, things may have been too focused on magic. With Othinus, it would have been exclusively about Magic Gods and having a clear understanding of their strength might have crushed me with despair. It was because it was Misaka. I survived this long because she was the one by my side. She saved my life and you want me to tell her to back off because shes in the way? Who the hell do you think you are!? You dont understand the first thing about the human emotion of this human world, but youre trying to act like some all-knowing god!!!!!! Heh heh. Argue from a position of emotion or willpower all you want. It does not change the fact that she was, in fact, a burden. What does that girl understand of magic? Not to mention of the territory known as a Magic God. What use is someone who has fallen so hopelessly behind? Enough pretending, Kamijou Touma. You were honestly growing sick of having to lower the conversation to her level, werent you? Youre thinking about this entirely wrong. Kamijou Touma did not hold back even when his opponent was truly on an entirely different level. No. No. It isnt a question of being useful or not! Misaka Mikoto realized a dizzying truth. It was not that he was on a different level. At this very moment, Kamijou Touma was rising to another stage and leaving her behind in a way other than the one the High Priest had mentioned. Hey, High Priest. Im not enough of a crazed hero to throw my life away if Im not supporting something in need of protection! You senile old man!! Part of that saved her. But another part of it she could not accept. Take it back. Kamijou Touma was admitting that Misaka Mikoto had fallen behind. He was admitting that, yet announcing he would still patiently stick with her. Ultimately, she could not stand on the same stage as him and she had not approached the truth of this Magic God. In his mind, she was something in need of protection. She was intensely dissatisfied with that. So take it back, you piece of shit Magic God!! If you badmouth the person who saved my life any more, Ill go punch you just like you want!! But what did that matter? Was that any reason to stop? I dont care if youre covered in magma or if youre over one thousand degrees! Imagine Breaker? I dont need that for you and I dont care if it doesnt work on you! I dont care if my fist melts away or if my entire body bursts into flames. Yeah, if you dont shut that filthy mouth of yours right this instant, Ill keep punching you until you finally do!!!!!! The boy was ignoring their original plan and putting his own life in danger. His every word stabbed into Mikotos chest and filled her with countless emotions. If she had fallen behind, then she had to gather her strength and move forward more than anyone else. The greater her debt, the more she had to build up speed and catch up as soon as possible. Wasnt that all this was? I see, said the High Priest. Most importantly, hadnt she made up her mind from the very beginning? It went back to Sargasso in Tokyo Bay and the trip to Denmark where he made an enemy of the world. Was it emotion that led you to the peace of mind we so yearned for? Grit your teeth, High Priest. This might ruin my right hand and I might really have to get it amputated at the hospital, but Ill trade that arm for your face!! Prepare yourself because Im going to keep beating you until you realize the error of your ways!! She had decided she would ask Kamijou Touma what had happened to him at that time and that place. She had been prepared to accept it no matter how inconvenient a truth was hidden there. Hadnt that been her way of catching back up? (Ill do it.) In that case, this was no time to be sitting around worrying. (I swear Ill do it.) If she had any complaints and if she had things she wanted to correct... (Ill catch up to him!!) She had to start by telling him!! Part 5 Even with Imagine Breaker, it seemed unlikely he could negate the Magic God portion of the High Priest. Even after all the contact he had with Othinus, she had never died. Even if he desperately punched the mass of molten rock, it seemed unlikely that strike would break the High Priest. He only had the physical strength of a high school boy. He doubted it would do any damage to the High Priest who had endured the previous fierce attacks as casually as having a chat over tea. That was why the resolution relied on something else. Why are you letting the blood rush to your head, you idiot!! Just as Kamijou Touma clenched his fist as hard as rock and prepared to take the first step toward the orange and burning High Priest, he heard a shout. Isnt there something better you can do than let that magma man set you ablaze!? There was something else that felt much closer by than his mysterious right hand. The look in his eyes changed when he heard the girl. ...Tch. Meanwhile, the crimson mummy known as the High Priest clearly clicked his tongue. He seemed to be giving up on something. He seemed to be saying he would find someone else to be the scorer who influenced the world, created the seventh path, and became the sheath for the Magic Gods power. He did not hesitate to drag his 1000+ degree body toward Kamijou. But the boy was not bound in place and he was not set alight. Oooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Misaka Mikoto gave a yell from directly above and a cascade of rubble poured down. The burning mummy was briefly swallowed up by the rubble. The orange glow vanished. We arent in this to defeat him. Were trying to safely reach the end of this day! We decided that before falling down here, remember!? When he heard that, Kamijou shifted to a different train of thought. He shifted from destruction to survival. He grabbed the handlebars of the acrobike that had fallen with him, he pedaled it from the side without sitting in the saddle, and he let it drag him away. (Thats right. Theres no real reason I have to settle this. Theres no rule saying magicians or Magic Gods cant be defeated if I dont use my right hand to negate their magic.) Strength filled his thoughts as he just barely managed to avoid being swallowed up. (You called Misakas power worthless, High Priest, so its time that very power sent you tumbling down into defeat!!) This may have been meaningless against an opponent who would not stop if he was only killed. It might only delay the inevitable by a dozen or so seconds and that mummy might crawl out unharmed. But buying that time was more than enough. Misaka, are you ready!? If I wasnt, Id be panicking a lot more right now!! So hurry!! The two of them clung to the acrobike and sent it flying. But not toward the pile of rubble burying the High Priest. They turned their backs and moved in the opposite direction. They made their way to a metal maintenance door so they could escape the large cylindrical space. What was this space meant for in the first place? ...oring... Resentment filling his voice, the High Priest thrust his dried hand from the top of the rubble. The rubble around him glowed orange and melted into a syrupy substance as a surprisingly sticky sound signaled his regained freedom. The surrounding oxygen was absorbed and his temporarily extinguished body burst into flames once more. A Magic God was not going to complain about the pain that would normally have caused. Boring, boring, boring, boring!!!!!! At last, at long last, it looked like the winds were changing, but that girl!! Are you going to run away after all this? How many times have I told you it is only a matter of sooner or later? How long are you going to delay the inevitable!? What happened to Imagine Breaker!? What happened to your right hand!? What happened to the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnsssssssssssssssssssssssssss!? Kamijou and Mikoto ignored what he had to say, slipped through the metal door, and vanished. The High Priests skinny body swelled out with immense strength as if to break through that thick door. But that was when it happened. ...? Something like static electricity scattered. A stinging chemical smell reached him. Anyone with the proper knowledge may have realized it was a catalyst like neon or argon that would produce a plasma flow when immense amounts of electricity were passed through it in an enclosed space. The walls of the large cylinder began to glow with a bluish-white light. The smaller pieces of rubble began to ignore gravity and float. That strange power gradually grew stronger and finally even the High Priests body was floating. Yes. With the melted rubble, dirt, mud, and metal surrounding his body, he could easily fill the role of a metal shell. O-ohhhhh!? C-could this be...!!!??? Part 6 Parasatellite 01 was an unmanned astronomical probe developed for the Arrowhead Comet as it made its closest approach to Earth in 1700 years. It was to be fired from an underground silo-style mass driver in Academy Citys District 23. It could be fired for only the cost of the electricity needed to power the low-temperature superconductor electrodes and the space-filling plasma flow. It was single-stage, so it did not require any complex trajectory management. Less than ten minutes after being fired, it would leave the atmosphere and place its payload in the desired orbit. Part 7 The immense plasma flow was given directionality and everything inside the cylindrical space was fired. It all broke through the clouds and scattered out from the center. A single line of light burnt through the heavens as it left the planet. Part 8 The explosion blew away their sense of hearing. The thick metal door was closed, yet the two of them still abandoned the acrobike and threw themselves onto the floor. It was just like a stun grenade. Even if no actual damage was done, the light and sound were intense enough to give the illusion of damage. Also, humans could die from shock just from having soft serve ice cream pressed to their chest while they were blindfolded. The gyros continued functioning, so the acrobike remained standing all on its own. ...Ah...!! Khah!! Ahh!!!??? Kh...gh... A-are you okay? Kamijous mouth continued flapping like a goldfishs, so Mikoto recovered first. That may have been because she was accustomed to using abnormally high voltage currents. Wh-wheres the High Priest? We used a real mass driver. Hell have been launched beyond the moon. However, they apparently could not open the door right away and check. They would supposedly lose an arm or a leg if they set foot inside before the excess electricity was removed from the inside of the barrel. The two of them made their way outside. The acrobike proved useful again. They were at the bottom of a three hundred meter pit, so it was anyones guess how long it would have taken them to climb the stairs on foot. The suspension absorbed most of the shock from the steps, so it only felt like a slightly bumpy slope. Thanks, Misaka. ...For what? Without you, I never would have imagined I could use a mass driver. Even if the idea came to me, it would have ended as a fantasy I couldnt hope to pull it off in reality. I wouldnt have any idea what switches to use or anything like that. The High Priest controls the dirt, so theres nothing he can do once hes removed from the planet. ...The scope of this whole thing has gotten so crazy. If that comment had been ironic or sarcastic, she would have punched him. If he had laughed and praised her for at least taking part or making an effort, she would have thrown him down the stairs. But I didnt do anything. Youre saying that after everything you did? But I really didnt. Mikoto pouted her lips without thinking and belatedly realized how childish it was. But she could not stop herself. Not in front of this boy. I didnt do anything. Im not saying that on the level of using my power to throw rubble around or to hijack the mass drivers firing sequence. This entire incident was between you and that monster called the High Priest. There was never a place for me here. Are you sure? His response came immediately. It honestly doesnt matter to me who the hero is. As long as everythings been resolved, I couldnt ask for anything more. So... So Misaka, this didnt need a hero. It ended without losing anyone and thats all that matters. (Sigh. He wouldnt be so hard to deal with if he wasnt honestly thanking me from the bottom of his heart.) Hm? Did you say something, Misaka? No, nothing. Im not so unprincipled that I would use a cobra twist on you when youre so exhausted, so Ill have to give you a rain check. ??? At any rate, they had somehow dealt with the High Priest. Nephthys and Niang-Niang remained in Academy City and there could be several other Magic Gods hiding around, but this meant a lot. For the moment, they had ended the destruction spreading indiscriminately through the city. With that in mind, Kamijou breathed a sigh of relief and drove out onto the surface with Mikoto. They stepped down from the acrobike and placed their feet on the ground without worrying. But then they noticed something was wrong. What? Kamijou was the first to ask about it. The skys...dark??? Sure enough, it was still the afternoon, but the sky was as dark as evening. It was dark enough to make reading a book difficult. Also, the previously blue sky was covered in a thick gray fog. Even the sun was blurry and they could look at it without hurting their eyes. There were three rings of light surrounding it. A Bishops Ring, muttered Mikoto as she lent him her shoulder. Ten thousand tons of space dust pours down on the earth every day. Its proven by the new layer measuring only a few millimeters that accumulates on the relatively unchanging ocean bottom every century. A Bishops Ring is a blurry ring of light that appears around the sun when an especially large amount of space dust is present. What? Why would it be appearing now? I dont know. Theres more than one reason for a Bishops Ring to appear. For example, when a large portion of the debris storm circling the earth slams into the atmosphere, during a rocket or shuttle accident, or when a comet approaches and scatters a bunch of space dust-... Mikoto trailed off and her body tensed. When a comet approaches.... Kamijou realized a moment later. Do you mean the Arrowhead Comet!? Part 9 There was no water or air there. It was said outer space was filled with as-yet-unseen dark matter or small dust that would eventually form new astronomical bodies, but they were not dense enough to propagate sound or voices. Nevertheless... Ho ho. He had been drenched in scorching molten rock that easily exceeded one thousand degrees, he had been exposed to the extremely high voltages of the plasma flow filling a mass driver, he had experienced the overwhelming air friction from an escape velocity of over Mach 20, and he had left the atmosphere with nothing to protect him. The mummys entire body was wrapped in tremendous heat, but there was no oxygen for that heat to create fire. Melting the ice on the comets surface scattered quite a few chemical elements around, but it was still not the same as on the earths surface. That was why the High Priest only glowed brightly like a lightbulbs filament. Uho hoi And his joking voice overturned those assumptions. The lack of air kept him from bursting into flames, yet his voice freely propagated through that airless space. He could control dirt. The Magic God known as the High Priest sat in Zen meditation atop a one hundred meter mass of frozen rock shaped something like a rugby ball. A Magic God could handle being thrown into space. The Arrowhead Comet was mostly made of ice and dust. He had manipulated those particles like iron sand to take control of the comet. He had decided to use anything available to him to return, so he had hitched a ride back to Earth on that star. Hadnt Nephthys said that the stars could be plucked from the sky so easily? (Now, what will you do? What will you do when you see me approaching after you put so much into that attack, Kamijou Touma!? Can I trust that you will raise your na?ve ideals against me!!!???) The Arrowhead Comet left the supercomputers predictions and clearly altered its trajectory. It turned toward Earth. He gave no thought to a proper approach angle. He did not care if the comet itself burst at extremely high altitude. The mummy himself could force his way through the thick atmosphere with no planning whatsoever. As soon as he entered the atmosphere and was surrounded by oxygen, his incredible amount of heat would set him on fire. As soon as he crashed into District 23 at top speed, a giant dome shaped explosion would fill the entirety of Academy City. Still, that was just more entertainment. He intended for this to reach beyond what Kamijou Toumas Imagine Breaker could handle. But because of that... Ho hohhhhh!! It wells up inside you because it is impossible! It is only worth sending your way because it is an unreasonable demand! Kamijou Touma! Mankind!! This isnt the extent of your possibilities, is it!? Now show me the hidden power that has allowed you to keep history running until this day!!!!! Still in his Zen pose, the High Priest spread his arms as if to welcome the blue planet with his entire body. This was the exact opposite of comforting or calming. The heat was so great that the mummys body had more melted than burned and it began to fuse with the one hundred meter comet. He controlled all the dust to indirectly command the hunk of ice. He himself became a sinister star. The intense friction carved away at the comets surface. At some point, it gained a giant face, arms, legs, and a torso, so it almost looked like a mummy. The sinister glowing spear stabbed straight down toward the blue planet. Now come, Imagine Breaker!! No, the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons!! Show me your resolve by literally leaving everything up to your right haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddddddddddddd!! Part 10 There was nothing they could do. They could only watch as the orange light ignored its trajectory and dropped straight down. Its speed may have been Mach 10, Mach 20, or even Mach 30. Mikoto could only fire an arcade coin at three times the speed of sound, so this was beyond anything she could handle. She could only wait to be crushed and turned into a portion of a giant crater. But... ... Kamijou had been unsteady on his feet after the previous battle, but she felt him moving slightly while still resting on her shoulder. He silently reached up as if to grab the giant falling comet with his right hand. She could not tell what meaning there was in that. The boy himself probably could not explain what was hidden there. You...? She asked a pure question. She was answered by an ominous cracking sound. It came from the body of the boy who was right next to her yet seemed impossibly far away. It honestly doesnt matter to me who the hero is. After everything that had happened, it was only now that Mikoto truly felt fear. As long as everythings been resolved, I couldnt ask for anything more. She felt fear rising from the pit of her stomach. So... So Misaka, this didnt need a hero. All the while, she heard the intermittent sound of cracks running through something. It ended without losing anyone and thats all that matters. Specifically, it came from the boys right arm. And... And... And... Part 11 Sensei, called a well-mannered voice. It came from Kihara Yuiitsu, a woman in a cheap suit and a lab coat. She was constantly mocking the entire world and the entire human race, but she was acting differently just this once. Just like a well-trained maid seeing her master off, she bowed at the proper angle, breathed at the proper times, and spoke in the proper tone. Have a good time. I will. Today should be a little rough, so stay here in this sturdy building. A synthetic voice answered her. It came from a golden retriever. That dog was Kihara Noukan. Just to be clear, the situation is at D. That is four from the worst possible level. I assume you have already given thought to the local residents in case this happened. Yes, although I consider it a completely unnecessary concept for Kiharas like us. Yuiitsu-kun, this is not the time to be discussing that definition. I believe that was a personal promise between the two of us. Yes, it was! I scattered a few pieces of bait, but the liquid diamond seems to have been effective. The people involved are not aware, but they were gathered together like iron sand to a magnet. The population distribution and the dispersion patterns for the shockwave and shattering glass are all good to go. Even if you activate Situation D and go all out, the degree of human damage will not exceed what you have calculated. Everything is within acceptable bounds Very good. ...Otherwise, we would be no different from the animals. The dog had no way of forming expressions, but he would have been smiling if he did. Even without the expression, his scent and aura were enough to charm Kihara Yuiitsu. If anyone actually believes the cover story about the vault bending under its own weight because the building was flipped upside-down, they must be quite the pacifist. Between good and bad, that would be a bad sort of stupidity, but between like and dislike, I would say I like it. A heart that can innocently believe others is a beautiful thing. I can sense the breath of romance in it. Oh? So you see that as romance, too? He was surrounded by countless rocket boosters and he had a single weapon. It ran through the entire unit from front to back, but it was not the giant gun of a warship. It was overwhelmingly heavy and hard, it achieved blinding speeds using the same electromagnetic acceleration as railguns and mass drivers, and it ultimately produced its destructive power from a massive rotation. It was known as a tactical armor-piercing drill. The giant drill was dozens of meters long and it could break into an underground silo or directly destroy a military base. Heh, laughed the dog. Men really cant get enough of drills and pile bunkers. Were perfectly willing to ignore profit when it comes to them. That sure is amazing. Although to an amateur like me, it only sounds like phallic compensation. Oddly enough, the dog cleared his throat. He seemed to be embarrassed. Anti-Art Attachment, set up. With those words, the mass of metal came to life. Confirm connection to Aleister in District 7s center. Kihara Yuiitsu knew she was in the danger zone, but she did not take even a single step back. Light boosters alpha through delta. Omit countdown. Takeoff. It weighed more than twenty tons in all, but it seemed to forget all about gravity. Only a few seconds later, the golden retriever bearing the entire unit became a spear to pierce the heavens. Part 12 It truly happened in only an instant. Ho. As the High Priest laughed amid the pressure of the intense wind, he saw a point on the surface flash. By then, it was already over. He had become a giant star of doom, but a long drill of tungsten steel pierced through the center of his body. He was not even allowed to scream, cry out, or cough up blood. Naturally, this was not contained to mere physical phenomena. There was a systematic trembling that could be called an extremely high-speed high-frequency vibration. There was a slight unevenness in the drills rotation, that pattern conveyed the power of someones will, and it took the form of something that destroyed the High Priests body from within. He had become one with the comet, but that strange something caused his flesh and bones to tremble and crumble. Just as a second could be divided by a thousand or ten thousand, that instant seemed to last an eternity. There was no time for a voice to propagate as a wave, but the golden retrievers will still reached the mummy. This is a message from the ghost named Aleister. The weapon, the special steel drill, tore through the High Priests giant form and its rotation produced and extremely high-speed and systematic fluctuation. Not only did it bring about the High Priests death, but it created waveforms which were converted into words to convey someones will directly to the High Priests body rather than through the vibrations of his eardrums. Do you remember the life that was taken by destiny as if to smash the childish gears of a desire to make the world a better place and to save every last member of the human race? Do you remember my daughters name? The mummy High Priest received that will and his body was still pierced down the center. The heated surface of the comet split apart...in the shape of a slight smile. Oddly, what he remembered was not the daughters name, but the ghost who had created that situation. That ghost had been a coldhearted pragmatist and yet went on the passionate rampages of a madman. Even as he cursed the imperfections of mankind, he had married a woman. Even as he rejected human emotion as impure, he had kept a journal. Even as an expert who had mastered magic, he had shown interest in the path of science. And even as he had determined he would need to fill so many boys and girls with chemicals, he had left a transparent tearstain in his journal on the day his own daughter had died. That human was the king of man who had rejected becoming a god of magic. He had seen meaning in that and had chosen to remain in the same realm as his family without giving up on anything. The Magic God tried to speak a single word. If the speed of sound had been just a little faster, he would have said that word: sorry. A moment later, there was a flash of light. Kihara Noukan refused to let the comet fall to the earth. Acting in his role as messenger, the golden retriever had finished conveying the willpower of the human named Aleister. The Arrowhead Comet had been racing toward the surface at greater than Mach 20, but the golden retriever had risen to meet it at the same speed. What result this had went without saying. As had been shown at the Tunguska Event in Russia, when an astronomical body of a certain size broke apart in midair, it would cause an explosion large enough to spread a shockwave for dozens if not hundreds of kilometers. All of the glass in Academy City shattered. The high-rise buildings with excellent earthquake countermeasures creaked and swayed as they desperately worked to remain standing. The commotion spread in a chain-reaction, but Kihara Noukan kept a perfectly cool head. High in the sky, he adjusted the force of his boosters and slowed to a hover. A skinny arm unrelated to the weaponry extended to place a cigar in his mouth and light it. After that moment of bliss, a transmission arrived. The golden retriever exhaled some sweet smoke as he opened his mouth to speak. One down. No, with Zombie, I suppose its two. Well done. He found it odd for Aleister the human to display such obvious emotion even if it was in response to defeating a Magic God. But that was not it. He heard something quite strange next. That takes care of Gremlin. You made quick work of them. Wait. Kihara Noukan double-checked something while grabbing the cigar with the arm. I only took out the High Priest. I still have at least Nephthys and Niang-Niang to go. What are you talking about? The emotion had vanished from Aleisters voice once more. Then you didnt do that? ... The golden retriever honestly wondered what that meant. He looked down on Academy City once more. What was happening in that city? Cycle Arts Collection 4 Hug Difficulty: 2 Instead of sitting in the saddle, the performer clings to it from the side. That alone is simple, but there are a number of ways to hold on such as making a handstand on top of the handlebars. For that reason, the difficulty was increased by one point. Stairs Shift Difficulty: 1 Smoothly climbing stairs with the acrobike. At first glance, it looks like simply riding up the stairs while leaving everything to the suspension, but doing that will blow a tire. The performer must raise and lower his or her weight a little to help absorb the impacts. Volume 13, Epilogue: Another Possible Beginning — The_End_is_Named... Volume 13, Epilogue: Another Possible Beginning The_End_is_Named... When the comet arrived, the people who had evacuated outside had rushed indoors. That may not have been any help if the comet had hit, but that had ultimately saved Akikawa Mie and everyone elses lives. But the Magic Gods did not bother running away. They calmly watched on without showing any concern about the sharp glass pouring down like rain or the massive shockwave approaching with enough force to knock over the roadside trees. Niang-Niang looked up at it all. The High Priest was taken out. First Zombie and now the High Priest. For Magic Gods who lived for so very long, this was two unbelievable events in quick succession. They had known a Magic God could be killed from the moment of Zombies death, but it was still difficult to accept what was happening before their eyes. It was an issue of definitions. Was a god really a being that could accept death? The High Priest was taken out! He was taken out!! What do we do, Nephthys!? They had called out to Kamijou Touma to make sure this did not happen. That was supposed to be the job of the scorer who gave form to their formless peace of mind. If Niang-Niang or Nephthys had restrained the High Priest with their full power, it would have become a battle between Magic Gods, so they had decided it would be best to use a safety measure that brought the possibility of no sacrifices. But it had all gone up in smoke. Not only that, it was not a Magic God or even Kamijou who had killed the High Priest. ... A deluge of deafening noise reached them. All of the glass shards were reaching the ground. But none of it harmed the Magic Gods skin. Nephthys did not budge as she lost herself in thought. This was right. This was what a Magic God was supposed to be. Then what was that before them? What had led to that conclusion? Could they really let that happen? Doubt reached her before deep sorrow could. She lacked the pieces needed for the gears of emotion to turn properly. To hell with this. While Nephthys thought, Niang-Niang did not seek an answer to every little thing. To hell with this, to hell with this, to hell with this!! Im pissed now, completely pissed!! Basically, theres something in Academy City that can kill us, right? Then if we destroy that, everything will be back on track. That makes it easy, dont you think? Niang-Niang? We just have to destroy Academy City. An ominous metallic sound rang out. Something wriggled out from the baggy sleeves of Niang-Niangs China dress. They shot out. These were the sages weapons that each had their own strange and special effect. Dozens of oddly shaped weapons stuck out like pens roughly shoved into a pen holder. Wherever theyre hiding, we can blow them away along with everything else if we level the entire city. So lets do that. Nephthys gave a heavy sigh. However, a Magic God was not going to scold her because indiscriminate slaughter was wrong. What about our sheath and scorer? We can just wait a century or two and find another one. Theres no real reason it has to be Kamijou Touma. True. Then I guess it cant be helped. That was all it took for Nephthys to let go of Niang-Niangs reins. That also meant dooming a city of 2.3 million. But this was also an issue of scale. How many lives had been taken by the choices of a single emperor or pharaoh in ancient China or Egypt? And even those rulers feared the gods, so a city or two may not have meant much to them. If youre going to do it, do it quick, said Nephthys listlessly. I didnt think Academy City was all that bad, so I might have second thoughts if you make me wait. Okay, okay. By the way, what about the others? Yknow, like Chimera-chan. They can withstand a single attack from another Magic God. All okaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! Niang-Niang gave a shout toward the heavens. The dozens...no, over one hundred sage weapons sticking from her sleeves all glowed and release the high-pitched sound of a metallophone. In the end, did those two even have the normal emotion of sorrow toward their slain partner? They might have and they might not have. There was no longer any way to check. They would unleash their power on a whim and that was enough to smash an entire city to pieces. And yet... The destruction was easily stopped by a sound so light it seemed like a joke. The sound came from two fingertips. It came from the index and middle finger of someones right hand. They plunged into the center of Niang-Niangs flat chest and stabbed in up to the second joint. Ah? Eh? She looked utterly confused. There was no pain. She could not tell why she had been stabbed. In fact, how had someone approached right in front of her without her noticing? And who were they anyway? She did not have time to ask those questions. True destruction awaited her. At first, Nephthys thought Niang-Niangs pulse was escaping to the outside world, but that was not what it was. (Shes being absorbed?) Nephthys tensed as she saw something unbelievable. The fact that a Magic God was reacting like a frightened animal was enough for her to tremble. (Niang-Niang is... A Magic God is being absorbed!?) No. Her frightening thoughts were cut off by a soft voice. It was a common sort of kind voice found in any city. It belonged to a boy of a mid-sized build with brown hair. The great gap between what was happening and the person doing it just about short-circuited Nephthyss mind. I am not absorbing her. Nor am I taking anything from her. I am simply giving her salvation. But only to the person who believes that this is salvation. Sal...vation? She doubted her ears when she heard that unbelievable word. She grew even more confused when she saw Niang-Niangs face. That Magic God girl had always been by her side. Her expression was not one of fear, doubt, or confusion. It was swollen with tranquility. She was smiling. Heh...heh heh. Itll finally be over. Ill finally be freed. I...I...!! Nephthys, this is amazing! I...ahh...Ive never felt so relieved!! Ah ha ha ha ha!! Something inside her was clearly absorbed, the size of her body visibly shrank, and she became nothing but the external skin. But that was what made it so strange. It was just like how certain wasps numbed their preys nerves before feasting on them. The mismatch between the external phenomenon and the bliss in her mind released a joyful voice from the girl. A new world. The brown-haired boy readily spoke while crushing Niang-Niang like a milk carton. My right hand is a collection of such dreams. I believe its name was...yes, World Rejecter. You cant. You cant possibly. Parallel worlds dont-... Yes, the world is ultimately a straight line like the rubber string nailed onto pachinko machines. There is no infinite expanse of parallel worlds. But at the same time, the world is a rubber string. It can stretch or contract like time or space. The world we know has a surprising amount of waste. Its like using only ten frames when using sixty fps film. No one will notice if you stick some subliminal footage in using two or three of the leftover frames. This is what you wished for, isnt it? You Magic Gods wished for this even though you knew it could never come true. You checked the farthest reaches of the universe and all of the piled-up phases and you realized there was nothing new left. But if it was possible, you wished to leave behind this troublesome world and spread your wings in a new world no one else knows of. Nephthys realized she could no longer hear Niang-Niangs voice. In fact, her flat skin and China dress were gone too. She had been absorbed and consumed before disappearing to some distant place. Oh? I had thought she was hiding the weapons up her sleeves, but it looks like she wasnt. So she was transforming her fingertips. Well, it is true the sages were incarnations of transcending the human body. Nephthys knew this was very bad. But not because of the boys strange attack. Even after what she had seen and all the caution filling her, she still felt somewhat jealous, she wanted to try it herself, and she thought it looked interesting. Would the same fate await her if that absorption exceeded her own limits? No matter how much power she wielded, would she be robbed of any desire to resist and would she be helplessly exiled? Would she be like a bug drawn in by a bug zapper and fried? Would she be like a bug that slid into the acid after being drawn in by the sweet scent of a carnivorous plant? That right hand controlled happiness. She had been monitoring Imagine Breaker which was a reference point and recovery point for the world, but this was a completely different approach toward making a collection of the desires held by all magic-users. One was an ideal that let them repair, fix, and cling to the current world. The other was an illusion that let them abandon, leave, and throw out the current world. But Nephthys did not know when the hope named World Rejecter had solidified in this world. What happened to Chimera? I dont know. What about Tezcatlipoca, Nuada, and Proserpina!? I dont know their names or what they look like. What happened to all the others!? How would it have helped me to remember the exact number? That normal boy clenched and opened the right hand that had eliminated Niang-Niang. Like a poor attempt at sleight of hand, something heavy fell down with a clunk. It was a prosthetic left arm made of silver. (Airgetlm...) Nephthys was dumbfounded. She knew the name of that god of Celtic mythology. She knew the legend of the one who had been forced to step down from the throne of the head god after losing an arm, but who had regained that throne after obtaining an artificial arm. And... She also knew how that silver arm was truly used and what the god who wielded it looked like. Anyway, I went around consuming everyone I saw who looked like a Magic God. The only ones I missed were...what were their names again? Zombie, High Priest, and...Othinus? Was that it? I dont remember, so I cant really say. Those were hopeless words. Not to mention that he did not include Nephthyss name on that list. Now, what to do about you? He truly was speaking on a whim. Just having him turn his right palm her way was enough for unpleasant sweat to appear on Nephthyss chocolate skin. It was a mad sweat brought by a mixture of fear and joy. Do you wish for a new world? !!!??? She did not wait any longer. She realized if she did, she would give in to the joy instead of the fear and she would give herself over to the temptation. She released her power as a Magic God. She was surrounded by the deafening sound of thousands of insect wings scraping together. In an instant, her brown silhouette blurred. Her divinity had been created based on the crying woman who was paid to take part in funerals. In this case in particular, that referred to the thousands or tens of thousands of servants who were buried alive in the pyramid for the pharaohs burial. That made Nephthys different from the other Magic Gods. The others had thoroughly honed their powers as an individual, but she had specialized her power as something that could be separated, split apart, cut away, and swapped out. In other words, she held it in reserve. Even after being hit by Aleisters weakening spell, she still had enough power to swap out the phase just once. (Embed it.) She bit her lip while aware she was at the disadvantage even as a god. (Embed the phase, change the world, and use that power to crush-...) The voice of her heart was cut off. She heard a tremendous explosion of sound and her phase was crushed. Wha-? It was squeezed and crushed. ...Ah...? To a third party, it may have looked like the entire scene wavered like a mirage, but this was something else entirely. That did not explain anything, but it was the only way of expressing it. Nephthys froze in place when she saw it and the boy simply clenched his right hand and opened it once more. It almost looked like he was giving her a greeting. In other words, he could reject and kill even a Magic God using her full power. And... The normal boy tried to crack his neck, found he could not, frowned, and waved his right hand horizontally. That was all he did. Strength and distance meant nothing this time. A handprint was torn from Nephthyss ample chest. Ah. The Magic God looked down as if checking on her own body. Gh...bh. What...are...? The mediocre-looking boy did not allow it. He swung his arm a second and third time as casually as brushing aside some spider webs in an abandoned building. Each time, more of Nephthyss body was taken away. No, it vanished to the new world. She felt no pain or fear. She only sensed the possibilities of the unknown and her mind was filled with that hope and joy. Yes, she felt relief. That happiness was forced into her as if her skull had been opened and a thick syrup poured in, but she tried to fight it to the very, very end. The right hand consumed her face. The boy swung his right hand to eliminate even the few strands of silver hair fluttering away in the wind. I am Kamisato Kakeru. The ordinary boy spoke in a completely ordinary manner. I am the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. For a while, silence ruled all. It was a form of perfection. Not even the threat of a Magic God could stand up to it. Oh. Then he scratched his head as if he had just remembered something. Oops. Dont Egyptian mummies have all the organs but their heart removed and preserved in containers? I guess I cant say Ive consumed her just yet. Heh heh. In St. Georges Cathedral, Archbishop Lola Stuart laughed quietly. The twist of her lips was far too wicked to call bewitching. You can build up a plan over a century, prepare massive funding and facilities, and put as much thought into it as you want. In the end, reality will easily bend those rails with a single outside element. That information was forbidden to be recorded in any form. It only existed in Lola''s head. Now, then. World Rejecter has begun to move. Imagine Breaker was unable to contain the dreams of all magicians in its incomplete form, so what overflowed has gathered together to form another dream. What will you do, human? It almost looks like you were born under a star that destined you to never obtain the things you wish for most. She had known of that existences arrival. She had known of that normal high school boys appearance. The peak of darkness doesnt suit you. Lola laughed. She laughed, ridiculed, and mocked. The title of cannibal or the greatest eccentric of the 20th century suit you so much better, Crowley. The arrival of the next disaster was signaled with a doorbell. Utterly exhausted and beaten-up, Kamijou Touma finally thought he had returned to his student dorm room thats windows were broken by the shockwave, but then an old delivery man delivered him a package. He used his last ounce of strength to stamp his seal and collapsed to the floor with the box. Who was it from? He tried to peel away the fairly sturdy packaging tape with his fingernails, quickly gave up, and began to consider just throwing it away. Suddenly, the side of the box burst open and a brown leg slipped out. Wha-? This was clearly insane. The cardboard box was only thirty centimeters on each side, so not even a child would be able to hide inside. How had a beautiful young womans leg gotten inside? Nevertheless, the bizarre scene continued. Next came an arm, then another leg, and finally the whole box was torn to shreds. An entire silver-haired woman with chocolate skin burst out. The color of her eyes did not match and she had a teardrop tattoo below one eye. Also, her shapely body was only covered by white bandages. He recognized her. Neph...thys? Gh...kh. I was right to leave...just my primary organs behind. The Magic God seemed on the verge of coughing up blood and she just barely managed to rise to a crawling position. She was trying to look Kamijou in the eye. Work with me. It wont be a bad deal for you. Ive already said no to that stuff about your path, your sheath, and your scorer. I dont need a wish or a prayer and Im sick of being asked to be your peace of mind, your security software, or your protective charm!! This is no time to be talking about that. Something seemed strange to Kamijou. The Magic God was sweating an awful lot, so was she worn out? Even though she was a monster on the level of the High Priest who, even while weakened, had ridden back on a comet after being thrown out into space? World Rejecter has shown up. The answer to his confusion was far too incomplete. However, the words still stabbed into his heart. If Kamisato Kakeru is exiling all of the Magic Gods, then wouldnt Othinus be in trouble too? Pant, pant. Someone was out of breath. It was a girl. It was Misaka Mikoto. The colors of evening had already changed to those of late night. She had somehow made her way back to Tokiwadai Middle Schools student dorm, where she arbitrarily deflected the questions of her roommate Shirai Kuroko who was concerned she had been hurt in the downpour of glass. She entered the bathroom, leaned her back against the door, and took deep breaths to restrain the chaos in her mind. But it was no use. It did not seem to work in the slightest. For one, she could not keep up the deep breathing. She could only manage the shallow panting of a stray dog. This was not caused by the abnormal strength of the Magic God known as the High Priest, by the scale of him coming back with the Arrowhead Comet after being ejected into space, by the single strike from the surface that had intercepted the falling object, or by the flash of light and shockwave that had covered the entire city. This was something much closer to her. And more importantly, something much further away. (What...was that?) At the very end, she had heard a sound from the boy who was leaning on her shoulder. (What in the world was that?) There should not have been anything they could have done. There was no way she could have used her power as the #3 to intercept that one hundred meter comet approaching at max speed. That boy seemed to have something sleeping inside him that could endure even her power, but it should not have been able to do anything there. It should not have been able to. But in that final moment, the boy had held his palm up toward the comet as if to oppose it. She had heard a sound like cracking plastic coming from his arm. What if? What if Academy City had done nothing and time had simply been allowed to pass? What would have happened then? How would that boys right hand have changed and what would it have caused? Hes so... With her back still against the door, Mikoto looked down at her hands. She had seen glimpses of it. For example, that incident during the Daihaseisai. For example, the driving force that led him to face the source of World War Three all alone. For example, for example, for example, for example. But... Her power, her value, and her existence had been entirely rejected by the High Priest and then later reaffirmed by Kamijou Touma. She thought about all of that. Her heart had been repeatedly torn into. She would not have been able to stand up had she been alone. She had only been able to return to her dorm room and she had only been able to remain Tokiwadais Ace and Academy Citys #3 because of that boy. But at the same time, something had ripped her heart apart and left deep claw marks there. Finally, she covered her face with her hands, bit her hidden lips, and forced out a suppressed yet definite voice. Hes so far away!!!!! Volume 13, Afterword Volume 13, Afterword If you bought each volume one by one, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Instead of someone tricky like St. Germain, this was a direct battle with the High Priest, a true Magic God. It doesnt matter if hes weakened and brought down to a trillionth of his power. I wrote the manuscript while aiming for a battle that overwhelms Kamijou from beginning to end. I also explained why the Magic Gods of the true Gremlin were focused on Kamijou and what their goal was. In New Testament Volume 12, St. Germain said the Magic Gods envied Othinus, but that answer was fully revealed this time. If a magician is created to grant some wish, then a Magic God is what remains after the wish is granted. If their Magic Name were entirely fulfilled, what would remain for them? I moved this story along while thinking about that. Also, Misaka Mikoto was an important part of this story. Shes been with us since the very first volume, a lot of information has been presented along the way, and she has accumulated a number of emotions. Sometimes she is becoming aware of her romantic feelings, sometimes she is feeling the shock of being pushed away, and in New Testament 10, she gave Kamijou a pat on the back to see him on his way. But right now, what is she thinking, what is she worrying about, and what is she trying to overcome? My answer to that is Misaka Mikotos troubles here in New Testament 13. How far can the title of Academy Citys #3 take her? Has she perhaps fallen behind? When words like magician and even Magic God are being used like normal, wouldnt she feel the fear of possibly being left behind and not being able to walk alongside the person she longs for (and had thought she was courageously seeing on his way)? And now that the hurdle had been set up, how will she overcome it? There are a number of options there. She could make sure Kamijou can do his best by giving him an everyday life to return to. She could decide everyone has fields they excel in and therefore support him only in the areas where her skills lie. But given Mikotos nature, I want her to keep at it from head on. I want her to keep running after Kamijous back no matter how hopeless or reckless it seems. It was those feelings that guided the direction of the story here. How did you like it? I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and to my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anana-san. The key to this one was to see how much of a monster we could make the High Priest, so that probably put an even larger portion of the burden on the illustrations than usual. Thank you so much for sticking with me even when I made you go to all that effort. I also give my thanks to the readers. I think a battle with a Magic God is less about a comparison of strength and more about seeing how insane they are, but what did you think? Ill be glad as long as you felt like you really didnt want to fight someone like that. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now Raise your hand if you thought the fight against the Magic Gods would continue a lot longer than this! -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 14, Prologue: The Magic God is Now Nearby — Home_Party? Volume 14, Prologue: The Magic God is Now Nearby Home_Party? Last time on New Testament C A Certain Magical Index!! After somehow managing to escape the threat of the High Priest (an old man mummy and Magic God) and returning alive to the student dorm, a small cardboard box broke open and Magic God Nephthys popped out. (Yes, all of this actually happened.) ... ... Inside his twilit dorm room, Kamijou Touma was obediently seated on the wooden flooring. The Arrowhead Comet aka the High Priests final attack had caused a lot of damage. The broken window out to the balcony was covered by a plastic sheet as a stopgap measure, but the December chill was still getting in. The High Priest had truly been an unforgivable old man whose high spirits were still causing Kamijou trouble even now. Inside that chilly room, two figures struck intimidating poses in front of the boy. One was Index, the silver-haired nun wearing a teacup-like white habit with golden stitching, and the other was Othinus, a fifteen centimeter Magic God. And? ...Yes? Touma, why are you still bringing in new freeloaders? Can you really take care of this many!? Arent you always complaining that this months budget is at its limit!? Yknow, I really dont think its fair to get mad at me for this one. Nephthys shipped herself here in a package! Not even I know what thats all about!! Everyone there except Kamijou was a freeloader (including the cat). Othinus gave him a look that said I dont want to hear that from you. She had recently realized the cat would not attack her if its stomach was full, so she kicked over the box of pet food to cover the floor with some crunchy chaff. All she accomplished was covering herself in food and getting attacked all the faster, but Index and Nephthys did not seem to care. They more innocently interpreted it as the cold cat wanting to use the fifteen centimeter girl as a source of heat. As I already said, this is a problem for all of you too, said Nephthys as she struggled to get up with sweat covering her body. Kamisato Kakeru has shown up. ...If that World Rejecter holds the power to destroy all Magic Gods, your Othinus wont escape unharmed. She was probably trying to be one hundred percent serious, but the horrors of interpretation meant the others only saw a brown beauty whose naked body was covered only by bandages as she got up on all fours in a leopardess pose. The corners of Indexs eyes rose sharply. When Kamijou saw the dangerous canine teeth visible in her adorable mouth, he felt all his hair stand on end. Im pretty sure this goes beyond misfortune and counts as just plain unreasonable! Then, Touma, can you swear to god that your thoughts are entirely pure right now? Ahem. Averting his gaze and clearing his throat proved to be a poor choice. He saw an illusion of a thumb flicking up the safety cover on a fighter jets control column. Toumaaaa!! Eeeeeek! I have to face this without a save point or a night at the inn after that crazy-hard High Priest battle!? Whats going to happen to our food if you keep bringing in new freeloaders!? What about tonights dinner for example!? Im not gonna let you take a piece of food away from everyone else to feed the new girrrrrrrrrrlllllllll!! Thats what this is all about!!!??? Finally finding a way to fight back on the psychological front, Kamijou slid to the side without getting up from his seated position. This did a splendid job of dodging Indexs attack. Yes, Kamijou Touma was quite capable when he put his mind to it. It was enough to handle World War Three if need be. Bgyahn!! I wont lend you my hand, Index. If youre a capable girl, then stand on your own two feet. Still, it was evening. Kamijou was too exhausted to want to do any kind of housework, but no food would show up if no one did anything. Listen, Index. When things get tough, we just have to rely on the tried-and-true hotpot. The cost per person drops the more people you have and it facilitates conversation since everyone eats from the same pot! I dont know what brought Nephthys here, but its obvious ignoring it would be a bad idea. Besides, Im about to freeze here! Why did the window have to break during December!? Just how much of a pain in the ass are you, High Priest!? So lets do this! Lets gather everything weve got to make some random hotpot!! I wont let you just make some random thing! You only get three meals a day, so you have to put your body and soul into making each one!! Then how about you start making them, Index!? Kamijou shouted back with this already pointy hair standing further on end. When he arrived in front of the fridge, Othinus spoke up while being assaulted by the cats rough tongue. Do you really have the ingredients for a hotpot, or anything else for that matter? Dont underestimate the cheap meals of a student, Othinus. If I wanted to, I could turn some scraps of pork and a cabbage core into a delicious-... He trailed off as soon as he opened the fridge. He was dumbfounded by what he saw inside. ...Index. What is it, Touma? I distinctly remember stocking up at that sale three days ago. So why is there nothing but soy sauce and miso in the fridge? Ahem. Averting her gaze and clearing her throat proved to be a poor choice. Kamijou Touma felt like a narrow circuit in his head had just fried. Why yooooooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!! Todays Hotpot Party, Ingredients List 1 Soy sauce. Miso. (Quick Memo) Kamijou Touma: Personally, I think some dashi and plain miso soup would be fine. Othinus: That would not be fine. Index: Even the hot water miso soup at a gyudon place has more than that. Kamijou Touma: ... Volume 14, 1: Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter — One_Night_Encount. Volume 14, Chapter 1: Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter One_Night_Encount. Part 1 The contents of the fridge were devastating. They were even bleaker than the chill entering through the broken window. They could not cook what they did not have, so they set aside the prospect of a hotpot for the time being. So what is this about a Kamisato? In fact, why are you so weak? Arent you a god? Thats not a nice thing to say, but I sadly cant deny it. This seemed like it would be a long conversation, so they had moved to the kotatsu. Nephthys only sat it up and stuck her legs under the blanket, so it was obvious even this was difficult for her. It was hard to believe she was one of those arrogant Magic Gods. A Magic God would never want to show any weakness to a human, so seeing her worn-down strength and worn-down speed was enough for Kamijou to relax his guard. (She...) He was not a magic expert or a Magic God, but he could tell. Even a human could see it. Nephthys did not have the power to fight. She had so little strength left that a puny human crawling on the surface of the earth could look down on her. (She must have nothing left...) How painful for a Magic God was it to be thought of that way? Othinus had used her full strength to the end and the High Priest had laughed until his final breath, so he could imagine what she had to feel like right now. Still, she had swallowed all that shame and come here. Whatever was underway was worth doing that. She was unable to support her upper body, so she sat up with her upper body sprawled out on the kotatsu. Then the silver-haired woman with chocolate-colored skin and bandages wrapped around her started to speak. Niang-Niang is dead. So are all the other Magic Gods. Eh!? No, saying shes dead might not be accurate. She took a direct hit from Kamisato Kakerus World Rejecter and was sent to a new world. As long as we remain in the current world, I doubt we will ever see her again. In that way, she might as well have crossed the Sanzu River or the Lethe River. You can just think of it as death if you want. Just a few hours before, he might have rejected it as nonsense. The Magic Gods were the greatest threat and nothing would be better than to have them gone, yet he would have rejected the idea because it sounded too good to be true. But now, he did not. Her frail state was enough to know this was not a joke. But something else caught his interest even more. Wait a second. Im a little confused since you mentioned a bunch of new terms. Kamisato? World Rejecter? The other Magic Gods were sent to a new world??? What on earth is going on? And... He hesitated to continue. And you say Niang-Niang was taken out? Its true. But how do you know? If you ran across this Kamisato, then why did only you survive? Not even I know. Nephthys struggled to breathe as she answered. The next thing I knew, a special power other than Imagine Breaker had crystallized and Kamisato Kakeru was wielding it. I have no idea why he obtained World Rejecter or why he attacked us Magic Gods. But I do know that boy has the power to harvest Magic Gods. That boy? Othinus, another Magic God, spoke up from the side. This was a being that killed Magic Gods instead of persuading them, so she must have had trouble believing it existed. But Nephthyss lips belatedly curled into a mocking smile while her long silver hair dangled down. Yes...that boy. Kamisato Kakeru looked like the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. I dont even know whether hes an Academy City student or not. He had incredibly plain features. He might have been even more average than Kamijou Touma. At the very least, he didnt seem to have years of high-level military training, years spent in a magic cabal, or any unique physical features like those of a Saint. Then what is this World Rejecter thing? Just like with Imagine Breaker, he was probably simply chosen by the worlds lottery. But I dont believe Imagine Breaker ended up in you by random chance. I still believe that the dreams of all magicians were drawn in by the shining soul of the person bearing the true name of the One who Purifies Gods and Slays Demons. ...In that case, there must be something inside Kamisato Kakeru as well. Something unique that drew in World Rejecter. But what is it? asked Kamijou while looking down at his own right hand. What is World Rejecter? Is it some kind of special power like mine??? Yes, although it would be wrong to think of Imagine Breaker in the same way as Academy Citys powers. Nephthys sounded somewhat exasperated. Have you ever heard that Imagine Breaker is a gathering of the dreams held by all of those who use magic? They would love to change the world as they see fit, but theyre afraid of messing everything up in the process. So they wanted a clear restoration point or reference point they could use to restore everything if needed. The meter, the kilogram, degrees Celsius, the periodic table, and more. Your right hand functions as an unchanging standard for all units. It was a confusing way of putting it, but he was pretty sure Ollerus had said something similar. Imagine Breaker was a safety that had gathered the dreams of all magicians. That definition had even been at the heart of his battle with the full-powered Othinus. Kamijou could only rejoice that he was back in the original world because Othinus had used that restoration point. I havent checked on any of the details, but based on what Kamisato himself said, there is a connection between the origins of Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter. ? Imagine Breaker protects, restores, and clings to the existing world. It is a collection of that ideal. While wrapped in her bandages, Nephthys breathed the heated breath of the sickly. The World Rejecter inside Kamisatos right hand is the exact opposite. His hand has the ability to cast his target into a new world and erase their existence. In other words, it abandons and gives up on the current world to take a trip to another world. It is a collection of that illusion. I see. Othinus was the first to speak up. As a fellow Magic God, she had a better common understanding with Nephthys than did Index, who sat at the stage before becoming a Magic God. That allowed her to catch on more quickly. Imagine Breaker was the dreams of all magicians, but did some power escape it? Did some percentage of all magicians subconsciously doubt they would truly be safe if they continued relying on Imagine Breaker as it is? It goes without saying, but 99.9% of the magic sides total power is held by us Magic Gods. We may be a minority in numbers, but each one of us has far, far more power. The human magic side covers half the world, yet it cannot match even the tip of one of our hairs. In other words, World Rejecter appeared inside this Kamisato because you all were disappointed in Kamijou Touma. Hah hah! I can see why he would hold a grudge. Its like a cell being devoured by the apoptosis it created!! Did you enjoy getting the entire world caught up in your suicide!? Should you really be laughing? We in the true Gremlin started doubting Kamijou Touma when he left his path to save all Magic Gods by gaining an understanding of you personally. In other words, none of this would have happened if not for your actions. All of the chaos since the end of the World War Three, including today, can be blamed on your selfishness. ... ... Murderous gazes briefly clashed between fifteen centimeter Othinus and sweaty Nephthys who could not even support her own upper body. Kamijou was the one who tried to break the strained atmosphere. Hey, wait! Lets not fight here. Besides, Othinus, youd be crushed by a single swat of the hand, so why are you so ready to pick fights with people!? Is that any way to speak to a god? Ow! Dont poke me in the meridian with that skewer!! Anyway, two girls in a serious fight is the last thing I want to see. Just imagining it feels like having a fishing hook solidly lodged in my soul. That put a bitter look on both Othinus and Nephthyss faces. It was the look of someone who had ordered a small dessert after dinner and had a cake the size of a wedding cake brought out to them. Um... Girls, huh? This is a good example of how things can surprise you even after becoming a god. The world is a large place. He was not sure why, but a lull came over them. He made sure to use this chance to get back on topic. I get that you Magic Gods have high-spec minds, but could you slow down to a level a human like me can understand? Othinus snorted. I dont see how getting you to understand this would help. Youre in full S mode again, arent you? Its true. All you need to know is that this Kamisato Kakeru person has an irregular ability just as cheap as Imagine Breaker and the two of you might clash in the near future. Oh? That doesnt seem like enough of an explanation to me. In fact, it seems a little unfair to him. Youre the one that came here intending to get him involved. Are you going to play innocent while rolling around in his bed? Besides, what I said was accurate. Right, Kamijou Touma? If you could avoid any trouble with Kamisato Kakeru by throwing Nephthys and me out in the cold, would you be able to do that? The pointy-haired boy was caught off guard by the question. And without a seconds thought, he answered as he always did. What are you talking about? Of course I couldnt do that. After having argued over this point, Othinus and Nephthys could only sigh at almost the same moment. Sounding utterly exasperated, the one who understood him spoke. See? Thats the kind of guy he is. I see. Someone this abnormal probably would have been perfect as our scorer. Kamijou did not like how they were talking about him and he turned to Index for some support, but she turned away in a huff. Then, Othinus gave the final announcement. If thats your intention, you cant get careless, human. Until now, youve gotten through everything making full use of the blessings brought by your right hand. As all kinds of normal threats opposed you, you achieved an unexpected victory using that abnormal power. But this will be different. ? Your opponents power is just as abnormal. You can no longer fight like a joker taking on a group of aces and kings. This is a joker against a joker. In a way, its even harder to predict than a clash between two aces. Youve never experienced something like this before, so you cant predict whats going to happen based on your accumulated experience. If you dont focus your mind, you could easily end up dead in a way that ignores all the rules youve seen before. Part 2 In a luxury apartment, Kihara Yuiitsu, a woman in a cheap suit and lab coat, violently banged a spatula against a frying pan. Sensei!! Dinners ready! Drawn by her voice, a golden retriever trotted across the wooden flooring. He immediately began speaking using an artificial voice. Sorry you always have to go to all this trouble. Even if we are master and apprentice, I dont think you have any obligation to go this far, yet I still have you do it. Oh, honestly! What are you talking about? I cant have someone as esteemed as you eating the ready-made pet food they sell at bargain prices! That stuff is junk! They get lazy with the ingredients because they know people arent eating it!! A small silk mat was laid out on the floor with a small bowl on top of it. The main dish was ground pork mixed with some grains and lightly stir-fried with moderate flavoring from salt and oil. She did not know what it was called, but it had become her specialty dish because Kihara Noukan seemed to like it. There was also a small bowl of water that had been boiled to remove the chlorine and a salad to provide a few nutrients that would otherwise be lacking. The golden retriever summed up the meal with a single phrase. Such romance. Um...? She was confused. She did not seem to realize that was the highest praise he could give. But ignoring the food someone had made went against Kihara Noukans personal style. It was only polite to focus on the meal during mealtime. He could always explain what he meant after savoring the food. He did not take this environment for granted and spoke words filled with the utmost thanks. Time to eat. Yes, eat up, sensei. He was a man with an understanding of romance, but he did not use his robot arm at times like this. He shoved his face into the bowl and devoured the food while making plenty of noise. Table manners were meant to allow everyone to enjoy their meal, so demonstrating ones enjoyment of the food was more important than unnecessary formality. He viewed this as the ultimate etiquette toward the one who had cooked it. It may not have even taken him a full ten minutes to finish the meal. And he did not fail to thank the one who had prepared this special day for him. Thank you for the meal. Huh? Youre done already!? But I only just started on my salad! Sorry. I know I should have matched my pace to yours, but to be honest, your cooking is just that good. O-oh, dear. Im going to blush. What do I do? Should I make you more? No, there is no need for that. I am an old dog and I need to be careful about how much I eat. Mhh. But eating on your own is boring. I am still here. I will be taking a short nap, though. Kihara Noukan lay down next to Kihara Yuiitsus seat at the table. The pleasant warmth of the heater was making him feel a little sleepy. Come to think of it, she said. You were quite busy ordering maintenance, werent you? Yes, I was. You stopped that Arrowhead Comet from falling... but you said it isnt over, didnt you? It smells quite fishy. It bothers me that all of the Magic Gods hiding in Academy City vanished. They had vanished. As their deaths had not actually been confirmed, there was still a possibility that the Magic Gods were hiding somewhere. Kihara Noukan simply had a bad feeling about where this was headed. It felt like the night before the bubble burst. Or before a natural disaster, a war, or an oil crisis. The details did not particularly matter. He felt a sense of impatience. It was like he was standing on a path whose width fluctuated but could still be seen down, until one day it suddenly changed entirely. He told Kihara Yuiitsu nothing of this. This went beyond logic and efficiency, so a pure Kihara would never understand. Or perhaps this man who understood romance was picking up something on that antenna. Part 3 He felt bad doing so while Magic Gods like Othinus and Nephthys were discussing what sounded like the end of the world, but Kamijou Touma interrupted anyway. We seem to be trying to avoid looking at reality with all this complicated stuff, but the fridge is still empty. We cant do anything else until we deal with that. Nephthys gave her blunt opinion while resting her upper body on the kotatsu in a way that squished her large breasts. Youre weird. Oh, shut up, you new freeloader. So whats this about? Kamisato? I dont know whats going to happen, but whether were holing up here or leaving, we need food. I dont want to have to hunt down some food while half-starved later. Touma! Then were going shopping, right!? By this time, the supermarkets meals will have half-off stickers all over them! Im so excited!! Were having a hotpot, so we dont need any pre-made meals!! And this isnt a sale that puts a limit of one egg carton per person, so I dont need any help. Besides, if we go walking around outside, we might run across that Kamisato guy! You need to take this seriously!! How can you accuse others of not taking this seriously when youre heading out to buy hotpot ingredients when you could run into a monster who easily defeated a group of Magic Gods with a single right hand? And lets not forget that your right hand is probably an important target too. But Magic Gods like us are probably the most important targets. Othinus charged at Nephthys who crushed her below her hand. But without any food, waiting for death was their only option whether Kamisato was on his way or not. Poor Student Kamijou Touma could not use anything as bourgeois as a convenience store or supermarket delivery service, so he had to leave the dorm room despite the risk. He was not about to say money was everything, but he had to cry in his heart at how the lack of it limited ones options. And so... Ill be heading out. Index, you look after the place with the others. Listen, dont just open the door if the doorbell rings. Check through the lens and pretend you arent home if you dont recognize them. Do you understand, Index? Touma, how old do you think I am? He answered her question with silence. He had grown enough to know what fate awaited him if he honestly answered that he was pretty sure someone could lure her into a back alley with some candy. Fifteen centimeter Othinus put her hands on her hips and sighed. Hey. Dont worry. This is a big city. What are the odds of running across a particular person while just walking around? Have you forgotten how ridiculous your misfortune can get? But we wont last until morning on miso, soy sauce, and water. Well start wondering what it even is were fighting. He left the girls in the dorm room and found the sun just about to fall below the horizon. The night was more purple than orange and it had grown quite dark. The bright stars visible here and there were gradually growing in number. At the same time, he knew the lights of electronic signs and building windows would start to come on and quickly erase all sign of the stars that should have filled the sky. (How should I put it...?) Kamijou thought to himself as he walked along a main road lit by streetlights. (I was too panicked to notice before, but the High Priest really made a mess of things.) Even now, he could see signs of that Magic Gods rampage. Construction vehicles were moving crushed cars out of the way, triangular cones and tape were placed around giant holes, buildings were unnaturally tilted, every window was broken, and shards of glass covered the road and sidewalk. Truly, truly, truly, if anything had gone just a little bit wrong, everyone in the city might have been caught in the downpour of glass and covered everything in blood. But Kamijou did not think he had somehow fixed everything. He had cornered the High Priest, but that had only brought Academy City even closer to destruction. In the end, it had not been him who finished off the Magic God after he fused with the giant comet. It had been a mysterious light fired from the ground. What had that been? 2.3 million people lived in Academy City and they had all tried to protect the city in their own way. One of them had likely settled things in some way Kamijou was unaware of, but... Your thoughts are taking a turn for the worse again, arent they? He suddenly heard a girls voice. He turned toward it and found fifteen centimeter Othinuss head poking out from his pants pocket. You!! Dont look so surprised at everything I do. Arent you supposed to understand me? Eh? Ehh? Did you have your head sticking out this whole time? The whole time!? Wait a minute. Anyone who saw that probably thought I was walking around with a figurine girl in my pock-...gogyahh!? ... Wait...you idiot...just cause youre in my pants pocket...doesnt mean you should knee me there... Kamijou leaned forward due to the attack, but the details will be omitted to preserve his honor. Othinus gave a snort and started climbing up Kamijous coat. I just dont feel at home when Im not on your shoulder. Uuh... Please hide inside my scarf. More importantly, casually cut in Othinus. You werent considering a redefinition of Kamijou Touma just because you werent the one to solve that problem, were you? You werent thinking you might have been able to handle that situation if only you had some kind of new power, were you? ... Give up on that idea. Would you be able to save more people if you trained in martial arts? Would you be able to resolve things more smartly if you had a gun or a knife? That would have the exact opposite effect. The more means of killing you have and the farther you move from the path that saves your opponent using their own power, the weaker you will become. That alone is certain. You might not like having someone else act like they understand you, but as someone who was saved by you, I do understand. Kamijou had nothing to say to that. For one thing, he had not realized his own true value. Of course, that lack of realization was itself his strength, so that was not surprising. Human, where do you think evil comes from? ? Dont bother giving me the textbook answer. Tell me the honest opinion that first comes to mind. Surely you arent going to give me some whitewashed answer about the dualism of good and evil. Havent you learned firsthand that this world is not simple enough to just divide things between angels and demons? Good was not good because someone decided it was. Evil was not evil because it said so in some book. Kamijou Touma did as Othinus said and gave his honest opinion. Does true evil even exist? Hah hah!! Now thats a question I would expect from you. And youre close. Evil is created when someone gives up on someone else. It appears when everyone gives up on someone as a lost cause and removes their path to salvation. Once they are cut off from everyone else, they become evil. Just look through history and youll understand. What is the difference between a murderer who kills a single person and a great hero who kills one million? It has nothing to do with the person himself. It comes down to whether everyone else accepts him. Its an issue of majority rule. When someone gave up on someone and they become cut off from everyone else, they became evil. Thinking back to the mess from Tokyo Bay to Denmark, there may have been some self-deprecation in that girls words. It was true that the world had given up on her, but she had given up on the world first. Martial arts, a gun, a knife, or any other obvious offensive power would only increase your ability to cut people off. You would be no different from the cruel agents of revenge who delight in robbing people of a chance to reform and then tossing the majority rule loser into the abyss, all while calling it a punishment. Kamijou Touma, that is not your strength. Your greatest weapon is the powerful arm that reached into the abyss and saved even someone as hopelessly evil and rotten to the core as Magic God Othinus. That ability to connect is your ultimate trump card, so make no mistake and do not reach for a cheap answer. You couldnt defeat the High Priest? This Kamisato guy wiped out all of those Magic Gods? You should be asking so what. You should be looking down on Academy City for letting the High Priest die and on Kamisato for killing the Magic Gods without saving a single one. What is wanted from you is not violence on the same level as World Rejecter. It isnt the power to kill. It is the power of human reason that can envelop that violence. After hearing that, Kamijou Touma smiled. He had still been fighting the High Priest. Something had not been sitting well with him and it had filled his chest with worries. But he felt like he finally knew what it was. The High Priest had been truly awful. He had left his mark on every part of Academy City. But now Kamijou wished he had listened more to what he said and learned more about him as a person. If he had, something might have changed like it had with Othinus. But now it was too late. The High Priest had been evil, but that was because Kamijou Touma had made him evil. He had done so by giving up on saving him. How much did Nephthys know of the non-evil side of that old man? He knew he was giving over to sentiment, but he was curious. You really do understand me, he said. Why mention that now? Do you want to reconfirm what that means? Othinus made it sound obvious and the pointy-haired boy smiled again. This time it was a self-conscious one filled with enjoyment. The supermarket was close. He entered the air-conditioned shop and grabbed a basket near the entrance. He followed the aisle and checked around the fresh foods section, but he did not go for the most delicious looking meats and vegetables. When Othinus saw what he threw in the basket, she spoke up in disappointment. I understand its cheaper, but cant you give some thought to how it looks? Why are you only grabbing the wilted vegetables? Shut up. Were having a hotpot, remember? Its all going to be boiled in the water, so it doesnt matter if theyve gone a little bad. What kind of hotpot are you planning, anyway? There are a lot of options including pot-au-feu and cheese fondue. Oh, I was thinking of playing it safe and going with a mizutaki. Boiled tofu is actually the easiest, but that would never satisfy a growing girl like Index and shed definitely throw a fit. Kamijou selected some cheap packaged tofu and shirataki, but Othinus seemed confused. I dont know much about Japanese food, but, um, mizutaki? Doesnt that mean its cooked in plain water!? That sounds incredibly bland, but it does have some kind of flavor, right!? Thats the problem with you crazy Westerners who insist fries are a vegetable. Just watch. When Poor Student Kamijou Touma goes all out, itll knock your socks off. It doesnt really matter, but fries are a traditional food of the Northern European nation of Belgium and theyre even trying to register them as a world heritage item. If you start treating it like a cheap junk food, Ill cast a curse on you. Gyah! Dont stick your tiny arm in my ear! Who wouldve thought Id learn about a gods favorite food here!? A chill ran down Kamijous spine as tiny fingers tickled him near the eardrum. Once the gods curse was complete, Othinus pulled her hand out and spoke. And when it comes to food, you cant go wrong with herring. Hm? Oh? Is that not a universal thing? In the Norse regions, you throw herring into just about any kind of home cooking. Othinus, I dont know too much about foreign countries, but I get the feeling youre mocking those Norse cultures more than I am. I am the head Norse god, you know? Do you really think I do housework? I guess it takes a god to be so proud of that one. A human certainly couldnt. He gathered up some cheap fatty meat and some wilted vegetables that would grow in size once they soaked up the water. By the way, does Nephthys have any food taboos? She is a god. I feel like Egyptian mythology is pretty accepting of anything. Come to think of it, I heard on TV that people in hot areas like Africa and South America really like sweet things. Its apparently because they need the extra nutrients. If I have the money, maybe I should get some fresh fruit...no, that would be too expensive. Ill just get some canned fruit and vanilla ice cream. Chop that up and it should make for a decent looking dessert. Girls like that kind of thing, right? I may not be one to talk, but youre really calling that monster a girl? And you might be trying to put her in a good mood, but you should probably give some more thought to the relationship between girls and calories. Eh? Why? Index always seems happy with it. He tilted his head and Othinus sighed on his shoulder. Lets get back to the main dish. If youre worried, go with chicken or fish. Pretty much anyone can eat those. I think only Japanese Buddhists dont. Eh!? Japan doesnt!? All of Buddhism is against killing and thanks to syncretism, Shinto tends to view eating meat as impure. Beef, pork, chicken, snake, venison, monkey, horse, rabbit, bear, fish, eggs, bugs, and any other animal protein that requires killing is off limits. I think the really strict ones even dont allow pesticides when growing vegetables. You dont find precepts that strict very often even when you look at the entire world. Of course, it ranks near the bottom when it comes to how many people actually follow the rules. I get the idea behind vegetarianism, but it seems like an impossible demand given how our bodies are made. As they discussed that, they moved from the chilled fresh foods section to the spices section. The worlds stinkiest canned food is from Europe and it used herring. You mean that one that comedians have to eat during punishment games and end up nearly barfing!? The one in the thick can all swollen with gas!? Please stop or Ill start imagining it!! It keeps fermenting inside the can, so theres really no point in canning it. The microbes are constantly advancing the decomposition process, so the fish rots right there in the can. Wow!! Id thought natto and maggot cheese were bad, but whoever ate that first was a real hero!! There are some mysterious foods that really do make you wonder what kind of history led to that showing up on the dinner table. ...And sadly, as weird as it seems, you still end up trying it and end up hooked on it. They made their way into the spices section. There was a lot available, but... Now that I think about it, the kitchen was even worse than I realized. There wasnt even any salt or sugar. What has Index been doing during the day? Do you really want to know just how much someone who cant cook abandoned her humanity to disguise her hunger? Never mind. I dont want to know. Its like seeing a girl putting on makeup. It feels like something valuable is going to crumble away. Anyway, the spices. Right. Mizutaki usually has chicken broth powder, but with such an international group, maybe I should try bouillon or consomm to make it more Western. If youre making changes, you could use curry powder too. Oh? You know about curry, Othinus? Dont mock European curry. We have one eaten with rice just like the Japanese. That sounds like a case of reverse importation... But curry is a tricky dead-end. It tastes good enough no matter who makes it, but its really hard to get it to taste much better no matter who makes it. Lets go with something else. He decided to go with bouillon for the main flavoring with salt, sugar, and pepper added in. I see youre playing it safe. They have some ethnic foods over there. Why not be more adventurous and try some coriander or tom yum? Id be afraid of someone not liking it. Besides, I have no idea what an Egyptian god like Nephthys likes. What did she eat in the BC times? They also argued on whether to finish it off with rice or champon noodles, but the noodles side won this time. Buying a packaged ingredient had poor cost performance, but he was not about to lug a bag of rice back so soon after the exhausting High Priest fight. While checking out at the register, Kamijou realized he had forgotten his reusable shopping bag and grew slightly depressed. Hey, hero, do you really have to be kind to the planet now? Thats not it, Othinus. They stamp your point card each time you refuse their bags... You really are rushing down the path of the househusband, arent you? This would have been the final stamp on the card and Id been planning to use it to get a buttered baked potato without the others knowing. Baked potato!? That sounds delicious! Lets go get that reusable bag!! Othinus was surprisingly excited about the food, but that was not due to her stomach like it was for Index. She was more focused on wanting a relaxing meal with him without the cat interrupting, but the pointy-haired idiot was of course oblivious to that fact. Kamijou left the supermarket with plastic bags in both hands and Othinus on his shoulder. It was after sundown in December, so his breath was visibly white. Im kind of surprised. About what, human? That the supermarket is running like normal. Not long ago, the High Priest fused with a comet and was about to crash into Academy City. Sure, someone stopped it, but it still blew up in midair and shattered all the glass around here. The world is surprisingly sturdy. Its like I was telling you: you dont have to carry it all by yourself. There isnt just one pillar supporting the world. It isnt about what kind of realistic power anyone has and you shouldnt give up just because you dont have anything. Even if they dont have much C if anything at all C everyone is doing their best to live their lives even now. Perhaps. Kamijou smiled a little. There was no need for him to carry everything himself. He was partially smiling at that thought, but he also thought it was a huge step forward for Magic God Othinus, who had repeatedly created the world and returned it to normal, to use the word everyone. But then he heard a footstep in the darkness. That quiet sound seemed to flip a switch for the world. Something invisible had repainted everything in an instant. He felt a prickling sensation that something was wrong. (Othinus.) (Yes, I can feel it too, human.) She spoke as they came to a stop and stared cautiously down the dark street. (This enjoyable outing just came to an end.) A silhouette stood less than ten meters away. They could not see any details, but whoever it was could apparently see them. An entirely calm voice reached them. Hi, Imagine Breaker. Then I take it youre World Rejecter? Ha ha. If you know that name, I can only assume Nephthys really did end up with you. And what if she did? Thick tension filled the darkness. This was not an issue of strong or weak. Both of their right hands were abnormal and their irregularity ate into that space. The presence of a single joker was already a serious error, but two of them were butting heads here. The world seemed to be crying out to say it could not endure this. Yes, what should I do? pondered the silhouette. ... I have business with the Magic Gods. The Magic Gods who made me like this. Thats your business. It has nothing to do with me. True. You dont need to worry about it in the slightest. He readily admitted it, but... And that is exactly why... He continued smoothly as if all of this were following the pre-established harmony and then he gave his conclusion. I dont need to worry about you in the slightest. A brilliant light illuminated everything for just an instant. It was apparently the headlights of a car turning from a different road. Like a nearby lightning strike during a blackout, the entire scene was burned into Kamijous retinas. Two boys stood in that world. They both had average facial features and would quickly blend into a crowd. They were the kind of normal high school boys one could find anywhere. Kamijou Touma dropped the plastic bags to the ground and tightly clenched his right fist. The light vanished, but darkness was not allowed to resume its reign. The two boys began to move as if to tear apart that black world. Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru. Those two great irregularities finally clashed. Todays Hotpot Party, Ingredients List 2 Soy sauce. Miso. Chicken breast, daikon, bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, shirataki, tofu. Bouillon, salt, sugar, pepper, champon noodles Bargain vanilla ice cream, canned yellow peaches, canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges. (For dessert) (Quick Memo) Index: I hope Touma gets back soon. I wonder what hes bought for the hotpot! Nephthys: Im not used to Japanese cuisine, so Im not sure I can use chopsticks very well. I should probably start practicing. Othinus: Why would you throw the bags of food away? Kamijou Touma: This is a matter of life or death!! Do you want me to fight with bags in my hands!? Between the Lines 1 Nephthys was a goddess from Egyptian mythology, but there was a large question concerning her origin. Stories of the deity by that name were extremely rare. When Osiris, an extremely important god in Egyptian mythology, died, all living things around the world wept at his funeral. The weeping goddess that represented that event was Nephthys. There are no other materials referencing Nephthys and it is unknown when and where she was born. For that reason, one theory says she did not come about naturally and that she was an artificial deity created to emphasize that story about Osiris. Amid all that, no one knows anymore if that truly was Nephthys. Not even Nephthys herself. But there is a certain story. ...Theres no room. ...I cant breathe. ...This was all a way for the pharaoh to show off. One of the most famous parts of Egyptian mythology was the pyramids that acted as the pharaohs tombs. And there was one way of thinking that can be seen in many different cultures around the world: sealing many servants inside the kings tomb to make sure the king has no trouble in the afterlife. The number of servants could reach the hundreds or even the thousands. It was not that someone went around and dragged struggling girls from their families by the hair. They all willingly volunteered to serve the pharaoh. But in truth, it was unclear whether they actually could have refused. For those burying them, it was all over once the exit was sealed, but for those buried, the end took its time in coming. Humans can last for two or three days without drinking a drop of water. If they bit into the cloth of the burial goods or found some other way to gain some moisture, it was possible for them to live over a week. For those closed inside, the end took its time in coming. It took a long, long time. Enough that they would begin begging for it to come sooner. And as that seemingly never-ending series of moments passed, someone had a thought. They did not want their life to have been a waste. They were not dead yet and they did not want their thinking existence to waste away to nothing. And there were hundreds if not thousands there. They checked through their fragments of knowledge, the pieces of the mysteries they knew, and the papyrus buried with the pharaoh so he could be resurrected. And once they gathered it all together... Deep in a certain pyramid, that brown goddess was born surrounded by countless corpses. Was that mountain of death the original form that had created her or was it more like the shell of an egg? Not even the goddess known as Nephthys knew for sure. Volume 14, 2: Freeloaders Tend to Grow in Number - Cannibalization. Volume 14, Chapter 2: Freeloaders Tend to Grow in Number C Cannibalization. Part 1 Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru. Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter. They saw each other down the dark road and ran along the shortest path toward each other. The first to swing his arm was Kamisato. Do you wish for a new world? !? They were still five meters apart, so Kamijou should have been out of the other boys range. However, he felt a chill race through his entire body. As if flinching from a nearby lightning strike, he lowered his upper body on a baseless reflex. That thoughtless reaction did not actually dodge anything. But a moment later, a disturbing explosion sounded directly behind him as if space itself was being torn into and swallowed up. Thick tension traced along his skin. The impatience felt like a weak electric shock. Mysterious beads of sweat instantly covered his entire forehead. (Dammit, does he not have to actually touch his opponent!? What conditions does he need and what exactly can he erase? Regardless, his looks way more convenient than mine!!) But that attack had not been targeting Kamijou. If it had, it would have blown away his upper body. () He sensed something flinching back behind him, but he did not look back. Something had been approaching there, but he did not have time to check. He clenched his right fist again. He ran toward Kamisato Kakeru to attack his target...which was something else approaching from behind the other boy. Ah...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! It had all been planned out. As soon as Kamisatos silhouette casually swung his head to the side, Kamijous fist passed by while clenched as hard as a rock. At the same time, it crossed paths with the something else that had been attacking the back of Kamisatos head. They collided and it was negated. Imagine Breaker worked perfectly, so whatever was attacking Kamisato must have used a supernatural power. Whether that was magic or an esper power was still a mystery, though. Kamijou and Kamisato now stood back to back, but they both turned 180 degrees. Were you testing me to see if I would save you or not? Well, if you hadnt, all I needed to do was swing my arm. Violently bright headlights reached them from a different road once again. The flash briefly dazzled them and burned the scenery into their retinas like a photograph. That was when they realized two different kinds of violence surrounded them. One was pitch black. Even from close up, Kamijou could not tell what it was. It looked like an octopus floating in the deep sea, like a soft piece of fat cut away with a knife, or like a loose rubber film being melted from the inside. The more he stared at it, the more its meaning changed and the more confused he became. The surface was covered in ominous bubbles and some things that were not quite eyeballs and not quite suckers blinked with a damp yellow or green light that resembled glow-in-the-dark paint. It almost looked like the colors of a strange poisonous frog or lizard. The other one was red. It seemed to have the texture of a deep pile carpet soaked with water and left to rot. Something like uneven teeth or tongues could be glimpsed deep in the thick carpet. Kamijou was filled with a sense of caution warning him not to look any deeper. Neither one seemed to have a solid form and they surrounded the two boys from several meters away. At any rate, it looks like the main task will have to wait. Kamisato Kakeru sounded relatively apathetic. Just to be sure, these things arent with you, are they? Does it look that way? And if it comes to that, you seem more suspect than me. Or rather... Yes, what are they doing? Have they started cannibalizing each other!? The red and black amorphous monsters were acting oddly. With the disturbing sound of sludge flowing into a drain, they began wrapping around and chewing on each other. Othinus narrowed her eyes from Kamijous shoulder. This seems to be an accident for them too, but we cant just watch. In fact, a wounded beast is even more dangerous. Theyll be fighting for their life, so the standard rules dont apply. Their routine becomes harder to predict and they go all out, so theres a larger risk of anything nearby getting caught in the middle. What a pain. I wanted to have a nice chat, but it looks like escaping here has to come first. Perhaps so, spat out Kamijou. On the one side was something with uneven teeth or tongues deep inside its rotten red carpet and on the other was something with black bubbles that resembled eyeballs or suckers. The two twisted around, sharpened, and split open their own bodies to send out something like sharp claws. Also giant maws lined with countless fangs opened all over them. Here they come!! shouted Othinus. Countless predatory tools that resembled spears and blades shot from the creatures surrounding them in a donut shape. Kamijou and Kamisato both gathered strength in their right fists to break through the maw of death. Part 2 Kamijou was entirely absorbed by his activity. His Imagine Breaker was extraordinarily destructive to supernatural powers, but its effective range was limited to his right hand, which made it weak against multiple simultaneous attacks. St. Germain had given him trouble by taking advantage of that. He only managed to escape being surrounded here due to Kamisatos help. He was honestly unsure what would have happened had he been alone. Pant, pant! Dammit!! He did not know how far he had to run before he could relax, so he just ran and ran. He clicked his tongue when he remembered he had left the supermarket bags behind. Once he realized the ability to regret something like that meant he was subconsciously beginning to relax, he finally came to a stop. Not even he was sure where he had ended up. He was amazed that District 7 had a back alley like this. He also realized Kamisato was gone. He had been so focused on escaping that he had not been able to worry about the others safety. What was that? Kamisato, natural enemy of the Magic Gods, was bad enough, but now another problem has shown up. And in a group of two! You sure are kind. Did you not consider the possibility that Kamisato set this up himself? He did seem to be testing what you would do. Eh? But he said it wasnt. You really are stupid. Othinus pinched his earlobe. I dont know what exactly World Rejecter does or what conditions are needed to use it, but it defeated Magic Gods by the dozen, didnt it? Would he really run away when faced with just one or two attackers? Then... Ill admit I dont know whether they were working together or not, but he was definitely enjoying it. He was watching how you reacted with a serious look on his face. He was probably playing around and using a different form of communication for what couldnt be said with words. As he listened to Othinus, Kamijou leaned his sweaty body against a nearby building wall to think. What even were those red and black attackers? Who knows. The eyepatch girl sounded entirely casual. The red one had the scent of the Dark Continent, but the black one is a complete mystery. It may have been a conflict between magic and science. Whats the Dark Continent? Some ancient civilization that sank into the ocean? It means Africa. Expand your vocabulary. Then why couldnt you just say Africa in the first place!? complained Kamijou in his heart. Othinus, you did some science-related stuff in addition to your Norse magic, right? Yes, but that was mostly Bersi. But even you couldnt figure anything out about the black one? I wouldnt say that... Its like its on the tip of my tongue, and thats what makes it so strange. Im the god that constructed every last part of this original world. Although that was a lot like watching an infinitely-expanding snow crystal growing from a calculated core, so I didnt actually design every little thing... If asked whether Kamisato Kakeru or the black and red attackers were more powerful, Kamijou probably would have said Kamisato. But based on what Othinus had just said, it may not have been that simple. Which meant... Oh, no. Did Kamisato manage to get away safely? ...Human. I know Im being na?ve, being inconsistent, and getting my priorities backwards, but I wont be able to sleep tonight if I dont check. It would be no laughing matter if I was saved while he was captured and devoured. Youre aware how foolish it is, yet youre still going back!? How am I supposed to control this idiot!? Despite Othinuss fierce protests, Kamijou hesitantly retraced his steps to revisit the scene of the attack. He did not know where he was, but he remembered the different landmarks more than he had expected. Eventually, he found the familiar location. Kamisato...isnt here. At the very least, it doesnt look like he was eaten as a human sacrifice. He heard a rustling sound from the dimly lit road, so he quickly looked down. Hm? Hey, its my supermarket bags!! Dont tell me youre retrieving them. It may be December, but the ice cream will have melted. Othinus, the fact that theyre on the road isnt what matters. Its whether they have germs on them or-... He trailed off because the heavy bags moved unnaturally. Then a large cat hopped out. Human, the ingredients list has grown while we were gone. Enough with the black jokes, Miss God. And stop right there, stray cat! Thats our precious dinn-... He was cut off by further movement. He heard some mewing from a nearby alleyway and a few kittens approached the large cat. Based on the fur color, they were a family. This truly cornered Kamijou Touma. No fair!! No fair!! This is like seeing a puppy being swept away in the river or a cat separated from its owner by war! I cant do anything about it now! All I can do is cry!! Its grabbing the bags and calmly leaving. It probably does this all the time. The damn creature really knows how to live in the city. I know that! But knowing better doesnt help when it comes to emotion!! Kamijou was helpless against this strange barrier. He was overwhelmed by sorrow and stood stock still for a while. But if the bags were there, it meant this was definitely where he and Kamisato had clashed. And thus where those red and black creatures and interfered. The area was poorly lit, but as he stared into the darkness his eyes adjusted to the light and he noticed something else lying on the ground. Ugh... That cat is lucky it didnt try to take this with it too. It resembled a rotten red carpet. It had seemed to spread out like an infinite sea when it had attacked, but it had been cruelly torn apart and pieces of it were stuck to the asphalt and concrete walls. The way it continued wriggling even then was disturbing, but that was not the main point. Kamisato had done this. His World Rejecter was real. Just like Kamijous Imagine Breaker, it most likely had some idiosyncratic and hard-to-use effect or conditions. After all, it had slaughtered Magic Gods by the dozen. Without something holding it back, the entire world C both science side and magic side C should have been slaughtered already. But in the right environment, it was this incredibly destructive. Kamisato had claimed escaping here has to come first, but if he had been alone, he might have been able to slaughter both of the creatures. He had been playing around. Kamijou was unsure how to react to that fact. He viewed the horrific scene before him once more...and he noticed something. Wait a second... He had spotted something else amid the remains of the rotten red carpet. At first, it only looked like a dense object, but a closer looked revealed that a relatively large piece of the rotten carpet was covering something. He began to flip it over, but it reacted to his right hand and vanished, revealing what lay below. This is... He found an unconscious girl of about twelve. This is what that red thing was? She had white skin and shoulder-length blonde hair. She wore a white blouse, a short skirt, and black stockings for the chic and luxurious look of a grand piano. She seemed ill-protected against the December chill, but the rotten red carpet may have acted as a coat. Kamijou had a lot to be surprised about, but the biggest shock was that he recognized her. As Othinus placed a hand on her forehead and sighed, he muttered the girls name. Bird...way? Part 3 Meanwhile, Kamisato Kakeru gave a confused look of his own a short distance away. He tried to crack his neck in the darkness, but it did not work. He tried a few more times, but he gave up because he felt like he was going to hurt the joint. Instead, he spoke into his cellphone. I cant believe this. You getting caught in the middle of someone elses problems is hardly new. This is sure to be related to a cute girl as always. I bet a naked girl is going to appear from the monsters belly. Id bet my virginity on it. The voice on the other end had a certain elegance to it. Although Kamisato had no idea if she was using a proper Kyoto dialect or not. Dont bet that. Anyway, how long will your analysis take? That depends on how accurate you want it. Kamisato sounded carefree, but he was surrounded by a horrific scene. The ground and walls were covered in the remains of the attacker that looked like a deep sea octopus instead of a rotten red carpet. Those remains resembled black clumps of fat or a loose rubber film being melted from the inside. He heard what sounded like a tabletop fan, but it was actually the spinning of a small motor. He looked up and saw what appeared to be a toy in the night sky. The device looked like a crane fly made as a craft over summer break and it had a transparent case on its stomach. That case contained a sample of the black substance. Taking a peek at Academy Citys junk street proved useful. My container lab is doing better than it ever has. Its pretty cool that the kind of electron microscopes we use outside is small enough to fit in your palm here. It was as much of a shock as seeing my first mirrorless camera. Just leave this to your tracer and the earliest results will be in within the hour. I see. Kamisato pictured the short girl who had glossy black hair that reached the ground, let her baggy lab coat drag behind her, and laughed while covering her mouth with the sleeve. But Academy City isnt as different from the outside as Id heard, said the girl. I thought we would be stuck acting like the old lady who cant figure out how to use the ticket machine. Yeah. At first, I thought there were going to be cars driving through tubes, but it doesnt seem that different. They even use the normal Japanese yen...or at least something that looks just like it. He watched the handmade drone fly away. That girl never went outside and had a bad habit of ordering everything over the internet and picking up anything else with her drones manipulator. The indoor girl was an incarnation of the magic that kept certain girls from gaining weight even though they mostly ate pizza and never went outside. Also, she called herself a tracer. Her specialty was using the same forensic and crime scene investigation skills as police to pursue and track down an individual from the microscopic trail they left. And the title was not wasted on her. Even criminal organizations used people like that. Tracking down a target or traitor used to mean gathering witness information or using an information network (mostly made from loan shark client lists), but now they hired hackers to target the Juki Net and online shopping records, analyzed the many photographs and images on the internet in search of the face they wanted, or analyzed samples on the molecular level. These were of course all techniques invented by the police, but technology was just as effective no matter who was using it. In other words, this girl could track someone down even if they were put into the witness protection program or treated as dead in official records, given cosmetic surgery, had their fingerprint changed, and even had all of their blood swapped out. It was much like hunting down a target in the jungle using the footprints and broken branches on the ground. She had the grim reaper known as data at her fingertips and it could be even more frightening than simple violence. Oh, since you had the UAV out, I wanted to have you do a scan to see if Im being followed. Why? Im trying to figure out what to do now. I could return to the container house or I could use a different safe house in case Im being followed. I was hoping for some extra information to make up my mind. Ah ha ha! Come on, this is Academy City. Their technology goes two or three steps further than anything we can even imagine. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but this goes beyond even that. Theyre probably tracking you in some really nasty way, so completely losing them would be impossible. Besides, theyre scanning the entire city by satellite. Perhaps. Im sure even this phone call is being intercepted. Of course, you knew that but youre confident you can shake them from your tail by force and escape. ... Currently, Kamisato Kakeru C or rather, the Kamisato Faction that had gathered around him C was opposing the Magic Gods. Academy City and the science side had no reason to complain about that. That said, he had entered the city without permission and he had enough power to slaughter Magic Gods by the dozen. The citys ruler might not choose to ignore him, either because he would be profitable subject for research or because he was a frightening threat. But what did that matter? World Rejecter had enough power to deflect that conclusion. It was the ultimate strike. It was a truly definitive blow. Then Ill go to the spare safe house and see how things go. That sounds like a good idea. The other girls are going nuts after hearing you contacted the Imagine Breaker without bringing a bodyguard. Especially when you were attacked by some red and black things afterwards. That should scare you a lot more than Academy City or Kamijou Touma. You need to cool your head and think of a good way to placate some girls. Nya ha ha! My head hurts... Anyway, the safe house is at-... ''Is that really something to say on a call thats being intercepted? Dont worry. Im a tracer, remember? Ill track you down even if you dont tell me a thing. Bye bye She hung up. A look of exhaustion briefly came over Kamisato Kakeru and he put his cellphone in his pocket. Then he looked around the gruesome scene again. The disturbing black substance was splattered everywhere, but one piece of what looked like bubbling fat was being pushed up by something below. He had no idea what kind of toxins it contained and, in the worst case, it could suddenly attack and began devouring him with its giant maw, but he did not hesitate to approach the creepily pulsating blackness. Do you wish for a new world? It sounded like some sort of password. After a light movement of his right hand, the entire clump of black vanished and what slept below was revealed. She appeared to be between ten and twelve. Her short blonde hair was pushed up with a hairband, leaving her forehead exposed. She wore a down jacket and jogging wear that was as skintight as a wetsuit. There was a slit below the arms, so it likely had temperature regulation for use in any season. The cordless headphones around her neck were most likely linked to the wearable smartwatch on her wrist. Based on her face and the brands of her clothing and accessories, she did not seem to be Japanese. Now, then. Kamisato Kakeru placed a hand on one hip and sighed. A girl had indeed appeared from within, but she was not naked. He felt that proved the world could be kind after all. He no longer had to worry about the virginity that the girl on the phone had bet. (If possible, I want this girl to explain the situation as well. Theyd probably claim my own testimony lacked objectivity and refuse to listen.) In order to get their story straight ahead of time, he wanted to know about her. He crouched down and checked through her pockets, but he found a card case instead of a wallet. A girl of around ten has multiple credit cards? And theyre all black cards? The lineup looked like something a casino magnate from Macau would have. She might have been the type who had never seen an actual coin in her life. All of the card companies were from outside Academy City and each card had the same name printed on it. Pa...Patri... Kamisato traced his finger across it as he read the name aloud. Patricia Birdway? Is that it? Part 4 ... ... ... The broken window had only been covered by a plastic sheet, so the dorm room was chilly. Pressure bore down on Kamijou Touma as he silently sat on the wooden flooring of that room. The pressure came from Index, Othinus, and Nephthys. After eating all the pet food, the calico cat alone was satisfied and it had completely melted while lying on its belly. For some reason, the cute cat was reminiscent of a hopeless old man after having far too much to drink. The pet was sleeping so defenselessly that there was no hope of it making a gallant entry to rescue its owner. The discussion was focused on a single issue. Touma, what are we going to do about dinner? No, not that!! I know I shouldnt be restarting this argument, but isnt there something more important here!? Besides, whose fault do you think it is theres only miso and soy sauce in the fridge!? Personally, I dont see why you would even keep soy sauce in the fridge, added Nephthys. The Japanese put dashi and soy sauce in everything, so dont you go through the bottles pretty fast? Do you even have to worry about oxidation? Huh? No one else cares? Were really focusing on this? O-okay, then!! Youre wrong! Soy sauce goes on hiyayakko too, so it tastes better when its chilled!! What kind of idiot would go to the trouble of chilling tofu and then adding room temperature soy sauce!? It makes no sense!! More importantly, this girl. Othinus alone was taking things seriously. Kamijou was on all fours and pounding at the floor in frustration, but the eyepatch girl ignored him and kept the conversation going. That idiot picked up another one. There were two attackers, a red one and a black one, and this is apparently one of them. Its his usual sickness that makes him save anything he can call a girl. And that means we have a problem beyond Kamisato Kakeru. So what should we do? Hmm. Index cutely vocalized her thinking. They had a grimoire library with 103,000 grimoires memorized and two legit Magic Gods. If this had anything to do with magic, there would be no hiding it. They poked at the fragments of the rotten red carpet reluctantly clinging to Birdways clothes as she lay on the floor. Nya-Nya Bulembu. That African Cinderella story had something like this. Its the story of a princess forced to wear an ugly animal skin. Everyone found her repulsive because of it, but it actually kept the men from attacking her and a beautiful princess filled with a mystical power was raised within the skin. Kamijou quickly grew fed up with it. That sounds more like the Ugly Duckling than Cinderella. And it straight-up attacked us instead of acting as camouflage. Is that supposed to be how it keeps men from attacking her? What would make it take such a sharp turn towards offense!? ... ... ... That should have been a perfectly natural question, but all three girls(?) glared quite intensely at him. There was even a hint of scorn mixed in like they were looking at a dung beetle. The small Othinus sighed. But its main focus was raising the princess inside it, not keeping the men away. And wasnt it supposed to be green and covered in moss? There might be something else, said Index as she moved her fingers a short distance above Birdways slender form. Based on the symbols...theres more to this. Other African myths and legends have been broken down and implanted. Why Africa? bluntly asked Kamijou. I dont know all that much about magic, but isnt Birdway from Europe? Doesnt she specialize in Western magic that uses the alphabet? Hmm, I see. Bandaged Nephthys seemed to have recovered a fair bit since she had first shown up, so she gave a bewitching smile while still sitting on the floor. This might be the usual pattern for Europeans. What? It happens a lot. Othinus sounded annoyed. Modern Western Magic sounds like its European magic put together by Europeans using European cultures, but that isnt quite accurate. It isnt? Hadnt Agnese once said that Western magic was essentially made up of tricks using Christianity and the cheating magicians made the serious worshippers look like fools? Hadnt she said that was why she could not allow them to use magic? However, this was how the Magic Gods saw things. They try really hard for a while. Yes, for a while. But in the end, they realize there are wishes that they cant grant with their own rules. So what are those Europeans to do? The answer is simple. They begin innocently believing that the equation lies hidden in some as yet unseen paradise. Of course, its usually nonsense like trying to find some strange grand master in distant Tibet and gaining the key to the gates of heaven through his teachings. Sometimes they even mention Atlantis, Mu, or some other continent that sank long ago. Oh, right. I think theres even one about receiving the knowledge and wisdom of god from the radio signals sent by the sun. Othinus laughed as she explained. As those who really did know the greatest secrets of the magic world, humans who thought they could pray to god and unconditionally receive knowledge may have seemed hopelessly shallow. There may indeed have been some secret Tibetan techniques in Tibet, but they would not be the convenient vending machine of knowledge that Europeans imagined them to be. One example was influenced by the introduction of foreign cultures during the colonial period. That includes Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, and India, but the biggest influence of all came from the Dark Continent aka Africa. After all, its a large place with tons of different tribes, so its overflowing with countless legends. Its a true melting pot. And from a European point of view, its right across the Mediterranean and thus requires much less preparation than South America or India. This thinking worked its way deep into even the Golden Dawn which was called the worlds largest magic cabal. One of the biggest names alongside Yeats and Mathers was Crowley. The tarot he used was known as Thoth Tarot which used the name of an Egyptian god. And when explaining his ideology, he refers to the Aeons of Isis, Osiris, and Horus, easily explained chocolate-colored Nephthys. The standard Golden-style tarot told the story of the Son of God from his birth to his execution and his resurrection in order to draw on a portion of his power. The twenty-two cards of the Major Arcana from The Fool to The World are synchronized with the twenty-two paths connecting the Sephirot tree, so they are meant to acquire a technique of entering the realm of god with a human body. In other words, theyre all miracles that can be explained through Christianity. But Thoth Tarot is a little different even though its based on the same tree. It has a special sequence that starts at the birth of Christianity and follows it to its destruction C that is, the coming of Armageddon C and then to the new Aeon that will arrive afterwards. The meaning of the Hanged Man is quite different and Judgment is replaced with The Aeon. In other words, you are not arriving at the realm of god, you are destroying the closed ceiling that is gods territory and then bringing humanity to the next stage above that. Of course, that probably seems dreadfully arrogant from the Vaticans point of view. ... Index, who was (technically) an Anglican nun, looked like she was unsure what to say. Nephthys seductively adjusted her legs and continued her lecture. Now according to Crowley, the Aeon of Isis is the time of primitive religions before the establishment of Christianity, the Aeon of Osiris is the time of stagnation while Christianity spreads, and the Aeon of Horus is the time when mankind achieves a true awakening through the destruction of Christianity. However, that was a rather extreme view even among the Golden cabal, so apparently not everyone in the cabal supported it. So what does that mean? Kamijou skipped the difficult parts and gave just his conclusion. The European magicians try to work within their own culture for a while, but when they hit a dead end, they have a bad habit of changing their way of thinking and digging through information from around the world to resolve whatever contradiction theyre faced with? He vaguely pictured it as something like putting caviar or foie gras on top of a bowl of rice and claiming it was a new Japanese dish. And they even forget they asked for help afterwards. But that might just come naturally to the people who insist they were the ones to invent gunpowder and noodles. It makes me wonder if they ever get confused why its so difficult to eat food shaped that way by wrapping it around a fork instead of just slurping it up. In that case... Kamijou looked back down at Birdway as she slept on the floor. (That arrogant girl had incredible magic and a large organization at her disposal, but she still came across something that she didnt think she could deal with?) He shuddered all the more. This no longer looked like a trivial interruption in the Kamisato Kakeru issue. The further they dug into this, the heavier it seemed to get. What exactly is it? He knew he was digressing from the main task that was Kamisato, but he still asked the question. What is Birdway dealing with? Well... Index moved her fingers through the empty space slightly above Birdways sleeping body. Wheat...no, is this corn? Africa is pretty big and filled with different tribes, cultures, and legends, but this looks like bits and pieces were gathered from all over. Instead of a single system of mythology, its more like she was gathering legends to fill in what she was missing. Meaning? ...Doll...fruit...ceremony abbreviation and cost reduction...sacrifice and destruction using a mechanical series of steps...an offering to a god...no, more like healing a sick patient by providing a corresponding part...the theory of predation... Indexs fingers came to a stop. They were pointed right at the center of Birdways chest as the silver-haired nun said more. Cannibalization? But that was as far as she got. Something grabbed her wrist as if to prevent her fingers from revealing more of the truth. Dont touch me. It was Leivinia Birdway. She did not get up and her face remained pale, but the corners of her lips still curved upward. An investigation isnt needed to know that I have more than you. ... At first, Index was confused. Next, she realized her fingers were pointing at the center of Birdways flat chest. Finally, she looked down at her own habit-covered chest. Youre lying!! That has to be a lie!! Give up. The system of this world is a cruel one. I dont want to hear that from a child who wouldnt even know how to put on a bra!! Whaaat!? What do bras have to do with anything!? Besides, the idea that having breasts and wearing a bra are one and the same is nothing but a fantasy of those with no cup size to speak of!! Nephthys sighed at the fruitless conflict. For the record, the brown beauty was not wearing a bra yet she clearly did have a cup size to speak of. The world was a confusing place. Part 5 First of all, the girl sent out the UAV that looked like a toy and like a crane fly. After confirming the area was safe, she approached the building in her formal clothing and her baggy lab coat that dragged behind her. With her glossy black hair reaching her ankles and her large sleeves covering even her hands, the outfit was somewhat reminiscent of a ceremonial kimono. However, she was lacking in the size needed to be called a charming beauty. Naitou, Joujima, Ganzan, Tsukuyomi...oh, here we go. The solid sound of leather shoes on the floor continued as she walked down the corridor of the rundown District 7 apartment building while checking the nameplates. When she reached one with a blank nameplate suggesting the resident had only just moved in, she violently knocked instead of ringing the bell. Without waiting for an answer, she applied a few reagents to the keyhole and used some wires to unlock the door in less than ten seconds. She opened the door to find a hellish scene contained within a 4.5 tatami mat room without a bathroom. Grrrr!! Hiss hiss!! Ow!! Ow ow ow ow ow ow!! Why is this girl acting like a wounded cat the second she wakes up!? In one corner, a blonde girl with her forehead showing had all her hair bristled as she scratched at the normal high school boy, Kamisato Kakeru. The window was broken and covered by a plastic sheet, but that was most likely unrelated to this. The lab coat girl covered her mouth with a baggy sleeve and spoke with a faint smile in her voice. Come now. She woke up to find herself in an unfamiliar boys apartment. Youre clearly the one at fault here. No good deed goes unpunished in this age of mistrust, huh!? Now, now, young lady. The lab coat girl crouched down to get on eye level with Patricia Birdway whose caution was set to max and who had tears of anger in her eyes. The lab coat girl smiled while elegantly keeping her teeth hidden. Then she dropped a tremendous bomb. I may not look it, but I specialize in unofficial forensic investigation. If you dont trust Kamisato-han and youre worried about your body, I can check to see if youre pregnant. If you just squeeze your eyes shut and spread your legs, itll be over in no time. !? Patricias entire body shook. The lab coat girl was still smiling. In fact, the perfect smile was frozen on her face. She was not joking or being unreasonable. She was being intentionally cruel to this girl who had harmed Kamisato, no matter how legitimate her reasons might have been. The boy sighed, placed a hand on his neck, and swung his head a little to the side. He was trying to crack the joint, but it was not working. Ellen. Yes, yes, hi, yes, hi! Ill leave my harassment at that. Honestly, if Claire and Elza learned how ungrateful she was being, they would seriously tear her to pieces, you know? You ran off without your bodyguards and now youre injured. What do you think is going to happen now, boss? Oh, no... Maybe I should hide the injuries. Well, its just a few welts from some scratches and she didnt draw any blood. A thick application of foundation should be enough. That was when a strange aura of fear came from Patricias entire body while she trembled in the corner of the room. A sharp crack seemed to run through her soft cheek and something like an octopus tentacle filled with bubbling eyeballs or suckers showed itself. There were also glimpses of the colors of a strange poisonous frog or lizard. It bent, twisted, and formed a single sharp spear before shooting out like a bullet. Its target was Ellen. It shot a bit below her evenly-cut bangs C that is, the center of her face. However... Oops. Kamisato reached his hand casually out from the side. As soon as he grabbed it, a large chunk was torn from the spear and the bubbling mass frantically retreated back into Patricias body. An unpleasant sound followed. It came from below the small girls skin. Something as thick as a thumb seemed to slither from her cheek and down toward the neck holding her headphones. The baggy lab coat girl reflexively tried to say something, but Kamisato Kakeru placed his index finger over her lips, then smiled toward Patricia in the corner. That...didnt seem to be under your control. ... Patricia remained silent and a change came over her chest. A pulsation was evident even through her puffy down jacket. However, it clearly did not come from a human heart. Something else was wriggling at the center of her chest. To be honest, youre free to tell us whats going on or not. But if you dont tell us, well investigate it on our own. We will find the truth, but you cant choose the extent of that truth. As Kamisato spoke, the pulsation grew smaller. Or rather, it was hiding. What had been gathered in one spot scattered in every direction to disperse and hide inside her body. Normally, she would not seem any different from a normal person. So you have the advantage here. If you tell us, you can choose the extent of the truth you want us to know. Patricia thought, opened her mouth, said nothing, hung her head, and shook her head. Then she lifted her head once more. Sorry. My response depends on what youre apologizing for. Was it for injuring Kamisato and trying to harm the lab coat girl? Or was it for brushing off his suggestion and rejecting his explanation? But the girl had been apologizing for something else entirely. For my weak heart thats telling me it will be crushed by the anxiety if I dont tell you, even though I know telling you will drag you into this. Kamisato smiled and responded. Then you dont need to apologize. Not even I know what this is. As a guest researcher from the university, I took part in a study of the largescale changes in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean currents due to the changes in ice levels at the poles. While we were investigating the South Pole, we found a new kind of parasite. Our team called it Sample Shoggoth. Shoggoth, hm? Kamisato exhaled slowly. Id like to hear how you got from Antarctica to Academy City. O-okay. It might not be all that important, though. While visiting different medical institutions to find a way to deal with this, I eventually found myself in Academy City. Thats all. If you were undergoing treatment, why were you walking around outside? While its a parasite, it doesnt spread indiscriminately or anything. Oh, but I cant guarantee it wont cause you any problems. Yes, it did just attack me. Ellen. Im a victim!! The upset lab coat girl brought a finger to her lips again and Kamisato prompted Patricia to continue. Apparently, even Academy Citys technology has little chance of safely removing it. However, thats not what Im worried about. The problem is my sister. Your sister? Kamisato placed a hand on his neck as he asked and Patricia nodded. The red one. That short answer held significant meaning. My sister seems to be searching for a way to save me with her own methods, but I cant rely on that. I can never accept that method, so I cant just sit around and wait. I need to stop her and have her give up on that method immediately. Why? He did not understand, so he simply asked about it. It might not work, but just like with the lottery, having as many options as possible raises the odds of a miracle happening, right? Although if youre talking about having an amateur cut you open with a rusty scalpel and no anesthetic, then yeah, you should probably say no to that. If only that was what it was. Patricia shook her head and Kamisatos frown deepened. Its something worse? If she does use her method, theres no guarantee it will save me from this. Thats a complete unknown. Patricia admitted that first. And then she cut to the heart of the matter. But if she uses that method, theres a risk of her dying. She knows that and is still offering herself up to me, but thats exactly why I have to reject it. Part 6 Birdway sat up and looked around the room. The window is broken here too? That would explain why its so cold. The entire citys like this thanks to the High Priest. At least be thankful theres a plastic sheet covering it. And why is the kotatsu over there? Isnt that my seat? It isnt anyones seat. We just felt like using it today is all. ...Hey, quite forcing your way in here! There isnt enough room!! Youre the one that stole my seat. She was pouting her lips for some reason, so she may have been picky about her position, just like a cat. Fine, Ill explain everything from the beginning. After sitting right next to Kamijou, Birdway finally got down to business. Her face looked pale, but having the others worry over her seemed to hurt her pride. She blocked Kamijous hand when he tried to support her back. But first, promise me something, Kamijou Touma. Do not touch me. There shouldnt be an issue since you claim to have carried me here, but I want to be as cautious as I can. I dont want one casual move from you ruining everything. What? Im telling you not to touch my chest. Quick question, Birdway. What kind of person do you think I am? You have to ask? Im only so afraid because its you!! She looked at him like he was a wild animal, which depressed him a fair bit. Let me be blunt, this is a personal issue. Its nothing for you all to get involved in and you dont need to worry about it affecting the entire world. Just to be clear, this is about my life. And I still want to know even after hearing that. Besides, you already said you would explain everything from the beginning. Tch. She clicked her tongue before continuing. Its about my sister. Umm? Patricia Birdway. Oh, right. I guess you wouldnt be familiar with her. She was only involved in a fight between Anglican magicians that took place behind the scenes of an incident you and I dealt with together. She looked up to the ceiling as if thinking back to the past. She may have been sorting between what she knew and what Kamijou most likely knew. She uses the Birdway name, but she is not a magician. While I have been exclusively focused on magic, she has a more scientific way of thinking. She is my little sister, which should give you a guess at her age, but she already has a PhD and works on university-run projects. She has also been sponsored by Academy City or its cooperative institutions to join labs and research ships as a guest researcher. She has more than twenty published papers and the media reacts entirely differently when a paper is announced with her name on it, so plenty of schools are looking for a chance to bring her in. To sum it up, shes my wonderful little sister. I can only say this while she isnt here, but shes one of the few people I dont mind having around. Why am I picturing two sadistic little girls glaring down at me with identical smirks? Her personality is the polar opposite of mine. Wow, she must be an angel!! Id actually be a little afraid to meet someone that perfect!! I dont like what youre implying there. Birdway sounded a little upset. Of course, Patricia knows nothing of the cabal. To be exact, Ive made sure of it. And her success isnt because weve been putting in a good word for her. She knows I lead some kind of organization related to the Birdway family, but she isnt actually aware that its a magic cabal. She probably thinks its a salon that dates back to the old noble days or something. Its only just barely, but she still qualifies as a normal person. What about it? What does that have to do with you wandering around Academy City as some kind of animal skin monster? Animal sk-... Whatever. There was someone else there besides me, wasnt there? You mean Kamisato? Kamisato? Birdway sounded confused, so that must not have been the answer. You mean the black one, dont you? cut in Othinus. Wait... You mean there was a human inside that one too!? Thats the problem. Birdway sighed. That was my sister Patricia. But needless to say, she wasnt born like that. There was apparently some trouble on an Antarctic investigation. Some weird parasite got inside her and transformed her into that. Are you serious? Quite serious. I initially balled up the report and threw it at Marks head, but once I started taking it seriously, I realized how bad this is. I checked through each of the cards the cabal holds and eventually took a step into the realm of the Dark Continent. You understand what that means, dont you? Even with my organization, there was nothing I could do. If someone claimed a fleet of UFOs was going to attack tomorrow, everyone would laugh it off. But how was everyone supposed to react once readings actually filled the radars and the many shapes were spotted on the photos taken with telescopes? The moment when the ridiculous became no laughing matter was when everything one knew crumbled away. Academy City was apparently backing the project, so she was first sent to outside cooperative institutions and then to an Academy City medical facility. But you can see the results. She escaped the bed she was restrained to and is on a rampage outside. Even the science side sees little chance of healing that illness. So that means youre trying to...? Heal her using magic. Do you get a little of whats going on now? He did a little, but the full outline of the situation had not quite come into focus. However, this is no easy task. That grimoire library will probably have revealed most of it already, but this cannibalization is a hybrid from the Dark Continent. As the leader of a Golden organization, I dont want the men who rely on me seeing me like this. And when it has to do with something even more important than my own life, my reputation is at stake. Well, to be technical, the Dawn-Colored Sunlight isnt a pure Golden cabal and it isnt even a magic cabal in the truest sense of the term...but that means it isnt as powerful as it once was and sometimes has issues at the extremities of the organization. At any rate, I didnt want to spread unnecessary confusion during this difficult time, so I had no choice but to act alone. Talking to an average high school boy about leading an organization isnt going to help much. Sorry, but Ive never even had a part-time job. ...Youre not the most considerate person, are you? Anyway, what is that black thing? You said something about the Antarctic and a parasite, but does it spread from person to person? I dont know, but if it was highly contagious, I doubt Academy City would bring it inside the city...or at least I sincerely hope they wouldnt. It apparently wont leave my sisters body now that shes its host. Of course, it might seek out a new host if her vitals grew unstable. Sounds more like a hairworm than influenza. I dont like the sound of either comparison, spat out Birdway. That thing has dissolved all of the fat in Patricias body and slips inside the empty space to maintain her human silhouette. It also handles the storage and distribution of nutrients that the fat would have. In other words, that thing holds my sisters life in its hands. Try to extract it and it will go nuts and tear her body to shreds. And even if you did successfully suck it out, all that would remain is an empty skin-and-bones shell of my sister. She would die before she could recover her strength. In other words, she cant be saved by normal means. ...Thats awful. Thats just how parasites work. They latch onto their host and wont let go. That thing is probably doing its best to survive in its own way. Anyway, everything I told you was in Marks report, but he couldnt come up with an actual solution. Thats why I left the organization to act on my own. That meant Birdway had snuck into Academy City to do something about Patricia who could not be saved with surgery. She had even left her subordinates and cast aside the Western magic she excelled at. Then what is your trump card? My body. Thats why I told you not to touch me with Imagine Breaker. Birdway lightly tapped the center of her flat chest. This animal skin is based on the African legend of a princess. Its a medium that fosters growth while providing defense and concealment so the beautiful princess could grow up without anyone getting in her way. Ive been using it to grow a certain something. Birdway was of course not just wearing the animal skin for her health and beauty. But then what was it for? That girl mentioned cannibalization, didnt she? A note of resignation entered Birdways voice. A certain concept occasionally shows up in legends concerning food. If your eye is sick, eat an eye. If your arms or legs are lame, eat an arm or a leg. If your heart is bad, eat a heart. That way, you will regain a healthy body. Of course, another mammal like a pig or cow is often used, but it sometimes means eating body parts of another human. Wait...you dont mean... I needed a way to save my sister. As she spoke, Birdway removed her large brooch and unbuttoned her blouse. She was not wearing a bra, but a thin slip hung from shoulder straps and covered her from the chest to below the navel. But that was not what caught Kamijous attention. In addition to the two lovely mounds, there was something grotesque growing near the center of her flat chest. It pulsated like a living creature, but it was clearly entirely separate from Birdways own pulse. I told you I have more than you, didnt I? Birdway gave a self-deprecating laugh. I have created a new organ in my body that is meant to be eaten. If Patricia eats this once its fully grown, this will all be over. Part 7 In the rundown apartment, Patricia placed a hand over the center of her chest. The foreign object there was obvious even over her puffy down jacket. The thing must have realized she was feeling for it because it changed shape to slip below her skin. It split apart and the protruding bump vanished. It was like a diving submarine or like an octopus monster shifting its volume from its fist-sized main body to its eight legs. That was when the nearly broken doorbell rang. Kamisato and Ellen seemed carefree. I wonder who that is. Hard to tell when only knowing its one of your fans still leaves about one hundred different options. You should probably make a list of all the girls youve won. I could combine that with facial recognition software to make a Kamisato App that automatically gives you their name and profile. It sounded like a joke, but Kamisato only sighed. Meanwhile, the front door opened from the outside and two girls walked in. They were Elza and Claire. They both belonged to the unofficial Kamisato Faction. Elza had long brown hair that was wildly cut away and she had the overall atmosphere of a delinquent. Due to the way her hair was cut, she almost seemed to have fox ears on the sides of her head. She wore a white sweater and a red pleated skirt, but the skirt was extremely long, which made her look like an old school delinquent or a shrine maiden. The girls image hit both extremes and she held a large plastic bottle in her hands. The clear container had its label removed and it contained old discolored ten yen coins instead of a liquid. She also had a baby carrier attached by a belt which pushed up and accentuated her already large breasts, but their size apparently bothered her and she would get mad if someone mentioned it. Claire wore thick glasses and had long black hair tied back. She wore a white apron-like dress that left her back bare and she was an obedient gardening club girl...or she should have been. She looked plain and inconspicuous, but that impression was entirely overturned by the giant tropical flowers blooming on either side of her head. It almost looked like her twintails had exploded. Even more colorful flower petals adorned her back. As soon as the two opened the thin door without knocking, they looked around and started speaking. Hm, so is this our new hideout? This is awful. The previous clubroom wed occupied was filled with plenty of convenient items. I doubt theres a computer and microwave in here. But Elza, you dont see a 4.5 tatami room every day, so isnt it kind of exciting? Like a poor but happy couple pressing their shoulders together for warmth and reconfirming their love for each other. Kyah Cmon, Claire, thats probably the same kind of excitement you get from a Columbian prison tour or a Thai military torture tour. Youre paying money to enjoy a lack of freedom. Please dont say that! The visuals of collars, handcuffs, and creaking ropes hanging from hooks are encroaching on my Showa song paradise!! Youve got a surprisingly detailed imagination. I bet this teachers pet is secretly quite the perv-... Ei After the glasses girl gathered strength in her stocking-covered legs and hips to deliver a punch to the delinquent girls side, one of the girls doubled over. Even through the sweater, her large breasts jiggled a needless amount. Claire ignored her choking companion and turned toward Kamisato. You told us a little over the phone, but what exactly is going on here? Patricia noticeably put her guard up in the corner of the room and short Ellen only shrugged while dragging her baggy lab coat behind her like a ceremonial kimono, so Kamisato had no choice but to answer. He placed a hand on the side of his neck and shook his head to the side a little, but the joint would not crack. Try to contain your surprise when you hear this. Sure, sure. I was just being threatened a little bit. She said she has some horrible secret and Ill get dragged into some awful incident if I get any more involved. Ohh... Ohh... The glasses and delinquent girls both rubbed their index finger against their temple and spoke up in harmony. Ellen then chimed in with her ankle-length black hair swaying behind her. In other words, the setup is complete. Yknow, did she really think a hot-blooded boy was going to back off when he heard that? Are you sure she isnt sitting there waiting for the boss to jump at the opportunity? She only draws Kamisato-san in because she isnt aware what shes doing. You know, just like always. There seemed to be some hidden meaning to that, but... Yeah, it was especially bad with you, Claire. You were outside and in public, but you were still nude when you turned that corner and ran right into the boss. Talk about cheating. Thinking back, you really were the queen of cheating. I-I dont want to hear that from you! Who meets a guy by suddenly falling from the sky in this day and age!? What dimension did you even come from!? And not only did you manage to land right on top of Kamisato-sans face, but what happened to your panties!? Did you leave them in that other dimension!? I did have something on! It was a large band-aid though!! Come now. You need to thank Ellen-chan here for using my unofficial forensic investigation skills to solve that earthshattering incident. I bet that bastard never imagined those initial missing panties would end up being the key to ending it all. Nice job, me. And Kamisato-han was of course a real hero. They had moved their conversation along and left him behind, so Kamisato Kakeru lightly scratched at his head and tried making a rebuttal. Im not doing any of this because I want to. Dont be silly. Dont be silly. Dont be silly. It took them less than half a second. He himself was apparently not the one who decided who Kamisato Kakeru was. Ellen waved her baggy lab coat sleeve as she said more. This might stray somewhat from the main task, but we all know Kamisato-han cant ignore it. Even if we decided to ignore it, hed run off to the other side of the world to save her on his own if he had to. So it would be best if we helped him out so he can finish it as quickly as possible and get back to the main task. Is that okay with you? Sure is, said Elza. I dont mind, agreed Claire. Instead of attaching a bell to a cats collar and letting it wander around, were holding the dogs leash and taking a walk with it, right? Id feel more comfortable that way and I personally prefer it. That taste. You really are a special kind of perv-... Ei!! Ei ei!! The violent rush from the teachers pet silenced Elzas diaphragm. However, Kamisato was not the only one who had been left behind. As the older girls conversation continued without her, Patricias hands nervously wandered through the air. Kamisato lightly shrugged as he too had been abandoned. Dont worry about it. Theyre always like this. Eh? Oh. Patricia tried to say something, but the others cut in first. The weirdest one of us all is trying to act normal. And he has guts hitting on a girl right in front of us! Honestly, could this be following the standard script any closer!? This is how Kamisato Kakeru gathered one hundred girls to construct his personal empire. Now, we need to organize things, so lets make a list of what we need to do and sort it by priority. Ellen clapped her hands to gather attention. The girl named Patricia had some sort of large problem and a few steps were needed to solve it. Kamisato Kakeru began thinking about the aspects of these girls that were just as unique as his own right hand, but... First, we need to take a bath, but this rundown apartment has a shared bathroom and no bath. I wonder how the other residents get by. It came so suddenly. Ellens thought seemed to fly in from the farthest reaches of the universe. However, this was apparently not simply a case of her being out of her mind. Yeah, I asked around and theres apparently a bathhouse around here that they usually use. Thats what this tiny teacher told me. A bathhouse! Oh, that has a wonderfully retro ring to it!! It has so much more charm than some dull Western term like hot spa!! And its one of the checkpoints any couple in love simply has to try out at least once! Pant, pant. Huh? Why is everything getting so blurry? Pant, pant!! Quit going into full bloom, you pervert. Youre steaming up your glasses with a self-powered thermal power plant. Wait, wait, wait, wait, cut in Kamisato. He could not believe that no one was opposing the idea. That meant he had to do it himself. And he still could not crack his neck. Why are we about to go take a bath all of a sudden? Come now. Because were preparing for battle, of course. Ellen looked entirely nonchalant as she answered, so Kamisato covered his face with a hand. He could not tell how these girls minds were reaching this conclusion. Is this what I think it is? Is it some kind of code that seems entirely incomprehensible if you dont have the kind of mind that can view the world exclusively in terms of amazing, awesome, and cute? Whats got you so quiet, boss? asked Elza. We ran right on over here as soon as we got inside Academy City. We werent hanging around setting up a hideout like you. Plus, were approaching the limits of what deodorant can accomplish. Its like sports practice after PE. Listen, if we begin a new sweaty battle without a shower, its going to damage our pride as girls, which is more important than the world itself!! They forced their opinion on him. They got by on momentum alone. That was generally how Kamisato Kakerus everyday life went. He shook his head in exasperation and started to join the girls, but something else stopped him. Yes, they had Patricia, an outsider, with them. She seemed unwilling to have Kamisato Kakeru, the final normal person, leave her. Wh-why are you all talking about taking a bath all of a sudden!? I dont want to take one. This really isnt the time for that!! Ohhhh, right. Foreigners dont have a bath culture like us. I hear a lot of them feel pretty turned off by the idea of an open-air hot spring. ...I really dont think thats the problem here. Kamisato gave a mild retort. Patricia was clearly in the right on this one. She had been thrown into an entire group of strangers and, not ten minutes after meeting them, she was being asked to go take a bath with them. That thought process was completely broken. Or it should have been. Once again, it came down to the thought processes of a girl that a normal high school boy like Kamisato Kakeru found so incomprehensible. Well, we wont force you to do anything. But with your best interests in mind, I have to ask if youre sure you want that. From what Ive heard, some kind of goopy black octopus came out of you. This isnt really an issue of individual taste. Im just amazed you would show your face in front of a boy after that. And while I dont know what that goopy thing was, what if it starts to smell after a while? Can you put up with that? Are you sure you want a boy to find out that kind of stuff comes from a girls body or that a girl is that kind of creature? If you say you dont mind, then you can curl up in the corner and stay here, but Id be about ready to bite my tongue at that point. And not just because its the boss Im talking about. Isnt it normally all over as soon as the general category of boys finds out? Wha-? In her jogging wear and down jacket, Patricias face blushed and then grew pale. Claire, the gardening club member in glasses, casually cut in. Because she was messing with the flowers on her head, her breasts were visible through the sides of her white dress. If thats just the type of girl she is, then what does it matter? I know were not one to talk, but Kamisato-san is surrounded by girls and they all want to show off with something that no one else has. ...Maybe shes trying to be the smell-fetish girl. H-hm... Going that route certainly would be a courageous decision. Youre really picking up on the worst side of Japanese culture to look at it like that. You truly are a hopeless perv-... Ei!!!!! With a solid sound, Elza was silenced (as her breasts jiggled), but Patricia had bigger things to worry about. She did not want them to force that identity on her. N-no!! Dont place me on those weird rails!! She desperately protested, but it was not enough to stop forensic lab coat girl Ellen. But if you keep this up, youll be there whether you like it or not. Well all be washing away our sweat in the bath while youre here all alone and stinky. Oh, but Kamisato-han is nice, so he wont let it show if it bothers him. He might even take pity on you and be extra nice. See, it doesnt matter what you want. You have no say. It isnt up to you. Youll be placed on those rails Elza and Claire mentioned regardless. Do you understand now? Wh-wh-wh-wh-why do I have to follow that kind of-... But wouldnt it be painful? Come now. I dont know your exact age... Ellen gave a cruel smile and spoke her next words like she was stabbing a knife into the girl. But people look down on someone who cant take a bath on their own by your age. Kamisato very nearly voiced his surprise. He had a vivid vision of an invisible lever being thrown. Blonde forehead girl Patricia shouted back on reflex. I can take a bath on my own!! A Japanese bathhouse isnt a problem! D-dont mock me like that!!!! Patricia pressed a fist against the center of the down jacket covering her flat chest. That represented the disturbing pulsation that had been there not long before. It had dived down through her entire body, but it would gather back in one spot and surface like an eight-legged monster from the dark sea. Elza had not heard the details of the situation, but she seemed to have good instincts for this kind of thing. Is something the matter? Eh? No, nothing. It...it doesnt appear when Im just sitting around... The delinquent girl with roughly cut hair scratched her head at Patricias hesitant answer. She seemed to be a caring person because she pointed her thumb at Claire next to her. I dont know what your problem is, but the world is a big place. You can even find glasses girls with tropical flowers growing from their heads smiling in the shopping district like its nothing. Youre free to believe whatever you want, even if that leads to some kind of complex, but try thinking through it again. Is that obstacle really insurmountable? And what would be the perfect time to overcome it? Elza, you seem to think youre being helpful, but can we speak out back later? And I dont think a psychedelic girl who always carries around a bottle of coins like its her baby has any right to talk about whats normal. Oh? Whats that, Claire? Do you want me to bring out the herbicide or the lawnmower? The conversation jumped from place to place, moving the eye of the storm in the process. Patricia had been left behind once again, but that casual treatment may have been proof she was not being too much trouble. At any rate, they all left the rundown apartment. Kamisato had entered the city before the others, so he knew where the bathhouse was. He briefly considered intentionally taking a wrong turn to make a large circle back to the rundown apartment, but he could tell this was something of a life-or-death issue for Claire and Elza and he knew he would probably end up beaten to a pulp if he tried that. Obediently doing as asked seemed the best course of action. As they walked along the nighttime street, he placed a hand on the side of his neck. He was apparently trying to crack the joint, but it did not seem to be working. When he noticed Patricia giving him a puzzled look, he smiled and explained. It has no real meaning. His voice sounded kind yet somehow hollow. I wanted some kind of continual obsession. It could have been spinning a pen, whistling, or anything else. I wanted some small spice to leave the category of dull and uninteresting, so I ended up with this habit. After a short while, a likely building came into view. There it is. See the chimney? Hey, isnt this supposed to be Academy City, the town of cutting-edge science? Isnt the technology supposed to two or three decades ahead of things outside? It must be a cutting-edge bathhouse with a cutting-edge boiler connected to that cutting-edge chimney. Now, lets get inside. Were not photographers in search of retro scenery. For some reason, Ellen grabbed Kamisatos hand and began pulling him inside. Confused, he came to a stop. Um, I arrived here a few days ago, so the situation isnt the same for me. To be honest, I dont really feel any need for a bath. Sigh. Well, you dont have to and I guess its allowable for a boy to be the one sweaty person in a group of girls. I suppose it makes you the wild type. Ah ha ha. Thats not you at all. Eh? Kamisato brought his nose to his upper arm. While Ellen hid her smile behind her baggy lab coat sleeve, Elza spoke up in annoyance while holding her plastic bottle in both hands. I vote no to that. I dont want to get anywhere near the guys on the baseball or judo team who claim its a virtue and a treasure of youth or whatever. Im not going to flat out reject everything that sweats, but at least pay some attention to your surroundings. Youre such a romantic, Elza. Or rather, you have high standards. Is your ideal guy the dashing prince on horseba-... D-dont be ridiculous!! I-I-I-I dont dr-dr-dream about th-th-things like that, y-y-y-y-you moron!! Elzaaa, I know youre panicking, but if you beat that broken glasses girl with your bottle of coins any longer, Im gonna have to break out my crime scene investigation toolset. Ah!? The delinquent girl came back to her senses and finally let go of the glasses girls collar. Claire collapsed limply to the ground, her dresss shoulder straps slipped down, and a few petals fell from the giant twintail-like flowers. Staying outside was not going to help, so they entered the building. The old lady at the attendant booth tilted her head at the extremely strange grouping of a boy and four girls, but she still invited them in as customers. They had been prepared for some kind of high-tech payment system, but they apparently only had to hand change to the old lady. For a high school boy like Kamisato, this actually felt stranger than something high-tech. Kamisato alone made his way to the mens bath. See you all later. Oh, right. ...Heh heh. But that later might be a lot sooner than you think. A chill ran down his spine, but he decided to assume he was imagining things. The highly unique Kamisato Faction could be cruel in their words, but they were also quite caring. Ellen tended to take on the role of organizing things, so she held Patricias hand as she waved and started toward the womens bath. Inside the changing room, Kamisato found no other male customers. He did not hear any voices through the frosted glass divider either, so he may have been the only one there. He bought shampoo and soap from a vending machine, removed his clothes, and entered the bath area. As he had expected, he was the only one in the large area, so he felt somehow lonely. However, he was the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere, so being alone did not mean he started jumping into or swimming through the tub. He sat on the small bath chair and began diligently washing his body. It was easy to lose track of time with the lively girls around, but when alone, he tended to get lost in thought. For example, his thoughts turned to Kamijou Touma. He had been interrupted by the incident involving those red and black creatures and the two girls, but he could not ignore that boy either. For his group, the Kamijou issue was the main task. He looked down at his soapy right hand. Do you wish for a new world? As soon as he muttered those words, everything vanished. He thought quietly while narrowing his eyes at the clean hand that appeared as the soap bubbles disappeared. He would find the answer. He would make sure of it. He then looked at himself in the mirror on the wall and he sighed. (Thats more skinny than normal. I might be in trouble if I dont start working out a little.) How exactly would he would be in trouble? After some thought, he realized something unpleasant was rising in his chest. Im not doing any of this because I want to. He said that so often that it was losing all meaning and becoming a catch phrase, but it nearly escaped his lips again. And then... ...Eh heh heh. ? Oh, whats with the serious look in front of the mirror? Youre quite the narcissist when youre alone, Kamisato-san. ...H-huh? I cant see. Ahhh!! Why are my glasses fogging up now!? Dont tell me its because I switched to my cheap spares after the lenses broke earlier!!! Claire? Kamisato turned toward the absurd voice. As a modern teenager, he was unfamiliar with the exact layout of a bathhouse, but it seemed the dividing wall between the mens and womens baths did not reach the ceiling, leaving a gap at the top. The pervert with fogged-up glasses was poking her head out from there. Being a girl has its advantages, he thought with a distant look in his eyes. If the roles were reversed, he would likely have had his head split open without a chance to explain himself. He placed a hand on the side of his neck and asked a question. What are you doing? Eh heh heh. I sent out some cable sensor roots, so I already know there arent any customers besides us. And even if someone else tries to approach, I set them to automatically intercept, so were safe. That means we dont need to worry about the distinction between mens and womens baths. What Im saying is, how about I wash your ba-...kyah!? Before she could finish speaking, the glasses girl was pulled back to the other side of the wall. The sudden disappearance looked like someone had grabbed her leg. Then Elzas voice came from beyond the wall. Dont worry, boss! Ill protect your chastity! ...Huh? Ellens missing. Did she slip away during the confusion!? U-um, she went running out of the girls bath earlier without even putting on a towel. Just as a bad feeling came over Kamisato, the frosted glass door to the mens bath slid open. The girl stood boldly in the entrance. She must have been loved by god because her long hair was plastered to her wet skin in a way that perfectly covered all the important bits. This was a new feeling. Could hair become clothing for mankind? A distant look filled Kamisatos eyes as he recalled a saying as old as asking if a banana counted as a snack. He wanted to believe that thinking of that fruit after seeing this scene was not a metaphor for anything inappropriate. Even now, Ellen hid her smile behind her hand in a misguided attempt at elegance. Hah hahhh!! Blame yourselves for not keeping up with me! Now, Kamisato-han, let us get to know each other a lot better!! Damn her!! Now that shes crossed that line, Ill have to act as a human shield. I am the bosss bodyguard, after all! I have no choice! Thats right, I have no choice!! N-no fair!! Im his bodyguard too, arent I!? So why was I the only one pulled away!? The situation was a complete mess. Kamisato turned around and searched for an escape route, but the main entrance was blocked by Ellen while Elza and Claire were beginning to climb over the dividing wall like zombies. He was completely cornered and Ellen slowly approached him with a smile on her face. You know what, Kamisato-han? Yes? I think you should just place the blame on us and go along with this pink situation. What happened next will be described in a fairly abstract fashion. The Fisherman Shakes Off the Krakens Tentacles and Escapes by the Skin of His Teeth. (In the style of a Greek sculpture) ... Left all alone, Patricia quickly washed herself, returned to the changing room, and put her clothes back on. Part of it was being culturally unaccustomed to letting others see her skin, but it also had to do with Sample Shoggoth living below her skin. It was being calm now, but whenever she saw her own white skin and the blood vessels showing through, she would remember that thing that was covered in indescribable objects reminiscent of eyeballs or suckers. She would remember the fist-sized mass and the branching tentacles. She wanted to avoid looking at it even if that did not solve anything. The smartwatch on her wrist displayed her heartrate and blood pressure. It had originally been a health management app, but anyone who did not know about her condition would assume it was broken and needed to be reinstalled. With nothing to do, she stood in front of the fruit milk vending machine. (Is it a mixture of milk and a few fruit juices? Come to think of it, Leivinia likes Cinderellas and Shirley Temples, doesnt she?) Her sister had bragged about them by calling them non-alcoholic cocktails, but they were really just mixed drinks. Seeing this reminded her of that sister. The sentimental feeling caused her to reach out her hand, but it apparently did not take cards. She had plenty of black cards that could be used to pay tens or even hundreds of millions of yen, but she had no loose change. A heavy depression filled her. She saw no ill will in the conversations among the community built around Kamisato Kakeru. They may have had their own kind of goodness and justice. However, that did not mean it was directed toward her. ... She quietly placed her fist at the center of the down jacket covering her flat chest. There was sweat on her bare forehead. She hated the mere fact that this action had become a habit. It felt the same as when a parasite spread its territory by manipulating a snail into being eaten by a bird. Part 8 It was an unbelievable sight. Medicine had always had a grotesque and repulsive side if one looked only at the actions and ignored the intentions. Anesthetizing a patient, cutting them open, cutting out an organ, and placing in a new one was a good action when one knew it was saving a life. Ugh. But when viewed directly, it was hardly surprising that Kamijou felt sick to his stomach. Urp!" Oh, was a ladys bare skin too much for you? Birdway smiled and buttoned up her blouse. Her expression looked strained and it was likely due to more than just passing out. For one thing, what if it had not been an attack by Kamisato Kakeru that had caused her to pass out? And while Im talking about having her eat this organ, theres more to it than that. She replaced the large brooch and put on a nonchalant look. Threads and sheets made from corn starch are used in medicine. When used to close or cover a wound, they attach to and fuse with the human body so they do not need to be later removed. Im creating a new organ based on that material, so it really isnt that different from some corn potage. Also, African magic includes a way to escape a curse by making a doll of wheat to take your place as well as a way to curse someone to death by sacrificing a doll made of corn. Birdway nodded at Indexs explanation. The world is filled with stories of plants or grains arranged in human form to take someones place. In fact, dolls made of animal matter are a lot rarer and you cant create a doll without adding some mystery into the mix. They act all high and might about their sacrificial ceremonies, but securing a full human body is a lot harder in this day and age. Theyve had to search out replacements, so theyve developed methods of producing the same effect as the sacrifice by eating a doll made of wheat or corn. Im using that for my own purposes. Doll-sized Othinus sighed. That would explain why the supposedly green animal skin is red. Are you trying to grow an apple in your chest? It was psychedelic and grotesque. That optimal answer seemed to rob ones willpower just by looking at it. But at the same time, Birdway had done enough to keep Kamijou and the others from making any kind of complaint. If she created the organ and had Patricia eat it as planned, the entire problem would be solved. It was just as Birdway had said in the beginning. She was not going to ask for any help and she would move her game pieces around to resolve this personal problem on her own. The small girl placed a hand on her throat. All this talking is making my throat hurt. Something sweet would be perfect. ...Could you bring me a Shirley Temple? Hey, Mar-...!! She started calling someone out of habit, but she caught herself. Kamijou, Index, Othinus, and Nephthys looked on in confusion as she cleared her throat. Her face was a little red as she changed her target. Kamijou Touma, this is your home, so you have a duty to entertain your guests. You can find the instructions with a simple internet search for Shirley Temple, so dont worry. A child could make one, so you have two minutes. Oh, dear. It would seem spoiled little Birdway isnt aware of the situation here. This room is currently only stocked with tap water, miso, and soy sauce! If youre fine with some cold miso soup with no dashi, I could whip that up for you!! This is even worse than I thought! This is unsuitable for human life!! I completely agree, but let me add one more thing. If you hadnt interrupted with your fight, the ingredients for our hotpot might not have gone to waste!!!!! This was only a petty but noisy argument, but Birdway was still the intimidating leader of the Dawn-Colored Sunlight, Europes largest Golden-style magic cabal. So if Kamijou Touma could drag that leader down to being a mere twelve-year-old girl, did he play the role of a joker? Small Othinus sighed again and brown Nephthys shrugged. Since that solves your personal issue, can we get back to the Kamisato Kakeru issue? I wish we could, replied the fifteen centimeter Magic God with her arms crossed. The problem is Patricia, explained Birdway with an irritated click of the tongue. Hm? Didnt I tell you she doesnt know about magic? Even if I know this is the perfect answer using everything the magic side has to offer, I cant tell her that. And even if I could, I wouldnt recommend it. It would drag her to our side more than necessary. Any supernatural phenomena would need to be explained scientifically. No matter how distorted it might be, she did not want to show the world of magic to her sister. However... I see. Patricia doesnt know how the magic works or how it would fix this, so from her point of view... How is she supposed to understand the logic of this cannibalization? Of course shes going to think her sister is growing some strange tumor inside her body and then trying to force it into her mouth. Anyone would be horrified and I cant figure out a way to convince her. Also, that black thing wanted Patricias body, so it would go on a rampage if anything tried to drive it out. That was what had led to the sibling quarrel Kamijou and Kamisato had been caught in the middle of. Not everything was going to go as planned. Im calling this organ a fruit. Partly because Im giving it nutrients so it will grow like a fruit, but also because it isnt made for long-term storage. Once it finishes growing, it will rot and wither. Even if we cut it out and place in the fridge. If its wasted, there is no second chance. I need to make sure it grows, make sure I harvest it, and make sure it gets into my sisters mouth. Thats the real problem here. ... Theres one other thing Im quite curious about and I would appreciate it if you answered me. Birdway raised a finger. Where did Patricia end up while I was unconscious? Eh? Kamijou looked over at Othinus who only shrugged. At the very least, she wasnt at the scene of the battle... When she heard his answer, Birdway gave the look of someone suffering from a cavity in their back tooth. If shes wandering around alone, that isnt much of a problem. Next, it all gathered together on a single point. But if that Kamisato person collected her, this could be trouble. I dont remember much, but there was one other person there and his right arm seemed to be as much of a joker as yours. Part 9 So Kamisato-han, do you prefer big or little boobs? Elsewhere in Academy City, someone else gave a completely different sort of serious expression. After overcoming quite a lot, Kamisato had just finished the bath time that Claire and the others had insisted on. He placed a hand on the side of his neck while speaking to a girl dragging a baggy lab coat behind her. What are you talking about? Were talking about what happened in the bath just now, boss! You had the most unconcerned look in your eyes as you swept the fogged-up glasses girls legs out from under her, sent her sliding along the wet floor to score a strike on Ellen, and finished it all off by grabbing my shoulders and throwing me!! How could you stay that calm? What do we have to do to get you all flustered and embarrassed!? Thats right. You had such a varied paradise laid out before you, so shouldnt one of us have gotten right in your strike zone? Hmm? said Kamisato as he tilted his head. His neck would not crack. He felt he needed to give some kind of answer, so he did. What does size matter as long as it fits with the rest of you? Wah!! I dont think this is a case of being too embarrassed to answer properly!! I really think he just doesnt care! Youve gotta love someone who can speak excitedly about anything. I really do respect that. Thats what it means to be passionate. Listen, boss, lets start by discussing our base definitions. We cant make these grow or shrink based on whether they fit the rest of us!! More importantly... What could be more important!? lamented the glasses and delinquent girls, but Kamisato continued on regardless. I went along with your demand, so can we get down to business now? Yes, Kamisato had a lot to deal with. Patricias incident needed attention and so did that of the other right hand user. He was prepared to flip the switch and get to work, but... Youre right, said Ellen. How about we get something to eat? .................................................................................................................................................................................... One hand was not going to cut it any longer, so he covered his face with both hands and curled up on the nighttime road. He truly could not understand how these girls thought. Long-haired baggy lab coat forensics girl Ellen tilted her head despite having been the cause. Huh? Did I say something that weird? No, not really. ...Oh, no. Is he feeling dizzy? How could someone think of getting right to work when they just arrived in a new town and havent even tried to local food? Besides, we need to plan out what were going to do. Do you expect us to chat out here in the freezing December air? Cmon, we just took a bath. The only sensible one remaining, ten-year-old Patricia, only gently patted his shoulder. Tears did not suit Kamisato Kakeru, so he gathered his strength and got back in the fight. What is this? Patricias incident is already straying from the main task, so when did this subquest get started? Whats next, defeating the Four Heavenly Kings who guard the barriers of the different continents and then gathering the seven crystals? Well, thats easy. We just need to save up a hundred thousand platinum, buy our own ship, set sail for the small island at the end of the world, climb to the top of the universe tree, and ask the goddess there what to do. Kamisato-han. Boss... I dont know whats got you so worked up, but seriously thinking about being reincarnated in another world is a serious warning sign. If somethings bothering you, you can always tell us. A distant look filled the normal high school boys eyes. For some reason, he recalled a passage from a book about raising cats. Give up on the idea of getting them to do anything or stop doing anything. Either learn to enjoy watching them do whatever they want, or do something to draw their attention away from whatever you dont want them to do. That thought caused something to escape him. He placed a hand on the side of his neck and words flowed from his mouth like they were his very soul. There might not be anything I can do... A hand patted his shoulder several times. It was Patricia. You cant go crazy here. If you break, who will be there to give the sensible opinion? To be blunt, Ive had enough of it myself. She was exactly right. A normal high school boy could not just silently accept this absurdity. He did not need to actually win the argument. He only had to keep the retorts coming. He mustered up some courage and tried speaking again. I doubt this will help, but Ill repeat myself. Kamisato Kakeru doesnt know when to give up, so Ill say it as many times as it takes. Theres a girl here who holds some great secret and is caught in the middle of some kind of incident. Lets go. Lets save her. Why cant you get that into your heads? The quickest route is right in front of us, so I cant imagine why we would choose to take a detour. But he did not get through to the girls. Delinquent girl Elza shrugged with her wildly cut brown hair looking a bit like fox ears. You say that, but this is how the world works. When you reach a new land, you start with the local cuisine. How are you supposed to stay motivated without that? And I cant understand how someone could choose not to take a bath when theres one right in front of them. They seemed to be operating under a different set of rules. While boys handled everything in the coolest way, girls handled everything in the cutest way, so there was a fundamental discrepancy in their thought processes. Since he did not know their rules, it all had a lazy, shallow, bland, and unprincipled scent to it, but it was apparently an important part of their ignition process. Is this the monstrous product of the Yutori Education? Hey, youre our age, so dont act like it doesnt apply to you. What years does that cover anyway? I feel like the answer has as wide a scope as the four thousand years of Chinese history. Realizing that persuading them with logic would be impossible, Kamisato gave up the fight. It was not that they had no logic to their argument; his logic and their logic were simply too incompatible. He decided that going with the flow would be faster than trying to install his own logic in each of them. So what do you want to eat? Ehhhh!? Thats your territory since you arrived here ahead of us, boss!! Isnt there...yknow, something good? An Academy City specialty or something that would give us a days worth of material for a blog!? Im not sure what youre asking for... As you can see, Academy City is nothing but metal and concrete. Now, now. You need to actually look, boss. That kind of thing doesnt matter when it comes to regional specialties! Hakata has tonkotsu, Osaka has takoyaki, and Nagoya has...what does it have? Was it miso cutlets or Ogura toast? Regardless, its got something! You have to have seen it already, but you just ignored it!! Cmon, dig through your memories!! Sorry, but this city has everything from the salt butter ramen of the north to the soki soba of the south. Thaaaats borrrring!! Having everything is the same as having nothing of your own! Its like the souvenir shops in Tokyo or Osaka train stations!! How about you apologize to the station attendants? As Elza scratched at her head with both hands (which needlessly jiggled her breasts), gardening club member and glasses girl Claire tilted her head. Is there really nothing here? Its all like a national convenience store chain? You can apparently get dishes from over 190 different countries in District 4, but I havent heard anything about an Academy City original. They have normal fried eggs and toast for breakfast. Oh dear. Although I think the meat is all cloned and the vegetables are all automatically grown in agriculture buildings. Not counting what some of the rich eat. Elza perked back up. I dont think you know how important what you just said was!! Thats it, boss! That sounds as crazy as a burger made from a million worms! You couldnt experience that in any other city!! Youd eat a worm burger if it was local specialty, Elza? Ellen sounded surprised, but the delinquent girl did not seem to get the point. Eh? Why not? If you go to China, youve gotta try the scorpion skewer. If you go to Australia, youve gotta see what the moth larva ice cream tastes like. And if you go to Mexico, youve gotta order the cactus steak. Why would you go to a Japanese restaurant after traveling to the other side of the world? With that, their dinner plans settled on the incredibly vague plan of anythings fine. Even buying a convenience store meal or going to a family restaurant would be enough to see what cloned meat tasted like, but... Wouldnt a supermarket still be open this late? Oh, nice choice. If the other option is a premade meal heated in the microwave and cooked a little in a frying pan, we should probably get Master Chef Elza to cook us up something good. S-stop that!! I-Im not all that good at cooking! I only do it if I absolutely have to!! Elza blushed while holding the bottle of coins between her arms. She apparently had trouble with anything that did not fit her delinquent image. Kamisato finally recalled that the pointy-haired boy had been carrying some plastic bags. Claire, Elza, youre exhausted from all this bickering, arent you? We dont have to go all out today, so why not just go to some random gyudon shop and-... His collar was grabbed at Mach speed. By who? By Ellen, Claire, and Elza at the same time. The glasses girl in the shoulder-exposing dress spoke up with a smile. Some lovely high school girls are talking about home cooking in front of a boy. You cant compare that to some random gyudon shop. Do you understand? Try to realize whats going on here, got it? Their aura had completely changed. Kamisato Kakeru was hit by Intimidate and cannot move!! Meanwhile, the girls quickly let go of his collar. Okay, lets find a supermarket to search for some ingredients. Elza will take the main role and Ill take the support role. Does that sound good? D-dont just decide what Ill be doing!! But if you insist, I guess Ive got no choice!! Ehh? Wait, wait. Then what am I supposed to do? Ellen, youre in charge of switching on the rice maker. Thats an incredibly important job. With that, they entered a nearby supermarket. The sales were all over and only the wilting leftovers remained in the fresh food section, so Ellen and Elza spoke back and forth as they looked around. So are we making Japanese, Western, or Chinese food? Im thinking we should make whatever we can make with this sad lineup that looks like an oil crisis just hit. Dammit, the place is about to close, but someone with some decent housewife skills bought up all the relatively decent stuff. And that rundown apartments gas range was pretty small, so I doubt it has much firepower. We need something easy to make, with a flavor we wont get tired of, but that has at least a little surprise to it... A meat and vegetable combo would be good. ...Maybe stuffed cabbage or stuffed bell pepper. That was when a groan reached them. They turned around and found Patricia in her skintight jogging wear and down jacket. She was still keeping her silence despite supposedly being a part of the group. She must have realized her mistake when they all turned her way, so she looked away and blushed a little. Ahem. Oh, whats the matter? Do you not like bell peppers? Th-that isnt it! Im definitely not a picky eater at my age!! Even adults were picky eaters, but Patricia apparently saw things differently. She may have been a bit of a perfectionist when it came to the idea of being grown up. Dont worry. Leave it to our Master Chef Elza and the battle with your pickiness will be blasted beyond the horizon by a single beam blast. H-hey! How many times do I have to tell you I dont like housework!! And doesnt that make me sound kind of dangerous or massive!? Which side are you going for, Elza? You dont want to seem like a maiden but you dont want to seem like a macho either, so I cant tell what you want to be. The conversation log began scrolling downward again, so blonde forehead girl Patricia cut in before some weird assumptions were made about her. I said that isnt it!! Im not a picky eater!! Oh? Then I can just use a raw bell pepper. Maybe Ill wash one up and shove the whole thing in the middle of a salad. Mgh. Or if you want something healthy, I could throw five or ten of them in a blender to make a bell pepper smoothie. 100% pure vegetable juice! It might taste bad, but dont worry!! Uuh!? Elza took pity on the tearfully trembling girl, so she let out a gentle sigh. ...Fine, then. ? Listen, little girl, Im going to make a prediction. Youre going to overcome one of your dislikes today. Ill make sure of it. Ill rewrite your definition of bell peppers. Wh-why are you trying to sound so cool? Besides, Im not a picky-... Patricia began waving her arms, but then she realized something. At some point, she had joined their conversation. She was no longer just watching the conversation log scroll by; her own name was included. ...Huh? She had been the one to speak those lines, but she still tilted her head. Not even she knew how to define this. Part 10 Leivinia Birdway stood out on the dorm rooms balcony. The dorm buildings were gathered together like bookcases in a library or shoe lockers at a school and she stared at the moon in the sliver of the night sky visible between those buildings. The blue sheet was pulled back and Kamijou stepped out. He wrapped his arms around himself to fight the cold and let out a white breath. What are you doing, Birdway? Cant I at least enjoy the moonlight in peace? I get that youre sulking over the lack of a hotpot, but come on in. Watching you is enough to make me feel like Im freezing. You really are-...! No, never mind. Complaining isnt going to change anything about you. ? At any rate, Kamijou and Birdway returned to the room. It was still cold thanks to the broken window, but it was better than the exposed balcony. Inside the room, bandage-covered Nephthys still had her sensual chocolate-colored body sprawled out on the ground as she crawled over and messed with the TV remote. Index and Othinus were watching in silence. However, Kamijou called out to stop her. Wait, Nephthys! The variety shows on weekday nights are always...! Um? ...food reports, cooking contest quizzes, and other shows meant to draw the attention of housewives!! It was too late. The flat screen was filled with an entire chicken. And it was fried. It was completely fried. The golden breading produced crunching and sizzling sounds as small drops of oil burst out, steam gently rose against the black background, and the camera slowly rotated around it. The Christmas season is here, so the sales of chicken are on the rise! Yes, were here at Maruichi, known for frying up an entire chicken in the fiercely fought food wars of District 15. You might think Christmas means turkey, but chicken and other birds are gaining ground and the rush of preorders has forced them to build up some emergency lines. The first to burst into tears was Index. She held a hand to her mouth, collapsed to the side, and began wailing. Fgoumaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Index, I know how you feel, but lets try to maintain our ability to communicate!! As Kamijou tried to calm the girl, fifteen centimeter Othinus pressed her index finger against her temple. So this is what the Japanese idiom poison for the eyes refers to. I thought you needed the thought-process of Japans culture of shame to understand it, but now I understand all too well. Yes. As a god, receiving insufficient offerings is not exactly fun. Cmon, cant we start seriously worrying about dinner now? asked Kamijou. I know Birdway is in a lot of trouble, but doesnt that mean we need to be able to bring our A game!? ...Ah. Meanwhile Birdway gave an exasperated sigh. The amateur high school boy is one thing, but the rest of you are a grimoire library or a Magic God that was willing to kill herself for her ceremony. Im pretty sure you can control your autonomic nerves and thus control your digestive system. ... What? Why do you look so lost in thought? Birdway looked to Kamijou in confusion as he silently looked down. More specifically, he looked down at the hand on his pants pocket. This is...bad. I was hoping to save us, but I might have just thrown new fuel on the fire. However, even if it might help us get through this, keeping quiet isnt my style. Get to the point. What if... Hypothetically now, Birdway. Kamijou Touma began speaking in a heavy, heavy voice as he slowly slid a hand into his pocket. What if the vacuum sealed fish sausage I got while trading with my classmates at an early lunch just so happened to still be right here in-... He was not allowed to finish. The girls rushed forward to devour Kamijou Toumas sausage. Part 11 Now, its time to eat!! But to make a long story short, Elza felt utterly disgraced after all her boasting. After putting on the apron with practiced ease (while not wanting anyone to notice how practiced it was), the large breasted (she also did not want anyone to notice how large they were) delinquent girl had yet to complete a single dish in the rundown apartments kitchen. After all... Who keeps sneaking secret ingredients in the second I turn my baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!? As Demon Lord Elzas eyes glowed red and her fox ear hair bristled, the first to avert her gaze was baggy lab coat forensics girl Ellen. Sweat poured down her face as she spoke up in a trembling voice. I-I have no idea what youre talking about. Liar!! Who else could it be!? Look, this thing coming out of the stuffed cabbage pot deserves a mosaic over it! What kind of chemical flavoring did you add to make that happen!? Is it some new weapon meant for the roaches that have grown resistant in the city!? Come now. That isnt what this is at all! I thought through it all logically, put together the chemical formulas, and mixed it all up according to the equations, so it has to taste good!! Dont bring hexagonal chemical formulas into the kitcheeeeeeeeeeen!! Were not trying to make mustard gas in this poooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!! Glasses girl Claire was collapsed by the wall in the cramped room. One shoulder strap of her apron-like white dress had slipped down and the giant tropical flowers growing from her head seemed to have wilted. Ah, it feels like I just had harsh undiluted American weed killer dumped over my head... How about we go somewhere else while we let the place air out? Leaving without locking up is dangerous, but the window was broken in the first place. If a burglar sticks his hand in the pot, we might get a reward for public service. Talk about easy. Are you even listening!? Just like with quantum theory, the idea is already complete. Its just that the experiment to reproduce it inside the device happened to fail this time! It isnt that I have no sense of taste!! You need to rethink your idea from the second you started bringing up quantum theory where the result changes based on whether its being observed or not!! And so they made an emergency evacuation. The residents of the rundown apartment were drawn out by the sudden stench, so Kamisato Kakeru bowed down and explained the situation. Among them, an extremely short female teacher smiled bitterly and helped out, so they avoided making the news and ending up as a trending topic on websites. Once he was finally freed from his apology press conference, Kamisato Kakeru breathed a heavy sigh. To sum up, this will all be over if we leave the room for about two hours. Unfortunately, it looks like well have to eat out tonight. That teacher sure was amazing. The instant she saw Ellens cooking, she began searching for its weakness and sealed it off with that stuff that solidifies tempura oil. I could tell she wasnt your average person as soon as she faced that mosaic-deserving mass without running away. Huh? Does this mean Im going to be teased about this for two or three days straight? More importantly, where should we go? There are a lot of options for eating out. They began thinking, but the first to hesitantly raise her hand and open her mouth was Patricia. U-um. ? Im fine with anything, but I would like to try Japanese ramen. The last time I was here I didnt really have time. Kamisato thought to himself that Japanese ramen had an interesting ring to it. That may have been how Westerners saw it. He remembered seeing an online news article about ramen encroaching on the territory of the previous Three Sacred Treasures that were sushi, tempura, and sukiyaki. Of course, anything in Japan was thoroughly localized for Japanese people, so there were all sorts of options that had never existed originally, much like eating pickled vegetables with curry rice. Regardless, it was an odd turn of a phrase in a number of ways. And at the same time... (Will the girl way of thinking allow ramen at night?) Kamisato had no issue with heading out to a ramen place, but would Ellen and Claire be willing? He was honestly quite worried about that. He could imagine them saying they would only drink weird-colored mail-order smoothies after eight at night. However... Hm, not a bad idea. Yes, I think it takes our situation into account quite well. Hmm? Kamisatos head filled with question marks, so he tried asking about it. Um, are you sure? Ramen is nothing but carbohydrates and the soup is full of oil. I mean, from the perspective of girls who never take down the dieting sign year-round... Its fine right now. Elza puffed out her large chest as she readily answered. She waved a hand and pointed toward him. After all, youre with us right now. ? Kamisato left with the others, even though he still did not understand the situation. With five people in all, they were too much of a crowd for a street cart, so they decided to visit a ramen shop a bit off the main road where they would not be seen from outside. It was even tucked away enough that it had not been caught in the midair breakup of the comet that day, so its windows were actually intact. The heated air inside felt like a true luxury. There was no android waitress to see them to their seats and no holographic images of the food floating in midair. It was a perfectly normal ramen shop. Once they settled down at their table, Elza toyed with her fox ear hair while answering the question that had been on Kamisatos mind. A lot of girls like ramen, but when its just us...well, that information hasnt spread very far and it isnt very well known. ...Simply put, its hard for a group of girls to go to a stubborn old mans ramen shop. Oh? But this time, weve got you with us, boss. As a boy, you can shield us while we try out some places we wouldnt normally be able to try. We can visit the restaurants we were interested in but seemed to have too high a barrier. Kamisato guessed it was the opposite of a stern middle-aged man asking a girl to go with him because he could not exactly go out and eat a parfait on his own. A cheap fifteen inch TV was placed in the perfect spot to claim the customers are only catching glimpses of the owners TV and thus it isnt an in-restaurant broadcast. It was apparently tuned to an extra-long two hour drama. A college boy with no real interests or skills was (for some reason) being served by several rather high-spec girls and he was using their powers like seven tools to defeat a crooked job-hunting official in a revenge story. The protagonist was played by Hitotsui Hajime. Given the crazy setting and pop culture jokes, it was probably an adaptation of a manga that was being used to raise the popularity of some of the actors. Kamisato Kakeru narrowed his eyes a little and sighed. Everyone loves those simplistic things, dont they? I dont want to hear that from you. I dont want to hear that from you. I dont want to hear that from you. He sighed again at the united retort. However, that peaceful time did not last long. Ellen and Claires argument over the menu soon spread to everyone else. What are you doing? You want to know what she said? She said she was going to order salt ramen for all of us! Is she crazy!? I will only accept seafood soy sauce ramen!! Ehhh? Salt ramen is obviously the ticket to happiness. Claire, Im pretty sure youre ruining your life with that terrible choice. Ellen you asshole!! Lets take this outside!! As a Westerner, Patricia spat out the ice water in her mouth. While patting Patricias back to help stop her choking, Kamisato scolded the glasses girl and told her not to shout English swearwords in a restaurant. Then he spoke to someone else. Specifically, the delinquent girl who was resting her elbows and large breasts on the table. What about you, Elza? Ehh? Arguing over what kind of ramen is best is like a religious debate. Youre never going to get an answer. But as a personal opinion, Id definitely go with miso ramen. Pft. Are you stupid? Pft. Are you stupid? When Ellen and Claire spat out their comment in perfect stereo, Elza joined the scuffle. Meanwhile, Kamisato stared at the menu with a bitter look on his face. There was ample variety, which actually gave no sense of focus. This was clearly not a restaurant that had worked twenty years to perfect its soup. There was soup curry ramen and tomato cheese ramen on the list, so he could feel a history of wandering indecisiveness oozing from the menu. He handed the menu over to Patricia and waited for a while. Once he decided it was time, he spoke up. Okay, lets place our orders. Everyone just say what you want. A male waiter with a bandanna around his head walked over and an avalanche of voices immediately followed. Salt! I want salt!! Soy sauce please! And with seafood!! One miso ramen. Hold the pork, but add in a bunch of green onions instead. Oh, then Ill have the tonkotsu. Oh, then Ill have the tonkotsu. Hm? Kamisato looked over at Patricia in confusion and found her just as surprised. It looked like those two were the only ones whose tastes matched. However, that was not the end of the conversation. Claire and Elza started making a racket in order to recover. My tastes...arent the same as Kamisato-sans!? I-I cant have that. The foundation of keeping a boyfriend or girlfriend is conquering their stomach. A difference in food preference doesnt look like much at first, but you cant ignore it since it builds up turn by turn like poison damage. B-but I can still recover. This wasnt anything as critical as a blood type horoscope! Right, Kamisato-san!? Cmon, blood type horoscopes have no basis in fact whatsoever. And dividing the six or seven billion people on this planet into four categories sounds even more dangerous than discriminating based on race. But anyway, Ive still got a chance here! We may have ordered different flavors, but that means we can try each others dish, give each other bites, and mix some together on the plate!! Okay, okay. Ill take control of that. Kamisato-hans plate is under my management. If you want to flirt with him, then take a number. Youll need my permission first. Damn you, Ellen!! Oh, is it time for a girls battle below the table while we smile at Kamisato-san above the table? Wait, who just stomped on my toes!? Elza, you son of a bitch, you betrayed me already!? Go kiss the devils ass, you witch!! Calm down, Claire. Why dont you cool down with some ice water? Thank-...Ah, that was a close one! Thats the jar of garlic, Ellen! Peh heh heh. Maybe I should have dumped it over your head to make sure those flowers got some. As she watched the girls arguing, Patricia felt like something was not quite right. It was a sort of unease like they were freaking out over a supposed photo of a ghost but had not compared notes on where in the photo the ghost was. She took a mental step back and observed the commotion at the table again. And... ? She finally caught on. Kamisato Kakeru was smiling happily while surrounded by all those girls. But to Patricias eyes, his smile looked somehow twisted in pain. Part 12 That golden retriever was a man who understood romance. As such, Kihara Noukans actions could not always be explained using logic and efficiency. His walk through the nighttime streets and to a convenience store near a certain elementary school may have been one such example. The convenience stores windows were broken and covered with blue plastic sheets, but that was not because of any kind of harassment. The midair explosion of the Arrowhead Comet had shattered most of the glass throughout Academy City. (Perhaps I should have used a smarter method.) A slightly bitter feeling rose within him, but the middle-aged store manager, who was sweeping up leaves near the entrance, immediately grinned when he saw the large dog with no owner. Oh, sensei, out of cigars? Yes, the Cuban ones I have you order for me. You go through them fast. Are you sure you arent smoking too much? We dont have any standard values for dogs. No one has bothered to take any statistics. Based on body size, I would assume you could handle less than a human. Speaking with a dog was an odd thing to do, but the convenience store manager did not seem to mind. Has anything odd happened around here? No, not really. I havent seen any kids using their clothes to hide more of their skin than necessary, kids who have been ignoring a cavity for too long, or kids who have been wearing the same clothes for over a week without washing them. The kids are sharing some shocking rumors, but innocent malice is impossible to avoid with kids that age. And they didnt seem to be attacking anyone in particular, so it isnt a problem. This had not originally been the golden retrievers habit. It was a different Kihara who had built up a network of adults who could pick up on the SOS signals in casual conversations of children where they gathered to enjoy their allowance: convenience stores, department stores, discount stores, etc. That Kihara was Kihara Kagun. Known as the worst Kihara, he had gotten involved in the realm of human lives and souls. He ranked at the top of even the Kiharas when it came to the number of people he had killed, but his ultimate record dropped back to zero because he had resuscitated them all with 100% accuracy. Even if he had worked in a different field, he had found an answer that Noukan had not, seen something there, and sealed it all away. What he had done afterwards was unknown, but he had ultimately become a teacher at that elementary school. Whatever had led up to that, Noukan doubted it could be explained using logic and efficiency. He too had been a rare Kihara who knew of sentimentality. Youve changed too, sensei. Have I? Yes. How should I put it? Youre mellower. Those who understand romance are blessed with opportunities to learn what is hidden in others hearts. And that affects both sides of the equation. But to be honest, I wish I could have known him better. Kihara-sensei was an amazing person. Yes, he was. If a dog could have formed expressions, the golden retriever would surely have been smiling. It would have been a happy yet somehow sad smile. Amazing was a clichd word, but Kihara Noukan knew it contained infinite space between the lines. And the convenience store manager was also quite something to have readily agreed to help a certain teacher protect the children despite knowing that teacher was a Kihara. It did not matter if he could fight or not. His true strength lay somewhere else. But he was also a difficult person to be around, said Noukan. There were always children running around him and they would always interrupt our conversations. They would step on my tail, pull on my ears and tongue, or even try to ride me. One in particular, a Kumokawa...yes, Kumokawa Maria-kun was something like my arch-nemesis. Just thinking back to those times is enough for my tail to tuck between my hind legs. You say that, but you never uttered a peep as you put up with them tugging on your fur or rubbing your belly. They were far too reckless. If I were not a gentleman, I might have bitten them. That Kumokawa Maria was no longer in elementary school. In fact, she had apparently grown up enough to watch over Kihara Kaguns final moments and continue moving forward. For that reason, this nighttime walk was meaningless. The golden retriever continued with his task even after all of the humans had left the stage. But the fact remained that he could not bring it to an end. Ill be going now. I see. ...Hey, sensei? Just as the large dog started to leave with a small package on his back, the store manager called out to him. The golden retriever looked back and spoke with his artificial voice. What is it? Im sure you have your own path to walk down, but make no mistake. Your framework of being a Kihara or whatever else isnt what truly matters. What matters is whats in your heart. That passionate current that tells you what you want to do will never lie to you. ... And Kagun-sensei has already shown us just how great a power it can give us. Isnt that right, sensei? He cast aside being a Kihara, protected the smiles of so many children, and apparently even settled his grudge with Kihara Byouri in Baggage City. Thats what matters, not what youre born as or what group you belong to. So, sensei, you dont have to act so tough. The dog made no rebuttal. He accepted what the manager said as meaningful. He was a man who understood romance and the original seven had given a mere dog that sensibility. If youre ever tired of your role as a Kihara, you can come to my place. You might think Im talking big for a convenience stores hired manager, but Im always living right alongside everyones lives. Kagun-sensei was the same. Everyone has worries and theres nothing shameful about admitting it. People arent made well enough to come up with the perfect answer the first time around. I doubt youre an exception, sensei, so theres no need for you to insist on continuing to be a sensei. If it gets too painful, you can always set down that burden at least for a while. I will keep that in mind. After giving his respectful thanks, the golden retriever left the convenience store. He looked up into the night sky. With all the lights of the city, there were almost no stars visible in that dark canopy. Only the round moon shined there. To repeat, he was a man who understood romance. And so he spat out the next words based on that sensibility, not based on logic or efficiency. What an unpleasant light. It feels like an ill omen. Part 13 After taking a bath and eating dinner, it had grown quite late. If this were an RPG, this was when they had walked from one end of the world to another, found a continent they could not reach, acquired a ship, switched to an airship, defeated the Four Heavenly Kings, flown to the alternate world, gathered the seven crystals, and broken the barrier around the demon kings castle. So what were they to do now? As soon as they returned to the rundown apartment (after checking to make sure it was safe), fox ear delinquent girl Elza spoke up. Ahh, Im exhausted. We should probably get to sleep for tonight, dont you think? In that instant, the tiny person inside Kamisato Kakerus head peeled away all of its skin and transformed into a muscular demon. He completely forgot to place a hand on the side of his neck and his tone dropped a pitch. Holllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllld it. Oh, no. Kamisato-san just entered a wonderful but embarrassing punishment mode. What landmine did you step on, Elza? But I cant help but feel jeal- bgyah!? Kamisa- wait, dont pluck those! Please dont pull out my head flowers!! After her unwanted interruption, Claire was left with tears in her eyes. She did not seem to realize that raising her arms to protect her head left her underarms and chest entirely defenseless thanks to her dress. Kamisato got back on topic. I have one question here. What magical space is this? Have we been thrown into the kind of space-time that girls use to always be starting their diet tomorrow? But Elza was unfazed. Who cares? Kamijou Touma isnt about to run away from Academy City and disappear in the next few days. And as for Patricia? Her problem isnt going to cause the world to explode if it isnt resolved before midnight, right? If we can do it tomorrow, then lets put it off. After warming myself in the bath and filling my stomach, Ive been feeling pretty sleepy. That who cares was the problem. That crude dismissal was common among girls these days. Kamisatos mouth flapped opened and closed as he turned to Ellen and Claire. He used silent eye contact to search for a reliable comrade to help him out, but... Th-thats right. Im feeling tired too. The weariness is really hitting me now. ...Although I think that might have more to do with you plucking out my flowers just now. Either way, were mostly waiting for the results of the analysis running in my container lab. Plus, Im really not the type for direct combat, so go off and do that on your own if you want. Ill take care of things here. Majority rule could be a frightening thing. No matter how wrong the answer was, it ended up looking like the standard way of the world. And with those girls holding three of the votes, Kamisato and Patricia had no chance. So... Okay, lets take turns brushing our teeth and then lay out the futons. The windows broken, so be careful not to catch cold. ...Oh, no!? What are we supposed to do! How do we lay out five futons in a 4.5 tatami room!? Yeah, there isnt room for one of them. Someones obviously going to have to sleep in someone elses futon. They tried a variety of layouts, but eventually ended up laying four futons along the outer edges like a windmill or shuriken. This of course did not leave enough room for the fifth one, but... Did you know that the 4.5 tatami room has its origins in Ginkaku-jis tea room? It wasnt originally a room for poor people. Instead, it was for the rich who enjoyed condensing all of their luxury into a small space. Yes. But by arranging the four tatami mats like a shuriken, the half tatami space in the middle was used to place the tea set. That way everyone could sit around the room and enjoy the tea. I already knew that. Kamisato still looked pale as he stopped them. But why am I in the center space? All I can do there is curl up in the fetal position. Um, isnt that because you lost the game of rock-paper-scissors? He could hardly argue against that, so covering his face in his hands and sobbing was his only option. Baggy lab coat girl Ellen covered her mouth with a sleeve and laughed. Heh heh heh. If its too cramped for you, feel free to join me in my futon. I always have space for you in there!! Stop being so blunt. The boss doesnt know how to react. Oh, and if Elza tosses and turns too much, come take refuge in my futon. If you dont have a shelter prepared, youll be in trouble. I-I do not toss and turn that much!! Elza blushed and argued back, but no one was listening. The disinterested mood hanging in the room was enough to know who was telling the truth. Before long, it was time for lights out. Patricias situation had not changed and he had yet to contact Kamijou Touma again. He had plenty of problems, but there was little he could do when the girls refused to move. For the time being, he went along with it all. ... ... ... And after about an hour, a small form got up in the dark room. It was Patricia who had not gotten a wink of sleep. In her short time with them, she had started conversing with them a little and she had learned something. They were not especially bad people. That did not mean they would not fight with someone, but she at least knew they had not initially approached her in order to harm her. They had their own objective and her problem did not fit into that objective, but they had gone out of their way to interfere in her issues. In other words, they were kind people. However... (That wont make it in time.) Elza had claimed Patricias problem would not cause the world to explode if it was not resolved before midnight, but it might as well have meant that for Patricia. She could not afford any lost time. A human life was all or nothing. If she was the slightest bit too late C an hour, a minute, or even a second C she would lose everything. And once that happened, the world might as well have exploded as far as she was concerned. This was the pillar that supported her life and she could not allow it to be broken. She would not insist that someone help her. She had started this on her own to protect her own life. So she slowly and silently got up and tiptoed through the dark room while being careful not to step on the boy and girls tangled up on the floor. She put on her shoes and faced the locked front door. For some reason, she looked back just once. Had she gained something from her interaction with them that made her hesitant to leave? She decided the answer was yes. It had all been too sudden and they had lacked delicacy and words and actions, but they were not bad people. She had shared a bath with those girls and she had been able to eat at a ramen shop she would have had difficulty visiting otherwise. Once she removed her initial caution, they were all valuable memories that she would never have experienced in England. She had not accepted them, she had shaken them off, and she had ignored how they worried for her regardless of their own interests and how they had welcomed her in with good will. But she had done so because of her own selfishness. She could not trust them. They had tried to help her relax and to get closer to her, but she had ignored their efforts, justified her actions with her lack of trust, and taken advantage of her weakness by playing the victim and gaining an unlimited forgiveness for her actions. She was aware of that, but she still shook herself free of it and slowly unlocked the front door. She then slipped outside into that lonely world. She left the rundown apartment and entered the nighttime city. Even with that strange black bubbling thing inside her, she thought of who mattered most to her and who she wanted to protect no matter what. That other girl had currently turned into a different monster based on a set of rules Patricia did not understand. She did not know where that other girl was. Nor did she know how to draw her out. Patricia had been the one on the run because she had wanted to stay as far away from what her sister believed to be a disturbing solution to the problem. But during their clash today, she had realized something. Simply running away would not end this. She would be too late. Her sisters limit was much closer than she had thought. If she ran away, her sister would not give up and remove that thing. She did not know what kind of heretical science paper her sister had found that in, but that tumor-like thing would press on her sisters organs within a days time and possibly even kill her. She had not performed an accurate ultrasound echo, but the rate of growth visible from the outside was enough to know it was straining her sisters skeleton. So she had to find her. She had to take action. There were probably only a few hours left until the tumors growth overwhelmed her sisters skeleton and the world exploded. Leivinia... She spoke the name aloud without realizing it. She had no clues. She did not even have the first hint to take the proper steps toward approaching the answer. Still, she looked all around her as if searching through the grass. She searched with her feet. She seemed to be searching for a ring thrown into the dark sea. Leivinia!! This was a never-ending open world. No linear path was prepared for her, she could take as many shortcuts as she wanted, she could wander as much as she wanted, and infinite possibilities were contained within. If she made the wrong kind of effort or chose the wrong initial direction, even continuing for one million years would not produce any results. There was nothing she could do. And as clever as she was, the worst possible prediction began to appear somewhere in her heart. She became aware of it, grew to hate it, sealed it away, and resumed moving her feet while clinging to the temporary hope inside her. Before long, a dull throbbing pain filled the soles of her feet. Her breathing grew shallow and her chest felt tight. Impatience and pain spiraled through her head. Her smartwatch began emitting a warning color. That health management app monitored her heartrate and blood pressure, but they had been a complete mess already. However, a wicked side of her whispered in a corner of her heart. Part of her was rejoicing as the number of hurdles grew. Havent you done enough? it asked. You did your best and you let everyone in the city see how hard you worked despite how powerless you are. So give up. You left some scars and marks behind, so just give up. Do that and you can enter that sweet position of the poor little girl who wanted to protect something precious, did her very best, yet couldnt quite manage it. Youll get a special position as the person everyone unconditionally gives treats to, pities, and always gives top priority to. That was the joy of being weak. It was the special privilege of the weakest. She shook her head, faced forward again, and continued walking to every place she could think of. As her weariness grew, as her pain grew, and as she continued to not find her sister in place after place, that part of herself began whispering again. It asked her if she truly, truly intended to save her sister. Was any of this effort real? Or was she simply making a show of trying to save her so that others would praise her for being so heroic? No... She clenched her teeth, let out a rough breath, and leaned against the pillar of a wind turbine. Her legs were exhausted and she had trouble walking, not to mention running. And yet, she still had not searched even a quarter of District 7. That was hardly surprising once she thought about it. Academy City had 2.3 million residents and that number only increased when adding in travelers and business visitors. How far was a one-girl search even going to get her? That was not even enough to find a cellphone dropped in a small shopping district. So... You knew that from the beginning, didnt you? Wearing yourself out, hanging your head, and clenching your teeth while leaning against that pillar is all a part of the lovely show youre putting on, isnt it? You dont really care about your sister, do you? Say it. Youre afraid of being seen as the wrongdoer who abandoned her sister, so you want to be seen as the victim who was crushed by remorse. No! No!! Nooooo!!!!!! Patricia collapsed to the base of the pillar while facing the weakness in her own heart. Had she truly run out of strength or was she putting on a heroic show now that she had decided she could give up? Not even she knew anymore. There was nothing she could do. She could only win the participation award or the effort award now. Besides, what could she even do if she was miraculously reunited with her sister? Did she have a way to remove that bomb in her sisters chest? Uuh... She could not even stand up, so she sobbed in a ball on the ground. Uuh...! If she had been a little dumber, she might have continued her useless effort without any of these idle thoughts and she might have been satisfied with that. If she had been a little smarter, she might have immediately located her sister and extracted that bomb in a way no one else in the world had ever considered. But she did not have what it took. So... What, are you not going to struggle any longer? Still on the ground, Patricia looked up toward that voice. Someone had arrived to make up for what she lacked. He was the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. He was someone so bland he seemed to blend into the background. He was Kamisato Kakeru. How long...have you been here? How long indeed. How much...do you know? How much indeed. Had it all been playing out according to his wishes? Had their trip to the bath and to get something to eat been a plan to incite Patricia to movement with the time limit approaching? Had forcing five futons into a 4.5 tatami room been a way to make sure a member of his group would notice if she did take action? And had he continued observing her after setting things up so she would reveal the truth of her problem that she was not telling them? Or had he truly not given it any thought? Had the trip to the bath and to get something to eat simply been inconsiderate actions? Had forcing five futons into a 4.5 tatami room been a pure coincidence and was he only a pathetic boy who was completely whipped by the girls around him? Had his appearance here been yet another coincidence with no real meaning behind it? It could have been either and it did not really matter which it was. What mattered was the fact that Kamisato Kakeru was here. Didnt I tell you that we would investigate if you didnt tell us? If you had told us, you could have chosen the extent of the truth and only told us what we needed to know, but when it comes to us investigating, you cant choose the truth we learn. So we saw it. You have a tendency to passively go along with anything, but we saw the impatience that made you leave those preset rails and take action. ... What are you going to do? Continue like this? You have two simple commands: tell us or have us investigate. Ellen has a personal lab and her analysis of that black thing that came from you is already underway. Im sure a few more truths will present themselves in the short time until thats complete. Are you sure you want that? As I said, when we investigate, you cant choose the extent of the truth we learn. If you hide this, something more than what you fear will show up. Are you sure you want that? Patricia thought about what he meant. And she was indeed clever. Thats...not fair. No, I suppose not. I havent been doing this long, but I hear that a lot. That doesnt really give me an option. Whether I say yes or no doesnt matter. Once you say youll save me, you saving me is the only option left. Im stuck on those rails no matter how much I complain that youre meddling or that I dont want your help. True. He was not the kind of person that started worrying after he said he would save someone. By the time he said he would save someone, he had already set everything up. Even if she tried to run away, grew defiant, pushed him away, or whatever else, he had sealed off all options except for sitting idly by as he saved her. Even if she refused to explain her situation or ran off into the night, he was sure to reach her regardless. He would approach the core of the issue via a different route than her and step nonchalantly onto the final stage. And the normal high school boy who made that sound like a forgone conclusion said more. But is that a problem? He gave no excuses when it came to saving people. If he did provide any alternative explanations for what he was doing, they were sure to be lies. And when it came to saving people, any amount of greed was permissible. No matter how unfair, despicable, or cheap his methods were, it was all forgiven by the final result. Forgiven by who? That went without saying. He would proudly say that he forgave himself. I have this thing in my body. Still sitting on the ground, Patricia spoke up in resignation. Inside her young yet well-formed face, something seemed to wriggle and tug at the soft skin of her cheek. It was surfacing from its dive. It looked like a slithering snake or a mollusk tentacle. It was covered in tons of bubbling protrusions that resembled eyeballs or suckers glowing like wet glow-in-the-dark paint. It permeated her neck, her collarbone, and within her clothing. Even through her thick down jacket, an ominous pulsation was visible at the center of her flat chest. Its a parasite from the Antarctic. Its an unknown type that dissolves the fat of the human body and slips inside that empty space. Its not very contagious, but its extremely lethal. If it were forcibly removed, I would definitely die. I see. My sister is trying to do something about this. I dont know if its supposed to be a repellent or something to transplant. I dont know how it works or even if it would really work, but I cant rely on my sisters method. Because you would die if it failed? Patricia shook her head. Because even if it worked perfectly, my sister would die as soon as the method was complete. I mentioned a risk before, but...the odds of her death are 100%. Its certain. ... She holds a bomb in her chest. Its like a tumor...but not really. From what Ive seen with long-distance ultrasound scans, its rate of growth is highly abnormal. At this rate, it will place pressure on her heart and lungs...no, it could even cause her to burst open. The limit is...probably before tomorrow morning. And she doesnt seem to care. I see. Kamisato placed a hand on his chin. So saving you means your sisters death, but saving your sister leaves no way to heal you. You believe me? It honestly doesnt matter if what you just told me is true or not. Either way, we will eventually learn the truth and arrive at the conclusion whether you like it or not. So you dont need to convince me. Ill step onto your rails for now. He sounded incredibly careless. He was completely ignoring her feelings, but that was the reverse-side of an unconditional trust that would force no responsibility onto her if he failed. It was to remove the possibility of him saying, It was because you lied and kept things from me that I didnt make it in time at the very end. You essentially killed her. What matters is what you want to do based on that scenario. You want to save you sister. Since youre searching randomly around here, I assume shes somewhere in Academy City. So. What would you do if you did happen across her? How would you save her? Well... You have to have had an image in your mind, no matter how absurd it might have been. Otherwise, you would not have given up on us. There had to have been a set of scales in your mind when you left the room. You were weighing A against B, obeying us against acting on your own. You were thinking about which would be more effective. ... Removing the bomb in your sisters chest is your top priority, even if that leaves you with no way to survive, declared Kamisato Kakeru. But you dont actually have a way of doing that. Not many people have the skills to surgically remove something. And it would probably be difficult if you relied on that Antarctic thing inside you. That wasnt what you were relying on. So what means of saving your sister were you thinking of besides removing the bomb in her chest? Patricia did not answer. If she did not tell him, he would investigate on his own. And when he did that, she could not decide what truth he found. It was just as he had said. The answer is simple. You were trying to remove the motivation behind your sisters actions. The quickest method would be to eliminate yourself so she no longer had any reason to hold that bomb inside her. You intended to sacrifice yourself from the beginning. And even if you have no means of removing that bomb, the sister who placed it inside herself most likely does. So you were trying to throw your own life away to get your sister to act. Would that be checkmate? Uuh... That would explain your previous actions. It would explain why you looked somewhat heroic and yet seemed to be enjoying the pain of harming yourself. You were working up the resolve to take your own life or perhaps losing yourself in the role to weaken the realistic fear. You werent trying to find your sister. You were showing yourself that youre a small person who could never find her no matter how hard you tried. You were holding a dark smile at the fact that you didnt even deserve to live and it was all a way to prepare to take that final step. Your time limit was not about when you had to find and rescue your sister. It was when you had to prepare yourself to die. Uuuuh!! Patricia bit her lip and sobbed. Think of it from her perspective. This was why she had gone along with the Kamisato Factions carefree trips to the bath and ramen shop. She had wanted to live it up and make some nice memories in preparation for the very, very end. Because she had no future, she had joined those strangers without thinking of the consequences. That was why she had stuck with them to the very end. Whether she had wanted it or not, she had decided that lively atmosphere would be her final day. Changing the initial assumptions could shine a completely different light on things. No matter how cruel the truth might be, it could not remain hidden once it was investigated and discovered. It would all be revealed. But you couldnt do it, could you? Kamisato let out a quiet breath. No matter how much you set the mood and no matter how romantic, sentimental, and heroic you made yourself feel, you couldnt choose to throw away your own life, could you? Let your sister live. Throw away your life for your familys sake. Even the most noble of reasons did not mean one would be able to go through with it. And Patricia had been unable to do so. Would she hang herself, slit her wrists, or jump in front of a train? Only she knew what end she had pictured in her mind, but she had been unable to do whatever it was. And that had made her feel all the more pathetic. Her sister was risking her life to save her family. She was constantly fighting the fear of growing a tumor(?) inside her at such an abnormal rate that it was sure to burst out from within. But Patricia had been unable to respond in kind. She was taking a shortcut that would take her life instantly, yet she still could not keep her hands from trembling. So... Hey, can you tell me one thing? How do you define salvation? ? I have a power known as World Rejecter. As he spoke, Kamisato Kakeru casually closed the loosely opened fingers of his right hand. And a moment later, the wind turbine Patricia was leaning against was devoured from partway up. She had no idea what had just happened. She was so confused that she did not even feel fear as the remnants collapsed in another direction. She felt something intense prickling on her skin. Kamisato continued speaking without a change of expression. You can see how powerful it is. Although the conditions it needs can be a little tricky. But as long as those conditions are met, I can erase anything from this world, even a Magic God. ...It technically isnt killing them, but the result is pretty much the same. If separating two people so they can never see each other again is what you would call death, then World Rejecter brings death to all things. Ah. I can guarantee you it brings no pain. Ive never tried it on myself, but based on those who have been kept alive for a bit, hope for a new world fills their heart. It cant fail. As long as the conditions are met, it can erase even the sun or a black hole in a single blow. And it does not leave a gruesome corpse. No one will have to discover you. And while I cant tell you what lies on the other side, I can at least tell you theres something there. Death does not take away everything and erase every last trace of you. Ahhh!! So, what will you do? Kamisato Kakeru waved his right hand in front of the girl. Patricias eyes were glued to it like it was a hypnotists pendulum. It only takes an instant. It truly is the ideal tool for suicide. Ive erased plenty of things, so I would know. As long as you meet the conditions, I cannot fail. So I want to know your definition. What is salvation to you? If it is liberation from the weakness that prevents you from taking the final step even though suicide would save your sister, then I present to you the most efficient method. I will erase your existence in a single blow and rob your sister of her motivation to carry that bomb. So what will you do? Is this salvation to you? Kamisato Kakeru continued waving his right hand as he took a step toward the girl sitting carelessly on the ground. With incredible pressure, that all-erasing right hand slowly arrived over Patricias head. It blocked her view of the open starry sky. She could do nothing as she looked up at it. If he moved his hand even slightly, she would be torn from this world just like the wind turbine. Do you wish for a new world? This was right. It was the best method of protecting someone important to her. She would feel no pain or suffering. It would all be over in an instant. If she accepted this wonderful method, he truly would be her savior. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thats right. But... ...No. Patricia suddenly found herself speaking. Her weak self was making another appearance. Someone else was going to see it. The intense shame and disgust scorched her body, but she could not stop the words from escaping. I dont want that. I dont want to die here!! I dont care if its selfish or useless. But this is just taking the easy way out! Im dying so I dont have to see what comes next! That wouldnt save my sister. I couldnt be proud of that decision!! At the very, very last second, Kamisato Kakeru heard those words. He heard the words of this desperate girl who no longer cared what anyone thought and had tears and snot dripping down her face. I have to save my sister. I cant let her plan continue because the tumor inside her will kill her, but if I die first to rob her of her motivation, shell have to live with the label of someone who abandoned her family! Neither of those options will save her!! Neither of us can die!! No matter how much I have to struggle, no matter how pathetic it might be, and no matter how cheap it has to be!! If I dont find a third option, I cant save her!! She was still sitting down and her legs were too weak to support her, but she still looked up into the absolute power of Kamisato Kakerus eyes and raised her voice. So!! I dont need your salvation. I dont need an easy way out and I dont want a new world! I wont throw anything away and Ill continue to struggle in this world. If my sister is going to throw everything away for me, then Ill find an option that doesnt require that!! It doesnt matter what options I have now! If I dont have one, I just have to make a new one! Ill create one!! And to do that, I dont need a power to help me run away and avert my gaze from the harsh reality! I need a power to break through it all and continue forward! I need a power to oppose it head-on!!!!! He heard her. Her words reached him. He accepted the cries of her soul. And once he did, he simply placed his right hand on top of her head. There was no pain. There was no fear. But why would there be? He had touched her with the right hand holding the great power known as World Rejecter, but her body remained intact. My power requires certain conditions to activate, he explained with a gentle smile. The biggest one seems to be conflicting desires. For example, saying you want to escape your closed environment yet not wanting to give up your life surrounded by girls, fearing your weapon yet delighting in how different it is from those around you, or whispering that you want to live happily with your girlfriend yet not wanting to destroy your harem. It also works on anything created by people like that. People with those conflicting desires want to cling to this world yet also wish for its destruction, so I guess its easier to find a starting point with them. ...On the other hand, it seems to have difficulty with people who have a single goal in mind and never waver. No matter what I do, the exiling power doesnt work on them. Ah. Clever Patricia gradually realized what that meant. The readings on her smartwatch shot up. It seemed to have captured a kind pulse. But at the same time, Kamisato Kakeru continued giving his answers. It did not matter whether she told him or not or whether she told the truth or not. He would continue toward the conclusion on his own, just like he had said. This right hand did nothing to you because you have the strength to see a single path to follow in this shitty world, Patricia. I admire that strength. I honestly think its amazing. ...You did well. You overcame the negative ideas held by humanity. He kindly rubbed her head. When he removed his hand, she wished he would have kept it there a while longer. But this too was a necessary ritual. As he continued, he held his right hand out toward the small girl. He directly faced her as someone he considered an equal or even greater. So I want to shake hands with you, who can hold this hand. And could I maybe help with the work you need to do? I wont be saving you. I will simply be a part of your legend. Shaking hands was a simple action anyone could do. But at the same time, it was the ultimate signal only allowed of the truly worthy who had overcome the conditions for World Rejecters activation by finding a single path after overcoming the conflicting desires that did not let one simply say yes or no. Patricia hesitantly reached out her hand. Kamisato simply waited. Finally, the young girl grabbed the hilt of that ultimate weapon. Please...do. I know I shouldnt be saying this after setting you in this direction, but this wont be easy. I want to save my sister no matter what it takes. I want to repay her for not hesitating to throw away her life for me. Even if I dont know how to solve this and even if it means cutting my own lifeline, I want to live a life Im proud of to the very, very last moment!! Even if you follow that path to the end, you will not find peace. Thats why I want your help. I have no idea how to remove that bomb from my sisters chest, so I want to use everything available to me. It doesnt matter if you can actually do anything. Please join me to help me...no, to help my sister!! If that is enough. If you will maintain that superior heart that holds to a single path no matter how much it is shaken and no matter how many easier desires are laid out before it. Kamisato Kakeru smiled as he took the girls hand. His grip was truly strong. I respect you and I wont hold back when it comes to helping someone I respect. I will use everything I have and fight the entire world for you. Part 14 Several girls were gathered on a rooftop a short distance away. They were Ellen, Claire, and Elza. See? I told you it would turn out this way. Well, this is how it always goes. To be honest, I personally resent it a fair bit, but if we told him to stop, he wouldnt listen and hed just run off on his own. It looks like the others are here too. Theyre busy finding positions on all the rooftops around here. While holding her plastic bottle full of ten yen coins like a baby, the delinquent girl with fox ear hair glanced over at the other buildings. There were several...no, a great number of them. The countless presences filled the darkness with an intimidating pressure. So the Kamisato Faction has gathered, has it? They were not aware of it because this was normal to them, but all of them contained a powerful light that was, in a way, greater than that inside a Magic God. They claimed they wanted to protect the world and they did not hesitate to cause destruction toward that unwavering end. They did not contain the kind of conflicting desire that led one to create another option because Imagine Breakers possessor seemed uncertain. Umm, Im more about logistical support and tend to stay behind, but both of you are his direct bodyguards, right? Kamisato-han looks ready to rush onto the front line without a thought to his original objective, so what are you two going to do? When the girl with long black hair and a baggy lab coat dangling behind her asked that exasperated question, the glasses and delinquent girls both shrugged. Well just do what we always do. Thats right. Well destroy anything that gets in the way. Wont that be enough? Todays Hotpot Party, Ingredients List 3 Soy sauce. Miso. Chicken breast, daikon, bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, shirataki, tofu. Bouillon, salt, sugar, pepper, champon noodles Bargain vanilla ice cream, canned yellow peaches, canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges. (For dessert) Fish sausage. Cannibalization Fruit (Made by Leivinia Birdway, rare item) (Quick Memo) Othinus: Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaait!! Index: Who did this? How did this happen!? Kamijou Touma: This is insane!! What kind of hotpot is this supposed to be!? Birdway: Dont freak out. Its just an offal hotpot. Besides, didnt I tell you its made from corn? It doesnt matter as far as the magic is concerned, but I had a fake one grown on the outside to test the shape and composition. Now, how should we cook it so a picky eater like Patricia will eat it? Nephthys: A fist-sized mass floating in the middle of a giant pot? I just dont get Japanese food. Between the Lines 2 A kingdom fell and its culture vanished, but its rituals remained. Because it was not protected by the world at large, its interpretations grew more secret, grew more focused, and generally escalated. For example, during an extreme drought when a single cup of water was impossible to find. For example, during a plague when the value of human life became as flimsy as paper. For example, when all of the stored grains were devoured by a swarm of insects in a single night. Or when fear permeated someone and they wanted a way to ensure they would never feel that way again. Looking through the legends of the worlds religions and mythologies would reveal plenty of cruel stories. People were decapitated, had their hearts removed, were burned at the stake, etc. etc. Even the very foundation of the worlds largest religion was an execution. Then came the initial period of persecution and later the witch hunts in the middle ages. But even looking past those, there were stories of a nun gouging out her own eyes or people gathering the brains of a saint after his head was split open. Simply viewing the actions was not enough to judge the essence of the matter. There were reasons and thoughts that led to those results. But among the extremely focused rituals, that kind of essence tended to be lost. They grew more sensational and grotesque as people saw special meaning in doing something no one else was doing. Ah...ahhh... Somewhere sometime, a man was weeping. Ahhhhh! Ahhhhhh!! It had been an experiment to prove the existence of heaven. Egyptian mythology was a religion that believed in being reborn, resurrected, and reincarnated. Mummies were made to preserve the physical body for when the deads soul would return from its temporary time in the underworld. That meant one could manage their body and soul. One faction decided to prove it. A young maiden was given a sheltered upbringing in a clean environment to maintain her purity until a certain age. She was to be killed based on a certain ritual, have all of her organs save her heart removed and stored in containers, be filled with sawdust to maintain her shape, and be wrapped in linen soaked in medicines. To ensure she was not assaulted in the afterlife, her crotch would be sewed shut. In Egyptian mythology, ones heart was removed and weighed to judge whether they were good or evil, but this experiment was using that heart like a signal to see where a certain something went after it left the body. Would the gods detect their wicked thoughts and close the gates of heaven? Or would the gates of heaven be opened because the sacrificed maiden herself was free of sin? Uuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhh!! The girl was known as the genealogy of sinners. By the factions values, she was a sinner, so it may have been only natural for her to offer up her life. The girl herself wished for that. She believed a burden would be lowered from her shoulders on that day. She had no complaints. That tragedy alone may have spread through them all. Maybe no one will stop it. Maybe no one questions it anymore. Maybe most of the world isnt even aware of this misfortune and maybe no one would care whats happening on the other side of the planet even if they did. The man who was collapsed on the ground spoke under his breath as if cursing something or clinging to something. He knew that girl would smile at and greet anyone, would smile as she ate any food without being picky, and would respect anyone who knew what she did not. He knew she was a human being who could laugh and cry, and not just an entry in some paperwork. Although that may have only been due to the twisted purity inputted into her by the project. However, did those behind this project really understand? Did they know she had taken a step beyond that? Did they know about the small flower she grew behind the building? There alone, she would be honest to her preferences. She would pout her lips depending on how the flower was blooming and she would uproot the surrounding plants if necessary. That was a sign of something not in the prepared plan. It was evidence that she was no longer the doll she was made to be and was constructing her own identity. And yet he had no choice but to trample it underfoot. I should have been able to say this is wrong! So wont someone please weep with me? Wont someone stand with me as I lament how wrong this is!? The work would soon begin. The girls entire body would be altered by a mechanical process. The journey would begin. Just as so many magicians had hit a roadblock here in the past, this would most likely fail to control or measure the soul itself and it would simply waste a life. But just before it began.... Yes, your voice has reached me. Something was there. Even the man who saw the miracle could not determine when the miracle had begun. He simply saw a brown goddess wrapped in bandages standing before him and he saw the tears welling up in her eyes. I am Nephthys, she said. I am a goddess who objects to the legends of death that are treated as necessary sacrifices in our mythology. So let us weep, no matter how pitiful it might be. Let us accuse all that claims perfection yet could not reject death. A moment later, a shrill cry caused all matter to vibrate so intensely that the entire faction was instantly turned to ash. Volume 14, 3: The Girls’ Desires and Their Intersection - Winner’s_APPLE”. Volume 14, Chapter 3: The Girls Desires and Their Intersection C Winners_APPLE. Part 1 Let us look down upon it all from a gods eye view: Leivinia wanted to save her sister Patricia even if it meant sacrificing herself. Patricia wanted to save her sister Leivinia even if it meant giving up on herself. Kamijou Touma was supporting Leivinia. Kamisato Kakeru was assisting Patricia. That was the structure of this incident. The worlds secrets and the whereabouts of the Magic Gods did not matter. Regardless, it all would lead to a clash between the two right hands hidden behind it all. Part 2 Oh, no! Its already past ten! This goes beyond the supermarkets! Even some of the restaurants are going to be taking their last orders now. If we dont do something fast, well be stuck with convenience stores and gyudon shops. What are we going to do about dinner!? Kamijou was trying to draw attention to a pressing issue, but Birdway immediately dismissed his opinion. Youre weird. No, Im not! In fact, not being hungry here is whats weird!! Besides, the rest of you were just fighting over Kamijou-sans sausage!! You rushed at me like wild animals with drool spilling from your mouths and hearts in your eyes! I didnt know a girls look of desire could be so scary!! Tremble, tremble!! J-just as a warning, you should be careful what you say, human. Gods have little tolerance for disrespect. Othinus cleared her throat, but Kamijou did not seem to be listening. Dammit, I know it was necessary, but it hurts that I left those supermarket bags behind. No, that must have helped someone. That mother and baby cats must have needed it to get by in the cruel city!! Even with the plastic sheet covering it, the December chill mercilessly slipped in through the broken window. Add in the empty stomach, and clothing was the only one of the three necessities for life they had. The snowy mountains idea that going to sleep meant death began playing in the back of his mind. While they had the kotatsu, its heater was nearly useless in this situation. Or rather, housewife Kamijou would not allow them to turn it on full blast with the window open due to how it would affect the environment and their monthly heating bill. He needed to keep himself warm from the inside, so he greatly regretted the loss of hotpot ingredients. Hey, wait! The TV again, human!? Dont worry, Othinus. They tend to show five-minute news programs on the hour. There isnt much chance of a sudden gourmet bomb like before. He turned on the TV to see if the weather forecast would give the current temperature, but he found a two-hour special of a drama instead. It seemed to be about a college boy with no especially noticeable features surrounded by oddly high-spec girls as he attacked a crooked job-hunting official. A close up of curry soup with bright steam filled the screen and Othinus used a skewer spear to stab Kamijou in the butt as he sat on the floor. Why you! Ow!! I was wrong! Im sorry!! Dammit... Why are they making this show all about food? I was careless too. At this time of night, the sponsor field at the bottom of the screen generally has the name of a food company, right? This is a campaign for winter curry or something. The drama itself looks interesting, but its too much for our stomachs right now. Kamijou sounded relatively carefree, but Index and Othinus started commenting on what they saw on the screen. Thats awful. Yes, it is. Eh? When Kamijou looked over at them, they had a dead look in their eyes. Why would he hide in a locker inside the girls locker room to escape pursuit? There had to have been two or three doors on the way there and he had to slip past about thirty people on the way. Not to mention that there was even a janitorial supply locker in the hallway. I dont get their standards for embarrassment. That girl slapped him for an indirect kiss, but she doesnt seem to mind letting him see her panties like that. Ehhh? Is it really that weird? Ehh? Thats awful. Your life must be just as awful as this drama if you cant tell whats wrong with this. Ehh? Realizing the discussion was getting nowhere, Kamijou started to reach for the remote he had thrown to the floor. But then something entered the corner of his field of vision. Brown Magic God Nephthyss face was covered in tears and snot. Eh? Wait, what!? Whats the matter, Nephthys!? B-bwah...hghbgh... I didnt catch any of that, but here are some tissues!! Blow your nose!! Did you want to eat some curry soup that badly!? Just like when dealing with a small child, he balled up a few tissues and held them to the brown beautys nose. As her shoulders trembled, she finally recovered enough to speak again. Yes, yes. Sorry about that. Im just so susceptible to this kind of thing. ...Crying with someone is part of my very essence, so I just cant stand it. Oh, no. Here it comes again! Fwehhh!! The tears are pouring like a waterfall again! How can you possibly get this invested only thirty seconds after changing the channel!? Well, shes the crying woman who is paid to weep at a funeral. Thats probably why shes so quick to tears. Othinus did not seem to care much. But even if shell cry at cheap melodrama or feel her heart warmed by a picture book that adults can enjoy too, that very aspect of her is what makes her a true Magic God that can easily destroy the world. The easier shes swept away by emotion, the more frightening and violent her systematic divinity is. Sob, sob. Othinus...youre mean. Now, shes crawling around like a baby!? Shes got some weird switches, doesnt she!? I dont think I like the idea of a god being this easy to influence!! Kamijou could not help but shout at this frightening discovery. Fifteen centimeter Othinus stepped on the remotes button to switch off the TV and then pressed a finger against her temple. Lets ignore that emotional idiot and get back on topic. Youre suggesting we head out, but have you forgotten that our last trip for food is how we ran across that Kamisato person? I really dont think well run across him two or three times in a row. Were not talking about some girl running around with toast in her mouth. Sob. But Kamisato Kakeru must have his own food problems, right? Are you serious? So as long as hes wandering around in search of dinner, we cant get anything to eat in peace? Touma, sharply cut in Index. Lets get him. That is not what Id expect to hear from a nun! The only one there with a full stomach was the calico cat which was still sleeping on the floor with its stomach sticking out. We only have miso and soy sauce here. Kamijou reconfirmed their starting point. But heading out into Academy City tonight could easily lead to trouble with Kamisato. So whats the answer? asked Index. Othinus, Nephthys, and Birdway were looking his way too. Not one of them was satisfied with this situation. They would make fun of him if he commented on it, but he could not ignore it either. The overall atmosphere made it clear he would be pummeled with retorts if he did not find an actual solution. Whoever said we had to leave the dorm? We can just borrow some meat and vegetables from someone else in this same building. His first stop was his neighbors room. Tsuchimikado Motoharus cooking skills were nearly hopeless, but his stepsister was Maika the Maid Master. That meant his refrigerator was periodically filled with food and ingredients. And since he did not cook himself, the odds were good he had some extra stuff lying around in there. Plus, Tsuchimikado could not complain about lending Kamijou something. When his stepsister had made a sudden visit before, he had grabbed everything he did not want her to find and stuffed it in Kamijous room. Index had found it after returning from a walk, which had led to some misunderstandings. Kamijou was prepared to bring that up for some high-pressure negotiations. Hey, you idiot! Ive got something to discuss with you, so get out here! He rang the bell twice and knocked loudly on the door, but there was no answer. He thought the boy might be out, but the electricity meter was spinning. Then the force of his knocking caused the door to slowly creak open. The days commotion must have broken this rooms window too because it was chilly inside. ...? Kamijou had a bad feeling about this. He felt like something as yet unseen had happened. He felt like he had stepped onto some strange rails. What had happened in this room one wall away from his own? Unable to fight the chill that ran down his spine, he remembered all the allies in his own room. There was no rule saying he had to set foot in here on his own. Hey, Inde-... As soon as he started turning back for his own room, his feet were forcibly stopped. He glanced down and saw something extending from the cracked door where it wrapped and tangled around his right ankle. Was it a thumb-sized rope? No, it looked like more like a vine. Wha-!? Ah! It was already too late. The attack was made against his ankle, so he needed to crouch down before he could use his right hand. He was tugged backwards and toppled over as he was dragged inside the strange room. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? He slid into the center of the room while filled with dull pain as he bumped against this or that. His neighbor was nowhere to be seen and instead the World Rejecter boy stood with his back against the wall. It was Kamisato Kakeru. Hi, Imagine Breaker. We didnt finish our last chat thanks to that interference, so how about we try again? Im sure youre busy with those red and black things, but you want to rid yourself of some worries before taking action, dont you? The fact that the boy was standing there with a thin smile on his face meant several things. With the most important one in mind, Kamijou reflexively clenched his teeth. Wheres...Tsuchimikado!? Dont tell me used your right hand to-...!? Is this really any time to be worried about others? Honestly, now. Kamisato snapped his fingers. The vine was still wrapped around Kamijous ankle, but Kamisato did not hold the other end. It extended out past the plastic sheet carelessly covering the broken window and then off the balcony. And now, even more violent power filled it. Ah, ahh, ahhhh, ahhhhhh, waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He was tossed outside. It may have been for the best that he did not use Imagine Breaker to break the vine. That would have been like destroying an invisible roller coasters rails to toss himself out into the air. He was forced into a seven story dive between the buildings. Below, a giant net was prepared made of more vines. He sank into it and it absorbed a certain amount of his momentum, but it must have reacted to Imagine Breaker as he flailed his limbs around because the net snapped and he dropped to the asphalt. Gyah!! As Kamijou writhed around on the road, Kamisato Kakeru did not hesitate to leap into the open air. A new net was formed and it neatly caught him. I have not erased that Tsuchimikado boy. I only had him silenced for a short while. ...!! Kamijou reflexively tried to drag his aching body away, but he finally realized another presence was approaching through the darkness. And it was not alone. Including Kamisato, he was surrounded from three different directions. Allow me introduce you. This is Claire. Nice to meet you. Even though it was December, the girl wore a dress that left her back exposed. Her black hair was tied back in twintails and she wore large unfashionable glasses. White stockings with a garter belt covered her legs. She looked fairly obedient, but something else overturned that impression entirely. Tropical flowers grew from either side of her head like giant hibiscuses. A closer look showed colorful flowers covering her back as well. She is a type of Gemstone and her bodys cells are apparently more like plant cells than animal cells. I suppose she technically belongs to the science side. She can violently amplify the bonds of algae and fungi and she can absorb metal or plastic to use their traits. Simply put, she can devour a modern weapon and construct a missile or chainsaw out of nothing but plants and flowers. It increases the risk of something going wrong, but she can also combine or rearrange them to create something brand new. Like a remotely guided chainsaw. Her power is more about regeneration than being a solid barrier, but shes still perfect to act as a shield. Kamisato Kakeru pointed at the other girl. And this is Elza. Is this seriously your opposite, boss? The girl had large breasts and wore a long red skirt and white sweater which looked somewhat like a shrine maiden outfit when combined. Her long brown hair was cut roughly away, leaving tufts that resembled fox ears on either side of her head. She seemed to be holding something in both hands, but it appeared to be a two liter plastic bottle. The way she rocked it like a baby was kind of disturbing and it rattled whenever she did so. The contents of the bottle were copper colored, so was it full of ten yen coins? Shes from the magic side and she uses something like a Kokkuri to possess anything she wants. It can apparently be a coin, a person, or even herself. She absorbs the enemys fighting force like in a game of shogi, so shes quite useful. Kamisato Kakeru was dangerous enough on his own. If what he had said was true, taking them all on at once would be a bad idea. And there was no guarantee he was being entirely truthful here. (He had no reason to lie in wait in the next room. If he wanted to, he could have attacked my room at any time. This isnt an issue of whether he knows where I am or not. Hes hiding some other technique that found me when he had no hints whatsoever. I cant escape this just by finding a new hideout!) Lets talk. Kamisato almost seemed like he was joking. If you do that, Ill call them all off. Or would you prefer to get this started without speaking? ... Kamijou thought about his room. Othinus was only fifteen centimeters tall, Nephthys could barely stand and walk, and Birdway was hardly in top form due to that fruit in her chest. Index was the only one who could move freely, but having to cover for the other three meant she was essentially restrained. His room was on the seventh floor, so there was nothing they could do if the stairs and elevator were blocked off. He did not know what kind of nasty fighting force Kamisato had waiting nearby and he had a definite means of tracking them even if they did escape. They were cut off at every turn. Kamijou tried thinking of every possibility, but this opponent had truly been thorough. He had only shown up after setting up everything for checkmate. What could we possibly talk about? I understand youre worried, but theres no need to rush this. Those red and black things have become a lot of trouble, but theres no helping that. People like us are always calling in that kind of trouble. Kamisato Kakeru winked as if he were enjoying himself. But personally, I really want to deal with my own objective. And that has to do with World Rejecter and Imagine Breaker. I think its time we exchanged opinions on some things. Part 3 Kihara Noukan visited a hangar in District 7. He had an Anti-Art Attachment hangar in each of the twenty-three districts, but this one was disguised as an industrial refrigerated warehouse. No one would question its presence, but no one would ever think to peek inside either. It was a black box that could use up quite a bit of electricity without raising suspicions. As he looked across the rows of weapons, he spoke to someone over a communicator. You did a good job in such a short time. Completing the overhaul despite the ridiculous schedule shows just how big a problem you think this is, Aleister. What is your honest opinion about this? They must be abnormal indeed to not be caught by your observation network. That isnt something that can be slipped past with a cyber attack, so it would have to be pure stealth or some odd ability to unconditionally erase or reject anything influenced or created by you. But I cant imagine what would follow those rules. The golden retriever walked through the hangar that had fallen to room temperature after the refrigeration was fully deactivated. And I lose track of their level altogether when you start asking such silly questions. What happened to that plan of yours? Even if the situation branches out infinitely, isnt it all supposed gather back at the same place in the end? I will deal with this somehow. That statement did not sound careless. The glimpse of slight anguish lurking behind those calm words helped Kihara Noukan grasp the uncomfortable feeling that had filled him this entire day. I see you still cant rid yourself of everything unnecessary. What are you talking about? But let me tell you one thing. I liked that side of you. Between good and bad, it would be near bad, but between like and dislike, I quite like it. That is what Im saying. ... It took Aleister a moment to respond, but he finally did. Sorry. Dont worry about it. I will struggle in my own way. You can look forward to seeing just how much of it remains within the scope of your predictions. The Anti-Art Attachment had been thoroughly polished up in such a short time and that acted as a small offering from the Board Chairman of Academy City. It was all in the palm of his hand, but he would still destroy it. He had washed his hands of all the irregular elements that continued to appear and he had finally set his eyes on recovery, but he would still leave the possibility of that recoverys destruction. That was the kind of softness he held inside. Between good and bad, it was bad, but between like and dislike, Kihara Noukan liked it. When it was to this extent, he could hardly get mad. This might be the last time we speak, so Ill use this opportunity to tell you something. What is it? Aleister, I will not stop you from perfecting humanity. You can do as you wish. But dont abandon your humanity. I know for a fact that there were people who walked by your side because they were drawn by that humanity. ... After a few seconds of silence, the transmission came to an end. The golden retriever sighed at the carelessness that silence conveyed because it was exactly the kind of softness he enjoyed. Part 4 After a glance from Kamisato, the girls named Claire and Elza vanished into the darkness. However, that was not enough for Kamijou to relax. Having an unknown number of them hidden in the darkness was far more worrying. Kamijou and Kamisato walked away from the student dorms. World Rejecter spoke as they walked down the dark road. Didnt it seem sudden? ... Im not talking about those red and black things. Im not talking about the events of today either. Im talking about a more fundamental issue. World Rejecter? Whats that? If something that convenient was out there, wouldnt the history of this world have turned out quite differently? Kamijou did not carelessly respond. It was not that he did not have any ideas in his head. He could not tell what the other boy expected or what putting him in a bad mood would mean. Even with the High Priest, it had begun with a conversation and he did not want to go through two citywide commotions in the same day. Thats hardly surprising. Kamisato laughed as he spoke. Looking at that small slice of the conversation, it looked a lot like a scene from a normal school. I only received World Rejecter just the other day. What? Im not exaggerating. I noticed something off around the beginning of November, but I didnt realize it was a power residing in my body until only two or three days ago. Hunting down the Magic Gods was something like my very first battle. In his very first battle, he had annihilated all of the worlds Magic Gods. There was no point in even bringing up his lack of experience. World Rejecter had made up for all of that. This news only made the boy more frightening. What kind of a monster would he develop into after he went through more battles and gained that experience? So you werent wrong if you thought this was sudden. That first impression was correct. Congratulations, Kamijou-kun, you seem to have gained something as silly sounding as a truth of this world. ... The beginning of November was after World War Three had ended and when Othinuss actions via Gremlin had come to the surface. Two or three days before was when Othinuss issue had come to an end and St. Germain had appeared. What had the High Priest, Nephthys, and the rest of the true Gremlin been thinking during that time and what had they been losing hope in? Thinking on that gradually revealed what had led to World Rejecter residing in Kamisato Kakeru. Yes. It had happened when Kamijou focused on Othinus individually rather than the Magic Gods as a whole. The more definitive that change had grown, the more their hearts had shifted away from Kamijou. Eventually, they had started to desire a replacement. He did not know what dreams the Magic Gods had originally held concerning him and Imagine Breaker, but they had begun to wish for a different solution. They had wanted a backup plan and they had gotten it. What if a special power was forced onto someone like that and what if they had been forced off the path they had previously walked? Do you see my situation now? Kamisato laughed as he walked alongside Kamijou. I dont care if you find it disturbing or look down on me as some strange guy, but there is one thing I want you to know. Until very recently, Kamisato Kakeru was the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. If I was involved in an incident concerning some weird red and black things, I would have been the poor first victim who was killed in one blow and left to rot in a garbage dump. I didnt turn into this because I wanted to. He clenched and opened his right hand. That power could instantly kill a full-power Magic God. That horrific weapon could eternally exile someone to another world. And yet... That you can find...anywhere? Yes, immediately confirmed Kamisato. You might find it surprising, but Im not from Academy City. Nor am I part of some group from England or Rome. I truly was born outside, in a normal town, a boring regional city, the kind of hometown anyone can picture in their head. Thats where I lived as a high school boy who was average in both academics and sports. Then...what were those girls!? One was a Gemstone and the other used possession magic!! As I was saying... In that instant, a sticky darkness filled Kamisato Kakerus eyes. Those hopeless eyes seemed to absorb all light without reflecting any of it back. Including them, we were all supposed to be normal students. ... Claire was the classs obedient gardening club member who barely stood out. She would only give me a quiet greeting when entering the classroom and we werent even close enough to eat lunch together. But I loved watching her pour as much love into the plants as she did other people. It calmed my heart. Something seemed off about that description. Or perhaps it was the present situation that was off. Elza was a bit of a delinquent, but she was a childhood friend who lived next door to me. We had stopped speaking, but we thought that was perfectly normal. I honestly respected her desire to stand out and not blend in even if it meant fighting against society. How had it ended up like this? What had been the trigger? Kamisato Kakeru clenched his right fist hard enough it looked like blood was going to seep out onto his nails. But this thing ruined them all. ... Salvation is a frightening thing. People grow dependent on it and it ruins them. And thanks to that, theyre all lazily clinging to it. Hey, Kamijou-kun. Think about this from a normal point of view. If you go to a bathhouse, is it normal for girls to rush into the mens bath saying they want to wash your back? What about having girls unconditionally wish to cook for you and having that somehow end up as a mysterious mass that deserves a mosaic over it? What about placing five futons in a 4.5 tatami room and sleeping with no division between a boys and girls space? ...Logically, that would never happen. If their hearts were working properly and they were acting on their own intentions, they would never be standing in a position that allows for these accidents in the first place. Yes, and Patricias case was frightening too. She must have important memories and someone she cares for even more, but the next thing I knew, it was all about to be overwritten. To be honest, shes started to shift a little. Im not sure how to put it, but happening across me was a mistake in and of itself. There must have been someone better than me to deal with that troublesome incident, but its like she started losing sight of that fact. No, it would be more accurate to say I was making her lose sight of it. Thats not... If I save someone even once, they begin to grow dependent. A mind of steel and century-old bonds become brittle. I should rely on him next time too...no, I should stay with him at all times so that next time will never happen in the first place. As long as Im with him, I wont have any problems at all. That thinking has gathered so many girls around me as if theyre serving me. Hes so amazing, so maybe I should go on a bit of an adventure myself. If it would help him and give me the right to be by his side, maybe I should leave the category of normal. That thinking had transformed so many normal humans. Thats not true!! Hey, Kamijou-kun. Kamisato ignored him with an exhausted smile on his face. How is it around you? Are you surrounded by that dreamlike world where girls gather unconditionally around you after undergoing a sudden transformation? ... And despite my complaints, those transformations bring some useful skills, so I end up using them when Im in a pinch. They become a card in my deck. ...Yes, in that way, Patricia was truly in a precarious position. If she had been poisoned any further, she might have started looking for a way to control that black thing that looks like a collection of fat or a deep-sea octopus. Maybe she could have learned to have it latch onto a target and become an expert at destroying people from within. Calm down, Kamijou told himself. He had been presented with this question more than enough during his fight with full-power Othinus. He had been told again and again that, had he not saved the girls and someone else had instead, they would have followed that other person and not him. He had been told the good will turned his way was nothing more than that. But he had overcome that. He would not be swallowed up by a comparison like that. Kamisato Kakeru was not Kamijou Touma. If I say those girls started liking me after I saved them, it makes you want to argue back at me, doesnt it? It sounds like Im saying I had control over a switch in their hearts, doesnt it? But what if I put it another way? Kamisato continued in a disinterested voice. Hey, Kamijou-kun. What if you had never saved anyone in your entire life? Do you think anyone would have turned your way? Are you conceited enough to think youre such a perfect model, inside and out, that so many people would have accepted you if you were just standing there? ... You arent, are you? Everyones focus on the individual named Kamijou Touma truly comes from the fact that you saved someone. Theyre judging your personality, physical strength, reflexes, intelligence, philanthropy, or courage based on that action. In other words, you cannot escape saving people. As a person, you are inextricably attached to the act of saving. That is what Im talking about. After all... Kamisato paused for a moment. Then he confidently spoke to the person he was comparing himself to. Kamijou Touma is nothing more than the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. Kamijous mind was shaken. He hated the fact that he could not deny it. He only needed to look at it in reverse. Kamisato was not questioning what Kamijou Touma had done. He was saying it was strange for a normal high school boy to have continued doing that for so long. A normal high school boy should have died somewhere along the line, so he had to have something special to have continued for so long. That something was what resided in his right hand. If that something was taken from him, he truly would be dragged down to the level of a normal high school boy. And the important part was not whether he had that power in his right hand or not. The important part was what Kamisato was truly trying to say. Yes. We did not gain these powers because we chose them. ... They came from the dreams of all magicians. Or to be more specific, the Magic Gods who individually make up a large percentage of that power. Their selfish desires created these strange powers and placed them in our right hands. And that power twists the actions of the girls around us, creating this ridiculous harem army. Like with Patricia, even those who have some other important person are forcibly dragged into it until they unwaveringly obey that single path. ...Goddammit!! Kamisato kicked over a nearby trashcan. Was he acting unlike himself because he was irritated or because the presence of his right hand was making him bolder? Can you allow that? Can you allow the world to revolve around a single person, where everything is overwritten for that one persons convenience without a thought given to anyone elses situation? Can you, Kamijou Touma!? I didnt want to be the center of all these girls attention. I was fine not speaking with my childhood friend and not having any real connection to that shy gardening club member in my class. The normal scenery surrounded me where normal people freely used their normal hearts. I was satisfied living as a mere part of that!! But!! Those Magic Gods interfered!! They were probably grinning as they discussed it. They were probably saying theyd make me popular to make up for the complicated role they were forcing onto me. They probably thought it was a small thank you, a bit of an extra reward. Thats all. Thats all? Thats all it took to twist peoples thoughts and emotions to your will!? Those gods would be forgotten to history if no one worshiped them and they have the nerve to invade the human heart!!!!? Kamijou sort of understood. Kamisato Kakeru had the power to reap Magic Gods by the dozen, but that was only the method. He had also needed a reason to take such extreme action. If he had started annihilating the Magic Gods, it meant he had a reason worth using that method. This was where the core of his hatred lay. He did not care about the fate of the world. He had no interest in some legendary battle. Someone close by had been toyed with. Even if he had no real connection to them, those respectable people who lived by their own free will had been remade into simple actors to win his favor. Time and again, he had seen someone with a solid will have their heart turned into something like a fried and freeze-dried pack of food. How long he had known them was irrelevant. Whether they were a childhood friend who he had known for more than decade or a girl he happened across on the road just today, they were affected equally, uniformly, identically, and indiscriminately. Did he think the power in his hand would vanish if he defeated all of the Magic Gods who had created that twisted dream? Or did that not matter and he simply wanted to take revenge for what they had done? But... Hey, Kamisato. What? I cant see into alternate realities, so I dont entirely understand this talk of things being twisted from how they should have been. Ive sometimes felt people expected an awful lot from a mere high school boy, but that doesnt prove what C if anything C that had to do with the power in my right hand or the wishes of the Magic Gods. Theres no debug mode for life. You cant add in and remove each individual factor. Thats called being conceited, Kamijou Touma. You...no, we have nothing outside of our right hands. Then... Kamijou no longer faltered at what he was being told. He felt like he had grasped a vague outline of something from this conversation. What exactly do you want to tell everyone? ................................................................................................................................................................................................... Eh? Youre saying a lot of complicated stuff, but if you sum it up, it comes out to this: no ones saying what you want them to, and you dont like it. You cant forgive the Magic Gods for twisting things in a direction you werent expecting. They ruined your plans, so youre going to go punch them. ...Hey, in that case, what did you even expect of the world? What...are you...? How are we supposed to know whats deep in peoples hearts? We cant use Psychometry or some kind of magic to read residual thoughts. All of those initial conditions you mentioned are nothing but your predictions, right? Youd stopped speaking with your childhood friend? Maybe she had wanted to speak with you like this the entire time. You were happy just watching the gardening club member? Maybe she actually wanted to grow flowers with you. Hey, Kamisato, why cant you look at things in a positive light? Maybe the Magic Gods did distort something, but they might have only given those girls the last little push they needed. How long you know someone means nothing when it comes to trust. A girl you happened across on the road just today might simply have wanted to thank you for bothering to work so hard to help a stranger. What are you talking about, you moron!? Kamisato Kakeru shouted at him like he could not believe what he was hearing. He placed a hand on the side of his neck. How conceited are you? Were nothing but the kind of normal high school boys you can find anywhere. Were average or below in everything. And you think someone would fall in love with a person like that? You think this ridiculous harem is a natural thing and the Magic Gods only gave the girls the last little push? What kind of convenient fantasy world do you live in? Or have they already poisoned you and tamed you this much? Like Im saying. This time, Kamijou cut in. Why cant the girls around you look up to the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere? ... Theres no rule saying they cant. You made up that limitation yourself. Youre the one that assumed you have nothing, youre the one that assumed no one around you would feel thankful, and youre the one that assumed nothing like this could happen to you!! You dont have to be an idol or a sports star. Everyone in the world thinks theyre amazing. Now, I cant say anything about the people around me because the two of us are different. But at the very least, dont you think the people around you who could say, or wanted to say, that they loved you would see that as enough of a reason to gather around you!? It was a hopeless argument. It had no evidence or proof. But that was normal. They were talking about the human heart, after all. When talking about who someone looked up to, thought was amazing, or fell in love with, you did not need to take fingerprints or extract DNA data from a hair. Hey, did you ever actually check with this Claire, Elza, and whoever else there is? Did you go around asking each one? You originally hated me, didnt you? Theres something wrong with this cooperative relationship, isnt there? Your good will and feelings for me are fake, arent they? Theyre all due to this right hand the Magic Gods gave me, arent they? Hah! Id bet my life that youd be lucky to only get a slap in return. Of course, it still looks to me like you need a serious punch from someone at some point. A sound like a dry branch breaking rang through the night. It had come from Kamisato Kakerus neck. He had been unable to crack that joint before, but he had just forced it with a powerful swing of his head and the same grinding as a manual transmissions gearstick reached his entire palm. ...Heh. World Rejecters lips twisted up into a smile. He had previously spoken with an overly-familiar tone like they were creepily licking each others wounds, but it was gone now. The two of them were similar, but they were decisively different. The annoyance and disgust with this similar person covered his face. I had thought I could lighten this burden a little if I spoke with someone in similar circumstances. Sorry, but were completely different. No two people are the same. The fact that you judge people using something so shallow is proof that you werent actually looking at me as a person. You were only looking at my right hand. You only view the world through your selfish ideas of being different or being the same and you force the image and role you want for yourself onto your surroundings. But it turns out were different. Were fundamentally different. You have been poisoned by your gift from the Magic Gods. You see nothing wrong with receiving it and you dont question it. Its made you so conceited that youre satisfied being surrounded by convenient girls. Youre nothing but scum. Let me sum up what youve got wrong. What do you understand about others? No one understands that. Not even the Magic Gods do. Dont get so conceited, Kamisato Kakeru. Dont look down on me while clearly trying to defend your worldly desires, harem accepter. Cant you tell which one of us is deciding how others feel for their own convenience? The two boys gazes clashed. They looked like they were about to lash out at each other. Have you forgotten? asked Kamisato as if spitting out some cumbersome curse. It was the Magic Gods who gave me this power. A portion of your power leaked over to me because they lost hope in you. If not for that beginning, I never would have had this power, my surroundings would not have been distorted, people like Patricia, who must have already had someone they truly cared about, would not have had their hearts overwritten. In other words, you too stand at the scene of the outbreak. So youre going to kill me too? Its true I might be part of the cause. Maybe my own cowardice caused World Rejecter to be made. But I refuse to apologize to you. Kamisato Kakeru, you were meant to wield that power. You should thank the Magic Gods for giving you the chance to realize something you wouldnt have realized on your own and for giving the one last push those girls needed to gather their courage and take that first step. Ill kill you. Are you trying to act tough, you ungrateful bastard? They were talking about gods here. If the gods went on a rampage, they might harm people, but there was something wrong if that was the only way they were being described. If they truly were gods, then this turn of events was not that strange. A gods role was to make people happy. Even without some special circumstances, they would bring happiness to people. They used their great power to make the difference between god and man known. In Kamijous battle with full-power Othinus, the most frightening world had been the one of happiness. When the High Priest had talked about their scorer, he had mentioned the right to control destiny as a reward. Whatever the reason might have been, the Magic Gods were beings who spread happiness. So... Somewhere in their hearts, it was possible the Magic Gods had thought about using Kamisato Kakeru. They might have had the pathetic idea of acquiring a backup. But at the same time, they would have felt a little bad for doing so. It may have not reached the surface of their arrogant minds, but there must have been a thorn somewhere in their hearts. So they had sent out that small push toward happiness. That was the identity of the changes around Kamisato Kakeru. Why could he not consider that kinder possibility? He was like a small child talented in the piano or violin who pouted his lips wishing that talent was not keeping him from playing with the others. Where did the fault lay? With the Magic Gods? With the world? With the girls surrounding Kamisato? With the people carrying all sorts of problems who had happened across him while wandering about and had asked him for help? No. That was not the case. Kamijou Touma stared straight at his enemy. He glared at him and thought to himself. The fault obviously lies with the weakness of his own heart. He had been unable to rid himself of doubt because he could not trust in others. He had settled on a pitiful definition of himself because he could not trust in himself. He had placed a defensive line in his heart, insisted that nothing that was happening could possibly be real, and was too afraid to accept the happiness before his eyes. He had wanted to believe that they did not actually love him because he wanted to avoid the shock of finding out that: Pfft. You actually believed it? The Magic Gods set this all up. In truth, he had wanted it more than anything, but he would look like a fool if he got all excited about the love letter in his shoe locker and it turned out to be nothing but a cruel prank. So in his fear of that possibility, he had torn the letter to shreds and desperately tried to justify it with his suspicion of everything. It was possible the girl who had sent the letter was crying somewhere, but he was afraid of even thinking of that possibility and instead desperately viewed them as a villain in his mind. Kamijou Touma then summed up all of his thoughts. You idiot. A moment later, the world ignited. A deafening explosive roar rang through Academy Citys night. Kamisato Kakeru had not even swung his right arm. A carnivorous plant large enough to swallow an elephant rushed from the darkness like a wall. Kamijou negated the giant maw with his right hand. Did it have no sense of pain or had it swallowed the pain behind its expressionless face? ... The plant girl stood below a streetlight a short distance away with her glasses giving off an inorganic sparkle. Her white dress was blowing in the night breeze. Kamisato placed a hand on the side of his neck as he spoke. I had intended to offer to spare you if you handed over the Magic Gods youre sheltering, but I doubt you would agree to that. Like hell I would. Then this means war. I dont care if this is your home. I need to settle things with the Magic Gods who did this to those girls. Nothing Kamijou could say now would get through to Kamisato, so he said something else instead. You mentioned a Patricia. Then are you familiar with the family name Birdway? Of course. I know it very well. That was enough for Kamijou to grasp the basic situation. That was one more point of opposition between them. And then he continued. Then why did you choose to help her? I thought you disliked the saving power the Magic Gods gave you. Its true I didnt gain this power because I wanted it. If I could rid myself of it now, I would. And I do need to pay a visit to the Magic Gods who forced it onto me. Kamisato spat out his response. But that doesnt mean I can abandon someone who needs help. ... That too will act as revenge against the Magic Gods who abandoned everything with a smile on their faces, he muttered. And if you happen to know a Leivinia Birdway, then ask her for some more details about the situation. Given your personality, I doubt you would be innocently agreeing to help her if you knew the whole story. You need to ask for all the information. That was all. Kamisato Kakeru left Kamijou and the plant girl named Claire walked alongside him. As his back faded into the distance, more and more people joined him, creating a single large group. There was a girl with a large pirate hat, an eyepatch over her right eye, and a miniskirt. There was a girl in pajamas with a ton of antennae sticking out of her backpack and unnatural surgical scars on her neck. There was a ghost girl in white floating inside an artificial mist machine. There was a girl dressed exactly like Magical Powered Kanamin. There was a cheerleader girl with plastic pompoms. There was a girl in red Japanese armor with swords attached all over her body. There was a phantom thief girl dressed in full-body tights. They were all from a different world not centered on Kamijou Touma. That world existed somewhere besides Academy City and may have covered as much ground as Kamijous own world. Before long, the group vanished into the darkness. After watching them leave and finding himself all alone, Kamijou spoke to himself. Oh. Hadnt Nephthys said that Imagine Breaker had not resided in Kamijou Touma by chance? Hadnt she said something had drawn it to him and that Kamisato Kakeru may have had something similar inside him? And that was... He really is a hero loved by everyone. Kamisato simply had not realized it. And ironically, even as Kamijou Touma watched that other boy leave, he had not realized the same about himself. Todays Hotpot Party, Ingredients List 4 Soy sauce. Miso. Chicken breast, daikon, bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, shirataki, tofu. Bouillon, salt, sugar, pepper, champon noodles Bargain vanilla ice cream, canned yellow peaches, canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges. (For dessert) Fish sausage. Cannibalization Fruit (Made by Leivinia Birdway, rare item) (Quick Memo) Kamijou Touma: Its a miracle. Were right back to square one!! Othinus: This is a good example of how seemingly good ideas from you rarely lead anywhere worthwhile. Between the Lines 3 The religion of Egyptian mythology had been lost to the long, long span of history, but it had fortunately left behind plenty of records. They had been well preserved and great progress had been made in their analysis, so their system of gods, their rituals, and their views of life and the soul had been gathered together. It was also a geographically convenient religion. For Western Europe and its modern Western magic, that mysterious world was only a quick trip across the Mediterranean. In fact, a trip across the sea was not necessarily needed. For a variety of reasons, many of the monuments and burial items were preserved by museums and collectors across Europe. That was much easier to access than Tibet which required crossing the Eurasian continent using the Silk Road or South America that required crossing the Atlantic Ocean. That may have been part of the reason that it had become a treasure trove of breakthroughs for magicians who had hit a dead end and could take a quick overseas trip. The Aeons of Isis, Osiris, and Horus. When was it that the man who divided the worlds chronology into those eras had crossed the sea and arrived in the desert? When was it that he had experimented in summoning a great demon no one had ever heard of? However, there was a certain brown goddess who would appear where she pleased, identify with people as she pleased, and weep for them as she pleased. And for once, she was laughing. Oh, dear. You dont hear those three names often these days. It was a little too enchanting to call it a nostalgic smile. That bewitching womans smile contained some thorns and venom. As someone who joined them as a created divinity, I can only pray that the legends he knows have not been distorted from the originals. Nephthys had no success or failure. Nephthys had no fortune or misfortune. Nephthys had no peace or trouble. But if she ever saw someone fail before her eyes, a certain thought would reach her. It was such a simple thought that she would forget about it as easily as it appeared in her mind. She would want to weep for that person. Just as she always did. But was that enough? Truly? Volume 14, 4: Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru - Attack_the_Fist. Volume 14, Chapter 4: Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru C Attack_the_Fist. Part 1 The situation was simple. Kamisato Kakeru is going to be here very soon. After returning to his dorm room, Kamijou Touma began with that announcement. He no longer cared that the room was so cold. His extreme tension had overwhelmed his sense of temperature. He already knows where we are. His top priority is the Magic Gods, Othinus and Nephthys, but he also seems to have Birdway as a secondary opponent. Index and I are probably just in the way. To sum up, none of us are safe. And with that said... Birdway, are you hiding anything? What makes you say that? Kamisato said you are. Oh, come on! Youre going to believe what the enemy tells you? ... He did not continue arguing. Instead of glaring or yelling at her, he crouched down to her level and silently stared her right in the eye. After a while, she looked away awkwardly. The cabal boss pouted her lips and answered with a look on her face she could never let her cabal or sister see. The cannibalization fruit will grow to completion in my body and it will entirely resolve the Sample Shoggoth parasite issue if my sister eats it. That isnt a problem. There wont be any strange side effects and I have no ulterior motive here. Then what arent you telling us? Out with it. Birdway sighed and continued in a tone of complete resignation. The fruit is too big. By the time its complete, it might cause my body to burst from within. No, I take that back. It definitely will. I knew that since the design phase. What!? Thats why I didnt want to tell you and why I couldnt get my cabals help. If they knew their bosss plan included a 100% chance of her death, they would have given up on Patricia and worked to preserve the organization. Im not trying to brag, but for better or for worse, my death would be too influential. It would probably spread chaos throughout Europe. Listen, the human body is a treasure trove of secrets. There is no wasted space and the contents are packed in tight. Add in a completely new organ and it will naturally apply pressure from within, right? The fruit she had shown them had been in the center of her chest. That area was filled with her heart and a complex arrangement of major blood vessels. Whether it was inside or outside her ribs, it would still apply pressure. Even if her body did not actually burst open, pressure to a blood vessel like someone stepping on a hose could easily take her life. How were you even planning to get the completed fruit out? I have a type of spiritual medicine prepared for that, so dont worry. It can be pulled out without having to surgically open my body. Im sure that grimoire library could give you an explanation on medicine men, but just like with rainmakers, this simply uses the a lot of what Westerns think of as African magic. But that did not solve the actual problem about her body bursting open. It was unclear how much her sister Patricia knew, but what if she was rejecting the fruit because she wanted to stop its completion and not because she thought the artificial organ was too grotesque? Did she at least understand her sisters condition even if she did not know about magic? In that case, we cant force you to do too much now. Hey, human. Dont forget about Nephthyss problem. Despite her unnecessarily large body, she cant move. Someone will have to carry her, which will slow us down. I cant exactly do it with this body, youre in charge of fighting, and the cabal girl is out too. I guess that leaves the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. They had plenty of people, but that was not a positive in this situation. Kamijou and Index were the only two who could move properly and one of them would have to take care of Birdway and Nephthys. If Kamisato attacked in a group, the odds were good they would be unable to handle it. More importantly, the rooms lights suddenly went out. Theyre already here, muttered Kamijou in the darkness. If the entire dorm buildings power was out, it should have caused a commotion in the surrounding rooms, but there was no sign of that. The Kamisato Faction may have used some kind of trick like a people-clearing field. That meant they would not be given a chance to think. Their enemy had fully switched their focus to defeating them while they could. Well have to head out to meet them. We cant just sit here!! Part 2 As soon as the lights went out, Kamijou and the others were forced to move little by little. They were on the receiving end of the attack and it was painfully obvious that they were going to be reacting more than acting. Holing up in the room would accomplish little. That plant girl named Claire had already attacked once. Her vines or whatever else could easily get in through the seventh-floor balcony. Locking the front door and pushing furniture against it would not last long either. On top of it all, Kamisato Kakeru had his World Rejecter. Its effects, conditions for use, and range were still unknown. They only knew it could instantly kill even Magic Gods. In the worst case, there was even a possibility it could cause the entire dorm building to collapse. (Well have to escape to the ground.) Index! Sorry, but you lend Nephthys your should-... He trailed off when he heard a disturbing sound. It did not come from the door, the window, or beyond the walls. Surprisingly, it came from within the room itself. Birdways head shot up. The duct!? Something large fell from above the gas range in the kitchen space. An amorphous blob reflected the faint light coming in from outside. It emitted a sticky light like glow-in-the-dark paint and it was covered in what could have been eyeballs or suckers. Trying to stare at it to perceive its silhouette only made it look like a deep-sea octopus, chopped up pieces of fat, or a film of rubber being melted from within. It was like viewing a flag for so long that each individual color stood out more than the overall meaning. Different points wriggled, sharpened, and fired what looked like spears in every direction. It was not Kamijous Imagine Breaker that blocked it. Birdway moved before he could. After a sound like a large cloth beating the air, her entire body was covered by something like a rotting red carpet. Birdway!! This is no time to be picky! Ironically, the weakest ones here are the Magic Gods. You two take them with you. Your mind isnt up to enduring a death, is it!? Either way, this is perfect for me. My foolish sister ran away from home, got lost, and ended up in some guys home, so I need to have a talk with her!! Sample Shoggoth. That black mass was covered in glow-in-the-dark bubbles. It was supposedly Birdways sister who had been attacked by a parasite from Antarctica and Kamisato Kakeru had supposedly taken her in. (That bastard!!) Kamijou desperately tried to keep his boiling head from exploding. Well meet up later at the place we first met!! he shouted. Oh? You certainly have learned how to make things sound romantic since I last saw you. He placed Othinus on his own shoulder and had Index take Nephthys who was breathing heavily and could not stand steady. He did not like having the girl do physical labor, but he was their fighter and he needed to stay nimble for the coming battle. He practically tackled the door open and ran out onto the seventh floor corridor. Several flashlights and smartphone screens immediately shined light on him. As best as he could tell... (Three, four, five...no, there are more on the next building over, on the ground, and on the surrounding rooftops! And thats just what I can see. How many of them are hiding around here in all!?) On top of that, no two of them were the same. In order to support Kamisato, they each had some kind of tricky, specialized supernatural power or technology. If they all attacked at once, he would be unable to analyze them all and defend in time. As he looked around, he shouted to Index. That fox girl!! Index, I know shes a magician at least!! Understood, Touma. T R I A T O T T D Y B!! (That fox rain will avoid us and thus will soak your bodies!!) That was Spell Intercept. Index could not refine magic power, so she could not use magic. But her empty and meaningless incantations could interfere with anothers magic, create an intentional mistake, and take control of it. And in Kamisatos introduction, he had said that fox-eared girl named Elza was a member of the magic side who used something like a Kokkuri to possess people and objects. She would bring the enemy to her side like shogi pieces and she could move those coins. The busty delinquent girl gave a shout. Waaaah!? Wh-what the hell!!!??? The plastic bottle she was cradling like a baby suddenly exploded. The ten yen coins filling it scattered, but then stopped, altered their aim, and were fired with tremendous speed. They were not as fast as Misaka Mikotos Railgun, but they applied enough pain to knock back ones limbs so they dropped their weapons. These enemies did not need to be defeated. They only needed to flinch for a brief moment. ... Kamijou used that time to stare into the darkness and locate his true enemy. That boy was their greatest fighter and also their Achilles heel. Kamisatooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! With Othinus on his shoulder, Kamijou raced full speed ahead. He had no idea how many fighters were lurking in the shadows. They could have them surrounded several times over to seal off any possible pattern ahead of time, so it was impossible to analyze now. But at the same time, those girls formed the Kamisato Faction. He was their center and their peak. If he was in danger himself, it would destroy their pre-established harmony. Even if he told them not to leave their positions, they would still instinctually move to help him. They were not an army or a religion. They were a group of friends bound by good will. (I dont need to defeat them all or continually protect Index and the others. I just have to target their king. If their entire force turns my way, Index and the others will be safe!!) Do you wish for a new world? An arm that was far from thick was casually swung in the darkness. It was World Rejecter. That mysterious power could instantly kill a full-power Magic god if it hit. But even when faced by that, Kamijou Touma ducked while still running to just barely dodge the deadly strike. Kh. At this point, Kamisato Kakeru finally gave off a hint of unease. Kamijou did not wait for him to recover. As if making a low tackle, he threw his full body weight into Kamisatos hips. A dull sound rang out, the two of them flew over the railing, and a slight sense of floating enveloped them. (I dont know World Rejecters range, but how does he aim it?) In the instant of weightlessness, Kamijou thought through his predictions. (He doesnt actually touch whatever it is like I do. That wouldnt allow him to attack long range. Then is it anything he sees? Anything he points at? No, it isnt those either. If so, he wouldnt have caused a blackout before the attack. He would have wanted to increase his field of vision.) So... The shadow. He almost seemed to be whispering as his confident voice shot out to give the answer. You use the shadow cast by your arm to determine World Rejecters effective range! Thats why you wanted to shut down the lights before your attack!! That way you control the only light sources and you can freely determine the direction and size of your shadow!! The sense of time returned and their fall truly began. As the threads of gravity grasped the two boys, Kamijou swung both arms to desperately grab the railing on the sixth floor, one floor below. He ignored the stinging pain in his shoulders and checked cautiously around. What had happened to Kamisato Kakeru? Not bad given the situation. He was surprisingly close by. There was another figure dangling from the sixth floor railing. I didnt expect the arrangement of one hundred pieces on the board to nearly collapse after you came into contact with only Elza and me. While supporting himself with a single arm, Kamisato Kakeru smiled and gathered strength in his right hand. He swung it. !! Kamijou immediately let go again. He grabbed onto the fifth floor railing and this time crawled up onto the corridor. What are you trying to do, human!? Once this confusion ends, their optimized layout will rush in toward Index and Nephthys. Im also worried about Birdway back in my room with Patricia. We cant let them regain their calm. I need to stick with Kamisato and harass him as much as I can!! That left him with a single target. He ran full speed down the corridor and to the emergency staircase leading upstairs. The other boy must have been thinking the same thing because Kamijou ran into Kamisato Kakeru on the stairway landing at the halfway point. Damn you!! As Kamisato tried to run down the last step, Kamijou kicked at his ankle from the side, tripping him. Just as he had said, he was a normal high school boy save for World Rejecter. He fell onto the landing and Kamijou climbed on top of him. Kamisato swung his right hand randomly a few times, but each time, Kamijou bent back and avoided that cruel and powerful attack. He grabbed Kamisatos wrist and swung his own head back. Pipe...dowwwwwn!!!! Kamijous forehead slammed into Kamisatos. More due to having his brain shaken than the actual pain, Kamisatos eyes rolled around in his head. ...Kh...khah...!? He groaned and swung his body up to knock Kamijou off of him. Overwhelmed by the momentum, Kamijou rolled to the side and Kamisato began his counterattack. They switched between offense and defense again and again. However, that did not last long. After rolling a few times, Kamisato tried to climb on top again, but Kamijou bent one leg and placed the sole of his foot on Kamisatos gut. Then he extended his leg like a fully compressed spring. Kamisatos slender body was tossed into the air. This was the stairway landing, so he was thrown onto the stairs leading down. Ah. He was completely caught off guard and some dull sounds followed. Kamijou gasped for air as he got up and looked down the stairs where he saw someone collapsed like a broken doll. When he saw the right hand still twitching, all restraint vanished within him. He jumped down from the landing and stomped on that right hand. He pinned it to the floor. Why did you bring Patricia here? he spat out. You made the worst possible decision!! You went out of your way to set up a fight to the death between sisters! Did you think that was the most logical option? Were you stomping on their feelings to wear down our forces!? ...Shut up. Kamisato groaned from the ground with his right hand sealed. This is what she wanted!! A dull sound rang out. A pen in Kamisatos hand had pierced through Kamijous shoe and into the top of his foot. He was a normal high school boy through and through, but that did not mean he was powerless. !! Kamijou lost his balance due to the sudden pain. With the restraint on his right hand gone, Kamisato rolled to the side. After escaping danger, he kicked the pen that was still stabbed into Kamijous foot. Gaaah!! This time, Kamijou collapsed. The two boys began grappling again. Nothing else mattered. Kamijou poured all his focus on Kamisatos right wrist. World Rejecter was activated from its shadow, so even if he grabbed it, there would be a shadow that could blow him away. It was just like dealing with a knife. Instead of trying to grab the blade, one had to grab the enemys wrist to alter its trajectory or keep it from moving. Kamisato spoke from close range. Im sure you at least understand the situation now. If one of those sisters is saved, the other will die. Theres no time left. We cant put off making a decision. Then whose side are you on? It looks like youre siding with Patricia, but helping her defeat Birdway will only crush the fruit needed to save her! Yes, that is salvation. This was an exchange of extreme irregulars, of joker-like right hands. As the battle continued, Kamisato Kakeru gave an incomprehensible answer. No... Patricias explanation isnt enough to know what exactly her sister Leivinia is trying to do, but I do know that a definite limit is approaching. Meanwhile, the Sample Shoggoth living in Patricias body may be harmful, but it has no set limit. What are you-... Wait, you cant mean...! If Sample Shoggoth is not removed, Patricia will immediately die. ...Who ever said that? I think you have the initial conditions wrong. Kamisato Kakeru thrust his words at Kamijou with no readable emotion in his eyes. And as long as Patricias death is off the table, her sister Leivinia loses her reason for being here. The one sister does not have to risk her life if the other tries to coexist with the parasite. At the very least, it frees them from these insane scales that require one of them to lose their life. So we are trying to destroy the thing living inside Leivinias chest. That will save both sisters. Do you really understand what youre saying? That parasite dissolved all of her bodys fat and lives in the empty space that created! Do you know what it would mean to live with that for the rest of her life!? Parasites have a variety of reasons to kill their host, but most of those do it to more easily reach their next host. Sample Shoggoth is being researched by Ellen and Fran C who was supposedly made into a Gemstone by an implant from a UFO, although I dont know how much of that is true. We will know more details before long. From there, we only need to learn how to control its actions. Forcibly restraining it might cause it to go on a rampage inside her, but not if we spoil it by giving it something it wants. Its just like raising a cat. Training it might be impossible, but you can cover the power cables you dont want it playing with and you can scatter food to distract it if it does something you dont want. That gives us a starting point to controlling it. That lifeform devoured ones flesh to create a home. It looked like a deep-sea octopus, chopped-up fat, or a rubber film being melted from within. She would have to live with it for one hundred years, constantly keeping it satisfied and never able to direct her anger at it. Kamijou only thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. That wouldnt work. Patricia would lose all control. And if Sample Shoggoth really is the type to kill its old host in search of a new host, it would only be using her! Even if we isolated her deep in the mountains, it could easily control her body to bring her to civilization!! And then she would die as it switched hosts!! Yes, it isnt rare for parasites to control their hosts body or thoughts, so that would only be stage one. The current problem is eliminating the possibility of Patricias immediate death, but once that is dealt with, we could find a way to remove it from her body. For example, the parasite would kill her because it robbed her of all the fat that stores nutrients. That puts her in a situation where she would die without Sample Shoggoth, but we only have to remove that initial condition. What? Even without those stored nutrients, she can be given a constant IV of nutrients. Her blood can be circulated through an external dialysis machine where nutrients are added into her blood. There are ways. Patricia herself suggested a few and Ellen has begun drawing up actual plans. That would be a life hooked up to machines and tubes because all of her fat had been removed. She would lose her human contours and silhouette. Kamijou only thought about it for a moment before shaking his head. She would never be able to get up on her own again. She would truly be nothing but skin and bones. Her hair and skin would be so dried out that they would peel away. She wouldnt just be bedridden. All of her joints would dry out and solidify, so she couldnt move. Yet if they were crushed from the outside, something would ooze out. Shed be just like a chrysalis! All she would have is her life and shed only not be alive in a medical sense. Isnt there any other way!? Yes, a normal human would give up. An unavoidable destiny is one thing, but no one would choose to abandon their working body. They might say they would, but they would have a change of heart somewhere. But Patricia didnt. She doesnt want her sister to die and she doesnt want to leave her sister with the stigma of letting a family member die. So instead of choosing one or the other, she tried to create a third option that would save both their lives! Even if all it saves is her life!! She drew a line there and gave up on everything else!! ... I respect that courage. I respect that small sense of righteousness that allowed her to face the pain without running away and to accept the fear without giving up. So Im sick of meaningless talk of good or evil. I dont care who looks down on me or criticizes me. I wont leave Patricia all alone. Her heart was powerful enough to deflect my World Rejecter, so Ill support her to the end. Because he had approved of it and because he had accepted how she felt, he was telling the formal textbook to shove it. It was entirely subjective, it asked nothing of anyone but that girl, and it did not try to understand anyone else. Was that the kind of conclusion he was backing? But you have to be wrong. The rails shifted at some point. I dont know what happened between you and Patricia, but Im sure something did. Is this really what she wanted in the very, very beginning, when she tearfully asked you for help and clung to your hand? Did you compromise somewhere!? Did you only later decide that this was the one and only best answer!? You know what? There was no obvious emotion in Kamisatos calm voice, but something oozed out from the depths. Ive wondered and wondered why I wasnt the very first one to be destroyed by World Rejecter. After all, I hesitate so much and I cant get my desires sorted out. But I think the reason Im still here is because my hatred for the Magic Gods overpowered any desire to return to my lost days or to abandon this power I was given. I save people and get along with Ellen and the others in order to get back at the insane Magic Gods. In other words, its part of my revenge. I opposed those conflicting negative thoughts with a single negative thought of my own. So I respect Patricia for facing such unreasonable circumstances and yet taking the first step toward what little hope she could find instead of wishing for a new world or hating the current world. She chose to climb to the stage above me, so I wont let anyone get in her way. She is my hero. He could not do it. He had been unable to do it. After all of his decisions, only dark violence had remained. But unlike him, Patricia had continued thinking of her sister to the end. She had never wavered or been conflicted. He respected that. But... Youre satisfied with heroically driving a tearful girl into a corner? You drive her to the edge of the cliff and then praise her for having the courage to jump!? Thats wrong! Simply becoming a hero isnt some wonderful thing! Not when youre throwing your life away like that! Fighting against the urge to lower the value of a life is an amazing strength! Its far, far, far more admirable than useless people like us who can only wave our right hands around to fight!! It has to be!! Whenever an intense battle ended, he was scolded by Index, Misaka Mikoto, or someone else. He had a special right arm, but the world did not press him to keep fighting and fighting. That was true kindness. If that kindness was taken away, the world truly would be over. A cruel and coldhearted digital system would take over where the fate of peoples lives was decided simply by comparing the parameters. That was Kamisatos ideal that surpassed simple good or evil. If someone had a special power or special circumstances, did that alone mean they were forced to risk their life and fight? Were they to forget the path they had walked thus far, cast aside everything precious to them, and charge toward death like a clockwork doll? If Kamijou found a girl troubled by those thoughts, he would have no choice but to unconditionally tell her she was wrong. That was another form of righteousness. But this opponent he could not easily reach sent mocking words his way. Then what are you going to do? Save both sisters or refuse to give up on either one? Youre the kind of fool that never manages to make a decision and loses both of them. Youre a nothing with a different obsession than mine. Youre just a hypocrite who protects your own humanity by sobbing that there was no other option after you lose everything. Dont make me laugh, Kamijou Touma. You choose nothing, abandon nothing, and take on none of the burden. I dont want to hear someone like that lecture me on salvation. As long as you continue to support Leivinas plan, you stand on the side of taking a life to give this a nice clean ending. Even if... Kamijou Touma clenched his teeth, stared at his enemy, and shouted back from the bottom of his gut. Even if thats true, I still have to say it!! If a girl is standing before me asking for help, I have to give her that ideal answer or its all over!! I have to tell her that I wont let anyone be lost, that I wont leave anyone in a world of fear and suffering, and that Ill make sure everyone can smile together in the end!! For just a second, Kamisato almost seemed to choke, but then anger and hatred filled his eyes. World Rejecter was making a comeback. Are you trying to put off making a decision or do you just not want to make it yourself? You dont have any way of doing that. If you say that, youll end up losing both of them. Thats right!! Im not a genius with an IQ of 200! Im not the Index Librorum Prohibitorum thats memorized 103,000 grimoires or a Magic God that can remake the entire world!! But that doesnt mean I can give up just because someone tells me to. Like the idiot I am, Ill keep struggling to find a hint until I actually find one. Ill ask Index or Othinus for help, Ill ask Birdway or Nephthys if they know anything, and Ill use everything available to me! I dont care about pride and theres no rule saying I have to do everything on my own!! Hah. So youre just leaving it to someone else? Is that another line of defense? If something goes wrong and you lose everything, you can just say you were only doing what your mommy told you? Didnt I tell you? Ill use everything available to me. Someones life is on the line! Theres no time to keep up appearances!! So Ill use it!! Your method forces us to watch Patricia living a bedridden life as a chrysalis while we try to convince ourselves this was the best option even as a shadow hangs over our smiles! You can call it pathetic, unsightly, or backwards if you want! But Im not going to become some self-absorbed asshole who acts cool by calmly giving up too easily and then tries to show off how he made the painful decision no one else could!! You dont get to decide what salvation is, Kamisato!! After all, Kamijou knew something. Where did evil come from? Good was not good because someone decided it was and evil was not evil because it said so in some book. When someone gave up on someone else and cut them off, that was when that second person became evil. It happened when the possibility of salvation was taken from them, they were left with no connection to anyone else, and everyone assumed they were a lost cause. It had happened to the High Priest. Kamijou had done it to him. It was possible they could have reconciled their differences like he had with Othinus. It was possible they could have talked it out like he had with Nephthys. But he had been so influenced by the High Priests appearance, history, and violence that he had entirely forgotten about that option. He had unilaterally defined him as something to be defeated. He was not going to let that happen again. He did not think the High Priest had been a good person. He also thought that conclusion had been the best one possible. But those things were a different issue entirely. He did not want to receive or give that kind of pain again. He never again wanted to witness someone being made evil. So... I will save them, Kamisato. ? I will save both Leivinia and Patricia. They may both want to sacrifice themselves for the other! They may be willing to accept the pain and fear of being skin and bones hooked up to a machine! But Ill destroy all of that and ruin all of that to save everyone and everything!! No matter what happens, I will not cut off the Birdway sisters as a lost cause!! What...are you talking about? This is what it means to be a hero. This is what it means to be a normal high school boy! This is what we say at times like this. An actual method or real odds of success dont matter. Even if we have no idea what we can do and weve reached a dead-end, we still have to make sure everything works out in the end!! Isnt that perfectly normal? Why should I have to explain why I would want to save everyone, keep everyone from dying, and not leave anyone behind in a world of fear and suffering!!!? Again, how will you do it? Kamisato gave his mocking reply catching his breath. The growth of Leivinias fruit will cause her to burst from within and forcibly removing Sample Shoggoth from Patricia will kill her. You can only save one or the other. You cant save both. The only way to save both is to find an external way to supply Patricia with nutrients instead of relying on her bodys fat, no matter what changes the process will make to her body. Or are you saying you know someone with an even more useful supernatural power? Didnt I tell you? I dont care if you call it pathetic, unsightly, or backwards. Kamijou answered with a relaxed smile. According to Birdway, the parasite dissolved Patricias fat and slipped into that empty space. Since its handling the storage and distribution of nutrients, shell die from lack of nutrients if its forcibly removed. And that fruit is needed to safely drive it out without killing her. So what? Why would you repeat the hopeless situation? Its important. Checking back over the initial conditions is important, rookie. And if those are our conditions, then this is simple. We just have to fill Patricias body with fat to take the place of that thing. And Im not talking about an IV or dialysis. Im simply talking about returning her to normal by giving her the fat shes lost. If we use the fat to drive out the parasite like a game of musical chairs, Patricia wont be left as skin and bones after the monsters gone! If the new fat supplies her with the nutrients she needs, she wont die!! We might be able to save her without the fruit!! And without her turning into a bedridden chrysalis!! Thanks for the speech, but do you see a convenient tool like that lying around? Dont tell me actually think you can suck out your fat like a liposuction diet and pump it into Patricia to solve this. You already know the solution. This time, Kamisato Kakeru came to a complete stop. For a brief moment, he completely forgot to fight his enemy. What? You know someone whos more like a plant than an animal, right? You know someone can use bonds and whatever else to absorb the traits of any kind of matter, right? And... And... And... Did you forget that fat doesnt necessarily come from animals!? There are plenty of plant fats like canola oil or margarine!! Kamisato Kakerus assumptions, perceptions, and thoughts vanished. His problems and hardships vanished. He even forgot to breathe. Meanwhile, Kamijou continued speaking. Of course, just stuffing margarine inside someones body wont supply them with nutrients. Things arent that convenient. The fruit growing in Birdways chest was apparently made of corn starch. The substance had originally been used in threads or sheets to sew up or cover wounds. Once affixed to the patient, they would naturally break down and fuse with the surrounding tissue to smoothly close the wound without needing to be removed later. In other words, the body would not reject it under the right circumstances. But your comrade is different, isnt she? You said that gardening club member named Claire is a Gemstone and her body is almost entirely like a plant. That means we only need her help. She can use her own body as an example to make some plant fat that the human body will accept. Then she only has to pump it into Patricia! That will solve everything without having to sacrifice anyone!! ... So Ill say it. Ill shamelessly take what belonged to someone else and show it off like its mine. If you had just spoken to her yourself, you could have saved both the Birdway sisters!! And without the fear and suffering of becoming a bedridden chrysalis! But you tried to act cool, acted like tragedy was a virtue, and readily gave up on them without bothering to worry over it to a pathetic extent! How are you a hero? What salvation is there in anything youve done here!? You idiot!!!!! Kamisato was caught off guard. The righteousness he had believed in had been rejected and his very existence was being mocked. I have no proof this will work. Kamijou spat out those words. He did not avoid looking at his own flaws. Neither of us has any proof that our plan will save them. Were both awful people for resting the lives of those sisters on our amateur opinions! But if I have a choice, Ill go with my plan. Even if yours worked, there would be no smiles. If the odds are even, of course Ill choose the one that lets us smile afterwards!! Kamisato could not argue back. He could not move his right hand. He had realized that, in this situation, he could not provide an answer better than the one Kamijou Touma had. At that moment, a sticky noise reached them. They looked over and saw red and black amorphous creatures clinging to the wall of the neighboring building. One was an animal skin that looked like a rotting carpet and the other was an Antarctic parasite that dissolved a humans fat and slipped into the empty space. Now that they had an answer, those beloved sisters no longer needed to fight to the death. Those morons have been swept away by the atmosphere here!! Kamijou moved his aching body to slowly stand back up. Kamisato looked up at him from the floor. What are you going to do? Theyre clinging to the wall pretty high up. Thats not in range of your right hand. Let me ask you something instead. What do you want to do? spat back Kamijou. You said before that you didnt gain that power because you wanted to and that you arent doing this because you want to. If you can stand here, look at those sisters, and still say that, then you can sit there on your pathetic little ass. Ill go take care of everything. ... But if... He paused for a beat and made a reversal. If you look at those two! If you look at those girls crawling down the path of ridiculous tragedy and needless sacrifice!! And you feel anything at all, then come with me. Listen, rookie. The kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere is someone who can become a hero at any time if they happen to see someone in need!!!!! That was completely normal. Everyone felt the desire to save someone. But if they did not even try because they had decided they could not, then they were even lower than average. That was what a loser did. It was the thought process of someone without any balls. So if they did not want to be called those names, they had to stand up. It did not matter if they were afraid, if their legs were shaking, if their teeth were chattering, or their mind had gone blank. Being normal or being average was not a simple thing. It was not easy. Doing nothing was not normal. A lot of effort went into keeping that title, even if it went unnoticed. Slacking off even a little bit in that effort would cause one to stray from the path of being normal. So... Show me what being normal is to you. Kamijou Touma, the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere, spoke. Show me just how beautiful the normal world you want is!! Part 3 One sister thought to herself. (Ive finally made it in time. I caught up to her before the fruit inside me rots away. Now I just have to wait for it to bear fruit. It may crush my heart and lungs, but I can save my sister!!) The other sister silently spoke her desire. (I still have a way to save her. It was my fault Sample Shoggoth got inside me, so it isnt her responsibility. Ill crush and remove that fruit before it reaches completion. I can save her by refusing my ticket home!!) They both made sticky sounds as they clung to the wall as a rotten red carpet or a black monster thats form grew more incoherent the more one observed it. Their desire to save someone so important to them was not a filthy thing. But that was exactly why they would not stop. The brighter the light of good behind their actions, the further they distanced themselves from compromise. When walking down the path of evil, most people would grow exhausted, be worn down, and end up stopping. But most people would feel no pain from acts of good. Good was more powerful than evil. That also meant it was easier to be swept away by good. And so... ...!! !? Multiple great rumbling sounds followed one after another. The red and black monsters tried to devour each other while still clinging to the vertical wall. Even in a clash between family members who shared the same blood, they did not hold back. They would not have been able to wield violence to strike the other, to make them cry, or to injure them, but they could wield any amount of violence if it was to save them. It was such a cruel scene that it almost seemed comical. But Kamijou Toumas Imagine Breaker smashed that sickening tragedy to pieces. How had he touched the Birdway sisters as they clung to that wall at such a height? The answer was incredibly simple. He had run to the roof of the building and jumped right off. Oh, ohh, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He had no lifeline. He was in a complete freefall. The student dorm buildings had been packed in tightly to begin with, so even though the Birdway sisters were clinging to the wall of a different building, he could still reach them by jumping from his own dorm buildings rooftop. His target was Patricia, not Leivinia. He clenched his right fist with more strength than he knew he had, but he had no way of changing his bodys direction. Countless spears shot out from the red and black creatures as if to say he was in the way. Their misguided righteousness was telling him not to block the path to tragedy. But that farce did not last long. Another normal high school boy spoke from the rooftop. ..................? They were swept away. He used a flashlight to cast the giant shadow of his arm on the countless attacks meant to strike Kamijou. A hole was opened in the anti-air fire and Kamijou Touma slipped on through. He passed by the mass of rotten red carpet as he continued down toward the black mass that looked like an octopus, fat, or melting rubber. He touched it. He had finally reached it. !? The black mass immediately burst. It must have lost the strength to cling to the wall because Patricias small body was thrown into a freefall. The red carpet started after her but then came to an unnatural stop. The boy glimpsed a human will there and assumed it was a sign of trust. Kamijou extended his right hand, grabbed the falling girls arm, and pulled her in. He held her in his arms as they continued to fall. Its going to be okay. His whispered words were not directed at Patricia alone. Kamijou Touma was speaking to both souls he held in his arms. He did not care if it was hypocritical or self-righteous. He did not care if he gave no thought to his capabilities or physical abilities. At a time like this, there were some things he simply had to say. If he was faced with a worn-down girl who had even forgotten to cry as she believed giving up on her own life was the best option, there were some words he simply had to speak. That ridiculous illusion is over now. Ill destroy it here and now!! Their bodies did not crash into the asphalt. Crisscrossing plant vines shot out near the ground, creating a giant net that easily caught them. He did not feel like messing with crawling out of it, so he tore the plant net to pieces with Imagine Breaker. The plant girl named Claire waited below in her shoulder-exposing white dress. Please take care of this!! Oh, honestly, why am I so nice!? Why do I have to go all out to protect someone other than Kamisato-san!? Kamijou placed Patricia face-up on the road and the girl peered down at her through her large round glasses. They did not have much time. They could not predict how Sample Shoggoth would react inside Patricias body. First of all, root-like strands thinner than threads slipped inside the pores all across Patricias body. The glasses girl seemed to be searching for something as she shut her eyes and whispered. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Applicable locations confirmed. Preparation for creation, shaping, and injection of plant fat complete. She opened her eyes and a mechanical sound followed. Claires fingernails grew over a meter long. The cream-colored blades quickly stabbed into locations across Patricias body. The action produced pleasant sounds much like a metal skewer stabbing into a mass of kneaded dough. The locations ranged from Patricias face, arms, legs, and lower stomach, but once the fingernails stopped somethings movement, she started moving in displeasure. The transformation was obvious even through her thick down jacket. Something flowed through her as if following the paths of eight legs and it gathered at the center of her flat chest. A fist-sized mass wriggled below her skin. Her small body gave a jerk, but she did not seem to be bleeding anywhere. Please crush it wherever it comes out! Be thorough, to make sure it doesnt search for a new host!! It was like squeezing out pus. Starting at the eight flowing routes that did not reach the center of her chest, Patricias soft skin split apart and a creepily bubbling black thing seeped out. Before it could do anything, Kamijou pressed Imagine Breaker against it as if wiping it away with his finger. Each time, something vanished and the mass at the center of her chest grew smaller. Kamijou had no accurate knowledge of this sort of thing, but this gave him an instinctual understanding of their progress. Things were going well. Patricias body was not flattening out like a juice box having the air forcibly sucked out through a straw. Before that could happen, Claires plant fat filled the gaps and prevented the girl from losing her nutrients. But at the same time, Claire was using all ten fingers to influence Patricias body at once. Sample Shoggoth seemed to be freely swimming below Patricias skin, but it had apparently just dissolved her fat and slipped into the empty space. So it may have been divided into a number of rooms as it lived inside her. As it was forced out and the gaps were filled, it was losing its living space. The mass at the center of her chest was large and creepy, but that did not mean it had an advantage. In fact, the area at the chest was the final room it had been chased into. That meant they could not predict what it would do next. After a dull sound, Patricias down jacket undulated unnaturally from within. Something like black fangs bit down on Claires long fingernails and kept them from moving. What? Did it mistake my fingernails for part of its host since theyre inside the girls body? Claires hands were trapped and she even seemed to be dragged toward Patricia. She looked around in search of any way to escape this situation, but then her head came to a stop. Kamijou realized why. Directly behind her, the ground broke apart and black tentacles burst out. They had likely left Patricias back and eaten through the ground, despite all the dirt and grass in the way. No, this isnt just about plants like me. Its devouring everything it can to test every possibility! Just like a trapped insect jumping into a river or a fish jumping from the water! Kamijou immediately raised his right hand to shield the defenseless plant girl. You-! You cant. Before she had even finished her shout, Kamijou had realized his own carelessness. She had told him to crush whatever came out of Patricia, so how dangerous would this unexpected situation be? That thing had used that fact as a shield. He had crushed the black mass with Imagine Breaker a few times already, but this was different. He would be interfering with the surgery. If Claires pace was thrown off, they could not predict what would happen to Patricia. Sample Shoggoth might destroy her body more than expected and cause her to rapidly decline or it might mess with Claires fingernails inside Patricias body. In other words, intercepting with his right hand could cause a violent enough shock to kill Patricia, but ignoring it would let the black avalanche reach them all. And if it moved to a new host, it was unlikely to care what happened to the old one. Would he act or not? Both options would lead to Patricias death. And it was already too late. He had already shifted from thought to action. Damn...it... He tried to slam on the brakes for his muscles, but it did not work. His right hand collided with the black avalanche. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! The destruction began. Part 4 Meanwhile, Index felt a weight leave her shoulder as she watched from the corridor on a higher floor. The intermittent warm breaths on her cheek also vanished. ? She turned in confusion toward the person she had been supporting on her shoulder. That person was Nephthys, one of the Magic Gods. Her existence itself was hard to believe, but based on what Index had heard, more than 99% of her body had been exiled to another world by Kamisato Kakerus World Rejecter. Would this be the time? The brown beauty smiled with beads of sweat visible on her forehead. No one would have known, but those were the same words spoken by the Magic God known as the High Priest as he watched Othinus break apart in Denmark. If categorized as good or evil, the High Priest had definitely been evil, but even he had saved something as one of the gods. I had thought a miracle might occur, but I guess I cant escape destruction. Then again, it was strange for a god to be relying on a miracle in the first place. What are you-...? Please tell Kamijou Touma the details of what is about to happen. He seems like he would have difficulty accepting the death of someone close to him. Tell him I was already dead and my body was kept moving by something like residual body heat. Tell him I stopped moving because the time had come and not because he did anything wrong. Nephthys moved away. Or so it initially seemed to Index, but that was inaccurate. That Magic God no longer had the strength left to move her legs. The weight was vanishing because her very existence was fading. The brown beautys outline dried and dispersed like an image of sand. Finally, only her enchanting voice remained. Thats right. I am a god. Im not supposed to hope for a miracle; Im supposed to be the one causing the miracles. Nephthys!! Index cried out, but that was not going to accomplish anything. Even if the woman had been weakened, she was still a true god. The knowledge of 103,000 grimoires was not enough to obstruct her magic. Her voice and presence disappeared. A small sandstorm passed over the railing and rushed toward the ground. It rushed toward Patricia Birdway whose tragedy was approaching completion as she was forced into a weakened death after the parasite was killed more violently than necessary. She was Nephthys, a goddess passed own in Egyptian mythology. She had no real legends outside of crying at the funeral of a great god and some said her divinity was created around the idea of the crying woman. She did not have a background or history of her own. She was a gathering of the thousands and tens of thousands of servants buried in the pyramid along with the human pharaoh. She should have had no interest in the outside world or the people who lived there. She could not search out an individual with a close relationship to her. After all, she herself had no concept of individuality. And as a groups shared consciousness, she had no intention of getting along with the descendants of those who had silently forced that group to be buried with the pharaoh. However... (I should have wondered why.) When Kamisato Kakeru had attacked her with World Rejecter and over 99% of her body had been torn away, she had honestly not wanted to die. She had not wanted to travel down the same unknown path as Niang-Niang. But why not? Was it due to the fear? If so, where did that fear come from? Was it fear of having her existence erased or simply of the pain? But as previously stated, she was a group of servants closed inside the pyramid with the pharaoh. She had been so thoroughly twisted from her very origin that she no longer had it in her to fear simple violence. Then what was that fear? (Yes. I...) If categorized as good or evil, Nephthys would have been an evil god. From the viewpoint of human society, at least. After the High Priests defeat, she had not tried to stop Niang-Niang when the other Magic God had announced she would destroy Academy City. That fact did not change. But... Even if it contradicted her previous actions and stood at odds with everything else about her, a certain thought had reached her mind when Kamisato Kakeru had attacked. (I still wanted to do something godlike.) Nephthyss sandstorm-like structure changed on the microscopic level. Her body was a collection of the dust that mummies became as they vanished into the flow of time. There were no traces left that could point to any individual person, but they were still the parts that had made up human bodies. With that, she had everything necessary. She had everything necessary for Patricia whose life was vanishing as Sample Shoggoth was rapidly annihilated. In other words, she had the replacement fat. But unlike the plant girls fat, Nephthys became actual animal fat, so she could slip into Patricias body with no risk of rejection. So she remade all of herself. She became a part of Patricia Birdway. In the rewriting process, her existence as Nephthys would vanish. It was a lot like erasing the data on a hard disk and filling it with new data that prevented the old data from being recovered. In that way, Nephthys would die here. But strangely enough, she felt no fear. The feeling that had overwhelmed her during Kamisato Kakerus attack was not here. But that was not because she was taking the logical view that more than 99% of her body had been exiled to another world and thus her main consciousness would remain somewhere else even if this tiny portion died. Her previous guess must have been correct. This time, she was not vanishing before she could accomplish something, so she did not feel the fear she had when Kamisatos hand had been unilaterally exiling her. If she had still had a face, she knew she would have been smiling. A moment later, it was all over. The Egyptian goddess reached the girl who stood on the brink of death. Kah...!? Patricias entire body shook. She had been rapidly losing volume and transforming into a dried mummy, but she returned to normal as if swelling out from within. A glossy sheen returned to her skin and hair. The girl had returned to being a mere girl. The last traces of Nephthys vanished and only Patricias natural body remained. For a while, Patricia seemed trapped by a dreamlike illusion as she wandered in the gap between life and death. Her widened eyes stared into empty space. As her mind sat in an illusionary world, she spoke the question that came to mind. Who...are you? Kamijou Touma and Claire did not see what she saw. The response did not actually reach her by vibrating the air and her eardrums. Nevertheless, Patricia Birdway clearly heard that womans voice. If you have to call me something, I guess you could call me a god. Part 5 It was all over. With the Antarctic parasite inside Patricia Birdways body dealt with, the threat of the apple inside Leivinia Birdways body was also resolved. For a while, Birdway seemed unable to believe the miracle that had descended on them, but after checking over her unconscious sisters body, she had no choice but to accept it. She did not give any verbal thanks, but pulling out and throwing away the strange artificial organ in her chest was proof enough. There was apparently some ominous group known as the Kamisato Faction, but Kamisato Kakeru himself showed no further attachment to Patricia. Had he intended it that way from the beginning, or was it out of respect for Kamijous intervention? Based on what he had said, it was also possible he simply did not want his faction to grow if he could avoid it. Also, Magic God Nephthys had vanished. Despite all of his bragging, Kamijou had ultimately allowed a sacrifice. ... There had been nothing he could have done. A bitter feeling spread through his chest, but he could not stand still now. Well? He looked around again. Normal High School Boy Kamisato Kakeru waited for him, surrounded by a great number of girls. What are you going to do? This isnt over yet, is it? No, it isnt. Patricias incident had been a detour for Kamisato. He had stumbled across her while dealing with the Magic Gods and Imagine Breaker. Due to his nature, he had simply been unable to ignore the life at risk before his eyes. Now that he was freed from that, he would return to his main task. Nephthys was gone, but the final Magic God remained: Othinus. I have one question for you, said Kamisato. Quite a few Magic Gods were closely involved in the creation of my World Rejecter and your Imagine Breaker. They are also the root cause of the strange environment surrounding us and the many incidents we find ourselves caught up in, so you could call them the reason we are no longer normal. ...Dont you think we have a right to take revenge? If... Kamijou did not hesitate either. With Othinus, he had been knocked around so much his brain was nearly fried. With the High Priest, he had been driven by fear and lost sight of his opponents nature. But with Nephthys, something had changed. He no longer needed to question anything. If you can call them nothing but evil after seeing Nephthyss end, then you really are my enemy, Kamisato. You look evil to me. So much so that I feel an urge to cut you off. ... Just once, Kamisato Kakeru narrowed his eyes with a hand on the side of his neck. He may have had his thoughts on that. In fact, the look on his face made it clear he wished he had not seen that. He took a single step forward and all the girls around him slowly moved away. In response, Kamijou left fifteen centimeter Othinus with Index. Realizing what he wanted them to do, the silver-haired nun and Birdway backed away while the latter held her limp sister. As the two boys slowly approached each other, their surroundings disappeared. At some point, they became all that remained in the darkness of the night. Like the opposite poles of a magnet being pulled together, Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter naturally walked toward each other. They stopped at several meters apart. If they took another step and raised their fists, they would be in range of each others faces. Kamisato removed his palm from the side of his neck. He slowly closed and opened that hand. That ultimate weapon could tear through even a Magic God. Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakerus gazes clashed. Before even thinking about this strange bond, I was simply curious. ... My World Rejecter and your Imagine Breaker are the ultimate weapon and the ultimate shield. If the worlds two most extreme irregulars clash, which one will win? It might not be that big a deal. Really? Im actually a little worried that it might cause something like an antimatter reaction. Great strength filled both fists. No tricks this time. Right. The unreliable illumination from the streetlights suddenly vanished. Complete darkness fell. And in that darkness, something happened. A deafening noise rang out. Todays Hotpot Party, Ingredients List 5 Soy sauce. Miso. Chicken breast, daikon, bok choy, cabbage, bean sprouts, shirataki, tofu. Bouillon, salt, sugar, pepper, champon noodles Bargain vanilla ice cream, canned yellow peaches, canned pineapple, canned mandarin oranges. (For dessert) Fish sausage. Cannibalization Fruit (Made by Leivinia Birdway, rare item) Sample Shoggoth (Remants) Princesss Animal Skin (Remants) (Quick Memo) Kamijou Touma: Sigh. So weve settled on this bizarre hotpot, have we? Othinus: Hey, those things are still twitching even after being torn to shreds. And isnt one of them a parasite? Birdway: Just think of it as filled with the extract of two sisters, and it sounds like a rare delicacy. Volume 14, Epilogue: The Time for the Cradle Comes to an End - More_Purely,More_Bloody. Volume 14, Epilogue: The Time for the Cradle Comes to an End C More_Purely,More_Bloody. Kamisato Kakeru walked through District 7 at night. He was speaking with someone over his cellphone. Ah ha ha! Single combat with the rumored Imagine Breaker, huh? Bet you had fun for the first time in a while, didnt you? Your powers so ridiculous that you rarely get to move on to a second strike. I dont really like fighting that much... But Im surprised you got your bodyguards to back off. All of them would be willing to bury a body or two in the mountains for you. ... The girl on the phone was not trying to make it sound creepy. She sounded like she thought that was perfectly normal. She made it sound as casual as having a childhood friend prepare a lunch for you even though you did not ask. This was now Kamisato Kakerus everyday life. Something had veered him off course. He still believed it was his right hands fault. Well? Yes? So who won the fight? Your World Rejecter or his Imagine Breaker? Thats something not even my forensic investigation skills can predict. Oh, that. Kamisato breathed a gentle sigh in the darkness. Imagine Breaker didnt amount to much. That was a certain resolution. Those words answered which of those powers had the upper hand. Well, thats pretty much what I expected. Ellen did not seem surprised. And thats what makes it so boring. Her lack of surprise did not come from a careful comparison of both sides. It came from her blind belief in Kamisatos strength. God could not lose, justice could not lose, and a hero could not lose. Her thoughts were based on that sort of assumption. But... And that was why she would never have expected what he said next. Who would have thought there was something else inside Imagine Breaker? Bright headlights shined on Kamisato Kakeru. In the instant of illumination, blood could be seen soaking his entire body. His coat was torn randomly and one of his arms hung limply at his side. He could no longer hold a hand to the side of his neck. One of his eyes would not open. When it was just Imagine Breaker, it was easy. But as soon as I erased it, that shot out. Eh? Wait... What was that thing? Kamijou Touma isnt just the owner of Imagine Breaker... Yes... What is that heavy tone for? Eh? Youre joking right? Please wait just a minute!! Static filled the phone call. Kamisato removed it from his ear and folded it in two to close it. He stuck the electronic device in his pocket and faced forward where something waited for him. It looked like a large dog. The golden retriever spoke human language. Do you understand what it means for me to be here? Instead of immediately answering, Kamisato brought a hand to his mouth. A sticky sound followed. He stopped what came spewing from his mouth, but something dark red still dripped from his nose. He forcibly swallowed the rusty-smelling mass in his throat to clear his windpipe. Finally, he opened his mouth. ...Kh. Are you this citys grim reaper? The golden retriever neither confirmed nor denied the possibility. He may not have sensed any romance in the way the boy put it. To be honest, a Kihara such as myself has no interest in good or evil. But you have caused too much trouble. You have trespassed on someones yard and started eating all of the fruits growing in their garden. Sorry, but between like and dislike, that would fall under dislike. Something incredibly large and heavy flew down from the night sky. It almost looked like a hammer swung by a giant. Also, it did more than spread indiscriminate violence. It followed some set of coldhearted laws like a judge giving an absolute death sentence. Countless metal containers stabbed into the asphalt one after another. They opened up like dice unfolding into a two-dimensional diagram, revealing a great variety of weaponry. They arranged themselves around the golden retriever and quickly connected to him. This was not meant to be used on someone like you. A slender arm unrelated to the weaponry placed a cigar in his mouth as he spoke. Hey, have you ever heard of the Anti-Art Attachment? Kamisatos answer was simple. Yes. He was already aware. With no surprise or other emotion in his voice, Kamisato Kakeru gathered new strength in his limp arm and swung his right hand horizontally. More than half of the weaponry surrounding Kihara Noukan was erased. I came to Academy City to eradicate the Magic Gods. But before I could act, Zombie and the High Priest were defeated. I only had to think of it as a method other than my right arm that is capable of accomplishing that. Well, it was actually Ellen, Elza, and the others who did all the thinking, so I cant act like it was all my doing. Oh? So you arrived at this possibility even if only in theory? You truly have gathered some very unusual people. You spoke of good and evil, like and dislike, didnt you? From that point of view, I hate people who fall under both evil and dislike. Would that be someone like you perhaps? How much do you know? Not all that much. As you can see, I was beaten by Kamijou Touma. That was when I first realized it. The bloody boy smiled. I temporarily looked after Patricia Birdway. If not for my business with Kamijou Touma, I probably would have spent all my time on that. And my World Rejecter seems to work from the outside in. Thats why it managed to eliminate Kamijou Toumas Imagine Breaker yet still got hit by what lay inside. It doesnt evenly erase everything at the same time. Theres a slight time lag, unfortunately. ... Heh. Given how youre acting, were you not aware what your higher ups were plotting? Well, I doubt it would have fit your tastes. Sample Shoggoth? An Antarctic parasite? Ridiculous. World Rejecter would have worked regardless, but Imagine Breaker had negated it too. That meant it was more than just a creature. It was related to some kind of supernatural power. Academy City was backing that trip to Antarctica, wasnt it? Then maybe I should assume that was meant as a girl trap laid out as a surprise attack against me. Patricia would have seemed perfect for it. Without the desire to save her sister even if it meant abandoning her own life, someone with an incurable illness would dream of some unknown new world. And due to my goddamn tendency to save anything in the shape of a girl, I would naturally take her into the Kamisato Faction, but you had a surprise waiting to burst out like a jack-in-the-box as soon as I used World Rejecter on her. So what was it you put inside her? To make any sense, it would have to be something that Academy City already has some trust in. Yes, for example...maybe it was discolored Dark Matter. He clearly spoke the word so. The forcible sound of a dry branch breaking came from the hand on his neck. If I had to say whether I was irritated or not, Id say Im just a tad pissed. This too might have been drawn to me by this ridiculous right hand, but just this once, Im starting to not even care. Kamijou Touma had given a different answer. He had said their right hands did not define them and that they were defined by how they used them. Kamisato Kakeru could not agree. He can''t confidently say in his heart if there was something that could go beyond what had descended onto him one day. After all, he was just the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. He was a student who had been that and wished to continue being that. So he obeyed his normal sensibilities and spat out his next words. To hell with you masterminds. I wont let you rob anyone of anything else. That boy was so afraid of his unique right hand that he did not realize this was both a fragment of and the essence of being a hero. The golden retriever closed his eyes for a moment. He could tell at a glance if someone was good or evil, liked or disliked. He did so here. I see. Well, shooting the messenger might not be very helpful, but its an issue of affiliations. If you dont like it, complain to your higher ups. The atmosphere around me was oddly noisy and I had trouble relaxing. Between good and evil, it was evil, and between like and dislike, I disliked it. I can see now why none of the Dawn-Colored Sunlights magic came into play. The heart of that same Golden-style was interfering. At the very end here, Aleister really is making me clean up after something unbelievable!! An incredible exchange of attacks began. Kihara Noukan fired countless precision guided missiles, laser beams, and plasma cannons. He used countless varieties of attack, but Kamisato only swung his right arm. That erased it all. It of course erased the approaching attacks, but it also destroyed the weaponry surrounding the more distant Kihara Noukan. Its useless. Kamisato Kakeru could already see the conclusion. His cursed right hand did not waver. My World Rejecter has the power to exile people to the excess region in the same timeline. It affects anyone whose conflicting desires cause them to cling to the current world while also wishing for a new world. In other words, your efforts here are useless. It doesnt matter how much power you have or how many strategies youve put together. If the one who made that power has a wavering heart that cant focus on a single path, then my World Rejecter will react to everything related to that individual. It will be exiled and blown away. Give up. You chose to join forces with the wrong person. (Did Aleister know this would happen? He set up the rails while accepting his own weaknesses and flaws, all so he could reach the conclusion that benefits him the most. This was quite the detour, but I suppose hes finally gotten his plan back on track. It was all to create that opposing axis and I was only the opening act. I see. So hes finally recovered.) More and more containers were launched. The shapes of the weapons themselves were different and the golden retrievers rush continued. But he could not turn the situation around. In fact, World Rejecter started consuming the containers in the air, before they even stabbed into the ground. Kihara Noukan gradually lost his resources and was finally stripped bare. The Anti-Art Attachment is an application of medical technology, not military technology. Perhaps I should call it an external cyborg attachment. And its main function is to create a link to someone elses body that allows you to remotely draw on their power. ...In other words, you are not the one fighting. You are simply carrying something to its destination. You are carrying the willpower of someone who thoroughly hates the Magic Gods. Of course, Kihara Noukan was not just borrowing someone elses power. He was like an elite soldier that infiltrated deep behind enemy lines and risked his life to lock onto to an airstrike target with a laser sight. Also, he was wielding the secret techniques of the mysterious Aleister. A thorough understanding of that city of science was not enough. Without understanding a world that took a step or two outside of that, the violent team-up would never have worked. No one but Kihara Noukan could have hoped to pull it off. However, that superhuman skill did not help him here. If the person at the source of the power fit World Rejecters conditions, all of the power enveloping Kihara Noukan would be erased. Give up. If you run off with your tail between your legs, Ill spare you just this once. The dog was now just a dog. From a distance, Kamisato slowly raised his right hand toward that loser. He would bring true defeat to that mere dog. But if you have a heart wavering between a desire to cling to life and disgust for this world, then I have a question for you: Do you wish for a new world? ...Heh. The golden retriever slowly exhaled. His weaponry had been stripped from him, but the dog used the one remaining arm to place a cigar in his mouth as he spoke. Its true my weapons might not be of any use. If I think about the path taken by the one who made and uses them, I do have to wonder if he wholeheartedly wishes for an entirely perfect plan. Between good and bad, its a foolishly bad, but between like and dislike, I foolishly like it. Kihara Noukan then added a but. Aleister had implicitly told him he would lose even with the Anti-Art Attachment. And he had said he wished to see him struggle and break free of those perfect bonds of destiny. Almost like the singularity inside a certain boy. So Kihara Noukan cast aside reason. Logic and efficiency did not matter here. He obeyed only the romance living in his heart. If you asked me, and the things that give me form, whether I wanted a new world, the answer would be no. Boy, I have intelligence. I know the original seven who gave it to me. I understand their wills and I have attempted to follow in their footsteps. So my thoughts and my personality would never stray from the path and would never hold conflicting desires when faced with the kind of salvation presented by someone who can only rely on the supernatural. I will live and die in this world. Whatever result that brings, I will face it, I will confirm the answer of the Kiharas that it leads me to, and I will complete the task the original seven began. I see. Kamisato Kakeru smiled a little. He smiled, clenched and opened his right hand, and then accepted it. Those around you are one thing, but you yourself are strong. That at least seems to be true. Lets do this. Until the final moment arrives. A moment later, the true conclusion was reached. It felt like something heavy was spinning around and around in her mind. Even as a Kihara, her mind had gone entirely blank and she could not think. She had stopped breathing. She looked like a child trying to escape a scary dream. Kihara Yuiitsu frantically ran out onto a dark road. Sensei!! She received no response. A pool of blood spread below a barely-functioning streetlight and a silhouette was collapsed on its side in the center. He must have put up a powerful resistance. He must not have moved a single step back. Noukan had always been a true intellectual, but his fangs were coated in dark blood. It was not his. He had bit at his opponent over and over like a wild beast. But his own injuries were far worse. It did not look like simple punches. Yuiitsu identified them immediately using her thorough knowledge of the rules of destruction. It had likely been something like a collapsible baton. Even as Noukan had bit at his opponents limbs, the golden retriever had been beaten over and over. The injuries covered his head, his body, and his legs. Every last part of his body had been brutally beaten. Until he could no longer move. Uuh...uuhhh...waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Yuiitsu let out a wail. She tore at her hair, clawed at her skin, and audibly tore her cheap suit and lab coat. But at the same time, her researchers mind began running. She immediately began her analysis. (His heartrate and breathing are disturbed. His pupils are dilated and his entire body is convulsing irregularly. Several organs were ruptured and bones broken. His blood pressure is rapidly dropping...) She could not bear to look directly at the truth, so she converted it to data. She did not need to feel hatred for the one who had done this. Kihara Noukans vitals were more important. If something was not done, he would undoubtedly die. The blood loss was especially bad. If the oxygen supply to his brain dropped far enough, his golden retriever brain would be destroyed. That was truly fatal for a Kihara. She nearly fainted when she saw the severe damage to the external attachments that connected to the weapons, allowed him to speak human language, and supplemented his intelligence. She searched out all of the problem points. Next, she worked out how to heal him. She compared to two, calculated a more accurate timeline, and felt despair. (I wont make it in time!!) The destruction of his brain cells was progressing faster than any method of healing him. At this rate, he would almost certainly die. And even if he was saved, his intelligence would never return. In that case, what was she to do? (Yes, yes. No matter how cruel or nasty it is, I will achieve my goal. After all, I am a Kihara!!) She held the limp, bloody dog in her arms and carried him by foot to the closest research institution. A giant freezing facility awaited her there. She would put him in cold sleep. That would stop the damage for the time being, but it also meant she could not heal him. She would no longer be able to speak with him. The golden retrievers time would be stopped inside that icy coffin until mankinds technological progress advanced to the point that medical technology could solve this great problem. It was time to say goodbye. She gently placed the specimen on the silver coffin. ... Kihara Noukan thought this was the best choice. He felt joy in Yuiitsus growth for immediately making this decision. Would he next wake in a few decades, a few centuries, a few millennia, or never at all? The odds were good that this would be his last time to speak with Kihara Yuiitsu. What was he to tell his student? There was a lot he wanted to say, but all of it came from his own softness. Those words would not allow her to grow. He would only create a copy of himself in her and she would never be able to progress beyond him. So he sealed off those words he wanted to say. Most likely, Kihara Yuiitsu would be thrown onto the front line. Or rather, the very fact that Kihara Noukan would be retiring here had been arranged as preparation for something. Aleister was making his next move in order to deal with World Rejecter. So the odds were extremely high that she would end up confronting that irregular power. The Board Chairman had asked him to break free of a complete dead-end, but it had been impossible for Kihara Noukan. It would take a much, much stronger Kihara to break free of the bonds of destiny and pave the way forward under their own power. It would take a brand new sort of Kihara who could move beyond pure logic and surpass even the untested theories. His own regrets did not matter. He had to think about what would be best for his student. The golden retriever brushed aside his softness, gathered his last strength, and spoke. Listen, Yuiitsu-kun... Sensei!! I have one last thing to tell you. Become a Kihara that exceeds even me. Do not hold back for my sake. Continue beyond me. I know you can do it. I have nothing more to teach you... That was all. The golden retriever truly lost consciousness this time and Kihara Yuiitsu wept like a child. Yet at the same time, her fingertips moved in isolation from her emotions. They moved with perfect accuracy and ruthlessness. The flash-freezing machine produced a heavy noise as it set to work on her beloved teacher. It looked like his life was being made a part of the machine. She had done it. She had done it with her own hands. I will do it. Even as she sniffled, that Kihara spoke. When she raised her head again, a strange light filled her eyes. I will do it!! I will...I will become a Kihara that surpasses him. I will become a Kihara no one else can hope to match! After all, this is the task my teacher left for me!! He told me to become something unique[1] that goes beyond being a mere Kihara and cannot be explained with the term Kihara!!!!! The world of pre-established harmony crumbled around her. The wishes of the Magic Gods did not matter. The actions of World Rejecter which had instantly killed those Magic Gods did not matter. Yes, thats right. The student must one day surpass her master. She must become someone that her surpassed teacher can be proud of. After the intense hellfire passed, all that remained was a calm burning just like the lit tip of a refined cigar. It was a constant heat that did not flicker or burn too brightly. She would take on the Board Chairman who seemed to know everything, Imagine Breaker who that Board Chairman was so focused on, the science side that Board Chairman belonged to, the dispute with the other side that was thought to exist, World Rejecter that had caused trouble for them all, and everything else in the world. And even as she did so, she would not take a single step back. That would be the romantic thing to do. Isnt that right, sensei? That opposing axis was being reborn in this hopeless world. In a windowless building, a human floated upside-down in a giant tube. He had long silver hair and wore a green surgical gown. That human who appeared masculine yet feminine, young yet aged, saintly yet sinful simply floated as always. Everything was going according to plan. Everything was back on track. No matter how many irregularities the process may have caused, he had prepared a game capable of bringing everything back on track. He did not need to think about the losses. The word adversity was meaningless. Just as a compressed spring only bounced back with all the more strength, a glance at the whole showed that he had come out better off than when he had started. So this was a great success. He had made progress with nothing to taint it. He could feel proud of what he had accomplished without worrying what anyone else thought. And after thinking through it that far, the absurd score was actually displayed. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! A roar seemed to tear apart the very world. It was contained within the windowless building and not allowed to escape. Once, on that day when he had learned of his young daughters death, this human had left a tearstain in his journal. Now, for the first time, he truly cursed this plan that could only lead him in the best possible direction. Once upon a time, the worlds greatest magician was still just a child. The town he lived in was a horrible place. His mother and father who believe in god refused to understand him and his school teachers were all so mean. However, they all looked nice on the surface, so they all had influential positions in the town. While living in that garbage dump of a town, he began to look down on the god who had created such an awful world that was so easily fooled and could not punish liars. So he decided to show them what a real god looked like. He would find the proper rules since that pathetic god would not. That was the starting point that later led to him joining the great Golden cabal and developing countless spells and spiritual items. But that did not mean he was successful in everything he did. The more he approached the answer, the more things would get in his way. The stable cabal ran afoul of infighting, his child collapsed, his wife left him, and his family fell apart. And each time he hit a stumbling block, someone was there laughing at him from somewhere. This is no different... Even so, he is still doing his very best. He is still working to find the answer that not even god could find so that he can make the world a better place. This is no different than what those Magic Gods dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! Even as he laments, shouts, is knocked down, and despairs, Aleister Crowley still continues his fight against gods rules. Notes 1. Yuiitsu means unique. Volume 14, Afterword Volume 14, Afterword If you bought each volume one by one, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. Were already fourteen novels in since the New Testament title was added. This time, I put together a story meant to investigate the character of Kamisato Kakeru, owner of World Rejecter, by using a disaster that befell the Birdway sisters. (I think most of the readers must have laughed at the idea of an Antarctic parasite as ridiculous, but then what was your first guess as to what it actually was?) You can probably already think of several characters who act as opposites to Kamijou Touma, but this time that comparison was based on the power that acts as one of the bases for his character. Kamijou Touma should have been a normal high school boy, so what made him stray from that position? I think the true charm of this novel was to give a satisfactory explanation of Kamisato Kakerus history but then to have that idea rejected and destroyed. This series has always provided the thrill of having the protagonist destroy a nicely built-up miniature garden. (Once it looks complete, it can be hard to go back and change it even if you know theres something wrong with it.) In other words, the true essence of this series is not to convince someone with a logical argument but to take that next step and use the power of emotion to destroy a fully-constructed dead-end. With Kamijou and Kamisato and with Leivinia and Patricia, there are a lot of intersecting lines and it all looks pretty complex, but the structure of the story may have actually gone back to where it all started. But another important point might be that the school was targeted in Volume 13 and the dorm was targeted here in Volume 14. When a series keeps running for a long time, you end up creating safe areas that I suppose you could call sanctuaries. Pay special attention to the stages for the slice-of-life scenes. I think making a move on those places is a small change and a small bit of growth for me. The destruction of the school came from the High Priests playfulness, but Kamisato intentionally broke into those sanctuaries. I thought that might make him a new sort of enemy for this series. (In the previous volume, he rejected the assumption that there was only one special right hand, instantly killed the seemingly absolute enemies that were Gremlin, and used the phrase normal high school boy in a new way. In this volume, he gave his theory about the connection between the special right hand and the relationships with the girls and he also finished off a certain dog. I also violated a few more of this series small sanctuaries, so if you have the time, you might enjoy searching them out.) So if he makes any further moves from now on, he might destroy some other sanctuaries. And Im sure that would be a great shock to the hearts of Kamijou and those around him. As Kihara Noukan said, Kamisato Kakeru is an individual who, for better or for worse, stirs up the current state of affairs and brings a new wind into the stagnant world. Just like Kamijou Touma did against the worlds science side and magic side. And you must not forget that Kamijou Touma overturned massive systems such as Academy City or the Anglican Church in order to get back at them and protect someones smile. Anyone who has been following along this long should already know that thrill. What sanctuary will be destroyed next? And will that choice save someone just like it did for Kamijou Touma? Destroying and breaking things may have a negative nuance, but that is not necessarily the case in this series. After all, the protagonists power is Imagine Breaker. What will the destruction of these sanctuaries bring? What will Kamisato try to do and how will Kamijou respond? What will Kamijou say and what will Kamisato shout back? I hope you will wait with both unease and anticipation in your hearts. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and to my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. Thanks to the Kamisato Faction, the number of characters is increasing by quite a bit once again. Sorry that keeps happening. Thank you very much for sticking with me. I also give my thanks to the readers. I have to apologize for how this turned out if you were hoping for Niang-Niang and Nephthys to end up friends with everyone, but I was going for something that would make you think this was the right answer. You be the judge on that one. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. What did they ever do about dinner? -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 15, Prologue: The Reverse Reverse Side of the Coin — Rock_on_Right_Arm. Volume 15, Prologue: The Reverse Reverse Side of the Coin Rock_on_Right_Arm. The meaning of each individual event may not be immediately evident. But when viewed together, something else entirely comes into view. December 3. The High Priest, one of the Magic Gods visiting Academy City, brought extreme disaster. What they wanted was incredibly simple. We want a way of knowing if we are doing the right thing. In exchange for taking on that one role, he would be lent the power of all the Magic Gods and be tossed into a framework that made him ruler of the world. Become our scorer and obtain the altar of the Magic Gods, Kamijou Touma. After Kamijou Touma rejected the High Priests wish and fled on a new kind of bicycle known as an acrobike, Misaka Mikoto joined him and was faced with a concept that overturned the very core of her being. It isnt working... She was one of Academy Citys seven Level 5s. She was the #3 Railgun. But after utilizing all of that, a certain thought came to her mind. Im only a burden to him!! The High Priest was launched outside the atmosphere using a giant mass driver, but he fused with the Arrowhead Comet and attempted to return to earth. Then, that Magic God was intercepted and killed in an unexpected way. Sensei, are you ready? It was the Anti-Art Attachment. The golden retriever attached to that large mountain of weaponry spoke with an artificial voice. Yes, you need to stand back a little. Aleister and Kihara Noukan observed Academy City from a different viewpoint and thus they noticed something. One down. No, with Zombie, I suppose its two. Well done. That takes care of the Magic Gods. What are you talking about? I only took out the High Priest. Then you didnt do that? Another shadow had entered Academy City. Kamisato Kakeru. The supernatural power in his right hand was World Rejecter. Ah ha ha! Nephthys, this is amazing! This...this is what Ive been waiting for! Itll finally finally be over!! It easily slaughtered the true Magic God named Niang-Niang and tore into brown Nephthys. Gh...bh. What...are...? I am the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. When Kamijou returned to his student dorm disheartened but alive, the next disaster arrived in the form of a package. Wha-!? N-Nephthys!? Kamisato Kakeru has shown up. If he is planning to slaughter all of the Magic Gods, then wouldnt Othinus be in trouble too? That same day, two boys ran across each other on the streets at night. Thats your business. It has nothing to do with me. True. And that is exactly why I dont need to worry about you in the slightest. Just before their clash, the colors red and black attacked them simultaneously. What is this? ...Birdway? Kamijou Touma grabbed the one sister from a rotten red carpet. Pa...Patri...Patricia Birdway? Is that it? Kamisato Kakeru lifted the other sister from a black substance. Just as people gathered around Kamijou Touma, plenty of people gathered around Kamisato Kakeru. The setup is complete. Did she really think a hot-blooded boy was going to back off when he heard that? She only draws Kamisato-san in because she isnt aware what shes doing. One sister was throwing away her life to save the other, while the other was giving up on her life to stop the first. The two boys with supernatural powers in their right hands became involved in that confrontation. Didnt you find it odd that theyre being so unnaturally nice to us? Were supposed to be normal high school boys. Dont be stupid. It all came to an end. The two simply could not agree, so they confronted each other again late at night. Before that, I was simply curious, said Kamisato Kakeru. If my World Rejecter and your Imagine Breaker clash, which one will win? Kamijou Touma with Imagine Breaker and Kamisato Kakeru with World Rejecter. Once the two right fists clashed, a conclusion was certain. One of them would be declared the winner. Imagine Breaker didnt amount to much. In this case, it ended with Kamisatos victory. Or it should have. Who would have thought there was something else inside Imagine Breaker? And... And... And... Pant, pant...!! In the middle of the Academy City night, a boy covered in sweat sat with his back against a buildings concrete building. It was Kamijou Touma. He gasped for breath and held his dangling right arm with his left hand. Blood was splattered all over the road. It had only been his own blood at first and it should have remained that way. He had clashed with Kamisato. His arm had been torn away by World Rejecter and sent somewhere else. The explosion of intense pain and the almost comical geyser of red blood were still burnt into the back of his mind. But... Even so... What...was that? Unable to even stand up, he gulped. Even now, his right arm was attached like normal. He had no noticeable injuries. He remained so perfectly healthy that one would assume the red stains covering his clothes came from someone else. Also, Kamisato Kakeru, the boy he had confronted here, was gone. What in the world was that? His heart pounded in his ears. He could not think properly. Two types of blood were splattered everywhere. One was from the severed arm and the other was from Kamisato Kakeru who should have had an absolute advantage. Kamijou could not believe what he had seen with his own eyes. The confusion inside him would not settle down as he continued staring fearfully toward his right arm that pulsated from within like a pump. He had run across unexplainable phenomena a few times in the past. There was something about his right arm. He knew that. But... (It doesnt add up.) At the end of the chaos in the Eastern European Baggage City, his right arm had done something mysterious. A strange power had erupted from the severed wrist. But incomplete Magic God Othinus had easily crushed it in her grasp. If Othinus could defeat it on her own, then it made no sense for it to overwhelm Kamisato Kakeru who could instantly slaughter the full power Magic Gods. That was like saying you could not defeat a single gun but that you could defeat an army armed with thousands or tens of thousands of guns. Of course, there may have been an issue of compatibility where a simple pyramid structure did not apply, but it still felt wrong. Regardless, the fact remained that Kamijou Touma had driven off Kamisato Kakeru. He should not have been able to, but he had done it. ... That bloody back appeared in the back of Kamijous mind. Something higher on the food chain. An unbeatable predator. A supernatural power with those parameters set in stone. Kamijou remembered the look in Kamisatos eyes as the boy glanced back over his shoulder just before leaving. The boy had been holding his unnaturally limp right arm and leaving on unsteady feet without a stable center of gravity. Confusion. Hatred. Fear. Before, his eyes had contained a lukewarm look directed at the boy he thought was the same as him, but that had been decisively excised. And Kamijou could understand why. He could now anyway. After all... What is...this? He returned to the very first question. He had asked this of himself over and over again, but he could not find the answer. In other words... Is this really the same as...that one from before? Volume 15, 1: Confrontation, or New Days — Turn_a_New-Leaf. Volume 15, Chapter 1: Confrontation, or New Days Turn_a_New-Leaf. Part 1 The next day was December 4. ... To be honest, Kamijou Touma was feeling blue. He did not know what had happened to Kamisato Kakeru and his faction. Nor did he know what the Magic Gods like Othinus were doing. On top of that, he could no longer trust in his right hand. He felt like heading off to school like a clockwork doll. He felt like throwing a blanket over his head and spending the whole day trembling on his own. Even the arrival of dawn seemed unreasonable to him. However... Dont forget. He faced himself in the bathroom mirror with a 120% serious look on his face. This was not some cool self-suggestion meant to remind him how important every single day was. Why was it Komoe-sensei forced that ridiculous toy of an acrobike on you during the anti-crime orientation? She said something ominous!! She gave you a death sentence about not being able to cover for my absences and moving onto the next year being nearly hopeless!! If a cruel teacher that focused on grades above all else had said that while looking down on him, he might have fought back a little, but this had not felt like a threat. It had felt far too much like she had tried everything and was out of ideas. It had never really been resolved after the surge of panic caused by the High Priest, so he had no idea if he was in the clear or not. So what would happen if he skipped school for no real reason now? The truly undesirable trophy of held back could be added to his already acrobatic school life. For real!! No!! I dont want to be the one guy in the class everyone calls an upperclassman!! I dont think I could stand being an upperclassman character even though Id be a first year!! Fifteen centimeter Fairy Othinus spoke up in exasperation after slipping in through the slight gap below the bathroom door. Why are you shouting into the mirror? Is it time for your tranquilizer? Oh, help me god!! I dont know what this is about, but I dont give any divine help to science worshipers. If you have time to play at self Gestaltzerfall, then go make breakfast. I dont really care, but that white nun and the feline beast are going nuts. ...That calico bastard especially scares me since I think it sees me as an emergency food source. This is the problem with quadrupeds... With that, it was cooking time. The hotpot commotion the night before had ended in about the worst possible way. All they had were the chopped vegetables, bread, eggs, and spices that Kamijou had gotten at a convenience store. His mind had been so full of confusion after the Kamisato battle that he had really only stopped by the store out of pure habit bordering on a homing instinct. He had screamed when he saw the receipt later, but at least it gave him something to make a breakfast with. Plus, he did not want to go to any extra effort when faced with so many crises: the mystery of Kamisato, the mystery of his right hand, the mystery of whether he would be held back, the mystery of Indexs stomach, and the mystery of the window that was still broken in the middle of winter. Thus, he chose to make French toast for breakfast, a dish that looked like it took a lot of effort but was actually quite easy. Index, in her teacup-like habit of white fabric with gold embroidery, used the plastic fork and knife that came with convenience store pasta and pancakes to squeakily cut through the bread with her eyes glittering a little too brightly. Chowing down on something sweet first thing in the morning makes me feel a bit like a bad girl. You like everything, so I cant exactly go on what you think. Othinus accidentally plunged head-first into the small dish of honey and the calico cat enjoyed the usual cat food. No matter how many problems he had on his plate, the hands of the clock moved just as fast. After cleaning the dishes, Kamijou grabbed his school bag and started for the front door. Ill be going. Okay. Hurry on back. As he left the dorm and walked along the usual path to school, a girls voice reached him from his school bag. Human, dont shake me so much. It was Magic God Othinus. Thats better. Othinus!? Please dont tell me youve taken a liking to this! Everyone at schools going to think Im bringing weird things with me!! Shut up. I dont want to keep using such a cheap method either. The fifteen centimeter exhibitionist climbed out of the bag, up his arm, and onto his shoulder (which was quickly becoming her usual spot). It now felt like she was whispering into his ear. I feel like you havent been speaking as much since you fought Kamisato. Are you willing to tell me what happened? ... His focus shifted to his right arm that Othinus had grabbed just a moment before. Nothing really happened. What, did you kill and bury Kamisato somewhere? I am a god of magic, strategy, and deception. Did you really think I would be bothered by that? Thats being far too accepting!! And its setting the bar way too low, Miss Understander!! Of course I didnt do that!! He ended up shouting back at her, but then he had another thought. He did not actually understand at all what had happened to him at that moment, at that instant. He could not even use the usual assumption about negating all supernatural powers. What affect did his right hand have, how far was its effective range, and what activated it? That was the vague power that had been sent after Kamisato Kakeru. In that case, he could not entirely rule it out. He could not rule out the hypothetical future of trembling in front of Kamisatos corpse and biting his nails as he desperately tried to figure out what to do. Hey. He forced out his voice as if peeling apart his oddly dried throat to allow air through. Do you remember Baggage City? Back then, you...touched it... You touched the invisible thing that flew from my arm when you ripped my hand off. Are you trying to take revenge by bringing up things I would rather forget? Ow!! Dont bite my earlobe that hard, Othinus!! The small god sighed through her nose. I can make a good guess, but that is not from my domain. Although if Bersi were still alive, it would be pretty easy to confirm that guess. Bersi? He had not expected to hear that name. You mean Kihara Kagun? But wait a second. Imagine Breaker is the collection of the all the hopes of magicians...that is the magic side and their god-ranked Magic Gods. So what would he have to do with this? First of all, Bersi was not simply an expert on the science side. He was skilled on both sides. Make no mistake about that. Othinus lightly tugged on his ear. Second of all, this is a giant institution for raising espers, remember? I dont know what the other Magic Gods were telling you, but did you think this place had nothing at all to do with it? ... It pained him that he had lost his memories. But according to his father, Touya, Imagine Breaker (or the misfortune it brought as a side effect) had been with him since before he came to Academy City. So that his son would not be treated as a god of pestilence due to his strange trait, Touya had sent him to Academy City where it would be understood scientifically and numerically. (No.) After some thought, Kamijou found an unpleasant alternate interpretation. (All my dad and the others saw was the misfortune. They didnt know about Imagine Breaker, the power of my right hand to negate supernatural powers. So I cant actually prove that Imagine Breaker was complete at that point. But Index said the misfortune is created by my right hand negating the blessings of god. That would mean Imagine Breaker has to precede the misfortune. What does this mean? How can I twist this around...?) Negation after negation stacked on top of each other. He was not even sure which side he stood on. And... (Othinus seems to know something, but her information stops at Baggage City.) He gulped and continued thinking in silence. (Her information hasnt been updated, so she might not be able to explain what it was that drove Kamisato away.) Hey. !? What is it, Othinus? Just look up ahead. This doesnt look good. ...? Kamijou had lowered his head in thought, so he looked forward once more. He was almost at school and was in fact right in front of the main gate. It may indeed have been something like a homing instinct because he had not strayed from the path even while lost in thought. But... It was flattened. What was? Kamijous high school. What the hell? Dont ask me. Y-youve gotta be kidding me!! How can we have classes now!? And what happens to me if we cant? My attendance is already in the danger zone and I have one leg sticking out into the abyss of being held back!! Oh, is that why youve been looking so grim this morning? Like an interrupted line of ants, boys and girls with nowhere to go were gathered around the schoolyard. Among them, Kamijous panic-stricken mind gradually provided him with information. It had happened yesterday. Yes, just the day before. What had the Magic God known as the High Priest done after entering the school? Hadnt he created a giant arm of dirt and mud and crushed the school as some kind of demonstration? I already told you, didnt I? It is a matter of sooner or later, of before or after you lose something. In other words, it had been about a possibility, an ever-so-slight possibility. There was no school building, so there would be no classes. If this was not counted as an excused absence, he would not receive credit for the class. And he would be held back? High.... A tiny thread in Kamijou-sans mind snapped. High Priiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest!! You goddamn mummyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! The broken window in his dorm, the crushed school building, and the crisis over being held back. That old mans presence only continued to grow. It scared Kamijou how the High Priest was reaching the rare position of the sharp-eyed girl in a manga who only showed up in the flashback that had made the main character the all-powerful individual he was. Whats this? Am I going to see that mummys face and hear the greatest hits of his quotes every time I stand at a crossroads in life? Please no! Why does it have to be an old man!? Quit following me around everywherrrrrrrrre!! Im not sure I understand, but are you sure this isnt a gods curse? He shows up uninvited, vanishes out of the blue, and leaves nothing but a curse behind!? How much trouble can one old man be!? That bastard probably isnt so bad compared to Greek mythology where a perverted old man attacked a human girl, his cruel wife snapped, and for some reason it was the human girl who was treated as a thief and received divine punishment. Gods are just awful, arent they!? That includes me, you know? Can you look me in the eye and swear youve never done anything like that, Othinus? I dont know much about Norse mythology, but Im betting theres something there. Ahem. He could guess what it meant when the eyepatch maiden cleared her throat. Lets see what turns up when I search Odin and cruelty. Stop! You have to be insane to search someones name in front of them! At any rate... What are we going to do about class today? Are we going to have an open-air classroom in front of this rubble? Or are they going to cancel school for the day? If they do that, itll be an excused absence and it wont count against me, right!? This was an unforeseen accident, so Ill be okay, wont I!? A-ahhh!! Im really on the precipice when it comes to being held back!! You challenged a god like me over a period of time reaching into the billions, so why does repeating a year or two bother you so much? Half the school was smashed flat and the other half was untouched, but due to earthquake resistance and some other reasons, no one was allowed inside. The students who had arrived at the usual time had nowhere to go, so they had all gathered in one corner of the schoolyard looking at and snapping photos of the crushed school building. This is crazy, isnt it? Fukiyose Seiri, a classmate notable for her black hair and forehead (and captivatingly large breasts) spoke to him with a breath from her nose. It looks like the scenes of air strikes Ive seen on TV. I dont know if this was due to liquefaction or subsidence, but its a miracle no one died when it collapsed so spectacularly. Fukiyose-san. This is only something of an exit poll to help with my peace of mind, but do you think were actually going to have classes today? After Kamijous hesitant question, Fukiyoses eyes widened as if she had seen something disturbing and she quickly backed away from him. She wrapped her trembling arms around her own body as if to hide her (very, very large) breasts. K-Kamijou... You actually care about school and classes? Um, Fukiyose-san? Does this mean there are still more disasters to come!? We already had the school collapse and a comet fall, so what else could there be!? I want to cry, but I cant when this is my own damn fault!! Anyway, I dont see how we could possibly have classes. We might be able to manage the normal subjects taught with textbooks by holding class out in the schoolyard, but we need special equipment for esper development. I seriously doubt well be going on a treasure hunt through that pile of rubble, and its unrealistic to expect them to have prepared a full set of new equipment overnight. Th-then can you make any guesses what will happen to Kamijou-sans attendance? I believe you said it best yourself: its your own damn fault, First Year Kamijou. Stop looking down on me and calling me a first year!! That gentle smile only makes it worse!! He was almost completely in tears as he clung to his large-breasted classmate, but then a timid voice reached him from below. I-itll be okay. The two classmates saw nothing at eye level, so they looked down a little and found the 135 cm teacher named Tsukuyomi Komoe proudly puffing out her (nonexistent) chest. A failure in the equipment or facilities is a failure of the faculty, so this accident will not mean taking any extra classes during winter break. We have a plan ready to go. Phew. O-of course, Kamijou-chan is in an extremely tight spot where using up all of winter and spring break might or might not be enough, but I wont give up on you until the very, very last moment. Wait. So yesterdays anti-crime orientation didnt earn me any points at all!? High Priiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest!! That old man had done a wonderful job of taking the position of the idealized heroine who only appears in flashbacks and Kamijou could swear he saw a handsome version of him smiling down from the blue sky. In a way, this gradual poison damage was far crueler than anything Fiamma or Othinus had ever done to him. Next to him, Fukiyose crossed her arms, lifting her breasts (which were born of an age of plenty) from below, and relaxed her shoulders a little. Thats good to hear. I already have plans for the New Years season, so I was worried this would cause a conflict. What? Are you one of those people who gets permission to leave the city to visit home for New Years? asked Kamijou. No, I visit Mt. Fuji as my first trip of each year. You climb a snowy mountain when no ones even paying you!? Why do people love causing problems for themselves!? I always thought you looked like an S, but are you actually a complete maso- bgoh!? Kamijous sentence ended in a pig-like snort because the aforementioned forehead collided with him. Komoe-senseis hands wandered worriedly through the air at the classroom violence she just witnessed, but Fukiyose did not seem to care and asked another question. So what are we doing about class? Well need a lot of equipment for the esper development stuff, wont we? Thats the thing. Komoe-senseis smile seemed to hold all the worlds warm light. After speaking with the others, weve decided to borrow the equipment of a high school with lots of empty classrooms. So theres nothing to worry about. Part 2 Akikawa Mie was full of confidence. She looked like a perfectly normal Academy City middle school girl and she did not gather positive or negative attention. These were perfect traits for someone who wanted to live a safe life, but if they wanted a part in other things (e.g. making an idol debut, becoming an astronaut, or becoming a Level 5 and fighting an evil organization), hers was about the worst position possible. It was difficult for her to be the talk of her class. If she searched her name online, she found neither praise nor insults. That was a relief, but also kind of sad. Plus, her school was a combined middle and high school. To be the talk of the school, she had to compete with the high school as well. And a high schooler was something a middle schooler could never hope to defeat. They had overwhelming privileges such as having part-time jobs or riding motorcycles, so Akikawa Mie, who could only buy a train ticket using the IC card loaded with her parents money, was powerless against them. But today was different. Today, she could shine. (The liquid diamond.) That treasure was worth six trillion yen and she had a heroic story of running around Academy City to protect it and her familys bonds. The actual incident had left some scars on her heart, but that added to her desire to make some use of it. (It was at the same time as that comet falling and buildings collapsing and stuff, but theres a lot I can tell everyone. So much I cant even hold it all! Th-this is amazing! Can I really shine this much? Oh, no! Im gonna be the center of attention!!) With that in mind, she cheerfully walked into her classroom. The entire class seemed full of excitement. She started wondering if a Hollywood offer had already come in, but... Hey, did you hear? Were getting three hundred transfer students all of a sudden! I heard another schools just borrowing some empty classrooms. Which is it!? Yeah, yeah, but thats just the high school, right? Still, itll add to the race for food at the store, so whatre we gonna do!? They were not talking about her at all. It was a complete mess. Um... Oh, morning, Akikawa-san! Anyway, what did the scouts that went to the faculty room say? This could be bad. If the lunchtime competition goes up too much, maybe bringing our own lunchll be better. Anyway? Hm, was there something else? Oh, the homework? Ill let you copy my notes later. Now, as I was saying...!! The typhoon passed and Akikawa Mie was left all alone as she sat down in her seat. She felt like crying. (I guess I can at least brag to Onee-chan.) She put on a lopsided frown and held back the tears. In the short time before morning homeroom, she used her cellphone to send an email to a girl in the high school. (I brought you a lunch today too, so lets eat lunch together.) She received an immediate reply. Having someone who would always respond right away was a wonderful treasure. Of course, it was all over if you tried to force others to do that. However... Huh? What is it, Akikawa-san? Did you forget something? She gave a vague smile to the boy who asked her that, but she still furrowed her brow. (She didnt use the CC today. I wonder why?) The Onee-chan she was emailing had a habit of putting her own address in the CC field. She claimed that let her know whether a server error had failed to send the message or not. That was likely because she knew how devastating communication mistakes could be thanks to her student council work. Akikawa thought for a moment and then checked the numbers on the edge of the screen. It was exactly eight in the morning. And that led her to the answer. Maybe shes not thinking straight due to her low blood pressure again. Part 3 Kamijous school had been destroyed. However, they were apparently borrowing some rooms at a nearby school. Having enough empty classrooms to fit the entire student body of another school sounded impressive, but the spiky-haired boy acted like an adult by thinking about economics for once and guessing this actually meant that school was in dire straits financially. This means a new age is upon us!! Then Aogami Pierce, a relatively unimportant classmate, cut in. The failed students of a destroyed school are making a mass migration to a new school, so things are sure to feel cramped!! And who will we find waiting for us but the elite intellectuals who bully for fun and are masters of biting sarcasm!! Were one step away from a great revolution against the wealthy and a school caste battle will begin!! I just know it!! Youre twisting the facts to make that fit and we really are just terrible students with nothing going for us. Ghh!! And try to think about this from their point of view. If a giant group of failures suddenly shows up out of the blue, becomes a majority of the school, and drags down their average scores, doesnt it make perfect sense that theyd be mad? Stop looking at this so rationally! You have to look at these things from your own point of view and no other!! Oh, dont worry, cut in Komoe-sensei. Were only borrowing their equipment and the schools arent combining, so were completely separate. This shouldnt cause them any problems, so dont worry. Our smiling teacher just admitted were a bunch of morons!! Our smiling teacher just admitted were a bunch of morons!! Ah wah wah wah wah wah! I think your independence is more important than your test scores, insisted the 135 cm teacher, but they ignored her. Fukiyose crossed her arms. In that case, this will be a mass migration, just like Aogami said. Um, um... We didnt have time to make printouts for the entire student body, so were using your contact numbers to send it to your phones as an email attachment. Then I can tell you now Im not getting mine, said Kamijou. I bet the spam filter or something will go overboard and reject it. Thats the kind of misfortune Ive come to expect. Wallow in melancholy if you want. Fukiyose pointed at him. No, she pointed at his right shoulder. But Kamijou? Why do you have a doll of an embarrassing girl sitting on your shoulder? G-gulp!! Othinuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!? Kamijou straightened his body a little, but the understander on his shoulder remained calm. She did not seem to care that the boy was blushing even more than if he had accidentally come to school in his pajamas. Oh, shut up. I might be your understander, but I cant read your mind. You cant just say go and expect me to know whether you want me to grab the remote or make tea. Learn to state what you want, human. This one should be easy! Hide! Arent strange creatures supposed to make an effort to ensure normal people dont see them!? Why are you just sitting there up on my shoulder!? I have no real reason to hide. Living with you was the punishment assigned to me and our relationship was broadcast around the world. What good is hiding now? The worst part was that the attention gathered on Kamijou rather than Othinus herself. Dont tell me youre going to keep doing this when we meet the students of that other school. Really? A doll on your shoulder that you speak with using ventriloquism? And why is it half naked? Way to go, Kami-yan. I dont recognize the character, but I can appreciate the desire to go your own way and make your own doll of a minor character that doesnt get a mass-produced one. Ill support you all the way!! Please. Please dont salute me!! Theres something like a dozen novels of explanation behind this! Kamijou-sans life only looks strange because you havent seen what hes been through! Follow it from beginning to end and youll understand!! And if Othinus was seen as a homemade girl figurine, wasnt there a risk of High School Teacher Tsukuyomi Komoe confiscating it? Mutter, mutter... I didnt think Kamijou-chan was under that much pressure... I always say there isnt anything wrong with being left back once or twice over an entire lifetime, but maybe I should have focused more on his mental care!! See, Othinus? Now I have no idea what to say to these people. Not my problem. I dont need anyone but you to understand me. If Im making a list of what to bring to a desert island, I wont be bored as long as youre at the very top. O-oh, dear. Youre gonna make me blush. (Kyun). Kami-yan... Why are you speaking to yourself and getting all worked up over it? asked Fukiyose. Is this a kind of meditation meant to bring you to greater heights? If reality had a flavor, it would be bitter. The mass migration of the student body had begun, so Kamijou joined their ranks with a smile on his face and tears in his heart. And to prevent a repeat of the same tragedy, he decided on a change of location for Othinus. In the pocket you go. Mghhh! Human! This uniform is stiff and it scrapes my skin! Theres a handkerchief in there, so wrap that around yourself. With two or three hundred students moving, it was a major event even if they were only walking down the sidewalk. They were not kindergarten or elementary school students and so there was no fear of them running out into traffic if not watched over, but it still was not easy for the teachers leading the way. Where is this new school anyway? I hope it isnt too far from my dorm. Will we have to take a bus or train? Dont say that, Fukiyose! Thatll put even more pressure on my finances!! That proved a needless fear as it was less than a kilometer away. That was hardly surprising in Academy City where 2.3 million people were crammed into one city and 80% of the population was made up of students. If you walked around, you would inevitably bump into a school, just like with convenience stores. Its finally time, Kami-yan, whispered Aogami Pierce. Are we up against a cruel all-powerful student council? Or will it be the super-popular scholarship class? What can we do against the approaching storm of dazzling good looks and elitism!? Theyll beat us beyond recognition and steal all the girls in the class, but dont worry. Our time to shine comes later. The bottom-rung students will strike back!! Just you wait until next time!!!! Are you still on about that? But I doubt this will go smoothly. I mean it. Youre probably right about that. Even if they were only using the empty classrooms, there would still be competition at the cafeteria and school store and the added people would create more trash and dirty up the floors. Competition over the soccer and basketball goals would also rise. Unless this school had an incredible spirit of volunteerism, Kamijous school would only be a nuisance. Lets just pray we dont end up as an outlet for some weird frustrations. Im more worried about an insane student council that gathers people together in an alliance against failing students. Curse those popular bastards! They just want to throw someone else under the bus to get all the girls for themselves!! I just know it!!!! And this must be some new fad of yours. I just know it. Meanwhile, they arrived at the school in question. From outside, it looked newer than the school building they had taken classes in previously. It was also bigger, the grounds were larger, and there were more buildings. Fukiyose commented on the student she saw through the fence. Looks like this is a middle and high school. What? There are two types of gym uniform, she casually explained. Since they have enough empty classrooms for us, they must be having trouble keeping students for high school. They must go elsewhere after graduating middle school. We wont be used as an outlet for that kind of problem, will we? If you beat things down enough, the weeds wont grow! I just now it!!!!! Aogami, stop trying to turn everything into a war!! As they argued, they were pushed through the gate by the students behind them. They had never expected to begin a new daily life during the end of the year in December. While it was not as bad as Aogami Pierce, they were all a little worried. Fukiyose and Kamijou were no exception. At times like this, being a lowly Level 0 could be painful. How would they be treated? Could they get along with this school? Would they be laughed at for the textbooks they used? Those were the things they worried about. Oh, it looks like their student council is coming out to greet us. Aogami shouted Here it comes! and grew defensive, which seemed to infect Kamijou too. Around ten boys and girls were walking out from the buildings main entrance. The ratio of boys to girls was about 2:8. They wore dark gray sweaters and either slacks or a skirt which must have been the high school uniform. Kamijou did not have the eye for clothes to tell the difference in quality between his uniform and prestigious Tokiwadais blazer, but he still sensed a hint of elegance from them. For one thing, they were all sparkling. It looked like a ring of straight-A students gathered around a cool and gentle boy with glasses. (Curse the enemy! Now, whatll they say first!?) (Shut up, Aogami!!) The idiot speaking up next to him drew attention to Kamijou. His eyes met those of the silky-haired boy. Then they all approached him. He began wondering what to do and thought they might even throw a white glove at him. But all that thought was wasted. After all... Hello, hello!! Sorry about all the trouble youre going through. As you can see, were just an ordinary school with the good luck to have some spare classrooms, so feel free to use them. We need to help each other out in our times of need, so we look forward to learning together for however long this lasts!! .................................................................................................................................................................. They could not help it. Both Aogami Pierce and Kamijou Toumas expressions grew entirely blank. Then the representative of idiots asked a question. Hey, four-eyes. What is it? Isnt there...something more? Dont you have some twisted pride!? Arent you going to say Keh. These failing students have some nerve sullying our holy house of learning. We were really waiting for something like that!! We were all ready to go! Dont just kindly accept us! You need to have some kind of accident prepared for us!! Well... Just so you know, we have an average score of 65. Thats really good! Dont get all modest!! You need to announce it with pride and attack the arriving failures! Youre good looking, youre smart, and youve got a perfect personality? Theres nothing for us to work with there! Were completely useless and incompetent, but we could at least say we had the purest hearts! But now you had to take that away from us!? Thats what it came down to with Frankensteins monster and the Ugly Duckling! Thats our last resort! If we cant beat you in that, then whats left for us, Handsome Student Council President!? Oh, um. Im only the secretary. I could never be the president. And cant you at least react when I call you four-eyes!? Honestly, I was more bothered by how you called yourselves useless and incompetent. Nothing good comes from closing off your own possibilities. If the secretary is this angelic, the president must be an archangel! All hope is loooooooooooooooooooooooooooost!! Kamijou fell to his knees on the spot and Aogami Pierce placed a gentle hand on Kamijous shoulder and shook his head. The Secretary (boy) tilted his head in utter confusion. A world without malice was a cruel thing. I-is the president maybe a cruel upperclassmen who seems like theyre studying to be a tyrant when they grow up? My apologies, I havent introduced her yet. She is the president. Although she is a little shy, so she almost always hides behind someones back. Her nickname is Jumpy Bunny. If you sneak up behind her and yell, she hops up in the cutest way. Even after the introduction, Kamijou could not find her. Just where was that president hiding!? This isnt right. This isnt right at all! Isnt there some kind of major event here!? Like the 0th Student Council that rules the school from the shadows!? Or the perfectly harmless looking secretary who is actually ruling the entire student council with brainwashing!? Um, why would someone want to rule the student council? ...To be honest, we really just take care of odd jobs. Oh, no! thought Kamijou. There really is nothing at this school! And this four-eyes is really just a normal handsome guy!! (Can this really happen!? Can he really just be handsome, smart, and kind? The only way to make this work is if hes secretly a gourmet cannibal whos been making waves in the news!!) (Dont be silly, Kami-yan. ...If hes good-looking, even being a cannibal would work for him. Its just how the world works. What pisses me off is that they dont realize that theyre absorbing something from us just by standing there!!) Kamijou and Aogami Pierce had become absolute villains, so Fukiyose ignored them and sighed with her arms crossed. The Student Council President (girl) known as the Jumpy Bunny was apparently hiding behind someones back, but she still failed to come out and the Secretary in glasses took the lead as he showed them around the school. First of all, weve prepared shoe lockers for all of you in the entranceway. You will be using the classrooms here that were already empty. (Wheres the stairway to the secret basement? There has to be something like an unfathomably vast dungeon where they fight monsters every day!) (Hold it, Kami-yan!! If we take the secret in that direction, that student council will be equipped with Japanese swords and magic wands!! Thatll only make them more good-looking! As their mother, I cannot allow them to have a fulfilling life of popularity by day and dungeon exploring by night!! Choose one or the other, dammit! If they introduce me to a 100-level underground labyrinth that changes its layout every day, Ill run on down to the bottom floor and grab that flat-chested long-lived elf for myself!!) We really should have gathered you all in one part of the school, but unfortunately, were just filling in the scattered gaps left by our empty classrooms. We will provide printouts to each homeroom teacher and class representative, so it would help if you split into classes before heading to the classrooms. ...? Is something the matter? The glasses boy tilted his head when Kamijou stared at him while shoving his shoes into a shoe locker. Kamijou gave an honest answer. Well, you seem pretty used to this. Does the secretary have to do this a lot? Well, the student council really is just a group to handle odd jobs, but the secretary does tend to help official business progress smoothly while also keeping records. Although I mostly just keep the president informed when things get too complicated for her. The glasses boy glanced in a different direction, but Kamijou and the others could not tell who the president was. Also. ? For better or for worse, we already had a transfer student recently. That may have helped prepare me for this. A transfer student? Nothing on as large a scale as all of you. It was just the one person. The one student arrived with the kind of normal transfer request you can find anywhere. Kamijou heard a solid footstep. They were passing by a stairway and someone had stopped on the next landing up to look down at them. Oh, thats him right there. Kamijou Touma looked up. And he saw the boy. His name is Kamisato Kakeru. He apparently transferred into Academy City as a whole at this odd time of year. He isnt part of the student council, but hes been helping out some afterschool. Were very grateful. Part 4 There was an unofficial group known as the Kamisato Faction. It was no exaggeration to say that nearly every last member was a teenage girl. Plus, each one of them had some extreme characteristic that could be seen as a unique world: esper, magician, phantom thief, forensic investigator, pirate, ghost girl, UFO girl, cosplay girl, etc. Their strength came from more than just numbers and they could work together to create convenient combinations that made them incredibly difficult to predict. Ellen, Claire, and Elza were three girls of the Kamisato Faction and they were gathered on a rooftop overlooking a certain combined middle and high school. Oh, dear. Kamisato-san really seems to be enjoying himself. Claire, a glasses-wearing garden club girl with giant tropical flowers growing from either side of her head, pouted her lips. I know he can fit in wherever he goes, but were his real classmates! Oh, I cant stand it. Maybe I should go surprise him by bringing him a homemade lunch... Thats a wonderful idea. I think Ill join you. Ellen, any lunch you made would turn the entire school into a contaminated zone the instant he opened the lunchbox. Are you trying to force our boss into some defensive chemical warfare? I know, Elza-han, so how about you make him a lunch since you secretly love cooking so much. Eh? Oh, cmon. I dont love cooking! Or any kind of household stuff! Then I just have to steal it and give it to Kamisato-han to earn some points. How would that be your accomplishment!? Im not going to set things up for you!! The three girls argued for a bit, but then they got a phone call. Ellen tilted her head with her baggy lab coat and ankle-length black hair that provided the silhouette of a ceremonial kimono. Who is it? Looks like Fran. The UFO girl. Yeah, its Fran, the UFO pajama girl who wears a backpack full of radios, has some kind of self-made implant in her neck, and floats around 24/7 while holding onto a giant balloon with one hand.. She must have intercepted something again. Even the Kamisato Faction was split over whether Fran had really been abducted by aliens or not, but they all agreed that the UFO-chasing girl knew an awful lot about astronomy and radio waves. Along with Forensic Investigator Ellen, she formed the front line of the Kamisato Factions information warfare team. The three girls stared at the cellphone together and they all gave a displeased look together. It said the following: Mass Murderer Salomes entrance into Academy City confirmed. She is uncontrollable. All relevant individuals should be on the lookout for friendly fire. Wait, whats she doing out? Wasnt she closed up because she was too much to deal with? Yknow, that thing about altering the direction of her consciousness to trap her in an impossible labyrinth in the mental world. Ugh. Either someone removed the electrodes from her head or shes reached such a level of chaos that cutting of her neurotransmitters isnt enough. The details dont matter. The problem is how that mass murderer is walking around free. Mass Murderer Salome. She stood out even among the highly individualistic Kamisato Faction. Whether it was due to being too compatible or too incompatible, that monster had been unable to get along with normal human society. In fact, this girl had broken before the Kamisato Faction even formed. The three girls thought about this girl and gave their own annoyed comments. Kamisato-hans little sister... This is nothing but trouble. Theyre not blood-related, though. Yeah, but thats what makes it such a pain. Part 5 Academy Citys District 23 contained an international airport. An alarm must have sounded because an airport worker rushed into a large passenger planes cargo room to see what the problem was. He brought a few dogs with him, each one trained to sniff out bombs or drugs. The airport worker had the odd position of a civilian who handled official duties, so he could not carry a gun despite standing on the front line like this. To him, a German shepherd was a much more reliable companion than a baton or stun gun. But this time, the dogs did not bark much. They found something truly unexpected in the cargo room. Nn... The front cargo room was filled with air cargo containers that looked like two meter dice. Unlike the passenger space, it was not air conditioned and the temperature fell by 0.6 degrees for every hundred meters of altitude, so it would become a space of death at an altitude of ten thousand meters. However, the casual voice of a lovely girl seemed to ignore all of that. Nnn... She was stretching her back and arms like someone who had just woken from a nap. Just like a CD, her long silver hair seemed to glitter at certain angles and it was rolled up on either side of her head like disks or demons horns. She was short yet curvy, but the most noticeable aspect was her clothing. Wearing a translucent raincoat over ones nude body was about as bizarre as could be. Two such raincoats formed the silhouette of her outfit(?), but they still defenselessly showed off not just her bodylines but also a blurry view of her skin color. But despite being a sensitive teenager, the eyes of those around her did not seem to bother her. The contrast of a school swimsuit tan line was visible through a blurry translucence much like frosted glass. It might seem like a minor point after that, but she was also barefoot. Hanging from a thick string around her neck was...what appeared to be a palm-sized pocket watch. Rather than being made of precious metals, it seemed to be a kids toy from the capsules in front of a candy store or sent as a prize with a magazine. In other words, it was mostly made of cheap plastic. More than surprise or anger at the suspicious character, and more than embarrassment or bashfulness at the teenage girl exposing her skin, the worker was simply taken aback. She just seemed hopelessly out of place, like seeing an HD digital broadcast coming in over an old-style black-and-white TV. Even if both things were from the same world, they seemed so separate that he had trouble reconciling them. The gears had slipped out of place. That was how it felt. The worker finally began to move, but not because he had come back to his senses. Just like a drunks homing instinct or someone repeating the same action over and over once they stopped thinking, he fled to his duties. Y-you! What are you doing here? You can give the details later, but just hurry out of here! How long were you in this deadly cargo room!? Oh... He received a smile in return. However, it felt far more fake than anything one would expect of a smile from an innocent growing girl. It was the smile of a poisonous woman. So even when faced with someone this suspicious, you worry about them first? Yes, yes. Such admirable focus on duty. And this isnt because someone told you. Its gotta be because its so soaked into your being that it came out on reflex. ...Still, if someone this wonderful is stuck in this decidedly un-wonderful life, its gotta say a lot about modern societys fundamental limits. Wh-what are you-...? Take these clothes for example. From top to bottom, the girl traced a finger down those transparent raincoats that showed her skin color. Why do you think Im wearing this? Surely you dont believe that dream-filled idea that I just have certain special proclivities and love showing off my skin. ... He did not fall silent because he could not think of anything. He fell silent because he could. The airport was a dangerous workplace. Since he stood on the front line against smugglers and terrorists, he heard talk of those industries a fair bit. He had heard of criminals who actually had an easier time if they stripped off their clothes. But if youre thinking Im a drug manufacturer or smuggler, youre wrong. Nor do I melt down stolen gold or smash stolen diamonds for jewelry laundering. Really, youve gotta just throw out anything I could try to hide under my clothes. I also have nothing to do with printing counterfeit money where you cant let a single fiber of your clothes get mixed in. The girl slowly placed each possibility between her back teeth and crushed it. Until only the worst possible one remained. That just leaves the big winner: remove your clothes and you wont get any blood stains on them. You work at an international airport with all the danger that entails, so youve gotta know about that, dontcha? A-ahhh... He heard a heavy metallic sound. The girl carried a long sports bag by its shoulder strap, but he had never heard of a sport with a naked raincoat as the uniform. That bag had to be filled with very different, much heavier, and much more ominous tools. Oh, honestly. I guess I could call this sightseeing. I technically have a quota to fill, but it would still be more accurate to say Im here for pleasure, not business With the sound of solid objects clattering together, the girl held up a clear bottle the size of a can of coffee. She dumped out what looked like glittering konpeito with spikes sticking out in every direction. They were made of different-colored glass. In that case, they may have been more like the caltrops used in samurai stories. Heavy sounds followed. The girls supposedly soft foot was mercilessly crushing the glass weapons underfoot. I dont know the name of the hotel Ill be staying at and I dont remember my medical history. Oh, and if you want to know my criminal history, you should find plenty if you make a search for Mass Murderer and Salome. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Japans airports had one major security flaw. The airport workers could not carry guns, so they could not use any real force until the police or Anti-Skill arrived. No matter how great a threat stood right before their eyes. Between the Lines 1 Since eighty percent of Academy Citys 2.3 million residents were students, they had plenty of juvenile halls. A lot of the criminals used esper powers that could not be easily confiscated, so they were more strictly guarded than even prisons for normal adults. The walls were thick, the metal doors were heavy, and lights flashed while a mosquito noise played 24/7 to keep the espers from focusing. Simply walking through the facility could depress someone, so it was unlikely they were ever opened up for social studies field trips. The place had entirely abandoned its supposed goal of removing the prisoners delinquent side and rehabilitating them for life in society. This was simply a box that closed people away to preserve the public order. Footsteps echoed down a thick concrete tunnel that looked like a passageway in a giant underground fortress. Oh, one question. The young male guard forced into guide duty spoke up nervously. How did you know she was here? There arent any records in any normal archive... Would Im a Kihara too suffice as an answer? The guards shoulders jumped at the kind voice. Walking next to him was a woman in a lab coat and cheap suit. Her name was Kihara Yuiitsu. She did not have a golden retriever next to her. He was gone now. I havent seen her since Baggage City. And that was an unofficial order from me, so I dont see why she had to end up in juvenile hall afterwards. Um, uh, about that... Yes, I understand. Yuiitsu laughed and placed something in her mouth. There was no real reason to imprison her, but she came here of her own free will. As a privately run facility, all that matters is that she pays. An illegitimate confinement and imprisonment on the request of a third party might be a problem, but if someone pays and asks to have herself locked up, this place is really the same as a hotel or inn. Yes, but she is still the most dangerous inmate here. The young guard wiped away his seemingly never-ending sweat with a handkerchief and desperately continued the conversation. Um, are you sure you want to meet her? She, um, may not be an esper or anything, but... Again, I understand, cut in Yuiitsu. And if she wasnt that way, I would have no reason to speak with her. ... The two of them arrived in front of a certain cell. It was not covered with metal bars like a standard cell. It was surrounded by thick concrete walls and a steel door that probably took a lot of heavy work to open or close. To pass in food trays, the door had an oblong metal window that slid open, but it of course could not be operated from within. Shutting the door and cutting the power would fill the cell with complete and utter darkness. Humans could not bear a life with no stimulation. Even the most brutal criminal would break within three days in there, but this individual was actually paying to stay there. Special Case #15. called the guard. Special Case #15! Were going to release the window, so do as youre told and stick your hands out!! Shouting was meaningless with those thick walls and door, but the young mans mind would likely have gone blank if he did not follow the manual precisely. He pulled the slide window open to the side and two small hands eventually stuck out. The wrists were together and the palms pointing up. Handcuffing them for transportation before opening the door was the most basic of safety measures. Even if the prisoner had not heard him, she would have known to stick her hands out when the window opened. The guard crouched down a little to put the handcuffs on. And that proved a horrible mistake. Uuh...gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? He quickly held his eyes and tried to back away, but it was too late. He collapsed onto the floor and violently convulsed in front of Kihara Yuiitsu. This was clearly abnormal, but those two hands sticking out the window had not actually done anything. Crouching down had been the mistake. That had given him a view inside that closed cell. What a pain. Yuiitsu sighed and approached the cell door. She did not bother collecting the keys from the writhing guards waist. She pulled a small card-sized device from her pocket and held it in front of the door. There was no light or noise, but that was enough for the magnetic lock to raise the white flag. Slightly modifying a stun gun to destroy electronic circuits without touching them or producing any sound or light was a well-known tactic. The thick door opened and light crept in. The concrete box was neither large nor comfortable. All four walls, the ceiling, and the floor were utterly covered with small writing and numbers. As she read through them one at a time, Kihara Yuiitsu shook her head. That writing could easily smash all of human civilization four or five times over. She had her doubts about how much that uneducated guard had understood, but he seemed to have instinctually grasped that it would reject the world he lived in. And that shock had caused him to pass out. But Yuiitsu had no interest in that destruction of the world. She had business with the person who had written it all. Enshuu-chan. Hm? A small girl stood in front of the door: Kihara Enshuu. She had been called the failure of her family, but she had a certain strange trait. She could emulate the thoughts of other Kiharas and lose herself in those roles. And that included the unique techniques of those Kiharas. Yuiitsu pulled a handheld device, a smartphone, and some other devices from her lab coats inner pocket and made a suggestion. Neh heh. I was tasked with becoming something unique that no one else could catch up to, but Id still like some fighting power right off the bat. So itd be great if you would help me juuuuust a little, Enshuu-chan. What do you mean? I want you to do your usual thing. That one where you show us what a Kihara would do. Kihara Yuiitsu grinned, placed her pointer finger in front of her lips, and winked. Kihara Noukan. I want you to build up an image of the person I need to surpass. Volume 15, 2: Peace, or a Trap Laid — Board_Game. Volume 15, Chapter 2: Peace, or a Trap Laid Board_Game. Part 1 ... ... Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru tensely confronted each other. It was the lunch break and they were speaking in the cafeteria filled with a variety of uniforms. Why was there a variety of uniforms? There were the uniforms of the original high school, Kamijous school had poured in, Kamisato was wearing a blazer that did not go to this school, and boys and girls from the middle school were mixed in as well. The middle school always had a lunch supplied for them except on bring-your-lunch days, but those growing boys and girls were still running down to the cafeteria after finishing off that first lunch. But... Hey, rookie. Cant you act a little more like a final boss? I think youre confused about something. Were only the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. Its strange for people like us to be in this position in the first place. With miraculous synchronization, they had both selected their new schools cheapest meal which was known as the Poor Meal. In other words, the katsuobushi rice. It did not come with soy sauce, so it really was just chilled stock rice on the verge of going bad with nearly powdered katsuobushi sprinkled on top from a clear package. You cant do that. You cant be copying me with the Poor Meal. The final boss needs to be looking down on me while chowing down on a steak. And this is the final stronghold for my finances, so if I have to fight you for it, Ill have nothing at all left. Why did you have to copy me and take my food away? This isnt easy for me either. Academy City is an away game for me and I have to pay for more than just myself. Theres Ellen, Claire, Elza...and well, I have to look after all of them. Kamisato slowly sighed, but Kamijou hung his head for some reason. His bangs covered his eyes, but a ferocious smile came to his lips. Finally... ? Finally, finally, finally!! Someone here finally complained about being so popular hes surrounded by girls!! It finally happeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeened!! Kamijou very well may have put more into this yell than when they had nearly started a fight to the death after seeing each other at the stairs earlier. Ahh, ahh. Youre hopeless. Do you wish for a new world? Oh, shut up! This new life was such a letdown! Everyone was such a good person that it was just plain boring! But this is more like it!! You need the one intolerable person to keep things interesting!! Placing some orange juice next to a cake will just kill the flavor, but you need that bitterness! Okay, now keep it coming! Give me a cool look and act like what you said was perfectly normal, Mr. Popular!! Can we please just get down to business? With a serious look, Kamisato reached for the condiments supplied at the center of the table. With soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, pepper, and mayonnaise, it was a fairly standard lineup. As it is, well be eating hopelessly dry and flavorless katsuobushi rice. But this is where the fun begins. Now, what toppings will you use to dress up this cheap Poor Meal? What? Cant you just put the soy sauce on it? Didnt you just say you liked to keep things interesting? You cant go wrong with soy sauce on katsuobushi rice, but it can never rise above average either. If I called it a seaweed-less seaweed meal, youd feel pretty blue, wouldnt you? School lunches were focused on cost effectiveness, so hoping for a surprising flavor and texture was pretty much a lost cause. Nevertheless, these two normal high school boys paddled off in their fruitless Age of Exploration. First up: Kamisato Kakeru (beginner at being poor). Ill start off with some pepper. Isnt that a little spicy!? You havent even decided if youre making this sweet or salty! Then Ill settle on an overall direction with mayonnaise. Youre escaping toward bitter!? When looking for a surprising flavor, mayonnaise was definitely the standard. As long as one liked mayonnaise, it could make most anything acceptable. And Ill finish it off with a quick sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce for the flavoring of takoyaki or okonomiyaki or something like that. Fwa ha ha. This was a nice curve ball that flew in perfectly for a strike, if I do say so myself. But next up was Kamijou Touma (expert at being poor) who was on another level entirely. You have to start off with some pickled vegetables, right? !? You have to? But...where did you get those from? I got them from some students Ive never met before. They come with the meals, but no one ever eats them. Kamijou covered his katsuobushi rice with the contents of small plates he had gathered from three or four people at some point and he mixed it all together with his chopsticks. Eating the rice like this would be a little salty, so you have to get some shredded cabbage from the people eating chicken cutlets over there. Hey, you people arent eating the cabbage before the cutlets? You all need to focus on your health. Then mix it all together for a weaker but crisper flavor and then finish it off by dripping on some mentsuyu borrowed from someone who ordered soba. It comes in a bottle, so theres usually some left in the bottom after they transfer it over to the bowl. Isnt that cheating? We were competing using the options here. No one ever said that. I dont care what it takes as long as I can make the Poor Meal before my eyes look a little richer. Listen, rookie, your mistake was thinking you could find the best possible answer using the ingredients right in front of you. You need to take a wider view of the world! Hah hah!! Utterly unable to get along, the two glared at each other while devouring their Poor Meals. For some reason, a small girl was sitting at the same table as Kamijou and Kamisato. She looked to be about the same size as Komoe-sensei. She had a large ribbon in her long black hair and she looked back and forth between Kamijou and Kamisato. U-um, are you two...getting along? What is it, little girl? It might look like these Poor Meals are pretty tasty after desperately adding onto them like this, but they dont taste good in the slightest and it actually adds in a ton of salt. My advice is to stay out of this game if you can. If you can eat a high society grilled fish meal every day, theres no reason to start down this path of carnage. Is it just me or did you just turn into a scoundrel? That was of course because he could not endure this any other way. If he didnt go overboard here, all of his effort on his Poor Meal would be for naught. There was simply no way a bamboo spear could defeat a tank. And that aside... I dont want my grated radish, so you can have it. Oh, thanks, thanks. Do you just put anything someone will lend you on there? You get the fish off the bone really neatly. How elegant. Blush, blush. Kamijou ignored the fidgeting little girl and spoke to Kamisato. Anyway, Kamisato, have you seen the person who reigns at the top of this school? Im pretty sure this school doesnt have Four Magical Lords who rule over the cardinal directions or a Queen of the Underground Esper Fighting Tournament. Im talking about the student council president. Shes called the Jumpy Bunny. That glasses guy said she was there this morning, but I couldnt figure out who she was. Not that I expect to need to know. Kamijou stirred up his Poor Mix that now had grated radish on the top. I only know shes a girl because of what that glasses secretary said. You arrived here before I did, so have you seen her? Well, yes, I have. Ive helped out afterschool some. Hold it, Mr. Popular. If youre making frequent visits to the student council, youre hardly normal or ordinary! But anyway, whats she like? As the president, Im betting shes like the consummate upperclassman girl, so is she full of tolerance? Yknow, the kind of sexy girl who would fit right in as a dorm manager when she grows up!! Ah, ah, ah. Well... Kamisato pointed directly to the side. He also looked over at the girl who could only be described as palm sized or someone who removes fish bones really neatly. Shes the preside-... Like hell she is. I demand a do-over. As soon as the spiky-haired idiot said that, the girl next to him hopped up in her chair. She trembled with tears in her eyes. Im sorry... Im sorry I dont fit the part! But these things are generally decided in an election and someone nominated me half as a joke, so please dont force your image of the position onto me!! Ah, ah, ah. M-Mie-chaaaaaaan!! The palm-sized girl shouted a name with Xs for eyes and a brown-haired middle school girl appeared from the crowd of high school and middle school students. This was the cafeteria, yet she held a wrapped lunchbox. She may have planned to trade food with a friend or acquaintance who got the school lunch. She was already in bourgeois territory. Cmon, what are you doing, Onee-cha-... The girl trailed off. Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at something: Kamijou Toumas face. Kamisato Kakeru scooted away a little in his chair. (Count me out. I dont want to let my right hand mess with a girl here.) Kamijou ignored the muttering boy. The middle school girl placed her hands on the small Jumpy Bunnys shoulders from behind and hesitantly spoke to him. U-um, Im Akikawa Mie. Do you...remember me? After retreating outside their personal space, Kamisato watched with interest to see what Kamijou, his predecessor, would do here. The spiky-haired boys answer was simple. Who? Ahh!? shouted the supposed student council president. Y-you cant say that to M-Mie-chan! Shes at that adolescent age where she thinks shes something special, so you need to treat her kindly even when she starts acting like everyone knows who she is!! Thats the standard!! Yeah, but Im not Index and I dont have a perfect memory recording everyone I pass by on the street. What a pain, sighed Kamisato. But you could at least play along, you know? When someone asks if you remember them, you cant just say no. Are you the kind of person who ignores the looping dialogue and keeps choosing No at the Will you go defeat the Demon King? screen? Still, I guess this at least tells me you arent the stereotypical type that tries to get close to every girl he lays eyes on. Um, arent you two doing more damage to her than me? It looks like shes dehydrating down on the ground there. Shes drying up. Kamijous senses appeared to be in working order, yet Akikawa Mie really did seem to be growing gray and dried out. I just had a bunch of stuff thrown at me at once and its about as tangled up as power cables tend to get, but lets go over this one thing at a time. Is that little thing really the student council president? And of the high school!? Ehh!? Why do you sound so disappointed!? This isnt about your school! And I was only nominated by someone else and everyone really only voted for me as a joke!! Hmm. So its something like that legend about sending your little brother to give the idol agency your resume and he ends up becoming an idol? So you too have an extreme characteristic that gives you your own world. Kamisato was muttering something, but Kamijou had more pressing issues. Namely, his dreams! This is a problem! What is!? A female student council president is supposed to be a trifecta of beautiful, a genius, and rich! And I dont mean a girly kind of beautiful! I mean the consummate upperclassman type whos a mature kind of sexy!! Now I know why I didnt see you when I looked around. You were too small!! Why are you palm-sized!? I dont get it!! I-I already told you Im not the president by choice... I was forced to do this... Gasp!? ...Wait! Do you maybe have a Metamorphosis power that gives you a dynamite body but only in dark pools during the full moon? Its a bit of a curveball, but you cant rule it out here in Academy City. Sorry, but I only have Level 2 pyrokinesis. Sorry I can only create fire like normal... O-oh, no. Thats so middle-of-the-road... Should I not have asked that? I mean, shouldnt the president be either a Level 0 or a Level 5? Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!! Unable to take it any longer, teary-eyed Jumpy Bunny (nickname) clenched her fists and began lightly pummeling him. That brought a question to mind: who was she anyway? Akikawa Mie finally recovered from her gray dried-out state, so she unsteadily got up and whispered to the palm-sized student council president. Cmon, Onee-chan. You need to introduce yourself. Oh. Im Keshouin Asuka. Well, at least your names big. Um, uh, I was trying to contact the two rumored problem students who were considered most likely to cause trouble among the transfer students. So...are you two getting along? Kamijou and Kamisato both grimaced. In this case, they did not care if they were seen as a problem student liable to cause trouble. They pointed at each other with their mysterious right hands. Are you saying Im the same as this ******* bastard!? Are you saying Im the same as this ******* bastard!? Eek!! Ah, ah ,ah! Mie-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!! Not long after arriving at this school, both Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru earned the trophy of Boy who Made the Student Council President Cry. Part 2 He always got nervous in front of banks. Hamazura, what are you doing? Well, Im not wearing a knit hat and sunglasses, so I guess they wont sound the alarm. It was well-known that a convenience store or bank would call the cops if you wore any kind of face-covering fashion. People had fallen victim to that with the black masks that were fashionable lately. But in his delinquent days, Hamazura Shiage had heard whispers of something else. Namely, if a group with mohawks and shaved heads entered a store, the alarm could ring even if they were not covering their eyes or mouth. Hamazura Shiage and Takitsubo Rikou were walking side by side. I hate this. It makes me as nervous as walking through the shoplifting prevention gate after buying an adult magazine. Its not like Ive done anything wrong. Hamazura, a real gentleman wouldnt mention that in front of a girl. The boy with hair dyed brown and a nose piercing walked through the glass automatic door as the pink track suit girls words stabbed into him. It was early afternoon, so more people were gathered at the ATMs than the reception counter. Due to the time, there were far more university students than middle and high school students. Were they receiving an allowance or depositing money somewhere? He could not tell what they were doing as they curled up their back and hit the buttons. The reception counter was almost deserted. An afternoon talk show was playing on a flat screen TV next to all the posters for things like ISAs. Ill fill in the form, Hamazura, so you go get the paper with the reception number. Sure thing. He walked away from short black-haired Takitsubo Rikou and approached the machine next to the counter. He pulled out the small paper that stuck out like a lantern monsters tongue and it looked like they only had to wait for three people. (So todays guest is Hitotsui Hajime. I guess they target the housewives at this time of day.) He had no interest in the TV, but he could not change the channel either. He sat on the sofa and reached for the magazine rack. An auto magazine with a cover story about a motor show caught his interest, so he flipped through it. They were at the bank for a simple reason. Mugino Shizuri, Kinuhata Saiai, Takitsubo Rikou, and the late Frenda Seivelun had all distributed their reward money from the main Item bank account to their individual ones, but they were canceling their contract with that main one and money not needed for living expenses would periodically be deposited in Takitsubos personal account. The processing done on the computer would be perfectly normal. It would be one task out of countless similar ones done every day in Japan and the entire world. But it was a meaningful action. Takitsubo was choosing to let go of the account that Item had used to receive payments for their dirty work. And by making periodic deposits, she was focusing on her future at least a little bit. Instead of grabbing at what money she could get in the moment, she was looking at the life made up by connecting those points into a line. Those girls had a way of rising above the clouds if he let his guard down a little, so uncouth Hamazura had difficulty grasping what they were really after. But he was glad to have this slight sign, even if it was not as simple as a facial expression or actual words. His fingers felt light as he flipped through the magazine. But then someone must have violently thrown themselves over onto the sofa. They sank deep down into the cushion right next to him. He looked over, feeling a little pissed, and he saw something at about 120% on the danger meter. It was a girl wearing translucent raincoats over her bare skin. Ah... At first, all normal emotions were blasted from his mind. His blank mind could not come up with a proper reaction to this incredibly absurd girl. Abweh!? The girl had the waterproof hood over her head and swimsuit-like tan lines were visible through the raincoats, but she did not seem to care about the boys eyes on her. She tossed aside a heavy-looking sports bag and elegantly crossed her slender legs. She was barefoot, so he could see her toes clenching and unclenching. She held something in her mouth which he initially thought was the kind of lollipop Fremea liked, but then he realized it glittered with a dull silver light. (A pizza...cutter...?) She rose another notch on his mental danger meter. It may have looked surreal at first and it may not have seemed nearly as bad as a brutal and professional-looking knife combined with brass knuckles, but that was wrong. From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, kitchen tools were much more efficient blades. There were all sorts of knives and police batons, but most of those found online or in shops were just for show. The knives were often little better than paper knives, the batons would often bend after two or three hits, and the stun guns would often fry their circuitry the instant they were switched on. So instead of a big combat knife that costs twenty or thirty thousand yen, a thousand yen kitchen knife from the supermarket could be far sharper. And if it was something mass-produced, it was harder to trace back to you. His knowledge from his delinquent days (if he could call it that), was telling him this girl knew what she was doing. She placed a hand on the grip and pulled the round blade from her mouth. She was carefree enough to hum, so she looked like a resident of some fantasy world. Hamazura Shiage. If Sunny and Rains information is accurate, Ive gotta count you as a candidate. What...? He did not care what this raincoat girl had to say. This absurd person knew his name. That alone was a big deal. She laughed with her skin color showing through. Well, that doesnt matter. Its none of your concern anyway, Hamazura-chan. So where are you headed today? She ignored the boys confusion and her amethyst eyes glittered with belligerence and curiosity. Are you still an errand boy for Item or whatever its called? Its like being a celebritys tool. But Hamazura-chan, no matter how far you go, youll still be Hamazura Shiage. Even if you crush yourself down to a powder, you cant become a part of Mugino Shizuri or Kinuhata Saiai. You havent built up anything in your own life. Youre more like the disposable engine that gets ejected from the rocket, dontcha think? When the celebrity reaches the stars above, youll be tumbling back to earth as nothing more than Hamazura Shiage. Make no mistake there. ... Mugino Shizuri and Kinuhata Saiai. The position and behavior of those within Item. They had sealed their information off from the citys dark side as best they could, but she brought it up so easily. And you can say the same thing on a larger scale, dontcha think? What...? No matter how far you go, youll still be Hamazura Shiage. You can stick with Mugino Shizuri or Takitsubo Rikou and you can face the same way as Kamijou Touma and resolve incidents like that, but that doesnt make you a force of good. You wont become the worlds most powerful and you wont make everyone accept you. From birth to death, humans only exist as individuals in an organization. You cant ignore the whole to become a free individual and you cant ignore the individual to become the powerful whole. What...do you know? Hamazura gulped. Unofficial documents wouldnt be enough for this. Mugino and Kinuhata, maybe. But just pursuing Item wouldnt show you the line connecting me to Takitsubo. So... Hm? Oh, this isnt my information. It comes from Sunny and Rain, the Weather Girls. The raincoat placed her arms on the sofa back and enjoyment filled her voice. Now, Ive gotta assume I cant fool you by answering a question with a question. Plus, Im betting you know Im not just any old stranger. Youve gotta be suspecting Im someone far from friendly. So whatll it be, Extra-chan who acts big but hasnt left any footprints of his own? Now that Im this close, there isnt much left you can do, dontcha think? One: play your role as a tool and buy time for Takitsubo Rikou to escape. Two: abandon your role and run as fast as you can to survive. Three: yes, you could collapse bloodily in front of Kamijou Touma and pass on some kind of dying message. Yeah, I think that about sums it up. He was a disposable tool to keep Item running smoothly. He was someone who faced in the same direction as someone else to gain the same justification they had. He was someone without a self. Surely you dont think you can use this trouble to your advantage by protecting your girl and showing off how cool you are, normal person. ... Hamazura Shiage slowly exhaled. He spoke to the alternate world located just thirty centimeters away. None of that matters. The raincoat girl looked at him in actual surprise. If he had made a bluff to cut off their conversation, she would have mocked him. In fact, she might have even responded with direct violence. Back when I was a Skill Out leader, that probably wouldve really gotten to me. I really wanted some status for myself, I wanted everyone to think I was great, and I wanted their attention. I thought I couldnt maintain my self otherwise. But he had been wrong. Hamazura Shiage spoke from the heart. But when you get down to it, your self doesnt matter. Those people who wander around seriously talking about trying to find themselves are a bunch of morons. Yourself? Whats that worth? Ignore it and itll catch up to you on its own. People say they want to be something special, but I just want to ask them why they care. ... I mean, being normal is a hell of a thing. He breathed out. Just walking along the normal rails like normal is pretty damn amazing. People get derailed by the smallest pushes from the side. After all the stupid crap I did out on the streets at night, I know that all too well. And Mugino and Takitsubo were lurking in the shadows beyond that, so they were even worse. Im probably the worst kind of person for acting so smug after taking someone elses lifestyle away from them, but I dont want to turn out like that and, if they start heading back in that direction, Ill do whatever it takes to stop them. Isnt that really important? Hamazura Shiage was colorless. No one would notice him if he was not standing next to someone with incredible individuality. That was his starting point, but he did not end there. No matter how far I go, Ill still be a Level 0. Nothing I can do will make me someone special, he said. But so what? If you dont turn out special no matter what happens, you never stray from your path, and you cant be shaken from your position as normal, doesnt that make you more powerful than anyone? Hmm. I see... The raincoat girl laughed. It was a somewhat softer laugh than the earlier mocking laughter. Youve got it worse than I thought. It sounds logical, but youre really just completely dependent on them, dontcha think? Probably. ...Ahh, ahh. Even I realized that partway through saying it all. Im probably just like those corporate slaves who only have their company logo to cling to. And Im not even suffering and trying to escape it. Im actually glad Im a corporate slave, so Ive got a terminal case. Hamazura still did not try to make himself look good, so the girl slowly stood up with her translucent raincoats showing of her naked body and its tan lines. The bottom of the double raincoats spread out like a jellyfish or clione floating in the ocean. Hamazura gave her a puzzled look. Whats this? Youre not gonna do anything? I mean, Id prefer not to have a fight to the death with a stranger here, but still. I decided not to. I doubt Id gain much from attacking you. You dont fit my objective. She grabbed the cheap childrens pocket watch hanging from her neck. She kissed it before continuing. But Im not a kid running an errand, so I would like something else instead. Something else? A sign. You could call it a demonstration if you want. And a banks gotta be convenient as far as thats concerned. Robbery, breaking into the vault, seducing some money out of them, exchanging counterfeit money, digging a tunnel in, and even hacking. The place is a symbol of security, so its gotta give you a name as a criminal if you can attack a bank and get out safely. Maybe its like a treacherous mountain that gives you plenty of prestige if you scale it. Hey! yelled a deep voice. Had no one noticed before or had they ignored her because she was being so bold about it? With only raincoats over her tan-lined naked body, the girl could not have been more suspicious and the guards were finally reacting to her. Here we go. The girl looked around while lifting up the heavy sports bag that could have contained just about anything. Nonlethal? How boringly moral. If they put up a little bit more of a fight, I could enjoy this snack some more. She had no interest in the men armed with police batons and stun guns. She was staring beyond the counter. The giant round door there led to the vault. Yes, if Im gonna destroy something, its gotta be that. Hamazura felt a strange tremor run down his spine. At the same time, his mind searched for and pulled out some information to help protect him during this crisis. It was a lot like his life flashing before his eyes. He had a quick flashback of memories and knowledge. It was from when Fremea Seivelun was being pursued by Kuroyoru Umidori and Silvercross Alpha of the Freshmen. To protect that young girl from the Five Over Model Case Railgun, hadnt he taken her to a bank vault? The lock, the rods, and the hinges. She listed them off as if in praise, yet she ignored them all. She stuck her tongue out again. She licked along the edge of the pizza cutters round blade and guided it between her lips. A breaking sound followed. The catastrophe spoke in human words. External Offering. I offer a weapon up to Sea God Manannn to receive his blessing. Only the result will be provided here. Ignoring both the door and the thick walls, the entire bank building tilted diagonally. Part 3 The first afternoon class was gym and today that meant a marathon. The boys and girls of Kamijous class were driven out of the school. Pant, pant! This isnt right! Why is our long-distance race or marathon or whatever turning into a scene from a winter poem? I mean, dont even pro baseball players avoid training too hard in the winter because theyll hurt themselves!? You can talk that much while you run? Pant, pant. Are you actually pretty fit, Kami-yan? Is that thanks to being chased through the streets at night by strange delinquents all the time!? That doesnt make me at all happy!! Kamijou and Aogami Pierce were not the head of the pack; they were running more casually toward the tail end of the middle group. But they could keep running while yelling back and forth, so they had some decent stamina when compared to those in the back holding their sides after eating too splendid a lunch. Anyway, Kami-yan. Have you heard about the system this school uses? They have a tutoring system for the middle and high school. I think Fukiyose mentioned that. Getting a tutor for free sounds convenient, but Im betting its meant as a way to get more middle schoolers to stick around for high school. Thisll stop them from choosing some other school after they graduate middle school. In that way, its probably pretty restrictive. When I heard about a system where upperclassmen give one-on-one lessons to their underclassmen, white lily flowers filled my mind. Does that mean I should go get an MRI done? No, Id recommend you get counselling or become a monk. And this isnt limited to girls, so thered be man-to-man tutoring too. Gwah!? Were not talking about the leftovers at the folk dance here! Why...? Why dont they allow boy/girl crossovers instead!? Probably because theyre worried about the exact scenario in your head. But how would that really turn out? Sure, receiving one-on-one lessons from a perfectly beautiful and kind dorm manager type with breasts about to burst from her top, a glimpse of a garter belt at her thighs, and whose usual elitism was balanced out by some airheadedness would be paradise, but what about the reality that did not allow for those sorts of dreams? Kamijou and Aogami Pierce went straight home without any club activities, so would an upperclassman who mercilessly violated their private study time really be that welcome a presence? Well, I think its about time for a serious spurt. Im going on ahead! Eh? Whats got you so hot-blooded all of a sudden, Aogami!? Dont be silly, Kami-yan. Were with the girls for gym today, and you know what a girls marathon means, right? Lots of bouncing and jiggling!! Yknow, I bet you could save a galaxy or two if you directed that power of yours in a worthwhile direction. In this world, defeating the Great Demon King and saving every galaxy in the universe wont even get you a single kiss as a reward. But Ive realized something: You cant see bouncing and jiggling when following from behind! Its meaningless if youre not looking at it from up ahead!! Thus I must stand at the very top! To lay eyes on all the bouncing and jiggling!!!!! With intense footsteps, Aogami Pierces back grew smaller up ahead. He was running like a sprinter even though this was a marathon, but his sense of pain had likely been numbed by all the dopamine and endorphins his brain was pumping out. He would probably pass out from oxygen deprivation before he reached the top, so Kamijou made a mental note to not step on him. (Come to think of it, what ever happened to Tsuchimikado? I forgot to ask Kamisato about that.) Hey, human. Oh, the Othinus Hell. Something else I forgot about. Thanks for the kind greeting. I made sure to stay quiet in your pocket, if you didnt notice. Wait...no...no! Where were you while I was changing, Othinus? Dont tell me you saw everything...!! ~ ~ ~ ~!! That was your fault for forgetting about me and changing without warning! Do you have any idea how I felt with nowhere to run!? Their rank did not matter as long as they finished the marathon by the end of class, so Kamijou stopped by the side of the course to focus on his conversation with Othinus. That was peaceful. You contacted Kamisato Kakeru, didnt you? Oh, yeah. If hed noticed you in my pocket there, the world mightve been destroyed a little. He belatedly realized how dangerous the cafeteria scene had been. But do you really think Kamisato set all this up? Was he waiting for me and did he have anything to do with the selection of a new school for us? But it was the High Priest who destroyed our school and there would have been a large random aspect to the replacement school chosen by Komoe-sensei and the other teachers. Not to mention that he wouldnt have expected the conclusion of our run-in last night. If he thought that would happen, wouldnt he have come up with a different attack plan? Yes. If he could think this far ahead, he could have laid in wait a little better and he would have set up a situation where he wouldnt have lost. Othinus readily admitted it while sitting on his shoulder. But that doesnt matter if hes just really good at adlibbing. If this was just a stroke of good luck for him, I wouldnt be surprised if he uses it to its fullest and comes to tear down your stronghold. And luckily for him, youre sharing a school life now, so he can attack whenever he wants. ... You saw his methods last night. To be blunt, hes more like me than you. Do you remember Magic God Othinus who ruled Gremlin? I gathered both science and magic, toyed with enemy and ally alike, and treated the entire world as expendable to fulfill my objective. Kamisato Kakeru has no sanctuaries. You might want to say thats impossible, but you cant say things like that here. Remember that a god once razed the entire world and tore out its softer parts all to break you and you alone. Its that bad...? It is, she insisted. Whether it was intentional or not, we both gained a unique power that created a distortion and then tried to revert that to the way it was. I know what thats like. To people like him, the world before his eyes looks shallow, so he has no interest in any sacrifices or damage done to his surroundings. He feels like hes living on a movie or drama set, so he feels no guilt. He will not hesitate to destroy anything within reach if it will accomplish his goal. If he needs to cause a citywide power outage to pry open a vault, hell ignore the newborns in the hospital and the oxygen machines in the assisted living homes as he flips the switch. Kamijou slowly breathed out. I dont think he would go that far. Oh? Can you tell me what you do think? If he really felt nothing, I dont get why he would work to save the Birdway sisters. Like I said, he sees it like a movie or drama. Othinus sounded exasperated. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ...Even so, you dont want to see a tragedy. If he can change it, he will. But thats all. If your score goes up or your remaining lives go down in a video game, it isnt going to affect your real life. But when you see those numbers on the screen, the blood rushes to your head, doesnt it? So be careful. His empathy and passion are light. He might sob with a handkerchief in hand at one point and then flip the switch for his own objective later on. Just like an entertainer that looks so surprised during each and every cup noodles ad. You need to assume yesterdays understanding wont necessarily be reflected in todays behavior. Kamijou Touma did not know Kamisato Kakeru that well either. He was not an expert profiler, so he could not determine the truth and depth of everything someone said. But. He found himself unable to agree with Othinus so easily. Kamisato was definitely an enemy. He was a danger who would not hesitate to destroy Kamijou Toumas right arm and mercilessly kill Othinus as the last remaining Magic God. But could he deny the part of that boy that had worked to save the Birdway sisters? Kamisato may have been misguided in his anger concerning the girls he wanted to protect, but wasnt that a line he wouldnt stray from unless he found something truly deserving of it? Othinus gave an exasperated sigh on Kamijous shoulder. Dont tell me youre letting Kamisato get to you. Eh? You have to be kidding me... As you can see from the unique fighting force surrounding him, Kamisato Kakeru is quite adept at controlling peoples hearts. And I bet its more than him being a good talker. Heh. The kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere, is it? He claims to be a representative of the common folk and he makes himself look weak to garner empathy, but this goes beyond that. Call it an aura or charisma if you like, but he has the look of someone with that invisible characteristic. ... Kamisato Kakeru isnt as simple as he looks. If youre a natural diamond that has miraculously struck a nice balance, then hes an artificial diamond that reproduces that in a lab. They both shine just as bright, but let it charm you and youll be swallowed up. Kamijou gulped...and then looked puzzled. Wait, Othinus. That doesnt add up. What doesnt? Well, if hes an artificial diamond and Im a natural diamond, that would mean I have something just like he does. And youre not talking about a special right hand that draws people to you. Do you really think a normal high school boy like me has that kind of aura or charisma or whatever? Okay, okay. I get it. You really are oblivious, arent you? ? Just as Kamijou tilted his head, a girl spoke to him from behind. What is it, Kamijou? Are you feeling ill since we just had lun-...oh. It was Fukiyose Seiri in her short-sleeve gym outfit. That black-haired forehead classmate gave him a lukewarm look when she saw Othinus on his shoulder. Kamijou, that is a characteristic of yours, not a flaw. But can you please think more carefully about when you bring it out? Okay, Im just gonna say it now! Othinus is not a doll dressed in a risqu outfit. Come here and touch her. Then youll see. I can understand liking to look at dolls, but touching them is going a little far... And isnt forcing a girl to do that a form of sexual harassment? Human. Do you really think a god will let someone other than her Understander touch her? And after demanding I do it, you reject me using ventriloquism? Youre too far gone for me to interfere. And your cute doll calls herself a god? How am I supposed to approach a classmate like this? Help me, god!! Im about to be placed in some strange category!! Kamijou was nearly in tears, but despite claiming to be his Understander, Othinus stubbornly refused to leave his shoulder. Meanwhile, Fukiyose seemed to realize pushing this was not going to help, so she changed the subject. By the way, Kamijou, do you know anything about the transfer student? What? Arent there a whole bunch of us? Were only borrowing the building, so were technically not transfer students. Fukiyose calmed her breathing. What was his name? Kamisato Kakeru I think. You know him, dont you? I heard some of your conversation in the cafeteria. ... Kamijou? Well, he stalled. Hearing a classmate speak Kamisatos name caused his heart to jump more than he had expected. That name felt like it belonged in the realm where terms like magic and Magic God were normal. But from what I heard, it didnt seem like a very cheerful conversation. He seems like he would just get buried without the term transfer student helping him out. I kind of feel bad with all of us pushing him out of the way. He doesnt like to stand out, so I bet hes actually thankful. I hope so. She may have been worried about that. She was a considerate classmate. But if Kamijou did not get back to the marathon soon, he might not be able to finish by the end of class. He leisurely ran along the designated course with Fukiyose. Yknow, I would have thought you were used to jogging, Fukiyose. But since you were slower than me, are you actually below average? This is to maintain my health. Im not about to stress my body in a mad dash for the best time. I care more about maintaining my pace than getting a decent rank. He realized she was not breathing heavily and her muscles did not look tensed. He guessed she could compete for a top spot if she took this seriously. And when she noticed him watching her from the side, she gave him a suspicious look. Why are you staring at me? This was not entirely his own fault. Or he wanted to believe it was not. This misfortune had come from his surroundings. One: Fukiyose Seiri mentioning that he was staring directed his attention to what lay before his eyes. Two: Before running off earlier, Aogami Pierce had repeated a certain phrase in his mad ravings: bouncing and jiggling. His classmates expression transformed from suspicious to blank and she asked a wooden question. Are they that fascinating? Kamijou Touma gave an honest answer. They are!! A truly honest headbutt reached him a moment later. Part 4 The color orange was thick. It was afterschool and, since it was December, the sun set early. Students were pouring out of the school building for club activities, committee activities, or to have fun outside of school. The entire scene was dyed in the orange of sunset. Kamijou Touma was not a part of a club or committee and had nowhere else to go, so he was walking through the schools campus. He held a large bag of burnable trash and another of non-burnable trash. (Um, I just have to take it here, right?) There was a trash dump near the back gate for faculty. He had been told where it was, but he was still a little nervous walking there for the first time. Fortunately this was not a special class or anything, so he had no time limit. Since no one was there, Othinus poked her head out of his pocket. Nnn. Othinus. If you have a problem with this, ask yourself why that might be. And at least dont hold the bag of burnable trash on my side. It reeks of kitchen waste! What is in this container? Yakisoba? Fried chicken!? Othinus complained as she climbed his arm to his shoulder. His shoulder moved up and down a fair bit given her size and her balance was poor, but she seemed to have decided that was her spot. There wasnt anything like you were saying. Kamisato didnt show any sign of attacking me. I have no obligation to tell you this, but things are seriously wrong from the moment that Kamisato Kakeru is living a normal life in a city as strictly managed as this. Othinus sounded exasperated. It may be hard for you to grasp since youve lived here for so long, but that would put a large burden on him on the technological, informational, and monetary fronts. And thats even if the Board of Directors decided to overlook him. That means he must have some reason for being here. He couldnt do this just because he didnt feel like leaving quite yet. Is that really-...? Kamijou trailed off and quickly rewrapped his scarf. He wrapped it around Othinus to hide her inside. He thought he heard something like a Bgh!?, but he had a more pressing issue. Simply put, there was already someone at the trash dump. The space was shared by the middle and high school, so there were some impressive piles of garbage bags. The space was the size of two classrooms, but the bags were piled up higher than a human being in some places. Someone could easily get buried if there was an earthquake. Due to the drink packages and sweet bread wrappers from the school store, the entire place was surrounded by a sweet aroma. The person he had seen was in the valley created between two mountains of trash. She wore her uniform and had plastic gloves on her hands. It was the student council president with long hair, a large ribbon, and the same small size as Komoe-sensei. Hi, hi. How are you...liking our school? Some spaces are shared between the middle and high schools, so it can be more confusing than a normal school and you might get lost. Not to worry. The facilities are actually better than our old school. She must have been relieved to hear that. But... You told me your name, didnt you? What was it again? Were you...tasked with cleaning up today? Oh, right. It was Jumpy Bunny. Just so you know, thats slang or a type of unofficial- ow! I bit my tongue... A-anyway, that isnt the kind of nickname you should use in front of me!! She seemed to defy gravity when worked up over something because she started hopping up into the air. Kamijou ignored Othinus as she squirmed inside his scarf and gave a curious look to the girls plastic gloves. Why are you here, president? Youre not even trying to learn my name, are you!? M-M-... ? Mie-chaaaaaan!! Wahhhhn!! The Jumpy Bunny seemed to call for that middle school girl when she grew too emotional because she began operating her cellphone with the plastic gloves still on. The response came with incredible speed. Even the predictive shortcuts did not explain that speed, so the conversation was probably being held with only symbols and emoticons. And the president grew petrified as soon as she opened the email. Worried about the unmoving palm-sized girl, Kamijou hesitantly peered over her shoulder at the phone. Mi-ke> Youre running to me too easily, Onee-chan. (-_-+) Am I your servant? 㣩E *crashing tea table* B-bgfh...wahhhh... I really dont think this is worth sobbing like a pig and crying over, president. You said at lunch that shes an adolescent, right? Fghfh. Im going to ask Mie-chan to hang out with me to make up for this, so you be quiet. And this definitely isnt me going into beggar mode with a middle schooler because Im afraid shell run out of patience with me. When he placed a soothing hand on her shoulder, her sobs gradually quieted down. And while the spiky-haired boy was acting like he knew what he was talking about, he too fell into the adolescent category. At any rate, it seemed that shared troubles helped bring people together. The Jumpy Bunny spoke while sniffling and rubbing her red nose. Sniff... A-anyway, um, this is part of my usual student council duties. ...Its one of our odd jobs. Hm? Separating the trash. She pointed here and there. Its generally divided between a burnable pile and a non-burnable pile, but some people dump aluminum foil and other things in because separating it out is too much work. Oh... Kamijou looked over at the trash bags, but he did not notice any real problems from what he could see through the translucent bags. Well, Academy Citys garbage processing facilities do a lot of recycling too. They of course compost the kitchen waste and recycle old paper, metal, and plastic, but they also do urban mining...that is, recycling the micro-sized rare earths inside electronic circuits. They use air, magnetism, static electricity, and centrifugal separation. ...But Id still like to prevent anyone from throwing away a broken utility knife blade or a hairspray can. Ugh. People are that careless? It was easy enough for the person throwing it away, but in some cases, it could blow off a finger of the garbage man who came to collect it. After all, to increase efficiency as much as possible, the trash bags were crushed with a powerful press inside the garbage truck. Um, uh, there are over five hundred people here if you count both the middle and high school. And it might help that it cant be traced back to them like it can with household trash. It was suggested we write the class numbers on the bags, but for some reason there was a lot of opposition and it was denied... But... Kamijou followed the Jumpy Bunnys pointed instructions to casually toss his two bags into the appropriate piles. This space is for both the middle and high school, right? I dont see why the high school student council president would have to go this far. The middle school is really just attached to the high school, so all of the responsibility falls on the high school. Also... The plastic gloved president slowly exhaled. Even if I dont have to do it, um, the danger will be overlooked if no one does it. And that means someone has to do it. ... Kamijou looked around the area now that he had finished his job. It was the size of two classrooms and the piles were taller than he was in places. Do you want some help? Ah hah hah. Its a hundred years too early for that. Plus, Ill be done for the day once I check the ones you just brought. He looked at the extraordinary piles of trash once more. She had already checked through all that on her own? Im growing every day. Um... Sorry, but where? Could you not leer all over my body like that? Especially when we just met today!! The Jumpy Bunny crossed her arms to protect her unimpressive chest and shrunk down with tears in her eyes. I did think about opening them all by hand at first, but, um, I pretty quickly realized that wouldnt work. Yeah, I would think so. But she apparently did things differently now. As for how... The really dangerous things like utility knife blades and spray cans are generally made of metal, right? So I ordered a cheap metal detector. That gives me a general idea of where they are just by bringing the device in close. I see. N-not that that actually separates it all perfectly! But as I said, Academy City does some really good recycling, bordering on urban mining, so its all about give and take. And if you give me an impressed look like that, I cant help but agree with you!! Oh, so you werent using some kind of rare power... Why do you keep taking jabs at me today!? Did I do something to you!? Gyaaaah!! Dont grab at me with those dirty plastic gloves!! Is this a new kind of biochemical terrorism!? Oh, sorry. She let go of Kamijous collar. Anyway, if you have no more business here, theres no reason for you to stick around. Um, do you have any club activities after this? Or do you work? I just head on home. I see, was all the president said. For better or for worse, she did not seem interested. She was wasting her afterschool time on her most troublesome duty, but she apparently had no prejudice against people who simply went home. Then lets head on home. Huh? What about the student council? Um, there are busy days and there are days with nothing at all. The awful part is that we cant choose which days are which. The Jumpy Bunny laughed weakly and removed her plastic gloves. That ceremony seemed to say her work for the day was complete. With nothing to do, Kamijou noticed something almost buried in the trash. It was a rusted metal box about the size of two vaulting boxes side by side and it had a smokestack attached. Theres still an incinerator here in this day and age? The bottom was apparently attached to the concrete ground, so removing it would have cost a ton of money. There was a metal door on the top of the box, but it was locked shut with thick chains and a padlock. So was the small window on the bottom for letting ashes out. If no ones using it, why bother locking it up? Um... The president blushed and fidgeted for some reason. She also tapped her index fingers together in front of her (small, or rather, flat) chest. Kamijous expression vanished at this unexpected response. Was there really any kind of pink element to what they were talking about? Are you saying this had to do with some bondage-obsessed person who goes around putting chains on everything or someone who loves sealing off enclosed spaces so no one can get in or out? Or maybe someone who wants to run a death game in the future? Arent you letting your imagination run a little too wild!? Then what is it? Uuh... She started fidgeting again. And then she answered him as if making a confession. Well... If the incinerator is left open, um, it seems students will sneak things into it at night and burn them. ...For example, um, an inappropriate magazine they worked up their courage to take to the register but were disappointed by and dont know what to do with. Or a life-size doll or body pillow cover they got carried away and ordered online late at night. Kamijou felt a bolt of lightning run through his mind. The struggling inside his scarf refused to stay quiet. (Dont tell me that sounded like a good idea to you.) O-of course not. I cant believe you would think that. Um, y-you cant do that! It ends up causing a bunch of smoke, so you cant do it secretly, and the sparks and smoke might even set off the schools fire alarm! Youll end up in tears as youre charged with illegal entry and attempted arson. Even if you didnt mean it, if people catch sight of a realistic dolls burnt face or arm, it can cause a panic and get you charged forcible obstruction of business too! Youll only be left with some baffling official records of the incident!! I promise you I didnt think it was a good idea!! It seemed to be more out of habit than to make sure it was locked, but the minimum president shook the padlock connected to the chains. No problem today either. Okay, lets get home. Sure. Kamijou and the Jumpy Bunny left the trash dump. Another day of hard work was complete. Part 5 After parting ways with the Jumpy Bunny at the school gate, Kamijou had a special mission. Its finally time to visit the supermarket. Lets do this! Lets buy a full weeks worth of food!! Theres something wrong with you when you have to announce that with so much conviction. The evening colors quickly became those of night. Kamijou walked along the unfamiliar path home with Othinus on his shoulder. Their breath appeared white in the air. By the way, human. What do you think that starving nun is doing right now? You only had enough food in the dorm to make breakfast, right? You didnt know? Her perfect memory has memorized Maid-in-Training Maikas route, so she can find food just by wandering around town if she has to. And people dont find that suspicious? Speaking of Maika, what ever happened to Tsuchimikado? He wasnt at school today and I was only vaguely told that the Kamisato Faction beat him up. They arrived at a certain street as they spoke. Wait, this is the shopping districts main street. Isnt everything here pretty expensive? Youd think so, wouldnt you? Everyone thinks so, so the stores end up with a lot of unsold stuff. But at the same time, it would hurt their brand name if they advertised the leftovers, so not many people learn about the sales on stuff thats about to go bad and needs to be thrown out. This is the perfect time to go for a high-quality supermarket filled with imported food thats usually ridiculously expensive!! Hold on. Its about to go bad? But didnt you say this is for a whole week? Othinus, I have a word of advice for a god like you. ? Othinus looked puzzled and Kamijou put on a gentle smile. Humans are pretty hard to kill. Youre sorely mistaken if you think everyones as tough as you!! Each of Academy Citys districts was unique in its own way, but District 7 was fairly average or normal, for better or for worse. Kamijou and Othinus passed by restaurants such as family restaurants and hamburger shops, entertainment facilities like karaoke and arcades, and fashionable stores selling clothes or musical instruments. It all looked expensive, none of it looked like it would provide more than average satisfaction, and it was all chain stores, so it was kind of sad. The target demographic must have been students on the way back from school because boys and girls wearing a variety of uniforms were walking around. And... Huh? What is it, human? I spotted some familiar faces. Um, its four-eyes, the Jumpy Bunny, and the less memorable student council members. Oh, and whats-her-name from the middle school. Are you sure you actually know these people!? If they saw Othinus on his shoulder (and thought she was a doll), they would start treating him in an unpleasantly warm way, so he quickly rewrapped his scarf and trapped Othinus in the wool hurricane. (You-...! This is super itchy, so dont wrap it so tightly around me!) We dont have much choice. And shut up, god. After whispering back to her, he narrowed his eyes. Kamisatos with them. I dont want him to know youre here. ... Even Othinus quieted down at that. (Cant you just leave without saying anything?) Ive already stepped on the landmine. The only reason it hasnt blown up yet is that I havent lifted my foot. One way to give the police probable cause to question you is to suddenly turn back for no apparent reason. In other words, I want to avoid standing out and causing unnecessary trouble. The best option is to follow the crowd on through. The student council and Kamisato were gathered around a crane game near the entrance of an arcade. Kamijous Imagine Breaker could not defeat Kamisatos World Rejecter. That had been proven the previous night. And there was unconfirmed information saying some other thing would burst out if Kamisato destroyed Kamijous right arm. That scared Kamijou because he did not know the exact conditions for it. The cheerful voices around him transformed into unintelligible static. What if that burst out inside this crowd? He was scared, but not because he could imagine it. He was scared because he could not imagine it. Oh. The boy in glasses caught sight of him. The Jumpy Bunny and student council president named...what was it again? Anyway, she had her hands pressed against the crane games glass, so the boy waved in her stead. Its Problem Student #2. Youre pretty awful yourself. And does that mean Kamisatos #1 and Im #2!? Kamijou shouted back without thinking, but Kamisato only shrugged and smiled thinly when he noticed. Well, I did arrive before you did. Cant argue with that. At any rate, Kamijou approached the crane game. Modern Middle School Girl Akikawa Mie was half hiding behind the palm-sized Jumpy Bunny. She poked out from behind that living hedge to maintain her defenses while facing Kamijou. U-um, uh... Thanks for before... Before? ... In fact, who even are you? M-Mie-chan? Please dont lean on me after drying out like that! They seemed to be killing time there, but since Kamijou did not see any prizes, he guessed they were doing nothing but losing. He had no idea how much money they had spent on it, but he had difficulty judging how much the ugly stuffed dolls in the glass case were worth. Kamijou Touma was on a quest for food, so that wasted money sent a shiver down his spine. He guessed it was all due to the minimum student council president who had steam rising from the top of her head. U-uuuhhhh.... Almost there...almost there. Focus! You need to pour your willpower into this! Okay, lets do it!! Youre skipping past technique to focus on your mental state? And isnt the crane game more about how loose the springs in the arm are? In fact, its about as cruel a business model as the settings at a pachinko-... He stopped when the glasses boy covered his mouth with a hand. The glasses boy also placed an index finger in front of his own lips. He was saying to stay quiet because this was amusing. The brown-haired middle school girl was sticking her arms past the Jumpy Bunny, so Akikawa Mie was the one operating the buttons because the president had too much steam coming from her head. Kamijou started to suspect her student council work also came down to wishing, just like someone praying that the food they were cooking would taste good. (Shes always like this. Akikawa-san stops by to help afterschool and she honestly checks through about 80% of the paperwork, stamps them, and gives the go sign.) So someone really has usurped the student council! Aogami, our delusions werent so crazy after all!! (Yes, but we really just do odd jobs, so being usurped honestly just takes a load off our shoulders. But while Akikawa-san does everything perfectly, she doesnt realize how much shes actually helping out. It seems the president that represents the school needs to be rather unique...both physically and mentally.) One of them was treated like an idol-style one-day police chief with no experience but lots of charisma. The other was treated like the police bureaucrat that could reliably handle all the paperwork. I cant tell if theyre loved or being mocked... What!? Wh-wh-who are you saying is currently doing something that deserves being mocked!? Well excuse me for being the president yet just barely having average grades!! Ehhh!? Youre the president, but you dont get perfect scores!? Eeeek! Eeeeeeeek!! Um, but, Onee-chan, its just like you to not go for all 0s either. Bfh! Wahhh!! Youre obviously just trying to make me feel better, Mie-chan! Im surrounded! Hm, so youre not all that exciting in either direction. Youre just normal. Then someone clicked their tongue. It was Kamisato Kakeru who loved being normal. Thats how the real world works. Being right in the middle is perfect. It makes you a proper human being. Problem Student #1-kun, youre not really helping my case!! Sorry, but you cant look for reality in someone like a student council president. They should only be an ideal that has nothing to do with my life. And #2-kun is crushing my basic human rights to prioritize his own dreams!? Kamijou ignored her complaints and looked over to the crane game. Whats even in this thing? It looks like a bunch of round and heavy stuffed dolls. Wow are they ever ugly. The glasses boy answered. Theyre all reproductions of old mascots. What? That car with a human face is a leftover from a motor show, that round one is the mascot for a lunar development forum half a year ago, and that twisted giraffe-like one is Mast-kun, official mascot two world cups ago. Wait, you mean none of these things are in season!? I can already see the warehouses filling up!! Whatever their original price was, their current value had to be lower than 0 and they would almost have to pay someone to take them away. So why were they making an attack on this lineup that seemed to be rebelling against capitalism? The Jumpy Bunny, who was neither a genius nor a failure, bit her lip. I promised Mie-chan. ? Kamijou tilted his head, so the modern middle school girl smiled bitterly. Half a year ago, we promised to go to that lunar development forum together. We werent interested in the academics of it, though. Um, we were really just excited because a major actor was there to promote a movie set on a space station. But, well, you know how people can get too excited the night before and end up with a fever? The glasses boy gave some supplementary information. Our tutoring system lets a high school student provide one-on-one lessons for a middle school student to help them advance to the high school. Thats where the connection between the president and Akikawa-san came from. Hm. So the president wants to get that stuffed doll for the girl who got a fever back then? N-no... I was the one that got the fever... You little brat!! Kamijous lack of mercy brought the president about 80% of the way to tears. M-Mie-chan couldve gone on her own, but she insisted on looking after me since I had a fever. So she wasted her chance... I didnt really mind, though, said Akikawa while nearly embracing the girl from behind. However... Sorry to interrupt your emotional scene, but...hey, four-eyes. You said the high school helps the middle school with a tutoring system, right? Since the two schools are combined, its really just a system to keep the middle school students from being taken away by other high schools. ...And the president isnt much help as a tutor, so she really only ends up having Akikawa-san look after her. She even has a lunch made for her every day, so the idiot cant even feed herself without help from a middle schooler. Eeek!! shrieked the Jumpy Bunny, but Kamijou already had a hand on his head. That minimum president was gathering popularity by creating an odd desire to protect her. He could only assume she won the student council election with nothing but pity votes. That said... So you just really want to get that lunar development forum mascot? U-um, getting that now isnt really going to change anything, but since I saw it here, I would feel kind of guilty if I just ignored it. (If it isnt valuable or anything, couldnt she get one really cheap at a used goods store?) That fundamental question was silenced by a chop to the neck by the glasses boy. He seemed to be prioritizing his enjoyment of this. The palm-sized president breathed from her nose. Okay, here goes! Lets do this! Mie-chan, you help me. We can see the one direction from here, so Problem Students #1 and #2, you two watch the case from the sides! We need to get this exactly right!! No matter how many people you have watching from the same side, theyll still see the same thing. Kamijous objection was rejected. He had no choice but to join Kamisato to view the crane game case from the side as instructed by the president who had Akikawas hands on the controls. (Hey, four-eyes, the president isnt actually doing anything!) (This is really the state of the student council in a nutshell. But its amusing, so just roll with it.) Othinus was still inside Kamijous scarf, which put her less than ten centimeters from Kamisato. That dire situation seemed to double Kamijous heartrate, but then his shoulder bumped lightly into Kamisatos. Ow... ? Unfortunately, my body doesnt regrow and heal itself as conveniently as your right arm. I have a ton of bandages under my clothes right now. And on top of the injuries you gave me, I had to fight some stray dog. So youre asking me to apologize? You chopped off my arm, remember? Heh. For some reason, that made Kamisato laugh. Im relieved, harem boy. If you were such an indiscriminate philanthropist that you would even whisper sweet things to me, I would have given up on trying to speak with you. Yknow something like I didnt really want to fight you, you know? (smile) Sometimes, its hard to tell what the target of your hatred even is. Also. Kamisato ignored his comment. If this thing can erase you, then you must have conflicting desires. Yknow, like complaining that you want to return home from the alternate world youve found yourself in but also enjoying the harem youre building up. Please dont use alternate worlds in your examples! Not everyones going to understand that!! Really? As you can see, Im the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere, so a trip overseas actually feels more out of reach to me. Manga and video games feel a lot closer to home than desperately mastering a foreign language and heading to the airport with a passport and plane ticket in hand. To be honest, I thought you didnt have any hobbies. Can you really call that a hobby? I like them, but I dont know all that much about them. Thats always how it is with me. I might say my hobby is watching movies, but I cant list off a bunch of French films no ones ever heard of. I listen to music, but Ive never been to a concert. It really is all things like that. You really are stupid. You dont have to earn a gold medal in something before you can call it a hobby. Whats the point of something you arent willing to spend that much time on? The boys held their discussion while watching the toy-like crane. Kamijou wondered if the root of Kamisato Kakerus distortion came from how clean he liked everything. It was not that strange a desire and Kamijou felt there were a few similar people even in his own class. I have nothing and I dont want anything I can call myself best in the world at. But I do wish I had some major achievement that was noticeable even from an objective standpoint. In that way, I think Akikawa Mie-san is truly amazing. As a middle schooler, shes taken control of the high school student council just by helping out a little. When she takes it that far, you have to call it a form of individuality. Just bringing it up in conversation can fill in the gaps. It destroys the awkward elevator silence. I have nothing like that. No matter how far I follow the things I like, its all so light. He refused to rely on cheap tricks even if he knew he could not reach #1, but he also could not forgive himself for not reaching #1 when playing fair. Kamijou had no idea where or who this #1 was, but Kamisato had built up that monster in his head and was burning with a desire to challenge it. He wanted to reach #1 fair and square, so being pushed up in the ranks by a stroke of good luck would not make him happy. It only felt awkward. That was why he sought a proper reason and justification for any good fortune he ran across. And if he could not find that, he would reject it as not his to take. He knew nothing was free, so he assumed that what he was given had been stolen somewhere along the line. In his case, he had concentrated that into his relationships. He would not allow others to spoil him. He would say it was unnatural and wrong. Living like that has got to be exhausting. Sorry, but I cant read minds. Conflicting desires. Kamisato Kakeru made that sound like a form of evil, but Kamijou was not so sure. You might wish you had gone for ramen while eating katsudon, but not many people would immediately push the katsudon aside and start making ramen. It might be the next day or the day after that, but they would eat ramen eventually. But for the time being, they would focus on the katsudon in front of them. ...What was wrong with that? Kamisato would not allow that second desire. He would only allow himself to continue down the direct path to the dream in his mind. He would not allow himself the mental weakness that prepared a backup in case it failed. He would not allow himself to hold the possibility of failure in a corner of his mind. He would never allow himself to utter the phrase realistic compromise. That seemed like another sign of Kamisatos need for everything to be clean. He claimed to be the kind of normal high school boy found anywhere and he was exactly right. He was not driven by an incomprehensible end-times philosophy based on a strange myth or legend. His thoughts were normal ones that a few people in any given class would have. However, he had World Rejecter, the unique right hand which had defeated Magic Gods by the dozen and even destroyed Kamijous Imagine Breaker in a direct clash. That was what had made the result look so strange, just like giving a small child the launch codes for a nuclear missile. Ideal Sender, hm?[1] What about it? That really is perfect for you, spat out Kamijou. His reflection in the crane games glass contained a smile that was anything but friendly. If someone is thinking of a realistic compromise, you send them to the far reaches of the ideal. You hide it behind some confusing stuff about a new world, but thats really what youre doing. Not everyone that vanishes wanted an ideal world. The one who wants the ideal more than anyone else is you, the one wielding that right hand. Whether its you or someone else, you just cant allow someone to let go of the ideal as reality crushes them. So you want to give them a push forward with that right hand of yours. In that way, he was a hero. Of course people would gather around him. Especially those with extreme individuality who already had someone they wanted to be or a direction they wanted to head in. Everyone wanted someone to accept their dream and give them a push in that direction. But... Nephthys said there was probably a reason World Rejecter ended up in your right hand, just like there was a reason Imagine Breaker ended up in my right hand. ...Its true that right hand wouldnt suit me. Its really convenient, but it wouldnt fit me. The word save might be too presumptuous, but my idea of saving people and your idea of saving people are two different things. Someone might want to correct the world, bring back someone who died, become the very best, or never again see a tragedy like the one they had seen. Their ideal was not wrong, but Kamijou had seen several magicians and espers who had grown so focused on that one thing that they spread quite a bit of damage which completely defeated their original purpose. When Kamijou fought, he shattered that solidified ideal and tried to look at it from a different angle. He destroyed illusions. No matter how many words one used, that was the essence of Kamijou Touma. What would Kamisato Kakeru have done if he had been there then? He would have given them a push forward. He would not have hesitated to give them that push toward the cliff waiting beyond their ideal. Do you really understand? Kamisatos tone underwent a change. Even if he had started as a normal high school boy, this was the voice of someone who did not know where he was ultimately headed. It was a perfectly normal school in a perfectly normal city. Ellen, Claire, Elza, and all the rest lived as they wished, no one stood at the center, and they paved their separate ways toward their own dreams. But then along came this right hand. It was just like iron sand gathering around a magnet. They all went crazy, they broke, and they were twisted. They became special and can only see anything in that one direction. Theres no freedom in such an obvious form of special. Its as shallow as an alternate world RPG with four battle command options and a linear story. More times than Id like, Ive seen that special thing taken from them, leaving them with nothing at all. Do you really think you can see what lies at the bottom of my heart? A wrong decision might have led to a wrong conclusion. Kamijou was not a Magic God that could create a world from scratch and discussing the what ifs of history was silly, but he might have been able to judge what would have best if he compared reality to those what ifs. Still, he had a feeling that giving a push to those backs would not lead to smiles. Not even for the one whose ideal had been made a reality thanks to that thorough support. Its okay to waver. So Kamijou no longer hesitated. There was nothing to be afraid of. You can have a hundred or even a thousand conflicting desires, swap them out whenever its convenient, and say the exact opposite of what you said five seconds ago. All of thats okay as long as everyones smiling in the end. If you can reach that conclusion, then throwing out your principles and morals is perfectly fine. Id be much happier as that kind of clown than as some great hero who adheres to his principles all alone and cant smile with anyone. Kamisato started to say something, but the words never came. The palm-sized student council president known as the Jumpy Bunny raised her voice instead. Here we go, here we go, here we go!! Its finally here! This is the best match and the best position! Yes, yes. Now quit jumping around, Onee-chan. Its perfect side-to-side, so now we just have to move it back!! Were counting on you, so watch carefully!! The crane moved at a standard speed within the giant glass case. Kamijou and Kamisato ended their conversation and watched the arms movement. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going some more! There are two of those round things, one on the front pile and one in the back valley. Which one are we after? Well, I guess the one on the pile would be easier. What are you talking about? The one in the back has the top loop of string sticking out nicely. The round body is too big, so we cant get it without the arm grabbing that loop. The pile. The valley! Eh? Eh? Who am I supposed to listen to!? You idiot!! Youre going to pass them both by!! You idiot!! Youre going to pass them both by!! The Jumpy Bunny hopped up with a loud cry and she bumped into Akikawa Mie who was reaching her hands in from behind. Her hands left the large buttons and the crane took its final position at not quite the pile and not quite the valley. The light electronic jingle sounded almost melancholy. Kamijou and Kamisato felt like they were watching a car driving off a cliff as the arm slowly lowered toward another prize altogether. The glasses boy gave his assessment with a cheerful smile. Oh, thats Soapy Sukebe-Isu-chan, mascot of Japans Proud Sex Industry Exhibition. I think the most recent one was at the end of October. What was Japan doing while some of us were facing World War Three!? The Jumpy Bunny looked confused and Akikawa Mie blushed bright red. Now, which of those reactions was more worthy of comment? Thats strange. Werent we in a serious bind since the superpower of Russia had declared war on us? ...And the event itself is just awful! Was this really a character people wanted walking around there!? Well, I suppose this isnt something you can give a middle school girl to apologize for getting a fever. ...Her disappointment would quickly change to worry. The crane arm grabbed the stuffed doll as if stabbing it in the eye. And for some reason, the arm seemed to have excessive power this time. Some other stuffed doll was caught on the first one, but the crane forcibly pulled them both up. The tearful president pressed both hands against the glass. Ah, ahhh, ahhhhhh... Oh, that one caught on it that looks like a dried-up banana is Sticky Higozuiki-chan. Why do you know so much about this, four-eyes? That sexual harassment doll seemed to have formed the foundation below the other prizes, so pulling it out seemed to have caused the ground to shift. A nearby pile wobbled and finally collapsed. And that included the round target at the top. A ton of stuffed dolls poured toward the hole like a landslide and Kamisato Kakeru gave a horribly bitter smile. I just saw a miracle occur, so why dont I feel even remotely jealous? Maybe because these are all trash if you dont have any emotional attachment? Besides, with Kamijou Toumas misfortune, he would never encounter a miracle that included getting a bunch of stuffed dolls that anyone would actually want. If a miracle had occurred, there had to be some reason why it was a problem. The Jumpy Bunny with long black hair and large ribbon picked up the round stuffed doll and held it toward heaven with a beaming smile. Yes!! We got Lunar Zit-kun!! Its name is an insult!? Here you go, Mie-chan! Now Ive preserved my dignity as an upperclassman. Heh heh!! Ah...ah ha ha. Thanks... (What am I supposed to do with this?) The modern middle school girl seemed to be practicing how to use her facial muscles. Kamisato pointed something out with flat emotions that strayed from the others excitement. So what do we do about the other prizes? It doesnt look like the president plans to take them with her. Everyone but the president (who looked like she was seeing heaven) exchanged a glance in the real world. And that included Akikawa Mie who had already had one forced onto her. They glanced over at the malicious prizes still sitting in the prize slot by the dozen. The negative aura was quite impressive. None of them had that kind of esper power, but a black and purple haze seemed to appear. If they were suspected of a crime and their home had to be searched, this bizarre collection would be shown on a talk show as an example of a modern disease. And after that, proving their innocence would be difficult indeed. Who could say how often those things would be brought up in the dramatic trial. The glasses boy cleared his throat. To make this fair, lets play rock-paper-... Please no!! I already know Ill lose and end up with every last one of them! You understand, dont you? That wouldnt be fair at all. Kamisato, you can vouch for me, cant you!? You know how karma treats you when you have a special right hand like this! You have World Rejecter, so you dont want this to come down to a game of chance, do you!? Well. Kamisato gave a heavy sigh while clenching and unclenching his hand. The only thing I can think of is inexplicably having every girl around me obsessing over me. Ill agree its a frightening side effect. Okay, thats it, Mr. Popular. Fists! Were settling this with our fists!! Part 6 It was the middle of the night. Kamijou Touma was trudging back to his dorm with an armful of stuffed trash. But at the same time, Misaka Mikoto, ace of prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School, was walking slowly along a river a short distance from District 7s shopping district. She had no real destination in mind. Tokiwadai was strict about its dorm rules, so being out at night was risking a lot for little in return. She could have easily gotten lost in thought inside her dorm room, but she had still decided to sneak out past the strict guard there and walk through the city at night. She may have wanted a different environment or to place herself in an abnormal and irrational position. Why went without saying. Hes so... Even now, Academy City was recovering as a city and people would be filling the shopping district. But the scars had not been entirely erased. Under construction signs and yellow tape blocked some areas off and a lot of places had yet to replace their broken windows. Misaka Mikoto knew what had caused this. The Magic God known as the High Priest. And the boy who had challenged that monster head-on. Hes so far away!!!!! Sigh... A white breath entered the biting night air. Simply put, she had been stewing. She was afraid that boy would leave her behind and she wanted to pursue him if she could. But how could she? She was one of Academy Citys seven Level 5s. She was the #3 Railgun. That undoubtedly made her a rare person, but that also meant that she had nowhere else to go and that she could not turn back. That immense and stable power was the worst possible restraint. She had nothing that especially stuck out. (So what am I supposed to do now?) Even if she mastered Academy Citys Curriculum, she doubted the #3 Railgun could defeat the #1 Accelerator. That had been proven by cold calculations, so there was no doubting it. Then should she give up on anything related to her esper power? Was there something else she could reach for? But even if she started on something new, she could not see herself climbing the invisible staircase to the next stage. Yes, there was a next stage. The High Priest and that boy stood on it, so she knew it was there. But she could not picture herself on it. She was only a step away from being the strongest. She was the #3. As someone who had approached the final stage of comparative power, she understood. It was just like the final stage of a chess or shogi game. Unlike when the pieces were first lined up, the spaces she could move to were limited. There was no freedom and only a few cramped routes remained. And she doubted any of those would take her to that stage. Unpleasant ideas spiraled through her mind. She felt like a bowling ball was weighing on her stomach. (Could it be...?) In other words... (Did I develop in the wrong direction...?) She gulped. The cold wind dropped further in temperature and stole away her body heat. The lost time would not come back. Once the game piece had been sent out, it could not be brought back. She was dizzied by the shocking fact that it was her partial success that had told her this optimum path did not lead to the answer. Where had she taken the wrong fork in the road? Would she have to move further and further back and finally restart her life from the very beginning if she wanted to reach this goal? That vision filled her mind. And... She did not know. Even if she knew her current path did not lead to the goal, she did not know what it was she had to redo and what it was she had to obtain if she was to stand on the same stage as that boy. She could not tell. She knew she had done something wrong, but she could not reflect on or regret her mistake. And all the while, time moved on. She knew her train was not travelling to her destination, but she did not know where to switch to another train. She felt impatience filling her chest. And to make matters worse... (He...) Misaka Mikoto clenched her teeth. (He isnt necessarily going to stay on that same stage forever.) Yes. Her goal was not arriving at that stage. It was the person there. Returning to the train metaphor, they had no set meeting point and he was constantly on the move. She knew the name of the last station he had been seen at, but she did not know what line led to that station. Plus, he was wandering through that giant and complex station and could board some other train at any time. He would move further and further away if she did nothing. He would freely board whatever other train he wanted and continue his journey to some utterly unknown place. (Calm down...) After following the river for a while, Mikoto walked toward a large bridge crossing it. She looked over the railing at the dark water and stared at the cold moon floating in it. (At the very least, there is a line that leads there. He isnt in Ryugu-jo or Kaguya-himes palace. He climbed to that stage himself, so there has to be a line leading there. The answer has to be right in front of my eyes. But how do I see it? How can I change my viewpoint?) It was probably something like Columbus egg. It only looked complex to her because she did not know how to view the trick art. The world was always there before her eyes. No one had maliciously locked it up with a key. She heard the city at night, felt the biting chill of the wind, and saw the moon floating in the waters surface. She had left her usual room and its usual warmth because she had hoped this new stimulus would pry open that door. She had hoped it would be just like getting stuck on a crossword puzzle and having the answer come to her as she took a light jog. But it had not. This stimulus was insufficient. It was not enough to change the colors of the trick art that was the world. (It isnt that we live in different worlds.) She thought to herself as she rested her elbow on the railing and her cheek in her hand. She felt like a profiler analyzing a targets mental state from their actions and statistical data. (Hes looking at Academy City and District 7 just like me...but what colors does he see this city in?) Suddenly, a new stimulus cut off her vainly circling thoughts. It was a footstep that felt like the ripples of a pebble disturbing the moon in the waters surface. She turned toward that solid sound and then she saw it. Hi. She did not recognize the barefoot girl. Her silver hair glittered at certain angles like a CD and it was rolled up on either side of her head like disks or demon horns. She had a small and slender body. Most noticeable of all, she wore translucent raincoats directly over her bare skin, creating a bizarre outfit that only seemed practical if she was worried about getting a victims blood on her in a dark bathroom. She held a heavy sports bag by a shoulder strap, but Mikoto seriously doubted it contained baseball bats or lacrosse sticks. Even if it did contain sports equipment, Mikoto doubted it would be used in the intended fashion. Despite the cold, the girl seemed to be eating a vanilla popsicle. No. Mikoto had no way of knowing, but that was actually a bleached leather paddle meant for striking people. That tool of torture was easier to use than a whip which required snapping, and it could apply deep and definite damage. Lick, lick. Hmm, leather doesnt taste very good. Or maybe the problems the oil rubbed onto it for maintenance. Sounding displeased, the double raincoat girl removed the paddle from her mouth. She then easily tore it in two like a rejected contract. Mikoto did not know the details, but whatever that had been, she knew it was not normal to tear apart that thick a piece of leather with ones bare hands. It had to be even harder than tearing the phonebook in two. The danger of the citys night had just risen. Mikoto felt her pulse in both her heart and the blood vessels of her neck as a prickling pain covered all of her skin. She had no idea who this was, but she was already receiving danger signals. This girl gave off the image of a ferocious beast. She approached one step at a time and would charge at Mikoto if provoked. Mikoto was an ace known as the #3 Railgun of Academy Citys seven Level 5s. But this sense of danger overturned even that assumption. Misaka Mikoto. The girl with a waterproof hood over her head placed the words on her tongue as if reading them off a document. This thing knew her name. That fact alone seemed to scorch Mikotos nerves. Misaka Mikoto. Yes, this has gotta work well. Hamazura Shiage didnt really seem like a good match. While hes worked alongside Kamijou Touma, hes essentially part of a different circle. I tried it since Id run across someone connected to Kamijou Touma, but he wasnt quite what I was looking for. It would be hard to say attacking him would do any damage to the Kamijou Faction. ...But most of all, his response was pretty amusing. The raincoat girls shoulders shook with laughter. The shaking produced a metallic rattling from the sports bag. But I wont have that problem with you, Misaka Mikoto. Youve gotta be about as deep in the Kamijou Faction as it gets. If Im gonna crush someone, it would be you, dontcha think? Relationships arent neatly divided out like a honeycomb. Theyre like a twisted house of cards. Pull out a single card, and itll all start to collapse. Who...are you? The vague pressure and tension had a definite directionality to it. But not because this girl knew her personal information or was announcing intent to harm her. This ferocious beast was acting on her knowledge of the name Kamijou Touma. Now. What should I call myself? A white breath escaped the raincoat girls lovely lips as she honestly pondered that question. Should I simply go with Salome? Or should I say Im the Mass Murderer that the mass media refuses to cover? No, I think I know what would be most effective. After all, Im picking a fight with the Kamijou Faction right now. ...? Mikoto looked confused as those lovely lips split apart. They bent maddeningly and maliciously. The raincoat girl grabbed the cheap toy pocket watch hanging from her neck by a thick thread and she lightly kissed it. Yes. You can call me Kamisato Kakerus little sister. Oh, but were not blood-related. All sound seemed to vanish. All color seemed to burst. As soon as Mikoto realized Salome was running straight toward her like a bullet, the danger signal grew explosively in her mind. She released bluish-white sparks from her bangs almost on reflex. The way the approaching raincoat girl stuck out her small tongue and licked her lips stabbed into Mikotos mind to an odd extent. An explosive sound followed. It felt like it lasted just an instant. It also felt like a simple flash of light. A one billion volt Lightning Spear had burst from her bangs, but it did not hit Salome. It only scorched the air and there was no longer anyone there. Mikoto emitted electromagnetic waves from her body and used them like radar, so she was able to follow the other girls movement. However, she had trouble believing the answer that gave her. Salome had not run past her. Nor had she jumped over her. The only word she could think to describe it was dancing. Salome was dancing, just like the legend from which she took her extremely ominous name. And that gave a hint as to what desire was contained within the action. She would seduce the king and decapitate a holy man. It was truly a dance of death. (What...is that? Can human joints really move like that!?) Too slow. The voice was distorted. She moved so quickly a burnt smell from the torn pavement reached Mikoto after the fact. The sound had come from...behind her!? ...!! Mikoto did not turn around. It was lucky her opponent had a toy pocket watch hanging from her neck. That strengthened Mikotos radar sense. She considered magnetically pulling it straight up to hang the girl, but... Dont touch me, stranger. Do you want me to vivisect you? ... That thought reached her via pressure rather than via a voice. A chill seemed to flash freeze her entire spine. She was honestly glad she was not facing her opponent at the moment. Before her body tensed up, she simply manipulated magnetism. She gathered iron sand from her surroundings and vibrated it at high speed to create an Iron Sand Sword that could instantly slice through a wind turbine. She then launched it directly behind her. While it was essentially a sword, the blades length and shape could change like a whip. Its incredible cutting power could slice through anything in a single blow. She saw no way this cruel attack could be successfully blocked or avoided if her opponent was seeing it for the first time. And yet, a dry bursting sound rang out as Misaka Mikotos Iron Sand Sword was mercilessly destroyed. It vanished. The reliable sensation of that weapon...no, that lifeline had vanished. Wha-...? The #3s thoughts were briefly swallowed up by a void. This was different from the #1s reflection. The Iron Sand Sword had shattered. It was destroyed. It was negated. She only knew one person who could do this. Or so she had thought. Ah? There were no more strategies or tactics. Mikotos mind remained blank as she turned around to find an answer to her question. She found Salomes evilly smiling eyes at extreme close range. Yes. The raincoat-wearing mass murderer was smiling. The bottom of her double raincoat spread out like a dancers veil. External Offering. She spoke the words as if rolling a piece of candy around in her mouth. A moment later, violent attacks crossed paths between them. One was a Lightning Spear fired from Misaka Mikotos bangs. The other was Salomes casually swung right hand. It swung diagonally upwards with the fingers gently bent. It should have not quite reached Mikotos body, but the chilly night air split apart, the asphalt was torn into at her feet, and the railing was sliced in two with a burst of orange sparks. Mikoto had quickly leaned her upper body backwards, but all of the buttons burst from her coat and a few strands of her bangs were cut away. Tension scorched her nerves. But not because this was a mysterious invisible attack. She had recognized it. She knew the answer. An Iron Sand...Sword!? Correct. Mikoto manipulated magnetism as she moved back to put some distance between them. A bicycle floated up from the cold river, a wind turbine was pulled out at the base, and a second Iron Sand Sword gathered around her right hand. She launched them all at once. But... External Offering. As soon as she detected the invisible attack that produced familiar results, the rusty bicycle was annihilated in midair. External Offering. Next it was the supporting column of the wind turbine. External Offering. Finally, the pure Iron Sand Sword was destroyed again. Each time Salome swung her arm and the slash with a mysterious reach rushed out, the attack was different. Its weight changed, is sharpness increased, and it evolved into an even more violent storm. Your attack isnt just destruction or negation. Mikoto doubted this was simply an esper power. But then what was it? Do you absorb it and then gain its traits and destructive power!? Is it really that shocking? Salome clenched and unclenched her right hand while tilting her head. Im using a Celtic system, but you can find things like this all over the world. By destroying a specific weapon, jewel, or animals flesh and abandoning it at a designated place, it acts as a sacrifice and prayer for victory. The idea of a living sacrifice stands out a lot and can seem to exist in a vacuum, but thats only the extreme version after it all escalated. The original and proper form of a sacrifice is to use an object, a dance, or some other kind of offering that doesnt require taking a life. ...Eh...? Her mind gave up on parsing that as language. No, she could not let herself be trapped by her own thoughts. She could not stop here. She had to keep going. This was scorching her mind, but it had to be some kind of starting point. This would help her change the angle at which she viewed the trick art that was the world. So I can absorb anything I can destroy with my own hands. An explosion stabbed across the bridge. The raincoat girl with the tan lines of a school swimsuit on her bare skin took only a half step to the side. She smiled. But if its too powerful for me to destroy or it doesnt function as a weapon, then I cant absorb it as a means of attack. A high-pitched sound filled the air. Misaka Mikoto had flicked an arcade coin up with her thumb. Salomes evil expression remained intact. It was not that she did not know what was coming. She knew and she was waiting for it. At three times the speed of sound, an orange beam roasted the air as it shot forward. The air was whipped up. A violent shockwave surrounded them. The asphalt was ripped from the road. Hee hee. She laughed. Unscathed, Mass Murderer Salome laughed with her lightly clenched right hand swept out horizontally. It had severed the orange trail. Misaka Mikotos signature Railgun was nowhere to be seen. Something I cant destroy barehanded doesnt normally apply for my External Offering, but now that Ive built up this much of a chain, pretty much anything goes, dontcha think? ... And now Ive consumed the #3s Railgun and offered it up. Its destructive power is now mine. Now. A question. Iron Sand Sword, bicycle, telephone pole, rubble, and a Railgun to finish it off. Now that its snowballed up so much, just how flashy an attack will this be? The answer is coming up after these messages. ...Heh. Why the hell are you laughing? Well... What look did she have on her face right now? This was even more incredible than that boy. But at the very least, she did not feel despair. Her signature Railgun had not reached her opponent. She should have been panicking, but the shock was surprisingly small. The Magic God known as the High Priest had done the same thing, but that was not enough to explain the lack of shock. Then what was it? Mikoto asked herself that, but she did not want to find the answer. She was pretty sure she would hate herself if she did. So it really is out there. I was having trouble finding the stimulus I needed to gain a different view of the trick art known as the world, but here it is just waltzing up to me. Were her eyes filled with the shadows of a hopelessly dark new moon? Or were her eyes filled with the light of a hopelessly bright full moon? She did not want to know. She did not want to know. She did not want to know. I hate dealing with stuff like this. Youve gotta be completely insane. More. Give me more. This has to be taking me in the right direction. I cant understand you at all as I am, so if I can overcome you, I can find the next stage Im looking for!! But I guess I was right to start this here. Im crazy enough that people call me a mass murderer behind my back, but youre gonna take it even further than me if you keep going in this direction. Mikoto ignored her. She greedily licked her lips and pulled out another arcade coin. Taking a direct hit would mean instant death and she could even absorb and accumulate the full power of Academy Citys #3, so Mikoto was no match for Mass Murderer Salome. After all, Mikoto could only use up to her full power whereas Salome could add more on top of that. The difference was simply insurmountable. It was kill or be killed. Those two extremes were the only options and odds were good Mikoto would be the one to die. But she would do it. No matter how biased toward her personal viewpoint it was, Mikoto had a reason to defeat Salome. She would defeat her and ask her how to properly view the trick art that was the world. She would ask her for the foothold she needed to climb onto the same stage as that boy. She would make those things hers!! Daaaaaahhh!! Stop that, stop that. Why would you create a super opponent that can keep up with your mass murderer side!? Are you seriously trying to bring about the end of the world here!? Just before she could, someone interfered. Flying was not quite the right word. The glasses girl seemed to drop down from the night sky, but she had probably launched herself up by wrapping ivy around the bridges railing from below. Her black hair was tied back in twintails and she wore a white dress that looked chilly in midwinter. She would have looked plain, but the giant tropical flowers on either side of her head changed that impression entirely. She stood next to Misaka Mikoto. Mikoto could tell she was an esper, even if not one made in Academy City. She would not provide the foothold Mikoto needed to solve the trick art she wanted to process and understand. And you stop giving Salome all that unnecessary fuel! Salome is a mass murderer who gains power indefinitely as long as her chain continues. Under the right conditions, she seriously could walk right in and singlehandedly destroy the White House. Priority one when trying to defeat her is to break her chain. It doesnt take that much thought to figure that out, does it!? The raincoat girl scratched her head through her waterproof hood and shook the rattling sports bag. Hmm. Claire, youre being a little hard on her, dontcha think? She doesnt know that my External Offering reverts to neutral if I dont give it another weapon within three minutes. Shut up, Mass Murderer. Mikotos temperature finally dropped below the boiling point. At the same time, she realized something. If those two were telling the truth, then that sports bag had to contain emergency rations. Salome could destroy one of its contents if the chain was about to break in order to absorb the new weapon and keep things going for another three minutes. Claire was exactly right. When someone set a snowball rolling, the fear began once it reached a certain size. And then even the person who had started it would be crushed if it rolled over them. Plus, Academy City had crammed research institutions and next generation law enforcement weapons into its limited space, so it was just about the worst environment to challenge this girl. Kamisato-san has his own plans. Observing his school life should be enough to tell you he doesnt need any direct killing done right now. Oh? I was wondering what this was about, but youre putting my brother first, are you? Still, would that coward really agree to harming his little sister? Unfortunately for you, Im willing to eliminate Kamisato-sans relatives as long as its for his sake in the end. The girl named Claire clapped her hands together in front of her chest. A bewitching light glowed through her glasses and she spoke in a low voice. Dont get carried away, little girl. Youre just a remora that gains her status by clinging to his brand, so dont think the protection of being his sister will protect you forever. If you think you can trick me into thinking you alone are special, youre dead wrong. Oh, dear. Why is everyone around my brother like this? Well, the only difference is that one of us knows were crazy and the other doesnt, so arguing over whos superior is just plain silly. The raincoat girl sighed. Also, do you honestly think Ill let you stall for three minutes? Dont underestimate me, you little weed. Youre at the bottom of the food chain. Blades and weapons are symbols of civilization, so get lost unless you want to get reaped by human hands. ... ... The silence lasted a few seconds. After a dull sound, the two of them vanished from the bridge. (Into...the river!?) Mikoto immediately looked to the side, but she could only see a slight disturbance in the moon floating on the dark waters surface. Not even an electromagnetic scan told her what those two were doing, but it seemed they were fighting on top of the water, not in it. The reading grew more distant. Misaka Mikoto was dumbfounded for a bit, but then a gust of chilly wind struck her heated body. That was when her thoughts finally caught up to reality. Uuh... What had she been trying to do? What would have happened if that plant girl named Claire had not shown up? Would she have been unable to find a solution and simply been smashed by Salome? Or... Or? Urp!! She held her mouth. She curled up on the spot. She just barely suppressed the rising urge to vomit, but she could not suppress the tears. She sobbed again and again as her entire back shook. I hate dealing with stuff like this. Youve gotta be completely insane. That had been an ominous prophecy. It would have been simple to write it off as some crazy girls nonsense. But it echoed in her ears nonetheless. It echoed there and would not go away. Im crazy enough that people call me a mass murderer behind my back, but youre gonna take it even further than me if you keep going in this direction. She curled up and curled up and curled up. She trembled and trembled and trembled. The unstable girl finally tried to swallow it all down. But... Just as she prepared to stand up on her unsteady legs, a question slipped into her brain based on the information planted there by the mass murderer. Then what are you going to do? ...Ah... Can you really remain normal? Can you just really remain where you are? Yes. The biting chill of the wind struck the girl. Her shaking finally stopped. Misaka Mikoto slowly but surely stood up. She stood up. Between the Lines 2 Well, this is it... It was more than four times larger than a school gym. A woman in a cheap suit and lab coat sighed as she looked around the vast space. She was Kihara Yuiitsu. The countless halogen lights hanging down from the tall, tall ceiling swept away all of the nights darkness. But while the space was filled with light even more dazzling than midday, it was lacking in heating equipment and the biting December chill mercilessly permeated it. Her breath was white even indoors, but Yuiitsu seemed to be enjoying herself. This actually seemed to give an edge to the speed of her thoughts. The large space looked like a plane crash investigation. Bent and mangled metal parts were methodically lined up with alphanumeric plates set up next to them. And those parts belonged to military weapons that would never find their way into civilian hands: excitation rods for laser emission, large missile containers, bunker-busting drills, sprayers for flame throwers or liquid nitrogen, various types of armor and rocket boosters, etc. Altogether, they were the Anti-Art Attachment. Not even Kihara Yuiitsu could fully grasp that far-too-unique weapon system and it belonged to someone who was no longer with her. Is this what you want to know about, Yuiitsu-chan? The small girl next to her, Kihara Enshuu, tilted her head. She was an expert at emulating the other Kiharas using the screens of smartphones, handheld devices, and handheld game consoles. It was possible she could approach a Kihara Noukan that Kihara Yuiitsu was unfamiliar with. Yuiitsu smiled. I still cant believe that he was taken out, but the facts are the facts. And I will take appropriate revenge on the bastard that did that to him. Thats a given. ...But if they could defeat him, then their power must be complete overkill. If I try to figure this out after running across them, Ill be taken out in a single blow, unfortunately. Kihara Yuiitsu was a researcher through and through, so she did not believe in praying to god or karma. What had happened back then? She would dredge up every last piece of information and have a plan to defeat her enemy before actually confronting them. She had two hints. First, the Anti-Art Attachment had bizarre scars that did not look like anything from this world. And second, the Anti-Art Attachment itself. Know your enemy and know yourself and you need not fear even a hundred battles. Only investigating one side would not make for a proper analysis. She had to know the details of everything related to that battle, so she had to rudely tear away the mysterious veil surrounding her former teacher. Um, Yuiitsu-chan? Did you not find anything on Noukan-chans storage or cloud? Are you relying on me because it was too complexly encrypted? Well... For some reason, the woman in cheap suit and lab coat hesitated a moment and awkwardly scratched at her cheek. I did get into it, but all I found was a virtual Doberman figurine, a collection of a Great Pyrenees links, a digital handshake ticket for a District 15 Tosa idol, and data for a St. Bernard body pillow that could be ordered with a single click. Yeah, so I thought digging any deeper would be a violation of romance... ? The two of them weaved between the piles of wreckage and finally arrived at the center of the vast space. That area alone was empty. Or perhaps it was the spot where the golden retriever should have been. Okay, are you ready to get started? Yes, but... Kihara Enshuu seemed unusually hesitant. The cheap suit and lab coat woman frowned and the small girl continued. You wont get mad, Yuiitsu-chan? Why would I? Well, youve had a really scary look on your face for a while now. Oh. Yuiitsu relaxed her shoulders. Or she thought she did. Not to worry. Im just a little irritated that this person in front of me might know a side of that teacher I wasnt aware of. But thats just the skill you have, so you havent done anything wrong. Right? Enshuu tilted her head because she apparently could not understand that human subtlety. At any rate, she had permission, so she grabbed one of the many devices dangling from her neck. A complex waveform appeared on the small screen. Yes, yes. She muttered something of unclear meaning. I understand. Noukan-chan would do this... As Kihara Enshuu stared at the screen with her pupils dilated, irregular convulsions ran through her entire body. Yuiitsu gently supported the small girls back as she jerked about. In a seemingly kind yet actually forceful action, she whispered sweetly into Enshuus ear. What do you see? Ah, ahh...ahhh... Enshuu-chan. She bit the girls earlobe and gently stroked her back. A mother rubbed her babys back to stimulate the parasympathetic nerves and physically provide calming signals. But Yuiitsu had a different intent. Her fingers dug in to carve out signals of displeasure that mercilessly prevented Enshuu from departing for a world of trance-like dreams. With nowhere to escape to, Enshuus mind raged within her small body, her shoulders and hips jerked around a few more times, and then she finally focused on reality again. She spoke with weak and feverish breaths. I...dont understand it. ... But I know a familiar sensation. This is the same feeling...as when I tried to dive inside Kagun-chan... Oh, I see. Yuiitsu grinned and let go of Enshuus back. Kihara Kagun, aka Bersi. He was a heretic among heretics who had reached for techniques beyond science despite being a Kihara. Yuiitsu had some fragmentary information about his self-destructive strategy taken against Kihara Byouri at the end of the Eastern European Baggage City affair. Kihara Yuiitsu herself had been the one to draw up the blueprints for handling the commotion in Baggage City, so the Board of Directors could not restrict her access to information on what had happened there. Pant, pant. With all strength gone from her body and no more support from the fellow Kihara, the girl crumpled weakly to the floor. She looked up at Yuiitsu with damp eyes and still managed to force out some words. But this is different again from Kagun-chan. It isnt that there are unreadable corrupted files inside Noukan-chan. Its more like theres a link there and carelessly accessing it will send you somewhere else entirely. The source of what made Noukan-chan special must have been outside of him... (That explains it.) Yuiitsu smiled warmly, but her brain worked coldly. (Thats why Kihara Enshuu was isolated in that juvenile hall even though she didnt really need punishment. Someone...someone on the same level as sensei was afraid of having this decoded.) Kihara Enshuu was not an expert at trickery, but it still had to have been incredibly difficult to get her to hole up deep inside that prison like it was a luxury hotel while thinking it was her own idea. Whoever this was had pulled it off splendidly. It had been enough to completely overturn her murderous schedule and the joy of being needed by those around her. Yuiitsus list of candidates was quite short. And just one person on that list had any real connection with the Kihara brand. (The Archetype Controller. So its that Board Chairman.) Was I... Breathing heavily and face flushed, Enshuu forced her voice from her throat. Was I useful, Yuiitsu-chan? Did this...really help...? Yes, so dont worry. (I just wanted confirmation from someone else that a normal Kihara cant analyze this.) She supported the back of the small girl on the floor, gently held her in her arms, and whispered in the ear of this fellow Kihara who had beads of sweat running down her forehead. She whispered sweetly, kindly, and compassionately. Hey, Enshuu-chan? If youre that worried, you can always emulate me...emulate Kihara Yuiitsu. Yes, yes. I understand. Yuiitsu Onee-chan would do-...!? Enshuu could not finish. This time, her head dropped as if the thin thread supporting it had snapped. When she saw the girl completely lose consciousness, Kihara Yuiitsu carelessly let go like a child tossing aside a doll she was tired of playing with. Yuiitsus expression remained unchanged. (Oh, dear. Does this mean I have one foot planted on the other side, just like him?) Now, then, she said quietly. She left the giant indoor space to gather her thoughts. She did not hesitate to turn her back on the empty spot her beloved golden retriever, Kihara Noukan, had filled. Some attachment remained. She had regrets. But she saw no reason to drag them along with her. He had said so when he had left. She no longer had to be his student. She was to surpass him and become something unique that no one else could. ... She stepped outside. She reached into her lab coat pocket and pulled out a thin rectangular case. It contained a row of quality cigars. She bit off the tip with her front teeth and placed it between her lips, but she did not light it. Still, that was enough to fill her nose with a pleasantly sweet aroma. It was December. She stood outside a papermaking factory late at night. Technically, it was a large box simply registered that way on paper. Kihara Noukan had had replacement weaponry for his Anti-Art Attachment in all twenty three districts and this was one of those storage facilities. She leaned against the wall and shook the thick cigar in the corner of her mouth as she looked up into the night sky. (This just about confirms what that power he relied on was.) The problem had looked unprovable when viewing the numbers, but she had simply lacked the information needed to find the answer and had not even noticed that she was making leaps of logic. That had produced the error. She only had to analyze it all one thing at a time. It did not matter how precipitous a problem looked. The answer was always right in front of everyones eyes; it was just that the people of that era could not see it. Universal gravitation had existed in the BCE days. The theory of relativity had formed the instant the universe came into existence. But the people of the time had not seen it because they thought the world was supported by an elephant or turtle or they thought the universe revolved around the earth. This was not a paradox that only existed in theory or in a play on words. These things existed as actual phenomena, so no one could keep those theories and laws to themselves. Technology and knowledge were equal to all. (In that case, what was the attack method, effect, conditions, and range of Kamisato Kakeru who slaughtered senseis power? Could I determine that by comparing it to the behavior patterns of Niang-Niang and Nephthys that he warned me about using the term Magic God?) A sound reached Yuiitsus ears as she immersed herself in thought. She turned her head and saw a small girl giving her a frightened look from behind the fork lift and wooden boxes used to camouflage the facility. The girl held a leash as if for a pet, but she did not have a normal dog at her feet. Perhaps due to dorm restrictions, a small pet robot was wagging its tail there. U-um... Miss. You have a white coat on, so are you from the health department? The girl hesitantly spoke to her. It really was something she should not have done. Where is...the gold doggy? Kihara Yuiitsu smiled cheerfully. A moment later, bluish-white sparks exploded in the city night. The girl swayed to the side and collapsed onto the asphalt ground. Yuiitsu pulled a device resembling a stun gun from her lab coat pocket, but it was not actually a stun gun. It used amplification circuits to send out a high power pulse that destroyed electronic circuits and unlocked doors, but she had further modified it to work on people. Simply put, it could erase the short-term memories of anyone within ten meters. The electric signals stored in the cerebral nerves were destroyed and rendered unreadable. In a way, it was the nastiest nonlethal weapon. Just like a chop to the neck or a punch to the stomach, not actually damaging the brain isnt easy. Rather than the collapsed girl, Kihara Yuiitsu approached the pet robot that lacked the ability to sense the danger. She picked it up, inserted a cable, and read its internal memory. It did not seem to be the type that wirelessly recorded things to the cloud. Not that she had been very worried since she would have received advance warning if it had been sending out electromagnetic waves or an infrared signal. After modifying a few of the image records, Kihara Yuiitsu slowly exhaled. She set down the pet robot after switching it off. Killing any witnesses, regardless of age or sex, would be faster. It reduced the risk of the memories or records being repaired. More importantly, it was much more Kihara-like. But she did not do that. She clicked her tongue, pulled out her cellphone, and called someone. Yes, yes. Case C has occurred, so take response #4. I already took out their eyes, so you have to deal with that. Prioritize removing everything from the site and erasing all traces within twenty minutes. Ill leave the next candidate site to you, but return to normal duties within three hours and dont forget to set up an above average level of security. And dont make a big commotion. That would gather attention and have the opposite effect. There was no such thing as perfect security. So instead of gathering attention by building the thickest barrier possible, she focused on blending into the background so no one would target her in the first place. And of course, her surprised subordinates asked why. Not that they would expect this to overturn her decision. Well... Kihara Yuiitsu did not give it much serious thought. She simply looked down at the girl and pet robot that lay on the asphalt like they were dead. She was probably thinking about that girl whose dorm did not allow her to have a pet and the golden retriever who had given that normal person a small taste of her dream. Then the Kihara answered with the unlit cigar in her mouth. She did not hesitate. Because that is the essence of romance, I suppose. Notes 1. The kanji for World Rejecter. Volume 15, 3: Conversion, or a Change of Viewpoint — Not_Fiend, Not_Enemy. Volume 15, Chapter 3: Conversion, or a Change of Viewpoint Not_Fiend, Not_Enemy. Part 1 The next morning, Kamijou Touma was in for a shock as soon as he woke up in the bathtub. ...Its falling out. Only after speaking the words did a chill cover his entire body. My hair is falling out!! It had not hit him until now, but just how much stressful was this new life? Not that it was all that surprising when he shared a school building with a monster like Kamisato Kakeru and his World Rejecter and the boy could attack at any time. Ohhhhhh!! Indexs biting had already loosened the roots of Kamijou-sans hair and now the Kamisato panic delivered the finishing blow!? This cant be happening! Im only in my teens! Im still young! I shouldnt have to worry about my scalp! Help me, god! Help me, Othinus!! He was so panicked that he rolled along the floor and more or less pushed the door open with his own body to escape the bathroom. Are you still half asleep? You go out of your way to hole up in the bathroom, so at least wash your face before coming out. Othinus put her hands on her hips and sounded exasperated this early in the morning. She could only be so bold in the open space thanks to the many dolls that had been forced onto Kamijou like a curse after the previous days rock-paper-scissors tournament. They were already being destroyed as the calico cats playmates, so they had been bitten, torn, and strewn about with white stuffing scattered everywhere. You did well for a thoughtless human who has a critical lack of delicacy. You have my praise. Is that so? This...what is it called? Anyway, it has done well taking my place. I feel like blessing it using my position as a god. Othinus, that thing youre holding between your arms is Higozuiki-chan. It has a proper origin, but I do not recommend doing a search on it. He had bought plenty of food afterschool the day before, so they were finally freed from their critical food shortage. Breakfast was a miscellaneous assortment of toast, milk, and bacon cooked with asparagus because he felt like eating vegetables and meat together. Is it just me or are you only using the frying pan? This morning is bad enough already, so I dont even want to think about doing any dishes. My head already feels heavy. While eating breakfast, Kamijou Touma made an announcement. Othinus, youre staying home today. Dont be silly, human. Do you really think you can restrict a gods rights? Youll be fine. The dolls will keep the cat from attacking you for a while. If you know thats a problem, then come up with a more fundamental solution! Othinus shouted back at him with her hair bristling, but human-sized Kamijou and Index did not take the threat seriously. Meanwhile on the floor, the cat held down a random doll with both front paws, bit at it, pulled, and produced an ominous ripping sound. Im a little scared since I cant tell what Kamisato is up to. Regardless, having you anywhere near him would be a bad idea. He might have some other plan, but theres a chance his mind would go blank and hed start using World Rejecter the instant he saw you. I cant afford to have that happen at school. You have a point, but he already knows where this dorm is. Plus, he is not acting alone. Couldnt he have others attack the dorm while youre at school? It is possible... Kamijou looked troubled. But based on how hes acted, I doubt he would do that. Any proof? Hes afraid of the Magic Gods. Kamijou grabbed an asparagus with his chopsticks. He knows he can defeat them with World Rejecter, but thats all he knows. That means he doesnt know if he can defeat them without World Rejecter. And harming the girls around him is the one thing he wants to avoid the most. Thats actually the source of his motivation to attack the Magic Gods, so he wont compromise there. That means it would be a problem if he sent them on a mission and they never came back. The Kamisato Faction was not some evil secret cabal. If they sent out a team and that team was defeated, they would not arrogantly conclude that it was the teams fault for being so weak. In fact, they could not sacrifice a single one of their own. That was why they sent Kamisato, their central figure, to the front line. And with that in mind... However they get there, Kamisato will definitely show up for the finishing blow. I just have to pay attention to what hes doing at school. We dont know where he gets his information. He might know Ive lost my power as a Magic God. He probably does, agreed Kamijou. But hes still afraid of the Magic Gods. Theyre the source of all of this and theyve taken a large chunk out of his heart. He will conclude that the Magic Gods power and influence still exists in this world until he loses the right hand that makes him special...or that he thinks does. Even if hes been given a logical explanation and is 99.9% convinced that youve lost your power, hell still be cautious when it comes to you. And if he cares about those girls as much as he claims to, he wont send them on a mission like that. He will wait until he can make the move himself. Its not a logical issue. Its just like someone checking again and again to make sure the door is locked. He understands, but hes still afraid. Yes. Kamisato Kakeru would never think about having those girls clash with a Magic God when he was not around. In his view, those girls had had something taken from them by the Magic Gods and that was why they were doing as he said. They had already had something taken. He would never leave a possibility of more being taken. What a pain. Is this what they call the influence of a god? Index had remained silent this entire time. She did not join the conversation. However, she did not seem in a bad mood or in deep thought. Hmm. Ive been waiting so long for a normal meal like this, but its so normal that its just boring. Oh, no. Now Index is approaching a much plainer sort of crisis! They were discussing their future plans, but time continued on all the same. After making it clear that Index and Othinus would be staying home, Kamijou prepared to leave for school. He looked carefree, but school was where he needed to figure out what Kamisato, the center of his unease, was up to. And if Kamisato did not show up or left early, he could conclude that something was going to happen. Ill be back later. Be back before it gets dark. ...In all seriousness, I get the feeling that something is going to happen. Kamijou left the dorm. He carelessly started on his usual path to school but then remembered he had a new school to go to. The sense of danger gradually caught up with him. (Huh? Does that mean it might be further away and I might not make it in time?) He paled. He quickly changed direction, but then he spotted a familiar face. It was Misaka Mikoto. He panicked because running into some Biri Biri trouble now could be disastrous, held-back levels of disastrous, but then he frowned. There was something there. He could not put it to words, but something was wrong. Hey? In an extremely rare occurrence, Kamijou was the one to initiate the conversation between them. Not even he was sure what mindset had led him to do that. What? But the instant she turned around and their eyes met, he distinctly felt a chill race down his spine. But not because the look on her face frightened him. Her Tokiwadai Middle School uniform was clean and not dirty in any way. And yet his entire body was stricken by a hopeless shudder like the tip of a bloody Japanese sword was pointed between his eyes. (What...is this?) He could not find an answer. Meanwhile, Misaka Mikoto smiled. All she did was smile. Arent you going to buy a winter coat or something? It looks like youre wearing layers, but arent you cold with just that? There was nothing concerning in what she said either. Nothing about it should have brought any tension or sense of danger, yet the idea that something was off only grew as their time together grew. Her smile looked like a thin rubber film being pushed out by fingers within. Her too-perfect tone of voice sounded like it was made with a metal diaphragm. Oh... ? He finally figured it out. It was not something there that scared him. It was the opposite. Something was not there. There was something he could not see or understand. Misaka Mikoto was smiling and speaking, but the heart and inner thoughts behind it were not reaching him. Well, I have to go this way. I want to stop by the office before classes start. Im hoping it isnt too late to change my elective gym selection for the third term. She sounded entirely casual. And yet he felt like he shared nothing with this person. The standard would be arresting techniques, aikido, self-defense, or fencing to focus on my Iron Sand Sword, but if I want to go more the Railgun route, maybe sharpshooting or archery would be better. Well, I guess anythings fine as long as its useful. Did...something happen? He asked his question far too late. Yes. Mikoto did not say what it was. She simply smiled and gave her answer. And now I cant assume Im setting the pace at the head of the pack. .......................................................................................................................................................................................... He could not even chase after her as she left. What? What was going on? Part 2 Kamijou walked slowly to school like a drunk following his homing instinct. He may have been following his usual routine to lessen the burden on his mind as much as possible. The new school seemed to be closer to the dorm than the old one, so he arrived earlier than expected. Or maybe he was no longer able to control the length of his strides. He saw the new school scene filled with a variety of uniforms. After passing through the main gate, he spotted the student council president...what was her name? Anyway, he saw that palm-sized Jumpy Bunny vanishing back behind the school building. He decided to follow her and found her at the trash dump. She wore her uniform and had rubber gloves on her hands. A gelatin drink called A Banana to Fill Your Mouth First Thing in the Morning sold at convenience stores sat on top of the chained and padlocked lid of the incinerator. He did not do it himself, but Kamijou had heard of people going for fruits like banana, acai, or blueberry to wake them up in the morning. He mainly heard about it on TV. Which meant... Hey, are you eating breakfast here? Wahyah!? She hopped straight up when he called out to her from behind. She must have thought he would take it because she quickly snatched up the gelatin drink. That was apparently a mistake because it erupted up out of the opening at the top. It poured down over her head and she fell onto her butt. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-what is this!? Oh, its Problem Student #2-kun. You really scared me. Huh? Or am I in trouble all alone here with a problem student? If you get it, then work on either closing your spread legs or on wiping that sticky white banana drink out of your hair. As things are, Im not sure where to look... But I can see why you need a middle school underclassman to make you a lunch every day. Nn. But this is the perfect meal because its healthy and you dont have to get your hands dirty like with a rice ball or a sandwich. Mie-chan is just overprotective and worries too much. Thats not the issue. This is just as bad as eating in the bathroom. Maybe I should tell that Akikawa girl about this... Eeek! Eeeeeeek!! Um, Mie-chan is really scary when shes mad. She piles up a bunch of arguments like a falling block puzzle and it feels like theyre crushing you! Why are you always the one being scolded, student council president? The president seemed to be looking after the trash as usual. It was possible she would stay there until the garbage truck showed up and the garbage man actually took the garbage away without injury. Or maybe she intended to help load it into the truck. After some thought, Kamijou asked a question. Should I stay? No need. If Im shorthanded I can talk to Mie-chan and call for the rest of the student council. So thats why you email her at the drop of the hat. Is she your servant? Eeeek! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!! Arguing was not going to help, so he decided to leave the president for the time being. His biggest reason was a simple one. He had seen a boy enter through the back gate so as not to be seen. This boy was a registered student of the school, but he did not wear either of its uniforms. It was Kamisato Kakeru. Do you know something? Kamijou had no real basis for the question he asked the instant he saw the boy. It may have been closer to a simple outburst. Someone I know was acting weird, Kamisato. Do you know what might-... Salome is here. Kamisato actually cut him off. How large is the Kamijou Faction? Being in Academy City isnt enough to keep them safe. I have no idea how many she might have snacked on before arriving in this city! If you have a way of contacting them, then do it. I want to avoid any unnecessary bloodshed!! If something had happened, Kamijou had expected Kamisato to play dumb. He had been prepared to read some subtle changes in the boys expression and tone of voice, so he was taken aback. Salome? From your point of view, I guess she would be a member of the Kamisato Faction. Shes also my little sister. Were not blood-related, though. Kamisato gave a gentle sigh. But shes completely out of control. No matter what I say or how many people try to stop her, she will spread destruction without end once shes taken action. Oh, dammit. This is why we used some electrodes to cut off her neurotransmitters and keep her brainwaves below a functional level. As long as she can be kept below the critical point where she can infinitely work herself up with her own words, you can speak with her normally. Kamijou felt dread sneaking in through his skin. It was just like when he had faced Misaka Mikoto earlier. How can I believe that? Shes part of the Kamisato Faction, right? I already know that entire group is centered on you! For better or for worse, those girls wont act without your go sign. Right!? Do you remember Claire? Shes the Gemstone esper who used to be in the gardening club. Shes the one with all of her cells almost identical to plant matter. Yeah, what about her? She had played an important role in saving Patricia Birdway, so she had left a stronger impression than the rest of the Kamisato Faction. But the normal high school boy had this to say: Last night, she had a run-in with Salome and her body was sliced in two. He said it so readily. An extreme oddity enveloped everything. ... Fortunately, her power allowed her to survive. ...But for anyone but Claire, that would have been a one-way ticket to the afterlife. And Im not saying Salome only did that because it was Claire. She would do the exact same thing to Ellen, Elza, or anyone else who stood in her way. What...is going on? I dont know either. But if somethings wrong on your end, odds are good it was caused by Salome. At the very least, I havent made a direct request to her. If I wanted a war, I already would have attacked you. I want you to know that Salome is acting on her own here. Kamisato mussed up his bangs with a hand. Then he spoke up as if he had just remembered something. A long time ago, Salome and I played a board game together. It was a minor foreign-made one and all the instructions were in German, so we had to translate it into English and then convert that to Japanese. All in all, learning the rules was a pain. Oh, and this was before she broke. ? That phrasing bothered him, but getting this story out of Kamisato came first. It was an election game. You rolled the dice, moved your game piece along, and played your cards as you competed to become president. You can think of it as a variant of sugoroku. And since it was a fictional game, you could use all sorts of methods. You could buy up all the TV stations and newspapers to advertise yourself like crazy. You could sabotage your opponents campaign vans so they got into accidents and affected your opponents public image. You could even steal ballot boxes just before the votes were counted for a last minute reversal. The ridiculous freedom it gave you was what made it so much fun. And? What method do you think Salome used? Kamisato gave a hopelessly calm smile. Assassination. She gathered up all of those cards and used them all at once when the time came. And she didnt assassinate the VIPs who required a really lucky roll for success. She would force her way into the normal houses of her opponents supporters and slaughter them. The limited VIPs were one thing, but you couldnt protect all of your supporters. There was no stopping her. If someone so much as announced support of that candidate, she would kill them. If they brought the candidate up in conversation, they were a target. That forced everyone to leave the candidate. We laughed because it had turned into a Central or South American election where threats are more effective than persuasion. Youre kidding, right? Then if Salomes here in Academy City...? Its essentially the same. We both have our own faction and shes trying to make yours crumble away so I can win. And instead of taking out you at the top, shes focusing on the defenseless friends surrounding you. It isnt quite the same as making an example out of a punished criminal, but once she devours a few of them, she thinks your base will crumble away and your circle of friends will scatter. So she wont stop preying on them until they do scatter. Do you get the situation now? Was this why Mikoto had been acting odd? Had she already run into Salome and had her life put in danger? ... What is it? Nothing, was all Kamijou said. (That doesnt fit with what I saw. She didnt seem to be trembling in fear and afraid to bring up the incident. I felt something more ominous and hopelessly muddy.) Something seemed horribly off, but that was only the impression he had received. He had no proof of anything. It would be better to solidify his footing with just the things he knew for sure. If it was true Claire had been bisected, Salomes violence went beyond a mere fight. If he made a mistake and was too slow, then someone he knew really could end up dead. The violence and killing were not the goal. She was trying to work up the masses and control the general direction of his group as a whole. In a way, it was a perfect example of the original definition of a terrorist. Of course, it was possible this was all some plot of the Kamisato Faction. Claires bisection could just be an act and this Salome person might not even exist. They may have been trying to scare Kamijou into contacting everyone he knew so they could write up a list of the entire Kamijou Faction. However... Hey, Kamisato. What? What if I told you it was me that sliced Claire in two, not Salome? Do you want me to kill you right here and now?'' Kamisato Kakerus voice definitely grew a level deeper. He skipped straight past his catch phrase about wishing for a new world. To be blunt, Kamisato was not a trustworthy person, but Kamijou felt this at least was not a lie. He knew Kamisato would never sacrifice any of the girls around him. No matter the reason, even if that was the shortest route to his goal, and even if Claire herself offered to slice her belly open. That normal high school boy would never allow it. Okay, I get it. So what do we do? If this Salome person is wandering around Academy City as she pleases and shell bite at anyone I know that she comes across, what can we do? My only advice is that you have them defend themselves. Im doing everything I can do track Salome down, but I dont know how much success Ill have. She is a mass murderer. That monster camouflages herself within the crowds and, next thing you know, shes dyed society red. And once she dives down into that sea of people, she wont show herself until she attacks her prey. Where did you get this information from? How much can you trust them? Sunny and Rain. Theyre fortuneteller sisters and they can gather very precise information over a very wide area using a globe that provides a weather map of the entire planet and the movement of the stars. Sometimes they even scatter silver iodide or dry ice from an airplane to alter the weather conditions and thus guide destiny in the direction they want. Those excellent Weather Girls were a powerful presence when it came to the weather market and weather derivatives, so their online trading was an important source of funds. ...Until, that is, they removed the electrodes that acted as Salomes fuse, failed to control that mass murderer in her critical state, and were attacked. Kamijou clicked his tongue. Fortunetelling was a common technique on the magic side and he did not know how that differed from the technique that the Kamisato Faction had access to, but if they could access secret information like that, it was a fatal blow to any kind of data security. They could steal all the data they wanted even with the strongest firewall in place and even if the wire to the internet was physical severed. That explained how the Kamisato Faction knew so much about personal memories. It could be online or offline and it could be mechanical memory or biological memory. They essentially had a global interception system in place. What did those sisters want to do with Salome? I dont know and it makes my head hurt. I guess we werent as solid a group as I thought. I was doing everything I could to ensure there wasnt too much friction between them all, but something I wasnt aware of must have happened. Positive emotions did not necessarily create smooth relationships. In fact, a rumor with no statistical basis claimed over half of unplanned crimes were related to a romance in some way. And when focused on just Kamisato to such an extreme, that group had to be quite twisted. It was possible someone wanted to eliminate Salome by inciting her to action so she would end up in an accident. What had happened to Sunny and Rain was unknown, but based on how Kamisato had presented this, they could not be in any state to move properly. That meant the Kamisato Faction had lost its radar and that made it all the harder to locate Mass Murderer Salome inside Academy City. On top of that, Salome had escaped the predictions of those sisters who could predict things on a global scale. If she had attacked them badly enough that they could not predict the future, it meant she had ignored whatever was supposedly predetermined and then harmed them. Normal means would not be enough to find her. And as they fell behind like that, blood would fill the city streets. Kamijou sighed and arranged the conditions in his mind. Kamisato, you said Salome spreads out her targets over as wide an area as possible so no one knows who shell attack next. Since you cant protect everyone, there will always be an opening. She would want to maintain that advantageous position. Yes. What about it? But her overall objective is still me. She wants to weaken or even defeat me. Get to the point. Let me answer your question with a question of my own. Shes decided Im at the very top, so what if she sees me wandering around? Even if she can continue going after the gallery, wont she attack me directly if she has the chance? ... And this isnt an election game were talking about. Its a direct fistfight. Its a war. Theres no need to wait until election day. If the two of us are fighting in the streets and if I gain the upper hand, she wont be able to wait around. After all, her ultimate goal is to ensure you win, so her efforts are wasted if you, the big boss, are eliminated. She wont be able to sit idly by. Even if it means throwing away her advantage, shell definitely come to save you. In shogi, going after your opponents rook or bishop is meaningless if your own king is taken. I see. You have a point. Kamisato shrugged. If we cant track her down, its faster to create a situation where we know shell show up. That does make sense. Just to be clear, youll be selling out your ally here. And your sister at that. Thats exactly why I need to do this. I dont want any of those girls to end up a perpetrator or a victim. I just want to return this goddamn convenient harem. Kamisato pulled out his cellphone. In that case, Ill make some calls. Im fine with a fistfight in the streets, but if we put on too realistic a performance, Elza and the like would probably rush in to kill you. No, that would actually be perfect. If your faction isnt freaking out over it, Salome might notice something isnt right and refuse to get close. Do you not know how frightening girls can be? Id like to believe theyre marshmallow-like creatures full of compassion and kindness, but it doesnt sound like we have time for that now. Their plan was set. But there was another problem that Kamijou had to deal with first. What do I do? Really, what do I do about my attendance!? Were not even talking about how many days I have left! Im already in the negative territory where its hard to see how I can make up for it no matter how hard I try! So what in the world do I do!? Hmm. Kamisato Kakeru did not give it much thought. He simply gave an idea. Why not ask a classmate to answer the roll call for you? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... A miniature universe exploded inside Kamijou Touma. He faced heaven and let out a roar Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! If it was that simple, couldnt he have been doing that ever since the second term started? Even if it only worked once every ten times, that would still have bought him a few days. Then he would not have had one foot in the held back zone and he could have focused on this mission more easily. But it was all too late. All the lost time made him feel like an idiot. Ahhh! Ahhhh!! Ahhhhhh!!!!! I know you want to revert to infancy, but Im not going to play the mother role. Im pretty sure it would be really bad for my back. Crying was not going to help. To make use of this slight chance, he grabbed his phone and called Aogami Pierce. Answer the roll call for you? Sure, but will that really work in a small high school classroom? Dont blame me if she sees right through it. I believe in you, Aogami! ...And whats that commotion in the background? Did something happen? Im planning a bit of an event. I want to check the wiring, so I need to visit the faculty room. Its times like this when Im glad I carry figurine repair putty with me wherever I go. If the tool doesnt work, I might need a spare key. Hm? Hmm? Ill tell you later. Tonights gonna be great!! Aogami hung up, but at least Kamijou had someone to answer the roll call for him. Now they needed to get moving. Do you know where Salome might go? No, I guess we wouldnt be having all this trouble if you did. Still, she needs to see us fighting if were going to lure her out. Lets use a video site. She always preferred online videos to TV. If we upload our fight disguised as an amateur witnessing it, shell come running no matter where she is. I guess that leaves just one thing. Yes, lets do it near a recognizable landmark she can see in the background. Part 3 The barefoot girl wore raincoats directly over her bare, swimsuit tan-lined skin and had her long silver hair wrapped like disks or demon horns on either side of her head. She was Mass Murderer Salome. Her treasure was the list left by Sunny and Rain. She could achieve her current goal simply by continuing to attack the people on it. The list may have been a symbol of tragedy, but its presence was a good thing for Academy City as a whole. Without it, her targets would not have been so limited. She would have randomly chosen Academy City residents and indiscriminately attacked them in a way that directed negative emotions toward Kamijou Touma and rejected him from society. Here we go. Salome muttered to herself while sitting on a bus station bench. Now that the morning student rush hour was over, that bench had become a rest area with zero customer traffic, so she had used it to lie in wait for someone. She honestly had nothing against her opponent. It just had to be someone on the list. Accelerator-chan ...Your real name is surprisingly cute. ... Her target had white hair and red eyes. One hand held a cane with a modern design and the other held a plastic bag from a drug store. He reminded Salome of white asparagus. No one could end up like that without being thrown into a uniquely arranged environment. Academy Citys #1. Since youre famous, youve gotta be used to things like this. Im here to kill you real quick. ... Oh? Youre not onboard with that? Maybe you need some more motivation. Are you gonna say something like I will never kill again (sparkle)? Heh heh heh. Ah ha ha ha!! After everything you did, do you really think you can rid yourself of allllll that bad stuff you did and become a nice clean good person? Hyah hyah hyah hyah hyah!! ... And you cant just rid yourself of killings, dontcha think? The raincoat girls smile vanished and an odd emptiness filled her eyes. Were different. Then again, a proper human being might laugh if they heard that since its like a rapist insisting he isnt as bad as a cannibal. Still, were different. If anyone wanted to put us in the same category, that would be more than enough reason to kill them, dontcha think? But even if were different, I can still tell. You cant get rid of your killing. Not even if we were the only people left in the world and I raised my hands and said Id grown out of killing. ... How about a little test? She laughed. With the waterproof hood over her head, Salome held out her index finger. She pointed at Accelerator. No, at the plastic bag in his hand. I can understand the milk and chocolate. The rubber ducky and shampoo hat might just be your idea of a fun bath time. ...But theres just no way your feet would fit in those tiny shoes, dontcha think? In that case, might their owner be somewhere nearb-... Before she could finish speaking, Salomes pointer finger and the arm attached to it were gone. He had not done anything special. He had simply approached her, simply grabbed her arm, and simply torn it off. The series of actions merely had some vector manipulation involved to provide superhuman speed. Hyah. But... Hyah hyah hyah hyah!! Oh, wow. Ive gotta have struck the jackpot here!! No pain or fear filled Mass Murderer Salomes mind. In fact, she showed the relief and excitement of someone who had finally run across another eccentric that could discuss an old movie that had long since stopped playing. She took a step back and the bottom of her double raincoat floated out like a jellyfish or clione. She bent forward and held her stomach with her remaining arm while not even trying to hide her continued laughter. Then she used that remaining hand to grab the toy pocket watch hanging from her neck and kissed it. My External Offering can absorb any weapon or armor that I can destroy barehanded and build it into my own power. And after that snowball rolls down the hill far enough, no one can stop the chain, dontcha think? So thats the thing. Im not a good match for people who dont rely on civilized tools such as weapons and shields. There isnt much I can do when theyre stupider than a chimpanzee and just use their own two arms. You... Spare me any hackneyed lines like What did you do to your body? (sparkle). Heh heh. At the very least, it isnt as strange as that brain of yours. There was a sound like the straining of a wet roll of thread. No blood came from the torn raincoat and severed arm. It also felt odd. The surface of her brown suntanned arm was smooth, but it contained the inhuman eeriness of a mannequin. See, what matters for a sacrifice is how important it is to the person offering it. If you had such a great season that you have way more food than you could ever eat, then rice or fish isnt gonna count as a sacrifice. And some stranger you abduct wont work as a living sacrifice. Do you know anything about Voodoo rituals? When they sell their soul to the devil, once a year they have to offer up someone who it pains them to sacrifice: a family member, a lover, a beloved teacher, etc. But once they run out of people, theyve gotta pay with their own life. This is the same. Only the External Offering just wasnt quiiiiite enough for peace of mind as a mass murderer. I needed to offer up something even more precious...and thats where the Internal Offering comes in. In other words, I gave my own body to my god. A living sacrifice. The simplest form was to exchange ones own life for having a wish granted. But even if she surrendered her own heart, there was a way to survive. She replaced herself and turned herself into a tool. Misaka Mikoto should have noticed, but she had been distracted by the initial impact. The External Offering was a form of the occult that absorbed any weaponry that Salome destroyed with her own hands. But grabbing and breaking the Iron Sand Sword was beyond the limits of martial arts. A normal human could never do that. This is messed up. Accelerator glanced at the torn-off arm, tossed it aside, and spat out his comment. But he was not interested in her occult explanation or that she had replaced her flesh and blood body for an artificial one. Thats not made in Academy City. Ha ha ha! I guess you would notice. Yeah, I have no connection to this crazy city. So I had to gather together whatever I could find, open up my own gut, and exchange it all on my own. And all the while, I sold off each part of my maidens body to my god. She made it sound simple. But if it was not made in Academy City, there was little guarantee it would work properly. If it was handmade, no one else could fix it in an emergency and odds were good it was not perfectly shielded against germs, chemicals, rust, electromagnetic waves, etc. Even if you needed it to keep your heart beating, would anyone really use a pacemaker made using the chip taken from a toy gimmick light or alarm clock sold at a 100 yen shop? Yet just such a reckless person stood before him. For one thing, why was Salome wearing raincoats directly over her naked body? Was she placing a frosted glass filter over her distorted artificial body to make it look real? Or had she needed to cover her entire body with thick plastic to keep water and dust out? She was partners with death in more ways than one. Rust or germs could reach her brain at any moment. She was truly an insane mass murderer. But her smile remained intact as if she were enjoying this tightrope walk as a form of entertainment. But youve gotta be more insane than me. You claim you dont kill anymore, but you didnt hesitate to rip off someones arm which has gotta knock people unconscious from traumatic shock. Thats the same as Mr. Elephant claiming to be friends with the humans while also throwing rocks at them, dontcha think? Then would you prefer I gave you a nice pat on the head? With that hand? Dont joke. Who knows how many times youd shake up my brain. The raincoat girl smiled as she pulled something from her pocket. It was not a pen nor was it a stick of candy. It was a steel hook and it was probably meant to stab into a humans back and lift them up. She spun that cruel execution tool in her fingers like a pen and then bent it between her fingers. It looked like some kind of ritual. It looked like someone lighting their glow stick at a concert. But just as my data said, your trigger is the one called Last Order. Im not trying to provoke you this time. Im completely serious. Isnt it exhausting living like that? No matter who or what you protect, it wont wipe your history clean. Hanging around good people, heroes, and holy women isnt going to make you any of those things. Youve gotta understand that. You think going to a concert makes you one with the idol? You think wearing a limited edition happi coat and waving fans around links your hearts together? Did you know the performer cant even see the audiences faces in the darkness created by the bright lights shining on the stage? Thats exactly the position youre in, dontcha think? ...I know that. But if youre happy clinging to the announcement of a new song and going to every last performance of the national tour, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south, then I wont stop you. I know that, I know that, I know that, but it still pulls the trigger. How long are you going to be some little kids attachment? The title of the strongest is weeping. Something dry burst between the two of them. Two low voices acted as a signal. Ill kill you. Feeling motivated now? Plenty of blades, blunt weapons, and projectiles overflowed from the sports bag. A clash between two who knew the taste of killing immediately followed. Part 4 District 7 had all the basics, making it a convenient district to live in, but that also meant it was difficult to find any major landmarks. Kamijou and Kamisato wanted to fake a fight on an online video so Salome would contact them, so they wanted to surreptitiously slip in something anyone would recognize. What should we do? All I know about this place is from the sightseeing pamphlets. Thats right. I guess we should go with the Windowless Building. Some VIP called the Board Chairman lives there, so it can supposedly survive a nuclear attack just fine. That should be listed on the guide maps at any train station. With that, the two of them changed direction. But as soon as they did, over one thousand copper coins filled the area above Kamijou Toumas head like a meteor storm. Eh...? At first, he did not know what this meant. As he stood there dumbly, the downpour of projectiles descended like a suspended ceiling and quickly reached him. He frantically raised his right hand overhead, but that was no help. Orange sparks filled the air, a cloud of dust formed as the asphalt was torn away, and the spiky-haired boy was struck all over and bounced a few times as he rolled along the road. Gwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Finding himself on his side, he arched his back and screamed, but he could not get up. Meanwhile, someone waved down from the roof of a short multi-tenant building. Yahoo. Everything going all right, boss? The delinquent girls long brown hair was cut so that two tufts looked like fox ears. She held an empty plastic bottle upside down in her hands. When she shook it a little, the countless ten yen coins wriggled on the road. They slowly gathered together in a whirlwind shape. The unharmed boy waved back from the ground. Right on schedule, Elza. Heh heh heh. He praised me. Intense heat spiraled through Kamijous head. Was this how it would be? Did Kamisato not care about any damage to his side after all? Would he let Mass Murderer Salome go on her rampage, harm all sorts of people in Academy City, and leave the people and world Kamijou cared about floating in a pool of blood? And would he consider that a happy ending as he clapped his hands and smiled at his new high score? Ka...mi...satooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! Pipe down. Sure I betrayed you, but Im giving you what you want. This is the best way to stop my sister. Kamijou did not understand. Unless... Hey, Kamijou Touma. Do you remember what I told you? Salome is slaughtering your friends and acquaintances so that my group will win. Then isnt the solution obvious? You decided that having Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru clash in front of the camera and faking my defeat would send her running to us. But theres still a risk of Salome realizing its an act, not being fooled, and continuing her killing. Basically, it leaves the initiative in the hands of that sister thats known as a mass murderer. Thats a risk we cant afford to take. So I like the sound of a simpler and surefire method that takes the initiative away from her. What...are you...? You just have to die. World Rejecter gave the simplest death sentence possible. Remember what I said? Salomes goal is to guide my faction to victory. So we just have to make sure you, the enemy king, die on camera. Do that, and her reason to fight will naturally vanish. Then you dont have to worry about any of your friends dying. And since it isnt an act, theres no risk of Salome not being fooled and remaining out of our control. Isnt that just a wonderfully perfect solution? ... Kamijou could not get up thanks to the previous impact and he could tell his pulse was racing. An unpleasant sweat covered his palms. The disconcerting pulsation from his neck grew louder. Elza. Kamisato sounded like he was reciting something. Fran, Maya, Luca. One was a pajama UFO girl with tons of antennae coming from her backpack as she used a giant balloon to float around. One was a ghost girl dressed in white who floated above the artificial fog machine at her feet. One was a pirate girl with an eyepatch, pirate hat, miniskirt, cutlass, and large musket. Aileen, Lime, Lisa, Mary, Anna, Iris, Nina, Maive, Elly, Clara, Deborah, May, Sophia, Siren, Sandy, Marine, Rosary, Scala, Yuny, Lemon, Nikita, Lemy, Machina, Catherine, Dorothea, Athena, Muse, Berry, Susan, Melon, Milcah, Amy, Linda, Fia, Snow, Laika, Honey, Eve. One was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was, one was... Kamijou could not even speak as girl after girl appeared from every direction. He could not move, he was hopelessly outnumbered, and each of them had undergone an extreme mutation like Claire and Elza. Each and every one of them would have been a formidable foe on her own, so he felt nothing but despair as they approached in numbers rivaling the stars in the sky. I hate doing this. I was supposed to be handling this, but I really do want their help here. Theyll just be holding you down while I provide the finishing blow, but just getting some help is a pretty big problem. Kamisato Kakeru pulled out a cheap cellphone. He pointed the lens at his prey like the master of an insane classroom undergoing a moral hazard. And he spoke coldly. Im dirtying my hands by making this unpleasant snuff film for the sake of your friends. So at least let me finish this quickly, Kamijou Touma-kun. ...!!!??? Part 5 Whoops. A curious look came over Mass Murderer Salome as she glanced down at her vibrating smartphone. What had happened? The asphalt around her was torn up, the street signs were bent, and flames rose vertically from an underground gas pipe like a flamethrower. Someones little sister ignored it all as she spoke to herself. Now, now. Youre really doing something silly, cursed Onii-chan. Hm? The hell are you talking about? Academy Citys #1, Accelerator, gave her a puzzled look from ten meters away. He frowned at what the raincoat girl said...or rather, at the fact that she was recklessly looking down at her phone in the middle a fight to the death with the #1. But Salome only shrugged. But depending how this plays out, it could be interesting, dontcha think? She laughed. Hey, #1. Lets call it quits here. Ill give you a little more time to live as a pitiful little attachment. Do you really think I give a shit about what you want? Oh, I think you will. Salome rolled her head around. Kanou Shinka. ? Fremea Seivelun, Fr?ulein Kreutune, Kuroyoru Umidori, Misaka Worst, and Last Order. Such naughty children, not going to school. And if the unfortunate befalls a naughty child, thats gotta count as divine punishment, right? ... Yes, you cant possibly know where all of them are, can you? And there are plenty more on my list, maybe even some in that crowd over there. Im fine with continuing here and I doubt youve got anything to be afraid of with your reflection. ...But will every single projectile you reflect back really end up hitting me? And if they dont, well have some stray shots and ricochets flying around, dontcha think? He hesitated for just a moment. Mass Murderer Salome used that opening to leap backwards. Her double raincoats fluttered like a dancers veil. In an act impossible for a flesh and blood body, she jumped onto the sign sticking out from a building wall, jumped up onto the rooftop, and began travelling quickly from building to building. A chill stabbed into her back almost immediately. She did not even need to turn back to check. Here he comes, here he comes. I guess this isnt someone you can lose on handmade legs. The raincoat girl laughed as she continued her jump of death from rooftop to rooftop. But thats perfect. Part 6 The situation was immediately set into motion. A raincoat girl suddenly appeared and kicked away the pirate girl approaching Kamijou. There was nothing she could do. The bottom of the double raincoat fluttered so calmly it looked out of place. The circle of girls crumbled all at once. Kamijou Touma was unable to get up, but the mass murderer girl crouched down nearby and lifted him up onto her shoulder like he was a bag of rice. She then looked around at the surrounding girls and laughed at the top of her lungs. Hah hah hah!! How are you doing, Onii-chan? Her focus shifted to the toy pocket watch hanging from her neck, but then she clicked her tongue a little. Oh, honestly. I had one arm blown off and the other ones full... I cant do my good luck charm like this. What is the meaning of this, Salome? Kamisato Kakeru narrowed his eyes a little. The naked raincoat sister looked at her dangerous brother and laughed. You know perfectly well everything I do is consistent, Onii-chan. Crazy people arent crazy because their actions dont follow any rules. Theyre crazy because they never break a set of rules that only they can understand. ... Ill do anything if it helps you. And that includes murder. Salome still held Kamijou who was utterly confused. But to put it another way, Ill never kill if it wont help you. I mean, what did Kamijou Touma ever do to Kamisato Kakeru? Is he your enemy for protecting the Magic Gods? Attacking people in a mistaken outburst of anger is just wrong. And its not like you have any proof that slaughtering all the Magic Gods will erase World Rejecter and return all those idiots around you to normal. Thats why Ive gotta go for a more certain method. Killing Kamijou Touma and slaughtering the Magic Gods wont necessarily return you to normal. So who can I kill to return Kamisato Kakeru to normal? Theres just one absolutely certain answer there, Onii-chan. You cant mean... The sister smiled evilly at her brothers words. Ill kill every last one of those girls surrounding you. Thats gotta be the correct choice, dontcha think? Time froze. Space solidified. It wasnt Kamijou Touma or the Magic Gods that messed up Kamisato Kakeru. Hamazura, Misaka, and the #1. Also an Academy City airport and bank, I guess. I tried a few different people, but none of them felt right! I mean, the Kamijou Faction has done nothing wrong!! The source of it all is that goddamn stupid harem you call the Kamisato Faction. These idiots are in heat year-round and have even thrown out the term self-responsibility. And the only reason you wield that inexplicable right hand called World Rejecter and get into these pointless fights is to turn them back into complete strangers, dontcha think? Youre not Zeus and Hera. Have you ever thought about the commoners who get caught in the middle of your ridiculous farce? Stop it... See? The source of it all has gotta be pretty clear now, right? Besides, even if the victims belong to a crazy category like Magic Gods, the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere shouldnt be dirtying his hands with killing, dontcha think? And a snuff film to save everyone? Dont make me laugh, Onii-chan. What the hell is this disturbing orgy of violence with no guilt whatsoever? Youre not a mass murderer. It might look like youre standing at the top, but youre really letting all those crazy people push you forward. Whats this Kamisato Harem nonsense? Those girls are pretending to serve you while theyre really possessing you. Theyre holding the strings to the foolish emperor decked out in his new clothes and they can move his arms and legs exactly how they-... Stop it. Not gonna. The raincoat girl stuck out her tongue. Did you think you could hold back a mass murderer or two by force if you had the whole laughable Kamisato Faction together? Well, Im sorry to say you chose the wrong opponent here. And doing it on camera was basically suicide. ? Silly Onii-chan. Didnt you know Kamijou Touma has a really, really pain in the ass fan? A moment later, a white tornado fell right in the middle of the circle formed by the Kamisato Faction. Academy Citys #1 had arrived. There was no need to watch it all play out. Salome laughed as she left with Kamijou Touma over the shoulder of her one remaining arm. Ah ha ha ha!! Hah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Oh, that worked almost too well! My sides hurt!! I cant stop crying. The dams of tear ducts across the nation have burst! My sides... Heh heh. Oh, I cant stand it. Nooo This is gonna destroy my sides!! Salome...!! Hee hee. The role of strategist doesnt suit you. If youre gonna play the normal high school boy, then its gotta suit you better to go with adlibs and grinding your teeth in anger afterwards. Now farewell, Onii-chan. Adieu. Peh heh heh. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!! Kamisato Kakeru tried running after her, but he was swallowed up by the white storm. Meanwhile, Kamijou Touma was about as confused as could be. Wait a minute! Please explain...well, all of this! Why are you naked? Why do you only have one arm? You arent bleeding. And since youre acting like his sister, does that mean youre Salome? What is all this about you being a mass murderer? And why are you naked!? You ask about the nudity twice? Does that bother you the most, Adolescent-chan? But this is my battle body, so I omitted the organs needed for that kind of thing. The raincoat girl sounded annoyed as she jumped up to the roof of a three or four story building. Dont let this sibling fight fool you. Ill always be my brothers ally. Im not like those dubious hangers-on of his, so Im not about to fall in love with someone after running into them when turning a corner. My chastity is more important than the entire planet, so make no mistake there. ... Youve been running around with my brother, so youve gotta understand what Ive been doing. I was poking at the Kamijou Faction to throw them into disarray. Once they know simply being an acquaintance of yours gets them attacked, the foundation supporting you would crumble. So really, it didnt matter whether I actually killed them or not. In fact, slaughtering every last one wouldnt spread fear quite as efficiently, so I needed to spare someone who could get the word out. Its a lot like a riot started by a baseless rumor, dontcha think? Just like with zombie computers or roach-killing bait, it has to be taken back to the inner network to infect all of them. My goal was to create people who would spread fear like that. I dont know all the details, but that still means youre my enemy and the one attacking my friends, doesnt it? Then why would you save me!? No, wait. Are you really saving me? You arent just taking me back to your lair, are you!? Not to worry. If I was gonna kill you, I already would have. Salome jumped from building to building. I truly am crazy. I was a mass murderer before my brother ended up like that. It was only recently that I threw away my body with my Internal Offering, but that isnt the point. At the core, Ive been a monster for much longer. ...? But regardless, a crazy person will end up thinking crazy things. Namely, that I want to help my one and only brother whos been messed up by the Magic Gods or whatever. And I dont think those lukewarm horny girls surrounding him are the way to do that. What I need is you, since youre boiling at precisely 100 degrees. If you can blow away that goddamn stupid harem boy, hes gotta return to normal, right? Its because those sluts who can only say yes and of course are pampering him that hes got a screw loose while pretending hes still sane, dontcha think? And youve got the perfect fist for this. ...That things supposed to destroy illusions, right? That giant moron is high on himself and his embarrassingly shallow ultimate harem of his, so give him a nice painful taste of reality. Please spare me... With the slaughter of the Magic Gods, the secrets of the world, and the mystery of my right hand, Im overwhelmed by so many questions as I approach some kind of turning point in my life, so do you really have to open the lid and shove me in between a crazy brother and sister too!? Hah hah! Thats generally what happens when you run across a crazy person, dontcha think? They say its just a stroke of bad luck, dont they!? Kamijou seriously wanted to go to bed and refuse to deal with any of this, but that was not an option here. No matter their reasons for using it, that power was real. They were still a threat. He thought about the idea of a normal high school boy once more. Anyone would be afraid if someone like that had the power to change the world. They would chaotically and recklessly wield that power. They would be no different from a natural disaster. Who is...? Hm? Who is Kamisato Kakeru to you? Kamijou Touma sounded almost casual as he asked the question from her shoulder. The effect was (for some reason) instantaneous. Bfh!? Raincoat Mass Murderer Salome spat out the contents of her mouth while jumping between buildings and she lost balance in midair. She somehow managed to avoid falling to the surface, but she did face plant on a square rooftop. She naturally let go of Kamijou while rolling around. The plastic hood of her raincoat fell away from her head and she shouted at him with the tip of her nose red. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-why would you ask that so bluntly!? Youve gotta be stupid! Im his sister! Not blood related, but his sister! How can you look me in the eye and say that!? Is this a hill in the setting sun? Just how difficult an adolescent life have you had!? B-before that, can I have time to writhe around in pain too? Kamijou was covered in scrapes, but he finally managed to get up. Oh, I thought you had your hair wrapped around on the sides, but those were twintails? Eh? Y-yes. Dammit. Did they come undone from the impact? Youre actually pretty cute with that off your head. You dont have to point out every little thing! The Kamijou Faction is surprisingly frightening. Youre not my brother! Salome tried to quickly put her hood back up, but the twintails seemed to get in the way. She must have decided wrapping her hair back up with just the one hand would take too long because she finally gave up and let go of the hood. Dont tell me... Wh-what is it now? Is that pocket watch hanging from your neck something youve always worn since Kamisato bought it for you when you were little? And do you also have a serious-grade full-spec nyan-nyan body you polish up every night for your Onii-chan, you crazy sister? What is with you!? Honestly!! The mass murderer was flailing around now. She used her one arm to grab the pocket watch and hunkered down as if to protect it from everything in the world. Im not going to take it, so dont worry. Th-that isnt the issue! She was still blushing, but she must have been mad that he had taken control of the conversation and was looking down on her. The (naked) raincoat girl heavily crossed her legs and intentionally winked. You wanted to know what kind of person Kamisato Kakeru is, right? You can ask if you want, but who knows whos chasing after us. Do you still have the guts to sit around chatting? I barely know anything about him, so anything you could tell me would be a plus. Oh, is that so? Salome tried to cross her arms but then realized she only had the one. She sighed before continuing. He once prayed for me by folding origami cranes. ? He taught me how to ride a bike. And how to use chopsticks. Maybe he taught me how to hold a pencil too, but I forget. We bathed together when we were little. He held my hand when we went to school. He helped me with my homework and he made sure I had everything packed before we went on trips. I think he gave me some advice when I got my first love letter from someone I didnt particularly like. At that point, she grabbed the pocket watch hanging from her neck by a thick thread. It was a cheap toy mostly made from plastic. But that meant its manufacturer would no longer be supporting it. If she brought it to a watch shop, they would just tell her to buy a new one. The fact that it was still running meant she had treated it with care. And as you guessed, he bought this for me. I was always late for everything, so he chose to forgo some candy and spent his own allowance on it. Funny, isnt it? There really was someone who tried to teach a hopeless mass murderer something as simple as how to be on time. Kamijou had wanted an image of the monster known as Kamisato Kakeru. This answer seemed useless for that, but he was wrong. When you get down to it, theres nothing special about him. You can even say thats why I fell for him. Normality can really get to you. Especially for a mass murderer like me. Could you make this a little simpler? Hmm, Ill try... For example, greeting the people you meet on the way to school is normal, right? And? What if that person you met was a bank robber? Would it be normal to smile and greet them? ... Thats what I mean. Normality doesnt always lead to never-ending and unconditional compassion and benevolence. I chose the path of a mass murderer, so anything that happens to me has gotta be my just deserts. But even so, something that isnt special really gets to me. Kamijou realized Salome had never mentioned anything about Kamisatos parents. Nor had Kamisato Kakeru. That monster had said he started off as the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. He had said it again and again. That meant he had to have been supported by the kind of normal mother and father that one could find anywhere, but what had been their normal reaction to Kamisato and Salome? Had they accepted them? Or had they not? I think they did submit a missing person report. But neither our parents nor the police seriously tried to find me. After all, I was still showing up at school now and then, even after running away from home. For the adults, it was best if they were trying to find me but never actually did. If I was missing and they had no idea what I was doing, then the parents couldnt be blamed as the ones holding the reins. And if I was under a different jurisdiction, the police could escape responsibility for not protecting the peace. They had no intention of doing a serious investigation and arresting me. But thats just how society works when it runs on a demerit system. If the police arrested me alone and discovered there had been one or two hundred more cases in their jurisdiction, who could say how many of them would be fired. They were afraid of people asking why they hadnt noticed sooner and how they could let themselves be manipulated by a child like that. It had reached the point where arresting me would actually make things worse for them. Are you serious...? And Kamisato has the nerve to call himself a normal high school boy? Hah hah! No, a normal family will reject a mass murderer. Of course, with me it was generally groups. Hence mass murderer. I always attacked hopeless cults with end-times philosophies or divers carrying small plastic packages from the sea at night, so the higher ups in the police mustve been in complete chaos. They probably over-optimistically hoped they could control me and force onto me all the dirty work that the public security and foreign affairs divisions didnt want to deal with, dontcha think? Just like how a hunter isnt allowed to shoot someone with their rifle, but they can still press that gun against someones back, guide them into the jungle, and let an un-prosecutable wild animal chow down on them. ...I didnt really care how I was treated or what my position was. I mean, I dont want to attack defenseless commoners. Its too boring. When youve got a nice shiny rifle in your hands, its just rude to turn your back on the forest and aim for the side of a cow happily eating grass on a farm. Thats animal abuse and its pointless. Hunting isnt the same as being a predator, dontcha think? You arent fulfilling your natural role and targeting your prey. Its the opposite. Youre using your intelligence and tools to challenge something higher up on the food chain. Its the prey overturning the pyramid and killing the predator. Thats why it provides such a thrilling tension and why the kill has value as a trophy. Thats why hunting is a game that only humans can play. It was a hopeless conversation. Due to its scale, its presence seemed to overturn good and evil. No, it had a powerful influence provided by the truth contained within. And he was the only one. While everyone else was glancing my way, he looked straight at me and spoke to me. Although I got sick of him scolding me again and again and again that killing is wrong. Which one of them was normal and average? Were their parents normal for rejecting a mass murderer? Or was Kamisato average for facing her nonetheless? So I, um, well, pretty seriously look up to my brother. Oh, b-but dont tell him! If you do, I really will kill you!! I wont tell him. And how can you possibly look so friendly? My brain isnt adding a filter since youre a girl, is it? Youve gotta promise me you wont... Oh, what am I even saying anymore? But it would feel wrong to stop after coming this far. Well, anyway, if he was normal, he would have abandoned a monster like me long ago. He would have run off during the night with our parents or he would have gotten sick of looking after me and killed me. But he didnt do that. Not even I know if I would have been able to stick with him to the end if our roles were reversed. Thats why I look up to him. ...Or I did until that goddamn idiot got that right hand. That right hand. World Rejecter. So do you think the same thing? Hm? Do you think all those people have gathered around him because he has that special right hand? There was definitely something wrong with Salome. But despite that...no, because of it, the rest of the Kamisato Faction seemed somehow off. Asking the opinion of a girl known as a mass murderer was ridiculous, but he felt like there was something there that was only visible to someone like her whose gears were out of place. If that mass murderer immediately answered yes, even Kamijou would have doubted himself. Was that right hand really the whole of it? Were those girls nothing more than World Rejecter? Did it have nothing to do with Kamisato Kakerus personality? What do you think? But Salome dodged the issue with a question of her own. I do think that right hand, including that aspect, is Kamisato Kakerus curse and thats why someone needs to destroy it eventually. It was not a clear yes or a clear no. Even that twintails girl who was feared as a mass murderer may have wanted to avoid saying anything for certain here. Putting it to words might make it a reality, so she was stopped by an occult chill. Kamijou and Kamisato were enemies, but Salome was different. She had to stay with him forever, even if certain things proved to be the case. Ive cooled down. Both physically and mentally. The raincoat girl got to her feet. We should probably end this here. Wasting any more time has gotta be dangerous. We can finish our chat when we reach our destination, Kamijou-chan. Hey, wait! Wah!? They did not have time to argue. Salome immediately grabbed Kamijou and held him rice bag style. She took another running start and leaped. She casually hopped from building to building. So what are you planning to do about Kamisato Kakeru? In fact, where are we headed!? It doesnt matter where. It just has to be somewhere with the numbers I need to rival that goddamn stupid harem called the Kamisato Faction. Numbers? Rival? Oh, cmon. My brothers used the mysterious powers of his good looks to gather that suspicious fighting force. Whether theyre gonna attack someone or protect him, theyve gotta have all their cards in one place. Otherwise, theyll all melt away. Please wait a moment. Are you going to get more people involved in this!? In fact, we need to keep an eye on Kamisato now that hes making his move! Who knows when hell attack Index and Othinus in my dorm! Youve gotta be kidding me. If hes gonna do this, why cant he only target me!? Youre dyed pretty deep yourself if you dont even hesitate to offer yourself up like that. This isnt my Internal Offering were talking about. But no matter where he starts this, its gotta be best to crush him sooner rather than later. So will you follow my plan for now? Salome sounded exasperated as she jumped from building to building. Kamijou gradually realized this was the route to school. But make no mistake. Offering yourself up wont save the others. Theres no distinction between home and away. Were talking about that brother of mine, so theres no safe zone. I wonder just how far the invisible contamination has spread. The setup might already be complete, so things might be heading to the finale. ? He did not have time to wait for an answer. With Kamijou Touma over her shoulder, the raincoat girl took an extra long leap toward the school buildings roof. Part 7 This might be sudden, but I think anyone would be shocked if a mass murderer dropped down onto the rooftop during lunch. Especially if she was a girl wearing only raincoats over her dazzling bare skin that had swimsuit tan lines, if she was acted perfectly fine despite having an arm torn off, and if she was carrying a teenage boy over one shoulder like a bag of rice. Thus... Hi, coming through. Its just a suspicious person breaking into your school, so dont worry. But stay away, cause Im pretty dangerous. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!? M-M-Mie-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!! The palm-sized student council president known as the Jumpy Bunny was just about to open her lunchbox, so she hopped straight up while still in her seated position. The mass murderer naturally did not care and casually tossed Kamijou aside. The modern girl in a middle school uniform widened her eyes next to the president. Her lunchbox had an identical design, so it must have been true that Akikawa Mie was providing food for the Jumpy Bunny. And since they were eating together, this must have been a bring-your-lunch day for the middle school. Eh? Eh? Wait...what...? You dont have to get involved in anything like this, Mie-chan! I-I need to demonstrate my dignity as the student council president... I-Ill give you my octopus wiener, so please spare Mie-chan!! Well, if youre offering. The raincoat mass murderer grabbed the offered item from the upside-down lunchbox lid and tossed it into her mouth. She showed no interest in the palm-sized president as she licked her fingertips and toyed with one of her silver twintails that was still exposed. She seemed unable to relax with them out like that. However, the gazes of the president and modern middle school girl were painful. But not for Salome, the one-armed naked raincoat mass murder. It pained Kamijou to be thought of as with her. Anyway, Im going to fix my hair and find anything I can use as a weapon. I used up everything in my sports bag back with the #1, so Ive gotta get some material to keep my chain going. ... Whats the matter? Are you worried? Ill admit it isnt every day that a dangerous mass murderer wanders around school searching for knives, but you dont have to worry this time. Im on your side, Kamijou Touma. As long as youll continue being a proper enemy for Kamisato Kakeru, that is. She stopped speaking there. But then she glanced over at her torn-off arm as if she had just remembered it. No, I guess my arm would come first. I cant exactly fix my hair without my dominant arm, can I? Theres gotta be an art room here. Do they have all the standard paste products like putty and plaster? Your bodys made out of that? No, but I need it to make the model. Then I add in some chemicals. Im not an electronic cyborg, so I use chemical reactions instead. I guess Ill have to start working on a suspicious recipe in the cooking classroom. Again, your bodys made out of stuff like that!? Were not talking about a summer project here!! Honestly, everythings so cutting-edge here Im worried it wont agree with me. Salome laughed and waved her remaining arm. The true threat of Salome may not have been her extraordinary athletic ability or the strategic ability needed to escape the entire Kamisato Faction. It was her ability to conveniently repair herself with any materials she came across. Then her tone grew more serious. Kamijou Touma. While Im getting everything ready, you talk to everyone you know here and see if any of them are acting oddly. ? Not all attacks are made by harming your opponent in a visible way. Especially when it comes to that goddamn stupid brother of mine. Just check over everyone. It couldnt hurt, right? And if you find your normal class, your normal club, your normal committee, and your normal part-time job...well, thats for the best, dontcha think? Thats what Im hoping for. But...I think the odds are about 50/50. Theres gotta be about a 50% chance of rain. Salome seemed to be sniffing something as she spoke. Kamijou could not hope to guess what that crazy girls nose had picked up. Regardless, the raincoat mass murderer said one final thing. I recognize this cloyingly sweet sense of bottomless candy. Its just like that goddamn stupid Kamisato harem. Between the Lines 3 What image comes to mind when people hear the term laboratory? Perhaps a storage center for suspicious bacteria hidden deep in the mountains. Perhaps a development base for new fighter craft built in the middle of the desert. Or perhaps a deep sea experiment facility disguised as an offshore oil platform or a zero-g testing facility built into a space station module. A specialized research facility might sound like something needlessly large that could never be paid for with personal funds. And it was true that not even an entire university would be enough for an almighty all-in-one laboratory that allowed for research in every field imaginable. But on the other hand, a laboratory could be made quite compact if it only had the absolute essentials. For example, a metalworking lab that created firearms, a biological management lab that cultivated viruses capable of wiping out a city of a million in under 24 hours, or a pharmaceutical lab that created synthetic drugs that could become an unlimited source of funds if used correctly. If one abandoned the scholarly idea of infinite possibilities and focused on one clear goal, their laboratory could fit inside a port container. Kihara Yuiitsu, a woman in a cheap suit and a lab coat, arrived in Academy Citys District 17. The district supported Academy Citys manufacturing industry infrastructure and was almost entirely made up of unmanned factories, but Yuiitsu was not interested in the factories themselves. Containers were piled up in an abandoned factory that was no longer in use. There were blank spaces everywhere like the result of a poor attempt at a puzzle game. A black luxury car sat inside a space the size of a basketball court. It was incredibly long like a dachshund that had taken a wrong turn somewhere along its evolutionary history. Its development codename was Griffon Driver. It was a bulletproof vehicle for VIPs originally developed for the twelve members of the Board of Directors for use during World War Three. It used a policy of active defense (i.e. remaining on the move at all times so no one would know where they were). From a distance, it looked just like a limousine parked in front of a casino, but as Yuiitsu approached, it became clear that it was over two meters tall and over twenty-five meters long. Yuiitsu could step through the door while standing. The body was made of composite armor, the bulletproof glass was more than fifty centimeters thick, and the door rivaled a bank vault with its eight rods and vacuum lock. Rather than air, the tires contained sponge in case of a hit from a sniper rifle or anti-tank mine and to prevent it from rendering itself useless by blowing the tires under its own weight. There were several of these vehicles. These polished luxury vehicles lined up side-by-side were Kihara Yuiitsus fortress. Hello, Ms. Yuiitsu. A young male voice spoke over the radio. Then a further flood of voices reached her. Hello! Hi, Yuiitsu-san. Keep up the good work. Despite all the greetings, no one stepped out of the drivers seats. Yuiitsu did not bother pulling out her radio and simply waved while looking to the front of each vehicle. They asked no questions about their boss or the rear of the vehicles. The windows were all tinted and there was a thick barrier between the drivers seat and the rear area, so they could see nothing. That was a basic courtesy in this business. (Although it would probably cause a blood vessel to burst in their heads and give them a brain hemorrhage if they knew a P4 level biological weapon was being cultivated in the back of the vehicles theyre driving around the city all day.) She walked toward one of the black vehicles and grabbed the knob to the back door. Several forms of biometric authentication were run and the door opened surprisingly easily. The inside was entirely different. A bluish infrared light illuminated the cold material that resembled silver stainless steel. Kihara Yuiitsu stripped off all of her clothes in a small space, sterilized her entire body in a complete decontamination room smaller than a phone booth, and put on a thick protective suit before opening the door to the main area. It resembled the plant factories that were popular lately. Something like water tanks with no water inside were lined up on metal racks. The small digital counters on the glass surface were apparently used to manage the temperature and humidity. But unlike a tropical fish tank, there were two round holes in the sides of the tanks with thick rubber plastic gloves attached on the inside. In other words, they were set up so work could be done inside a completely sealed environment. Each tank had about ten glass Petri dishes inside and the tanks were divided into multiple levels on the metal racks covering the left and right walls. Kihara Yuiitsu snapped her fingers to activate the rooms recording functions and reported on her progress as if speaking to herself. Discard #17-25, discard #40-60, discard #130-156. Make #1, 9, and 30 the top candidates. Make #5, 6, 70, and 99 the secondary candidates. She did not bother observing each and every Petri dish under a microscope. The samples to be discarded would be instantly neutralized by frying them with powerful ultraviolet and electron beams. Based on the traces left on the Anti-Art Attachment that was the foundation of Senseis combat ability, we can estimate Kamisato Kakerus power to be an extremely sharp cutting power that provides complete destruction without crushing the material along the slice. He should have been able to destroy Senseis physical body as well as his weapon, but it is unknown why he did not. We can abandon the idea of some uncertain idea of good sense and assume there is some kind of condition needed to activate the power. She used the microscope to view the remaining Petri dishes, especially the ones labeled a top candidate. That condition is unknown, but based on the traces on the armor, Kamisato Kakeru seems to be focused on his right hand. Some of the marks even resemble a hand print. I cant think of any defense greater than that armor, so stopping an attack from him would be nearly impossible. Thus, a long-term battle would be unrealistic. She never directly touched it. Utterly separated by cold glass and thick plastic, she used a fine dropper to add in chemicals by the nanogram as she looked after the cultivations. Kamisato Kakerus blood and tissue fragments were found on Senseis fangs. That means he allowed Sensei to get close, so he either lacks a means of attacking at long range or the environment prevented him from doing so. She did not add the same chemicals to any two Petri dishes labeled as top candidates. They were all different. She only needed one of them to fulfill her hypothesis. This leads to the conclusion that Kamisato Kakerus strange power uses some method based on his physical body to aim at a mid- or close-range target. Whether it can be defended against or dodged is unknown, so it should be assumed the activation of his power means death. She spoke quietly as she stared at something that could continue wriggling even in the coldest weather. In other words... She breathed in and out. And she uttered the decisive words. The most effective attack method for Kamisato Kakeru is to ****** his ******** with ******* and *******. A sticky sound burst out. Something had wrapped around the tip of the fine dropper Yuiitsu was using. Something black was sticking out of the Petri dish. It also contained the colorful patterns of a tropical frog or lizard. She pulled on the fine dropper a few times, stared at the uncooperative sample with a smile, and then laughed. She said one last thing as she laughed. Isnt that right, Shoggoth-chan? Volume 15, 4: Despair, or an Objective Revealed — Artificial_Disaster. Volume 15, Chapter 4: Despair, or an Objective Revealed Artificial_Disaster. Part 1 Akikawa Mies head was full of questions. As usual, she had made a lunch for her old friend, the student council president, and the two of them had been eating their lunches on the rooftop. A suspicious person had jumped over from a nearby building, but that was not what had shocked her the most. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!? M-M-Mie-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!! That part was fine. That extremely small upperclassman always said something like that when she panicked. You dont have to get involved in anything like this, Mie-chan! I-I need to demonstrate my dignity as the student council president... That part was fine too. She always had a habit of acting brave and trying to look big (especially in front of younger people like Akikawa Mie). I-Ill give you my octopus wiener, so please spare Mie-chan!! (Thats it.) Akikawa Mie hung her head a little when she realized what had sounded off. The president had not been the one to make that lunch. Akikawa Mie had made it for her. Although about half of it was handmade by her mother and the other half was almost all microwaved frozen food. The president had always been so afraid of food additives that Akikawa Mie had felt she was overthinking things, but that meant she took issue with cheap processed meats like those octopus wieners. But... (Would she really say that?) It went beyond liking and disliking. Had she really been the type of person to give up on the lunch someone had made for her just because she felt a little threatened? (Something about that feels...off. Id expect her to say something like, I wont let you touch the lunch that Mie-chan made for me.) Mie-chan? ... Akikawa Mies shoulders jumped a little. She must have lost control of her own mental state if she reacted like that to the small president who was within a meter of her. The president had to be fairly panicked too. If her mind had gone blank, it was hardly surprising she would do something that did not seem to follow her normal thought patterns. Heh...heh heh. Things are getting pretty exciting around here, but its the student councils job to handle problems like this! So dont worry about this and go to your afternoon classes, Mie-chan. Eh? Oh, sure. I need to report this and share my information with everyone. If I act on my own and get attacked, no one will know whats going on! Now, then, Mie-chan! Thanks for the lunch! Vavroom!! Akikawa Mie sighed as she watched the small president leave the rooftop while providing her own sound effect. She gathered the two empty lunchboxes and thought about heading to her classroom, but... Oh... The wind blew away the plastic cup used to hold the small serving of gratin. It flew over the fence, so there was nothing she could do. She followed it with her eyes and ended up looking into the schoolyard behind the school, but she soon returned to the lunchboxes. She closed the lids and placed them in their cloth wrappers. (She didnt mention her after-lunch tea, did she? But she always leaves a little in the water bottle.) Akikawa Mie slowly stood up and glanced back behind the school again. She could see the faculty parking lot and the trash dump shared by the middle and high school. And the locked incinerator. Part 2 Mass Murderer Salome had half-threatened Kamijou by telling him to make sure his class and the other people he knew were acting normally. He was now walking down the still unfamiliar hallway of this new school. Lunch break was coming to a close, so the struggle over the best lunches would be over and everyone would be free. He would normally have found a relaxed mood in the classroom, but today seemed different. By the time he was anywhere near the classroom, he could already hear the lively chatter from within. Aogami Pierce and some other boys had formed a circle, so he spoke to his friend. What is it, Aogami? I havent seen you all this excited since we were preparing for the Daihaseisai or the Ichihanaransai. Oh, perfect timing, Kami-yan. I was just thinking about contacting you. ...By the way, howd the roll call go? Surprisingly well, actually. Everyone accepted it without a second thought. Thank goodness!! Of course, that means no one noticed you were gone, even in this small classroom. How can I feel so glad and sad at the same time!? A short distance away, Fukiyose Seiri, the classmate with her trademark long black hair and forehead (and giant breasts), brought a hand to her forehead and shook her head. ? This isnt any time to worry about the girls, Kami-yan. Were the only ones that can understand the value of this big event. What is this about anyway? Its a secret. Aogami Pierce leaned forward with such delight that he clearly had no plans of keeping it a secret. He continued with a smile. Did you know theres an incinerator behind the school that no one uses anymore? What? ...No, wait. Dont tell me... Sounds like youve heard. Thats right! Sometimes the rash purchases of our youth only lead to disappointment yet have entered such a bizarre zone that just throwing them out would be too risky. So when we have an all-color magazine or when we have a life-size doll or extra-long pillow to be our late-night sparring partner, we can sneak in and burn them in the incinerator! I just wish theyd told us about this earlier. When in Rome do as the Romans do! Were thinking of taking up the torch of this new worlds traditions and getting rid of some things wed like to get rid of. ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Kamijou was in a crisis thanks to the Kamisato faction and the monster known as Mass Murderer Salome who was apparently Kamisatos sister, but this peaceful place had remained entirely peaceful. Except... Hadnt President Jumpy Bunny said that was a bad idea? Hold on. Wont that lead to being charged with illegal entry and attempted arson? Wont it leave some embarrassing and easily searchable official records that make one wonder how that could possible happen? Man, this really was a blind spot for me. Aogami Pierce clasped his hands behind his head, leaned back in his chair, and spoke entirely casually. Im glad that Kamisato Kakeru guy is a lot more mischievous than he looks. Kamijou Toumas cheeks writhed oddly. What was this? Why had that boys name come up here? Why here in this everyday classroom that had nothing to do with conflicts between science and magic, the desires of the Magic Gods, or the two right hands? Wait. What is it, Kami-yan? Wait! Are you saying Kamisato suggested this!? He raised his voice without thinking, so Aogami Pierce and the rest of the class looked at him funny. He was being treated as the odd one out for sensing danger there. (What does that mean? Is he plotting something connected to that relatively harmless-looking incinerator? Illegal entry and attempted arson. Is he trying to get my classmates to make a bad decision and ruin their reputation?) But this went beyond that. Half a day before, Kamijou himself might have thought he was being overly suspicious, but now Kamisato Kakeru had deceived him and seriously tried to kill him. This was no time to trust anything that boy said. There was something there. Just as he had pretended to be on Kamijous side to lure him out and gang up on him to kill him, there was something hidden in this unimportant-sounding turn of events. An unpleasant sweat covered his brow, but Aogami Pierce and the other boys ignored him and continued their planning. The cameras and guards are set up more or less like this... About the key to the incinerators padlock, they have denture paste at the drugstore out front, so couldnt we create a mold with that and make a spare key? Sneaking into the school at night is so exciting. Its like another world, but its so close by. Kamijou could not believe it. The plan itself may have been similar to gathering at night to set off some fireworks, but they were planning actual crimes: illegal entry and attempted arson. No, if any sparks flew over and set the school on fire, the attempted part would vanish. Normally, they might discuss this kind of thing as a hypothetical or what if, but they would never actually do it. However, they had lost their self-control. He had no real basis for it, but Kamijou felt he could not let them do this. He had a feeling this would end up going beyond simply burning some unwanted magazines in the incinerator. Hey, he said. I really think this is a bad idea! Why? Because if something goes wrong, no ones going to help you out. If youre caught, Anti-Skill will be after you. It wouldnt be funny if you ended up suspended over something so stupid!! And thats why were planning it out so carefully. We wont get caught, so itll all be fine. Thats not the issue! Weve checked the security. The transformer is in an outside building, so we can switch it off before climbing the fence. And we can get past the padlock with a spare key. ...See, nothing to worry about. Their plan was on the level of saying what they would do if terrorists attacked the school. They could picture it in their heads, but things were bound to go wrong once they actually tried it. Hold on. Theres no way you can make a spare key! And what do you mean switch off the transformer!? Youll definitely set off some kind of alarm when you do that. This isnt going to work!! He desperately tried to stop them, but it was useless. Aogami Pierce and the others only tilted their heads at a deeper angle. Even the girls who were not directly involved looked over at him in annoyance. Then someone in the group made a comment. Quit ruining our fun, you killjoy. Kamijou slowly C truly slowly C looked around the classroom. Everything already looked the same as always. His usual classmates were chatting congenially and no one sent any definite looks of malice his way. But someone had said it. The deluge of voices lost all meaning. It simply surrounded him like a solid wall of noise. (...Huh?) He did not understand. Unpleasant sweat pooled in his hands. (Has the classroom...and have they...always been so distant?) That was how they felt now. And a moment later... Didnt I tell you? This place smells just like the goddamn stupid Kamisato harem. Someone suddenly stepped rudely into the usual classroom. It was a silver-haired girl with two raincoats worn directly over her bare skin that displayed the contrast of swimsuit tan lines. She had already re-set her hair, so it was curled around like disks or demon horns below the translucent hood. However she had done it, her torn-off arm was back to normal. Hes been busy in his short time here, dontcha think? Its like peering inside the mouth of a kid with a ton of cavities. Its just creepy. Whether they can return to normal or not is honestly dependent on their pride. H-hey, Kamijou? Is she a friend of-... A classmate hesitantly spoke up while looking at the true outsider that was Mass Murderer Salome, but he trailed off. That was because Salome had grabbed his throat in a hand. Shut the hell up, you sugar-soaked bastard. ...Gah...!? You let yourself be influenced so easily, threw out your ideas of good and evil, and abandoned all responsibility. You know who I hate most? The people who keep shouting We won''t ask for it. Until we win. to apply pressure to their neighbors, but suddenly claim theyd never wanted war in the first place the second the era changes. And that means you, you rotten sugar-soaked bastards. Do you really understand what it means to piss of a mass murderer like me? Gbh... Th-that wasnt...me...! It wasnt me. In other words, you know who said it and were laughing along. Pathetic. Why are you even alive? Can you tell me one thing? Kamisato Kakeru was the one that made you like this, but did he ever ask you to live? Hey!! When he saw his classmates face turning red while dangling down from Salomes arm, Kamijou frantically grabbed that arm. The raincoat girl shrugged and readily let go, but she put on an evil smile as she did. How benevolent of you. ...But make no mistake. No ones going to thank you for this. Do you really think their sugar-soaked brains are capable of thought on that level? Facing an outsider like Salome was easier for him, so Kamijou did not look back. He knew very well that his usual sunny life would only bring him pain now. He exhaled and spoke. Lets head outside. Fine with me. I only just made my new arm and I havent broken it in yet. If I keep seeing these creepy sugar-soaked bastards, I might just kill one of them. He stepped out into the hallway with the raincoat girl and then he shouted at her. Why do you love being alone that much, you crazy girl!? Remember this: the first step towards crazy is to stop caring what other people think of you. Thats the kind of person I am. Salome laughed. Anyway, you mustve noticed how theyve changed. I was getting excited thinking we could block the entrances and exits with desks and chairs to hole up in the school against the goddamn stupid Kamisato harem, but it looks like it wont be that simple. ... That cursed brother has already sown the seeds. Setting up barricades now will only get us stabbed in the back from within. The Kamisato Faction was bad enough on its own, but who knows how far the sugar-soaked contamination has spread. Kamisato predicted it would turn out like this? Of course not. If hed predicted my actions, he wouldve handled me a little better. He wouldnt have even known I was coming to Academy City. Plus, he isnt much for planning. Thats the problem with World Rejecter being so powerful. He can break through most things with brute force, so he doesnt bother with the details. In that case. Kamijou slowly sighed. Seeds hed already sown for something else are blooming on their own now? Your rampage in Academy City, me working with him to lure you out, him deciding to kill me instead, and you getting in the way were all unexpected? Then what was his original plan? Who knows. But his objective is always the same: revenge on the Magic Gods. More specifically, he was probably approaching you to get you to hand over Othinus, dontcha think? Infecting the school mightve been a way to bring down the Kamijou Faction and remove your defenses. By having my friends sneak into the school at night and burn porn magazines and dolls in the unused incinerator? I dont know how to explain that either. But I do know he was going out of his way to destroy your circle of friends. Theres gotta be more to it than that. It might look like a silly event, but theres gotta be something more there. ...Hey, Kamijou-chan. Have you heard of the Election Game? Its a minor board game from Germany. Hm? Kamisato mentioned that. He said it was basically a complex version of sugoroku where you try to become president using ridiculous methods you never could in reality. That bastard was selling off stories about his little sister? Salome clicked her tongue. So what method do you think he liked to use? How would I know? He didnt attack the other player or their supporters, but that doesnt mean he was a paragon of fair play either. If the enemy ended up in the category of victim, their solidarity would only grow, so he thought it was best not to rely on simple violence. The corners of Mass Murderer Salomes mouth twisted into a smile with her eyes hidden by the waterproof hood. So he preferred to goad them into action. He would give his enemys supporters a push forward, have them commit a crime, and place them in the category of criminal. That would destroy the enemy factions solidarity. Thats the kind of guy he is. Part 3 Akikawa Mie could not focus on her afternoon classes. She must have been pressing down too hard because she kept breaking her mechanical pencil lead. She could not remember how many times she had swapped out the lead. The flow of time seemed so, so, so, so slow, but not even half of the material on the blackboard had made it into her mind. She had written it all into her notes, but she could not understand it even when reading it in her own handwriting. It was so bad that she had to frown and wonder if class had always been like this. Once school was over, everything was dyed in shades of orange. She breathed a deep sigh and finally stood up from her desk. I guess I should head home. She was worried about the president who she normally made a lunch for and otherwise looked after, but she decided she may have been making too much of this. After all, they had been eating lunch on the rooftop when a naked raincoat girl had intruded and tossed aside the boy she was carrying over her shoulder, so of course the president had panicked. Even if she had been thinking clearly enough to know she had to tell the student council and the teachers about the intruder (which was the kind of student council work that Akikawa Mie would normally help with), she may have had too much on her mind to think about her normal lunch routine. After entering the hallway, Akikawa Mie casually glanced out the window. Lunch was long over, so the pile of trash bags in the garbage dump out back was reaching its peak. Needless to say, that was thanks to the trash from the bread, meals, and drinks bought at the school store. The trashcans were normally full by the end of lunch, so the trash was usually taken out to the trash dump then rather than waiting for the afterschool cleanup. But none of that mattered. She was interested in the silhouette of a small girl she saw in the trash dump. It was most likely the student council president. ... Akikawa Mie placed her hands on the windowsill, stared at the trash dump through the glass, and nodded. She put on her leather shoes at the shoe lockers and then circled around back. The president with her long black hair and large ribbon quickly noticed her. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the upper arm of her sweater since the thick plastic gloves did not reach there, and she gave a carefree smile. Oh, if it isnt Mie-chan. What brings you here? Was it your day to take out the-...no, I guess not. No, it wasnt. Akikawa responded like normal. Except... What are you doing here, Onee-chan? Ah ha ha. I am the student council president, you know? Separating the trash can be pretty scary. Some kids throw out spray cans and broken utility knife blades, so a careless garbage man could get hurt. True. Akikawa Mie thought that was a wonderful way of thinking. The TV news sometimes mentioned garbage men who had a finger blown off, so she though it was truly amazing that this girl was checking on the garbage every day to prevent those accidents. However... But Onee-chan, you werent separating the trash. ...What are you talking about? You can see this area from the middle school hallway. I was watching for about half an hour, but you didnt open a single trash bag. After seeing things momentarily stopped, Akikawa Mie had trusted in her sense that something was wrong. And she had made her attack. Half an hour was a lie. She had only watched for two minutes. But the president took it at face value and a lag entered her smooth speech like the needle skipping on an old record. Oh, come on. Not even the student council president can check all this garbage by opening each and every bag. Most dangerous things like hairspray cans and utility knife blades are metal, right? Thats why I use a handheld metal detector to-... Sure. She did not let the girl finish. But isnt that useless? You said it yourself, Onee-chan, most dangerous things are metal. What about it? Most. That means you arent eliminating 100% of the danger. What about wooden skewers? Or anything plastic? Or a broken glass? Those can break through the bag and hurt the garbage mans finger just as well. Why are you compromising there? If you were really using up your afterschool time out of concern for the garbage men, I think you would try to be as thorough as possible. ... And if you are willing to let a garbage man get hurt due to your compromise, you wouldnt even think about staying behind to work afterschool. In that case, why was the president here? There were not too many benefits of visiting and hanging around the garbage dump. People normally did their best to stay away. But wasnt there another way of looking at it? If everyone did their best to stay away, wouldnt it be the best place to hide something? And what if it was something that required stopping by periodically to check on it? Akikawa Mie felt her heart pounding unbelievably hard. It was even more out of control than during her adventure with the liquid diamond. The president was not interested in the garbage dump. The garbage would make for poor camouflage since the garbage men would take it all away by the following day. But there was something else there. Something else stood out besides the large piles of trash. It was no longer used. It was a box of rusted metal. It was wrapped with thick chains and locked with a plain padlock. Hey, Onee-chan? ...What is it? What is inside the inciner-... Mie-chan? In that instant, Akikawa Mie did not just feel a chill run down her spine. She felt an impact that seemed to tear her spine right out. The president had not actually done anything. She had simply smiled in the setting sun. And yet sweat was pouring down Akikawa Mies body. She suddenly realized they were alone in the deserted garbage dump. That meant no one was watching. The president had mentioned the possibility of dangerous things mixed in with the trash. But what if they had been placed their intentionally rather than on accident? What if some bags full of blades or explosives were mixed in just in case? In fact, no obvious weapons were needed. The trash was piled up higher than they were tall. If the piles collapsed, she could be buried alive. And if that happened, who would suspect foul play? The president only needed to cover her face with her hands and tell everyone what had happened. She only had to say a student was playing in the garbage dump despite all the warnings not to and an unfortunate accident had occurred. That was all she had to do. That was all she would have to do. Hey, Mie-chan? ... The pressure of the presidents smile approached. Akikawa Mie subconsciously took a step back from that smile. The incinerator is dangerous, so no touching it, okay? Even if its chained up and padlocked, you can still pull it open a few centimeters, which is enough room to get your finger caught. And with all that rust, theres a danger of tetanus. It likely was a perfect smile. Under normal circumstances, anyone would have been fooled by it. Akikawa Mie even wondered if she was being too suspicious and overthinking this. But then she gulped. Who was it that had called sunset the magic hour in cinematography? Akikawa Mie had no way of knowing since she had little knowledge about film, but she still received the benefit if its effects. The setting sun provided a unique shade of lighting and cast a deep, deep shadow over the features of that face. That may have been why she sensed something tremendously wrong, like there was something tugging in on that skin from below the carefree smile. Mie-chan. An ah escaped her throat. It was not even a voice. Miiie-chan, can you promise me? ...!!!??? There was nothing she could do. Once her fear reached its limit, Akikawa Mies rational mind burst. She turned around and began running. She tried to get as far away as possible from that garbage dump, that incinerator, and that figure she had seen in that familiar person. She could not stand it. She could not stand it, she could not stand it, she could not stand it!! She could not stand her helplessness. She could not stand her inability to tear away the chains and padlock on that incinerator. She could not stand that her intent on investigating that rusted box had been broken just from someone staring at her. (Who is that?) Once she asked the question in her heart, further questions erupted out. Someone was pretending to be the president. Someone had slipped into the school. Then where was the real one? Where was the cute small animal of a president who feared food additives but also feared food poisoning? A vision rapidly grew inside her head. It was of the chained and locked incinerator that could contain anything. (Who is that!?) An innocent voice seemed to slam into her back. Mie-chaaaan, Im looking forward to my lunch tomorrow. (Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!) Something sparked inside her mind. She ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and ran and ran. The next thing she knew, she had left the school grounds and was gasping for breath as she leaned up against a wind turbine. The contents of her stomach almost joined the heavy breaths leaving her mouth, but she desperately held back the urge to vomit while painfully aware of her unpleasantly sweat-soaked body. Meanwhile, she muttered to herself. She moved her lips and released the words into the world instead of keeping them locked in her heart. Who is that? She had to reveal that source of it all. She had to retrieve her normal life. But as a normal middle school girl, she was aware just how normal she was. If she stood up to such a great distortion on her own, she knew all too well she would only become the next poor victim. What did helping the student council matter? What good was an adventure with a liquid diamond worth six trillion yen? Her past activities may have been enough to erase the awkward silence in an elevator, but they were not a weapon that could help her escape this crisis. She had nothing with a hidden abnormal side to it. But then who did? Was there anyone nearby who would listen to her and who she could rely on? The classmates and friends inside her cellphones address book were not going to help. What about Anti-Skill or Judgment? They were too normal. In fact, she could not imagine how she could explain the problem in her mind such that they could understand. What about the student council? She respected them, but they did not seem like the type to leave the usual rails, run through the night, and fight the darkness. In the end, only two candidates came to mind. Akikawa Mie herself could not explain how she had settled on them. But she had seen something different in them. They seemed like they were moving freely in a place removed from the usual rails. If she was going to trust her instincts, then there were two people she could discuss this with. It had to be either Kamijou Touma or Kamisato Kakeru. Part 4 The night wore on. This is bad. Whats bad, you ask? I havent made Index and Othinus any dinner. Well, I did learn my lesson after last time and had a few cup noodles ready, but Im a little afraid Othinus will fall into the container. Aogami Pierce and Kamijous other classmates were acting based on knowledge provided by Kamisato Kakeru. They were going to sneak into the school late at night and use an unused incinerator to burn up pinup magazines, life-size dolls, and body pillow covers. And of course, Kamijou seriously doubted Kamisato would have them do that on a whim. It may have looked like a silly little event, but what if there was some hidden malice behind it? Salome, Kamisatos sister, had warned him about that, so he was keeping an eye on the school that night. However... Why do I have to freeze my butt off in the bushes by the school gate waiting for a bunch of guys!? Isnt there another way? I mean, theres a family restaurant and caf not far from here! Yeah, but Im only wearing these raincoats. Even if my battle mode lacks that sort of thing, Id still get reported to the authorities the instant I stepped in the door, dontcha think? If you know its a problem, then wear some clothes!! I cant do that thanks to this body. And based on the way you talk about it, Im guessing you really do have a spare body besides that battle one. Is it for your Onii-chan? Ahem. Quit being so nosy. Thats none of your business, dontcha think? After that, Salome reached into the nearby shadows as if pulling out a souvenir. More importantly, weve got a problem. Bh!? At some point, Salome had grabbed an unfamiliar middle school girl by the back of the neck. The girl looked nervous and quite blue. Wait a second! Who is that girl!? Akikawa! Akikawa Mie!! You still havent learned my name!? And why do you have Whatever-Her-Name-Is with you!? Dont just kidnap people like youre grabbing the finished version of the dish at the end of a cooking show!! Dont be stupid. Im keeping her safe. She seems to have some business with the school and she was hiding in the bushes just like us. Hm? Kamijou looked back at the girl who was still in her uniform. She almost C almost! C looked familiar. M-my name is...Akikawa Mie... D-do you really...really, really not remember me? Who? Oh, honestly!! The modern middle school girl furiously scratched at her head. She must have realized she would make no progress if she stuck with her pride because she gave an explanation while seeming to bite through each individual word. Um! Is the, uh, old priest who saved me during the liquid diamond stuff doing well? I need to thank him!! ??? Salome gave him an annoyed look, but Kamijou could only tilt his head. He puzzled over her question since he was pretty sure he did not know any priests. No, wait. Do you mean...the High Priest!? What the hell did he do while here in Academy City!? Isnt he a priest? So why was he was he hitting on a middle school girl? Dont tell me he was driving around in an Italian car with a bunch of gold necklaces on!! Wasnt he supposed to be a Magic God who had mastered his field!? Heh. Eh heh heh. And even more baffling is why this modern middle school girl seems completely fine with it. ....How does a mummy priest end up so popular!? Are we entering the age of temple girls and Buddhist fangirls!? Im glad youre here.... I couldnt seem to find anyone to talk to about Onee-chan. To be honest, I was hoping to meet with Kamisato-san instead of you. Kamisato...? Sorry, but your counseling session will have to wait. Raincoat Salomes quiet voice urged them to silence. Somethings started. I can see a few flashlight beams moving around. And thats gotta be someone other than Anti-Skill. Theyre wandering around instead of following a set patrol route. So its them... ? Unsure what was going on, Akikawa Mie tilted her head. And why had that girl been here all alone this late anyway? U-um, I thought Onee-chan...no, the high school student council president might not find me this late. That wouldnt work if she monitors it at night too, though. The president? Kamijou was confused by the mention of the Jumpy Bunny, but then Akikawa Mie asked a question of her own. Um, why are you two here? Its awful. My goddamn stupid brother got this guys classmates to sneak into the school at night to burn their porn magazines and stoic training dolls in the unused incinerator. Thats illegal entry and attempted arson on its own, but theres gotta be more to it than that. It all smells really fishy to me, but were still not sure what exactly-... They heard the sound of several small twigs snapping. Akikawa Mie had been so shocked she fell backwards and landed on her butt within the bushes. She raised her voice while looking like someone floating with her butt sticking inside an inner tube. W-wait a second! The incinerator!? Is that true!? What if it is? Mass Murderer Salome sounded puzzled and Akikawa Mies lips started trembling. But...hold on. If thats true...but...youre kidding... Again, what about it? The Onee-chan walking around at school today isnt the real one. Someone else has taken her place! And the real one might be trapped inside that incinerator!! Kamijou and Salome exchanged a glance. They wanted to write this off as a joke or a delusion, but they could not stop a chill from running down their spines. Hey, Kamijou-chan. Youve been at this school a bit. Have you met this student council president? Do you think this might be accurate? I have one question. Akikawa Mie...-chan was it? You make the presidents lunches, right? Oh, y-yes... I thought how she handled the lunch was a little odd too. Sorry, but thats not what Im getting at. Kamijou cut her off. What about other meals? Breakfast for example. Do you make anything for her then? Um... Akikawa Mie looked troubled. She doesnt even eat breakfast. I keep telling her thats unhealthy, but she wont listen. ...Oh. That confirmed it. Kamijou mussed up his bangs with a hand. I met that president this morning at the garbage dump. But she had a banana gelatin drink. She said she could drink it without getting her hands dirty. Ill tell you as many times as it takes, Onee-chan doesnt eat breakfast. In that case... started Salome. That food wasnt for her, continued Kamijou. Akikawa? If what youre saying is true, then it was food for whatever shes keeping in the incinerator. Replacing someone like that was no easy feat. The odds were good one of the girls from the Kamisato Faction had a hand in it. And Kamisato, their leader, was manipulating Kamijous classmates into lighting that incinerator. According to Salome, his sister, he had a certain way of playing the Election Game. He would goad his enemys candidate into committing a crime and use the weight of that crime to tear apart their solidarity. Hey, Salome. What? If the real one really is inside the incinerator, do you think Aogami Pierce and the others could light it without noticing? Once they remove the padlock and chains and open it up, theyll find a girl inside there. Surely theyd notice that! Right!? Im not so sure. The inside of a closed space like that has gotta be pitch black in this darkness. And would they really go to the trouble of shining their flashlights inside an incinerator that hasnt been used? Theyll just dump all their magazines and pillow covers in, toss in some lit paper or something, and close it up, dontcha think? And if this rumored president has her arms, legs, and mouth bound with duct tape, she wont even be able to make any noise. And if shes unconscious thanks to malnutrition and dehydration, they wont have any kind of hint. ...More importantly, why would anyone think theres a living person inside an incinerator thats been locked up for what has to be over a decade now? With that presumption of safety in place, theyll have no reason to check at all. Goddammit!! Kamijou cursed and stood from behind the bushes. He had no more reason to hide. Setting off an alarm would actually be a good thing now. He climbed over the fence and ran across the school grounds. Salome and Akikawa Mie followed. This was odd. Kamisato Kakeru was completely over the line this time. He would go this far to tear apart the friendly group known as the Kamijou Faction? He would really have Aogami Pierce and Kamijous other classmates unwittingly commit murder, place the blame of that crime on them, and use the weight of the crime to crush Kamijous circle of friends? This did not seem like the same person who had worked to save the Birdway Sisters, even if it had been in a twisted fashion. Besides, President Jumpy Bunny had nothing to do with Kamijou. They belonged to different schools and they had been complete strangers until the day before. Yet he did not even hesitate to have someone burn her alive? What the hell are you thinking, you dumbass!!!!!? This truly was the end. Even if they were being manipulated by someone, these classmates previous life would never return if they set someone ablaze with smiles on their faces. This would place things on a decisively different set of rails and smash Kamijou Toumas familiar world to pieces. But... I was hoping you could give him a nice punch before it came to this. Salome sounded like she was cursing him. That stupid harem boy! Did he completely lose his morals because everyone agrees with everything he says!? A world without anyone to say no is a world without any chance to correct your actions! Why couldnt you figure that out, you pampered goddamn stupid Onii-chan!? They cut across the dark schoolyard in a full speed dash toward the back of the school. They needed to reach that garbage dump...no, the rusted incinerator. They could hear something heavy rattling in the darkness. It was the chains keeping the incinerator closed. They were already being removed. (Make it...) Then they heard a quiet sound that was likely a lighter lighting. The familiar grinning faces of his classmates floated in the darkness as if they were lit by candles during a ritual of some mysterious cult. One of them was Aogami Pierce. (Make iiiiiiiiiiiit!!) Salomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Sure thing. External Offering. It did not take long after that. The naked raincoat girl moved forward. The bottom of her double raincoats swayed like a jellyfish and then she jumped forward as if propelled by a rocket engine. She had gathered all of the weapons in the school: utility knives, kitchen knives, saws, branch cutter, and lawnmower. She had destroyed them with her own hands, consumed them, and offered them up to something in order to gain overwhelming power. She did not target the individual classmates. She went for the source of it all: the rusted box of the incinerator. As soon as she made her jump, a tremendous sound burst out. It sounded far too raw to be the slicing of metal. Then a diagonal split appeared. Unable to bear the weight of the smokestack extending straight up, it opened up like a treasure chest or jewelry box and finally crumbled. Everyone was taken by surprise. After many long years without being used, the incinerator no longer smelled of ashes. And... And... And... There was nothing there. Not President Jumpy Bunny and not even a scrap of paper. Ah... Time seemed to stop. It was more than just Kamijou Touma. Salome and Akikawa Mie also stared inside the diagonally sliced incinerator with looks of absolute confusion. Eh? Was she...moved somewhere else afterwards? muttered Akikawa Mie. But Salome rejected the idea. No, its not that. If so, thered be some trace, like a human scent. If our guess was correct, then your president wouldve been inside that cramped space for days on end, right? It would have to smell like sweat at least, dontcha think? Then... Akikawa Mie looked confused. What was all this? Was I wrong? Was Onee-chan really herself? Did her face only look so twisted in the setting sun because of my odd preconception? For the moment, they had kept the real president from being burned alive. That was something at least. But... Hey... Someone spoke up. Kamijou Touma did not turn around. That low, low voice was truly the tone of someone looking down on someone else. What is the matter with you people? Taking it this far is honestly kind of disturbing. Kamijou found he could not speak. He forcibly broke free of the curse and moved his body. He finally turned around with all his might, but he only saw blank faces. They were splitting up into small groups. Their event had been ruined, so they felt nothing but disappointment. Finally, Kamijou remembered something. (It cant be...) He remembered what Salome had said. Kamisato Kakeru excelled at goading his enemy candidate into committing a crime and using the weight of that crime to tear apart their solidarity. (It cant be!!) H-hey, Aogami...!! He called toward that boys back. His friend stopped and slowly looked back. Its okay, Kami-yan. There was no anger or disappointment on his face. He remained a friend. But... Even if things get a little awkward, Ill stick with you until things cool down. There was pity. And sympathy. This was not a conversation between people who stood on equal footing. Aogami pierce knew that Kamijou Touma had messed up. And with that in mind, he was reaching a hand out to Kamijou as if stepping down into loneliness from his position in the great heights. Oh, how kind. Oh, how cruel. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. There was no one left. There was no one left around Kamijou Touma. The spiky-haired boy simply stood there on his lonesome at the school late at night. Kamisato Kakerus circle had closed. And it had smashed Kamijou Toumas to pieces. Ha. No matter how cruel Kamisato Kakeru was, he should have realized that boy would not have a completely unrelated person burned alive. Kamisato had worked so hard for the Birdway Sisters, so he would never use that sort of method. And if he had seen that, he should have suspected another trap beyond it. Ha ha. Kamijou did not know how long he had been standing there. He did not even know if Salome and Akikawa Mie had said anything to him or simply waited in silence. Finally, a new footstep shook his mind back into focus. He slowly turned his head and saw the kind of normal high school boy one can find anywhere entering through the schools back gate. He was accompanied by black-haired Ellen in her lab coat and brown-haired Fox Girl Elza. He spoke to Kamijou just like always. Hi, Kamijou Touma. You look a lot more worn out than when I saw you last. You son of a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!! The one to act first was in fact Salome and not Kamijou whose spring was in need of winding. That girl insisted she would always stand on his side and anything she did was for his sake, but she was the first to charge in. No, that may have been precisely why she did it. Kamisato did not even raise his right hand. Elza held out her plastic bottle that was made a blunt weapon by the old copper coins filling it. With a tremendous noise, it stopped Salomes right hand. After approaching right in front of her brother, the sister glared at the intruding girl and gave a roar. Do you want to set the snowball rolling that badly? Then how about I turn you to mincemeat first!? Feel free. But dont forget the basics: treat the ten yen coin used in Kokkuri-san carelessly and...youll C be C cursed. Salome did not bother struggling. She was close enough to tear out his windpipe with her teeth, so she did not even need her arm. The raincoat girl glared at the calm-faced high school boy. To be honest, youve really pissed me off this time. I might be the kind of crazy person that loves being called a mass murderer, but not even I can approve of this one. How did you end up like this? Youre supposed to be the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere! Thats why a crazy person like me looked up to you!! Tell me who told you it was okay to stray from the proper path like this!! You piece of shit!!!!! Salome, Im well aware your brain doesnt work right, so can you shift down a few gears and help me understand what the problem is? Im saying Im ready to just kill you here and be done with all this!! Im saying that and Im just a despicable crazy person who cant even kill anyone cleanly!! What a pain... I guess you never were going to get along with Kamijou Touma. Oh, right. Theres someone else here. Yes, you. ... Could you tell me why my sister is so mad? I honestly cant think of anything. Akikawa Mie should have been an outsider. She should have known nothing about the antagonism between Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru. But that comment seemed to rub her the wrong way and she too spoke up as if to challenge him. What you did was the absolute worst. Perhaps so. Perhaps not. So...whatever happened to Onee-chan...to the high school student council president!? Did you take her somewhere other than the incinerator or were you only focused on making us think shed been kidnapped!? Who is the Onee-chan in this school right now!? Is she the real one or a fake!? Hm? Hold on a second. Kamisato Kakeru frowned for the first time since he arrived. What is this about the high school student council president? Its the first Ive heard of it. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. This time... This time Kamijou Touma truly gave up on understanding. He was floating in an entirely blank world. Yeah, right. Salome was of course the one to speak instead. Dont play dumb. You used an indirect method to break Kamijou Toumas core! You made it look like that president was trapped inside the incinerator and like his classmates were going to light it without knowing, so he had to stop them from becoming murderers. ...You made Kamijou Touma look like a fool in front of all of them!! You stole his position in the school, you goddamn stupid brother!! Do you not even respect him as your proper enemy!? Again. Kamisato Kakeru took a step back for the first time since he arrived. He held his palms out to get them to calm down. I dont know anything about that. I didnt do anything to the president. Proving it would be a lot like the Devils Proof, but I swear its true. Then why? Why did you have Kamijou-sans classmates use the incinerator so late at night? You had to have had a reason! I wanted them to see our battle. Kamisato readily gave the answer. World Rejecter and Imagine Breaker. If they clash, Ill win, but then something entirely unknown will burst from his severed arm. I wanted the people who know him well to see that. I thought one of them might know something about it, so I thought I might find a clue to the answer if I carefully observed their expressions and reactions. Salome and Akikawa Mie may not have understood, but Kamijou did. Yes. Kamisatos intent was to defeat Kamijou. And the fastest way to do that would be to find a way to finish him off using World Rejecter rather than coming up with some roundabout plan. It was true Kamijous classmates might distance themselves from him after witnessing the secret of his arm, but it at least made more sense than the truly hopeless conclusion that had actually happened. Or it seemed that way at least. How can we believe that? muttered Akikawa Mie. Then...then what was that Onee-chan? Was I really just mistaken? No, I refuse to believe that. It doesnt make sense that she so forcefully tried to keep me from looking inside the empty incinerator! Thats it. Kamisato snapped his fingers. At the very least, I didnt touch the president. But it looks like youre suspicious of her actions and appearance. And that made you suspect some kind of high-level replacement. Yes. And in that case... I will unconditionally accept everything youre telling me as true, so I want you to unconditionally accept what Im telling you as true. We wont get anywhere otherwise. Kamisato Kakeru slowly exhaled. If the president really has been replaced by someone else and if neither of us knows who it could be... He listed off the premises. Now that they thought about it, something about this had become twisted at some point. Kamisato then asked the fundamental question. Then who exactly is pretending to be the president? There was an answer to his question. It came as a sound. It was a juicy sound like fruit being sliced. Wha-...? Even Kamisato Kakeru gasped. It was right next to him. It was close enough to cut him off from Ellen and Elza. A small form stood there. Whoever it was had long black hair and a large ribbon. It was the Jumpy Bunny. Or someone pretending to be her. Ah!? When...did-...!? It happened so suddenly. Far too suddenly. Rather than approaching at high speed, it felt more like she had oozed up out of the landscape. Yes, just like a flounder beginning to move from the sandy ocean floor. Kamisato Kakeru immediately moved back, but was that a good decision or not? He should have thought more about the sound that had answered him before. A moment later, it had been taken. His right hand had been severed at the wrist and the presidents doppelganger held it in her hands. That was World Rejecter. It was the powerful and horrible right hand that had slain Magic Gods by the dozen. And it had been taken so easily. Ah, ahhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Kamisato Kakeru screamed as rolled around with blood splattering from his wrist, but the small president was calm enough to lick off the blood that reached her cheek. She was not holding any kind of blade, but she had easily sliced through even the bone of Kamisatos right wrist. Akikawa Mie shrieked more than screamed and collapsed backwards. Heh heh heh hehhhh. The girl snapped her fingers. The area around her right wrist seemed to shine like a glowing bracelet and then her own hand was severed. She seemed to have used some kind of wire, but the details were unclear. And despite losing her own hand, this unknown person maintained her joyous smile. Except... Kamisato Kakerus right hand was the biggest bottleneck. Starting with the sliced wrist, the girls silhouette peeled away, grew distorted, and fell apart. The figure standing there was no longer a girl in a school uniform. But if I was to take revenge, I wanted this right hand more than anything. Instead, it was a woman in a lab coat and cheap suit. Some kind of thin, thin thread shot from within her lab coat and forcibly attached Kamisato Kakerus severed hand to her newly vacated wrist. The writhing thread moved on its own like a parasite. It was a rough action like sewing up the torn belly of a stuffed animal, but it must have used some kind of special technique because the woman immediately clenched and unclenched the hand. Heh heh heh! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Stitching by Sample Shoggoth confirmed. Beginning experiment of recognition control using the attenuated St. Germain virus. This will rewrite my brain as the owner of this right hand...as the owner of World Rejecter!! Yes, yes. Stealing your enemys power and growing truly unstoppable is the epitome of romance! Isnt it, Sensei!!!??? What...? Kamijou Touma could not keep up. He was just about ready to give up, so he simply asked. Who are you? I am Kihara Yuiitsu. There could not have been a logical reason to honestly answer him. Especially as the person making an illegal attack. Nevertheless, the woman in a lab coat and cheap suit did not hesitate to answer. After all... I am the one who seeks romance on a level no one else can ever reach. You really just directly asked who I am? Pfh! Heh heh! Ah ha ha!! And why am I honestly answering you!? Romance, yes, this can only be romance!! And even if my real target is Kamisato Kakeru, you dont mind if I go on a bit of a detour, do you? The air began to move. Ellen, Elza, and Salome were all on Kamisatos side. They were not about to sit idly by after his right hand had been severed and stolen and the person who had done it claimed they were going to use World Rejecters power on him. Sensei would never say this. He would insist on not involving unrelated people in his revenge. She knew that. She knew that, and yet she continued. But being just like him would be too boring. I need to become something unique. So lets try doing the opposite! Lets choose the path Sensei never would have! Just killing the bastard who stole everything from me wouldnt be enough. I need to steal everything I can from him, kill everything of his I can, and take away everything he holds dear! Now, that...that would be the perfect time to deliver the finishing blow!!!!! Between the Lines 4 Phase 1: The Five Over OS C Model Case Mental Out is based on the personal conflict between Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu. Obtained a sample of its real-time military camouflage technology and magnetically controlled monitor. A very close approach will be needed to determine the traits of Kamisato Kakerus World Rejecter. This will be used to take the place of an arbitrary person at his school and perfectly take on their appearance. Phase 2: Obtained a sample of the St. Germain virus used during the occupation of the high-rise building centered on Kanou Shinka. Successfully cultivated the pill-shaped sample in a Petri dish and attenuated it. Even if I successfully sever Kamisato Kakerus right hand, the power inside might reject me. I must rearrange my own brain to trick its recognition. I will use the traits of the St. Germain virus for that overwriting. Phase 3: Obtained a sample of the Sample Shoggoth that acted as the bottleneck in the clash between Kamijou and Kamisato concerning the Birdway Sisters. It is actually a variety of Academy Citys #2, Dark Matter, but it ignores that espers will and can be controlled by a third party. I will use it for the surgical requirements of severing and sewing on the hand while connecting all of the blood vessels and nerves. Using the above methods, she planned her revenge by stealing the right hand that made Kamisato Kakeru unique and wielding it as her own. She had also picked up on Kamisato Kakerus interpersonal relationships. She of course wanted to physically approach him to gather information on World Rejecter. But infiltrating what was known as the Kamisato Faction was deemed too dangerous. Their unique sense of solidarity could not be obtained overnight. Reports said he was making frequent visits to the student council. If they had not been dyed in the colors of the Kamisato Faction, that would be the best place to interfere. She did not need to hold back, so she targeted the president at the very top. After acquiring the requisite personal information, she targeted Keshouin Asuka. She wanted to avoid anyone noticing the switch while she was in contact with Kamisato Kakeru, so she had the real one stay at some far removed place. Until, that is, she had gathered the necessary data and everything was ready to make her attack. Eeeeeeeeeeeeek! I didnt like the sound of something turning up on this unplanned health inspection, but what do you mean I have a max rare SSR-level parasite that only one in seventy million people get? As a decoy, she gathered attention on the incinerator that was no longer in use. If her cover was about to be blown before she had achieved her goal, she would shift suspicion there to buy time to either continue or retreat. It was like a lizards tail. If anyone grew dangerous, she would make them suspect the incinerator as a test to see just how close to the truth they were concerning Keshouin Asuka. B-but they apparently give you a huge monetary reward if you volunteer for the clinical trial of their new drug. Once this is over, I can buy Mie-chan a birthday present. Y-yeah! I need to do my best!! I need to show my dignity as an u-u-upperclassman!! It would have been easier just to kill the girl. That would eliminate all risk of having her cover blown. But she did not. Between good and evil it was evil, but between like and dislike it was like. Those words came to her even without Kihara Enshuus emulation. Volume 15, 5: Hope, or Depthless Darkness — To_the_Magic. Volume 15, Chapter 5: Hope, or Depthless Darkness To_the_Magic. Part 1 The location was the schoolyard. The time of day was night. The major players were Kamijou Touma with Imagine Breaker and Kihara Yuiitsu with the stolen World Rejecter. A few girls were also there. As was Kamisato Kakeru, collapsed on the ground without a right hand. After reviewing those conditions in his mind, Kamijou opened his mouth for a shout. Salome!! Circle in from the right!! Why would you yell your plans in front of the enem-...oh, I get it. The naked raincoat girl grinned in realization and obeyed Kamijous instructions. Kamijou took a small arc and Salome took a larger one. Kamijou had started running first, but due to their difference in potential, Salome easily passed him. The raincoat girl approached Kihara Yuiitsu with a shifted timing that messed with ones vision. But the woman in a lab coat and cheap suit was unfazed. She simply raised the right hand forcibly attached to her arm. ...!? Kamijou felt fear rising in his stomach. If Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter clashed, his right hand would be torn off. And then that mysterious thing would burst from the wound and spread uncontrollable damage. If that was directed toward Salome, Kamisato, or the others, it would pull the trigger on the worst possible scenario. Kamijou pressed the soles of his shoes into the ground to slam on the brakes, but then something odd happened. No, it was the opposite. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. (What? It didnt work!? Or was it a feint!?) ? Even Kihara Yuiitsu tilted her head. She clenched and unclenched her own(?) right hand and gave it a puzzled look, but then the naked raincoat girl reached her. Kee hee hee!! Several dry sounds came in quick succession. Salome was swinging both hands with enough force to tear apart the air and Kihara Yuiitsu used only her right leg. Without letting her foot touch the ground, she made a double and then triple kick. Afterwards, feet could be heard sliding along the ground. Surprisingly, it was Salome who was forced back. The bottom of her double raincoats swayed like a clione. Without even glancing at the raincoat mass murderer, Yuiitsu stared up at the right hand she held toward the moon. Yes, I suppose you wouldnt let something like that kill you. She finally lowered her hand and smiled thinly. The shockwaves propagating from multiple points of impact collide within your body and create deadly bubbles inside your blood vessels. ...A normal human being would have fallen over dead after that. Then again, Im only using a cheap imitation of one of Amata-chans techniques. Plus, it wouldnt be very romantic if you died already. She had more than just World Rejecter in the stolen right hand. Eliminating that would not be enough to defeat her. Unpleasant sweat poured from Kamijous body, but he had no choice but to focus on what had to be done. The problem was like tangled yarn or a great mountain, so he could not solve it all at once. Also, there had been a reason behind Kamijou and Salome circling around to attack from the right. Kamijou placed a hand behind his back and used his fingers to gather the attention of Ellen and Elza who had been slow to take action. There was something he needed them to do. Namely... Getting Kamisato first-aid comes first. Well hold her off, so you tie off his wrist. ...Is that it? Hee hee. Just kidding!! It was almost like the woman had directly read his mind. The sweat must have been dehydrating him because he could feel his throat growing dry. Kihara Yuiitsu laughed quietly. Well, dont mind me. Do your very best in that fight. Because every minute and second you extend his life is another minute and second of suffering in the knowledge of what he has lost. Hmm. I suppose between good and evil its evil and between like and dislike its like. Which is perfect. This time, she opened her right hand wide. She prepared to swing it mercilessly toward Kamisato Kakerus sister who was so close by. That was the perfect target to kill in front of the boy to tear his heart to shreds. Dammit. Watch out, Salome!! No, wait! Dont get inside her right hands shadow! Saying do you wish for a new world acts as the trigger, so use that to time when you dodge!! You morooooooooooooon!! Why would you tell her how to use iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!? Kamijous lips grew pale. Oh, I seeeee, said Yuiitsu in a jocular tone. And then... Do you wish for a new world? It sounded like a chunk of the world had been torn away. Salome, who was so near Yuiitsu, bent her hips. She bent straight back while still standing, as if performing a bridge in gymnastics. Having missed its target, World Rejecter tore into the schoolyard and the dirt completely vanished. The raincoat girl did not stop moving. To avoid the second and third attacks sent her way, she performed midair flips for an irregular escape. Her double raincoat fluttered about like a dancers veil. I see, I see. So thats how you use it. Ah ha ha! Amazing. Simply amazing. This completely violates relativity and conservation of mass! Does it use teleportation? In fact, this supernatural phenomenon is so amazing I have to wonder how it avoids triggering the kind of explosion that comes with splitting the atoms!! Now Kihara Yuiitsu could make full use of the right hand she had stolen. Kamijou looked down at his own right hand. When Fiamma of the Right had taken that hand, Imagine Breaker had ultimately returned to Kamijou because that which resides in Kamijou Toumas right hand is the medium that contains Imagine Breaker. Was Kamisatos World Rejecter different? Or... (That which resides in Kamijous right hand.) He gulped and applied that same condition to someone else. (So if something is making Kihara Yuiitsu appear to be Kamisato Kakeru, will World Rejecter continue to view her as its master!?) Part 2 The night wind carried whispered voices. This aint good. That mass murderer is being forced back. Isnt this really, really bad? Even if it was a surprise attack, taking out Kamisato-san in a single blow is enough on its own for this to qualify as bad. Academy City is crazy enough at the best of times, but how many bonuses is she gonna place on top of that? They came from behind roadside trees. They came from building rooftops. To be honest, I dont want that sister to get all the credit. Its not like we have a choice. If we get picky here, Kamisato-kun might die. And unfortunately, it looks like giving Salome a boost would be the best method here. It may not have mattered much who had said it. What mattered was that those girls settled on that as a whole. Then lets go do this. Yes, to save Kamisato Kakeru. If it will save him, Im willing to give up my humanity. Part 3 Mass Murderer Salome raised her head a little. Then she shouted to Kamijou. Ive got a bit of business to take care of! Kamijou-chan, buy me some time. Thirty seconds should do!! Eh? Ehh!? He quickly looked over in time to see the raincoat girl kissing the pocket watch hanging from her neck. That must have been a sign of resolve for her. Then she jumped straight back so Kamijou moved out in front of her. This naturally sent him toward Kihara Yuiitsu who was pursuing Salome. They did not even speak a word. They only exchanged a momentary glance. Do you wish for a-... !! As she casually swept her hand over, Kamijous fist struck her wrist in the opposite direction. It was not as nice as a parry, but he had to divert the path of her arm if he could. But no change came over Yuiitsus expression. She twisted her entire body in the same direction as her redirected hand and her knee jabbed sharply into Kamijous side. The heavy blow brought him to a stop. The single blow took out his diaphragm and forced the oxygen from his lungs. Oh...gh!! His mind went almost entirely blank, but he could not allow himself to lose consciousness. Kihara Yuiitsu herself had said she let the shockwaves of multiple blows collide in her opponents body to create deadly bubbles inside their blood vessels. If she used that, it was all over for a flesh and blood human like him. ...!!!!!! He forced down the rising urge to vomit and pressed his feet to the ground as they threatened to rise into the air. And in so doing, he pinned down the bottom of Yuiitsus lab coat as it fluttered around from her spin. He had no idea what happened next. He just knew that some kind of impact struck his entire body. He felt like he was enveloped in blows of unclear number and direction, as if he had been thrown in a metal drum which was being beaten with metal bats. His vision was spinning around, so he guessed he himself was spinning vertically through the air. His back struck the ground with a dull sound of impact. His sense of time returned. Gah!! Agheh!? Khah!! Oh? Kihara Yuiitsu sounded lightly confused. She sounded like someone who had finished cleaning the kitchen and then found an oil stain on the back of the gas range. She had to have analyzed the situation and discovered that the foot on her lab coat had shifted the blows from their calculated positions, but there was no powerful wave of emotion in her voice. Instead, she made a further barrage. Her high heel came down like a stake as it targeted Kamijou on the ground. He rolled to get as far away as possible, but... Do you wish for a new world? ...!! Goddammit!! While lying on his side, Kamijou used his arms and legs to hop over like a shrimp and an all-erasing power tore into the spot he had just vacated. The sight of the gouged-out dirt was enough to feel a chill. He somehow managed to get back on his feet, but there was nothing more he could do. Imagine Breaker was useless against World Rejecter and he was outmatched when it came to pure martial arts as well. Kamijou had no way of holding back Kihara Yuiitsu. However... Sorry about the wait, Kamijou-chan. Im all replenished. Great job lasting thirty seconds there. That voice changed everything. A smaller form moved past Kamijou. But rather than on the left or right, she jumped by directly above him. Her double raincoats swelled up as they caught the air. This superhuman athletic prowess came from the naked raincoat girl known as Mass Murderer Salome. However, something had changed with her. As her translucent raincoats fluttered around her, she licked her lips, charged in toward Kihara Yuiitsu, and swung her right arm to the side. Something odd happened. The entire schoolyard was torn in a half-moon shape along the path of her hand. It was just like she held an invisible blade measuring twenty or thirty meters long. ... Kihara Yuiitsu spun on the spot like a figure skater and let her lab coat spread out into the empty air like a demons wings. That was all. After the violent sound of tearing cloth, the mass murderer gave a belligerent smile. Not bad. You actually diverted that blow. Normally, an invisible slash has gotta be a one-hit kill. You shouldnt use the convenient word invisible so much. The path is readily apparent from the motion of the particles in the air. People often thought of shields as tools to block a blade with their weight or thickness, but that was inaccurate. A hail of falling arrows was one thing, but a mass of steel swung down with all of the enemys might would break ones arm if caught one-handed on a small round shield. Shields were meant to divert or deflect. Take that far enough and a single piece of cloth...no, a single piece of paper could be used to alter the path of a slash and avoid a lethal blow. But its looking like youre about at your limit too, said Salome. Isnt there only one way to find out? replied Yuiitsu. The raincoat girl and the cheap suit and lab coat woman resumed their intense clash. With Yuiitsu no longer locked onto him, Kamijou felt some careless relief and wiped the sweat from his brow. Then he grew curious about something. (What did Salome use that thirty seconds for?) Salome had not used that violent invisible blade before. That meant she had done something. She had said she was replenished, so what exactly had she done back there? For no real reason, Kamijou looked back. And there he found the answer. Several dozen girls were carelessly strewn across the schoolyard behind him. Part 4 It had happened just a moment before. If one ignored her incredibly unstable personality, Mass Murderer Salome was the Kamisato Factions strongest fighter by a wide margin. The girls all had a tacit understanding of that, no matter how infuriating they found it. In the Internal Offering, she had abandoned her body using a chemical cyborg treatment and she had offered up her spare flesh and blood to her god in order to drastically raise her physical abilities. In the External Offering, she destroyed weapons and shields with her bare hands as a way to offer them up to her god and accumulate their destructive power and traits in a snowball effect. If the conditions were right, it was rumored that mass murderer could realistically conquer the White House all on her own. But at the same time, if the conditions were not right, she could not make use of her true power. If her chain of destroying weapons and offering them to her god was broken, she would be nothing more than an eccentric with enough ridiculous strength to break a Japanese sword barehanded. What did she need to do if she was to defeat as powerful a foe as Kihara Yuiitsu? What was the best course of action to save Kamisato Kakeru who had lost an arm? What was necessary if the Kamisato Faction was going to reach for victory as a group rather than working as individuals? Oh, honestly!! Someone gave a shout. It was Olivia. She was known as an excellent cosplay girl, but whether it was a jet booster, a magic wand, a laser blade, or special boots for running along a wall, she would perfectly recreate every single one of the characters gimmicks using either science or magic. This made her incredibly dangerous in a way the original creators did not want in the slightest, so she was constantly kicked out of events. I hate to admit it, but giving this to you looks like the best method. Someone dressed as Magical Powered Kanamin jumped into the dark schoolyard, but she clicked her tongue in a way Kanamin never would. So hurry up and break me. Thatll give you what you need for your External Officering, wont it!? Salome could not use her full power as a mass murderer because she lacked the stock of weapons she needed to destroy. More accurately, she had used up her stock from that day by slicing the incinerator and had lacked what she needed to keep her chain going. That just meant she needed a replacement. Figures surrounded Salome as she slid back. There was a pirate girl, a ghost girl, a UFO girl, a phantom thief girl, and a swordsman girl. The Kamisato Faction was too numerous to count and they all wielded weapons the mass murderer could destroy. Salome was a magician who hunted her prey, but knowing how the power she consumed was used was another factor toward increasing her strength. It was a lot like she held the soul of the one who knew the true value of the weapon. It was just like the dances or military performances offered up to a god in ancient times. Those girls did not seek an individual victory. They were only thinking of the Kamisato Faction as a whole. Thus, Salome did not hesitate. The raincoat girl held her hands together in front of her chest and licked her lips. Thanks for the meal Part 5 Ah, ah... He could only watch in a daze. Kamijou Touma could only watch Salome fight using her dirty strategy. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Salome and Kihara Yuiitsu were continuing their clash. But unlike before, the raincoat mass murderer was the one gaining ground. Yuiitsu was well versed in killing techniques and had stolen World Rejecter from Kamisato Kakeru, but Salome did not give up a single step and she clearly knew the secret to victory here. Clara. I need a sharper edge! Sacrifice yourself!! ! Salome was fighting empty-handed, but she was still wielding an invisible blade. And she had more than just that one form of attack. Lime. I need more reach. Time for a trip to the graveyard!! How can you tell people to die so easily!? Each time Salome made a request and a girl jumped in, her attack would change. She literally used the girls as ingredients by breaking their weapons and sweeping their bodies aside. Luca. I need to corner her with a quick barrage! Youre up!! Dammit. At least put this to good use! It could be a blade, a blunt weapon, a gun, or a chain. An invisible attack was hard enough to defend against or avoid as it was, but the level of confusion only grew as she freely rearranged its range and type of damage. It was truly the ultimate consumption strategy. In a nightmarish vision, more and more girls collapsed, passed out, and were thrown away as she continued swapping out weapons and attack methods. And it did not stop there. The essence of Salomes ability was not the invisible attack; it was placing as many different attacks as necessary on top of her empty hands. Meaning... Flamethrower + katana. ...!!!!! The entire landscape was torn apart. Kihara Yuiitsu and even Kamijou, who was watching from the side, felt their thoughts nearly grind to a halt. It had seemed like an invisible attack from a nonexistent weapon, so the slash had seemed like an effect placed on top of her empty hands. But that was wrong. It was as if a ton of sharp Japanese swords shot out with the force of a flamethrower. Kamijou gulped as Salome sacrificed even more girls, transformed them into dreadful attacks, and sent them flying toward the woman in a lab coat and cheap suit. Tear gas + sledgehammer. Once, it was a pressure attack that scattered a blinding smokescreen that contained physical pressure. Explosive + longbow + electric guitar. Once, it was an explosive acoustic weapon that blew out the targets eardrums just by plucking the strings. Stun gun + water gun + bullet + hammer throw. Once, it was a giant anti-materiel sniper bullet thats ballistic path bent complexly like electricity running along a body of water. (Now I get it.) Kamijou came to belated understanding of at least a portion of the darkness held by Kamisato Kakeru. Salome was not forcing the girls of the Kamisato Faction to sacrifice themselves. She was not threatening them or coercing them. It was entirely voluntary. The girls were delighted to offer up their own bodies and they wished to be destroyed. They gave up on an individual victory in order to obtain a group victory. To put it another way, they did not care what happened as long as they could save Kamisato Kakeru who had lost a hand and was suffering from shock due to blood loss. (Thats why it got to him. If he saw this, of course hed blame the power that had suddenly come to his right hand. This goes well beyond just being a group of friends!!) It was not the power of his right hand that made Kamisato Kakeru special. He had not realized it was him himself that had drawn all of those girls to him. Kamijou had once told him that, but even he felt a chill run through his entire body now. Hypothetically, if the girls surrounding Kamisato Kakeru truly were only a side effect of his right hand, then wouldnt they gradually change affiliation as that hand settled in with Kihara Yuiitsu? Kamijou knew that would never happen, but the idea still reared its ugly head like a meaningless theory about the world coming to an end. But frustratingly enough, it was effective. Kihara Yuiitsu was using her lab coat to divert the various attacks and keep the damage to a minimum, but that shield of cloth was growing tattered. If the attacks continued, the article of clothing would completely tear apart and no longer function as a shield. Once she could no longer use it, it was all over. Salome continued changing her attack method, adding on new traits, and raising her destructive power with her never-ending chain. Once she got going, she really did seem to become an unstoppable force. !! Kihara Yuiitsu must not have wanted a long battle because she took a somewhat forceful step forward. She put herself in danger to move closer and she swung her forcibly attached right hand. Its shadow crawled along Salomes body. And this other monster spoke the words needed to stop the raincoat mass murderers violence. Do you wish for a new world? This time. This time Kamijou Toumas mind truly went blank. He did not even have time to shout Salomes name. This one was fatal. It had been a clean hit. The woman had spoken the words with her hands shadow entirely placed on the girls body. When World Rejecter activated, it held enough power to defeat even Magic Gods by the dozen. Salomes body would be swiftly exiled to the spare territory between related timelines. Basically, a living human being would be sent to another world, never to be seen again. Or so it should have been. Of course that wont work. Dont take the Kamisato Faction so lightly, especially when youre just borrowing that thing. Kamijou had only seen one side of the previous events, so this was beyond his understanding. But Kamisato Kakerus right hand only blew away indecisive people who had conflicting desires. And anyone he had accepted had no such conflicting desires and had found a single path to follow in this wide world. Patricia Birdway had been the same. It was because she had that qualification that Kamisato Kakeru had been able to rub her head and shake her hand. He had accepted her personality and announced his respect for her specifically because of the pure mind that prevented her from being blown away by the touch of that hand. So... World Rejecters not gonna work on anyone from the Kamisato Faction, dontcha think? After all, we were all accepted by Kamisato Kakeru and weve all proven that we dont have any conflicting desires. ... Kihara Yuiitsu must not have known about that condition. If she had, she would not have been so careless. That was hardly surprising since she had only just stolen the right hand and her knowledge of it was based on the mistaken warning that Kamijou had let slip. On top of that, Salome had made a show of avoiding her right hand until now. And Im sorry to say, Miss Revenge, that Im willing to kill if its for that goddamn stupid brother who so enjoys that creepy harem of his! That conviction will never be shaken!! But even so, the mistake was a devastating one. Once the initial attack failed, this was back in Mass Murderer Salomes territory. She had consumed so many girls to thoroughly polish up her External Offerings chain. She could now slice a warship in two with a single swing of her arm and she swung that arm almost casually. Kihara Yuiitsu gave up on using her shield. For the first time, she jumped to the side with all her might to dodge. But not even that was enough. A moment later, Kihara Yuiitsus right hand was severed with a noise so pleasant it seemed out of place. The rough black threads that had sewn on the stolen hand were torn. It was not a perfect cut, but it made it more than two-thirds of the way through and it looked even more painful dangling there only partially severed. First, Ill be taking that right hand back. The raincoat girl smiled fiercely. That belongs to my goddamn stupid brother. That power was given to Kamisato Kakeru. Figuring out how to deal with it is his job, so an outsider like you cant decide for him. Hee hee. Then something odd happened. Kihara Yuiitsu laughed despite having her right hand more than two-thirds severed. Its true I didnt know the exact conditions for activating World Rejecter. But you seem to be mistaken about something too. Perhaps Im only aware of this thanks to gaining the power for myself. ? Such strange symbolism. Just like Imagine Breaker is both the power to reject and a reference point or restoration point for everything, World Rejecter is both the power to accept and something like deletion software. Instead of simply destroying its target, it erases it by processing it into something no one can read. She sounded calm and she did not stop. Maybe that was a little off topic. No, I suppose not. World Rejecter holds the power to erase Magic Gods by the dozen, but it does not completely destroy them. If you can never see them again, it might as well be death, but that isnt quite accurate. Salome... This isnt good. Fall back. This is really, really bad!! If it can send them there, this right hand must cross between the two territories. You can think of it like Dejima during the isolationist Sakoku period. And if this right hand acts as a convenient end of the world for what lies on the other side... Kamijou felt something crawl down his back. He could not let her say this. This alone he could never let her say. And then Kihara Yuiitsu raised her nearly destroyed right hand as if to smash those strange warning bells in his mind. She held it forward. ...then wouldnt I also be able to use it like this? ...Paging Niang-Niang. Something bubbled out from Kihara Yuiitsus wrist...no, from within the right hand. Ah. Before Kamijous thoughts caught up, it was already beginning. Something flowed out from the gaping wound. It resembled a sticky fluid and it wrapped around Kihara Yuiitsus arm as it moved up to her shoulder. Its surface began bubbling even more intensely. Something was swelling out from her shoulder. It looked like two arms were attached to the same shoulder, but that was inaccurate. Something had grown there. Something long and slender had crawled up from the broken right hand and grown out from the shoulder. Ahhh. It was a slender girls body. Her skin was far too pale to be a living human, a charm was attached to her forehead, a white mini China dress covered her body, and a provocative look filled her eyes. Niang-Niang. She should have only been able to appear within the right hand, but you just had to do this, didnt you? Even when they sealed off the nation, Western ideas still found their way in and everyone who saw the black ships floating out at sea could not help but tremble. In the same way, you might be able to restrict their coordinates, but there is no way to suppress the very existence of a god. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Kamijou Touma screamed at the top of his lungs. A moment later, Niang-Niang spread her arms and all ten fingers transformed into independent swords, spears, axes, staffs, etc. They all shook like musical instruments and sent out a high-pitched din. And... And... And... This was the ultimate majesty of a god. It was what lurked within a certain boys right hand. The power of a supposedly defeated Magic God filled the dark night of that school. Part 6 Starting in District 7, a hopelessly powerful shockwave swept across Academy City. Part 7 To be honest, Misaka Mikoto was hoping for some kind of excitement. Just the day before, she had run across a raincoat girl while walking around town at night. That girl had seemed to exist beyond all common sense and she smugly wielded a new possibility. That was a great hope for Misaka Mikoto who was just stewing at the moment. Tokiwadais Ace had inappropriately hoped that she might find some more excitement that would act as a road sign. But once she flinched back from that tremor in the earth, she felt her head rapidly cooling. She realized just how much her mind had been boiling. What...was that? She turned toward it. Something she was unfamiliar with was there. If she went there, she could find out what it was. A new world would open up before her eyes. However, she felt none of the previous elation. Her heart began pounding in her chest, but it only contained an ominous tension. She could tell something she did not want to see and did not want to accept awaited her there. It seemed to be at a school. Based on the size of the campus and the number of school buildings, it may have been a combined middle and high school. But the metal fence had toppled, the trees had fallen, and the recently restored glass had shattered. People were collapsed all over the schoolyard, but were they really students? Several dozen girls of middle and high school age were passed out there. And on top if it all, she saw three other people. One was a raincoat girl who had been torn to pieces. One was a spiky-haired boy holding that wreckage while lying bloody on the ground. One was a woman in a lab coat and cheap suit who had a truly bizarre monster growing from her right arm. She did not actually say anything. Her scream was more like pure noise. Misaka Mikoto ran past the collapsed fence and toward the boy. Kamijou Touma looked unsteadily back at her while holding the raincoat who had lost everything below her waist and whose head was bent at an odd angle. He mouthed the words stay away, but she could not obey that. Heh heh. The lab coat woman did not seem particularly bothered by the sudden intruder. With an odd noise, the right arm with its split wrist underwent a great transformation. Eh heh heh. Something happened as the boy and girls watched on. A mini-China girl had already come from that right arm, but now some even odder things burst from the shoulder. One was a tall gentle-looking blond man with fur attached much like a lions mane. One was a brown man with a black, polished round mirror in place of a leg. One was a young and beautiful woman with a black Western mourning dress and a veil of the same color hiding her expression. One was a half-naked young man with war paint tattoos covering his entire body and a silver prosthetic for his left arm. Including the mini-China, there were five in all. The original human hand was hidden from view as if buried inside a sea anemone. The five figures had become giant fingers and the whole functioned as a gigantic hand which the lab coat woman freely opened and closed as her new fingers. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Her loud laughter seemed to rule the world. Yes, yes! This right hand truly is unfair. Theyre not the strange ones. The problem is this World Rejecter that allows them to appear in this world despite belonging to another category altogether!! ...un. As Mikoto ran toward him, bloody Kamijou opened his mouth while trying to catch his breath. Run... Were...were no match for them...for that... What are you-...? Theyre... Could he not even raise his dangling arm and point forward? He looked like he was going to stop breathing at any moment, but he forced his lungs to keep working and squeezed out the words. And they were nightmarish words indeed. You remember...that Magic God called the High Priest, right? Theyre all like that. ...She can pull out monsters on his level by the dozen!! Her mind went blank. This went beyond blanking out her memories or thoughts. Her very sense of self vanished. She thought the individual named Misaka Mikoto would be smashed to pieces. After all, there was no way they could win. After fleeing through Academy City on the acrobike, it had been someone else who had ultimately finished off the High Priest. If that had failed, the Arrowhead Comet might have blown away Academy City. And there were more than one? They were going to attack by the dozen? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Mikoto desperately supported Kamijous bloody back and turned her head. And she saw... Eh heh. A monster. That hopeless lab coat monster was laughing in the moonlight. Yes, yes. Involving unrelated people in your personal revenge is foolish. Between good and evil its evil, and between like and dislike its dislike... Sensei never would have allowed this. Ah ha ha. Pant...pant... But I dont care. It may be different from Sensei, but thats what makes it so wonderful. Im realizing that more and more now. I still have a long way to go and Im still pathetically soft like clay, but...thats exactly why. I must not hesitate to mold each little thing into shape to create my unique path. Yes, yes...no. Maybe abandoning your ideals for your goal is another form of romance. But anyway... She tilted her head a little. She held out that right hand which held the greatest and most dreadful power. If youre going to interfere, then die. Right here and now. It was all a copy of that day. Misaka Mikoto had clenched her teeth at her own powerlessness while fleeing from the High Priest. And now they did not even have the convenient acrobike. Plus, the Magic Gods would be approaching by the dozen. Part 8 Kh...!? A small form groaned in an Academy City hospital. It was Patricia Birdway. She was the girl who had a large part of her body replaced by a Magic God known as Nephthys. Part 9 Kamijou was pretty sure his consciousness had repeatedly cut out intermittently over the course of a few seconds. Once his mind finally stabilized like a fluorescent light on the verge of dying, he realized Misaka Mikoto was carrying him over her shoulder. His vision was spinning, he felt the biting night wind, an odd sense of floating lifted his stomach, he felt the vibration of non-solid footing like building walls and signs, they were moving with overwhelming speed while seemingly ignoring gravity altogether, and the lights from car headlights and building windows were trailing behind them at unbelievable angles. He gradually realized what was happening. (Shes using magnetism or something else to jump from building to building?) Since he was draped over her shoulder, his unsteady vision saw the scenery behind them. And he saw something there. Mikoto was jumping from wall to wall of the high-rise buildings without using any noticeable footholds, but someone was accurately following her. It was Kihara Yuiitsu, usurper of World Rejecter. She had forcibly drawn out the power of the many Magic Gods that Kamisato Kakeru had blown away. ...Im sorry. Kamijou gulped and heard a trembling girls voice in his ear. It came from Mikoto who was at the center of the action. Something major must have happened because the tattered cloth of her coat was carried away by the wind. Im sorry. Im sorry for wanting some excitement and wanting to leave the normal rails without knowing what that meant. If this is because of me...because I asked for this...then...uuh... Kamijou did not know what lay at the foundation of those words. He was unsure how to respond as she held him. Shes been like this the whole time. Theres nothing as bad as a depressed romantic, dontcha think? Who knows when shes gonna take a dive from the top of a long escalator. Eh? Ah? Wah!? Salome!? Kamijou was so surprised because he had not thought the weight clinging to his back was enough to be a human being. It was only as heavy as a collapsible bicycle or maybe a little heavier. He hesitantly turned his head and saw the silver-haired girls head close enough to rub her cheek against his upper arm. However, he did not feel her legs because everything below her navel had likely been destroyed. It was a lot like how self-proclaimed TV personalities would wrap a cardigans sleeves around their neck. In addition to the feminine softness (even if her body was technically artificial), he felt something pointed and hard that must have been the toy pocket watch hanging from her neck. She may have made sure to protect that even if it meant losing her lower body. Oh, dammit. This must be what I get for tearing Claire in two. This has gotta be what they mean when they talk about karma. What kind of visual is this!? Im being carried like a bag of rice by a middle school girl whos jumping around the city at night and Ive got a mass murderer clinging to my back after being torn to pieces!? Fake ghost photos are less horrifying than this! Well, of course the killers stand out more than the killed. And this isnt the time for a nice chat, dontcha think? ...That womans way crazier than me and shes about to reach us!! Kihara Yuiitsus right arm had split apart at the shoulder. It formed the five upper bodies of the five Magic Gods. One of them moved. It was the one that looked like a small girl with pale skin and a white mini-China. It was Niang-Niang. Her fingers transformed into swords, spears, axes, staffs, etc. Those weapons tore through the dark night like laser beams. No lightning surged from the tips of the blades and the spears were not actually thrown. They extended. The ten weapons grew explosively and spread out in a fan shape. Shocked, Mikoto quickly used magnetism to change direction in midair and just barely avoided them. One after another, they stabbed into the wall of a nearby building. ... Next thing she knew, there was a face there. The concept of distance was meaningless. It took her a moment to realize that Niang-Niangs weapons had shrunk back down and forcibly pulled her and Kihara Yuiitsu to instantly fill the gap between them. Yuiitsu twisted her body in midair to unleash a kick. This absolute method would create bubbles in the blood and kill anyone cleanly hit by it, so Salome placed her half-destroyed but still artificial body in the path of the attack and the heavy blow struck her body. Mikoto shouted something. She could no longer feel the weight of Salome or of Kamijou. She wondered whether to go after the boy or fight back against the threat before her eyes, but then the lab coat woman held out her right arm. She recognized what grew from there. It was the strange being that had appeared before Mikoto and Kamijou almost for fun while they were being pursued by the High Priest. It was the owner of the strange weapons that had pierced her flat chest. It was Niang-Niang. ...!!!??? Her fighting spirit was drowned out by fear. Niang-Niangs fingers seemed to explode and the many weapons shot forward at close range. Mikoto immediately created a shield out of iron sand, but a dreadful impact ran through it. She flew back like she had been shot point-blank by a shotgun with only a metal door to protect her. She fell toward the scattered artificial lights of the citys night. Gaaaah!? Meanwhile, Kamijou crashed through a nearby building window like an artillery shell. The spiky-haired boy bounced along the dusty floor with Salome along for the ride like a backpack. He finally stopped when his back slammed into an exposed square column. There were no partitions and no wallpaper. There was nothing but identical columns at regular intervals. He smelled glue and synthetic fiber construction boards. (The buildings...under construction?) And what happened to Misaka? We have bigger things to worry about! Here she comes!! He did not know why, but Kamijou felt an unpleasant sweat covering his entire body. He immediately moved from the column and rolled to the side as a fierce rush pursued him from outside the window. It was just like machinegun fire. Some kind of projectile flew in at incredible speed. Kamijou could no longer follow them visually. As he fled to another column and glanced back at the floor, he did not see obvious bullet holes. He saw masses of darkness the size of baseballs. They must have been bending the light because the surrounding scenery stretched a bit like candy art. It looked like everything was being sucked in toward the center. Thats gotta be pomegranate seeds, said Salome. This would be Persephone...no, maybe Proserpina. Anyway, theres a legend of a goddess being taken to the underworld, falling for a trick on the way back to the surface, eating a pomegranate of the underworld, and being unable to remove the curse of death. That fruit forcibly brings one to the underworld...to death. However it happens, theres no escape once they get inside you. ... Was this another Magic God like Niang-Niang? However, Kamijou finally took an intentionally slow breath. He was still covered in an ominous sweat, but his tension was now directed elsewhere. This is odd. What is? And can someone raised in Academy City really analyze magic? Its not that. Kamijou leaned against the square column to hide with Salome positioned between himself and the column. Or rather, all of this is odd. ? It does look like Yuiitsu is using magic and Im willing to bet your analysis is correct. But she isnt Kihara Kagun...that is, Bersi. I doubt there are all that many Kiharas that can just use magic like this. This probably really is that...Proserpina? persons spell though. This isnt a web novel and I dont have time to listen to you go on and on about your interests. Try to keep it under 140 characters. If this was a Magic Gods attack, I doubt this would work as a shield, rapidly summed up Kamijou. At full power, Othinus could instantly crush the galaxy down to its pre-Big Bang state. And with some of his power gone, the High Priest could fuse with a comet and bring an ice age to the earth. Yet were fine just by hiding behind a column? Theyre firing like crazy and we defended against it with a mere shield? Thats not possible. The Magic God brand isnt that cheap. His mind had gone blank because Niang-Niang, a major figure for that brand, had appeared. But even that was odd. Even if Kihara Yuiitsu could draw out the power of those many Magic Gods, she wouldnt need to show it off. Kamijou and the others had no way of killing a Magic God. It was hard to say they had even defeated Othinus or the High Priest. The Magic Gods were just like an immortal monster from an old splatter film. You ran across them in an unreasonable encounter, you were chased around by them, and the best you could hope for was to escape in the very, very end. There simply was no defeating them. Even the police or the army would be killed if they challenged them to a straight fight. That was what the Magic Gods were supposed to be. World Rejecter might be the only thing in the entire world that could defeat them. That was what made that right hand so special. And at the moment, Kihara Yuiitsu had exclusive use of that hand. She had both the wild beast and its natural predator. In other words, nothing made any sense from the moment they had survived Niang-Niang appearing in that dark schoolyard. I think Kihara Yuiitsu is definitely using magic. Kamijou gulped. But I think shes using something other than the Magic Gods. I dont think we have time to sit around and think! Dammit!! Someone ignored all common sense and jumped in through the high-rise buildings window. It was a woman in a cheap suit whose tattered lab coat fluttered like demon wings as several Magic Gods grew from her right arm. Heh heh. She may have been laughing, but that was not comforting in the slightest. The force and pitch of her voice were unstable, so it scorched the nerves of anyone who heard it. Eh heh heh. There was no speaking with her. Even if they did exchange words, they could never share in what she was feeling. Heh heh heh hah hah!!!! Of the five Magic Gods, it was of course Niang-Niang that moved. Ten weapons shot from her ten fingers and tore through space like laser beams. But... Even so... Nevertheless... Kamijou Toumas right hand easily deflected those surefire attacks. He did not even need his fist. It was the casual action of brushing aside a fly. Kamijou had destroyed Niang-Niangs weapons with Imagine Breaker back when the countless weapons had shot from her sleeve and pierced Mikotos chest. But even so, this was different. There was tension, unease, and even fear. But those nerve-frying and dangerous emotions were only those caused by Kihara Yuiitsu herself. With five extraordinary monsters like the Magic Gods, he could easily have given up on any attempt to fight and passed out. But he had finally seen it. He had grasped the truth. Those arent the real Magic Gods. He looked at his enemy again. He faced their true identity. They arent even what lurks inside that right hand. It was odd that he had been able to deflect a Magic Gods attack with just one hand. He relied on that sense that something was not right. Those are only fakes made to look like the Magic Gods. Yes, you let Sample Shoggoth invade your body in order to attach that severed right hand!! That was the same thing that had once eaten into Patricia Birdway. It was an amorphous monster that could take any form. He had no idea how she had tamed it and it may have been eating into her as they spoke, but she had accepted it as her weapon despite the risk. Which meant... You created models of the Magic Gods and you had some seemingly-related magic prepared from somewhere else. ...The attenuated St. Germain virus. Its hard to believe, but you apparently surrendered your own brain to trick the right hands recognition. If Im remembering right, the people controlled by that could use magic regardless of their original knowledge or ability! Specifically, they could use magic related to carbon and plants, and that means that pomegranate spell you just used!! She had just been borrowing the Magic Gods reputation. By creating a hollow image of them and using magic when she should not have been able to, she had made it look like she had summoned the Magic Gods. Also, Kihara Yuiitsu had switched strategies as soon as she had learned World Rejecter was useless against Mass Murderer Salome and the rest of the Kamisato Faction girls. In other words, she had wanted to change the stagnant and unfavorable mood covering the dark schoolyard. World Rejecter had proved less almighty than hoped, so she had wanted to give it new value using the great impact of...no, the bluff of drawing out the Magic Gods at will. She had even intentionally let her hand nearly be severed as part of the act. Come to think of it, a Magic God and something crawling out of a right arm were part of Baggage City. At the very end there, the incomplete Othinus destroyed my wrist and then crushed what came out. And Kihara Kagun and some other Kiharas were there. Kihara Yuiitsu, were you there too by any chance? Maybe in a position that gave you access to a report on everything that happened? That was why she had been able to do it. She had what it took to come up with that strategy, to prepare everything needed to pull it off, and to put on an act that would fool even someone who had actually met the Magic Gods. Once he knew that, there was nothing to be afraid of. There was no more need to be bound by fear. His opponent was not absolute. She was only human, so out of fear of defeat, she had thought up a trick and twisted the truth to make herself look greater than she was. He had to correct that. He had to solve that. He had to reveal that. But Kihara Yuiitsu only tilted her head a little as she held up her misshapen right arm. So what? This had done nothing to her. She had taken no damage whatsoever. An explosive noise followed. Niang-Niang, Proserpina, and the Magic Gods of unknown names stickily lost their shape and became a single large stream which surged toward Kamijou like sticky pollution sprayed from a water truck. !! He immediately held up his right hand. How many times do I have to tell you? My goal has been revenge from the beginning. Her voice reached him. That cruel parasitic lifeform tore into ones flesh with its countless fangs and claws, slipped inside the body, and melted the fat away to reside within its new host. Kihara Yuiitsu remained unfazed as that precious weapon was blown away by his right hand. Making a flashy attack like that forced Kamijou to use his right hand. In the meantime, he was pinned to the spot and could not move or flee. She had used up Project Shoggoth just to hold him in place. The power of the Magic Gods never mattered. Whether I could reach that level or not was irrelevant. I only needed to mow down Kamisato Kakeru and everyone he cares for. Between good and evil its evil, and between like and dislike its dislike. This is my unique romance that not even Sensei could reach. To put it another way, the Magic Gods power would have been entirely meaningless if I couldnt use it for my revenge. Thats all this is. ... You idiot! Dont try to block that!! By the time Salome shouted from his back, it was too late. Kihara Yuiitsus foot was flying his way. Just like when a ball was suddenly thrown at someone, Kamijou reflexively held his arms up to guard. He immediately realized that was a mistake. Yuiitsus attacks were not meant to thrash him with their great speed or weight. The shockwaves propagating from the multiple points of impact would shake his blood in a way that created enough bubbles to make this single attack deadly. In other words, it did not matter if he blocked it or not. It was like a needle soaked in deadly poison. Once it touched him, it was all over. Ah...gah!!!??? Intense heat filled his arm and he could feel it flowing from his arm to his torso. Salome took action on his back. Damn you!! This time his supposed ally struck his aching arm. Immediately, the strange heat vanished. Hm. So you used the same sort of shockwaves to counteract the bubbles. Well done copying it in so short a time. Yuiitsu did not sound amused in the slightest. But didnt I tell you? This was always about my revenge. I am taking my own path and it is different from Senseis. Thats why Im not too picky about this kind of thing. ... Ill use whatever it takes. That includes magic, martial arts, and even...something like this. She reached into her tattered lab coats pocket. That action sent an unpleasant sensation down Kamijous spine, but even as close as Yuiitsu was, he did not have time to stop her. A moment later, she held an oddly-shaped gun. It almost looked like a toy. Rather than a handgun optimized for military use, it looked like the starting pistol fired to begin an athletics festival race. But he could tell. His throat went dry as she aimed it his way. This is the UL Exploder. Then again, your average person might not be able to figure out where its name comes from or how it does what it does. As soon as she pulled the trigger, space itself seemed to explode. Part 10 When the blast struck the boy, he flew across the partially constructed building. He was tossed right out a window that lacked any glass. Now, then. (My data says he is a top priority target for Kamisato Kakeru. Not that I expect being thrown from the twentieth floor will kill him.) Yuiitsu slowly walked toward the window while shaking her cheap-looking handgun that was reminiscent of an athletics festival starting pistol. The surging river of her right arm audibly dispersed and the original slender arm reappeared from the eye of the storm. The injury to the wrist had been forcibly sewn back together. That also meant Kamisato Kakerus right hand was connected to her once more. The UL Exploder induced false dust explosions. It was only effective within Academy City, so even one step outside the city and it would be entirely useless. However, it had not been originally developed to cause anything as dubiously effective as a dust explosion. The voyeur of a Board Chairman had covered the city with nanodevices known as Underline. By gathering them together and detonating them, she could create a space that, for a very short period of time, could not be monitored by the higher ups. With that in mind, its name should make a fair amount of sense. She had built this during a happier time. When she had shown it off to the golden retriever who she respected more than anyone else, he had praised her skill yet still scolded her for some reason. Yes, he had said not to bully him. ... For just a moment, Kihara Yuiitsus eyes gently narrowed. But they returned to normal a moment later. The warm kindness of what remained in her heart led her to coldly freeze her expression all the more. Its about time I finished this. Between good and evil it was evil, and between like and dislike it was dislike. She knew that, yet that monster continued down her own path. The one traveling that unique path was not interested in the concepts of good and evil that controlled the masses. For whatever reason, Kamisato Kakeru needs Kamijou Touma. I cant wait to see the look on his face when I toss the boys corpse in front of him. Part 11 There was nothing he could do. Kamijou Touma was thrown out into the dark sky with Salome clinging to his back. Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Flailing his limbs around was meaningless. The countless invisible hands of gravity grabbed at his body and forced him down toward the ground. Needless to say, he would die on impact. His fall had started at the twentieth floor and salvation came at the tenth floor halfway down. Misaka Mikoto was clinging to the wall there and she matched their relative speeds to catch Kamijou in her arms. Gh...!! she groaned. Are you okay? What happened with you after that? You arent hurt, are you? Mikoto stood on the building wall and let her shoes slide down to negate the impact, but Kamijous eyes were focused upwards. Our questions can wait! Yeah, its looking like we have bigger things to worry about!! The enemy was coming from up there. She used the amorphous Sample Shoggoth to cling to the wall and crawl down like a strange insect. The monster named Kihara Yuiitsu had locked onto them. Run, Misaka!! If you arent going to make it otherwise, then leave me behind!! It was too late. An explosion burst directly behind Kihara Yuiitsu. It was likely the power of that mysterious handgun-shaped device she had used to toss Kamijou and Salome out the window earlier. This time, she used the explosive blast to accelerate her own body and she approached with the speed of an artillery shell. She fell far faster than free fall in a suicidal dive toward the depths of the earth or toward the underworld. The distance between them vanished in an instant. Truly just an instant. !! Mikoto immediately kicked off the wall and threw herself into the night sky with Kamijou in her arms. Having missed her target, Yuiitsu slammed on the brakes using that same wall and she did not hesitate to aim her UL Exploder at them. As she pulled the trigger, small explosions several meters across pursued Mikoto through the air. They never actually hit Mikoto, but they greatly restricted her range of movement. Then Yuiitsu played her next hand. It was literally a hand. Her entire right arm changed form. It became a black torrent which bent like a whip and struck the girls entire body from above. This time, there was no avoiding it. With a tremendous roar, Mikotos body was sent hurtling toward the ground. She tried to attach to another building with magnetism, but it was too late. She only managed to shift her landing point a little. Gah!? After slipping from the girls arms, Kamijou and Salome fell into one of the trees placed at even intervals alongside a major road. Multiple branches broke beneath them which eliminated enough of their momentum. He just barely avoided dying from the fall, but now he had scratches all over his body. Agh...cough, cough! Wh-where did Misaka end up? Focus on whats above us instead!! Salome warned him from his back, but then something unexpected happened. ...What? She isnt...coming? Kihara Yuiitsus next attack never came. That in and of itself was delightful, but there had to be more to it than that. That woman had no reason to be cautious or hold back, so this result was strange. What is she looking at? Kamijou caught his breath while looking up at Yuiitsu as she clung upside-down to the building wall. The monster was not even looking their way. She was focused elsewhere. Also, Mikoto was not with them. She seemed to have fallen somewhere else. Dammit. Is Misaka her top priority!? Part 12 Misaka Mikoto made sure nothing was wrong with her bones and organs after her fall. She moved each of her fingers and toes and took deep breaths to see if anything hurt. (Where am I?) The ceiling was far overhead and she could guess she had been the one to create the hole there. Once she got up, she found a space much larger than a school gym. Based on the facilities and equipment, it seemed to be a cold storage warehouse, but it was not functioning. It was room temperature and actually warmer than the December night outside. However, that was not what bothered her most of all. What...is this? The warehouse was not lined with ice cream and other frozen foods or fish and other meat products. There were weapons. Just a lot of weapons. There was a missile pod shaped like a giant container. There was long excavation drill that could probably break through a bank vault door. There was a flamethrower and a plasma blade. There was even the weapon from which Mikotos signature Railgun got its name. She also saw the ammunition, fuel, power sources, and maintenance equipment for them all. Surprisingly, they did not seem made to be loaded on tanks, armored trucks, fighter craft, attack craft, cruisers, or battleships. (Youre kidding, right?) As she looked across, circled around, and observed the mountain of weaponry, Mikoto reached a general and unbelievable conclusion. (Are these weapons meant to be directly equipped to and used by someone? What kind of crazy concept were these designed for?) She doubted these would be stored in a mere cold storage warehouse. She did not know why someone had stored them here, but the cold storage warehouse was clearly just camouflage. She heard a small sound from the mountain of silhouettes. She thought someone was hiding there, but that was not the case. With a great roar, the collection of machines rose up like a plesiosaur and looked down at her. Just like metal nails sucked in by a powerful magnet, the countless weapons were gathering together and taking a biological form. (Is this thing...appraising me as its user...?) Mikoto gulped and looked at it once more. Anti... She traced her fingers along the barrel of a Gatling gun twice her height that had not joined the plesiosaur and she read off the letters engraved there. Anti-Art Attachment...? Misaka Mikoto did not understand what that meant. But a fleeting thought occurred to her. If she had this, might she be able to oppose an extraordinary monster like Kihara Yuiitsu? She did not know what kind of operating system it used, but as Academy Citys most powerful Electromaster, might she be able to hack into that system, rewrite it, and hijack it? It helped that a burning tension assaulted her. That woman in a lab coat and cheap suit had surpassed the category of a single human and seemed to send great pressure toward Mikoto from the darkness surrounding the girl on all sides. No matter how dulled by peace she was, Mikoto could not imagine exposing herself to the citys dangerous night while unarmed. The thought came to her almost like a devilish temptation. It may have been unfortunate for her that she had been separated from Kamijou Touma. She slowly exhaled and once more placed her hand on the giant Gatling gun. She tried to reveal the structure of its system to see if she could use it or not. Something happened almost immediately. ...!!!??? She felt a strange chill like a giant tongue licking vertically across her entire back, so she instinctually let go. It was not just this one weapon. She heard the strange sounds of the various machines in the large warehouse linking together. What was she to do? Was she prepared to grab this and pay the price? (What...was that?) Her heart was pounding. An unpleasant sweat poured from her forehead. Inescapable confusion filled her mind. To repeat, Misaka Mikoto was Academy Citys strongest Electromaster. She could directly control electricity, so there was no programming language she could not read and no firewall she could not break. Even if it was a brand new sort of firewall built in a completely unknown language, it had already nearly raised the white flag just by relying on electricity in the first place. Yet she had been unable to read it. There was an entirely blank spot. No, it was not that there was simply nothing written there. The weapon operating system was laid out in exacting detail, but with that alone, the circle was closed and it did not function as a circuit. And that blank spot was clearly filled with something Misaka Mikoto was unfamiliar with or could not understand. What was it? What was that system built to control? It was shaped like a weapon, but it was not a weapon. It wore the skin of science, but it could not be explained using science. It reminded her of the stimulation, expanse, and possibilities she had felt in her clash with Mass Murderer Salome, but this was much stronger. It was hopelessly powerful and seemed to have no end at all. A human might be able to manage the water filling a cup. But that same human could not hope to manage all of the seawater filing the seven seas. If she dove in or incorporated this into herself, she would more than just drown. The waves would toss her about and dash her against the rocks until she changed form like the fine white sand of the beaches. Then it would drag her down to the watery depths and the immense pressure would crush her until she had no form left at all. There was a brand new possibility here and it might allow her to peer into a world she had never before seen, but if she did that, it would be someone else standing there, not Misaka Mikoto. Or so it seemed to her. She took back what she had thought before. The threat she felt here was equal to or possibly even greater than what awaited outside. The threat in here C or the identity of what it would produce C far surpassed what she could handle on her own. She must not touch this dragon. Doing so would definitively set her growth in the wrong direction. If she wished to walk by that boys side, she could not continue this way. She could not. She could not. She could not. Part 13 As Kihara Yuiitsu clung upside-down to the building wall using Sample Shoggoth, she stared into the cold storage warehouse through the hole and clicked her tongue. This was the first major unexpected event for her. (Damn, I missed one. Youre telling me there was an entire spare storage warehouse for Senseis Anti-Art Attachment left over!?) That golden retriever had stored his equipment in all twenty-three districts of Academy City. As his aide, Kihara Yuiitsu had been aware of Kihara Noukans possessions to a certain extent, but her knowledge had not been perfect. Kihara Noukan had stood out even among the Kiharas and he had been working with Board Chairman Aleister. Even if their technique had been as bizarre as could be, the basic frame around it was just a powered suit and thus entirely belonged to the science side. And now Academy Citys #3 had fallen there. She was the most powerful Electromaster. The strict firewalls and authentication would be entirely useless. Tokiwadais Ace could directly manipulate the electricity, so it was possible she could rewrite a portion of the system and equip the weapon as her own. Yes, rewrite it. That would mean erasing a trace of that golden retriever. Kihara Yuiitsus revenge should have been top priority for her, but that possibility briefly erased all other thoughts from her mind. Her unique brand of romance whispered to her that there was something else to be done. ...Dont touch that. This had nothing to do with the frightening specs of the Anti-Art Attachment. Her thinking did not even get that far. Get your dirty hands off what Sensei left behiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiind!! Part 14 For Kamijou and Salome, this was their first and last chance. Shes looking away... Weve gotta make a surprise attack now!! To be honest, I dont know what this St. Germain and Shoggoth stuff is about, but that shouldnt change the fact that, unlike me, shes still a normal human behind all that. So slipping past that bizarre stuff and getting an attack in on her physical body should silence her!! And how exactly am I going to do that? I dont know any convenient techniques to knock out a girl with a tap to the neck or punch to the gut! I have a bit of an idea. So cmon, chase after that Kihara Yuiitsu woman. Theres nothing you can do if you dont get close! He heard the sound of fluttering cloth from overhead. It was Yuiitsu. She had been clinging to the building wall until now, but she had spread out the amorphous Sample Shoggoth like a paraglider to soar through the night sky. Kamijou had no idea how she had tamed either St. Germain or the Shoggoth. In fact, he could not understand how anyone could let those things into their body even if they were safe. Is she headed straight for that warehouse!? Weve only got my two legs, so theres no way we can catch up! No, thats fine. Just run along the surface and keep her in sight. Ill make sure this works. ? Ahh, ahh. Ive fought so many people I dont remember who I told what. Kamijou-chan, did I tell you about the exact conditions needed to activate my External Offering? Salome grinned with her arms around his shoulders like a strange TV personalitys cardigan. My External Offering is Celtic sacrifice magic, you see. Any weapon I destroy is offered up to my god and I gain its effects and traits. But if I dont keep the chain going within three minutes, it all resets to zero. The growing snowball will fall apart. And? How long has it been since we were in the schoolyard? Your chain or whatever has to have broken by now, so youve lost the effect of the Kamisato Factions self-sacrifice. Who ever said that? She whispered in his ear and he felt an ominous chill, even though Salome was supposed to be an ally (for the time being). The mass murderer ignored that and continued. Hey, Kamijou-chan. A mass murderer like me needs to make sure her weapon is nice and sharp, dontcha think? I like to keep my snowball intact as long as I can, so I need to keep my chain going no matter what it takes. ...? Even the most pitifully weak weapon will preserve the chain. And conveniently, when Im holding onto you from behind, this hood sticking out from inside your uniform C is it from a hoodie? C creates a nice big bag that no one else can see inside. Wait. Dont tell me... And...have C you C forgotten? My entire body is artificial. That means Im a weapon myself. I certainly didnt expect for that Yuiitsu person to tear me to pieces, but that just means I need to use that to my advantage, dontcha think? By gathering the artificial organs that were still usable and stuffing them in your hood, I have a decent stock to keep my chain going. Each time the chain is about to run out, I bite into one to destroy it and offer it up to my god. That way I can maintain my destructive power. He was no longer even sweating. Goose bumps covered his entire body. Even if they were artificial, these were still the contents that kept a human body moving. These were the toes, tendons, cartilage, and entrails of her lower body. And Mass Murderer Salome was continually biting into her own contents to destroy them. He felt a floating sensation on the nape of his neck. It no longer felt like his own body. This was a member of the Kamisato Faction. It was Kamisato Kakerus little sister. Was that why she had this many screws loose? But this time, it really is a one-time thing. Salome sounded like she was planning a surprise birthday party. Kamijou heard a small hard sound behind him. It was possible the raincoat girl had lightly bit the pocket watch instead of kissing it. That was a sign of her resolve. Ill leave the final blow to you, Kamijou-chan!! The mass murderers right arm mercilessly tore through empty air. Salome had destroyed, absorbed, and offered up a great variety weapons to thoroughly increase her own destructive power, so a few dozen meters of distance was nothing to her. An invisible attack shot toward Kihara Yuiitsu who flew through the night sky. The large wings supporting her like a hang glider were torn apart and she lost her lift. Gravity seemed to grab her with almost unnatural intensity and she began to drop. If Kamijou ran, he could reach her now. ... Kihara Yuiitsu sent the amorphous Sample Shoggoth below her as a cushion to absorb the shock of landing, but that meant she could not move until that was complete. Kamijou Touma reached her. He first sent his right fist toward the Sample Shoggoth at her feet rather than her herself. The amorphous mass was blown away and Yuiitsu slammed into the ground with her cushion gone. Still, she did not break. Kamijou Touma and Kihara Yuiitsus gazes clashed. And... This time, they both sent out attacks. Kamijou made a scooping uppercut. Yuiitsu let a torrent of Sample Shoggoth erupt from her right wrist. Both attacks hit, but that meant neither one was a clean hit. Kamijous right fist caught Yuiitsus jaw and Yuiitsus torrent swept Kamijou away. Ghh!! Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!! They both rolled back as if an explosion had occurred between them. Kamijou could not let this continue much longer. Especially when Kihara Yuiitsu seemed to be targeting Mikoto more than him. But when he tried to place his right hand on the ground and get up, intense pain shot through his shoulder. It was Sample Shoggoth. It had changed form to gain fangs which had dug into his shoulder near the collarbone. Gah...kh...ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He yelled, but it was no use. His right hand had grown limp. Meanwhile, Kihara Yuiitsu was trying to get up. What would she use next? Sample Shoggoths torrent, St. Germains magic, or Kamisatos World Rejecter? Any one of them would defeat him now. He could still use his left hand, so he slid it along the ground and felt something hard. He grabbed it. Only after picking it up did he realize what it was. (The UL Exploder!?) It was the handgun-like device belonging to Kihara Yuiitsu. However, it looked more like an athletics festival starting pistol than a military weapon and it did not actually fire bullets. He did not know how it worked, but it caused an explosion in the empty space it was aimed at. He held it up with his left hand and placed his finger on the trigger. He gasped for breath and unsteadily aimed it. If he fired like crazy, he might just defeat her. Kihara Yuiitsu had a bizarre collection with the St. Germain virus, Sample Shoggoth, and Kamisatos right hand, but she still had a human body below it all, unlike Mass Murderer Salome. While a bullet attacked at a single point, this explosive blast attacked an entire surface and was thus much more difficult to defend against. That might allow him to damage her human body. This would allow him to stop her. This would allow him to rescues Misaka Mikoto, who seemed to be Yuiitsus top priority for some unknown reason, and Kamisato Kakeru, whose hand had already been stolen. That meant this was not wrong. He would be right to do this. Kamijou Touma clenched his teeth as he told himself that. But... For some reason, he heard the voice of someone who was not even here. Give up on that idea. Would you be able to save more people if you trained in martial arts? Would you be able to resolve things more smartly if you had a gun or a knife? That would have the exact opposite effect. The more means of killing you have and the farther you move from the path that saves your opponent using their own power, the weaker you will become. He had been told that when he had been unsure what path to take. His Understander had told him that. Martial arts, a gun, a knife, or any other obvious offensive power would only increase your ability to cut people off. This may not have been something to remember now. The ideal and reality were two different things. It may have been fine for him to make that distinction and pull the trigger. Your greatest weapon is the powerful arm that reached into the abyss and saved even someone as hopelessly evil and rotten to the core as Magic God Othinus. That ability to connect is your ultimate trump card. But was that really okay? After being saved by those words, could he really sully them like this? What is wanted from you is not violence on the same level as World Rejecter. It isnt the power to kill. It is the power of human reason that can envelop that violence. He hesitated. He thought. He clenched his teeth. And that delayed him too much. Gah!!!??? He groaned from intense pain. Both Kihara Yuiitsus arms had become amorphous torrents. They swept down from above onto the boys shoulders. They smashed Mass Murderer Salomes arms as she clung to his back and they mercilessly tried to dislocate his shoulders. His left hand went limp and the UL Exploder slipped from his grasp. He had lost his chance. This kind of power... He knew that, but he still spoke. Or perhaps this was the ultimate counterpunch against this woman who was justifying her violence with her crazed obsession with revenge. ...isnt what I wanted. Death rushed toward him. The woman in a cheap suit and a tattered lab coat approached him. She grabbed his cheeks between her hands. He heard an extremely sticky sound in both ears. I dont feel like messing with you anymore, so Ill use a much more certain method. Ah...gah...!! Now, its time for romance. How would you like to die? Everyone must have had that truly worthless discussion at some point or another. So how would you like to have your body eaten away? Do you want your fat slowly melted away from the outside by Sample Shoggoth? Her lips parted right in front of his face. Something round sat on top of her seductively wet tongue. What had originally been a black pill was now a bright red piece of candy. Or do you want your brain infected from within by the St. Germain virus? It may have been attenuated, but it cant be a fun way to go if you dont have any resistance to it. Part 15 Meanwhile, Misaka Mikoto could not have understood even half of what was going on. She had not been directly involved in the incidents the St. Germain virus and Sample Shoggoth had come from, so it was hard for her to understand just how frightening they were. But she could intuitively tell. She had shaken off the ominous temptation of the Anti-Art Attachment and started to leave the non-functioning cold storage warehouse through the staff entrance, but then she saw it. She saw Kihara Yuiitsu holding that battered boys jaw and attempting to feed him something in the form of red candy directly from her mouth. She was going to infect him with her hands or with her mouth. That would be irreversible. It was just like damaged cancer cells affecting the healthy cells around them. Once that entered him, it would remake the structure of his body and decisively destroy that boy who had approached her like normal so recently. No... She had to stop this. She had to stop it immediately. But there was nothing she could do. Kamijou Touma had far surpassed the stage she stood on, so even her signature Railgun would be easily deflected. She had learned that all too well against that High Priest guy. But she could not just sit here stricken with a sense of helplessness. No matter what. By any means necessary. Even if it meant violating a taboo. She needed to utterly, decisively, and immediately end this with a single attack. Otherwise she would lose that boy forever. I cant let that happeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!! Frightfully powerful electromagnetic waves spread out from that girl. The many possessions of the dead inside that cold storage warehouse had supposedly fallen into an eternal slumber, but she summoned them back to the world of the living. Those weapons had formed an evil plesiosaur, but that silhouette crumbled. They gathered around the girl like a ferocious tornado. They broke apart, lost their great meaning, and transferred away from their original owner as they changed their design to better match the young girl. Countless weapons attached to the armor on her limbs and the joint on her back. A supporting leg situated itself behind her so she would not be crushed by their weight. It was all bizarrely shaped, yet it all fit her perfectly. There was a giant missile container, an excitation rod for a laser beam, a liquid weapon turret that included sprayers for a flamethrower, liquid nitrogen, and powerful acid, a giant drill meant to break into shelters, a Gatling gun, a rapid-fire cannon, and C as a finishing touch C the weapon from which her signature Railgun took its name. That weapon was meant to be used as a railway gun. The large caliber railgun was meant to destroy fortresses. Part of the system was missing. It was like a jigsaw puzzle completed by filling in some gaps with pure white pieces. The original owner had likely not meant for it to be used like this. It was likely entirely defeating the purpose of the system, much like keeping a battleships engines inactive and moving it with sails. But she did not care. If she could overturn that definite destruction right this instant, she did not care how foolish she looked. Part 16 In the final instant, Kihara Yuiitsu was just three millimeters away from forcing the red candy on her tongue into Kamijou Toumas mouth. Without turning her head, she moved just her eyes to glance over. A moment later, all sound and light vanished. It did not move at three times the speed of sound. It did not have the small mass of an arcade coin. This blast had been made to create a crater out of a fortress designed to withstand even the most powerful tank. In all seriousness, a slight mistake in calculation would have swept away an entire section of Academy Citys buildings. If the District 7s Windowless Building had not acted as a cushion, the damage would have spread without end. Kihara Yuiitsus body vanished as it was torn away from Kamjiou. The boy could not hold his ground either. He was sent flying into the air and he slammed into the branches of a roadside tree when the shockwave nearly blew him away. He really did nearly cough up some blood, but he only became aware of that later. For the time being, he could not perceive light or sound. As his senses returned and his perception of time returned to normal, he finally slipped down from the tree branches. He crawled along the ground and moved his swollen eyelids to view the world. What...happened? I dont know. The response came from Salome who was lying on the ground as well. But she had lost her torso and arms, so she looked in a much more painful state than him. The cold storage warehouses wall was blown away. Unless some complete stranger interfered at the last second there...that Misaka Mikoto person must have done something, dontcha think? ... Kamijou slowly exhaled. Was everything over for the time being? He was curious whether Kihara Yuiitsu had survived or not, but he doubted she could continue fighting after taking that tremendous blast. He needed to remain cautious, but he was pretty sure he had managed to survive this day at least. Will it really work out that well? Salome made an ominous prediction. Well, that can wait until after we check on my goddamn stupid brother we left at the school. How much did she know about that strange right hand? These right hands did not choose people at random. They based that selection on something. Magic God Nephthys had said that once. And during the battle with Fiamma of the Right, Fiamma had been unable to receive that power since he had not been chosen. And that was even after severing and stealing Kamijous right hand. If Kihara Yuiitsu was neutralized, then World Rejecter would likely return to Kamisato. Whether the entire arm would regenerate as with Kamijou was unknown, though. But... What if it did not return? That would mean the system that Kihara Yuiitsu had built up was still active. In other words, she still possessed World Rejecter and could still fight. They could assume she would appear as an enemy again. It was exactly as Salome said. The first step was checking on Kamisato Kakerus condition. But the mass murderers ominous predictions did not end there. Hey, Kamijou-chan. What...? He slowly got up and picked up Salome who was pretty much only a head at this point. That girl who smelled of death continued. You should watch out for Misaka Mikoto. ...? Before long, she will take a large step down the wrong path. You could even say shell break. This no longer has anything to do with whether I mess with her or not. ....................................................................................................................................................................................... He thought it was a bad joke. He thought that crazy girl was reading too much into this and becoming overly suspicious. But that was a lie. If he had truly believed that, he would not have felt the need to check. There was no sign of Misaka Mikoto inside the cold storage warehouse. He only saw what looked like scrap metal that had apparently been blown to pieces by the massive blast. Volume 15, Epilogue: The Front Front Side of the Coin — Lock_on_Light_Girl. Volume 15, Epilogue: The Front Front Side of the Coin Lock_on_Light_Girl. Metal crashed heavily to the ground. The sound spread as Misaka Mikoto wandered through the dark streets. The Anti-Art Attachment was actually several weapons and they were detaching from her body now that their role was complete. Heh heh. She had crossed a line. She had broken the dam that kept her contained within an invisible framework. She could feel it even if she had nothing to back it up. Ha ha...ah ha ha. Her heart was pounding. Her breaths were sweet. She had not understood all of that massive system. She still had no way of comprehending those blank spots. But she was now certain that understanding that would take her to the next stage she hoped for. She had been wandering blindly through the desert, but now she knew where the closest oasis was. That sort of hope filled her chest. The world is so large. She spread her arms and looked up into the heavens. She almost seemed to be reciting the words. I can see into the depths of the night sky. The blessing of the stars awaited her. She even started to feel that she did not belong in this city of science. There are no barriers! The possibilities are endless! Theres so much! Theres so much more for me!! So many clues to follow, so many heights to climb to, and so many summits to aim for!! Thus she was happy. Thus she felt wonderful. Thus there was nothing to feel sad about. ...But was that really true? She had already taken the step forward and there was nothing to be done about it now, but that tiny pinprick of a thought knocked at her personality. She would soon have plenty of material for a rebuttal, but that pinprick did not care. A single card could cause the entire stack to crumble. ...If that was true, then why did you flee from him by leaving? She had no answer. She had no answer. She had no answer. Hey, you over there! Then someone called out to her from the side. The deep voice likely belonged to a teacher. She looked over to find a young man in an Anti-Skill uniform. Not only was she a girl wandering alone late at night, but she wore the uniform of Tokiwadai Middle School which was well known for its strict curfew. It was possible she had been involved in some kind of trouble. But that was not what he asked about. The male Anti-Skill officer sounded worried when he spoke. Are you okay? Youve got a pretty bad nosebleed, so did you run into something? Or is it some kind illness? She did not have the slightest clue how to answer that question. It was like some kind of side effect. Misaka Mikoto held a trembling hand to her face and tilted her head in confusion at the sensation on her fingertips. She looked truly, truly puzzled. Meanwhile, a woman had much more than a nosebleed. Her entire body had been torn apart and she lay in a pool of blood. It was Kihara Yuiitsu. But even that was not fatal. Something crawled all over her body. It was Sample Shoggoth. Just as it had forcibly sewn on Kamisato Kakerus hand, it sewed together the laceration all over her body. She had lost quite a bit of blood, but she could get a blood transfusion or, if she could not get one in time, use an IV of boiled saline to at least avoid too large a drop in blood pressure. In her current state, she would be lucky just to avoid going into shock from blood loss. Heh...heh. She leaned against a wind turbine and laughed despite her extreme injuries. She raised her right hand toward the moon, clenched it, and opened it again. She could still move it. Kamisato Kakerus World Rejecter had not left her. I managed to create an outline with Sample Shoggoth and copied their magic using the attenuated St. Germain virus. A rusty-smelling liquid spilled from the corner of her mouth as she smiled. She continued to smile. But that is not the true value of this right hand. Those who were satisfied after revealing the closer-to-home trick must have been relieved in their conclusion that there was nothing further inside. That also applied to the one who had likely been watching that battle. That is, the human who had been using his Underline to look down at them from his point of safety. Board Chairman Aleister. (Its true Kamisato Kakeru was my first target as revenge for taking Sensei from me. And it sounded like to fun to take everyone from him, including that Kamijou Touma he found so important.) With a mental but, she switched from thought to speech. Aleister. Now that I think about it, you were the original cause. If you hadnt given Sensei that role, sent him to his death, and had him face that bizarre opponent known as Kamisato Kakeru, none of this tragedy would have occurred. She slowly lowered her right hand. She held it straight forward instead of toward the moon. There was a windowless building there. Kihara Yuiitsu thought about the possibilities of World Rejecters power in the right hand stolen from Kamisato Kakeru. A dark smile came to her lips. That Board Chairman liked to act all-knowing and all-powerful, but if he really knew everything, then he would have known what would happen to the golden retriever. He had known, yet he had still sent him off as a disposable pawn for some plan that Yuiitsu was not sure even existed. What would Kihara Noukan have said? Between good and evil its evil, and between like and dislike its like. But Yuiitsu was different. Choosing a different path was interesting. She felt a definite sufficiency there. Hey, Aleister. She spoke softly, as if singing a lullaby. Yet her icy voice contained great resolve, as if she planned to set fire to the house once the child fell asleep. That vengeful demon spoke while drowning in her own unique brand of romance. How many plans have you had to abandon before this one? Slight strength entered her raised right hand. She prepared to activate its power. But just before she did, a new footstep sounded from within twenty centimeters of her. ...!!!??? Even as injured as she was, it was unnatural for her to miss someone approaching so close. And she did not have time for a detailed examination of the situation. She started moving her hand away from the Windowless Building and toward the noise. But before she could, someone grabbed her wrist. Their other hand grabbed her throat and lifted her up. She was forced to her feet and her back was slammed against the wind turbine. Kah...ah...! She gasped as a face appeared just five centimeters from her own. It was Board Chairman Aleister. That human looked like both a man and a woman, like both an adult and a child, and like both a saint and a sinner. His emotionless eyes peered deep into the out-of-control factor that was Kihara Yuiitsu. And then he spoke. If you wish to kill me, then feel free to try. As long as you achieve your objective, you may take whatever detour you wish. If that is your desire, I will take you on at any time. This vengeance-seeker respected that golden retriever from the bottom of her heart. But behind that she hid intense emotion that made that identity appear shallow. But complete your job first. Anything else would be far too cruel to that man who lost his life to push you to action. His words did not even try to hide the fact that he was behind it all. Heh. Kihara Yuiitsu laughed. Her laughter was out of control even as she had a hand around her throat. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Hee hee!! Gya ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! The human with long silver hair and a surgical gown let go of Yuiitsu and spoke quietly. There is no turning back for me now, so I might as well stop hiding in my safe zone. Yes, yes! Use me as much as you want!! But I will never forgive anyone who harmed Sensei. Kamisato Kakeru, his hangers-on, the Magic Gods who made him special, that Kamijou boy he thought was so important, you as the creator of this cruel city, and all the many people who turn the gears of this cruel city as they enjoy their lives!! Every last one of you built the rails that sent Sensei into the abyss. Between good and evil youre all good, and between like and dislike youre all dislike!! As long as I can eradicate you all to my hearts content, nothing else matters!! Yes, I mean it! This is my own romance that Sensei could never hope to copy!! ... So what will you have me do, main dish? Yuiitsu laughed after falling back to the ground. The Board Chairman answered with a blank expression, but that did not mean he lacked emotions. Kamisato Kakeru was the original threat and Misaka Mikoto has introduced a new threat by contacting the Anti-Art Attachment. She was never anything more than one of the pieces needed to build the network for Dragon, so it was the clones that mattered, not her. If she will obstruct the plan as a whole, then she must be eliminated. But given the state of the game board, you dont have time to have me crush them one at a time, do you? Aleister slowly exhaled and answered. Choose one. I will deal with the other. In that case, theyre both done for, muttered bloody Kihara Yuiitsu. The Board Chairman narrowed his eyes a little and then looked up at the night sky. And as he looked up, he spoke. What do you think youre looking at, you bitch? Do you want me to curse you to death right this instant? Hm. Lola Stuart spoke to herself on the other side of the globe. That confirms it. Kamisato Kakerus mind was hazy. He felt more heat in his right hand than pain. He also felt an odd pressure. He turned his blurry vision in that direction and found it was forcibly tied off with a cloth or ribbon. He seemed to be lying on the examination table in a moonlit infirmary. Blood was smeared here and there and the room felt far from peaceful. Ha...ha... He had hated World Rejecter so much and now it was gone. The entire hand had been severed and some woman named Kihara Yuiitsu had taken it. Uuh!! He felt like the depths of his mind were being stirred up by the despair that overcame him. He had not wanted that power. He was relieved that it was gone. But... The girls of the Kamisato Faction had gathered around him for their convenience, but what if that really had been due to the influence of his right hand? Now that the hand had transferred to someone else, the girls might leave him as well. That in and of itself was good. His original objective had been to destroy the strange category known as the Kamisato Faction so that those girls would return to being strangers with free wills of their own. However... The problem was the possibility of their next owner using them as she saw fit. What if Ellen, Elza, and the other girls gained the same blind trust in Kihara Yuiitsu that had led them to gather around him? What if those with extraordinary power like Claire and Salome retained their willingness to do anything for the owner of that right hand? They had said themselves that they were willing to dump a few bodies in the mountains for him. It had sounded like a joke, but he did not believe it was only a joke. If someone with no self-control had that right hand, then it was all over. Who could say how many crimes those girls would commit before returning to their senses? (I have to...) He clenched his teeth while too weak from blood loss to even get up. (I have to...do something...) But what could he do now that he had lost World Rejecter? He was the kind of normal high school boy that one could find anywhere. He knew that all too well. He was not a genius with an IQ of 200 and he was not a martial artist who could kill a bear bare-handed. He did not stand a chance against Claire or Salome, not to mention Kihara Yuiitsu who had adopted so many bizarre powers. He felt dark, dark despair. And as if to kick him while he was down, he heard a small noise. Yes. It was a footstep. Hee!? Just as he gathered his strength, he rolled right off the examination table. But he did not have time to cry out at the pain in his back and hip. He saw a familiar face in the infirmary. No, he saw several familiar faces. With the moonlight reflected in their eyes, the girls gradually gathered closer around him now that he was awake. Just the day before, this gathering would have meant nothing. But at the moment, Kamisato lacked his right hand. Kihara Yuiitsu had already stolen it. She had control of the right hand that had constructed that ridiculous harem, so the odds were good they were here to do something for her. In other words, to eliminate an enemy. They would kill Kamisato Kakeru with a smile on their faces, dirty their hands, and run to Yuiitsu, hoping for her praise. Pant, pant!! Unable to get up properly, he tried to slide back in a sitting position. It was difficult without his hand, but this was not the time to worry about that. He could only press the stump against the floor and try to move as far away as he could. This was of course a futile attempt. The circle tightened in. He was trapped. Finally, someone who seemed to have completely changed form spoke up in the moonlight. Are you okay, boss!? Im so glad you finally woke up!! It was Elza. Her brown hair was cut with tufts that looked like fox ears. The plastic bottle in her hand was filled with old ten yen coins. She was a blunt delinquent girl, but she actually excelled at housework and yet did not want anyone to know. She stood there as she always had. Eh? Ah? She did not seem to be under Kihara Yuiitsus control. In fact... I was terrified since Claire had gotten herself knocked out of the fight earlier. But I tied off the wound and gave you a ton of saline, so you should be on the way back to a stable condition now that youve woken up. Ellen...??? Hm? Whats the matter? But why? Before he could ask that question, the long-haired girl in a baggy lab coat said something more. Whats so strange about us doing everything we can for you, Kamisato-han? ... Cmon, why are you acting so distant after everything weve been through? Havent we told you well do anything for you, boss? .......................................................................................................................................................................................... He was speechless. H-hey. What is it, boss? Why are you covering your face like that? Does your wound still hurt? Dammit, if only theyd had some specialized anesthetic here. All we can do is cool the injured area to numb the pain. Hes probably more shocked about the loss his dominant hand. Youve always been awful at taking care of peoples hearts, Elza. The usual circle of girls was there. They had all accepted Kamisato Kakeru himself, not World Rejecter. He had a place here. A boy with another right hand had once said people were not defined by their right hands. He had said the people were the ones that summoned the power of their right hand. He had said Kamisato had so many people around him because all of those people adored him. Kamisato had not been able to believe it. That normal high school boy had lacked what he needed to believe it. But... But... But... (Yes...) That puny boy covered his face with one hand and one wrist to desperately force down the sobs as he built his resolve anew. (Yes, yes!! Id made up my mind from the beginning, hadnt I? No matter what happens to them and no matter what influence they fall under, I will never abandon them. I will return to them to their original lives!!) World Rejecter. That power had been given to him because he sought a nonexistent ideal. But the answer had been right in front of his eyes the entire time. He had never needed to do anything at all. If they had all just returned to their original location, it would all have been settled. Yes, for every last one of them. Including Kamisato Kakeru. Ellen, Elza. What is it? Do you want something, boss? He smiled a little when they responded like they were looking after a child with a cold. (Do I want something, hm?) He focused on that again and spoke. How long will it take for Claire to recover? She should be working at reconnecting her upper body to her lower body right about now. But if you say you need something, boss, Im sure shell come running. If she wants to, she can move around as just her upper body. In fact, I bet she could hop around as just a head in an emergency. Kamisato sighed. His thoughts turned to his lost hand. The hand Kihara Yuiitsu cut away from herself should still be in the schoolyard. Go get that. Ill use it as a replacement hand for the time being. If Claire connects it, I should be able to move it properly. There was of course the issue of compatibility just like with organ transplants, but since Kihara Yuiitsu had already stolen his hand and attached it to herself, he doubted there would be any issues there. And even if there was, he could just have one of the girls find a breakthrough using some dirty technique of theirs. (I doubt World Rejecter will come back if I just sit around.) Imagine Breaker prioritized Kamijou Touma as its owner even if his arm was stolen, but either World Rejecter lacked that ability or Kihara Yuiitsu was keeping it from working right with some kind of trick. That meant he would never get it back if he did not take action. He would have to chop off the right hand she had stolen and take it back. ... He would now seek the very right hand he had hated so much. He was aware of the irony, but he still thought quietly to himself. (It doesnt matter if I have conflicting desires. I dont care if I end up blowing myself away the instant I get the power back. Kihara Yuiitsu. I cant let her abuse my right hand. I need to take it back before that happens. If Im going to bring back those normal days, I need to end the tragedy here!!) Kamisato Kakeru slowly breathed out and then stood on his own two feet. Come with me, everyone. Lets bring this all to an end. And finally, one superfluous conclusion. It is a truly small and insignificant conclusion. Morning, Kami-yan. Heading to a new school really changes when you have to leave in the morning, doesnt it? I keep leaving early cause Im afraid Ill be late, but then I get here way too early. Not that it really matters, but what happened to that pointlessly strained atmosphere? Well, once we calmed down and thought about it, we couldnt figure out why we were so obsessed with burning porn magazines, dolls, and body pillows at school last night. So you idiots saw the light, huh? Also... Yeah? We shouldve realized sooner that youd never be working that hard to stop us if it wasnt for our own good. That everyday sort of recovery was small. But it was not something to be looked down on. Volume 15, Afterword Volume 15, Afterword If youve been reading the volumes one at a time, welcome back. If you had the courage to buy them all at once, welcome. This is Kazuma Kamachi. New Testament is already at Volume 15! As I mentioned in Volume 14s afterword, I think this was another volume of Kamisato Kakeru and those around him destroying the sanctuaries that had settled into place in this series. I think I placed most of the main characters in a position where they couldnt maintain the usual look on their face. The only exceptions are the girls of the Kamisato Faction who (should have) looked most suspect at first glance. The Kamisato Faction first appeared in Volume 14, so they are quite shallow and I expect a lot of readers thought they were mostly just a symbol. But what theyre doing isnt that much different what the people on Kamijous side do. My experiment for Volumes 14 and 15 was to see how different a character looks if youve seen them gradually built up as a protagonist or if you havent. So now that youve seen Kamisato Kakerus character over the course of two volumes, your impression of his environment may have changed. But as the writer, I didnt do anything special. The main point is that he looks different just by having his character built up like that. ...In other words, this is something that can influence peoples impression of a series as a whole, yet its something the writer cant do intentionally. By building things up, the characters become more appealing and you can dig deeper into the world building. All of that is great, but it also works against you when youve built up certain expectations and have sanctuaries you cant move even if you want to. They all start piling up like a falling block puzzle game. This has strengthened my desire to work toward opening up some breathing room in that sense. This story was set in Academy City and involved a variety of technology, but the overall theme was more related to magic. To be more specific, I took my material from the concept of sacrifice. It was touched on in the novel, but people often have a grim view of sacrifices since the idea of living sacrifices has become so prominent. But since we have to specify living sacrifices, there are of course non-living sacrifices. I focused more on those. The most obvious one was Salome, the naked raincoat girl(!?), but I also added in some other characters, gimmicks, and situations that included the symbolism of sacrifice. Combine that with my focus on destroying sanctuaries, and this volume may have had an overall ominous atmosphere or unstable image. For the Kamisato Faction, I tried to use a naming system I hadnt used in the series before, but...hm. I think I may have gone a little overboard there. Yet when I look in baby name dictionaries, I find them recommending even crazier names as if its normal. Is this what they call the flow of time? I try to give my protagonists relatively easy to read names since their names appear the most often, but Ive started worrying over what qualifies as easy to read with some of these modern names Im seeing. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and to my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. This threw in a ton of characters instead of focusing on a single point, so it must have been hard to adjust for that. Thank you very much for sticking with me. Also, Kasai Shin-san designed the A.A.A. Mikoto Version. He has helped here and there with mecha-related stuff. I get the feeling that none of the illustrators that work with me are your average person, and he is no exception. Anyway, thank you very much! I also give my thanks to the readers. This story involved drawing on a bunch of past characters and parts of the setting, so it might have been harder to read through than normal. I was trying to create something enjoyable by having everything build up in a positive direction even as the sanctuaries were destroyed. I leave it to you to judge how I did. Thank you yet again. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Is it just me or did Salome actually have the strongest mind? -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 16, Prologue: Holing Up at School, Starting with Swimsuits - Melt_the_Asphalt. Volume 16, Prologue: Holing Up at School, Starting with Swimsuits C Melt_the_Asphalt. It was December 7 in Academy Citys District 7. However, the digital temperature display on a building wall was stuck at 55 degrees Celsius. It was something like an empty cicada skin at this point, so who could say how much further the temperature had risen. The intense heat wave made it feel like being trapped in a stone stove full of residual heat. Kamijou Touma and his classmates had been thrown out into that scorching hell that was just about causing the asphalt roads to ooze. Pant, pant. They gasped for breath and wiped sweat from their brows, but they were not wearing their school uniforms. Any sticklers for the rules who had tried to do that had collapsed from heatstroke before the first day was over. All of the boys and girls were wearing their choice of swimsuit to avoid trapping in any heat. They currently stood on the rooftop of one of the countless multi-tenant buildings lining the street. They did not even think about casually walking along the ground. Anyone who touched the ground would die. This is...no joke...dammit. A heavy sensation pressed down on their backs. They were carrying fifty kilogram weights, which was like carrying a small girl around. Those weights were the mineral water left in a large drug store. All of the visible shelves had long since been wiped out, but in the back office, they had found a few Daruma doll-like plastic tanks for the water dispenser. That might seem like more than enough water for a single person, but even a home bathtub could hold two hundred kilograms. This was far from enough to hydrate the entire school they were using for shelter. It was entirely inadequate, but they could not give up trying either. Far below, the direct sunlight had heated the road like a stone stove and the wind turbines were sparking. There were a few cracks in the road and the fire hydrants had broken, but not even a single drop of water was flowing out anymore. The roadside trees had turned brown due to something other than the winter season. It was all about the heat. That had ruined everything. Whether it used gasoline or mercury, a car was useless if its battery did not work. Ditto for the new acrobikes. The unmanned devices like cleaning robots were also no help. Fukiyose Seiri, a classmate with long black hair and an exposed forehead (and giant breasts) similarly wiped away sweat next to Kamijou. Even a well-regulated and excellent student like her had lost the second round of The North Wind and the Sun. She currently wore her own personal black bikini and she wore a wool scarf and gloves over that. There was of course a reason for that strange combination. While Kamijou and the other boys carried the incredibly heavy water, the girls had to work to secure a route for them. Well be using the ladder to reach the next building. Well reach a major road after that, so well have to use a tightrope. Not again. This is so dangerous. Just so you know, they use ladders to cross crevasses on Everest. Even if these were short multi-tenant buildings, they were still four or five stories tall. The class was spreading out a folding ladder and using that to cross between buildings. And that was while carrying fifty kilograms of water. This was why Fukiyose and the other girls were wearing gloves and scarves. It was over 55 degrees Celsius. A comedians hot water bath was only in the realm of 50 degrees. And the metal parts were even worse after absorbing the heat. They could not touch them barehanded for extended periods, so they needed the kind of gloves used to hold pots. The scarves were used to carry the ladder over their shoulders. Most of them wore sandals with straps. Sneakers or boots would have been more convenient, but not when it was this hot. Poorly ventilated shoes would quickly fill with sweat and their feet would soon be moist with athletes foot. In all honesty, Kamijou could not get used to crossing the crevasses no matter how many times he did it. Lets get going, said Fukiyose. One at a time. And be careful. ...Dammit. If only we had a sturdier bridge. If we choose the safest routes, we might run across an ambush of people after that water youre carrying. Kamijou, who wore a swimsuit that looked like shorts, glared bitterly up at the sun which had become a deadly weapon. The world had changed in just three days. A ridiculously unnatural heat wave had attacked Academy City and all of the electricity and plumbing had been knocked out almost too easily. The city had a set of values that generally made class divisions based on academic ability and income, but that had collapsed and something else had risen to take its place. Simply put, water and shade. At this point, people could easily start fighting over those things like they were stacks of cash or gold bars. We dont know whats happened to the other schools since the heat took out all the electronics and network lines, but we should count ourselves lucky that we havent dried up yet, said Fukiyose. Do you think there are schools that really did run out of water and dry up? I dont want to think about it. Anyway, Ill be going across first. When crossing the crevasses, one would send the lighter people first to confirm the other side was safe. In this case, that was the girls who were not carrying water. They crossed the ladder from building to building. It was less than five meters long, but balancing on two feet and walking across like with a normal bridge or tightrope would be a deadly mistake. They naturally got down on all fours and grabbed on with their hands and legs to slowly crawl across. This was a serious situation with lives on the line, but Fukiyose ended up sticking up the soft butt contained inside her black bikini bottom. On top of that, the heat meant there was plenty of sweat dripping down her inner thighs, so it made for quite a juicy scene. Aogami Pierce put on a serious expression as he carried another of the spare water dispenser bottles. Im sorry, Kami-yan. I dont think I can hide it while wearing a swimsuit. Cough, cough! Bear with it, boy!! I doubt those girls would understand our struggle!! The two of them did their best to look away from the seduction before their eyes, but that brought the scorching surface into view. The colorless shimmering of a mirage rose from the asphalt which was getting a little melty in the intense heat. Do you think there are even more of them now? Who knows. I dont feel like counting them. Kamijou sounded annoyed as he answered and he saw Fukiyose waving back at them after safely crossing over. After confirming the safety of the other side, the other girls began crossing the ladder one after another. We cant use electricity, so fires really our only option. Yeah. But I really dont want to start a fire right now. Thered be no way to put it out. Ive heard they used to throw sand on fires to put them out. There were in fact dark lines rising into the blue sky from different parts of the scorching city. They had no way of knowing if they were cooking fires, smoke signals to send an SOS, or signs of a collapsed community. A Tokiwadai Middle School girls face flashed through the back of his mind. Was she doing all right in this hell? While she was Academy Citys #3 Level 5, that did not seem like it meant much as far as direct physical strength, water, and stamina were concerned. (I can still worry about others. Does that mean Im still human?) Kamijou shook his head in annoyance and focused on the reality before his eyes. A triple digit number of students from the first year were out searching for water, but they had split up when choosing actual routes. Only a single classs worth was here with him, but it was still enough to create a bottleneck when crossing a ladder one at a time. Kamijou and Aogami Pierce both leaned forward onto the horizontal ladder and attempted to crawl across. As they crossed the scorching metal, Kamijous awful friend spoke to him. Okay, lets do this just like all the other times. No holding a grudge if we fall. Right. Given the unreliable creaking coming from the ladder and the weight of the water on their backs, they were in no mental state to be joking around, but their short experience at this had already taught them that a heavy silence would put an even greater pressure on their hearts. They were four or five stories up. Deadly asphalt awaited them below. If they fell, they would either die instantly or meet a much longer and much more painful fate. (Dont worry, dont worry. They use this method on Everest and a mountain climber carries much more than fifty kilograms. So theres nothing to worry about.) The unstable creaking sound continued below him. He felt like each step was the same as snipping one of the colorful cords in a time bomb. The sweat on his brow was an annoyance. The heat roasting his palms was a nuisance too. Every drop of water was precious, but his hands and feet were soaked and he felt like he was going to slip off at any time. The sweat got in his eyelids. The scene around him blurred as if he was growing teary-eyed. But in this unstable situation, he could not wipe it away with the back of his hand. A vague emptiness filled his mind as he relied only on the sensation coming from his hands to slowly guide him across the five meters from hell. ...jou, Kamijou! Its okay now. You made it across!! Fukiyose shouted something into his ear, so he breathed out the excess of oxygen filling his lungs. He ignored the burning heat as he collapsed onto his side. He used his entire body to let in the stability of solid ground. Pant, pant...!!!??? Looks like we both survived again. Although this is something like playing Russian roulette. Aogami Pierce sat down and wiped the sweat from his brow. As they waited for the rest to cross, Kamijou slowly got up and spoke to Black Bikini Fukiyose. You said we have to use a tightrope next, right? Yes. Im honestly afraid of an ambush since its a set route, but five meters is the most we can cross with the ladder. The tightropes are necessary to cross the major roads. Electronics were useless in this heat. Fukiyose pulled out a paper emergency map with several lines drawn in using colorful marker. She folded it like someone reading a newspaper on the train and she read through it. The lines crossing roads from building to building were all tightropes. I thought some kunoichi manga said you couldnt cross them like a bridge due to tension or something, commented Aogami. Whats known as the worlds most dangerous route to school requires walking across a single wire for a kilometer or two. This is far better than that. After everyone had crossed, Fukiyose and the rest of the girls set to work retrieving the ladder. Kamijous group also stood up and began battling the heavy water once more. They looked into the distance and saw something unusual in the otherwise familiar city. There was something crossing between the buildings. Some went from rooftop to rooftop, some went from window to window, and some connected emergency staircase landings. They were all tightropes. In other words, they were wire slides. Wires of various thicknesses were strung between buildings. Attached to them were pulleys made by attaching a small roller skate or skateboard wheel to a somewhat bent version of the thick S-shaped hooks that held up large tools in a garage. By hanging down from the pulley, one could slide straight down across the wire. That said, they were handmade with no standard safety features, so there was no guarantee they were safe. However, it was far preferable to the unstable ladder or a gamble of a pole vault. This was much like how the safe portion of the blowfish had been discovered. No one wanted to think about how many failures had led to the right answer. There were also bricks and concrete blocks piled up on the roofs, but they were likely unrelated to the tightropes. Thick wires extended from several stories of the building they were on, but the one headed toward their school looked really rundown. First of all, it was not made of metal. It had been tied together from synthetic fiber ropes and it had only been strung up using something like a hand-cranked winch. And even though the tightropes were one-way tickets due to the height difference, a way back had not been made. They could get to the other side, but they could not return. They would have to search for another route if it came to that. Wait, wait, wait, wait... They just used a gas-powered launcher or something to fire the rope to the other side. Since they didnt fire one back, they must have given up partway through. The tightropes were made out of necessity. Whatever school they were from, if whoever had done this had given up, it might mean something unexpected had happened to them. Regardless, Kamijous class could not just wait around. They could not take endless detours either. They wanted to get back to the safety of the school as soon as possible. Kamijou and everyone else there had to feel that way. It was dangerous, but they had no other choice. Unlike with the ladder, they did not have to go one at a time. First, Kamijou attached a handmade pulley (made from a roller skate wheel and the kind of S-shaped hook that held up large tools in a garage) to the overhead wire and grabbed onto the handle with both hands. From there, he just had to use the strength of his grip to hang down from it. The height was frightening, but coming to a stop partway down was an even scarier thought. That was why he gave it a running start. And before he crossed, Fukiyose passed her arms through the ladder to hold it in place as she used a pulley to skillfully board the tightrope. These set routes were sturdier, but there was more chance of an ambush. It was safest to send multiple people across right away. Or it should have been. The tightrope suddenly shook and pointed straight down. Wah!! Kami-yan!? The synthetic fiber rope supporting the tightrope snapped. Had the heat weakened it? Or had there been too much frictional heat even with the pulley? There was nothing he could do. The S-shaped pulley was useless with his full weight bearing down on it, so he fell along the path of the snapped wire. He ran into Fukiyose who was also on the tightrope. Knowing it would burn his palm, he grabbed the wire and used his other hand to grab the black bikini girls hand before she was thrown off. They swung like a giant pendulum rather than falling straight down. But that was lucky because their momentum was transferred to the horizontal vector and they at least avoided dying on impact. Kamijou and Fukiyose fell and rolled along the scorching ground. Ghhh!! Fortunately, they were thrown onto a dried-out flower bed instead of the road. Thanks to that, they avoided having the asphalt tear at their exposed skin like a file. Kamijou held Fukiyose in one arm and slapped her cheek. Hey, are you okay, Fukiyose!? Were still alive!! Ah, ahh...? The mental shock of falling must have blanked out her mind because Fukiyose groaned in confusion as he held her. And this was no time to be breathing a sigh of relief. They were on the ground. Anyone who fell would die. Aogami Pierce placed his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and shouted down from the rooftop. Hurry up and get outta there, Kami-yan!! An Element is coming!! Something cast a giant shadow on Kamijou. He looked back to find it was very close, less than two meters away. The bizarre-shaped creature was made of translucent crystal and stood easily three meters tall. It resembled a giant mantis and had just raised its front leg like a large scythe. There had been no sign of the thing just a moment ago. And due to their translucent bodily structure, the Elements tended to take the shape of plants or animals that used some form of mimicry. In this case, it was a Class 1 Flower Mantis. !! Fukiyoseeeeeeeeeee!? He immediately shoved away the girl in his arms. The force of the push sent him in the opposite direction just as the dreadful strike swung down at them. The dried flower bed the dazed boy and girl had occupied was mercilessly sliced in two as the translucent scythe stabbed as deep as the concrete foundation. Something like a red will-o-the-wisp burned in the center of its transparent chest. (A fire Element. Thats standard but dangerous!!) The other scythe came with a color. It glowed with the orange of a blast furnace. With the low roar of a fire consuming oxygen, cruel flames wrapped around the attack. Fire with the stickiness of heavy oil burst out in a half circle. Without Imagine Breaker in his right hand, he would have been turned to ashes. Ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He held his right hand forward on reflex and the entire twenty meter blast of fire shattered into nothingness. Just the residual heat scorching his cheeks was enough to squeeze at his heart. He had just about died. No, he had just about been intentionally killed. A moment later... Kami-yan!! Aogami Pierce shouted down from above. No, he did more than just shout. With heavy sounds of impact, he and the others threw concrete blocks and bricks down on the Element. Theres an elevator on a building wall a hundred meters west of here! Well buy you some time, so take Fukiyose and get back up here!! Kamijou looked over and did indeed see a single rope hanging along a building wall. The bottom was tied into a noose-like loop. By placing ones foot in that and grabbing the rope, someone at the top could drop a drum of sand to pull them up using the pulley at the top. The Elements could climb stairs, but they seemed unable to use ladders or ropes. Similarly, they could destroy doors and windows, but they were not intelligent enough to pry open locks or turn knobs. That meant they could be somewhat avoided by escaping to elevated places or hiding behind bomb-resistant doors. (But...) He looked back again. Black Bikini Fukiyose was lying defenselessly beyond the three meter Flower Mantis. Simply sharing the same space as an Element numbed his mind with a premonition of death. Could he get past the Flower Mantis, reach her, and then escape to the distant elevator? Getting taken out from behind was the most likely outcome. And it would be even worse if it happened to a familiar classmate. Aogami!! Keep throwing the bricks!! Wait, wait, wait! Dont even think about taking on an Element, Kami-yan! Therell be no end to them, dammit!! Kamijou was not thinking about wiping them out or mopping them up. This Flower Mantis Element had a core of fire inside it. If he could at least eliminate that, he could safely reach the elevator with Fukiyose. He could avoid having to lose anyone. And he had already proven that Imagine Breaker worked on the Elements flames. Plus, if he could just touch it with his right hand, he could one-shot the Element itself. But its movements were too deadly, so he could easily be torn to pieces the instant he tried to face it one-on-one. A few times already, they had needed to save students who had fallen down. The others had thrown stones to buy time while Kamijou challenged and defeated the smaller Elements. That should still work with this Class 1 that stood three meters tall. Gweaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! To keep the fear from pinning his feet to the ground, Kamijou roared at the top of his lungs like hammer throwers did to release the limiters in their brains. He ran toward the translucent Flower Mantis. He did not care how pathetic it made him look. As long as he could touch it somewhere, the Element would stop, as if its battery had died. But. That was when the Flower Mantiss surface shimmered like a mirage. No, that was not what happened. The scenery would shimmer when an Element was moving while blending into the background. They were translucent to begin with and they specialized in mimicry. That meant this shimmering was not caused by the Flower Mantis launching an attack. It came from something in front of it. There was another one!? K-Kamijou! Wait!!!??? As she sat on the scorching asphalt, Fukiyose gave a panicked and wide-eyed shout. But it was too late. Kamijou Touma had set his sights on the Flower Mantis and rushed forward, so he could not change direction now. And... It was a Class 2. At twice the size of the Flower Mantis, the six meter Element had a diamond shaped shell and giant pincers. It was modeled after a hishigani crab. And this Element did not hold back on using its greatest weapon. It was more like a body blow than a blade. The tip of its giant pincer slammed into the center of Kamijou Toumas gut. There was nothing he could do. Bh. He coughed up blood instead of air. He felt the liquid rising deep in his throat as he was thrown backwards with twice his forward momentum. He could not sense the fall and the impact of collision. His limbs and even his eyeballs were convulsing and he had no idea where he was or even which way was up. His back felt wet, but was that due to the water dispenser tank breaking from the impact or was it simply his own blood? The rest came in bits and pieces. His mind was filled with the stench and taste of blood, Fukiyose Seiris scream, a downpour of flash grenades and smokescreens made from bottles as they were thrown down from the rooftop, a voice calling his name while slapping his cheeks over and over, the sensation of being dragged, and the floating sensation of the pulley elevator. Kamijou! Snap out of it, Kamijou!! He had been carried to some rooftop or another. Fukiyose Seiri seemed to be the one calling his name. That knowledge was enough for him to smile a little even as his bodys convulsions continued. Thank goodness, he thought. He was relieved to know her scream had not been due to the Element getting her too. He was glad for that good news at least. Wait, dont get that satisfied look on your face. Were not even close to being done here yet!! This isnt over! Stay focused, Kamijou!! You have to!! It was not quite accurate to say her voice was growing more distant. It would be more accurate to say the mass of sound was striking his eardrums, but its meaning was not reaching his brain. It was like a classmates words vanishing into the general chatter of the class as a whole. After that, Kamijou realized something. So thats it, he thought as a possibility occurred to him. Could this be outside the real timeline? Is my life flashing before my eyes? Am I lying in bed and desperately thinking back over my most recent memories? Between the Lines 1 Hamazura Shiage had been heading out early in the morning of late. Even he had trouble believing it was to go jogging. But this was not an admirable attempt to regain as much of his health as he could after wearing it down with alcohol and cigarettes. And it certainly had nothing at all to do with Takitsubo Rikou, his girlfriend in a pink track suit, flatly telling him he was starting to get a gut. He had washed his hands of Skill Out, but he still had not the slightest idea what to do with the time that had freed up. This may have been something meant to fill that gap inside him. And he was fully aware that someone on the straight and narrow would say he should go to school if he had really had a change of heart. For better or for worse, he had built up his leg muscles and his stamina...or he felt like he had. Out of the twenty-three districts, District 7 had the greatest area. If he could stick to his own pace, he could run a full circuit of that district without taking a break. ...Or he should have been able to. Dammit...what is with this heat? He did not even make it five hundred meters. His feet slowed to a stop and he felt woozy. Was this heatstroke or sleep deprivation? He had been woken in the middle of the night by a weird explosion in the area. But when he leaned against a nearby building wall, his entire body was assaulted by the heat and pain of a frying pan, so he quickly pulled back. He glanced down at his cellphone, but the display was all weird and would not respond. He had left before seven and it was early December. He should have been able to see his breath and there should have been ice needles in the sidewalk flower beds, but there was no sign of that. In fact, he was pretty sure this heat would cause an Okinawan mangrove to shrivel up. Hi, Hamazura-kun. Hey. He bowed to the old man he had come to recognize during this new morning ritual. The man should have been walking his dog, but the heat had put a stop to that. The dog was sitting on a bus stop bench. It may have been too hot for the dog to sit or lie on the asphalt. What is with this weather? Have you heard anything, Hamazura-kun? Kids these days are looking everything up on the internet, right? I suppose... Hamazura felt like the idea that you could learn or do anything on the internet was a deception promoted by the people who adjusted what information was available at what time, but there was no point in explaining that. I havent heard anything. Did they say anything in the newspapers? Hah hah. Why do young people think everyone past a certain age reads every last article on the newspaper? Hamazura just about snapped back that the old man had just made the exact same kind of assumption. Anyway, maybe I should cut todays walk short. Probably. This girl may be a dog, but shes so fat. Of course, thats because I give her so many treats. Carrying her back isnt going to be easy. But I cant have her walk on the asphalt like this. What to do? Why not use the underground tunnels? Underground tunnels? Hamazura answered the confused voice by pointing his thumb toward some nearby stairs heading down. They connect the subway stations with the department stores, so they can take you pretty far. Of course, you have to plan out your course and navigate something like a labyrinth if you want to reach the exact exit you want. Hm. I didnt know that. The old man turned his head while sitting on the bus stop bench, but then his gaze came to a stop. He froze up when his eyes reached a certain point. ? Curious, Hamazura looked back too. A group of office workers in business suits ran up the stairs. There were a lot of them. The morning rush hour should not have begun quite yet, so this group was oddly large. (Will I have to push my way through crowds like that when I grow up?) That was still how Hamazura viewed the scene. But that view would change three seconds later. It began with the handkerchiefs. Due to the heat, a lot of the office workers were holding handkerchiefs. They were pressing them to their faces and the backs of their hands. At first, he thought they were wiping away sweat. But then what was that red color seeping out from the cloth? Gyah! Wah, wah!! Gau, gau!! Chatter, chatter, chatter!! Ohhhhhhh!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhn!! In all likelihood that was not actually what they were shouting, but that was all he could hear with so many yelling voices blending together. This isnt good, Hamazura-kun. Hamazura suddenly found the old man had stood up from the bench. He was holding the dog in his arms despite his earlier complaint about the weight. I-is someone attacking them? Things are so dangerous these days. When were these days? The old man used the same line people had been using for half a century at this point. And his assumption was wrong. Hamazuras ears...no, brain gradually managed to process the shouts and screams. They were converted into comprehensible words. Gyah! What!? Wah! A bug...!? Gaaah!! Stay...back! Gyaaaaaah!! Had it really been a problem with the sound itself or had his mind simply refused to accept the answer? What...is that...huge bug!? Its...coming this way! Its chasing us!! He had a feeling that was what they were actually saying. But now that he had the answer, he had to accept it. M-monster! Dammit, run away! Everyone run away! Youll be killed!! The crowd split to the left and right as it tried to run up the stairs from underground. No, it was knocked to the left and right. Something unseen and nearly invisible used its great mass to charge through. A portion of the scenery immediately shimmered like a mirage. Something like a giant mantis seemed to appear out of thin air. It was more than three meters tall and made of a crystal-like translucent substance. The upside-down triangle of its head rapidly turned and it focused on a single point with the emotionless eyes of an insect. It focused on Hamazura and the old man a short distance away. Wh-what the hell is that!? As Hamazura started to step back, he ran into something. It was another one. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? As soon as he screamed and dove to the ground with all his might, a gust of wind swept by. His balls shriveled up when he belatedly realized that was the swinging of a scythe larger than a Japanese sword. Shit. This is even worse than running into a crocodile or a bear, he thought, with no clue if that nature knowledge was accurate or not. This was no time to worry about the frying pan heat of the asphalt. He continued rolling to get as far away as possible. And then... H-Hamazura-kuuuun!! The old mans pathetic voice reached his ears. Concerned, he looked over from the ground and saw the old man being pulled away by a ferocious force. ...But instead of the mysterious crystal mantis, it was the dogs leash tugging him away. I get the feeling that old mans gonna survive another hundred years. With that comment, Hamazura hopped up from the ground. Shit!! He ran as fast as his feet would take him in an attempt to get as far away as possible from the crystal mantises and flood of officer workers. Oh, goddammit!! He heard strange heavy footsteps behind him, but he did not have time to look back. Why!? Why do they always have to come after meeeee!!!??? Volume 16, 1: Securing Safety in the Scorching Heat - Water_Hunt. Volume 16, Chapter 1: Securing Safety in the Scorching Heat C Water_Hunt. Part 1 Bah, gwah....!!!??? Instead of lying on a bed, Kamijou Touma felt more like he was reaching both hands up from the bottom of a full bathtub. The voices and sounds around him were muffled and oddly distorted, like there was a thick layer of water between them and him. His vision was just a strange array of colors as voices reached him from the surrounding chatter. We have a reading, but its weak! Give him another countershock!! Youre kidding, right? Were lucky this car battery still worked after expanding so much from the heat. If we keep this up, Kami-yan might explode... But we know hell die if we dont do anything! Stand back!! With a tremendous shock, Kamijous entire body formed an arch. A scorching heat started in his heart and spread to every part of his body. It felt like having silk wadding removed from his throat. His pointy-haired head finally left the phantom bathtub and he could breathe oxygen into his own lungs. Cough, agh...!? What...? This is...the infirmary? When he shook his unsteady head and looked around, he saw Fukiyose in her black bikini and Aogami Pierce in his swim trunks. Frighteningly enough, teary-eyed Fukiyose held large crocodile clips in her hands. The cables were connected to a car battery that had swelled out like a black melon. Y-youve got to be kidding me. Im not an ecofriendly hybrid... Do you!! Have any idea!! How worried we were!? You dont get to just quit while youre ahead!! Gyaaaah!! I get that youre feeling emotional, but let go of the clips before hugging me!! Kamijou just about set sail for Nirvana once more, but he somehow avoided becoming an electric roast. They had somehow survived. He and Fukiyose were both safe. In that case, he knew what to worry about first. What happened to the water? That was when a modest knock came to the infirmary door. After the door cracked open, the Jumpy Bunny and a glasses boy poked their heads in. They belonged to the student council of the school from which Kamijou and the others were borrowing classrooms after losing their own school. They also must have succumbed to the heat because the small Jumpy Bunny was facing this crisis in a frilly pink one piece and the glasses boy had for some reason chosen a speedo. They were holding a few 500mL bottles. W-weve already distributed the water to everyone. This is your share. Dont tell anyone, but you all get just a bit more since you put in the most work. Kamijou sighed and slowly got up from the bed. He grimaced as a dull pain ran through his bandaged lower stomach and Aogami Pierce frantically called out to him. H-hey, Kami-yan... Im fine. I cant hog a bed in such a nice place forever. The people taken out by heatstroke are all inside the stuffy gym, right? I cant waste this space on myself. That was why Tsukuyomi Komoe, Yomikawa Aiho, and the rest of the teachers were not here. They would want to put an end to the students dangerous behavior, but they had their hands full taking care of the sick and could not patrol the school building very well. If they did not focus on those in the gym, some of them really could lose their lives at any moment. Kamijou looked around again. The room was only dimly lit, but not just because the LED lights on the ceiling had no power. All of the outside windows were covered with impromptu barricades. They were not entirely sure that just piling up desks and chairs was enough to keep those Elements out if they made a serious attack, but it was better than nothing. Kamijou borrowed one of the label-less plastic bottles the student council was carrying. How many liters of water do you need in a day again? If the sports drink ads are to be believed, about 2-3 liters. The glasses boy could only smile bitterly as he answered. Kamijou shook his head and walked out into the hall. All of the windows here were covered too and barricades blocked off the hallway here and there. Boys and girls from the same school were leaning against the walls and passing time amidst the great heat however they could. No one had any real ambition, so it looked like a scene from a field hospital. However, the barricades were not perfect. There were gaps in places and they allowed a view out, just like a castles arrowslits. The hallway bordering the courtyard gave a view of a concrete structure. Normally, that would never see the light of day during winter. If only we could drink that pool water. Yes, but its the green December water. No water could be seen, but not because there was none there. To keep as much as possible from evaporating, they had placed a large sheet over it. The thick sheet had come from the gym. It was normally used to keep the folding chair legs from damaging the floor during graduation. Weve tried boiling it, running it through filters made from pebbles and gravel, and chemical sterilization using chlorine. Its mostly been the chemistry club doing the testing, but the risk of food poisoning remains far too high. Its because so many germs have all sorts of resistances these days. Its the downside of everyone using antibacterial sprays so much. Still, that was plenty for anything other than potable water: for washing their bodies, for washing their clothes, or for the bathroom. They had reached a dead end, but they may have been blessed more than others since they only had to worry about potable water. (Im seriously worried about Misaka. But our phones dont work, so I have no way of contacting her.) The thought came to him for no real reason. This went beyond not being able to eat something that had fallen on the floor. He had a feeling that a high-class girl would be more fragile than a commoner in situations like this. A strange heat wave had settled in and Elements covered the ground. The standard expectations of Academy City in December had crumbled away almost too easily. The Jumpy Bunny fidgeted in her frilly pink swimsuit and spoke to him. U-um, Mie-chan and the others want to speak with you about what to do next, so if you can move, Id like for you to stop by the student council room. Understood. Kamijou was not the representative of his school, but to the glasses boy and Akikawa Mie, he would be the easiest one to speak with. (Although the real Jumpy Bunny would feel like she had barely even met Kamijou since Kihara Yuiitsu had taken her place before.) If they wanted to speak with him, it would have to be a fairly delicate issue. Black Bikini Fukiyose stepped out of the infirmary. Ill go too. Hes still in a dangerous state, so I cant bear to see him walking on his own. Its not so bad I need to borrow your shoulder... But he felt this was not the time to press the issue. As soon as he supported himself on her shoulder, a sweet aroma reached his nose. It was likely her hair or her sweat and it put an indescribable look on his face. Plus, this gave him plenty of shameless skin contact with the bikini girl. He did not want to raise his body temperature in this over 55 degree world, but there was nothing he could do. And if she noticed, she would probably mercilessly punish him with a fist despite his injury, so he did his best to restrain his bodys reaction. Incidentally, a number of theories with little grounding in fact had spread among the girls who had an especially wide selection to choose from. Some said a swimsuit that covered more of the body would protect them from injuries and UV rays. Some said more fabric meant more that could be torn and that the smallest tear could spread like a run in a stocking and ruin the entire swimsuit. Some said that covering up too much skin, such as with a rash guard, would bring on heatstroke. But looking in from the outside, Kamijou had no way of knowing what had led Fukiyose to choose a bikini. Meanwhile, he was not the only one noticing the sensitive gazes piercing them from all over the dark and gloomy hallway. Those eyes were gathering on their bottles of water more than Kamijou and Fukiyose themselves. Just think of the situation here. Kamijous school was only borrowing classrooms here, so to the original schools students, they were an unnecessary drain on their resources. When Kamijou entered the student council room with the help of the black bikini girl, he found Modern Middle School Girl Akikawa Mie who had (without even noticing) essentially taken over the student council in the name of helping the Jumpy Bunny. She was wearing a standard school swimsuit. She looked at the glasses boy, the Jumpy Bunny, Kamijou, and Fukiyose (who was a new face for Akikawa). The glasses boy waved a hand to say it was okay to speak and Akikawa Mie nodded. Yes, those were the only ones here. Fukiyose had no way of knowing, but someone was missing. Kamisato Kakeru. The boy who had lost his right hand was no longer here. ... The heat wave was melting the asphalt and the mysterious Elements had appeared. It had created enough of a panic that all the normal assumptions crumbled away. Without cellphones or the internet, they could not communicate with anyone. It was possible Kamisato was running around in this chaos and he may have ended up taking shelter in another school. But... What if that was not the case? (Is this your doing too?) Kamijou had no proof of that. But it was true that boy had been best positioned to destroy some sanctuaries. Speculation may have been meaningless. He needed to focus on overcoming the obstacle before his eyes. And Modern Middle School Girl Akikawa Mie was most familiar with that hurdle since she was managing the shelter and all of its problems. After gathering the people she could trust, she got right to the point. We dont have enough water. !! Do you have any idea how much danger we put ourselves in!? And now were out of smokescreens and flash grenades for emergency evacuation!! Fukiyose. Kamijou called the name of the classmate lending him her shoulder as she shouted in anger. Thats because I screwed up. It isnt her fault. Kh. The student council was doing a lot of paperwork to preserve the peace of this small world known as a shelter. That was absolutely necessary, but a certain division had appeared between the students here. The shelter contained students from two different schools (it was technically three since the original school was a middle and high school), so one school protected the building while the other went out to secure water. There was a simple reason for that and the decision had been made on the first day of the heat wave. Kamijous school had arrived later, so the original students could have found it unfair if the new students simply received the same resources as everyone else. To avoid any needless conflict as the shelter split in two, Kamijous school had needed to prove their worth. They had needed to venture into the dangerous outside and gather valuable water to become an indispensable cog in the machine. But Fukiyose gave the student council members a look of blatant distrust. Were putting ourselves in danger to achieve equality. If you think thats established a hierarchy and that well just do whatever you want, youve got this entire thing backwards. Weve reported everything honestly. If we had wanted to, we could have consumed most of the water we found and insisted wed only found a little bit. Of course. Akikawa immediately nodded. She had no intention of objecting to that. But at the same time... But if were worn down little by little, theres a risk of that mistaken hierarchy setting into everyones minds. ...I thought simply gathering water would have enough of an impact, but I was too na?ve. We need some greater impact to break free of this atmosphere. Thats what I want to discuss. ... Fine. Fukiyose, lets hear her out. At Kamijous prompting, Fukiyose pouted her lips but reluctantly relented. Due to his injury, the pointy-haired boy was the master key to their anger. If he criticized the student council, the others would join in. If he said it was okay, the others would have no reason to stand up in defiance. Sorry. Akikawa bowed in apology and spread a large piece of paper out on the table. It seemed to be a diagram of the middle and high school. Whats this? I dont know how Academy City as a whole will settle this, but I think waiting is all we can do for now. Simply put, we cant move from here. Now, what we need most is water. And I mean more than just gathering a few days worth when we need it. If we can get so much that were practically swimming in water, then, um, Kamijou-san, I think your school would be seen as heroes. The modern middle school girls index finger tapped a part of the diagram. It was a rectangular area separated from the school building. The pool, hm? Its an outdoor pool in December, so its full of moss and bug carcasses. And all the resistant bacteria makes it a real gamble. But if we could drink this water, the situation would completely change. But didnt four-eyes say youd tried a number of things, but you couldnt get rid of those resistant bacteria and the risk of food poisoning remained? Well, um, all of our attempts were pretty amateurish. Akikawa was quite blunt. She may have been the type of person to completely change hobbies and to quit something without a second thought when it came to it. She next spread out a map of District 7 as a whole. The district water department is located near this school on District 7s southern end. It wont be any use with the power out, but it might have some professional water purification equipment if were lucky. If we can find the culture medium for the tanks of organic microbes that consume bacteria...that is, a special sort of mud, it should make short work of everything, including those resistant bacteria. Kamijou and Fukiyose exchanged a glance at close range. Akikawa pointed with her thumb at the thick stack of documents covered in labels that she had pulled from the library since the electronics had been rendered useless by the heat. The entire student council investigated it. We will of course run some tests with a test tube and microscope first, but it shouldnt be a problem. Once the microbes eat the resistant bacteria, we can use chlorine, boiling, and a filter for good measure. Then we should be able to drink all the pool water. Just mud? All you want us to bring is mud? Yes. Of course, it will take quite a bit of it for the purification microbes to cover the entire fifty meter pool, so it should be similar to the previous water hunts. However, warned Akikawa Mie. This will of course require going outside. And while this will resolve our current water problems, it is also a surprise event meant to set your school up as heroes. We cant help you until this is complete. Is that okay with you? Fukiyose did not wait even a second. She spoke up while lending her shoulder to the pointy-haired boy who seriously may have had a hole in his gut. Give us a second to discuss this. Of course. With a confused Hey?, Kamijou was dragged out of the student council room by Fukiyose. The black-haired forehead girl crossed her arms and leaned against the door as if to seal the others inside the room. Is it possible they made up a convenient story to send us to our deaths and reduce the strain on their resources? She isnt that shrewd. The thought might have occurred to her, but she wouldnt succumb to emotion and go through with it. Sorry, but I dont know their student council that well! Thats fine. Kamijou spread his arms and turned his palms toward Fukiyose. Fukiyose, you stay behind on the next water hunt. We were always volunteering, so you dont have to go. Just dont raise your hand and thats that. Kamijou...? Im going. What other choice do I have? If this shelter splits apart, well be the ones that are driven out. Theyre a middle and high school, so they have us outnumbered two-to-one and we dont stand a chance when it comes to academics or powers development. If it comes to a serious conflict, the group of failed students will be wiped out in no time. And even if we managed to put up a fight, we would only trip each other up and doom us both. Theres no way we can actually win. Have you forgotten your heart actually stopped!? Whatever we choose, youre the first one that needs to stay behind!! Perhaps. But Kamijou shook his head. This is about more than just the school for me. Its about Index, Othinus, and the calico cat too. Those freeloaders from my dorm are a drain on the resources here. I have to repay them for accepting those three. ... So I cant run away. Its like a family issue. I brought this on myself, so you dont need to worry about it, Fukiyose. Ohhh!! Honestly!! His black bikini classmate scratched at her head and screamed. And after a large sigh, she rudely jabbed her finger right in front of his nose. Fine, Ill go with you just this once! Its true nothing could be better than solving both our water problem and the power balance between schools all at once. But I still think this all sounds a little too convenient!! Kamijou honestly felt he had a good friend in her. So he reached for the fingertip jabbing toward him and shook hands with the classmate who was always looking out for him. When Fukiyose pouted her lips and stepped away from the door, the Jumpy Bunny peeked out. So wh-what will you be doing? Well do it, answered Kamijou. But if its supposed to be a surprise, well have to do it in secret. Itll take some time to plan it out without your school finding out and to get started while hiding what were up to. Fukiyose cut in with a lower tone than when speaking to Kamijou. Her voice had softened somewhat, but she could not entirely rid herself of mistrust. We will also need to construct a route to the water department since we cant exactly go for a carefree hike across the ground. No one will go along with this if we cant explain how this helps us. Id like to know more about those microbes that girl was talking about. Im basically going to be running an infomercial where people pay with their lives, so Id like to memorize as much about the product as I can in the limited time available. Half a day. Fukiyose raised her index finger. The preparations will take at least that long. Thats fine, right? We brought back enough water for at least today. And risked our lives doing so. Y-yes. The Jumpy Bunny nodded a few times while shrinking down like a turtle ducking into its shell. Of course. Of course. Please do all the preparation you need. ...We cant leave here even if we wanted to, so we cant help you. We cant head out to rescue you either. If we did, it would ruin your heroic legend. So please tell us if you need anything before that. Well help in any way we can. ... Fukiyose seemed taken aback. The other school could not leave here even if they wanted to. If they gave a helping hand, it would establish the hierarchy between schools and apply decisive pressure to Kamijous school. She may not have thought of that possibility until now. With a light sigh, Kamijou placed a hand on the Jumpy Bunnys head. He thought this might be getting too friendly, but there was something he wanted to say. Itll be okay. Dont worry. Well end all this here. Once we can drink the pool water, we can get through this. After that, we just have to wait for the important people with their paintings on the wall to solve the fundamental problem. Thats why we have the...um, what were they called again? Yknow, that high-paid board of directors. Yes, yes... The Jumpy Bunny nodded and watched Kamijou and Fukiyose walk away from the student council room. After descending the stairs and moving out of view, Fukiyoses shoulders drooped in exhaustion. Do you think I was too hard on them? Maybe Ive gotten a little too on edge. Ideally, you would tell them that. True enough, said his black-haired forehead classmate. Kamijou, Ill draw out some routes to the water department on the map. I want a few different options in case we run into something unexpected. You look into the specs of the water purification microbes. ...It would be best to lay the groundwork for gathering volunteers all at once instead of doing it bit by bit. Hit them with a ton of information at once and they wont be able to scrutinize it as carefully. Were going to be relying on each other out there, so I dont want to deceive them. Youre the one that said this is like running an infomercial where people pay with their lives. Saying theyll only be accepting calls up to half an hour after the broadcast is pretty much the same thing. We need to hurry them along. A single foolhardy individual could not gather all the mud they needed from the water departments purification tank. They would need a certain level of manpower for that. And this was after Kamijous heart had been stopped, so a mood of fear could set in if they spent too long debating this. This will end it all. No, we will end it. So we need to do whatever it takes. Right. Kamijou nodded and took a large step away from Fukiyose. Half a day later means after midnight. Well be fighting the heat in the middle of the night. The most important thing for you might be getting a nap to regain as much strength as you can. Before that, I want to rid myself of some regrets. ...That way I can focus on this final battle. Part 2 Oh, its Touma! As she raised her voice in excitement, Indexs small body was contained in a white one piece swimsuit. She may have wanted to maintain some pride as a nun because she still wore her usual hood. That said, she would have collapsed from the heat otherwise. Kamijou had not arrived in a stuffy room somewhere; he was in the direct sunlight of the schools roof. Wait, why do you have bandages around your stomach!? Did you get hurt again!? Its nothing out of the ordinary. Dont worry about it. He was lucky he could still stand on his own two feet and walk around. In this hell of over 55 degrees, that felt like a talent in and of itself. You dont have to work out here, you know? The direct sunlight was their enemy, but it was also a protector. It no longer mattered once they ran into an Element, but those things tended to like hiding in dark or cool places. So comparatively speaking, the sunlight was the lesser of two evils. But I guess there might not be any other empty space for you. The gym had become an emergency clinic filled with the people who had collapsed from heatstroke and the schools classrooms were filled with supplies and the students themselves, so there was no space for working with anything relatively large. The scorching concrete must have been too hot for her bare skin because Index was sitting on one of the mattresses used for the vaulting box. Home carpentry tools were scattered around her. A few other small groups had formed and they were combating plywood and metal pipes. It looked a lot like the preparations for the Daihaseisai or the Ichihanaransai, but they were constructing barricades to protect themselves from the Elements and the tightropes used to cross between buildings. The wire slides used wires as skinny as ones little finger, but by weaving in copper wire braids or pickpocket prevention wires, something handmade was good enough. An uneven thickness could create lumps which could bring them to a sudden stop between buildings, so they had to be careful. The calico cat was stretched out on its back on the mattress. Its body looked unnaturally long. And even though that pet cat was always chasing her, palm sized Magic God Othinus was placing a folded handkerchief on the cats forehead. Cursed cat beast, did you think everyone would spoil you if you lay there looking so cute? And this change from your usual excessive energy has me worried because I cant predict what youre going to do. Despite her complaints, she did not stop looking after the cat. And a distant look filled Kamijous eyes. Why do you actually look more normal in a bikini, Othinus? Because you are trying to judge a god by human standards. Her arrogance did not seem to have changed. That said, it was a relief knowing she was her normal self even in this intense heat wave. By the way, what are you making, Index? That isnt like the other barricades. Yeah, Im making what was asked of me! For some reason, Index puffed her chest out proudly while seated. When Kamijou saw the beads of sweat on her neck dripping into her swimsuit, it filled him with a somewhat sinful feeling. Oblivious, Index continued speaking. Heh heh. This is a secret weapon!! Its a secret, so youll have to wait to learn what it is! Really? This will make your fight a lot easier, Touma. Index was battling with...something. It was made from several metal pipes and synthetic fiber fabric. It was not a parasol or a tent. He could not seem to figure out how it was used. Then someone else walked over. It was Black Bikini Fukiyose whose skin had a somewhat alluring shine. She had likely just put on some sunblock cream. Hm? So this is where you went? Fukiyose, arent you supposed to be staring at that map? Im gathering the supplies we need. That was all she said. She then looked down at Index fiddling with the mysterious secret weapon on the mattress. This girl couldnt do anything at first, but shes a quick learner. You just have to show her once and she memorizes the whole thing, so it doesnt take much effort. Its helped a lot with the construction work I need. Well, she does have a perfect memory, thought Kamijou. It may have helped that Index was using old-fashioned wrenches and screwdrivers instead of power tools. I made the secret weapon! Good girl, good girl. Fukiyose patted the silver-haired nuns head. Did that mean Fukiyose had drawn out the plans for this and it was not something Index had thought up? Or was there no real rhyme or reason behind it? The proud look on Indexs face suggested it had some meaning. At the very least, it was better than fighting the pressure of simply being in the way in these harsh circumstances. Everyone wanted to be useful. Everyone wanted a place where they belonged. ... The mysterious Elements were wandering the surface during this unnatural heat wave. Kamijou once more knew he had to protect this place even if he had no fundamental solution and even if they could only hole up here. This was no time for a conflict with the other people sheltering in the same school. To bring them all together, he had to overcome the biggest hurdle: water. (This will end it.) The two of them must have gotten along well because Index and Fukiyose were smiling as they chatted. The sight filled Kamijou with silent determination. (We wont need to worry about whether we belong here and we wont have to fear being kicked out. Well have the leeway needed to accept everyone like normal. The only way to do that is to get to the water department and bring back that water purification microbe mud. Then well have a pool full of water.) What is it, Touma? Nothing. He shook his head and intentionally smiled. Its nothing. Heading outside was scary. No one knew how long those handmade tightropes would last and he did not have it in him to face those giant, translucent, and mimic-loving Elements. But that fear was exactly why he had to do it. He had to improve the worsening situation as much as possible so they would not run out of strength before reaching the final moment. While speaking with Index and Othinus, Black Bikini Fukiyose still seemed to suspect the latter was speaking through ventriloquism, but Kamijou felt some of the weight leave his stomach for the first time in a while. The things he had to protect at all costs were not a burden. Discovering that gave him great strength. He parted ways with Index who still had work to do and he started back indoors. Swimsuit Aogami Pierce (a sight no one had asked for) was staring off into the distance near the door. You just feel a need to protect them, dont you? I know what you mean. Yeah, anyone our age would pick a fight with the world for some swimsuit girls. I was wrong to ever think I agreed with you. Part 3 Kamijou asked a question of the classmate next to him. Hey, Aogami. Yeah? It was evening and they were not inside the dimly-lit school building with its doors and windows sealed by makeshift barricades. They were near the faculty parking lot out back. The trash dump for the middle and high school was nearby and the incinerator that had caused so much trouble a few days before was still sliced in two. The Elements with their translucent bodies and love of mimicry were a threat, but the boys had a simple reason for heading outside despite the danger. What do you think is the greatest luxury? Sitting in this damn heat and casually eating the instant ramen we won. Heh. We sure are civilized for boiling our limited water to eat some hot food in this 55 degree weather. Were the intellectual class. Simply put, they were cooking. With gas burners in the chemistry room and gas stovetops in the home ec room, the school did have special classrooms with heat sources. There would be even larger scale kitchen behind the cafeteria counter. But none of that was usable. The electric ventilation fans were not running and using fire with all the windows and doors sealed introduced another problem. Namely, carbon monoxide. You cant survive just by fighting the Elements. Everyones doing their best to stay alive. Kamijou breathed a heavy sigh. Dammit. Im feeling the joy of life from a five-pack clearance item. There arent any vegetables or even an egg. Why am I so easily swayed!? At least you have an appetite. Lose that and youll be in the gym before long. The best areas were outside, but the students were generally limited to the elevated spaces like the rooftop and emergency staircase landings to avoid the Elements. Most of the students would use binoculars to check for Elements out the hallway windows. If they saw an opening, they would head out into the dangerous outdoors to cook and fill their stomachs. Of course, if there was any hint of danger, they had to drop everything and run back inside. In addition to Kamijou and Aogami Pierce, other small groups of swimsuit boys and girls were working at cooking. Luckily, the Elements either had no hunger or had inhuman senses of taste and smell because the smell of cooking did not attract them. Kamijou and Aogami were boiling water with the portable stove, the pot with a collapsible handle, and the other camping goods that Aogami had gathered, but the others had engineered their own methods. Some created three sides of a square with concrete blocks or bricks and threw a bunch of used chopsticks into the makeshift stove. Others had modified a metal handle in the engineering room and attached it to a portable stoves gas can to heat the bottom of a pot with a burner-like flame. Kamijou poked at their pot with a fork and spoke to a familiar boy working nearby. What are you doing, four-eyes? Checking for a satellite broadcast? Seriously!? We might get the late-night anime infrastructure back up!? In that case, Ive got to survive this post-apocalypse!! The student council boy who was always helping the Jumpy Bunny looked unsure how to respond to Aogamis excitement as he pointed an upside down umbrella toward the sun. The inside of the umbrella was covered in aluminum foil, so it looked like a parabolic antenna. No. With this heat, I was thinking I could gather the sunlight to make a solar cooker. Oh? Tch. So my shut-in life will have to wait... Well, anyway, that sounds nice. Leave it to the student council intellectual. You might even find a way to generate some electricity. Oh, if we could only fix the equipment in the AV room, I bet we could get it to play optical discs! What have you been carrying around in all this confusion, Aogami? Are you like the guy who goes out of his way to wear weights in the martial arts tournament to determine the ruler of the world? Since almost all electronics had been ruined by the heat, electricity alone would not help much. Water quality aside, they needed to transform precious water into steam if they wanted to turn a turbine. ...They knew that, but electricity was the symbol of civilization to them. Nothing else could provide greater psychological support. But the glasses boy shrugged in his speedo (that no one wanted to see). Well, it would be nice if was that easy. As you can see, I havent had much luck. The calculations say I should be gathering the light, though... Maybe its just the limits of a quick and dirty handmade device. So what do you have in the pot attached to the handle? Prepackaged curry. Its easier than cooking vegetables from scratch and you can heat the sealed package in dirty water and then eat it just fine. Dammit, Ill help! Just hand over some of that curry when its cooked. We can make curry ramen with our camp pot!! Hah hah. Youre not worth that, so no thank you. But curry? Wont that just make you want water? I can eat the medium spicy kind without any water. Huh? Four-eyes, so you like spicy foods? No, I just like to focus on the flavor of the food while Im eating it. It doesnt matter as much with soup or stew, but I dont like to dilute it or mix it together with water or tea. You could say I like to drink my drinks as drinks. Even if they were not promised a share, Kamijou and Aogami Pierce still began helping with Prototype Solar Cooker Mk. 1. They never met any success, but working with their hands helped free them from the pressure bearing down on them. Four-eyes, cooking the curry is good and all, but what about rice? Washing and cooking the rice uses a lot of water, doesnt it? Yes, thats why Ill be eating it with bread. I see. Western curry, huh? Dont look so smug when youre wrong, Aogami Pierce. Western curry uses rice too. They chatted as they worked, but there was no sign of any improvement. The angle of the umbrellas frame may have been poor for gathering light or the surface area may have been inadequate. They would have to research those issues if they hoped to continue. You look happy for failing so much, four-eyes. Im glad I could work for myself to find what I need to do. Then again, this might be a lot like finding a manga while cleaning your room and reading that instead of cleaning. I get it, but what about the curry? Could I perhaps borrow your camp equipment? Curry ramen then? The negotiations were complete. The glasses boy gained some hot curry and the other two had a new topping. Oh, man. These chopped carrots and potatoes are incredible. Ah! Im being moved to emotion by carrots, a constant presence in the top three worst vegetables!! Hey, Kami-yan, were meat-loving high school boys really this health-conscious? Carrots are an indispensable part of fried rice and white stew, arent they!? Besides, Kamijou-san is a well-balanced modern man who loves tofu and seaweed!! ...Come to think of it, when did we get so good at this? At what? At negotiations or bargaining or whatever. I feel like weve gotten stronger or bolder or something. The one with the best survival skills is you, Kami-yan. Youre eating and you didnt prepare any tools or food. Uuh... Well, grade schoolers are being taught about the economy and the stock market these days, so I dont think its a bad thing. They greedily devoured their various feasts. They dumped their share of the prepackaged curry on the noodles boiled in the camping stove and single-person pot. Then Kamijou and Aogami Pierce began sticking their forks in to eat. The remaining soup went to Aogami since the cooking equipment was his. The sight would have made a qualified nutritionist scream. After parting ways with Aogami Pierce and the glasses boy, Kamijou returned to the barricaded school building. It was evening, but no one was na?ve enough to expect the temperature to drop. The hellish heat would continue even after the sunset. And the waiting seemed to last forever in that scorching hell. It would roast their nerves like plastic expanding in the heat. The 55 degree heat wave had wiped out all the machines, so it was hard to find a functioning clock and that may have helped mess with their sense of time. That may have been why the principal and vice principal had gathered a lot of attention for their old-fashioned hand-wound wristwatches. (If I borrowed one of those watches, I bet I could make a sundial.) But Kamijou felt he was better off than the others. At the very least, the end was in sight for him. He had a goal. That was the water department and the purification microbes. That alone meant a lot. Anyones mind would raise the white flag if they had to suffer through the never-ending heat while everything seemed stuck in an infinite loop. And as he thought about that, someone called out to him. Hey. ? A boy was slumped against the dim hallways wall like a corpse. Thanks to that, Kamijou had entirely overlooked his presence. And he did not recognize the boy. The boy had several plastic bottles lined up on the floor. They were the stereotypical 500mL size. If they were behind a glass door in a convenience store, they would have been full of ice cold soda. But there was no sign of that here. The labels had been removed and they were full of dried sand presumably dug up from a sandbox. Need a water filter? With one of these, you can turn even the muddiest water into pure drinking water. Im willing to part with one for just a bottles worth of water. You hear that? Just one. One bottles worth and you can get as much water as you want. A good deal, dont you think? Kamijou ignored him. This was just like a questionable infopreneur advertisement claiming their half hour class could teach you the investment techniques needed to become a millionaire. If they actually had those techniques, they would not need to sell them to others. They could just use the techniques themselves. That meant they were making their money some other way. Those things were almost always fake. A bunch of plastic sheets were fluttering in the scorching wind while hanging up in the front schoolyard like drying laundry. By laying those out over the ground, the moisture evaporated from the dirt would supposedly gather on them as drops of water. However, the schoolyard was already dried and cracked. No one knew who owned those anymore, but someone had definitely traded a water bottle for one and then cried over being deceived. (I just hope Misaka wasnt tricked too...) Just as he thought that, a few boys descended the stairs. Their build was about the same as Kamijous, but they were probably from the other school. Almost all the boys wore blue swim trunks, but the designs were subtly different. The boys were laughing as they spoke to each other. Anyway, I heard him out since he had three bottles of water, but what do you think he wanted? My swimsuit. He wanted me to sell it to him. What the hell!? Why would you want a guys swimsuit!? And a used one too!! Dont get caught up in the details. And does that mean youd buy a girls swimsuit? I didnt say that! Realistically though, you think he wanted to pretend to be from our school? I mean, their school is in a pretty sad state. Kamijou passed by the laughing boys. And one of them blatantly bumped into his shoulder in the process. ...Sigh. Was this a post-apocalyptic world? And this was just a trial run. Did they think this commotion would last for a decade or a century? Did they not realize that their lack of restraint during the emergency would only get them beat up the second standard law and order returned? (What am I supposed to do until nightfall? I feel like Im trapped in a locker thats being cooked from the outside and its going to drive me insane. Maybe I should look for something I can help with like Index is doing.) That had to be why violence was not running rampant even though the environment could hardly be worse. Peoples hearts would succumb to the pressure if they did not focus on some productive and hands-on work. It was unclear whether all of the students heading out on the dangerous water hunts were really doing so for the efficiency and logic of needing water. Kamijou recalled the glasses boy who had enjoyed fiddling with the solar cooker that may or may not have actually been useful. (So should I head to the Jumpy Bunnys student council, or...) As he was wandering around in thought, he saw someone moving around in an empty classroom with barricaded windows. It was... Kumokawa-senpai? That free spirit was an upperclassman at Kamijous school, but it was a little unclear when she actually went to class. She had shoulder-length black hair with the bangs held up by a headband. The mature girl(?) never forgot to have a daring smile on her face. He could not imagine what kind of life she lived. To a high school boy like him, she seemed to live in an entirely different world, just like college girls or female teachers. Oh, said the busty upperclassman when she noticed him. However... For some reason, she was wearing a work apron and nothing else. ............................................................................................................................................................Hm? Hmmmm!? At first, Kamijou did not know how to react. He considered the possibility that he was hallucinating after succumbing to heatstroke. Hey, whats with that wide-eyed look? Is it that weird to see me in something other than my uniform? Oh, no. the hallucination is talking to me now. No, wait. This is no hallucination! But that means shes wearing a naked apron at school!! Thats pretty dangerous in an entirely different way!! What, are you feeling sexually frustrated? Well, I guess I cant blame you in this situation. With an exasperated sigh, Kumokawa Seria turned a bit to the side. That revealed the truth. She was wearing the apron over a girls swimsuit just like Fukiyose and the others. She just looked naked when viewed from straight ahead. Kumokawa also held something odd for someone in a swimsuit or someone in an apron. It was a hand pump used to pump kerosene from a plastic tank. The sight only filled his mind with pointless trivia like the fact that the original inventor had developed it to transfer soy sauce instead of kerosene. His memories were acting oddly and he worried that he was getting a little heatstroke. You want to know what this is for? Yes. What are you doing, Senpai? Kumokawa waved the hand pump to beckon him into the empty classroom. After he tilted his head and shut the sliding door behind him, she used the pump to point to a corner of the classroom. What do you think that is? Um, a heater? Yes, but not the usual kind. Kumokawa grinned in her pseudo naked apron that was actually a swimsuit apron. Its a hot water heating system. It boils water, sends it through the pipes running between classrooms, and uses the heat to warm the air. Hot water... Kamijou repeated the words as if pondering the sound. Ah!? So youve caught on. Yes, theres water inside here. The device is useless with the power out, so it isnt even boiling. Kumokawa had removed the lid at the top of the boxy device. She stuck the hand pump inside and began sucking out the clear liquid. She filled a two liter bottle in no time at all. W-wow... Theres so much of it! Its pretty iffy whether we can drink it, though. Since its for heating, itll be left in the tank for months on end. They might refill it to replace what evaporated, but thats just little by little. They dont actually replace it all. ...That means it could be full of germs. In fact, Id be amazed if it wasnt completely rotten. Kumokawa laughed. But water has its uses even if you cant drink it. Kamijou Boy, Little Miss Hardheaded in your class might not think of it, but an obvious reward is more important than a justification if you want to invite people to possible death. If they know they can get a nice shower before heading out, youre sure to get more volunteers. Especially from the girls. C-can we really get that much...? Kamijou was skeptical. Or rather, he was putting up his defenses to protect himself from the disappointment if it did not work. Kumokawas response was to casually grab one of the two liter bottles from the floor. At four times the size of a 500mL bottle, that rare item was valuable enough to trade for mint body gel or a sun-blocking tent. And she dumped it over her head without a second thought. She did so as boldly as baseball or soccer players celebrating a victory. The clear liquid splashed and dripped down the sexy upperclassmans hair, face, apron, swimsuit, thighs, and legs. She shook her head like a large dog after a bath. Well, you get the picture. And Im allowed a reward too since I was the one that actually found and retrieved the water, right? S-Senpai... Kamijou gulped as he watched that waste of water. No... Its gotten all see-through. O-oh, no. Thats really lewd, Senpai!! Hm? Kumokawa looked confused and glanced down at her own chest. The work apron had soaked up the water and grown see-through, so the colors beneath were showing through. But... Yeah, but Im wearing a swimsuit underneath. I know that! I do, but this feels like an extra bonus. Its different from just seeing the swimsuit! W-wait a second, Senpai! Give me a second to analyze why I find this so hot! I want to categorize it properly!! Kamijou Touma, the pointy-haired truth-seeker, entered a zone of intense focus rivalling a professional shogi player and dove into a trance so deep he thought he could see the ends of the universe. A distant look entered Kumokawa Serias eyes as she stood in front of him. She must have been a little bothered by the moisture inside her swimsuit because she reached down to her butt and fixed the swimsuit. Hmm. Boys are still quite the mystery. Thats lewd too, Senpai!! But all you were doing was casually fixing your swimsuit!? What, is everything lewd to you? Oh, I get it. It isnt the actual phenomena or actions before my eyes! Maybe its you yourself thats lewd!! Kamijou opened his eyes with such force that one could almost hear a weird sound effect. That was what led Kumokawa to raise the light hand pump in preparation to attack. Part 4 It was two in the morning. The hellish heat wave showed no sign of fading even after sunset. The heat of a fierce summer night filled the air evenly. The school had several buildings and Kamijous group of water hunters were gathered on the middle school rooftop because it was closest to the outer fence. A metal wire as thick as their little fingers had been tossed over the railing and it was diagonally connected to the roof of the multi-tenant building outside the fence. The kind of thick S-shaped hook used to hang large equipment in a garage had been bent slightly to grasp the small wheel of a roller skate or a skateboard to create a pulley. This tightrope would take them straight to the other side. Their route back stretched from the multi-tenant buildings roof to a window in the middle school building. They were about to leave on their mission. Once outside, falling to the surface would mean instant death or a slow, painful death. However, the more elevated routes were still far from safe. Kamijou, Fukiyose, Aogami Pierce, and other girls and boys wearing swimsuits, gloves, and scarves were gathered with a single middle school girl from another school entirely. It was Akikawa Mie. She too wore a swimsuit, but she lacked the gloves and scarf meant for touching heated metal. In a way, she was unequipped and defenseless. She gave a deep bow to Kamijou and the others. Thank you. Were counting on you here. Sure thing. This water is a pretty urgent matter for us too. Kamijou and the others waved without looking back and then jumped out into the dark sky. They first slid down the tightrope to reach the neighboring multi-tenant building. They then moved to another tightrope that took them to the emergency staircase partway up the wall of another building. For light, they had wrapped bandages around the ends of bats and sprinkled on ethanol disinfectant for primitive torches. They were afraid to produce their own light with countless Elements lurking around them and they thought they would burn their own hands while holding the torch and S-shaped pulley at the same time, but they could easily fall to their deaths if they tried to navigate these dark elevated places while blind. The power was out and the LED lights were dead, so the city was frighteningly dark. They felt like the world was covered in thick ink, but they saw similar flickering light sources in the distance. With torch in hand, Kamijou set foot on the emergency staircase landing and finally had it in him to focus on his surroundings. What is that? Students from another school? He briefly thought of a high-class Tokiwadai Middle School girl. He was pretty sure she lived in District 7 too. But Fukiyose was more skeptical. Im not so sure. At this distance, those have to be more like flamethrowers than torches. The height is odd too. Thats probably fire being blasted up from the ground. In other words, those were Fire Elements. They had not done any detailed research on those lifeforms(?), but they seemed to like mimicry. That meant they did not normally draw attention to themselves. If they were spraying fire like that, then they may have been in battle. But with what? Were the Elements fighting each other or were they attacking humans? This is no time to go find out. But... There might be Elements that lure people out like this. If they use mimicry, it means theyre smart enough to take advantage how well react to what we see. So youre saying those are like footballfish that use light to lure in their prey? It would be one thing if this was right after the heat wave started, but were 72 hours in now. How stupid would someone have to be to directly take on the Elements at this point? Now that she mentioned it, that did seem odd. It was the standard answer, but perhaps it was strange to find the standard in such nonstandard circumstances. Also, the Elements preferred dark and cool places. That meant they were generally nocturnal. Unless they had a definite goal worth exposing themselves to such a threat, no one would set foot on the surface at night. The boiling heat remained even without direct sunlight, so nothing was gained by heading out at this time. Not to mention that Kamijous group could not take a direct route to reach whoever or whatever this was. They would have to use the roundabout route supplied by the irregularly placed tightropes and there might not even be a tightrope leading there. Anyway, Fukiyose, what happened to that ladder? Yknow, the one to cross between buildings. We dont need it this time. Were using this instead. Fukiyose indicated the long object on her back. It was wrapped in a synthetic fiber material instead of showing exposed metal. (Is that the thing Index was working on during the day?) Youll see soon enough. ? Kamijou looked confused and he carried one of the spare water dispenser bottles they had acquired before. It was the size of a large daruma doll. It was light now, but it would be a hellish burden on the back once it was full of mud. After climbing to the top of the emergency stairs on the outside wall, they were on a roof twice the height of the previous one. From there, they passed over a few more buildings. Kamijou had no idea where the water department was since he never had to think about it, but according to Fukiyose, who had planned their route, it was not far away. Its only about five hundred meters as the crow flies. As the crow flies, huh? The tightropes were set up where they were convenient at the time, so there was no overall plan. The only unwritten rule was that no tightrope was removed once it had been set up. It was possible they would have to circle around and around in a gradually approaching spiral. Kamijou prepared himself for that possibility as they continued on. But even that was too na?ve. ...Wait. They all came to a stop. Aogami Pierce spoke up in a scratchy voice without even touching the metal railing. As the crow flies or not, therere no tightropes leading to the water department at all! He was exactly right. They had makeshift torches made by wrapping bandages around bats and soaking them in alcohol and they had makeshift reflectors made by placing aluminum foil on the inside of plastic umbrellas, but they could not find any wires even after focusing the torchlight here and there. The water department was a fenced-in flat concrete building and a smooth rectangular high-rise building that likely contained several septic tanks stacked vertically. From the rooftop, they could see no tightropes leading there. And not just from this building. They saw nothing from any direction. It was more than fifty meters away. With too much of a height difference, they would pick up too much speed on the wire slides. That meant height was another factor they had to take into consideration, but that did not matter now. Wait. We didnt bring anything to build a tightrope or even the ladder that can only take us a fifth of that distance. Theres nothing we can do but sit here and stare at the gap! Dont be so sure. In the hellishly hot night, Fukiyose lowered the object on her shoulders to the concrete. She had been carrying this in place of the usual ladder. It was the secret weapon that Index had helped her build. The collection of metal pipes and synthetic fiber fabric was not shaped like a parasol or a tent. Fukiyose bent the joints in the metal pipes, spread out the cloth, and fixed a few latches in place with her fingers. This created a silhouette much like a two meter wide stingray. Now that he finally recognized it, Kamijou groaned the answer. A hang glider... If they could glide through the night sky, the absence of tightropes would no longer matter. But are you insane? The real ones arent that small. Dont the wings have to be really large to keep a single person afloat!? Again, dont be so sure. Fukiyose seemed to have already taken that into account. She used the back of her glove to wipe the sweat from her brow. Its true you need pretty big wings to get enough lift in normal circumstances, but the air temperature alone is 55 degrees right now. The heat in the asphalt has to be even worse. ...And that heated air will rise. Would you understand if I said the entire city is covered in gentle updrafts? Oh. We just have to borrow the power thats already there. And that means we can shrink this down to a portable size. The intense heat wave was more than just a nuisance. They could use that greatest obstacle to continue forward. Even ignoring the specific method of ignoring the terrain as they flew through the sky, the way of thinking alone seemed like a huge breakthrough. It was like the light of an exit found after wandering through a cave after being buried alive. Then Fukiyose sighed. We couldnt make enough for everyone, so well have to ride them two at a time. Sorry if that leaves anyone out, but you can stand watch here. So I may not like it, but lets go, Kamijou!! Eh? Wait! Wah!? As the other girls spread out similar hang gliders, swimsuit Fukiyose grabbed the horizontal metal bar and began to run, as if to show how it was done. This was too much for Kamijou who was forced along with her. He tossed the bat and bandage torch aside, grabbed the bar, and moved his legs so he would not be dragged along. The metal railing on the edge of the roof was right in front of them. Before reaching it, his body floated up. The soles of his shoes softly stroked the railing and his mind went blank with the same strange floating sensation as when riding a roller coaster. Were flying!? Were really flying!? Weve caught the updraft more than the wind. If my calculations are correct, we can continue flying indefinitely. If so, that was amazing. They had been so restricted by the terrain and the Elements, but this would allow them to travel so much further. In fact, it was possible they could even escape outside Academy City. But as he thought about that, a question occurred to Kamijou. Huh? Then why did we bother using the tightropes like normal to get this far? We could have flown straight from the school rooftop. Instead of just gliding downward, they could actually ascend like this, so they should have been able to do anything. But as Fukiyose sweated in her black bikini next to him, he had a feeling not all of that sweat came from the heat. In fact, she was clearly doing her best not to look him in the eye. Then she made a confession in a nearly inaudible whisper. (With the constant updrafts everywhere, we can go up, but we dont really have a way of going down...) Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? D-dont shake it, Kamijou! Well lose our balance!! But, that means, but!? So this was like tying a giant balloon to our waists and floating up into the sky!? Not even the pre-Wright Brothers inventors were this bad! Why would you drag me along on a flight with a 100% chance of crashing!? I didnt give it that little...thought!! He heard a metallic sound behind him. By the time he realized Fukiyose had kicked something with her heel, he heard the sound of a fishing reel rapidly unwinding. He looked down and saw a metal wire as thick as his little finger. Dangling from that was the kind of J-shaped metal hook used on the ends of cranes. It hit the asphalt, dragged along the ground, and scattered orange sparks in the darkness a few times. Suddenly, the glider was tugged to a stop. Gwah!? Dont let go, Kamijou! That was just the brake catching!! They had been sewn to the spot when the hook had caught on a buffer stop or a guardrail on the surface. Using Kamijous balloon analogy, this was like a string tied to a tree branch. Wait a minute... Then this is more like being tied to a giant kite than riding an airplane! Isnt that more from the world of comedy than from historical dramas!? If we survive this, we can submit our names for a world record. And this will hardly be a comedy if we kept going and then fell. In other words, they could keep flying indefinitely, but if they went any further than this, they could no longer descend safely. Once the glider passed the wires height, they could no longer use the brake. Afraid of the inevitable fall to their deaths, they would be forced to continue rising with the glider. But what do we do now? Even if they would not rise any further, they still had no way of getting to the ground either. As he tried to figure out a plan, Fukiyose flicked the latches on the metal bars. She was allowing the joints to move once more. In other words, she was folding up the wings. Once the area shrank, the amount of buoyancy and lift would also shrink. This was far from the stable descent of an airplane or helicopter. It was more like a gentle stall or emergency landing that could not be stopped once it started. Oh, ohhhh, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Enough with the weird voices! If I mess this up, we wont be able to control the fall!! Surely you understand the human heart enough to know thats whats so scary! Ooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!? They did not have a pretty landing. They nearly fell onto their sides but managed to keep their balance as they set their feet down on the water departments flat roof. They had descended in a small arc around the hook, so they had not lost their speed. If they had tripped, they would have been wiped like a rag along the concrete roof. After being tossed around, they managed to get rid of their speed by crashing through a clothes-drying rack likely used by the workers. Kamijou collapsed on the spot despite the floor feeling like a scorching stone after all the heat it had absorbed. He had not fallen onto his back, so the container for the mud was safe. I feel like the value of my life has gone way down recently. Thats better than losing it, right? As she spoke, Fukiyose pulled a cheap lighter from her black bikinis cleavage. She had likely borrowed it from the faculty room. Similarly, she bent her index finger like a hook, reached into the hipline of her bikini bottom, and pulled out a rag the size of a handkerchief. Y-yknow... What choice do I have? Swimsuits dont come with pockets. She may have been trying to stay calm, but her face grew red. The bikini girl crouched down on the spot, used the lighter she had swallowed her embarrassment to bring along, and used the flame as a landmark and a signal. A successful run gave everyone else more momentum. More and more stingray-like hang gliders flew from the opposite building. Fukiyose grabbed a long pole from the clothes-drying platform they had crashed through and tossed it to Kamijou. Just in case a hook doesnt catch on the ground, poke at it or otherwise get it to catch something on the roof!! Youre kidding, right? Ill be killed if one of those heavy hooks hits me in the head! Im more worried about someone dropping the wire too early and crashing into the ground. He could not stop the squeezing at his heart from this unpracticed challenge, but none of his classmates flights ended in disaster. Some of them tripped on the roof, were dragged along the roof, or had their water dispenser tanks or water bottles burst or break, but they all managed to reach the water department. Well have to do this at least once more on the way back, wont we? And it will be even harder to balance with the water purification microbe mud on our backs. Oh, no. Ill have to numb my heart by focusing on the dream of the swimsuit girl next to me feeling her heart pounding thanks to the suspension bridge effect or something. Faced with the difference between the modern strong-willed girls and that more moe vision, Kamijou reflexively silenced Aogami Pierce with a smack to the head. The water departments rooftop door was locked, but they managed by working together. When Kamijou and four or five other boys kicked in unison, the door bent and the metal lock burst off. It was dark inside the door and some cool air drifted out. Living in a world of 55 degrees may have thrown off their senses. It may have still been above 40 degrees in the digital world and it may have been hotter than a bath. But Kamijou felt a shiver run through his entire body. It was a shiver of protest over this unexpected luxury suddenly arriving with no warning. What is this? Whats going on? Whether we can drink it or not, there might still be some water in here. Maybe the evaporation heat is lowering the temperature? They combined first aid bandages and ethanol with the clothes-drying poles to create torches. It may have been to divide up who was carrying what, but the girls kept pulling all the supplies from their swimsuits and Kamijou was unsure how to react. As they walked through the water department with their makeshift lights, they found the hallway floor was unnaturally damp. Oh, the heat must have taken out the more easily melted parts of the sprinklers. What a waste... Since they had been traveling from building to building, they had pretty quickly thought to check the water storage tanks on the roofs, but the tanks had all been empty due to malfunctioning sprinkler systems. The systems were there to prevent the buildings from burning down, so they were not made to preserve water. Kamijou felt dizzied by the price of that luxury. Instead of lamenting this lost bonus prize, lets get to the water purification microbes. If those water tanks are also empty and the mud is dry and cracked, were in real trouble. The water department had two buildings: a flat one and a tall one. The microbes would be in the purification building with tanks stacked vertically. Kamijou and the others followed the passageway in that direction. On the way, the temperature continued lowering. For an instant, Kamijou had a vision of everything dumped on the ground and their plan ruined. But that was not the case. Ohh... Aogami Pierce could not help but react out loud. There were no internal walls dividing up the floor. A large square hole took up the entire area of the building. It was more than five meters deep and forty meters long and wide. It looked like a pool with the water removed, but there were still some puddles at the bottom. And the uneven distribution of puddles was proof that it was not flat concrete at the bottom. There was a layer of brown mud there. If the information Akikawa Mie and the others had gathered was accurate, that was the culture medium for the water purification microbes. Were saved... Its really there! rejoiced Aogami Pierce. If we scoop up the mud from those wet parts, an entire pool full of water is ours! We might really make it!! They checked around tank and found a metal ladder for maintenance along the wall. They touched it and found it was almost painfully cool. It reminded them of an ice-cold glass of soda. It was time for the boys to get to work. They climbed down the ladder with their water dispenser tanks, water bottles, gas cans, and any other empty container they had found. Their feet sank ankle-deep even in the parts that had looked dry. That meant the mud was still alive. Filled with joy, they began scooping the mud into the containers with both hands. Ha ha. The more they filled the containers, the harder it would be climb back up the ladder. But they forgot all about that and Kamijou found he was laughing. Ah ha ha ha ha ha!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! His throat was dry and every drop of sweat was a waste, but he forgot all about that and even let tears well up in his eyes. Now that they had made it this far, they would be all right. They had won the bet. That incredible sense of relief washed over his body. Not even a high-class Tokiwadai Middle School girl given the VIP treatment at a casino on an overseas trip would feel this excited. They had risked their lives and would return with what it took to save so many others lives. Only the commoners like them could make such a large gamble without thinking about the risks. Some of his classmates collapsed onto their sides in the mud. Some rolled onto their backs and laughed like idiots despite the containers of mud on their backs. The cool sensation of the mud must have felt nice. Were saved... With the weight of the water dispenser bottle on his back, Kamijou forced down his endless urge to laugh. The mud was heavier than water. It was heavier than a girl. But it did not feel like a burden. He was carrying salvation on his back. We can survive now. We can protect our school! Everythings finally going to get better!! Weve switched over to a new set of rails!! Kamijou dragged his muddy body over, grabbed the ladder with his slippery hands, and clenched his teeth as he climbed. With each rung, he felt joy grow in his heart until he thought his chest would burst. He felt like he had grabbed the spiders thread dangling down into hell. When he passed the final rung and threw himself safely onto the floor, it almost seemed too easy. Black Bikini Fukiyose crouched down to get closer to him and spoke. Good job, Kamijou. Maybe we should have found a rope and pulled the containers up. Like a game of tug-of-war. Dont be ridiculous... Thats like adding an elevator to the top of Everest. Youll understand if you do it yourself. Dont take away the joy of living. The way Kamijou laughed may have seemed creepy under normal circumstances, but Fukiyose narrowed her eyes and smiled back. Aogami Pierce and the other boys climbed the ladder one by one, looking like muddy zombies. They were all exhausted, but they were grinning like idiots. They looked like had just climbed a great mountain. Lets get back... Lets return everything to normal. It makes me sick just to think about heading back out into that heat. It might be best to get going before we get any more accustomed to this. As they discussed what to do, Kamijou and the others started toward the passageway to the other building. The water department was no further use to them. The only challenge left was the gliders. They had no idea if they could maintain their balance with the heavy mud on their backs, but as long as they could do that, they just had to slide down the wires back to school. Or so they thought. However, something had slipped their minds thanks to their comfortable exhaustion and sense of accomplishment. The Elements preferred dark and cool places. That was why the people were so very cornered during the heat wave and why their hiding places were so very limited. The flames flickered on the ends of the clothes-drying poles. No, the scene beyond the flames was shimmering. Oh, no! Its an Eleme-...!! Before Kamijou could finish yelling, a giant form appeared within five meters of his pointy-haired head. It blocked their way down the passageway. The bizarre bug had eight legs, several eyes, and clicking mouthparts. It was modeled after a maneki-gumo, a spider that excelled at mimicry. At Class 2, the monster was six meters long. A yellow will-o-the-wisp could vaguely be seen in the center. (Yellow!? This isnt the Fire we usually see! Its a rare Wind core!!) A moment later, it fired something other than strange venom or web. It was more like a solid wall than a gust of wind. Holding the clothes-drying pole torch in both hands proved a mistake. He stabbed the monster in the eye with the fiery pole instead of his right hand, but it was not enough. It only slightly diverted the path of the attack. He and around ten other boys and girls were struck by the raging wind. Once he noticed his feet lifting from the floor, it was all over. They were thrown to the side, the glass surrounding the passageway shattered, and they were literally tossed into the empty air. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? They were only two stories up. The soft mud-packed container on his back may have helped too. But when he heard the squishing sound and felt the blow soften, he knew the water dispenser tank had burst. His vision grew dark because that was more precious than his own life. Meanwhile, the maneki-gumo was still on the passageway. They could not finish off an Element without Imagine Breaker. If the classmates with usable mud were taken out, the schools pool would remain useless to them. Would the people there wither away or would they drink the dangerous water and grow weak from food poisoning? He had to bring a third option to the table. He slowly got up amid the sticky mud and grabbed the clothes-drying pole that was still burning thanks to the ethanol. He threw it like a javelin toward the broken passageway. It did not do any real damage, but it did direct the maneki-gumos attention his way. Kamijou ignored it and yelled up into the building. Go on ahead!! We cant escape this dead-end without getting that mud back to the school!! Kami-yan!? Aogami Pierce shouted back down at him, so Kamijou sighed in relief that the boy was safe. Then the six meter spider jumped down to the ground. ...!!!??? Kamijou somehow managed to roll out of the way despite how much muddier it made him. Without even using any claws or fangs, the spiders weight alone sent thick cracks running through the asphalt. ...Gh... Meanwhile, Black Bikini Fukiyose Seiri groaned from the ground. Without a mud container to cushion the impact, the fall may have been harder on her. What are we going to do, Kamijou...? During the day, Kamijou had faced an Element and been hit by a painful surprise attack, so he wanted to avoid facing one directly. He wanted to drive it off and escape to higher ground. You still have that infinite glider, right? We need to head for a rooftop and get into the air. Fukiyose had not recovered from the fall yet, so he supported her as he made his suggestion. Meanwhile, something else walked along the surface. It was an octopus with eight tentacles and a giant head. Since they liked mimicry, it may have been a common octopus. And there was a blue will-o-the-wisp glowing in the center of its round and inflated head. At Class 3, it was twelve meters tall. The top of its head rose higher than the passageway above. (Thats a Water-...) He did not have time to finish his thought. Ultra-high pressure water shot out like a laser beam and mercilessly sliced through the passageway. It was a vertical slash from top to bottom. The sturdy passageway of reinforced concrete tilted like a poorly-made slide as it crumbled. There was no human flesh among the rubble. Luckily, Aogami Pierce and the others had somehow escaped to the flat building. But now that they were in this things sights, fleeing into the sky would be suicide. They could glide forever thanks to the heat waves updrafts, but it would be slow going. Who could say how many times over they would be shot down before reaching the other rooftop? To reiterate, Kamijou could not allow everyone to be wiped out here. The entire school would dry up without potable pool water and he was not going to let himself lose a classmate here. (Kh...) As the Element itself reacted to the great noise, Kamijou slammed his right fist into the arachnid Wind Element that had approached quite close. The yellow light inside vanished, it stopped moving, and it collapsed to the ground like a building block robot with its joints removed. He doubted these things could understand him, but he yelled at the other one. Over here, monster!! Im the only one with the power to kill you!! Wait! Kamijou!? He did not wait for Fukiyoses response. He ran in a different direction from her. And he made sure to kick the head of the unmoving maneki-gumos corpse on the way. He had no idea if the Elements had a sense of camaraderie or if they even had a concept of disrespect to the dead, but the common octopus Water Element clearly changed tactics. Without even looking toward the fleeing pointy-haired boy, it fiercely pursued him with its many tentacles. He could never escape on foot. And... ...!!!??? It had another specialty attack. A laser of ultra-high pressure water shot through the night. He did not have time to aim his right hand, so he dove to the ground and somehow managed to avoid it. When he looked back, something was not right. Fukiyose and the others who had been thrown outside should have been by the broken passageway behind the common octopus, but the area was being enveloped by something like a giant fluffy mass of white cotton candy. (Wha-...?) He soon found the answer. A few torrents of water lost their momentum and rained down on the road. It was nothing but water. To Kamijous group, it was the symbol of blessings. But the asphalt had soaked up as much heat as a stone stove, so a fierce change came over the water upon contact. In the blink of an eye, the liquid became white steam and spread out across the entire area. Wah, cough, cough!! The reading from his bodys thermometer clearly changed. The apparent temperature in a sauna was adjusted by throwing water on a heated stone. The actual air temperature did not change, but gasses and liquids could change the heat on the skin and ones rate of exhaustion. Their stamina would quickly be worn away with the water being scattered so indiscriminately. The common octopuss greatest strength was not its anti-air cannon. By scattering steam over a wide area, it wore down peoples stamina and created a smokescreen. Then its powerful and speedy attacks could finish them off. (But even before that...) The common octopuss giant body burst through its own wall of steam as it approached. Its tentacles were thicker than steel beams and they reached out to grab and twist apart the boys body. Oooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? As soon as a tentacle wrapped around him and lifted him up, Kamijou reflexively used his right hand to punch the translucent appendage. Whatever else it could do, this Element could be stopped with Imagine Breaker. But then the entire tentacle fell off at the base. No, had it been cut away to prevent his power from propagating to the rest of it!? (Oh, no...) Even if it had been destroyed, he still could not move with the tentacle around his torso. Then the common octopus with the blue willow-o-the-wisp targeted him from just barely out of arms reach. It would show no mercy as it fired that ultra-high pressure water. (Is this the end?) Was Fukiyoses group all right inside all that steam? Was Aogami Pierces group okay inside the flat building? Would they get the water purification microbe mud back to the school to secure the pool water? Would everyone at the school be okay? Would Index and Othinus be okay? Nothing was certain. He clenched his teeth. And at that very moment, a great number of lights dropped from overhead and pierced the Class 3 common octopus almost too easily. Kamijou had no idea what had happened. It almost looked like a precision guided bombing with accuracy down to a few dozen centimeters. The common octopuss giant body shattered like glass and the tentacle binding Kamijous torso was torn to pieces. The boy was thrown to the scorching asphalt, but he could not get up and simply stared up into the night sky while lying on his back. The curtain of steam had been blown away and the moon was visible. A strange form cut by overhead as if to slice through that bright heavenly object. (What...is that?) It flew in a straight line. It flew in something like an invasion route while launching a great downpour of attacks. Some looked like metal shells and others looked like laser beams. The attacks had to be targeting the other Elements on the ground. Despite the intense explosions, there was no sign of the building collapsing. The heat wave should have brought down all the next generation electronic weapons that Anti-Skill used. But that was not what surprised Kamijou the most. He stared up at the weapon tearing through so many targets on its first attack run as it made a calm turn in the night sky. (That isnt a fighter jet or an attack helicopter. That silhouette... Thats a human!?) Yes. Armor had been added to the limbs and countless cannons stuck out from the back, but it mostly looked like a human silhouette with other parts added on. And this was not a giant humanoid weapon. Definite alluring feminine curves could be seen in the bodylines illuminated by the moonlight. It was a girl with short brown hair. It was a girl wearing a schools racing swimsuit. It was a girl with bluish-white sparks coming not just from her bangs but from the entire device attached to various parts of her body. Kamijou finally recalled what they had seen on the way to the water department. They had faintly seen distant lights that may have been the flamethrowers of Fire Elements. They had found it odd that anyone would be out on the surface taking on a group of Elements at this time of night, so they had speculated the Elements were luring people out with the flames like a footballfish. However, that was not the case. There really had been an esper who could hunt down the Elements and reclaim a safe zone. Misaka...Mikoto!? She was Academy Citys #3. She was an undisputed ace known as the Railgun. But something was different. Over the racing swimsuit she likely wore to deal with the heat wave, armor covered her limbs, countless cannons extended from her back, and plasma-like bluish-white light fired backwards as she broke free of gravitys grip. As Kamijou looked up at her in the moonlight, he did not see a savior. He saw... But before he could finish that thought, he started feeling woozy. He felt like he had been hit by some kind of venom, but that was not the case. It was a simpler threat. (Oh...no... The steam is making me...lightheaded...) Heatstroke. Dehydration. By the time he realized what was happening, tremendous pain swelled out from deep in his head. Unable to fight it, his vision was filled with vague darkness. In the final moment, a hazy image ruled his mind. It was a girl in the moonlight. It was an extraordinary force capable of slaying the Elements. But to him, it looked like... (A winged...demon...) Then he passed out. Like someone had hit a TVs power button. Between the Lines 2 Nyah, nyah. A small girl spoke in the great heat of District 13. Its soooo hot... Her name was Fremea Seivelun. She had long, wavy blonde hair and blue eyes. This district was known for its many elementary schools. An intense heat wave had brought temperatures nearly to 60 degrees and the mysterious Elements were attacking the city. That district should have been the first to fall to that double threat, but that was not what had happened. Fremea wore her school swimsuit and she was entirely unharmed. The large pool towel she could use while changing had been soaked in the bucket of salt water at her feet and she fanned herself with it. She was using the evaporation heat to cool her down as much as possible. Nyah, she said to the classmate next to her. In the first place, Azumi, will this really make me feel cooler? I-it should. It said so in the textbook. The glasses girl with pigtails must have been shy because her pool towel was wrapped around her like a cloak to hide her swimsuit-wearing body from view. Her face was red, but that was not due to the heat wave. Her skin and hair suggested it was not an issue with her health either. There were two main reasons the two of them were still alive. First, most of the elementary school students and teachers had been quickly evacuated to the Learning Core, a landmark in District 13, shortly after the problem began. It was a sturdy and tall building with large grounds and many different educational facilities: a zoo, an aquarium, a library, a museum, an art museum, a sports field, an indoor pool, etc. It had plenty of emergency supplies and the aquarium and indoor pool were especially helpful. With those, it would take a lot for the place to dry up. Second, someone had sensed immediate danger and taken actual action shortly after the problem began. And they had of course brought in enough personnel to protect the place from danger. Lions are supposed to be the king of the jungle, but they were collapsed in the heat. Didnt they come from Africa? As some chatting boys in swim trunks passed by in the hallway, shy Azumi held the pool towel more tightly around her and readjusted the swimsuit. Nyah! Fremea wore her wet pool towel like a cape and noticed something out the window. She ran down the stopped escalator and toward the entrance. There was no barricade in place. A friend of hers stepped in through the reinforced glass door. How are things outside? Were you okay? I am fine. It was a girl only a little taller than Fremea, but no adult would notice any real height difference. She had long white hair and wore the swimsuit that had been forced onto her, but she showed no sign of sweat. Her name was Fr?ulein Kreutune. According to classified Academy City documents, she was an immortal girl. Thus, the nearly 60 degree heat wave and the fierce Elements were of little concern to her. Not only could she fight them, but (even if it was a secret to Fremea and the others) she could act as bait as often as necessary. She would draw the Elements away from the Learning Core and gather supplies from the empty elementary schools and student dorms in the area, so no ally could be more reliable. Fr?ulein patted at her white swimsuit as if to brush off some dust. As she did, something like shattered glass scattered from her short and slender body. Needless to say, they were fragments of something. I defeated three of them while out on patrol. Vee. Nyah. That sounds like fun. I want to go out too. You need to study, Fremea. Nyah! In the first place, its not like you dont have to study too!! As they spoke, they climbed the stopped escalator. That was when a round white chicken ran down the hallway toward them. Shy Azumi chased after the fleeing chicken and struggled to catch it. The chicken finally clung to Fr?ulein Kreutunes barefoot leg. It was apparently her companion(?). She looked down at the white bird with cold, emotionless eyes. Come to think of it, I saw a rhinoceros beetle out there. It was a big white one. Nyah! So hes out there too. In the first place, its no fair that everyone but me gets all the fun!! I defeated three of them, but he defeated six. Then he said what a nuisance and began shooting up the flower mantis and the ant-mimicking spider. ? Volume 16, 2: Attacking a Base with a High-Class Girl - Tower_of_the_Crystal. Volume 16, Chapter 2: Attacking a Base with a High-Class Girl C Tower_of_the_Crystal. Part 1 Kamijou Touma felt dizzy. He could tell he was wearing his swim shorts and that someone had laid him down, but it did not feel like a stretcher below him. Ugh... He shook his muddy mind. He felt a scorching heat on his chest, stomach, and everything else. However, this was not the air of the heat wave or the asphalt and concrete heated like a stone stove. Experience told him what this was. The slippery sensation surrounding him was a liquid. In a hellish 55 degrees, a bottle of water would rise to a temperature ten degrees higher than a hot bath. That thought rapidly brought his focus back to reality. Water? Someone was using valuable water? And not to drink but to pour over his body? Ah, ahhh, ahhhhhh!? He panicked and tried to get up, but his body refused to listen. When his senses finally caught up, he found himself on a rooftop in the late night darkness. He was lying on his back and the high-class Tokiwadai Middle School girl named Misaka Mikoto was sitting nearby and peering down at his face. She wore a racing swimsuit and poured a clear two liter bottle of water over him. C-cmon, dont move. And what were you all even doing here? Youre covered in mud. M-Misaka? Huh? But...thats water!? Hm? She cutely tilted her head. Behind her, he saw the steel winged demonic silhouette. There were weapons that looked like tank guns, Gatling guns, laser cannons, flamethrowers, excavation drills, and more sticking up as if inside an umbrella stand. Mikoto wore a swimsuit, presumably to help with the heat, but the hand holding the water bottle was covered in armor from elbow to fingertips. The cables wrapped around her soft upper arms and thighs may have been to control the devices. Kamijou had no idea what to make of this. What? What in the world is that? Oh, you havent seen this version yet, have you? Just after her casual reply, a light appeared in the late night darkness. It was not a streetlight or a flashlight. Just like a firework, it was a blue light made from burning a thin piece of metal. When Mikoto saw it, she set down the water bottle and brushed up her sweat-soaked bangs with her armored hand. Oops. Wait just a second. A moment later, one of the feathers making up the wings (i.e. a tank gun) produced a frightening explosive roar. The blast was powerful enough to send Kamijou rolling along the rooftop just after he started to sit up. A shell flew in an orange arc toward the distant point of light fired into the air and it fell through the gaps in the dark buildings. There was a flash of light, a short delay, and a thunderous roar. The phenomenon reminded Kamijou of a lightning strike, but it was actually a shell landing and exploding. A new green light flashed. It was most likely a flare. Hit confirmed. Destruction complete. After checking the color of the light, Mikoto recited those two quick phrases in a singsong voice. Sorry about that. Im not obligated to do so, but I like to help defeat the Elements when I see a request for assistance. Id like to know if Uiharu-san and Saten-san are okay, but finding them hasnt been easy. So to help protect anyone I know, Ive been working to eliminate as many of the Elements as possible in this area. So...huh? How much had I told you? ... Kamijou had no words. He still did not know what that was Misaka Mikoto was wearing, but was this how different the world was when the #3 Railgun, one of Academy Citys seven Level 5s, was around? They had been so afraid of even running across a single Element that they had risked their lives sliding down wires strung between buildings, so this was simply too different. There was so much he wanted to ask. He stated his first question while working his dizzy head and managing to move his arms and legs enough to get up. Where are the others? What happened to Fukiyose and Aogami Pierce...? Um, do you really think I can answer you when you name people Ive never met and even use a nickname for one of them? Who are you talking about? My classmates. They were attacked by the Elements at the water department! Hmm. Mikoto tilted her head like she was watching a quiz show on TV. Im really not sure. I did slaughter all of the Elements in that area, so I doubt theres any reason to worry about their safety. They probably returned to their base. She casually mentioned an unthinkable word, but he doubted she was lying. He recalled the steel winged demon flying through the night sky and the Elements being turned to Swiss cheese after looking like such a hopeless obstacle. This girl could pull that off. This was not one-on-one hand-to-hand combat where either side could die. Countless shells had rained down and wiped them all out with no friendly fire damage whatsoever. Kamijou finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fukiyose and Aogami Pierce had safely returned to the school. And with the water purification microbe mud from the water department. Once they could drink the pool-full of water, the shelters strained atmosphere would vanish. They could hole up there until this was all over without Index, Othinus, or the others getting caught in any unnecessary conflict. They were safe. They had been saved. Kamijou had been collected by Mikoto and taken here because they had decided to leave him behind in the confusion, but he did not feel shocked or angry. He was just glad that the situation was headed in a positive direction. Oh, right. I need to contact them. ...Hey, Misaka? What building is this? Do you know which way to my school? Ohhh, your school? I stopped by it earlier, but it had collapsed into rubble. !? Kamijou felt his throat instantly dry up. He felt like an invisible hand was squeezing at his heart. What had happened while he slept? Had the Elements made a major attack? Was everyone in the school okay? So many thoughts spiraled around in his head, but... There werent even any real barricades up. There obviously werent any normal lights on, but there wasnt any from fires either. Were you really hiding there? It didnt look like it would be much help. Oh. That was right. He had forgotten. The Magic God known as the High Priest had partially destroyed his school, so they were borrowing empty classrooms at the Jumpy Bunnys school. But Mikoto was unaware of that. They were talking about two different schools, so she had gone to the wrong place. He scratched at his bangs. Anyway, can you tell me where we are? I need to get back and let them know Im all right. Sorry, but no. Mikoto readily rejected the idea. Your heatstroke is a lot worse than you think. Do you know what time it is? No. Around four in the morning? His cellphone did not work, so he had no clock at hand. He gave a guess based on the fact that they had left for the water department at around two in the morning. But Mikoto shook her head. Its already past six. Youre kidding... How long was I out!? That isnt your fault, but do you see how weak you are? I tried giving you water and placing a wet towel on you, but it isnt enough. ...That means Ill have to take you somewhere with more specialized equipment, even if its supposed to be girls only. ? I dont know where you were hiding before, but if it doesnt have the equipment to heal you, Im not taking you back there. Come with me. If you want to let them know youre all right, you need to make sure you really are all right first. But...! He leaned forward, but that was enough to make him dizzy. He started to fall forward, so Mikoto gently grabbed his shoulders with her armored hands and supported him. She then whispered in his ear. And based on what were planning, it might be best for your friends if you come with us. You might end up saving them. What? What was she talking about? Kamijou blinked his eyes in confusion, but she said nothing more. The racing swimsuit girl looked around while supporting his body. Its almost time for sunrise. Lets get back. We can talk more once you have your strength back. Eh? Wait, wah!? Kamijou Touma cried out hysterically. Mikoto circled behind him and passed her arms below his arms to grab ahold of him. It was a lot like the safety bars on a roller coaster. A moment later, they took flight. The steel winged demon took its true form. It only took an instant. Truly in only an instant, Kamijous view changed to something like a search engines map app or satellite service. He guessed they were one or two hundred meters up. He started feeling silly for thinking of the wires between buildings as elevated. How does it feel? quietly asked Misaka Mikoto as bluish-white light erupted from the boosters attached around her round hips. Kamijou answered honestly as she held him in her arms with his unsupported legs dangling down. Im a little distracted by this really strong feminine scent and the soft sensation squishing against the back of my head. Oh, I get it. Youre wearing a swimsuit, arent you? ...!!!??? Stop wobbling, Misaka! And if you let go, Ill fall to my death!! D-d-d-dont make it sound like Im some kind of pervert walking around town in a swimsuit! You gave in to the heat too, didnt you!? A boiling heat still filled the night and the city down below was dark. The power was dead and the city had ceased to function. But at the same time, there were unsteady flickering light sources. If they were not coming from Fire Elements, then they were fires started by humans. This was not over yet. And the number of lights was surprisingly high. He belatedly realized just how many other people were out there building barricades and fighting against the heat wave and the Elements. He felt his tear ducts loosening. He felt like a lost child finding his mother after wandering through an unfamiliar city. Some blue flashing lights appeared here and there. Cover your ears and open your mouth. This is going to be a little loud. After Mikotos comment, the steel winged demon changed course. They took a zigzagging route between the blue lights, the arms on her back squirmed, and a great number of shells and beams shot toward the surface. A single stray shot could have caused a major disaster. But Mikoto did not miss. The shots weaved perfectly through the gaps between buildings and exterminated the Elements walking on the surface. Green lights were added where the blue lights had appeared earlier. Hit confirmed. Destruction complete. All done. Whats that glittering over there? It looks like some flashlights on the surface. Those are fluorescent lights. Thats probably a trash dump. So...not streetlights? Should we go check them out? Dont worry. If they arent moving around in someones hand, I seriously doubt theres anyone there. ...Wait, does that mean you havent figured it out? Well, it is true most places have switched to LED lights for energy conservation or whatever. ? Mikoto flew right past and Kamijou looked puzzled. And he had a more fundamental question than just the lights down below. (I thought the heat wave had taken out all of the electronics like our cellphones. So how is that thing on Misakas back working?) Was it because she was a skilled Electromaster? He doubted it was that simple. Not to mention... (What even is it?) His hazy mind was full of questions. She had washed the mud from his body. Using valuable water for nothing more than that was simply too far removed from the boys current view of the world. He asked the most immediate question. So where are we headed? My home of course. As Mikoto held him from behind, her answer slipped into his ear. Tokiwadai Middle School. Part 2 District 7 contained a special zone filled with prestigious girls schools. It was known as the School Garden. Those girls were sheltering in Tokiwadai Middle School and the territory it shared with the other schools. Since most people were not allowed inside, that territory was surrounded by tall walls. The entrance gates were fortified with barricades and watchtowers were built at even intervals along the wall to allow a view out from within. And of course, high level esper girls took turns as guards. If the Elements got close, they would intercept them. If that was not enough, they would call for air support from the flying steel-winged demon. Mikoto apparently did not need a runway for takeoff or landing. She weakened the force of the two boosters to decelerate in midair and descend onto her schoolyard like a helicopter. Kamijou Touma had actually been thrown into the School Garden once before (as a part of a plot by Tsuchimikado Motoharu), but this was his first time at Tokiwadai Middle School itself. It looked more like a white mansion than a school. Since the School Garden as a whole was barricaded, the schools windows and doors had not been covered. Compared to this, the life Kamijou had been living felt downright primitive. But that was not the biggest surprise. What...is that? ? His knees nearly gave out the instant he set foot on the schoolyard. But not just due to the heatstroke. The schoolyards dirt was dry and cracked, but that stopped partway along. A flower garden decorated the sidewalk alongside the school building. And it was not filled with shriveled brown weeds. It was just past six in the morning, so it was just in time for sunrise. The sunlight began to illuminate the entire scene before Kamijous baffled eyes. Color filled the dark night. That was true of the white mansion and the sidewalk flower garden. He saw bright reds, yellows, and blues on the sunlit flowers. Youre kidding... They havent withered? Youve been watering the flowers during this heat wave!? That was not all. At the intersection between two flower gardens, something else glittered in the sunlight. A pillar of water erupted from a modest fountain. Thats...insane... Is it that weird? With several espers, it isnt difficult to search for underground water veins. ... I dont know what things were like where you were before. Mikoto responded to Kamijous dumbfounded look with an exasperated sigh. But water is more than just something to drink. It might look like a luxury, but you need to look after your mental health too. In the long run, this will conserve more water. When people cant manage their stress, their desires grow more and more simplified. They start to use food and sleep to deal with the stress that hobbies and entertainment used to handle. Have you ever eaten too much just because you were stressed? Its all over once you start confusing the water you need to live with the water used to escape your stress. That seemed to describe Kamijous school perfectly. They wanted to stock up on and preserve their water more than anyone, but water had been the only thing on their mind. They had not been able to think about anything else. Had they been trapping themselves like that? Had that been hastening the consumption of water, building up even more irritation, and creating the buds of conflict? Its all so unrewarding, muttered Kamijou. It sounds like your home might be in trouble. You can tell me all about it once youre feeling better. If we dont go save them soon, things could fall apart in a number of ways: running out of water, an Element attack, or infighting. Either they had guard shifts here as well or these high-class girls simply woke up early. When they saw Mikoto and Kamijou land in the schoolyard, girls gathered from the white mansion. Instead of their personal swimsuits, they all wore the same design of racing swimsuit as Mikoto. It was probably required by the school. That showed another difference in character from the school Kamijou had been in. It was not a shelter where different groups had gathered. They maintained the colors of a single unified school. That gave them more leeway to act. The swimsuit girls smiled at Misaka Mikoto and spoke with a carefree tone that did not match Kamijous internal clock. Welcome back, Misaka-san. You must be exhausted. Thank you for your air support. Now, now. We have food prepared over here. As they spoke, they reached for the armor and weapons on Mikotos limbs and back. It must have been difficult to remove on ones own because the racing swimsuit #3 let them do it without complaint. She gave an awkward look as they removed the armor from her back, but then she spoke to Kamijou. This is like a new club. I had a garage prepared and leave the constructed device there. These girls can handle the maintenance on their own. Oh, wow. There are girls in swimsuits everywhere. Talk about pressure... Are you even listening, you idiot!? You sure are calm for someone in such a critical state!! With a fairly violent-sounding sound much like the severing of a trains high-voltage wire, bluish-white sparks scattered from her bangs. Anyway... The other girls followed the course of the conversation with their eyes, so their focus belatedly turned toward Kamijou. He was out of place in this girls only school. Who is this gentleman? Gentleman? Oh, my! Now that you mention it, that is a gentleman! So this is what I have seen in my dreams...! It was quite a commotion. Plus, one of them sounded like she had some latent sluttiness mixed in. O-Onee...Onee-sama!? The crowd was filled with a mixture of fear and curiosity, but then another girl forced her way through. She had long brown twintails, she wore the same racing swimsuit as everyone else, and she had leather belts wrapped around her thighs. Her body was coated in sweat and a few tufts of her twintails stuck out, but her eyes drew Kamijous attention most of all. The pupils were opened wide, as if she had seen something truly unbelievable. Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-why did you rendezvous with some rotten ape!? In fact, where did you even find him!? No, you may not keep him! Go put him back where you found him right this instant!! K-Kuroko? Calm down. I can explain. It might take a while, but... Mikoto trailed off when she spotted something behind Shirai Kuroko. A girl had casually blended into the crowd despite her unique presence. She had long honey blonde hair, bodylines unbelievably nice for a middle school girl, and a small brand-name purse with its thin, plastic strap worn diagonally across her racing swimsuit. She was the Queen who reigned opposite the Ace as Tokiwadai Middle Schools two Level 5s. Her name was Shokuhou Misaki. She wore long white gloves and she spun a long skinny object in her hands. It was a TV remote. It was a symbol that helped control her own Mental Out power. The gentle smile in her eyes spoke for her. She pressed a remote against the back of Shirai Kurokos head as the girl continued fussing. If nothing was done about this commotion, she would do something about it herself. ... Mikoto tensed up, but then Shokuhou whispered softly into Shirai Kurokos ear. (If you hand over that gentleman, who has such an excellent attention gathering ability, you can do whatever you want with your beloved Onee-sama. Not a bad deal for either of us, dont you think?) F-fwohhhhhh!! I-Ill never have a better chance to make Onee-sama mine while separating her from not just that ape but from her own kind as well!!! What nonsense are you pouring into my underclassmans heat-addled mind, Shokuhouuuuuuuu!? And wait...not so close...ahhh, youre covered in sweat!! After a mysterious three and a half twists leading into a tackle to the waist, Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko rolled away together. They left the ring of people. Kamijou was caught off guard by the novel forms of communication used at a high-class girls school, but then he started feeling dizzy again. He had been treated, but he had not recovered yet. Without Mikotos shoulder for support, he would succumb to his own body weight before long. But just as he was about to collapse to the side, another girl gently supported him. The racing swimsuit girl had long honey blonde hair and a brand-name purse. Hee hee hee. Caught you ...? Who is this? wondered Kamijou with a frown. He felt like he knew her quite well but also like he did not know her at all. It may have been due to the heatstroke hampering his brainpower and it may have just been the familiarity of seeing the same racing swimsuit that Mikoto was wearing. He did not know what kind of weird connection his brain was making, but when he saw the girls smile from so close, it brought a certain thought to mind. It looked just like the innocent smile of a small child. And it seemed oddly familiar. Oh, Im sure you wont remember me, so dont worry about it. The blonde girl suppressed the smile that seemed to have escaped onto her lips. But I can tell just by looking at your face. Theres a lot you want to ask, but you need to regain your strength first. Eh heh heh. Im all grown up now, so I can take you to the infirmary. She tugged on his arm and placed it around her shoulder. A sweet scent reached him from her hair and he could feel the heat from her flushed skin. But he did not have time to feel his heart pounding. The blonde girl just about collapsed under his weight. She did not seem to have much muscular strength. Oh! Oh, no! Queen. A girl with splendid ringlet curls reached in from the side like a helper, but Shokuhou held out her empty hand to stop her. I appreciate the thought. But... Please. ...Can you let me do this on my own? There was a strange power to her quiet voice. The ringlet curl girl argued no further and started guiding the other girls instead. I know this is being selfish, but my pride demands I show you Ive changed some since then. ? Kamijou was confused, but he did not have time to actually ask about it. He heard large wheels rolling through gravel. He looked over and saw girls dragging a wooden cart that looked out of place at this high-class school. He tried to move out of the way so it could get past, but then he felt a squeezing at his heart. It resembled an existing plant or animal. It was made of a substance similar to translucent glass. It was an Element. That great enemy was being casually carted around like old trash. It was most likely a Class 1. It was about three meters tall. However, it had already been defeated, so the will-o-the-wisp of a core was missing from the center and its joints had come apart. He could tell at a glance that it would not be moving anymore. The girls pulling and pushing the cart from the front and back smiled at the blonde girl with no real tension. What about this one? Hmm. Take it to the gym like usual. I know Misaka-sans hanger takes priority, but we really need a proper lab instead of something with so much makeshift ability. And who is-...? C-could that be the legendary creature known as a gentleman!? You dont get to study him in the lab The high-class girls seemed more interested in the boy on campus than the mysterious Elements. That showed just how low a priority those were. The Elements were not absolute enemies to them. They could defeat them and analyze them. (So this is the difference esper powers make.) Kamijou thought about that fact again. (Does the world really look this different with enough high level espers around?) His vision shook. He was in the early morning schoolyard, but his vision blinked in and out like a dying fluorescent light. Oh, no, he thought. Something was breaking. He was losing his support. He was going to fall. But just before he did... Theres nothing to worry about. He had not said a word, but a gentle voice reached him. It was the mysterious blonde girl who was struggling so hard to lend him her shoulder. Its true some people are more suited to some things than others, but that doesnt mean you cant try your hand at something you arent suited to. You know that very well, dont you? ...? He once more asked himself who she was. He was fairly certain she was not someone who knew him well enough to practically read his mind like this, but... If you feel like taking that sort of challenge, Ill stick with you as many times as it takes. She breathed a somewhat sorrowful sigh. Then the blonde girl continued with a bright smile. I doubt youll remember, but that doesnt meant I cant try, right? Part 3 He had fallen asleep. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... In an infirmary that smelled of disinfectant, Kamijou Touma sat up in the bed and froze in place. Covering his face with his hands did not change reality. The sun had already risen high into the sky. It was probably around midday. He wanted to let Index and Othinus know he was okay, he wanted to know if Aogami Pierce and Fukiyose Seiri were okay, and he wanted to know if the water purification microbe mud had resolved the potable water problem. And yet he was stuck here. Not even this place had the air conditioning back up and the infirmary was wrapped in boiling heat, but there was one devilish tool here. D-dammit... How can something as simple as a water pillow steal away Kamijou-sans soul so easily? Im so shallow I want to die! But how is this even remotely fair, dammiiiiiiiiiiiit!? Not only was the pillow filled with water, but it had some kind of chemical inside too. It maintained the chill of a canned drink straight out of the fridge and it had a somewhat minty smell. The girl with honey blonde hair sat on the round chair next to the bed, crossed her long slender legs, and cooled her forehead with a liquid-filled plastic bag like the ones used for the goldfish won at goldfish scooping. She giggled. The human mind has trouble fighting the most primitive desires, so its nothing to be ashamed of. And you must have been very tired. I gave in! I gave in to my desires!! Wahhhhhhh!!!!! Kamijou felt somewhat defiled, but he oddly felt no desire to quickly take any kind of action to make up for oversleeping. According to Mikoto, all of the Elements around the water department had been wiped out, so Aogami Pierce, Fukiyose Seiri, and the others would be fine as long as they had not hung around for no real reason. If they had brought back the water purification microbe mud, the potable water problem would have been solved and the decaying relationship between schools would have been mended. He was worrying them since they did not know if he was okay, but he could deal with that later. In fact, he was starting to feel like he should bring back as much information as possible. I have some questions. Im a little worried you wont remember much of my answers, but I say ask away. Still, you should probably ask Misaka-san the same questions later to fill in the gaps. ? You dont need to understand. Im just saying its best to have multiple sources. You want the most accuracy ability you can get, dont you? Hmm. Not a bad idea. Are middle school girls really this calm these days? I mean, you just seem so different from Misaka. Youre more like a big sister. Heh. Something must have struck her as funny because the mature-looking girl started laughing. Heh hah. Eh heh heh ha ha ha ha ha!! Yes, yes, yes. Thats what I want from you. Im not the same girl I was back then. And I wont let you say these common breasts disqualify me from providing the support of a young woman!! ??? (Wh-what kind of spoiled bastard told a girl as blessed as this that she had common breasts? Whoever they are, they can go straight to hell!!) Kamijou did not understand any of this, but the topic of discussion led his eyes down to the blonde girls ample breasts. Either due to the heat or due to Kamijous gaze, the racing swimsuit girl moved the bag of water from her forehead and squeezed it into the chest of her swimsuit. Kamijou was left speechless, so a hint of teasing entered the girls smile and she stretched her arms upwards to push out her chest. The large mounds pressed against the swimsuit even more. They get so sweaty when theyre big. I suppose a boy wouldnt understand, though. M-more importantly!! Yes! Yes! Im finally being rewarded for those days of mockery!! Oh, revenge is so delightful. She desperately kept her lips from relaxing and an irregular tremor ran down her spine. Ahh. I wish I could do this forever, but I suppose that isnt an option. Do you know something about that thing Misaka was using? There were a lot of differences between Kamijous school and Tokiwadai Middle School, but the biggest one was the strange flying machine that Mikoto used. He felt like its presence had freed these girls from the fear of the Elements and given them the environment they needed to focus on the heat wave. I dont know. That I cant tell you. But the blonde girl expressed ignorance on that key to her survival. She did not know. The heat wave and the Elements arrived without warning, but Misaka-sans machine was also incredibly sudden. Out of the blue, that lone wolf of a girl requests the creation of a new club and then she loses herself in mechanical work using the space she was given. Wait a second. Kamijou interrupted. Are you saying that wasnt put together as a way to fight the Elements? In that case, why had Misaka Mikoto felt the need to build up that kind of firepower in the original, peaceful world? A motorcycle gang with handguns might seem reliable in a city overrun by zombies, but it did raise certain questions. Where had those guns come from? And why had they had them on hand? The swimsuit girl pulled the water bag from her impressive cleavage and stuck it under her armpit. Didnt I tell you? I dont know. Of course, I seriously doubt Misaka-san is in league with the Elements to show off. And Im only overlooking it because we need all the help we can get to overcome this. The blonde girl used her empty hand to spin a TV remote like a baton and continued in an exasperated tone. If only I could control those Elements with my Mental Out, but it looks like physical force with plenty of savage ability is a better match. Thanks to that, Ive fallen into the background and have to work as something like a class president who keeps an eye on things to make sure the school can continue to function as an organization. But its not like I want to run around outside in this awful heat, so Im not really complaining. It looked like she would bombard things if people put out a request, but how large an area does she cover? I dont know that either. My guess is just this southern part of District 7 where the School Garden is located. But Misaka-san needs to eat and sleep too, so shes still just a volunteer. She cant exterminate all of the Elements with 24/7 support. Even now, Kamijous school was living in fear of the Elements while also in southern District 7, but even those hellish days had been somewhat protected. It was possible the entire school building would have been inundated by monsters if Mikoto had not been sporadically wearing down their numbers. The possibility made him shudder, but it brought another thought to mind. Come to think of it, you were collecting the defeated Elements. What for? To dissect them. Or maybe disassemble would be the better word. The racing swimsuit girl smoothly gave an unbelievable answer. Our main goals are learning about their bodily structure to find a weak point and checking for sensory organs to learn how they communicate. If we investigate their throat and find the frequency range they use to speak, we might be able to confuse them with similar sound waves. ... They were on a different level entirely. They were far beyond throwing bricks from rooftops and relying on a desperate charge from Imagine Breaker while the Element flinched back. The girls of Tokiwadai Middle School still had human rationality. But since were still gathering their corpses, you might be able to guess were far from finished there. If we want to study how they live, we need a living sample, but we cant think of any kind of cage that can perfectly contain an Element. The blonde girl placed the cold water bag on her thighs and then slid it below her knees. It would be nice if Misaka-san could watch them from a distance like a birdwatcher instead of blindly blasting them all. She can defeat them without worrying about the details, so she refuses to go to trouble of gathering information like that. ...I cant believe this. Really? The blonde girl responded honestly and with no humility. Im personally more impressed by the way you struggled to survive this long and never gave up hope despite every calculation you made proving you were gradually using up all of your limited resources and manpower. I mean, were doing this because we know we can. If we had everything taken from us, Im not too confident we would be able to crawl back up from the bottom. Were not all that great. He did not decorate his response either. While being worn down by the heat wave and the Elements, Kamijous group had taken a step down the path of bandits. It was all to get water and water purifying microbes. They had snuck into buildings without permission quite a few times and what would have happened if they had run into students from another school? Would they have peacefully talked it out? Or would they have given up on their share of the water and handed it over? ...Of course not. In that tense a situation, Kamijou would have clenched his fist and truly crossed the final line. But the blonde girl laughed and said more. But even so, you didnt cross that final line. Isnt that right? ... Hee hee. Thats what makes you so strong. You arent too stupid to imagine it and you can list plenty of hypothetical situations, but you wouldnt actually do it. No matter what kind of crisis you found yourself in, you would protect that final line when it actually came down to it. Even if it put you at a disadvantage, you would accept that disadvantage. That is a noble thing. We only do what we know we can, so who can say if we would make the same decision. He had thought his school was inferior. He had thought they were inhuman and shameful. But was he allowed to be proud of those few days of desperately working with the others to stay alive? Of course you are. Being alive is a noble thing in and of itself. The blonde girl seemed to be peering into his eyes as she spoke. Her voice had an odd strength it had lacked before. So you and your friends should be rewarded for all the effort you put into surviving this long. Dont worry. Leave everything else to your big sister here Well have all of this dealt with in a few days time. Dealt with...? Kamijou blankly repeated her words. After a short pause, he grabbed the blonde girls shoulders. Kyah. By dealt with, do you mean you see an end to this!? You see an end to this seemingly hopeless problem!? N-n-n-n-not so close! I-I mean, its not a bad thing, but, um, no...dont sell yourself so cheaply, Shokuhou Misaki. Dont give in just because youve dreamed of this moment. Work to keep your cool!! !? She shoved him back toward the bed. She cleared her throat, sat back on the round chair, and continued with a blush on her face. I-I may have gotten too excited and overstated things somewhat. There are technically two problems at the moment: the heat wave and the Elements. R-right... To be blunt, the heat wave is going to be a challenge, but the Elements are a different matter. We might be able to fundamentally destroy them soon. Instead of sporadically reducing their numbers, it would be a true extermination. Thats what I am talking about. Part 4 They had to have used a lot of water on Kamijou before he could walk on his own. And just the day before, that water had been as valuable as pure gold in the dimly-lit and barricaded school building he had sheltered inside. He sighed in the infirmary and the blonde racing swimsuit girl gave an exasperated sigh of her own. We really cant take our eyes off you for a second, can we? You wont drink the water we give you and you hide it in places if you have a chance. Y-yeah, but, um, I have my reasons. He felt it was wrong of him to drink all the water they brought him when he was just lying in a bed. His school could probably drink the pool water now that they had the water purification microbes, but they had not known exactly how much longer they needed to wait before obtaining clean water. He knew he needed to recover, but when he saw the bottles of water, he felt an urge to preserve it, stockpile it, and share it with everyone else. You really are noble. ? He had trouble understanding what that girl meant as she gently narrowed her eyes. At any rate, he could not hog the infirmary bed forever now that he could actually move. Things were not as bad as at his school, but even the Tokiwadai girls might run into some unexpected heatstroke and injuries. If you want to know more about defeating the Elements, youll have to go ask Misaka-san. And to be honest, that fact does irritate me. Misaka? As you can see, she handles alllll the outside work. Thanks to that, shes taken a lot of the celebrity ability away from me. The blonde girl waved a hand. And if she keeps doing everything herself, I get the feeling some unfounded rumors are going to spread. Its ridiculous to do everything with her power and I really wish she would give everyone else a chance to let off a bit of steam. ...But only a bit. For some reason, she emphasized that point. He parted ways with the blonde girl, left the infirmary, and walked down the hall. Where was Misaka Mikoto? He tried to ask a swimsuit girl walking nearby, but she ran away with a quiet shriek. But when he looked around, he noticed people peeking out at him from behind columns. He was a little unsure whether he was being welcomed or rejected. After walking around aimlessly for a while, he found a promising-looking facility. It was a separate building from the white mansion. He guessed it was a club building...or something. Compared to the Western architecture that matched the overall feel of the School Garden, this area was centered on a boxy building with a modern design. It looked something like an airport storehouse and it was about the size of four normal classrooms. He had a feeling that girl whose face he was having trouble recalling had said something about Misaka requesting the creation of a new club. If this much space was a single piece of paperwork away, then a high-class girls school was even more exceptional than he had thought. He saw a small human-sized door next to the giant sliding one that covered an entire wall. He made sure to knock before peeking inside. The floor of the large space was covered with countless weapons, both large and small. He saw tank guns, laser cannons, flamethrowers, Gatling guns, large chainsaws for use on special steel, anti-trench drills, air-to-air missile containers, precision guided aerial bombs, heavy metal disintegration plasma cannons, electromagnetic burning weapons, ultra-high frequency acoustic cannons, electric melting blades, and fortress-attack large-caliber railguns. Kamijou was not obsessed with next generation weapons, so they just looked like an unidentified jumble of metal containers and mechanical contents. He could only list off their identities because of the plastic plates lined up on the floor like this was a crime scene investigation. Hm? Have you recovered enough to be up and about? Misaka. The racing swimsuit girl stood at the center of the mountain of weapons. You really are wearing a swimsuit, arent you? Sh-shut up! I-i-i-its not like Im the only one!! She blushed as she used some tools to combat the foundational component that directly attached to her slender back and connected all the different weapons together. Why does Misakas swimsuit bother me more than anyone elses? wondered Kamijou with a tilt of the head. It may have been the defensive gap between the sturdy equipment and the swimsuit. That said, the heat would do her in if she covered herself in thick armor during this heat wave, so it was survival of the fittest. Anyway, what is that thing? The A.A.A. I dont know where it came from, but I showed it to you once before. This is a version modified for my use. That said, I dont think Ive managed to recreate the contents yet. Im just doing my best to imitate that black box. ? Before? frowned Kamijou. Meanwhile, she added a name to her explanation. Kihara Yuiitsu. ... He finally remembered. Before the heat wave and Elements had covered Academy City, he had fought a scientist by that name. No, he had been utterly defeated at that point. It was only thanks to the interference of a mysterious attack that he had survived. Had Misaka Mikoto been the one to do that? And using this? I heard talk of driving the Elements out of Academy City, but do you know the details of that? Oh, you mean the Crystal Tower. Hm? As you can see, I can fly around all I want and Ive checked around over a wide area, so I know more about things outside than the others. Misaka Mikoto wiped sweat from her brow. So the city is crawling with those Elements, right? But where do you think theyre coming from? How should I know? I dont even know if theyre living creatures or machines. Yeah, I guess you normally wouldnt. Anyway, it seems theyre living creatures and not machines. So theyre alive? Then are they hatching from eggs belowground or underwater? He had seen Elements swarming out of subway station stairways and culverts below roads, but the thought made his skin crawl. Was the ground below the city filled with mountains of giant eggs? But Mikoto shook her head. No, no. Theyre coming from there. He had no idea what she meant. For some reason, she was pointing straight up. And then she continued. Im not joking. I spotted it while out on a night patrol flight. I saw some orange glowing rain. They descend from the sky like shooting stars when no ones looking. Are you...serious? Very. Although I dont know if theyre really coming from space or if theyre born on earth, fly up into space, and drop back down again. This was getting absurd. Kamijous school had been barricading the doors and windows and they had been traveling between building rooftops to keep away from the Elements crawling on the ground, but the safety that brought had been entirely imaginary. The odds may have been as low as being hit by lightning or a meteor, but it had been possible an Element could fall on top of them while on the roof or inside their barricades. Two dimensional defenses alone were meaningless. Although that might change with the help of a high-power anti-air defense system like Mikoto wore. Mikoto herself gave an exasperated sigh. It might sound impossible to wipe them out when they fall endlessly from the sky like raindrops, but there is one thing we might be able to do. And that is? Dropping the Elements from space is easier said than done. If their angle of entry into the atmosphere is even slightly off, theyll be deflected outward or burned up. And its even harder to constantly pinpoint just Academy City in western Tokyo out of the entire planet. They would need guidance from the surface. Wait. You mean...? Yes. Theres something in the center of Academy City guiding the countless Elements waiting up in space. That Crystal Tower is intermittently sending an optical signal into the heavens. Part 5 They had entered the space of time between early afternoon and the beginning of evening. Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki had gathered in the same dining hall. And the pointy-haired boy named Kamijou Touma was sitting uncomfortably across a round table from them. To get right to the point... For sitting next to each other, the two girls did not look very friendly and the blonde racing swimsuit girl looked upset as she rested her head on her hand and opened her mouth to speak. You had that much time and you never got further than that in your explanation? Are you that bad with words, Misaka-san? Sh-shut up. It took some time to get him up to speed on the more basic information. Hell just forget if I explain it, so try to do a better job. They had a simple reason for being here: Kamijous stomach had growled during the explanation in the hangar. Misaka Mikoto had said she would give him something to eat and then dragged him to the dining hall, but there they had run into the blonde girl elegantly sipping on some iced tea. Water is so valuable, but youre making it into tea here? Its partially the remnants of a safety measure. We know we dont have to boil it anymore, but we still find ourselves making it into tea. Was there any logic to it or not? We dont know how many Crystal Towers there are in Academy City, but since we cant seem to find something so large, there cant be many of them. At most, Id say less than ten. And at the least, there of course might just be the one. Racing Swimsuit Misaka Mikoto pushed aside the blonde girls coaster and spread out a map on the table. It was a detailed map of District 7 and colorful markers had drawn a large X and a few arrows leading to it. Meanwhile, the blonde girl scooted her chair over to follow the coaster. It looked like an obedient act at first, but they were sitting at a round table. Moving around its perimeter would take her to the pointy-haired idiot. Shokuhou, Im trying to have a serious discussion here. How selfish can you be? Youre the one that drove me away and left me with no choice but to give up my spot. Im sorry, Kamijou-san. Things might be cramped at such a small table, but try to put up with it. Im not sure why you need to move your chair right up against mine! And... And? Kamijou-san? Did I tell you my name? The blond girls eyes widened in surprise at first, but then they narrowed slightly. You really are good at tugging at my heartstrings with even the most trivial comment. You havent changed at all. ??? Kamijou tilted his head, but then Mikoto interrupted. Stop!! Back on topic!! Yes, yes. The blonde girl responded instead of Kamijou. She slightly pulled back the shoulder she had been leaning up against his. Mikoto cleared her throat. Okay, how much had I told you? Eh? Oh, um... Are you an incarnation of worldly thoughts!? Is the immediate crisis less important than some pointlessly large bags of fat!? Cmon, try to remember! Take this seriously!! Oh, ohh! You were talking about the Crystal Tower, right? Much better. Mikoto breathed out through her nose. No one knows when it got there. In fact, weve even started saying it grew there. But if we take it out, the situation should change dramatically. So...if its like an antenna to guide them, will destroying it stop the Elements from coming here? Kamijou honestly had trouble understanding how difficult it was to throw a stone from space and have it accurately fall in a specific city. He just assumed it was too difficult to pull off without any practice. The blonde girl giggled. Do you want the actual equations? Shut up. Shove those in front of my face in this god-awful heat and my head really will boil. He had no idea how many Elements were waiting up above, but reducing their odds of successfully dropping into the city by a factor of a thousand or ten thousand would indeed change things quite a bit. Im a little afraid theyd fall somewhere other than Academy City and cause some damage. If you look at the actual equations... Please just give me the final answer! The atmosphere is incredibly powerful, simply stated Mikoto. If they attempt an entry without any guidance from the surface, theyll either be deflected by the atmosphere or burn up on the way down. People arent aware of it, but an unbelievable amount of pebble-sized debris falls toward the earth on a daily basis. So if they destroyed the Crystal Tower, they could overcome the current crisis. They apparently did not know how many there were in all, but they would gain nothing by ignoring the one they knew about. Its just about in the center of District 7, which is about five kilometers north of here. I dont know if it was lucky or not that it grew inside a domed stadium. It looks like it broke through from below. Ugh. It did sound more like something that had grown than something that had been built. He could not think of any reason for someone to intentionally place it there. Theyre only estimates, but we think its two hundred meters tall, thirty meters thick at the base, and gradually thinner the higher you get. We dont know what its made of, but it looks just like the Elements from a distance. We might be able to judge its durability based on that. Youre kidding, right? Kamijous class had been risking their lives against the Elements in their own inept way. They had thrown bricks from rooftops and dropped bundles of steel beams suspended by ropes. Their attempts would have been enough to crush a normal car and trigger an explosion, but not even that had stopped the three meter Class 1Elements which were the smallest type. Without Imagine Breaker as a joker, they would have been helpless. Yet this was two hundred meters tall? And thirty meters thick? It was too much. Crushing it and toppling it were too different things and toppling something might get easier the taller it was, but what could a student do if he was placed in front of a famous radio tower and told to do whatever he could to topple it? Kamijou had trouble imagining a successful scenario. Yes. Except for using his right hand. Luck might just be on our side, said Misaka Mikoto. It might be difficult to utterly destroy something that massive even with my A.A.A. Thats why Ive been observing it from a distance in the hopes of finding a weak point or a focal point of its weight. But back at the water department, you defeated an Element in one hit, didnt you? I still dont really understand it, but you used, um, a different method from me. We might be able to skip a few steps with that. All we have to think about is getting you to the base of the Crystal Tower. Y-yeah... ... That was exactly what Kamijou wanted as well. It would not solve the heat wave problem, but if he had a chance of wiping out the Elements, he had no reason not to use it. His answer sounded so halfhearted because of the blonde girl who had taken up her position next to Mikoto and across from him. She silently narrowed her eyes. She looked like her iced tea had started tasting like some roots from traditional Chinese medicine. My school had its hands too full to even think about it, but if the Elements are gone, it might reduce the claustrophobic feeling. Being able to walk along the ground to search for water and food is bound to make a difference. In fact, we wouldnt have to stay at school. Without the Elements, we might be able to make our base in an underground mall or some other cooler place out of the way of the sunlight. He had thought that was a shared understanding throughout Academy City, but Swimsuit Mikoto looked confused. Hm? You hadnt figured it out? ? If we defeat the Elements, we might be able to deal with the heat wave too. I mean, surely you didnt think this was just some abnormal weather. He had not seen it all yet. There was even more of a culture gap between his school and Tokiwadai. For one thing, this heat isnt caused by the sunlight, said Mikoto. She snapped her fingers and a small line of purple electricity ran between the fingertips. Its microwaves. A ton of electromagnetic waves are being sent down from space and theyve essentially turned Academy City into a giant microwave oven. He had trouble believing that. It was more than just residual heat keeping the temperature up during the night. And in reverse... But a moment later, Kamijou began shivering in his swimsuit. The sweaty and boiling hell of 55 degree heat left him and the forgotten December chill mercilessly attacked his bare skin. Wah, ah...achoo!! Well, you get the picture. If I use my power to divert the electromagnetic waves, the heat quickly withdraws. It doesnt work as well everywhere, though, since the asphalt and such have absorbed so much heat. As she said that, the abnormal temperature (or was that the proper temperature?) left him and he was thrown back into the scorching heat. But if I was constantly diverting my powers to apply that heat-resistant coat, Id wear myself out in no time. Thats why I put up with the heat and focus my energy on using the A.A.A. Are you serious...? Now that he had felt the change for himself, Kamijou had no choice but to accept it. But he felt like he had seen signs of this here and there. For example... The solar cooker wasnt working... ? And the fluorescent lights at the trash dump... Right. New or broken, fluorescent lights will still emit light if theyre exposed to powerful electromagnetic waves. There were experiments where people threw them in a microwave oven. And this is powerful enough to bring all of Academy City up to nearly 60 degrees. Its hardly surprising were seeing that happening. Although it isnt that noticeable thanks to the recent change to LED lights. Honestly, said the blonde girl. And LED lights emit all that blue light thats bad for your eyes, so Id rather they didnt use them in a place of learning. Until now, the heat wave had been a demonic presence wearing away their lives and lifespans. But the terms electromagnetic waves and microwaves made Kamijou tremble for a different reason. He did not have a phobia of electromagnetic waves, but he still did not enjoy the thought of all his bodys moisture being constantly vibrated by some outside force. The properly shielded hospitals and labs may have actually escaped the heat wave altogether. Of course, the Elements seem to target those cool and dark places first, so that might not be a good thing. So its from space again? Right. I cant figure out why whoever it is would be bombarding us with so many microwaves. For a time, we thought it might be the Elements power source, but based on the corpses weve collected and opened up, they dont seem to have any organs to receive that power. Then is it just to make us suffer? Perhaps. The heat wave is outdoors and the Elements are in the cool dark indoors, so it does seem like a nice division of the threat. But why were the Elements even attacking Academy City in the first place? Kamijou could not find an answer to the most basic question. Anyway, we really have seen some hope. Your presence here makes a huge difference in the path to the Crystal Tower. Wed appreciate it if you would help. Understood. My school will be at its limit soon and I cant just sit around eating your food while everyones in trouble. If the heat wave and the Elements come from the same source, we might be able to stop it all by toppling that Crystal Tower. I definitely need to go with you. Okay!! Then lets get ready as soon as-... Mikoto clenched a fist and lightly punched her own palm, but then... Oh, dear, Misaka-san. You have a nosebleed. Eh? Ah? You can get excited around a gentleman if you want, but isnt this a little much? Th-that isnt what this is! The heats getting to me is all!! Its twenty degrees hotter than a bath, so I cant help it! Umm, wheres a tissue...? Oh, here, Misaka. Use this. Mikoto moved her hands around in a panic and finally took the paper napkin Kamijou had picked up from the table. For some reason, she looked away after that, so she may not have wanted to be seen stuffing something into her nose. (Ive seen a lot of dehydration and heatstroke recently, but apparently it can give you a nosebleed too.) Kamijou was oddly impressed. Diverting the microwaves for her demonstration may have put a bit of a burden on her. As a Level 0, he had no idea what it was like, but exerting herself may have brought the blood to her head. As Kamijou circled around the table to look after Mikoto, a whisper reached his ear from the side. (Things seem to be progressing smoothly, but you should stay on your guard.) ? When he looked over in confusion, the girl with a honey sweet aroma said more. She almost made it sound like she knew the boy better than he did. (I mean, misfortune follows you wherever you go, doesnt it? Shouldnt you be suspicious when the perfect solution just falls into your lap?) Part 6 The temperature was still hellishly hot, but Kamijou felt oddly freed from the pressure that had been burning at his nerves. According to Mikoto, they had a plan but it would take some time to prepare. He could guess she was talking about that weird machine called the A.A.A., but he was also a little bothered by her nosebleed. Even if it may not have been a real issue if it was simply her overheating. (Hmm, what was it like at the other school? The teachers were dealing with the people sleeping in the gym, so I dont really know.) Roses, lilies, and plenty of other difficult flowers were blooming in the schoolyard flower gardens and a small fountain sprayed water into the air at the center. That circulating water may have been clearer than the life-saving water Kamijous school had been so desperate to gather. He felt like he could scoop it up in his hands and drink it. In this environment, they could use it freely. They had enough to spare. Even under the rules of this (ridiculous) new world, Tokiwadai managed to maintain its high-class position. In a world where water determined everything, this was an asset on the level of an oil field. What had happened at the previous school? He hoped Index, Fukiyose, and the rest had acquired the water purification microbe mud, successfully turned the pool water into potable water, and escaped the pressure of that heavy ceiling suspended above them. As he stared out the window at the schoolyard and thought about that, he heard a girls voice behind him. Quiiiietly, quiiiietly. She was saying that aloud. ? He looked back in confusion and saw an unfamiliar racing swimsuit girl right behind him. When their eyes met, her shoulders gave a jump. Her face quickly grew red, her mouth moved silently, and she made a rapid U-turn. I-I-I couldnt do iiiiit!! The mystery swimsuit girl raced down the hallway with incredible speed and vanished around a corner leading to the stairs. She apparently was unfamiliar with the basic rule that well-behaved high-class girls did not run in the hallway. What was-...? He trailed off. Someone had snuck up behind him again. And this time he felt a soft finger press against his back. Ei, ei. He did not have time to turn around. He heard footsteps taking off at high speed. When he finally did check behind him, he saw a ponytail girl (who of course wore a racing swimsuit) regrouping with a few of her friends in the distance. I-I-I did it!! I touched a gentleman for the first time in my life!! I-I never thought you would be the first one to climb the stairway to adulthood, Nanami! M-maybe we need to find the courage too. (Glance, glance) B-but hes so scary! Its the same pressure as facing down a lion!! Were they afraid of him or playing with him? Kamijou tilted his head. I just dont get these high-class girls. With that exasperated comment he decided to leave that hallway. However... Whisper, whisper. (Is that the rumored gentleman?) Mutter, mutter. (I heard any lady with the courage to overcome a certain trial with a gentleman is given the right to start her own clique.) Murmer, murmer. (I-is that why Misaka-sama and Shokuhou-sama are working so hard!? I-I cant just sit around. I am the daughter of a company president who supports the futures of 70,000 employees! I must bring glory to the future of the Andou Frozen Foods Group!!) Kamijou felt an unpleasant shiver in his spine. He quickly checked on his surroundings and saw nothing but smiling high-class girls in racing swimsuits. However, the instant he took his eyes off of them, he felt the piercing glares of carnivorous beasts staring at their prey. (Umm, am I in trouble here?) A certain piece of trivia came to mind: A strange god of fortune statue at a certain Osaka radio tower was seen as a symbol of good luck, but so many tourists had rubbed the bottom of its feet that the metal statue was worn away more and more every year. In other words... (If a living human is treated the same way, would all their skin and flesh be torn away in no time!?) Wait!! You there!! He jumped straight up when a shrill voice seemed to explode nearby. He used both hands to strike a weird defensive pose and desperately pleaded to their human rationality. W-wait, wait! If youre going to rub me, at least stick to the cheeks! If this is my only option, then Ill turn myself into one of those pointy triangle chin guys from shoujo manga!! What on earth are you talking about? The utterly exasperated voice told him this was not one of the overly-excited beasts(?) of this high-class girls school. He peered out between his complexly crossed arms and saw a short middle school girl with her undeveloped body contained in a Tokiwadai racing swimsuit, with brown twintails, with belts around her thighs, and with metal darts or crossbow bolts contained in those belts. As he slowly spread his arms, the scene gradually came into view. Y-your name was Shirai-san, right? A-arent you Misaka-hyans fwiend and that lehendary spehial-... Why do you look on the verge of tears and why cant you enunciate properly? Now, excuse me, but could you not bring an unneeded storm to our school!? I am with Judgment, so-...oh, I hate how this swimsuit doesnt have a sleeve for the armband!! Anyway, I stand on the side of law and order, so I cannot have a troublemaker like you wandering around! As she spoke, Shirai Kuroko tugged on Kamijous arm and they quickly escaped the carnivorous(?) crowd. She completely ignored the various comments: Thats Misaka-samas right-hand girl for you! Do you think she will be the next Ace? Isnt Shirai-san connected to White Spring Holdings which owns all those convenience stores and imported goods supermarkets? I need to check the stock prices! Did I just hear a middle school girl mention stock prices? Let them say what they want. More importantly, over here. Shirai dragged him into an odd room. It was slightly larger than a special classroom and was divided into smaller rooms like a box of luxury chocolates. It was more sturdily built than a net caf, but it had a similar atmosphere. Shirai Kuroko looked puzzled. Have you never seen a study room before? What!? Y-you mean people actually study outside of the classroom? Y-you dont even try to hide your lack of culture, do you? The twintail swimsuit girl threw Kamijou into one of the small rooms with a single study desk and chair and she shut the door behind her. He frowned when he heard the click of the lock. Um, Shirai-san? What is it? This room is soundproofed, so we can discuss whatever you like. Did you just lock the door? A locked and private soundproofed room in a high-class girls school!? L-lewd!! Again with the lack of culture!! Are you at an age where you see everything in an indecent light!? She said that, but how could he help it when he was forced into a room where he would be within a meter of a swimsuit girl at all times, even if he pressed his back against the wall? And even if everything was already hot and stuffy thanks to the heat wave, he was having trouble distinguishing the heat of the room from the girls body heat. Oh, no. Im feeling dizzy... Water. She readily held out a water bottle, but he refused to take it. They had to have used up quite a bit of water just to get him conscious again. When he did not take the bottle, Shirai placed it on the study desk. Just to be clear, I have no desire whatsoever to be anywhere near an ape like you. But leaving you out there could have caused a riot on the level of a year-end sale, so I preemptively put a stop to it. And Im grateful for that. What is all this? Things have been so weird for me since I got here. Are boys really that rare a sight for you? I suppose this hasnt been easy for you either. Well, as long as you dont try to take advantage of your position here. The twintail girl raised both hands and waved dismissively. And since he had someone he could actually speak with, Kamijou decided to ask a question. By the way. Yes? I heard some of you were working at...dissecting? Disassembling? Anyway, doing that kind of thing to the Elements. Yes, confirmed Shirai while sighing and crossing her arms. Kamijou leaned forward a little. So how much do you know about them? Do you know any weak points or anything!? Are they weak to a specific gas or acid? Do they rely most on their sight or is it some other sensory organ? That could really help once were out in the city!! Not so close! I really will punch you!! S-sorry. Pant, pant. Honestly, boys are always like this when you give them the slightest opening. Anyway, um? Oh, thats right. The Elements. It is true some of the girls are carting in the relatively small ones that Onee-sama has taken care of. The smallest ones would be the three meter Class 1 ones. However, even they would be too heavy to carry on ones own. They were much bigger than a large motorcycle. However, we dont know very much. They dont seem to be using any mechanical parts. They inefficiently copy the structures of living creatures. They are made from a carbon base rather than a metal or silicon. And thats about it. Carbon? Kamijou looked puzzled. Then are those translucent things living creatures? Thats hard to say. When you look at a mannequin made from a carbon material, do you call it a living creature? Well... And besides! The ones doing the so-called dissections are just a pathetic clique that doesnt want Onee-sama to have all the attention, so theyre desperate to show any results at all. Theyre assuming they have some great new discovery and then going over everything to find anything at all they can announce in a newspaper or the online news. If they found a piece of corn caught between an Elements teeth, they would blow it way out of proportion. Its all exaggerations, so I wouldnt trust them or expect much from them. ...Is that so? This may have sounded like a reaction to the heat wave and Elements, but in a way, this was still somewhat rational. Kamijous school had gone full post-apocalyptic, so a lot of them would run into trouble once the world returned to normal. Also. Shirai raised her index finger. Even if youre officially allowed to do what you want here, this is still Tokiwadai Middle School. I will make sure you obey the rules. Yes, to the letter! ...I must teach you just how rude it is for you to sit at the same table as Onee-sama!! I have been skipping sleep to patrol the school and maintain peace, so please do not ruin all of my efforts!! Hm? Oh, I cant believe you! That way you make that question sound so natural pisses me off more than anything!! Fine then. As Onee-samas herald, I, Shirai Kuroko, shall give you a detailed lecture on the wonders of the treasure of mankind known ash Mishaka Migodo... Her enunciation rapidly deteriorated. Her twintailed head wobbled and her swimsuit-covered back bumped into the wall. She then slid down and her small butt landed on the floor. Even now, she had an elegant way of sitting. Kamijou Touma frowned but finally caught on. Oh, no! Heatstroke! Not only was the temperature so dreadfully hot, but their own body heat had increased the room temperature in this locked room. She had also said something about skipping sleep and then she had gotten herself so worked up the blood rushed to her head. Kamijou grabbed the water bottle from the desk. He had heard it was best to place it somewhere with a major blood vessel, such as the inside of the elbow, the back of the knee, or the armpit, but he doubted this would help much since it was hotter than bathwater. He removed the cap, held the back of the girls head with his other hand, and titled the water bottle so it would part her small lips, but she did not seem able to swallow it on her own. If he kept pouring, the water would flow out the corners of her lips, down her chin, and onto her swimsuit. This may have happened for a silly reason, but it was no laughing matter. It looked like he needed to carry her to the infirmary and have a teacher or health committee member look after her. Which meant... ...Carry her on my back? Begin simulation! Every option pressed her chest against his back. If she found out, she would kill him. ...Like a bag of rice? It did not seem right to walk around with a swimsuit girls butt sticking out like a bazooka at face level. He tilted his head and found the only acceptable answer. ...Princess carry? However... A sound like flapping wings came from Misaka Mikotos feet. She had dropped the A.A.A. maintenance report she had been holding. Academy Citys #3 Level 5 had seen it! Ah, ahhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Kamijous entire body jumped as he carried something. Or rather, someone. For some reason, he was princess carrying Shirai Kuroko. Wh-wh-wh-why are you-...!? Why would you-...!? Why are you-...? She has heatstroke. You mean you found my underclassman unable to move or resist and decided to take advantage of it by carrying her off somewhere!? O-oh, no. Why do I feel such a sense of defeat!? Get it together, me!! Hmm. Kamijou thought for a longish moment. Dont get so upset that I stole your chance to princess carry your underclassman. And didnt I already do this back during that incident with the other Teleporter? Girls schools sure are scary... In a reaction even more reflexive than a sneeze, bluish-white sparks burst from her bangs. They quickly formed a spear. Thats not what I felt defeated about!!!!!! Part 7 Take this. Nice serve, Kongou-san. Kamijou heard shrill voices from the schoolyard. He glanced out the window and saw girls in racing swimsuits chasing after a ball on the tennis court. They seemed to be playing a doubles game. (Now this is an incredible sight.) He had grown used to curling up in a dimly-lit room with barricades over the windows and doors. But which was actually healthier? Keeping up some light exercise and maintaining mental stability may have actually reduced the physical and mental drain. Of course, they could only do this because those sweating girls did not have to worry about the supply of water they were casually drinking. The next real development arrived that evening. As the only boy at the girls school, Kamijou stood out wherever he was. He was not too fond of the girls mixture of curiosity and fear, so he was killing time at a relatively deserted part of the hallway when Racing Swimsuit Mikoto called out to him. Hey, Princess Carry Abductor. I dont know why Im being treated like some new generation of criminal, but you already shot five lightning spears at me! I dont know what youre so mad about, but can you please just let it go!? Kamijou was half in tears, but Mikoto ignored it. Weve finished our discussions and Ive taken care of all the Elements around the School Garden. It doesnt give me much of a break, but were heading out as soon as the A.A.A.s maintenance and condition check are complete. Were headed straight for the Crystal Tower. Meaning? This could all be over tonight. Academy Citys December will once more be the realm of Santa Claus and a white Christmas. That was good news. He had hoped this day would come, but it was all happening so quickly that it actually made him a little scared. You get ready too. The two of us will probably be the cornerstone of this mission. Understood. Just as she started to leave, Kamijou spoke to her back. By the way, are you doing okay? I-I dyont mind the princess carry thing!! I dyont mind at all!! Hm? What are you talking about? I meant that nosebleed. Oh. He had tried to put it gently, but her shoulders jumped a bit. He had not been all that worried, but that may have been a disgraceful scene that a high-class girl would rather not remember. Its not a problem. I dont have anything serious like heatstroke or dehydration. I see. (...Hm? Then what caused it?) That was the extent of their conversation. They parted ways for the time being. She had told him to get ready, but there was not much for him to do. Unlike with the water department, they did not need to bring anything back with them. When he stepped out onto the schoolyard, Mikoto was wearing her excessive machinery and the two boosters on the back were gently emitting bright bluish-white light. And she was not alone. Fifty to sixty other girls in identical racing swimsuits were gathered around her. Now, let us depart for the Crystal Tower. This will be a group effort. We need to be draw out our fighting spirit. The gentleman will be with us. And the sun is about to go down...heartbeat heartbeat. Kamijou only took a bottle of water from them and then looked over to Mikoto. She had a troubled look of her own. Flying you straight to the Crystal Tower was an option, but we have no idea how much of a resistance the Elements will put up if they notice what were up to. Just to be safe, it would indeed be best to bring some high firepower espers with us. In general, the Elements were confined to the ground and had difficulty with elevated areas, but that was only in general. At the water department, Kamijou had seen an Element that could fire an ultra-high pressure water cutter like a laser. Another group had gathered in addition to the volunteers. The blonde girl was at the center. Misaka-san, with you and the rest of our high firepower group at the Crystal Tower, our defenses back here will be a lot weaker. Dont you forget that. So dont waste any time in finishing this and getting back. I know that. The blonde girl placed both hands on another girls shoulders from behind. It was the girl with brown twintails. Ghhhhhh! Wh-why does that ape have to be the one going with Onee-sama? As her herald, this is when I need to act as her shield. But from what I heard, I was helplessly princess carried in front of her. Oh, what a nightmare... This is all about dividing our forces up effectively. If you left too, we really would be defenseless. Now, if you dont want me to mess with your head, come over here As everything was dyed orange in the twilight, they began their march toward the Crystal Tower. Misaka Mikoto flew out ahead using the bluish-white boosters. As she shot straight across Academy City, explosive flames blossomed like overlapping flowers on the surface. All of it accurately blasted the translucent and camouflaged Elements to pieces. Before, travelling five kilometers on a single search for water would have been suicide. But things were different now. They did not even climb onto the roofs. They were hesitant, but the group of girls set foot on the scorching asphalt and walked along with Kamijou in the lead. They walked down the manmade road that everyone had used without a second thought just a few days before. Wow... muttered Kamijou as he watched Mikoto make a U-turn overhead while waving a giant tank gun a little. This was on a whole new level. The common knowledge and assumptions that Kamijous school had built up no longer applied among these high-class girls. They walked right past the smoking remains of translucent Elements. Those had been six meter Class 2s. Kamijous class could not have stood up to them without being prepared for a 50/50 chance of losing someone to defeat them. The scale of five kilometers seemed to change. Time no longer seemed to stretch out infinitely as it had during his previous risky journeys. Before, falling to the ground had seemed like the end of the line for them, but now they were walking along it just fine. The racing swimsuit girls were calmly waving and yelling into the sky. Misaka-saaan, you missed some in this back alley! There is no need to bother her with such a small number. How about we deal with them instead? Take this! They sounded almost carefree as they produced deafening explosions. As they held up their hands, explosive flames and ice spears filled the entrance to the alley. They did not bother checking what remained beyond the smoke. The hunters had become the hunted. Kamijou felt very glad that these girls had solved their water and food problem on their own. Fighting them over supplies would have been truly reckless. If his class had run into them at a supermarket or a drug store, it would have been Kamijou and Aogami Pierce on the receiving end of that. Kamijou had a renewed appreciation of how well Academy City managed all these esper children. Oh, I remember this area, said a girl with wavy brown hair. Hm? Did you used to stop here for food after school or something? What!? U-um, um, no, I live at the dorm by the school, so I dont have many chances to leave the School Garden and, um, um...Awatsuki-saaan!! He tried to be conversational, but for some reason the girl blushed and ran away. It seemed out of place given how much firepower they had been demonstrating before. In her A.A.A. flying machine, Mikoto weakened the bluish-white plasma to slowly descend. She hovered nearby and spoke with some exasperation in her voice. How did you end up being the biggest threat around here? Id like to know that too. Its just those girls were saying something about remembering this area. Oh... Mikoto gave an exhausted-sounding sigh for once. By the end of that first day when the heat wave and Elements appeared, we already had our defenses set up. We had plenty of water and food, so we tried to share some with another school. We chose an elementary school that probably couldnt build up a foundation on its own. That sounds like a good thing to me. So was that elementary school near here? The thing is...I havent told the others because it would affect overall morale, but... She placed a hand on her forehead. There was a fight over the water and food. ... Several schools were fighting it out with weapons and esper powers and everything. Luckily, I noticed pretty early on. I made a quick U-turn and drove them off. I think the elementary school kids were fine. ...But that scared them. In the end, no one took the supplies. They all ran off. It was not a pleasant story. Hey, asked Kamijou. How many schools do you think have been isolated? I dont know. The elementary schools are better protected for security and disaster-prevention, so I think everyone can last a few more days if they realize there are underground supplies there and share that water and food. Kamijous school was not the only one approaching its limit. That was another reason they had to destroy the Crystal Tower as soon as possible. Once the countless Elements were gone, the people could freely move about in the heat wave. They would be freed from isolation and they could work together. (And Im kind of glad we hadnt realized the elementary schools had those supplies.) He did not hide that thought from himself. He could make the proper judgement now, but could he have done the same thing while surrounded by those barricades and with only darkness in the foreseeable future? And even if he had been able to, could he have stopped the others from boiling over? He was not entirely certain of that. At first, they had said they were borrowing water instead of hunting it, but he doubted anyone was calling it that anymore. Kamijou gulped as he realized just how fine a line he had been walking. But that was what naturally brought words to his lips. We need to settle this here. Yes. Lets end all of this. Mikoto used her boosters to fly back up into the sky. They repeated the same process from there. On the urban battlefield, Mikoto would use the A.A.A. to circle through the sky and bombard any apparent Elements. The girls would use their own esper firepower to blow away any Mikoto missed. They did not even need to approach the violent Elements. They unilaterally annihilated those monsters from a safe distance without giving them a chance to counterattack. The group of girls had not taken any real damage. Not even the glass-like shards of the Elements themselves had harmed their soft skin. I can see it now, said a black-haired girl. He had a feeling she would blush and run away if he responded, so Kamijou silently looked in the direction she was pointing. Below the purple sky of late evening, the last hints of sunlight glittered off of a giant structure between the buildings. It was indeed a Crystal Tower. It looked like a roughly-cut icicle stabbing upside-down from the earth. It was so large he nearly lost sight of the proper scale, but it was apparently thirty meters thick and two hundred meters tall, making it about the size of a radio tower. It had also apparently broken through a domed stadium from within. He climbed on top of a nearby pedestrian bridge to gain some height and he indeed saw something like a burst and flattened airbag at the bottom. No. Wait. What is that? A heavy tremor ran through the ground and the scorching metal pedestrian bridge swayed and creaked ominously below him. He could see the smashed airbag of a domed stadium at the base of the Crystal Tower. But that was not all. There was something there. It was coiled around the base of the tower. The reptilian silhouette had long vertical pupils never seen on a mammal. It had four legs and a tail longer than the rest of its body. The second he saw it, Kamijou forgot any of this was real. The word dragon came to mind, but that did not follow the Elements rules. It was probably based on a lizard or something, but Kamijous mind jumped to a flightless dragon because of its size. The Element that seemed to embrace the Crystal Tower was about half as long as the tower was tall. The distance may have been messing with his sense of scale, but that giant structure rivalled a radio tower at two hundred meters. Half of that was one hundred meters. This was different from running across a crocodile or a bear. Of course it shocked even the proper danger signals from his mind. Class 1 was 3 meters, Class 2 was 6 meters, Class 3 was 12 meters, and they had assumed Class 4 was the largest at 24 meters. Then what was this? Didnt this skip right past a theoretical Class 5 and reach Class 6!? Watch out... Be on your guard! shouted Kamijou. This is bad. This isnt like the others!! The giant Element that could be mistaken for a flightless dragon had a will-o-the-wisp core in the center of its chest. It was blue, the same color as the common octopus he had seen at the water department. The light was so large he could see it clearly from this distance and it pointed to a certain fact. Water. An instant later, a dragon-like blast of ultra-high pressure water shot through the sky and struck Misaka Mikoto. Part 8 Ah. Kamijous mind went blank. He could not tell what was happening in the sky. The site of the collision was enveloped in an explosion of steam, so the details were obscured. What had happened to Misaka Mikoto? Was she still airborne, or had she fallen? A strange chill lifted his entire stomach. Yes, he recalled that he was on the ground, where the Elements ruled and death was guaranteed. His instincts told him they were no longer protected by their god of war. As the far-too-large lizard clung to the side off the Crystal Tower, its eyes wriggled around inhumanly. It was staring down at the raw meat walking defenselessly along the ground. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! His height from the ground did not matter. Kamijou grabbed the scorching railing and threw himself from the pedestrian bridge just as the second shot tore across Academy City. The ultra-high pressure water cutter tore through and blew away the metal pedestrian bridge itself. He somehow managed to land, but his momentum got the better of him and he had to roll along the scorching road before shouting to the girls around him. Get inside a building!! We cant let it see us! Well be worn down bit by bit if we do!! But the girls did not react much. They seemed confused and he felt no urgency from them. Eh? But... Misaka-sama will take care of the Elements. We dont need to worry about anything. The smooth sailing so far had backfired. They did not understand what it meant to lose to the Elements. After being so perfectly protected over the past few days, they had learned nothing. And their opponent was not going to wait around. The giant lizard opened its mouth while clinging to the Crystal Tower. Kh...!!!!!! He thought his raised stomach was going to turn inside out. But he managed to get up and step forward. He moved in front of those racing swimsuit girls who had been completely left behind by this twisted reality. The explosive roar and his right hand just barely overlapped. An explosive blast scattered across the area, but no one lost a limb. They were still alive. But he could not let his guard down. The common octopus had used its water for more than just direct destruction. The water had been turned to steam by the heated concrete and asphalt. That thick cloud had acted as a smokescreen and sapped people of their strength like a sauna. The nearby explosion and tremor seemed to finally bring the girls back to reality. The relaxed atmosphere was replaced by one of much rawer fear. Kamijou gave his instructions again before that atmosphere could become confusion or panic. Hurry inside!! We cant stay in its line of sight!! The high-class girls frantically began to move. Kamijou wiped sweat from his brow, forcibly grabbed the hand of a girl sobbing where she had fallen to the ground, and ran inside a nearby multi-tenant building. It was full of Elements. Three meter Class 1 spiders and octopuses had crowded into this dark cool spot. Get them!! On Kamijous shout, the sobbing girl he was pulling along by the hand almost reflexively raised her other hand. After several explosive sounds, the small Elements were smashed against the wall behind them. More due to the side effects of her own attack than the Elements, the girl had small rips all across her racing swimsuit. After a low and heavy rumble from outside, the entire building shook. Kamijou did not even need to check out the window. It had dropped from the Crystal Tower. What for? To hunt down the insolent criminals and to approach enough to see them. ... Like a doll without a skeletal framework, the swimsuit girl pressed her small butt against the floor as she sat back down. Kamijou thought while using the hand not holding her hand to wipe sweat from his brow. The girls had extraordinary firepower. They could instantly kill Class 1 Elements on command. But it would take a lot of time to wear down the 100 meter lizard like that. And he did not want to think about how many of them would fall victim to the ultra-high pressure water cutter in that time. In fact, if it just got close, it could knock the entire building over with a tackle. Sacrifices would be unavoidable. A one-shot kill was the only option. And since they could not contact Mikoto, there was only one person who could pull it off. Hey. As the girl sat on the floor and sobbed like a small child, Kamijou placed his hands on her shoulders and crouched down. He made sure to put himself on her eye level. You tell the others not to go outside no matter what. Ill draw that thing away. And it will be easier to guide it if it can only see one target. Understand? B-but, hic, um, what about you...? He did not answer. He pushed lightly on her slender shoulders and used that to push himself up. He stood up again, grabbed a bundle of plastic ropes, and walked to the emergency staircase door. (I have no one supporting me. On my own, Ill have trouble with just the small Elements crawling along the ground. I guess that means Im confined to the rooftops again.) He opened the door. He stepped outside. The metal staircase attached to the outside wall continued up from there. He grabbed one plastic rope and pulled it out. To slide down the metal wires connecting the buildings, he would normally need a pulley made from a small roller skate wheel and a thick S-shaped hook meant to hang heavy equipment in a garage, but he could not be picky now. By wrapping the plastic rope around the wire in an upside down U-shape, he could at least hang down from it. After climbing to the roof, he saw a section of the ground filled with a cloud of dust. The giant lizard poked its head out from there. It broke the roadside trees, crushed the remains of abandoned cars, and broke through building walls as it fiercely approached him. It was between three and four hundred meters away. From the rooftop, Kamijous eyes clearly met those of the twisted translucent dragon. (Not good!!) Kamijou practically jumped from the building as he caught the metal wire between buildings with the upside down U-shape of his plastic rope. He grimaced at the stench of a burning petroleum product, but he could not stop sliding down the tightrope once he had started. That was when an explosive roar seemed to tear at his back. It was that ultra-high pressure water attack. He had somehow managed to avoid the first shot and the second shot tore away the roof of the building behind him. The metal railing flew through the air, the water tanks steel supports were torn away, and the metal wire supporting Kamijous weight lurched ominously. Would it snap or not? At the very last second, he let go of the plastic rope. Just as he collapsed onto the neighboring building, the third shot blasted right through the center of the metal wire. The wire wriggled like a snake and struck him on the back, sending him rolling a few more times along the scorching rooftop. Gaaahhh!? The unbearable pain elicited a scream. But that told him the giant lizard was definitely targeting him. He sensed a sticky intent to kill not found in unmanned machines. It would not grow fixated on the building itself or try to dig out the girls inside. Kamijou slowly got up and moved toward the next wire. Staying in one place would only get him shot. He was about three hundred meters from the giant lizard and less than a kilometer from the Crystal Tower. He pictured the general lay of the land and shouted to the ruler of the ground which was covered in the stench of death. Bring it on, monster!! Ill show you who this city belongs to!! He knew it could not understand him, but it still shook its head as if in annoyance and then opened its great maw. Kamijou was almost blown away again and again as he used the metal wires to move from building to building. Several of the wires and emergency staircases were sliced through on the way, so he could not turn back. Not to mention that the tightropes only worked one way due to the height difference. If there was no wire to the next building, he would be at a dead end, but he continued full speed through the unpredictable labyrinth. (With that high initial speed, this wont get harder to dodge the closer I get, so it would be best to continue approaching and get within punching range of this thing. Moving away will only let it wear me down slowly!!) The Element did not seem interested in predicting what route he would take. If it had done that, it could have destroyed all of the adjacent buildings to isolate him on a single rooftop and then taken its time targeting him there. They were within 150 meters of each other now. There were only four or five buildings between them. (I can do this. I can even see all the metal wires I need! I can take it out when we cross paths!!) However, he had forgotten a fundamental fact. Setting up two-dimensional barricades and fleeing to the rooftops was not enough to keep Elements away. Even if it was only as likely as being hit by lightning or a meteor, such a tragedy was still possible. In other words, the Crystal Tower could request for Elements to be dropped from space. Just as Kamijou thought his victory was assured, a fiercely massive shadow passed over him. What? He forgot to wrap the plastic rope around the metal wire and stared up instead. He saw an unbelievably large mass. It rivaled the giant lizard that he saw as a flightless dragon. It was a 100 meter Class 6. Countless teeth lined the jaws which opened wide to the left and right. It could likely bite right through not just the rooftop but the entire building he stood on and Kamijou finally realized what it was. This incarnation of death was a far-too-large... (Croco...dile...?) A moment later, a dreadful tremor shook the entirety of Academy Citys District 7. Part 9 There was nothing he could do. Faced with this direct hit, the fear may have stopped his heart a few seconds early. But Kamijous life did not actually end. Then what had caused the thunderous noise and shaking? The answer lay before his eyes. Several shells and lines of light were released from the ground and were mercilessly thrown right into the massive crocodiles mouth. If a one hundred meter mass had dropped straight down in freefall, it might have created a large crater in Academy City, but that did not happen. The anti-air bombardment fired from the ground pushed back the giant crocodile, causing it to bounce in empty air. It collapsed into the city on its back, like it had failed in a backflip. Only one person could have done that. Kamijou grabbed the metal railing despite the heat it had absorbed and leaned out to look to the ground. He saw someone wrapped in wriggling mass of machines. Misaka!! You survived!? Youre one to talk! Im grateful you protected those girls, but that was beyond reckless!! They did not have time to complete their conversation. Kamijou threw himself to the rooftop to hide. The giant water lizard still remained. With an explosive roar, an ultra-high pressure water cutter cut through Academy Citys evening sky just above the rooftop. He grabbed the plastic rope again, got up, and shouted to Mikoto. The croc had a yellow core! Its probably a Wind one, so be careful!! Youre kidding. Its still moving after I blew off its upper jaw!? A biological crocodile would have lost its brains, but the Elements were only modeled after living creatures. They seemed to keep moving until the glowing core in the center was gone. There was another low rumble. It came from a different direction than the water lizard or wind crocodile. Kamijou spotted the source as he slid to another building on a metal wire. Two more similarly-sized monsters were lifting their heads above the buildings and snapping all of the wires around them. The one with a red Fire core was an emperor scorpion. The one with a green Earth core was a leaf mantis. This made a total of four and one each of the known core varieties. (The Crystal Tower really must be important to them!) Mikotos great destructive power arriving so close to the Crystal Tower may have acted as a trigger. If these giant things had been walking around freely before, Kamijous school would have been crushed with no way to fight back. And this did not change what they had to do. Kamijou continued to focus on the Water lizard that would be the easiest to approach. After he touched it with his right hand and it fell apart, he could focus on the other Elements. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He raised his voice and placed the plastic rope in an upside-down U-shape to reach the final building on a wire that seemed about to snap already. The giant lizard had just collided with the building wall and come to a stop. It was dangerous, but if he jumped down now, he could land on its back! The dragon pulled its face from the building and swung its head straight up. It opened its large maw toward Kamijou. Kh. His throat grew dry, but something else happened a moment later. With a series of explosive roars, the equally large crocodile was blasted into the air and landed on the giant lizards back while giving off black smoke. Needless to say, the crocodile had been thrown there by Tokiwadai Middle Schools Ace. The lizards aim was thrown off, so the ultra-high pressure water tore through the empty evening sky. Kamijou would not be given a second or third chance at this, so he climbed over the metal railing and jumped down. This was no time to be thinking about looking cool by slamming his fist down as he fell. It was more like he accidentally touched it to support his body when he nearly slipped off. Nevertheless, it was tremendously effective. He heard cracks running through the giant lizard and its joints came apart one by one. Its giant body scattered across the road like a doll someone had forgotten to assemble. Even the giant blue will-o-the-wisp in the center of its chest readily vanished like a candle being blown out. Then Mikoto shouted up at him from the ground. Get down!! Countless lasers burned through the air and collided with the crocodile on top of the lizard. She finished it off with a roar from her fortress-attack large-caliber railgun. Rather than causing an explosion, the yellow will-o-the-wisp in the center of the crocodiles chest was pierced straight through and blown away. Kamijou descended the translucent remains like a slide and set foot on the scorching ground once more. Misaka Mikoto was there. A drill, an acoustic cannon, and a few other weapon barrels were bent, so she had likely used them as a shield against the water cutter. Thanks to that, she had survived unharmed. Two down, two to go. How much can you do, Misaka? Do you think you can fly? I can now that youve silence that anti-air water cannon. Lets go!! She ignited her boosters and flew in a straight line again. Kamijou had no way of keeping up with her speed, so he ran along the asphalt while watching her move ahead and fire down shells and Gatling gun rounds. Their enemy was a Fire emperor scorpion and an Earth leaf mantis. Unlike the Water lizard, they did not seem to have any direct striking power, but Mikoto could not relax. If the scorpion covered the ground in a sea of flames, the brutal heat of the updrafts would assault her entire body. If sharp pointed pebbles were part of that, it would become a shower that tore into her soft skin. She was flying in and out at random angles to make sure they could not narrow down their aim. And while the gigantic Elements were focused on the sky, Kamijou ran along the ground without producing any light or noise. He approached their feet. If Mikoto was fighting with a direct exchange of blows, then Kamijou was more like a poison stinger. If they noticed him, they would trample him, but if he completed his approach, he could end this in a single blow. The emperor scorpion came to a sudden stop. Kamijou actually needed to run for his life to make sure he was not caught in the landslide of remains as its giant body fell apart at the joints. The leaf mantis finally seemed to notice the venomous bug creeping along the ground, but it could not swing its scythe. There was only one left now. Misaka Mikoto focused her aim and an even more concentrated line of fire poured down on Academy City. The translucent silhouette was helplessly torn apart and the will-o-the-wisp in its chest vanished. All four had been defeated. But they could not rest easy. Fully-equipped Misaka Mikoto looked up and raised her voice. More are on their way! Its six more of the same size!! At this rate, theyll have a never-ending supply of reinforcements from space!! Then what are we supposed to do!? The racing swimsuit girl answered Kamijous question by forming a gun with her right hand and pointing at the Crystal Tower. Blow away the beacon before they finish falling, and theyll mess up their landing. Its all a race against time!! Dammit!! Kamijou cursed and started running toward the gigantic landmark. Mikoto had the greater speed, but she used her boosters to fly straight up instead. She likely wanted to blow away as many of them as she could before they landed and could actually fight. And if she could not make them bounce in midair like with the crocodile, their landing could create a massive crater. In fact, it was a bit of a mystery how the original lizard had arrived on the surface. They were falling from outside the atmosphere, so it took a fair bit of time even after they came into view. Kamijou was seven to eight hundred meters from the Crystal Tower. That was approaching the limit of what he could run at full speed. The threat approaching from above squeezed at his heart, but he kept his legs, his arms, and his entire body moving to continue running. He was leaning forward nearly to the point of falling as he charged into the domed stadium. Even from outside, he could tell the gate had been blown away. This type of dome was apparently supported by the air instead of pillars, but that internal pressure may have run wild when the Crystal Tower had broken through from within. He stepped over the glass and twisted metal of the gate and continued on inside. The stairs down from the stands and the great size of the mound were an annoyance. Even with the crushed roof, there was still a clear area with the height of a tunnel. He ran and ran and ran and ran to reach the base of the eerie Crystal Tower. He clenched his right fist. With the sky blocked from view, he could not see the time limit. He had four meters to go, three meters, two meters, one meter... And then an Element modeled after a longhorn beetle aimed at him from the side. It had used its translucent camouflage. The threat had been nearly invisible to human eyes. As a three meter Class 1, it was nothing compared to the one hundred meter monsters he had defeated with Mikoto, but one of its attacks could still easily take his life. Kamijou clenched his teeth and glared at the large jaws approaching so close. Ah, ahhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! He shook off all of the fear. He twisted his body to direct his fist forward and slammed it into the Crystal Tower. The deadly jaws prepared to clamp down on his fragile torso. The very instant before they did, a tremendous number of cracks spread from his fist. The great tower had broken through the domed stadium from within, but now it crumbled almost too easily. A fragment larger than a tour bus broke through the cloth canopy and fell on the longhorn beetle. There was no more need to swing his right hand. The Element shrieked as more of its masters betrayals rained down on top of it. Wah, wahh, waaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!??? Kamijou was not safe either. He initially dove down onto the artificial grass, but he did not feel at all safe with the boulder-like fragments pouring down. Not to mention that the Crystal Tower as a whole was shaking unsteadily. He could not just get down on the ground. Staying here would get him killed. The fear of death drove his heart and all of his organs out of control. He sprang to his feet and ran with all his might. He made a beeline for the domed stadiums exit. He spotted a few smaller Elements on the way, but he did not have time to fight them. Translucent remains poured down like rain and crushed the Elements that did not even try to dodge or defend. At the end of his mad dash, he just about rolled out of the crushed dome just in time for the Crystal Tower to topple over. That thing was mankinds enemy to the very, very end. Of all things, the giants sword swung down toward him even though he had changed direction. Youve got to be kidding me!! Does my misfortune never end!? He desperately threw out all shame and respect. He tripped, rolled, and crawled to move as far to the side as possible. He continued his flight. He avoided a direct hit. However, the collapse stirred up an intense cloud of dust and scattered small fragments of broken concrete and asphalt like a thick sandstorm. He frantically got down on the ground, but the repeated blows to his body sent him rolling. When he came to a stop, he saw a piece of rebar stabbed into the ground. It was mercilessly embedded in the asphalt just a few short centimeters from his neck. Pant...pant...!!!!!! He did not feel like he was alive. Nor could he believe what he had done or what that had accomplished. He grasped the reality of the situation when he heard the explosive rumbling overhead. After flying through the orange sky for a while, Mikoto noticed him, weakened the bluish-white light of her boosters, and slowly descended to hover nearby. I destroyed three of them in the air. The others were swept away by the atmosphere. Based on the angle, they definitely ended up in the Pacific. Judging by the corpses weve looked at, their specific gravity is pretty high, so they shouldnt float back up in the water. A-are you sure thats okay? They arent going to arrive at Tokyo in a few months like a kaiju movie, are they? I have no way of knowing that, but Id like to believe the adults are smart enough to check with satellites and send out underwater probes. Either way, they had no way of finding out immediately from inside Academy City. They would have to settle the chaos inside the city before they could deal with a problem outside it. So did we settle this for the time being? Looks like it. It doesnt feel that way at all. But no more Elements are showing up. They were sending out tons of their precious hundred meter ones before, but now its stopped completely. ... Kamijou looked up into the evening sky, but the human eye could not see into space. If he had known in advance the world was going to end up like this, he might have bought himself a telescope. Racing Swimsuit Mikoto used her gauntlet to wipe the sweat from her brow and smiled. We need to focus more on monitoring the sky for a while, but this really might have been the only Crystal Tower. If so, we can assume there will be very few additional reinforcements. If we mop up the Elements on the ground, people can return to the streets. It took Kamijous brain some time to realize what that truly meant. His understanding slowly caught up. If he had let his guard down, the dams of his tear ducts would have burst. They had made it. The people confined to isolated points around the city had made it. Kamijous school, the elementary schools that probably could not build up a foundation for survival on their own, and everyone else were saved. Of course, they could not let their guard down. No one had kept statistics on the total number of Elements, so there was still a chance of a surprise attack after everyone thought they had been mopped up. Still, this was far better than when the Elements had ruled the entire city. This was no different than a redback spider lurking behind a harbor vending machine during the winter. They would not let those monsters have their way. It was the humans turn to find them and crush them. As the whirlpool of information spread explosively through his mind, Kamijou uttered two simple words. ...Thank goodness. Yes, thank goodness indeed. Misaka Mikoto softly placed her armored hand on the boys shoulder. Lets regroup with the others and get back to Tokiwadai. Once things have calmed down, Ill take you to your shelter. Once they know the threat of the Elements is gone, every school should see a drop in internal pressure. That will allow them to regain their humanity. Yes. Yes, thats right... He was unsure if he could believe that. But that hopeless worry may have been the kind of extraneous thought that proved he had escaped the stinging fear of death. He spoke while walking back the way he had come. Well, it seems the heat wave is still with us. This would have been a lot simpler if all of it had been on the Crystal Towers orders. Even if things arent that convenient, we can overcome this once the flow of people grows more active and we can all work together. The heat wave is caused by an incredible amount of microwaves, so the temperature wont rise as long as youre properly shielded. With help from the chemistry and physics teachers, they can gather supplies at discount stores and hardware stores to apply shielding to their shelters. That will gradually build up larger living spaces. And by cutting the heat off from the infirmaries, the collapsed people should recover faster. It sounds too good to be true. And yet thats exactly what the two of us accomplished. Mikoto smiled while gently hovering nearby in her machine. Once I have the time to spare, Ill turn my focus up toward space. I want to know whats going on up there. Whats creating the Elements and the microwaves? ...I wonder if the equipment and facilities in District 23 survived. If we can breathe life back into that specialized space development equipment, we might be able to reach the source of all this. Come to think of it, we used a mass driver back with the High Priest, didnt we? Kamijou had trouble picturing it, but even if there was a giant UFO mothership or space station up in satellite orbit, they might be able to shoot it down by loading a ton of explosives in a mass driver. But that too would come later. It was different from everything so far which had been focused on the survival of the children who made up 80% of the citys population. The space stuff could be handled by the adults who made up the remaining 20%. But if their circumstances conflicted with Kamijous, then they might end up clashing. After thinking that far, Kamijou smiled. He smiled because he could actually think about things more than 24 hours in the future. They had entered a new era. Lets get back. Right... They easily regrouped with the girls who had remained in the nearby multi-tenant buildings. The glass shattered by the shockwaves had left cuts in the chests and stomachs of their racing swimsuits and some of them had injuries on their fingertips, but that was the only noticeable damage. Kamijou was grateful that the ultra-high pressure water cutter and rubble from collapsed buildings had not hit any of them. Fwehhh, Misaka-samaaaa.... Ohh, yes, yes. We dealt with the Crystal Tower, so itll be okay now. Lets get back and take a shower, okay? I just hope the power comes back up soon so we dont have to use a compressed air pump. When Kamijou saw Mikoto comforting the sobbing racing swimsuit girls, he could really tell she had become their psychological support as a proper Onee-sama. But then a few of the girls hesitantly spoke to Kamijou himself. They sounded as nervous as before, but... U-um... ? Thank you very much for, um, protecting us and Misaka-sama! When they looked straight at him, he could not decide what to say. He had been saved more than anyone. He had only delivered the finishing blow with his right hand and it had been these girls who had paved his way there. On his own, he would have been killed while trying to figure out how to even get close to the Crystal Tower. And that was why he said what he did. No, thank you. He kept it short so as to not provoke too extreme a reaction, but they started shrieking in excitement as they ran back to the group of girls. He was still having trouble deciding if he had gotten closer to them or farther away. At any rate, they began their return to Tokiwadai Middle School. There was no guarantee the danger had passed, but they fortunately did not run into any leftover Elements. However, they began to speak less and less the closer they got to the School Garden. Something was not right. A tense, prickly atmosphere grew. They had toppled the Crystal Tower and the threat of the Elements should have been gone, but the sense of death gradually grew and wrapped around Kamijou, Mikoto, and the others. What...is that? someone asked. They saw a stain rising into the evening sky. It was a line of black smoke. And it came from the School Garden...no, from Tokiwadai Middle School. What is that!? One of them uttered a definite scream. The School Garden was a special zone containing several girls-only schools, so it was surrounded by a thick wall and they had built a barricade over the entrance gate. However, that barricade had been smashed to pieces like a dump truck had crashed through it. There had been tall watchtowers inside the gate and high firepower espers should have intercepted any Elements that got close. Those watchtowers were nowhere to be seen. Speechless, they climbed through the gaping hole and saw the watchtowers had fallen to the ground. They ran over when they spotted a girl groaning with her leg caught below a steel beam. It hasnt pierced her leg. Shes just caught. Can we lift this steel beam somehow!? Ill try to use my A.A.A. Once theres a gap, you pull her out! Mikoto stuck a uselessly bent drill between the steel beam and the ground to forcibly secure the space they needed. Kamijou reached below the girls arms and pulled her out. Ghhh! Her leg was bent at an odd angle, it had grown purple, and it was quite swollen. It was definitely broken. I can make a splint from some branches and plastic rope. But theres nothing I can do about internal bleeding. What do we do!? Ill gather volunteers from our girls. Not all espers are about destructive power. ...More importantly, what in the world happened!? The racing swimsuit girls quickly set to work relieving the pain, stopping the blood, disinfecting the wound, removing the pooled blood, and setting the bone. They made quick progress. Kamijou honestly did not know if his school could have done this well. He could only imagine they would have laid the injured girl down in whatever bed they could find. Th-the Elements... While they treated her wound, the guard girl forced out a scratchy voice as if desperately holding onto her consciousness. The Elements. Had they really attacked the School Garden? Even with all these defenses in place? Kamijou could not picture it. He had to admit the School Garden would have been helpless against that hundred meter lizard, but a sporadic attack by normal-sized Elements should have been easily wiped out by the high firepower girls. Or so he thought. However, the injured girl had more to say. That person was leading the Elements... That person? he asked back. What do you mean? Who is that person!? But that was as far as she got. A large tremor ran through the girls shoulders. Speaking and giving her report must have relaxed her enough to pass out. Its okay, its okay! She has a solid pulse. Lets let her rest. When another girl said that from the side, Kamijou could not argue the point. Even if someones esper power was reducing the pain, it would have been cruel to wake her back up with that broken leg. But who is that person? And they were leading the Elements? Until now, he had thought they were led by the Crystal Tower, giving them an entirely mechanical chain of command. But that did not explain this conversation. The girl would not have referred to something mechanical or inorganic as that person. However, Kamijou had found himself viewing the more powerful ones like thinking beings. It was possible there was a more human-like Element out there. He wanted to believe that. He could not imagine anything else. But what if that person really was a human like them? That would mean whoever it was had the power to lead and command several Elements. Did that mean they had not overcome the threat of the Elements by destroying the Crystal Tower? Just like people gathered in a crisis, could that person be gathering the surviving Elements to make a comeback? He did not want to think about it. He did not want to find that was true. And so he avoided that line of thought. He shut down the workings of his brain. Then he slowly looked over to Misaka Mikoto. Their greatest power in a racing swimsuit made her decision in a calm voice. Lets head back. We need to find out what happened while we were gone. R-right. They left the other girls there. They did not know what dangers lay ahead and they did not know how many were injured. Setting up a first-aid base as a portal would be better than taking everyone with them. Kamijou and Mikoto continued on alone. The School Gardens European-style road was a complete mess. Glass had shattered, walls had crumbled, and stone pavement had been torn up. However, there was an odd aspect to it all. There was sporadic damage, but not the thorough destruction of a carpet bombing. It was like someone had made a somewhat regulated march while holding the reins of unruly wild beasts. They noticed frightened gazes here and there. When Kamijou looked over, curtains were pulled over the windows in the partially-destroyed buildings. The people inside did not want anything more to do with what was going on. They had destroyed the Crystal Tower and supposedly freed the city from the Elements, but the atmosphere of fear was spreading once more. What happened? Everyone refused to respond, so that question remained unanswered. Mikoto could have flown up into the sky and instantly found the answer, but she did not. She did not increase her altitude at all. She nearly blocked the road as she made progress near the ground. Just like after the hit from the Water lizard, she was clearly worried about a surprise attack. She could instinctually sense something that forced her to let go of the previous victorious mood. Evening was ending and night was beginning. As everything was wrapped in darkness, Kamijou and Mikoto returned to that school of despair. They saw Academy Citys prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School once more. The density of destruction was no comparison to the street. It was so bad that they were hesitant to even step onto the grounds. Some sort of unseen pressure was holding them back. Then they saw something. Just as they worked up their resolve and took the first step, they saw a collapsed girl with her back leaning against the half-crumbled wall on the reverse side of the main gate. She had long blonde hair, a racing swimsuit, a brand-name purse with its thin plastic strap worn diagonally, and a honey sweet aroma. Ha...ha ha. They got us. Shokuhou!! That panicked cry came from Mikoto who actually knew her name. But for some reason, it was Kamijou the girl looked up at while leaning against the wall like an unmoving doll. The blood flowing from her forehead had gotten in her eye, so only the one was open. She must have been scratched by sharp claws because her racing swimsuit had large rips in places. Well, leaving my prince with Misaka-san was essentially handing over my stock of miracles, so this was my choice. You dont need to worry yourself over it... You... Dont be silly. You dont need to force yourself to remember right now. You dont remember anything and you cant remember anything. Right now, you can even think of that as a strength. What happened here!? She was in a bad enough state that he hesitated to grab her shoulders and shake her. The white mansion had not escaped unharmed. The tennis courts and club buildings were a tragic sight as well. But most important of all was Misaka Mikotos hanger. The damage seemed to have been focused there. The Crystal Tower was bait... The blonde girl spoke in a whisper. No, even that whisper was the result of drawing out all of her remaining strength while her throat was clogged with blood. It was meant to identify anyone who could reach it in order to exterminate their base of operations. The Elements arriving from space and the conspicuous Crystal Tower were mere decorations meant to create something as many people as possible would notice... That person was laughing. Laughing while they destroyed everything. Even with the same numbers, a unified whole is entirely different from scattered individuals. With most of our high power group gone, there was nothing that Shirai-san, Kongou-san, and the rest of us could do... What? But who was it? The phrase that person had come up again. Be careful. That person attacked the base of operations first to cut off the supply line. They havent left yet. Theyre sure to be targeting you. Who is it? It should have been over. However, their assumptions had been overturned. The Crystal Tower had been a decoy and a trigger. It was because Kamijou and the others had reached it that that person had noticed Tokiwadai Middle Schools great power and led a group of Elements to attack it. In that case, who were the Elements working for? Who was that person and what did they want? Who is that person!? The blonde girls eyes widened unnaturally. She even forced open the bloody one. Ah, ah... Her dangling right hand started to twitch. She was trying to raise her arm, but it refused to move. However, her intent got through to Kamijou. No, he saw it reflected in her widened eyes. ...!!!??? Kamijou Touma and Misaka Mikoto turned around in unison. But it was too late. The true threat had silently snuck up behind them and it swallowed up the entire world... Between the Lines 3 Academy City Crisis Management Manual #1109 Hypothetical Destruction Filename Operation Blackout Needless to say, a metropolis with a population above a certain level will tend to be reliant on electricity. For example, New York and London are watched by more than five hundred thousand surveillance cameras, but in a complete blackout, riots will develop in the blink of an eye. There are a few different levels on which these riots can be triggered: the regional level of sociability, individual financial situations, and the strength of the weapons on hand. There is a safety myth that riots will not break out in Tokyo even during a blackout because the city is relatively financially stable and handguns are banned, but that is nothing more than a prediction calculated from that idea. Academy City is a part of Tokyo and yet a unique environment, so it would be especially weak to a blackout. First, students make up 80% of Academy Citys population. Their individual psychologies and regional level of sociability are still developing. To put it another way, they are immature. And as they are minors, they have almost no income of their own. They may appear affluent due to allowances from their parents and scholarships from their schools, but they subconsciously hold an oppressive complex about having to live on someone elses yen. This desire for independence can be found to some extent in almost every student, from the lowly Skill Out to the high-class girls. Then there are the weapons. Needless to say, the children of Academy City have esper powers from Level 0 to Level 5, so they are constantly wielding (or can claim to wield) deadly weapons. And the citys excellent technology would allow them to create handguns with 3D printers, so there is a great possibility for misuse of technology if the adults do not manage it properly. For the above three reasons, the odds are good that a blackout would trigger a largescale riot despite being in Tokyo and that riot would be extremely dangerous. The Board of Directors that currently leads Academy City seems to be reducing the risk of a blackout by distributing the power generation over countless wind turbines, but there is a flaw in this solution. A largescale blackout is not necessarily contingent on the loss of the power generation. For example, if a nuclear weapon detonated near the atmosphere, a massive electromagnetic pulse would descend on the city and destroy all of its electronics. Even if sturdy spare power generators are stored deep underground, a blackout is unavoidable if the devices that use the power have been destroyed. And if a large number of espers take part in the riot, it would be incredibly difficult to quell during a blackout. The adults of Anti-Skill use next generation weapons...that is, everything from their rifles to their unmanned tanks and fighters have been made into high-tech devices, so it is unknown what percentage of our current weaponry would still be usable. (A different document contains hypothetical combat data concerning Academy Citys #3, aka Railgun. Use it as a reference on the vulnerability of next generation weapons containing electronics.) Also, a complete blackout would affect the management of bacteria and chemicals stored in research facilities. If they were to leak out, Academy City would become a city of death within half a day, without even taking a possible riot into account. The dangerous specimens kept in cold storage would be most affected by a blackout. For the time being, I have a strict policy of installing secondary freezing systems that use chemical coolants rather than electricity. I also strongly recommend that Anti-Skill use old-fashioned iron sights in addition to their high-tech targeting devices. Also, cold sleep devices should be given a thermos-like structure and sealed in with chemical coolants such as liquid nitrogen or helium. However, exposing them to room temperature while still sealed will cause an explosion due to the expansion upon vaporization, so be careful. The thermos-like structure requires a plug to allow the vaporized gases to escape. What matters most is to maintain the power of the adults even during an emergency. I believe the most effective way of doing that is to adopt a combination of high- and low-tech rather than just using the cutting edge. Academy City Hypothetical Disaster Planning Calculations Director C Kihara Yuiitsu (The following is handwritten) Heh heh. I made sure to get it done by the deadline, so make sure to praise me. Lets get something to eat once youre finished grading it, Sensei. Volume 16, 3: Mutual Request for Assistance between Enemies - Double_Enemy. Volume 16, Chapter 3: Mutual Request for Assistance between Enemies C Double_Enemy. Part 1 This time. This time he truly did think he was dead. In fact, he could think of no possible way he could have survived. And yet... Kahah! Ah...!!!??? Still in his swim shorts, Kamijou woke up to his own coughing pounding at his eardrums. His vision and mind were muddy and he could not tell where he was lying. He desperately turned his head to gather as much visual information as possible, but that only threw the scene out of focus. The wild dance of light filled him with nausea similar to 3D motion sickness. However, that suffering told him he was still alive. Wha...ghh...what...gwah!! He seemed to lose his balance as he writhed around. He fell off of whatever he had been lying on. He fell onto a cold floor from waist height. Then another question came to mind. The floor was cold. Was it not being heated by the scorching 55 degree air? No, by the microwaves pouring down from space, if Mikoto was right. (This is different...) His eyes finally managed to focus. He focused on his racing heart and gulped. (I really am walking on the borderline this time. The slightest thing could push me over the edge and Id never come back. Was my heart really beating just now?) The floor was made of cold tiles and he had been lying on a silver stainless steel platform. The room looked like an industrial kitchen, but it had no gas range and instead had several large refrigerators lined up by the wall. Lastly, he noticed the scent of blood and fat. The entire room gave off the stench of raw meat. Kamijou was briefly reminded of a gloomy execution room from a horror movie, but that was inaccurate. Those execution rooms were modeled after something and the thick knives and large refrigerators here were the original version of it. (A meat...processing room?) A few plastic bags had fallen to the floor. They all had the same logo on them: White Spring Shopping Center. Kamijou never shopped there unless they were having an especially good sale, but it was a well-known mall in Academy City. It was a lot like a department store and supermarket had fused together, so one could buy anything from food to a wedding ring there. Of course, Kamijou Touma had not come here on his own. Something had happened since then and someone had carried him to the countertop in the meat processing room of a shopping mall. But who? He had no memories leading to this point. His memories stopped after arriving back at Tokiwadai Middle School. What had happened to Misaka Mikoto and...? There had been someone else there, but he could not remember their name or what they looked like. It was less like the drawer in his mind refused to open and more like his hand could not fit in the gap between the shelf and the wall. Kamijou had fallen, rolled, groaned, and now tried to get his mind working. But the answer was given to him. Hi, Kamijou Touma. Im glad to see the love of your right hand is still leading you down an unfortunate path in life. He recognized the boys voice reaching him from overhead. It was the boy with the other right hand, World Rejecter. No, it was the boy whose right hand had been severed by someone and had been stripped of that qualification. It was Kamisato Kakeru. You...? Why...!? Unable to get up, Kamijou crawled away from the boy who was surprisingly close by. Meanwhile, Kamisato Kakeru wore a swimsuit he may have acquired from this mall, but he was not sweating at all. Why? Because you were about to get taken out by that person and I had no choice but to lend a hand. Well, it was Salome and Fran who did all the work, so Im not saying you need to thank me or anything. ... Kamisato had used the same phrase: that person. That person was the one who had sacrificed the Crystal Tower to locate their enemy and then led the Elements to attack Tokiwadai Middle School, but this meant that person was not Kamisato Kakeru. Kamijou Touma silently stared at Kamisatos right hand like it disturbed him. The boys right hand had been severed, but now he had a hand there like nothing had happened. However, that hand did not contain World Rejecter. In fact, it was not even a boys hand. It had a gracefully femininity and slender fingers. Even the manicure mostly remained. Oh, this? The kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere casually clenched and unclenched his right hand. That proved he could move the fingers himself. Conversely, a thick wire was roughly stitched around the wrist like the repairs to a stuffed animal. I needed something to cover up the wound until I got that goddamn toy back. I collected this so it could double as payback. ... Kamijou had thought he was fairly understanding of organ transplants. If that allowed someone to heal their otherwise incurable disease and walk freely below the sun once more, it was a good thing in his book. But attaching a stolen organ was something else entirely. He could instinctually tell that was a hopeless act. A certain boy and a certain woman. Those two lunatics had swapped right hands and were now facing each other while holding up those hands like flags. That woman had the World Rejecter which had exterminated Magic Gods by the dozen. Kamisato had a screw loose. Was it due to being freed from World Rejecter which had been such an infuriating symbol for him? If this was what he became after that liberation, what exactly was his definition of normal or average? Kihara Yuiitsu, spat out the boy with a womans right hand. I dont need to get World Rejecter back. After cutting it off, I dont care if it gets smashed with a hammer. But I just cant stand letting her have it. Kihara... repeated Kamijou. He felt nauseous, as if an invisible hand were stirring up his brain. Kihara Yuiitsu. Yes...thats right. That person was her!! It was fragmentary, but his memories linked together. After receiving a hint from someone, he and Mikoto had turned around. There they had seen a demon leading countless Elements. Just like Kamisato, that woman had swapped her right hand out for someone elses. Kamijou shuddered. The blank in his memories weighed heavily on him. What happened after that? Why am I here!? What happened to the girls who were with me!? Dont ask me everything at once. Lets do this one at a time. And can you stand on your own? We let you sleep here since its the easiest place to shield, but I think Im about to catch a cold. Can we move elsewhere? ... His movements were slow and awkward, but Kamijou somehow managed to get on his feet without a helping hand. He cautiously followed Kamisato out the door and into a giant fresh foods store. The temperature rose significantly, but an icy chill flowed out from the vegetable shelves on the wall that apparently had power. These large stores generally had no windows, so they would grow pitch black even during midday if the power went out. Being able to see in here or in the meat processing room was proof enough that there was power, but Kamijou only now caught on. In addition to vegetables, the shelves contained meat, fish, and packaged meals. There were no gaps from looting either. It all looked pristine, but Kamisato continued on and spoke without looking back. The shopping mall is the standard in zombie movies, but it isnt actually all that great. Theres so much food that you cant eat it all. I think the fresh foods are going to go bad soon. After that, the place will probably become a hotbed of disease. This place was different yet again from Kamijous school where everyone was curled up in the darkness or Tokiwadai where everyone had used their intelligence and skills to provide for the necessities. In this case, they had too much and did not know what to do with it all. They could not eat all the food and it would then rot. The source of their worries was entirely different. Well, the stockrooms are full of mineral water which can apparently last over a year at room temperature as long as the caps arent removed. Rely on that and the canned, bagged, and freeze-dried foods and we can stay holed up here for a while, but it will seem a lot less appealing once we have less fresh foods to eat. Bars of chocolate and boxes of candy were stuck in the gaps between a few vegetables. That was likely to keep them from melting in the heat. Although the temperature safety measure has become something of a problem. Due to the heat, even if there wasn''t an issue it still determines that an anomaly is present and shuts off the gas. Thanks to that, weve had to eat a lot of our food rare. Calculations alone just arent enough. If you dont learn on site, youll try to strike back and just get your hand bitten. What...? Ha ha! Sorry, I guess my right hand is only a loaner right now. No, what did you mean? You tried to strike back and got your hand bitten!? Kamijou had thought that person, aka Kihara Yuiitsu, was behind all of this. By driving people inside with the heat wave and sending the Elements into the dark cool places, she had filled all the gaps to ensure everyone in Academy City suffered. Then she had used the Crystal Tower to lure out the people and forces capable of resisting or fighting back. From there, she would send out a great force to crush them. Wasnt that the situation? How did that mean Kamisato had gotten his hand bitten? In that case... Oh, you might be misunderstanding something. I was thinking of talking about that after settling down somewhere, but whatever. Meanwhile, Kamisato Kakerus response was calm. And it was the worst response possible. The heat wave and the Elements dont have the same cause. Kihara Yuiitsu was the one sending out all the Elements, but she has nothing to do with the microwaves. The Elements grow a lot less active in an environment above 42 degrees Celsius. Ellen, our forensics expert, figured that one out, so theres no doubting it. Ah? Kamijou had no idea what Kamisato meant. And that was why he forgot to stop the other boy from saying more. Were the ones suppressing their movements by covering the city in plenty of microwaves. Part 2 Oh, boss. Did that kid finally wake up? That rough girls voice came from the indoor food court. The wall was lined with restaurants serving crepes, chazuke, ramen, yakisoba, takoyaki, donburi, burgers, and more, but none of them were actually in business at the moment. A girl with her hair cut into something like fox ears was using one of the kitchens to cook pancakes. She wore a white bikini. Kamijou could not see her whole body with the counter in the way, but she seemed to be wearing a red pareo around her waist. If the gas range was working, it must have run off of a propane tank instead of the city gas. ...Although if they could gather the microwaves effectively, they probably would not need any other heat source, just like with a solar cooker. Or perhaps they were generating power like that. The roof may have been a flower garden of homemade parabolic antennae. But anyway, can you do something about Claire? Shes really having a tough time with this heat wave. Shes turning brown all over. Do you think shes shriveling up? Global warming sure is scary. Kamijou looked to the corner of the food court at which the girl pointed her spatula and saw a short girl in a baggy lab coat holding a toy watering can. She wore a frilly two-piece swimsuit below the lab coat and she was pouring water on a glasses girl lying wilted on the floor in a leaf swimsuit. F-fugyuhhh... More, more... The others are checking through the home gardening section, so wait just a little longer. I think I saw a TV ad for something like an IV that automatically gives your houseplants water while youre on vacation, but I dont remember what it was called... In addition to those girls, Kamijou saw something like a giant jellyfish caught in a fishing net. It was a pair of translucent raincoats. The person collapsed on a food court table slowly sat up. It was a brown-skinned girl with her long silver hair gathered on either side of her head like ammonites. She was Mass Murderer Salome. She was also Kamisato Kakerus non-blood related sister. She spoke sleepily to Kamijou like someone less than pleased to have been woken up. ...Oh. From the looks of you, I guess you remade your body well enough. Also, the mass murderers trademark raincoats were open on the front. For some reason, she wore a white school swimsuit below. Theres something wrong when wearing a swimsuit is adding a layer. Shut up. I have my reasons. I mean, its a simplified combat body, so didnt you say it doesnt even have the parts worth hiding? ................................................................................................................................................................................................ Hold it, mass murderer. Whats that suggestively long silence for? Eh? Wait. Dont tell me thats your serious-mode life-sized body! Does that mean...it has those parts? O-oh, dear! Salome-san, I may not be an expert on girls swimsuits, but they dont come with a pair of internal breast pockets with buttons, do they? Then what is that pushing out from below...? I said shut up!! And this is a school swimsuit, so why is it showing every little bump and indentation like this!? I thought I could trust Academy City technology!! The brown girl quickly lay back down on the table and mainly pressed the thin chest portion against the table in a desperate attempt to hide it from view. The answer was of course to make it a product of dreams and romance, but Kamijou held his tongue. Nothing good could come of angering a mass murderer. Since they had just exchanged such a meaningful conversation, Kamijou ended up sitting at the same table. Kamisato had been looking over at a more distant seat, but he gave up on that hope and joined them. Then the brother spoke to his sister. It isnt a problem with the material. Isnt that swimsuit just too small? Youre barely squeezing inside that thing. I-I can fit just fine. Im not forcing it at all. A-are you saying my waist is in real trouble right now, you goddamn stupid Onii-chan!? Youre a self-made cyborg, so you cant gain or lose weight in the first place. You keep stretching and snapping the shoulder straps or stretching the fabric on your butt, but isnt that because its too tight? What part of your insensitivity do you think is normal, dammit!? And why are those the things you notice!? The mass murderer blushed and snapped back at him, but the plain-looking boy waved his hand dismissively to ignore the annoyance. That part was normal enough, but the boys right hand was a womans severed hand sewed onto his wrist and he shared a table with a mass murderer. The gloomy power had gone beyond Shakespeare and entered the realm of Dostoyevsky. It all seemed to run into a fundamental question: what was a normal high school boy? Okay, can you tell me the most important thing now? What happened to the girls at Tokiwadai? Are they okay!? Im glad to hear youre still marching down the harem road, but youll have to ask the ones who were actually there. Salome was part of that team. Hm? The brown girl had zoned out a bit in the heat, so her head wobbled a little as she spoke. We somehow managed to save the gallery there. Although itd be better to say we missed our chance to take out Kihara Yuiitsu, dontcha think? When you went to destroy the Crystal Tower, it was obvious she would make her move. We thought it would be easy to get an attack in while she was focused on Tokiwadai, but reality wasnt so kind. Wait a second... Kamijou gulped and stared at the siblings like he could not believe his eyes. You knew from the beginning? You knew Misaka and the others would be attacked by Kihara Yuiitsu, but you just let it happen!? What the hell is wrong with you!? That was not saving them. If someone provided a gang of robbers with the GPS signal of a cash transportation truck and then dragged the driver out of the smoking truck, that did not count as saving them. Kamijou recalled the girl whose leg had been caught below the steel beam of a toppled watchtower. Her leg had definitely been broken, but she had forced down the pain and tried to get the truth across to Kamijou and the others. To ensure there would be no more victims, she had left that information with them and then passed out. Kamijou felt like her effort, conviction, and earnestness had been rejected. However, Kamisato was unfazed. The mass murderer pouted her lips and looked away like a delinquent girl scolded by her parents. ...Yeah, sorry. Ill decide later whether or not to forgive you. And? How did that farce turn out? You didnt wait around until someone had died, did you!? D-dont worry! Im a mass murderer, so I would know a lot more about death than normal people like you, dontcha think? Heh heh. When I kill, I make sure to take it seriously and enjoy it to the utmost. I wouldnt half-ass it like breaking a yam while pulling it out of the ground. Salome!! Sorry! Ill leave out the jokes, okay!? She seemed to jump a few centimeters up from her chair. B-but, but. It really was okay. Kihara Yuiitsu got away, but we smashed all of the Elements she brought with her. It was like she got caught in her own trap. She destroyed the hangar and theyve lost the A.A.A. that she was so oddly fixated on, so she probably wont approach Tokiwadai again, dontcha think? ...H-hey, you say something too, Onii-chan. This guys scaring me today!! The brown mass murderer waved her hands around and for some reason began tugging on Kamisatos arm. Swimsuit Kamisato responded by exasperatedly bringing his (womans) hand to his hair. Why are you better at acting like her Onii-chan than I am? Not even I can get Salome to be this obedient. Maybe you could get her to conquer her dislike of bell peppers. Leave that nonsense until later. Salome, you have to know who Misaka Mikoto is. What happened to her? I wont let you say you dont know. She was really snapping at me. I think she might be half the reason that Kihara Yuiitsu got away. But if she had it in her to launch a bombardment like that, shes gotta be fine, dontcha think? Salome? Okay, okay!! I wont say anything bad about those high-class girls!! Theyre all fine! Youre scary when it comes to girls other than me. What are you, my brother!? The brown girl raised her hands with tears in her eyes. When Kamijou heard that, the tension building in Kamijous gut finally relaxed somewhat. They were alive. He had not been taken here after being the only survivor dragged from a pile of rubble and corpses. Knowing that was a huge deal. (But Kamisatos group didnt leave me at Tokiwadai. And Mikotos A.A.A. should still have been able to fly, but it doesnt seem like she pursued them when they ran off with me.) The level of damage was still an unknown. They at least had their lives, but Tokiwadais facilities and equipment may have been destroyed. Now he was worried both about his own school and Tokiwadai. There was no real causal relationship, but he felt like a god of death or god of poverty. Everywhere he went ended up falling apart. (No, that isnt it... Everywhere must be near its limit and this is just what Im seeing. There might be other schools and shelters falling apart right this instant.) Salome awkwardly looked away and distracted herself by snapping her white school swimsuits shoulder straps with her thumbs. She was like a small child sulking because her parents would not forgive her no matter how much she apologized. ...Kamijou was not aware of it, but did he really have that frightening a look on his face? He slowly inhaled, exhaled, and started speaking again. How much time has passed? To be honest, we thought it would be over with the Crystal Tower. If the heat wave continues any longer, the isolated schools could fall apart. It might be hard to tell without any windows, but its three in the morning. We took you in at about six in the evening, so its been nine hours. You havent been sleeping for days on end, so dont worry. Do you still not get it, birdbrain? Im telling you to turn off the microwaves behind this heat wave youve caused... A silent change came over the atmosphere. It was the surrounding girls and not Kamisato himself who reacted to Kamijous low voice. Several gazes turned his way like sharp blades, but he did not take his eyes off of his target. He stared down Kamisato Kakeru. Kamisato had said it himself. Kihara Yuiitsu was only behind the Elements and they were causing the heat wave. That was an unforgivable statement even as a joke. Inside the dimly-lit and barricaded schools, it might have led to a public execution. I said I would explain everything, so could you not get all worked up on your own and direct nothing but anger my way? You actually have a legitimate explanation for this, I hope. Of course. Kamisato shrugged. First of all, this heat wave is caused by the microwaves my Fran is sending down on Academy City. Shes a self-proclaimed UFO girl. She has an implant in her head, she flies around on a giant balloon, she gathers wireless signals from around the world, and...well, she does a lot. With the feats she can pull off, you can think of it as sending up an entirely handmade space station. ... Kamijou looked down at the exhausted brown girl. Again with this. She was supposedly a handmade cyborg that had replaced her own body with an artificial one using her own techniques completely unconnected to Academy City. Wh-what? Youre not going to get anything out of me! Im not very tasty! The mass murderer trembled with her hands on her head like a small cornered animal, so Kamijou sighed and looked back to Kamisato. So? Are you saying this Fran person can flip a switch and end this? Well, why dont you do that!? Are you saying you arent aware whats going on out in the city!? I said Ellen found an effective countermeasure against the Elements, right? Let me ask you this instead: what do you think will happen if we switch it off? What would happen...? Kamijou tilted his head. What was this guy talking about? Ending their heat wave would free 2.3 million suffering people. The conflict over water and food would end. The threat of heatstroke and dehydration would be gone. Not everyone could move around as actively as Kamijou and his school. Not everyone could find water and food. What was happening to the powerless elementary schools right now? They apparently had more supplies than the middle and high schools, but what if they felt too cornered to realize that? But the mastermind did not hesitate to give the answer. All of Academy City would be overrun by Kihara Yuiitsus Elements. Do you really think those crude barricades can keep them out, birdbrain? ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... Kamijous mind went blank. Yes. That was right. It was true that made no sense. While Tokiwadai had methodically constructed a defense system, Kamijous school had only moved desks and chairs around to cover the obvious windows and doors. If the Elements had sniffed them out and made a real attack, even the three meter Class 1s could have easily broken through. The city would have been unrecognizable if the hundred meter Class 6s had been free to rampage. But that had not happened. For some reason, he and his classmates had survived. Then he recalled that Elements preferred to hide in cool, dark places. He had assumed that was to attack the shelters while the heat wave drove the people into them, but what if different people were behind the heat wave and Elements? Then it could not be part of a unified plan. That would mean the Elements may have simply been hiding in those cool, dark places to escape the heat. In other words, it was not a fatal blow, but the heat wave prevented the Elements from moving around too much. Had the grim reaper of the heat wave been protecting them? He shook his head. Simply considering that possibility felt like defiling something noble. He could not believe it and he did not want to believe it. If Kihara Yuiitsus Elements had not been restricted by the heat wave, they would have had fifty or sixty times the momentum. Academy City would have fallen to them in less than half a day. So Kamisato was the one to provide the answers. Kamijou was stuck in one spot, so the other boy walked ten or twenty steps ahead and spoke cruelly back to him. He turned all of Kamijou and his companions efforts into a farce. There is no mercy in this world. This is her game of tag...no, of hide-and-seek. I am of course her target, but if she cant find me, she only has to make it easier to find me. For example, if her target is hiding in a crowd of people, she just has to clear away those people to accomplish her goal. Whats happening in the city? What happened to the children, the elderly, the pregnant women, and the sick? Of course were worried about that. Were worried, but we still had to do this. If we hadnt done anything, the Elements would have swarmed in and devoured them. ... Kamijou looked to Salome rather than Kamisato. The former naked raincoat mass murderer and current white school swimsuit raincoat mass murderer (her description was quickly growing incomprehensible) only shrugged. My brother isnt bluffing here, dontcha think? As much as that pisses me off. But Kamijou-chan, your right hand might be the ultimate weapon against the Elements, but it isnt good for fighting groups. If the Elements had swarmed all twenty-three districts at once...now, just how many people do you think you could have saved? Kihara Yuiitsu...is supposedly from Academy City. Kamijous voice was trembling...no, he was having difficulty breathing, but he managed to force out the words. If shes doing this for the benefit of the adults, would she really go that far? Could she? I mean, if it had all gone well, Academy City would have become a sea of blood and a pile of rubble! Dont ask me, spat out Kamisato. Besides, shes the abnormal person who chopped off my right hand and attached it to herself. Shes willing to go that far for that awful World Rejecter. I dont know how sturdy Academy Citys system is...but can they really control a monster like that? Your higher ups might be at their wits end now that shes escaped her cage. Were things really that bad? Was the situation really that out of control? At first, Kamijou and his classmates had simply thought they needed to outlast it. By securing potable water and avoiding conflict with the others in the same shelter, they could pass the baton and let the adults deal with the rest. But if Kamisato was right, things were very different. The adults had failed to do anything. If Kamisatos group had not made a counterattack at the very beginning, Academy City would have become a sea of blood and a pile of rubble. And no matter how long they waited, no one would reach out to save them. The adults were equally dried up and trembling in fear. They would have to do it themselves. That was the only way to end this. That was why Kamisato had made that callous decision. And even after the warning she had given Kamisato before, Salome had chosen to finish off Kihara Yuiitsu as quickly as possible even if it meant some sacrifices. They knew this hell would never end unless someone worked to end it. If they switched off the microwaves, the Elements would swarm out. If they left them on, everyone would eventually collapse from the heat. They had to end this hell before either of those limits arrived. Kamijou leaned his exhausted body back in the chair and looked up at the ceiling. He felt dizzy. His assumptions and view of the world had been overturned and replaced again and again over the past few days, so he felt like his mind had been stirred up. But he still squeezed out a voice. ...Sorry. I wasnt looking for an apology, readily replied Kamisato. We were lucky that the weakness Ellen discovered was high temperatures. This would have been far less pleasant had it been an acid mist or photochemical smog. As he spoke, Kamisato tossed a few photos on the table. Kamijou doubted they had been printed from digital camera data. They were likely from an instant camera that did not use any complex electronics. They pictured some kind of underground space. It looked like a concrete tunnel lined with bare pillars. A track ran along the ground, so it may have been part of the subway tunnels. The main subject was a three meter Class 1 Element. It resembled a stick-bug that mimicked a tree branch. There were a few different photos of it. Photographed along with it (usually while making a peace sign toward the camera) was Ellen with her long black hair and baggy lab coat. In one, she was blasting it with a handmade flamethrower that resembled a large metal water gun. In one, she was throwing a weaker Molotov cocktail at it. In one, she was pouring an even weaker pot of boiling water on it. In one, she had it surrounded by several kerosene heaters. Instead of quickly defeating the very first one, she had tested a number of methods, reduced the scale, and discovered the lowest cost needed to keep it from moving. It was rational but frightening. This was different from desperately punching an Element. The Tokiwadai girls had carted around the remains of defeated Elements, but this was a step further. It was as bizarre as plucking off a living insects legs and wings, one at a time. ...By the way, when did you notice? Before you did, at the very least. In all honestly, Kamijou still did not want to accept that the heat wave that was causing so many people so much suffering was actually protecting everyones lives. But this was no time to let that prejudice bind him. They did not have much time. No one had imagined this would continue beyond the Crystal Tower, so whether or not he wanted to accept it, he did not have time to argue the point. Every second and every moment counted, so if they did not resolve this as quickly as possible, the deadline would catch up to them. And that literal deadline would mean the deaths of 2.3 million people. So accept it. It might feel like a concrete block as it goes down, but swallow it and accept it. There was no time to choke. Even spitting it out would be a waste of time. Kamijou finally looked back down from the ceiling and spoke to the most powerful and most awful siblings. What do I need to do to save everyone? Part 3 This should go without saying, but the crux of the issue is Kihara Yuiitsu. However, the problem is that we dont know where shes hiding, replied Kamisato. So we set our sights on that conspicuous Crystal Tower. It was bait for a counterattack. Thats why it was using a flashing signal in the visible spectrum of light instead of using ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic waves. Anyone who took the bait would be marked by Kihara Yuiitsu. We waited a few days, but the only group that had enough power for an attack but didnt suspect it was a trap was Tokiwadai Middle School...in other words, the prestigious school that took you in. ... Dont give me that look. They actually did quite well. If Tokiwadai hadnt made their move, we wouldnt have been able to locate Kihara Yuiitsu. Kamisato Kakeru cut even deeper into the issue. She got away, but just getting her to show up gives us some important clues. What direction did she come from, where did she appear, how long did it take to lose sight of her, which direction did she flee in, and what important facilities are located in that direction? ...That will naturally narrow things down to a few candidates. More importantly, the Elements are like chess pieces to her. Shell have surrounded herself in those pieces so she, the king, wont be taken. We dont need to stop thinking just because were up against a crazy woman. We just have to choose the most likely path. Kihara Yuiitsu will be hiding in the most comfortable location along that path. And where is that? We dont have time. The strongest, sturdiest, surest, and safest spot, said Kamisato in a singsong voice before giving the answer. Academy City District 7s Windowless Building. Directly below that seems most suspicious. The Windowless Building. Directly below it would mean an underground space. Kamijou had trouble imagining it. It was rumored that the Windowless Building could survive a nuclear blast and a hole had been opened in the wall when they had rescued the immortal girl named Fr?ulein Kreutune, but that had been an aboveground wall and it had not extended underground. And he doubted the same trick would work a second or third time. If thats true, how do we get in? We might not even be able to get close. Thats why were still stuck here, but Kihara Yuiitsu has been going in and out. And with all those giant Elements too. There must be a way. Well, unless its a completely sealed space and shes using a teleportation esper. Then are we waiting around until we have the answer? Time is on her side. Wait it out and well be the ones to dry up! I know that of course. And Kihara Yuiitsu must know its her greatest advantage. Kamisato sighed. Luckily, she hasnt grown too full of herself yet. That means shes still watching to see what others do. Otherwise she wouldnt have set up the Crystal Tower trap and watched to see who would show up. Despite her great advantage, she cant forget the possibility of defeat...no, fear. She isnt conceited. Even if she suddenly earned ten billion yen, shes the kind of person who would continue buying the same tamago-kake gohan she always had. In a way, thats frightening, but it gives us an opening. Meaning? If we dont know how to open the door, we just have to get her to open it for us. The fear of death and the possibility of defeat. We just need something that hints at those things and she wont be able to stay put. ...And if shes going to flee, she needs to open the door from the inside, right? Were leaving in less than an hour. I dont want to wait around for someone else to solve this, so you get ready too. Part 4 They planned to leave at four in the morning. That was before dawn and the darkness-loving Elements would be more active, but they needed to get started as early as possible and their target was Kihara Yuiitsu rather than the Elements. They did not know if she had a standard cycle of sleeping at night and waking up in the morning, but an early morning attack was apparently the standard(?) for an attack. That meant they had a bit of time to kill. Kamijou could not decide whether he wanted to catch a quick nap or loosen up his body with some stretches. But.... Now that I look at it, there really are a lot of them, said Swim Trunks Kamijou in the large shopping mall. He could hear shrill voices speaking here and here. Ehh? Didnt Luca just go to take out the trash? Again! That wasnt trash; it was an old magazine issue which is a valuable resource!! Maya, what is it youre so obsessed with even after dying and turning into a ghost? A manga one-shot? One of the joys in life is mocking the old failure of a self-proclaimed fashion leader who so confidently announced a completely bogus diet!! The online articles were erased almost immediately, so this paper medium is a valuable resource. So Luca!! What did you do with my treasure! Dont rob me of the smug joy of thinking, Heh heh heh. It doesnt matter how knowledgeable you try to act because I know the truth!! There were no customers and no employees, yet the mall did not seem at all empty. It was the middle of the night, yet the stillness of sleep had not settled in. There was a total of about one hundred girls. Tokiwadai Middle School had had around two hundred people, so about half a school was following that boy. This was not the same as the number next to a SNS comments section. When that many people gathered in one place, they created a significant pressure. This was Kamisato Kakerus world. These were the bright colors he had seen. The shopping malls food shops, boutiques, CD shops, and everything else had become a childrens playground. Several girls were riding a push-wagon meant to transport materials, others were sitting on the stopped escalators railing and sliding down on their butts, and more had dragged a kiddie pool out into the walkway. Kamijou felt like he had wandered into an American comedy film. In the middle of the walkway, he suddenly looked up at the ceiling. Oh, a spot cooler. A thick duct-like pipe branched off and opened up toward him. Instead of cooling the entire room, the device blew cool air on just the one spot. They were common in mines, in factories, and more recently in ramen shop kitchens. The heat wave was supposedly caused by microwaves, so such a device would be possible if a few conditions were met. Either way, he had felt like he was practically swimming through a hellish heat approaching 60 degrees, so he had trouble leaving this manmade chilly wind. But... Nn! He heard a voice of protest from the side. He looked over and saw a small bob-cut girl sitting with her small butt in a plastic kiddy pool and her arms and legs sticking out of the pool. The front of her pink hoodie was unzipped and she wore a bikini below. The rabbit design on the left breast maintained its shape perfectly due to the depressing lack of volume below. Sitting outside the pool was a gray backpack stuffed full of something and with strange antennae sticking out from it. Her hooded head had rabbit-ear antennae on it and she seemed to have been enjoying the spot cooler before he arrived. He quickly moved out of the way. Sorry, sorry. As long as you understand. She still puffed out her soft-looking cheeks, but the rabbit-ear antennae girl scooted her butt forward, leaned back, and placed her head in the water. She blew bubbles with her mouth, so it looked like a small child playing with a straw in a glass of soda. Kamijou sighed and started to leave...but then he noticed something. A full backpack had been placed outside the kiddy pool to keep it from getting wet. He had noticed the small nametag on its side. He could not quite tell if it was a family name or a personal name because it was nothing more than a few round hiragana characters. However, they said Fran. ...Fran? Hm? Are you the Fran that Kamisato was talking about? Youre the one with the station sending out all the microwaves causing the heat wave!? The pink hoodie and bikini girl did not give a clear yes or no. In fact, she started fidgeting with the carrot-shaped stoppers on the end of the hoodies strings, blushed a little, and looked away while apparently focused on something else entirely. O-oh, dear. Kamisato-chan was talking about me? Does he think what Im doing here is important? Heh heh heh. I wasnt talking about that and I dont care about your creepy feelings for each other! Please dont tell me you were fidgeting like this when that bastard Kamisato asked you to cause this whole mess! She did not respond. She blew more bubbles in the water like a kid playing with her soda through a straw. He felt like getting a straight answer out of her would be frightening enough. That bastard may seriously have triggered the end of the world and he did it by asking a girl for a favor. Meanwhile, the small rabbit-ear antennae girl scooted her butt again to lift her mouth back above the water. She also kicked her bare feet that stuck out of the pool. What do you want? Oh, um... Come to think of it, what was I planning to do after confirming it was her? he asked himself. For better or for worse, it had felt like running across someone famous, so he had asked without thinking. This rabbit-ear antenna girl was definitely the one behind the heat wave causing Index and Fukiyose so much suffering, but according to Kamisato, Academy City would be overrun by countless Elements without Frans wide-range microwave attack holding them back. The Elements had caused Kamijou plenty of trouble. And he understood that it was not a lack of preparation keeping him from defeating them. He did not know if he could win without the heat wave even if he had all the time in the world to prepare beforehand. And he could not singlehandedly deal with multiple simultaneous tragedies occurring around the city. No matter how hard he struggled, there was a limit to what a single body could do. He felt she had saved his life. But he also found himself unable to unconditionally thank her. It was a complex feeling. It felt like running across an organ dealer. There were definitely lives they had saved, but when you took a step back, the evil side of it all stood out more. Hmph. Either Fran had not liked the look in Kamijous eyes or she had simply grown sick of waiting because she scooted her butt to lean her head back against the plastic pool once more. Then she blew more bubbles. The rabbit-ear antennae girl spoke in a sulky voice. I dont care. The only things that matters is that Kamisato-chan understands. Were those words another symbol of Kamisato Kakerus world? Even with a hundred people gathered around him, the interpersonal relationships were simple. The girls were not all interconnected in a complex spider web. All the lines connected straight to Kamisato in the center and all other connections were shallow. It may have been simpler to call it a gathering of strangers who had a friend in common. But since she felt the need to say it... ... She must still be a coward whos worried what the others think-...cold! Dont splash me with your feet! And does constant exposure to that spot cooler really get the water this cold, you damn bourgeoisie!? Nn, nn!! Cold water was the greatest treasure at the moment, but he discovered it was toxic to a body so accustomed to the boiling heat. While it was only an unconfirmed urban legend, Kamijou had heard that someone could die of shock if you shoved ice cream onto their bare chest while they were blindfolded. The odd beating of his heart convinced him that the urban legend may not have been entirely wrong. The spiky-haired boy tried to escape, but then his foot slid to the side. And of course, this was not due to being well-versed in kendo foot-sliding techniques. He had slipped on the water Fran was splashing at him. His field of vision spun around. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late to stop it. Kamijou Touma dove face-first into the kiddie pool. And that sent him right into the small rabbit-ear antennae girl who was nearly sprawled out in the pool. Part 5 Rust-proofing spray, a sock stuffed with pachinko balls, a disaster strobe light, a crowbar, a utility knife, instant glue, plastic sheets, synthetic fiber rope, and canned food. You sure are packing a lot. Kamijou Touma spoke to Kamisato who was filling a large tote bag with products from the shelves. Kamisato replied with a skeptical look. What about you? Are you heading out there entirely unarmed? Im afraid Id stab myself in the leg or something if I brought a weird weapon with me. Is that so? Well, you dont have as strict a category of allies like I do. You even throw your enemies into that category, so I suppose anything that can do real damage would only be in the way for you. With that simple comment, Kamisato lifted the tote bag in one hand. Just watching was enough to tell how heavy it was. Are you sure you should be holding that? Yeah. The stitches may not be pretty, but Claire always does her job. Its attached pretty well. Kamisato lightly twisted the wrist that held the tote bag. And even if the hand does fall off, it isnt mine. Kihara Yuiitsu stole my World Rejecter and is using it for herself, so I might as well make her pay a rental fee. That right hand was forcibly stitched on like a small child trying to repair the burst belly of their stuffed animal. The quality of the skin was clearly different, it was slender, and a bright manicure covered the nails. ...I met a talking dog. ? Kamijou did not know what to make of that sudden comment. Kamisato did not seem to really care if Kamijou understood. Speaking the words was all that mattered to him. It was after our previous fight. This weird dog was surrounded by a bunch of weapons called the A.A.A....I think it stood for the Anti Art Attachment. I beat him up of course, but he would have killed me otherwise. Thats probably what caused this. Everyone has their own values and that changes what they weigh against the world on the scales. But I have no obligation to play along. If shes going to place the world on one side of the scales, then Ill do the same. Hey. Kamijou asked a sudden question. What do you plan to do after you settle things with Kihara Yuiitsu? ...Um, about that right hand, I mean. Before, he had loathed the World Rejecter. He might want to prevent Kihara Yuiitsu from misusing it, but then what? Would he reattach his right hand and keep that great power with him, or would he continue living with Kihara Yuiitsus right hand? Let me ask you something instead. Youve lived with a special right hand longer than I have. ...So do you know where that right hand came from and where it will go next? ...Where it will go next? To be blunt, I have no more interest in World Rejecter. If it disappears with Kihara Yuiitsu when she dies, thats fine by me. That normal high school boy uttered a dangerous word. Or perhaps it was normal for a teenage boy to talk about death and killing. Perhaps Kamijou was the odd one out for feeling the proper weight behind the words. But apparently these things move from person to person and object to object. In that case, eliminating Kihara Yuiitsu wont end this. As you know, World Rejecters power is great enough to call evil. I cant create a situation where it could pass on to anyone in the world. Nothing good would come of having it fall in the hands of someone even crazier than Kihara Yuiitsu and it would cause plenty of damage in the hands of some thoughtless idiot who just used it whenever he felt like it. Yes, he muttered. Just like when I used it. ... Kamijou could find nothing to say for a while. The next in line. After he died. ...He had honestly never really thought about it before. Although that may have been normal for a teenage boy. But it was definitely an issue he could not afford to ignore. His Imagine Breaker was not as directly destructive as Kamisatos World Rejecter, but it could still be used to greatly influence both the science side and the magic side. It could destroy some hidden seal somewhere or something like that. It may have only caused as much damage as it did because it had ended up with a Japanese high school boy. But what if its next owner was a wicked person with a devilish intellect? Had he ever really thought about whether or not he would be responsible in some way for whatever might happen? I want to erase that power, clearly stated Kamisato Kakeru. I thought you might know something helpful, but that look on your face says otherwise. In that case, I guess Ill be stuck traveling the world with that right hand for the time being. You... Of course, thats only if Im not blown away the instant I touch that right hand now that Ive strayed from my wholehearted focus on revenge. ...I hope this attempt to fully reject the power given to me by those Magic Gods counts as focusing on my revenge, but I cant peer into my own heart. Kamijou was not sure what to think. Kamisato Kakeru seemed unemotional, but it was more that he did not convey his emotions much because he was not the type to let them show in his voice. But was he really still entirely focused on taking revenge on the Magic Gods? If Kamijou showed him 15cm Othinus, would the boy want to crush her in his fist? Kamijou could not say yes or no with any confidence. And Kamisato did not seem to want a clear answer from someone else. Its time. Lets get started. S-sure. Kamisato held the heavy-looking tote bag at his side and walked down the mall walkway with Kamijou. Id always thought it was that right hand causing so many people to gather around me. ... But that wasnt it. I finally understood once I lost it. Those girls proved you right. Losing that special right hand didnt destroy my world. Kamisato? Im grateful. Although Im not sure whether this happened too soon or too late. They set out at dawn. A small girl wearing a white bikini below a pink hoodie (which could likely function as a sleeping bag) stood on the roof of the parking garage located directly above the shopping mall. She grabbed a giant UFO-like balloon, shook the rabbit-ear antennae on her hood, and pushed off the ground with her toes so her small butt and the round pod attached to it floated up into the air. Her voice from the heavens could apparently reach Kamisato even through the powerful microwaves. Lets stick to the plan, he said. Right. Stick to the plan. Kamijou watched the rabbit-ear antennae bob-cut girl float past in her hoodie, bikini, and backpack filed with antennae. Then he looked back to the ground. They were outside the shopping mall and a few dozen...no, around a hundred girls were gathered around Kamisato. Fran will observe from above, began Kamisato. We need to rattle Kihara Yuiitsu as much as we can. We need to make her think she cant just keep hiding safely in her shelter as planned. So lets make as much of a show as possible. Theres nothing we can do if she gets away. I know that. We cant let her use time as a weapon any longer. They began their march in the burning light of dawn. The Windowless Building was in southern District 7, just like Kamijous school and dorm. He recognized the streets along the way. With the hundred members of the Kamisato Faction filling the sidewalk and road alike, he felt like he had wandered into another world. The mismatch between the scenery and the people made Kamijou feel dizzy. They saw no sign of Elements walking around. They did not even see any three meter Class 1s, so it almost felt like the Crystal Tower had ended everything. When Kamijou heard some movement and looked over, he saw a middle school boy and girl hesitantly peeking out from an alley. The ground should have meant instant death with the Elements around, so the pair had likely come out to see why there was no sign of those monsters. Peace seemed to have returned, but nothing was really over. Kihara Yuiitsu could send out a swarm of Elements at any time. If she chose someone as a target, they would be overrun even in a school or shelter. Not even the high level espers of Tokiwadai and the School Garden had been able to fight it. Kamijou could not let her do that again. That meant he could not allow everything to return to normal. They had to prevent Kihara Yuiitsu from having her fun. They had to make sure she panicked and dug her own grave. Kamijou could not even imagine it after being manipulated so much himself, but that result was within reach now. Kamisato Kakeru had lost World Rejecter, but he still had one hundred jokers. This is as good a place as any to start. ? Kamijou frowned at Kamisatos whispered words. The boys hand suddenly moved. It was Kihara Yuiitsus slender hand forcibly sewn onto his right wrist. He quickly swung it horizontally and then he held a glittering object smaller than a grain of rice between the index and middle fingers. Should I praise her attention to detail or should I just call it a cheap trick? What...is that? Kamijou doubted his eyes. It was not that he did not know what it was. His doubt came from knowing exactly what it was. Yes, he knew what Kamisato held between his...or rather, Yuiitsus fingertips. How did Kihara Yuiitsu get information on the outside world while hiding underground in the dark? At the very least, she needed to observe the Crystal Tower to know who reached it. That was a bit of a mystery. Frans powerful microwaves would easily destroy any normal electronics and act as powerful jamming for any wireless signals. A shielded room would help, but it would still be hard to communicate with the outside world. Huh...? And it wouldnt make sense for her to be walking freely around the city herself. Shes the king in chess. She might be convenient, but she cant make an attack on the enemy pieces on her own. If she could, she wouldnt need her safe underground hideout in the first place. Plus, her eyes and ears cant cover all of Academy City. So these acted as her eyes and ears...? Kamijou gulped as he looked back at what Kamisato had caught. The rice-sized object had small wings and six legs. Its the smallest type of Element. Using your numbering system, maybe we should call it Class 0. Those things are crawling all over the city...? They might have been on the inside of all the chairs and desks you thought were keeping you so safe. ... But its strange. Even if these grains of rice are gathering data through their five senses, how are they getting it back to Kihara Yuiitsu? Frans microwaves would render any wireless signal unreadable. Kamisato sounded both delighted and cruel. Do they simply return home after gathering a set amount of data? Or do they dance or touch each other with their feelers like ants or bees to relay the information back like a game of telephone? After a quiet sound, Kamisato let go to reveal a small, sharp stinger jutting out from the back of the rice grain, but he did not seem to care. He flicked the rice grain away, reached out his hand again, and grabbed a different one. This time, he grabbed the wings from the back and made sure it could not prick him with the stinger. Or...no, do they speak with the wings themselves like a cicada? If so, the transmission medium must be ultrasonic waves. ...That wouldnt be disturbed by the microwaves, but it wouldnt travel very far. Kamisato stared at the rice grain struggling between his fingers and then he looked around to his surroundings. His eyes stopped on a position slightly above the ground. A three-bladed wind turbine was located not far away. There was something at the very top, but anyone not looking for it would have easily overlooked it. It was something like a translucent icicle as long as two pens. It resembled a miniature Crystal Tower and it also resembled the cellphone relay antennae seen around the city. Youre not wrong, replied Kamisato when Kamijou mentioned his impression of it. The rice grains hiding everywhere gather the surrounding information and then oscillate to transmit it with ultrasonic waves inaudible to human ears. The base station for an entire area likely picks up those signals and sends all that back to the big boss. In that case, we need to take a look at the base of the antenna. If they have a countermeasure against the microwaves and it isnt ultrasonic waves...well, my moneys on a wire. By building an underground wired network of Element nerves, they can guide all that information right back to Yuiitsus hideout. And there might even be some holes in the walls or a more fragile area due to erosion from the nerve-... He trailed off before he could finish. A giant Element had appeared to block their path. At around one hundred meters, it was a Class 6. It placed its large body before them like a translucent wall and it had a plesiosaur-like silhouette. Kamijou lacked the knowledge to tell him what this was. What!? They can be dinosaurs too!? Of course not. This is a Eupithecia, a type of inchworm from Hawaii. In other words, its a moth larva. Theyre originally less than five centimeters, but I think I read it takes them less than 0.1 seconds to extend what you saw as a neck to catch their prey. Let its size fool you and youll have your head taken off by that killer crane. Youre kidding. I went to Hawaii, but...oh, hell. All I can remember is that crazy bearded president! In addition to the long neck, a will-o-the-wisp flickered in the body left almost forgotten on the ground. It was red, so this was a Fire Element. At that size, it could turn the ground into utter pandemonium just by breathing fire from overhead. It would perhaps be something like a fire engine spraying gasoline instead of water. But Kamisato was unfazed. The kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere even sighed. No matter how big you make it, did you really think you could win by repeating yourself? That was all. He did not even snap his fingers. Several explosions of noise sounded as if the air had burst around Kamijou. By the time he realized it was the sound of the surrounding girls kicking off the ground, the fierce and unilateral attack had begun. Misaka Mikoto had used altitude and distance to fire down on the enemy from the safety of the sky like a bomber or a gunship, but the girls of the Kamisato Faction were the exact opposite. They were more like attack fighters approaching the enemy aircraft. No, they may have been more like missiles tearing through the sky after being released from the fighters main wings. They had overwhelming speed and mobility. One was a bikini girl in a pirate hat. One was a girl in a suit of armor who wielded several swords, spears, and axes. One was a mass murderer in a white school swimsuit and double raincoats. They kicked off the ground, jumped over guardrails, and even used building walls and wind turbine pillars for footing as they charged toward the plesiosaur-like monster with sharp curveball-like movements. Of course, the enemy fought back. Its claws and beak gave a roar as it scattered flames as sticky as heavy oil. But none of it hit. Instead of keeping their distance or flying into the sky, the girls moved as close to the monster as they could, prevented it from moving, and cut off the carnivorous inchworms view to create blind spots. The girls sometimes slipped between its legs, circled behind it, ran up on top of it, and passed blade after blade through it. To a hundred meter Element, a blade wielded by a human was nothing more than a toothpick. But definite cracks formed. And they spread and grew. By some twist of physics, the giant form fell apart even though they used no poison, electric currents, or bloodsucking. They used brute strength to defeat a monster over fifty times their size. It seemed to entirely ignore the rules of nature. As the translucent remains audibly crumbled and the background shimmered from the remaining flames, only the many girls remained standing. They tugged at the butts of their swimsuits or snapped the shoulder straps with their fingers. The gap between that very human behavior and the gruesome result made Kamijou feel faint. Each and every one of them has a world of her own. Kihara Yuiitsu, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve, they will not lose until you have played every last one of your cards, including yourself. It was simply overwhelming. It was almost too perfect. And a moment later, several dozen similarly-sized Elements appeared around Salome and the others. They were made of translucent materials and excelled at mimicry. At one hundred meters, they rose up above the buildings. How had they been moving around Academy City? And could Kihara Yuiitsu really make surprise attacks without anyone noticing if she was accompanied by monsters this large? The answer to those questions was quite simple. The plesiosaur-like carnivorous inchworms had been here from the beginning. They blended into the background until Yuiitsu gave her orders. Not long after the heat wave and swarm of Elements had begun, Kamijous school had decided the ground was dangerous. That was why they had moved between buildings using the metal wires and searched Academy City along those limited routes. But what if? What if these had been standing right next to them as they viewed Academy City from the building rooftops? What if these had been staring at them while they were well within range of the monsters claws and fangs? Wasnt it possible they had been crawling between these things legs while thinking they were safely on those wires? To create new paths to expand their range of travel, they had tossed metal wires between buildings. What if the weight tied to the end of the wire had unnaturally bounced off something in midair? Simply imagining it sent a chill down his spine. At any rate, those monsters had now appeared to surround Salome and the others. They had lured the girls in and cut off their escape route and supply line to isolate them. Only now would they attack all at once to kill the girls. Kamijou could sense the wicked intentions of whoever was commanding them. Salo-...!! Kamijou tried to cry out, but it was already over. Again. Did you really think this would be enough to hold us back? Kamisato Kakeru spoke. He was their king. He had no special power in his right hand and a single hit would take him out, but he actually stepped forward himself. It looked like he planned to break through the circle of 100 meter kaiju-like Elements to rescue the girls from their plight. Kh...You goddamn stupid Onii-chan...!! Salome shouted back at him, while ignoring the threat to her own life, but Kamisato ignored her. He spoke with a calm look on his face. Make sure you dont get caught in the middle of this. ? He was a normal high school boy who could not use esper powers or magic. The action he took was simple. He stuck his hand in the heavy tote bag he held, pulled out a large metal can, and tossed it onto the scorching asphalt. Yes, he threw it at the feet of a monster that rivaled the high-rise buildings in height. Just before it stepped on the metal can like an ant, Kamijou spotted the label. (Rust-proofing spray?) The effects were immediate. One of the Elements that seemed as immovable as mountains spun quickly around as if it had slipped on ice. Due to its unique plesiosaur-like body, its center of gravity was located quite high up. The Element whipped up a violent wind as it collapsed with enough force to knock over a few nearby buildings. Ahhhhhh!! An incredible amount of dust and chunks of concrete larger than buses rained down, so Kamijou made a frantic escape. No matter how large they are, they still arent immune to the laws of physics. In fact, the heavier they are, the easier it is for their own weight to get the better of them. Kamisato did not even flinch. Basically, they become entirely useless if they so much as slip on a banana peel. Ive heard America is developing a special gel grenade. By firing it below the targets feet and making the ground slippery, they can completely neutralize infantry and tanks. Theyre cheaper than stun grenades and they can safely rescue a hostage without doing damage to their eyes or ears. The fallen Element tried to get back up, but Kamisato did not give it the chance. He pulled something like synthetic rope from his tote bag. Cans of food were tied to the ends, presumably as weights. He spun it around at a decent length like a morning star and then threw it toward the fallen Elements neck. Then he threw the other end at a standing Elements leg. The rope caught on the hundred meter carnivorous inchworm, but the rope did not provide much resistance and the giant monster swung its leg. With an unpleasant sound, the fallen kaiju-sized Element had its head torn right off. Even if its too big a job for us, we can always get some help from the Elements themselves, spat out Kamisato. And theyre big. Theyre more than fifty times our size. A rope as thick as our thumb will be as thin and sturdy as piano wire to them. As long as we pay attention to how we apply the force...well, you saw it. We can cut down the Elements. Finally, the bizarrely-shaped monsters looked elsewhere. Their focus shifted from the girls to the boy who presented an even greater danger. The earth shook as the hundred meter Elements approached. A swarm of three meter Class 1s shaped like extremely flat bugs slipped between their legs to attack. They were attacking in waves of differing sizes. Bark mantises, hm? But Kamisato Kakeru remained unfazed. He pulled several plastic sheets from his tote bag, applied plenty of instant glue to the surface, and tossed them into the air. The plastic sheets spun like frisbees to fly high and far. They were aimed toward the giant wings of a clearwing moth Element. Butterfly and moth wings created unique whirling air currents and were known to create lift on the level of an airplane or helicopter but scaled down for their size. Those wings had been honed by natural selection into the optimal form that did not allow the slightest error. And that was why attaching the many plastic sheets created random bumps that slightly disturbed the flow of air along the wings. No, it peeled away the airflow, so the miraculous lift could not be maintained. The Element stalled, entered a tailspin, and fell. It fell right on top of the many bark mantises approaching Kamisato Kakeru like they were swarming a piece of candy. High-pitched sounds of shattering crystal blended together. The vortex of noise sounded like a giant chandelier falling. Everyone thinks about it. Kamisato Kakeru spoke without any change to his expression. He placed his feet on the hill of clear rubble lying bent and broken after falling to the ground. He chose to walk toward the hundred meter Elements. What if armed terrorists attacked my school? What if a small child holding a piggy bank came crying to me, asking me to clear his framed fathers name? What if I began a final SNS war at the request of an idol threatened with being kicked out of the group if she did not win first place in the next electronic popularity poll? You decide what you would want to do and how you would do it. ...It isnt that unusual. Any normal high school boy will think about it at least once. He stuck his hand into the tote bag. He pulled out a new weapon. But I just so happened to have the power to grab ahold of those dreams. A plesiosaur-like Element roared overhead. A red light filled its chest. It raised its translucent head. It had a Fire core. If it breathed fire, everyone here would be blown away like fluff. So I was afraid. Not of my right hands power, but of those girls smiles. Of that group that would agree to whatever I said. I thought the day would come when my power wasnt enough to stop them and the responsibility still fell on me. But Kamisato remained unfazed. He crossed the hill of rubble to face that powerful enemy on his own two feet. But I wont run away any longer. He did not hide behind the girls. He stood as a shield to protect them. Prepare yourself, one-hit wonder. Ill show you the freedom of a normal high school boy. It was overwhelming. Kamijou completely forgot to join in. Just before the carnivorous inchworm Element poured all of its power into its plesiosaur-like mouth, Kamisato threw the clear bottle he held. It shattered when it hit the leg the giant monster had just placed on the ground. As soon as the thick liquid poured out, Kamijou saw white chemical smoke and heard a sound like bacon in a frying pan. No matter how bizarre they look they still have organic carbon-based bodies just like us. That means theyll corrode like normal from hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid. The mall had plenty of industrial cleaners. I just had to boil them down to concentrate them. The damage was only 1/100 or even 1/200 of the monsters giant body, but that foot had been supporting a body as tall as a high-rise building. It was a lot like a pin heel breaking without warning. It was only the slightest fragment of damage, but the kaiju-like body lost its balance and collapsed, bringing down some nearby buildings with it. Salome, Luca. Finish it off. ...Oh. Sure thing, goddamn stupid Onii-chan!! Oh, no! Oh, no! If I dont stay focused, Ill end up sitting here watching in awed admiration! Shudder!! The mass murderer and pirate girl came back to their senses and swarmed the collapsed Class 6 Element. Kamijou was taken aback too. Had Kamisato been able to do all this when they had first met? He had fought Kamisato during the attack on his dorm that night, but the boy had been an amateur fighter then. Meanwhile, a Class 6 was a powerful enough enemy to defeat a group of Tokiwadai girls. And yet he had defeated them so easily? Anyone can do it in their mind. Kamisato pulled an L-shaped crowbar from the tote bag. The question is whether or not they can give it physical form. I was blessed with the chance to do that. This is... Kamijou gulped as he spoke. This is the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere? Kamisato rested the crowbar on his shoulder and looked back for a casual reply. Yes. And? Part 6 Afterwards, Kamisato Kakeru and the surrounding girls crushed every last one of the Elements and continued forward. One was a ghost girl, one was a cosplay girl, and one was a trombone girl. They took an entirely different approach from the pirate girl and armor girl who moved in for close-quarters combat. They wore down the giant Elements with an overwhelming long-distance barrage. The result reached Kamijous eyes, but his brain rejected it. After all, wasnt this something the Tokiwadai girls had been unable to do? It would have taken sacrifices to overwhelm the giant Water lizard with its ultra-high pressure water cutter. Wasnt that why Kamijou had gone out as bait? He gulped. The scene before his eyes and the girls surrounding him...were superior to the entirety of Tokiwadais elite firepower group? These Element things are known as reduced life forms. We mostly know how they work after opening up a few of them and checking inside. Kamisato spoke calmly, but that was what made it sound so full of contempt. Over long periods of time, the remains of animals and plants turn into petroleum. So would it be possible to reverse the process and differentiate petroleum into any animal or plant? Maybe you could call it a heretical science that does the exact opposite of stem cells. But no matter how much kinetic energy their giant bodies give them, theyre only borrowing it all from existing plants and animals. The movable direction of their joints and the extension of their muscles all follow set rules. Once you know the trick, it isnt that difficult to read their movable range and locate the safe zones. ... That only leaves the fire, water, wind, and earth cores. Since theyre relying on a magical element at the most basic level, the reduced life form method must have only been able to create the outward forms. Kihara Yuiitsu must not have reached the level of creating a soul or a life. But it really comes down to a simple combination. I bet she wishes she could have disguised the color of the light. Its like needlessly pointing out in advance youre planning to hit a homerun each time. When theyre making that large, obvious swing, its really easy to slip a curveball past them. They were a hybrid of magic and science. Tokiwadai Middle School had been collecting the remains of destroyed Elements, but they had not discovered this much. And Index had not mentioned the Elements cores despite her perfect memory of 103,000 grimoires. Where did Kamisato Kakeru stand? What could he see with his normal sensibilities supported by those many girls? He had claimed anyone could do this in their head. Would the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere really undergo such an extensive transformation just by gaining the specific techniques and a basis to support them...or as he had put it, the power to grab ahold of those dreams? He could move his body exactly as he wanted. That might sound like something anyone could do, but Kamijou knew from his many experiences just how difficult that was when ones life was on the line. Kamisatos ability was not reduced in that way. He could always freely choose from the greatest range of possibilities and act on them. That may have made him even stranger than the many different girls surrounding him. To be honest, this is the scene I was afraid of. The boy himself spoke quietly while viewing the series of wild flashes of light. I was afraid these commonplace girls would decisively stray from the commonplace path. I was afraid someone as bland as me didnt belong in the lead and that it was all my right hand acting as a crown. I was afraid that losing my right hand would cause this scene to shift to someone else like the joker in a game of old maid. I was always so very afraid of that. You... But once I actually lost it, I understood. Kamisato did not stop. He walked step by step down the path cleared by the girls. Even without my special right hand, the world continued on just fine. Those girls werent following me because of the right hand. They chose to of their own free will. Thats all this is. The extraordinary Elements that had to be Kihara Yuiitsus prized weapons were defeated one after another. Kamijou and the others were already quite near the Windowless Building. But this time, arriving there did not end it. They had to make Kihara Yuiitsu panic so she would open the secret entrance from the inside. And they could not exactly march around and around the stationary building. Do you really think Kihara Yuiitsu will come out? She will. Kamisato did not hesitate to reply. The trick when making a bluff is a lack of information, not an excess. Just like showing someone a series of film frames will make stopped images appear to be moving, human beings fill in the gaps with their own mind. We dont need to build up every inch of the stage. As long as we gather the necessary factors as unconnected dots, shell draw her own line between them and imagine the worst. ? One. Kamisato raised one of his borrowed womens fingers. We intervened in the incident at Tokiwadai Middle School. We saw what Kihara Yuiitsu was especially focused on destroying. It may have looked like a symbol of violence if you werent paying attention, but that thoroughness was a sign of fear. We just had to pick up on that. The answer was the star player in the Element battles even among the powerful espers of Tokiwadai. Misaka Mikotos hangar. And what had been built in there? Two. Kihara Yuiitsu escaped us, but we picked up something else at Tokiwadai Middle School. That would be you, Kamijou Touma. ...It doesnt matter how much knowledge you actually have. She just has to think youve taken the baton from Tokiwadai. It may have been like the defection of an engineer. The engineers actual skill did not matter. The fact that someone from a secret research lab was in another countrys hands was a major diplomatic card. The other country could claim they were building new weapons with the information. The first country might be skeptical, but proving it to be a bluff would be quite difficult. And three. Id rather not say it, but the Kamisato Faction is a collection of heretics. Fran has a power generation station capable of scattering microwaves all across Academy City and Salome completed her cyborg surgery on her own. Were another black box to her. Could it be? What if? We just have to inspire those whispers of doubt. In other words... The A.A.A. If that demon rises into the dawn sky, I doubt even Kihara Yuiitsu will be able to keep her cool. Something passed by overhead. Special armor covered the arms and legs and countless cannons of various sizes grew from the back. The steel-winged silhouette tore through the sky with the two boosters around the waist. Upon seeing it, Kamijou spoke without thinking. He may have taken the optimistic view of at least shes all right. What is that? Is it Misaka? But he was wrong. That girl was... Claire...? The plant girl!? All of her bodys cells have changed to something almost identical to plant cells. And by bonding with them, she can absorb metal or anything else to mass-produce plant chainsaws or homing missiles or whatever else. You dont mean...? She could absorb metal. And hadnt Kamisato mentioned the Tokiwadai hangar earlier? Could it be? What if? Could Claire have consumed whatever had been dug up from the rubble!? As I said, we just have to make her think that. We know shes obsessed with the A.A.A., perhaps because its related to that talking dog, so I asked Claire to create a misunderstanding. Oh. Not even Claire could do this well overnight. We could only line up the remains of the hangars spare parts to get an idea of the overall design and general silhouette. She can only fly by volatilizing and detonating plant ethanol and the weapons on her back are like bamboo or reeds. They dont move at all. The silhouette looks right in the dim light of early dawn, but Kihara Yuiitsu would probably notice something was wrong right away if it were midday. ...Not to mention that the real one isnt really a scientific weapon. Its more of a catalyst for something. But... Even so... Kihara Yuiitsu doesnt know that. ... No, shell have calculated that were most likely bluffing. But she wont be able to fully accept her own calculations. Could it be? What if? Maybe the Kamisato Faction really did gather the wreckage from the destroyed hangar, kidnap someone who knew all about it, and asked him how to put it together. Her game of tag or hide-and-seek didnt require a detour to Tokiwadai, but she did it anyway. However, she failed to finish off Misaka Mikoto and she was driven off by people who arent even part of Academy City or the science side. If we vanished and spread the completed product around the outside world, who knows how far crude imitations of the A.A.A. would spread. ...Kihara Yuiitsu strayed from her primary objective to pursue the A.A.A. This is lure fishing, so we dont need the real thing. Send a fake flitting past their eyes, and even a big fish will take the bait. So... So... So... Come on out, Kihara Yuiitsu. Staying put or running off were your only options, but Ill give you an unexpected third option. This is your first and last chance. This isnt the time to calculate out the risks. If you dont fight now, youll miss your chance. A heavy metallic noise reverberated across Academy City. Something rose from the ground like smoke or steam. It came from more than one place. There was a single spot at the same distance from all four cardinal directions of the Windowless Building. The roads were cut apart and perfectly square holes over ten meters across opened up. Now, lets go. Scammers pretending to be a relative would employ a great number of excuses: they were in a traffic accident, they knocked up a girl they barely knew, they embezzled money at work, etc. The stories tended to sound flimsy and unrealistic after the fact, but that worked best for the scammers. Their performance was not looking for reality. If it was somewhat realistic, people would calmly analyze whether or not it could have actually happened. It was best to present them with a situation they could not judge with their own experiences, leaving their mind entirely empty. The scammers did not care one whit if the victim realized something was wrong only after transferring the money. That was what Kamisato Kakeru had done to Kihara Yuiitsu. After placing her in a dead end of yes or no, he had presented her with a brand-new third option. Kamijou had done it plenty of times himself. But Kamisato was using it in an entirely different way. Kamijou had given cornered magicians or espers an alternate route and a way to survive, but Kamisato was cutting off his opponents escape and crushing the other options so that he could trick them into choosing the wrong thing. This boy was different in every way. Being able to draw out everything in ones mind would not necessarily lead to positive results. Kamisato may have been building something up, but Kamijou could not tell at all what it was. But that may have been why Kamisato had been the one chosen. He was the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. He was someone who had supposedly come back to his senses after losing his special right hand. At that point, Kamijou Touma recalled something. He remembered the other thing Kamisato Kakeru had built his identity around. (Taking revenge on the Magic Gods.) Kamijou gulped. Not everyone swore revenge when a tragedy occurred before their eyes. Some lamented and harmed themselves, some desperately built up a new life to forget all about it, some lost all will to begin anything new and grew powerless, and some filled with charity to ensure the same tragedy never happened again. And they all developed from there in their own unique ways. That meant Kamisato Kakeru had some kind of aptitude. An aptitude for being a normal high school boy and yet not hesitating to pull the proper card from the many in his deck. At the same time, swearing revenge was not that unusual. If tragedy befell a class, about one of them might do so. But not many could maintain that spirit of revenge to the point of carrying it out. Some failed to complete the preparations, some could not abandon their current life, some were overcome by guilt, and some grew so reliant on their desire for revenge that they could not afford to actually complete it and bring it to an end. Kamisato Kakeru had cleared both hurdles. People were not defined by their special right hands. They were defined by their actions. If Kamijou was right about that, it meant Kamisato Kakeru had chosen for himself to exterminate so many Magic Gods without hesitation. He may not have had time to feel any guilt due to how absurdly powerful those enemies were. He may have challenged the Magic Gods with everything at his disposal because he felt reckless and horribly outmatched. But what if he had known in advance he would settle it all in a single strike? What if he had known a light swing of his arm would erase those Magic Gods without a trace? Could Kamijou have used such a power? The very first time, he may not have known how it worked and been able to do it. But could he have cornered and defeated the second and third Magic Gods? Wouldnt he have felt intense guilt once the title of absolute was removed from those great enemies? Are... Hm? ...Are you okay? Not even Kamijou knew what he meant by that. Kamisato Kakeru replied with a smile. He looked and sounded just like the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. I wish I knew the answer to that myself. Between the Lines 4 People have always said they have trouble knowing what Im thinking. That was fine with me. Or rather, they may have been right. Im not at all confident I was thinking anything original enough and world-changing enough to be worth telling anyone about. You cant think about anything too amazing while staring out the window during class. It was only ever things like what to get for lunch, when I needed to start studying for the exams coming up, or how my sister Salome wanted a new food processer even though shes a terrible cook (and hates more than anyone to be told so). Dreams of the future? I dont think I ever really thought about it. Instead of planning where I would go, I just wanted the status quo to continue forever. The Magic Gods destroyed that. They gave someone as hopelessly normal as me a strange right hand for their own convenience. ...But was that really true? It may not have been the right hand that caused so many people to gather around me. A certain boy insisted as much and the girls themselves proved it. They stuck with me even after I pathetically lost my right hand. Ha ha. Maybe Ive started to waver. If I got World Rejecter back now, I might be erased by my own power. That said, I cant ignore that right hand. I dont want it. But I know better than anyone how powerful it is...or I think I do. And I bet Kihara Yuiitsu will use it even more readily than me. After all, shes crazy enough to release a swarm of Elements on the city just to get back at me. She didnt enter enemy territory and make a mess of things there. She attacked the very city she had lived and smiled in and she showed no concern for the 2.3 million other people living there. I made an enemy of all the Magic Gods just to get my normal life back and not even I can understand what shes thinking. If shes willing to cause that kind of damage at home, how far would she go elsewhere? I could only ever think about terrorists attacking my school or a giant meteor hitting and destroying civilization, so this is too much for my imagination. Kihara Yuiitsu. The starting point for her has to be that talking dog. The A.A.A. That tool was entirely unnecessary for finding and killing me, but she was so obsessed with it that she strayed from the optimal path to destroy it. And the A.A.A. originally belonged to that strangely mature golden retriever. He was just one of the enemies I had to defeat and he wasnt even one of the Magic Gods. He was an unnecessary hurdle that Academy City placed in my path. But Kihara Yuiitsu must have seen things differently. He must have been everything to her, to the point that his death set her world boiling. The value of things differs from person to person. I know that quite well. So I believe I have an obligation to play along with Kihara Yuiitsus revenge. I took what mattered most to her for my own convenience. But, well, if Im going to do it, Im going to go all out. Just letting someone kill me isnt my style. Revenge is illogical under the current laws. Yuiitsu and I hold the vengeance mentality that grew in peoples hearts before modern law was established. In an older time, there were a few rules to govern revenge. First, killing someone for justified revenge was not considered a crime. Second, only taking revenge personally would reclaim the deceaseds honor. And third, if the target of revenge killed the vengeance-seeker in defense, it would not be considered a crime. If revenge was simply considered the killers just deserts, that system would not have been established. The vengeance-seeker would only have needed to corner and kill the killer. However, the killer was given a way out. And I dont think that was just the privileged class creating the rules to protect themselves. It wouldnt be exciting otherwise. Revenge is different from a normal death sentence. Fighting with all your might felt like a real accomplishment and cleared away your grudge. It was like the difference between chopping a dead fish into sashimi and chopping a living fish into ikezukuri. In that case, I had to play along. ...To be honest, I was close to losing my reason for revenge. I had twisted those girls, so I had wanted to return them to their original classroom scenes. But if it was not the special right hand that twisted them, it was possible it may not have been dependent on my presence at all. Ellen, Claire, Elsa, and all the other girls. I honestly enjoy how they adore me and I can actually admit that now, but they can get by on their own now. Even my sister Salome seems to have mellowed some since meeting Kamijou Touma. She may grow out of being a mass murderer before long. I want to be with them. I want to stay by their sides forever. But if my presence is holding them back, Im prepared to walk a different path. My top priority isnt my own happiness. Just like a rocket thats cut away partway up to space, Im fine with only being someone who gives them a push forward. So lets end this. I wont make them drag me around. I will swallow this vengeance on my own. I was the only one that dealt with that talking dog. I didnt ask those girls for help. I will take responsibility. So whatever form it might take, I will sever the harmful bonds connecting me to those unrelated girls. These are my just deserts, so I wont hesitate to play along with your madness, Kihara Yuiitsu. Throw your grudge at me with everything youve got. I might die here. But even if you end up losing your life in my attempt to give you the best and most exciting revenge possible, no hard feelings, okay? Now, let us sing the praises of life. Have you finished sharpening the blade of revenge, fellow vengeance-seeker? The blade to cut you down in self-defense is right here. Volume 16, 4: A Sudden Change that Tells of Ruin - Operation_Right_Hand. Volume 16, Chapter 4: A Sudden Change that Tells of Ruin C Operation_Right_Hand. Part 1 Square holes had opened in the ground the same distance from the four cardinal directions of the Windowless Building. Kamijou and Kamisato descended underground through one of them. The inside was a special concrete slope that maintained a set angle. There were no lights except for the small ones pointing to the emergency exit. Frans heat wave microwaves must have been cut off because Swimsuit Kamijou felt a shiver down his spine. The chill of winter returned in this darkness. At first, he thought this was a large passageway meant to allow trucks to drive materials in. But that was wrong. That was clear enough once they reached the bottom of the slope. What...is this? They found an incredibly large space. When filming secret bases for a Sentai series, it was common to use a giant underground pool used to gather concentrated rainwater because those underground facilities were exciting to see, but this was even larger than that. Plus, there was no sign of any pillars used to hold up the earth. It was not supported by inflating it with air like a domed stadium and Kamijou had trouble deciding whether it was even possible with existing construction technologies. How was the weight being distributed? But the strangest aspect of the underground space had to do with the height rather than the size of the other two dimensions. More accurately, it was the ceiling. A great number of giant metal cylinders hung down like icicles or stalactites. The bottom end grew wider like a trumpet and Kamijou had trouble imagining what they were at first. He mistakenly leaped to the conclusion that he was in a strange metal botanical garden. But. He finally managed to focus on reality once he recalled the long slope they had walked down and combined that with the strange objects on the ceiling. Yes, a certain thought came to mind: Youre kidding...right? Those things hanging down from the ceiling look a lot like rocket engines to me... You might not be wrong. Ive heard rocket engines spray out a ton of water to make sure they dont damage their own parts with their heat, so the slope we descended may have been ducts to expel all the steam during takeoff. That might seem possible when looking at each individual part, but the location of this underground area led to a frightening conclusion. Then...wait. What does that mean? This is right below the Windowless Building. That would mean the building itself is made to leave the earth!! Ive heard its made to survive a direct hit from a nuke, so its got to be resistant to heat and radiation. I dont know what its like on the inside, but if it has a proper circulation established, its basically an artificial planet. It would be able to leave the solar system or even the Milky Way. Since it hasnt done so yet, it might still be making its preparations. ... This was insane. It was so insane that Kamijou was hit by a fundamental question: Why had Academy City been built? Kamisato, however, remained carefree, perhaps because he was not a resident of the city. But all of that is just a guess based on the different pieces weve seen. And this is no time to be thinking about the origin of this underground structure. Dont lose sight of the true issue, Kamijou Touma. Our goal is defeating that person. For you, that will wipe out the Elements and bring back your peaceful days. For me, it will prevent a third party from misusing that loathsome right hand. The boy with a strangers hand sewn on slowly lined up alongside Kamijou. Their surroundings changed as if in response. Definite fires lit in the nearly unlit space. They looked like the obvious will-o-the-wisps of a haunted house, but they were the size of lighthouse lights. They were red, blue, yellow, and green. The four light sources were located up above and they eerily illuminated their surroundings while looking down at the boys. They were 100 meter Class 6 Elements. It was a group of giant crocodiles and carnivorous inchworms. The ducts had only been about ten meters across, so nothing this large could have passed through. So had they been built inside here after carrying in the materials, just like a bottle ship? And the mad scientist behind it waited below the light in the center of the space. Kihara...Yuiitsu. Hello, hello. When Kamijou uttered a scratchy voice, the woman smiled and raised a hand. She was dressed differently from before. Either not even she had been able to endure the heatwave caused by the high power microwaves or she was simply enjoying the situation. She wore her lab coat over a red bikini. The chill of winter had returned to this space because the microwaves could not get in, but her entire body looked heated and healthy. No. She had a reason for her body to be boiling. The right hand she casually waved was roughly sewn on at the wrist like a repaired stuffed animal. The fingertips were slender, but they had a clear lack of femininity. It was blatantly obvious that she had sewn on a stolen hand. That was Kamisato Kakerus right hand. It was World Rejecter. To be honest, Kamijou Touma-kun, I have no real interest in you. I only have business with Kamisato Kakeru. So if you turn around now, Ill just let you leave. Would you be willing to do that? Hell no. Are you worried about my Elements swarming Academy City once the heat wave is removed? ...But that shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the situation. My objective is Kamisato Kakeru and the Elements are merely pawns to that end. The A.A.A. was only a detour, but there are some things I just cant overlook. If the Kamisato Faction is defeated here, the microwaves from above will naturally stop. In other words, this is the final battle. On the other hand, if Kamisato Kakeru kills me, the Elements will stop and he will lose any reason to keep the heat wave going. So whoever wins here, both problems will end. Academy City will return to normal all on its own. Theres nothing for you to worry about. Kamijou thought about that for just a bit. It was true that he was not at the center of this issue. This was a confrontation between Kamisato Kakeru and Kihara Yuiitsu who had exchanged right hands. The girls of the Kamisato Faction could defeat the giant Elements without Kamijous right hand, so this would be over no matter who won. Even if Kamijou desperately swung his right hand around, it would not change the result much. He understood all that. But he still repeated himself. Again: hell no. ...Oh, dear. Your Elements nearly killed Aogami Pierce and Fukiyose at the water department. They destroyed Tokiwadai Middle School and hurt Misaka and the other girls there. And Im sure there were plenty of other tragedies Im not aware of. Youre saying all of that will end on its own? Youre saying I should just sit idly by and watch? How the hell can I do that!? Youve proven how much you can do. Youll just be switching it off for the time being, but youll still be able to do the same thing any time you want!! Ill at least be crushing that possibility here, Kihara Yuiitsu!! Kamijou Touma had moved between schools and shelters instead of staying in one place. They had each used different facilities and equipment, they had each seen a different world and problems, and they had each been in different circumstances, but they had all wanted one thing. They had wanted their normal lives to return. They had wanted to live a life free of worry. They had wanted to be freed from the constant fear for their lives. They may have seen things differently and been able to do far less, but that did not mean Misaka Mikoto would have made light of Aogami Pierce and Fukiyose Seiris desperate efforts. Similarly, Kamisato had no right to mock Misaka. And as the source of it all, Kihara Yuiitsu had no right to just end it while ignoring everyones thoughts and voices as they desperately worked to survive throughout Academy City. Ending this was something only the people suffering in Academy City could do. Kamisato Kakeru and the girls around him had special powers and clever minds, so they may have been the most realistic choice for clashing with Kihara Yuiitsu. But that was not enough. They had known the truth from the beginning and made secret preparations, so their pain and suffering were insufficient to hear everyones voices and understand that pressure. They only understood in theory or on paper, but they did not truly understand how the people felt as they risked their lives in the sweltering heat wave to gather just one days worth of food and water while the Elements pursued them. It was pissing Kamijou off how casually they pretended like they understood. If someone knew in advance that their cruise ship would be sunk and had prepared life vests and life boats, how could they understand the efforts of those who were thrown into the frigid sea with no warning whatsoever? How could they understand how reliable the buoyancy of a single plank of wood or plastic container felt or how much effort had gone into securing one? This isnt about efficiency. I dont care what makes sense!! I need to report back to everyone that this is actually over and that it wont happen again!! If I cant tell them they can remove the barricades, leave their schools, and go home, then the fear isnt truly over!! Whether or not the heat wave leaves and whether or not the Elements go away is a different issue. I wont let this nightmare drag on and I need the truth to do that. And Im not about to let you and your know-it-all face hold onto the final key and throw it into some black box!!!!!! Kihara Yuiitsu responded with a quiet laugh in her swimsuit and lab coat. She maintained a smile as she readily replied. Then you can die along with them. I dont care about good and evil or like and dislike as much as Sensei did. The wind roared. The four giant Elements ruling this space had all moved at once and that had whipped up the air. Kamisato Kakeru did not bat an eye. He gently lifted the L-shaped crowbar that rested on his shoulder like the grim reapers scythe. He had already defeated several Class 6s on the surface and the girls of the Kamisato Faction could defeat them individually. The only question for him may have been how to make use of the large but enclosed space. But what happened next far exceeded Kamijous expectations. Wha-...? The 100 meter Elements did not attack Kamijou or Kamisato. Nor did they start with the girls surrounding them. They moved the other way. They rushed toward Kihara Yuiitsu, their master!!!??? Devour. A tremendous sound burst out. At some point a portion of the Elements vanished. Kamijous eyes had not been able to follow what happened. He only heard a sticky and squishy sound coming from Kihara Yuiitsus left arm. Devour. Ha ha. Devour, devour. He had assumed this oddity came from the right hand she had stolen. But it did not. The strange sound came from her unnaturally throbbing left hand and translucent, blade-like claws extended from the fingertips. Ah ha ha ah ha ha ha ha ha ah ha ah ha ah ha ha!! Devour, devour, yes, devourrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Each time she swung her arm, more of the Elements, which should have been her greatest fighting force, disappeared. At the same time, the beautiful bodylines decorated by her swimsuit and lab coat crawled and throbbed in a way that ignored her original muscles and bones. No, Kamijou and the others may have been looking at it all wrong. The Elements were indeed toys created by Kihara Yuiitsu, but they were not meant to attack anyone directly. They had another purpose. My food. Her whispered voice sent a chill down the spine of all who heard it. The back of her lab coat exploded. Sharp, crystalline protrusions grew from her back and created something like giant wings. Other protrusions resembled eyeballs, claws, or fangs. I thought they might be too tough after raising them underground while feeding them the ones sent out to graze, but thats fine for now. I might dislike Misaka Mikotos insolence, but she was perfect for a warmup exercise. Im up against Kamisato Kakeru who defeated Senseis original A.A.A., so I need to be able to defeat something like that without any real difficulty. With a high-pitched sound, translucent armor covered both her legs. It was unbelievably cold, but it had a streamlined and biological look. Perhaps to preserve that uniqueness, her hands remained uncovered, but her overall silhouette was familiar. Kamijou gulped. Thats...another A.A.A.? The bizarre researcher gave a mocking smile. I used a different approach from Sensei and constructed it all on my own without any help from that annoying Aleister. She formed a gun with her borrowed right hand and pressed the index finger against her temple as she spoke. The two long, narrow boosters on her back lit with a red light almost immediately. So lets enjoy this, Kamisato Kakeru. For you, this would be round two! You dont have World Rejecter this time, but I wouldnt hesitate even if you did!! Now that you cant cheat, how much can you struggle against an A.A.A. that took a different path from Sensei? I am going to enjoy tormenting you to death just like Sensei should have done with his A.A.A.!! Part 2 Kamisato Kakeru...or rather, the girls on either side of him shot forward like artillery shells. Salome, the mass murderer in a white swimsuit and double raincoats, and the pirate girl, who wore a pirate hat and a bikini, were both monsters who had torn through the Class 6 Elements as a close-quarters combat pair. But Kihara Yuiitsu did not care. Hee hee. She laughed quietly. Her many cannons fired. The girls ducked low like anti-ship missiles charging a warship as they approached Yuiitsu. But Yuiitsu had never intended to hit them with that. After getting them to duck down and thus restricting their freedom of movement, she made her true attack along their straight line path. It had all been preparation for this. Ah. The pirate girl was the first to speak up. Kihara Yuiitsu swung a ridiculously long anti-special steel chainsaw down from above. ...Tch!! While running alongside her in her white school swimsuit and raincoats, Salome kicked the pirate girl in the side. That altered the girls path somewhat. A moment later, the chainsaw twice their height dropped down. Salome crossed her weapons...or rather, her arms to protect her head, but instead of being cut, she was knocked to the ground as if she had been hit by a barbell. Her severed brown arm flew through the air and passed right by Kamijous face. It was destroyed with the sound of something hard being chewed to pieces. At this rate, she would lose her other artificial arm and then her head and torso would be bisected vertically. Once that happened, not even a self-made cyborg would escape unharmed. Kamijou immediately gave a yell. The fat alternative, Kamisato!! Heh. The boy pulled two plastic bottles from his tote bag and tossed one to Kamijou. They contained the type of liquid glue found in any department stores stationery section. And the two of them simultaneously threw the bottles at Kihara Yuiitsu from different angles. More accurately, at the chainsaw blade. They burst as soon as they touched it, but that was of course not going to stop the rapidly rotating blade. But something did change. Salome had been protecting her face and torso by crossing her arms, but the blade did not sink any lower toward her. It continued spinning, but it was no longer cutting. Long ago, executioners axes would apparently grow useless from the human blood and fat that got on the blade! Not even the sharpest Japanese swords were used to cut cleanly through ten or twenty people in battle. They were really used to beat people down with the weight of the steel!! Kihara Yuiitsu tilted her head a little, snapped the claw-like protrusions of armor, and grinned. Ohh, I see. Gah!? Since the chainsaw could no longer cut, she swung it straight down. She slammed Salomes body to the ground instead of cutting her. Even the mass murderer who had caused so much trouble for Academy City was reduced to this. And before Yuiitsu could push the chainsaw forward, the Kamisato Faction took action. The ghost girl and cosplay girl created a barrage of high firepower long-range attacks that flew toward Yuiitsu like a solid wall. Hee hee. But Yuiitsu still laughed. And she continued smiling as she and the A.A.A. she wore disappeared. Kamijous eyes widened. She still has the Elements translucent mimicry!? Before he could say anything more, she made her next move. Kihara Yuiitsu had approached right in front of him while blending into the background by hiding behind the many cannons and armor. And she was swinging the anti-special steel chainsaw in a diagonal path. It did not matter if it could cut or not. Even Salome had been helplessly crushed. She would have died if not for her self-made cyborg body. Even without the cutting edge, its solid weight could not be denied. Not even the other girls could stop it. Not to mention Kamisato Kakeru who was only a high school boy now that he had lost his special right hand. He could not stop it or dodge it now. But. If Kihara Yuiitsus A.A.A. was still fundamentally the same as the Elements... Ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Kamijou let out a roar. He roared and cut in. He used the yell to force down the instinctual fear of the roaring chainsaw and he stepped forward. He swung his right hand. One touch to the translucent blade destroyed the part that resembled a rotating bicycle chain with blades attached. It whipped around like a writhing snake and nearly chopped off Kamijous ear. My Elements are reduced lifeforms supported by a magic element, so it is true they are weak to your right hand. But he did not have time to bring a hand to his ear to check on it. Kamijou and Yuiitsu were already staring each other in the eye at close range. But your right hand is weak to my right hand. Isnt that right? ...!!!??? Kihara Yuiitsu raised her crudely sewn-on right hand. Its shadow danced out. If Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter clashed, Kamijou would lose. And if he lost his right hand, not even he knew what would happen. Would it devour Kihara Yuiitsu, would it turn around and kill him, or would it transform the unrelated girls around them into a pool of blood? He only knew that the unpredictable box did not contain even a glimmer of hope. The flow of time seemed to stall and Kihara Yuiitsus right hand moved oddly slowly. Its shadow tried to cover Kamijous entire body as he desperately tried to twist out of the way. It successfully locked onto him. And she did not hesitate to speak. Do you wish for a new world? Time sped back up. But as unpleasant sweat poured from his body, Kamijou remained alive in this world. There was a simple reason for this: Kamisato Kakeru. He had pulled a one-touch umbrella from his tote bag, opened it with this thumb, and held it out to hide Kamijous upper body. The shadow of Kihara Yuiitsus right hand shifted from Kamijous upper body and to the umbrella. With a dull bursting sound, the synthetic fiber material took the hit for him. World Rejecter can eliminate all things if the proper conditions are met, but its still reliant on the hands shadow for targeting. So if you move the shadow elsewhere, something else can take the hit. Kamisato spoke quietly with a calm look on his face. You really should prepare more before fighting. ... He had so easily neutralized the powerful right hand that had slaughtered Magic Gods by the dozen. No one knew how to handle World Rejecter better than him. He tossed aside the destroyed umbrella and quickly called some names. Maya, Olivia. The ghost girl and cosplay girl on his left and right began to move. They normally specialized in long-distance bombardments, but were they preparing to fire at point blank range? Kihara Yuiitsu began to fall back without thinking. And... And Salome. !? It came from directly behind. As if to get back at her for the chainsaw attack, the one-armed mass murderer charged toward Kihara Yuiitsu. She ran into the forest of weapons on the back of the A.A.A. Everything that formed that steel-winged demon was a meal for Salome. You havent forgotten Im a magician that gains power by using the weapons I destroy as a sacrifice to my god, have you!? Yes, I couldnt consume the Elements when they were life forms, but the A.A.A. is a weapon!! If Kihara Yuiitsu had that power taken, she would have lost her precious advantage. And even if not, tearing away the weapons would reduce the number of cards available to her. More and more disturbing sounds came from her back. Why you... Just as Yuiitsu began moving the weapons on her back, Kamisato Kakeru right hand gave a casual push to Kamijou Toumas back. It pushed him forward. Realizing what Kamisato meant, Kamijou clenched his right fist tight and gave a roar. Like Ill let you do that!! Now, what will you do? Youre stuck between a rock and a hard place. Both of these opponents are perfect for devouring your Element-made A.A.A. Kihara Yuiitsus face was covered in sweat, but she gave a belligerent smile. Ha ha! Perfect!! She was not focused on the boy in front of her or the girl behind her. The eyeball and claw-like protrusions creaked and all of the cannons let out a roar. Explosive noises and shockwaves filled the entire enclosed space. Kamijou felt a dull pain spreading from his eardrums. His feet were pinned to the ground just as he started running forward. It was like a solid wall of sound...no, an acoustic weapon. Kihara Yuiitsu had simultaneously fired all of her cannons without aiming. She hit them all with something other than the shells and laser beams and Salome was no exception. The shockwaves and heat collided with her body and the brown girl in a white swimsuit and double raincoats floated up from the ground. She was thrown through the air. Only about half of the weapons remained on Yuiitsus back, but those remaining weapons groaned as they accurately pursued Salome through the air. Before Salome could land, countless lasers and sensor-assisted anti-air fire gave a roar. There was nothing she could do. It was possible she would be sent flying into the heavens without ever setting foot on the ground again. But that may have been why supposedly powerless Kamisato Kakeru pushed past everything to step toward Kihara Yuiitsu. Kamijou thought his throat had gone dry. Next he felt a heavy blow to his gut. He looked down and saw the large tote bag that the other boy had relied on so far. It took a second to realize that Kamisato had thrown it to him. He really was defenseless now. Utterly unarmed, Kamisato Kakeru ran forward in order to protect this sister, even if she was a mass murderer. Are you serious? ...Hey!! Kamijou forced the words out of his convulsing throat. Kihara Yuiitsu was still Kihara Yuiitsu even with her weapons taken. The A.A.A. was extraordinarily powerful and Kamijou had fought her once before. She had a special martial arts technique that created bubbles in ones blood and she had a wide variety of options after weakening and harnessing the St Germain virus and Sample Shoggoth. Even with Imagine Breaker, Kamijou had not stood a chance, so he seriously doubted Kamisato could do anything without his power. And in fact, a flower of blood blossomed just a second later. It was definitely Kamisato Kakerus blood. Because Yuiitsu had all of her cannons aimed back toward Salome, she had reached back, torn off a piece of crystal rubble still reluctantly clinging to her back, and thrown it at him. The sharp fragment was twice the length of a pencil. Kamisato had responded by holding up his powerless right hand. Yes. He held up Kihara Yuiitsus right hand that had been forcibly sewn on with a needle and thread. Ah...what!? So even a Kihara is hurt by that? It had pierced straight through the palm, so red blood flowed endlessly from the slender womans hand. By seeing a part of your body damaged, that is. ... Kihara Yuiitsus cheeks stiffened just enough to notice if one was paying attention. She then reached both hands back, tore off more pieces of the useless destroyed weapons, and threw them at close range. She threw more and more, but none of them reached Kamisato. He always held up Yuiitsus hand so they slashed the palm, broke the fingers, and destroyed its overall beautiful shape. The blood loss and pain were afflicting Kamisato, but he smiled even as his face paled and sweat covered his body. Yuiitsu was the one doing the damage, but she was the one being overwhelmed. That Kihara was overwhelmed by a normal high school boy. A solid thud sounded as Salome hit the ground. Yuiitsu had lost her chance to fire. Her cannons were still aiming upwards, but they were soon released from that position. They gathered and focused on a single point like a magnifying glass focusing the sun. They aimed at the puny boy who was now the greatest obstacle to be destroyed. He lightly swung the battered right hand and even smiled as he called a name. Elza. Immediately afterwards, something large struck Kihara Yuiitsus side even as the A.A.A. protected her. It was a human. It was a girl. Her long brown hair was roughly cut into something like fox ears. However, something about her seemed off. She had charged in like a four-legged beast rather than a human. Also, Kihara Yuiitsus A.A.A. was her cutting-edge weapon gained by devouring so many Elements. It of course had direct firepower, but it also had to have many other features to assist in aiming and to divert impacts. In other words, it should have been difficult for anyone other than a mass murderer like Salome to get a clean surprise attack in on her. To do that, they would have to know the A.A.A. better than Yuiitsu herself. Did a certain name enter her mind? He was a large dog that shined with a golden light. He was an eternally inviolable researcher who loved cigars and romance above all else. Elza is a magician who controls something like a Kokkuri. And a scientist might not be aware, but Kokkuri is spelled with the characters for fox, dog, and tanuki. .......................................................................................................................................................................................Youre lying. Tell us all about that stray dog. Depending on where he ended up, Elza might be able to summon him with a single ten yen coin. Youre lyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!! Ah, was all Kamijou managed to say. He did not know where this caught at her soul, but Kihara Yuiitsu was in an abnormal state. Kamisato had known enough to grab at the scar, knowing full well what would happen. And he had said himself that this was something like a Kokkuri. That meant it was not actually one. Even if it was spelled with the characters for fox, dog, and tanuki, it was still only something like it. They could not actually summon a specific animal no matter how hard they tried. But that did not matter. Kamisato had said before that the trick when making a bluff was a lack of information and that your opponent would draw their own line between the unconnected dots you provided. Their cage was complete. And now that she had been shoved inside the invisible cell, Kihara Yuiitsu actually seemed pathetic. Kamisato only had to call some names and the girls rushed in. Kihara Yuiitsu was helplessly knocked over along with her A.A.A. and the translucent parts were torn away one after another like ants swarming a doll made of sugar. The armor made of eyeball and claw-like parts, the various cannons, and the thick arms forming the wings were all torn away. The girls of the Kamisato Faction all had a solid core as they followed the boy. That meant they lacked conflicting desires and thus the stolen World Rejecter was useless against them. All of the weapons were held down, smashed, and torn away. While pinned to the ground, Kihara Yuiitsu stretched her head forward as if trying to bite at Kamisato Kakeru. His response was simple. He formed a fist with the bloody and battered womans hand sewn to his wrist. You can have this back. A dull sound burst out. He did not care if the force of the blow broke the bones in the hand. He used all his strength to slam his fist into that monsters jaw. Ghah...ahhh!!!??? With her equipment taken, the full blow reached her physical body. Her brain was shaken and her mind as a researcher and civilized human being grew cloudy. The mad scientist groaned as she gasped for breath and desperately held onto her own consciousness, but Kamisato looked down at her and lightly waved his borrowed right hand. Kihara Yuiitsu. You made one fundamental misunderstanding. He spoke quietly down at the woman who could barely move. I wasnt just better than you when it comes to using World Rejecter. ...I dont know your past, but Ive sought vengeance longer than you as well. So I know very well just what someone like that is thinking. Pant...pant...!! And your inexperience was your undoing. Did the blood rush to your head when I insulted that stray dog? But that was wrong. Would your anger have cooled if I had apologized with tears in my eyes? Of course not. Even if those Magic Gods had begged for their lives and said theyd had a change of heart, I still would have erased them. Thats the only way to fulfill your revenge. Your target might also feel bad about it? They might say something kind? The instant you started thinking that, your revenge had failed. ... So Ill be taking that right hand back. It was mine to begin with and it only has meaning when wielded against the Magic Gods who gave it to me. I cant let it create unnecessary victims in your hands. Ah, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! With that yell, a quiet sound came from Kihara Yuiitsus back teeth. At the same time, Kamijou and the others were shaken by a low, heavy rumbling. Why do you think I chose this location, Mr. Experience? Let me show you my style of revenge. ... Kamijou silently looked up. The ceiling high, high above was covered in metal cylinders that reminded him of icicles or stalactites. The bottom widened like a trumpet, so they may have been boosters that launched the Windowless Building into space like a rocket. Its too late to escape now. Kihara Yuiitsu gave a mocking smile even after having everything stripped away from her. And as someone who knows revenge, I can tell something about you. Youve started to waver, havent you? If revenge was really all you wanted, you would be enraged at having your toy taken and you wouldnt even think about damage to your surroundings! Youve gained something else that makes you more than a machine dead-set on revenge!! You can no longer hold World Rejecter. You might even be blown away by your own power the instant you come into contact with the hand!! Her voice wavered harshly between strong and weak, but then it grew incredibly peaceful. Unlike you, revenge is all I have. That broke a moment later. She laughed loudly as if the meter had spun the other way. So I wont hesitate to throw my own life away!! There is no emergency exit or shelter! Revenge isnt difficult as long thats all you want to accomplish. You just cant take on extra objectives like you did. Kamisato Kakerus expression did not change. And he once more slammed his stolen fist against Yuiitsus smiling face. With that solid sound, the mad vengeance-seeker rolled onto the ground as if he had hit her power switch. The boosters would ignite soon. Once that happened, the entire space would be exposed to heat even more incredible than a crematory. There was not enough time to run away now. The long, long slope that they had descended was meant to allow the explosively expanding steam to escape. That meant leaving the large space would not bring them to safety. Steam of 100 degrees would catch up to them before they left the slope and their boiling flesh would create a truly hellish scene. The earth seemed to tremble around them, but Kamisato Kakeru remained calmly silent. He finally spoke. Claire...is up above in the fake A.A.A. Then anyone else who can do it, cut off her right hand and attach mine. B-but, Onii-chan!! One-armed Salome frantically interrupted. She was an eccentric girl who had replaced her entire body with an artificial one without relying on Academy City. Her techniques might be able to attach his hand, but... You heard Kihara Yuiitsu, didnt you!? Just touching World Rejecter could blow you away right now, dontcha think!? But thats the only way to deal with the boosters overhead. I have to erase them with my power. There are other ways to destroy them! Destroying them will trigger an explosion. Erasing them is the only way. ...Eh? Wait a minute. You mean...eh? That arrogant mass murderer looked like someone who had assumed their family would always remain happy and then learned their parents were getting a divorce. Kamisato sighed. Kamijou Touma, my tote bag. Y-yeah? Kamijou handed it over but immediately regretted it. The boy reached inside, pulled out a spray can, and aimed it at his sister. The can was labelled CO2 Icing Spray. You goddamn stupid Onii-...!!!??? She could not complete her frantic words. The sound of the spraying did not last long. Knocking you out with a physical blow isnt easy, but you still need to circulate oxygen and carbon dioxide to keep your brain functioning. Now, can you continue breathing in a cloud of highly concentrated carbon gas? Ah...kah... The concentration of oxygen would not be that easily changed outside of a sealed tank, but the brown mass murderer was unfortunately wearing two raincoats over her swimsuit. The hood covering her head created a partially sealed space with little space for the gas to escape. A rapid change in oxygen concentration isnt the same as being strangled. If all you need to do is knock someone out, this is a lot faster. Of course, go too far and it could have serious lasting effects on the brain. In around a dozen seconds, the mass murderers head wobbled. Unable to keep her balance, the girl who had displayed such frightening strength collapsed on the spot. I had secretly sworn to myself I would never use this method to stop you. Sorry Im such an awful brother. Stop...Onii-chan... I wont stop. Kamisatos expression remained unchanged. He looked around, confirmed that no one was stepping forward to volunteer their help, and grabbed Yuiitsus limp arm. He held a crystal fragment stabbed into the other hand like it was a blade. It probably was not the sharpest tool, but he had decided it was enough to cut the thread sewing the hand on. Fine then. Ill do it myself. No one stopped him. There were around a hundred girls there and they trusted him enough to give up their lives if he told them to die, but even if they restrained him, they could only wait for the rocket boosters on the ceiling to ignite. This was the end for Kamisato Kakeru whether they stopped him or not, so they froze up, unsure what to choose. The girls could not move and Salomes short temper was hampered by her cloudy mind. Who could still move? There was only one option. ...lease. She could not get up and she could barely move, but Salome gave him an imploring look. Not Kamisato. She looked to the other boy. Please. Punch that giant idiot right this instant and take that away from him. If you dont, hell...my brother will... She sounded on the verge of tears. She sounded like a small girl who had gotten separated from her family in an unfamiliar city. ... When he found himself the target of her words, Kamijou was reminded why he was here. He was not exactly friends with Kamisato Kakeru or the girls around him. He would never hand over Othinus for their revenge against the Magic Gods. But... He had not considered that this last-second waver inside Kamisato had anything to do with him. That would mean the words and kindness directed at Kamisato had gradually built up in his heart and inadvertently helped Kihara Yuiitsu have her revenge. There was a lot he wanted to say. Dont act like you know what youre talking about. No one really wants to be annihilated. The girls here stood up and helped you, not your right hand. Do you really think they want a world without you? But he could not say it. He simply could not. If he did and the words hit home inside Kamisato, it would only widen the cracks. The waver inside him would grow larger and larger, increasing the risk of him being rejected and erased by World Rejecter. Trying to help him would kill him. So Kamijou had to swallow the words. He had to force down the words that had risen from his chest to his throat. That was the only way to preserve the slightest chance that Kamisato would survive this. Was... He may have been overthinking it, but Kamijou found himself cursing something invisible. Was this all my fault? Was all your suffering my fault? Ha ha. Not at all. With two snapping sounds, the blade passed through his and anothers wrists. No one could sympathize with his actions, but the most normal smile imaginable remained on his face even as the blood splattered on his cheek. Its true you didnt accomplish anything decisive in this fight. You were useful, but another pawn might have done just as well. So that must not have been your role here. I think youre still standing here because you needed to hear what Im about to say. What is that? Its simple. He boy who knew its destructive power better than anyone did not hesitate to grab the severed hand. The banishment may have already begun at that point. But as if to make extra sure, he forced it into place against his wrist. In the instant before the decisive destruction set in, he left behind a curse. Take care of these girls. Dont worry. Isnt that what youve always done? And he made the final attack. There was no hellfire that was hotter than a crematory and there was no pandemonium of half-destroyed boosters exploding. Only the frozen stillness of winter remained. In that instant, a certain boy was erased from the world. Volume 16, Epilogue: A Model Answer that Exceeds Disaster - Nightmare_by_Lost_Boy. Volume 16, Epilogue: A Model Answer that Exceeds Disaster C Nightmare_by_Lost_Boy. Meanwhile, Fran, the UFO girl in a pink pajama hoodie and a bikini, held onto her giant balloon with one hand and slowly circled around the Windowless Building. Her rabbit-ear antennae moved around and the round pod on the back of her hips focused here and there. Not to mention the backpack she wore. The bob-cut girls job had been to observe the opening of the secret entrance when Kihara Yuiitsu panicked, so she had been on standby since the battle had begun. Claire, the glasses plant girl who had created an A.A.A. silhouette out of plants, floated nearby with her alcohol fueled boosters. Honestly, said Claire. When is Kamisato-san going to come out? I dont know, so dont ask me. And since our enemy and allies are all gathered underground, cant you switch off the heat wave? Its 55 degrees and Im wilting! Im going to shrivel up!! Are you trying to turn me into dried fruit!? Direct any complaints to Kamisato-chan. The rabbit-ear antennae girl replied bluntly, but then she noticed something. Someone ran out of one of the square holes located in the four cardinal directions from the Windowless Building. Kamisato-san!! ...No, its that...what was his name? Kamijou Touma. Fran shook the carrot stoppers at the end of her hoodies strings and released some of the gas from her balloon. Gravity seemed to remember she existed and she lightly descended toward the pointy-haired boy. What is it? Wah! Waaahhhh!!!?? A simple question was enough for the boy to jump in surprise, fall backwards, and land on some dried bushes. Fran tilted her head while carrying her antennae-covered backpack. The boy had been acting odd since he came out. Instead of feeling triumphant after defeating Kihara Yuiitsu, he seemed to be desperately fleeing something. And he was not making a planned escape from their expected enemy. He was truly desperate, like he had run across something entirely unexpected. It was like he had seen a ghost or evil spirit. Wheres Kamisato-chan? What about the others? Why did you come out alone? Y-you... Kamijou gulped and hesitantly asked a question while forgetting to extract himself from the bushes. Youre still normal...? ? The rabbit-ear antennae girl did not know what he meant. The Kamisato Faction was sometimes asked that sort of thing because of their extreme adoration for Kamisato, but this seemed different. And then Kamijou Toumas shoulders trembled. He was clearly looking at something other than Fran who shook the round pod on her butt. The small girl looked back toward the entrance the boy had come from. She could hear several footsteps inside. They were not Element footsteps and she doubted they belonged to Kihara Yuiitsu who worked alone. She guessed this meant the Kamisato Faction was safe after all. But a moment later, the pointy-haired boy made a suggestion. If youre still normal, then hear me out. We cant stay here! You need to get away from here! You need to go hide with me!! What do you mean? Theyve changed sides!! The girls of the Kamisato Faction have all joined Kihara Yuiitsu!! It happened earlier in the vast space below the Windowless Building. ...Is it over? muttered Kamijou. Yes, it was over. The great number of boosters that Kihara Yuiitsu had set up as the final fireworks had not ignited. In fact, they had all been devoured by World Rejecter and sent to a supposed new world. That meant everyone was alive. No one had been fried in flames hotter than a crematory. Except Kamisato Kakeru. That boy alone was missing. Only his right hand remained on the floor. Ah, ahhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... The white swimsuit and raincoat girl groaned on the ground. Kamijou had the same thought again. It was over. Was there nothing more they could do? Did they have no right to say anything now that it was over? After all, this was too much. Since Kamisato Kakeru had vanished, it meant there had been more to him than revenge. He could have lived a kinder life in which he could laugh with the friends and acquaintances who adored him, but that bright possibility had strangled him and eternally banished him from this world. Heh...heh heh. Then some out of place laughter reached Kamijous ears. Ah ha ha. Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! It was Kihara Yuiitsu. She had been pinned to the ground, her precious A.A.A. had been mostly stripped away, and only the miserable remnants remained of that swimsuit and lab coat woman. A sticky sound came from the stump of her wrist and something half-liquid and half-string shot out. They connected to the hand that Kamisato Kakeru had taken back but never truly reclaimed. The hand was pulled in and sewn on in the blink of an eye. She wiggled the fingers as she laughed. Yes, yes. That was quite amusing. Between good and evil, it was good, but between like and dislike, it was dislike. You dont see that combination every day! Kamisato Kakeru was blown away by his own power. Well, it didnt go entirely as planned, but Ill overlook that since the end result was the same. I have had my revenge!! You... Give back my brothers hand!! Oh, are you sure you should be saying that? The mass murderer pounced at her like a beast, but Kihara Yuiitsu got up and held out her right hand. World Rejecter was useless against the girls of the Kamisato Faction, but Yuiitsu was not talking about that. The evil inspiration of a Kihara would not stop there. Arent you forgetting something? Kamisato Kakeru was blown away by this right hand. That is an eternal exile from which he can never return. But this right hand is still the key. Ah. If you smash me into mincemeat, you might lose that key along with me. Im asking if you really want to do that. Yes, this comes with an absolute guarantee that there is not even the slightest chance of him returning, but this is still the final key that might just be able to overturn that. ...So wouldnt you be cutting Kamisato Kakerus final lifeline if you did that? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Someones sister screamed. She shouted, roared, and wailed, but she could not lay a finger on her nemesis who was well within arms reach. All of you, listen uuuuup! If you dont want to give up on Kamisato Kakeru, then you need to obey me, since I hold the key. Even if its impossible now, some advance in technology might be able to bring him back one day. But that doesnt help you much if this right hand rots away before then, does it? ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... This was as true reversal. Had her ridiculous speech even lasted a full minute? But that tiny bit of information was enough to wrap the girls hearts in thorns. Kihara Yuiitsu alone laughed in the center of the despair. The one who usurped the right hand became the king who ruled over those girls. Kamisato Kakeru had feared this for so very long and had finally rejected it, but that nightmare had come true. Was this an extension of her revenge? Now, then. !! Kamijou Touma was all alone. He was isolated. He had been overwhelmed by the atmosphere, but now the pointy-haired boy was the only one separated from the Kamisato Faction. I already gave you a chance to leave, so no matter how brutal this gets, its your own fault. Dammit... Kill that brat, girls. That way I can judge the loyalty of my new tools. Goddammiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!! He did not want to remember what happened after that. It had been a hellish escape. Each of those girls used a unique system of special techniques, magic, or esper powers and they had become an army from hell to hunt down their poor prey. It felt like a miracle he had made it aboveground alive. Of course, the girls were probably still hesitating. That may have been what allowed him to survive. But the scales would tip in the end. They would tip from a stranger like Kamijou Touma to the vanished Kamisato Kakeru. Mass Murderer Salome had seemed relatively unaffected by the Faction, but even she had bit her lips and gained a hopeless expression as she moved her eyes around and seemed unable to stop herself from attacking. He could not blame them. What the girls were doing was wrong, but Kamijou could not blame them given the circumstances. After all, he had been there too. If things had been just a little different, Kamisato may not have been lost. If Kamijou was only standing here thanks to that boys sacrifice, he needed to think about what that meant. It did not matter if it had been intentional or not. It was still true that Kamijou Toumas words had built up inside Kamisato Kakeru and bared their fangs against him in the very, very end. On top of that, he had to think about what to do. What had Kamisato Kakeru said? Was there anything he could do for that boy!? He said to take care of them. ? At the very end, Kamisato smiled and said to take care of those girls. I wont ignore that!! I wont let Kihara Yuiitsu turn the Kamisato Faction into her playthings!! Whether Yuiitsu had known it or not, she had fulfilled Kamisato Kakerus greatest nightmare. This was the greatest insult. Kamijou could not overlook it. He had to prove it was something much kinder and stronger that bound peoples hearts together. He felt obligated after being saved by that boy who had worried so very long about this. And then he heard another voice from overhead. I see. So thats what happened to Kamisato-san. Claire? Kamijou looked up. The girl had been waiting in midair with the fake A.A.A.s alcohol boosters, so she had not descended yet. That meant she had not received that shock directly. She had not been bound by that curse directly. She might listen to him like Fran had. Good. I can use as much help as I can get. You help out too! Yes, thats right. I need to think about what I can do to help Kamisato-san. Um? Kamijou was confused, but Fran narrowed her eyes. A moment later, the plant girl was struck by an explosion of light even more frightening than lightning. Kamijou was blinded by the nearby light. As he shouted and writhed around, a small hand tugged at his arm. It was probably Fran, but he could not see her face even from this close. The pajama hoodie and bikini girl whispered to him. Come with me. Claire can regenerate, so that isnt enough to kill her. What? What was that!? Its like focusing the sunlight with a magnifying glass. I take the microwaves covering the city and narrow them down onto a single point. The flash you saw wasnt the microwaves. It was like the light from a heated filament. Kamijou could hardly believe it. Or perhaps he should have praised the plant girl who was so tough that something on that scale was needed to bring her down. And blinding him kept him from seeing the approaching despair. It felt nice simply to follow the tug on his hand. The Kamisato Faction had joined Kihara Yuiitsus side, but this rabbit-ear antennae UFO girl was fine. She would fight alongside him. I would like to confirm a few things. Sure! What happened to Kihara Yuiitsu? Are the Elements still active? They were food meant to build up Kihara Yuiitsus A.A.A. She completed it, but it was destroyed in the end! And I doubt shell remake it from scratch. After all, shes found a ton of toys she can enjoy a lot more than the A.A.A.!! Then I suppose we no longer need the heat wave to suppress the Elements. ...Next, how many of my companions sided with Kihara Yuiitsu? Pretty much all of them!! Salome still seemed hesitant, but she couldnt fight the possibility of Kamisato returning. Ahh, putting it in words is sending a chill down my spine again. This means were up against the entire Kamisato Faction that could overpower all of Tokiwadai Middle School!! Then one last question. How exactly do you intend to end this? Im not sure about the specifics, but I only have one goal. Which is? Kihara Yuiitsu is only able to threaten the Kamisato Faction into following her because Kamisato Kakeru was sent to a supposed new world by World Rejecter. Kamisato himself said nothing could ever return from that, but Yuiitsu is intentionally hinting at the possibility. If the right hand is lost, there really will be no chance of him returning, so they have to obey her to keep that possibility alive. He held his aching eyes and forced his eyelids open. A new world. On this entirely unexpected battlefield, only one girl remained to share his fate. He looked to Fran who shook the rabbit-ear antennae on her head and the round pod on her butt. And... And... And... We need to bring Kamisato Kakeru back ourselves. ... Thats the only way to free those girls from this curse! Its the only way to end the nightmare Kamisato Kakeru feared more than anything else!! I dont know how to do it, but we can gather everything in the world and find a way to make it work!! Thats the only way to reward his soul for betting his own life on protecting those girls he cared for so much!!!!! It was an utterly impossible hope with a mistaken premise. But he would make it work. He had to. After all... I let it happen. Kamijou confessed his own sin. He confessed it to one of the girls who had adored that vanished boy above all else. Yes!! I knew he would almost certainly be erased, but I just stood there and let it happen!! I didnt try to stop him with my words and I didnt punch him to hold him back! I thought that was the only way of keeping the girls he cared for from frying, so I stood there obediently and hesitated to reach out my hand! I gave up on thinking and let him make the decision!! He didnt criticize me for my cowardice, he fulfilled his role, he protected everyone, and he alone vanished!! ...I cant let this happen. Whatever Kamisato Kakeru might have thought, this pathetic boy named Kamijou Touma cant let this happen!!!!! There may not have been another option. There may not have been any time to think much about it or avoid it. If he had punched Kamisato and stopped him, they may have all been fried by the rocket boosters. But... Even so... I wont hold back any more... The boy seemed to spit out the words and seemed to stab himself with them. He had let it happen. He had given up on him. He had let him die. He would not let himself forget that sin. And so he spat out the words that he had swallowed and failed to say. That wasnt for his sake and I didnt hold my tongue to reduce the risk! Like hell I did!! I can say it now. You didnt really want to disappear, did you!? You wanted to stay with the girls who had followed you so far, didnt you!? You didnt want to let anyone else have them and you wanted to keep them for yourself, didnt you!? Were just kids who havent even lived two decades, so dont act like youve lived for a century and seen everything there is to see! It pisses me off!! Dont act like you know what youre talking about while you throw away your own life and yet look so satisfied!! Let your uglier side show, you idiot! Thats what humans are supposed to do! You can accept the ugly feelings that are far from perfect!! You had a future, so whats wrong with reaching for it!? Just because you had the qualifications for that right hand doesnt mean anyone will blame you if cling to them and cry that you dont want to die!! And yet you clearly failed. Self-sacrifice? All you did was let Kihara Yuiitsu manipulate you into running full-speed into a dead end! So Ill destroy all of this. No matter how cool you tried to make your final moments look, Ill tear it all apart and drag you up from the depths of hell!! Ill make the impossible possible and show you a future beyond the ending! Ill shove you in front of all those girls for an awkward reunion!! Get ready to bow down to them, because Im coming for you!! Those many girls were pursuing him. Kihara Yuiitsu was manipulating their feelings. And the boy who supported those girls in their twisted rampage was nowhere to be seen. But in the midst of that despair, the kind of normal high school boy one can find anywhere raised his voice to challenge something invisible. To hell with all of that!! Wait for me, Kamisato. Im done not acting like myself and Im going to turn this around! Ill show this piece of shit world just who Kamijou Touma is!! If you think what youve forced onto us will make even a single person happy, then Ill destroy that illusion until not even the smallest piece remains!!!!! Volume 16, Afterword Volume 16, Afterword If youve been buying one volume at a time, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. New Testament has reached Volume 16!! In the Old Testament, this was around where they fought Acqua, wasnt it? I hope Ive been able to make even bigger waves than that, but what did you think of the story this time? The standard form of an Index series story is to have a magician or esper attack the completed stage of Academy City, so its pretty rare to have the entire city conquered by the violence of numbers like with the Elements. As a combination of translucent crystal and mimicry life forms, the Elements use invisibility which is quite difficult to use in manga or anime. But when I researched mimicry, I learned that what looks like it to us is oftentimes entirely useless when it comes to bugs hunting each other or is actually sending some kind of signal between the bugs. You sometimes find the world is a much deeper place when you research something. The method of dealing with them differed between chapters. Sometimes the characters ran around on the rooftops and other times they slaughtered them with great firepower. By switching between schools and shelters between chapters while remaining in Academy City, I was trying to present the problems and tasks in stages while also showing different faces of the same city, but which chapters school and shelter spoke to you the most? The idea that the holder of the right hand rules over the girls has been spoken of since Kamisato appeared, but it finally rose to the surface at the ending. And of course we also have Kamijous response. You could say something similar about New Testament 9, but I wrote this while thinking that Kamijou Toumas courage to say these things (even when he has no realistic basis for it) points to the real meaning in and reason for having him as the protagonist. Ill show this piece of shit world just who Kamijou Touma is. Thats a line he wouldnt have been able to say so easily in Volume 1. Now, what did you think? I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. And to continue from last volume, I need to thank Kasai Shin-san for the A.A.A. design. Anyway...Elements! A city full of barricades and wires!! But then theres the girls swimsuits and the A.A.A. variations!! This was probably a difficult volume for the illustrations. I am truly grateful they all went along with my ridiculous demands. And I give my thanks to the readers. This one was divided about half and half between the characters and the situations (and not the locations so much), but what did you think? Thank you for reading this far. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Hmm. If you let your desire for revenge waver, I guess youre doomed to disappear. -Kamachi Kazuma A perfect miniature garden exists to be utterly destroyed. The world is now faced with a certain problem: Go save Kamisato Kakeru. Volume 17, Prologue: Or the Assumptions Include the Conclusion - to_the_Girl’s_ABYSS. Volume 17, Prologue: Or the Assumptions Include the Conclusion C to_the_Girls_ABYSS. There was a boy named Kamisato Kakeru. Or perhaps it would be best to say there had been one. He had been the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. Or at least he had never missed a chance to say so. At one point, he had belatedly realized he had been given a power that did not suit him at all. But sadly his sensibilities remained those of a normal high school boy, so he lacked the flexibility needed to adapt to this sudden opportunity. This psychological phenomenon was not all that unusual. For example, he could not have been the only one that, when looking at the lottery tickets for sale, would think, winning first prize would be great, but if I really did win it, it would tear my current life apart. In a way, Kamisato Kakeru had won a lottery he did not remember entering. He thought this unasked-for fortune had torn his life apart. Even the things he had already possessed seemed to change in his view. Just like an unexpected financial windfall would cast a dark light on anyone approaching with a smile on their face. What had that boy felt after all color seemed to fade from his world? He had felt intense anger toward the lottery runners who had selfishly selected him and he had concluded that eliminating them from the world would negate that selection. Revenge. It was simple enough to say, but that boy had actually acted on it. He and the more than 100 girls following him had found the beings known as Magic Gods, cornered them, and hunted them down. And he had used the very right hand that those Magic Gods had given him. For better or for worse, that should have tied up all the loose ends in Kamisato Kakerus story. But he had chosen a poor location for his revenge: Academy City. A single scientist greatly changed the history of the world. Her name was Kihara Yuiitsu. She had grown cruelly involved when Kamisato Kakeru had killed the golden retriever that Academy City had sent as an assassin. She had bluntly accepted the power of the boy who had destroyed the being she looked up to as a teacher, and then she had calmly sharpened her fangs as she waited for the chance to take his head. The result had been a draw due to injury. But Kihara Yuiitsu had severed the very right hand that made Kamisato Kakeru special and transplanted it onto her own wrist. Act Two had begun in an Academy City with a temperature of 55 degrees Celsius. Kihara Yuiitsu had created something like a soul from the four classic elements and placed them in a flesh container known as a reduced life form. By sending out these artificial life forms known as Elements, she had worked to force Kamisato Kakeru out of hiding even if it meant turning her own home of Academy City into a sea of blood. Kamisato had learned of the Elements weakness to high temperatures and filled Academy City with microwaves emitted from satellite orbit to restrict the Elements movements while he searched for Kihara Yuiitsu. This battle also ended in a draw due to injury. Kihara Yuiitsu had been defeated, but to prevent the suicidal ignition of some rocket engines, Kamisato Kakeru had attached World Rejecter to his wrist once more for a final attack that would annihilate himself. With that, the boy had been erased from the visible world. And Kihara Yuiitsu had once more taken his right hand. She spoke to the girls who had been left behind: Kamisato Kakeru has been destroyed, but he is not dead. If the gate known as World Rejecter is used, there might be a one-in-a-million or one-in-a-billion chance of rescuing him. Are you sure you want to bring that down to zero? That bound them. She had easily completed the curse that Kamisato Kakeru had most feared: the owner of the right hand became the ruler of the girls. To test the strength of this curse, Kihara Yuiitsu had given her first command: Kill Kamijou Touma. I will use that to measure the loyalty of my new tools. Kamijou Touma ran with all his might through a gray city that showed no signs of recovering from its collapse. He was accompanied by the one girl who had not been bound by the curse: Fran. To hell with all of that. Alongside this ally who could turn on him at any time, the spiky-haired boy gave a roar of defiance against the unreasonable world. Im done not acting like myself!! Ill show this world just who Kamijou Touma is!!!!!! This is the story of the 48 hours until Academy City recovers from its great disaster. This is the story of a boy attempting to save Kamisato Kakeru despite being told how impossible that is. And that boy woke up in a gray and chilly city. (Its...cold?) It was an unreasonable chill that both stabbed at his skin and caused his organs to shiver from the inside. But once he thought about it rationally, he realized this was how things should be. It was December 9, so it was midwinter. It went without saying what would happen to someone lying on the freezing asphalt in nothing but a swimsuit. He sat up. His fuzzy mind started working again. He reached his right hand toward the side of his neck to crack the bone, but belatedly realized it was not working right. His hand was missing. His wrist simply had a rag wrapped around it. (Oh, thats right. Since we settled things with Yuiitsu, the Elements will have stopped and Fran could end the microwave heat wave meant to stop them.) It felt strange. He could never speak with or contact them again, but the effects of their actions could still reach him here. (But...this is kind of moving. So this is the abyss.) This was not heaven or hell and it was not a strange world of swords and magic where his soul had been reincarnated. It was based on Academy City, but there was no one here. If the single line of time was seen as split into frames like a film, then normal people only perceived about 10 frames per second. If the actual amount of information was seen as 30 frames per second, then there were excess frames that acted like gaps. From that perspective, World Rejecter, which had been a certain boys right hand, would shift people and objects into those excess frames. That meant those people and objects could never interact with anyone despite being in the same world. If some subliminal footage was slipped in between the frames of a movie, the characters in the movie could not perceive the subliminal soda bottle. The boy could not even guess what would happen to him now. He could not interact with anyone but himself in this world. He would truly have to be self-sufficient here. Even if he could find food for today, his future looked bleak. He might be just fine, but he might collapse from hunger, thirst, or the cold before the first day was out. And even if he was physically fulfilled, he might break mentally. His only option was to try out whatever he could. There were no more rails laid out by anyone. What a pain. ...Hm? He suddenly looked down at his right hand and something occurred to him. The hand itself was gone. He had been blown away by World Rejecter, so it made sense that the target had been set as everything but the hand. If World Rejecter had come with him, it would only have continued blowing him away forever. But that was not what caught his attention. It was the lack of bleeding. It was not quite a bandage, but an old rag had been lazily wrapped around his wrist and it had absorbed too much blood to tell what color it had originally been. Unless he had woken up once before, stopped the bleeding, and collapsed again, there had to be someone else here. Oh, I get it... When he stood up and looked around, he saw things other than himself lying around: Scraps of metal that had likely been weapons, the remains of some truly gigantic rocket boosters, a ton of dirt, and a dried mark on a wall that had originally been bubbles. Those were likely things he had blown away with his right hand, although he was having trouble remembering them all now. And there was no reason only the objects would have come here. It would have been odd if some other people had not already been here. (But in that case...) That was when he heard a footstep. He turned around and saw a girl there. Her black hair was cut at shoulder length, she had skin too sickly to even call pale, and she wore a short China dress. The boy had looked around a moment before and there had been no one around then, but this girl had arrived right in front of him in the intersection of two large roads with nowhere to hide. The newcomer spoke her name. Niang...Niang? You got that right. Even now, her tone was light and jocular. And she was not alone. He suddenly sensed presences all around him and gazes stabbing into him. He did not turn around this time. A great pressure was keeping him from moving. Who had been the most remarkable people he had erased? All of them were gathered here. Like a forest rustling in the wind or a swarm of bugs crawling along the ground, Kamisato sensed something bizarre near his ears. This was something other than a so-called sixth sense. It may have been like the tinnitus or sharp headache some people felt when entering a haunted location. Or it was like the building rooftops, shadows below cars, and gaps between walls and vending machines. Once you started thinking about those places, it started to feel like someone was watching you from there. Furthermore, the boy no longer had his special right hand or the 100 girls around him. Well, we have some choice words for you after we gave you a gift and you slaughtered us with it... Niang-Niang smiled cruelly toward that exposed soul. He would have died of blood loss if they had left him alone, but they had gone out of their way to stop the bleeding and keep him alive. And the reason why could not have been more obvious. But lets leave it at this: its time you had your ass kicked by every last Magic God. Or perhaps this was Limbo, where the souls of suicide victims wandered. All sorts of redness arrived from 360 degrees to assault Kamisato Kakeru who had nothing now. Volume 17, 1: Or Cutting Off Leads to Diffusion - Gray_City. Volume 17, Chapter 1: Or Cutting Off Leads to Diffusion C Gray_City. Part 1 It was December 9 just before 5 AM. It was impossible to know for sure with none of the clocks running, but that was probably close. The sun was finally rising and the midwinter weather turned ones breath white. The heat wave was entirely gone and it had dropped below freezing. Kamijou Touma had been wearing a swimsuit to deal with the 55 degree heat, so he felt like his lifespan was being physically shaved away. However, he could not worry about that now. Just like someone would not be particularly bothered by being in a refrigerated warehouse when their back had been sliced open by a chainsaw. Simply put, a much greater danger was approaching from directly behind him. It was the 100 strange and bizarre girls of the old Kamisato Faction. Kamisato Kakeru had wielded World Rejecter to save them all despite knowing it would destroy him. And he had asked Kamijou to take care of those girls. Their hearts had been bound by Kihara Yuiitsu stealing his right hand, so the owner of the hand ruled the girls, just as Kamisato had most feared. Kamijou could not allow this to stand. He could not let this happen to the boy who had saved his life. So he would free those girls. He had to prove they could rescue Kamisato Kakeru without relying on Kihara Yuiitsus World Rejecter. He had no idea if that was even possible, but he had to cling to that idea. As the first step, he had to lose his pursuers so he could relax and come up with an actual plan!! He knew that. He knew that, but the hoodie bikini girl named Fran sounded hopeless as she fled with him. We cant escape them. !? Im not talking about how fast we are or how far away they are. ...They have Ellen, a tracer who can use all sorts of cutting-edge forensic techniques. It can be sweat, saliva, hairs, shoeprints, or anything else. That chemical stalker can detect any trace left on the ground, so she can follow our every footprint. So shell definitely reach us sooner or later. Then what are we supposed to do!? What else? The hoodie, bikini, and rabbit-ear antennae girl snapped her fingers. Immediately, something silently floated down above Kamijous head. It was an unidentified flying... Balloon? We just have to avoid making any footprints. In other words, we just have to fly. Part 2 Ellen, who wore a swimsuit and lab coat, and Elza, a delinquent girl who looked something like a shrine maiden in her red pareo worn over a white bikini, naturally knew this was coming. So they called for someone else. Maya~? How are things up there? Something was swimming through the sky. It was a tall and translucent girl who wore a truly ominous kimono of pure white. She was curled up in the fetal position, her chest was alluring exposed, her forehead was adorned by a triangular celestial crown with a slight notch in it, and her very long black hair curled around her like a crescent moon. The observer in the skies faintly opened her eyes as she replied. Everythings just fine. If they try to go up, my curse will snare them and bring them down. There you have it. Ellen leaned against the railing of an overpass they had come across and lightly waved her baggy lab coat sleeves in the air overhead. We need to keep up the search on the ground. With Maya covering the sky, they cant escape with Frans balloon. Thanks to the powerful microwaves Fran was sending out, all of the busses and trains have stopped and there are no running cars or motorcycles around here. As long as I find an obvious trail, we can catch up and take care of them. Ellen herself was not a fighter. It was Elza, the eyepatch pirate girl named Luca, the cosplay girl named Olivia, and others with enough firepower to single-handedly break open a bank vault who crossed the overpass. You said Claire was fried by the microwaves, right? ...Kihara Yuiitsu. Will this kind of thing keep happening as long as were with her? But we have no choice. We cant give up on Kamisato-san. I dont know what Fran and that boy are planning, but we cant entrust Kamisato-sans fate with them. Offering up that pointy-haired boys head is definitely the most certain way of keeping World Rejecter around. Dont worry. You know Claire. Before you know it, shell be up and fighting like nothing even happened. Below that overpass, Kamijou and Fran dangled from a UFO balloon as if clinging to the underside of the structure. ... The UFO balloon was stopped less than 100cm away and Kamijou hung from it by a single wire. His forehead was soaked with sweat despite it being midwinter. Ellen had her hands on the railing and if she leaned dangerously forward, she would probably be able to see him. The extreme tension was too much for him to even breathe heavily. He choked on his own breaths and his heart pounded so hard in his chest he thought it would break through his ribcage. Fran hung from the same wire, but he still could not read any emotion in her eyes. She did not even look up. Her only movement was the occasional twitching of the rabbit-ear antennae on her head and the communications equipment stuffed inside her backpack. She apparently adjusted the buoyancy of her handmade balloon by letting lighter-than-air gas in or out and she could freely move it in any direction, but that was no reason to relax. Kamijou desperately held his breath, but he could not contain the internal pressure of his fear. His lips began to move as if he were speaking a good-luck charm under his breath. (You have to be kidding me, you have to be kidding me.) (Be quiet.) They could not walk on the ground, but the sky was off limits as well. They were entirely trapped, so the last space available to them was directly below the overpass. It passed over a steel track, likely used by the subway. The entrance to the subway tunnel was nearby and it looked a lot like the entrance to an underground drain. (Thats only 20 meters, shorter than a school pool. We can make it from here.) (Theyll see us. Theyll see us and kill us.) (Maya is only doing air-to-air surveillance and Ellens group believes they have everything on the ground covered, so they arent thinking about this lower altitude sandwiched between the two. But once she starts a more thorough search, Ellen might notice this area below the overpass, so we need to put as much distance between us as we can.) Either way, the decision was not Kamijous to make. It was Unidentified Flying Girl Fran who controlled the ad-balloon of an unidentified flying object (which was an accurate description in this case). The round radar on her butt moved left and right a few times, and then... Now. She moved them out without asking. Kamijou was along for the ride and he nearly screamed, but he just barely managed to swallow his outburst. They silently left the overpass and glided at low altitude toward the nearby tunnel. A few of the girls were still on the overpass, so Kamijou felt a squeezing at his heart. He held onto the wire and pointlessly curled up his back to make himself look as small as possible. Luckily, Ellen called for the girls and they moved toward the end of the overpass. If they had turned their heads even slightly, it would have been game over. The boy and girl continued into the tunnel. Academy Citys power had yet to recover, so there was no risk of being hit by a subway train without warning. If they continued on and on through the tunnel without setting foot on the ground, they would have better odds of losing Ellen. Kamijou quietly sighed, but then he felt something cold on his side. He could not tell what it was inside the pitch black tunnel, but then the entire lower surface of the balloon glowed like a paper lantern on a construction site at night. Uuh!? The balloon was well made. It may have had a theatre spotlight inside for making fake abductions, but with the wire hanging down from the round object, it looked like the fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling of Japanese-style rooms. Kamijou blinked his dazzled eyes until they adjusted and he could compare the scene in his mind with the actual one. He saw what it was touching his bare side. Rabbit-Ear Antennae Frans small hand held something through the baggy sleeve of her hoodie. It was a silver blade as long as an index finger. Kamijou felt a chill in his stomach when he initially thought it was one of the butterfly knives that delinquents swung around like nunchuks, but a closer look showed it was a part of a multi-tool. The handle of a pair of pliers contained a screwdriver, a gimlet, and other tools. Annoyingly enough, it was Swiss-made. The original craftsman had to be crying. I would like to make something clear before we go any further. ... I am on Kamisato Kakerus side and not on Kamijou Toumas side. I am only helping you here because I decided this was the best thing for Kamisato-chan. She sounded like she was reading off the important clauses of a contract. There was no change in her eyes. They were the same when she blew bubbles in the kiddie pool, when she was on the run from all the other girls, and when she pressed a tool knife against his vitals. She could stab him as easily as playing with the straw in a melon soda. The pointy-haired boy was no more important than that to Fran. Please do what it takes to help Kamisato-chan. As long as you are doing that, I will assist you however I can. But if you prioritize Kamijou Touma over Kamisato Kakeru even once, it ends there. No matter what the situation, I will not hesitate to cut you away. I know that, spat back Kamijou. He did not pause at all. He saved my life. I would be a piece of charcoal down underground right now if not for him. So theres nothing in it for me this time. Ill risk my life to rescue Kamisato. Very good then. She pulled back the tool knife with surprising ease. The rabbit-ear girl closed the knife inside the pliers with a single hand and then her lips finally formed a smile despite how out of place it was here. It was like a flower bud slowly opening at the start of spring after being frozen all winter. It may have been an expression of respect and affection for someone who was willing to act on Kamisato Kakerus behalf. With that settled, Im hungry. Lets find something to eat. Hey, wait. Youre prioritizing yourself five seconds after saying all that? Part 3 Directly below the Windowless Building in Academy Citys District 7 was a strange underground space with countless largescale rocket boosters dangling from the ceiling like stalactites. In a lab coat and red bikini, Kihara Yuiitsu elegantly sat there while tending to her fingernails. Her left hand had nail polish, but her right hand was only quickly clipped without even being filed. In fact, the very shape of the hands was different. That was a certain boys right hand sewn on by a weakened Sample Shoggoth like a stuffed animal. That was World Rejecter. But at the moment, its tremendous power was less important than how it functioned as chains for those many girls. I see, I see, I see. After filing down the nails to give them the proper round outline, she tried to decide what kind of polish to use. She did not have a color that would match a high school boys nails. The same color as her left hand would look conspicuously out of place, but she could not have the right and left hands colors clash too much. Then again, it was strange enough for a single person to have mismatched hands. Its been 10 minutes since I ordered them to kill Kamijou Touma. Around 100 of them left on this human hunt, but theyve lost sight of him and are searching blindly. First they let him escape and then they almost immediately give up and report back to me. I get the feeling they have their feet on the brakes juuust a little, at least subconsciously. Yuiitsu crossed her legs and spoke while showing off a bit too much alluring white to be called a lady. Her gaze never left her fingernails. She did not even look toward the other person. Her chair creaked a little. Nevertheless, she let her weight bear down on it and casually continued speaking in her swimsuit and lab coat. The Kamisato Faction shook up Academy City so much, so I seriously doubt this is the best they can do. Or did I overestimate them? What are your thoughts on that? She heard a quiet groan. Yuiitsu smiled thinly, raised her left hands index finger, and casually jabbed it into her chair. No, that was the brown girl named Salome who was down on all fours and Yuiitsus finger jabbed into her back just below the neck. Although the term all fours may not have been entirely accurate. The white school swimsuit and raincoat girl had lost an arm in the earlier battle, so she only had three legs as a chair. But Kihara Yuiitsu rested her full body weight on her all the same. If the girl tilted even slightly, the woman would not hesitate to jab her finger deep into that unresisting back. By tormenting the joints of Salomes spine, pain exploded in her like lightning had struck her. If Salome had not been a self-made cyborg, she would have long since died. Not from blood loss, but from shock. Pant, pant. Khah!? You look displeased. Do you still not know your place here? Yuiitsu giggled and boldly crossed her legs again. Or would you prefer I did it with your Onii-chans finger? ...!? The incredibly fierce sound of clenching teeth filled the entire space, but Yuiitsu found it unbearably lovely. But not the brown girl. That mad scientist loved the situation. It really does feel rarer when it belongs to someone else, doesnt it? She did not expect an answer, but that may have been part of the joy of stealing that burned in her heart. She licked the boys finger as she spoke. Its like I can feel his cries of suffering through what Ive taken from him... Yesss, it isnt quite like taking that first step in a field of fresh snow, but its nice in its own way. Kihara Yuiitsu had no real reason to so persistently pursue and kill Kamijou Touma. Based on what she had said, she simply wished to indirectly take revenge on someone who was no longer here by dirtying the hands of those girls. As long as it let her crush what Kamisato Kakeru cared about, anything would have worked. She could have torn off their limbs and chucked them inside a cheap hotel in some foreign country. So why had she included Kamijou Touma in her revenge? There was no strategic reason for it and she finished her self-analysis as an extension of her wandering thoughts. ...Yes. If I am to take revenge on everyone who hurt Sensei, then Kamisato Kakeru alone may not be enough. She stuck her fingertip between the two shoulder blades and enjoyed how the chair jerked below her. Kamijou Touma had no direct connection to Kihara Noukans fate. But this too was a way of destroying someones possession to hear them scream. In other words... Academy City and Kamijou Touma. I bet Aleister is screaming right about now as I ruin his precious collection. Part 4 After floating two or three kilometers through the powerless subway tunnel, Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran casually hopped from the wire to the ground. She must have decided they had traveled far enough to avoid being directly traced by Ellen. The balloon was hers, so Kamijou did not argue the point. He simply followed her lead. There doesnt seem to be anyone around here... This is a subway tunnel, so of course there isnt. No, not that. Im just surprised how little sign of human life there is when we really arent that far away. During that 55 degree hell full of Elements, these underground spaces had been off limits for shelter. The Elements had preferred to hide in dark and cool places, so these spaces had become their dens. Even if the heat wave had had less of an effect, the spaces would have been far from safe with an endless stream of Elements rushing in. But it didnt seem like the Elements ate normal food. A subway station soba restaurant or something might not have been touched. Hey, we can check the fridge if you want, but make sure you leave some money on the counter. Everything that wasnt vacuum packed will probably have gone bad, but it still belongs to someone. I dont know the market value of industrial ingredients. When he heard that nonchalant response, Kamijou just about held his head in his hands. She was right, but no one would be happy with a random guess due to ignorance. In fact, the way Fran waved her round tail-like radar antenna back and forth as she walked made it clear she planned on tricking him into thinking a dozen chikuwa or kamaboko were only 100 yen. But Kamijou Touma the supermarket sales connoisseur was prepared to see right through her lies. As he thought about that, they started toward the closest subway station. ? But they came to a stop when they saw what the UFO balloons abduction light brought into view. It was white sand. No, it was more like the microplastic that was all the rage recently(?). At any rate, a pile of sand had buried the steel track as if it had poured into the tunnel. It was a small pile at only a meter tall, but they could not even imagine where it had come from. There did not seem to be an exit to the surface nearby. Kamijou looked up at the tunnels ceiling. It wasnt from a duct, was it? I dont see anything like that. They could not stop here, so they crossed it and continued on. They came across a few more similar piles, including another tunnel entirely filled where it branched off from theirs. It looked like opaque white or silver sand, but that was due to the reflection of the light and it was actually a collection of tiny, nearly transparent granules. After some thought, an idea finally occurred to Kamijou. Could this be the remains of the Elements...? Not even he entirely believed it. He and his companions had defeated a few Elements to survive that hell, but the Elements had always fallen apart at the joints instead of crumbling into sand like this. Fran crouched down and scooped up some of the white sand in her hands. Is this a unique reaction when they self-destruct on Kihara Yuiitsus command? Maybe, but we have no way of investigating it further. At any rate, they had to keep going. They crossed the white hills and finally arrived at the dark subway station. Fran placed her hands on the raised platform. Nn, yo. Why are you wiggling your little butt around? Some kind of new diet exercise? Exasperated, Kamijou pushed on Frans soft butt from below until she managed to climb into the platform. The spiky-haired boy then pulled himself up like he was climbing onto the poolside and he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had known no trains were coming, but walking along the track had still been nerve-racking. They did not even need the hoodie bikini girls tool knife to enter the soba restaurant built alongside the platform. The shutter was not lowered and it was not locked. The first wave of Elements may have arrived while the manager was preparing it to open for the day. It was not clear what had happened to that manager, but there was at least no sign of blood stains. Fran quickly got on all fours and lifted her butts radar antenna as she stuck her head inside the industrial refrigerator. Kamijou was prepared for the green onions, beef, and such to be in such a tragic state that the hoodie bikini girl collapsed backwards like she had been hit by a gas weapon, but that never happened. The fresh foods were all black and unusable, but it did not stink all that much. (...Hm? Oh, theyve filled the fridge with deodorizers so ingredients dont leave their smell behind.) Hm, hm, hm, hmmm. Oh, I found some vacuum-packed duck slices! I thought fish paste was the only thing you could eat without cooking it, so this is a nice surprise. Wait, defenseless butt girl. Try eating that without paying and I swear Ill give that ass a hard spanking. Then Kamijou Touma, the worlds great classifier, began his grand review. And wouldnt duck be pretty expensive? Plus, it isnt even raw. Its precooked and then vacuum packed, so on top of the cost of the ingredients, you have the seasonings, the processing, and the labor costs. But, but. It wouldnt make sense for it to cost 200 or 300 yen. I mean, it says here that duck meat soba only costs 250 yen! I need to remember this soba place!? Ahem... Also, these naruto are surprisingly costly. I mean, a single bowl of soba only has two or three slices, right? This old man isnt going to let you have a whole one. What is with you and that weird characterization!? And that doesnt make sense! Kamaboko is made almost exactly the same way, but they barely cost anything! Arent you just worrying too much now!? Shut up. Were the ones walking in and rummaging through the fridge without permission. Standard market value doesnt apply. Of course theres going to be a markup. Despite what he said, Kamijou also began searching through the refrigerator. The power was out, but everything protected by vacuum-packing seemed to be fine. The two of them were trying to rescue Kamisato, one of the worlds most difficult problems, but they were taking a breakfast break that was one step away from being bandits. It may have looked silly, but Kamijou could not laugh at it. The past few days had taught him all too well the importance of necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. Without the basics for his own survival, he could not react properly to help others. As expected, no water came from the faucet, but a glass refrigerator case had some small plastic bottles of tea. The tea was lukewarm, but it helped to wet their throats. Nn, nn. Hey, Fran, calm down a little. Do you want to eat the duck slices that badly? Its a shame theyre only flavored with soy sauce or mentsuyu, but I still wont let anyone have them. No ones going to take them from you. Here, Ill open the vacuum pack for you. In fact, Im afraid of letting you keep it. I can already see it exploding like someone failing to open a bag of chips! You say that, but you just want to steal my duck! Dont make me laugh!! His vision proved to be prophetic. Something burst and Fran toppled backwards on the floor. Ah... ...Please dont talk to me for a while. This isnt the time for that. Get up, Fran. The floor is clean, so you can still eat it if you use the three second rule. Plus theres duck juice all over the place. Like your body. Kamijou quickly picked up the duck slices and Fran finally decided to crawl up out of the abyss. Isnt this pure mentsuyu too salty? You should probably dilute it with something, but we dont have any water... This paper package has...cooking sake. No, that would be a bad idea. If the gas was running, we could have cooked the alcohol out of it. The meat itself probably had not been seasoned very much, but it had been sealed in with the sauce. The hoodie bikini girl slowly got up while wrinkling her brow and she looked down at her modest chest. Mhh, this is going to stain my swimsuit. Theres a rag here, but no water. Do you think tea would work? Kamijou stopped speaking and nearly choked. Just as he heard the rustling of cloth, the rabbit-ear antennae girl grabbed the string inside the large V-shaped opening of her hoodie and pulled out her bikini top. Wait, what?! ? Still sitting on the floor, Fran began sucking the duck sauce out of her bikini top. Her hoodie was unzipped to the very bottom, so the view of her chest as she looked up at him and tilted her head was quite dangerous. She did not seem aware of the problem, so she used her small lips to do battle with the top, removed it from her mouth, and stared at it. Once she was satisfied, she stuck her tongue out and licked the cloth. Nmh. Good, it didnt get the flavor in it. ...Hm? What is it now? I thought my hips felt restless, but it looks like the bottom is wet too. Her tone was so carefree that Kamijou had ignored what she said, but then he thought his heart had leaped out of his chest. Wait, you idiot! Thats going too far...! Eiya. The Maginot Line had been destroyed. After her silly cry, Fran pulled her bikini bottom from just above the thighs surrounded by her hoodie. The zipper only connected the very bottom of the hoodie, making it something like a miniskirt, but this was still dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Frans defenses were about as sturdy as a house of cards. (O-ohh. So thats what that triangle of cloth looks like when you untie the side strings and remove it...) A distant look entered Kamijous eyes as he stared at the hourglass or H-shaped silhouette, but Fran simply prepared to suck out the duck juice like she had before. But this time she came to a stop and wrinkled her brow. Yes. It was a poor mealtime topic, but that cloth covered her crotch. The rabbit-ear antennae girl shook her head with her top and bottom protected only by a hoodie opened in a V-shape, but then she noticed the pointy-haired boy in front of her. ... If it makes you look that unhappy, then dont hold it out toward me. In fact, dont force your perversion onto me!! Kamijou Touma did not want to earn the insane trophy of sucked on a girls bikini bottom at mealtime like it was pickled radish. The standard way of getting out a stain is to tap it with a cloth. This dried rag should be enough for something this minor. Swimsuits are made to repel water, so it shouldnt have gotten deep into the fabric. Will it really be okay? I dont have a change of clothes, so Ill be in trouble without this. If you get why that would be a problem, then at least put the top back on, Fran. This is the open world survival game known as Academy City, so you never know when a mischievous kitty is going grab the string and run off with it. It was probably already fine, but after that work, he wet the cloth with some of the bottled tea and wiped it down again. Tea had deodorizing properties, so he was pretty sure this would keep her from becoming the mysterious duck sauce girl whose crotch smelled like a soba restaurant. Here. All done, Fran. Nn. The rabbit-ear antennae girl moved her hands inside the hidden zone within her hoodie to put on the bikini bottom, but then she shivered like someone had traced their finger down her back. ? Th-theres an indescribably unpleasant dampness... Is complaining all you ever do!? Quit acting like a princess about the silliest things!! After they finished eating, Fran (who once more wore both pieces of her bikini) held her nose with the small hands in the hoodies baggy sleeves. Fweh, achoo! Oh, yeah. It is December, isnt it? Its because I got a chill. Dont blame me for wetting down the bikini! Wouldnt it be because you stripped off the bikini!? Kamijou shouted back on reflex, but then he shivered too. Hey, Fran. Instead of switching the heat wave off altogether, can you weaken it just enough to keep us warm? The station in orbit wasnt designed to make microwave attacks. That attack was tricky to pull off at all, so I cant make slight adjustments. Just how tricky are we talking about? Kamijou had only thought of it like burning a piece of paper with a magnifying glass, but... That would be like frying an egg with a nuclear reactor. And that doesnt scare you? Why would you make something like that and put it up in satellite orbit!? It doesnt actually use nuclear power. It only creates similar levels of energy. Its scary either way! With Salome the self-made cyborg, Claire whose cells were closer to plant matter than human cells, and this, just how uninhibited was the Kamisato Faction? Kamisato had feared them losing control and going on a rampage, but that was looking like no laughing matter. At any rate, we need to find some winter clothing. Nn. Theres no point in showing all this skin when...I cant show it to Kamisato-chan. She briefly hesitated in the middle of her sentence. She had likely not wanted to say herself that he was gone. Hey. Kamijou intentionally changed the subject. While I do want to get some winter clothing as soon as possible, do you think it would be okay if we stopped by my dorm? Since you even asked, I assume you know how dangerous that would be. Well, yeah. Give up on that idea. Ellen and the others will be watching everything related to your school. That includes your dorm and the school itself. Hm? The conversation had taken a strange turn. I get where I live, but the school too? Of course they would search out who your friends are. You mean...people like Aogami Pierce and Tsuchimikado are in danger? A strange chill ran down his spine. He was only an individual, so multiple simultaneous attacks scared him more than anything. How many people could he protect if the 100 girls with special powers attacked his friends and acquaintances in 100 different places at the same time? But Fran shook her head. I doubt that. Eh? Why? He would of course prefer that, but wasnt she being na?ve? Couldnt their pursuers achieve checkmate much more easily if they took multiple hostages? First, the internet, phone, and the rest of the information infrastructure are still down from the microwave attack. Even if they have a hostage, they cant let you know that. Ah. And second, this city might seem normal to you since you live here, but its very strange for those of us from outside Academy City. Any of the boys and girls we see walking along the street might be an esper who could survive a hit from a nuke. I dont know what the odds of that really are, but no one would triumphantly accept a game of concentration where flipping over a joker means instant death. She may have been referring to the #1 who had charged into the center of the Kamisato Faction or the #3 who seemed to have run into Salome. If so, those were extreme exceptions, but then something occurred to Kamijou. Yes. Ellen, Elza, and the others did not know that. There might only be one joker within the 53 cards or all 53 might be jokers. When the cards were already flipped over, it was the same as a dense jungle minefield. The number of mines was less of an issue than whether or not there were any mines at all. Which meant... The safest option will be for Ellen and the others to monitor the places you tend to go and prevent you from regrouping with any of your friends. They have no idea who they might drive to action with a hostage, so I doubt theyll choose to attack or imprison anyone. Of course, that was not an absolute guarantee. If the truth was revealed and their analysis showed they were up against a Level 0, they would not hesitate to abduct them. And if they started to feel cornered, the opportunity might quickly outweigh the risk. But, sharply added the hoodie bikini girl. That changes if someone is already working with you. If a conflict is inevitable, they will likely try to crush that person in a short-term battle before the damage can spread. You mean I would be putting them in danger if I tried to contact them or protect them!? Depending on how you look at it. There was no absolute safety here. That meant he had to look at it in terms of probability. He narrowed his eyes, but then... ...? He heard a noise. The sound of thick rubber tearing at the ground came from above the ceiling. With their stomachs full of precooked bird meat or fish paste, Kamijou and Fran exchanged a glance and spoke the question on their minds. A car is running...? A car??? Part 5 It normally would have been drowned out by the countless noises of peoples lives, but with the many circuit boards of the vehicle control systems fried, the one moving vehicle sounded very, very loud. Kamijou and Fran left the subway station soba restaurant, walked through the dark station using the UFO balloons abduction light, climbed the stairs, pushed up the girls small butt to get her and her huge backpack over the nonfunctioning ticket gate, and ran outside. They noticed the oddity as soon as they left the subway station entrance. Due to the previous chaos, thick wires were strung between buildings and the first floor doors and windows were barricaded, but some of the passageways and walls had still been destroyed. And just like the subway tunnel, there were piles of white sand located here and there. They were bigger than in the tunnel, some even reaching three stories tall. It looked like about a third of the street was half buried in a desert. The asphalt was still visible, but the white sand was much worse. Kamijou doubted a car could drive through this, yet there was indeed something there. What...is that? He instinctually crouched down to hide himself. He tilted his head when he tried to figure out why he had even done that. The vehicle slowly driving down the road could only be described as a half truck. It was a truck with a large bed on the back, but the front wheels and back wheels were clearly powered in different ways. The back wheels had been made into steel treads, while the front wheels...what even were they? What looked like countless insect legs wriggled around as they dug deeply into the white sand to climb the hills. It worked entirely differently, but the movement was a lot like the mouth of an ammonite or a nautilus. What was it? And who was driving it? Kamijou and Fran cautiously observed it as it moved. The exposed truck bed had several large speakers attached like it was an advertisement truck for a new song. A polite female voice spoke from those. We are from Useful Spider of Academy Citys Disaster Recovery Committee. We will now report on the present situation: Now that the enemy factors known as Elements are confirmed to have ceased functioning, the current time has been set as the beginning of the 48 Hours to Restore Order. We urge everyone using an unofficial shelter to obey the instructions of any Useful Spider member. Kamijou sighed when he heard that smooth adult voice. Academy City was finally moving toward recovery. He could return to his life of turning on the TV in his air-conditioned room, messing around on his phone, and checking on the contents of his refrigerator when he was hungry. The Kamisato and Yuiitsu problem remained, but this was still progress. He could feel his tensed legs and hips relaxing. The adults had likely stored that half truck deep underground where the microwaves could not reach it. They might lose some points for waiting until now to show up, but recovery work tended to begin only after the typhoon had left. Looking at it that way, he could not criticize them for it. But Fran remained tense as her antennae extended in all directions from her backpack. As an outsider, she had no attachment to life in Academy City. ...Strange. What is? How can they be so sure that the Elements have all stopped functioning? Only you should know what they are and how they got switched off since you ran into Kihara Yuiitsu yourself. Even I only heard all that secondhand. How does someone who wasnt under that building know that? Ah. There is one clear risk here, whispered Fran while seemingly showing off her flat chest with her hoodie and bikini. Those adults might be secretly connected to someone who knows the truth. For example, another adult like Kihara Yuiitsu. That was a horrifying thought. Kamijou just about snapped back on reflex, but that may have been due to the fear of having this hope snatched away from him. But then the half truck said more in the same calm womans voice. We also suspect the following people are deeply connected to this series of disasters: 1. Kamijou Touma. 2. Karasuma Fran. On our special authority, both of them will temporarily have their fundamental human rights revoked. If you see them in your shelter or elsewhere, do not speak to them and report it to Useful Spider. I repeat... !? Kamijou knew it was pointless, but he crouched further down and took a step back toward the stairs down to the subway station. Dammit, theyre after us here too!? This was very bad and he felt his stomach churning. The microwaves of Frans heatwave had almost entirely knocked out the internet and the phone system. And with that analog loudspeaker, whoever was loudest would win. If everyone obediently viewed Kamijou and Fran in a hostile light, their enemies could grow from the former Kamisato Faction to the citys entire population of 2.3 million. Are they really connected to Kihara Yuiitsu? wondered Fran. But that doesnt really make sense either. What is it now!? Your name is one thing, but they have no reason to give my name in Academy City. I dont know anyone here, so they cant get any information from friends of mine by mentioning it. So why did they need to use my real name? Well, we at least know it was someone who knows your full name that ordered this. We only ever called you Fran, so who told Yuiitsu the Karasuma part? ...No. The girls rabbit-ear antennae drooped a little as she brought a hand to her chin. Yuiitsu might not be involved. What? Very few people know my name is Karasuma Fran. But then how did that information get from those girls to Useful Spider? The phones and computers were wiped out, so...dont tell me. After watching the half truck pass by with its strange combination of bug legs and treads, Fran slowly stood up. She shook around the round antenna on her butt and spoke quietly. It might be best to check on this despite the risk. Where are you going? And what are you checking on? The closest shelter. And what data medium they are currently using. Part 6 With the heat wave gone, he had thought they would be freed from the water problem. With the Elements gone, he had thought everyone could walk on the ground without worrying. With both problems solved, he had thought their normal lives would return. But the world had gradually changed. It was just like repairing the fresco on a cathedral wall. Even when the same paint was periodically added to fix the damage, the original was gradually lost and it would eventually display an entirely different interpretation. It was a strange sight. Had he felt this great a weight in his stomach even when the heat wave and Elements had threatened Academy City? A park...? muttered Kamijou Touma in the chilly gray city. Even with the heat wave and Elements completely gone, the normal work and school schedule had not returned. If the nearest shelter provided signs of life to ensure people gathered, they would eventually reach that point, but Kamijou had to question that anew once he arrived there. Im surprised people are gathering in such an open space. The park was of a far higher grade than a childrens park with some playground equipment and a sandbox built in the extra space of a residential area. Its trees and grass preserved the colors of nature even in the concrete city, it had a large lake, and it was probably used for fireworks shows and outdoor concerts. The trees had withered in the heat wave, but the lake had probably been an important source of water. But what about the Elements? If the people had gathered in that open space, wouldnt they have been wiped out in less than half a day? Not necessarily, readily answered Hoodie Bikini Fran. Indoors and outdoors didnt really matter. Even if you built barricades to protect your school or hospital, it was obvious what would happen if one of those 100 meter Elements was intent on breaking in. ... He had known that, but he shuddered hearing it from someone else. Aogami Pierce and Fukiyose Seiri had worked so hard to protect that school building, but it all could have fallen apart at any time. That means an environment where the Elements cant find you would be better than thick and solid walls. Even if theres only a thin layer of paper between you, you wont be attacked if they cant find you. Although I cant say whether these people did it intentionally or lucked onto a spot like that. At any rate, they had to approach the shelter to gather information. What had happened to Academy City without the heat wave and Elements? Who was this Useful Spider unit strutting around the city? How had they decided Kamijou and Fran were enemies? Just as Kamijou started to walk toward the large park, Fran stopped him by grabbing his hand through her baggy sleeve. Wait a minute. What is it? We may be something like wanted criminals here in Academy City. Unlike me, they probably have plenty of personal information on you, such as what you look like. The people of the shelter might surround you the instant you walk in. He realized she was right. They only knew that Useful Spider was after them, but they could not imagine how far that information had spread and what level of hatred and disgust it had caused. They would run into trouble if the hostility was greater than they thought. Ive got to do something. Fran (barely) wore a pajama hoodie over her swimsuit, but Kamijou only wore his swim trunks. Even if he was not after a disguise, he wanted some normal clothes. Even if this country was relatively fine with swimming in the cold, he did not want to wander around in a swimsuit during December. And a shirt and pants were not going to just fall from the sky if he wished for them, so he decided to approach the park and search for something on the outskirts. I feel like the hero breaking peoples pots to gather herbs. When can I get back to my normal life of withdrawing money from the ATM and running to the supermarket sale? (Really, its kind of a mystery if the major bank databases are even functioning anymore.) Once they reached the parks large parking lot, they found a ton of stuff they could probably use. In fact... Thats a lot of trucks. Looks like a festival. Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran was right. The heat wave and Elements may have arrived while they were setting up in the early morning a few days before. There were a lot of industrial trucks and a lot of metal pipes, plastic sheets, and small compressed gas cylinders were just sitting out. If it was all put together, it would probably become festival stands. There was also a lot of music equipment. In addition to the standard guitars, drum set, and microphones, there were also large speakers, cables, and industrial lights. The computer music equipment and everything else electronic seemed to be broken, though. As he checked through a few large cardboard boxes, he found an interesting banner. Kigurumi Rock Fes? Kigurumi? He and Fran tilted their heads in unison. It was unclear why, but after that event had been canceled it seemed to have become a shelter. The date on the banner was December 4. Kamijou recognized that date. It was the unforgettable day when the heat wave and Elements attacked the city. It looked like the festival really had been attacked while setting up. And whether it was a coincidence or not, the park may have been lucky. The water quality would be a problem, but the manmade lake had plenty of water and the metal pipes and plastic sheets for the festival stands would have been useful for building things. The gas cylinders and generators would also have been useful. More importantly, they had food. Festival stands tended to make things like takoyaki and okonomiyaki, so flour would have been plentiful. And during that heat wave, any food that could be preserved without refrigeration would have been truly valuable. At any rate... Borrowing something from here would probably be best. Those costumes will cover my face and it would probably be nice and warm. It was unclear what things were like in the shelter, but due to the Kigurumi Rock Fes, it might not be all that unusual for a bear or rabbit to be walking around. Kamijou had no real preference, so he pulled a random costume out of a cardboard box. What about you, Fran? Mnn. Yeah, it wouldnt work for you. Your backpack is too big. With that exasperated comment, Kamijou picked up a strange character that looked like a mixture of an alien and a rabbit. It may have been going for a creepy kind of cute. But then Hoodie Bikini Frans eyes opened wide and she said something meaningless. W-wafu. ? Ahem. I-its nothing. He gave her a curious glance, but the expressionless rabbit-ear antennae girl looked away and blushed for some reason. Kamijou could not deal with that. If the information about him had included a photo, it was dangerous keeping his face exposed in a populated area. He unzipped the back, climbed inside the torso that smelled a bit strongly of bug spray, and placed the head over his own head. Wow...I have no peripheral vision at all. Its like staring through the peephole of the front door. Luckily, he would not need Frans help to put it on or take it off. Just like a sleeping bag, it had a zipper on the inside and outside. His vision was poor and his footing was unsteady, but it was nice and warm with his body heat gathering inside. And before he could get used to the costume, someone hit him with a fierce tackle. He desperately worked to hold his ground in his surprise, but then he found it was Fran. Wafu! Wafu wafu! Bunny Grey!! Wh-what!? She was not listening. The girls brain seemed to have been fried. The hoodie swimsuit girl squeezed her eyes shut and embraced him with her entire body like a small child. And while pressing up against him, she wiggled the round antennae on her butt back and forth. Kamijou finally realized what was going on. Bunny Grey is...standing and moving right in front of me...wafu. Hey, stop! Its me! Its Kamijou Touma. Forget about this Bunny Grey thing! !!!??? She must have come back to her senses because she shoved him away with both hands. He could not keep his balance in the costume and toppled right over. Y-you disgust me! How dare you use such a cheap method of gaining my trust!? That was all you... D-dont think this is enough for me to...Bunny...dont think...Bunny Grey...drool... This unidentified flying girl seemed to be prone to delusions, so she was the type that would forget all about her job and about gathering customers once she set foot in the magic kingdom. Fran fidgeted and could not calm down, so Kamijou remained 120% cautious as he slowly stood up. Anyway, lets go look around the park shelter. Nn. The popular Bunny Grey began observing the scene with a rabbit-ear antennae girl clinging to his side. They walked around the lake at the center of the park. A few comb-like barricades made of metal pipes tied together with wire were carelessly sitting around, but Kamijou and Fran could walk right through them. Instead of blocking the Elements way, there were shower-like devices in the manmade woods. They were made to produce a fine mist to cool people down during the summer. The Elements prefer dark and cool places... Looks like they diverted them away instead of building strong walls. Just like an IV, the sprayers had their tanks set up above them so the water would pass through without needing any electricity. The branches of the trees also helped. It seemed to be made up of conifer trees that kept their leaves during the winter, so they had likely created a lot of shade in the sun. The idea was fundamentally different from Kamijous school holed up in a reinforced concrete building. Of course, this method was not possible without excess water. The shelters living space was strongly influenced by the Kigurumi Rock Fes. It was unclear what determined the grades, but there were houses built from cardboard, plastic sheets, and metal containers. And they were naturally removed from the darker and cooler places that would draw the Elements. The costumes lying around may have been used as sleeping bags. None of it was perfect, so they saw some blocks that had been destroyed. Had that been an early period when they were still figuring out how to keep the Elements out, or had they screwed up and been attacked a few times after setting it all up? More importantly... What? There arent that many people here. There should be far more given the number of houses. It was true the heat wave and Elements were gone now, so the people had no real reason to stay in the shelter. They could return to their homes and dorms just fine. But they did not know why the two threats had vanished. They might hesitantly observe things outside the shelter, but it would be hard to boldly walk around freely. The fear of the heat wave and Elements would be too fresh. The groups of middle and high school students they saw had their arms around their own bodies to fight the cold, but they were still only wearing a coat or blanket over their swimsuit. They were uncomfortable, but they could not change. That may have been proof that their hearts had not caught up to the changing circumstances. Which meant... They must still be inside the shelter, so are they mostly gathered in a single spot? Grey, I hear some noise from over there. Hoodie Bikini Fran pointed into the distance while clinging to him (or rather, the Bunny Grey costume) from the side. They wanted to know what was happening in Academy City with the heat wave and Elements gone and they wanted to know what information was being spread. The shortest path would be blending into the biggest crowd of people. But for some reason, Costume Boy Kamijou was reluctant to go. He sensed something blocking his way. It was like a sinister and invisible miasma that he could not afford to be trapped by. It was like waving at a fishing boat passing by the bank at night only to find they were mixing chopped-up corpses into the bait and throwing it into the ocean. L-let go of me, Saten-san! I have to do something... Even if youre in Judgment, theres nothing you can do on your own, Uiharu! With that many people, anyone would be in trouble if they get caught in the middle of it. So we need to gather an even greater number of adults!! B-but! But!! They passed by two arguing girls. They were fleeing as if they had seen a giant gray hurricane rising above the horizon. Strange warning bells were going off in Kamijous head: Dont get involved. Leave. Nothing good will come of learning about this. A miasma or a premonition were occult ideas, so he desperately tried to shake off the sticky feeling and spoke to Fran. Lets check this out. That arrogant rabbit-ear antennae girl was unable to say anything this time. With each step they took, the ominous miasma grew thicker. The strange sense squeezing at his heart turned out to be sound. More accurately, it was voices. The countless overlapping voices were all coming from one direction, but they could not make out what any one voice was saying. It may have been like a park speaker giving a warning about a tsunami or forest fire that grew incomprehensible after echoing again and again. Whatever was being said, they could tell it was nothing good and the burning negative emotion came through all too clear. The crowd of people producing the voices came into view. It looked like some kind of ceremony being held near a few metal poles meant to raise flags by the lake. They were too far away to tell what was happening at the center, especially with all the people in the way. Dont...! ...acted like...dictator!! We...to...punish...!! ...your fault...so many...died. ...not...slaves!! Everyone...suffering...but you...like a king!! Kept the...for yourself!! At first, Kamijou did not understand. But as he got closer, he could tell the people were shouting some kind of criticism. His costumed legs approached the angry crowd. Unlike Kamijou, Frans nose was exposed and she may have been able to sense the smell in the air because the round radar antenna on her butt twitched and she whispered to him. Grey, be careful. A moment later, he saw something between the heads of the crowd. A man had his hands tied behind his back and a thick wire around his neck. And the metal flagpole was being used as a gallows. How dare you call yourself our leader!? You acted like a king while taking everything from us!! Kill the tyrant!! Execute the dictator!! The heat wave and Elements are gone now. We dont need to suck up to you anymore!! Kamijou felt a tremor run through his hands and feet and then up his spine. The two threats were gone, but the people in this shelter had decided to do something other than check on things outside or return home: executing the ruler they no longer needed. All of their pent up frustrations had erupted once the disasters vanished. Freedom had to be somewhat restricted to keep a shelter running. Even in Kamijous school, none of the students had been satisfied with the water rations they had been given. It would not have lasted otherwise. But once it was over, that was no longer necessary and only their simmering dissatisfaction remained. Just like boiling salt water until only the solid salt remained. The ruler here seemed to be a man approaching middle age. Kamijou did not know this man in a work uniform who had a wire around his neck. He might have been one of the people who performed inside the costumes, he might have been one of the people who put together the stands, and he might have been the park manager. Enough! Hang him already!! Weve made our judgment, so kill him!! You called this place a democratic Trial, so well kill you the way you wouldve wanted. We voted unanimously for the death sentence!! Like hell we had any free will after you drew in so many people by spreading our food and water around!! They were right on the limit, so their ruler was standing on his tiptoes. The wire was digging deep into his throat. His windpipe or arteries must have been somewhat compressed because his face grew unnaturally red and even swelled out a little. Kamijou started feeling faint just watching it. Bunny Grey staggered a few steps back, so Hoodie Bikini Fran supported him from the side with her small body. She whispered with her white breath while pressing up against him. (Yes, thats what you need to do.) ? (Our goal is rescuing Kamisato-chan. We came here to investigate our wanted status because that might get in our way, but this is clearly an unnecessary detour. It would be safest to leave while theyre all focused on that. Its possible the excited crowd wont be satisfied just with executing their ruler and will look for further victims.) You cant be-... Kamijou started to shout back on reflex, but then he heard a dull sound near his stomach. He was wearing a thick costume, so he could not feel much from outside and thus felt no pain. However, Hoodie Bikini Frans small hand held her tool knife and she had stuck the finger-long blade shallowly into Bunny Greys stomach. (Why are you making me stab Bunny Grey?) He gasped and the rabbit-ear antennae girl spat out her usual emotionless voice. (Did you forget what I said in the beginning? As long as you prioritize Kamisato Kakeru over Kamijou Touma, then I will help you out unconditionally. But if you break that contract, it ends here. I will give up on you and go elsewhere.) She was serious. Fran was entirely serious. If something was going to get in the way of escaping the 100 girls and rescuing Kamisato Kakeru, she would nip it in the bud. And this was not something she had resolved herself to do; it came second-nature to her. It was true this might be meaningless. Rescuing this convicted ruler would not lead to Kamisato. Kamijou did not know how large the crowd was, but he would be making enemies of at least a hundred more people. It would be a serious problem if he was surrounded by that many unarmed people and a lot of them were armed with handmade weapons. Some had long metal pipes cut at an angle to make a spear, some had large hammers meant for driving stakes into the ground, and some had paint cans stuffed inside cloth bags. What looked like bazookas may have been the devices used to fire fireworks during a concert. The fact that it had nothing to do with esper powers made it even harder for Kamijou to get involved. He would gain nothing from this. He would only end up with both enemy and ally after his life. But Kamijou did not hesitate to reply. This is what Kamisato feared about all of you. ... Its because you care for him that youre willing to take shortcuts. He was pretty twisted himself, but when you got down to it, he had normal sensibilities. After we rescue him, he wouldnt want to know people died for it. Fran remained motionless while wearing her large backpack. The blade stabbing shallowly into the thick costume repeatedly hesitated over whether to pull out or push in. After a slow breath, the hoodie bikini girl finally made her decision. The tool knife moved. It pulled out. (But what exactly are you going to do? There are at least 100 and theyve gone mad with anger. You cant break through them all without a giant laser or a bomber.) Then lets go the bomber route. She had meant that as a joke, but Kamijous reply was entirely sincere. The unidentified flying girls eyes widened, but Bunny Grey had more to say. Its true theyre boiling with anger and could never be reasoned with. But whats at the foundation of it all? If we think about that, we might be able to pull something off. ...Come with me, Fran. Part 7 The fact that the accident occurred while the Kigurumi Rock Fes was being set up may have been fortunate for them all. There had been plenty of materials at the park. The shelter residents had used those to effectively divert the Elements, secure a living space, and cook enough flour-based food to satisfy their hunger. The materials were a blessing to Kamijou and Fran as well. They only had to look around a bit to find what they needed with almost careless ease. A gas cylinder? asked Fran. Thats right. The thick gray metal container held propane, but it was not as tall as he was like the ones behind buildings. It was meant to heat the grill at a festival stand, so it was about the size of a small Daruma doll. Hoodie Bikini Fran must have been displeased with this development because she began toying with the tool knife in her hand. Are you planning to throw it into the crowd and let it explode? Theyre surrounding their ruler in a donut-shape, so a blast at one end wont reach them all and one in the center would kill the ruler. I wouldnt do something so dangerous. The less actual damage the better. As far as stirring up their shock and fear is concerned, anyway. ? Fran looked doubtful and Kamijou skillfully continued his work using the costumes mitten-like hands. There were a few ways to bypass the metal containers safety devices to make it explode. He recalled one he had seen in an old action movie playing on TV the previous Sunday night. It had been called Heavy something-or-other and he was pretty sure a remake had come out recently. A lighter? Any way of starting a fire would work. Good, this one uses static electricity, so it should work even underwater. He made some modifications, tied it together with duct tape, and carried the dangerous object in one hand. His destination was quite near that crowd and he had no time. While everyone was focused on their rulers imminent fate, he chucked the gas cylinder toward the cold lake water where anyone could see. A pillar of water rose vertically from the surface and the explosion sounded loudly. Everyone ducked down and turned toward the lake, but that was not enough for them to call off the execution. At this rate, they would resume hanging the man, so Costumed Kamijou gave an extra push. He went right toward the old wound of their greatest fear. Its the Elements! Theyre here!! Dont let your guard down just because you cant see them! Theyre translucent and they can use their mimicry to blend into the background!! Theyre a lot closer than you think!! Everyone, run!!!!! Silence followed. But the look in their eyes was not one of doubt. This was simply too much for their minds to process. It was like suddenly finding a dump truck bumper approaching before their eyes. After that one-beat delay, they were quick to react. The crowd that had been so united in anger now scattered in every direction. They screamed meaningless things and fled with all their might. They sometimes ran into each other, tripped over each other, or knocked each other over. Kamijou wanted to cover his eyes, but they at least avoided any obvious death. The execution ground had fallen apart. But why did they react so sharply? No matter how violent theyre acting, they didnt leave the shelter. They were acting brave, but they havent escaped their fear of the heat wave and Elements. I understand how they feel. If I hadnt been there with Kihara Yuiitsu and Kamisato Kakeru, no explanation would have convinced me to venture out of that school building. Some trauma was linked to a region or society. It could be a bombing, a mass suicide, a derailed train, a serial killer, or a mass shooting. After a sad incident, anything reminiscent of it could trigger a large panic. In Academy City, the heat wave and Elements had reached that level. If someone found themselves in an unnaturally warm spot where the sunlight happened to gather after reflecting off the polished buildings, they might have trouble breathing. The metallic creaking of something blowing in the wind might sound like a monster and keep people up at night. Kamijou had drawn out that fear. Peeling off a half-healed scab could be more painful than the original injury. And because they had been out of control, the fear had spread much more swiftly. No one had been calmly observing the situation, so they had all been thrown into the crucible of chaos. He could do it now. He could remove the wire digging into the rulers neck. I didnt think you could make up your mind that quickly, said Fran. It wasnt my idea. ? I just asked myself what he would do. Although I bet Kamisato would have found a cleverer way to do it even without his special right hand. Regardless, they had to rescue the ruler from the gallows. The panic would not last forever. Once the people stopped mistaking each others screams for further explosions, they would start to question it. Kamijou had to rescue the ruler and allow him to escape before that happened. A few boys and girls in swimsuits were groaning on the ground after being knocked over near the metal pole, but Kamijou and Fran ignored them and continued toward the ruler. The mans eyes were filled with fear as he stood on his tiptoes. Hey, you in the costume! What do you mean the Elements are here!? I really dont need this situation to get any worse!! You dont have to freak out. That was a bluff. They wouldnt run away unless I said something like that, right? The thick wire around the mans neck was not very flexible and the knot was relatively loose, so it was not difficult to remove. Bhah!! The man coughed as he was finally able to breathe comfortably. He wobbled and Hoodie Bikini Fran expressionlessly sidestepped the sweaty man. That meant he collapsed onto the ground, but he was still entirely thankful as he rubbed his throat. Ugh, cough. Thanks, you really saved me. He tearfully coughed a few more times. As soon as they realized the danger was gone, they pulled this. And what is this Trial nonsense? I didnt choose to become their ruler during that heat wave. Theyre the ones that lifted me up and pulled away the ladder, dammit. You can do what you want, but youll probably be safer leaving the shelter. Yeah, yeah. Im getting the hell out of here. If the heat wave and Elements are really gone, theres no point in staying and letting them turn me into a human sacrifice. The man in the work uniform held his head in one hand. But...dammit. How can they call this the 48 Hours to Restore Order? Theres got to be a better way of doing it. That piece of junk they call a Sphere is so poorly managed that its full of bullshit. What? You dont know? spat out the ruler as he pulled something from his work uniforms pocket. He tossed over a stick-like device that looked like USB memory. I dont need this since Im gonna scram. Thats the key to the Sphere here in the Trial shelter. Those Useful Spider people gave it to me. You get full access with that, so it isnt like the rest of those morons. I dont know who you are, but you must not be from this shelter if youre so calm. If youre gonna sneak in, find a way to get back at them. Bye. Kamijou and Fran watched the ruler walked off on unsteady feet, but then they looked down at the stick-shaped device. The Sphere? Sphere? Staring at it was not going to answer their questions. The costume had no pockets, so he left the key with Hoodie Bikini Fran before they resumed their search around the lake. Things were different from before. That was most likely due to Kamijou bringing back their fear of the Elements, but the people were not just running wildly around. The wandering swimsuit-wearing group finally started moving in the same direction. What the hell is going on!? What does the Sphere say? Is there a warning there? Should we stay in the shelter or leave? The Sphere, the Sphere!! The frantic group kept calling that name, so they could apparently calm themselves by going to check some device known as the Sphere. Kamijou and Fran tilted their heads and followed the people. They spotted some carrot and frog costumes in addition to the swimsuits, so some of them may have given into the cold and worn their makeshift sleeping bags since they had arms and legs. I am curious about this Sphere, but... Is there something else? Ellen, Maya, and the others will be sensitive to any changes as they pursue us. Once they hear about that explosion you caused, theyll probably send in Elza, Salome, or the other fighters. Kh. They were still on the run, so they had to hurry. Then they spotted the Sphere. What is that? It may have originally been a metal sphere two meters across, but it had opened up in one direction like a lotus flower. It looked something like a planetarium. A faint layer of chemical smoke rose from the top, and hundreds if not thousands of windows were projected on the smoke to form a dome with a radius of 20 or 30 meters around the Sphere itself. Each window displayed information on other shelters, the weather forecast, what roads were blocked off, the progress of recovery work on infrastructure like power and water, distribution points for food and water, etc. Its a disaster communication infrastructure base, said Fran as she waved around the round radar antenna on her small butt. During a disaster that knocks out the internet or phones, a lot of misinformation can spread and relying on your own disaster radios or TVs doesnt seem very reliable, so Ive heard theres been a rush to develop a device that doubles as a broadcast tower and information source. She would be talking about outside the city. Academy Citys technology was 20 or 30 years ahead, so that device must have already been developed here. A clock. The costumed boy stated the obvious. Yes, a few of the windows had that basic information, just like the corner of a TV. Theres a clock... Oh, so now everyone can know what time it is. Without their phones or the internet, all of the boys and girls were gathering here. They all looked malnourished on the nutrient known as information. It reminded Kamijou of the people watching a baseball or wrestling match on roadside TVs in old video footage. And as far as he could see, the device was mostly made to receive news and administrative information, but the ability to send out their own information was extremely limited. They could only say which shelter they were in or post their own name on a simple message board. The message board included the time of the post. That was nothing special, but it seemed incredibly refreshing to Kamijou. He understood just how the boys and girls here had their craving fulfilled. This communication infrastructure is meant to avoid misinformation and confusion, so theyre preventing people from sending out whatever they want... The network did not seem to be connected freely like a spider web. It was more like a tournament diagram split into blocks. The thick line at the top had a mixture of information from all over, but each individual block had a strong local color. But once inside a block, you could not avoid being colored by it and you would unquestioningly accept anything announced from above. A disaster environment functioned like an open sealed room where misinformation could easily spread. The boys and girls could only receive information and could not even choose which channel they watched. In a way, wasnt this a dangerous situation too? ...Oh, I get it. After watching from inside the Bunny Grey costume, Kamijou finally put his question to words. It isnt anything weird. The system itself is a lot like a social media account, but its a broader framework. Instead of individuals, each shelter or school has a username for exchanging information. Thats why everyone is so obedient. Its like having only one person with a phone on a running train: everyone is desperate to get a view of the outside world by peering over a strangers shoulder. Ruler really was an apt term. That one account directly influenced the decision-making of dozens or even hundreds of people. The hoodie bikini girl spoke in a somewhat muffled voice as she embraced and buried her face in the fluffy Bunny Grey costume. I dont like the sound of that. Having the approval of the ruler who controls the Sphere might be something like a TV key station securing a regional station to expand their broadcast area. That lets them directly influence the local opinion, and gathering together stations would lead to influence outside their individual areas. Why does that remind me of the environment surrounding that right hand? ... And they had one special privilege allowing them to break free of that situation. This shelters leader had given them that stick-like device that looked like USB memory. Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran and Costumed Kamijou approached the Sphere which was opened like a lotus flower. To reiterate, the Sphere mostly just received transmissions and its ability to send them was limited. The swimsuit boys and girls were at the 20-30 meter line where the information was displayed, so none of them were approaching the Sphere itself. They must have had no way to use it besides posting their names on the disaster message board, so no one was focused on those two. Fran pulled the key from her hoodies pocket and checked around on the Sphere. Each of the opened flower petals seemed to be a control booth, but a closer inspection showed a small slot. After inserting the device like an insect entering a flower in search of nectar, the stubborn screen changed. It looked like a normal computers normal browser, but that was enough to make Kamijou tremble. He felt like he was touching a piece of a lost civilization. It was a world of difference from jumping from building to building in search of water in that 55 degree hell. Faced with the virtual keyboard on the monitor inside the lotus flower, Fran took over with her fingertips sticking out of her baggy sleeves. This was simply because Kamijou could not control it with his costumes mitten-like hands. They wanted to know the details about their wanted status. They received an answer just by typing in their names. The heat wave was caused by largescale microwaves sent down from satellite orbit and this has been proven by investigation of the damage to electronics. The space station is owned by Karasuma Fran. She maintains control and can resume the heat wave at any time. Use caution around her. Kamijou held his head in his hands. None of it was inaccurate. It was true that Fran had been ordered by Kamisato to bring down the citys functions with microwaves, but that lacked some crucial information. Namely, why Fran had done it. This failed to mention how it had restrained the Elements and prevented Academy City from sinking into a sea of blood. Since the heat wave and Elements are thought to be closely related due to beginning at around the same time, we cannot overlook any accomplices assisting Karasuma Frans escape. That means Kamijou Touma. Both of them are presumed to be deeply connected to all of this. Both disasters have entered a lull, but since there is a danger of them eventually resuming, we have decided to capture those two individuals to prevent that possibility. On top of that, any inconvenient information was sidestepped. While there was a connection between the heat wave and Elements, Kihara Yuiitsu had been behind the Elements, not Fran. This malicious disinformation had no complete lies, so it had an odd credibility that made it so much harder to dispute. And that information told them a few things. Those Useful Spider people couldnt gather this information on their own, pointed out Kamijou. They might be able to discover that microwaves were behind the heat wave, but how could they realize you owned the space station when you arent even a resident of Academy City? And the only people who know were on the run together are the girls from the former Kamisato Faction who were underneath the Windowless Building with me. Ellens group must control the key to one of the Spheres. Theyre releasing information convenient to themselves to use the citys people and Useful Spider to isolate us. Someone might have questioned it under normal circumstances. Was that information really accurate and where had it come from? But the phones and internet were not functioning. They could only receive the information coming in, so they could not argue with it or check over it. And when everyone was gathered together, group psychology set in much more easily. Even if the seeds of doubt entered someones mind, those seeds would never sprout after seeing everyone else agreeing with it. Then the seeds would be swept away. And that could lead to losing control like with the attack on the ruler before. This is no joke. Are they using SNS information warfare at such an unstable time? But if we let them continue their attacks, the false information will build up like in a puzzle game. If we dont do anything, well be in trouble. That said, they could not stay in the shelter. They had triggered an explosion to save the ruler, so the former Kamisato Factions fighter girls would eventually arrive to investigate. They knew the problem, but they could not work to solve it. They would have to leave without doing anything. With her antenna-covered backpack on, Fran prepared to pull out the stick-shaped key, but then Kamijous costume hand stopped her. ... What is it? We can communicate between shelters with this. With this normal browser, we might be able to send detailed instructions in an email instead of that disaster message board. Kamijou chose his words carefully. That means we can reach Index or Misaka. Were trying to save Kamisato. We can run around if we need to, but its meaningless if we arent making preparations of our own. ...Its easy enough to say well save him, but we dont have any actual clues. I want the help of a specialist, whether its in magic or science. They needed to make a comeback from World Rejecter which could slay even Magic Gods. That was no easy feat. He wanted the help of Index with her 103,000 grimoires and Othinus, a legit Magic God. But Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran did not like the idea. Only the shelters ruler has these special privileges. It wouldnt be easy sending a message to a specific person. You dont need to worry about that with my school. I dont know if its the Jumpy Bunny or Akikawa Mie, but I know the leader there. If I send them a message, theyll pass it right on to Index or Othinus. ...Assuming their shelter hasnt been caught in the same kind of chaos as here. Either way, we cant stay here for long. As I said, their fighters will be coming. We cant wait for a response. ??? He felt impatient. They could not afford to wait even a second longer than necessary, but he had to stop to think so he would not waste any time. Should they continue on or move back? They would be surrounded by 100 strange and bizarre people at this rate. One wrong step and it would all fall apart. The Bunny Grey thought, worried, and agonized over it before speaking. Im still doing it!! If I leave this until later because of a more immediate problem, Ill never get around to doing it. We have to stay focused on Kamisato!! Part 8 To Index and Othinus. The World Rejecter issue took a turn for the worse. I want your knowledge. Lets meet at the District 7 station plaza at twelve noon. Oh, and its a long story, but Im being chased by 100 girls right now. Its a dangerous situation, so if things look too bad, give up and escape to safety. !! You bitch! You run into me and you arent even going to apologize!? Some people continued walking even as they parted the crowd and ran into people. After learning there had been an explosion at the Trial shelter, Elza with her bottle of 10 yen coins and pirate girl Luca with her black rose eyepatch arrived at the large park in District 7. They looked around, saw a crowd by the lake where the explosion seemed to have happened, and sighed. Looks like it wasnt the Elements. Lets check over there too. The eyepatch girl wore a large pirate hat with a feather in it and a thick sailors coat. She wore a blue bikini below that and did not hesitate to speak. She swept back her curly blonde hair which fell to her shoulder blades and continued walking. Then someone grabbed Elzas shoulder from behind. What the hell is wrong with you!? Im talking to you here! The girl with roughly cut hair silently narrowed her eyes to physically teach this guy what was wrong with her, but then someone cut in from the side. Uuh, sob. A girl of about 10 wearing baggy clothing began wailing like a siren. No, this was supposedly the previous girl in the eyepatch and pirate hat. Ubweeehhh!! Someone...shomeone help me! Thish weirdo is trying to take me away!! Eh? Wait! No! As the strange boy panicked, he was surrounded by gazes that had cooled to absolute zero. As the overly energetic ape was grabbed on both sides and dragged away like a picture of a little grey being captured, Pirate Girl Luca stuck her little tongue out at him. Elza watched as Lucas body type changed from elementary school aged to high school aged. Shapely curves filled out the bikini worn below her naval coat. That was cruel. You didnt have to play the weak little girl card. We dont have time to deal with single-digit IQs. Lets get going. Kamijou Touma and Fran at least knew that the heat wave and Element problems were gone. That meant they had no reason to be fixated on food, water, or weapons. If they had still visited a shelter, it had to be information they craved. The two girls hurried toward the Sphere that Useful Spider had distributed to each shelter. The former Kamisato Faction seemed powerful thanks to its 100 girls with various powers and abilities, but they were playing an away game in Academy City. Kamijou Touma had his own world, so if he had the option of contacting and gathering his friends, it was unknown who would have the greater numbers. It was unrealistic to think someone would have 100 friends willing to risk their lives at a moments notice, but the possibility was still there. Or perhaps it was the isolated away game feeling that made them think that way. Whatever the case, its all over for Kamijou and Fran if theyre carelessly relying on the Sphere here, spat out Elza. I hate this. I hate it so much, so lets get it over with. For the bosss sake. Yes, before Yuiitsu uses a hammer to smash that right hand thats binding us to her. ...We only have to pretend to obey her. As long as we have that right hand...as long as we have World Rejecter, it might be possible to drag Kamisato-kun back. If Akikawa or the Jumpy Bunny receives this, please pass it on to Index and Othinus. Were fine. But as I said, were being pursued by some dangerous people. I think Akikawa knows about Salome. This is going to be an entire crowd of people on her level, so dont get involved. I cant protect everyone right now. And the pursuers arrived at the Sphere. They first observed the donut-shaped crowd and then approached the lotus-shaped Sphere itself which required administrative privileges to use. They searched everything. Finally, they sighed. Eyepatch Pirate Girl Luca expressed her irritation by tapping her fingers on the hilt of the cutlass at her hip. Target not found. Damn, all this for nothing. Had they already finished and moved on!? Part 9 Only 10 meters away from that donut-shaped crowd, Kamijou wore the Bunny Grey costume and embraced the hoodie bikini girl with his curled up back facing the girls. His heart pounded irregularly in his chest. They might not recognize Kamijou in his costume, but they would recognize Fran right away. This plan was just like with the Elements. Even if there was only a thin layer of paper between them, they could escape even the most formidable enemy as long as they were not found. Slowly. We need to slowly move away, Fran. Nn. Fran nodded while wearing her antenna-covered backpack and burying her face in the thick fabric of the Bunny Grey. Meanwhile, the Sphere was active. Even now, it was sending the message to the school Kamijou had stayed at. They did not actually need to stay with it. Fran had been communicating with a space station in satellite orbit to emit the microwaves for the heat wave, so she had high-power communications equipment. After using the stick-shaped key to rewrite the Spheres privileges, she had established a link with her backpacks equipment so she could continue sending data via the Sphere. They had no reason to stay there. They held onto each other as they left the crowd. Once they reached a certain point, they sprang up and took off running away from the park. The message was sent. Next we meet up with Index and Othinus! They knew the time, they had set a location, and civilization had recovered enough for a meetup. The time for the heat wave and Elements was over. From here on, the humans were in control. Between the Lines 1 This may have been what it meant to be beaten to a pulp. Kamisato Kakeru was so thoroughly injured that he could not even get up under his own power. Magic God Niang-Niang, a sickly pale girl in a mini China dress with baggy sleeves, put her hands on her hips and haughtily looked down at him. Well, that should be enough playing around. ... The pain and bleeding were real. Apparently, he was not just going to be eternally tortured after falling into the abyss. Even in this world, he could die. That should not have been surprising, but Kamisato felt oddly certain of it now. Cmon, dont give me that look. Youre the one that picked a fight with us. We were just taking you up on the offer now that we had the chance. Besides, if we really wanted you dead, you wouldve been blown to smithereens with the very first hit, right? We are the great Magic Gods, after all. Niang-Niang kept talking as she sat on a piece of metal sitting on the roadside. Kamisato could barely move as he lay on the ground, but he finally realized that was wreckage of the device known as the A.A.A. And we dont actually have that much of a grudge against you. Cough, cough. You can say that after everything you just did? I never said there wasnt any grudge at all. Niang-Niang crossed her slender legs in a risqu fashion. I mean, were the group that wanted to relax without causing any trouble for the world. In that sense, being sent to an isolated world with no one to cause trouble for no matter what wasnt a bad option. It might even be worth thanking you. Right, Nephthys? ...? That name confused Kamisato. But before he could gather his thoughts, Niang-Niang was answered by a silver-haired woman with her brown skin wrapped in bandages. Thats right. It wouldnt have been my 1st choice, but it feels like settling for a 2nd or 3rd choice. Its unfortunate the High Priest and Zombie arent here, but thats about the only real complaint. We just wanted to tease you a little for not showing us the respect we deserve as gods. Heh heh. We gave you a personal sparring session with the gods, so you should really be tearfully thanking us. This wasnt true divine punishment. Didnt I say we were just playing around? But Kamisato could not speak properly. He forced out the name in bits and pieces. Neph...thys...? Yes? But...you...? He trailed off when it hit him. He found the answer in the fact that the golden retriever was not here but the A.A.A. weapon was. The 90% that had been torn away at the same time as Niang-Niang was separate from the 10% that had become Patricia Birdways body to save her. This was the 90% that had disappeared before making that choice. This was the arrogant and insolent god of magic. And those two were not alone. There were Magic Gods everywhere. On a rooftop, Proserpina wore her Western mourning clothes and hid her face behind a veil. Below a car, one-armed Nuada had tattoos covering his bare upper body. There was also a shadow at the entrance to an alley, countless eyes peering out at him from all of the holes on a manhole cover, and so on. Kamisato could not even tell if they were all real, or if his senses were malfunctioning from the powerful presence of the Magic Gods. Can I get down to business? asked Niang-Niang. We are perfectly willing to accept our situation here. Weve even decided to accept this as a holy ground offered to us by human hands. But in that case, Kamisato Kakeru, your presence here is honestly concerning. We were just settling in here, but now it turns out we were only in the eye of the storm. It might only be our 2nd choice, but we had already found where we fit in here. ...So we dont want that overturned. That leaves two options for you. Two fingers that could transform into any weapon poked out of her baggy sleeve. This Magic God was making it clear that, if she felt like it, she would instantly slice through Kamisatos neck or torso. Either you leave or you die here. Choose one. ... Which would you prefer? Niang-Niang sounded cheerful. Thou hast disturbed our slumber. To restore our peace, shall the gods lend thee a helping hand? Volume 17, 2: Or Escape Provides a Counterattack - Social_Network_Slayer. Volume 17, Chapter 2: Or Escape Provides a Counterattack C Social_Network_Slayer. Part 1 When they left the park, Kamijou took off the Bunny Grey costume. He was only allowed that getup in the park where the Kigurumi Rock Fes was being held. It would be too conspicuous elsewhere, making it entirely meaningless. Uuh... Bunny Grey is all limp... When Hoodie Bikini Fran saw the empty shell of the body and the disembodied head, she pouted her lips in an amusing way. What is that creepy cute thing with weird eyes anyway? Nn! Ow! Dont kick me!! Bunny Grey is a mischievous alien who landed after mistaking Stonehenge for a landing sign crop circle left by one of their investigators. There he gets the help of Know-It-All John and Precocious Mary to discover the secrets of Loch Ness, get preserved in formaldehyde at the British Museum, and have other adventures. Oh, yeah. There was a foreign CG cartoon about that, wasnt there? The characters moved too smoothly, so people thought their expressions were actually creep-...gwah!? Bunny Grey is not a mere work of fiction! He is a spectacle based in actual history! He is an honorary citizen of London, so theres no doubting it!! Hey...I think you were going for a punch to the solar plexus there, but you had your eyes squeezed shut and you need to accept that your fist landed a little lower than that... Kamijou borrowed a green down coat for staff members that was probably meant to be worn over a stage outfit to protect performers from the cold while not out on stage (why they would be needed at a kigurumi festival was a bit of a mystery, though), so he put it on over his swimsuit and completed his escape with Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran. It almost reached his knees, so it made him feel like a Hollywood villain who liked lounging in a gown at a luxury hotel or like a flasher on the street corner. Lets borrow some shoes while were at it. Heres a pair for you, Fran. When they left the park and returned to the streets, they could see some people here and there. The heat wave and Elements were supposedly gone, so these may have been people heading into the dangerous outside to see if it was true. It looked strange, but there were a lot of girls with a down jacket worn over their racing swimsuit like a life jacket or with a blanket wrapped around their bikini. The strange combination of winter clothing and swimsuits was something like a platypus that had stopped its evolution halfway through. They wanted to reach the next age, but they were afraid to abandon the previous age. That mindset was visible in their clothing. Kamijou and Fran were wanted. Their hoodie + bikini and swim trunks + down coat did not stand out all that much, but someone might recognize them if they stayed in one place too long. They made sure to keep moving. That twelve oclock meetup time is a long time from now. Well, excuse me, but I bet they need to make their own preparations, spat back Kamijou. And theres something we need to check on while we wait, right? ? The SNS information warfare. Part 2 Hm, hm, hm, hmm... District 5 was a neighbor to District 7. It had more college students than middle or high school students and its largest shelter was named Academy. That shelter was located in a college building turned into a fortress by barricades. Various theories were pinned anonymously to the bulletin board in the center and the one chosen as the best would determine their use of water and other resources. At first glance, it might sound free and equal, but it really came down to majority rule. Just like there was a trick to writing a postcard more likely to be chosen for a contest prize, the people who knew how to write in a pretentious way had an overwhelming advantage, so a few people were effectively winning every time, whether their theories were accurate or not. That made it easy to hijack. The truth of the heat wave. The high-power microwaves sent from Frans unregistered space station. No theory could have been more sensational. That shelters Sphere had become the former Kamisato Factions key station. How far they expanded their influence from there would determine how easily they could move through Academy City. Done. That should be a good enough multi-stage attack. I intentionally get them all emotional, fall silent so theyll start arguing back about the wrong thing, and...got them! Argument won!! Gwa ha ha ha! Its too late now to take back what you posted. And Ive already predicted all the insults you can throw at me, so they dont scare me!! The person playing with the master key to the shelters Sphere was Maya, the one known as a ghost girl. The tall girl with long black hair was hunched forward and wore pure white burial clothes, but she would occasionally fade in or out. She almost looked like an image projected in the fog, but that was not quite accurate. Plasma, cognitive disorders, and magnetic abnormalities. There were a number of theories whispered about a scientific explanation of ghosts, but one of those was extremely low frequency waves outside of the audible range. When people were exposed for long periods of time to a stimulus they could not process with their five senses, they would be unable to relax and ultimately see or hear imaginary sights or sounds. Ghosts were often seen in abandoned houses or caves because they tended to have drafts and creaking floors. Maya generally appeared below Censers, drones shaped like crane flies that emitted imperceptible low frequency waves and aromas. Those were the things flying around her while emitting pale phosphorescence like will-o-the-wisps. In truth, Frans microwave attack had been a real danger for her. She might have been lost there if the shielding had been too weak. In truth, Maya did not know what a ghost...no, what a soul really was. She pictured it as something like a smell. If she could rub the smell of her life onto something else before it faded with time, she could live on. But if she could not produce the original smell, she would have to continue protecting this one. Once it disappeared, that was the end. The girl felt she was not that different from the core in an Elements chest. And she did not mind. As long as she could do something for Kamisato Kakeru, anyway. To think a ghost would be focused on stealth marketing online. That comment came from the overly-enthusiastic cosplayer girl named Olivia. She was currently dressed as the original Magical Powered Kanamin. She believed the original series was the best. As her outfit suggested, the girl with her short brown hair in twintails was the subculture type, so she got along fairly well with internet-obsessed Maya. The gloomy tall girl shook her head which was adorned by a triangular headdress with a slight cut that made it look somewhat like a heart. What are you talking about? There are plenty of urban legends about ghosts who dont realize theyre dead and continue trolling message boards. Havent you heard that people sensitive to spirits can tell which posts are made by ghosts? No, I havent. And what does it even mean to be sensitive to spirits? I dont know where this all got started, but it was clearly TV shows that spread it around. Just like Valentines Day was used by the chocolate companies, I bet its original meaning was entirely lost. The cosplay girl spun around her magic wand that looked too heavy to be plastic and she embraced Mayas neck from behind. The ghost girl was translucent and fading in and out, but the way she was supported by imperceptible sound and smell gave her skin what seemed to be a tangible texture. Maya continued checking over the Sphere that had been left for communication during a disaster. It was designed to send out preset messages at a specific time or at a set interval, but it was a convenient toy once she adjusted that a little. A program that mechanically made posts while pretending to be a human beings account was known as a bot. Wont they notice what youre doing? Normally they would eventually notice its a posting pattern using a flowchart with some randomization thrown in, but not everyone can use the terminals equally right now. Each shelter has a single Sphere. When everyone has to view the information from the same angle, like a movie screen or roadside TV, its easier for them to slip into group psychology. An individuals small doubts will be swept away by the whole. Olivia smelled cinnamon. A cup of milk tea topped with white foam sat next to the ghost girl who had the cleavage of her large chest seductively exposed. She giggled while enjoying the powdered spice she sprinkled on top of the foam. Tea had become popular during the heat wave when they had needed to boil all of their precious drinking water, but this was overly decorated. And I can also make more obvious bots for the other side to make people hate them. Its all in how you decide to play it. Yes, I could make it look like Fran sent them out to stir up the people while she flees. Maya grabbed a colorful vegetable stick she had gotten from somewhere and rested her head in the cosplay girls chest. Olivia looked exasperated. Do you really have to eat when you dont have a body? What are you talking about? Even ghosts are given food offerings. But only the vegetables with the dipping sauce shoved off to the side? Please dont joke about this. How am I supposed to eat that mass of artificial ingredients? I try to look after my nutritional balance, you know? Not everything is okay just because its a vegetable. Maya whistled as she touched the Spheres screen with her fingertips to make some minor adjustments. Lets see. Will the little bots go along with what I said? I just hope Ive made Fran into the villain while also letting people know that everyone is scared and theyre not the only ones that want to go nuts. This is only a temporary broadcast network using the shelter rulers who agree with me as regional stations, so I hope they fall behind me on this one. Arent you getting a lot of posts arguing with you? Of course. Now, is this coming from the sensible adults, or is it a panicked Fran or her friends trying to change the subject? Lets try narrowing it down. How? The way people say things online tends to be pretty identifiable. Attacks pretending to be from a corporate address while targeting a specific person arent that unusual these days and the patterns have been analyzed to the point of creating a system out of it. Without even turning around, Maya passed a white radish stick back over her shoulder, so the cosplay girl accepted it in her mouth and drove the conversation further. More importantly, where am I supposed to go and what am I supposed to destroy? Thats all I need to know. Well, Frans group has probably noticed the Spheres by now and will start contacting them, so I might be able to detect her when she bites a little too hard at the bait I posted for her. But... But? Olivia, have you already been dyed in Kihara Yuiitsus colors? Are you not questioning this anymore? The cosplay girl answered while embracing the ghost girl from behind and rubbing her own cheek against the realistic softness of Mayas cheek. I want to focus on something and I dont really care what. If Im not doing something that seems useful, I think Ill go crazy. ... We cant let Fran mess this up. Kamisato Kakerus fate is in our hands. I dont know what that girl is trying to do, but the right hand gate is connected to Kihara Yuiitsu. I dont see how we can improve this situation without that. People who feared ghosts or curses would make sure their door was locked, sprinkle salt around, and paste charms around far more than necessary. It was all a defensive means of ensuring their peace of mind, but when someone had every wall entirely covered in charms, would people see that as someone protecting themselves from an oddity or would they see the action itself as the oddity? It was hard to say. Maya also wanted to preserve the current situation, so she would fulfill the role given to her. Oh, found her ? She must have gotten sick of all the misinformation because she argued back with information only she could know. I thought Fran would have more patience than that. If we check the Sphere that honest little girl was using, we might find some useful hints. Part 3 It was just before noon and Hoodie Bikini Fran was viewing a card-sized screen connected to her backpack by a spiraling cord like that of a home phone, but then she slapped her own forehead. ...Now Ive done it. Wait, what happened? Please tell me!! Kamijou grabbed her slender shoulders and shook her back and forth, but the rabbit-ear antennae girl refused to look him in the eye. I know two things. They already had a multi-stage scenario set up, so no matter how much I fight back, theyll crush it all with their flowchart. And Id rather not get into the details, but they identified me even though I was posting anonymously. This is really bad. Umm, so you mean...since you werent directly using the Sphere...and since you were accessing it through your backpacks equipment... You dont have to delay getting to the point. Fran admitted her mistake and puffed out her cheeks. Its true they cant locate us just by determining which Sphere I was using as a relay machine. Think of it like a key station and the mobile broadcast truck sent to the scene. We wont be caught in a crossfire from 100 different warriors. Phew. But...um...this is really hard to say, but if they physically destroy the Sphere thats like the key station, then the broadcast trucks signal can never get back into the network. And more importantly, they might analyze the data left in the Spheres temporary cache...So I think theyll probably steal all the messages weve sent or received. Im sorry!! Wait, what was that you said really quiet and really fast just now? Say it properly this time!! The situation was a tricky one. If the enemy knew the time and location of the meetup, the risk of an ambush increased dramatically. That would put them, as well as Index and Othinus, in danger. But the designated time was coming up soon. It hurt being forced from the network after their key station Sphere was stolen, but there was a chance the enemy would not manage to extract the message in time. If they went straight to the designated location and found Index and Othinus, they might be able to leave before the former Kamisato Faction even showed up. I guess well have to bet on that for now... ... Now you owe me one. Youve barely done anything!! How many times do you think Ive pushed your unathletic ass onto or over something!? There was the subway platform and the ticket gate at least!! ???!! The great Fran actually blushed for once as she squeezed her eyes shut and swung her tool knife around wildly, so Kamijou had to seriously roll out of the way while all his hair bristled. He finally tried to hold her arms in place, but the giant backpack got in the way. After some more struggling, he swept her feet out from under her, climbed on top of her, and tried to pin her wrists to the ground, but the backpack got in the way again. She was a lot like someone lying on a balance ball. The arch of her back caused some trouble in how it pushed out her modest chest and thrust forward the base of her thighs protected by the bottom of her hoodie. Kamijou looked exactly like a trench coat pervert pushing a small girl down on a tiny table to have his way with her. Calm down, you delusional girl! Giving an idiot a blade is like poison for the brain! Find a better way to use your head!! Im not delusional! I really did have a chip implanted in my neck!!!!!! Stop! This is no time to force your claim with a knife!! Trench Coat Pervert Kamijou Touma protected the peace by restraining the hoodie bikini girl instead of strapping her to a bed. She tried to struggle and throw off the pervert on top of her, but with her arms and legs restrained, she ended up just wiggling her stomach up and down in an alluring wave motion. But Fran either finally realized it was useless or noticed her bikinis knots were truly at their limit because she stopped struggling. The die had been cast. The situation was underway, so they could not turn things back no matter how much they wanted to. They could only choose the best option still available to them. Their Sphere had been stolen, but Frans backpack full of electronics would still be useful. That equipment included a digital clock as if it were a bonus prize. It was almost twelve noon. They would have to try meeting up with Index and Othinus in the District 7 station plaza. Part 4 Im starting to feel hungry. Those words alone may not have seemed out of the ordinary. But everyone there froze in place. The words of Tyrant held a lot of weight. They had no idea what kind of orders they would be given. Cultures around the world had legends of food made from brains and the girls could not disobey her if she started wondering what that tasted like. She was Kihara Yuiitsu, master of the right hand. But the woman with the qualities needed to possess World Rejecter looked entirely relaxed. Theres a shelter near here, isnt there? And one of you controls it, right? Y-yes... That scratchy answer came from Salome who continued obeying without ever having her missing arm healed. That would be Charity where Siren is assisting Maya. Eh heh. That name sounds interesting. Then lets go get something there. If you want to eat with me, then follow this finger. Kihara Yuiitsu raised her sewn-on right hands index finger and spun it around as she readily walked out of the space below the Windowless Building. Even the smallest bit of trouble out there, from an attack by thugs to choking on a rice cake, would mean losing that right hands power. The raincoat mass murderer and the others quickly followed her out like servants and Cruel Queen Kihara Yuiitsu climbed the long slope. I feel like eating barbecue. ... Lamb meat would be nice. It can taste a little odd, but that makes it surprising and interesting. But, but. There need to be plenty of vegetables on the skewers as well. Maybe an overall ratio of 6:4...no, 7:3. .............................................................................................................................................................................. No one could give a proper response. Theres no meat? Then cant one of you lie down on the chopping block? They never knew when that lunatic would say something like that. They walked through District 7 and to the nearby shelter which was located inside a resort hotel. It isnt often they can focus on all three necessities: food, shelter, and clothing. You said it was called Charity? Kh. Please, relax. So what kind of rules does this place use? Um, I believe the amount of charity you give to others determines your influence. The raincoat girls usual energy was nowhere to be found. After she hesitantly and slowly answered, Yuiitsu laughed in her lab coat and bikini. I see. And that means receiving help from others reduces your status, so it comes down to keeping a low profile and avoiding other peoples kindness. Hmm, how twisted It was midday. A large industrial pot had apparently been brought from the kitchen and it had been used to cook over a fire out front. Two young men were carrying it and Yuiitsu tilted her head when she approached them. What a creamy smell. Is that a white stew? That casual comment sent a chill running through Salomes entire body. No, it was not the words. It was the glitter of curiosity in the womans eyes. Sizzle It happened suddenly. Kihara Yuiitsu did not even hesitate to shove her right hand into the boiling pot, so Salome had to quickly stop her. World Rejecter was the fundamental gate needed to rescue Kamisato Kakeru, so they could not let it be boiled away here. And Yuiitsu of course knew that. Her eyes were narrowed in delight. Ah! Rushing forward so quickly to stop her had backfired and the raincoat girl lost her balance. Her hips collided with the pot held by the shocked men and it fell to the ground with her. The contents were dumped on the roundabout and on the mass murderer who rolled around as scorching pain pierced her entire body. Yuiitsu then stepped on the girls head while humming cheerfully. Pinned to the ground and unable to even struggle, the soaked girl clenched her teeth to swallow a scream. Ghhhhhh...!? Hm, hm, hm, hmmm. Stay just like that. Yes, just a while longer like that. The shoe rubbed at her head in accordance with a mysterious sense of aesthetics, so the girl could not even raise her head. That was why Salome first sensed the disaster with her ears rather than eyes with her body and cheeks stained with the slimy liquid. What, what? Who even are they? Outsiders? But the food! Why are they playing around with it!? The men, women, boys and girls of Charity noticed and approached the commotion, but the look in their eyes changed when they saw the raincoat girl lying in the pool of food splattered on the ground. The demon spoke with a childish smile on her face. Ohhh? It stank so bad I assumed it was a leftover failure. But, but. Seeing it soaking such a cute girls body is sure to bring a smile to your faces no matter how it tastes, right? Isnt that how disgusting people like you work? You can go straight to hellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!! Yuiitsu whispered a suggestion to the brown girl under her foot. Now, Miss Guard Dog, are you ready? Puppy dog, if you dont do everything you can to protect me here, World Rejecter might be torn right from my arm. You might lose the tiny thread you need to save your beloved Onii-chan. ...!!!??? Here, Ill let go of your leash. 3, 2, 1, go!! After that joking countdown, the weight left Salomes head in the pool of white stew. (Goddammit...) Goddammit!!!!! The group all had handmade weapons probably meant for the Elements, but the raincoat girl still charged into the center of the group. Countless hands surrounded the brave girl like a giant anemone. If even one of them grabbed the bottom of the raincoat that was fluttering up as the air caught it, she would be pulled down into the group. Yuiitsu held her sides and laughed on and on as she watched the brown girl fighting as if dancing through a hellish ocean. The raincoat girl probably still trusted the other girls sharing these circumstances with her. In fact, she may have even trusted her enemies of Kamijou Touma and Karasuma Fran. Oh, this is just wonderful. Siren, the girl who had taken the spot of ruler at this shelter, walked over to check out the commotion and went pale. Yuiitsu took a piece of bread from her that had the moisture removed by slicing it thinly and frying it. It was probably meant to be eaten with the white stew, but Yuiitsu tossed it directly into her mouth. Munch, munch. Half of Yuiitsu-chans orders are just meant to mess with you. For example, asking you to kill Kamijou Touma. But that means the other half are not just meant to mess with you. I hope you can keep this up and blossom into some beautiful flowers. Some venomously colorful flowers Part 5 Academy City is currently working through the 48 Hours to Restore Order. There is nothing to worry about. However, to ensure the process runs smoothly, please provide information on the following people: 1. Kamijou Touma. 2. Karasuma Fran. They were deeply involved in the so-called heat wave that affected Academy City and was also connected to the Elements... A helicopter with several steel beams dangling from wires flew by overhead. As soon as Kamijou heard the announcement, he grabbed Frans hand and pressed against a nearby withering roadside tree that was half buried in white sand. But he had not hidden because he was afraid of being spotted by Useful Spider. Damn. He used the thick trunk rather than the overhead branches to hide and he groaned quietly with the small hoodie bikini girl in his arms. Were 5 minutes early, but the Kamisato Faction is already here. He could not recognize and name all 100 of them, but he did recognize the bored-looking girl wandering around the wolf statue in the station plaza which was littered with piles of white sand. She had ankle-length black hair and dragged a lab coat behind her. In a way, that tracer and forensics girl was the most dangerous one. If Ellen spotted them here, they would be back to endlessly trying to lose her. Fran whispered back while looking entirely unfazed in his arms. I see Ellen and Mary near the statue. They stand out, so you know who Im talking about, right? Yeah, said Kamijou, sounding not at all pleased. A sexy girl in a red dress and with splendid blonde ringlet curls was wandering around on all fours just like the wolf statue. She was a complete stranger, but he would have noticed her immediately even in a crowd of a million. She had just stuck her head in an abandoned kebab stand and the other girls had been forced to stop her. The meat had to have gone bad ages ago, but she did not seem to mind. Mary is a wolf girl. Not a literal half-wolf, but a girl who was raised by wolves. Its a good thing were downwind. Being raised by wolves shouldnt have increased her senses, muscles, or digestive system, but she ignores all logic as far as thats concerned. What? So if she bites you, shell break right through the bone? Thats part of the problem. He had meant it as a joke, but she did not deny it. A chill ran down his spine. But the biggest threat from Mary is her sense of smell. A dogs is said to be 6000 times more sensitive than a humans, but hers is even more than that. If she catches our scent, this will become very, very troublesome. Depending on how the winds blow, we might be in trouble just staying here. A forensics expert and now a police dog, huh? We should count ourselves fortunate that Maya isnt flying around in the sky. ...That self-indulgent ghost is probably focused on trolling the message boards. Whatever the case, this left them with no way of approaching the plaza. Then Fran started pointing around some more. Those are the only two in the center, but there are more on the outskirts: Luca the pirate and Olivia the cosplayer provide the most firepower. Then theres Aileen whos obsessed with modern weapons, Sandy the microbe professor, Melon who specializes in assassination weapons, and Amy the predator queen. All of those are from the combat unit. Any one of them would be dangerous and theres nothing we can do if they surround us. Not one of those introductions sounded very reassuring, groaned Kamijou. (But if they sent in their best fighters, why isnt Salome here? Is she being kept in reserve somewhere?) Fran looked up at the spiky-haired boy who held her in his arms. What are you going to do? We cant fight our way through them. The safest thing would be to contact Index and Othinus before they enter the plaza if possible. But heaven was not going to give Kamijou Touma that kind of lucky break. It was 2 minutes before the arranged time, but he already saw the white cloth with teacup-like golden embroidery. He just about clicked his tongue, but barely managed to restrain himself. The familiar nun was holding a calico cat in her arms, the Magic God was sitting on her shoulder like a dress-up doll, and they had just set foot inside the station plaza. They were right on the opposite side of the wolf statue. He could not get her to stop or call quietly out to her now. The former Kamisato Faction would definitely notice. (Dammit...) He wanted to save Kamisato no matter what, so it would be truly painful to miss this chance to meet up with Index and Othinus. Puhah. But after pushing with her small hands to finally free herself from Kamijous chest, Fran crouched down and began scratching something out on the ground with a rock she found. What are you doing? We cant meet up with them like this. We need to designate a new place to meet up and then leave. We need a clever way of leaving a difficult code only that girl would understand. The hoodie bikini girl drew out a few concentric circles like an archery target and added a few vertical and horizontal lines along the edge of the circles. It may have been an alien language used by little greys, but Kamijou saw things differently. We came this far. Those Ellen and Mary girls found this place by pulling the data out of the Sphere we were using as a relay key station, so theyll be watching Index from now on. She cant escape them if theyre tailing her. Then what do we do? Kamijou glanced to the center of the plaza from behind the roadside tree half buried in white sand. Index had arrived ahead of the designated time, so she was probably seriously worried about him. He slowly sighed and made up his mind as he watched her nervously looking around. Lets give up on meeting up with them. Trying to force our way through will turn this plaza into hell on earth. Who knows where a stray bullet could end up. And? Needless to say, Kamijou and Fran wanted help. To rescue Kamisato from the new world he had been sent to, they wanted help from an expert with plenty of unique knowledge even for the magic side. If they could not recruit Index or Othinus for that role, what were they to do? Things would only get worse the longer they stayed on the run. Fran, said Kamijou. Youve been with Kamisato all this time, so you have to know a lot about his friends. What do you want me to do? We cant get close to the center, but we might be able to manage with someone on the outer edge. Kamijou cast the die while watching the deadly besiegement from the outside. Well take our expert from the Kamisato Faction. Fran, point out someone who knows a lot about the magic side. Part 6 The station plaza was not an entirely open space. As previously stated, there were variously sized piles of white sand thought to be the remains of the Elements. The taller ones were twice Kamijous height, so it was possible to hide behind them. There were also trees, vending machines, and benches. Even so, each step closer was no easy task. If anyone caught a glimpse of them, it would mean trouble with more than just that one person. She would raise her voice to call everyone over to surround Kamijou and Fran. And that was why they chose this plan. As Kamijou held his breath and crouched behind a pile of white sand, he watched the eyepatch pirate girl named Luca walk the same course a few times before he forcefully covered her mouth from behind. He just had to make sure she could not call over the others after discovering him. He wrapped his other arm around the girls slender body and dragged her back while unbalancing her body weight. The tall pile of sand created a blind spot that hid them from the plaza. ???!! The girl wore a large pirate hat with a feather in it and a thick navy blue coat that a sailor would wear. Her curly blonde hair fell down to her shoulder blades and an eyepatch covered one of her blue eyes. The blue bikini below the coat was bright enough to nearly imbalance her overall impression. Whether it was a strategic move or an act of instinctive fear, Luca used her covered mouth to bite at Kamijous hand. He could not hold on. And as soon as his grip loosened, he lost sight of her. No, she had suddenly shrunk in height. Bizarrely, the girl of about 15 aged down to about 10. That made it seem like she had crouched down to escape. Why you...! When the pirate girl tried to escape, he tackled her at the waist and dragged her down to the ground. As soon as his right hand touched her, her unnatural age returned to normal. Her clothing could not keep up with the sudden size changes, so her swimsuit and coat started to shift out of place. Even so, the girl twisted her body around to slip out from under Kamijou. She was as slippery as an eel or a wet bar of soap. She flipped up her coat, tried to roll out of the way, and glared up at him. Bhah!! How reckless do you have to be to charge right into our group when-... Then the white sandy girl noticed something. Her companions would come running if she called for them, but she trailed off. Kamijou Touma held a blade too large to call a knife. It was longer than two 30cm rulers. Needless to say, it was the cutlass the pirate girl had worn at her hip. Yes, Kamijou had not just been trying to stop her when he tackled her at the hip. He had been going for the buckle of the thick belt that held the sword. Kh. The pirate also wore a large pirate-y musket on her back, but the gun required the powder and bullet to be loaded through the muzzle and was ill-suited for quick use. Plus, the long narrow ramrod used to load it was held in the same scabbard as the cutlass. There was nothing she could do with that taken from her. Eyepatch Luca waited to see what would happen next with her back to the pile of white sand. That is enough talking out there. Get in here already. Wha-? Eh? She heard a voice behind her and slender arms reached under her arms and around her body. Fran was the one grabbing her, but that meant she had to have been hiding behind Luca. And yet there had only been the wall of white sand there. A boy with a sword stood in front of her and Fran held her from behind as if to smell her blonde hair. Luca could no longer resist physically or mentally, so she was easily dragged away. Where to? Into a small igloo-like space presumably dug inside the pile of white sand. Its a pretty good hiding place, isnt it? When its all white, the distance and angles are hard to make out. Overseas theyve apparently had fun making videos in salt lakes to mess with the sense of perspective. Plus, the fine white sand absorbs the particles that produce smells. It might be like activated charcoal. We noticed it while watching that Mary girl. We were hiding downwind and there was a kebab stand in the plaza, but we couldnt smell the rotting meat at all. So you cant rely on her nose right now. But this...this is all a makeshift measure... Yeah, it could all fall apart at any time, so dont struggle, Luca. Theres no saving us if were buried alive under this. Their conversation could not be heard outside with these thick sand walls around them. Kamijou actually thought the granules had to be quite heavy to not be blown away by the midwinter wind, so it would be stable. But he was not obligated to tell that to the pirate girl who could start struggling at any time. Luca clenched her teeth and Fran moved away from her back. Of course, Fran also made sure to confiscate the belt holding the pirate girls musket on her back. In addition to the gun itself, the skull-shaped container holding the black gunpowder was attached to that belt, so she could not use it like a firecracker. Kamijou gave an exasperated look at the cutlass he held. H-hey, Fran. A sword and a gun? Are you sure shes the right one? We need someone with magical knowledge rivalling Indexs. Are you sure we arent recruiting the wrong person? This is the right person. Luca uses a special form of combat linked to the Voodoo found in the Caribbean where pirates once ruled. To perform a great variety of ceremonies on the limited space of a ship, she is a magician who follows Legba Atibon, the god of the gate who manages all ceremonies. Legba Atibon indirectly appears in all Voodoo ceremonies, so he does not just exist on a specific ceremonial day and he is defined as existing at all times. Luca has used this to achieve control of subjective time, allowing her to freely change the age of her external appearance and to prepare magic that would normally be a once-in-a-decade event in only a second. Control of time...? Not only can she approach Kamisato-chan as an older or younger sister, but when the rest of us are suffering from that time of month, this demon of a magician can skip right past it. This conversation got vulgar fast! That would be why she had shrunk and grown when he tried to capture her. But Kamijou had to frown. Kamisato had said some confusing things when talking about World Rejecter. Instead of sending someone to an entirely different world, it sent them to another world in the same timeline or to the excess space in the same film. Luca was caught in a space too small to stand up without hitting her head, her weapons had been taken from her, she was surrounded by enemies, and she believed struggling would get her buried alive. The pirate girl gave Kamijou an irritated look, but she seemed unable to come up with anything to do about it. She calmly raised both hands. What do you want? I will protect Kamisato-kun. And to do that, Im willing to endure the humiliation from Kihara Yuiitsu who possesses the right hand we need as a gate. Nothing you can say will shake my conviction! ... Killing me wont change the order to execute you. Surely you know that the line from Kihara Yuiitsu is one-way and she doesnt listen to anything we say. Thats not what were asking of you. Kamijou hesitantly wielded the unfamiliar cutlass. Were going to save Kamisato Kakeru and we want your help to do it. With you two? Instead of hesitating over an answer, Blue Bikini Luca looked more confused why they would be making the suggestion in the first place. Hah. With you two!? That doesnt even make sense. Im already saving Kamisato-kun just by obeying Kihara Yuiitsu no matter how difficult it might be. Im protecting the right hand that might be able to call him back!! Kamijou saw this as the first distortion. He looked over the eyepatch pirate girls shoulder and exchanged a glance with Fran who was toying with the unloaded musket. Fran gave a small nod, so he thought carefully about which of the words that came to mind he should use. ...You seem to be mistaken about something. About what? Just doing what youre doing wont save Kamisato. Obeying Kihara Yuiitsu does not lead to saving him. What would you know about-...!? Did Kamisato ever say that!? Did he ever say he could use World Rejecter to save someone he had supposedly erased!? Didnt he only ever talk about sending people away and never about bringing them back!? !? So your very foundation is wrong. Protecting that right hand wont lead to bringing him back. You have to start by accepting that, Luca, no matter how hard it is!! Even if she did, Luca might not help them. So Kamijou looked to the second distortion. They all had to know something was wrong with continuing to obey Kihara Yuiitsu, so why did they continue doing so? Kamijou gave the answer. If you just do what she says, things at least wont get any worse. Wha-...? Isnt that what you were thinking, Luca? Or maybe you were thinking you could eventually search for a way to bring Kamisato back while Kihara Yuiitsu wasnt looking. If so, you were wrong. When exactly would that eventually be? You kept thinking that, but you havent even taken the first step. Pretending to think about something is the same as not thinking at all! You just decided that thoughtful pose looked cool! Dont be ridiculous! I really was working to help Kamisato-kun even as it wore me down and trampled on my pride... How much something wears you down isnt the same as achieving actual results. Fran sounded exasperated behind the pirate girl. And this too is a distortion. Human beings believe they are accomplishing something as long as they keep working at something. Think of a jigsaw puzzle, a puzzle ring, levelling up in a video game, or popping bubble wrap. Luca, has your effort really led to anything practical? Or was it more like a product of entertainment or a hobby? I...I... Time is always marching forward. If you stand still, things are bound to deteriorate. Kihara Yuiitsu is building up her foundation. She might not yet know what strange powers and abilities those 100 girls have, but if she encourages you to report on each others weaknesses, she will quickly have that information. This is the only time to get out ahead of her, but all of you are wasting that chance! Do you really want to do that? Wont you regret it once youre driven into a dead end? Try thinking through this again!! The pirate girl was shaken. Her one visible eye was clearly wavering. It was true the former Kamisato Faction was powerful and C more importantly C strange. Back when they had acted as a group along with Kamisato Kakeru, they had seemed like a swarm of army ants that devoured even the rules of the world. But that was also their biggest bottleneck. What if they were cut away from the group or they lost Kamisato Kakeru as their central pillar? They no longer had their group psychology or leadership. They had achieved the perfect golden ratio before, so changing it in any way now was entirely unnecessary. Luca was surprisingly fragile now that she was caught in a changing situation. But... Even so, said the eyepatch pirate girl. Thats still no reason to trust you! Youre not Kamisato-kun. You havent done a damn thing to earn my trust! How can I know youre telling the truth and why do I have to trust you right off the bat!? Yes. Kamijou saw this as the final distortion. Kamijou Touma was not Kamisato Kakeru. And just like Fran, Luca would only act for Kamisato Kakerus benefit. No one else could take his place, so no amount of persuasion would convince her to act for someone elses benefit. Kamijou had known that, so he had more to say. Are you sure you arent making a fundamental misunderstanding? ? We need your magic. No, we want any knowledge we can get C magic or science C to save Kamisato. Thats how ridiculously tough a problem World Rejecter is. But...so what? Why does that mean I have to listen to you!? Because we cant do anything! Luca was taken aback by his overly blunt statement. He seemed to be rejecting his overall premise, but he did not hesitate to continue. So well do whatever we can to support you! Well lift you up and carry you within arms reach! But finishing it off is your job. Luca, use your magic to rescue your Kamisato!! Is that still not acceptable!? The pirate girl was dumbfounded. No, her thoughts themselves had ground to a halt. If it isnt, then thats the end. Were just assistants, so theres nothing we can do without someone to lift up. Then we cant save Kamisato! All because of your decision!! He knew that was a cheap way of putting it. He also knew it was the kind of thing that boy would say as he worked to give everyone a push forward. Then he spun the cutlass around in his hand. He gingerly grabbed the thick blade and held the hilt out toward the pirate girl. If that isnt acceptable, then end it yourself. Cut us down and return to what you were doing, Luca!! If thats really what you want and youre really too afraid to leave the rails laid out by Kihara Yuiitsu, then tear up and throw away the ticket to freedom weve given you!! ...Ah... Thats what youve been saying you want to do! Since you didnt seem to see what it was you were choosing, I spelled it out for you, Luca. So what will you do? Take advantage of the possibility in front of you, or kill it? Choose with your actions!!!! Even after all this, Pirate Girl Luca did not move. No, she could not move so easily. She felt the weight of this decision too clearly to call it a farce and reject the offer. Kamijou could not wait around here forever. If the girls changed their patrol routes on a whim or if the winds changed enough for Mary to catch their scent, they would be detected or the igloo entrance would be found. Someone might notice Luca had been away from her post for a while. They had no guarantee that not a single decibel of their voices had escaped the sand. The risk of detection and death undoubtedly increased with each passing second. But he waited. He waited for the words of the girl he himself had cornered. ...I loved the sea. Finally, those words escaped through the gap between her lips. They sounded unrelated to the current situation, but there had to be some connection in the pirate girls head. Im not talking about the liquid that covers 70% of the earths surface and I dont care about the liquid with 3% salt content. The cramped, boring, and stifling gray cities cut everyone off from each other. But I loved the sea which always leads to a new land, is connected to all parts of the world, and always has someone waiting for you beyond the horizon. Kamijou did not know who Luca had originally been or what her circumstances had been. Kamisato had said they had all lived in a peaceful classroom while they each had their own world and worked toward their own dream, but it was possible they had had their normal problems in that normal place. He was the only one. Lucas voice trembled like she was confessing something. Im not talking about winning some prize or having some famous contest judge take a liking to it. He was the only one that looked at my canvas and said the ocean looked like a blue doorway. Only Kamisato-kun saw my soul inside the painting... ... The girl had one eye covered by an eyepatch. Had that been coincidental or intentional? Either way, it had to have been meaningful for an artist to damage her eye. Are you sure? The pirate girl...no, someone from that unique classroom finally asked a question. Are you sure I can really bring Kamisato-kun back? Can I really do it myself instead of following someone elses orders? They had nothing to support an answer. Kamijou and Fran had been focusing on what they wanted to do, but they had no actual plan as to how. But that did not stop Kamijou from answering. If thats what you really want to do, then nothing can stop you. Luca forcefully grabbed the cutlass held out to her. She could have chosen to slice Kamijous head apart, but the boy did not even blink. Seeing that, she spun the blade around and spoke. My name is Toyama Luca. Nice to meet you. Instead of cutting someone, she sheathed the blade and held her empty hand out to shake the hand of her new comrade in arms. Take back your words and Ill kill you. Thats my only condition. Part 7 Kamijou was reluctant to leave. But he could not stay in the District 7 station plaza for long. They were outnumbered and could not break through the enemy while protecting someone, so they had to leave without waiting for Index and Othinus. He had to trust that was the best way of protecting them. But Im surprised, said Luca. Once it was discovered the eyepatch girl in a large pirate hat had vanished, a search of the area would begin regardless of whether she had left on her own or been attacked. Once a search began, there would be no escaping Forensics Girl Ellen who was known as a tracer, Wolf Girl Mary whose sense of smell was more than 6000 times that of a normal person, and the many other combat members. But Luca was sitting on the ground with her arms around her knees and not moving. They were safe inside an igloo dug inside one of the sand piles half burying the city. We cant walk around outside carelessly, but we can use the white sand to make ourselves something akin to a cardboard box house? She stroked the skull container at her waist as she spoke. It had a striking design, but Kamijou had seen bottles shaped like that when passing by the alcohol corner in the supermarket. It looks like this is fooling Ellens tracing and Marys nose, commented Fran. Thats because we sprinkled that white sand behind us as we fled. Kamijou and the two girls could not stay in one place for long, so this was an important discovery. Ellen and the others might notice the possibility of an igloo before long, but they had no hint. After leaving the one they had dragged Luca into in the station plaza, they had knocked it down so it collapsed. It would take the other girls longer to discover the truth from those remains. Its 1:30 PM... Fran still kept her backpack on and checked the digital clock on her communications equipment. Im starting to get a little hungry. The small, microplastic-like granules must have kept the air inside because the igloo was pleasantly warm. Id like to get things moving too. Luca, were willing to try anything that might help save Kamisato. Tell us everything you know. Just to be clear, if I had the knowledge and skills to do it myself, I wouldnt have been sucking up to Kihara Yuiitsu like that in the first place. Please understand that this is a problem I cant solve on my own. The eyepatch pirate girl sighed. Another world? A different world in the same timeline? Ignoring whether or not theres actually a way to interfere with that, if you want to interfere with Point B from Point A, you have to focus on the concept of imitation. You can also call it Idol Worship. Hm? Ill explain. In the world of magic, objects with similar shapes will influence each other. For example, a doll can take on the injuries meant for a person. There was no guarantee they could follow her explanation. Kamijou and Fran exchanged a glance while sitting down. Um, so...what? I feel like Agnese or Birdway might have explained this before, but maybe not... Anyway, is it like that thing where people hammer a nail into a doll late at night? That harms the shrines holy tree, so you really shouldnt do it, piped in Fran. This is similar, but not quite the same. Youre talking about infection magic. Its a type of curse that focuses on the targets hair contained inside the straw doll. The persons blood, fingernail, hair, or another part of their body is used to affect the whole. The straw doll itself is just a traditional method with no real origin behind it, explained Pirate Hat Luca. Not all of them apply, but a lot of the magic circles drawn on the ground are simplified versions of the sun or moon. Just like a constellation table, the original shape is entirely lost, but carving that into the ground is still thought to draw in the power of the heavenly body. Kamijou kind of got it, but kind of didnt. He tilted his head and asked a question. So whats the problem here? Oh, honestly. Luca mussed up her bangs with a hand. Whatever method we use to rescue Kamisato-kun, its going to start with using that imitative magic. After preparing something extremely similar in this world and that world, we can open a tunnel between the two points. If were going to rely on magical power, thats the only way to do it. ... But you understand that thats easier said than done, right? We want to open the tunnel, but that means sending some kind of signpost into the other world. Its like having our keys locked in the car. But. Hoodie Bikini Fran hung her head a little. While its a one-way ticket, there is a way to send things from here to there. You mean Kihara Yuiitsus right hand? How are we supposed to get close to that? There are more girls around her than in that plaza. Sneaking in, having her use World Rejecter on just the object we want, and escaping safely would be impossible. Kamijou thought as the two girls discussed the difficult problem on either side of him. This world and that world. The objects and people blown away by World Rejecter. Imitation. Objects with similar shapes would influence each other. ...No, wait. ? We might be able to do it. We might already have what we need without even getting Yuiitsu to lend us a hand. What do you mean? Just so you know, we cant use infection magic between Kamisato-kun and his severed right hand. World Rejecter is too powerful to function as a catalyst. That would be like taking a metal pin surrounded by ultra-powerful electromagnets and trying to use a different magnet to create a compass out of it. Thats not what I meant. Im talking about the imitative magic, not the infection magic. The one where things with similar shapes influence each other. Fran and Luca looked puzzled and urged him to continue. He did not care if this was not a perfect answer. It only had to inspire further discussion. That was all he was hoping for. And so he threw it out there. The A.A.A. The ire between Kamisato and Yuiitsu began with a golden retriever wielding that weapon. If Kamisato defeated that dog, wouldnt the A.A.A. have been sent to that that world? Part 8 Kamijou knew very little about the A.A.A. He could not even say what it had originally been designed for. What was powering that thing that Mikoto had readily piloted during the heat wave, and how did it work? Could it even be fully explained with science alone? But an A.A.A. had been used by a lot of people: Misaka Mikoto, Kihara Yuiitsu, and even Plant Girl Claire if a decoy counted. And he knew an original had to exist somewhere. And its owner had been defeated by Kamisato Kakeru in his prime. That original device had provided Misaka Mikoto with destructive inspiration when she found it and picked it up the other day. Lets find Misaka, suggested Kamijou. If Mikoto had been able to use the original A.A.A. as-is, she would not have gotten the help of Tokiwadai Middle School to put together her own version of the weapon. The original she had based it on must have stopped functioning. But Kamijous group did not need the original A.A.A. to actually run. They only needed Devices A1 and A2 that had similar shapes and functions so they had a starting point for the imitative magic. She might have gathered up and stored the wreckage or spare parts of the original A.A.A. If we can borrow that, wont we have the signpost for this side and that side? The hangar at Tokiwadai Middle School had been thoroughly destroyed by Kihara Yuiitsu. If the original had been kept there, they might be in trouble, but that was only if they wanted to use the A.A.A. as a weapon. Even if it had been reduced to scraps, they might manage as long as they could prove they were the same parts on a compositional and functional level. But as an Academy City resident, Kamijou did not have a good sense of what magic allowed and what it did not. It would be faster to let Pirate Girl Luca see it for herself. They had no time to spare. Lets stop by Tokiwadai Middle School for now. Hm? But isnt that where...? Yeah. It was destroyed by the Elements under Yuiitsus control. Misaka and the others might not still be there, but we might find a clue as to where theyve gone. Some skepticism was natural, but Fran and Luca readily agreed since this gave them an actual destination. The concepts being late or out past curfew did not exist at the moment. They were free to go wherever they wanted in Academy City, but that had left them with no clear destination. It may have been easier to have someone else set a goal for them. They checked a roadside map to confirm where they were, where the School Garden was, and what route to take. An elevated route runs almost directly there, so it will be safest to walk under that, said Fran. ? Maya the ghost might be watching from the sky, so were a little less likely to be found if we keep a roof over our heads. The long elevated route was likely for cars instead of trains and they walked below it using the nearly H-shaped reinforced concrete pillars as their guide. It must not have been a popular location because there were very few buildings. The long narrow space had been forcibly developed into a monthly parking lot and some empty space had been turned into materials yards or basketball courts. They saw the occasional small store, but those were all for used trading cards, damaged jeans, or the like, so it was a junky and chaotic space. It was a very different experience from walking the ordinary path. It was a unique type, but a disaster had befallen the city. It took a lot of time just traveling by foot to their destination. Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran spoke up while fidgeting near the round antenna on her butt. Even if we get this...A.A.A. was it? What are our odds of success? Again, dont place the entire burden on my shoulders. If I could deal with this on my own, I wouldnt have done anything Kihara Yuiitsu said. Instead of Kamijou, it was Luca who answered while brushing off her swimsuits butt. Personally, Im hoping for some kind of chemical reaction with Academy Citys bizarre technology. Youve done a lot of disturbing research into time and space, right? Something must have bothered her because Fran bent her finger like a hook, stuck it inside the butt of her bikini, and adjusted it. Hmm. Trying to break the speed of light barrier is pretty romantic. Im sick of hearing about people just trying to use a wormhole, though. Luca also tugged at her swimsuit. It was a lot like how infectious a cough could be at a school assembly. We dont have to try for the farthest reaches of the universe. People can disappear right here on this blue planet. The question is whether or not we can expand that small, nearby seed to a universal scale. Then Kamijou-san, a tsukkomi for us all, exploded. What is with you two!? Quit messing with your butts! How am I supposed to relax!? The two girls turned back toward him and Fran pouted her small lips. Were the ones that cant relax. You were the one that suggested hiding in that igloo made of white sand. Sit in there for a while and, um, you get the sand in your swimsuit. After putting it to words, the two of them seemed unable to stand it any longer. It may have been the difference between a vague sense of itchiness and finding the actual mosquito bite. I cant keep going without getting this sand out. I wont be able to give my peak performance. We used hot water and soap like normal back in the mall with Kamisato-kun. What did your group do in that school? We had the pool water, but we couldnt waste it. The most we could do was wipe off the sweat with a damp towel and use some of the valuable mint stuff to fight the smell. I think we only had a bottle or two of water for that. But according to the chemistry club, there are only six or seven basic smells and mint is one of them, so its a lot like a primary color and can more easily override other smells. Although when we didnt have any available, we would fish through the garbage cans for used coffee filters or teabags. He ended up answering without even thinking, but this was not the time for that kind of trivia. Hey, wait. Those Useful Spider people keep talking about the 48 Hours to Restore Order, but we dont actually know how much of the infrastructure has recovered. Is there even any running water? Nn... They had just crossed a chain-link fence and entered a monthly parking lot. Luca tried turning a faucet located on the edge of the asphalt for cleaning. They heard scraping metal, but not a drop came out. However, the two girls had not been expecting anything. They looked around and their eyes landed on a few parked vehicles. Theres a cleaning company truck. Yes, lets borrow some of their equipment. Kamijou did not have time to stop them. An Element must have stepped on the truck because its chassis was bent and all of its windows were broken. Fran and Luca stuck their hand in, unlocked it from the inside, and began searching through it. Kamijou wondered if they were borrowing a towel, but... I wish that was enough to get this perverted sand out. Oh, I found a roller for carpet. Wont that work without water? Id also love to wash off this sticky sweat, but it looks like we wont have any water. Theres sterilization alcohol bottled up like vegetable oil. That wont harm our skin, right? Kamijou could hear them rummaging through things. When he heard rustling cloth and realized they were getting down to work, he quickly turned the other way. And the whole affair was reflected in the glass of the next vehicle over. (Gyaaaah!!) Unfortunately, the die had been cast. That may have a convenient phrase, but honestly confessing what had happened would only leave scars of sadness on everyones hearts. If I go like this...and this...okay! Got it off! That stubborn inner thigh demon came off so easily!! Ow. Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow. The tape is caught. Ahh, the tape is caught on the hair!? Wont it lose its stickiness if you pour alcohol on it? Think of it like using oil to peel a sticker off the wall. Meanwhile, Kamijou Touma covered his face with his hands and sobbed. He had been too na?ve and could only blame his own negligence for not stopping them sooner. But covering his vision may have been a mistake. Just as he blindly tried to lean against the sliding door behind him, he lost his support and fell backwards. The window had already been broken, but the girls had apparently left the bent door open. The pointy-haired boy tumbled helplessly back into the cleaning truck. And there he saw... Its. So. Hot... F-Fran? Vahhh... Fraaaan, open the window more. I need some wind in here... You didnt switch the heat wave back on, did you? Gyaaaaah!! Put your swimsuits back on properly! Or at least use that coat to hide something. I can just about see some pretty serious areas there, Luca!!! His frantic cries did not seem to reach the girls ears. Their faces and the rest of their bodies had flushed a nice pink and their heads were wobbling left and right. (If theyre that embarrassed, why did they do this!?) That was his first thought, but that did not seem to be what was happening. He sensed an odd aroma from the clear liquid dripping down their bodies, so he glanced toward the bottles lying on the floor. They were for sterilizing alcohol. They had 75% alcohol content and were a category-3 medical supply. Thats more than vodka!! Dump that over your heads and youll absorb it through your eyelids, nose, lips, and plenty of other parts of your body! Eh heh. Hee hee hee. Urp. Somethings coming back up... Dont get out of the truck! Not with your clothes all out of place, Luca!! But its way too hot... And is it just me or are those clothes a lot tighter now? What happened to your body!? It wasnt like that before!! I can change what age I look liiike, so I thought it might do less damage if I was an adullllt... He recalled how she had grown younger and tried to escape him when he first tried to capture her. Now he had two people to look after. Kamijou Touma earned the valuable trophy of helping a hopelessly drunk girl get her swimsuit back on (with a two-at-once bonus). They were shamefully intoxicated, but they could not stay here for long. Anyway...lets go. We can take our time if we have to, but we need to continue on to Tokiwadai Middle School. Im herhectly hine. Hy are hoo ho horried? Im not trusting you when h is just about the only consonant you can get out. Pii pyoro pyoro pii kyuru kyuru kyuru... And you stop communicating with aliens like a fax machine, Fran!! With Fran on his right and Luca on his left, Kamijou Touma looked something like a grand prix winner with his arms around the waists of two swimsuit girls who were resting their heads on his shoulders, but they were really nothing but a burden. Survival was about more than deadly threats of tigers and bears. The scariest part was how unpredictable everything was. Its 3 PM... Hic, its time for an afternoon snack. Even so, they planned to escape the monthly parking lot. Climbing the fence would be impossible at the moment, so they left through the official exit to avoid the fence. He felt nice and warm due to the proximity of the girls whose body temperatures had risen by about 0.7 degrees, but then a thought came to mind. (Will this really take us to Kamisato, dammit?) And then it happened. Something soft fell from the clear blue sky and toward the asphalt at their feet. At first, Kamijou could not accurately comprehend what had happened before his eyes. He wondered if he had been hit by some alcohol vapors in that truck, but that was not the case. He looked into the blue sky instead of the ground, but that may have been a self-defense instinct shifting his focus away from the extreme abnormality. Time stood still. It was more than just 5 or 10 gazes that stared down at him from the elevated highway. He was pierced by many gazes. W-wa-waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? He could only scream. It was as if the rapid change from the midsummer weather had triggered large hail. Incredibly raw sounds of impact came from all around him. He could not figure out what was actually happening. People were falling. It was a downpour of human beings. His vision blurred as the truth dawned on him. The tears were accompanied by an intense desire to vomit. He would have preferred to find he was trapped in a self-made nightmare world brought on by the powerful alcohol. A dream was only a patchwork scene created from his own memories, so it would not include anything incomprehensible. He collapsed backwards with the accidentally intoxicated girls still in his arms. That sent them back below the elevated highway. Immediately afterwards, someone fell right on the spot they had been standing in. At this point, it was effectively a carpet bombing. The entire area felt dangerous, just like when an elevated window broke and glass poured down like rain. Nevertheless, he could not ignore this. He did not know when someone else would fall down, but it was also possible someone could fall in the same spot like a second scoop of ice cream. He left Fran and Luca safely below the elevated highway, crawled forward, and reached his hand outside. He grabbed the arm of the person who had first fallen and dragged them below. It was a small girl. She was younger than Kamijou, so she may have been in middle school like Mikoto. She was fighting the cold with a blanket carelessly draped over her school swimsuit, so she looked something like a turtle that forgot to draw in its head. The long-haired girl appeared woozy, but she did not have any visible bone fractures or internal bleeding. However, he was afraid to grab her shoulders and shake her. He only shouted in her ear when trying to wake her. What happened!? What the hell happened!? ...Ahh... The elevated highway was only about 10 meters tall. That was like jumping from a three-story school building. Since she had landed on asphalt, he was not sure if there was any hope of saving her or not. Im...a backup dancer... ? She was trying to say something, but her context-less statement meant nothing to him. Meanwhile, he heard a commotion up above. That told him what the people gathered on the elevated highway wanted to do. Hurry! Hurry up!! Once youre ready, get to the wires! Jump to the windows across the way!! Grab the coats, the blankets, the sleeping bags, or whatever else! Retrieve everything inside!! When he looked below the hellish elevated highway again, he saw a large discount store alongside it. A shutter covered the entrance and the wall was somewhat buried in the white Element sand. To force their way inside, they seemed to have set up wires from the elevated highway to the higher windows, but... (Why are they so intent on things that keep the cold out? If theyre cold, cant they change from their swimsuits to their uniforms?) But as Kamijou wondered that, an unexpected voice reached him. Its not normal for that heat to drop below zero so fast! What we saw on the Sphere must be true. An ice age is coming soon!! Part 9 Hm, hm, hm, hmm. In the District 5 college shelter known as Academy, Ghost Girl Maya let will-o-the-wisp-like phosphorescent drones fly around her while she hummed happily at how far her information had spread. The microwave-induced heat wave was actually caused by solar winds. Academy City was quite comfortable for her with the internet and phones out. Everyone was viewing the same information like they were watching roadside TVs, so group psychology would readily kick in. They were like heads of wheat blowing in the wind. Those abnormal solar winds should be seen as an anomaly in solar activity as a whole, so an ice age will occur at this rate. The 55 degree weather dropped below 0, but it wont stop there. This time, itll fall more than 50 degrees in the negative direction. Good, this is working! The ghost girl hunched forward while the sound effects of the monitors virtual keyboard sounded loudly. The former Kamisato Faction controlled more shelters than just Academy. The girl in burial clothes and a heart-shaped headdress hesitated over which colorful vegetable stick to pull from the glass cup in her hand and she contacted some other shelters through the Sphere which surrounded her with its control petals. Marine, Scala, Milcah. How are things looking on your end? Great, great. Here at Health, more than half of everything is about invisible jinxes and the occult. Just like blood type fortunetelling, Im just flavoring it a bit with science and numbers. That kind of rumor works really well here Theres no real problem here in Prison, but isnt this a weird rumor? We already revealed the microwaves came from Frans station, right? What good is sending out misinformation that its solar winds and a sign that solar activity is about to drop? The people here at Journalism have started surreptitiously investigating it, so should I put a stop to that? Maya had control of the network, but she could only do so much with her one key station. The other Spheres that assisted as regional stations were nearly irreplaceable. (I guess its time to say goodbye to my makeshift bot army. Okay, lets use these real accounts to drive up the hit counts!!) This will not be a problem. New theories do not replace the old ones; they line up alongside them. Theyll be suspicious of Fran while also fearing an ice age. Human beings see no contradiction in holding two conflicting fears. Just like they laugh off ghosts as unscientific yet cant fully deny their existence. The ghost girl smiled thinly as she sent out instructions and used both hands to lift a cup of cocoa that gave off a slight smell of mint extract. By switching to another screen and messing with the search mode a little, she could easily determine which of the scattered shelters were on her side. The ghost girl was mixing a password or code word into the instructions she sent to the shelter rulers who approved of the broadcast network based around her key station. By searching that phrase, she could graphically see her territory on the map. And people prefer sensational and shocking information more than accurate information. The 55 degree weather dropped right down below 0, but that isnt it returning to normal. Its going to drop even further. A lot of people had to have been vaguely worried about that. Not many people have accurate specs on Frans station, after all. The frequency of those code words showed how loyal they were. The former Kamisato Faction would reply 100% of the time. If a shelter noncommittally did it about half the time, they were leaning toward her side. If they only did it infrequently, they were neutral. If they never did it at all, she viewed them as an enemy. Oh, I see. So if Frans group does want to get rid of this misinformation, theyll have to reveal the data on her station. And that means confessing that she really was behind the heat wave. Thats right, confirmed Maya. Neither confirming nor denying the misinformation will end the chaos. Thats what makes a multi-stage attack so great. People can handle information coming from one direction, but if they receive confirmations coming from multiple directions at once, they tend to give in right away. They might normally laugh off the concept of exorcism, but if theyre locked in a small room and told again and again that its the right thing to do, they cant stop themselves from ganging up on the subject and beating them to death. Just by hearing different people agreeing with some amount of time between will trick them into thinking its been confirmed by multiple sources. Translucent Maya used the collar around her exposed cleavage to fan herself and then snapped her fingers. And Milcah. Your Journalism is run by a triumvirate, right? Ill try applying external pressure to break that down, so brace for impact just to be safe. Thats fine, but you cant imbalance the leadership by focusing on any one of the three leaders. Not if I do it that way, no. A and B would join together to shut down Cs opinion. ...Thats why Ill spread the information to the people instead of the rulers. If the people learn whats really going on after losing the right to decide anything for themselves, theyll lose all control. Especially...yes. I can add in some half-truths about the Elements that attacked Journalism having been intentionally drawn in to leave you with fewer mouths to feed. You monster. I prefer the term beautiful ghost. It looks nicer. Well, we are acting as the pawns of brutal and monstrous Yuiitsu to hold onto the Kamisato Boys lifeline. Needless to say, Mayas goal was not controlling the Sphere network, manipulating the people of Academy City from hiding, or using misinformation about an ice age to throw a bunch of people from elevated highways. Oh? District 7s...Show Business is acting oddly. Theyre using the elevated route. But I cant use them to locate those two unless they spread out on the surface. She wanted to locate Kamijou Touma and Karasuma Fran. She also wanted to discover what had happened to Toyama Luca who was missing. It was all bait for that. Meaning... I cant rely on them. Maya whispered in a lovely voice that would send a shiver down the spine of all who heard it. So Ill spread some embers from the key stations in all 23 Districts to the national network. Now, Fran. What will you do? If you use your specialty to cross this sea of chaos, word from witnesses will reach me in no time flat Part 10 Given the pace at which people were falling, he could not save them all. What does that matter...? In fact, no amount of saving them would improve the Kamisato situation. What does that matter!!!??? He knew all that, but Kamijou continued to pull more people C as many as he could C underneath the elevated highway. The most he could do was dig through a cleaning van, sprinkle sterilization alcohol on them, and use makeshift splints wrapped with duct tape to set their broken limbs. But even as he did that, he learned something. These people were from a shelter. It was apparently known as Show Business. They generally decided things by majority rule, but instead of one vote per person, people had as many votes as they had fans. To use a more formal term, it may have been similar to a representative democracy. The first girl calling herself a backup dancer seemed to be connected to that. The number of votes someone had determined their class. Those included regular, center, and national, but Kamijou did not know how many there were in all. Still, backup dancer did not sound like a high level idol. The system had likely formed because the original school had been focused on song and dance, but something else caught Kamijous attention. Whats this about an ice age!? Where did they get that information from!? Hey, Fran, can you figure anything out through the Sphere!? Hm... Fran was still woozy and her spine was somewhat limp. She sat right on the asphalt below the elevated highway and she tilted her head like a stuffed bear. About that Sphere... ? It was cut off. Since Ellen and the others showed up at the meetup point, they almost certainly knew which Sphere I was using to relay the information, but I suspect they also physically severed the key station from the network. Dammit!! (Do they know where we are, so theyre trying to catch us in this riot? No, if they knew exactly where we were, they would just send their own girls in. That means were a stage ahead of that. Are they starting these riots all over, hoping well give away our location!?) The former Kamisato Faction was sending out deadly misinformation, but Kamijous group could not argue back. And if the enemy was spreading this disinformation from multiple regional stations connected to their key station, the chaos would not be contained to Show Business alone. If they did not get rid of the disinformation, the riots would spread throughout the citys shelters. The fear of a fictional ice age would lead people to steal blankets, destroy clothing as they fought over it, and needlessly kill each other. The Spheres were what mattered. They could not escape their helpless situation without access to a new data terminal. Kamijou let out a long, quiet sigh. And he spoke. Lets overcome this. And then lets steal Show Businesss Sphere to get a new key station. Thats the only way to extinguish this ice age misinformation as quickly as possible. But what about the Spheres key? Yeah, if its the same as Trial back at that park, their ruler will have it. Kamijou pointed up at the thick reinforced concrete of the elevated highway. If theyre inciting the others to action while waving a flag out front...then lets grab them and steal it. Even if that means fighting the Show Business people who are only being manipulated. Thats the only way to save them all! The Sphere was a limited data tool. Assuming this ruler did not want to quit like the one at the park, they would probably want to actively use it. Popularity determined influence in Show Business, so it would be a valuable resource indeed. The ruler was unlikely to hand it over if they were asked. But Kamijou still had to do it. There were no perpetrators and victims in this riot. Entirely baseless information had worked its way across the entire city, everyone was risking their lives on something entirely meaningless, and Kamijou could only imagine Index, Mikoto, or the others diving from the elevated highway. He had to end this before that happened. He had to put an end to the nonsense that was infecting peoples brains and good sense like a computer virus. But just as he thought that, something else arrived. Civilization was still dead in these streets, but he heard metal treads tearing at the asphalt. The speakers were overhead this time and they produced a somehow cracked voice as if from a loudspeaker, but a calm feminine voice spoke all the same. This is Useful Spider. The 48 Hours to Restore Order are still underway. Everyone, please calm down and obey our officers instructions. There is no scientific basis for the idea that an ice age is coming. Please view the situation rationally and assist us as we work toward recovery. This was not something that could be stopped by a mere announcement. And the people in the half-truck most likely knew that. They did not even wait for a response. Once they completed the announcement like it was a rite of passage, the device on the open bed of the truck rumbled as it began to rotate. It looked like a tow truck, but it was something else. (A gun...turret...?) Kamijou simply watched it happen because it was such an unrealistic sight. Then he heard another announcement. We have determined the normal manual is inadequate here, so we shall take emergency measures. On our special authority, the corresponding peoples human rights will be temporarily rescinded and we will work to secure them and transport them to the nearest hospital, but please understand that this is necessary to protect your lives and property as much as possible. They fired. With a tremendous noise, a torrent of extremely high pressure water attacked the elevated highway. The term high pressure water cannon flashed through Kamijous mind. There was nothing the Show Business people could do while making their deadly tightrope walk across the unstable wires. A dull sound rang out when they were hit. And then a great number of people flew off the opposite side of the wide elevated highway. They slammed into the wall of entirely unrelated buildings, fell down like a basketball being sucked into the hoop, and landed on the piles of white sand. And this was all on the opposite end of a three-lane elevated highway. Even with the sand to cushion their landing, the hit from the water alone had to have given them at least whiplash. What the hell is going on!? With everything going to hell in different ways all around him, Kamijous mind was nearly overwhelmed. And then he heard an overhead sound like cloth beating the air. It was a helicopter. He did not even want to imagine what would happen next. We are here to assist the emergency measures. Please get down on the ground to display your intent to surrender. Something heavy fell down, but this was different from the previous diving. It was like giant pieces of hail were falling on top of the elevated highway. A few of them missed and fell on the road next to it. They were a buckets worth of water...or perhaps of gelatin. But even that would provide a decent impact when dropped from a height that made a screw or nail a deadly weapon. The rioters who could be targeted from the ground were knocked down by the high pressure water and any who escaped to the center of the highway were knocked out by the water dropped by the helicopter. It was a human hunt with no hope of escape. That was bad enough on its own, but Kamijou felt a great malice in the fact that they were using water as a weapon. Water had been exchanged like currency just the day before, but these people had enough to waste it like this. This showed Useful Spiders position of superiority as they controlled the infrastructure recovery. Kamijou could not sit idly by any longer. Useful Spider seemed to think this would end the chaos as quickly as possible, but they also did not care if they were throwing the boys and girls of Show Business off of the elevated highway. Letting them take charge would not improve the situation. Doing that would only be hitting the fast-forward button on the damage. Fran, Luca! He called out to the girls, but they were still intoxicated by the alcohol and would be no help in a fight. Funii... If youre going somewhere, you can take my UFO balloon. I can? No, wait. Not when the former Kamisato Faction is probably monitoring this riot. Listen, dont call in the balloon! Itll give away our location!! Kamijou took off running without waiting for a response. The elevated highway was about 10 meters tall, so it would normally have been out of reach. But a metal ladder for inspections and maintenance climbed up the side of the reinforced concrete pillars located at even intervals. He grabbed the rarely used cold metal and climbed up. Meanwhile, the screams and sounds of firing water continued. When he looked toward the noise, his eyes met those of someone falling upside down through the air. He climbed past the tragic scene and reached a metal door that reminded him of a square manhole. He pushed it up and arrived on the curb of the elevated highway. It was hell on earth. Only during a marathon would more than 100 boys and girls gather here. The wide three-lane road was packed full and they were mercilessly attacked by the high-pressure water from the side and the gelatin bombing from above. The helicopter had a synthetic fiber bag dangling down like a sandbag and, each time the helicopter turned, water would fall and people would collapse. It went beyond a single victim. Each blast of the water cannon and the bombing caused a chain reaction that affected a great many. The damage spread as they toppled like dominos. Useful Spider was only thinking about resolving this as quickly as possible, so what happened to the people was a secondary concern. (This is ridiculous, dammit. I already have enough on my plate with Kamisato!!) Kamijou had no guarantee of his own safety from this point on. Useful Spider would not see him as any different and Show Business might gang up on him if they noticed he was not one of them or that he was after their ruler. The bat who could not be of the beasts or of the birds had to crouch down and run across the battlefield full of icy spraying water. He had no information on who exactly was the ruler here. He started by running toward a girl in a figure skating outfit, perhaps both as a spectacle that would bring popularity and to keep out the cold. Shockwaves burst nearby with more force than he would have thought possible for water. Each time, people toppled like dominos and were dragged to the wet asphalt. One boy was not allowed even that and flew high through the air like a three point shot. And as the swimsuit girls and boys gathered in the center to escape the water cannon, gelatin blunt weapons mercilessly poured down from overhead. Useful Spider were urging the students to surrender, but it did not look like the girls and boys had any fighting spirit left as they sat dazed on the road. Everything about it was terrible. And so Kamijou poured all his strength into taking even one more step forward. He had to erase the ice age misinformation and switch off this hellish scene as soon as possible. Its just like the video on the Sphere!! The frogs and ladybugs that should be hibernating are out because theyre sensitive to changes in solar magnetism. This is a prophecy, a message. The abnormal weather isnt over. Its only just beginning!! The figure skater girl was shouting something with a plastic megaphone to her mouth. As you can see, the adults interfered the second we got here. What more proof do you need!? The talk of an ice age is true!! The temperature isnt just dropping from 50 degrees to below 0. Its continuing on down to 50 below!! Dont let them take the blankets and sleeping bags! We found this oasis, not them!! (Is she stupid!? Of course animals are going to mistakenly end their hibernation when the temperature rises like that!! Besides, isnt assuming strange animal behavior is a definite harbinger of disaster one step away from the occult!?) No one would listen to him if he spoke aloud. Kamijou ran with all his might and tackled the girl at her slender waist. A strange shriek escaped her throat and she fell onto the wet road. He climbed on top of her, placed his hands on her throat, and half-crushed her windpipe while shouting down at her. Are you the ruler!? Wheres the key to the Sphere!? He could tell from the look in her eyes that she was trying to say something with some rationality and calculation behind it, so he did not hesitate to press his body weight down on her. She must have had difficulty breathing now because her face turned blue and she shook her head below him. Ill be asking yes or no questions. We dont have time for you to answer anything more than that! Do you understand!? Answer me with a nod!! She finally nodded. Kamijou took his body weight off of his arms and asked again. Are you the ruler? She shook her head. Then who is? You can just point!! There was unmistakable fear in the figure skater girls eyes. She slowly raised one hand and pointed her trembling finger in one direction. She would not have been calm enough to lie or put on an act. Hey, you! What do you think youre doing!? A righteous-sounding voice questioned him from surprisingly close by, so Kamijou grabbed the girls collar and got up. He then swung the weakened girl horizontally to throw her at the righteous red ranger. While the boy was stopping the impact, Kamijou crouched down and ran forward to hide in the rioting crowd. He moved in the direction that figure skater provocateur had pointed and he quickly spotted a likely suspect. Most of the boys and girls protected themselves with coats and blankets worn over their swimsuits, but one tall girl stood out in a naval coat with golden embroidery. She could be best described as a crossdressing beauty. Popularity was everything in Show Business, so that androgynous look must have helped her gather support from both the boys and girls. She seemed to have noticed him. She took a few steps back, but she could not order the others to secure an escape route for her during this chaos. Kamijou decided to tackle her from low to the ground, just like the figure skater girl. But just before he did, a powerful force grabbed his shoulder. I was asking... His forward momentum was negated and he was forcibly spun around to face that previous embodiment of righteousness. The boy did not hesitate to clench his fist. ...what the hell you think youre doing!! When the boy threw his punch, Kamijou collapsed backwards like a solid branch, but not because the blow had knocked him out. He had intentionally fallen back to get low to the ground. A moment later, a frightening blast of water was released diagonally upwards from the ground. A strange shout of bogyeh!! came from the rangers mouth and his body bent backwards. And as Kamijou avoided getting knocked down with him, he saw the unfamiliar boy turn into a shooting star. He slammed into the wall of a building beyond the elevated highway and he fell down. It was unclear if he would survive the 10 meter fall. (I couldnt do anything, not even give a word of warning. Dammit!!) Kamijou stayed low to the ground to avoid the continuing blasts of water, but that was when he made a mistake. He was in Academy City. He needed to be cautious of more than just Useful Spiders next-generation weapons. As Kamijou more or less crawled along, some kind of powerful blow hit him in the solar plexus. By the time he realized he had been knocked upwards from below, he was already more than a meter into the air. He felt just like he had received a powerful body blow, so instead of feeling an urge to vomit, he had trouble breathing. He noticed the crossdressing beauty holding her palm out toward him with a frightened look in her eyes. Whether it was wind or a direct shockwave, she had hit him with some kind of esper power. And the problem did not end there. His body had floated up which removed him from his nearly crawling position, so he was exposed to the high-pressure water blast. Kh...!!!??? They did not even wait for him to have time to feel the fear. The blast from below the elevated highway scored a direct hit on his defenseless body. He was knocked straight to the side. His hips slammed into the guard rail and then flew unnaturally upwards. But he may have been lucky his vector had shifted. Unlike the previous red ranger, he was not thrown off the other end of the elevated highway and landed just barely on the inner edge of the soundproofing wall. Even so, he took great damage. He could not get up properly. He did not even have the energy to writhe on the ground. It may not have felt quite like getting hit by a car, but it did feel like getting hit by a mid-sized motorcycle while crossing an intersection. He could have sworn the core of his body had been knocked out of place. Kah...hah... His vision was blurry as he lay face-up on the ground, but that upside-down vision showed the crossdressing beauty slowly backing away with her palm still held toward him. She was escaping. The ruler would escape. He knew that, but his body would not move and he doubted his body would last if she fired that esper power again. He doubted she could hold back when she was acting out of fear rather than anger. (I cant believe...this...) He reached his unsteady right hand out toward her, but not because he was trying to use Imagine Breaker. He was on the verge of passing out. (If I cant get the key and erase the misinformation from the key station...I cant...stop any of this...) Then the crossdressing beauty fired something to snap the last thread of his consciousness. Or she meant to. Just before she could, a sound like salt water poured onto a neon tube came from the helicopter circling above. The phenomenon was accompanied by bluish-white electricity, but Kamijou did not immediately understand what had happened. However, the malfunctioning helicopter quickly searched for an emergency landing point as it unsteadily descended. He did not even have time to feel surprise. He next heard another loud sound from directly below and the half-truck equipped with a high-pressure water cannon fell silent. Only the residual sound of something bursting echoed around the area. Kamijou and the nearly suicidal Show Business rioters did not know what to do. But then a hint of recognition finally reached Kamijous mind. Elec...tricity? After muttering the word under his breath, he quickly rolled onto his stomach and pressed his right hand against the wet pavement. A moment later, something frightening raced through the entire elevated highway. It ran across the water-soaked pavement and accurately knocked everyone there unconscious. It really was like invisible fingers had flicked off a switch on the back of their heads. With a dull sound, the boys and girls collapsed dangerously to the road. They could not resist in the slightest. The figure skater girl, the crossdressing beauty, and everyone else were dealt with in a single attack. Kamijou felt his heart pounding in his chest. Was he alone fine because he had pressed his right hand against the wet pavement just before the attack? It had been electricity. And a high voltage current at that. Kamijou only knew of one person who could rival a lightning strike by reaching 1 billion volts. Not even the military clones based on her had that much power. Which meant... (Misaka...Mikoto...?) He had been unable to stop the unpleasant sweat even though he was soaking wet in the midwinter, but now he breathed a sigh of relief. Just like during the heat wave, she seemed to be saving him at every turn. And now he would not need to directly visit Tokiwadai Middle School. He felt like he had been holding a bowstring taut for a long time and that he had finally been blessed with the power gained by releasing it. That was when he heard a quiet metallic sound. No, if this really was Misaka Mikoto like he thought it was, then he may not have been able to hear it from atop the elevated highway. It sounded like an arcade coin being flicked by a thumb. But that made no sense. Misaka Mikoto would not need to use her signature move here. The helicopter and half truck were already destroyed and all the rioters on the highway had been knocked out. There should not have been anyone left to attack. But then something strange happened before his eyes. A blast from directly below broke a portion of the elevated highway like a chocolate bar. Wha-...? He did not understand what had happened, but something even more incomprehensible happened regardless. More orange spears were sporadically launched at thrice the speed of sound. The highway crumbled as they pierced into it from below. The road was broken into blocks a few dozen meters long and the destruction was approaching Kamijou. The person down below had to have noticed the survivors. Otherwise, she would not have bothered to send the high-voltage current along the wet road. And yet she delivered a finishing blow. At this rate, she would tear apart the elevated highway despite the unconscious boys and girls on it. Kh... (What the hell is she doing...!?) Kamijou grabbed the transparent soundproofing wall that had broken from the propagated shockwaves, forced strength into his battered body, and slowly stood up once more. The high-voltage current was coming from the ground, but he did not have time to slowly descend the maintenance and inspection ladder. He looked down through a gap in the broken soundproofing wall and saw a pile of white Element sand. He was dizzied by the height. He recalled the boys and girls whose broken limbs he had treated. But he could not hesitate. Just as the highway was going to truly collapse thanks to a blast from below, he exhaled and crossed that line. He leaned out through the gap in the soundproofing wall, onto the guardrail, and balanced onto his stomach to tilt like a seesaw and then out into the empty air. Only after doing it did he realize he had screwed up. The dive was bad enough already, but he had been stupid enough to add a spin into it. Gyah!! His vision spun around and an impact ran through his back before he could brace himself. He seemed to have safely landed on the pile of white sand, but that was pure coincidence. The sand was heavy for how fine it was, so it held him in place quite well. Even so, he managed to slide down to the ground. There he found a girl wrapped in violent electricity. That brutal living gun turret wore a Tokiwadai Middle School racing swimsuit below a duffel coat that was likely school-issued as well. Misaka... Badly battered and covered in sand, Kamijou approached the girl on unsteady feet. She did not even react. What the hell are you doing!? Hey, Misaka!! When he saw her slowly walk toward a surviving portion of the elevated highway with an arcade coin in hand and her arm raised diagonally upwards, Kamijou wrapped his arms around her to stop her. The orange beam was shifted off target, but it still tore through the broken edge of the elevated highway like it was made of styrofoam. Kamijou shuddered. But not at that great power. At the fact that Misaka Mikoto did not even hesitate to pull out another coin even as he held her with all his strength to stop her. And her slender legs had not stopped walking. Wait...wait!! Its over! You ended it!! What more do you hope to accomplish!? Kamijou did not know why Mikoto was here. At the very least, she had not come here because she had known he was here. She had had no way of knowing that. Then was she going around saving people at random with her great firepower like she had during the heat wave? Had she caught wind of the trouble? If so, something was odd. This was different from the reliable but unstable Mikoto who had used the A.A.A. He sensed killer intent. Yes. This may have been his first time seeing Misaka Mikoto wield her power for the clear intent of harming someone. ...after you left? The girls lips moved a little as Kamijou held her and she buried her face in his chest. He did not sense any of the embarrassment or bashfulness of skin contact with the opposite sex. There was hopelessly cold and heavy anger and hatred in her voice. What do you think happened at Tokiwadai after you left? ... We drove off that scientist named Kihara Yuiitsu. We defeated those Element things she brought in. But do you know what waited for us after we were worn down by all that? Completely normal people!! With the barricade broken, strangers flooded into the School Garden. And what do you think happened then!? He could not answer. That would have been when he had been recovering in the mall Kamisato had taken him to. And he had thought resolving the heat wave and Elements problem would be the fastest way to help restore order and help everyone. They didnt even glance our way when we were worn down and in need of help. But had he been wrong? Had someone been seeking help from a different direction? They looked at the collapsed school building and called it a treasure trove!! They said they could make money off of the drugs and equipment at such a prestigious esper powers development institution. They laughed and said they were only taking what had been denied them when we locked them out and refused to help them!! They said this was their right and that we were getting our just deserts!! Misaka... I did help them. I revealed the existence of the A.A.A. Id made for myself, I protected everyone in Tokiwadai, and I used what strength I had leftover patrolling outside the School Garden. I didnt have to do that, but I still did it! But they said I was negligent. They said I didnt do enough. And so they said they were making up for that... Why do I have to be criticized by people Ive never even meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!! Kamijou did not ask anything more. He simply held the girls fragile body tightly in his arms once more. I cant forgive them... Malicious words left her like she was squeezing water from a sponge. But Kamijou continued listening. He knew she needed to get this off her chest. But we dont even remember who exactly they were. They abandoned us like stones on the side of the road and made their way to the collapsed school building. The only image burned into my mind is those cheerfully hopeful backs walking away from us... Most likely, it was not any one persons actions that had driven Misaka Mikoto to despair. When given 10, they demanded 100. When given 100, they demanded 1000. It was the group psychology that saw that as perfectly normal. They had been infected by the limitless desire of those who intentionally kept themselves in a lowly position. She had said she did not remember who the target of her revenge was. Even if the people behind the looting of Tokiwadai were captured and brought in front of Mikoto, Kamijou was confident she would probably just look confused. This was not that simple. Misaka Mikoto had been faced with the great malice of the extreme environment created by a disaster. Itll be okay... Kamijou finally spoke as he rubbed the far-too-small girls hair. What you want to defeat might not have physical form, but I promise you well defeat it. Hurting people wont affect it, but there has to be a way to kill it. So dont lose your way. Itll be okay. Really? asked Mikoto with the wavering voice of a small child. Is there really a way to defeat that monster? Yes. Once order was restored and once they could return to their normal lives again, that malice would have nowhere left. It would vanish from everyones hearts. That was when they could tear the formless monster to shreds. They could only trust in that as they continued fighting. And the former Kamisato Faction centered on Ellen and Maya were using the Spheres to control that monster to a certain extent. And for nothing more than locating Kamijou and Fran and to send their own fighters after them. Kamijou could not ignore this. Kamisato Kakerus rescue, the girls under Kihara Yuiitsus command, and the malice covering the city. It all looked separate at first glance, but they were actually linked, even if unintentionally. Work with me, Misaka. I need your help. He had to fight. He had to protect something important from this chain reaction of malice. Ill return everything to normal. I swear it. Part 11 They seemed to have taken a long detour. When Kamijou checked with Fran, it was already 4 PM. The surrounding air had shifted from day to evening, so the biting cold seemed to have grown a level. Urp. Hey, Luca...? Why are you all sobered up so soon? I can freely control my subjective age, so breaking down alcohol seems to be a simple task for me. The rabbit-ear antennae girl had yet to escape the unfortunate accident of getting drunk off of sterilization alcohol. She was as expressionless as ever, but she would occasionally press her fingers against her temple. Hey, Misaka. ... Dont walk so fast. Luca seems fine, but youre going to leave Fran behind. Why are you picking up random girls again!? In her duffel coat and racing swimsuit, Mikoto look back and snapped at him, but her thoughts were actually elsewhere. (Ehhh? How am I supposed to look him in the eye after he said that and hugged me? What am I supposed to say? What kind of distance am I supposed to keep between us? What am I supposed to do about this!?) She could tell without a mirror that her face was beet red, but she did not want him to know that redness came from anything other than anger. That left her with two avenues of escape: keep her back to the spiky-haired boy by walking out ahead of him or find a reason to act angry. However... Why are you in such a hurry? Do you really have to use the bathroom or someth- fweah!? This time, she did not need to put on an act. She silenced him with a lightning spear to the torso. Incidentally, it had not been difficult to borrow the Spheres key from Show Businesss ruler. The girl in boys clothing was lying unconscious on the wet elevated highway. The Sphere would be back at their shelter, but that too was easy to find. They only had to shake the crossdressing beautys shoulders to wake her. They still did not know what kind of esper power she used, but that was not a problem when the first thing she saw upon waking was Misaka Mikoto standing over her while wrapped in electricity. Answer our questions. Those were the magic words. But after seeing the ruler hand over the stick-shaped device in a trembling hand, Kamijou did feel kind of bad about what they were doing here. And when they arrived at Show Businesss shelter itself, they found a large boxy fitness gym. The boys and girls hoping to be the best singers or dancers seemed to treat it like an extracurricular cram school. Most of the members were gone due to the ice age misinformation, so it was only lightly guarded and approaching the Sphere was easy. So this will be our new key station... Luca checked the label of a nearby brown bottle and tossed it to Fran. Its apparently a turmeric drink. How about you drink it before getting to work? Ew. That sounds bitter...and it is!! I shouldnt have tried it!! The hoodie bikini girl stuck out her tongue and held the bottle as far away from her as she could, but Kamijou gave her a puzzled look. Is it that bad? It says orange flavor. What part of that chemical flavor tastes anything like an orange!? How about you try it!? Wah! Stop, you moron! Should a healthy person really be drinking this!? As Kamijou struggled, the racing swimsuit and duffel coat girl next to him could not seem to relax. (Eh? Wait, but...if they do that, wont it be an indirect kiss? Um...) Achoo!! She sneezed and a lightning spear flew from her bangs. It was definitely an accident and certainly not a way of preventing an orally spread infection. But when it was destroyed by the arm Kamijou had lifted overhead, the brown bottle also flew through the air. Ubh!! The next thing any of them knew, the spiky-haired boy was covered in the color orange. Mikoto began to tremble. Thats not just an indirect kiss... Is that indirectly licking all over his body!? Misaka, is that anything to say in the same tone as someone discovering the entire mansion rotates!? Hoodie Bikini Fran inserted the rulers key into the 2 meter sphere that had opened like a lotus flower. That gave her authorization. ? Incidentally, Mikoto did not really know who Fran or Luca were. She simply watched the two girls skeptically as they used some odd technical terms and skillfully operated the device. Come to think of it, cant you directly control this thing with your powers, Misaka? Hmm... The outer layer, sure. Mikoto looked troubled. But the inner core is a little strange. Is it quantum signals...? No, not quite. But it doesnt seem to be a processor that uses normal electricity. It is a light splitting processor that uses the Zeeman effect. Fran, stop giving us that smug look and give us an actual explanation. We know youre the smartest one even if you dont shoehorn those complicated terms into the conversation. Please stop mocking me. When light-emitting particles enter a magnetic field, their single wavelength will split into multiple ones. That is the Zeeman effect. And when waves collide, they will combine, so by bringing multiple lights together inside the tiny processor, their amplitudes can represent 0s and 1s for a non-electrical processor. Again with the smug look. ...!! Its a transition machine meant as a stepping stone toward a quantum computer that uses light separately as a wave and a particle! Just like the platypus and the coelacanth or a PDA and PHS, its a valuable material for achieving further evolution, but is destined to vanish once it loses that special environment!! The end!!!!!! Kamijou decided it was for the best not to ask why she knew so much about those signals and computers. She would probably say the messages that they send from space are strange and complex. Any further questions would be like asking a cinephile for a recommendation and having them go on all night about some strange poetic French movie. That should do it. ...Relay processing complete. Now we can use my backpack as the field reporter broadcasting via the new key station. So Fran. Whats the network like right now? The rabbit-ear antennae girls face clouded over when the feathered pirate hat and eyepatch girl asked that. Lets just say its become a complete mess in the short time since I last saw it. Theyre still saying the heat wave was caused by powerful microwaves, but now its split between the theory that it was Karasuma Frans space station and the theory that its a countdown to an ice age caused by abnormal solar winds. And both are clearly being backed by someone. Im betting its that shut-in ghost Maya. Shes doing both sides herself? With just the one theory, it can be more obvious someone is guiding it, so she probably wanted a derivative rumor under her control as well. By preparing her own outlet for opposing opinions and guiding peoples dissatisfaction there, she wont end up with an uncontrollable flame war on her hands. And its pretty obvious shes designed them both so theyll cause me trouble if they get popular. Shes set things up nicely for herself. Then someone poked at Kamijous side. It was Misaka Mikoto. Hey. Hey, wait. What is it? Didnt she just say something weird? She mentioned Karasuma Frans space station and something about causing me trouble. But, um, isnt Fran her name...? Oh, groaned Kamijou. They had come this far while he tried to figure out where to start, but he could not avoid this if he wanted to rescue Kamisato using the knowledge of Academy Citys science side in addition to the Voodoo time and space magic of the magic side pirate girl. So he answered. You met that Salome girl, right? These two are Fran and Luca. Theyre friends of Kamisato Kakerus just like Salome. Were fighting most of their group right now...but it doesnt change the fact that the heat wave they caused did a lot to protect Academy City from the ferocity of the Elemen-... Electricity split the air with a boom. If Kamijou had not immediately grabbed Mikoto to stop her, the hoodie bikini girl would have become a scorched hunk of meat. Let go of me!! You idiot! How can you just accept this with a smile on your face!? Theyre the ones that caused all of this...!!!!! I had a feeling this would happen! But I still answered honestly!! And if all theyd done was throw Academy City into turmoil, I wouldnt be helping them!! Its complicated, but their heat wave weakened Kihara Yuiitsus Elements!! Mikoto finally tensed and stopped struggling when he mentioned that scientists name. Kihara...Yuiitsu...? Yes! The one who attacked your school!! Ill explain everything, so just calm down!! Explaining was anything but easy. For one thing, Mikoto had not seen or heard anything about who Kamisato Kakeru was, so getting her to understand the strange environment surrounding the boy would be a large hurdle. The one piece of luck was that she had met Salome. Introducing him as Salomes brother seemed to help her accept how unreasonable it all was. Even so, electricity would occasionally envelop her body like she was flipping the tea table, so Kamijou would have to wrap his arms around the racing swimsuit girls waist, knock her to the ground while she blushed, and finish his explanation of the most important aspects. The heat wave and the Elements were separate. The flood of Kihara Yuiitsus Elements was the real threat and Fran had been forced to respond with the microwaves from her space station to reduce the damage as much as possible. Mikoto must not have been entirely convinced because she looked away and spoke in a low voice. ...Well, fine. Bugo. Bububuu. Buhee Bubuu. I didnt hit your face so much you have to talk like a pig!! B-besides, youre being far too accepting of all this. When did you just stop caring!? Anyway... Despite her life being at fairly serious risk here, Frans eyes were as emotionless as ever. It was Luca who had been focused on the cutlass at her waist, but she breathed a sigh of relief now. We have the Sphere now, but we have no idea when Ellen or Maya will attack. Also, I would like to be able to make multi-stage attacks by linking the key station with regional stations like theyre doing. If possible, I would like to control more than just the one Sphere. I get that, but we cant ignore the main Kamisato issue either. I dont want to take the time to sneak into other shelters. Of course not. The hoodie bikini girl pointed at Mikotos nose with the index finger sticking out of her baggy sleeve. So well get just one more. Assuming youre willing to introduce us to the shelter youre staying at. Part 12 With Misaka Mikoto guiding them, they felt much more relaxed in the dead streets that had seemed so dangerous before. Even so, it was not easy traveling by foot when Academy City was buried in rubble and white sand. The sun had completely set by the time they arrived. When Kamijou asked the hoodie bikini girl, he learned it was already seven. It was truly nighttime. And Kamijou was surprised to find the high class girls of Tokiwadai Middle School had moved to a familiar place. ...A hospital? And the one Im always staying at??? A lot of the girls could barely move after fighting Kihara Yuiitsu. After all that, theyre lucky to even be alive. And even though Kamijou and Fran were essentially wanted criminals, time passed in a much more relaxed fashion than they expected. (What is going on...?) Kamijou looked around. The high class girls school had had nearly 200 students, so they must not have all been able to use the hospital beds. Quite a few objects were visible in the parking lot out front. They were handmade houses made from cardboard boxes and blue plastic sheets. Some of the plastic entrances pushed open as girls in racing swimsuits and duffel coats peered out and nodded their way. The lack of concrete walls to keep out Elements did not really matter. An outdoor base was safe as long as the Elements could be diverted away. The park had shown Kamijou that. But even so... High class girls in cardboard houses? Thats not right at all. Are you sure you can adapt to this? Are you making fun of us? Mikoto sounded exasperated, but it was true there was some exhaustion on her face. She had likely been working all out from the beginning. And even though she was smiling on the surface, it was possible she was still feeling the malice that had been directed their way. However, some of the girls seemed to be enjoying the new experience of this unfamiliar environment. The cardboard will collapse with nothing but tape holding it together. Oh, I know. How about we reinforce it with wire hangers? Great idea, Kongou-san! And while were at it, lets strengthen it further with styrofoam! They seemed to be enjoying it like children building a secret base. A warm blanket and food always had a way of soothing peoples hearts. With the necessities fulfilled, they may have been trying to expel some of the stress built up in their chests. He just hoped they did not get sick of it as quickly as a cold bath after the sauna. Bunny Grey... Fran covered her mouth in excitement after finding a cardboard house using a character picnic sheet as a door. Kamijou was fairly certain she would try to move in there permanently, so he grabbed her by the nape of the neck to stop her. A delicious smell wafted their way and he spotted some girls in the parking lot stirring a large pot sitting atop a metal drum with wire mesh over the top. It likely had curry or something inside. They would not have had the dozens of spices available, so it smelled a lot like the standard roux Kamijou would buy at the supermarket. Thanks to Mikotos influence they were given some on paper plates. There was nowhere to sit, so they stood around the fire as they ate. The last thing Kamijou and Fran had eaten was the cold duck slices, chikuwa, and naruto they had borrowed from the subway station soba restaurant refrigerator. Eating something warm and flavorful was almost enough to move them to tears. In this moment, Kamijou Touma was truly alive. Then an extremely young voice C around 7 years old C spoke up next to him. Onee-chan. Um... More! Luca!! Why are you using that visual to take advantage of peoples good will!? I have no idea what youre talking about. More importantly...Onee-chan, more! But then something unexpected occurred. Instead of just one or two, a whole crowd of girls in racing swimsuits and duffel coats surrounded the tiny pirate girl. My, who is this little girl? Maybe shes lost. Well, we must look after her until she can get back home! Mhn!! Eh? Wait! Wah, wah, wah, wah!? Wait, wait!! The young voice was buried by the crowd and the hoodie bikini girl stared into the distance while chewing. Heh. In convents where no men are allowed, the nuns maternal sides can be so suppressed that they start having strange hallucinations, so they often use wooden baby dolls to rid them of some of those maternal urges. You didnt know that, Luca? Kamijou had no idea why she was so familiar with those hallucinations, but since the rabbit-ear antennae girl specialized in UFOs and aliens, he decided it was best not to ask. Curry really uses a lot of water. Both for cooking it and for cooking the rice to go with it. Assuming you just use tap water, yes, said Mikoto. But a lot of our girls can control water. ... Huh? Why did you stop eating? What kind of juices was this curry cooked in!? wondered Kamijou, but he had already eaten it. He had been so moved emotionally that he only now noticed his plate was empty. But... ? Two meals in one day. Now that I think about it, Im actually getting enough to eat. When he, the hoodie bikini girl, and the pirate hat girl entered the hospital through the outpatient entrance, he found more chaos. In addition to the hospital rooms and examination rooms, the waiting room benches and the wheeled stretchers all had people lying on them and materials were piled up all throughout the hallways. With the heat wave and Elements, the number of patients had far surpassed the hospitals capacity. It was a miracle it was even still functioning as a hospital. In niche survival guides that gave a timetable from the beginning to the end of a fictional zombie outbreak, it was always the hospitals and police stations that were taken out first. Even if no one meant any harm, the sheer number of people could prevent them from functioning. Oh? And just when I thought you hadnt been hospitalized in a while. A familiar frog-faced doctor walked out from the back. It was odd for a healthy high school boy to be familiar with a doctor like this, but that was just how often Kamijou had been saved by him. But for now, the Sphere was what mattered. Doctor, Ive heard this shelter is known as Hospital. Hm? I never named it, so Im not sure what to tell you. Maybe someone started calling it that, but I dont know. What about the Sphere? Oh, that thing? I think it would be better to rely on a radio equipped with a hand-cranked generator. He did not seem very attached to it, but that was good news for Kamijou and the girls. Mikoto and the others here did not seem to know that Kamijou and Fran were being treated like wanted criminals, so the entire shelter probably did not rely on the Sphere much. After getting permission from the hospitals central figure, they received the USB memory key from the frog-faced doctor. The Sphere was sitting out in the courtyard. It was not even indoors, so they could tell how little the people cared about it. Luca assisted Fran as they accessed the information base that was opened like a lotus flower. Kamijou watched them and asked Mikoto something he was a little curious about. How did this hospital keep the Elements out? I dont know, but they said they used ultrasonic waves. There were a few long skinny things like glass wind chimes set up around the area, so maybe those were luring the Elements away. Kamijou shuddered. Kamisato Kakeru had revealed that the Elements had been using ultrasonic waves to pass data back to Kihara Yuiitsu through the microwaves. The frog-faced doctor had casually reached that level. It was possible he had captured and dissected a few Elements like Tokiwadai had. Strange people were everywhere in this city. That may not have been something to say when he regularly ate meals with a grimoire library and a true god, but Kamijou himself had nothing to brag about. Then a light beep intruded on his thoughts. All done. Heh heh. Regional station acquired! Frans default expressionless look had started to grow smug recently. Was she letting her guard down around Kamijou, or did she want to appear superior to Mikoto? That was hard to say. Now I can use two Spheres at once. We can make our own multi-stage attacks, so theres a lot more we can do in the online battle. I dont really get it, but...did you say her name was Maya? How many Spheres does she control? I have no proof, but probably more than 15 at the least. Bff!! spat Kamijou even though he did not really get it. Thats a hell of a lot more! Lets ignore the territory controlled by the regional network stations for the time being. If were just looking at the online arguments, the actual difference in numbers doesnt matter too much. There are only three patterns for focusing on an argument: 1 person, 2 people, or 3+ people. Adding in a bunch more people is just a waste of effort, so we dont need to worry about it. But we only have up to the 2 people one while Maya can use the 3+ people one, right? I never said we had an absolute advantage, did I? She may have only been saying they had a chance to argue back, which was better than nothing. They still had to deal with Kamisato, but the problems seemed to be piling up. Kamijou slowly sighed and looked up into the chilly sky, but then he saw a small figure peering down at him from one of the windows. They noticed him and waved. (Thats Patricia Birdway, right? She doesnt leave much of an impression because shes overshadowed by her sister...) That girl had been infected with the Sample Shoggoth, joined Kamisatos group, and ultimately had her life saved when the pieces of Magic God Nephthys filled the gaps in her body. Seeing her was like seeing a different side to Kamisato Kakeru who had caused so much trouble with his unpredictable actions. Thinking back, Kamijou had to wonder if Kamisato Kakeru had already been prepared to kill himself to save someone else at that point. If Kamijou had noticed it sooner, he could have predicted what happened below the Windowless Building and perhaps stopped it. He nodded up at the girl and then opened his mouth. Fran, do you think you can deal with the ice age misinformation? I cant guarantee it. For one, if I do anything too conspicuous, Maya will detect the relay Sphere Im using as a key station and have it physically destroyed. Instead of directly rejecting the idea, Im busy investigating how the rumor is spreading and pretending to agree while remaking it into a different topic from the edges. In other words, it wont have any immediate effects. You can do that while we walk, right? Anyway, keep at it. That said, that route would not stop the riots from spreading. That meant they had to stop it at the source. If they could prove Kamisato Kakeru could be saved without Kihara Yuiitsus World Rejecter, then Maya, Ellen, and the others would have no more reason to fight. Lets get down to business, began Kamijou. Misaka. We need the A.A.A. to save Kamisato Kakeru and end all this trouble. And I dont mean the machine you built; I mean the original its based on. Tell us where it is. Part 13 It was already past 8 by the time they left the hospital. And Misaka Mikoto led them to an unexpected place as their breath appeared white in the air. District 11? Right. Its the easternmost district and its used as a distribution base for the land routes. Misaka Mikoto explained in her racing swimsuit and duffel coat while walking through the streets covered in piles of white sand. More than 90% of Academy Citys trash is recycled. Scrap metal is melted down, kitchen garbage is made into compost, etc. But there are some things that just cant be recycled. Once its been reused so often its deteriorated, its compressed, packed in containers, and sent to the disposal facility for that area. Then its in one of those waste containers? asked Luca in her pirate hat and eyepatch. Right, confirmed Mikoto. By messing with the shipping schedule a little, one container is forever left in the pile of trash. Thats where I hid the sample parts to the original I found in the disguised armory that night we fought Kihara Yuiitsu. It was in that container yard where Kamijou had fought Gremlins Thor at the end of the Ichihanaransai. That honestly was not a pleasant memory. They made a long trek across Academy City. Their destination was on the far end of the city, so when Kamijou asked Fran for the time, he found it had taken them more than three full hours. The date would be changing soon. The streets looked strange with the streetlights and traffic lights dead. They knew it was unlikely a car would drive by, but they still felt a slight squeezing at their hearts when they cut across a road while nearly blind. When they arrived in District 11, they found an SF world where a one-room apartment had thoroughly grown in size. In the darkness, piles of standardized metal boxes created geometric silhouettes. Large gantry cranes would normally be endlessly unloading trucks, but that had all come to a stop. The perishables in the refrigerated containers may have been rotting. Despite all the materials here, they saw no sign of anyone. Perhaps no one had been able to slip past the heat wave and the Elements to arrive at this isolated district. Wheres the container? This way. If the microwaves wiped out the management data, Ill have to alter the list again after all this is over... It was halfway up one of the pyramid-like piles of containers. Mikoto could use the reflection of her electromagnetic waves to scan the terrain and then use magnetism to easily climb the wall, but Kamijou and the others had a harder time of it. He pushed up on Frans butt, got down on all fours while Lucas slender legs stood on his back, and then had the girls pull him up. It was a struggle, but they climbed on up. This is it. Mikoto arrived first and pointed at a container door with her thumb. The door only had a padlock with a dial to lock it. That seemed strange for Mikoto who could open any lock with her power. All locks were made to be opened, so it may have been less about security and more about disguising it so it did not stand out. She did not seem to check the numbers on the lock in the dark. Instead, she unlocked it by directly manipulating its internal parts with her magnetism. Then she placed her hands on the double doors. Kamijou frowned when he peered inside the thick darkness that did not even allow the moonlight in. Fran held out a small monitor that was connected to her backpack with the kind of curled wires used by home phones. The backlight shined like a glowing lantern and they could finally see inside. A sinister collection of machinery awaited them inside. The metal container was too small for the large weapons to fit, so they had been dismantled quite a bit. Kamijou was not an expert in that field, so he could not even imagine what they would have looked like when intact. Nevertheless, he immediately felt a chill in the pit of his stomach like he had seen a pool of blood. That may have been proof these were deadly weapons. He could feel an indescribable sense of revulsion squeezing at his heart. But when Misaka Mikoto had seen this, she had apparently decided to use it. That was why she had retrieved it, kept it on hand, improved it, and remade it to her own liking. Kamijou felt a slight thorn there. It was a dangerous scent, like the enchanting pattern on a katanas blade or the tempting aroma of an excellent weapon. Kamijou, Aogami Pierce, and Fukiyose Seiri would have lost their lives to the Elements if not for Mikotos A.A.A. It was also their only clue to saving Kamisato. It was all working in their favor, but he could not simply rejoice at its presence. What is this...? The first one to set foot in the container was Luca, the magician knowledgeable in time and space. Fran also stepped in with the light source, but she mostly seemed to be pursuing her friends back. Isis, Osiris, and Horus... But this is far removed from Egyptian traditions. That which will not obey upon being summoned... Abrahadabra. The upside-down triangle made from the same letters...the curse-reversing charm... I see. The induction of the paranormal using adolescent minds and drugs was taken from the Temple of Thelema. But wait...that would mean...!? Luca, Luca. Um? Are you channeling something? Science and magic? Dont make me laugh! If everything here is true, then there never were two different worlds. A single persons wickedness was only making it look that way!! You can explain the world with a single unified theory!! She was clearly acting oddly. It was like a mania, a high, or a trance. As Luca trembled, was she even thinking for herself? Or was she being drawn in by some kind of external power? What could she see as she arched her back? Her body was moving so madly that Kamijou thought he could hear her heartbeat even as far away as he was. Eiya. Then Fran uttered a silly cry and lazily karate chopped the back of the pirate girls head. Lucas head shook even more than expected and then she came back to her senses. She looked puzzled and shook her head like a wet dog. Eh? Huh? What just-...? Why am I-...? Luca. Can we use this or not? O-oh. Thats right. After the confusion of someone who had just woken up, she began observing the machinery once more. This is even better than I expected. I just thought it would be something that existed here with us and there with Kamisato-kun, but it already has magical design and symbols worked in. What...? The pirate girl answered Kamijous questioning voice with a shrug. I dont know what else to tell you. Its disguising itself as science, but the core is full-on magic. Its like seeing Edisons necromancy device. It looks like an energy transfer device that guides power in from a remote location. You know what were trying to do, right? Create a tunnel and drag Kamisato Kakeru back. ...With this, its more than half finished already. The trick will be how to alter the energy line into something that transports matter. Now it was Kamijou and Mikotos turn to exchange a glance. The #3 frowned and shook her head. I-I dont know what youre talking about! All I did was reproduce the black box portion without knowing what it is. And what do you mean by magic? You dont just mean a method of meditation, do you??? (This is bad... Then has Misaka been getting nosebleeds as the side effect of an esper using magic!?) He had figured it out, but should he tell her? He would only worry her if he said, I dont know the details, but you have a disease. However, you wont find a cure at any hospital. And worrying her might even worsen her symptoms. He would need to discuss this with an expert like Index or Othinus. He kept it in his heart, but they had to keep moving. Pirate Girl Luca leaned toward Mikoto. Hey, hey! Can you start it up? Not the derivative one you apparently have, but this one right here! W-well, yes. But its inefficient. This one hasnt been tuned for me. Its a lot like trying to dance ballet in someone elses shoes. Thats fine!! Youre doing something far more incredible than you know. Turn it on and breathe life into the system. That should provide us with a pretty major clue!! It was Kamijou that gulped, not Mikoto. If the A.A.A.s core was magical in nature and it placed a great burden on an esper like Mikoto, he could not have her use it again and again. She had been fine so far, but that may have been like unwittingly crossing a minefield. Just because she had not stepped on a mine yesterday was no guarantee that she would not do so today. Wait a second. Youre a magician, Luca, so cant you do it yourself? Magic is your field. Yes, there would not be a problem if an actual magician touched the A.A.A. The side effects only applied to espers using magic. But the pirate hat and eyepatch girl shook her head. I cant touch this bizarre thing right away. It might even bite me. She used a meaningful-sounding phrase to argue her case. I want to investigate after someone who its already accepted triggers the ignition and gets the motor running. And we have someone whos done just that. We cant measure the risk here, so thats far safer than trying it out and damaging the gate weve found. She most likely did not understand the risk. Luca continued smiling as she answered. ... But that dropped a heavy weight into Kamijou Toumas stomach. They could not advance without Misaka Mikoto activating the A.A.A. Without that they could not save Kamisato Kakeru, they could not free the girls trapped by Kihara Yuiitsus curse, and they could not rid Academy City of this chaos. But now that he knew the danger... Hm? Whats with you? Mikoto herself peered up at him from below. She looked entirely unconcerned. That was the look of a defenseless girl who did not at all understand the risk she bore. Kamijou told himself this was just one time. Those unnatural nosebleeds were certainly concerning, but she had not bled from all over her body and collapsed like Tsuchimikado Motoharu. Then wouldnt she be fine this time too? It was only for a very short time, after all. Meanwhile, Mikoto casually reached out toward the collection of junk. Was her magnetism pulling it in, or was it the opposite? Several pieces of scrap metal wriggled toward her palm in preparation to touch it. He thought. He worried. And he finally squeeze his eyes shut, clenched his teeth, and yet could not make up his mind. No, wait, Misa-...!!!??? She did not wait. It happened a moment later. Despite being the most powerful Electromaster, the girls entire body jerked like she had been struck by lightning. Part 14 From that instant on, Kamijou Toumas sense of time may have been malfunctioning. As time seemed to stretch out infinitely, he heard a watery sound from the depths of the darkness swept away by Frans backlight. Something was flowing from Misaka Mikotos mouth as her body arched backwards. Round drops glittered like jewels colored with a unique shade different from both red and black. There was only one answer, but Kamijous fruitlessly spinning mind could not come up with the word. The girls eyes were opened wide. But not from fear or pain. Why had this happened to her? Her eyes were filled with the confusion of being unable to answer that question. Mikoto could not support herself with her back arched so sharply, so she slowly collapsed backwards. Kamijou finally reached his hands out. But he could not reach her. He could not reach her in time. A heavy metallic thud rang through the container. Then time returned to normal. The girl lay on her back and her entire body writhed and convulsed. The blood droplets that had spilled from her mouth were pulled down by gravity and sprinkled across the floor. Many red flowers bloomed with a dirty splattering sound. Misakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!? He yelled and frantically tried to pick her up in his arms, but Pirate Girl Luca cut in from the side and grabbed him to stop him. As she convulsed, Mikoto was desperately trying to move her right hand. No, she probably thought she was raising her hand and holding out her palm to stop him. She was telling him not to touch her with his right hand. Fran alone looked at everyone in turn like she felt left out. Why!? Didnt this happen because the A.A.A. is an outside product and an esper just touched magic!? Then if I use my right hand...!! This isnt the A.A.A.!! She was hit by a carefully-aimed external curse. She was attacked!! A curse...? Kamijou finally stopped struggling and repeated the word. He did not know the detailed definition, but the old-fashioned word was clearly from outside the bounds of the science side. What do you mean a curse!? Part 15 Someone had ankle-length silver hair and wore a thin green surgical gown. That human looked like both a man and a woman, like both an adult and a child, and like both a saint and a sinner. He ever-so-slowly let out a sigh. That human had waited and waited for this moment. He had done so while Kihara Yuiitsu let the Elements run wild to track down Kamisato Kakeru, and he had done so while powerful microwaves had turned the city into a scorching 55 degree hell to fight those Elements. And he had even set aside the current problems to wait for this moment. However it had happened, Kihara Yuiitsu had finished off Kamisato Kakeru. That meant he had to deal with the other one himself for the realization of his plan. That human, Aleister Crowley, had a few pieces of magic viewed as great achievements, but one of those was based on a magic phrase that may have been the most famous in the world. Abracadabra. The phrase was well known in the context of mocking those who believed in the occult, but very few people knew it was more often included in magic charms and magic circles than in spoken incantations. Its effects could be described as a curse reversal. When an enemy cast a curse, such as the Eye of Horus or an ankh, it would divert it or send it back toward that enemy, so it was widely known as a protective charm. However, just as all techniques are neither good nor evil, it came down to how the magic was used. Think of it like light. If a light-reflecting mirror was curved, it could focus the light on a single point. Then the supposedly harmless sunlight could be used to start fires or even spark a wildfire that covered the entire landscape. This was the curvature of a curse. The concept had naturally arisen in all cultures, eastern or western. Someone might have a doll take their place, or someone might divert an enemys aim by escaping inside a magic circle drawn on the ground. The curse itself might not be that rare. There were curses that took undirected resentment or jealousy and used a spell to create an invisible arrowhead or bullet. Countless numbers of those were traveling all around the earth like the high speed connections of the internet. The human did not even need to refine his own magic power. He did not even need to reveal that he could use magic. He only had to capture one of the invisible curses flying around like a wireless LAN signal, slightly twist it, and redirect it. Since he was using someone elses curse, there was not even the slightest chance of the curse being traced back to him. Abracadabra. That human drew out an upside-down triangle with the same letters arranged in a regular fashion. That magic circle had been widely known since ancient times, but he had found a new interpretation and successfully built it into his own magical system. The true name he had given the curse-reversal circle said the following: I supply lightning for thy death. It was a truly ironic phrase for the strongest of the Electromasters. Part 16 This is similar... Pirate Girl Luca spoke while holding Kamijou back. The curse eating into her right now is structured very similarly to the A.A.A.! It must have been made by the same person. If I investigate this, I can find the answer. Comparing the two and searching out points in common might help me fully investigate the strange and complex A.A.A.!! But...then what happens to Misaka!? There was no answer to that. No, Luca shook her head while clinging to him. Yes, that was right. Luca and Frans top priority was Kamisato Kakeru. If they had to weigh that vanished boy against anything else, it was obvious which side would win out. So they had made their choice. Even if another girl had to fall. To hell with-...!!!!!! He decided to restart it all from the beginning. No matter how much of a detour it was, he could not let them use a sacrifice as a stepping stone. But then Kamijou Touma saw something. ... As Misaka Mikoto writhed on the floor, she gathered what little strength she had to control just her wildly flailing right hand. She held it out toward Kamijou and clearly showed him her palm. ...do anything... Her bloody lips moved. In fact, they even formed a definite smile as she whispered. You said you would defeat them. You said they were formless malice, but that they could still be defeated. Then keep going. Use me as a stepping stone and continue on. Ill do anything if its for that!! Misaka!! Keep your promise. Mikotos voice was heavier than the blood she had coughed up. Im not the only one trapped by this. You freed me from it, but everyone else is still trapped! They might be smiling on the outside, but itll have taken root deep in their hearts!! So defeat them. Defeat them and prove it! Show those girls something that makes them glad they were here in Academy City!! Kamijou thought he could not do it. Not that he could not step over her and continue on. He could not give into emotion by rejecting and wasting Mikotos efforts after she had clenched her teeth and worked so hard to help. Not matter how long he tried, he could not swing down his trembling fist. Mikoto smiled kindly up at him while collapsed on her back. And with that smile on her face, she once more lost control of her body. She writhed irregularly and could not stop convulsing. What was happening beneath her skin? She tossed about like she had swallowed deadly poison. How long is it going to take, Luca...? Im doing it right now. When can I save Misaka!? Answer me!! Im working as hard as I can!! The passage of time felt maddeningly slow. He could not tell how much progress Luca had made as she shut her eyes and muttered below her breath. That made him all the more impatient. Mikotos writhing and convulsions had grown smaller, but he doubted that meant her condition had grown stable. It only looked like her life force was being sapped away. How much time had passed? How far had he worn down his back teeth as he clenched them? Then Lucas arms relaxed around him. He took that as permission, nearly collapsed onto the floor to approach Mikoto, and forcefully pressed his right palm against the stomach of her racing swimsuit. There was no reaction. He did not actually know if the external curse had ended. And he had to have known how this would end if he let those girls make the decisions. He had known, but he had let it happen. It was the same as when Kamisato had disappeared. He had been pushed back by the claims that this was the best option and he had ultimately done nothing. Dammit... Kamijou groaned as he held that small and limp body in his arms. No one had done anything wrong. Everyone had made the best available choice, yet this had happened. Goddammiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!! Between the Lines 2 The boy had noticed some surprising inconveniences after losing his right hand. For example, he could not use chopsticks while holding the rice bowl. Not to mention using a knife and fork at the same time. He could stab or grab things with just his left hand, but he always dropped some of it. (What am I supposed to do about my swimsuits string? I can untie it, but I doubt I can retie it with just one hand.) Nephthyyyys, should we burn this too? I dont see why not. We can interpret it as sending it back to heaven as an offering to the gods. He heard some shrill voices around him. He was in the middle of a giant intersection with no people or cars to be seen. Curtains, a bed, scraps of cloth, and other things were piled up and burning as an impressive bonfire. The girl in the modified mini-China dress was hopping around as she pleased and the bandaged woman seemed unconcerned by how she was dressed, so it was hard to know where to look even for Kamisato who was always surrounded by girls. He kept seeing butts. This place was cut off from the normal world, but destroying things was easy. Kamisato had initially paled when he thought it would influence things back in the original world, but the Magic Gods said that was not how it worked. They could destroy things, but it would not affect anything there. And at the end of the day, all traces of the damage would be repaired at precisely midnight. But instead of returning to how it was before the damage, the world was remade based on things there. Simply put, if they chopped down a roadside tree but it was replanted one spot over in that world, it would pop up in that next spot over once midnight arrived in this world. Only those selfish Magic Gods would rejoice at being able to do whatever they wanted upon hearing that. If all traces would vanish, then they had a world where nothing they did would remain. This world did not allow for the accumulation that was the key to human progress. And since it was all based on that world, they would be able to see a desert forming or an ice age coming, but they could do nothing to stop it. They could only watch the ruin spread and be buried by it. What happened to the nutrients from the sliced potatoes he was eating now? Did the update come at midnight because the repairs swept across the surface of the earth in accordance with its rotation? He had a never-ending stream of thoughts on the matter, but he did not need to rush. He had more time to think than he could ever ask for. This stuff is pretty good now that Ive tried it. Chomp, chomp. Oh, dear. And here I thought not even you people would eat a table, even if it has four legs. The gods who hated causing change were entirely carefree. If they were tasked with stacking rocks for eternity in the Sai no Kawara, it would likely be the tormenting demons meant to obstruct their work that begged for it to end. Made up your mind? asked Magic God Niang-Niang. Its not like I have a choice when I cant return there. Oh? So youre gonna die? ... She made it sound so trivial. She handled life and death matters like she was talking to a villager in an RPG. But, yknow...? Despite wearing a miniskirt, pale Niang-Niang stood on one leg, bent backwards, and stretched her other leg toward heaven like she was copying a ballet pose. This dangerously emphasized her chest and slender legs. Gods were magnanimous, so after blowing off some steam, she did not particularly care if someone was an enemy or ally. Is returning to the original world really that hard? Come to think of it, you summoned Nuadas left arm from empty air. I dont remember us giving it that ability, but maybe you could pull it off if you had World Rejecter itself. Kamisato sighed and spun the fork in his left hand. The goddesses noticed the number of forks had grown to two or three at some point. For gods, youre not very observant. Just because someone has a paranormal power that surpasses human understanding doesnt mean everything they do uses it. Oh, so it was a bluff? I was in it for revenge, so I was afraid killing you instantly would leave me unsatisfied. I studied and worked hard so I could savor it for as long as possible. And as a normal high school boy, I was also interested in a way to hide a weapon just in case. He of course kept it a secret that he had thought it would look cool pulling a knife or gun from his sleeve like an assassin in a movie. The kind of person who spent time in class thinking what he would do if terrorists attacked his school would often fantasize about such things. Whether or not that person would actually walk down to the library and check out the magic tricks book recommended by literary and gardening girl Claire was another matter. But Niang-Niang was not normal or in high school, so she went beyond hiding something up her sleeve and had instead replaced all ten of her fingers with Pao-Pei. She hid her mouth with her baggy sleeve and smiled. I do know how you feel. We Magic Gods are a lot like that. When you get down to it, legends are more about style than function, right? If they would just get the help of the gods right away, they wouldnt have any trouble at all, but they go out of their way to overcome it all with their own power. Please dont act like Im anything like you. Then one more thing. Niang-Niang gave a smile of clear malice as she bent her lithe body. It was unclear how she was supporting her weight, but she formed a perfect bridge without placing her hands on the ground and she looked at him with her upside-down head. Did you think your story was over now? ? Youre really not much fun, so well help you return to your original world. Are you saying you dont care if that succeeds or fails? Was your story over once your valiant decision got you sent here, so nothing you do here matters? He had no obligation to respond, but his expression was enough of an answer. He did not bite. He did not look at the Magic Gods face, choose his words, and try to determine the truth of what she was saying. He should have been panicking, flustered, and an embarrassment. Even if this was salt sent by his enemy, he should have been hesitantly reaching his tongue toward it despite the possibility of poison. But he did not. He chose not to. Even when people die, they leave something behind. Niang-Niang spoke in a know-it-all tone. A forgotten god like me might have no connections left, but youre far too fresh in that way. The world is too fresh to you. So things might be taking a biiiiit of a turn for the worse back in that world. ...What are you trying to say? Lets put it like this. The Shijie Xian smirked as her bridge pose showed off her alluring curves through the opening in the dresss chest, the slits at the hips, and across the rest of her body. She was someone who had taken her own life to strip away the impurity of a worldly life and become a Xian. Such beings were proper Xians, but they were also sometimes feared as vampiric monsters. Or perhaps the beauty of her body was like food made to look and taste just like human flesh or a ghost painting made with real blood. It may have had that forbidden fascination that told you that you must not look at it or do it, but the twisted curiosity led you to cross the final line regardless. You might think you havent left anything at all behind, but things back there might be a complete mess. The High Priest looked like an old man, but he was the young one among us. Nephthys and I spent about 4000 years until we achieved the title of a forgotten god that wont make any waves. We lived through the Four Great Civilizations to accomplish it. But you havent even lived for two decades, so I seriously doubt you could leave the world without causing any trouble for anyone. What are you saying...? There was a clear implication there. No, given who she was, perhaps it should be called a divine message. And if what he had done had influenced those girls in some way, he could not just ignore this. But before he could ask for details, something else happened. It started with long silver hair and brown skin. Magic God Nephthyss bandage-wrapped body was a little too alluringly fascinating to call healthy and she spoke with some slight caution on her voice. Niang-Niang. What is it? Here they come. Those two were true Magic Gods. So who in this isolated timeline could concern them? Kamisato thought for a moment and could only come up with one answer. The world shook. It was a one-armed man with tattoos covering his bare upper body. He was Magic God Nuada. He was the king of gods spoken of in Celtic tradition. He had been driven from his throne after losing his arm, but with the help of the god of healing, he had made a comeback. And after that success, he had severed his own arm as a test of courage. He had then crawled back up from that to overcome the trial toward becoming king of all things. Shall we begin? Why are you bothering to speak in Japanese, Nuada-chaaan? ...Are you trying to scare Kamisato Kakeru??? I would like to begin the 2nd round. He did not bat an eye at her cheap provocation. The atmosphere around the mini-China dress Xian also changed. By not smiling, Nuada had abandoned the final line. He had sent off the last train himself. There was no getting off now. But why would you do that? The die is cast. He spoke only that one phrase. He did bother commenting on what the result would mean. He made it sound like he would be tearing off someones limbs and dragging out their entrails just because that was on the schedule for the day. Gods are so impatient, said Niang-Niang. Are we? Id say were still rational enough since we at least make sure to construct a reason for our actions. When he heard that answer, Kamisato looked around. There were more. They were on the building rooftops, underneath the cars, and blending into the shadows in the alleys. He was only a human with his right hand lost, but he could still sense the multiple gazes focused on them from all directions. It was true a lot of the Magic Gods probably wanted to take their time to slowly crush Kamisato Kakerus body. Niang-Niang had said none of them held a grudge, but that was only her opinion. Based on what had happened, there could easily be some gods who wanted revenge...no, who wanted to punish the insolent human. Then why did you wait until now to cast the die? asked an exasperated Nephthys. If I had to say... The god of war twisted his lips as he brought the concept of cruelty into this world. Because we cannot take anything from him unless we give it to him first. We poked at him a little earlier, but he didnt really react. Niang-Niang, Nephthys. In that sense, you two did quite well. This is really where goddesses shine. Now the leather sack appears to be filled with something worth striking and crushing. Sigh. Niang-Niang sighed as she looked to Nephthys instead of Nuada and the other Magic Gods. What should we do? Well, Im the goddess associated with the crying woman who weeps at funerals. It does kiiiind of piss me off to trample on an action where death is at stake. No, no. Im not talking about anything on that level. Perhaps not. Or... As Nuada frowned at them, the two goddesses pressed their palms against the others, pressed their cheeks together, smiled, and spoke in unison. Nothing excites a god more than holding a fragile humans destiny in your hands Nothing excites a god more than holding a fragile humans destiny in your hands A massive explosion followed. And before the shockwave and expanding dust could reach Kamisato, Bandaged Nephthys wrapped her arms around him and jumped backwards. Niang-Niang smiled as she also jumped back with the bottom of her mini-China dress rising dangerously high. Ha ha haaa!! If its started, then well just have to go for it! You clench your teeth too, Kamisato Kakeru! Eh? Eh? Wha-...? Here they come!! The true Magic Gods are coming for you!! Just as she proclaimed her delight in this endless hell of combat in an empty world, something sliced through the dust. A colossal cube flew out. It was too wide for the empty road, so the surrounding buildings were crushed at the base while it rolled along. Kamisato just barely managed to link it to something said before. The die...is cast...? The modified mini-China dress Shijie Xian responded by grabbing the skin near her left wrist with her right fingers. No, that was a string. And when she yanked it back, an engine-like rumbling came from her body. A total of five rapidly spinning chainsaws stuck out of her baggy sleeve. Those weapons were far too deadly to think of as extensions to her fingernails and she used them to mercilessly slice through the giant die trying to crush Kamisato as it landed on the road. And a moment later... Kh? An unnatural voice came from Kamisatos throat as Nephthys held him. The cube had come apart, but not just due to Niang-Niangs power. A mass great enough to knock over buildings had been sliced apart and now it collapsed into an avalanche of pieces only a few millimeters across. But he could not relax. Of course he could not. He had seen what it really was approaching him: bugs. The maggot-like white bugs had no fangs or legs. Had billions or even trillions of them formed that giant die that toyed with human life? Nee hee hee!! Niang-Niang was not concerned. Just as fire seemed to surround her chainsaws, she swept them forward, burned the air, and swept everything away with explosive flames. That one swing of her arm destroyed the entire landscape like the aftermath of a wildfire. The sea of bugs was forcibly burned away by the immense flames. The Darbh-Daol. Are those the bugs that snuck into the gap between the silver arm and the shoulder wound to sap his life force!? Those bugs insolently feasted on divine flesh. My scales are not kind enough to forgive that. If they do not work off what they ate, it would violate equivalent exchange. Metal fingertips could be heard snapping. Now give up. You cannot escape this place. A filthy criminal like you should know that better than anyone. No matter what might be happening over there, there is nothing you can do. ...Well, I suppose the new owner of the right hand might send a few of the girls here. ... A faint scorching feeling on the nape of the neck stimulated Kamisatos soul. Then the dust was broken again as a disk larger than a stadium rotated while launching vertically toward the heavens. This may have been a coin toss, but if gravity pulled that back down to earth from more than 1000 meters up, an entire district might become a crater. And he heard multiple sounds up above. This was the same threat as an MIRV that broke apart in midair to drop a multitude of warheads. But Niang-Niang smiled fiercely as ruin approached from overhead. Now this is getting fun... A strange sound came from her as her mini-China dress flipped up and dangerously exposed her bare legs. Swords, spears, and axes jutted out from her other baggy sleeve like writing implements from the top of a pen holder. We can go all out without having to worry about the world!! In this isolated world, we dont have to worry about affecting anyone else!! Its just so much fun!! Drool!! The explosive flames of her burning chainsaws and the slicing of her countless traditional weapons filled the sky in the blink of an eye. The downpour of asteroid-like coins was not allowed to land. They lost their shape, scattered as countless bugs, and had that true form easily burned away. Meanwhile, Kamisato heard what sounded like trees rustling in a gust of wind. These appeared to be cards made from a great quantity of bugs. One after another, giant guillotines capable of slicing right through a building appeared in the dust. Niang-Niang pouted her lips and gave her opinion. Damn him. He always goes out of his way to use tools not found in his legends. He really is trying to kill you like its a gambling game. Although that means surviving it all could be seen as a product of amazing luck. I thought god didnt play dice. Who was it that said that? Wasnt it some scientist? Having them say things like that is really just an annoyance for us gods, calmly commented Nephthys as she carried Kamisato. More is coming. Yeah, I know!! Niang-Niang sounded delighted, but Kamisato was shocked. Beyond the many buildings, he saw something at the end of his view of the world. It was the color white. The entire surface was filled with pure white from right to left. It was like a sandstorm swallowing up the entire city, but that was not it. This was much smoother and a far less bearable poison for a human. The scent set off prickling warning signs across his skin. Would this be Proserpina? When she was taken away to the underworld, wasnt her mother, the flower goddess, absolutely pissed? I believe she cursed the world so spring would never come until she retrieved her daughter. As a form of divine punishment, its a similar idea to this countrys Amaterasu. So what is it? asked Kamisato. The weapon-covered mini-China dress girl shrugged as she ran. Its the divine punishment that covers the sun and fills the entire world with -60 degree snow and ice. I guess you could call it a planetary-scale artificial ice age spell. They had almost casually reached the level of wiping out all human life. Kamisato had been apathetically letting it all happen, but even he felt a tightening in his chest now. What are we supposed to do? Why do you think were running around right now? The girl was so carefree she sounded on the verge of whistling, but if the white darkness threatening to cover every inch of Academy City was the same as the soot and smoke of all-out nuclear war, then nowhere on the planet would be safe. The Magic Gods could maybe survive the frigid temperatures that had killed off the dinosaurs, but the human body was unfortunately not as sturdy. But the Magic Gods were thinking on a different scale altogether. Mini-China Dress Niang-Niang elaborated with annoyance in her voice. Kamisato-chan. Do you remember why exactly you came here? Well...I had to protect everyone from Kihara Yuiitsus insurance, so I erased the rocket boosters that-... He trailed off while Nephthys carried him. He had a bad feeling about this. You dont mean... Neeephthyyys. Help me out here. Fine, then. I will give you a yawns worth of tears. Then he received the worst possible confirmation of his fears. He saw the Windowless Building. He had no idea how it worked, but the two Magic Gods casually stepped onto the side of the building and stood horizontally with no concern for gravity. Oh, but didnt this boy destroy the boosters? We just need something to take their place, right? The contents of Niang-Niangs baggy sleeves exploded. She fired flames with tremendous force and they pushed at the Windowless Building until it broke the bonds of gravity. It floated. It flew. It launched. The ground below was consumed by the giant cards that toyed with death and the white darkness of an ice age, but the three of them had already been freed from the planet that was filled with ruin in all 360 degrees. Kh. Kamisato instinctively clung to Nephthys with his left hand, but... Ahn. Oh, dear. Is that any way to treat a god? Its not just my fault that those bandages are coming off here and there. He had no idea what Mach number their speed had reached. Nor did he know the temperature or atmospheric pressure. The Magic Gods seemed to be taking care of all those details. Kamisato clung to the side of the giant rocket that continued to fight earths gravity. He could breathe, he could open his eyes, the air friction did not burn him away, and the massive inertial Gs did not crush his body. He only felt like he was riding a bicycle. Funnily enough, we might not have been able to support you like this if you still had World Rejecter, said Bandaged Nephthys as she held her silver hair against the wind. A loss is not always a step backwards. It was losing his arm that gave Nuada a dramatic and tumultuous life that ultimately led to gaining new power. ... Kamisato tried to say something, but then Niang-Niang excitedly interrupted. Wow, wow! Nephthys, look straight up!! Ah ha ha!! Theres a gigantic idiot up there!! Kamisato looked doubtfully out ahead of the rocket. He realized they would be thrown out into space once they left the atmosphere. He saw a twinkling star. No, he had been na?ve. A battle with the Magic Gods was not going to give him even a second of safety. A spear of light dropped from heaven and toward earth. It passed right by the rocket as it tried to leave the planet. The Windowless Building could survive a nuclear weapon, but it may have been blown to pieces had it been hit. We cant relax yet, Niang-Niang. That was a test firing to get a baseline. Once the margin of error calculations are done, the next one is coming. Dont worrrrry Let this god handle it. With explosive flames erupting from her baggy sleeves, the mini-China dress girl swung the boosters around as casually as a cheerleaders pompoms. The rockets trajectory wriggled like a living creature. There was more twinkling in the heavens and more and more pillars of light dropped down to earth, but not one of them hit. They were all just barely avoided. Nephthys sighed and asked a question. Who do you think it is taking a pleasure flight up in orbit? A sun god, the creator of fire, the god who has enough power to create the world but uses it all to mercilessly spread death, and the god who wants nothing more than to make a human sacrifice out of Kamisato Kakeru! Ah ha ha! Of course its Tezcatlipoca!! ...Tch. Forced sacrifices just dont sit well with me. Yeah, I guess you would feel that way as a collection of those urged on by a silent pressure to be buried in the pharaohs grave. As a heretical Xian who voluntarily took her own life, Im pretty neutral when it comes to human death. Niang-Niang laughed as the bottom of her mini-China dress floated up in the weightlessness. When Kamisato glanced back down, his throat grew dry. The blue planet was already frozen pure white with no distinction between land and sea. And as the heavenly spears fell, they created dome-shaped explosions. Based on the scale, those blasts had to be swallowing up not just Academy City but the entire country. He was watching the very geography of the planet changing. If this was not a timeline isolated by World Rejecter, these attacks would have wiped out the human race several times over. No, that was wrong. If the entire world was their stage in the truest sense of the word, then perhaps it was lucky that the damage from a clash between gods was limited to a single planet. Kamisato Kakeru was dazed by the unimaginable scale of the battle. ...What are we supposed to do about this? What do you think were in such a rush to do? Volume 17, 3: Or Isolation Surpasses a Group - Engage_U.F.O. Volume 17, Chapter 3: Or Isolation Surpasses a Group C Engage_U.F.O. Part 1 It was midnight. The date had changed. But in her burial clothes with bewitchingly exposed cleavage, Maya did not even think about moving away from the Sphere which was opened like a lotus flower. She continued her long-term information warfare with her two partners: the vegetable sticks and a high quality smoothie made from peaches, milk, 100% acacia honey, vanilla extract, and no artificial additives whatsoever. Ghosts did not sleep. Sleep was important for the organization of memories and crucial for maintenance of the brain, but that meant nothing to Maya who did not rely on a physical body. Or perhaps the vengeful spirits in most ghost stories were so fixated on a single thing because they could not carry out that maintenance. She was in District 7s college shelter named Academy. She would do anything for Kamisato Kakeru. Even obey someone like Kihara Yuiitsu. Hm, hm, hm, hmmm. She hummed quietly while hunched forward. She pulled a piece of yellow paprika cut long and thin from the colorful sticks in the glass cup. To chase down Kamijou Touma and Karasuma Fran, she was spreading largescale misinformation from her multiple regional stations to cause trouble across Academy City. Once those two were caught in the trouble, they were sure to use some kind of special methods to escape it and she only needed to reveal the traces of that. This kind of information warfare was her specialty, but while in contact with the Sphere, she developed an obsession that ignored efficiency and logic. The seeds she sowed did not always bloom the way she wanted. Rumors would change form bit by bit as they were spread from person to person. And once they passed a certain point, they would become something else entirely as if going through a mutation. And since Maya had a specific objective, she did not want that kind of unordered and uncontrollable change. When the changes passed the acceptable range, she would inject new information to change it back and course correct. But that was not a total overwriting of the data. It was a lot like giving different types of food to an all-consuming amoeba to see which way it grew. She felt like she was raising a child. As a bodiless ghost, she may have been treating this like an alternative to that, but she did not delve that far into self-analysis. She was still a ghost. The memory of her death slept somewhere inside her and she knew she must not uncover that. Currently, there were three major rumors swimming through the city-wide network created between the shelter Spheres. First, the heat wave was caused by the powerful microwaves sent out by Karasuma Frans personal space station and that was deeply connected to the Elements that had attacked Academy City. Second, the heat wave was caused by abnormal solar winds caused by a great distortion in solar activity. The drop from 55 degrees to below 0 would not end and an ice age would soon arrive. And third, the heat wave and Elements never actually existed. They were all a largescale virtual reality project run by Academy Citys leaders. What have we here...? Maya focused on that last rumor as she shook her long black hair and toyed with the radish stick between her lips like it was a cigarette or a chocolate covered snack. There were of course countless other smaller topics of discussion, but those would burst like soap bubbles all on their own. Only the virtual reality theory stuck around like a truly stubborn bubble. It was not exactly large, but it would not pop and disappear on its own. That ember had a disconcerting presence, like a cigarette butt thrown into a dry mountain forest during winter. (A multi-station rival channel? Would that be Fran? But its strange she isnt painting us as the villains...) She pulled a carrot stick from the cup, pictured the rabbit-ear antennae girl in her mind, and bit through the carrot with her front teeth. She kind of understood how this sort of rumor could spread so easily. First, if everything was virtual reality, everyone could stop worrying about all of the previous damage. Instead of working toward recovery, they could just wake up to their normal lives, so it would be an attractive idea. Second, the theory was helped by the fact that surviving during a heat wave and encountering Elements modeled after mimicry animals sounded like something from a video game. And finally, Academy City had too many mysteries. No one knew if they had practical technology for virtual reality, but there was a general atmosphere that this city could pull it off or I can totally see them trying that. Also, most of the boys and girls had been helplessly hit by the disasters, so they would want a clear villain to blame. In other words, all responsibility was shifted onto the adults. They might want to shout that this was all due to some strange project and raise their fists to show they had not simply lost. And what would the spread of this rumor actually accomplish? Or more specifically, what was in it for Karasuma Fran? ...Ohhh, I see. Needless to say, everyone would stop struggling if they truly believed this was all virtual. They would only need to wait until they woke up, so there would be no need to put themselves through any difficult experiences. They might starve to death in a week or two like that, but Useful Spider was moving around outside. Their 48 Hours to Restore Order project was underway. Nearly a full day had passed, so the crucial power, gas, and water infrastructure would be back up in about 24 more hours. The students could survive that long without eating or drinking. This would stop the simultaneous riots triggered across the city by the baseless rumors. If that was Frans top priority, then it was an effective one. And its all virtual was a quite adaptable. Maya could come up with all sorts of clever stories, but they would all be swallowed up by a single phrase: But its all virtual, right? And since no one knew the true level of Academy Citys technology, it would be difficult to find evidence to dispute that assertion. (The biggest flaw is how shes relying on the strangers in Useful Spider to preserve everyones lives. Isnt she afraid well attack Useful Spider and slow down the recovery until that apathetic group starves?) They could do that, but they did not need to. And in addition to the risk of starvation, it was possible the desperate people would begin an even greater riot once they were convinced this was a virtual world where they could do whatever they wanted. Whether Fran was behind the rumor or not, the virtual reality theory would not be easy to get rid of if it mutated in a negative direction. This could be a good opportunity to drive that group out wherever they were hiding. (I dont like leaving Salome and the others with that tyrant, so I should probably check on that before deciding.) She could see the rumors she had created and spread and she could see another rumor that may or may not have been hostile. What kind of artistic transformation would occur when they were linked together? The girl in white burial clothes giggled and traced her slender fingertips across one petal of the Spheres lotus flower. And as soon as she did, she heard a voice amplified by a loudspeaker even thought it was past midnight. This is Useful Spider. We are now entering Phase 3 of the 48 Hours to Restore Order. We will be collecting any weapons or dangerous objects that could impede the recovery. The threat of the Elements has passed. The aforementioned objects are bound to have a negative influence on your lives and property, so we are using our special authority to temporarily freeze your human rights to collect them. (Useful-...?) One of Mayas eyebrows shot up, but she did not have time to turn around. The chic college building made of heavy bricks was torn apart like it was made of thin Japanese paper. At first, not even the ghost girl understood what had happened. When she saw the destruction start at one edge and the materials fly up into the night sky, she finally thought of an iron sheet roof being destroyed by a typhoon or tornado. Yes. A gust...of wind...!? As soon as she found the answer, the girl in white burial clothing was blown several dozen meters into the sky. Maya called herself a ghost, but her existence was reliant on the physical objects known as Censers. Those crane fly shaped drones secretly emitted aromas and low-frequency waves too insignificant for a humans five senses to detect. That would destabilize peoples minds and Maya generally appeared below them. In other words, there was nothing she could do if the Censers themselves were thrown high into the air. The ghost girl spun around and around and finally regained her balance at the height of a high-rise buildings rooftop. The will-o-the-wisp-like phosphorescent drones could still fly. The triangular headdress with a cut that made it look like a heart had shifted out of place and the white burial clothing was falling off in places, so her alluring thighs and surprisingly large breasts were about to slip out. However, bugs and small fish caught in a tornado could apparently be thrown higher than Everest, so she may have been fortunate this was as much as had happened. But she could not exactly rejoice. Oh, honestly. Where did my vegetable sticks and smoothie go!? With a dull sound, something large passed through Mayas head from the side. The device had originally been a 2 meter sphere but had opened like a lotus flower to allow access to the controls. The Sphere had flown as high as she had. Since the Censers had finally stabilized, Maya reached out her translucent arm while floating in midair, but it was no use. Gravity pulled the precision device down toward the late night disaster scene. Mayas gaze followed it down and she spotted a strange device. The Academy shelter was using a college building, but she saw something strange outside the campus. It was a giant cylinder 20-30 meters wide. The flat circular end was producing a grinding sound while rapidly rotating, so the girl in burial clothing initially though it was a large tunnel boring machine. But it was not. (A giant fan...? Is it used for wind tunnel experiments?) Wind tunnels were the facilities used to test the air resistance of airplanes, high-speed trains, sports cars, and such before actually using them. The artificial wind created by a giant fan or vacuum pump would simulate the air resistance it would meet in use, but the latest generation could apparently simulate the gales(?) needed for the Mach 7 instantaneous wind speeds seen by supersonic fighters or ballistic missiles. If that was used against a building, a house of straw and a house of brick would meet the same fate. The students of Academy were preparing their handmade defense weapons such as a giant slingshot made from bicycle tire tubes and a metal frame, but it was likely futile. They would have a hard time getting close with that giant fan in front of them and their projectiles ballistic path would be far from stable. In fact, it was possible the wind could send the projectile right back toward the people who had fired it. The ghost girl placed her hands on her hips and stared down at her crumbling kingdom as she hovered in the moonlight. She had only borrowed that key station after hijacking it, but this was still not fun to watch. She still had a few Spheres in stock since she had been using them as regional stations for her multi-stage attacks, but she doubted Useful Spider was attacking just the one place. If the same thing was happening across Academy City, she could lose all of her Spheres. It was bad enough having the possibly hostile virtual reality theory growing ominously in the background, so she wanted to avoid being completely cut off from the network. It did not matter how much the enemy knew when they took action. What mattered was whether or not it would impede with the actions meant to help Kamisato Kakeru. It all came down to that for the girl who clung to the world of the living even after losing her body. And as her eyes glared brightly from behind her disheveled black hair, the vengeful spirit spoke in a low voice. Do you have any idea who youre picking a fight with, you fools? Part 2 Kamijou Touma was also soaked with unpleasant sweat as he held Mikotos limp form in his arms and pressed his back against a building wall. They had a chance at saving Kamisato Kakeru thanks to Mikotos sacrifice, but they could not leave her there unconscious. Even if it took a fair amount of time, they had decided to send Mikoto back to the frog doctors hospital before beginning the ceremony using the A.A.A. in the container yard. As a high school boy, Kamijou did not normally think about it, but the lack of cars was a problem. They could not call an ambulance and they could not move any of the heavy industry containers. But something else happened first. It was just after he, Fran, and Luca had left the pyramids of metal containers in District 11. The entire scene was swept away by a powerful gust of wind. The target was a nearby shelter and not Kamijous group, but it was obvious what would happen if a stray blast hit them. Commencing nonlethal suppression. Please set down your weapons and surrender. The threat of the Elements has passed. Useful Spider shall protect your lives and property. There is no more need for you to arm yourselves with weapons and dangerous objects. Nonlethal...? Did they just say nonlethal!? Theyre using giant fans that could blow down reinforced concrete or a small building!! Adult society is all about categorizing things, said Fran. A hunting slingshot is considered nonlethal and thus does not violate the Swords and Firearms Control Law. Even though it has the word hunting written big on the label. They were pressed against the corner of a building and winds moving at who knew how many thousands of kph were flying along the road around that corner. Orange sparks flew from a large abandoned truck. Pirate Girl Luca gulped with her clothes stretched to the bursting point after growing to her adult size for more weight against the wind. Its that white sand. The wind is carrying the remains of the Elements and thats scraping at the metal like a file. Not to mention the lighter cars on the side of the road are flying like leaves. Its too dangerous to cross the street like this. After learning her lesson about getting sand in her clothes, Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran had zipped her hoodie up all the way to the neck. As ridiculously large as it was, it was still a fan, so Kamijou watched the timing as it turned back and forth and ran out across the street with Mikoto in his arms when the gust of wind was pointed the other way. They had no detailed information on the shelter under attack, but they could tell it was as frenzied as a disturbed wasps nest despite the late hour. A lot of the students were armed with large water guns with pressurized pumps, but after that heat wave, Kamijou doubted they were armed with equipment that would waste water. He then recalled how Fran and Luca had tried and spectacularly failed to wash off their bodies with sterilization ethanol. Are they combining water guns full of oil or alcohol with a Pyrokinesis esper? Thats pretty damn dangerous when we dont have a ready supply of water! Maybe their shelters name is just Esper. Whatever the case, they were outnumbered. Useful Spider used their powerful wind to tear apart the building. Wind and fire were a poor match. Using a flamethrower now could easily fill the air with heat and provide the wind with a temperature measuring in the hundreds or even thousands of degrees. Breathing in that deadly wind would blister the lungs. Kamijou knew it was hopeless, but he performed a lariat on the neck of a boy who ran around a nearby corner with two water guns in hand. While the shocked shelter warrior struggled to breathe, Kamijou dragged him behind the building and yelled into his ear. Its no use! Look, there are people sneaking around out back. Your ruler and his or her aides are escaping on their own! Theyre sending the rest of you into an unwinnable battle to keep themselves safe!! My little sisters in the shelter. She has asthma and cant run around much, but she has Level 3 Pyrokinesis, so shes being used as the ignition for our fighting force! She cant leave with everyone gathered around her like that!! Youre kidding, right? You arent actually Tsuchimikado, are you? Who!? Argh. If you really care about your family, then grab your sisters hand and get the hell out of here. With the pillar of your resistance force gone, everyone with the water guns will be forced to retreat. Betray them all to save them all. If you dont want to regret this, then get going! Hurry!! Kamijou slapped the boys back to send him off and then slowly exhaled with Mikoto still in his arms. Then he spoke. Lets gather the attention of those Spider bastards. Helping the shelter win is a lost cause, so lets focus on giving them a clean loss so they can retreat. Thats how we can save their lives. I get that, but what exactly do we do? asked Adult Luca with her clothes stretched tight in places. Kamijou pointed at her large breasts. No, he pointed at the leather belts emphasizing them like a waitresss suspenders. Needless to say, he was focused on what the belts held: her pirate musket, the skull container of gunpowder, and the bullet case modeled after an arm bone. Theyre hunting the weapons we have. Luca, you dont actually have to fire the gun. Can you detonate the gunpowder to make it sound like gunfire? It can be something as primitive as a mosquito coil, but you should be able to delay the detonation to create a safe decoy. I see. As she responded, the girl in a thick naval coat and bikini reached for the skull container on her belt. She hopped a bit to shake the container at her hip. Since the shelter is primarily using flamethrowers, there should be embers all over the place, right? They had a plan. But then a roar much like a large sheet striking the air passed by overhead. They looked up and saw multiple transport helicopters using thick wires to carry a giant cylindrical device that looked a lot like a tunnel boring machine. Theyre headed elsewhere, said Fran. Dammit, cursed Kamijou. District 11 is that way. And given Useful Spiders current actions, a very troubling possibility came to mind. They were in the process of hunting down all weapons. This is bad. If we dont do anything, theyll confiscate and scrap the A.A.A.!! Part 3 Frigid moonlight fell on one of many high-rise building rooftops. Overhead, several transport helicopters used wires to carry a large fan known as the Breath of Blessing, but on that rooftop, a thin man in a shabby work uniform faced the ruler of the city. How do you do, Board Chairman? ... Yes, yes. Dont worry. I dont mind at all if you dont recognize me or remember my name. In fact, just being some faceless person helps me represent the will of all such invisible people. This was the pathetic man who had been lifted up as the ruler of Trial in a certain park but was ultimately nearly executed by the very people of that shelter. And that faceless person was hiding nothing. He was not sealing away his true power and he was not deceiving everyone with an act. That such a pathetic man could meet face-to-face with the head of Academy City held great meaning. This was something Academy Citys #2 had once failed to accomplish, but this perfectly ordinary man had proved it was possible for anyone. The human kept this target in a position where he could be killed at any moment. What do you want with this city? Surely someone of your intelligence already knows. The work uniform man made it sound simple. Im not a very useful pawn, so you cant accomplish much of anything whether you kill me here or do anything else with me. Otherwise, you wouldnt even be meeting me face-to-face like this. No, I was never thinking of anything as frightening as defying you. He was not like Group or Item where bizarre talents gathered. He was even lower than the Hound Dogs or Scavengers who reported directly to the Board of Directors. He was part of an organization that was often sent out to clean up after the Kihara family or someone else made a mess. But the thing about history is, none of that really matters. Seemingly trivial things can have surprisingly large effects. If it hadnt been so hot or it hadnt rained, they say Nobunaga would have lost his very first battle. When making water overflow from a cup, only a fool would turn the faucet on full blast. The clever person would wait until someone else had filled it with water until the surface tension was about to break and then they would put in a single drop themselves. Preparing the environment like that was the only way for an unimportant person to set history in motion. To repeat, he was just one of the masses. He was a faceless person who no one would remember. Normally, he could never accomplish something that Academy Citys #2 monster had failed at. Then who was it that had filled the cup full of water? This is catastrophe you brought on yourself, announced the man. The key to disaster prevention is prediction and avoidance, not recovery after the fact. In that way, your sin was negligence. Someone with your intelligence should have predicted this. Both the appearance of the Elements and the unnatural heat wave used to combat them. ... You knew it was coming, but you overlooked it. All for your own goal. Then that is a sin. All I did was place a single drop in the cup you had filled to the brim. I see. In other words... Unlike you, I dont stand out and I have no grand ambitions. If I had control of the recovery, I could probably build a system to my liking, but wanting that is only natural. Everyone wants a society in which they need not fear disaster. And to that end, I want to stand in front of the leader who stood idly by and let disaster strike. Thats all this is. And theres no real need for an empty person like me to take that role. ... Boring, isnt it? But that pointless crap can become the crack that ultimately shatters grand ambitions. You should be more aware that it is the great men who build the world, but it is the normal people who gradually distort that world. Several more helicopters passed by overhead. Those crude hunks of metal would have been defeated in the blink of an eye if water, gas, and electricity still circulated through Academy City like blood, but now several of those devices were carried out to the city. Disasters are full of superstition and jinxes. When a powerful earthquake hits, people say the dolphins predicted it and it was the work of an earthquake weapon. When a hurricane hits land, people say it was redirected by a government bombing experiment and it was spreading chemtrail chemicals. Countless rumors will spread as if people want to dramatize the tragic situation. The Breath of Blessing devices had originally been designed to artificially alter the wind direction and redirect toxic smoke away from densely populated areas when a dangerous chemical fire began in an Academy City laboratory. But the current situation made it clear that nonlethal firefighting usage was only an excuse for the paperwork. And the process that led to that excessively powerful machines development was exactly what this faceless person had to fight. Disaster situations are extremely dangerous, so the people must be disarmed. ...That is another superstition with no basis behind it, but no one can shake it. The thing is, Aleister, we are fighting people like you so we can let go of those things. He had likely said what he wanted to say. At the very least, that human decided he had. The frigid rooftop echoed with the sound of something wet being crushed. Aleister did not even bother watching as the remains of a man slowly collapsed backwards without even uttering a scream. There was no more information there. It was impossible to tell with his head thoroughly crushed, but that faceless person had likely been smiling even as a corpse. Part 4 Adult Lucas black powder had been even more effective than hoped, so Useful Spiders attention had gathered elsewhere long enough for the shelter students to escape safely. Dammit, Luca! Did you really have to throw the firecracker there!? They probably captured the ruler and his or her aides who had already escaped!! Id really prefer you called that a clever plan. Yay! For some reason, the hoodie bikini girl and the feathered pirate hat and eyepatch girl exchanged a high five. Kamijou really wished he could ask Kamisato how he had scolded these girls. Several large fans had been carried to District 11 while they secretly assisted the Esper shelter, but there was nothing they could do about that. Even if they had stopped helping and focused on that, they could not have reached the airborne transport helicopters. Kamijou did his best to find something to be positive about. Are they really going to check though the entire container yard? What do you mean? He heard the quiet sound of scraping metal. With the wind attack finally over, Fran had unzipped her hoodie again. The bright skin from her flat chest to below her navel came into view. She did not seem aware of the youthful allure she was exuding, so she tilted her head with unreadable eyes. They keep talking about the 48 Hours to Restore Order. By the way, Fran, do you know what time it is now? Just before 2 in the morning. A fair bit of time has passed. If Useful Spider is serious about that, then they only have about a day left. Meanwhile, it would take months to check through everything in that distribution bases container yard. Theyll run right through their limit if they perform a real search. Then why did they send a unit to District 11...? If theyre trying to confiscate weapons, they dont actually have to inspect all the containers. They just have to seal off the entire container yard and keep everyone out. That would take far less time than checking through each and every one of those hundreds or thousands of containers. In that case, Kamijou and the girls efforts had not been in vain. In fact, staying in District 11 with the A.A.A. might have left them surrounded by Useful Spider and unable to do anything. Fran puffed out her soft-looking cheeks. But we need that hunk of junk to save Kamisato-chan. I know that. They had avoided being surrounded, but now they could not reach the A.A.A. which was the key to rescuing Kamisato. They knew Useful Spiders firepower all too well after supporting that shelter. They felt like they might be blasted out of the solar system if they faced those things head-on. But Kamijou had an idea. Lets make an attack of our own. You mean carry a gun into a container yard full of soldiers? asked Luca who was back to her normal size now that the threat was gone. Are we supposed to pray for the cavalry to show up??? Kamijou shook his head. No, not that. I dont know where Useful Spiders base is, but even theyll have to call in their other pieces if their king is about to be taken. If we attack their headquarters, the forces out in District 11 will fall back. If we can make them panic like that, a hole should open in their defense of the container yard. Fran and Luca exchange a glance. And then they spoke with exasperation in their voices. Isnt that the same thing as saying youre afraid of the hornet in front of you so youre going to go destroy the entire hive? It looks like youre avoiding them, but youre not actually avoiding anything. Yes, no matter what, they could not avoid a fight with Useful Spider. It felt like the entire world was working against Kamisatos return, but Kamijou and the girls could not back down. That boy had saved their lives and he had asked Kamijou to take care of the girls, so Kamijou could not let Kihara Yuiitsu manipulate them any longer. But they also had to worry about Mikoto. They traveled on foot to carry her from eastern District 11 to the hospital in District 7. On the way, they came across some of Useful Spiders attempts to collect weapons. They would hear the rumbling of buildings being torn down and they would see transport helicopters fly by overhead. You cant save them all. I know that. But youre still going to try, arent you!? I cant believe you! There was not much he could do, but he still called the cornered boys and girls into a back alley, passed them an L-shaped crowbar, told them to climb into a manhole, and otherwise helped them evacuate. Several times, they saw fortresses crumbling from the winds of the giant fans. Just like government officials using heavy equipment to tear down the peoples cheap barracks in the name of recovery, the sight demonstrated a disconnect between utility and happiness. Once the wreckage was cleared and a clean street was built, there would be shiny new shops lined up on either side, but that would distract everyone from how many people had been huddled together and living there. Kamijou felt more emptiness than he did simple anger. Goddamn them. The trip took about 3 hours. By the time they arrived at the hospital, the black of the heavens had grown into a purple and orange gradation. It was just past 5 in the morning. Mikoto was still fast asleep, so they left her with the frog-faced doctor. Only then did Kamijou breathe a sigh of relief. He may have had no real reason to relax as he watched Mikoto carted away on a stretcher, but getting her to a specialized medical facility still meant a lot. He could only trust in that doctor for now. He wanted to stay here until she woke up. He wanted do that to give himself a secure footing of true relief. But he could not. He could not waste the opportunity she had given him. (Okay...) He took a deep breath and then let it out. His mind continued to boil, but it was still manageable. He could keep going. He forced himself to think that and then focused on removing his gaze from the door to the treatment room. There was something he had to do. Luca was leaning against the wall and taking a quick nap with her small mouth hanging open and Fran was sitting in hospital hallway while peering at the small screen in her hand. This is a hospital. Youre not supposed to use communication equipment. Nn. She gave the smallest possible acknowledgment. Since she kept tugging down the bottom of her hoodie while sitting on the bench, her legs may have been cold and she may not have gotten much sleep. He had heard that cooling off ones legs would help you stay awake when you had to pull an all-nighter studying. When Kamijou looked at the screen too, the hoodie bikini girl finally explained. Im checking on the paths of all of the transport helicopters. It looks like most of the shelters were taken out, but the ones without any weapons or that handed them over at the first warning were left untouched. Come to think of it, the hospital was fine. That may have been a benefit of using the glass devices to divert the Elements with supersonic waves instead of fighting them. You can tell all that? Dont underestimate the grassroots reporting network set up between the neutral rulers. Havent you heard that civilian apps were capturing the supposedly secret routes of government planes? Fran may have known so much about this because there was another reporting network that took a step further and tracked UFOs. Kamijou did not expect much, but she was free to talk about her dreams while looking at the app. Any results? The hoodie bikini girl manipulated the screen to draw a few straight lines on the map. She had likely gathered and visualized the helicopter sightings nervously sent in by the rulers of shelters across the city. It was a matter of life or death for them too, so they likely wanted as much information as possible about this new concern. There would be no hierarchy and everyone was actively uploading the information. Not all of them were supporters of Fran who was essentially a wanted criminal. But since the hoodie bikini girl was borrowing other peoples Spheres, he doubted she was using her own name. But her presence as a key station was still slowly growing. Whether neutral or opposed, a lot of rulers would act if she needed it. The lines on the map were clearly radiating from a single point. That would be Useful Spiders headquarters. District 21... Thats the mountainous region. Theres a dam and astronomical observatory there. There is a largescale meteorological observatory as well. It has a Doppler radar dome on the top, so it must have thick electromagnetic shielding to protect the staff and equipment from its own powerful microwaves. You mean the giant fans, transport helicopters, and their weapons were hidden there? That would explain why they werent destroyed by your heat wave. If Useful Spider was originally established for disaster relief, it makes sense for them to belong to a meteorological observatory that can predict a coming disaster. That settled it. If they attacked there, the excess forces guarding District 11s container yard would fall back to the headquarters. That would be the shortest path to reaching the A.A.A. But, but. District 21 and District 11 are far apart, pointed out Fran. It will take hours to travel from the mountain to the container yard, so wont the commotion have died down by the time we arrive? We dont have to do it in real time, right? We set off a firecracker with a primitive time delay earlier, remember? Since we have Luca who can use gunpowder, lets scare them with an even bigger explosion this time. If we set it up in the mountains, walk back toward the container yard, and then detonate it, we can sneak in while theyre out of District 11. You can be really cruel. I wonder why? Maybe its because of that movie I saw. Just like with the analysis of the A.A.A.s magical symbols and creating the actual spatial distortion tunnel, Pirate Girl Luca was the key to all of this. They needed that girl who was currently napping with her back against the wall, her small mouth hanging open, and drool about to drip out. Luca woke up at just past 6. She had not even gotten a full hour of sleep. And since they had spent almost a full day walking through the streets filled with rubble and white sand without any preparation, that was not very much. The real reason she had woken up was the delicious smell wafting through the air. Yawwwn... Whaaat? I smell miso soup... But I always eat toast and salad in the morning. She must have been half asleep still because she muttered below her breath while rubbing her eye with one hand. And then... Wait just a damn second. Hm? Did you just open and close that black rose eyepatch? What, so its a fashion eyepatch? That doesnt affect the path of an artist at all! If you dont have the courage to truly live the one-eyed life, dont wear an eyepatch in the first place!! Im really not sure what youre so angry about... A fashion eyepatch is as bad as culottes pretending to be a skirt!! With water hard to come by in Academy City, the hand wipes given out at convenience stores were surprisingly useful. They were wrapped in plastic bags, so their moisture had not been lost during the heat wave. Their disposable nature was a problem, but with enough of them, Kamijou managed to wash his face. When they went to the cardboard house area out front to get some food, they found the high-class girls were conserving ingredients by eating simpler meals. The main dish was white rice with pork miso soup and the side dish was a few pickled vegetables. With this and the curry yesterday, theyre using a lot of vegetables. I wonder where they got them from. Just like yesterday, I bet they used an esper to freeze them for storage. Bfff! Cough, cough!! I forgot all the water here was girl juices!!!!! Its not like theyre gathering the moisture from the air around the girls or taking it directly from the girls bodies, so does that really matter? Why are you more used to Academy City than I am...? Kamijou overcame the mental hurdle by interpreting it as water retrieved with a special method. If he thought of it like well water floating up with Psychokinesis instead of in a bucket, it was not a problem...he hoped. After Luca finished mechanically moving her mouth, her mind seemed to finally shift into gear, so they began their strategy meeting. They were attacking the Useful Spider headquarters in the mountains of District 21 to draw the excess forces away from the container yard in District 11. The two districts were far apart, so they would set up a time bomb to detonate by the time they were approaching District 11. A timed detonator is a lot like a wire trap in that you cant predict who will notice it before it detonates, but it shouldnt be a problem. It was 7:30 AM before they left. They had missed their chance at a nighttime or early morning attack, but they could not wait any longer. Since Useful Spider was fixated on the idea of the 48 Hours to Restore Order, it was unlikely they would search through all of the containers, but there was still a possibility they would suddenly inspect them. Kamijous group needed to retrieve the contents as soon as possible. So were on foot again today. Fran, how about we make him carry whichever one of us wins a game of rock-paper-scissors? Deal. Lets replay the game every wind turbine we pass. Stop that! You dont get to decide that without my input! And Im definitely not carrying that rabbit alien when shes wearing a giant backpack full of machinery!! What is with all that? Are you an old peddler woman!? I can shrink my body to reduce the weight. What age do you want? 10? 5? How much can you carry? Thats not the issue! And if I carry you, Ill touch you with my right hand and youll return to normal!! They left while continuing to argue. They still did not know if Mikoto would be okay, but they could not stay any longer. Once they left the hospital grounds, they heard a high-pitched engine. It was lighter than a normal car and more like a scooter, a lawnmower, or a chainsaw. Kamijous shoulders naturally tensed. The only people with running engines in the powerless city were Useful Spider. But that guess was wrong. A few small vehicles passed them by. Instead of men in military-looking uniforms, they were carrying normal boys and girls wearing swimsuits and coats. The vehicles were not cars or motorcycles. They looked like toy carts with an engine attached. A large helicopter circled overhead. To allow people and supplies to travel more smoothly, Useful Spider has begun a motor sharing service. This only applies to Academy City rules and to 50cc AT carts which are classified the same as mopeds, but if you are interested, feel free to visit one of the 152 cooperating gas stations. When Kamijou observed their surroundings again, he realized the sounds of engines had returned to the streets of rubble and white sand which had been deadly silent before. He could not completely celebrate this turn of events and it was quite dangerous with the traffic lights still out, but seeing the carts driving through a large intersection was an emotional experience even for a boy who never traveled by car. In addition to the carts, there were a lot more people walking around than the day before. And they had not been driven out by rioting or suppression. Kamijou even exchanged a nod with an old man out walking his fat dog. The recovery is at least making progress. That should have been obvious, but this was no longer looking like the front for a wicked plot. He could not deny that it was probably a way increasing the entire organizations reputation, but it did not seem like it directly benefited Useful Spider in any way. Even so, he had to fight them. Even if they were not trying to, he could not let them steal the original A.A.A. which was the key to rescuing Kamisato. Still armed with her cutlass and musket, Luca made a suggestion with a mischievous look in her eye. I dont like taking help from the enemy, but it wouldnt make sense not to use it, right? ? Lets use one of those carts. Im licensed for anything up to a mid-sized motorcycle. With that in mind, they visited a nearby gas station, crammed all three of them into a cart the size of a one-person sofa, and set off. That said, Kamijou and Fran were sticking outside of the cart while holding onto the roll bar passing over the drivers seat. Im scared, Im scared, Im scared, Im scared!! Dont worry, Im taking into account how wide this makes us. You wont get your head taken off unless theres a roadside tree with a weird branch or a bent signpost. Youre going too fast!! Arent you driving at highway speeds here!? We have three people and the engine is 50cc just like a moped, so theres no way it can go that fast. Its just low to the ground, so it feels faster. ...Maybe I should lower my apparent age to lighten the load a little. However, they could not remain too optimistic because the recovery process was still underway in Academy City. There were piles of rubble and white sand all over the place, the sand blown thinly across the road could make it slippery, and the traffic lights were still out. And since they had three people crammed into a single-person cart, it was poorly balanced. Every intersection was a risk and the small tires often screeched and slipped at the curves. Sorry, but if I piss myself, itll get all over you in this position. Do that and I really will throw you off!! Meanwhile, they left District 7 and approached the mountains of District 21. Huh? This isnt the route I took when I came here before. You expect me to know my way around Academy City? No matter where we enter the mountain, well find the meteorological observatory if we get to the top, right? As they climbed the winding road up the mountain, their speed visibly dropped and the lawnmower-like engine screamed in protest, but it somehow managed to conquer the mountain. There we go. Luca stopped the cart at a midway station area that was likely a common point on the way to a number of landmarks: the dam, the astronomical observatory, the campground, etc. There were no other people traveling around here, so the area was deserted. The small shop and snack corner were untouched. If were going to attack, we cant approach with this engine roaring, so well have to go on foot from here. Brr. The wind is pretty chilly... The hoodie bikini girl gave the takoyaki and yakisoba banners a bitter glare, but there was nothing they could do when the shop was not open. We just got some food. Its already 9. That wasnt just. According to the map in the parking lot, the meteorological observatory was near the peak. Luca had prioritized safety, so they still had a ways to go. A pirate really shouldnt have to hike through the mountains. Lets hope that isnt an ill omen. Uuh... Stop it, Fran, said Kamijou. Dont pout your lips in my direction. Carry me. Youre only worn out because youre carrying all that crap! Are you going to make me pay for your poor choices? Besides, what happened to that UFO balloon of yours!? That is busy with something else right now. So carry me. But when Fran clung to him and he forcibly shook her off of him, she sat right smack in the middle of the road and refused to move, so he had no choice but to take emergency measures. With Fran on his back her swollen backpack on her back, they climbed the mountain path like a triple scoop of ice cream. Gh!? A-a girl isnt supposed to be so heavy. Nmh. So warm. W-w-well, thats good I guess. But this sudden warmth is causing a stirring in my lower stomach... Please no!! Carrying a swimsuit girl would normally bring to mind a number of thoughts, such as the chest on his back or the thighs and butt on his hands, but Kamijou was struggling too much to think about anything like that. He learned the hard way the lesson of the Konaki-jiji and the Onbu-obake: People could destroy themselves by acting on emotion and taking on someone elses burden. Simply walking up the asphalt road would leave them with nowhere to hide if a car drove down from the meteorological observatory, so they always paid attention to whether there was a convenient thicket around and worked to run through the dangerous areas. Even so, it took a lot longer than walking normally. Is that it...? asked Kamijou. It was 2 or 3 hours since they had abandoned the cart, so the sun had risen high into the sky. Looks like it. Then Im finally putting you down, Fran. In the distant green of the chilly conifer trees, they saw a giant sphere made from flat pentagons or hexagons like a soccer ball. It resembled the antenna on the rabbit-ear antennae girls butt. That would be the meteorological observatory. There were a few single-story buildings below it. They were made of whitish reinforced concrete and they would either be lodging facilities for staff or analysis facilities for the data gathered by the Doppler radar. Pirate Girl Luca peered through a retro collapsible telescope. Yeah, theyre there all right. I see some dangerous people with their jackets swelling out unnaturally. We were right not to approach with the engine roaring. But you saw what happened in the city last night. All of those helicopters and giant fans wouldnt fit in those single-story buildings. Then they must have something underground. That sounds like somewhere the Elements would have attacked, but this is a meteorological observatory complete with radar dome. ? He was not sure what Fran was trying to say. If he asked her, he expected her to demand he carry her some more in exchange, so he got straight to the point. Luca, we dont have to wipe out Useful Spider. We only have to make them feel threatened enough to gather their other units back here. Do you see anywhere we can attack pretty easily? Wait just a second... There are few storehouses and tanks on the outer edges. We might be able to reach those without going too far in. And it doesnt look like theres anyone there, so we wouldnt have to worry about blowing someone up and leaving a bad taste in our mouths. That settles it then. They could not exactly approach on the asphalt road, so they climbed up the slope which was reinforced with concrete to prevent falling rocks. Then they entered the forest and slowly approached the grounds of the observatory. It would normally have been impossible to sneak into a fortress protected by security cameras and patrolling guards. But Luca had spotted a small building outside the fence. The guards patrolled the fence line, so they only observed this area from there and would not walk out this far. The security cameras were positioned so high that the tree branches were in the way. And even right outside the fence, the forest was quite thick. Any wires or infrared beams would be constantly tripped by wild animals. Just to be sure, I sent that into the forest ahead of us, but it didnt trigger any alarms and no one came to check on it. Fran, what do you mean by that? When Kamijou asked his question, a round unidentified lifeform poked its head through the gaps in the trees. No, it was Frans UFO balloon. Is this what you said it was busy with earlier? There was more to it than that, answered Pirate Girl Luca. She retrieved a glass cylinder the size of a relay baton that was taped to the side of the low-altitude balloon. Kamijou caught on when he saw the black powder inside it. ...So thats your handmade bomb. Id be afraid what would happen in a surprise attack from Ellen and the others if I was carrying it with me. And Frans balloon wont have machine trouble and crash like some cheap drone. There seemed to be a few spares just in case, but they left those on the balloon. The balloon would be spotted if it flew high into the sky, so they had Bunny Greys vehicle wait in the forest. The small building was made from concrete blocks and the door was kept shut with chains and a lock, but Frans tool knife came in handy there. But Kamijou was dumbfounded when they opened the door. What the hell? Its full of propane tanks. Did they build up some emergency reserves because the city gas pipes dont reach up here!? Thats perfect. This will make some nice big fireworks. Luca pulled a glass cylinder from her naval coat. It was the one she had retrieved from the balloon before. It was slightly longer and thicker than a relay baton and it was filled with black powder. How are you going to time the detonation? If you dont want any trouble getting into college or getting a job, youre better off not knowing. The girl in a pirate hat and eyepatch stepped into the propane base. She crouched down near the large gray tanks like the ones seen behind a restaurant and she started doing something. At any rate, this was one location. They needed to put on an even bigger show if Useful Spider was to mistake it for an enemy attack and call all their units back here. Luckily, there were other small buildings and large tanks outside the fence, so they could circle the fence and set up bombs at the other spots. But just as Kamijou was thinking that, something hit him from behind. By the time he realized Frans small body had tackled him, he had rolled inside the propane base. The girl was unathletic and could not climb onto something higher than her waist, but the overstuffed backpack had given an odd weight to the blow. Fran, what-...? Shh. The rabbit-ear antennae girl softly shut the door with her back to it. She seemed worried that the latch would make a noise. Things are oddly noisy outside. They clearly arent following the previous patrol pattern. Eh? Are you sure they didnt find your balloon in the forest? Luca had been crouching down and working with her back to them, but now she was trembling. When Kamijou had fallen, his cheek had hit something noticeably soft even through the naval coat. He was definitely keeping it a secret that it was her round butt, but that did not seem to be her problem. ...I dropped it. Hm? I dropped the bomb. Because you suddenly ran into me from behind. Perhaps to assist drainage, the floor was gently sloped in one direction and a gutter covered with steel grating ran along the wall. It had fallen in there. What had? Why, the relay baton full of black powder of course. Lucaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...mgh!? I said shh! Wh-wh-wh-what do I do, what do I do? I cant get it. My hand doesnt fit. I already broke the seal, so I cant stop it. What do we do? We need to get out of here. I dont want to be the idiot whos blown to kingdom come by her own bomb... Kamijou was sandwiched between Lucas butt in front of him and Frans chest on his back, but the hoodie bikini girl finally removed her marshmallow-soft hand from his mouth. Pwah. Calm down, Luca. We have to get from District 21 to District 11, so the limit has to be several hours. We just have to leave before then. But things look pretty bad outside, said Fran. Then get off of me, Fran. Im beginning to think youre more like a koala than a rabbit. They were still lying in a pile, but Kamijou crawled toward the metal door and cracked it open. When he peeked out, he found Useful Spider was indeed acting oddly. There was no loud siren like for an air raid, but the area beyond the fence was as frenzied as a disturbed hornets nest. A lot of the men were reaching inside their swollen jackets and pulling out shiny black objects. What? They didnt find us, did they? If so, the propane base would be surrounded or Useful Spider would abandon the building and blow it up with a single grenade like in an FPS. Kamijou had to wonder why disaster relief experts were equipped so heavily. Were they also tasked with fighting giant kaiju? Whatever the case, there was one main point. Theyve upped their security and we dont know their patrol pattern. If we carelessly head out now, well be spotted right away, tearfully explained Luca. But the bomb I dropped in the grating will detonate in two and a half hours. ...If we dont figure something out before then, we might all become new stars twinkling in the night sky. Part 5 Why? A girls dry and scratchy voice trembled below the Windowless Building. In the Tyrants kingdom, one could lose their head if the rustling of their clothes was deemed irritating. Several gazes pleaded her to stop, but Raincoat Salome stared up at Kihara Yuiitsu. Just as an arm buried in snow for long periods would lose all feeling, the one-armed girls fear may have faded. And Yuiitsu readily answered without seeming to give it much thought. This is an experiment. ...? Due to certain circumstances, I must become a unique Kihara that surpasses my teacher. But the problem is how exactly to determine I have surpassed him. She was not hoping the girl would understand. She did not even bother explaining the most basic information. The simplest method would be with some monumental achievement, but then what project could no other Kihara hope to achieve? That would be annoyingly difficult. She shrugged. But then I found it. Found what? All of you. You are constantly faced with my unreasonable orders, but you are finally starting to work toward avoiding that fear. Just like a cat that falls in the bath will start avoiding anywhere with water. Youve noticed that the look on my face can free you from that labyrinth of fear, havent you? That can also be seen as transplanting Kihara-esque behavior patterns, cant it? You hate me, fear me, and abhor me more than anyone, but you are gradually growing more like me. By contacting and coming to understand an abnormality like me, you grow to become something similar but not quite like me. It was a lot like a famous experiment in which people were divided into a group of guards and a group of prisoners. When placed in a special environment, people would accept special roles. The girls felt the fear and pressure of having something more important than their life taken from them if they disobeyed, and that was squeezing at their hearts more oppressively than prison walls. The thinly-spread thought patterns that become like my own in order to curry my favor will eventually spread to cover the entirety of Academy City. Just like you fear me specifically, the residents of Academy City will fear you as a group. They will fear the royal guards who have been influenced by the tyrants genes. They will fear someone other than me. It sounded like a nightmare. That truth only contained fear and pain and would bring happiness to no one. As the process repeats, it will spread like the rings of a baumkuchen or a tree. From Academy City to Tokyo, from Tokyo to Kantou, from Kantou to the Japanese Archipelago, from Japan to...who knows where. The thought patterns of a Kihara will change form like an amoeba and will surely become something that will surprise even me. As word spreads from person to person, aspects will be lost or exaggerated again and again.[1] ... In the end, every last person on the planet will be remade into someone who fears the Kiharas but is a part of the Kiharas. You could say it is an experiment that goes beyond a society of mutual surveillance and forms a society of mutual crime. In that society, people will be comfortable dirtying their hands because they know their neighbors are all doing the same thing. The Kihara inside all of you will not be the same as the one inside me. This will endlessly create new Kiharas. Surely that qualifies as a great achievement no other Kihara has ever come close to matching. As long as we are defined as a family of bizarre scientists, no Kihara C not even sensei C can grow beyond being the minority. She giggled. More importantly, if the 6 or 7 billion people on the planet all become Kiharas, not even Aleisters Archetype Controller can reach us. He has the power to divide portions of mankind and pit them against each other as he pleases, but when west and east, northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere, capitalists and socialists, and every other division have the common factor of being Kiharas, well all be the same. It is a fear of Kihara that is not quite the same as being unique. Its like being divided yet indivisible. It creates a world where abandoning the Kiharas means to destroy all of mankind. Then no matter how ugly and cruel our actions become, we will have become a bad majority that can never be removed. Yes, its perfect. Although between good and bad, its bad, and between like and dislike, its dislike Part 6 The bomb was meant as a diversion. The explosion at Useful Spiders headquarters was meant to not kill anyone yet convince them they were under attack and thus needed to call back their other units for defense. That included the ones guarding District 11s container yard where the original A.A.A. slept. Kamijous group wanted to avoid wasting that. They also very much wanted to avoid failing to disarm the bomb they set up themselves and being blown up without anyone ever knowing. That would bring into question why they were even there in the first place. Kamijou wanted to believe he had not been born to meet an end like that. So they naturally wanted to escape outside as soon as possible, but... Dammit. Its like a giant scramble crossing out there. What are they so afraid of? He did not know how many times this made it, but Kamijou clicked his tongue as he observed the scene outside through the cracked door. Fran was looking at the small screen connected to her backpack by the curly cord of a home phone. Its 2 PM... An hour has passed. Wait, wait, wait. Cant we turn their attention away from here? You mean fire Lucas musket, or throw her cutlass out there? Either way, their attention would turn toward where it came from, not where it hit. That would only make this worse. What about your balloon? Didnt it have spare bombs on it? If I could do that, I already would have. These cheap concrete blocks were forcibly reinforced with a net of steel wires, so its deflecting the signal and I cant contact the balloon. She must have felt responsible because Luca continued her attack on the gutter running along the wall of the propane base. She tried getting on all fours and sticking her hand through the metal grating and she tried lifting up the grating itself, but none of it was going well. Hey, Luca. You can change your apparent age by controlling your subjective age, right? Why not turn into a little kid for skinnier hands and fingers? I already am, I already am. But that doesnt seem to be the problem... Both girls got down on all fours and tried to get through the metal grating over the gutter. However, Luca had shrunk to age 10 with her clothes staying the same, so her naval coat and swimsuit were falling off in places, making it a dangerous view. It was strange how bright her skin looked. The cylinder was right there, but none of them could touch it. Fed up with it all, the hoodie bikini girl finally stood up. We have no choice... Fran? Thats using old-fashioned black powder, right? Just like with fireworks, get it damp and it wont work anymore. Our hands might not reach, but if we pee on it from above, we can kill it! Wait, Fran! Lets talk about your dignity as a girl before you resolutely squat down there!! Not to mention that its covered in glass, so you cant get it damp from the outside. Kh. Cant you stick your cutlass through the grating and break it? A shock like that would set it off. Its kind of a miracle it didnt burst when I dropped it. I swallowed my shame and resolved myself, so why did you have to make something so unnecessarily perfect, Luca!? For some reason, the black rose eyepatch pirate girl averted her gaze. She returned her physical age to normal and repeatedly poked her index fingers together in front of her growing chest. And then the honest idiot confessed. B-because you said I was the key to the plan. When you look at me with so much expectation in your eyes, of course Im going to try extra hard... God, why do you have to go the extra mile at the worst possible time!? Luca staggered like the UFO girl had stabbed her, so Kamijou supported her shoulders from behind without even thinking. If he had not, the trembling pirate girl might very well have started crying. Meanwhile, time passed. Lets make a decision, began Kamijou. We cant get the bomb out of the gutter no matter how hard we try. Staying here will only get us blown up. Nothing we do will change that. Uuh... Someone bury me in some damp dirt far away from anyone else. Dont get so down, Luca. You did a good job. But if we go outside, Useful Spider will find us and turn us into Swiss cheese. And the more noticeable a diversion we try, the more attention well draw to ourselves. Thats only for visible trouble. Kamijou slowly exhaled and then pointed his thumb toward the gray tanks filling the small building. Those are full of propane. Thats heavier than air. Lets move one near the door and send gas out through the crack. Once its flowed past the fence, we just need to throw out a spark. Luca. Fwhat? Its too soon to cry. We need one of your bullets. Fire one shot at the ground past the fence to create a spark and this will probably all work out. So wipe away the tears and snot and face forward. Gas is invisible, pointed out Fran. We have no way of knowing how far it has spread. Depending on the terrain and wind direction, it could stay here without flowing toward the observatory, so we might just blow ourselves up. Of course. But if we dont do anything, theres a 100% chance well be blown up along with this building. Which do you want to bet on? They were quick to take action. They freed one of the gray tanks held in place by thick chains and latches, they tilted it diagonally, and they rolled it toward the door along the edge of the cylinders bottom. It was about as tall as Fran. Since it was also a thick pressure-resistant container, it was even heavier than it looked. After getting it near the door, they laid it fully on its side. To more efficiently move the heavy object, Luca had increased her physical age to give herself an adult body that left her clothes tight in places. She pointed the metal opening meant for a hose toward the cracked door and Kamijou slowly turned the valve. They heard a sinister sound much like a hissing snake. The invisible danger squeezed at their hearts with a different sort of pressure from an obvious knife or gun. D-do you smell a weird scent getting in here? Youre imagining it. Hmm. I can almost smell it...maybe. Stop it, Fran. Youll trick yourself through self-suggestion. If he was being honest, not even Kamijou knew how much gas they were supposed to send out. Too little and it would not work, but too much and it could be too powerful and kill some of the people running around beyond the fence. In fact, the explosion could even blow him and the girls away. It was all guesswork. Would someones palms be this sweaty if they were thrown into a self-serve gas station in a foreign country where they could not read any of the warnings? They did not have time to run several smaller experiments to build up experience. With his fingers on the valve, Kamijou spoke to the rabbit-ear antennae girl, the only one who knew the time. Fran, how are we doing on time? Its been half an hour since last time. Youre kidding. So we have less than an hour? Lamenting would not solve anything. And with nothing else to go on, he felt like that one hour mark was a sign. He turned the valve to cut off the flow of gas and they rolled the tank away from the door. It felt a lot lighter than when they had first struggled with it. He felt a chill run down his spine at the thought that they had overdone it, but there was no redoing it now. Luca. Count to 30 and then fire on the ground beyond the fence. The time gap should let the last bit of gas flow away from this building...I think. At the very least, it should be better than firing right away. Will this really be okay...? Either way, your musket is our only hope. Kh. Yeah, you need to learn that flattering Luca like that is a bad idea, complained the hoodie bikini girl. But Kamijou ignored her and changed places with the pirate girl. Perhaps to endure the recoil, her clothes were tight once more. (...I get the feeling her swimsuit will burst apart from the recoil if she fires like that.) You cant hope for that to happen, Fran. Were on the same side here. While standing in front of the cracked door, Luca grabbed the skull container attached to one of the belts she wore like a waitresss suspenders. She shook it, and removed the cap with just her fingertips. The cap was like those for fabric softener and she used it to measure out enough gunpowder for one shot. She poured the black powder into the muskets muzzle and compressed it with the thin stick held in the same scabbard as her cutlass. She also slid a portion of the case shaped like an arm bone to pull out a round bullet like it was a mint tablet. She used the ramrod to push it down as well. From there, she held the gun just like in the movies. The highly varnished stock glistened with an amber light like an old violin as she pressed it against her shoulder, she pressed her cheek against the gun to peer through the sight, and she used her thumb to raise the flint hammer. She focused on the imaginary line extending from the muzzle and whispered a warning in her college-aged body. You should cover your ears. Kamijou and Fran moved to obey in the small closed space, but something interrupted. A large explosion knocked them over. And that was no exaggeration. While she stuck her gun out from the cracked door, Luca was struck by the metal door as it swung inwards and she was knocked backwards. Kamijou and Fran were not directly hit by the door, but the explosive noise entering through the doorway echoed off the concrete blocks again and again. The pressure was so great they nearly fainted. As Fran tearfully curled up on the spot like a turtle, she shouted at the adult pirate girl whose clothes were coming off in places. Luca!! No! The timing was off! That explosion wasnt from the gas! The door had been torn from its hinges, so the scene outside was fully visible. The explosion had occurred at one of the single-story buildings further in, not on the ground just past the fence. Luca lay sexily sprawled out on the ground after being hit by the blast and the musket in her hands was still loaded with the bullet and black powder. Nn. Just as the pirate girl groaned and twisted her body, orange sparks burst from the muzzle with an earsplitting noise. The bullet bounced around the propane base like a pinball, but it was moving too fast to follow with the naked eye. This time, both Kamijou and Fran grabbed at the troublemaker of a pirate girl. Are you trying to kill us, you idiot!? This is partly our fault for praising her too much, said Fran. A bit of contempt might be the better course of action with her. Meanwhile, more and more oddities arrived. The unexplained explosions continued. A lot of the Useful Spider members were aiming upwards and firing their guns wildly. There was something in the sky, but Kamijous group could not tell what while indoors. And with someone else gathering so much attention, they no longer needed the propane. Fran, Luca! Heading outside when the gunfire and explosions never seemed to end was more frightening than heading home from school in a downpour after lightning struck nearby. But this was their last train back. The situation was far from ideal, but they would not receive another chance. The three of them made up their minds and headed outside while keeping low to the ground. Something cut by overhead. They saw an unidentified flying object beyond the rustling tree branches. Maya... The rabbit-ear antennae girl spoke another girls name. But why now? Kamijou did not know if it was true, but that girl claimed to be a ghost. She specialized in aerial surveillance and information warfare and she had caused them a lot of grief through the Spheres. Had she identified Kamijous group or was she simply destroying all of the buildings? They did not have long to think about it. A large mass fell on the propane base they had been hiding in, so the many gas tanks and their bomb of love both contributed to a massive explosion. Kamijou was literally thrown three meters when the blast hit his back. Part 7 They had been looking at it wrong. Ellen, Maya, and the rest of the former Kamisato Faction had not put together a plan to specifically attack the meteorological observatory at the peak of that District 21 mountain. They had simply attacked the individual Useful Spider bases around Academy City and pursued them into the mountain when they retreated. For example, there was the girl cradling a bottle full of old 10 yen coins like it was a baby. She gave a report while smelling black smoke. Im sure youre piggybacking off of the nearby Spheres, but being able to use radios sure is convenient. This is Elza. I went too far and destroyed them, so we arent getting any hints from here. Sorry, but youll have to check with someone else. For example, there was a girl with countless thick squid or octopus tentacles covered in suckers growing from her back. Her bizarre beauty would drive anyone who saw her mad and she whispered her report. Milcah here. I have conquered the broadcast station in District 15. A few of the helicopters got away. You can use the direction in which they fled to work out the location of their headquarters. For example, there was a young wife in a swimsuit and apron. She shook the kind of shaker used by bartenders while her flushed face slowly swayed back and forth. This is Machina the Elemental Spirits Internal Summoner. I have conquered Bee Hoon Street in District 4. I brought down the giant fan before they could lift it up into the air. Hic. But I didnt touch the unit that passed by overhead. It looked like they were flying west from District 11. ...Myyyy circulation seems really good today. The salamander is running wild in my blood Fran had found the radiating pattern from the information uploaded through the Spheres, but these girls took a more direct route toward working out their enemys lair. And they did not spend a long time preparing before making their attack. As the modern weapons obsessed girl (in other words, she was never too fixated on any one thing and continued updating her repertoire as time passed) Aileen moved the pieces on the game board, everything moved to match. First, Ghost Girl Maya, whose existence was supported by the Censer drones, and Cosplay Girl Olivia, who flew through the sky on a magic wand equipped with a jet engine, bombed the headquarters as the first wave. Next, Killer Patissier Berry and Athlete Soldier Lemon arrived close enough on the ground to throw sugar javelins and hammer throw hammers along parabolic arcs that rained down on the headquarters. The explosions and shockwaves hid Marys wolf-like approach on all fours through the forest and Limes approach on a giant mechanical lizard. Before Useful Spider could fight back, they had trampled the fence around the observatorys grounds and charged on in. Watch out for the Doppler radar. If theyve cut the limiter and upped its output, it quickly becomes an anti-air electromagnetic weapon. Its like a weaker version of Frans station, so focus on destroying it first. No one knew if this was really the right thing to do. For one thing, what qualified as the right thing to do in a military operation differed from country to country. This was a collection of obsessed girls who had essentially taken only the most attractive bits of each countrys standardized military. They were something like a theoretical perfect fighter jet, so it was uncertain if they would be of any practical use. The only reason it had not all fallen apart by this point was due to the great strength of the strange powers and abilities of the former Kamisato Factions 100 girls. Even if their commands did not quite match the situation before their eyes, they would each trample the enemy regardless. Why had the former Kamisato Faction changed targets and started hunting down Useful Spider now? We want to use our information media to its fullest to hunt down Kamijou Touma, Karasuma Fran, and Toyama Luca who is something of a gray zone, but we cant exactly do that with the shelter Spheres blown away, whispered tall Maya as she circled through the sky along with her crane fly shaped drones. Plus, we cant rely on the Spheres when they were set up by Useful Spider to make the rulers feel like they had some power. I should have realized it sooner and cut it off at the source. Kihara Yuiitsu had not directly given them this target, but that no longer mattered. Useful Spider was interfering with their search for Kamijou and thus threatened Kamisato, so they were an enemy. They needed to be eliminated. At this height and speed, it was unlikely her voice could reach anyone. Even if she had a radio, her head was entirely exposed, so the blowing of the wind would get in the way. But the unlikely happened. A late-night anime heroine was flying alongside her too close to even call it acrobatic. However, Maya was fairly certain the real heroine had not used a handmade jet engine. The violently live action version of Magical Powered Kanamin spoke. Keep an eye on things down below. Theyre going to recover from the shock soon, so its time for the boss round with some monstrous Academy City weapon theyve been hiding underground. The ghost girl with bewitchingly exposed cleavage gave a derisive snort. Without a physical body, she was not afraid of bullets. No one would feel any tension when playing a bullet hell game while using a cheat code to reduce their hitbox to zero pixels. A dull explosion rose from the surface. The dome-shaped radar facility had been successfully bombed. Now there was no risk of the will-o-the-wisp-like drones being fried. And so she uttered a single singsong word. Perfect. Part 8 Kamijou had so much trouble breathing he could not even pass out. He clung to a nearby tree trunk, wrinkled his brow, and forced his vision to recover as it flashed in and out like a dying fluorescent light. Pain passed from one temple to the other, but he could do nothing about it but clench his teeth. When he somehow managed to gather strength in his legs and look around, he saw Pirate Girl Luca sprawled out on the ground and groaning. Due to the full backpack on her back, Fran had her butt sticking up toward heaven like someone who had been hit by a German suplex while upside down. She looked like the end result of a robot model designed with no thought given to the center of gravity. Hey, are you both alive...? Im only borrowing you, so dont die before I get you back to Kamisato. I dont want to be indebted to him. That had a dramatic effect. The name Kamisato was like brandy to someone lost in a snowy mountain, so the girls shook their woozy heads and forced their eyes open. The explosions had not let up. And the situation was no longer unilaterally moving in the former Kamisato Factions favor. Those giant fans that resembled tunnel boring machines had appeared and large helicopters with heavy machineguns sticking out of the side cargo doors were pursuing the ghost and cosplayer in the sky. Fran was kicking her feet wildly while upside down, so Kamijou helped her up and spat out an irritated comment. Im not sure which side are the true monsters. Anyway, lets get out of here. Needless to say, their goal had been to get the Useful Spider unit in District 11 to fall back to the headquarters so they could get to the A.A.A. inside the container yard. There was no point in continuing the fight against Useful Spider here. And there was no guarantee that the former Kamisato Faction would not find them here. They could not lose sight of the situation. Neither side winning here would bring back Kamisato Kakeru. If they poured their energy into the wrong thing, they would lose their chance at success. Fortunately, the former Kamisato Faction and Useful Spider are so busy fighting that they havent noticed us. And with this many explosions, the unit in District 11 is sure to be scrambled. Lets get back to the cart and head to the container yard. And then... But Kamijou Touma should have known better than to say fortunately. In case he had forgotten, misfortune was his constant companion. ? Fran noticed something and looked to her feet. Kamijou and Luca followed her gaze. Several strange cracks ran through the dirt. Wait... After an explosion large enough to shake the entire observatory, the ground below their feet seemed to reach its limit. It crumbled away and they were swallowed up. Owaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Yes, hadnt Fran and Luca mentioned that Useful Spider may have been storing their next-generation weapons in an underground facility covered in thick electromagnetic shielding? Part 9 Hmm? Tracer Ellen tilted her head while dragging her baggy lab coat behind her. She crouched down and focused on the ground. Hmmm...??? What are you doing? asked modern weapons obsessed Aileen. Wasnt most of your inspection kit destroyed by Frans heat wave? But Ellens curiosity did not wane. It is true I specialize in gas chromatography and carbon dating using cutting-edge equipment. Im well aware that my forensics skills dont work without the equipment. She formed Ls with the thumb and forefinger of both hands and created something like a picture frame to focus on the ordinary-looking ground. But did you know that human senses are a type of inspection equipment? It can be a perfumers nose or a convenience store bento researchers tongue. When you create a system using senses more delicate than any machine, its known as sensory analysis. What about it? And Im not just talking about perfect pitch. My senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are all perfect sensory analysis devices that provide readings I can express numerically. Although if I dont intentionally keep my mind in a lower gear, the world grows very boring very fast. Someone had pulled that girl up out of that gray bog. He had shown her a color that she could not express numerically with any of her senses. She believed that was the color of love. She would do anything for him. She would eliminate even the smallest risk to him. Maya, Olivia, and the rest of aerial group. Our radios might be jammed before we have further orders for you and any gestured commands might be spied on. Follow the timetable we set up in advance. The hand in Ellens baggy sleeve held a radio they had stolen from their enemy. She based this on her digitized senses as a tracer. Fran will be there. That threat to Kamisato-han spends all year staring at the stars and chasing unidentified flying objects. You should assume she will detect your radio waves and the slightest flash of light. Also... Her lips continued to whisper. She was not done yet. Something seemed off when I spoke with Fran before. I tried to suppress my doubts because I thought we were friends, but theres no more need for that. And now that I look back, there was a lot odd about her. ? For example, why could I detect the scent of aldosterone and cortisol in her sweat when she would speak with Kamisato-han? Why was she releasing stress-related adrenocorticotropic hormone? There is a massive bombshell hiding there. Im not going to hold back, Fran. Part 10 Everything had been a complete mess. Ever since the former Kamisato Faction showed up, nothing they did felt like their own decision. They could only sit idly by while other people made their decisions for them. Some things truly could not be helped. Kamijou and the others had fallen into a space supported by countless steel beams like a school gym or an airport hangar. While lying on his back, Kamijou shuddered at the distance to the ceiling. He did not know what had cushioned his fall, but he was amazed he had survived. Fran, Luca... After shaking his head and getting up, he saw a few metal objects crushed by rubble. Some were the half-trucks with mechanical legs and treads, some were short and stout transport helicopters, and others were the giant fans. Each of them was enough of a threat, but a veritable parade of them was lined up here. The original lights may have been insufficient because he could not see all the way to the back. And this was no time to stare all the way back there. Men in work uniforms were giving them surprised looks from quite close by. When they realized it was not just inorganic rubble that had fallen, they quickly reached into their coats, but... !! Its gonna blow!! Kamijou raised his voice, placed his hands protectively over his head, and dove down onto the ground, so the men looked around in shock. The presence of the crushed and sparking helicopters increased the squeezing in their chests. Then Luca ran out from behind a nearby pile of rubble. With the men focused elsewhere, she attacked them head-on with her cutlass and musket. She used them as blunt weapons instead of a blade and a gun. The sight was a sad history lesson in how, at close range, it was faster to just hit someone than to take the time to load the powder and bullet. The first was caught completely off guard and knocked out in a single blow. Damn you! The rest drew long knives and attacked from multiple directions. Whoops. !? After her cheerful voice, the men were overcome with confusion. They did not feel the flesh and blood they expected their knives to hit. In fact, their target had entirely vanished. But their confusion was natural. Luca could freely manipulate her subjective age, so she could change the apparent age of her body. She had instantly lowered her age from 15 to 10, so her limbs and body shrank and her enemy would need to adjust their aim. After slipping below the storm of blades, the small body grew until the swimsuit nearly burst from within. She used her long limbs and greater body weight to knock out the confused men with the back of her cutlass and the stock of her musket. Fear not. I used the back of my blade. Luca, I hate to interrupt your triumphant pose there, but your swimsuit bottom is slipping down. Hurry up and pull it up. Oops. After eliminating the threat, Luca fixed her swimsuit, returned her body to normal, and spun the two long weapons around like she was juggling them. Nice job distracting them. Youd make a good pirate. I dont think thats a compliment. Fran crouched down, took one of the unconscious mens guns, and held it awkwardly, but Kamijou put a stop to that. People pulled the trigger easily enough in movies, but that clearly was not something he could leave with a girl who was shutting one eye and attempting to peer down the barrel. He was afraid she would accidentally shoot him in the back. Anyway, wheres the exit? They did not know where a stairway or elevator might be, the exit might have some kind of security lock, and it could have been blocked by the earlier collapse. They had no real reason to fight, so they wanted to leave as soon as possible, but the situation did not allow for it. Kamijou was always experiencing misfortune, but he was beginning to suspect Kamisato had something similar. They did not know where someone could be hiding as they cut across a space as large as a schoolyard. They assumed an exit would be along the wall, so they moved to the wall and continued back from there. It was generally the same as going on a rampage in a parking lot full of cars. They used the half-trucks and helicopters as shields, checked around and made sure no one dangerous was hiding behind cover, and then moved to the next shield. Meanwhile, Kamijou and Luca heard a small sound as they moved out ahead. They looked back to find Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran focused on her devices. A voice came from the card-sized screen connected with a curling cord. Ksshhh! Fraaan, knowing you, youll definitely pick up this signal Im sending out on a random band. (Ellen...?) The girl sounded confident that Kamijous group was in the same area. If that tracer had detected their footprints or caught their scent, it would be a major problem. Based on everything that had happened via the Spheres, it was obvious what the point of this conversation was. (Fran, turn it off! We dont gain anything from this and shes trying to provoke us into revealing our location. She might even pick up on the sound of your radio playing her voice!) Kamijou had no idea how much it would help, but he naturally started whispering. But Fran did not respond. She was fully focused on the small screen. I was oddly curious why you alone would respond differently. Lucas case isnt as odd if I view you as the source and her as a secondary infection. When you get down to it, I think our singularity is you, Karasuma Fran. She did not want to know, but she felt the need to crush any hint of worry. It may have been the mindset that led people to type their own name into a search engine despite knowing it would lead to nothing good. Hey, Fran. Why werent you captured by Kihara Yuiitsus...no, Kamisato Kakerus curse? It wasnt that someone talked you out of it. Your heart was never shaken in the first place. Once I started wondering about that, I just couldnt stop thinking about it. Other things from the past started occurring to me. ... We know you spend all year chasing after UFOs. Whether thats true or not, you know more about astronomical bodies and electromagnetic waves than any of us. And the station you used to produce Academy Citys heat wave is real ...But that is a piece of external equipment, so you havent really shown your own internal power, have you? No, it was not just the hoodie bikini rabbit-ear antennae girl. Kamijou and Luca found themselves just as trapped by the sticky and invisible strings. Flipping over this card would accomplish nothing, it would only work against them, and it was a lot like digging up a landmine so it could blow up in their faces, but they could not stop the voice arriving over the device. Fraaan, said the tracer. Youre actually a magician, arent you? And since youre oddly obsessed with a British mascot, youre probably with someone from there. So wouldnt it be reasonable to think you were only pretending to be a scientific UFO girl to monitor Kamisato Kakerus actions, if not actually guiding him here to Academy City? Part 11 Those words were a heavy shock to the chest for Pirate Girl Luca as she listened in. A spy. Someone to monitor and control Kamisato Kakerus actions. But when she thought about it, it would be odd if no one had put together any kind of countermeasure against someone capable of slaughtering Magic Gods by the dozen. Kamisato himself claimed to be the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere, but the people around him would not have been able to see it that way. And this raised a question about when Luca had been recruited here. Kamijou Touma would not have known who to pick from the former Kamisato Faction, so it would naturally have been Frans decision. Then how had a UFO girl from the science side been able to choose someone as ideal for the job as Luca? How had she known so much about Lucas magic? Both questions could be answered if she was a magician too. UFOs, muttered the pirate hat and eyepatch girl. Mysterious lights in the night sky were originally researched as unlucky stars that were seen as ill omens. The idea that they are vehicles piloted by aliens developed and took over in just a few decades, but the same things have been viewed for millennia. ... Fran, were you that kind of magician? Did you read the future from the stars, seal the twinkling light into talismans and amulets, and draw out that power when you saw fit? Are you from the Golden-style of magic that had its heyday at the beginning of the 20th century and has become a standard by this point!? The hoodie bikini rabbit-ear antennae girl did not respond. There were things that caught Kamijous attention too. When they had run into the pirate girl in the plaza, the hoodie bikini girl had suggested drawing out a code that only Index and Othinus could understand and then retreating. But what kind of code could only Index and Othinus understand? She had drawn a few circles with horizontal and vertical lines along the edges. They had looked like crop circles, but there may have been another way to look at it. Those had been ancient runes or magic circles. And the antennae sticking out from her backpack like a sea urchin or a chestnut burr seemed painfully obvious now. They were almost like ugly thorns meant to protect the delicious contents from an external enemy. Ellens words continued as if to tear into that soft flesh. In that case, we definitely cant leave this to you. Fran, you understand, dont you? If you were monitoring Kamisato-hans actions and influencing his decisions, then its hard to say it was the natural course of events for him to arrive in Academy City and meet that cruel fate. ... Fran, your betrayal killed Kamisato-han. The presence of an outsider like you shattered our age of happiness. I dont know why you did what you did. Its possible you didnt intend to do any of it, but you brought destruction all the same. Whatever excuse you might make, you led Kamisato-han to take action on his fixation with the Magic Gods, you incited Sunny and Rain to action, you created the idea that Academy City was suspicious, and you led everything to this conclusion. ...... We cant leave Kamisato-hans fate with someone as risky as you. No matter what you might think yourself, you may have been set up to sever this last remaining thread of hope. .......................................................................................................................................................................................... She had been called a traitor, but she did not argue back. She looked tiny. The way she peered at the screen in her hand looked like she was hanging her head and she showed no sign of life for several minutes. She was a withered tree. A standing husk. Luca was dumbfounded by the truly unexpected shock, but this girls downfall was a quiet one, like she was seeing the end she had known was coming someday. Luca wondered what she would have done. What if she had hidden something important from him and that came to light? Would she go on a desperate rampage? Would she make a desperate plea and try to repair the relationship? Would she give up all hope and take her own life? No, that was not it. She would not even find that negative sort of energy. She would surely stay standing, stop breathing, and simply cease to function as a living being. ...Uuh... So it could not have been Karasuma Fran who stood up to those one-sided and disastrous words. Ah...hh. Thats enough, Fran. It was the spiky-haired outsider who interrupted. The girls assumed he would meaninglessly tell her she did not need to listen to any more of those painful words and she should switch it off. But that was not what he said. How long are you going to sit there sobbing? If theres something you want to say, then say it. Dont worry about whether theyll locate us from the signal. Ill make up for that. More importantly, do you not care that she can just say whatever she wants about you? Of course you care, right!? ...? The withered tree in its hoodie and bikini looked unsure what he was telling her. But the powerful light in the boys eyes made it clear he would keep talking until it got through to her. Dont you have something to say!? If shes saying that betraying people is always wrong and that you cant trust someone who tries to be everyones friend, then you can argue back, cant you!? What...are you...? Think back, Fran! Think back on everything youve done!! But...you dont know the truth. I kept a smile on my face all this time just so I could report back to the Anglican Church about Kamisato-chan... Thats not what I meant!! Thats not what I meant at all!!!!! cut in the boy. Im not talking about what it says on paper or what your official duties were. It doesnt matter how it started! What did you think when you actually met Kamisato and how did you feel when smiling with Ellen and Salome!? Wasnt that the true Karasuma Fran that wasnt forced onto you by anyone else? Then! Dont just assume that your affiliation, your actions, and your secrets are who you really are!! He grabbed her slender shoulders, stared into her hollow eyes, and roared at her without giving up on her strength as a human being. From the very beginning to the very end, you were never thinking about anything but Kamisato Kakeru, right!? After risking your life for that so many times, just what part of Karasuma Fran has wavered and just who have you betrayed!? So tell her! Tell her you wanted to bring back Kamisato Kakeru more than anyone else in the world! Tell her you were prepared to fight all of your former friends on your own to do it! You have the right to say that after walking through the winter cold, getting hit by explosions, and yet clenching your teeth to make it this far, Fran!!!!! That was obvious. It was not even worth discussing. If Fran was truly nothing more than a spy sent in from an outside group and if she simply saw Kamisato Kakeru as a threat, why had she tried to bring him back after World Rejecter erased him? Shouldnt she have rejoiced that someone so dangerous was gone? Or if she could not ignore the right hand that could slaughter Magic Gods by the dozen even after Kamisato himself was gone, shouldnt she have joined Kihara Yuiitsus group when the owner of the right hand became the ruler of the girls? But she had not done that. No matter who owned the right hand, she had continued to pursue Kamisato Kakeru. She did not know if it was even possible, but she had still bet her life on that thin, thin thread. The Anglican Church would never have ordered her to do that. Opposing the girls of the former Kamisato Faction meant to oppose Kihara Yuiitsu. It was unclear how much the Anglican Church knew about World Rejecter, but they must have felt threatened to send Fran in. But she had expressed her desire to face that frightening power by saving Kamisato and she had proven that intent through her actions. Didnt that settle it? Whatever her official position or duties were, wasnt it obvious who Karasuma Frans true affiliation was with deep inside her heart!? If youre not going to say it, I will. Kamijou had made up his mind. Even if their paths would not meet and even if he would never walk by that girls side, he could still fight for Karasuma Fran. He had found something worth that. If youre fine with that, then stay silent. If you dont want that, then youd better speak up. The result will be the same either way. Now, its time for a real fight. I dont care who were up against! Youve decided to fight for Kamisato Kakeru and Im with you!! The hoodie bikini girl did not move for a while. No, she probably could not move. There was no need to peek up at the face lowered toward the screen. The trembling in her shoulders faded and her groaning sobs were brought under control, so he only had to wait for her to speak for herself. Finally, the girl raised her head. And she spoke. Please dont mock me. I am perfectly capable of deciding my own destiny. Her fingertips operated the screen, but Kamijou and Luca were taken aback. She did not open a short-range line using the same radio signal Ellen had. She accessed the entire disaster information network that used the Spheres to cover a wide area. She used the key station she had prepared for herself. She had to know better than anyone that her accumulated influence would act as a weapon now. If Im going to confess, Im not going to half-ass it. It wont reach him and he definitely wont hear it, but I have to try my best to get this out to Kamisato-chan. Fran smiled a little. She had recovered enough to smile with her own strength. So lets make a show out of it. Part 12 The confession would be meaningless to the people not privy to the internal situation. But the small, small key station still sent a message out to the entire network so that it could never be taken back. My name is Karasuma Fran. Most of the people would have been confused by that. She was not a resident of Academy City and a search through the database would not find any records on her. The heat wave that crippled Academy City was entirely my responsibility. I caused all of you so very, very much trouble. The hot environment weakened the Elements and restricted them enough to avoid truly catastrophic damage, but that does not excuse my actions. I must be punished. But. Even though no one told them to, large crowds gathered in front of the Spheres that were opened like lotus flowers. They seemed drawn in to the planetarium-like dome and could not leave the footage played there. Even so, please wait just a while longer. It happened in the park where order was slowly returning even without a ruler. Please allow me just one more selfish act. It happened in the Show Business shelter she had once opposed. I am in love with someone. It happened in the overcrowded Hospital. No matter how many complicated equations went into developing an advertisement, a few words from a complete amateur could fill the world instead. Perhaps that was the power of the truth. This had a different attraction than the eerie one of Ellens words. I was told he would never return. I was told he had gone somewhere so far away that I could never reach him no matter how hard I tried. But I still want to save him. I want to do whatever it takes. Everyone understood. They all thought about this girl they had never met. I know my feelings of love will never be fulfilled. Even if I do save him, I have carried a sin from the beginning and I can never claim that happiness for myself. But thats fine. I just want to see his smile one more time. They listened. No, perhaps it was best to say they were charmed by her. Once this is over, I will accept any punishment. So no one stopped the girl from speaking. None of the shelter rulers interfered to the very end. All of the Spheres agreed to act as her broadcast network. They all became regional stations for her key station. So please. And she spoke the final words. She reached her conclusion. Please allow me this once-in-a-lifetime confession, so I can bring this love to an end. Part 13 Fran cut the connection to the Sphere. Kamijou slowly exhaled and spoke. ...Youre okay with that? Yes. Youre okay with that conclusion, Fran? Dont give me that! Like hell you are!! If were talking about whats right or wrong and kind or cruel, then it might be easier to go along with what youre saying. The girl gently narrowed her eyes and did not hesitate to respond. But this is between one boy and one girl. No one in the world can answer for me better than I can. ??? Dammit!! He could not exactly argue with that. He had protected the world from Fiamma of the Right of Gods Right Seat when he had set the Star of Bethlehem in motion. He had spent a nearly infinite amount of time repeatedly challenging a true Magic God and ultimately returned to his original world. But Kamijou had no confidence when it came to his experience in matters of romance. This was a fight where what was right and what was kind were not enough to advance, and that was just too difficult. Fran. As a pure member of the former Kamisato Faction, Pirate Girl Luca had to have been trying to judge what distance to keep from this, but she spoke to the hoodie bikini magician. ...If you need to cry, Ill lend you my chest. Ill take you up on that later, believe me. But I have something else to do now. She stuck her index finger from her baggy sleeve and silently pointed toward heaven. And then Karasuma Fran awoke. Lets blow away all of these nuisances and leave this place. Part 14 In the sky, Ghost Girl Maya covered her face with her hands with her tall body wrapped in burial clothing. She had heard most of what had happened in the network of Spheres. But due to Useful Spiders attack, she had lost the Sphere she had directly controlled as a key station. She had only heard reports from the girls who had been sent elsewhere to assist her. Yes, she had only been away for a short while. She should have been able to graphically display her influence by linking to a search service that checked for the passwords and codes mixed into the messages. But it was gone. It was all dead. No, the entirety of Academy City had been dyed in another color altogether. All Maya had left were the Spheres directly under the former Kamisato Factions control. Those dots were more like a stain on the otherwise pure map. The Spheres are so busy talking about Karasuma Fran that all the other rumors have been drowned out! Do what you like., Well, I cant say no to a girl in love. Not to a girl in love!, and Lets go drinking once its over! Thats all the shelter rulers who control the Spheres are saying!! What do we do? How do we turn this back around!? No, our stuff has already grown outdated. If we start forcing things back onto those old topics, theyll only grow suspicious. We cant stop the flow of information and we have to avoid standing out as much as a record scratch!! What do we do? What do we do, Maya!? The words shut up nearly escaped through her clenched teeth. It was over. The bubble had popped. The rumors she had nurtured and raised like the child she could never have had been destroyed so easily in the short time she had been absent. Fran... Her outline flickered unnaturally while they were supported by the will-o-the-wisp-like Censers. But she may have made a fundamental misunderstanding. This was a battle where the lives of the girls surrounding Kamisato Kakeru were at stake. So she had no time to lament the loss of her child. She should not have assumed that nothing Fran could do could reach her. It started with a shining star in the heavens. No, it was not actually a star. It was a piece of fan art titled the Bunny Grey Messenger. Needless to say, Karasuma Fran had created it. It was a high power microwave galactic communication station meant to speak to some unseen individual for 100 years. Ghost Girl Maya with her long, swaying black hair had no physical body. She only seemed to exist by using the Censers low-frequency waves and faint aromas to destabilize the mental states of any surrounding life forms. But what if the Censers themselves were destroyed? Karasuma Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!! Immediately after that cry, a 360 meter hammer swung down toward Academy City and accurately landed on the meteorological observatory on a District 21 mountain peak. And everything in between was brought down with it. The sweet dreams were no longer necessary. Fran had stared into the starry sky and floated through the emptiness for so long, but now she placed her feet on the ground and cast off her identity as a UFO girl. Between the Lines 3 They spent a long time circling the earth. Breaking free of the atmosphere using the Windowless Building had been easy enough, but matching their trajectory and speed to Magic God Tezcatlipoca for a rendezvous had been difficult. That had forced Kamisato into a trip around the planet in satellite orbit. The earth had become a white planet where massive numbers of white bugs whirled about instead of clouds. Kamisato had initially thought it was a typhoon or something, but he had belatedly realized it was a colossal roulette wheel. This may have been Nuadas latest obsession. Kamisato knew everything would return to normal at the end of the day, but it was still a sight void of all hope. If this was what he had seen, what would the Soviet cosmonaut have said? Oh, there he is, there he is Tezcatlipoca is way too relaxed. Niang-Niang licked her lips, placed her hands on her hips, and pushed out her flat chest. She did not seem to care that the weightlessness was causing the bottom of her mini-China dress to rise quite a bit. They were truly in outer space, but none of the things in the textbooks seemed to apply. Kamisato did not need a spacesuit, the words of the god next to him reached his ears like normal, and no concern was given to the heat and radiation that was no longer being blocked by the earths atmosphere. The Magic Gods were insane in everything they did. But...Tezcatlipoca? What does defeating just one of them matter when the earth is like that? We just have to start by repairing the global environment. The earth has quite a few problems right now, but the biggest would be Proserpinas artificial ice age. Spring will never come as long as she keeps at it, so we need to do something about that first. Like what exactly? Okay, time for a hint. Tezcatlipoca is the god of a certain mythology that fought Quetzalcoatl for the throne of the gods and lost. ...Although that big man you see floating over there is the Tezcatlipoca created to combat the Spanish guy who was mistaken for the original Quetzalcoatl. Niang-Niang, youre getting off track. Oh, my bad. I dont know if its due to that or just how he originally was, but hes known as a god of death that has enough power to create the world but instead uses it all to slaughter mankind. Buuuut. Being a death god isnt his only symbol. Im pretty sure I mentioned it myself earlier, so do you remember what it is? A...sun god? Right. Even if the earth has been covered in darkness, we have a spare sun right here! So its simple!! Lets send a new light down toward that planet thats closed in darkness and lost all hope!! Tezcatlipoca-chaaaaaan!!!!!! Kamisato heard someone gasp. Niang-Niang showed no mercy against the muscular man floating quite nearby. The man also had a strange prosthetic leg with a large circular mirror embedded in it. She slapped him. She remade her arm into a giant hammer and knocked that god straight down toward the surface of the earth. A shooting star fell. It fell somewhere on the earth and caused an explosion far larger than the previous ones. Instead of just one point, it was more like the entire planet emitted light like a giant lightbulb. Kamisato almost thought the planet was going to set on fire and be reborn as a star. Niang-Niang placed her hands on her hips and grinned despite the weightless bottom of her dress. Yeah! Now the light of hope fills the world anew!! I thought I was defying some malicious schemers, but was I just lashing out at some thoughtless idiots? Oh, are you finally getting over your issues? asked Nephthys. Give the boy a round of applause. We can celebrate after getting the planet back. Begin reentry!! After seeing the blue planet showing itself through the fusion of extreme cold and extreme heat, Niang-Niang reignited her hand boosters. She adjusted the angle of the rocket to fly back toward the atmosphere. How many more times do you plan on destroying the earth? As many times as it takes. Or well keep doing it forever. Weve been holding back for so long out of concern for everyone around us, you see. I doubt a century or even a millennium is going to be enough to work through all that pent up frustration. Now that somethings set us off like this, weve got a never-ending war of endless explosions on our hands! ... Oh, but we dont mind. This is an endless world of eternal war and a world where we can go all out. In a way, thats one form of paradise. For more information, you should probably just study up on Norse Mythology, but...oh, yeah. That eyepatch-wearing thief is living as a fairy in that world, isnt she? They did not have time to chat any longer. Nephthys gently leaned up against Kamisato and her bandages came apart. No, they rewrapped themselves with Kamisato inside. They protected a gods body from internal and external deterioration and decay. They landed a moment later. The hit from the largest and fastest rocket tore apart and blew away the remains of Academy City. Kamisatos spine froze over when he realized the same thing was theoretically possible in that world. Now, now, now. With her feet finally back on the ground, Niang-Niang produced a creaking metal sound from her baggy sleeves. How many Magic Gods were visible nearby? Chiiimeeeraaa. Now theres an annoying one. Whos that? Kamisato strained his eyes to see through the smoky scenery. Then his vision exploded with psychedelic colors. He covered his face and screamed before the goddesses gave him a belated warning. Oh, a human like you should avoid looking right at her. Its just like looking at the sun though a normal telescope and your very soul will burn away if you have poor morals. Honestly. Thats supposed to be too beautiful to bear? I just dont understand humans. Nephthys sounded as exasperated as a woman whose boyfriend started ogling another woman while they were on a date, but Kamisato was in no state to respond. Gh, bweh, boehh... Are you trying to ask what that is? Its Chimera. Theres a limit to the beauty you can produce by polishing the human body, so that narcissistic and self-destructive pervert started taking in elements and structures from other creatures. Even if its a reaction like the renaissance was to formal religious art, its still frightening. Oh, and hearing her voice or smelling her scent could drive you mad, so be careful. Some things were unavoidable even after being warned. Beyond his darkening vision, he heard an unstable and high-pitched sound like metal scraping together. Giin giin, gwan gwan, giin, gwin gwiin, giin giin, gwin, gwan, giin!! Yes, yes. We can chat later! I know you might want to show off ever last inch of your naked body since you finally have someone to appreciate it, but if you make Kamisato-chan go along with your perverted exhibitionism, hell drown in his own brain juices!! Kamisato could feel tears pouring down his cheeks and his head was full of questions. Had that been a voice he had heard? Could the other Magic Gods hear it like normal? But when he tried to process it in his own mind, he was overcome by nausea like an extreme case of motion sickness. It was a dangerous sort of nausea, like he had been punched in the back of the head instead of just in the gut. Hey, Nephthys. The humans vision has been cut off as you can see, so it would be nice if you could let loose and really cry. I dont think so. Im not in the mood thanks to that pervert. But your legend about crying at a gods funeral means you can interfere with the other Magic Gods emotions and focus! There are tears of joy, tears of anger, tears of sorrow, and tears of awe! You can do whatever you want, so just jam them!! If you want me to cry, then you had better have a good emotional story ready. You always cry like a waterfall from cheap stories about things like kittens lost on a battlefield!! Kamisato could not see much of anything, but he started running when a slender feminine hand pulled on his. Once the psychedelic world faded and the normal world returned, he realized they were in a dark underground tunnel. Everything outside had been blown away, but the underground areas seemed to have survived. He heard Niang-Niangs joking voice. Hey, you all right? Dont worry too much about popping a boner at that art-obsessed gods sculpture. Ill keep that one a secret. That was such a terrible thing to say that it dragged me right back into reality. ...With that and Tezcatlipoca, just how many suns do you have? What are you talking about? If that obscene night flower was held up in the middle of the solar system, the world would be pitch black. The goddesses really did make him frown. Seeing the beautiful bodies of those proper goddesses may have brought his standards of beauty back to normal. Niang-Niang and Nephthys were both Magic Gods overflowing with the scent of death, but they were far better than that Chimera. That had completely left the category of human. What had it looked like to their eyes? Kamisatos entire body was pierced by the mixture of fear and curiosity brought by contact with the forbidden, but they did not have time for him to get an answer. Something was watching them from the darkness down the half-crumbled tunnel. If its not one of them, its another. Niang-Niangs skirt floated up as she kicked something away in annoyance. It had likely fallen down when the surface had collapsed. Kamisato recognized the junk. Thats that golden retrievers...A.A.A. was it called? Oh? The thing that killed High Priest and Zombie? Nephthys sounded curious with her bandages having come loose a bit and she glanced over at the mini-China dress girl, but that pale girl shrugged and shook her head. You want me to copy that thing? Wouldnt work. A Magic Gods death cant be accepted inside a Magic Gods body. What even is that thing anyway? That secret of Academy City had completely killed two Magic Gods without World Rejecter. Since Kamijou Toumas hand had not killed or eliminated Magic God Othinus, it was a true exception on the level of Kamisato himself. I doubt you would understand. Then dont bother. The real issue is that the A.A.A. itself is pretty much meaningless. He had said not to bother, but she explained anyway. She tried to act all impressive, but she may have been prone to loneliness. Human, have you ever played shooting games. Im more surprised that a 4000-year-old Chinese god is familiar with them. In those, you generally have infinite ammo and can just keep shooting forever. It only really works in games, but how do you think you would go about forcing that onto reality? ...? The A.A.A. is the answer. That golden retriever named Kihara Noukan was the player controlling the ship, but the bullets werent contained in the machine. They were transferred in from a remote location to always keep the spare ammo at max. You can think of it like that. So its like a warp device? Im not sure I would call it that. Lets say you use solar power or heavy hydrogen to create electricity in satellite orbit and send it down to earth in the form of microwaves or a laser. Would you call that energy transfer a warp? Either way, this changed who was in control. Kihara Noukan was still extraordinary for heading out to the scene, accurately avoiding the downpour of fireworks-like blasts from a bullet hell game, and fighting the boss all the while, but it was someone else who had been supplying him his firepower from behind the scenes. In a way, one could say it was that person who had killed High Priest and Zombie. Well, when youve been closed up in your shell and deceiving the world while trying to take revenge against the Magic Gods, I guess its a sensible evolution. Although its a twisted one like the small crabs that get inside of clams. ? He did not understand at all, but she seemed satisfied with the explanation. Niang-Niang spun around to face him. Trying to grab something in your own hand instead of having someone give it to you is just that difficult. Especially for a normal person whos met nothing but setbacks like him. ... Have you recovered enough to give threatening looks? Oops. The lighthearted mini-China dress girl stopped speaking, but not because she had been overwhelmed by the pressure from Kamisato. Whatever was in the darkness of the tunnel had finally attacked. Niang-Niang pulled countless blades from her baggy sleeves and swung them randomly...or so it seemed. But a moment alter, countless sparks flew through the dimly lit space like a swarm of locusts had charged right into a bug zapper. Kamisato could not even see what it was she had intercepted. He only heard a scraping sound. Nephthyss chest bandages had been torn, so the brown Magic God held her arm horizontally across her chest. Niang-Niang. Sorry, sorry. She did not seem to care much. So this time its the Forgotten God. Its kind of sad. Lovecraft used him as reference material, but the fiction and nonfiction got mixed together so badly his original form was completely forgotten! Didnt people also decide there was a connection to Crowley, so they stopped all research into this Magic Gods historicity? First that narcissistic pervert and now you. Is everyone here an exhibitionist that just wants to show off to someone!? Niang-Niang, I dont think you have any right to say that after all the effort youre putting into this in front of this boy. It was not that Kamisato could not see it due to a lack of light or due to great speed. He could not comprehend it no matter how much he stared at it. Once again, the human and the Magic Gods were likely perceiving it differently. Niang-Niang, warned Nephthys. Yeah, I know. The others are starting to gather. Were surrounded and all on our own. Plus, this is a world of never-ending battle between gods, so its not like a human will last long anyway. Kh. We have no real way of saving you, so youll just have to pray youre pulled out of here by someone in that world. Niang-Niang used one hand to shoot down some things flying their way and she cheerfully looked back toward Kamisato. By the way, human. Id like to ask something while I still can. What? She really did make it sound casual. And she spoke in the middle of a battle a human could not even perceive. In the end, how was the right hand we made? Not long before, he might have felt that question was worthy of death. In fact, he would not have hesitated to blow her away even if she begged for her life through trembling lips. But he slowly sighed. And he answered. Did you give no thought to how much confusion it would cause me? Yeah...sorry about that. But we didnt actually realize our desires were leaking out. We had no way of stopping it. Also, its rare for that kind of power to dwell in a human, explained Nephthys. It usually ends up in an object like a demon-slaying sword or a holy mirror. Who would have thought it would choose such a short-lived creature? Niang-Niang gently narrowed her eyes within repeated and intense sounds of clashing metal. Her smile was no longer a mocking sneer. Its true we were selfish, but I also think this happened because it was meant to. World Rejecter is only compatible with someone that meets the conditions that match it. So there was no possibility of Kamijou Touma acquiring World Rejecter. You already knew that, right? Yeah. ...Im not sure if thats a compliment, though. It is. She answered immediately. There must have been times when you wanted to cheer everyone on and times when you could not allow a dream to be lost as it was crushed by reality. But we think the desires that leaked away from us must have sought out someone who met those conditions. Just like Kamijou Touma, there was a reason you were chosen. What? So it caught us completely by surprise when you suddenly attacked us. Of course, were celebrating that now since it brought us to this place where we wont cause anyone any trouble. But even if that power had escaped from us, we never thought it would create enough of a grudge for someone to kill us, said Niang-Niang. Hey, human. Theres one phrase you really like to use: the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere. ... No. It cant be, thought Kamisato as alarm bells went off in his heart. But you knew better than anyone that the kind of normal high school boy you can find anywhere is something you cant actually find anywhere, didnt you? Time came to a stop. Or was it Kamisatos thoughts that came to a stop? I mean, your life was full of jealousy of others and, in your eyes, everyone else had something you didnt. Something heavy seemed to stir up the air with a low rumbling. Niang-Niang pulled two hands full of weapons from her baggy sleeves. But even so, her slender body bent backwards with a deafening sound of collision. Kamisato could not see what had happened. No, he could not comprehend it. At the very least, he could tell this was different from the previous projectiles. The Forgotten God itself had likely charged in from further down the tunnel. He finally saw something. It looked nothing like beautiful Niang-Niang and Nephthys. But what even was it? It was extremely simplified yet incredibly eerie like a stick figure drawn by a small child awkwardly holding a black crayon. But Niang-Niang continued in a singsong tone. But in that case, did other people really see you as someone who had nothing at all? Niang-Niang, thats just cruel. Its like the smell of his own body. He probably isnt even aware of it. Even so. More rumbling sounds continued and something slowly rose to the surface of Kamisatos mind. For example, Imagine Breaker resided in another boys right hand, but its presence could not be proven without a supernatural power to negate. If Kamijou Touma had never moved to Academy City and lived in a perfectly normal city, he would have lived out his entire life without knowing he had that power. Did it never cross your mind? This was the same. Kamisato Kakeru had something. Something valuable enough to attract World Rejecter. But it was highly unique and only showed itself during highly irregular situations. What if terrorists attacked your school? What if you ran across a cute girl being harassed by delinquents in a back alley? What would you do then? But youre about the only one that can pull it off after only putting that much thought into it. Not many people can draw out accurate blueprints at that point. That was why the power had chosen him. It had seen the world he lived in as the best place to allow what he had already had to shine, so it had decided World Rejecter would be most useful there. How did you like it? Niang-Niang seemed to be honestly asking. And as she did so, she spread out countless blades like fans to block the crayons attack with a round shield. The thing about us is...well, were gods. Were the ones that give, so its hard for us to know what it feels like for the chosen ones like you. But we were a little worried that the gift born from us was too much for you to handle. Kamisato fell silent for a while. Finally, he spoke in the empty world. ...That wasnt what I wanted. ... Even if I wanted something special, I only wanted something that let me brag a bit at school. I might have said its meaningless if you dont win the gold medal, but anything would have been fine as long as it was enough of a conversation starter to fill in the silence at the karaoke box. He could not hide anything in front of these gods. So there was no real reason to open his mouth. But he still said it. He could not stop now. So why did it have to be a talent that only shines when youre fighting a real god? Why did it have to be something that only shows itself after things have gotten that bloody!? I mean...thats useless!! I cant share that with anyone! Who cares about winning the gold medal or being one-of-a-kind!? No matter how great an accomplishment it is, its meaningless if you cant tell anyone about it!! The difference between a hero and a combat addict was paper thin. In fact, it may have been the era that decided a combat addict was a hero that was craziest of all. I didnt want that!! Killing the Magic Gods didnt even feel real! So I tilted my head and kept trying until it did!! Every time Ellen, Claire, and the others praised me for it, it felt less and less like what I really wanted to do. It really hurt when my sister Salome pointed at me and accused me! I wanted to shout back and ask her why she was standing on Kamijou Toumas side!! He did not care how pitiful and pathetic he looked. Sometimes facing that side of oneself held great meaning. That wasnt what I wanted Elza, Maya, and the rest to be smiling about. Couldnt it have just been about how good I was at making character bentos or how good I was at karaoke? When it comes to helping girls, couldnt it have just been helping them with their homework or struggling to discover their secret hobby? Why do several metal drums full of spilt blood have to come into the picture there? Someone like me cant shine in a place like that!! Niang-Niang deflected something to the side. As soon as her hands were free, the little devil placed them on her hips and winked. If youre bothered by that, then youre still not a hero. That at least you dont have to worry about. Its no different!! I cant control myself! Im not like Mass Murderer Salome who intentionally maintained her position as a criminal!! I never felt any guilt and I just kept swinging my arm all I wanted. It didnt matter if there was a special power in my right hand or not. I mean, I...!! He clenched his teeth and confessed the one thing he should have avoided. I killed all of you Magic Gods without feeling even a twinge of guilt!! Yeah, said a voice. Niang-Niang nodded in a somehow satisfied way with her hands still on her hips. Well, hearing that makes it sound like it was worth being killed by you. ... From now on, your life still isnt going to shine. In fact, if you want to shine, the world has to end up like this. Niang-Niang once more pulled a ton of swords and spears from her baggy sleeves. Without even looking back, she slashed behind herself countless times to intercept something that produced orange sparks. So what will you do? Stay in this bizarre world with the gods and continue to shine, or return to the human world and be forever buried? He had no words. But he knew his own answer all too well. So as the Magic Gods waited within the unreliable storm of slashes, the words escaped him. I know itll end up being an empty life where all I do is envy others. It was a hopeless complaint. Im sure Ill keep living without understanding why it is everyone around me is so kind to me. It was an almost servile self-rejection. But...even so... But he made a change there. He seemed to be defying something. I want to keep trying. No matter how many times it takes, I want to work toward shining in that normal world!! The Magic God whistled. He only had two options, but he had grasped for a nonexistent third option. A great roar burst out. The mini-China dress goddess swung her arm wide to knock the crayon man away just as the ceiling crumbled and other Magic Gods looked down at them. She had heard some hopelessly pathetic words. But Niang-Niang and Nephthys both looked amused as they viewed the result. The mini-China dress girl slapped her own butt and the brown woman retightened the bandages wrapped around her body. And then the goddesses proclaimed. You really are an imperfect human. But now that weve taken what you really think to heart... Yes. Now I can truly cry. Notes 1. "Baumkuchen" is a layered cake which looks like tree rings. The name is German and it translates to "tree cake". Wikipedia article. Volume 17, 4: Or a Taboo Brings Peace - Salvage_XXX Volume 17, Chapter 4: Or a Taboo Brings Peace C Salvage_XXX Part 1 A high school boy like Kamijou had no way of calculating the sum total of the potential and kinetic energy dropped on the earth or how far the damage and effects to the surface would spread. So he spoke the conclusion that even a high school mind could comprehend. You overdid it, you idiot!! Luca said shed lend you her chest if you wanted to cry! Just because youre in love is no reason to use the entire earth as a punching bag!!!!! U-um, I was kind of imagining a calmer sort of crying. I wasnt planning on lending my chest to anything that aggressive... The pirate girl also must have been frightened by the impact of that hard punch because she was acting oddly and her voice was trembling. Love was a frightening thing. Kamijou spotted a torn memo pad among the scattered rubble, so he crouched down. What are you doing? What needs to be done. The area overhead was cracked so wide open that it was easy to forget they were underground. He held back unathletic Fran who kept trying to move out ahead and then he and Luca finally found the door out of the rubble-filled hangar. There must have been an electric lock, but the door had bent and fallen out of place from the previous impact. Wow. How powerful was that impact? This isnt going to trigger a volcanic eruption, is it? The stairway unit was made from steel, but it had just barely retained its shape. They set foot on the stainless steel steps and began the long, long journey. Kamijou realized Fran was no longer asking to be carried. Something really must have changed inside her. When they opened the door out onto the surface, everything was dark. That isnt going to bring on an ice age like a meteor strike, is it? The ice age prediction was supposed to be misinformation. Its already around 5. The sun would normally have set by now. It is midwinter after all. It was hard to tell whether the wreckage they saw belonged to the meteorological observatory or the space station. Kamijou almost suspected the world had ended. It was fortunate that the only people here had been the abnormal former Kamisato Faction and Useful Spider. Any normal people would have been killed instantly. This is no time to be glad everyone survived. That means theyre going to pursue us after this. As she explained that, Luca pulled one of the small motor sharing carts from the wreckage. They had come from Useful Spider, so it was not surprising some spares would be stored here. The pirate girl was the driver again, so Kamijou and Fran clung to the roll bar from the side. Go, go. Lets go, said Fran. Roar! Lets wipe them all out! I kind of feel bad for Kamisato since he got confessed to and rejected without getting a say in the matter...! The cart was situated so low to the ground that it could not drive over even a coffee can on its side, so it had trouble in the rubble. After weaving left and right to avoid the wreckage, they finally made it to the road down the mountain. Unlike on the way up, their excess weight actually helped. They picked up more speed than expected, the small tires screeched at the sharp curves, and Kamijou felt the squeezing at his heart return. A high-pitched sound like a distant roaring echoed through the mountains. It came from the peak of the mountain. Theyre beginning their pursuit. Watch out behind us! Ill take the shot when it comes to it, but youll load the bullet with the ramrod, right? Im not even sure what a ramrod is, but if I screw it up, it wont blow off your fingers, will it? And as they discussed that, a beautiful beast slid down the slope next to them and charged right toward the cart. Kamijou saw gorgeous long blonde ringlet curls and a dress colored a toxic blood red. She was dressed like a princess, but she ran on all fours, bared her canine teeth, growled, and went right for the throat like a beast. This girl had perfectly combined the two conflicting aspects of human and wolf. Mary...!? Mhn!! Kamijou heard a strange voice while time seemed to stop. He saw Fran pull an antenna rod from the side of her overstuffed backpack and she used that to strike the wealthy wolf on the side of the face as she tried to tear out Kamijous Adams apple. There was little force behind the blow, but the element of surprise had been effective. Mary was thrown off target, so she rolled and bounced a few times along the road before getting up like nothing had happened. She then kicked off the ground with all four limbs and pursued them with ferocious intensity. Fran swung the antenna rod in a circle and began provoking the wolf girl for some reason. Curse that evolutionary Turbo Granny. Ill aim for a homerun right off the cliff next time! Frans been awakening in a weird direction! Arent people supposed to turn into a calmer adult when that happens!? Like a school doctor!! School doctors are only seen as sexy because theres a bed in the infirmary, argued Luca. Dont get distracted by the decorations and lose sight of their true essence. No! Its the warmth of nursing you back to health when youre weakened by a sudden cold that makes them so attractive to boys!! And that same aspect applies to dorm managers!! Meanwhile, the next one arrived. While they were forced to drive full speed down the dangerous mountain road, a giant form stepped over their heads. A far-too-giant human foot shook the earth. Maya, the girl in white burial clothing, had grown so large they had to look up to see her properly. Kamijou nearly forgot this was real. It felt like having the Statue of Liberty chasing them around. What the hell is going on!? Mayas Censers should have been crushed when my station crashed... You didnt know? They could not slow down, so Luca pressed down on the gas even harder. In addition to her Censers, she maintains her own scent just in case. Thats why shes always munching on vegetable sticks and sipping at sweet drinks. Youve heard what you eat can change how you smell, right!? Damn her. I always thought she was showing off her femininity by eating nothing but fruits and vegetables, but it was for this!? You didnt notice how bitter she was watching you eat as much meat and fish as you liked? And how you view a ghost without a physical body completely changes depending on where you start from. The status of a ghost in a ghost story depends on how the story got started and where it came from, right? The Censers are like an artificial haunted location. Think of it like a prism that separates light. Depending on how you mix and distribute the parts, a harmless wandering ghost can turn into a spirit that shakes an entire nation! Her body is supported by a sweet smell and her body produces that sweet smell... Hm? Hmm??? What? Isnt that like a chicken and egg situation!? complained Kamijou. Thats why Maya has no weaknesses and no one can stop her once she gets her perpetual motion machine up and running with that endless cycle. She can maintain an invincible status that would warrant building a shrine and worshiping her as a god. And who ever said the smell coming from Mayas body is sweet? asked Fran. You make too many assumptions about girls. Even if shes an enemy, I believe in that ephemeral ghost girls femininity!! Far from ephemeral, she was stomping around like a kaiju, so it would be all over if that monster stepped on them. Even a large tour bus would be squashed so flat it would be indistinguishable from the road. As they watched, her steel pylon of a leg swung like a pendulum. As soon as Kamijou realized she was kicking like a soccer player, it happened. A large portion of the mountains slope was torn away. It went beyond who or what she was attacking. The bedrock shattered from the frightening force of the blow and pieces of stone larger than suitcases poured down like rain. The curving mountain road was hard enough to navigate already, so the small cart swerved wildly to the left and right. Kamijou thought he was dead. An experience one only wished to go through once in a lifetime continued on and on without end. Even with time slowing to a crawl, Kamijou realized he could not sense each and every impending death. He grew accustomed to the feeling and they all shot right past him. His heart could not keep up with this deadly ride that came rushing at him at such high speed. Curse Maya. Shes not paying much attention to her feet after growing so big. Yeah, she has pretty large breasts, so when she stops hunching forward and stands up straight, she cant see her feet and ends up tripping. Bff!! Cough, cough!! Kamijou briefly heard some unfortunate chatter, but he refocused on the battle soon thereafter. B-but Mayas firepower is top class, so shell get someone else to target for her so she doesnt waste her attacks. My money is on that tracer Ellen. The two of them together would be like a ballistic missile and radar. The trip down the mountain path was much faster. In no time, they left the mountain and entered the streets of Academy City on the cart. Part 2 Yes. Below the Windowless Building, Kihara Yuiitsu stretched and spoke. While pretending to fear me and making me the villain, are they starting to grow accustomed to the cruel stimuli? Part 3 Kamijous group wished to retrieve the original A.A.A. from the District 11 container yard and use it to create the magical tunnel needed to rescue Kamisato. With their base in that state, Useful Spider would be unable to continue guarding the containers. Kamijou and the girls raced through the powerless streets with no traffic lights. There seemed to be quite a few people driving in makeshift races that had no bearing on the recovery, but this was entirely different. A girl in a red dress moving on all fours was easily keeping up with a four-wheel cart powered by a 50cc engine, a magical girl was flying overhead with a jet engine on her wand, a girl in a suit of armor and covered in weapons was riding a military horse, a young wife in a swimsuit and apron was sliding along the road in ice boots, 10 yen coins filled the sky like a flock of wild birds and poured down one after another, and a vengeful spirit the size of a high-rise building was pursuing them from behind. Anyone who did not get out of their way now had to be suicidal. Someone like that would clearly lack the fundamental human ability to learn. This looks like the Hyakki Yakou! Were going to start a new legend!! The most dangerous one may have been Ellen the Tracer. She had no direct combat skill, so she had hitched a ride with the girl who was controlling a mechanical lizard the size of a semi-trailer truck. It was unclear how accurate she was during this car chase, but they could not assume they would lose their pursuit just by turning a corner. These girls would continue chasing them forever. And Ellen also increased the accuracy of the powerful but hard-to-aim people like Maya, so she was too large a risk to ignore. Luca, do you have a countermeasure!? Im already doing it! Fran, I want your opinion as a magician this time. The keys are the original A.A.A. and a Caribbean magician. Do you think we can save Kamisato with Lucas help? Dont underestimate a girl experiencing the high of announcing her broken heart. I see, said Kamijou with a smile. He too made up his mind. Then leave the rest to me. It was a mystery where the functioning vehicle had come from, but a giant yellow school bus charged into the intersection from the side. Deborah... That trucker girl!! The pirate girls eyes widened. The cart took a sharp turn and slipped right under the bumper of the approaching bus. Or it should have. But while clinging to the same roll bar, Fran saw Kamijou Touma let go and use the momentum of the turn to leap toward the school bus. If he had jumped toward the hard windshield, he would have been killed instantly. The side windows were intentionally made more fragile so they could be broken to escape if the bus sank, but Kamijous forehead was still split open when he broke through one of them head first. But he gained something worth the price. With a loud shattering sound, he and a sea of glass rolled inside the deadly weapon on wheels. With blood flowing down his face, he grabbed at the driver. Wah! Dammit, you...!! Sorry. I regret only running from the High Priest. And because I stayed silent and watched with Kamisato, I cant escape the weight bearing down on my back. Im sick of that sort of thing!! It was unclear how strong Deborah was, but she could not do much while focused on driving the bus. When he grabbed at her, the large wheel spun wildly and the mass of steel lost its balance. It swerved nearly perpendicular to the road, rolled onto its side, and slid along while making a mess of everything on the inside and outside. The armor girls horse was nearly hit by the sliding bus, so she frantically pulled on the reins, lost control, and fell from her steed. Wolf Girl Mary tried to slip past the bus on the side just as the back of the bus ran into a pile of white sand. The bus hopped up irregularly and betrayed Marys expectations. The heavy mass hit her like a roundhouse kick and the quadruped in red dress and blonde ringlet curls was thrown through a nearby buildings window. The driver named Deborah had long since passed out. Kamijou grabbed the fire extinguisher kept inside the bus, smashed the window that was pointing up now that the bus was on its side, and climbed up on top. He brushed up his bangs that were wet with his own blood. The giant mechanical lizard jumped over the bus like it was a hurdle and the broom-riding cosplayer passed by overhead. A weird bicycle where the rider lay on their back C he thought it was called a recumbent bicycle C approached next. He threw the fire extinguisher at the rider, scored a direct hit, borrowed the bicycle from the girl who slammed into a pile of white sand, and righted the bicycle in both hands. He could never get used to how the pedals were located out front where the handlebars would normally be. He made a few imitative attempts and managed to start riding it while lying on his back and looking down toward his feet. What is with this bike? This is going to hurt my neck...! He had trouble getting going, but it was stable enough once he was up to speed. And this seemed to be a racing model, so as he changed the gears, he felt like the sharp wind was blowing by even faster than in the cart. Elza growled like a beast and her fingers passed right by him, but his throat just barely escaped. He drove on out ahead. He raced toward the giant lizard that Ellen was riding. That was when the night air whirled unnaturally overhead. Ma...ya...!? After seeing Frans station fall, it may have been wrong to compare something to a meteor so readily, but the foot dropping vertically toward him really was like a meteor. The one strike took out entire piles of white sand, smashed the asphalt, and caused the buildings to creak, suggesting either their earthquake-absorbing structures or their actual foundation had been taken out. Stay away... The ground itself, and not just the recumbent bicycle, hopped up. Keeping himself from falling off the special bicycle was the most he could manage. Stay away from our Kamisato-kun!!!!!! But the roaring vengeful spirit still had poor aim. If Luca was to be believed, Maya had not crushed Kamijou underfoot because her breasts were too big to see anything down there, but he could not rely on that coincidence again and again. (Is Luca having trouble too?) They could not communicate by cellphone and he did not have a navigation system displaying her position, but if he followed the former Kamisato Faction, he could gain a general idea of where Luca and Frans cart was fleeing. They had clearly strayed from the shortest route to District 11. They seemed to be fleeing in circles. Whatever the horsepower of the moped-sized 50cc engine, it had to have great fuel efficiency. They would not run out of gas so easily, but the drivers willpower was a different matter. They needed to lose their pursuit sooner rather than later. The tracer was preventing that, so Kamijou had to eliminate Ellen. And with his own wheels, catching up to her was not that difficult. After all, Ellen herself was busy tracking the cart out ahead. Since she could not choose her own course, it was obvious who had the advantage. Kamijou pedaled the racing recumbent bicycle at tremendous speed and kept the mechanical lizard in his sights. Then he thought he heard the girl in the baggy lab coat click her tongue. Tch!! Maya, add a +3 correction. Ill tell you their estimated loca-... She trailed off and pushed the radio away from her ear while flinching from a loud noise. Oh, curse you, Fran!! Shes jamming us from her backpack!! Kamijou was not the only one fighting. While the large lizard slowed down, Kamijou pedaled the racing bicycle and caught up. He rode up alongside it. Lime!! With that shout, the large lizard swung its tail. Kamijous recumbent bicycle was thrown through the air. With a normal bicycle, his legs would have been smashed along with the frame, but the strange design paid off here. Since he was lying on his back, the bicycle below him was destroyed, but it did not reach Kamijou himself. In fact, he remained right there in the air like with a Daruma Otoshi doll and he fell on top of the lizards thick tail. He was fully focused on his task. He clung onto the tail as it desperately tried to shake him off, but then it reacted to Imagine Breaker. With no brakes, the running lizard fell apart and scattered across the road, momentum intact. Kamijou slammed into a pile of white sand. God...dammit... (I cant let it end here. None of it is over yet. I havent saved anyone...) He felt woozy after the blow to his entire body, but he forcibly gathered his thoughts and got back up. He saw a small form similarly standing in the darkness. ...Ellen. Why is it you...? Unlike Kamijou, she had slid across the asphalt and had to have taken a lot of damage. Even so, she got up. There was great resentment in her voice and a light burned in her eyes. She supposedly had no direct ability to fight, but she stood back up on pure willpower. You arent Fran and you arent Luca. Why does it have to be you, the one who doesnt understand anything...? How should I know? spat out the spiky-haired boy. But if I had to say, maybe its because their true battlefield lies elsewhere. I promised them they could leave the rest to me, so Ill take care of this entire pain-in-the-ass warmup round. That way Fran and Luca can focus on Kamisato. Fran was lying to us... So what? If she hadnt guided Kamisato-han here, none of that would have happened!! He matters more than my life, so I cant leave his fate in her hands!! Isnt that all the more reason to give her a chance to make up for what she did? She wanted to be one of you, but she couldnt. Yet she still found herself smiling happily with the rest of you, so cant she do something here!? Kamisato asked me to take care of you girls. And Fran asked me to help bring her love to an end. None of you could be more stupid, so Ive got to stick with you all to the end. Ive steeled myself for this already!! I have no intention of digging back up the old arguments about right and wrong at this point!! If that was going to shake my resolve, I never would have urged Fran to action and picked a fight with you all!!!!!! Then a smile formed on Ellens lips. It was the ferocious smile of someone viewing their enemy, but the girl still smiled. ...You really are different. She sounded like she was confirming something more important than the truth of the world. You seem somewhat like Kamisato-han, but youre completely different inside. To hell with that. Dont even compare me to that bastard. She was not a fighter. She was meant to use her delicate forensics skills to provide logistical support. I am Arimura Ellen. But the girl in the baggy lab coat did not take a single step back. Just like Karasuma Fran and Toyama Luca, Arimura Ellen had feelings she could not shake free of. I will not hold back!!!!!! It only took one attack. And that was why Kamijou Touma did not even think about holding back either. Part 4 Kamijou looked down at the unconscious girl for a while. That was when a familiar cart dove out from the intersections side road. He had thought they were far out ahead, but they must have returned to the same place while trying to escape. Perfect timing. Hop on!! Thanks. Kamijou grabbed onto the roll bar again while glancing back toward the baggy lab coat girl lying unmoving on the ground. Hoodie Bikini and Rabbit-Ear Antennae Fran gave a warning with no readable emotion on her face. That was too reckless. Not as reckless as you. He smiled bitterly while accepting the Bunny Grey band aid the expressionless girl gave him. The cart took off once more. They had eliminated Ellen the Tracer, but that did not mean the threat was entirely gone. No matter how poor their aim was, plenty of their enemies had enough firepower to destroy them in a single attack if they did hit. So what do we do!? Since you managed to pick me up after I jumped off, you must be driving in circles. Can we really escape Maya, Elza, and the rest of that crazy Hyakki Yakou!? Not to worry. It took a while, but were about to leave District 7 and enter District 18. It wont take long to get to District 11 now!! I wasnt talking about-... Kamijou stopped midsentence and looked back while clinging to the roll bar. Fffffraaaan... The ghost girl in white burial clothing and vaguely heart-shaped headdress was pursuing them with her giant legs. She slipped between buildings and the entire street shook like an unreliable thicket of trees in a typhoon. Dont threaten Kamisato-kuuun!! Karasuma Fraaan!!!!!! How can you pull off the magical ceremony needed to save Kamisato with that chasing us!? I dont know how hard those ceremonies are, but were done for if one of her soccer kicks or head slides hits us!! With that cosplay girl Olivia and the others up in the air, we can never escape on the ground. Its like having a helicopter in the air during a car chase. As Luca drove the cart, a clear change came over the scenery. While they had been surrounded by college prep schools with strange shapes thanks to the famous designers that worked on them, they now saw pyramids of stacked metal containers and gantry cranes that almost looked like giant torii. It was hard to read without any streetlights, but the sign that flew by clearly said District 11. We made it... Maya and more of the former Kamisato Faction were still in hot pursuit. At this rate, they would be guiding those girls to the site of the ceremony. It was as hopeless as attempting a risky surgical procedure while a biker gang poured into the hospital. But even though Luca held the wheel and would be the one holding the scalpel, her face contained some tension, but no irritation. Why do you think we were circling around and around that dangerous city? ? Hadnt that been to get as far away as they could from the former Kamisato Faction? And hadnt they failed to lose those girls? But Kamijous guess was wrong. I knew from the beginning this 50cc cart couldnt truly lose them. In fact, not even a floating supercar loaded with an antigravity engine could manage that, said Luca. And if they can interfere with the ceremonial ground in the container yard, all of this will be for naught. So setting up the defensive line here would be a losing gamble from the outset. Failure would be our only option. But the pirate girl was not done speaking. She had more to say. So did you really think I would set up a defensive line with a countdown to the end of the crucial ceremony? Id never allow that! The only way to ensure they wont interfere even for an instant is to set everything up so I can complete the entire ceremony as soon I arrive on the scene. Thats what I was doing while driving around the city!! Part 5 How had Ellen, the tracer and forensics girl, been following Luca and Frans cart around? More than just perfect pitch, all of that girls senses were perfect sensory analysis devices, so what exactly had she picked up on in this wide world? Hm, hm, hm. I see. She must be in a rush because shes spilling quite a bit there. Baggy Lab Coat Ellen had smiled while riding the giant mechanical lizard controlled by Lime, who wore traditional Japanese clothing yet had coral-like angel wings growing from her back with strings extending from each point. What can you see? Their exhaust or the tire marks? There is that, but the biggest one is the gunpowder. She must have needed a nitrogen compound like nitric acid, but thats my specialty since its an established part of quite a few inspection methods. I would never mistake this smell. Ellen had laughed and hid her mouth behind one baggy sleeve. Also, Luca uses an outdated musket, so it uses antique black powder. Shes so intent on using the old-fashioned production methods that it has a distinct aroma. Academy City is a dangerous city, but the scent of that retro gunpowder stands out in this high-tech city. There is simply no way she can escape me now. But Ellen should have wondered if that scent of gunpowder really was being leaked on accident. She should have asked if Luca might be letting it spill behind the cart as she drove out ahead. As she shook the dark city around her, Ghost Girl Maya knew victory was hers. The enemy was only fleeing and had not put any more distance between them. She did not know where they were going or what they would do there, but they would be unable to calmly enter their base and relax if this continued. She did not need to give this too much thought. She only had to continue chasing them to either crush them or wait for them to make a mistake and crash. She could not be shaken. The ghost girl in burial clothes could not be shaken when she was working to protect Kamisato Kakeru. After all, he had accepted her. A mysterious shadow had appeared on the way back from school at night. Everyone had known what it was. And in front of that girl who could not remember how she had died or even what her name was, they had asked if she wanted her body back, wondered if she wanted to rest in peace, speculated she had been on the volleyball team because she was so tall, suggested they check through the records, and said plenty of other things, but he had been the only one. Only he had said she was fine the way she was. Only he had said a ghost was fine as a ghost. So. So Goryou Maya would no longer run from what she wanted to do. To that end. The ethereal girl manipulated the incense coming from her chest and the nape of her neck to alter how she looked and was interpreted. If she could see that boy again and if she could see his smile again, she would become a vengeful spirit, an evil spirit, or whatever else it took to accomplish what she most wanted to do. But then she heard a high-pitched voice. Cosplay Girl Olivia, who had her shortish brown hair in twintails and rode a magic wand equipped with a jet engine, used the voice of the original Magical Powered Kanamin that it was rumored not even the original voice actress could reproduce any longer. Wait, Maya. Something isnt right! What exactly isnt right!? This path...this way of fleeing... It has to be on purpose. I vaguely recognize some of it from when I was checking through books on ancient runes to fill in some gaps not on the released design sheets. This is based on a modified hexagram drawn with a single brushstroke and its used to draw out the power of the sun to-...!? She did not manage to finish. And we return to the present. After arriving in the container yard, Luca kept one hand on the wheel and spun her large musket around in her other hand. When the bullet and powder were directly pushed down through the muzzle, it was not a good idea to aim straight down, but that did not matter here. Any hint of a muzzle flash was enough. The orange sparks only needed to ignite the line of gunpowder drawn out on the ground. The feathered pirate hat and eyepatch girl sang. Lets kick off the show. The surge of flames raced around the city at 6000 meters per second. Ghost Girl Maya had grown as tall as a high-rise building, but even she would have had difficulty seeing the whole. The ones who were truly left speechless were those like Cosplay Girl Olivia who flew freely through the sky. In the dark and powerless city, orange lines were drawn out like a part of a fireworks show. And they drew out a secret and mystical symbol that had no place in a city of cutting-edge science. This is bad, Maya!! Theyre already reaching toward Kamisato-kuns fate!! This will never work without World Rejecter as the gate. Theyre just letting their emotions get the better of them and they might as well be attempting heart surgery on him with a rusty scalpel! We cant let them do this!!!!!! !? But their impatience did not matter. The cart driving out ahead contained Luca, a complex tangle of Voodoo and piracy, as well as Fran, who had shed her shell as a UFO girl and returned as an unlucky star expert. They had both entered a unique mental state using a special focusing method much like those used by stage actors to get into character. Their lips were moving. They sent a vibration into the modified hexagram they had carved into the planet. The peace of the six points is obtained through the four stages created by combining the great triangle of fire with the great triangle of water. But to achieve the result first and foremost, we seek the secrets of the simplified six points drawn from straight lines. We desire to summon the sun, but cast aside Apollo and retrieve Horus. Know that the worlds true image is found in the lost Library of Alexandria!! Something changed. The foundation of the gray steel and concrete city was pulled out. Know that Horus is not a mere descendent of dead gods, but the foundation of the forces which shall cleanse the world of the accumulated stains of the cross. Correspondence, correspondence, correspondence. Shake the star which holds the opposing peaks of Daat and Yesod. It was like the air had solidified with human killer intent. The extreme mental state much like getting into character ruled the dark container yard. It was all remade into a tranquil sacred ground. Distort. One of the two voices sometimes passed the other, sometimes was passed by the other, and sometimes coincided perfectly with the other. It was like two different equilateral triangles lining up and moving apart to create a different shape and provide different meaning from moment to moment. The combination of the limited resources called in endless possibility. The separate image of the Four Worlds from which power is drawn becomes a different Four Worlds like the moons reflection in a lake. Kamijou began to wonder if he should be here. He had not washed his body, his face, or even his hands. He wondered if he should be standing in this sacrosanct place while so filthy. The sun of Horus which shall cleanse the world shall be known by the divine name of Kamisato Kakeru!! All the while, wedges were driven into the world. A supposedly lost name was once more carved powerfully into it. Legba Atibon is a frightening being who can surpass even time as the gate to manage all ceremonies. But just as the Qliphoth becomes a powerful compass that points to the truth of the world when used with truly accurate discernment, the curse of the second Aeon can be used as a powerful prism to divide the forces. This shall distort the line to the planet which descends toward the six-pointed star and thus shall substitute the symbols. There was no obvious light or sound. But that was only because Kamijou could not see it. Just like the boy on the ground could not perceive the magic circle drawn across the city with gunpowder. Bind and strengthen the planetary symbol with the star of power carved into the earth. Something was changing. No, it was being intentionally changed by human hands. Even so, the girls power must not have been enough because they revealed the existence of a powerful trick up their sleeve. The symbols name is A.A.A. Finally, even an amateur like Kamijou could detect the change. One of the metal containers forming a great pyramid began to glow despite its component materials and how thick it was. It was like the north star that guided sailors. Just like the endless reflection of opposing mirrors, they overlap like the rings of a powerful tree and provide the power to gaze into the abyss. As the identical symbols approach, have them resonate, just as the slightest breeze can occasionally break a stone bridge and send it plunging into the sea. What did it look like from above? It may have been like being trapped in a harmful hallucination after reaching the end of an endless task, such as peering to the very back of the image in opposing mirrors or continually opening a Russian nesting doll until an electron microscope was needed Or perhaps it was like peering into the depths beyond the deepest depths. And after they broke through that thick wall, would they find that other boy they needed to drag back up? Edward Alexander, aka Crowley, says a great demon never before seen and not mentioned in any holy text can be summoned through a combination of the existing methods. So he said to learn that method and to break through the common view of the world with something that can be found anywhere!! A name was spoken. It was the name of someone who had shaken the world to the point that it was thought he would destroy it. Tonight, we shall destroy one of the impossibilities facing the world! Summon the divine name of Kamisato Kakeru with physical form and fix him to Olam Asiyah, the surface of the Four Worlds!!!!!! In that instant, everyone there had to have been thinking the same thing. That of course applied to Kamijou, Fran, and Luca, but it was also true of Maya, Olivia, and the other girls pursuing them. They wanted Kamisato Kakeru to return. But because that missing boy was so important to them, the girls had taken different paths. As Ghost Girl Maya, Cosplay Girl Olivia, and the others watched the ceremony begin without them, they all thought the same thing. They wanted Kamisato Kakeru to return. But they could not entrust his life to an untrustworthy doctor. Because they had just the one chance, they could not let this group waste it. The command was given by Olivia, the girl with shortish twintails who could see the entirety of the scene from her jet engine magic wand. Mayaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! They knew what they had to do. Kamisato Kakeru had disappeared, but they would still protect him. If they tried this without Kihara Yuiitsus World Rejecter, it would all fail and the perilous suspension bridge would definitely fall. So to stay just a hairs breadth away from that definitely, the girls could not allow anyone else to act on any other hopes. They did not have time to analyze the entire scene from the foundation to the corresponding tools, so they did not know what method this magical ceremony was using. So Maya used her high-rise building height to attack the most obvious thing. One thing stood out here. Among the countless metal boxes in the container yard, a single light glowed like the north star above the dark sea. It was the A.A.A. The Anti-Art Attachment. There was a roar. The swinging fist could not attack just the one container, so it blew away the entire pyramid of metal boxes. Part 6 Kh... Kamijou Touma could only watch as it happened before his eyes. The A.A.A. was the other mirror that corresponded to the magical circle carved into the city. That symbol created an endless array of images to create a normally impossible resonance, but it was shattered by an attack that tore into the very landscape. What happened to the ceremony? What about Kamisa-...!! He did not have time to finish his question. The pyramid did not vanish after it was knocked into the air. The airborne objects were pulled back down by gravity. And they were not at all concerned about the tiny cart as it drove along. As they fell all over the place, bounced around unnaturally, and sometimes broke apart or burst, Pirate Girl Luca desperately operated the steering wheel, but she could not handle it all. The cart could not support all three peoples weight as it swerved in a sharp S-shape, so it rose from the ground. The situation took a decisive turn when Fran let go of the roll bar lest she be trapped between the cart and the ground. The cart rolled sideways. Kamijous vision was utter chaos. He had no idea where he was rolling to. After the countless containers had fallen randomly around, the yard was like a giant labyrinth. The surface of his body felt hot. He felt ill like his bodys core had been shifted sideways by an invisible hand. He flipped from his back onto his stomach and took several deep breaths. If he had stayed on his back, he had seriously feared he would vomit and be unable to avoid drowning to death in it. (Why am I feeling nauseous...after a blow to my body? Dammit, what is happening to my body?) He shook his woozy head and somehow managed to grab onto a nearby container wall. He slowly stood up. What had happened to Fran? Was Luca all right? And what had happened to their magic ceremony? Yeah... Kamijou Touma had no specialized magical knowledge. Index and Leivinia Birdway had explained it to him, but that had not reached the level of techniques he could actually use. However, there was one thing even his spiky-haired head could intuitively understand. After all, Kamisato Kakeru was nowhere to be seen. So there was no way it had succeeded. He was surrounded by silence. No one was moving. As he stood there, Kamijou finally spotted Frans small form in the disastrous scene. She was resting her back against a collapsed container. The overstuffed backpack may have saved that rabbit-ear antennae girl. Fran! Hey, Fran!! Kamijou Touma walked unsteadily through the labyrinth to approach her. She did not respond. She was simply staring up into the night sky. Was she searching for something there or trying to suppress the rising tears? He also spotted Pirate Girl Luca. She was collapsed near the toppled cart, so he passed his arms below hers and dragged her away in case the engine caught fire. She was limp. She seemed to be conscious, but she felt as heavy and hopeless as a corpse in his arms. (Why?) Kamijou bit his lip. (Why did this happen!!!???) It had looked like something would happen. Even an amateur like him had felt the signs of success. They had to have been so close. If they had given it just a small push more, it would have been like pouring one last drop into the cup so the surface tension broke and water spilled out. They might have broken down the wall between worlds. No one here hated Kamisato Kakeru. They were all fighting based on their feelings for him. And yet this was how it had turned out. It had all stayed on the preset rails, they had failed to save Kamisato, and the girls were still trapped by the right hand and only able to obey Kihara Yuiitsus every word. There was no light anywhere. Kamijou could no longer tell where the A.A.A.s container was. And the fact that the glowing container had fallen silent seemed to imply that something had ended. After all, they had nothing else to use. Rescuing someone who had been sent to an isolated frame by World Rejecter had always been like grasping a cloud. They had only found a point in common because Kamisato had just so happened to fight the original A.A.A. beforehand and had sent that device to the other world. That was not the kind of coincidence they could hope to find again. With that single opportunity stolen from them, no amount of struggling would-... ...No? Something caught in a corner of Kamijous mind. There was something he could not afford to overlook. Kamijou and Kamisato had not known each other for very long, but that short time had been packed full of events. He thought back over all of those. Was the original A.A.A. really the only starting point for rescuing Kamisato? Was there really nothing else? He needed to recall everything he had been involved in. Was there an item in common between the two worlds? Was there something deeply linked to the world of magic? Wait. He had assumed it had been erased. He had assumed he would never see it again and had driven it from his mind. But if he was going to seek Kamisato Kakeru who had also been erased... If he was allowing himself to think about the people who had supposedly vanished... There is something. ? Fran had looked like an empty-eyed doll, but her head finally moved. There was still no light of willpower there, but the spiky-haired boy understood his next words would greatly influence the fate of everything here. It isnt just the original A.A.A.! Theres something else with extremely powerful magical symbolism that exists in both this world and that world!! We still have hope!! So he said it. He gave his conclusion. Its Nephthys!! 90% of her was erased in advance and the remaining 10% was remade into Patricia Birdways body. That Magic God exists in both worlds!! Part 7 A brown goddess with long silver hair rubbed a scar on her cheek. Oh dear. It must be difficult to send us here without leaving a mark. Part 8 On occasion, a short statement could dramatically change the world. !!!!!! !!!!!! As soon as they received new hope from Kamijou, Fran and Luca shot to their feet. They actually grabbed his arms and dragged him inside one of the containers that had burst open from the fall. That leaves Kamijou Touma... The ground trembled as the ghost girls giant foot dropped down surprisingly close nearby. It did not seem to be a specific attack because the footsteps continued on with the same rhythm. If we bring his head back, we can preserve the current status quo. We can protect Kamisato-kun...! That girl had no guarantee either. Even if the plan had failed this time, she could not allow Fran and Luca to escape if she decided those two could do the same thing again. And Kihara Yuiitsu had specifically ordered the death of Kamijou. He doubted she would leave before taking his head. First of all, explain this. Is the Patricia you mentioned that Patricia? Yes! I mean the blonde girl who met Kamisato during the whole Sample Shoggoth business. You were there for the attack on my dorm, so dont you remember what happened at the end there? The brown Magic God sacrificed herself to save Patricia, right!? Come to think of it, I think I saw her watching us from the hospital window. Youre right about that too. Our goal is the hospital Misaka led us to. Its in District 7, so thats pretty far away. But can we still do it!? There was no way they would argue with him. They would grab at even the slightest hope now. The A.A.A. and Nephthys will have quite different symbols. And this sounds like it will involve infection magic in addition to imitative. But Crowley is a magician deeply rooted in Egypt. If we can somehow link this to the secrets of Isis, Osiris, and Horus, we can use that as a starting point... Hey. An amateur like Kamijou could not judge the value of the information, so he threw out everything he had learned speaking with that true Magic God. Nephthys said something about having a habit of crying. Othinus said something about her not using a set system and instead helping out whatever human is around when she feels like it, but is that related to her traits as a god? The crying woman at Osiriss funeral...!! Luca, what about that!? Its a bit of a detour, but weve got our connection. Crowley viewed Osiris less as a god than as a symbol of death and were dragging Kamisato-kun up from the bog of death. Nephthys is related to funerals, so we can try to use that to achieve a resonance with the hexagram drawn out across the city!! That just left one question: how to return to the District 7 hospital. The cart had rolled over when the container yard had been blown away, so it was useless now. Luca, is there some kind of vehicle in the container yard you can drive? Its a distribution base, so they should have plenty of trucks, mobile cranes, and forklifts. Im only licensed up to mid-sized motorcycles. Only that trucker Deborah would be able to drive those giant things with weird centers of gravity and wheel positions. If I try to drive one of those like the cart, itll topple over at the first curve. And dont forget about my heat wave microwaves. Even if a truck was abandoned here, it wouldnt run anymore. All the electronics would have been wiped out. Then what do we do!? Even if Ellen is out of the picture, Olivia and the others are still overhead. We cant lose them on foot or on bicycles!! Then again, that would be true even if they could still use the cart. Without enough speed to lose Olivia, the former Kamisato Faction would be hot on their heels all the way to the District 7 hospital. And instead of the original A.A.A. which was essentially a pile of junk, the attack would hit the hospital and Patricia this time. What could they do? And as they all tried to think of something, they heard rotors loudly chopping at the air. They were large transport helicopters. Not many people still had functioning engines at their disposal in the dead city and one option came to mind immediately thanks to all the chaos they had experienced on the way here. Useful Spider!? shouted Fran. If they survived, they shouldve just stayed put!! Well, it was your station that supplied the finishing blow to their observatory. With their base destroyed, they must not have been able to acquire more equipment. They were no longer fighting on equal footing with the former Kamisato Faction. They were trying to land here and there on the container yard, but most of them were shot down by Magical Girl Olivia and the others flying around. And it seemed Useful Spider was after more than just a chaotic brawl. Someone spoke from the loudspeaker on one of the helicopters that lowered its altitude while spewing black smoke. If youre stuck, we can lend a hand!! If you need transportation, hop onto any one of the choppers!! That helicopter could not maintain its position and made an emergency landing behind a pyramid. Kamijou and the girls exchanged a glance. Is it a bluff meant to lure us out? Theyre losing far too many helicopters for that, dont you think? Kamijou stuck his head out of the containers broken door and looked up at the helicopters shining spotlights down. And he spoke. Lets do it. What if its a trap? Kamijou did not answer. When the spiky-haired boy took the first step outside, Hoodie Bikini Fran and Pirate Hat Luca followed. With Maya swinging her arms around while standing as tall as a high-rise building and with Olivia using her jet engine for aerial combat, the container yard had become hell on earth. Useful Spider was sporadically fighting back with the heavy machineguns sticking out from the side cargo doors, but it felt more like a way to distract their opponents than to defeat them. Useful Spider was buying time while knowing they would be defeated. They wanted to get as many helicopters to the ground as possible so they could wait for someone. A bright spotlight briefly shined down on Kamijou and the girls, but instead of stopping like in the theatre, it quickly moved away. Useful Spider may have decided drawing attention to them would only show the enemy where they were. If Useful Spider intended to shoot them, they would have kept the light on them and started firing the heavy machineguns, but they did not. Hm? Whats going on? Luca frowned as they approached a helicopter that had finally managed to land. The man operating the heavy machinegun was beckoning them into the cargo door. Hurry up!! Hurry!! Still confused, the three of them piled on as the rotor above grew louder. The floor rocked due to the unstable motion, but the helicopter managed to rise. Kamijou asked a question while still collapsed on the floor. Did you read the message I left? Yeah, you mean the memo saying to help out if we really wanted to resolve all this, right? We thought it was just some kids nonsense, but then that station fell on us. That finally told us who was in control of this terrible situation, goddammit!! The gunner looked up into the night sky while holding the heavy machineguns grip. Also, we heard from that guy that there was a kid who charged right into a rioting crowd to save a filthy old man who wasnt some cute girl or rich or anything. ? Do you not remember the man you met in the park? Well, thats probably even better. It shows all the more how virtuous you are. Oh, right, right. The last thing he said was not directed at Kamijou. The gunner turned to Fran. We heard your confession too. If theres a chemical fire or biological disaster coming, well charge right in, but not even we could do that. Her words had gotten through. They were standing on the same stage. It had not been intentional and there had been no plan, but this situation was a direct result of that girl working up her courage. The resolution were talking about might not be quite the same as the one youre imagining, warned Kamijou. Anythings fine as long as it brings light back to Academy City. Look at this city. Its completely dead and covered in darkness! Well accept whatever nonsense the world might throw at us if it means getting the power, gas, and water back up and running!! Thats what Useful Spider is for! Listen, we arent going to let you spend Christmas surrounded by rubble!! This was all part of the 48 Hours to Restore Order. Kamijou could not approve of everything they had done to achieve that goal. He still remembered how they had mercilessly sprayed high-pressure water on rioting boys and girls to throw them from an elevated highway and how they had used giant fans to tear down the shelters that were hiding weapons. But this was the desire at the base of it all. They wanted to bring Academy City back to normal as soon as possible. They were willing to play the thankless role to that end. They too were trying to protect Academy City. That was why they had set aside taking revenge for the damage to their headquarters and instead prioritized suppressing the former Kamisato Faction that had caused all of this mess. They had used themselves as bait and let themselves be shot down to send a transport helicopter to Kamijous group since they held the key to ending this. They would not betray Kamijou. At the very least, not until Kamisato Kakerus return had ended the chaos. We need to get to the big hospital on the south end of District 7! We can end all of this if we get there!! That was immediately passed onto the pilot and they accelerated. Perhaps to hide their intent, several other helicopters took off in other directions. Also-... A loud rumbling reached them. Are you still doing this? You havent given up yet, Fraaan!? That voice seemed to shake the entire world and the hoodie bikini girl bit her lip. How can I give up...? But she spoke. The small girl declared war once more. How can I give up on Kamisato-chans future!? Even if I can never be with him again and even if I know my feelings can never be fulfilled, I still wont give up!! Kamijou once more focused on the people pursuing them. And he resumed speaking. Also, this citys chaos will never end if we dont lose them and silence them!! Part 9 The pursuers were also racking their brains in the face of this unexpected situation. Cosplay Girl Olivia asked a question as she flew around with her jet engine. What do we do, Maya? It doesnt look like this is over yet! Either way, we cant fulfill Tyrants order without Kamijou Toumas head. We have to do this if were going to save Kamisato-kun!! After all, he had accepted that ghost as she was. He had supported her very existence by saying she did not need to change. And that was why Goryou Maya was still here. So she would become any evil spirit and she would transform into even a vengeful spirit. Even after growing to the size of a high-rise building, the ghost with the heart-shaped headdress and the bewitchingly revealing burial clothes had to travel along the ground. Olivia and the others who called the sky their home could view the situation from a different perspective. How about we destroy that magic circle? If they dont notice, theyll essentially start operating on Kamisato-kun with broken tools. If we want to rest easy, we have to kill the doctor and not just break the tools. The magic circle on the road doesnt matter. We need to keep chasing the ones who will use it!! But that target was a problem too. After several transport helicopters had landed in the container yard in a nearly suicide mission, they had flown off again in different directions. It was unknown which one Kamijou Touma, Fran, and Luca were onboard. It was even possible they had split up and were riding multiple helicopters. What do we do!? Lets go with the only surefire solution: bring them all down!! Part 10 Normal helicopters only had a top speed of 300-400 kph, but that was still far faster than a 50cc cart. And helicopters could ignore the terrain and take the shortest route, so the time loss was considerably reduced. But. They still could not lose Cosplay Girl Olivia who had a jet engine built into her magic wand. She was continuing to fire tracer rounds that looked like red or blue fireworks, perhaps to look like magic bullets. Damn!! Shes still flying around up here!? The gunner leaned out of the side cargo door and returned fire, but the downpour of bullets could not hit the magic girl who was taking complex turns through the night sky. Also... On your mark. Kamijou could have sworn he heard a voice saying that. He immediately grabbed the gunners shoulder and pulled him back inside the helicopter. The very next moment, someone jumped in through the open cargo door and continued on to break through the opposite door. Kamijou thought his eardrums would burst from the explosive pressure of the wind. The gunner had been strapped in by a belt in place of a lifeline, but that belt had been severed. Fran had been sitting on the floor of the helicopter and she vocalized what she had seen from there. C-Claire!! Did that plant glasses girl make a comeback with her fake A.A.A.!? That girl had indeed made a decoy version out of plants to make Kihara Yuiitsu think the A.A.A. tech was spreading. It had not functioned as an actual weapon and only flew using plant alcohol fuel, but... All of you girls are way too obsessed!! Also, Im pretty sure Claire had both her fists held forward as she flew, pointed out Luca. Kamijou looked out from the helicopter which was much more ventilated now. The glasses plant girl and the magical girl were complexly intertwining their paths as they targeted the helicopter once more. Only the other cargo door had been hit, but the helicopter would break apart if they took any more of those attacks. And this was too much for the gunner to hit with his heavy machinegun. They would be destroyed at this rate. Take us lower!! shouted Kamijou. Get close to the walls along the road!! The power of inertia seemed to erase the pull of gravity. Both cargo doors were wide open and they had no lifeline. They could be thrown outside at any time, but the pilot went all out in fulfilling the reckless flight request. Kamijou thought he heard someone click their tongue. Perhaps to avoid running into a wall or breaking through the helicopter, the jet engine cosplay girl sharply changed course at the last second. But Claire charged right on in. If she had not hesitated to avoid colliding with Olivias altered course, that attack would likely have destroyed the helicopter. But she strayed a bit off target and broke through the thick reinforced glass of a building alongside them. And she did not seem to care. She actually accelerated inside the office building and blew away countless documents and LCD monitors as she flew alongside the helicopter. I cant believe her! Shes adjusting her glasses in the middle of all this!! A refined gardening girl is a frightening thing. What is wrong with the world when shes overshadowing a cosplayer who lives for posing in front of the camera? Claire broke through another window and was released into the night sky once more. While Olivia was essentially a normal human, Claire was made of plant cells and could regenerate even after being bisected. This damage would be nothing to her. Shes probably relaxed because she knows she cant die. That just means we need to send her into a wall too thick for her to break through. The pilot must have picked up on that because the helicopter descended even further. They entirely abandoned the advantage gained by the flying machine. They skimmed just off the ground and followed the entirely unlit streets at 400 kph. Olivia and Claire of course pursued them with their magic wand and boosters, but they had to be much more careful now. They sometimes had to duck below pedestrian bridges or fly above elevated highways while just about grazing the surface. Claire was far outside the norm since she had broken through thick reinforced glass before, but even she would have difficulty flying after running straight into a mass of steel or concrete. But lowering their altitude so far brought another threat back into the picture. Something heavy and gigantic passed by directly overhead. From the cargo door, it looked like a comet measuring several dozen meters across. But it was not. It was... Mayas...will-o-the-wisp!? shouted Luca. Then the giant mass dropped down in their path. In the blink of an eye, it remade itself into a girl in white burial clothes who then made a full right-to-left swing of a tower-sized arm. Owaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!??? The unnamed pilot screamed. The helicopter rose somewhat and slipped between the giant fingers before passing between the two legs below the revealing burial clothes. Looks like shes the type that doesnt wear underwear with Japanese clothing, commented Fran. !? The gunner quickly looked back, but they had already passed by and it was impossible to tell if Fran was telling the truth. Having missed her target, the giant vengeful spirit let her humanoid form collapse and transformed back into a comet-like will-o-the-wisp. The pursuing spirit produced a spiteful voice. I wont let you have him... Ill never let you have Kamisato-kun!! Who ever said he was yours? asked Fran. I will break Kamisato Kakerus curse and free him! I will show him he is not just a powerful attraction! I will show that we can leave him of our own free will and that that is exactly why all of you are staying with him of your own free will!! Doing that C just that C will surely take a burden off his heart!! Why...would you do that!? There is nothing in that for you!! No matter how this ends, I can no longer stay by his side!! But I can still do something for him! And I will see that desire of mine fulfilled. Maya, no matter what you might do, I wont let you interfere with the end of my love!!!!!! Kamijou and the others were being helplessly tossed about, but they could not just let the situation carry them along. Kamijou had regretted doing just that with the High Priest and with Kamisato. He could not let that happen again. Lets do something about this. We cant bring these monsters with us to the District 7 hospital. Thatll just be a repeat of the container yard! But what exactly do we do!? asked Luca. Normal bullets cant hit Olivia or Claire and Maya has partially become a perpetual motion machine by turning her own scent into the incense that maintains her own existence. I cant think of any way to defeat them! Ive been wondering about that, muttered Kamijou. Hey, Luca. You said Maya was adjusting her scent by being careful about what she eats right? And that shes always munching on vegetable sticks or sipping at a sweet drink. Only Maya knows the exact ratio, but it looked something like a combination of vegetarianism and an extreme sweet tooth. Keh, interrupted Fran. Youre dead wrong if you think a girls body is made of fruit and sugar. The spiky-haired boy continued thinking and then leaned out of the cargo door even as the helicopter shook violently. What are you doing!? That would mean her mouth, I guess. Okay, this might work. Without looking back, Kamijou focused on the powerless city. Somewhere...there has to be a windowless building somewhere... Kihara Yuiitsus base? Its true thats somewhere in District 7, but... No, not that one!! Kamijou shouted back, but the giant will-o-the-wisp passed over the helicopter again. They could not ascend for fear of Claire and Olivia, so they were restricted to the roads. That made them easy to pursue for those who could fly freely. He observed the area up ahead where Maya landed and become a girl in burial clothes and a heart-shaped headdress. He read the large writing on a building wall. H552M. Thats got to be it!! When Kamijou reached for the heavy machinegun sticking out of the cargo door, the professional gunner quickly grabbed him. Tell me how to shoot!! Maya isnt reliant on her Censer drones right now, warned Luca. She cant be defeated by physical attacks!! That doesnt matter! Listen, Im going to start firing with this!! It was a lot like a three-legged race. Without a lifeline, Kamijou could be thrown outside if the helicopter tilted and he worked with the gunner to forcibly aim at the flat wall of a building up ahead. Each shot was a huge bullet the same size as from an anti-materiel rifle. It was a poorly aimed stream of bullets, but each one opened a fist sized hole in the wall, cracks spread from those, those cracks connected, and the entire wall peeled away. It may have been similar to piercing a window with an icepick to create a triangular hole. But none of it actually hit Mayas giant form. Dont think your tricks can stop our feelings for Kamisato-kun!! roared the ghost girl. !! Fran manipulated the screen of the card-sized terminal she pulled from her backpack. Her UFO balloon had been floating around somewhere, but now she sent it toward the ghost girl. Pirate Girl Lucas spare bombs had been attached to it, but even that failed. Maya swung her arm and they only blew away the wall of a nearby building. The ghost girl with long black hair and white burial clothes was entirely unfazed. To target the helicopter down by the ground, she swung her foot back like she was about to kick a soccer ball. She built up enough strength to break a landmark broadcast tower. What do we do!? shouted the gunner. Its already over. The immediate reply was the one everyone had wanted but that no one had expected. Fran and Luca gasped right along with the gunner. Maya was careful about what she ate to maintain just the right scent. I dont know what the exact ratio was, but messing it up is easy. When I was talking with the chemistry club, they said there are basic smells just like there are primary colors. Use them and you can overpower other, more sensitive smells. Hennings theory had 6: Spicy, Flowery, Resinous, Fruity, Foul, and Burnt. Amoores theory had 7: Camphoraceous, Musky, Floral, Pepperminty, Ethereal (as a chemical), Pungent, and Putrid. Unlike sight or taste, the classification was not complete, but that showed just how complex a sense it was. For example, some neurophysiologists who researched smell rejected the very idea of basic smells and C with two exceptions C it was not known why humans detected those scents at all. That helped when we had no water during the heat wave. It was a luxury though, so when we didnt have any, we had to search out used coffee filters and teabags. This was Kamijou Toumas goal. I targeted a windowless agricultural building where crops are grown. And with an H for herbs and an M for mint!! The entire building is full of mint. Even if its all shriveled up with the power out, blowing holes in the wall should release a dense aroma. And once you breathe that in through your mouth or nose, youll lose that incense created from the optimal balance!! It was unclear if ghosts really existed, but Maya did at least. By inducing psychological instability with low-frequency waves and smells undetectable by human senses, she created an environment where she could be seen and thus exist. It was a lot like passing colorless light through a prism, so she could create the color or form that she wanted. And that had transformed the slender and ethereal girl into a nearly undefeatable force. What...? But what happened when that fell apart? What if someone took a hammer to the prism that split the light? Not even she would know how the light would scatter. Goryou Mayas beautiful face swelled out unnaturally. The building-sized vengeful spirit could no longer maintain her own form. Her outlines collapsed one after another, like her own bones were consuming her flesh. Kaaami...sssa... If she had come to a stop and calmed down, she might have been able to regain her form. But. Even if she had died and lost her physical body, she was still a girl in love. I will...do anything...for him!!!! There was no way she would stop. She stayed true to herself to the end. Even as she crumbled away, she tried to kick at the road like there was a soccer ball there. She did not give in. She would not hand Kamisato Kakerus fate to anyone she did not approve of. None of them was a villain, but they had all chosen the wrong method. Kamijou leaned out of the helicopter and clenched his right fist without thinking. He considered jumping out at her if she continued pursuing them. But she could not keep it up. By attacking as she fell apart, she ended up detaching her own foot. The giant leg flew in a parabolic arc like someone throwing their shoe after picking up speed on a swing. The helicopter just barely managed to avoid it and then slipped below the girl in burial clothes by flying right up next to the destroyed agricultural building. But those behind them were not so lucky. Ah!? First, twintailed Sawai Olivia flew in on her jet engine magic wand. She tried to take a sharp turn away from the giant leg, but it grazed her shoulder and sent her into a tailspin. Next, Tazuma Claire tried to fly below Maya, but she was caught in the collapse and crushed. Kamijous group no longer had to fear pursuit. The other girls might continue pursuing them on the ground, but the helicopter could outrun them by ascending and flying at full speed. Kamijou Touma recalled where he had seen Patricia looking out of the hospitals window. The 13th window from the right on the 8th floor!! We dont have time to land. Fran, Luca, you two jump right iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!! Part 11 ...? Things were noisy outside. A small blonde girl sat up in bend and looked out the window. And then it happened. An elevated window could be heard shattering. The transport helicopter was piloted with miraculous skill. It flew right up to the hospital window and turned to the side like a stunt car drifting into a parallel parking spot. The cargo door had already been blown off and the girls were not strapped in, so that was a decisive action for them. The powerful inertia swung them around and tossed them out before they could even steel their resolve. They broke through the window and rolled into the hospital room. Dh! Pirate Girl Luca groaned and got up, but she did not find what she expected. Whats this? He sounded so confident, but theres no one here. Did he get the room wrong? No, that may have been intentional. Fran also stood up and tapped on the wall with a loose fist. She seemed to be confirming the presence of a patient in the neighboring room. After seeing Sample Shoggoth and the red fur of Cannibalization, it may have been impossible for that girl to look away from the truth of the world. After receiving the flesh and blood of Magic God Nephthys, it may have been impossible for her to be removed from the mystical. But there was no reason to actively pull her into it. That may have been the thought behind it. Its just one thin wall. Thats right. We can fit her inside the ceremonial ground from here. The two girls faced each other. They were swapping the A.A.A. out for the remnants of Nephthys. The different symbols would require redoing some of the details, but they already had the overall framework worked out. They did not need any encouragement. They knew they could do it. They breathed in and then out. Thank you for sticking with me this far, Luca. Then Karasuma Fran smiled and gave an announcement to the girl who had been her comrade in arms and her rival. Now, lets bring an end to my love. Part 12 When she received the report below the Windowless Building, Kihara Yuiitsus fate was also sealed. ... ... ... The atmosphere had entirely changed. The girls she had positioned as her personal guards were no longer obligated to obey her orders. Plus, this was the group she had selected to protect her. Their combat ability was immeasurable. So once their positions changed, everything took a 180 degree turn and she was thrown into an utterly hopeless situation. It was like a clownfish being mistakenly eaten by its symbiotic anemone. The many blades, gazes, and pressures that had defended her now turned to face Kihara Yuiitsu from all directions. I see, I see, I see. Lab Coat and Bikini Yuiitsu did not sound particularly interested. One-armed Mass Murderer Salome slowly stood up in front of her. No, it was not just her. The other girls with equally strange powers and abilities also approached. While inside the predators maw, the greatest evil looked like she was seeing the end of an experiment. This would be game over then. Between the Lines 4 Someone spoke from somewhere. Oh? Youre leaving already? Well, dont worry about us. This battle will probably never end, but that should be a lot of fun. And someone else replied. Yeah, everyones calling for me. Volume 17, Epilogue: Or Doubt Contains the Truth - Bet_Time.Red_or_Black. Volume 17, Epilogue: Or Doubt Contains the Truth C Bet_Time.Red_or_Black. This was what happened at dawn. This is Useful Spider. We are pleased to report that the 48 Hours to Restore Order has been completed. Our Academy City has returned. Please rest easy as you return to your studies. Kamijou Touma heard the voice amplified by a loudspeaker. Ow, ow, ow, ow! Dont bite me, you idiot! Dont bite me, Index! First you vanish like you know exactly what youre doing and then you call us out to the station only to never show up. Touma, I think you need to rethink your life in several different ways... What is this quiet anger? Have I really crossed some kind of line this time!? And dont forget that you stood me up as well, human. Gnyaaahhh!? I dont need a god picking up that biting habit! Youre gonna tear my earlobe right off!! Once everything appeared to be over, Kamijou hobbled back to the shelter school and found a number of tragedies wrought by his own failure to explain anything. Fukiyose crossed her arms (in a way that lifted up her large breasts) and sounded utterly exasperated. You reap what you sow... Can you explain to me what exactly he sowed to warrant reaping this!? With the way everyones carrying on around him, Kami-yan mustve been on one hell of an unstoppable rampage!! Akikawa Mie, who was struggling in a school swimsuit, and the Jumpy Bunny also sighed. Anyway, now I can leave... You did a good job through all of this, Mie-chan! Yeah, right. Im leaving this important position to you, Onee-chan. Im getting home and going to sleep. When the people in the student council room left the school, the rest of the students in the shelter saw it as their cue. They hesitantly started walking out past the fence. They ran into students from another school on the way home. It was the high class girls of Tokiwadai Middle School who had apparently just left the frog-faced doctors hospital. When he spotted a familiar face, Kamijou raised a hand in greeting with a pair of jaws still firmly latched onto his head. Hi... Nn. It was Misaka Mikoto. She gave a puzzled look to the girl clinging to the spiky-haired boys back and to the fairy(?) on his shoulder, but then she caught up to him. Are you headed back to your dorm too? Im really worried about the contents of the fridge and the rice cooker. Although I guess anythings better than opening the door to find a stray Element saying hi... Kamijou slowly sighed. More importantly, are you okay? I dont know what that curse business was about, but youre still recovering, right? If its like a cold, you should probably get somewhere warm and get some rest. Eh? Wait, not so close! Hmm, you dont seem to have a fever... But touching you with my right hand isnt really doing anything. Maybe all you can do at this stage is rest to recover your strength. I-I-I said not so close!!!!!! Squeezing her eyes shut and shoving him away with both hands was all well and good, but the electricity surging form her palms was more of an issue. Kamijou was not the only one blown away. In case you had forgotten, he had a fairy on his shoulder and a nun clinging to his back. And when she saw the three of them lying in pile, the look in Mikotos eyes cooled. ...No matter what happens, everything continues like normal for you, doesnt it? Ugh, cough. Im prepared to chalk your emotional instability up to a teenage rebellious phase, but how about you tell me what the root cause of it is...? Kamijous voice was quiet and unstable as he lay on the road, but Mikoto did not seem too bothered as she struck a daunting pose next to him. I dont have to worry about it personally since my dorm is outside, but the girls in the dorm inside the School Garden arent going to have it easy. And with what happened to the school building, the recovery work is going to take a lot of manual labor. Kamijou recalled the tragic state of Tokiwadai Middle School and that brought something else to mind. The A.A.A. And the mysterious nosebleeds that were likely related to that somehow. Hey, Misaka... I think Ill have to use that thing a while longer. And instead of military weapons, I can put together some construction attachments... Kamisato Kakeru heard the voice amplified by a loudspeaker. As lights started coming on in the early morning city, a great cheer shook the air like during an international sports competition. He could feel the vibration in his skin and in the ground and not just his ears, and he let out a deep breath. He sensed some other breaths as well. That is the end of that, said Ellen. I had no idea what was going to happen when you vanished before our eyes. I feel like I understand you a little bit better now, Kamisato-san, said Claire. Maybe we should give you a collar or give you a GPS ankle bracelet. Stop it, Claire, said Elza. Its because we dont give him enough space that the boss wanders off like that. The girls were speaking cheerfully to him now, but things had been much worse when he had first returned. In all seriousness, they had nearly killed him. He could accept Machina, the young wife and kitchen drunk in a swimsuit and apron, who had been so overwhelmed with emotion she had smacked him with a frying pan. It was to be expected that Elza, the girl with roughly cut fox ear hair, had hit him with her bottle of 10 yen coins. But he had been truly prepared to die when Plant Girl Claire had wrapped his entire body in vines, Mass Murderer Salome had wordlessly chewed through a utility knife blade to gather power, and Trucker Deborah had turned the corner of the intersection in a gigantic semi-trailer truck pulling a 20-ton container. For an instant, he had suspected that the cruel Magic Gods had created a happy-looking hell that only appeared to be a safe return. In his usual habit, Kamisato tried to crack his neck with his hand, but then he recalled he had no hand. What do I do about this? Maybe I should get a prosthetic. Wait, boss! I wont let you take a step into Salomes world! Thats right. If youre gonna do it, at least make it something cooler. Like a drill!! Or a pile bunker!! The girls all cheerfully gave their opinions, but his cyborg sister did not actually step forward. She wore the incredibly aggressive outfit of a naked raincoat, but she now had a cooler hanging from her shoulder by a strap. It could only contain one thing. What do we do about this? Sew it onto me now and Ill probably be blown away again. But I cant exactly let someone else have it either. I guess well just preserve it while searching for a way to erase its power. He was implicitly saying he had grown beyond his undivided focus on taking revenge against the Magic Gods. By the way... What is it, goddamn stupid Onii-chan? No, its nothing. Kamisato looked to the cooler once more. Taking it back was fine and he should celebrate the fact that they had settled this before someone like Kihara Yuiitsu could use it maliciously. But how had they taken it back? What had happened to that usurper? The girls smiles did not give him an answer. Im surprised Maya could recover from that muddy mess shed turned into. If anything, shes looking better than ever after remaking her Censers from Academy City parts. The real surprise was getting Mary back. Yeah, she can be stubborn, so catching her wasnt easy. Shes supposedly inherited the noble spirit of the Japanese wolf, but we really need to put a collar on her or something. We never wouldve found her if she hadnt reacted to those Useful Spider peoples siren by howling on the rooftop. Has anyone seen Fran? No, but Ive heard the cosplay girl hurt her shoulder in a minor collision. She said she was about ready to move on from Kanamin, so she might actually be happy about that. I mean, arent sickly girls the big thing right now? Shes so dedicated to realism that if the characters arm is in a sling, shed probably smash her own bones with a hammer. And Ellen, youre pretty sturdy yourself. ... ... ... Kihara Yuiitsu had once said the following: I must become a unique Kihara that surpasses my teacher. But what kind of accomplishment would prove I had done that? I gave it a lot of thought. She had never been focused on the 100 girls. She had been fighting against something else. And I think the most obvious answer is to monopolize through numbers. Kiharas like us will no longer be special. Every last one of the 6 or 7 billion will be Kiharas. If I accomplish that, even Aleister will be at a loss as he tries to manage us with his Archetype Controller. After all, he manages us by twisting the definitions to crush the minority, but that wont work once all of mankind is a Kihara. And the Kihara growing in everyones hearts will not be unique, so no single method will be able to defeat them all. In that case, this was not a victory or a defeat. Or perhaps the fear that had bound those girls via that special right hand had released into the world a type of Kihara that not even Yuiitsu had seen before. Or perhaps she had drawn out the cruelty that had already existed within them through some other method. Now for one other story. This occurred before Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru parted ways. The people following me werent being manipulated by my right hands power. Im embarrassed to admit it, but theyre with me for some other reason. Im not about to deny that anymore. Kamisato had given a pale smile, but that had not been all he had to say. He had continued. But it still seems weird to me that Claire is a lot like a plant, that Luca can use the magic of Legba Atibon who is connected to Voodoo and pirates, and so on. Something has twisted them. And I think my right hand was a part of that. ... So a similar distortion might exist around you, Kamisato had stated. But at the same time, the things around you should still be explainable with what you consider normal. So unlike with me, it isnt a distortion that infects the people around you. A distortion. The root of the power that had created the Kamisato Faction. In that case, where is that distortion? There was something that rivalled the strange powers and abilities of those girls. That distortion exists; you just cant see it. It might behoove you to give that some serious thought. Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakerus paths parted. Then what about the girl who did not follow either of them? What path did she wander onto? Karasuma Fran walked all alone through the city that was regaining signs of life. She had fought with all her might to bring back Kamisato Kakeru. But as a result, she could never walk with him again. She had chosen this path. She had deceived everyone by claiming to be a science-based UFO freak whose Gemstone powers were amplified by the chip she had implanted in her neck. But she was actually a magician from the Anglican Church. No matter what her feelings, she could not escape the sin she had committed. She had also said she would take responsibility for what had happened to Academy City once the recovery was complete. Happiness was nowhere to be found. But she was not seeking it. So... Yes, this should make a good location for a conclusion. Someone stood before the girl who had nowhere to go. That human looked like both a man and a woman, like both an adult and a child, and like both a saint and a sinner. He stared at the traitor with an expression that could not be explained by any of the known emotions. Were you hoping for this from the beginning? she asked. If so, I would have been a tad cleverer about it. Anyone who had done even surface level historical research would know that the man named Aleister Crowley had never succeeded in anything. From a very young age, he had lived a life of one setback after another. Once he resigned himself to the fact that he could not grasp the truth through the proper methods, he had dabbled in the hidden methods of magic and ultimately become one of the sparks that set off a great internal conflict within the worlds largest magic cabal. His innocent daughter had collapsed and his beloved wife had broken. The monastery that supposedly shared their wisdom with all people had made a mistake when treating the sick and it had all fallen apart. Thanks to this, he knew from the beginning that nothing in his life would work out as he wanted. He knew that, but he put everything together so that it would ultimately converge on a single path no matter what crises befell him. That was the series of flowcharts he referred to as his plan. Anyone unfamiliar with the facts behind it would likely see it as a nightmarish destiny that could never be corrected. But those who had been blessed from the beginning and were fulfilled enough to never question the status quo would never seek out magic in the first place. The Magic Names they carved into their hearts were like scabs or scars that filled in what that person was missing. Kamisato Kakeru or Misaka Mikoto. From that decision, I saw another abbreviated line. While I pursued those two on the surface, I used that line to pursue another target that did not show itself on the surface. That line connected directly back to Lola Stuart, it hid the presence of World Rejecter while secretly guiding it here, and it even caused great damage to Academy City, including Kihara Yuiitsus rampage. ...My intent was to draw out you. ... There is no need to be so worried. This was an entirely unplanned prize. I am not about to say this is all following some absolute plan I set up 1000 years ago. The world of man has a nasty habit of tripping me up from both the good and evil side of things, but as long as I can turn all of that in the correct direction, I can accomplish my great desire. Just as both the Sephiroth and the Qliphoth can provide man with hidden knowledge when used correctly. What do you plan to do with me? I will provide you with a result worthy of what you paid. The most painful part of this entire series of events was not the Elements filling the city or the microwave heat wave destroying most of the electronics. ...It was the fact that I had to descend from my vertical ship and step out into the public eye. That was a high price, but it means a lot that I have in turn acquired a spy with a direct connection to the Anglican Churchs Archbishop. No matter how much pressure I put on Necessarius through the official channels, I never receive a response, but things should be different with you. Karasuma Fran recalled the time that had passed and the people that had been there. She wondered if the quake starting from her would reach them. And...if I refuse? I was never expecting you to agree. Even if you have been set up with a trick that prevents you from divulging your secrets, that security system will no longer function if I separate your memories from your personality. I dirtied my hands quite a bit during the conflict within that cabal. After all, ones stock of knowledge was directly linked to their power back then. So would he cut open her skull and directly attach electrodes? Or would he slice her brain itself into blocks and throw out the portions related to life support and personality? Heh. What is so funny? Oh, just that its a fitting end for a UFO girl to be abducted and mutilated. Any camouflage would have worked as long as it disguised that she was a magician, so why had she continued to seek a new friend in the stars of the night sky? (Yes...) She had been trapped between science and magic. She had been tired of turning a false smile toward someone she cared for and the girls around him. She had been sick of this small planet where she could not escape its influence. It may have been a pure form of the juvenile desire to be taken away to somewhere far, far away. It may have been that desire that led her to work alongside another boy altogether while still thinking about Kamisato Kakeru. She may have been seeking someone who existed outside the rules she was familiar with but that still spoke a common language with her. (In other words, did I just want someone I could open up to?) Someone she could speak to about the worries she could not tell anyone else about. Someone who would still accept her afterwards. Someone who would help her think of a way to make up with the others and let her get into a fight if it did not work. But there was no one like that here. No one came to save her. The story of Karasuma Fran had ended with saving Kamisato Kakeru and the rest was unnecessary. So no one would hear the screams of someone whose story was already over. She resigned herself to that fact. Or she thought she did. However... The situation entirely ignored her intentions and underwent a great change. That change was brought about by dry gunshots. The hoodie bikini girl was not the only one to widen their eyes with surprise. The human had seemed like an intangible shimmering of the heat, but he doubled over like normal when the bullets flew in from the side. There were holes in his green surgical gown and a great quantity of fresh blood flowed out a moment later. This was a perfectly natural result, but Fran could not believe it. She might have accepted it more readily if the blood had been green. Oh. The human tried to call for something, but dark red blood spilled from his mouth. Fran too turned toward the source of the noise. There she saw a boy of high school age with short blond hair who wore a school uniform and thin blue sunglasses. He readily wielded a handgun, but his words were far from logical or efficient. Did you expect this too? Or is it part of what your plan can correct for even if you didnt expect it? Answer me, Aleister! In your own words!! ...I see. Those two had been connected in a position unseen to Fran. That virtual reality theory... I manipulated the crowds using the Spheres and it was all to orchestrate this moment. It was all so I could make progress from the shadows. Tsuchimikados voice was horrifyingly cold. We had an agreement that you would save my little sister Maika. But you didnt do a damn thing when the Elements attacked or the heat wave struck. Its time to end this, Aleister. Your time is over. Be swallowed up by ordinary familial love and die. The human held his mouth as fresh blood spilled out and he held his empty palm out toward the sunglasses boy. But then the human stopped moving. The Archetype Controller. The nightmarish culmination of your work that allows you to divide people between good and evil, like and dislike. But its too bad. I was always a double spy that belongs to both the magic side and the science side. You can turn me towards one side to rob me of the other, but that first side will kill you. So which identity do you want to be killed by, the magician or the esper? More gunshots rang out. The human in a surgical gown collapsed on the spot, but it was the blond sunglasses boy who clicked his tongue. Karasuma Fran. You are Kamisato Kakerus controller. I dont know if youre still connected, though. Who are...you? Tsuchimikado Motoharu. He answered quickly as if he were in a rush. I was an Anglican spy sent to Academy City, but I sold Anglican information to Academy City. You could say Im the Kamijou Touma version of Karasuma Fran. ... Just like you failed, I failed too. Aleister promised to keep my step-sister safe, but he didnt actually do anything. As I said, its time to end this and retreat. But Maika knows nothing of the worlds truth. If I have that normal little sister run through the back alleys with me, shell collapse. And if Im after the support of an organization, which organization should that be? But then you showed up. Are you going to get the Anglican Churchs help? Theyre not exactly great either, but its better than staying in Academy City. Either way, I was fortunate to contact someone with a direct link to Lola. Youre the lifeline for my sister and me, so Ill deal with the problems surrounding you. It doesnt sound very pretty, but its something like a murder exchange. Ill save you, so you save me. We can both play to our strengths, so I look forward to working with you. Fran was unsure whether or not she should take his proffered hand. And he did not wait for her to decide. Anyway, we need to get away from here. Staying here would be a bad idea. B-because Anti-Skill has recovered enough to show up after those gunshots? Dont be silly. More gunshots followed. He clearly aimed for the head of the collapsed human and several dark red holes really did appear in it. Nevertheless... This monster wont die so easily. Well be the ones in trouble. The rabbit-ear antennae girl felt a definite chill in her spine. She did not know what Tsuchimikado was talking about, but her fear and confusion was not directed at him. It was at the supposedly lifeless and unmoving corpse. However, she sensed some kind of invisible miasma escaping the entire body. It was murderous intent. It did not matter where the bullet holes were located. He could reboot himself at any time and spread much more obvious disaster. Fran could tell with such certainty that it felt downright prophetic. The die had been cast. The world was filled with incomprehensible logic. It was like speaking with an alien. But when she was faced with something she could not explain with her own rules, it was hope that grew in Frans heart. This was not a situation she could overcome with her own deck of cards, so that meant the only escape route required using the worlds black box. She had to grab at the aliens hand. She had to board their ship. My name is Karasuma Fran. And mine is Tsuchimikado Motoharu. She left the scene with the boy who stuck the handgun in his belt. But what exactly do we do? I can use my communication equipment to contact the Anglican Church waiting in the background, but they arent enough to send reinforcements into Academy City right away. We cant rely on the strength of an organization. Hes gathered a bunch of adolescent boys and girls in one place, hes spreading unique teachings, and hes even injecting them with drugs to achieve further knowledge. To Aleister, Academy City is the return of Thelema. An individual cant overcome that kingdom with a direct attack. Then what do we do? If you challenge the police to a car chase, you normally cant shake the cop cars and choppers. But things change if you drive right into an art museum. Theyll be too afraid of damaging their surroundings to pursue. This person calling himself Tsuchimikado readily answered. Basically, we go to the last thing Aleister wants destroyed and use it as a shield. Its such an extreme singularity that he doesnt know when he could get his hands on it again. And its at the very foundation of Aleisters precious plan. What is it? Youve already seen it. After slowly exhaling, the professional among professionals answered. Kamijou Touma. When youre in trouble, its always a good idea to ask a classmate for help, nyah He was clueless. He thought it was all over. The spiky-haired boy honestly believed he could sleep like a log all day long since school would certainly be called off for the day. But he had forgotten something important. Kamijou Touma was always hopelessly plagued by misfortune. Ahh, were finally back home. Welcome back... Im already exhausted... There was a bright smile on his face. But only because he had no idea what fate had in store for him 5 seconds later. Volume 17, Afterword Volume 17, Afterword If youve been buying one volume at a time, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. With this, New Testament has reached 17 volumes too. And this marks the end of the story revolving around Kamisato Kakeru. The owner of the right hand becomes the ruler of the girls. The theme here was Kamijou and Frans escape through chaotic Academy City in order to break that curse. Unlike Volume 16, I changed my focus when putting together the battles. Instead of letting the situation carry him along, I put in a lot more scenes of Kamijou clenching his fist and charging right in. I tasked myself with seeing how many people he could save that he did not really need to save. And you could even say that Kamisato Kakeru and the 100 girls fall into that category. I like them both, but which one tugged at your heartstrings? Fran was a character that grew from me wondering what we called UFOs before that word existed and how we handled them. The rabbit-ear antennae were an idea from Haimura-san, but I thought it really worked with her cover story if her design included an element of the moon rabbit. When people saw a strange light in the night sky, they would fear some important event was occurring, or they would try to use it by gaining special knowledge that supposedly poured down from the distant planet (or the moon and the sun as well when using the magic sides terminology). When you look at all that, using horoscope results to create protective charms isnt all that different from creating a special device to communicate with UFOs. Including her, a few girls in the Kamisato Faction had their family names revealed this volume. Maybe that will change your impression of them? Im betting some of you think there are too many girls in the Kamisato Faction so you cant remember all their names, but Kamijou Toumas acquaintances have grown several times that size. That too was part of the experiment this time. Useful Spider was the exact opposite in that they were an important part of the story and yet almost nothing was given about their names or what they looked like. They acted as a contrast to the Kamisato Faction. I think by making the individuals fade away in a group, they gain a different sort of presence. They are the faceless people who think normal things like normal and do not hesitate to take action. That might be a lot like what Kamisato Kakeru would have been if he had never gained a special power in his right hand. As for the occult, I used the sense of mystery from the UFOs while also getting back to the basics with the magic, such as with Crowleys hexagram. With Ghost Girl Maya, ghosts manifesting through incense is an idea everyone has probably heard of, but I added in the modern scientific(?) explanation of low-frequency waves that has followed after the plasma and electromagnetic wave theories. I think the charm of this series is in how those things can mix together. I wrote this story as one to break free of a lot of things. For example, Kamijou spat out everything about his frustrations about what happened with the High Priest and Kamisato. In addition to Kamijou, I also followed that theme with Frans answer to Kamisato. I think her and her surroundings may have broken through some things concerning the strange and abnormal-looking Kamisato Faction, creating more of an affinity there. Really, I just hope you found her cute. But in the end, they are still the Kamisato Faction. I didnt reveal the answer even at the very end, but I hope you will all debate whether she survived or was killed. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san and my editors Miki-san, Onodera-san, and Anan-san. There was a huge variation in characters this time! This had to have been even more of a pain than the Amakusas. Thank you so much for sticking with me to the end. And I give my thanks to the readers. Putting in so many heroines actually creates a large burden. The connection between Kamijou Touma and Kamisato Kakeru was even more experimental than usual, so it may not have gone down smoothly. Still, as long as you enjoyed seeing a surprising side of Kamijou Touma and his friends, I couldnt ask for anything more. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Im still trying to figure out how to delve into the new territory of a brokenhearted girl. -Kamachi Kazuma Volume 18, Prologue: Connection Point - Destiny_Joint. Volume 18, Prologue: Connection Point C Destiny_Joint. Simply viewing the history hidden on the surface is enough to know some important words are needed to describe that human. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of Thelema. Every man and every woman is a star. Love is Thelema, love under will. But you had to get drunk on self-sacrifice. To hell with all of that, Kamisato Kakeru. Im done not acting like myself. Ill show this world just who Kamijou Touma is!! The human created by those ideals was sometimes judged to have an incoherent and sharp tongue, but adding in a single term could supply a pillar that brought dramatic order to that chaotic vortex of knowledge. Kihara Yuiitsu is using World Rejecter as a shield to apply chains to all 100 members of the Kamisato Faction. There is only one way of saving them. We must pull Kamisato-chan out from the other side. Namely, his plan. The starting line was to accept the exceedingly simple fact that the human was always acting with a single goal in mind. Help us, Luca. We can save Kamisato with your magic. Do you still have any complaints!? This was different from a normal life plan or criminal scheme. It was not a serial plan in which each element was stacked on top of the last and stumbling anywhere would cause it all to come tumbling down. I see a connection between that curse and the A.A.A.! If I can continue analyzing this, Im sure I can find a clue to saving Kamisato-kun!! That human found success with difficulty and failed all too easily. And yet as if it were normal, he had never once given up. You freed me from it... But that didnt save everyone at Tokiwadai. They might be smiling on the outside, but something like a cold hunk of ice remains deep in their hearts. So overcome this and save those girls... Bring an end to this problem!! If one part broke, he would pile up the wreckage. If two parts were lost, he would take a detour around the cracks in the ground. He believed that a failure could be used as a handhold or foothold for the next part. So those whose thoughts were bound by the normal serial way of thinking could not understand his parallel actions. They wondered why that wicked madman was so intent on running full-force into the wall of ruin. When Yuiitsu stole Kamisato-hans right hand, you alone werent trapped by the curse. Youre actually a magician, arent you? And since youre oddly obsessed with a British mascot, youre probably from the Anglican Church. But did you know some of these other stories about that inhuman human? Dont take Kamisato-kun from us, Karasuma Fraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!! When did he become yours, Maya? And by leaving him, I will prove that he was not binding anyone to him and that we were following him of our own free will. And that will prove that he has nothing at all to worry about!! For example, even as he started down the path of magic research, he frequently visited a cheap publisher and wrote erotic novels. ...And he did so with such enthusiasm that he referred to male genitalia with more than 100 different metaphors. Thank you for sticking with me this far, Luca. Now, lets bring an end to my love. For example, he was constantly fighting with his fellow Golden magicians, so he repeatedly relieved his pent-up frustrations by putting members of the same cabal in the plays he wrote. Oh? Youre leaving already? Yeah, everyones calling for me. For example, the Paris police began covering the crotches of the male sculptures because they were deemed lewd, but he stole one of the butterfly decorations used for that task and wore it over his pants while boldly attending a social gathering. I see, I see, I see. This would be game over then. For example, he gave his first daughter a name so long it was difficult to write out even in text. And when that daughter died of illness at a very young age, he left tearstains in his journal. This is a mere coincidence. The greatest damage in all this was not from Karasuma Frans heat wave or Kihara Yuiitsus Elements. It was me leaving the Windowless Building. But I will make use of this failure. As Kamisato Kakerus observer, you are connected directly back to Lola Stuart. With you in my grasp, I can continue on. He was so selfish and conceited that he spat on both the contemporary government and the immortal god. He fully believed that all people had the right to study and proclaim all truths equally. He wholeheartedly looked down on the masses who blinded themselves with their existing assumptions, morals, and beliefs and thus cast aside true freedom. And yet he held the contradictory kindness of not wanting to force out the unenlightened and scorned members of his own family. Hes gathering a bunch of adolescent boys and girls in one place and injecting them with drugs to achieve further knowledge. This is the return of Thelema. We couldnt shake him by fleeing like normal, but that changes if we go to the last thing he wants destroyed and use it as a shield. In the end, the human was a human. By viewing him as an incomprehensible monster, many historical researchers led themselves astray in an inescapable forest. Kamijou Touma. When youre in trouble, its always a good idea to ask a classmate for help, nyah So if this human was no different from anyone else, why did he stack his parallel plan so high, destroy so much, and stack so much back up? Let us reject the easy route into the forest and truly dig into the inner workings of a madman. The curtain rises. What will now begin is the story of Aleister Crowley, a human through and through. Volume 18, 1: That Which is Necessary to Survive - X. Volume 18, Chapter 1: That Which is Necessary to Survive C X. Part 1 Ahh, were finally back home. Welcome back... Im already exhausted... December 11, 5:30 AM. It was early morning. The spiky-haired high school boy named Kamijou Touma was utterly exhausted after running around the city all night in full bad boy mode. And the white nun named Index had been left behind the entire time. The 15cm fairy named Othinus and her natural predator of a calico cat were also there, but none of them were aware what fate awaited them just 5 seconds after opening the door to the student dorm room. The freeze-dried stuff sure has come a long way, nyah. I wonder if they have risotto. (Munch munch) This wonton soup is soaking into my stomach like something out of hell. (Slurrrp...) Maybe theres no point in asking professional idiots like you, but why do you have a lighter? There was something there. The dorm room had been intruded upon by a nyah-nyah boy with blonde hair and sunglasses that did not suit him at all and a hoodie bikini rabbit-ear antennae girl with a badly broken heart that made speaking to her awkward. And they were eating something. What are you doing? Why are you eating my food, Tsuchimikado!? And Fran, too!? I have no idea when you two became friends and C oh, I cant believe you! How can you just eat all of the human food Id been looking forward to!? Yeah, I wouldnt check inside the fridge or rice cooker if I were you. ...Itll remind you of the old term mental BSOD. Are you serious!? Ahhh!! How could you? And this stuff too!? Ahhhh!! Kamijou Touma ignored the warning, opened one door to hell after another, and staggered backwards like he had taken a beating in a fighting game. The refrigerator and rice cooker gave off a rotting smell and they definitely looked like somewhere you would find a cursed item. The crunchy cat foods bag must have been open because its all gone bad, said Fran. Youll have to use whats left of the canned stuff tonight. Why is the cat the only one that gets better than normal food in this disaster? I refuse to accept that. Kamijou groaned his question, but the cat only mewed happily. Academy Citys infrastructure had recovered after the major blow from the heat wave and the Elements, but there was only so much that people could do with their individual appliances still broken. For about a week, the electronics stores and online stores would be hit by a big pre-Christmas wave. ...Since he lived in a dorm, he wondered if the school might help raise some money, but that would not work when they usually brought in their own appliances. You boiled water, so is the gas working? Yeah, but the microwaves broke the ignition device, so you have to turn the knob and then get it started with some chopsticks lit with a lighter, nyah. Do it with the lighter directly and youll burn your fingers, so be careful. Maybe theres no point in asking professional idiots like you, but why do you have a lighter? Even so, that was fortunate. It was super primitive and difficult to control, but they could get cold and hot water. That meant they could take a bath by filling the tub with cold water and then adjusting the temperature with the hot water from a kettle!! I can tell from the look on your face!! The thing youve been missing recently has gotta be girls taking baths!! Ah ha ha!!!! Eh heh heh!!!!!! Dont put words in my mouth, Tsuchimikado. And youve been missing throughout this entire heat wave and Elements mess, so what were you up to? The next thing Kamijou Touma knew, the nyah-nyah idiots nonsense had cooled the heroines eyes down to absolute zero. He had no idea why, but it seemed his title in life had just declined drastically. The 15cm god on his shoulder made an extremely arrogant comment. Peep and Ill kill you. And I mean that literally, not just as divine punishment. You dont even need a sink to bathe. All you need is a teacup, so you were taking baths like normal during the heat wave. You damn bath-lover. Whatever the case, it was best to let sleeping gods lie. She was only 15cm, but that was still 15cm. And she used a spear and bow instead of her bare hands. Think of dangerous animals like hornets, spiders, or scorpions and it was obvious that her size was plenty big to kill a human. However... (But if you insist, make sure you get permission first. Its the sneaking around without telling me I dont like.) Hey, god, lets not blush and whisper that extra part in my ear!! He had no idea if she was tempting him or refusing him, but he knew taking her seriously would only place him on the receiving end of violence. So as his understanders words caused Kamijou to act suspiciously, Tsuchimikado finally answered the question. Well, if you must know what I was doing, I was looking after my stepsister Maika. Mh... A surprisingly noble goal, good sir. It sounded simple enough, but surviving those few days had meant facing the heat wave, the Elements, and human rioters. Protecting a single girl throughout that hell would have been no easy task. Kamijou knew firsthand that the environment had been far too harsh for normal ideas like protecting ones family to unconditionally apply. And yet this boy had kept true to his normal. He continued speaking like a soldier home from the battlefield. ...Heh. The thing about guys is, were willing to become a hero at any time for our little sisters. And you are a pervert to the core, good sir. Now, its time to get to the main point, nyah. Listen carefully, Kami-yan. Tsuchimikado munched on the emergency food meant for a day off of school during a typhoon or snowstorm. Theres this guy called Board Chairman Aleister, right? Well, I kinda shot him in the head, so can you help me make a getaway? That sure was a casual way of dropping that bombshell. So should I be calling Anti-Skill!? ...Even though hes the kind of guy who can get right back up after taking a bullet to the head? asked Fran. I dont think his ability to survive it gives you free rein to shoot him all you want! Now, now, Fran-chan. He didnt see it himself, so you cant expect him to understand that fear. Tsuchimikado sighed like Kamijou was the ignorant one. It did not come up much, but he discovered that it was rather irritating to have your common sense questioned by someone who had shot someone else in the head. Anyway, I had been doing some inconvenient dirty work for Aleister in exchange for him protecting Maika, but he screwed it up this time, nyah. He was never exactly trustworthy and his interests are a little out of whack with everyone else. ...So if I didnt give up on him here, I really could lose her. Meanwhile, Indexs eyes had grown wide as dinner plates as she held the cat. Aleister? Thats right, nyah. You dont mean the Aleister Crowley, do you!? Its a pretty famous name, so did you think he was just borrowing it, nyah? ...Sorry, but hes the real deal. This is Edward Alexander himself. He survived his historical ending in 1947 and he lives on to this day. Hm? Hmm??? I have no idea what you two are talking about, so could you start from the beginning? You be quiet, Touma!! Now another one of you is questioning my common sense!? Nyahhn!! And even the supposedly clueless cat is looking down on me!? Pets were quite good at observing the behavior of their owner(?). As he tumbled down to the bottom of the family hierarchy, Kamijou was left tearful and confused. What, what? So are you saying we live in a world where you can shoot a Mr. Crowley of the Aleister family in the head no questions asked? Really, human...? First of all, Aleister Crowley is not his real name, but more importantly, its a Western name. The first name is the given name and the last name is the family name. Im fairly certain thats common knowledge in this world. No matter how sad the contents of his head, his small understander was kind enough to not give up on him. That allowed him to close up his tear ducts while he curled up and trembled. He could not forget that there was such a thing as a soft barb in this mysterious world. But anyway, I picked a fight with the head of Academy City, so I cant stay here. You know my position here, right? Im a double spy for Academy City and the Anglican Church. So once that balance is broken, Ill be known as an enemy. Thats fine and all, but I want to avoid having Maika used as bait for me, nyah. That meant he would be escaping with his stepsister Maika. That was apparently a rule he had placed on himself. And it was probably more important to him than the planet as a whole or the entire human race. Do you have anyone to rely on...? A major one right here. For some reason Tsuchimikado pointed his spoon at Fran who was forming a united front with him. She too is a magic side spy sent to monitor Kamisato Kakeru for the Anglican Church. That means our situations are similar. Since she works directly for Archbishop Lola Stuart, Aleister has his eyes on her, so were escaping the city together. And that means we have more authority than a normal magician, nyah. Ive called an Anglican unit to the outer edge of Academy City, but they are no more than a retrieval unit and they lack the firepower needed to destroy the wall and get inside. But if we can manage to get out of the city... Theyre apparently magicians who specialize in concealment, so they can hide all trace of our escape. We wont need to worry about anyone pursuing us. Leaving the city. That sounded simple enough, but this was Academy City. To prevent leaks of technology that could be used to develop next-generation weapons or esper powers, the entire city was surrounded by a thick wall and who was allowed in or out was greatly restricted. Breaking through that would be quite difficult. In all seriousness, they could get shot at with no warning whatsoever. Even if you are lucky enough to escape, will you be returning to England? Just like, um, Stiyl and Kanzaki? Cmon, now. Even if Im leaving enemy territory with the support of a standing member of the UN Security Council, Ill still be on the run. Why would I give away the answer here, Kami-yan? And there are a lot of other options, like Canada or Australia. It can be easy to forget with the EU controlling the European economy, but the old British Commonwealth still exists. They were working on a scale where they had to take geographic history into account. Kamijou was not at all jealous and he in fact found it incredibly irritating as someone who did not want any problems to occur. But, well, I have no right to stop you. If you did stop me, Id just get killed. ...Its gonna be lonely without anyone in the room next door. Mh. This means you and Maika will be gone, wont it? I know these are only temporary student dorms and we have to say goodbye eventually, but its a shock to have it thrust on me so suddenly like this. Tsuchimikado froze in place. Kamijou had a bad feeling about this. Wait... Dont tell me... ...Thats right. I still havent explained anything about quitting school and running away. Yeah, Maika doesnt know anything about this. Part 2 After cleaning up the tragic contents of the refrigerator and rice cooker (the details would be horrific, so they will be omitted here), they got down to business. You were protecting Maika all throughout the heat wave, right? Why arent you with her? Fran-chan is my only hope, so I was confronting Aleister to snatch her away. Stray bullets can be scary and theres no way I could bring my cute stepsister to see something like that. Not my step-sister, nyahhh!! Kamijou Touma could not figure out why he would emphasize that part, but he changed into some clothes more suitable for the chilly December weather. Even if it was due to the heat wave, he had spent the last few days like Santa Claus surfing in Australia, so he was relieved to have the normalcy of Japan returning bit by bit. So where is Maika right now? At an emergency food site in front of District 7 Station. Shes a trainee maid after all, nyah. Shes not the type to just eat cup noodles or freeze-dried food. Whatever the case, she cant relax unless she gets her own ingredients and fills her fridge. ...Why do you know exactly what shes doing when she isnt here? Dont tell me youre constantly monitoring her via GPS! Only the pessimistic third-rates rely on gadgets like that. ...A pro big bro can read his stepsisters current actions from his thorough knowledge of her behavior. (Grin). My friends little sister is in serious trouble due to his crazy accurate stalker profiling!? Its all about building it up over time. The way of the big bro isnt learned overnight, nyah. ...And dont turn my tremendous accomplishment into a light novel title. The fact that he never doubted that this was a brightly shining accomplishment was what made him a true pervert, but at this point, persuading him with words was a lost cause. Perverts were entirely unaware of the rose-colored glasses through which they viewed the world. Removing his rose-colored glasses would probably kill him. With that in mind, Kamijou Touma moved the conversation along. ...It must be tough having to tag along with him, Fran. I will never forget that look of pity youre giving me. The hoodie bikini girl remained expressionless and pouted her lips, but she was still a hoodie bikini girl. ...Kamijou had assumed the heat wave had inspired that clothing choice similar to The North Wind and the Sun, but perhaps she was the kind that forced herself to show some skin even during the winter. Well, I suppose I like it this way better than not. Im definitely going to look, though. Might I ask why you are looking down on me like that? Heh heh heh. At this rate, she might end up the kind of person who can only relax at home after stripping off all her clothing. Youre not much different, god. In fact, Niang-Niang and Nephthys had been much the same. If the Magic Gods at the top were like that, perhaps it was just that the magic side as a whole was strange. That might sound like an amusing adolescent delusion...but when he thought about it some more, Kanzaki the Saint showed a lot of skin with the cut-off parts of her clothing, English 2nd Princess Carissa had worn a wonderfully shoulders-baring princess dress, and Marian Slingeneyer, the Dvergr of Old Gremlin, had worn naked overalls... He did not want to think about it too much, but had he stumbled upon a truth of the world that said people approached nudity the stronger they became? And even if this was no more than a hopeless delusion coincidentally having some similarity with the truth, it was still a sad state of affairs for the magic side. ...So was there some meaning to that Fallen Angel Erotic Maid? Like foreshadowing of an evolution to a second form? Whats this all of a sudden? Are you that sexually frustrated? He received a most welcome and very blunt warning from a god, so he decided to leave it at that. They had other things to focus on. Okay, lets go pick up Maika, said Tsuchimikado. Fine, but will anyone really interfere? This is our one chance. Why? Were past the 48 Hours to Restore Order, so Anti-Skill and Judgment are back up and running. And while I prefer not to think about it, those who work in the shadows will be back too. Kamijou meant it as a casual question, but neither Tsuchimikado nor Fran answered. Instead, they exchanged a glance. They seemed to have a secret plan that they could not share with the spiky-haired boy. This was hardly Tsuchimikados first time keeping secrets about magic and Kamijou doubted he would hold back when it came to the stepsister he valued higher than his own life. Kamijou felt he could relax knowing that they had something concrete and were not just making a desperate attempt. Kamijou, Index, Othinus, the cat, Tsuchimikado, and Fran all set out once more into Academy City while it was still too early for the morning rush hour. Their breath was white and they kept out the cold with fluffy coats and scarves. This was another part of their precious normal. Unlike when everyone was afraid of the heat wave and Elements, people were walking below the chilly sky like normal, there was a clear division between the road and sidewalk, and cars were lined up on the road. Some buildings had thick cloths placed over them and some fallen wind turbines were being replaced with ones wrapped in plastic, but the kathunk kathunk of passing trains came from the elevated railways and airplanes drew contrails in the sky. The city was back. That should have been a good thing, but Kamijou actually felt somewhat uneasy that law and order had been restored. When he saw Anti-Skill holding colorful signal sticks and blowing whistles to direct traffic where traffic lights or wind turbines were being replaced, he started sneaking around. Dont act all suspicious. Youll only draw attention, nyah. ...I didnt even do anything, so I dont want you of all people telling me that. It was still too early for the morning rush hour, so the number of people was likely due to peoples broken refrigerators and rice makers. The 24-hour convenience stores and gyudon places were of course busy, but even the supermarkets and department stores that normally opened at 10 had their metal shutters up to welcome customers. Drawn by the smell of food, the hoodie bikini girl turned her head. The distribution of goods seems to have returned to normal already. All the ingredients and lifestyle items that should have entered the city were stopped at the cargo terminals outside the city, nyah. By opening the gates and letting it in, blood can fill the citys arteries once more. So its like relying on a blood transfusion until your own body can move properly? It might take time to replace the equipment needed to run the vegetable factories and clone meat buildings that supported Academy Citys kitchens, but they would not wither away in the meantime. Just as Kamijou had experienced in Othinuss infinite hell, the city actually relied on a lot of food from outside. They spotted people gathering around a shiny new ATM as a small crane removed it from a truck bed and lowered it in front of a store. They were clearly itching for the power and communication cables to be hooked up. They were regaining a life where money mattered, not water bottles or cold weather clothing. Hey, mister. Is this spot good? Hamazura-kun, I am really grateful since were shorthanded at the moment, but why does a kid your age know how to operate a crane? Dont you need national qualifications for that??? ...Its weird setting one of these up after using heavy machinery to steal so many of them. Now Im worried about your past!! With a glance over at a group wearing yellow hard hats, Kamijous group made their way to the station plaza where (the pro big bro was disturbingly certain that) Maika was. The plaza had become something like a farmers market or a flea market. Agricultural plastic baskets were full of potatoes, radishes, and other food for sale. Wheres Maika? She probably came here to get some cheap ingredients but let her kindness get the better of her and started serving up her prized cooking for people. Shell be working for free as a volunteer, nyah. This pro big bro is seriously scary. Is summing things up as a light novel title a new fad or something? Kamijou had made his assessment after spotting the maid girl busily working in front of a line of large pots for those who could not cook for themselves. The smell suggested it was the standard curry, but she had apparently supplied a wide variety, letting people choose freely between rice, udon, ramen, and deep-fried bread. Some of them had chicken soup prepared separately to thin out the thick curry. ...Although the lack of naan gave it all a clearly Japanese flavor. The maid girls face lit up as soon as she spotted them. Ohh! What is it, Aniki and friends? Just so you know, I really dont want anyone thinking Im like him!! protested Kamijou. ...And I have most certainly never met you before, so why are you acting like we are old friends, added Fran. You are much too close. Like stepbrother, like stepsister. Maika had decided she could trust anyone that Tsuchimikado trusted. The fact that she did not even question the 15cm god meant she was either someone important or a freak. Oh, yeah. None of you can cook for yourselves, can you? Here to get something to eat? Maybe from a maids perspective. But Index is transforming into a starving lion as we speak, so take care of that. Can you also get something the cat can eat? Hmm, maybe some chicken boiled to get the fat off? Once Maika turned toward her cooler of ingredients to comply with his insolent request, Kamijou gently elbowed the legendary spy in the ribs. Hurry up and explain. S-some things require just the right timing, nyah... The killer sunglasses boy who had once scaled a building wall to kill a Board of Directors VIP seemed flustered. ...Which was not too surprising since Maika clearly saw being a maid trainee as her purpose in life. Telling her to give up on that and flee Academy City was no easy task. But this was the cross that Tsuchimikado had chosen to bear. He could not rely on anyone else for this. He gulped and faced the kitchen space. M-Maika-chaaan, we need to talk... He used historys worst attempt at a sweet voice. Guessing this might develop into a scene of sibling carnage, Kamijou used a paper plate of curry rice to guide Index away from the danger zone. But... Hm? Then Ill have to go with you, Aniki. That was fast!! My home is wherever Aniki is. And I can learn to be a maid from daily life even if Im not in Academy City. Come to think of it, there was no national qualification for maids, so there was no real reason to worry about her academic record. And if they went to England, she could find the royal maids known as Maids of Honor, so that might actually be a dream come true for someone in the world of maids(?). But Kamijou tilted his head as if he had trouble accepting it. Odd. Weve come all this way and nothing awful has happened to Tsuchimikado. Kami-yan, youre the worst, you know that? Well, it cant be helped, but wont you miss your friends? I will, but were connected by an electronic network these days. With SNSs and video chats, long distances dont affect the bonds between people all that much. Even if Im on the other side of the planet, Ill probably still see them tweeting things every few minutes. All the groups will remain intact and theyll still have that annoying habit of ignoring messages. This was the problem with kids these days. Kamijou was not that familiar with it all, so physical distance C especially between countries C still felt a lot like goodbye to him. But it seemed Maika herself was not too broken up about it. Tsuchimikado, will she really be able to communicate like that if youre on the run? I mean, wont they be able to trace the signal or something? She obviously cant while were on the run, but things change once weve escaped. Huh? Once the political refugee process is complete, the science side cant touch us, so it wont matter if we announce our location to the world, nyah. ...That meant they would not have to spend the rest of their lives cowering in fear inside some ruins outside of civilization. It was more like they had to visit a British embassy or consulate to get their paperwork in order and obtain a new life. Kamijou could feel the tragic coloring of the term refugee fading away. What Tsuchimikado was doing was psychedelic, but he was taking his sisters lifestyle into account. (Looking at it that way, Im a little worried about what will happen to those of us who helped them escape but are remaining in Academy City.) Kamijou thought he heard Othinus muttering something from his shoulder. Anyway, now that we have that straightened out, we need to hurry. Aleisters the guy at the top of the city, right? Who knows when he might interfere. Lets get you two to safety. Sure. Part 3 ... When Misaka Mikoto left through the automatic door, no one said thank you or come again. Hospitals were strange. They were clearly a business that required customers to stay open, and yet they did not want any customers showing up. Why had she been in that District 7 hospital? She had contacted and activated the original A.A.A. hidden in a District 11 container yard. No, it was because of the invisible...curse? that had hit her afterwards. She remembered the pirate-like girl using some kind of archaic and occult language. She would have been treated after being taken to the hospital, but she honestly did not remember any of it and she felt just fine. She had no difficulty moving and she felt no lingering pain. But that was no guarantee she was safe. What she had felt back then had not been a normal injury where an external stimulus harmed her skin. She had felt the damage resonate directly in the core of her being. And damage to the internal organs tended not to have any subjective symptoms. Oftentimes, it was too late once you started feeling pain. Could a normal hospital even determine the cause of that? Just as a special disease might be overlooked by normal examination equipment, wasnt it possible the thing that had attacked her then had come from a black box or blind spot of the world? ...What a pain. She shook her head without thinking. No one knew what had happened to her. Thus, no one could decide if there was still anything wrong with her. ...But if she let that scare her, she would be no different from someone who visited hospital after hospital and finally ended up spending all sorts of money on a self-styled exorcist in a rundown shack somewhere. Just like with zero-day vulnerabilities, a scan result of 0 did not mean you were safe, but doubting everything would only end up restricting her for no reason. (Now, what to do?) The commotion caused by the heat wave and Elements was over and Academy City should be back up and running. That meant school. But she had only just left the hospital. No one would blame her if she went back to the dorm and climbed in bed. But for some reason, she did not do so. Her feet naturally took her to Tokiwadai Middle School in the School Garden. ... Her breath was appropriately white for the early winter morning and she looked up at the front gate. And at what lay beyond. The white school building that had been the symbol of Tokiwadai Middle School had been destroyed in the fierce attack by the Elements. And rioters from outside had gone around looting all the furnishings and esper development equipment. But time passed quickly. She heard cranes, trucks, and other heavy equipment moving around. And the pile of rubble that had once been a school was already more than halfway back to being a school. With regular whistling sounds, the blocks and modules that made up the school were lowered in place by thick cables. They must have updated the method of construction again because the pieces were built up like a childs plastic building blocks and attached together with latches and filler material to construct the building with far greater speed and efficiency than normal reinforced concrete. Even if it looked like a grand piece of art, this city was still made from the best of technology. Allowing anyone to do what normally required experts with decades of experience may have been the proof that this was advanced technology. ... Why had she come here? What had she wanted to do at Tokiwadai? The girl was lost in thought as she watched what looked like a fast-forward construction scene in a construction companys commercial, but then a sweet voice slipped into her ear. Ohh? Misaka-san? You have more studious ability than I would have guessed. Part 4 They were making a great escape from Academy City. ...However, that did not mean they had to jump onto the roof of a speeding train, cling to a planes wheel just before takeoff to slip inside, or dig a tunnel with a spoon. They walked like normal, waited at the bus stop like normal, and rode to District 11 like normal. It was not quite rush hour, so there were still plenty of empty seats. Quit looking around like that, Kami-yan. There arent any bullets hidden in here. A-are you sure? It had been such a peaceful day that it was actually worrying Kamijou. Since Maika would occasionally use her cellphone to snap a photo of the scenery out the bus window, he could guess that she was more reluctant to leave than she had let on. I dont know what to do with myself when time just passes and nothing happens... Everythings too much of spectacle with you, Touma. This is how things are supposed to work. You need to fix your internal clock. Index was exactly right. He was a little concerned that he could no longer sit still in a classroom desk for a full class period. Time passed slowly in the bus, but they finally entered District 11 and got off just as rush hour was starting. The bus heading back toward the center of Academy City was like a battlefield. Kamijou generally walked to school, rain or shine, but he could tell now just how hard it could be to take a bus or train to school. District 11 had also been an important location when rescuing Kamisato. I had pictured this district as nothing but piles of containers, but looking at it now, there are a surprising number of people living here. Its primarily used as a land route distribution base, so you werent wrong. But the rent here is super cheap. Although its a bit of a food desert with no convenience stores or supermarkets, so I cant recommend it, nyah. Half of the products that entered Academy City passed through here, but the people living here could not touch it. Academy Citys trains ended service early, so relying on online stores was probably the only option for living here. ...Wait, do we have school today? If so, my attendance is in trouble!! Are you still worried about that, Kami-yan? Im sure youre already getting held back. Still, sure, already!? Dont give up on me with that triple punch!! Being held back is an incredibly heavy blow for a high schooler! Everyones life was different. There were plenty of reasons to repeat a year, including fighting a serious illness or spending your time working to support your family. But not having a reason like that and having everyone in his class calling him senpai for no better reason than hes dumb was not the ideal school life Kamijou Touma had in mind. Yes, there was no real logic to his expectations. It was on the same level as his desire to have experienced romance and lost his virginity by 20, or to have that happen with a pretty young woman who lives in the neighborhood. But he wanted to view his journey to adulthood from an adolescent perspective. This was a part of his life he had to protect at all costs! Im clinging to this no matter what, dammit. Its no use... Mutter, mutter. A young dorm manager. Mutter, mutter. Needs help hooking up her TV and DVR. Now what are you channeling, Kami-yan? The connections between thoughts were supposed to be how the human brain outdid a supercomputer, but that could lead to tragic results if used incorrectly. And this was a stereotypical example of exactly that. Othinus bit the spiky-haired boys earlobe from his shoulder. Hey, human. Wake up already. Gnaw, gnaw. Ah!? Wh-what was I doing just now...? You were in quite the insane trance. You might have some talent in Seidr. U-um, uh...oh, right. Tsuchimikado, reaching the edge of the city is all well and good, but what do we do now? I doubt theyll let you through the gate without authorization. Kamijou looked up at a wall more than twice his height. Since Tsuchimikado had chosen this spot in particular, the Anglican recovery team would be waiting on the other side. But this was not the goal. Even if it was only a few meters, this was the hard part. They could not walk through the wall like ghosts, so they would need a way past it. Tsuchimikado had an answer: We just have to climb over. I have a feeling itll be harder than that. After all, it was guarded by people allowed to fire at will to prevent technology leaks. It had to be protected by sensors and cameras. When you could be shot to death if spotted, very few people would attempt that deadly bouldering. But Tsuchimikado readily continued. Kami-yan. The thick wall surrounding Academy City and its underground structure also function as a largescale particle accelerator. And it of course functions in the billions of eVs. A single electrical short involves enough energy to vaporize a sports stadium in a flash of light, nyah. And it is a facility meant to slam atoms or protons together at more than 99% the speed of light to observe what happens when they break apart, so if the tunnel shielding breaks when its in use, all sorts of neutrons will get out, added Fran. Although that thick lead shielding might have protected the equipment from the heat wave. This is sounding more dangerous by the second, but I guess that just means this city is as insane as ever. Just because its 200m belowground doesnt mean its safe, nyah. And that means itll have strict safety features, explained Tsuchimikado. The circular wall is covered in cameras and sensors, but theres a hierarchy of precedence within the entire wall facility. Protecting the accelerator takes top priority and the rest comes later. ...So if the accelerators internal stability is damaged, all resources will be used to help that recover. Meanwhile, the security meant to prevent intruders or escapees will drop considerably. So much so that it might just be possible to negate it entirely, nyah. With that, Tsuchimikado pulled out some dangerous-looking items and began assembling them. That means this is a job for a big drill and some aqua regia, nyah. Lets have some fun punching a hole in the wall and ground and shorting out the wires! Bff!? You were carrying that with you on the bus!? Isnt that the stuff they use to dissolve corpses in mafia movies!? This was a mixture of hydrochloric acid and nitric acid which was seen in the world of entertainment just as often as hydrofluoric acid. Unlike simple sulfuric acid, it could cruelly dissolve pure gold and platinum with no difficulty, so it was known for being able to dissolve a corpse without even leaving a pacemakers circuit board behind. ...Which made it very dangerous to carry around because there was nothing to be done if the container was accidentally broken. I have the layout memorized. Ill start working in the cameras blind spot, drill diagonally down from the base of the wall while making sure to avoid the network of sensor wires running through the wall, and then pour the aqua regia inside, nyah. It doesnt actually have to get deep underground. It just has to fry the power cable connecting the wall and underground. Fine, fine. Just get to it on your own, oh great teacher. This was just cheating. Kamijou made his sulky comment while staring at Tsuchimikado like he was watching a movie he thought was a thriller but ended up revealing the killer to be a chupacabra. What had this perfectionist wanted from him? It made no sense, but it seemed that Tsuchimikado and Fran saw some special meaning in simply having the pointy-haired boy involved. So they only wanted him to earn a participation trophy and were not expecting him to actually do anything. Kamijou started wishing they had just sent him a congratulatory message instead of having him tag along. A sound much like grinding stone continued for a while. Without much trouble, Tsuchimikado drilled a hole larger than a fist and poured the cruel chemical inside. The completely normal and brisk early morning came to an extremely noisy halt. The sound was deep enough that Kamijou could not believe that much electricity had been in use up until now. Theres more than one power cable, so itll be back up and running in 4 minutes and 50 seconds. Thats about the length of a longish song, but it wont be easy climbing up and over in that time. Go!! With that yelled word, Tsuchimikado grabbed a rope-like string of LED Christmas lights strung up nearby and tossed it to the top of the wall. He could climb a tall building on his own, so this would mostly be for Maika and Fran. A ladies first mentality apparently manifested inside him only when it came to his little sister. That said, it was just the one rope, not a rope ladder with rungs. Climbing the wall with that would be hard work. Tsuchimikado seemed confident in himself because he took up the position at the bottom. First, well push up Maika since shell probably take the longest. Then Fran-chan. Whoevers at the top can help pull up the next person. That should speed things up. Understood, said Kamijou. Ill help push you up from below. A thick wall was a lot like the Great Wall of China, so once you were at the top, there was no danger of falling off. There was plenty of space to brace yourself as you pulled up a heavy person. Meanwhile, Maika seemed worried about her long maids skirt. I am dressed like this, you know? Just get going. Ill wear a blindfold if that would help. Hey, human. You might think youre letting out your gentlemanly side, but wearing a blindfold while letting a maid step on you only makes you look like a high-level pervert. Thanks to the helpful divine message, they just went for it. Kamijou and Tsuchimikado worked together to grab Maikas legs and lift her up. Even if it was a tall wall, it was only about twice their height, so they barely needed the Christmas light rope. The maid trainee grabbed the edge of the wall with both hands and managed to pull herself up with some struggling. Maika then leaned down from the wall and reached out her hand. Hey, Kamijou Touma. Once we get to...well, I dont actually know where were going, but Ill contact you, so make sure you accept my friend request. I dont really do SNS stuff much... Then this is your chance to get started. They would not be able to see Maika or Tsuchimikado after they crossed this wall, but that did not mean they would lose all contact. So Kamijou nodded. Seeing that, the maid trainee smiled a little. It happened immediately afterwards. They did not have time to give Fran a turn. First, a low, sinister sound exploded, but Kamijou had no idea what had caused this blatant phenomenon. Part 5 The wall. Kamijou Touma saw a great change there. Something like a black shadow rose straight up from the thick wall surrounding Academy City. That was a sign of an evil will that refused to let anyone escape. And it had swallowed up the small girl who had climbed on top of the wall. Maika...!? Tsuchimikado cried her name because that dark shadow contained some kind of power. The small girls mass floated unsteadily in the air. It almost looked like a rod had thrust forcefully up at her. Before she could even scream, she lost balance and fell where Tsuchimikado just barely managed to catch her. Something was not right. Kamijou Touma could see something that clearly should not have been there. What...is this...? Maika lay limp in her brothers arms, but that made no sense. She had not slammed into the ground, so she should not have taken any real damage. But the reason for her lifeless limbs was obvious. The strange black shadow had condensed into a short sword that pierced the center of her flat chest. She was not bleeding, but it stabbed through her maid uniform and her flesh. The tip even jutted out from her back. This was clearly not possible under the normal laws of physics. This was an attack from an unseen pursuer using some kind of supernatural power. Outta the way, Tsuchimikado. My right hand will take care of this. No, wait! Dont, human!! Just as Kamijou took a step forward, he was stopped by Othinus, his understander who was closer to him than anyone. This Board Chairman has kept you in his city all this time, so do you really think he would use the supernatural without understanding how Imagine Breaker works!? This curse was built to be broken!! What does that mean!? Can we save Maika or not!? Touma, this is like a jigsaw puzzle made from glasswork. Index was calmly observing Maikas body. The grimoire library was analyzing the curse. ...Did that mean this was magic and not an esper power? If it shatters, the shards will scatter everywhere. Theyll tear Maikas body apart from within. Touching it with your right hand will only make things worse. Dammit, they can do that!? The attack was like a trick painting. It betrayed one''s initial impression. It did not constantly recover like Stiyls Innocentius and it was not so powerful it was merely deflected like Magic God Othinuss Gungnir. Instead of using brute force, it was a gloomy trap built using limited resources. The impression given by magic could change greatly depending on who was using it. That and the fact that the attacker had not shown themselves did not sit well with Kamijou. And it reminded him of something. Specifically, the term curse did. (...Its him.) Misaka Mikoto had been taken out while they worked to rescue Kamisato. When she had been targeted while breathing life into the original A.A.A., hadnt the attacker similarly used a curse without ever showing themselves? (Is this bastard the one that did that? Because my right hand prevented him from completely taking out Mikoto, hes updated his method...!?) If that nightmarish thought was accurate, then Kamijou was partly to blame for throwing Maika into this great vortex of abnormality. Index, do you understand how exactly this works? What about you, Othinus? If my Imagine Breaker wont work, how are we supposed to get this out of her? Fran, Tsuchimikado. Doesnt anyone know!? That may have been a meaningless question, like a family member pleading with a doctor before surgery. Repeating the question may not have increased Maikas odds of survival. If anyone knew the answer, they would not have remained silent. Index had perfectly memorized 103,000 grimoires, Othinus was the sole surviving Magic God, Tsuchimikado was a double spy between magic and science, and Fran had been secretly tasked with monitoring Kamisato Kakeru. The question was right in front of them, but not even the combination of those heretical minds could find the answer. This was Academy Citys Board Chairman. This was the barrier known as Aleister Crowley. ...Hey, Kami-yan. Tsuchimikado finally spoke. I want to make a change of plans, but thats probably going to make this as big a fight as possible. Will you still hear me out? Dont beat around the bush. Just tell me you want me to help out with your selfish desire. With his stepsister in his arms, the brother smiled a little at his classmates immediate answer. He had a complex position as a double spy, but he could speak honestly here even if Academy City was enemy territory. However, the pointy-haired boy probably did not realize just how grateful Tsuchimikado was for that. The sunglasses boy just blurted it out, like a load had been lifted from his shoulders. If this curse came directly from Aleister, we should be able to find out how to remove it if we go to him. Magic is a technique made to be used by human hands after all. But that means facing the very person we were trying to escape. Its like running right into the tigers den where an extra-large man-eating tiger awaits. Meaning? The Windowless Building. We enter his fortress. That idea flipped their plans on their head. Instead of escaping outside the city, they would be breaking into the enemys lair. They would be running, racing, and charging right into the center of the world to protect a precious life. But Kamijou did not hesitate. He too smiled. Sounds great. Thats more my style. Just to be clear, were talking about an indestructible fortress that can withstand a nuke. But nothings absolute. Ive seen that indestructibility broken twice already. Once with Lightning God Thor and once with Kihara Yuiitsu. He only had to share what information he had from those experiences. And a look at Frans face showed she too understood as someone who had experienced the latter example. Theres a giant underground space below the building. Kamisato Kakeru used World Rejecter to save us and that destroyed the rocket boosters on the bottom of the Windowless Building. ...That means theres a big hole there right now. That buildings not exactly impregnable right now; we can climb right on in. ...Of course, the odds of Aleister being unaware of the hole in his royal palace were nearly nonexistent. So the odds were astronomical that there would be some kind of trap or ambush prepared for them inside. But it was true that they had no other option. While waiting around, the promised 4 minutes and 50 seconds passed. And even if they did try to climb the wall again, that curse would probably attack them again. Either way, they would have to eliminate the human reigning at the top of Academy City if they were to escape safely. So Kamijou and Tsuchimikado did not hesitate. Neither good nor evil would help them here. Since the human who built the city had written the rulebook, they may indeed have been deserving of punishment for trying to escape. But they trusted their own personal opinion over the even rulebook adored by 6 or 7 billion people. They would protect that single precious life. Even if the rules gathered in a book somewhere said it was wrong, they had no reason whatsoever to feel ashamed. This was an act that did not require them to ask anyones permission. The heat wave and Elements had left and the 48 Hours to Restore Order had passed. Normalcy had returned. So they would obey that normalcy and act accordingly. With that in their hearts, the two boys spoke in unison as they made a declaration to the entire world. Lets tear it all down. Lets tear it all down. Volume 18, 2: To Where Should You Flee? - Escape_to_Central. Volume 18, Chapter 2: To Where Should You Flee? C Escape_to_Central. Part 1 As Misaka Mikoto walked around like a wandering traveler, a familiar person called out to her. Shokuhou? What are you doing here? What does it look like Im doing? ...You look like the overly diligent girl who shows up to school after everyone forgot to tell her it was canceled due to a typhoon. Cough, cough!! Where did you get that kind of imagination ability!? Th-that obviously isnt what happened here!! Quit grabbing at me. Youre way too close. The #3 averted her eyes in annoyance when the other girl got carried away and got so close their noses nearly touched. Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki. These were the two aces of prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School. They were the monsters who were two of Academy Citys seven Level 5s. But there was no one here to give them envious looks. Mikoto pushed lightly at the center of Shokuhous ample chest to shove away the great pressure of that girls body. ...I see no one showed up, muttered Mikoto. They were the only 2 wearing the Tokiwadai uniform. There was no one else here. Academy City was back to normal, so they should have had classes. Given the state of the school building, they might have rented out space elsewhere. But no one had gathered anywhere. The school structure had collapsed. The #5 childishly pouted her lips. Well, can you blame them after all that? If 1 or 2 of them stopped showing up, their dorm manger or a counselor would deal with it, but theres nothing the adults can do when its all of them. The lonely queen seemed to be saying any girls who could continue on like normal were the extraordinary ones. I do understand how they feel. I didnt expect to hear that from you, Misaka-san. Really? Mikoto breathed a white sigh. It wasnt the shock of seeing their school destroyed. Nor was it the fear of having those rioters attack. ...Theyre afraid of their own power. And after learning how exactly to use that power to survive, theyre not sure they can just switch it off and return to their normal lives. So their gears have ground to a halt. Tokiwadai Middle School was a prestigious esper development school. The young ladies registered there were Level 3 at the lowest and Level 5 at the highest. Almost all of the students had a power that surpassed that of a blade or handgun if used properly, but something had become twisted. Yes. A lot of them werent really sure why they were training their powers. Shokuhou breathed a white breath, wrapped her own arms around herself, and rubbed her thighs together. Why are you studying? How many people could give a proper answer to that question? Because my parents told me to, because my teachers taught me to, because thats how the world works. Those would be most peoples answers. Even the students with a clear vision of their future would only have something vague like for the entrance exams or for my future. Only a small handful would have specific puzzle pieces in mind, such as I need to learn how to use this equation so I can build a rocket. The young ladies of Tokiwadai Middle School were the same. Shirai-san and some others are running around looking after everyone, but the ones like that are rare indeed. Really, its a shame to just leave her with you, Misaka-san. Leave her with me? You make it sound like she belongs to you. She doesnt belong to you either. All this time, those girls had developed their powers without a clear vision of how they would use them. Using your powers. As Mikoto brought her hands close and blew a white breath into them, Shokuhou moved in close for some reason. It was not worth fighting it, so the 2 of them continued breathing to warm their numb fingertips. Shokuhou pressed her shoulder against Mikotos and gave off a sweet scent as she continued. ...Its all perfectly normal, but its a frightening normal. Their ability allowed them to easily survive during the scorching heat wave and the ferocious Elements, but now that they know theyre bringing that same ability into their peaceful everyday lives, they cant help but feel afraid. Power and pleasure could be similar. Once you got a taste, there was a risk of growing addicted. It was true of drugs, it was true of cheat codes, it was true of gambling, and it was true of cheating on tests. Once you knew you had a way of making it all easier, you could not do anything else. The powers that had let them survive so easily in that harsh environment would always be with them. Their lives would be much more convenient if they used them. But if you used the elevator instead of the stairs, your legs would grow weak. And if you relied on your smartphones kanji conversion, you would have difficulty writing or reading. Similarly, learning of an easier way would leave you unable to restrain yourself to the way you had lived before. They could not forgive themselves for growing so hideously corrupted. They were afraid of how useful their power would be in the world. Since you said you understand how they feel, can I assume you burned yourself out with your full combustion ability? Personally, I dont see how you can act like nothing happened. Since the shock didnt impact you, just how much do you usually rely on your powers? I dont want to hear that from someone who goes all biri biri year-round. But it might have something to do with us being Level 5s. Maybe so. There is no Level 5 who would restrain their power, said Shokuhou. Well, maybe thats going too far. But at our level, our status as human beings is inextricably attached to the strength of our power. When an athlete won an Olympic gold medal, they could no longer escape that sport no matter what kind of private life they lived. When a scientist won the Nobel Prize, they would end up relying on their field of study no matter what job they got. Those with superb results would be bound by those results. They were made painfully aware that they always had that ability with them and they would walk around with it as a constant companion. And at a level that produced no subjective symptoms. Nevertheless, Misaka Mikoto had said she understood the feelings of the girls who were trying to separate themselves from their power. Couldnt you use your power to act as a counselor for them? Your Mental Out works on anyone but me, right? Maybe so. But I dont think this is an abnormal mental state. ? They are always carrying a power that can kill someone depending on how its used. And unlike a blade or gun, they cant just put it down. Isnt that something that should fill you with fear ability? Well, I suppose so. They cant exactly learn how to control themselves in real battles like you did, Misaka-san, but I think it is important for them to find a compromise with themselves now that theyve felt this fear. If I used my power to numb their fear of these deadly weapons and sent them back to their school life, who knows what they could do with a smile on their face. Did you just refer to me like Im some kind of monster? Firing a metal shell at 3 times the speed of sound without killing anyone requires more precise control ability than shaving off all your unwanted body hair by swinging a Japanese sword around. Although you might not understand that since you do it all on instinct. Misaka Mikoto sighed. Her own heart must have been weakening. She found herself saying something she never would have normally. ...Can I discuss something with you? No, thank you. Im afraid youll swing a spear at me, so lets not. It has to do with that idiot. Why didnt you say so sooner? You dont even have to ask in that case. For some reason, Shokuhou leaned forward with incredible intensity. Their lips were less than 5cm apart, so an outside observer would have seen it as an incredibly lily-scented scene between two high-class girls. Whats scaring me isnt my #3 Level 5 power. It isnt my Railgun. Isnt it cruel to discuss this with the #5? Im not trying to brag about my superior ranking. Mikoto pressed her index finger against Shokuhous lips. Im talking about a power other than my esper power. Mhh. Misaka-san, can you stop squishing my lips? Im wondering what to do about the A.A.A. Part 2 Hmm? Maid Girl Tsuchimikado Maika casually opened her eyes, got up, and tilted her head. She had a short sword made of concentrated shadow piercing her flat chest, but she showed no sign of pain, suffering, or fear. So what is this thing? Are you sure it isnt just a prank using trick art or a hologram? ...Kamijou did not want a girl he knew to writhe in pain while holding her chest, but this was creepy in its own way. A lack of subjective symptoms could not be used as a parameter to decide if she was safe or at risk. It was a frightening comparison, but this reminded him of the occasional special report on TV about someone who returned to their normal life with a scalpel or forceps accidentally left in their body during surgery. And they did not have time to sit around. A heavy sound dropped down. ...? Kamijou frowned and they all turned their heads. There was something on the roadside, even though there had been nothing there before. Kamijou could not initially identify the clearly out-of-place object that seemed separated from the background. It was a silver ring of unknown use. It had no writing or pattern, but it was Tsuchimikado who identified it, not the pointy-haired boy. A handcuff? Yes, that was right. A handcuff. It had been hard to tell with just the one half, but now that he knew what it was, Kamijou relaxed. He was relieved to be able to describe the mysterious object in his own words and categorize it accordingly. He just had few opportunities to come into contact with that sinister tool. But unsurprisingly, it did not end there. Something wriggled. As if to make up for the handcuffs missing parts, a fingertip-sized chain shot out from one end of the silver ring. There was no space to contain a chain, but it kept extending endlessly like a tape measure. It writhed, wrapped around itself, and finally took a single form. It almost looked like a human skeleton. Then it absorbed and gathered something like sugar water that floated in the air and enveloped it like invisible flesh and blood. The one ring acted like a skull and the 4 limbs were bent to hang its head and scrape its forehead against the ground. Then the handcuff ring lifted from the ground and whatever-it-was stared at them with its 4 limbs planted firmly on the ground. At this point, it was more beast than human. And that brought a certain term to Indexs mind. ...Beast666. Aleister Crowleys magic name!? roared Othinus from Kamijous shoulder. That acted as the trigger. While acting as the core of the invisible flesh and blood, the handcuff and chain emitted a strange rainbow-colored light. It was an otherworldly scene, like seeing someone in an LED suit dancing in the darkness. And it was also reminiscent of a hard ball being thrown underhand just off the ground. At this point, they could not claim it had no hostile intent. They had not just been coincidentally caught in a random attack. Ohhh!? Kamijou honestly obeyed the fear and loathing that spread from his heart to his entire body. He clenched his right fist and took a step forward. Rather than drawing out his courage, he swung his fist for the same pessimistic reason as someone grabbing for the remote to change the channel when a horror movie came on TV. !? Wait, human!! Othinus shouted from his shoulder again. He jumped in surprise, but there was no stopping now. He understood he had stepped on some kind of landmine. After all, the Magic God who had crushed Imagine Breaker with Gungnir or her crossbow was frantically telling him to stop. Something awful was bound to happen. The fear and regret sneaking up his spine were enough to make him want to squeeze his eyes shut. Then his fist collided with the chain skeleton. Immediately afterwards, the clear flesh and blood and the rainbow-colored skeleton burst like a water balloon. Eh...? Ah...??? Because it had gone too well, Kamijous heart pounded irregularly in his chest. It was like being told that a ballpoint pen would give him a shock if he knocked on it, clenching his teeth as he tried it, and then finding that nothing happened. His mind was unsure how to process the phenomenon before his eyes. But the magicians were still cautious. Dont let your guard down, said Fran. Some kind of haze is enveloping you!! ? When Hoodie Bikini Fran pointed that out, Kamijou finally looked down at his own body. She was right. It was not quite static electricity, not quite an aurora, and not quite fog. It was like the shininess on the surface of a CD. Some kind of vague haze was seeping out of the air and vanishing as it thinly surrounded him. Kamijou may not have known much about magic, but the similar coloration to the strange handcuff chain told him this was bad news. B-but so what? It doesnt matter if this light or haze or whatever surrounds me. Its not like it hurts or-... His entire body froze before he could finish with anything. He saw Tsuchimikado Maika who merely looked puzzled. She clearly had a weapon through her chest, but she felt no pain or suffering. A lack of subjective symptoms did not mean nothing was wrong. Karma, hm? Tsuchimikado sounded annoyed. Kamijou frowned. Karma? You might not expect that from a Brit like Crowley, but as much as the Golden cabal likes to say its based in Kabbalah, its foundation of Hermeticism is actually a multinational mix of Egyptian and Greek mythology with names like Thoth and Mercury all over the place. On top of that, he made his own conversion chart to show how the Eastern I Ching worked using Western values. His journeys took him to Asia and theres a story of him trying to change religions on the spot upon seeing a Kamakura-era Buddhist temple. No, um, I was more asking what karma even is. Karma as in karmic retribution. Its the idea that your own actions invite the result you receive. Othinus crossed her arms and sighed on his shoulder. The simplest form of karma is the karma of killing. If you kill someones parent, the child will pursue you for revenge. Thats your karmic retribution. ...And thats what youve done here. By shattering and killing that rainbow chain with your right hand, you now bear that karma. This is not a good situation. He clearly sent that assassin to place this karma on you. Index put on a troubled expression and continued the explanation. According to Book 4 and Liber 777, the chain symbolic weapon is used to bind wandering thoughts. But unlike the fire wand or wind dagger, it isnt a physical tool. Its only a way of controlling the spell user who has lost their consciousness. So what happens to me with this stuff around me...? I dont know. But the more it happens, the more powerful and thicker it will grow. You can punch through a single piece of paper with a fingertip, but enough layers of paper can stop a bullet. Kamijou pictured himself being forced to wear 10 or even 100 layers of clothing. Just how much weight and pain would they bring? It was possible he would be rendered immobile. But cant I just destroy this rainbow karma stuff with my right hand? Aleister has been raising Imagine Breaker in his city, so do you really think he wouldnt have thought of that, human? You can kill the karma, but then you will bear the karma of killing karma. If you kill the child come to avenge their parent, youll only be attacked by their sibling. The more he killed, the more his karma would grow, so it would quickly snowball out of control. Did that mean it would be best to ignore it? But something bothered him. Hold on. ...If the penalty grows the more I kill... Yeah. Tsuchimikado cautiously looked around. I doubt itll end with that one. They heard something fall to the ground. They had no idea where it had come from, but a handcuff ring had fallen a short distance away, just like before. No, that was not all. Unlike before, there was something like a bicycle gear with it. With a deafening metallic noise, a chain shot from the both heads and formed humanoid skeletons. One was a chain meant to bind something to prevent movement. The other was a chain meant to carry some kind of force to accelerate movement. They were both chains, but their essences were different. Those symbolic weapons have no original role! View the gear as the sun and it symbolizes the male. View the handcuff as a ring and it symbolizes the female. That symmetry is being used to draw out a nonexistent element! Oh, no! Is this the karma penalty? Did I bring this here!? Kamijou shuddered as the eerily-glowing skeletons formed, but Index shook her head while holding the calico cat in her arms. No, that wouldnt explain why the first one appeared. The original cause has to have existed before you destroyed the rainbow chain monster! The original...cause...? What was the first abnormal situation? Kamijou Touma, Index, Othinus, Karasuma Fran, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, and even the cat focused on a single point. ? Tsuchimikado Maika alone tilted her head as everyone looked her way. The painless shadow sword still pierced the center of her chest. Something invisible clung to the 2 chain skeletons like sugar water. It was flesh and blood. Assassins with fangs and claws were finally born. Defeating them would not end this. More and more would appear. Y-youve gotta be kidding me... They were karmic beasts. Defeating one of them would surround you with a rainbow haze and no one could imagine what would happen once that grew to 10 or 100. Win or lose, that flock of sin would place something on your back. A clear threat arose within the abandoned territory just inside the wall where they could not ask anyone for help. Then what? Are these handcuffs and gears going to continue spawning endlessly as long as thats in Maikas chest!? That means we cant lose them no matter where we go!! The rainbow chain skeletons and their transparent flesh and blood rushed in like a pack of hyenas mobbing some raw meat from every direction. Seeing hands, hand, hands, and more hands with sharp claws, Kamijou clenched his right fist despite knowing that was a bad idea. Nn!! Hoodie Bikini Fran immediately raised her voice. She had stopped being a UFO girl and was now an Anglican magician. Virgo. Heh, Heh, Vau, Yod. Guide the light of the 6th Sign that has already been lost due to precession, oh angel with an 8-letter divine name. Drive out the approaching calamity!! Yellowish-green light grew from her fingertips. But before Kamijou could figure out what that meant, the bicycle gear chain moved forward. And just as the head gear turned... No! Wait!! Index shouted out and the light from the rabbit-ear antennae girls fingertips went haywire. It first seemed to change to a bright red and then it exploded in her hands. Uuuh!? The girl groaned at her own explosion and the handcuff chain approached next. There was no other option, so Kamijou slammed his fist against the beast. It noisily burst far too easily and the karma wrapped around his arm once more. It grew thicker and more sinister. Fran also grimaced while holding her hands. ...Why did Aries, the 1st Sign, activate...? Theyre working in our heart to change the color scheme we picture in our head! The handcuff is stagnation and the gear is acceleration. From red to purple, the colors of light separated by the glass pillar are being flipped around!! A high school boy like Kamijou had no way of judging how dangerous this was, but it seemed to make people lose control of their magic. And if magic was no use, they would have to rely on Kamijou even more. With a thunk, a handcuff ring fell from empty air and produced a new rainbow chain. There was no time to wait around. But after being shaken so many times in a row, Kamijous attention had slipped. He had not noticed that Tsuchimikado Motoharu, the blond sunglasses boy who had been standing right next to him, had disappeared. A dreadful roar burst out. A giant yellow crane truck slammed through the surrounding chains. It weighed more than 10 tons. The mass of steel plowed through with the full speed provided by its diesel engine, bowling all of the assassins out of the way. And he was of course the one driving it. Get on!! You say that, but theres only the single box seat, Tsuchimikado!! Kamijou had no choice but to push on Maika and Frans butts to get them up on the side, grab Indexs hand and pull her up with him, and cling to the side like a rescue team on a firetruck. Without asking if they were ready, the unprecedented sunglasses brother worked the giant shift lever with a grinding sound and got the ultra-heavyweight monster going again. He ran back over the rainbow chains that were squirming along the road and broke free of them with Kamijou and the others holding onto the crane truck. Kamijou glanced back while an intense wind washed over his body. Dammit, theyre getting right back up! I doubt theres any simple way to kill them besides your Imagine Breaker, Kami-yan. For one thing, were talking about magic on Aleisters level...but theres also the fact that theyre so narrowly targeted, nyah. Tsuchimikado kept talking in the drivers seat. He sounded like he had expected something this bizarre. Either way, we have to get to the Windowless Building in District 7. So lets just floor it!! ... The ultra-heavyweight crane truck could move pretty fast once it got up to speed. The handcuff and gear assassins were growing smaller as they pursued from behind. Kamijou and the others left the unmanned container yard wrapped in deathly silence and charged right into the urban region which was full of life. But the crisis was not over. Wah!? What, what? The maid girl was at the center of it all, but Maika did not seem to sense the danger as she clung to the crane truck in confusion. Orange sparks occasionally scattered from the road. Gears and handcuff rings were falling from nowhere and crashing into the asphalt. But they must not have been able to keep up with the speed because they were left in the dust before they could take actual form. What the hell!? Is there just an unlimited number of them!? No, they arent physical objects in the first place, explained Index. Once one cant follow us anymore, it loses its form to replenish the stock! The framework should just be the one pair of 2! But they could not let their guard down or relax. Just because their speed was enough to lose the rainbow chains did not mean the enemy would go away. And if the stocked gear or handcuff would continue to appear somewhere around Maika, putting distance between them was meaningless. It was like gaining a lead in a relay race only to have the opponents next runner start running early. Just letting them attack was out of the question, but carelessly defeating them came with a penalty. Plus, destroying them would only increase the stock. Flooring it and fleeing was the only option. Theres something odd about this, said Othinus from Kamijous shoulder. Its definitely a nasty technique, but it isnt very decisive. Its almost like sending pursuers after us to place on some kind of preset rails. Like a hound chasing a wild rabbit. Kamijou was shocked. Are you suggesting this Aleister guy is luring us into the Windowless Building? No, that would be meaningless. You might not be aware of it, but the Windowless Building is the center of the science side. Its the core that he cant allow to be taken. If he can determine a course for us and lure us there, he would only have to guide us into a dead-end alleyway and have us beaten up there. This is how he does things, cut in Tsuchimikado from the drivers seat. Victory and defeat, success and failure, acquisition and loss, glory and setbacks. Theyre all the same thing to Aleister Crowley. No matter the result when you roll the die, his goal is achieved as long as he can guide that result in a single direction. Thats what he truly believes. A normal person would have given up after failing so spectacularly in summoning Coronzon, but it only got him more fired up. Kamijou sensed some kind of powerful current. They were desperately struggling to climb up onto the bank, but the torrent of water had them in its grip and would not let go. The more they tried, the more it swept them downstream as if to mock them. ... Tsuchimikado drove the crane truck through the city while running all the red lights and breaking through the railroad crossing bars that lowered and gave off a shrill noise. No matter how much land it covered, it was still just one city. It did not take long to reach District 7 from District 11. The rabbit-ear antennae girl spoke up when she saw the former entrance. Found it. Kami-yan, wheres the entrance!? I-its this rectangular opening in the road...oh, right! Its near the withered tree over-...!! The nyah-nyah sunglasses boy did not wait for him to finish speaking. He pulled the hand brake, swung the giant truck around, and released what the crane was carrying: a gigantic wrecking ball. The built-up centrifugal force was used to swing the extra-large morning star into the entrance to the underground area which was closed tight and disguised as asphalt. The destructive power was great enough for the 10-ton crane truck to rise up so only the wheels on one side touched the ground. It was unclear how many locks or deadbolts had kept it shut, but that blow created a nice rectangular opening. Tsuchimikado somehow managed to get all the trucks wheels back on the road and then drove right down the slope. They could not forget that the gears and handcuff rings were continuing to be created around Maika as she clung to the crane truck. No amount of accelerating and fleeing would bring them safety. The tires tore at the ground as the crane truck drove to the lowest level. The brakes screeched and they found the same vast space as before. This was Kihara Yuiitsus fortress where she had ruled over 100 girls with a single right hand. It was strange. This cave of ruin and disaster had transformed into a path of hope for them. (Come to think of it, Yuiitsu just kind of disappeared, didnt she? ...Oh!?) Kamijou was just about thrown from the truck and he looked up to see countless rocket boosters hanging down like stalactites. They were all damaged and a large wound had opened. That was their way into the impregnable Windowless Building. ... Hoodie Bikini Fran looked at the hole overhead like she was staring up at the sun. This opening had been given to them by Kamisato Kakeru who was no longer here. What feelings did this bring to the small girl who had brought her love to an end? We dont have time! Tsuchimikado shouted that at them as he placed the crane trucks support legs on the ground and extended the arm. Yes, once the truck stopped, they could not escape those 2 chain monsters that appeared around Maika no matter where they were. The pair that was catching up from behind would reach them. But the more they defeated, the more of that unknown karmic penalty Kamijou would bear. That meant they had to keep moving. Are we really doing this...!? You cant tell me youre afraid of heights after jumping from the dorm and skydiving from a plane, Kami-yan!! The diagonally extended crane arm was a modern day Jack and the Beanstalk. There were no railings or lifelines. One slip and they would tumble straight toward the solid ground. Kamijou could only think of one way to force his thoughts in a positive direction: Q1: Which is better, falling from a great height or being slowly tormented to death by those creepy rainbow chains? Oh, hell!! Those are some awful choices!! He knew what he had to do. Tsuchimikado grabbed into the crane arm and took the lead. Just like a mountain climbing guide, he was showing the others how it was done. Next were Index, Maika, and Fran. Kamijou went last. (Although I cant exactly catch them if they tumble backwards...) He had enough tact not to say that out loud. As the hoodie bikini girl went ahead of him, the soccer ball antenna on her butt waved back and forth, but then she covered her little butt with one hand. And he heard the cursed words. ...What do you think youre looking at, you perverted dung beetle low-angle peeping tom? A swimsuit doesnt count as underwear! And theres nothing sexy about a girl who wears shorts in the middle of winter!! Please do not criticize my fashion sense when you have no taste whatsoever!! The heavy handcuff ring and gear still fell around Maika as they climbed the crane arm, but it was a narrow crane. With nothing to grab onto, they simply vanished far below. But there was no time to relax. The beasts with rainbow chain skeletons and transparent flesh and blood also began climbing the arm. ! Really!? Kamijou kicked down the gear chain when it got close. He did not have to bear the mysterious karma as long as he did not use Imagine Breaker, but that meant he could not finish them off. Knocking them down from this height would not kill them. But that did keep him too preoccupied to be bound by a fear of heights. The next thing he knew, they had made it quite a ways up and they successfully climbed inside through a damaged booster. But if there was a way in, their opponents could continue their pursuit. Outta the way, Kami-yan!! Tsuchimikado moved forward. He ignored the way his blood vessels bulged out at his temple. Black of the Five Elements, remove the barrier like the surging of the water dragon. (Hey, delinquent. Wake the hell up and get to work.) As soon as he released a dragon made from a small piece of origami, the handcuff ring inside one of the beasts opened and closed. They were changing the color of the magic so Tsuchimikado would lose control. But... Losing control was part of the plan!! He pushed it through regardless. The giant water gun blast that grew in that space wrapped around Tsuchimikados surroundings and slammed into the end of the crane arm. The arm and the ultra-heavyweight crane truck were knocked onto their side. The beanstalk was felled and the ghouls clinging to it were knocked down with it. Bh... Aniki? What is it, Aniki!? Youre covered in blood!! ...Bwh. Unable to answer Maikas shocked words, Tsuchimikado doubled over and coughed up a lot of blood. His entire body was tormented by the side effects of being a magician who was also developed as an esper. And there was no set value for how many times he could take this side effect. He might be able to survive it 100 times, or he might die after the first time because it caused one of his hearts blood vessels to burst. He was trapped by those unreasonable Russian roulette rules. They cant follow us... he said while wiping off his mouth. Not unless they can grow wings like angels or demons... That was when they heard a dry clattering sound. But unless we solve Maikas problem, those handcuff and gear rainbow chains will continue to appear. We need to keep moving. Well be trapped otherwise!! Part 3 The A.A.A. The Anti-Art Attachment. Misaka Mikoto should have had nothing to do with that term. She had originally acquired it by pure happenstance. But the truth remained that she was growing dependent on it. However, there was still a lot she did not know about it. It had apparently been one of the reasons by Kihara Yuiitsu had brought an army of Elements to thoroughly destroy Tokiwadai Middle School. And it may have been her taking a step deeper into the A.A.A. that had highlighted her as a threat and led to something as strange as a curse targeting her. So Im the same as those girls, began Mikoto anew. They were in a burger shop outside the School Garden. Instead of a chain with restaurants everywhere, it was a small shop at the top of a small multi-tenant building. The narrow stairs up to it made her question just who it was welcoming. In fact, it did not even have a sign out front. If she did not know better, she would have thought it was an office full of frightening-looking men. Shokuhou Misaki had brushed back her honey-blonde hair and made the following smug announcement in front of the restaurant. Not every restaurant in the School Garden is all that good. A lot of them will dump in preservatives, dyes, artificial sweeteners, beef tallow, or lard and hope you dont notice. Not letting the appearance fool you and locating the places that serve real food is how you prove your worth as a person. Yes, yes. Youre so wonderful for knowing about a good hole-in-the-wall place. Wonderful, wonderful. ...Busuu. Why are you acting cute all of a sudden? Do you mentally regress when someone looks down on you or something? But back to the present. It was like a scene from TV where what looks like a perfectly normal apartment room turns out to be a fancy French restaurant that rejects first-time customers. Mikoto had no choice but to rub the other girls head, which caused the queen to puff out her cheeks like rice cakes. But that aside... Munch, munch The flavor must have been linked to happy memories for her because Shokuhou Misaki childishly bit into the extra-large burger with a smile. Mikoto continued the discussion from the seat diagonally across the table. When a power falls in your lap out of the blue and forces you to be aware of its presence, it tends to throw you for a loop. But to be honest, Im pretty clearly a few laps behind in some invisible world. And I cant climb up onto the stage without the strange power of the A.A.A. Misaka-san. The burger was too big to eat all at once, so the #5 set it back down on the tray, stuck out her little tongue to lick the grease from her lips, used her straw to take a sip of a soda made from spring water, reached for the fries, and spoke with exasperation in her voice. So wheres the core of this problem ability? Ohh, Im just so frightening now that Ive gained this incredible power! ...Are you just losing yourself in that feeling??? ...In a way, I have to thank you, Shokuhou. Youre probably the only person in Tokiwadai who will speak with me so frankly. I mean... Shokuhou held a fry out toward Mikotos mouth. Weigh the 2 options: gain this power, or dont gain it. Is there any way the latter option would be of any use? Ahm. ...Y-you actually ate it. Thats honestly something of a letdown. With someone as black-hearted as you eating them so readily, its obvious they arent harmful. But she did not seem to notice the waitress pouring chilled water from a pitcher at another table who began blushing as the water overflowed the glass. To get back on topic, if there is a price for using the A.A.A., youve already paid it and the risk wont just go away if you stop using it now, right? And thats true whether its something physical or some kind of, um...curse? Uh, but isnt it a little much to keep using it like crazy on that reasoning? Just because you swallowed one anti-drowsiness pill doesnt mean its okay to chug the whole bottle after learning what they are. Thats not what I meant. Normal hospitals arent going to tell you anything with the A.A.A.s side effects or the curses lingering effects, right? Then isnt the only way to rest easy to analyze the A.A.A. yourself? With a suspicious tablet or supplement, you could send a sample to the appropriate agency, but since theres no one like that in this case, wont you just have to do it yourself? ...Well, yes, I suppose. Mikoto pouted her lips like a child and Shokuhou breathed a heavy sigh when she saw it from the diagonal seat. She leaned back in her chair and reached out her long legs to mess with Mikotos feet below the table. This tends to be how it works when someone asks for advice, doesnt it? You already have the answer half-formed in your mind, but youre afraid of placing all the responsibility on your own shoulders, so you push it onto someone elses back to distribute the burden. Its nothing but a disaster for those of us who kindly listen to your worries. I mean, we have to bear a portion of the responsibility for something were not even doing. ... Honestly, what a waste of time. If you werent like that, Misaka-san, I could drag out what you really thought at the touch of a remote button and this would all be over. Why do I have to be the #5 while youre the #3? Then why did you decide to hear me out? Why else? How is this connected to that pointy-haired boy? Part 4 The Windowless Building. Kamijous group had come to that giant space in order to find a way to get rid of the shadow sword stabbing into Maikas chest since neither Index nor Othinus knew what to do about it. They had to infiltrate Aleister Crowleys fortress, find some documents related to the spell he had created, and use that to calculate out some new magic that would neutralize or eliminate it. (But I cant believe the person at the top of Academy City, headquarters of the science side, was a magician...) Kamijou gave a belatedly gulp at the twisted structure of the world. The Windowless Buildings internal structure was far from normal. Its length and width were fine. It was about the size of a school gym. If there were no internal walls, that size was nothing out of the ordinary. The problem was the height. Kamijou could not see the top. No matter how high he looked, nothing like a ceiling was in evidence. It was all wrapped in darkness. He doubted this was possible even if the entire building was one giant open space. It almost looked like a pit or vertical tunnel that was connected to outer space or another dimension. The scale was one only found in mountain climbing. We already knew the Windowless Building was a giant rocket, whispered Othinus from his shoulder. It should have lost its ability to escape the planet with the rocket boosters gone, but did it go beyond that? The internal space is being extended to connect to the destination coordinates. Thats what created this strange spatial structure that surpasses Euclid. This isnt the Sephiroth or the Qliphoth... Its almost like a unique third tree built up from scratch... Kamijou had no idea what they were talking about, but the rainbow chain beasts were still being created from the gears and handcuffs around Maika. Defeating them without thinking was dangerous and they could not come to a stop, so the group had to continue up. There are some stairs over there! That was all Kamijou shouted before leading the way. The stairs spiraled around the inside of the buildings outer wall. In addition to the stairs were an escalator and even a small open elevator like the kind used at construction sites or in mines. He smacked indoorsy Fran on the head when she reached for the elevator button. They did not have time to wait, so he led the way to the stairs. The internal structure did not follow any kind of logic. The structure only continued up and up and up. There seemed to be a lot of paths where the landing branched off both up and down, but it all led in the same direction in the end. It felt like being set on a single predetermined path. Hey! Tsuchimikado!! What, nyah!? You often hear about escaping upwards being a bad idea in fires, right!? It feels like were running into a dead end here! Then do you want to stop here and get caught in the flames!? Just hurry!! They seemed to be safely escaping, but Kamijou could not rid himself of an unpleasant feeling like they were growing more and more tangled in a spiders web. He sensed an indescribable dead-end like he would draw the short straw whether he won or lost the game of rock-paper-scissors. His initial feelings about all this were still with him. It was that danger without subjective symptoms seen in Maika from the moment the condensed shadow sword had stabbed through her chest. He should have been glad she was not in pain, but the lack of pain made it feel like they were being mocked. (Damn, it feels like nothing were doing is having any effect. I cant tell if were headed in the right direction or not!!) But even if they were only running up some stairs or a stopped escalator, the exhaustion was incredible when there was no goal in sight. It felt like a combination of mountain climbing and a marathon. To escape the rainbow chain beasts with gear or handcuff heads, they were running full speed without thinking of pacing themselves, so their bodies were naturally growing unsteady. Kamijou found himself reaching for the railing of the large spiral staircase. Then something strange happened. With no prior warning, the metal railing broke off like it was made of sugar. H-...!!!??? He had tried to say hey because doubt and irritation arrived before fear. But there was no changing it now that it had happened. His hand swam through empty air in search of something to grab onto, but he could not make the necessary correction after fully placing his body weight on the railing. He tumbled out past the railing. The violent gravity produced by the planet became deadly hairs that tangled all around Kamijou Toumas body. Part 5 It was a world of fog. ...Huh? Hadnt he just taken a dive into the void along with the broken railing? This was another unreasonable turn of events, but relief filled his body when he felt solid ground supporting his feet. He felt some faint unease at how empty it all seemed, like he was trying to fill his stomach with a feast visible through VR goggles, but...it still went a long way to restrain the pressure on his heart. Kamijou moved each limb in turn to confirm that nothing was broken. Where am I...? Othinus? Huh? Othinus? He realized the Magic God was gone from his shoulder. Had she been thrown off when he made the dive? If not... He tried to think of other options, but found nothing. Then again, he had no idea how to explain his current situation, so of course he could not come up with any theories. He heard what sounded like a bug zapper flashing on and off. And then he heard a graceful female voice through the fog. It begins... What begins? Before he could ask, he sensed a presence. But it was not the women he had heard through the fog. Several mocking childrens voices reached him from a different direction. They were energetic, but they were not at all bright or cheerful. In fact, this was the torrent of negativity unique to childhood that hid the kind of sadism that would tear off an insects legs one at a time. That was all he sensed at first and it felt like an invisible wall pressing in on him. And at that point, he finally realized the language was distanced from him. The previous woman and these children seemed to be speaking English, and yet he could understand them just fine. It might be a clichd explanation, but the meaning behind the words played over them like a second sound channel. Teacher, he sleeps with his hands under the blanket! Hes touched in the head! Its because he doesnt believe in god!! Edward, come here. Apologize for making everyone uneasy!! (...? What is this???) It sounded like they were ganging up on and criticizing someone, but Kamijou did not understand what it was about. If they were making it up, surely they could have come up with a better story than that. It did not even make sense to stretch the truth for this. But the several silhouettes visible through the fog did not doubt they stood on the side of justice. They were only thinking of dragging someone down from the stage and making that person bow down to them. This was majority rule. It was a small miniature garden where that decision was all that mattered. No matter how unreasonable it was, that cage of rules would reject you if you did not work to fit in. The sticky atmosphere was like a soaked blanket. Just how foolish are they...? whispered a voice. Someone already stood by Kamijous side. It was a skinny boy with silver hair. He was much smaller than Kamijou. His juvenile face showed only bitterness and frustration. He did not seem able to see Kamijou. Kamijou was apparently only the audience. The fog whirled around. A male and a female silhouette with adult heights were shouting something beyond the fog. Why do you refuse to listen to us!? We thought sending you to a strict boarding school would help you understand the teachings of god!! Edward, oh, Edward! Just how stupid are you!? ...For some reason. He had nothing to base this on, but Kamijou thought he could see what was going on here. Those adults must have been the ones who were meant to protect the silver-haired boy. But they had been so focused on ensuring he acted proper that they grew lax in that duty. They had fully believed that letting a strict school take care of him would place a strict spirit in him. The boy spoke. Even those who believe in god and proclaim themselves to be righteous can act so disgracefully? Could they hear him or not? Something was thrown into the fog. It was a porcelain flower pot full of water. It was going to hit the silver-haired boy in the face. Kh. So Kamijou instinctually reached out and caught it. He felt the heavy impact in his wrist. He gasped at the dull pain. He still did not understand what all this was, but he knew he could not let his guard down. If someone wielded a knife in this fog, it could kill him. And the silver-haired boy did not even glance in his direction. This was like a movie, so no one could even perceive Kamijous presence. Then reading through the bible must not lead to the truth. When you cast aside your own thoughts and blindly believe the teachings of those who came before you, you only gain that disgraceful behavior. That boy had seen the other side of the people praised as saints and treated like the perfect role models. His heart must have been a dark mass of solidified doubt and scorn. The silver-haired boy spoke with a voice that seemed to burn with a dark flame. Then I will find the truth. I will reclaim the former path that was lost in their foolish blind belief. Just as something like sparks seemed to flash before Kamijous eyes, the fog and the silver-haired boy vanished. In fact, Kamijou Touma had never fallen in the first place. He felt the solid sensation of the metal railing in his hand and it supported his weight. He was back on the stairs. The same stairs as before. What is it, Touma? You zoned out there for a second. If we dont get going, the rainbow chains will catch up! (...?) He was urged on by Index and Fran, but Kamijous head was full of questions. He instinctually reached for his right shoulder to confirm the presence of the 15cm fairy there. He stroked the top of her small head through her hat. Stop it, human. Dont play with me in front of so many people. There is a time and a place for this kind of thing!! He could feel her there. Othinus really was there. So...what did that mean? What was the meaning of the vision he had seen while Othinus was not on his shoulder??? But despite the questions filling his mind, he did not have time to figure any of it out. Just as the girls had warned him, Maika C or rather, the painless short sword piercing her chest C had the power to produce those gear and handcuff monsters. If they stayed in one place for too long, they would be trapped between the pair of beasts. On a landing where the stairs, escalator, and elevator complexly intertwined, several of those bloody monsters appeared. The way forward and back were both blocked, so they had to break through. Tsuchimikado immediately pulled out a few pieces of origami. Tch! Kami-yan, you look after Maika!! As long as you dont use Imagine Breaker, we dont have to think about the karma!! Wait, Tsuchimikado! You still have the damage from before. And Index, you support Fran. Shes a magician, so she should be able to make use of your knowledge!! It was frightening having the beasts attack in a group, but each individual one was not that powerful. So Kamijous judgment was not all that wrong. (Huh?) However. That was only if their assumptions were correct. (Were there three of them before?) One of the chain beasts suddenly burst from within. Just because the background was visible through them did not mean there was nothing inside. The light had been bent to hide a human with waist-length silver hair and a green surgical gown. He looked like both a man and a woman, like both an adult and a child, and like both a saint and a sinner. At close range, he gently held his right hand out toward them. 32, 30, 10. As if he were striking the flint in a lighter, small numbers scattered from his hand. His fingers took a familiar form. He clenched a fist and then stuck out his thumb and forefinger. In other words... (...A handgun...?) Just as Kamijou thought that, the world was filled with horrific destructive power. The handcuff chain beast in the way was torn to pieces and blown away as something flew toward them. Whatever-it-was flew far too fast for the human eye to follow. Just like wheat swaying as the invisible wind blew through, its presence was only just barely apparent thanks to the destroyed beast. Ooooowahhhhhhh!!!??? roared Tsuchimikado. There may have been no logical reason and it may have only been a ritual to tear apart the chains of fear binding his legs. Tsuchimikado Motoharu took a step forward, brought his hands together in front of his chest, and held up an origami phoenix. The invisible something was deflected by an invisible barrier. He had truly bet his life on that resistance. But it did not end there. Hadnt Tsuchimikado himself said that Aleister Crowley was not picky about victory or defeat, success or failure, acquisition or loss, and glory or setbacks? That no matter the result, he could guide it all in a single direction? Deflecting the attack caused it to burst and scatter in every direction. And it evenly assaulted Kamijous group who should have been protected. As his entire body was pummeled, the pointy-haired boys rattled head lost all sense of direction. He could not tell what had happened to the girls standing right next to him. In fact, he could not even feel the ground. Kamijou was in an extreme predicament, but he felt something oddly familiar. Yes. It was the same as before. He was falling. Kamijou Touma fell without end. Between the Lines 1 The propaganda and negative campaigns from the Christian church died out due to the rampant criticism calling the witch hunts immoral and inhumane. And to replace that, they were instead attacked by the third-rate newspapers with no morals or compliance rules that were starting to make an appearance at the time. All sorts of things were written about them: that they still boiled babies in pots for their experiments, that they held obscene ceremonies with men and women all mixed together, etc. (Ironically, the attempts to discover the truth about them actually hid the truth of what magicians were.) So from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, true magicians began drawing out definite rules for their research and experiments. You must not use any living creature as an ingredient for an experiment. Simply put, magic circles using animal or human blood and potions using fat or internal organs were banned. Some might find this odd. Arent frogs, newts, pigeons, and bats the standard ingredients for wicked witches to put in their cauldrons in childrens books? Were the actual magicians actually perfectly pure and nothing like the image of them someone had invented? Or had such things grown so common that everyone would have done them if they had not made some civilized rules? Everyone can come to their own conclusions on that question. And just because they had rules did not mean those acts themselves went away. There were some who would break the rules to reach their goal. And that leads us to a certain human. On a trip to Africa, that magician used the blood of 3 pigeons to draw a magic circle in an attempt to pass from one sephirah to another. To pass through the abyss between them, he wished to become one with the abyss so he would not take any spiritual damage as he accomplished his goal. How did that turn out? Whether it succeeded or failed, human society came into contact with a certain name at that time. That demon is designated with 8 letters, beginning with C. That being was not contained by the existing Qliphoth and even broke the controlling chains of the man with a bestial magic name. Volume 18, 3: Golden - A.D.1900_Invisible_War. Volume 18, Chapter 3: Golden C A.D.1900_Invisible_War. Part 1 This time, he did not immediately arrive in the world of fog. He was falling headfirst. An endless sensation of falling squeezed at his heart and a female voice slipped softly into his ear. Do you understand now? Understand...what!? Were reality and illusion mixing together again? He touched his right shoulder as he fell headfirst, but there was no sign of his understander there. Falling is a stereotypical method of entering hypnosis. And it need not be anything specialized. For example, have you ever suddenly woken after a standard falling dream? Hyp...nosis? Well, something like it. Its actually a complex intertwining of falsehood and fact, like a mixture of animal magnetism and hypnotherapy. So what was happening? Kamijous head was full of questions as someone else appeared alongside him, also upside-down. It was a young and beautiful woman in mourning clothes with a translucent veil over her face. However, she had such magnificent bodylines that they were apparent even through the black clothing. ...Or was that who this was? Sandstorm-like static would occasionally run through her and, each time it did, a black cat vision seemed to overlap with her. He focused his eyes on her more to distract himself from the fear of the fall than to figure out who she was, but that still caused the two images to align. What in the hell? A grown woman has cat ears growing from her head...? That must be the most satisfactory appearance for you. You can call me Mina, Mrs. Mathers, or the Black Cat Witch. I was also known as the heretic painter and the founders understander, but each name only points to a fragment of who I am. No matter what she said, the vision no longer changed. In fact, she grew something like a tail from her hipline, making her even more catlike. Thats super unbalanced... What is this? I feel like Im seeing a female teacher with twintails. Odd. My appearance should be automatically adjusting to the one you will most easily accept. The veiled womans expression did not change in the slightest. And was she influencing him? He was still falling toward almost certain death with no plan, but for some reason, he felt his fear fading. Since she was so calm, he began wondering if there was a safety net or a pool of gelatin to catch them. ...Although this may have been like wearing VR goggles to view some beautiful scenery while driving full speed toward the edge of a cliff. It is obvious why Aleister Crowley constructed me within his own palace. And you already know the answer, dont you? Hey, can you stop pretending I know what youre talking about? You clearly dont think I do! You just want to explain it all to me!! To Aleister Crowley, I...or rather, we are all enemies, trauma, and symbols of setback. But that must be why he has chosen to continue tearing open that wound to preserve his own purity. That is why I am here. Continue tearing open...that wound...? As for why he chose me over Mathers or Westcott, I can only assume he viewed me as relatively reasonable and sensible. I can guess he decided that making me the host would allow him to assemble the more difficult people such as Waite and Regardie. What, what, what!? One at a time, please. Mathers? Regardie? These Western names mean nothing to me! Who are these people!? Im not going to remember any of it if you just mention some friends of Mozart and Beethoven out of the blue! Especially when Im kinda falling headfirst toward the ground!! Oh, honestly. You dont seem to understand at all, but I will continue on regardless. Cat-ear hag, if you want to explain stuff, how about taking responsibility and doing it right!? Golden. She cut him off with that single word. That largest of magic cabals combined the DNA of Hermeticism and Rosicrucianism, gathered the worlds greatest minds, and repeatedly made historys greatest discoveries and accomplishments. Starting with the 3 founders such as Westcott and Mathers, people like Waite, Regardie, and Bennett gathered in one place for a truly miraculous group. And. ...And? Aleister Crowley destroyed it all and returned the magic cabal to mere ashes. Thus, I and all the others are the trauma of his defeat and setbacks. With no warning, the falling sensation ended. Kamijous eyes widened in surprise and he felt solid ground below his feet. White fog surrounded him in every direction. But unlike before, he could see through it. The scenery was instantly rewritten and a world only seen in old movies spread out before his eyes. Dirty white steam and sooty smoke blew through a city of brick and stone pavement. The darkness of the night was illuminated by old-fashioned gas lights. A balled-up scrap of paper rolled along in the damp wind. It was a lot like the tumbleweed in Westerns. Kamijou staggered and stepped on it. And it said the following: London Shocking Times. April 1900. The day was illegible because the paper was wet and torn. ...1900? London??? The newspapers ink was running far more than a modern one would, so the small English writing was illegible. Kamijou looked up and checked the signs around, but he did not know what any of them meant. He could just barely grasp that one of them was a street sign and he tried to read the string of letters there. Bl...Blith...Bluth? What is this??? 36 Blythe Road, Hammersmith. To magic researchers, this was a crucial but quiet turning point of history. He suddenly realized the Black Cat Witch was shockingly close by. His nose sensed something odd. He could not explain exactly what, but he may have picked up on a faint scent. A great many black cats swarmed around the mourning clothes womans feet like her shadow. And as she brought that ominousness with her, Mrs. Mathers whispered to him. Well, I was known as the Black Cat Witch. Thats a pretty straightforward interpretation. I was also an artist, so I might be carrying the scent of art supplies or oil. Youre pretty cheap, Black Cat Witch! The veiled woman remained nonchalant despite Kamijou Toumas sharp comment. This place became the stage of a war. 1900? ...What happened then? Thats too early for World War One, isnt it? And it was known as the Battle of Blythe Road. Mystery men were rampant in this foggy city of steam and sooty smoke. And someone silently appeared beyond the fog. The Black Cat Witch spoke as if she were celebrating the appearance of the star in a movie. That was when Aleister Crowley went straight for Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and declared war on the main branch of the Golden cabal, leading to an armed conflict between magicians that was recorded in actual history. Part 2 ...!? Kamijou Touma woke up. ...Or was that the right way to describe it? Regardless, he once more found himself on the stairway attached to the Windowless Buildings wall. This too was an alternate dimensional space that extended infinitely upwards. Asking which one was real would not lead to a clear answer. (Tsuchimikado...protected everyone from Aleister, then we were blown away, and, um, what happened!? Where is he now!?) As his mind started working once more, Kamijous panic accelerated. Yes, there was no sign of his awful friend with blond hair and sunglasses. No. It went beyond that. There was no one else here. Index? There was no response. Othinus!? He reached for his right shoulder, but he did not feel his understander there. ...Even the pair of gear and handcuff beasts and the person camouflaged as an impossible third one were gone. They had probably been meant to trip up Tsuchimikado, so were they gone because Maika was not here? There is no need to beat around the bush and refer to him as the person. That is Aleister Crowley. Wah!? When he felt a sudden breath on his ear, Kamijou forgot he was on an elevated stairway and fell right onto his butt. The many stairways and ladders are likely a symbol of mountain climbing made from urban materials. He repeatedly measured his limits with a variety of methods: magic, drugs, yoga, and mountain climbing to name a few. Something. Something was there. But that can also be misinterpreted as demonstrating the possibility to surpass and expand his limits. Mourning clothes, cat ears, and a tail. The young and beautiful woman brought a large group of black cats instead of a shadow and a hint of art supplies and oil tickled at his nose. Mina Mathers should only have existed in the illusion, yet here she was!? What!? Have I not escaped that yet!? Huh? Wait, which one is the real world!? That is an extremely philosophical question, but there is no real reason to distinguish between the two. Even without the example of the Four Worlds indicated by seven candles, the world always has many overlapping layers. ???? Although I suppose someone with a soul as low-level as yours would indeed be trapped by the visions of the physical world. Those chains are the mountains devilishness that reaches for human karma and they are the power that binds human thoughts and leads them to ascend the mountain, but they must have also provided a reassuring push on the back. Well, the one thing I do understand is that youre mocking me. Someone who loved explaining things had no way to fulfill that desire without someone to talk to, so this woman might have been lonely. With those silly thoughts rattling around his head, Kamijou started to gulp. Oh? I see your spiritual activity is directed toward a higher level now. With that much of an imagination, you might just be able to reach a Tattva vision. Dont you underestimate a full-on adolescent mind, cat-ear hag! Ill strip you bare in my mind!! Doing battle at a higher level of spiritual activity is a surprisingly simple task. ? By which I mean...flash. A black garter belt!? A single visual will solidify their image, trap them, and rob them of their freedom. Using that to seal off the cards in their deck and drive them into a dead end is one form of magic battle. See? You cant picture anything other than sexy lingerie now, can you? You can only picture an elegant and glamorous lifestyle... Dammit, I can only imagine a smug young woman!? But this looks like the model in a fashion magazine for office ladies. Thats just a boring image of the pre-established harmony. I cant let a complete stranger take away my fantasies! If Im going to embarrass her, its gotta be some strawberry panties that dont suit her at all! Burn, my adolescence!! Yes, that is the first step toward a vision. A beginner must first overcome this. Kamijou Touma was led around by the young woman, but this was no time to be holding a high-level spiritual battle(?). Wait, I cant be focused on strawberry panties right now! What happened to Tsuchimikado!? Index, Othinus, and Maika are gone too, but are they okay!? Did they disappear or was it me that wandered off somewhere? Having weird fantasies isnt going to make anything materialize, so whose world is this!? The world is simply the world. It belongs to no one. Again!! This isnt the time for a Zen dialogue!! Which of course means it does not belong to Aleister Crowley. ? She spoke in a confusing conceptual way that provided no concrete answers, but that phrase caught in Kamijous mind. You mean...what...eh? But isnt this the Windowless Building, his headquarters...? Aleister Crowley has no intention of overcoming the trauma that he has perfectly recreated. And he does not care if he has setbacks or failures. So he does not maintain control over the very miniature garden he created. That is why I am able to speak with you. Her phrasing was a pain to deal with, but did that mean Aleister was writhing around while viewing the trauma he had created himself? That sounded like someone with belonephobia climbing inside an iron maiden... What is that Aleister guy trying to do...? He believes in power. But he does not distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, correct and incorrect. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of Thelema. Even if a great many people call that power evil or wrong, he will not hesitate to reach for it so long as it will achieve his goal. That is the kind of human Aleister Crowley is. ...Give me a simple example. People hate roaches. But that hatred is so strong that it produced the power leading to the development of insecticides and sticky tape. That is what I mean. Aleister Crowleys soul was constantly worn away by powerful trauma, but did he see the intensity of that hatred and disgust as the source of a power strong enough to carry him down his own path? Did he see Mina and the other Golden magicians as a source of unconditional and biological revulsion, just like a cockroach? No, said the woman. Hey, youre getting ahead of yourself, explainer. Dont answer me before I say anything. Aleister Crowley fosters his hatred in a much larger framework. He loathes, fears, and mocks the entire planet to an extent that is almost pitiable. The entire world. From a stone on the side of the road to the brightest star twinkling in the sky. ...What kind of life had he lived to expand his biological disgust to that extent? There were some scenes that unconditionally inspired certain emotions in the humans who saw them. For example, a weak baby bird or a kitten in the rain. But Aleister Crowley was unaffected. He hated it all equally. No individual reason was necessary; merely seeing it was enough to trigger a biological reaction. Hes different from the Magic Gods who just wanted to live free... Of course. He did not wish to become like them and has remained in the category of human. ? He likely gave up on crossing the abyss after the Coronzon failure, but he also feels pride in remaining human. She topped off her string of unexplained terminology with a smug look, but Kamijou forced his thoughts to stay focused without wandering off. (He feels pride in remaining human?) Yes. No matter how old he grows, he remains very childish. Dont butt in!! And is this actually a fantasy world of my brains creation!? Is that why you can read my mind!? Then become a young woman wearing childish strawberry pantiiiiiies!! Nothing happened. After shouting at the top of his lungs, Kamijou was KOd. He covered his face with his hands and curled up on the floor. ...As I was saying, no matter how old they grow, men remain very childish. You just expanded that to include me, didnt you!? Anyway. Will you actually gain anything from being here? wondered the woman. You clearly have not mastered this path enough to fall toward the answer when you meditate. You might be hiding it behind your fancy words, but I can tell youre making fun of me. Kamijou looked to the canopy of endless darkness overhead. Well, I guess Ill just have to keep going. If theyre not here, theyre probably somewhere else. And what is that bastard trying to accomplish by making me climb a mountain? Just like real mountain climbing, choosing the wrong route will lead to death, so be careful. And I would assume Aleister is only trying to expand himself. Of course, this was only if it was the others who had disappeared, not Kamijou himself. This was completely unprecedented, but with him switching between worlds so often, he could not rely on his own point of view as accurate. In the worst case, he might have to ensure that Index, Maika, and the others were real once he did regroup with them. He failed to climb the K2, which is more than 8000m tall, because he gave up after planning out a climbing route but receiving fierce opposition from his fellow mountain climbers. In other words, to accomplish a difficult feat, he must expand his own existence to the point that he can swallow up others. The rest of you are no more than a part of that. I have no idea what that means, but whatever. The ascent was a long one. Step by step, he walked up the stairs. ...To be honest, he could actually pace himself now that he did not have to flee from the human karma, the mountains devilishness, or whatever those gear and handcuff beasts appearing around Maika were. That did leave him worried about Maika now that they were separated, but his doubt kept him from making a mad dash up the stairs. (Surely they didnt escape back down to the bottom...right?) They had been continuing up and up because the pair of beasts had been pursuing them from below. With the chain skeleton and transparent flesh beasts nowhere to be found, it was impossible to know whether Index, Othinus, and the others would have gone up or down. The Black Cat Witch politely clasped her hands in front of her as she walked alongside him. You will have the answer soon, she whispered. Hm? Is someone waiting for me? That is not what I meant. He felt like he had stepped through the floor. Then the entire stairway bent like a sugar sculpture exposed to a flame. By this point, he understood what this meant. Falling meant that was coming. And Kamijous movements were the same as someone flailing their hands around after falling from a cliff while wearing VR goggles. He knew somewhere in his heart that it was useless, but his hands still searched for something to grab onto. And his left hand happened across something incredibly soft. He had grabbed firmly onto one of a certain someones twin peaks. ...That is a yellow card. No fair! And since when do you even have a physical body!? His vision whirled around. He did not know what exactly was happening, but the falling entrance continued without end... Part 3 They stood below the cold sky. Hoo, hoo. Shokuhou Misakis legs squirmed as she held her hands to her mouth and blew white breaths. Up ahead, Misaka Mikoto looked back at her with exasperation on her face. Have you ever considered exercising more? Im cold, not out of breath!! She was immediately corrected, but Mikoto was having none of that. Youre wearing special-made gloves and socks, but its still not enough? A girls hands and feet are very delicate, so theyre susceptible to the cold ability. Not that I would expect someone as shameless as you to understand. But you seem to have so much subcutaneous fat. ...You might wear shorts under your skirt, but cold weather isnt easy for normal girls. You make it sound like Im not normal! The worst part is you arent even aware of it! Illusory sparks seemed to flash between them. However, there was not much they could do against the chilly December sky. Stop being silly and get walking. Moving will warm you u-... Misaka-san, your back is so warrrm. Gyaaaaaahhhhh!!!??? Mikoto screamed as Shokuhou stuck her chilled hand down the back of her collar. You- what- I- Do you want me to start using some real electricity to roast every last part of you...!? Oh, is this a hook? Stop fiddling with that! And dont twist it! That has nothing to do with keeping warm!! Yes, it does. It makes me happy when your body heat rises. And Misaka-san, you dont wear a sports bra? Are you seriously picking a fight with me here!? But this was not the time to be doing this on the pavement. Misaka Mikoto had returned to a certain place. District 11 was the foundation of land transportation and this particular corner was stacked with mountains of containers. She had thought it might have been removed afterwards, but it was still there. ...This just looks like junk to me, said Shokuhou. Even scrap metal from cars would have maintained its shape ability better than this. Its enough that anything of it is left at all. It had originally been enclosed in a container, but something had clearly been there. The pile of containers had collapsed and their contents were still scattered across the pavement. If the two girls had arrived a little later, it might have been gathered up along with the other trash for the recovery efforts. Hmm. So this is the connection to his world. The A.A.A. The Anti-Art Attachment...and an original one at that. When Mikoto lightly reached out her hand, the mangled metal writhed like a living creature. This was not magnetism, the Lorentz force, or the van der Waals force. But the dead machine(?) definitely raised its head after confirming the presence of its owner. Come to think of it, Ive been getting weird nosebleeds lately. Are you sure you arent just full of fantasy ability? Now, it was time to get down to business. The A.A.A. was right in front of her. But what exactly was it? Misaka Mikoto had built a machine based on the original and customized it for her own uses, but she still did not understand the core or the theory that it used to function. Misaka-san. Im about to smugly explain something even an elementary schooler knows, so dont laugh, okay? What is it? Guns were brought to this country by castaways from Portugal. Now, how do you think the people of that time figured out how they worked and how to mass-produce them? By thoroughly taking them apart and examining every last piece. That was what she did. Then again, it was already a pile of scraps that had been mangled by several instances of intense violence. She doubted the caution was necessary, but Mikoto still used her power to eliminate all static electricity before facing the sample materials. ...Well, I was fairly certain I understood most of it when I built my own A.A.A. But that means you didnt understand all of it, right? Dont just give up on the parts you couldnt reverse engineer. Take another stab at it. Shokuhou gave the pile of metal an exasperated look. Now, Im not trying to force gender stereotypes onto you, but fiddling with machines isnt a very girly hobby. Im having trouble grasping your sensibilities for letting this fuel your excitement ability. But doesnt that mean this helps me understand how boys feel? Hm? Are you suggesting this is a chance to better understand him? Lets see, then. What does his world look like? The queen quickly grew much more diligent. Mikoto gave instructions as the two of them removed covers, pulled out the contents, and lined them up on the cold asphalt. This is it. This is the part I couldnt understand. Mikoto pulled out and set down a few electronic parts that looked like wafers or a blade server. It all looked very complex, but the action was much like replacing an air conditioner filter. There are some transistors and LSIs lined up here, but theyre actually meaningless. The current enters from one end, loops around within the circuit, and then flows right on out. Its moving all over the place inside, but its the same as sending power through a cable wrapped up in a drum. Theres no change to the current or voltage and it isnt creating a special signal. Hmm, why is it being sent through this layer...? Just looking at the shape, it makes me think of a good luck charm or something. Look, doesnt it seem like something youd see in the astrology book that the library master carries around? Lets say you hook a lightbulb up to a 1.5 volt battery. Do you really think the brightness will change if the wire is a straight line or zigzagging? But what if it produces some kind of invisible field? Doesnt an electric current create a magnetic field around it? Not that its powerful enough to detect under normal circumstances, though. ...? And circuits can be used for more than passing current through. They can also be used to catch something. ...For example, dont antennas take a lot of different forms? And to more efficiently pick up EM waves, arent they sometimes shaped like a mosquito coil or like a bowl? If an ancient person saw one, wouldnt they think it was some kind of magic circle or something? Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki fell quiet and exchanged a glance. Without the necessary foundational knowledge, were these girls in the same position as that hypothetical ancient person? If so... If this crazy magic circle of a wire diagram is an antenna, what in the world is it meant to pick up from the air? Whatever it is, it can apparently be converted into an electric signal since this is built into a circuit. Misaka-san, could you read it by connecting to this pile of junk with your power? They had finished the overall analysis of the black box section. If they connected it to something, they might be able to give it power and bring it back to life. Shokuhou, do you have a cellphone? Sigh. Who needs to ask a teenage girl that? Eiyah. Why did you break it in half!? Shokuhou screamed at the sudden violence, but Mikoto ignored her while pulling a speaker and a few colorful cables out of the broken mobile device. She formed a bridge between the pins on the broken circuit boards and attached the thumbnail-sized speaker that was made to convert the signal running through the line into sound. That should do it. ...I-I really dont think we can get along after all. Why are you acting like thats a huge discovery? Anyway, Im starting. Now she just had to pass her power through it. When she held out her palm and focused, she sensed something she had not before. Some quiet static came from the small speaker. Are you picking something up? But what in the world is the A.A.A. accessing? The answer may have been right in front of their eyes the entire time. One only needed to read the devices name. The Anti-Art Attachment. The device of someone who wished to eliminate all magic. Part 4 He was back in the foggy city of London. But the stinging air from before was gone. For one thing, he was in a room gently lit by tallow and a fireplace instead of outdoors. Rather than some stately mansion, it was probably an old-fashioned apartment of some kind. Several men and women were inside. One sat in a rocking chair next to the fireplace, one sat directly on an ebony desk, and one leaned against the wall instead of sitting. What was this room? How was it related to that...Battle of Blythe Road that was mentioned before? This is a branch of the Isis-Urania Temple, whispered Mina Mathers next to him. It was the prime ceremonial ground of the world-renowned Golden cabal. Although the publicly-known Number 03 was used to hide it. This is...? Kamijou looked around once more. Kamijou lived in a student dorm, but even to him, it only looked like a cramped apartment. Old newspapers were piled up in a corner, a chess set and playing cards were scattered across a desk, and a shelf was lined with bottles of drinks that even a high school boy like him knew were bad for you. There was no crystal ball lying on a purple cloth and there was no magic circle on the floor. There were some scattered cards, but they were clearly meant for gambling. The gold ring and silver coins lined up with them made that obvious enough. This is the worlds best...??? The others and I did not seek worldly riches. We saw things differently from those adorned with gold and silver vestments and staffs who tended to forget they were accepted by the state and protected by the peoples taxes. She was clearly hinting at someone unrelated to this. And he could not take that at face value. There was an obvious note of jealousy in the Black Cat Witchs voice. I do not regret the days of begging my friend Annie for living expenses. And I certainly have no hard feelings for my husband who never held down a worldly job as he dedicated himself to magical research that could not buy even a single loaf of bread. Yes, we were all magicians, so of course our top priority was making progress toward our great goal. Kamijou felt like reading too deeply into this would only reveal a tragic story. He sensed the same atmosphere as if a group of manga artists had rented an apartment together only to find out none of them were making any money. The rundown room had no charm outside the flow of time and a conversation was underway with no concern for Kamijou and the Black Cat Witch. A middle-aged man spoke to an elderly man in an aloof tone. Westcott, all things are connected. You cannot escape the influence things have on each other. What is this, Mathers? That sounds like something Frazer would say. Are you after the same sort of mass appeal he had? Well, Ill admit that tasteless Golden Bough is as simple as a hot dog smothered in mustard. Its like Italian pizza. The simple flavor draws in the masses and the toxin of the letterpress copies gathers charisma around him without anyone noticing. Thats enough of that, gloomy old man. Dont get so upset just because someones having fun with Hermeticism. If youre jealous that his name is going down in history, then grab a knife and head outside. Just like a certain Jack of ill repute. But, but. If you have any intelligence whatsoever, then lets begin an experiment here. What kind of experiment? Im sick of cards. We all know each others tells too well. Today, its chess. How about I use this to prove the existence of that influence I was talking about. Its always about gambling with you! If youre broke, how about being honest and bowing down to me? This is a worry a Scotland Yard coroner could never understand. Not when youre paid with public money and head straight to the pub to spend it all. You really are quite the magician. I mean, youve brought alchemy back at the end of the 19th century! Yes, but I was nearly sacked when it was found out I attend these suspicious meetings! The higher ups have their eye on me, so its always a gamble showing up even to this unofficial temple. ...It was a fairly awful conversation for two grown men. Kamijou could see what Mina had meant about men remaining childish no matter how old they were. He was reminded of the fact that the magicians like Stiyl and Kanzaki had all been the type to insist on doing things their own way even if that meant defying the ways of the world, but if they took that far enough, would they end up like this? However, when he looked around again, he felt like he could see a few things that lined up with what Mrs. Mathers had said. Then the Black Cat Witch spoke up again. By the way, the older old man is Westcott and the other old man is Mathers...making him the husband that gave me the Mrs. Then dont call him an old man. Show some love! This is based on yours and Crowleys points of view. Kamijou had no idea what was normal or what fashions were in style during the late 19th century and early 20th century, but he saw a major difference here. The elderly man named Westcott wore a tailored suit with a necktie and Mathers wore a military uniform with a thick cloak and a worn-out pointed hat. However, the uniform was not modern camouflage. It was an extremely colorful outfit that would look more at home on a windup soldier doll. ...Your husband had some...interesting tastes. The mess of colors is really an eyesore to look at. Again, show some love as his wife!! Anyway, this was the beginning of the Golden cabal. It was not an underground group with high-level organization. Nor did it seem like a secret church that followed some complex and mysterious scriptures. It did not even look like a research institution for making world-changing inventions. If anything, it was more like an unauthorized salon or an evening party where intelligent people of different occupations and backgrounds gathered to share their ideas. Instead of enjoying the evening by sharing stories of daring exploits, they would reveal the results of their research to each other. The elderly man looked at the middle-aged mans hand and raised his voice in lamentation. Ahh!? What is this!? Who in their right mind would place their bishop there!? Westcott, do you not remember what I said? You cannot escape the influence things have on each other. You may not see the path now, but this move will guide you to the games rightful conclusion. Now, let the clock resume ticking. Did you think you could throw me off my game by making an unorthodox move? If you still cannot see the path after all that, then Im in luck. These nights of awful, sticky fog are the perfect time for some Irish or Scotch. Im going to earn myself some decent money so I can enjoy this night. Only the unenlightened use alcohol to see visions, Mathers. Nonsense. Im still a proper gentleman compared to those self-styled intellectuals that use the proud witchs rituals as an excuse for lots of sex and drugs. Bff!? spat out Kamijou. The cat-eared woman in mourning clothes shrugged next to him. Well, thats one of the reasons this age was fairly shameful for magicians. Isnt that an extremely worldly problem for you to be caught up in...? At the time, the newspapers that were finally getting off the ground had no real journalistic spirit whatsoever. It was not long before then that public executions were held as entertainment for the masses while the infamous witch hunt swept across the world, but I think it was only the method of execution that had changed by this time. The people laboring to keep food on the table day in and day out would find a dark joy in the newspapers that provided a social death to the wealthy and the intellectual who seemed to live in an entirely different world. Why would the newspapers want to cause chaos? Once more time passed, the film industry was born and the people could let out that accumulated pus by watching the villains executed on the screen, but now that the internet has grown ubiquitous, it almost seems we are returning to the era of journalistic executions. ...Did it really look like that if you only viewed one side of the issue? Kamijou felt like that would give you a pretty serious bias about it all. Ahh!? What is this!? When did the board get all locked up like this!? Didnt I tell you, old man? You cannot escape the influence things have on each other. Hah hah!! Tch. I never thought I would be buying a man a drink at this age. By the way, Mathers, I heard about that newcomer. And with that, I have to ask: are you insane? Is this really all it takes to shake you? You mean Crowley, dont you? ? Kamijous heart leapt slightly at that. But the magicians in the room smoothly continued. How can I not doubt your sanity in this one? Hes one of those who have remade the good, old rituals into sex and drugs, isnt he? That is certainly a rough spot, but in his case, it isnt an excuse or a front. You cant just laugh it off because he really is logically and efficiently achieving results with that. Merely looking at the surface without giving him a chance to explain is the same as announcing that your intellect is no greater than the self-styled intellectuals who shriek about everything they read in the newspaper, Westcott. He will bring disaster to our Golden cabal. So now you are jealous of Merlin, old man? Since when could you see visions of the future without using any tools? Anyway, I married a future painter and gathered the knowledge of many people, from scholars to artists, to accomplish this. So lets try to show some results with our prototype GD tarot. Gee dee? parroted Kamijou with a tilt of his head, so the Black Cat Witch whispered sweetly back at him. There are many theories about the origin of that card set, but this was a reinterpretation using the secrets of Kabbalah. It was an attempt to remove the original sin that people are born with. Oh. Well, its a little jumbled up, but it was basically the Golden cabals own version of the card set. They were the type that loved to get all worked up about praising their own work. If not for that last part, I might have just accepted it with a normal is that so! Yknow, like when youre looking up at a temple or castle!! It may have been hard to tell how incredible an important person was when you had a good friend of theirs with you. Meanwhile, the chess game was still underway. ...I am a founder of the Golden cabal, you know? As am I. Checkmate. A dry clack rang through the room. Kamijou had trouble picturing how chess pieces moved, but there was apparently nowhere else to move. Two founders of the same rank have fought a high-level spiritual battle and that magic duel has shown who is superior. Now, pay up. I need some drinks and snacks to show proper discretion concerning our new member. Was that what you were after this entire time? Didnt I tell you, Westcott? You cannot escape the influence things have on each other. It was your inexperience that blinded you to the path. Ive actually already called him to the door here. Without my permission...!? I just got it now, old man. Come in, newcomer!! After a modest knock at the door, the knob slowly turned. ... Had this truly decided it? Kamijou did not know the details, but this felt to him like a major turning point in history. And then the Black Cat Witch spoke. That man could be so full of himself when no one was watching. I married a future painter to accomplish this? Hmm, I see. More than a century has passed, but it really, really pisses me off to hear that again. This world needs more love!! Part 5 The beginning was always signaled by falling, but the ending was always sudden. Uuh!? Gh... What? Am I back? Or have I made progress...? Kamijou groaned, placed a hand on his forehead, and shook his head. (What are the problems Im facing right now? Aleister, regrouping with Index and the others, and the shadow sword in Maikas chest. Okay, good. My mind is still working properly!) The inside of the Windowless Building was still a dreary empty world with an endless ceiling overhead and no sign of human life. As he supported his unsteady body with the railing and continued on, the scene changed. The stairway, escalator, and elevator from before were gone. Instead, he saw ladders directly embedded in the wall, catwalks, and silver ducts that twisted around like snakes. The change from elevators and such supported from below to these things embedded in the wall changed the type of mountain climbing. Did that mean he had reached a higher level? Either way, he was risking his life even more. The odds of an accident on stairs were different from on a ladder. And this was quite high up for a building. He still could not see the ceiling, but he could not see the bottom anymore either. It was all swallowed by darkness. Oh, ohh. ? Hearing a voice from somewhere, he frowned and looked up. A bit ahead of him, a girl in a maid uniform was clinging to a ladder and reaching her leg over to a catwalk. It was Tsuchimikado Maika. She was sticking her hips out at the exact same height as his face. And she of course still had the hardened shadow sword piercing her flat chest, so the mountains devilishness that bound peoples hearts (the handcuff ring and gear) were falling around her at irregular intervals. But the unsteady footing was actually a good thing here. Most of the metal objects slipped away and fell into the dark depths below. Without coming to a stop, they could not gather the transparent body that was a lot like sugar water. They were completely useless here. (Or does this work just as well for them?) Oh, if it isnt Kamijou Touma. I was worried after getting separated from everyone. Where are you trying to go? I was hoping to find Aniki since he disappeared. I doubt hed be defeated so easily, but if he isnt here, I thought he might be higher up. Whoops-a-daisy. She made it sound cute, but she was actually flailing her leg after missing the rung on what was essentially a ladder attached to the wall of a building more than 100m tall. Kamijou quickly looked to the narrow footing along the wall, gasped because he carelessly looked down, and took a deep breath before pressing his back against the wall and sliding over toward Maika. The only upside was the lack of unexpected gusts of wind he would have had to worry about with a normal building. Once he finally arrived near Maika, he pressed both his hands against the back of her hips through her chic maid uniform. Cmon, thats dangerous, so hurry on up! Hm? The maid trainees body jumped upwards slightly. Kamijou looked puzzled, so the Black Cat Witch whispered softly into his ear. Hee hee. Taking advantage of the fact that her hands and feet are on the ladder to go for the defenseless butt of your friends sister, are we? Youre quite the piece of shit. Why arent you worried about any of this!? Im on the verge of falling too, so help out!! Kamijou shouted at the top of his lungs to avoid any unfortunate misunderstandings, but Maika only tilted her head with her hands and feet still on the ladder. Hm? Hmm? Hey, Kamijou, who are you talking to? Eh? It looked like you were yelling into empty space, but do you have a phone headset on or something? (Huh? Could it be...?) Kamijou looked to the space next to him. For some reason, Mina Mathers was standing on the dangerous footing while bashfully holding the long skirt of her mourning clothes with both hands. Flash, flash. No, you arent bashful at all, are you!? Are you trying to distract me until I fall to my death!? Hmm??? No one could remain this confused while right next to someone who was basically committing public suicide by shame, so as Kamijou had suspected, Maika could not see Mina. People gather information on the outside world using their retinas and eardrums, but the accuracy is not always identical. For instance, myopia refers to a condition in which the eyeball itself extends elliptically towards the back. Since the red you see is not the same as the red Tsuchimikado Maika sees, it is not difficult at all to select an individual I wish to be seen by and display my form to them alone. ...Wow. That sounded sort of convincing, but that long explanation didnt actually explain anything. ... Even through the veil, he could sense her sullen mood. Oh? He may have hit a sore spot for her there. In that case, what could he do to improve her mood? If he knew how to reward her with a figurative treat and punish her with a figurative whip, he could construct a controller for dealing with this strange and annoying woman. Wicked thoughts will only get you cursed, boy. Ahn? For example, trying to force a lady in mourning clothes to obey you by hitting her with a whip. Perhaps I should make a quick post on a fancy SNS about a troublesome neighborhood boy. Im done asking how you can read my mind, but you read it wrong this time! Your datas corrupted! Dont make this worse by misreading my thoughts! It is possible a young woman with too much time on her hands might find it cute, but the odds of that are about the same as hitting 00 in a game of roulette. I said stooooop!!!!!! (...Ah. But wont the odds be the same no matter which pocket it lands in? Could I really have a chance with a wealthy young woman who has too much time on her hands?) Hello? Kamijou Touma had only been protecting himself, but Maika could not see Mina and only stared at him like he was a crazy person. He suppressed tears while wondering if there even was a right answer in this world. Aniki seems to be the kind of person who works extra hard and derives a sense of accomplishment from the exhaustion that brings. If hes gotten into a weird penance mode, we need to find him and stop him as soon as possible. ...So with or without the pair of karma beasts made from rainbow chains and transparent flesh and blood, they had to continue upwards. The gears and handcuff rings falling around Maika were probably forming their bodies once they reached the ground far below, so no one would want to head back down there if they could avoid it. Mina Mathers gently bent her hips and stretched her head in from the side to speak with a thin smile behind her veil. By the way, that is a magic sword. Well, yeah. Its a sword made from magic. Anyone could tell you that!! Not what I meant. It is not the wind dagger of the four great elements. I mean that it is the symbolic weapon meant to guide the summoning ceremony. It is primarily something like an amulet that drives out negative power and protects the spell user, but to drive out also means to divert or guide in a convenient direction. So if used correctly, it can be used for summoning as well. Normally, you would take an appropriate sword, color the hilt green and the scabbard red, consecrate it by engraving a divine name into it, and carefully guard it so only the owner can touch it. Sum...moning? That made a lot of sense here. Maika had the strange short sword stabbed through her chest and those creepy handcuff ring and gears kept appearing around her. Its actually so clichd that the grimoire library may have misread it. I mean, who would think the Crowley would smugly use the most basic of techniques? ...But in reality, the greater an expert masters their field, the more focus they place on the fundamentals. That aside, Kamijou had to wonder if Maika had any thoughts concerning the blade in her chest. And when it comes to mastery rather than combat, Crowley always sought virginity in his weapons. In other words, he refused to reuse something that was already used for another purpose. A hammer is needed to strike the sword, iron ore and wood are needed to make the hammer, and so on and so forth. In the end, you need 1000 or even 10,000 things to create a single weapon, but he would claim it was all a necessary part of the learning process. Yes, almost like they were all pieces of a puzzle. ...Or was her carefree attitude the result of doing everything she could to avoid looking at an inconvenient truth? Like someone who felt sick but kept lying to themselves because they did not want to go to the hospital and hear they had come down with a strange illness. Looking at it that way, Kamijou hesitated to ask her about it or joke about it. She could come to her senses at any moment and enter an unmanageable panic. And unlike normal, that would be deadly during this elevated mountain climb. The footing looks pretty unreliable up ahead, Kamijou Touma. Could you support me? Sure thing. Dammit. He felt like he was choosing his path, but he was not. No, perhaps it was more accurate to say every one of the million options available to him would lead to the same result. Fear snuck into his fingertips and spread to the rest of his body, but this was a different sort of fear from the hundreds of billions of hells Othinus had once shown him. This kind of reminds me of the second-story seats in the gym. Ohh, now that you mention it. There was a narrow metal ladder and a narrow walkway with a metal lattice floor. If not a gym, it felt like the space for lighting equipment above a theatre stage. ...The problem was its position unknown hundreds of meters above the ground and that a single stumble would mean instant death. With narrow footing, theres a risk of falling, but with wide footing, the handcuffs and gears can create their bodies and attack. Honestly, neither option is great... Sorry about getting you caught up in all this. This was nothing for Maika to apologize for. At any rate, she and Kamijou worked together to climb higher. W-will this really be okay? There isnt some gathering point where the handcuffs and gears have been piling up, is there? Some of Maikas fear must have been seeping out because she occasionally trembled, clenched her small hands, and moved her face close to his chest. She was right on the borderline of being close enough to feel her body heat. Then the cat-eared piece of shit whispered in his ear. Your friends sister. (I know that, you moron!!) The pair of pursuing chain beasts was not his only concern. The ladders and catwalks were fine. There was a clear path made for people to travel along, even if it was narrow. The problem was the silver ducts wriggling along the wall like snakes and the air conditioners sticking out like univalves on a rock wall. Eh? What, are we supposed to jump!? There was something wrong with the mountain climbing route. This was no longer a path. They had to choose a step in the air to climb up and around on and then jump from one block to another. It felt like being forced to play a real-life version of a retro platforming game where falling meant instant death. At a meter off the ground, this might have qualified as a new form of athletics, but things changed at 500 meters off the ground. His legs felt weak. He could not draw out 100% of his usual strength. There was no risk of a sudden gust of wind indoors, but he did not have it in him to count that as a positive at the moment. For one thing, could the air conditioners even support their weight? He was afraid the screws would break when he landed, sending him and the air conditioner plummeting to certain doom below. Maika was of course hesitant to get started and she finally made a suggestion with her face entirely pale. W-wouldnt it be a good idea to prepare some kind of lifeline before attempting this...? Well, I would love to, but was there anything around here we could use as a rope? Tsuchimikado Maika responded to Kamijous question by reaching to her back with both hands. And he heard a rustling of cloth. Hwah!? What!? Why are you stripping!? He had no idea how a maid uniform was put together, but was she untying something behind her? Even in an emergency, he was not sure using the apron or dress as a rope was the best idea. Plus, this was an extremely delicate situation what with her being his friends sister, so wouldnt that nyah-nyah sunglasses boy get super mad!? Kamijou Toumas thoughts bounced around wildly like a game of squash or pinball, but Maika softly blew a heated breath from her nose. And for some reason, she pulled a crowbar and roll of duct tape from her long skirt. Hold it right there, you freak of a maid. Well, thats just rude. Duct tape is sturdy, so pulling out long strips and layering it several times is enough to support someones body weight, you know? Thats not the point. Think of the context here. How in the world did you suddenly pull a crowbar and duct tape out of your skirt!? With these 2 things, you can solve most any trouble in a mansion. He had trouble thinking she meant fixing a leaky sink or hooking up a DVR. Did she want to be the kind of maid who could rescue the trapped daughter of the family by single-handedly taking on the group of terrorists that had hijacked a gorgeous mansion protected by a state-of-the-art security system? ...Are you the kind of person who wants to combine a spray can with a lighter? Yeah, yeah! Or turning the oven into an explosively formed penetrator. She was worse than he had imagined. When he pretended to understand what she was talking about, she replied with some term he had never even heard before. Imagining how something that horrific-sounding had anything to do with a kitchen oven felt like traveling to another dimension. You can also tune up the lawnmower to make it go berserk or mix detergents to make poison gas. Nail guns are the standard in movies, but they arent actually that useful. So if you want a projectile, its best to combine a handy metal tube with the gas cylinder for a portable stove. And in addition to firing projectiles, that can be used as an acoustic weapon. Dammit, is this what happens when you try to make a maid in Japan!? Tsuchimikado, the maid spirit youre imagining has been corrupted beyond belief while you werent paying attention!! When he analyzed the damage this had done to him, Kamijou realized that he had actually idealized maids more than he had thought. That pointy-haired boy felt like someone had dumped a bunch of sweet vinegar sauce on some delicious fried chicken. Of course, this did not mean that she had mastered all of that. It may have been nothing more than the maid school version of what would you do if terrorists attacked during class. Or so he wanted to believe... A-anyway, the lifelines. Umm, we just have to get some long strips of duct tape and layer them a bunch of times, right? Even if the theory was correct, no one could stamp it with a safety guarantee. He wrapped it around his torso and then attached one end to a piece of metal sticking out from the wall...and as he repeated the process, he began sweating from tension all the more. He tugged on the makeshift lifeline again and again to make sure it felt nice and sturdy. And then the piece of metal it was attached to suddenly broke off. Bahh!? His body seemed to slip away and he was thrown out into empty air. The scenery melted around him. No, this was different. It was the falling sensation that guided him into one of those visions. Part 6 Are you using pigeon blood? asked a frowning voice. A dye that takes a life is against our ethics. They were no longer inside the previous apartment. It looked like a dark underground space. The space itself was large, but with the stone walls surrounding it and the unreliable candlelight, it felt horribly oppressive. A silver-haired young man was stirring up a porcelain pot filled with something sinister-smelling. And the previous skeptical voice belonged to...the elderly Westcott. He looked ready to attend a social gathering in his suit, but that looked terribly out of place in this musty underground space. His social standing was clearly different from the others around him. If that eccentric conversation with middle-aged Mathers was accurate, he was apparently a coroner...meaning he worked for the police. The young man did not look up as he poured all his focus into stirring the pot. He apparently had no intention of responding. Westcott of the Three Founders grimaced even more, so Mathers, the man of identical rank who had apparently recruited the young man, smiled bitterly and responded. We do not wish to create a coded document that is damn near impossible to decipher and no one can read. We can leave that to the secretive Rosicrucians. Oh, or was that too bold a thing to say to an old man who likes to bring a rosy scent to the cabal and even brought in a mysterious secret document? ... Do you know why the steam engine has spread so far across the world? The industrial revolution happened because anyone can use it and because it distributes its benefits equally. The sailing ships from the Age of Discovery look freeing enough at first glance, but they actually required national approval and protection to use. That is why the entirely privatized steamers so easily won out. Our Golden cabal will begin a new age in the same way. And what we need to do that is not the all-inclusive and completed Christian bible. With that, you take the fixed miracles left behind by a great being and branch out via differences in interpretation, so the possibilities are limited. What we need is a way of arranging basic incantations and symbols to materialize any idea you have in whatever form you desire. We need a work kit similar to a board game that extends the possibilities endlessly. ... In that case, what is the Golden cabals greatest foe? Wouldnt it be the avoidant reaction that hides everything behind the veil of the mystical, insists that the red on the palette means blood and the black means darkness, and continues to remove budding possibilities in that way, Westcott? And yet all of the colors are needed to paint the life force of a bright and beautiful flower. They are intentionally exaggerating the danger of the original grimoires toxins, but it is perfectly safe if you avoid jumping right into a theory that is entirely separated from the current world and instead gradually accustom yourself to the knowledge in stages using the work kit method that slowly deepens understanding one piece at a time. If people assumed the sky was inviolable, the airplane never would have been invented and the progress those inventor brothers are making toward an individual machine would have been delayed by a century. ... Besides, we are in no position to talk about the ideal. From master to apprentice, master to apprentice, master to apprentice. ...How many barriers are there between those of us here and a newcomer that joined today? The more people in the cabal, the more people placed in the higher ranks by the ritual of advancement, so those of us at the top are saying 7=4 on paper and peeling back the mask reveals something truly bizarre beneath. It isnt right. And if the outer face and inner truth dont match up, the entire organizations image grows indistinct. Passing things from master to apprentice is fine, but a problem occurs when you dont know which master to ask about what. If a unique method of determining which of the leaders is actually useful becomes necessary, its no different from seeking worldly wisdom in prison. The quality of the people drops when they have to spend their time on that. ... A cabal is an organization. If the bottom collapses, the top goes with it. We need to take action before this decrease in quality comes to a head. Its nonsense for the leaders to arrogantly assume the failure to communicate is a lack of talent on the other end and thus give up trying. The necessary knowledge must be right in front their eyes from the moment they enter the cabal. We need to return to the basic idea of providing what is necessary and only what is necessary. We are not seeking a great quantity of knowledge. We are seeking a way to use it! It can be a crystal ball, cards, a turtle shell, or crackling flames. All those who received the benefits of magic had tools to show them the way. Isnt that also what we want? The completion of a collective device that will answer any anonymous question from someone with the proper experimental environment, be they master or apprentice? Listen, old man, only you enjoy your backwards teaching methods. I want an easier way! And for that, we must immediately complete a work kit that will naturally answer a seekers questions as they play with and learn from it. It was truly a deluge of words, but one term stood out to Kamijou. Work...kit? The Black Cat Witch responded by tapping her finger on the table in a corner of the ceremonial ground. There was...something there. It looked like a detailed miniature garden or a complex foreign board game. There were wands and disks carved from wood, cups made by melting glass, and similar daggers made from metal. They looked like toys at first glance, but a lot of work had clearly gone into making them. And Kamijou noticed something else. It looked familiar. It was like a miniature version of the room in which they stood. To use modern terms, the concept is probably similar to an app development tool, explained the woman. "I mean, Hermeticism says everything in the world is made from 22 letters. From there, everyone just has to instinctually rearrange the graphical elements to prepare the environment. That is the gist of ceremonial magic that uses the form of a theatrical play and the miniature garden is a playwriting device for individual use. If the conditions had been different, it might have taken a form similar to haiku or tanka. Instead of relying on god and waiting your turn, this supplies the means of causing the miracle you feel is necessary. Or thats the na?ve ideal form, anyway. You moved the dolls within the miniature garden, had them hold the items like the daggers or wands, sprinkled colorful flower petals or leaves from a bottle, and made your own incantation by rearranging the terms in the guidebook. And that created magic. Anyone could try it as simply as making a bead accessory. ...Depending how you viewed it, that way of thinking could seem irreverent and frightening. Academy Citys esper development, for example, did not allow you to choose your power type or level, but if the magic side had been able to freely choose everything as easily as selecting toppings for a crepe, how twisted would it have grown? Even if this app development tool was used to create a virus or phishing site and caused great damage in the outside world, the Golden cabal would not care. Did they see it like a gun culture where the ubiquity of weapons grew due to mutual distrust and a desire for self-defense? Did they see it as an age where those without a weapon would die? I am not saying we need to put a stop to this, said Westcott. I am saying even magic cabals need compromise. If we grow truly indiscriminate, we will be seen as no different from those wild partying groups. This is worth the risk. Begin, Crowley. Open the eyes of this old man who is quickly falling into skepticism! Despite the over-the-top encouragement, the young man called Crowley made no grand actions like a stage magician. In fact, he did not even draw a magic circle directly on the floor. He placed a cloth over the round table in the corner and began drawing a large circle on it using the tables outer edge. That is heresy!! bellowed Westcott. Dont be silly. Its actually perfectly logical. As I said, our goal is not a completed bible that follows the footsteps of a great being and thus only has a limited number of miracles. We will create a work kit with endless possibilities that will bring back the communication of knowledge that has begun to slow to a trickle within our Golden cabal. We created a free cabal that allowed anyone in, man or woman, so it makes no sense to make them wait in meaningless lines. And due to the excessive number of people in the higher ranks, there is no guarantee that the person at the end of the line will provide the correct answer. We should be celebrating when people cut in line and when there is conflict between master and apprentice. What could be better than receiving feedback through confrontation? ...This will be as close by as a ladys sewing set or knitting needle and as professional as a painter or sculptors tools. Westcott, you had good taste to use the Germans as reference when establishing this cabal. After all, they have some truly involved board games. The small box contained the toys such as the cups and wands. A row of small bottles had varieties of dried flower petals and leaves sealed inside. It was extremely detailed, but it would hint at new possibilities to newcomers, just like a child first touching an electronic circuit board bought as a teaching tool. There was no good or evil there. A childs basic set could be used to create a radio or an eavesdropping device. In an old war, the soldiers had been issued the same paint sets used by children, which they used to disguise bombs as bricks or coal, laying traps that harmed military and civilians alike. This was the same. Even if paint was used in war, the paints developers were not criticized. That was the way they saw this. Hey, Westcott, how many years did it take before you could accurately draw a 2m circle freehand? And not while standing in front of a canvas, but while stooped over staring at the floor? ... This youngster is saying this one idea can erase all the wasted effort we all went through. Drawing directly on the floor will soon seem ridiculous. He says we just have to use the circle of a round table for guidance and then lay the tablecloth on the floor. This is what it means to have a work kit made just like a detailed board game. We can sweep aside the lines that might lead nowhere and instead use a collective device that accepts questions from anyone and gives effective answers to those questions. This is the dawning of an age in which everyone who seeks direct answers to their questions and aspires to use magic can freely give form to any idea they think up. The concept of programming languages did not yet exist in this age. These people were only looking at a complex analog board game. But to Kamijous eyes, this looked like the engineers who had only ever typed in complex and obscure C code dreaming of an app development tool that would allow even children to link together pieces as if assembling a jigsaw puzzle. It was innocent, but dangerous. These were truly infinite possibilities that could lead to both good and evil. Listen, old man. When guns showed up, the proud knights balked and said that was not tradition. When the steam engine showed up, the weaver women wailed and said the inferior mass-produced products had no soul. ...But who can hear their voices now as we experience the stormy waves of time? Are you saying I am a dying breed? Old man, you arent extinct yet. Humans still win out over the steam engine because we can retrace our steps without someone pulling a giant lever. Do you still not get it? Now is the time to reconsider your thinking. Westcott let out a snort. He had no intention of hiding his dislike with this newcomers character. He was likely prepared to throw the young man out if he made even a single mistake. But even the awfully tense atmosphere that ruled the room did not impede the silver-haired young mans movements. He prepared some kind of ritual with the precision of a clockwork doll. He confirmed the accurate directions, lined the pieces up at the appropriate locations, measured the precise time to get each movement just right, used the exact right pronunciation to send vibrations from his body to the air, and moved around the ceremonial ground with the perfect movements. Kamijou knew little about magic, but even he could tell. It was all going exactly as Westcott wanted. But that seemed to make the old magic users eyebrows twitch irregularly. He must have truly despised the expressionless young man who worked calmly as if the great pressure did not bother him in the slightest. The old man wanted to criticize him but could find no grounds for doing so. The look on Westcotts face made that perfectly clear and a mischievous smile came to Mathers face when he saw it. Its no use, Westcott, said Mathers as if he could not hold back any longer. Magicians are not the type of person who will be accepted by the masses. And yet we continue to leave our mark on history. This is a path we all travel down, is it not? Westcott, your behavior actually proves that that young Aleister Crowley here is walking down the Golden path just like we once did. Are you suggesting someone who showed no sign of understanding the arrangement of our GD tarot can skip straight past visions and accomplish a summoning using a Telesma-level ceremony? Mathers, if we want to avoid losing this promising young man, we should put a stop to this ceremony right this instant. Or barring that, we should at least prepare an exorcising sword in preparation for when he inevitably loses control of the dark forces. Oh, dont be so sure. If he was someone of such common talents, do you think an eccentric on my level would fall for him and work to win him over to my side? The conversation came to a stop. That was due to the explosion-like roar that came from the floor. It was invisible, but something like a powerful mass of wind raged around them. Westcott was of course the one whose eyes widened. You fool!! I told you he would lose control of the dark forces! Westcott quickly pulled away the tablecloth that bore the magic circle drawn in pigeons blood, but the same pattern had been scorched onto the ceremonial grounds floor. It was inorganic, but it had such persistence. It was like something invisible had stuck its hand through the gap of a partially opened door and was trying to force it the rest of the way open. Help me with this, Mathers. We need to buy enough time to contact Blythe Road and have them bring over the treasure!! No, not yet!! Ha ha!! This is where things get interesting!! Mathers spread his arms wide as if to welcome it. Then something changed. The wind did not calm down, but it gained clear directionality. It wrapped around in a fierce whirlwind as if to contain itself within the magic circle scorched onto the floor. Thanks to that, it maintained the intensity of its power, but it was compact and stable. A formless being was held within the circle and trapped like a fairy tale demon. The stage was set and it would have to answer any of the magic users commands. It was like a gas light that could only burn within its glass container and would be snuffed out at the turn of the knob. What...? What happened!? He had clearly lost control!! Youre looking at this in the old way, Westcott. You seem to view the world as 10 spheres plus the invisible Daat connected by 22 lines, but that Sephiroth is but one side of the world. Aleister Crowley here has recalculated the world using the completely opposite tree. The Qliphoth...? You mean the upside-down tree with a demons name engraved in each imaginary Sephirah!? With enough knowledge and consideration, negative power can be changed into words with which to describe the world. What you saw as a failure was the starting point of success for this youngster. You can search for the stairway up to heaven if you like, but you can also learn the formula by investigating the hole down to hell. Just as reading Dantes Divine Comedy as a bedtime story will make the children tremble in fear. You just have to put in the effort to not turn out the same yourself. But this...this is too risky. I get that the reverse of the reverse is the front, but rushing into practical usage without understanding the truth of the words will only lead to summoning more and more dark forces until you have destroyed yourself. You say you want to create a magic work kit that guides you to the miracle you want by lining up the symbols without any technical knowledge, to safely and surely raise up the newcomers with something akin to a detailed board game, and to complete a collective device that will answer questions from master and apprentice alike, but this goes against that entire philosophy! Just as the bible uses complex expressions to obscure the true meaning within, including the evil tree in our Golden cabal will only complicate our essence! If you want secret rituals full of the evil toxins of original grimoires that only a chosen few can understand and bare their fangs against any who make a mistake, then go join the Rosicrucians. I thought you said this isnt what we want! Dont be so sure. Its all about reversing how you think. Just like how -1 times -1 is +1. Understand that and you wont be so confused. Whether you start from the positive or the negative, you can turn it in the positive direction in the end. I already said that mental exercise isnt suited for beginners! This is the capital of the proud British Empire, but the people of London still count coins with their fingers to calculate change. The swords and discs appearing and disappearing in that box is enough to confuse them. Listen, this is the state of things in London, the most advanced city in the world. Everyone begins as an amateur. You cant assume the masses can do the same things we can!! Thats why were changing everything starting from there. Our board game of a work kit will change the world just as much as the steam engine did. ... Kamijou had a sudden thought as he viewed this illusion conversation. Why arent they able to just listen to each other...? Mathers was clearly provoking the other man to draw out what he really thought, Crowley was calmly continuing his experiment with no concern for the surrounding voices, and Westcott (while he seemed the most reasonable) was only advocating the traditions built up over time from the old principles in order to crush the results of this newcomer he did not like. If they had worked together toward a single result for just a little bit, couldnt they have reduced the necessary time considerably? It felt like watching people endlessly arguing over the strongest animal with no hope of reaching an answer. Then the Black Cat Witch sighed from where she had appeared next to him. When adults who can never forget their childish side get serious, they return to being children. I generally had to settle things when this happened. ...Oh, my. That was all he could say. A mediator for fruitless debate. A coordinator. Some people were forced into that endlessly exhausting job and Mina Mathers may have been one such person. So why did you even marry that guy? Looking back on it, it seems the rough sort of man has an odd charisma to him. Are you familiar with the aesthetics of a sharp tongue? ... You sometimes hear about mysterious communities in which 10 or 20 women gather around a single man in a single apartment, right? ...The Golden cabal was full of ridiculously idiosyncratic people, but it was also a gathering of that sort of charismatic eccentric. Wheres the love...? That would be why they could not agree no matter what they said. They all saw themselves as the center. It was said too many captains would steer the ship up a mountain, but the Golden cabal may have been a ship steered so far off course with such great intensity that it crashed into a mountain on Mars. Feeling dejected, Kamijou saw the illusions continuing their fierce argument. But now that weve proven Mr. Crowleys theory to be correct, we might need to review each of our documents one at a time. What are you saying, Mathers? The GD tarot. Our Golden cabal completed that arrangement as a group, but Crowley has successfully summoned Telesma while rejecting the arrangement of those 22 cards. So perhaps the truth is contained in the mistaken arrangement he advocates. I am saying we need to look back over Waites traditions. Is that what you were after!? You wanted to stick a scalpel in the Golden cabals great achievement and deteriorate it just to increase your own influence!? You are looking at this on too small a scale. Kamijou Touma did not really understand magic. Smashing something with a hammer to break it did not mean you knew how to build up precision equipment piece by piece. No amount of contact with magicians would turn him into an engineer. But that pointy-haired boy sensed something like a slight shift to the atmosphere. What? he asked. Are they fighting over power within the group? The Golden cabal was created by the Three Founders. But one of those retired due to old age, so the management became a tug-of-war between Westcott and Mathers. It was Crowleys entrance that sent the power balance back to an odd number instead of an even one. If Crowleys power had continued to grow, Westcott would likely have been eliminated two-to-one. ... The Golden cabal worked to discover a unified theory to explain the truth of the world and they sought to construct a work kit that brought endless possibilities, unlike the bible that had a limited number of miracles left behind by a great being. Instead of using grimoires which are oceans of dangerous words, they would create an artery of familiar knowledge from fellow humans living in the same age. It would be as close by as a ladys sewing set or knitting needle and as professional as a painter or sculptors tools. Instead of destroying your mind by taking in all of an original grimoires toxic knowledge at once, you would gradually come to understand magic in your own words by referencing a detailed board game simple enough for children or adults to play. Yes, just like a development tool that allows you to assemble an app by combining puzzle pieces on the screen instead of spending the time to learn the confusing C language. The Black Cat Witch explained the beginning of their ruin in a clear voice. By the way, Mathers was trying to investigate each of the pieces carved out by Westcott and the others so that he could use Crowley to rewrite them. By overwriting the work kit development tool they had all created, he could fill it with his and Crowleys props. No, Crowley was an apprentice that Mathers looked after personally. So even if they worked together, the end result would be seen as a Mathers product. Why go to all that trouble...? He had no real reason. If I had to give one, I would say it was his greed and the fact that he was an eccentric with that sort of charisma. He wanted to break open the stagnation of passing knowledge from master to apprentice and he wanted to clear way the prison-like learning system that required determining who from the many leaders was actually useful. He wanted to get rid of the long lines leading to who-knows-where and he wanted to create a collective device that allowed master or apprentice to ask anonymous questions without shame. And he wanted that simple but detailed work kit to have been proposed by him alone, not the entire group of Golden leaders. He wanted to leave his mark on history. That was probably all it was. Deep down, it was the same as the innocent dream of discovering a dinosaur fossil and having it bear your name forevermore. He too was an adult who could not rid himself of his childish side. A dinosaur fossil made sense. Kamijou could understand betting everything on spending days on end digging through the rocks. ...But once you did find a new kind of dinosaur fossil, could you really just turn around and drive out everyone who helped you in the dig just because you wanted to give it your name? But then the Black Cat Witch said something odd. But that is not what actually happened. ...? What??? Most of the modern magic that ended up continuing on to the modern era is judged to be a product of Aleister Crowley. Mathers name is not found there. His innocent but wicked desire was snuffed out before it could be achieved. That had not been done by Westcott or the other outsiders. Crowley was part of Mathers faction after all. Which meant... This is confusing, said Kamijou. So Westcott and Mathers were opposed to each other, but then Mathers and Crowley were fighting within Mathers own faction? Directly, yes. Although the enemy reflected in Aleister Crowleys eyes was something much larger. ? Now, there was a certain incident that brought an end to Mathers work when it all seemed to be going quite well. His fall began with a quiet little armed conflict. What do you think that was? Asking questions he had no way of answering may have been a bad habit of Mina Mathers, the lonely woman who loved explaining things. The cat-eared woman in mourning clothes provided the answer with a smile that seemed to hide deeper meaning. The Battle of Blythe Road that I mentioned at the beginning. Part 7 Mikoto felt some kind of sharp pain run through her temples as she focused on what the A.A.A. was picking up. ...Kh!! She grimaced, but something like quiet static continued to intermittently play from the small speaker (which she had acquired by sending Shokuhous cellphone to its grave). Like reading a barcode, it was converted into a few human words as it slipped into Mikotos ears. There was no context. There was no advance warning. There was no kindness. There was no asking if the listener understood. The intermittent array of words felt like peering into someones mind. There was no need to arrange it so someone else could understand and they already understood all the advance information needed to comprehend it, so it was like a rough and random riot of words. There was no structure or grammar, only an exchange of isolated terms emphasized in accordance to their importance, so it felt like peering at the notebook of an obsessive memo-taker and trying to use all the words crammed on the page to reconstruct what they had been thinking at the time. Shokuhou Misaki specialized in reading peoples minds, so was she always facing this wild vortex of information? Or was what Mikoto was viewing a highly unusual case? She pushed back the pain scorching her brain cells and forcibly worked at converting it into understandable language. She felt like she was on the verge of seeing something. ...Who was on the other end of the A.A.A.? ...Who was this grand pile of scraps connected to!? ...? A sweet honey scent gently enveloped her face. She focused on the outside world once more and found Shokuhou Misaki pressing a handkerchief to her face as if wiping a small childs nose. You have a nosebleed. Really? There are legends saying expert chess or shogi players will get a nosebleed if they go too far with their concentration ability, so maybe this is something similar. Nn. Oh, dear. Are words out of style now? As Mikoto let the other girl treat her like a child, her focus slipped and she was trapped by the feeling that the fish she had nearly caught was escaping. Even so, she felt like something was talking in a vague form as she linked together the fragmentary terms. Misaka Mikoto felt a vague anxiety that accepting this would cause everything she had built up to come crashing down, but for some reason, a very familiar phrase appeared there and would not go away. To ensure the entire stone wall did not collapse, she slowly and carefully pulled out just one of the stones. And she gently placed it on her tongue. ...Kamijou Touma. ? Shokuhou Misakis slender shoulders definitely jumped. He really is a part of all this. But its written differently...? Would that spelling mean...the One who Purifies God and Slays Demons...??? Part 8 The vision vanished like fog. Unpleasant sweat poured from Kamijous entire body. The metal sticking out from the wall had not broken and the multilayer duct tape lifeline had not snapped. He had not been thrown out into the emptiness. ...By this time, he had mostly figured out how it worked, but the sensation of falling still felt incredibly real. His heart was palpitating almost painfully in his chest. The term taking years off your life stabbed into his mind, but not as a mere figure of speech. Oh, ohh? Kamijou Touma, are you okay? Yeah... But really, what is this??? Was it a method of showing a target individual a premade vision? No, he felt like that was not enough to explain this. More importantly, he wanted to know why he was being shown the visions. That bothered him more. After all, this was the Windowless Building. Everything here would come from Aleister. Even if the device named Mina Mathers was defying her master in contacting Kamijou, he had been shown many times now that the human named Aleister Crowley viewed both success and failure as a means to reach the desired result. So it was possible that Minas betrayal was part of the plan. It was also possible that questioning this was part of the plan. It was also possible that Kamijou believing he had seen through the plan was part of the plan. ...To be honest, once he sent his thoughts down that path, there was no end to it. That labyrinth of opposing mirrors or nesting dolls was the true essence of Aleister. And the moment you ran out of patience with that, it would mess with your defense calculations and allow his surefire attack to secretly strike. Kamijou had to maintain his self. He could not stop investigating deeper, but he also had to stop himself from restricting his own actions through excessive suspicion. He needed the accuracy of a clocks hands. Even if thinking that way was part of the plan, he could not let his guard down at any of the countless hairpin turns. If just once he ran off the course and broke through the guardrail, he would roll right off the cliff, and that would end the same no matter which level he was on. ...Whatever the case, we need to get past this. Y-yeah, thats right. The mountain climbing no longer had stairs or ladders. They were combating a cliff face. The wall they were using for footing only had silver ducts and air conditioners which were directly attached. In some places, the footing would branch apart in a position where they clearly could not stand. It was a lot like a retro platforming game where falling meant instant death, but this was nothing that cool. They would dangle down above the void using their lifeline, reach their toes over to the next footing while stretching their leg so far they were sure they would get a cramp, and then slowly shift their body weight over. It looked silly, but they were several hundred meters up. Kamijou could not have felt more isolated when he had his feet on one of the boxy air conditioners. The carefree maid girl must have had it even worse. He reached out his hands to help her as they worked together to move from air conditioner to air conditioner. Once they finally reached the larger footing of a window cleaning gondola, they decided to take a quick break, but they found someone already there. Fran...? Oh, were you down below? She too had apparently been moving upwards to regroup with the others. She must have continued up before Kamijou and Maika woke up. But Fran would not have had a duct tape lifeline. How had she overcome that retro platforming game of ducts and air conditioners? Surely she had not actually nimbly hopped across. His question was answered from an unexpected place. I thought this might happen, so I was carrying a spare balloon folded up with the floating gas removed. You awful cheater!!!!!! He should have thrown his hands in the air and celebrated that an ally had found a safe way of traveling here, but he could not help but prioritize his complaints after seriously risking his life without that method. He wanted to unfairly ask why she had not brought them along too. Ahn? So can we just ignore the terrain for the rest of the way? Kamijou sighed on the dangling window cleaning gondola, but when he thought about it rationally, he realized he could not relax at all. There was no longer anything sticking out from the wall. He only saw the window cleaning gondola, a ropeway, a crane hook hanging from a wire, etc. From here on out, their footing would wobble unreliably as it dangled down from the darkness overhead. Instead of anything solidly anchored to the wall, most of it was wobbling back and forth like a pendulum. No amount of lives would be enough when trying something like that. Had Index and Tsuchimikado really made it through that to continue on up? What had happened to the calico cat or 15cm Othinus? Those fundamental questions passed through his mind. Then he heard a comment from the girl who wore not just shorts but a hoodie bikini in winter. Well, um, as you can see from the volume of the floating gas and balloon, it has a weight limit. Theres no way it can carry 3 people... Kamijou Touma and Tsuchimikado Maika did not hesitate. Ah, wait! Just because it can only carry 2 is no reason to kick out the balloons owner! Isnt that taking your cruelty too far!? Shut up! I refuse to let you just take the easy road all the way the top! Stay here a bit!! Two heads are better than one, and three are even better than that, Fran-san!! You two can fight on your own, said Maika. While you do, Ill be taking this balloon up to the top. And in her mourning clothes and cat ears, Mina Mathers placed a hand on her chin while floating nearby like a ghost. If you dont do something, I get the feeling all 3 of you will slowly fall to the bottom. !? Kamijou had faced a great many things in this light bit of mountain climbing. While he certainly did not want to plummet down to his death, slowly descending to the bottom and having to do it all over again would absolutely kill his motivation. So wise Kamijou Touma made a neutral suggestion. W-wait just a moment! Its wrong to have us all fall. Fran, get us close to some kind of footing. We need to cool our heads for a bit!! But the blood had rushed to the hoodie bikini girls head, so she erupted. You dont get to play the pacifist after grabbing on like this!! You started this yourself and now youre ending it yourself? Do you think its all about you or something!? Ah. A fairly serious kick was thrown at point-blank range and Kamijous body forgot all about gravity. But they were already several hundred meters from the ground. A somewhat intense tsukkomi could be deadly on this mountain climbing path. (Oh, please no!! Am I just not suited for high places or something!?) Plus, this was the boy whose fortune would come back with terrible luck in every category from romantic luck to business luck. However, he could not afford to kick the bucket here, so he flailed his arms around mostly on instinct. And his desperately outstretched right hand felt something. It was Frans bikini bottom. He had grabbed on from the front. Hyahhh!? The rabbit-ear antennae girl held the balloons grip wire between her thighs, used her hands to hold either side of the bikini bottom as it threatened to slip down, and began a hellish came of tug-of-war as she blushed red and shouted at him. Would it slip down or not? An extreme battle began. Ill kill you, you pervert!! Shut up, you attempted tsukkomi murderer!! And if you dont want to lose the attempted part, then help me out here. By the way, Im truly thankful that your bikini isnt the side-tie kind!! Then mourning clothes and cat ears Mina whispered in the life-risking boys ear as she floated casually alongside him. Despite how she looks, shes actually very happy youre giving her this attention. A bunny with a broken heart can die from loneliness after all. Ohhh, is that so? Fran, are you just embarrassed? Then it seems to me you should be able to meet me halfway here. ...!!!!!! The knee!? Gabh! A knee to my cheekbone!? Thanks for the really unreliable theory there, Mina. Youre not much help here either, are you!? Dont be silly. That is merely her way of hiding her embarrassment. She is what people call a tsundere. Yeah, right. Inside and out, shes seriously trying to kill me!! Okay, said Fran. If youre willing to have a nice chat with your own imagination there, please let go of my swimsuit. Im not risking my life here because I want your bikini, Fran! If you dont let me clear up this misunderstanding, Ill commit a double suicide with your bikini bottom here! I dont think youll like the position that leaves you in!! He thought he had just barely managed to achieve equilibrium, but then he felt something slipping in his right hand. (It cant be! Did Fran really lose her final line of defense!?) Kamijou was shocked by the pressure of falling, but that was not what had happened. His hand held nothing. This sensation should have been impossible. It was the same as the illusion of the railing or footing collapsing. He was entering another vision. Part 9 This will probably be confusing, so allow me to make a note first: we will now move the timeline beyond the Golden age. Just keep in mind that this is past the time he spent with Mathers and Westcott. Every man and every woman is a star. Separate from their surface consciousness, people contain a self that can achieve wisdom. If everyone could awaken to that self, the entire world would turn at maximum efficiency, as if all the gears fit together. In other words, nothing is intrinsically worthless. You look upset, young lady. Would it cheer you up if I invited you to the starry sky? In that case, there may have been some kind of necessity to the human known as Aleister Crowley meeting a certain woman. His voice was similar to when he was younger, but it was also decisively different. It was calm, it contained an intent to connect with the outer world, and most importantly, it was not filled with hatred and doubt directed at the world. He was considerate. He was trying to gently touch the other persons formless heart. ...Thats surprising, said Kamijou. The magician of the century could fall in love like normal? And I am the wife of eccentric Mathers, said the Black Cat Witch. Is that a problem? Did marriage really make someone look so much more reliable? Also, Crowley was surprisingly popular due to his androgynous beauty and his eccentric charisma. In fact, because it came to him so easily, he never had much interest in normal love. Normies are the worst. Watch what you say. He was generally an unemployed eccentric who loved black jokes and submitted his own erotic novels to a cheap publisher, so you cant really call him a normie. Bff!? In his great masterpiece, he got carried away and referred to male genitalia in more than 100 ways. He also visited Egypt and attempted the K2 with no extra oxygen supply. Once he started something, he would stubbornly give it his all. Kamijou began trembling. He felt his image of the evil demon king crumbling down around him. This was like looking under your fathers bed or searching through your teachers computer. There was some important information that an adolescent was better off not knowing. By the way, Crowley would also nonchalantly bring his own semen to the ceremonial ground where everyone was gathered and use it in experiments, he stole the butterfly decoration used to hide the crotch of a naked bronze statue and wore it over his pants to a party, and he would make the most wonderful rhyming sexual jokes whenever he saw a magician from the same cabal. He was quite the unrestrained magician. That just makes him a giant pervert!! His personality was entirely broken!! At the time, it was all dismissed as mere mischief, so the difference between eras can be a frightening thing. Im truly jealous of modern society with its civilized definition of sexual harassment... Whenever he looked more deeply into the older ages seen in samurai dramas or knight stories, Kamijou could not help but notice how difficult women had it, but if everyone around her had been that eccentric, Mina Mathers must have felt completely surrounded. And the sad part was that enduring it all would have been meaningless. But Crowley the Unrestrained King had toned it down in the current scene. Had the silver-haired young man seen enough value in the ephemeral woman standing next to him to suppress that egotistic side of himself? With the perverted side of himself closed up like a cuckoo clock, the silver-haired human looked just like a gentleman with a strict policy of ladies first. That woman is named Rose. She became Aleister Crowleys first wife. First? The details can come later. ...Although after this, the things pent-up inside him exploded. Now I dont want to see the rest!! I have a bad feeling about whats coming!! Time flowed by. After marriage, they seemed to begin living together and Aleister apparently stopped trying to hide his magic research from his wife Rose. In fact, he actively used her as an assistant. Kamijou did not know exactly how it worked, but he seemed to sometimes use an incantation and a magic circle to summon something formless and send it inside his wifes body. The woman had initially seemed ephemeral, but Kamijou felt a heart-pounding unease when he saw her convulsing in a chair inside a basement filled with some kind of burning incense. Crowley was a man of logic and efficiency, so he did not hold back even with his own wife. Huh? That is a method of hypnotizing someone to intentionally guide them into a trance and access a higher being, but the trance here is the same type used by the ancient witches who would rub a special ointment on their brooms, mount them without wearing any underwear, and-... Waaahh! Waaaaaaaahh!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!!!!! Kamijou shuddered as his danger sense warned that carelessly listening any further would be like a scam where he was made to overhear told personal information and then pressured into paying money in apology. Now, as his true self exploded out and he ended up playing doctor C or rather, playing magician C with his newlywed wife, he eventually accessed a higher being said to be a guardian angel during a trip to Egypt. And that guardian angels name might have been glimpsed here in Academy City. ? ...That name is Aiwass. That being contains the number 93, just like Thelema. And just like Coronzon, that name became a major turning point in Aleister Crowleys life. Kamijou did not recognize that name. Although it was possible that it was a name someone other than him had pursued. Answers did not always appear before the one seeking them. The compilation of Aleisters theories was turned into a book based on what Aiwass said through Roses mouth. And this was something sensational enough to blow away not just the Golden cabals foundational theories constructed by Westcott and the other leaders, but also the new theories Mathers planned to build by hijacking them. What? So he got an answer through something like the Kokkuri-san, decided he had drawn it from his own subconscious, and turned it into a book??? Sometimes a powerful grimoire is given more prestige through a legend saying it was provided by a higher being, but there are a relatively large number of records remaining of Crowley and Aiwasss contact. Although it seems the skeptics that wanted to get rid of him searched through and found fault with all of them. Still, I think it has more credibility than the laughable document permitting the cabals establishment that Westcott forged. ...Did you just casually slip in something really important there? Legends are unnecessary if you only wish to learn knowledge and technique. But Westcott was from an older age, so he wanted his cabal to have history with an academic or royal scholar. Thus, he claimed to be the only person to have received permission to create a cabal from the ultimate higher being named Anna Sprengel. Whether or not Lady Sprengel actually existed, the document Westcott received was a fake created by an Englishman forging a Germans handwriting. Honestly, if he hadnt been so intent on social standing, he wouldnt have fallen prey to those silly newspaper journalists later on. Instead of a superhuman organization that secretly determined world events from the shadows of history...they felt more like a group of eccentrics that caused trouble wherever they went. If this was the gathering of geniuses that changed the magic sides level of techniques, Kamijou wondered if they had looked like an uncontrollable hurricane to those around them. But this would have been a happy time for Crowley. ...Im really worried that his wife wouldnt be able to survive that happiness. Not what I meant. Time continued further. And Kamijou heard a voice that seemed horribly out of place. It was the crying of a baby. That is Aleister Crowleys first daughter. Oh... Yeah, I guess that would eventually happen if he got married. A small life was wrapped in a soft cloth. The baby calmed down in her mothers arms, but the man seemed to be keeping a slight distance. Was he afraid of infecting her with his impurity as a magician? A high school boy like Kamijou had no way of knowing how much courage it would take to fill that slight gap. But after a very, very long time, Crowley finally moved his fingertips toward his childs mouth. And then the small hand gently grasped the fathers fingers. To be blunt, her official name was about as overly-long as Jugemu Jugemu, but magic researchers simply call her Lilith. Crowley apparently read the stars to determine her name and it supposedly has an actual meaning. In other words, that was how obsessed with his daughter he was. Ohh? His passion seemed to go to waste a lot, but it was kind of adorable when it went to waste for something like this. He sought logic and efficiency in everything and he would make harsh jokes and cruel jeers every time he opened his mouth, but perhaps he had worked hard to try his hand at something he was not used to. As a father, he had wished for the happiness of his newborn daughter. As he peered down at his daughter held gently in his wifes arms, reached out his fingertips, and saw that tiny hand gently grab them, what had grown in the heart of that human who had the skill needed to master magic and hijack the worlds greatest cabal? This was the happiest time for Aleister Crowley. Yeah, maybe so. Do you not understand? This was the happiest time. ...? Kamijou frowned when Mina Mathers insisted on repeating herself. He sensed some hidden meaning to her words. And the Black Cat Witch explained while surrounded by an ominous atmosphere. To put it another way, it is only downhill from here. Aleister Crowleys life only continued to sink without ever resurfacing. Wait... Hold on... Kamijou looked back to the scene before his eyes. This was an illusion. Instead of complete fiction, it was probably an image of the past a certain person had walked. So no amount of struggling could change history. All of it had already happened. But Kamijou still begged it to stop. What he saw here was perfect. This was the ultimate accomplishment of everything that Aleister Crowley was. What could be added to or subtracted from this? Any addition or subtraction would clearly be superfluous, but what had the outside world brought to this miniature garden? To assist with the birth and to protect the unstable mother and daughter with all his being, Aleister temporarily stopped his magical research. And to make up for that delay, he left on a trip to a great mountain once the mother and childs state had stabilized. He had a certain objective there, but that does not matter here. There was a single answer. Once he was done there, he learned of his young daughters unnaturally sudden death by illness. That human had wished for his daughters happiness more than anyone else in the world and he had given her a name so long it was a pain to say...but he had not been allowed to come running and be with his beloved daughter as she died. That had begun the fall. It had been a trigger great enough for a human to curse the destiny of the entire world. Part 10 Uuh... This was different from before. He was not groaning from the shock and confusion of the scenery and vision suddenly changing. The information brought by the foggy city felt like a heavy blow to Kamijou Toumas chest. Aleister Crowley. The beginning of his fall. The far too sudden loss of his young daughter, Lilith. ...Dammit. Kamijou could not steady his wavering vision. As an average high school boy, Kamijou Touma had of course never had a daughter. He had no way of knowing how realistic the feelings inside him were. But the boy had no way of resisting the emotion driven inside him like a thick stake. He curled up, opened his mouth wide, and let out a roar with all his might. Emotions provided by an external source were never good. In a way, they were more dangerous than a flamethrower. He knew that, but he could not stop the clear liquid that spilled from his tear ducts. This was what Kamijou felt while viewing it from a distance. No, even as her actual father, Aleister Crowley had only been a distant observer. He had only learned of that small lifes loss through a simple letter. He had not been allowed to rely on some grand magic produced from every technique he had and he had not even been able to hold that tiny hand, despite knowing it was no use. He only had the merciless result forced onto him after it was all over. How could someone overcome something so unreasonable? No, had he turned out the way he had because he could not overcome it? Had the human named Aleister Crowley been wandering in a forest of his own creation for over a century? And while Kamijou Toumas thoughts were in such a serious place, a girls small foot struck his cheek. Get your hand off of my bikini bottom already, you pervert!!!!!! Bghh!? It was Fran who was blushing bright red. Kamijou was finally knocked from the balloon in reality instead of an illusion. But there was no sensation of falling and his butt landed on a nearby steel beam. The hoodie bikini girl had apparently moved the balloon over toward the wall. Honestly, this is the problem with boys. Mutter, mutter. Give them the chance and theyll justify everything they do... Why do they only ever use their brains when it comes to making their actions seem legitimate...? A misunderstanding seemed underway at tremendous speed, but she would probably say something about using his brains if he made any kind of excuse, so he left that untouched. Kamijou decided to change tack a little. W-well, Im not sure you can say that about all boys. Eh heh. Eh heh heh. I mean, what about Kamisato? That bastard was the victim type of pervert that would naturally take all the juicy bits for himself!! If all the boys in the world would end like that just by standing there, Id sink into despair!! Hmm, said Mina. It seems to me like a very bad idea to bring up that name so soon after she had her heart broken, but are you the type that enjoys bullying the girl you like? When Mina appeared in the air, Kamijous briefly numbed feelings came surging back. He was reminded of what he had seen. Of the tuning point that sent a humans life tumbling down. He breathed in and out. He wiped the sweat from his brow. He did not care what anyone said about him. Kamijou spoke to the person only he could see. ...Mina... What is it? The Black Cat Witch stood next to him and looked down at him. As usual, she did not bat an eye. What happens after that? What happens to that human!? Again, that leads to the Board Chairman Aleister Crowley you see in the present. Thats not what Im asking about!! Send me there right away!! Every man and every woman is a star. Mina Mathers whispered what sounded like a password. When each individual is aware how they should act and fulfills those actions, there will be no meaningless work in this world. If you seek something, you must walk on your own feet and reach out your own hand. ... Kamijou Touma looked out ahead with utter exhaustion in his eyes. He saw window cleaning gondolas, crane hooks, and ropeways. As before, he would have to scale a deadly mountain using only unstable footing. But he no longer hesitated. It did not matter how unreliable the footing was. It did not matter whether or not they were being pursued by a pair of beasts with rainbow chains and transparent flesh and blood. He wanted to know the whole history of that humans wandering. Hey, human. ...? Othinus??? Then a 15cm god spoke to him by climbing up onto a window cleaning gondolas railing. She had apparently climbed this high under her own power. The world had to have looked very different at Othinuss scale. I wont tell you not to go running ahead. That would be like telling a bird not to fly or a fish not to swim. But if you do start running, dont give into despair. Abandoning thought is just being lazy. When youre running recklessly forward is exactly when you need to remain calm. You need to make use of all your power to return alive. ...Yeah. After he nodded, Othinus climbed up his clothes to her usual spot on his right shoulder. If he took one wrong step, she would plummet to the bottom with him, but he did not feel a single tremor from her body. Hey, Othinus. Have you seen Index or Tsuchimikado? They dont seem to be here either. Talking about another girl already? No, maybe I should interpret that as your normal behavior and be relieved. Othinus-san? Sniff, sniff. ...And you are covered in a mixture of a few odd scents. Hm? Is that because of the weird visions Minas been showing me...? You held more than one girl in your arms on the way here, didnt you? Really, how could you not notice you were getting these indecent smells on you? Honestly... Why are you so irritated!? Lets get serious before you sink into a bog of your own making! Othinus was in a very bad mood, but she seemed intent on sticking with him to the end. Kamijou looked back toward Maika and Fran. If you dont think you can go any further, you dont have to follow me. If you stay on the narrow footing, those handcuff and gear beasts, human karma, mountain devilishness, or whatever they are cant appear around you. Ill head to the top and see if the others are up there. I-I want to see for myself that Anikis okay. And I can safely get to the top with my spare balloon as long as you all dont get in the way. Those did not seem like logical or efficient opinions. If they simply sought safety, it may have been much better to remain on the window cleaning gondola. But Kamijou did not force his opinion onto them. Perhaps that was due to the lamentation of that human. Perhaps it was because he had indirectly felt that magicians intense emotion after being unable to see his daughters death for himself. Understood. Its your decision. Its not my place to tell you what to do. Now that they knew what to do, they only had to do it. They were fortunate to have Fran and her balloon that could continue up no matter what. By passing her belt-like makeshift ropes made from multiple layers of duct tape, she could pass the rope along routes they normally could not have reached. She could tie two crane hooks together to create a V-shaped wire or she could use two horizontal ropes to attach a window cleaning gondola to a midair ropeway and place zigzagging tape between them to create a makeshift bridge. It felt a lot like athletically moving from one cliff face to another by clinging to the wire strung between them. But their odds of survival were much better than using the midair swings as they jumped from one pendulum-like hook to another. And...there. In her chic maid uniform, Maika held onto a vertical duct tape lifeline as she reached her tense legs from one footing to another. Nnnn! The view from below is incredible, said Mina. Yes, look at her tremble... This is a strange feeling you can never get from a miniskirt caf model. ...The rest of us cant float, so if we tried that, wed fall to our deaths. True to her self-proclaimed title of witch, she may have loved tempting people onto wicked paths. Either that or she was one of the unfortunate people who always messed with the camera to see how low an angle they could get in an RPG or shooting game. Placing a burden on all of your muscles in a specific order might count as a variation of yoga. Crowley focused on that while mountain climbing. You hag, the way you place a hand above your eyes when focusing on something really does make you seem old. ...Was someone just insulting me? cut in the hoodie bikini girls words like a curse. The trouble was about to spread, so Kamijou decided to stop speaking with Mina who had a way of causing misunderstandings. As they climbed higher, the scenery changed again. Footing was still sparse. The mountain climbing route was still devastating and consisted entirely of objects hanging from the heavens by wires. But instead of window cleaning gondolas and crane hooks, Kamijou and the others saw fairy tale 5-pointed stars and cradle-like crescent moons. They were all a few meters across and it felt like jumping between gorgeous chandeliers. If not for the terrible fear of heights, they should have provided enough footing, but... How high up are we now...? Kamijou wondered aloud. Unlike true mountain climbing, the air did not seem to grow thinner and colder as they climbed. No matter how strange it seemed, they were still inside the Windowless Building, so the temperature, pressure, and humidity may have been kept at a certain value. The giant tower ignored three-dimensional space as it rose toward the heavens. And they had finally reached fake stars and moons. ...This should have been an impossible height. Checking the distance from the surface to the outer atmosphere in an online encyclopedia was enough to know that. That was not a distance that human legs could clear in a day. But at the same time, this was an alternate-dimensional space where Euclidean geometry did not apply. The distance of each step did not necessary match up with the distance they had actually traveled. Plus, they were surrounded by giant walls on every side. With no view outside, there was nothing to judge the distance by. Would they really make their way to outer space like this? That absurd thought entered his mind. Oh? Until now, Fran had flown freely around with her balloon to create spider webs of duct tape for them, but now the hoodie bikini girl sounded surprised. Frans butt was pressed against the side of a simplified star like the kind seen at the top of a Christmas tree. It was almost like she had fallen onto a soft cushion. Confused, Kamijou asked a question. Eh? Eh? What just happened? Some kind of adhesive? Or a magnet??? I dont know...but it felt like I fell toward the star...? On the boys shoulder, Othinus crossed both her arms and legs as she sighed. Artificial gravity? Curse that human. Is he working to acquire even the forces of the planet? Kamijou did not understand how this worked. Artificial gravity brought to mind a small room spinning around to produce centrifugal force, but he had no idea how people or objects could be pulled toward the surface of a small sphere like this. Or... If the actual matter was far denser than the apparent volume, could it be given the same powerful universal gravitation as a normal planet? No, that wouldnt work... It wouldnt make sense for it to be dangling from a single wire then. And if it was that dense, it would be a scorching hell like the earths core. There were exceptions such as a black hole that created gravity powerful enough to distort the surrounding space and had no material core, but that too could not explain this. Or rather, that would not allow one to adjust the gravity to the desired level. There were only two options: a micro black hole that could only be observed through data or a macro black hole that would swallow up the entire solar system if it formed. Even an esper who could directly manipulate gravitons had only been able to produce explosions. Being able to convert the proper methods into any universal power does sound like his kind of theory. I doubt you will find the answer with the knowledge found in a high school textbook, human. Im not interested in being an intellectual. I just want to know if Imagine Breaker will destroy it or if it can support me. With that, Kamijou reached his hand out toward the closest crescent moon. And that acted like a trigger. He had already had a hunch... it was about time. Reality and illusion crossed over, the crescent moon crumbled away without warning, and Kamijou Touma was overcome by a far too real sensation of falling. Part 11 Let us begin with the answers you wanted. We will be returning to the Golden age. This happened before he married Rose and was given Lilith. It was a toxic foggy city covered in steam and smoke. There was a whistling that sounded like a draft, but it was actually the breath escaping a mans throat in a study. Even with no knowledge of medicine, one look at his face was enough to know his organs were far from healthy. Enough so that he looked like an old man in the deeply contrasting shadows created by the lamps flame. Allan Bennett. He was one of the few people who Aleister Crowley could call a true friend and teacher who, unlike Mathers, had no ulterior motive, said Mina next to Kamijou. There is nothing to say about his condition. These are merely the symptoms of addiction to medical opium used as a pain reliever. This was a social pathology found everywhere at the time. That master was of course not the only one in the study. This was Aleister Crowleys story. ...In other words, it is the same as my body, Allan said to his visitor. He flipped over several cards sitting atop a heavy desk. Kamijou did not know the details, but when he saw those cards that looked like playing cards with more involved artwork, the word tarot came to mind. Whether the stories were true or not, what was it those tools were used for? The man continued through his cracked lips. Everyone is a slave to miracles and fortune. Even the way you choose your daily bread interferes without your knowledge. And that interference can involve peoples lives. Just as I chose the wrong medicine and it has stuck with me ever since. Kamijou gulped because he had cheated. He had already seen how this turned out. That was the meaning behind Crowleys journey, said Mina. He was searching for a way to protect his daughter who was at the mercy of the phases and sparks and who would suddenly lose her life in but a few years. ...And just as the cards showed, he did not make it in time. As she gave her smooth answer, the mourning clothes woman looked down at Kamijous right hand. Imagine Breaker. Hadnt he heard a joking theory about it tearing apart invisible fortune and thus providing him with misfortune? Phases? Sparks? What are you talking about? What does any of that have to do with his daughter? Allan will explain. The Black Cat Witch was correct. Allan Bennett swept aside the cards and moved his lips. Magic is convenient. If our Golden cabal completes its simple work kit, we can break back open our stagnated knowledge without needing to fear the toxins of an original grimoire. After all, that toxin is the result of the readers mind rejecting such a great discrepancy from their common knowledge and wisdom. If it can all be explained through their own words and fingertips, that gap can be filled and no one must suffer. Once the long lines are gone and people no longer need to determine which of the higher ranks have authentic knowledge, the entire organization will grow much more quickly. With a collective device to answer the questions of master and apprentice alike, our direct combat strength will grow. But normally, all phenomena in this world are bound by the principle of equivalent exchange. Our magic cheats the system to provide an input of 1 for an output of 10. ...However, are we truly deceiving the world? Perhaps we are merely shifting the cost beyond what we can imagine. We have long held that concern. ... This world contains as many phases as there are divine legends and religions. And the distance between each phase is not even. The rise and fall of civilizations and traditions affect the power balance in the real world. When you get down to it, fortune is the sparks that failed to become miracles. The spray produced by the contact and collision between phases has a shockingly thin but widespread influence on people. It affects coin tosses, the order at which dishes are served at a restaurant, meetings and partings, marriages and divorces...and even peoples deaths. If you see no direct cause for your daughters death, you should assume it is a spontaneous event caused by a gathering of the influence that so many people are unwittingly affected by. You mean there is no such thing as a spontaneous accident or illness in this world? asked the silver-haired young man. You mean the small things that people accumulate are an issue of the overlapping phases and, as a result, the entire world will cause slightly unsanitary conditions to force a deadly illness onto my daughter? Is that what you are saying, teacher? That is taking it a bit far. Your daughter is nothing special. Everyone is affected by it equally. But a unified theory like Hermeticism roughly grabs and gathers the overlapping phases, causing them to collide all the more. I imagine that would make the sparks more frequent. And this will influence more than just the present. The future is made from the present, after all. And the Golden cabal understood that danger but tolerated it? A phenomenon which cannot be measured may as well not exist. That is what Mathers said, but it would be the weakness of our hearts that allowed us to let that opinion stand. The gap between phases changed irregularly on a daily basis. There was nothing an individual could do about it. Even as the nations fought for supremacy and glared at each other across their borders, the worlds continents were slowly moving. Not even the greatest world powers could stop that movement. In that case, werent the conflicts on the surface trivial matters? What if Mathers had continued his magical research with that sort of thinking? What if the collective anonymous questioning device began to function? There was a way of exorcising it, said Allan Bennett. Although Westcott and Mathers never publicly admitted it, there was an unspoken understanding that it was not a problem as long as they had the treasure at Blythe Road and that they would be fine as long as they possessed it. Edward, you too were protected by that. That is why they saw no problem with what you were doing. But that would only protect him, the magician. They said they could not pass their protection onto those who were not there and they did not bother to reveal the protective charm already hidden in their pocket. It was like they knew felling the trees of the forest would eventually turn the planet into a desert, but they continued cheerfully with no concern for those who would starve in the future. Even now, all sorts of magic was being performed across the world. No one knew what emotions people would be given by the pressure between phases and the sparks that produced. When lives were thrown out of that shallow and widespread current, there may not have been an overall cause or conspiracy behind it. And that was why it was nearly impossible to nip that disaster in the bud. Yes. What if? Aleister Crowley himself had so often performed magic below an invisible umbrella and thus with no sense of danger, but what if that too had been wrapped in the same wickedness as the magic of those he so despised? ... Are you going? If the sparks brought by invisible collisions will not end, then I see no reason not to take action. Then why did you visit me? The best way to overcome the disadvantage of being outnumbered is to use the element of surprise. I wanted to take a necessary item from you. You already have everything you need. Still seated, Allan Bennett gestured as if he were gently grabbing something. There had been nothing there before. But something odd flashed in the masters hand. They looked like sparks from a lighters flint. But they scattered through the air as small numbers. 28, 4, 29. And then the masters hand held a twisted staff made of silver. I am altering the scene here, whispered the Black Cat Witch. Normally this would be invisible to all but Crowley who it is directed towards, but I will place it here as an objective image. After all, nothing is as empty as an explanation you cannot understand. ...But thats all youve been giving me. But time passed as Kamijou made his exasperated comment. You should have already learned it all perfectly. Although it may only look like one of the abominable powers which will take your daughters life and tear your family apart. Allan opened his hand and the staff disappeared once more. But this was not the Blasting Rod that Allan Bennett was known for. It was actually a usage of the technique known as Spiritual Tripping. The man tapped his bony fingers on the ebony desk in front of him. A war is about to begin. ... Will that power take your targets life or take away the possibility for life? ...In other words, even if they survive, they will essentially bear a curse saying that, from that point on, every choice they ever make will end in failure. Everyone who is killed by you will despair and be doomed to a life that continues eternally downhill without ever rising once more. In a way, this will be a living hell that is much crueler than simple death. His exhalation sounded like a broken flute. And prepare yourself. If you announce that you will destroy the entire Golden cabal for the daughter you will one day lose to a spontaneous death, you must also turn those fangs back toward yourself and eliminate Magician Aleister Crowley. You can never truly achieve your original objective without cursing yourself as your own nemesis and swallowing the poison you have concocted. I am aware of that. You can of course compromise there. You can always meet your desire for vengeance halfway. But then it would lose its purity and become no more than an empty shell. The instant you hold back for fear of losing your own life or assets, your feelings for your daughter will grow dull and rusted. Keep that in mind. I am aware of that. Hearing the exact same response again, the pale master gently smiled as if no more words were necessary. It was the kind and sad look of the master seeing his student surpassing him. And then Magician Allan Bennett said more. Then hurry up and kill me. One of your nemeses sits right here. He could compromise with his vengeance. But the instant he did, the feelings within him would grow dull and rusted. So it did not matter how much he respected this man or how close they were. Since this man was a magician of the Golden cabal, Aleister Crowley could not overlook the master before his eyes. Allan never did stand from his chair. Even if his body had been worn away by an ignorant and juvenile medical prescription, he too was a magician who represented the Golden cabal. He had produced that silver staff from thin air earlier, so if he had wanted to, he surely could have fought back against the assassin paying him a visit. But he did not. Allan had not welcomed the young man as a magician or a teacher. He had welcomed him as a lonely man does a good friend. His cards had likely already told him his fate. ... Aleister Crowley started to shake his head. But the unwavering look in Allan Bennetts eyes prevented him from doing so. To those who accurately divined fate, different positions on the timeline were a trivial matter. As his master, the man was celebrating his students marriage. He felt hatred for that which would tear apart that happiness. And he felt regret toward himself for his inability to change it despite having sensed it in advance. The silver-haired young man reached out his right hand. He stuck out his thumb and forefinger in a handgun gesture. 32, 30, 10. Just like the old man, he seemed to guide scattering numbers in his hand. And then the man held an old-fashioned flintlock gun. That attack would directly take a life or doom them to a life of ruin that could never recover. Allan Bennett smiled as that fingertip aimed toward his forehead. Take care. Whether it was real or an illusion, a definite gunshot sounded and the mans head jerked backwards. Part 12 ...Why? Why had this happened? It took Kamijou Touma a while to realize he had returned from his vision. Even with Imagine Breaker, he was perfectly able to grab at the stars and moons dangling down from wires. ...Did that mean they were not products of magic and the artificial gravity had been created through purely scientific means? He and the others did not need a lifeline. They leaped between stars, crossing over the empty space at thousands, if not tens of thousands, of meters up. They could not choose which part the artificial gravity pulled at them or how, so Maikas long maid skirt would sometimes rise up like an umbrella in a typhoon and Hoodie Bikini Fran would sometimes land on all fours with her small butt sticking up. Regardless, they continued the impossible mountain ascent with no major problems. Its already ending, said Kamijou with no real proof. He could not explain his reasoning to himself, so Maika, Fran, and Othinus had to find it even more baffling. But he repeated himself. Were approaching the end. There was no other way from the beginning. There was an end point in the starry sky. And a familiar face was clinging to the side of the large star dangling there. Index? I didnt see you on the way here, so was the way up split into a few different paths? she wondered. Or did the rest of you fall farther down in the beginning? She had the calico cat with her. While in Indexs arms, it threw cat punches toward Mina who the others could not see. Oh? It would seem I am no match for wild instincts. ...? Does that mean it isnt that only I can see you? Are you actually preventing the others from seeing you? I am the Black Cat Witch. I seem to bring them under my control whether I intend to or not. And it was obvious why Index had stopped here. Kamijou looked straight up. A black hole, hm? Othinus sounded exasperated as she sat on his right shoulder. The scale here is as ridiculous as ever. Straight above, something like a black galaxy swirled around as if to indicate a presence on an even higher level. No human had directly seen a black hole, so they did not know if this was accurate, but with the artificial gravity produced by the previous stars and moons, it seemed likely this was a tunnel modeled after a black hole. I have a bad feeling about this, said Index. Why is this going so smoothly? If even a single ladder had been removed, we would have been stuck. Its almost like this is a form of training we have to complete in advance. ... If they jumped in there, it would take them somewhere. But Kamijou Touma felt like there was something he had to do before that. He leaped from the final star toward the black hole, but his suspicions were confirmed. The black hole did not suck him in. He instead plummeted downwards. Part 13 This was the appropriate form for a magic battle. That was the whole of it. The foggy citys steam and smoke were sliced apart. Even the darkness of Londons night was swept aside by the bright flashes of light. There were two magicians there. Those monsters had attempted to swallow up and take over the Golden cabal which was the worlds greatest. Even the Jack who had terrified the public by attacking prostitutes in the dark of the night would have trembled and fled had he seen their clash. Magician Aleister Crowley. Magician Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. Ghh!! A rusty-smelling liquid dripped to the stone pavement. It could be a gun, a sword, a shield, or a bow. Aleister changed the shape of his fingertips, numbers scattered from his hand, and the corresponding type of illusionary attack power appeared there. It could be a fire wand, a water cup, a wind dagger, or an earth disc. Mathers controlled all things on the material level by sending those symbolic weapons floating around him. Their clash was never-ending. And if it would not end, it was obvious who had the advantage. You fool... If you had stuck with me, you could have received the scraps of my success!! ... Your future daughter? Fighting for your not yet certain family? Isnt there a simple way of solving that without harming anyone? Just never have a child. If Aleister Crowley has no daughter, the fangs of death cannot close upon her! Then why did you marry, Mathers? It could not have just been a means of bringing a talented painter into the organization. Even if you never verbalized it in your mind, there must have been a reason why it had to be the woman named Mina. Dont give me that look... Even if we know it will lead to definite failure or danger, there are some things we desire to a maddening extent. You cannot expect magicians to be stoics who ignore the workings of their own body, Mathers. Without even looking at the story of Tristan and Isolde, it is clear that love is a poison and family a narcotic. That is how people work. And that is why they have appeared in the lineup of the cards as an inescapable inevitability. This is a result that cannot be changed. I said dont give me that look! I am the leader of the Golden cabal!! roared Mathers as he wielded powerful explosive flames like a part of his own body. A cabal does not just refer to the individual magicians. If one of us rebels, the group will crush them. Aleister, you should have declared victory only once you were in a position to have the group do your bidding! Like I am here!! ...!! Aleister was not reacting to Mathers as he fell back. Several people appeared on the surrounding rooftops. Dion Fortune. Paul Foster Case. Arthur Edward Waite. Robert William Felkin. My reinforcements are unlimited. All magicians must obey the cabals decisions. As long as I stand at the top, anyway. Mathers wiped blood from his mouth and put on a fierce smile. Its time you learned what a hunted fox feels like, rebel. The primary reason you lost was your inability to stop your battle from being rewritten with the word rebellion!! So after all your talk of masters and apprentices being equal, youre still an authoritarian who looks down on everyone from a special position reserved only for yourself. The action Aleister took was simple. He immediately turned around and vanished into the steam and smoke. Oh, foolish Mathers, my beloved, whispered the Black Cat Witch as if reminiscing on the distant past. She viewed this ended world through her veil. That man was caught in the organizations selection process, had his beloved daughter driven out from the protective umbrella, and felt burning inferiority and intense emotion at having to rely on the same power as his hated enemies... And as he raged with anger, did you really think he would continue to rely on logic and efficiency and make a strategic retreat? What...? It is beginning, clearly stated Mina Mathers. Her tone seemed to say this was the moment for which she wore the mourning clothes and led around the black cats which symbolized bad luck. The Battle of Blythe Road. The quiet armed conflict in which Magician Aleister Crowley directly faced the worlds largest magic cabal. The stage changed. A man holding a twisted silver staff blended into Londons darkness. Crowley was on his way to 36 Blythe Road, Hammersmith. The Golden cabals most important ceremonial ground was located there. Despite being referred to as a war, what he did was not all that flashy. All alone, he forced himself into the building, swept aside the few magicians who were maintaining and inspecting the equipment inside, locked all of the exits, and holed up inside. ...What is he doing? asked Kamijou. Wont he just be surrounded? That was acceptable for him. Aleister did not need to win this battle. What? Winning and losing meant nothing so long as the fact that he fought remained. You will understand soon enough. A quill in the office area sliced through empty air. It grazed Crowleys cheek and raced across the stationery on a heavy desk there. Flowing writing appeared. Mina must have been providing assistance because the meaning of the words entered Kamijous head. What is the meaning of this, Aleister? I have already parted ways with you. I do not recall ordering you to occupy Blythe Road!! When he read that automatic writing, Aleister Crowley silently formed a smile. ...After this, he would get married despite knowing it would end in failure. And his fingertips would be gently held by a tiny hand. This was an expression that would never be made by this human after that. But that is the truth of this shallow world, he said. All members of the Golden cabal will assume that Aleister Crowley, a mere pawn, occupied the Blythe Road ceremonial ground on the official orders of Mathers. In order to take everything away from the Westcott faction. ...Its a strange thing, Mathers. They will think that even though you do not recall signing such an order. You cant mean... Yes, yes. Did you think I made a nearly suicidal attack on you for no reason? I wanted your blood. With a single drop, forging a document was quite simple. In fact...didnt Westcott forge a letter from Anna Sprengel to give the organization more prestige when creating the cabal? Damn you!! The scene changed. In a location nowhere near Blythe Road, a furious-looking Westcott stormed into Mathers headquarters. He was not the only one breaking through the thick door. Just as Mathers had his faction, the Westcott faction also incorporated half of the Golden cabal. What is the meaning of this, Mathers!? Blythe Road is the foundation of the cabal in London. This has gone beyond anything you can weasel out of by claiming it was the individual action of that failure Crowley!! But it was!! You know Scotland Yard is keeping an eye on me. They do not like that a civil servant like a coroner is participating in such suspicious meetings. Maintaining any connections below the surface is risky enough, so you are quite the strategist to intentionally create friction within the cabal! That really isnt it! That document was-... Mathers trailed off as he seemed to realize something. The Black Cat Witch sighed. If they had been meeting alone, Westcott and Mathers might have been able to cool their heads and reach a compromise. But... With so many of their subordinates here, Westcott would never accept it if Mathers insisted this was the same forgery method Westcott had used. If he did accept it, his authority would plummet down to earth. Then... Yes, announced the widow dressed in mourning garb. A single intentional defeat pulled the trigger of a great war between the Westcott and Mathers factions that controlled the Golden cabal. From there, a hellish scene played out. Flames danced. Wind sliced. And it not all of it was that simple. Strange beasts were unleashed while curses and diseases ran rampant through the London darkness. Even if this was the age when Jack the Ripper had used the curtain of steam and smoke to work in secret, how had the people of London accepted and comprehended these strange phenomena? And of course, Aleister Crowleys battle was not yet over. He never expected the two sides to entirely wipe each other out. One side was sure to win and the survivors would take over. ...All he wanted to cause was chaos. And then he could slip into the confusion to sneak in close enough to stab both sides before they saw him coming. To the end, Crowley only ever thought of fulfilling his revenge by his own hand. The Blythe Road ceremonial ground was also an armory for the Golden cabal. After retrieving the necessary tools from there, the silver-haired young man returned to the noisy London darkness. In this age of rational magicians, Crowley was one of the few who actively approved of blood offerings. He was cunning. When he killed a Westcott faction magician in a back alley, he carved traces of the Mathers faction into the corpse before dumping it on the main road. When he killed a Mathers faction magician in an underground tunnel, he placed a Westcott faction weapon next to it before leaving. Even these tricks were only a front. People will be blinded to the truth as long as they see the malice of trickery. They will assume there is nothing more than this. He was the one who concluded it would take covering the entire planet with blood to guide his great ceremony to success. The sight of washing out blood with blood placed Crowley in a state similar to perpetual motion. ...No, this went beyond a direct clash between the two factions. Scotland Yard would want to divulge everything that happened, those in the New World would seek a version of the occult backed by greater tradition, the old witch lodges felt their place in the world had been taken by the Golden cabal, and spiritualists with no sense of danger would want to contact them. Everyone who wanted to get involved in this would be drawn to London and the existing power balance would be entirely destroyed. The greater the organization, the more complexly its gears fit together. The vortex of indiscriminate destruction and chaos was like a marble pattern. It swallowed everything and chewed it up. The hatred produced more hatred. When blood was shed by magic, that blood would be used for the next attack. As the battle escalated further, it created larger openings. It produced an opportunity to secretly enter areas that would normally be unreachable. This was a path of carnage in which he killed an enemy, changed weapons, and continually resupplied in that way. And eventually, a dull sound burst out somewhere. ...Bh? The first one to produce a dumbfounded expression was Westcott. He slowly looked down and saw that piercing his side. Westcotts magical ability was said to be not all that great, explained Mina. At least when compared to true eccentrics such as Mathers and Crowley. ...And yet he still managed to control a powerful faction as one of the Three Founders thanks to his quasi-immortality. Quasi...immortality...? I will omit what exactly that entails. But I will say that he specialized in forging documents. And as a coroner, he had the opportunity to contact more corpses than the average person. Also... in our world, parchment was used to converse with demons and transfer souls. But Crowley stabbed straight through that assumption with an attack using the treasure he had brought from Blythe Road. A single arrow was piercing the old mans side. But it was not made of metal or wood. It looked like muddy-colored wax. The tip branched out into five twisted prongs. Almost like a hand trying to grab at something... The arrowhead is made of bone, the feathers are made of leather, and the shaft is made of wax. ...But not just any wax; the grave wax created from flesh and blood. In other words... Imagine Breaker. The ultimate exorcising spiritual item created from a certain Saints right hand. It was originally the most secret of weapons meant to drive an uncontrolled being back beyond the magic circle after a failed summoning. Even as a mere spectator, Kamijou Touma felt his breath catch in his throat. B-bhboh... Westcott had never doubted the absolute strength of his quasi-immortality and he was unable to even pull out the thin arrow now that it was taken from him. Bhbohbhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! Aleister Crowleys eyes did not waver. With the arrow still in hand, he formed a handgun gesture with his other hand and several numbers danced from that hand like sparks: 32, 30, 10. Then the illusion gun fired an impact that sent Westcotts body flying backwards. I have altered the scene again, softly added Mina. I am sure you understand after seeing it before, but that is a weapon that can only be seen by the one it targets. I am merely placing an objective view of it here. Meanwhile, time continued to pass. As nonexistent gun smoke floated around him, Aleister whispered words that sounded like a curse. An arrow holds the meaning of a spiritualized attack. It should have thrown off the yoke of the physical once it was launched... but as it negates all supernatural powers, it ironically seeks the physical instead, Westcott. The 5 branches of the arrows tip seemed to have torn into the old mans flesh and blood. Specifically, the container of his soul, the red mass at the center of his chest. The old man had been torn to pieces within the wound when that was forcibly ripped out, but Crowley ignored him and turned around with the bloody arrow still in hand. His nemesis stood there. Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. When Crowley stuck out his tongue and licked off the blood that had splattered onto his own face, the ruler of the Golden cabal took a few steps back with a stiff expression on his face. The wand, cup, dagger, and disc symbolic weapons floating around him took a clearly defensive formation. Do you find it that hard to accept the death and ruin of a single person? ... All lives are born and vanish! Most leave nothing behind and are no more than common weeds that must force themselves to believe they are happy and successful!! You could have redone it. Even as you lamented the daughter who was rejected by the friction between phases and sparks of the world, you could have created a new life! Yes, yes! Thats all it was! You could have remade her as many times as necessary!! The conversation ended there. Aleister forcefully threw the arrow that had pierced a magicians life. Mathers had his floating symbolic weapons of fire, water, wind, and earth move to intercept. He lost many great weapons, sacrificed one of his arms, and even then only just barely managed to stop the arrow of the dead. An invisible explosion burst from within the flesh of the masters arm and the legend of Imagine Breaker vanished from this age. And where did it go? That was obvious: down a different path that eventually led to Kamijou Touma. The boy could not help but look down at his own right hand. ... But the Golden leader should have realized something. This was not the arrows revenge; it was Aleister Crowleys revenge. The silver-haired man altered his stance. As soon as he gestured as if he held something in both hands, numbers scattered from them like sparks from a lighters flint: 1, 27, 5. Then a double-edged sword appeared in his hands. The gigantic sword was nearly as tall as he was and looked like something from a childrens book. It was the steel sword of a great king. There was no point in discussing the laws of physics here. If someone had been able to bring a radar device here, the reflected waves would not have detected anything there. This deadly weapon sliced directly into someones perception. It used a technique of conveying ones meditation to someone else. It was the magic known as Spiritual Tripping. The name did not sound very sharp, but it linked the users body to the targets just like with a voodoo doll and it synced up their motions. But this usage allowed the user into the targets mind. The gesture would send the power of the indicated weapon into the targets mind. Oh, Mathers, my foolish spouse, said the Black Cat Witch. If you had not been so obsessed with the details and if you had kept your eyes on your true enemy even if it let that arrow shatter your breastbone, you would have had a way out of this. Mathers was slow to react as the other man stepped forward. The man swung the giant sword diagonally down with both hands and the nonexistent blade dug deep, deep down into Mathers torso through his shoulder. A clay...more...? This is a tribute, so rejoice, self-styled highlander. I finished you off with the sword you so loved. It did not matter here whether or not it physically existed. Either way, it tore through Mathers body and dark red liquid erupted from within. Only one man remained standing. Aleister Crowley made a quiet announcement to the end of his ideal. Now you will either die or have all possibility of success stripped from you as you live out the rest of your days in despair. It is time you withered away, sinner. Crow...ley. You see, Mathers, this is not a mere outburst of anger at being unable to stop the spontaneous death of a life that has yet to be born. Unable to swing it all the way through the mans body, the sword had stopped partway through, so Aleister whispered to him from close range. The world is filled with such tragedy. The sunny parts of this world are simply overflowing with tragedy. Everyone should be enraged and stand up against it, but they claim it cant be helped and they give up! That is where my sorrow lies!! Aleister Crowleyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!! In the very, very end, Mathers recalled that he too was a magician. Several more explosions detonated at nearly point-blank range. The two men were both blown backwards, but the battle was already over. I will...wipe out...all magic. Crowleys body was torn to shreds, but he did not fall. He had destroyed Westcott and Mathers, the true rulers of the Golden cabal. But his battle was not yet over. There were still countless magicians in the cabal. No, he was looking at something even larger than that. I will shatter every last phase and put an end to all mysticism. It can be helped and we need not restrain our tears and bite our lip when faced with tragedy. I will bring back the pure world in which everyone can feel anger like normal and question it all like normal!! He had to know the truth. Aleister Crowley was also a magician of the Golden cabal. If he was to curse the entire cabal, he could not disobey the rule saying he too must swallow the special poison he himself had concocted. Thats...why...? asked Kamijou. Yes. Success and failure dont matter. No, he works under the assumption that nothing he attempts will go the way he wants it to. Is that because he too walks a path where all possibility has been taken from him!? This was not a clear end to the Golden cabal. Even after the large organization broke apart, it broke into smaller cabals claiming to be its successor. They tied on splints and spent a long, long time like a large tree rotting away. But as they declined, nothing remained of its former glory. Many people attempted to bring back the Golden cabal. But as history shows, none of them succeeded in regathering the personnel and materials. They all worked to achieve their goals, but every last one of those dreams was shattered before completion and they sank into disappointment and despair jut as Aleister Crowley had announced. Kamijou knew Birdways cabal claimed to be of the Golden variety, but would it be hard to say it was the pure form of the Golden? And, added the Black Cat Witch. Aleister Crowley himself was deported a few times and was unable to maintain an environment for any major magical research. Finally, in 1947, his death was announced on British land. At the end of his quiet war, the avenger who had hunted down every last one of the cabals magicians stayed true to his own rules and turned his blade on himself in the very end. His battle had not yet ended. That was why he was in Academy City and standing in Kamijou Toumas way. Which meant... Even after conquering the Battle of Blythe Road and turning his blade on himself...he still could not overturn the common disease that took Liliths life. That was more than enough for him to thoroughly give up on the laws of god that he had already cursed since childhood. As the enemy of all magic, he had spent 50 or even 100 years creating a new term: the science side. Modern science had robbed the occult of its legitimacy, made scientific investigation and examinations the symbol of correctness, won the position of widespread acceptance, and spread a mentality akin to science worship in which the scientific was considered correct and the data was considered absolute. Everything he did would fail. Even if he tried to use that to his advantage, it would still work against him. But even as he was forced onto that hopelessly harsh and thorny path and even as the entire world worked to trip him up, he had advanced his game pieces this far. Aleister Crowley would never stop. He assumed he would be obstructed and he expected to fail. After coming so far with that mindset, that magician would show no surprise and continue on as normal no matter what obstacle might stand in his way. He intends to destroy all phases, whispered Mina Mathers, someone else who had once lost to Crowley and vanished in the depths of disappointment and despair. So that everyone can laugh like normal and cry like normal. So that every man and every woman is a star. So that the people can be freed from the sparks created by the collisions between phases and from the spray that failed to become miracles. So that he can build a world that is built up by the accumulated efforts of individuals and not influenced by prayers or divine punishment. Only once he achieves that will he believe he has truly fulfilled his duty as a father. Part 14 ...Kamijou Touma had finally seen it all. Her role must have been complete because the Black Cat Witch was gone. ... Kamijou did not hesitate. Along with the others, he jumped into the object overhead that resembled a black hole. It felt something like an elevator traveling through a tube. It did not take long, but he had no idea how far they had actually traveled. He only knew they had been sent far overhead. And the scene at the end of the mountain ascent was not the end of the universe or the center of the Big Bang. Stairs...? whispered Index. Yes, a spiraling stairway wrapped around the large space. Instead of stone or metal, it seemed to be made of smooth porcelain or glass. Othinus sighed from the boys shoulder. Is this the ring of the snake biting its own tail? No, it might just be the stairway up to heaven. And someone bloody sat on the very first step. Hi, Kami-yan. Tsuchimikado!! Was this the side effect of using magic to protect the others, or had he been forced to use magic a few times after they had been separated? Either way, Tsuchimikados clothing was stained a dark red. A-Aniki...!! Yeah, yeah. Dont worry. I didnt want you to see this, but, well, its nothing to worry about. Ive survived this plenty of times before, so Ill survive it here too. Kamijou doubted that meant anything. Just because you had survived every game of Russian roulette so far did not guarantee the next one would be fine. But Tsuchimikado had probably wanted to reassure his stepsister even if it was a lie. So youll...be okay? Even Im surprised by that one. It almost makes me think there was some meaning in having my wounds open when I got here... Like I was being told to wait here until you all caught up. ... Aleister Crowley. Success and failure did not matter. No matter the result when the die was cast, that magician would turn it into the trigger needed to advance down his path. Deciding it was useless to think about it would only turn you into a puppet, but suspecting that everything had meaning would mean restricting yourself for no good reason. Lets go, Kami-yan. It doesnt matter how much he toys with us. We win as long as we get the last laugh. ...Yeah. With that, Kamijou started thinking. Had the Board Chairman really laid some cunning trap up ahead? Was it truly logic and efficiency that ruled that magician? Kamijou had seen his war. He was like dry ice. He was supposedly extremely cold, but he was hot enough to burn all he touched. Which was Aleister Crowleys true core? Kamijou could not find an easy answer. He set foot on the spiral staircase. He climbed step by step. At first he did not notice, but with each step, the glass-like steps grew more transparent. They seemed to gradually fade away into the air. Finally, the steps themselves vanished. Kamijou continued climbing toward heaven. No, it was not just the steps that had vanished. ...Index? Kamijou called her name in surprise. Othinus, Fran!? Dammit!! There was no response. The companions he had walked with all this way were gone. No, it may not have been them that had disappeared from the world. It may have been Kamijou Touma who had disappeared. And then he heard a voice from somewhere. Do you understand now? It was the same voice he had heard in the distance past. Nothing about this person had changed after more than a century of fighting. A silver and gray form stood there. Was it supported by a trance born from a mixture of weariness and accomplishment? Kamijou naturally called out to the staticky gathering. Board Chairman Aleister...? Do you understand why you are here? Where was here? The top of the Windowless Building? His life in Academy City? Being born into the world in the first place? If you have come all this way and still do not understand, I suppose that is fortunate. That human was destined to never have anything go the way he expected, yet he judged this to be fortunate. All the necessary information has been inputted. But if you still do not understand the answer, then it is the same as a disease with no subjective symptoms. If you feel no pain, you cannot resist it. I will reach the conclusion during that time. I wont argue what was good and what was evil. Kamijou shook his head. But your way of life is sad. If I had to choose between right and wrong, I would say the path youve walked is undoubtedly wrong. You make it sound like I caused all of the tragedies you have seen. In a way, that was not inaccurate. To erase all magic from the world after destroying the Golden cabal, this human had split the world in two by creating the opposing science side. He had created Academy City to obtain the functionality he needed and, if he had controlled the opposition in the outside world, this went beyond just the one city. The science side alone could not explain this. The tragedies inside Academy City had been like sharpening ones claws and fangs and that sharpness was meant for use in battle within the outside world. But he said more. He was a mass of silver and gray and he was a shadow that seemed to give human form to every worldly thought. And Aleister Crowley made a definite announcement. You are the one that stands at the center of all this, Kamijou Touma. What...? I lost the arrow in that conflict. And I needed to acquire it once it appeared again. So it would be no exaggeration to say I built Academy City in order to attract the Kamijou Touma who would eventually be born. ... Imagine Breakers power is only noticeable when surrounded by people with supernatural powers. Kamijou Touma will not express his tendency toward conflict if no one needing help is within arms reach. ...And yet you were able to make your presence perfectly known. Why was that? Isnt it obvious? Because a stage covering western Tokyo was remade into an esper development institution that followed the perfect theory that would allow Kamijou Touma his greatest performance. Why were esper powers seen as perfectly normal? ...Because someone had set it up that way. Why had students been able to wield supernatural powers in the streets without anyone questioning it? ...Because someone had set it up that way. Why were there holes in the system which allowed frequent incidents which would enrage this boy? ...Because someone had set it up that way. Why had the adults repeatedly plotted to fulfill their selfish desires within the citys darkness? ...Because someone had set it up that way. What about when Kamisato Kakeru had entered the city from outside? He had not been from the science side or the magic side that someone had drawn out. He had truly come from outside. Hadnt Kamijou Touma felt like something was terribly off about that boy? Hadnt their conversations never quite fit together and hadnt it felt like something unpleasant was shifting their words out of place? Hadnt he been angry that the other boy had continued wanting to talk about such confusing things? But Kamijou had been wrong. Kamisatos way had been right. It would have been strange for them to reach a true understanding after just 5 or 10 minutes of conversation. There was an invisible barrier between people and it was normal to not truly see someone unless you spent a long time breaking down that barrier. It was normal to not understand someone, so wasnt Kamijou Toumas discomfort with failing to understand someone proof that he had been raised in a greenhouse that someone had created? Having lived and lost his memories in this city, Kamijou had no knowledge outside of what was found in Academy City. This city was like his hometown. He had assumed the way things felt here was the same everywhere and understanding that was enough to have something in common with everyone in the world. But what if that had been prepared for Kamijou Touma before Kamijou Touma had even been born? Of course it would feel so very comfortable to him. It was like creating a baseball school where baseball was everything so that a baseball boy could be sent there. Meanwhile... If you were not that way, Academy City would not have taken this form, said Aleisters voice. If you could be activated by different conditions, there would have been no need to construct the tragedies that make you shine. If Kamijou Touma had been an intellectual boy who loved shogi, this city would have been filled with people sitting at shogi boards and moving shogi pieces. If Kamijou Touma had been a sensory boy who loved cooking, this city would have been overrun with cooking battles that stimulated the senses with flavors, colors, smells, sounds, and aromas. If Kamijou Touma had been an athletic boy who loved mountain climbing, this city would have been packed with climbing duels in which contestants climbed up the walls of the high-rise buildings. But that boy had entrusted his life and lifestyle to his right fist. Thus, Academy City had taken this form. So that it allowed his violence to bloom to its fullest. I was the one that prepared the board, lined up the pieces, and constructed the stage. ... But, Kamijou Touma, I modelled it all after your free Thelema. Which one of them was the primary offender and which one was the accomplice? ...Why had the human named Kamijou Touma only had his right fist? If he had had other means of resolving things, Academy City might not have specialized in violence to this extent. He recalled the experiment in which Academy Citys #1 was made to kill 20,000 military clones, the method to summon an angel via Last Order and using Kazakiri Hyouka as the triggering mechanism, the military cyborgs of the Freshmen, the anti-Academy City Science Guardians, and the Agitate Halation project which intentionally constructed a weak person needing protection in order to mass-produce countless heroes... It had looked like it had all been started by hopeless villains and the mysterious leaders of the city, but if Kamijou Touma had chosen a slightly different path, none of those tragedies would have had to happen. Why? Why? Why? Kamijou Touma thought and thought and thought before facing forward. And he let out a roar. I dont need to ask why!! So what, you piece of shit!!!??? He was aware he was hoping for something far too convenient here. But. Asking what if would not change anything at this point. Kamijou Touma was currently here. There was no changing that. Academy City had been in this country long before he was even born. There was no changing that either. Even if it had all been built in preparation for Kamijou Toumas arrival, there was no way he could have stopped it since he had only arrived later. So if he was going to argue, that was not the key point. He had to face forward. To ensure he avoided any further tragedy. He did not have time to hope for what could never be. He had to think about what he could do now. He already knew exactly what he had to do. Even if that was at the end of some rails someone had laid out for him. He had seen more than enough despair when dealing with Othinus. So he could handle this. The structure of the world would not crush him with its pressure. I cant let you get away with this... I see. No matter what the cause was and even if I sympathize with parts of it, you clearly chose the wrong method!! So I will stop you!! Even if it means wielding the very power that made this city the way it is!! Correcting a mistake with a mistake? If that is how you will grow, that too is fine. My life was always doomed to fall. It would be rare for someone to understand my words as they are. Aleister Crowley also remained unchanged. There was no waver in the voice of the one who had built Academy City. In fact, this may have been the voice of the villain he had created in preparation for the future. He had a single reason. The collisions between phases and the sparks they created. They had taken his young daughters life for no real reason and torn his family bonds asunder...and the world was willing to accept such tragedies as no more than cruel coincidences that could not be helped. He wished to strike back against that world, so that human made the wickedest move available to him. But perhaps you are too focused on yourself to reach the proper conclusion. You are the only one allowing yourself to do this. Your position here will never change. ... There was no more need to respond. He did not need to be an embodiment of justice. He only had to be a fighter who clenched his filthy fist. Even if it meant breaking some rules... Even if it meant bearing some bad karma... He had to stop this human. Even if no one in the world would accept him, he had to do this. And with that in mind, he continued up the invisible spiral staircase. As if charging into the depthless darkness. But a moment later... A deafening roar blew a giant hole in this dead-end of a world and obliterated the silver and gray form. Part 15 The A.A.A. The machines core was shaped like a strange magic circle and that core linked it to someone. It was like looking at the sun through a telescope. The answer was right there, but carelessly looking directly at it would blind you. Only after intentionally using several thick filters to block your vision to restrict the amount of information being retrieved could she establish a normal link. Of course, the amount of information she received was limited. She was at the center, but she could not quite grasp it. She could not shake the hesitation, like someone preparing to pull the bombing trigger based on pixelated aerial footage, but she did not need to know everything at the moment. She knew what she had to focus on. The One who Purifies God and Slays Demons. It was written with different characters, but that was a boy those girls knew well. ...I know the location. Even if you could not crack the encrypted communication itself, you could determine the distance and direction of the tower from which it was being transmitted. This felt similar. Mikoto used the A.A.A. to locate the person to which it was linked. The attacker who had used that curse on her may have done the same thing. He may have sensed the girl carelessly contacting the A.A.A. and sent an invisible attack to those coordinates. But no matter what it was, technology opened its gates equally to all. That was an ironclad rule in the cyber wars between organized hacker groups. Cheap revenge should be avoided. Making a largescale counterattack would give the other side a chance to learn how to access or infect your system. So the standard methodology was to always consider whether the results of an attack were worth the risk it brought. This was the same. If the person on the other end could do it, so could she. The Windowless Building in the center of District 7. Thats where the mysterious linked person is!! And they are extremely focused on the name Kamijou Touma!! Wait, wait... Unless theyre being used as a stepping stone, that could only mean one person... Given the circumstances surrounding the A.A.A., it was hard to imagine that person was harmless and friendly. Even setting aside the nosebleeds caused by using the A.A.A. itself, that curse had clearly been a malicious attack from a third party. And defying the master of the Windowless Building brought the risk of having to let go of everything they had built up inside Academy City. They were up against the Board Chairman who ran the entire city, so he would likely be able to expel or kick out a girl or two no matter how good their grades were. Normally thinking, now was not the time to make waves. They should be smarter about how they handled this. But those girls had heard a certain name: Kamijou Touma. Lets get started. Lets blow a hole right through that building. You never change, do you? Metal could be heard fitting together with ominous sounds. Even if it had been turned to scrap and dismantled by its owner, the A.A.A. was still the A.A.A. Once it had accepted someone as its owner, it would move like a living creature when they desired it and it now attached all around the slender girl. It may have been designed to cause harm, but when it was this obedient, it actually felt quite admirable. Shokuhou Misaki breathed an exasperated sigh. But are you sure this is okay? You might have learned the A.A.A.s core is something like an antenna, but you still dont know why you get the nosebleeds. We dont know how its putting a burden on you, but it probably has something to do with your head. Rely on it at random and it might trip you up when you really need it. But holding back isnt going to help here. To be honest, Im several laps behind and I cant stand on the same stage as that idiot. I feel like I can only just barely catch up if I accept these risks!! Like. I. Was. Saying. Shokuhou placed a finger on her own lips and winked. She seemed to be joking, but she was showing her respect for the girl who had exposed her own weakness instead of hiding it. If I control your mind, wouldnt we at least be able to share the burden? Mikoto had never even considered that. She looked confused and answered the question with a question of her own. ...Why would you go that far? I will never tell you. That alone she said bluntly. My #5 Mental Out cant control your mind because your #3 Railgun rejects it. But thats because youre subconsciously rejecting my invasion ability. Although thats not too surprising. What about it? Question: is that rejection still in place? Will you still reject me if Im trying to help you save him, no matter what my reasons might be? I dont know how to remove the wall. It would certainly be nice if we could all control our subconscious. Were not all expert shogi players or pro golfers, so we dont have our own zone. Misaka Mikoto once more looked across Shokuhou Misakis body from head to toe. And she spoke honestly. Theres no way we can get along. I appreciate the honesty. Youre extremely suspicious. You sound needlessly full of yourself despite being in the same year as me. But now its starting to piss me off. And I cant stand that useless flesh that just annoys me to no end. That has nothing to do with this!! Yes, no matter how hard they tried, they could never get along. They both triggered biological disgust in the other. It was like someone had gathered everything that irritated them and gave it human form. They could not just flip a switch and get along because it was an emergency. So they had just one point in common. Misaka Mikoto asked a question. Are you worried about that idiot? Thats what Ive been saying. Part 16 And then two locations overlapped. With the rumbling of the air being compressed, Misaka Mikoto once more sliced through Academy Citys blue skies while wearing the A.A.A. She had a single destination: the center of District 7, aka the Windowless Building. !! That is one hell of a headache you have! Now do you understand my pain? But, Misaka-san, do you just have bad posture? Your shoulders are really stiff even though you dont have much of a chest. Why must you be so annoying even when youre linked to my head!? It was not just Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki who were linked. The thoughts of whoever the A.A.A.s core was linked to were mixed in as well. Although those were only fragmentary indicators that could not be converted into clear language. But the words seemed to begin outnumbering the noise as she got closer. She still could not see the whole picture. But she could tell that this mystery person was strongly focused on that boys name. And that was enough. Were up against the Windowless Building which supposedly not even a nuke can destroy. What if my Railgun cant break through the wall!? Well, I have heard some silly rumors that it didnt budge even after the #1 used the rotation of the earth to attack it. However... The other girl whispered in her mind. She maintained the nuance of a mischievous and heated sigh. We dont have to hold back for the #1s sake. Lets work together and make an unprecedented record Shokuhou Misakis power controlled peoples minds, but she technically did so by controlling the miniature bits of liquid in the body. And since adjusting the salinity could provide conductivity to that liquid, it could also be influenced by electromagnetic powers such as the Lorentz force. On top of that, the real bottleneck with the destructive force of Mikotos Railgun was the air resistance. If she simply launched a coin 50 meters, the frictional heat would entirely vaporize it, but that conversation of speed into heat of course caused a loss of kinetic energy. So. What if? What if that Railgun was fired when that friction could be reduced or neutralized? The Liquid Proof Railgun. With the limits on distance and speed removed, it produced endlessly frightening destructive power. She no longer used the frictional heat as the brakes. She reversed that way of thinking. The slight coating of liquid on the coins surface took away its heat and cooled it. And when that liquid explosively expanded as steam, it gave the coin even more speed. Instead of simply being carried by its initial speed, it accelerated more and more as it flew. The tiny shell gained limitless speed as it produced a thin, spear-like contrail and was absorbed by the impressive wall of the Windowless Building. This was not possible with just any water manipulating power. The fine control used to manipulate the liquid in the brain to control the information there was needed to place a special lattice pattern on the surface of the coin. This required precision far greater than the ablation that protected a space shuttle from the atmospheres heat by melting in just the right way despite being nothing more than a plastic lattice. The scenery grew distorted. The impregnable Windowless Building was mercilessly torn into as if the coin were breaking through the wall of space itself. She did not understand all the details. But she could myopically make some guesses about the problem right in front of her eyes. So that girl shouted the words that rose up from deep in her heart. There are lives that were saved just because you were here. There are people who were given courage just because you ran forward. So dont hesitate!! I assure you that the path you walked was the right one and that it created a great many possibilities. If something about you is rejected as wrong, then Ill open it all up and explain this to you!! So, so, so!! No matter what anyone says and no matter what logic they use against you! Stay true to your own paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaath!!!!!! Part 17 That was all. Does that seem strange? But it only took the girls words reaching his ears. That boy once more clenched his right fist as tight as he could. The empty vision of silver and gray was nowhere to be found. The person waiting for him now was the true Aleister Crowley. Part 18 In truth, not even those girls may have known which one had done it. ...Phew. Shokuhou Misaki, Academy Citys #5 Level 5, aka Metal Out, sighed in a distant location. Nothing she did would allow that boy to remember what she looked like. They could not share their memories and he would forget her no matter how much time they spent together. Not even if she made full use of her powers as the #5. But this was different. It would all be remembered as Misaka Mikotos words and Misaka Mikotos actions. But that meant the girl could leave her mark on him. A vibrant sound burst out. Shokuhou Misaki had slapped both her cheeks. And then the girl took a new step forward after standing in place for so very long. This time, it did not matter if it was the #3 or the #5. The girl gave a fierce smile and spoke. Now, its time for a bit of a rampage. Now, its time for a bit of a rampage. Between the Lines 2 Unlike the older age that called itself a renaissance but still required explaining the world through the existing Christian framework, the age in which natural science such as the steam engine finally swept across the world may have felt like the end of a long winter for the magicians. The magic cabal with the Golden name was born in that age of steam and gas lights. They did not blindly accept the information written in the bible, looked instead to the ancient religions from before the bibles creation, and attempted to learn how they had changed as they were passed down to the modern age. Partially due to the Hermeticism they were born from, the Golden magicians tended to look to the Egyptian legends of which traces were found on the African continent across the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, the Golden cabal tended to name their temples after Egyptian gods such as Isis or Osiris. Aleister Crowley had already been sick of the goodness and justice proclaimed by Christianity, so that had to have been a comfortable age for him. That Golden cabal eventually broke apart due to ugly internal strife between humans, but even after the Golden cabals fall, that magician continued to talk about the Aeons of Isis, Osiris, and Horus. And in his later years, he released his own version of tarot which borrowed the name of Thoth. The Thoth Tarot. Unlike the normal GD Tarot, he mostly redid the 22 cards of the major arcana. The older tarot predicted an age when the final judgment would be given and people would continue on to the next stage, but by swapping out the images, Crowleys version insisted that the final judgment had already occurred in 1904 and the current age was the Aeon of Horus in which Christian rule had been eliminated. So what happened in 1904? If you rely on his own personal view, the answer was as follows: He contacted the Holy Guardian Angel named Aiwass. And the original grimoire known as the Book of the Law was released into the world. Volume 18, 4: A Worthwhile Battle at Heaven’s Peak - "Light". Volume 18, Chapter 4: A Worthwhile Battle at Heaven''s Peak C "Light". Part 1 Kamijou Touma once more climbed to the top of the transparent spiral staircase. He had reached the summit of the mountain. A vast space awaited him. There was no concept of a floor or stairs here. Everything was transparent. After taking just one step into it, he was unsure where the stairs he had climbed were. No, perhaps the exit really had disappeared once he arrived. And now that he had climbed the heavenly staircase, he was in outer space. He had no idea how the dimensions were distorted inside and out, but the giant blue planet spread out endlessly below his feet. It is simple. For the first time, he heard a physical voice instead of a staticky fake. Kamijou Touma was not about to let any absurdity or unreasonableness surprise him now. That human stood in the center of that space which had nowhere to hide. He had ankle-length silver hair and wore a green surgical gown. He looked like both a man and a woman, like both an adult and a child, and like both a saint and a sinner. And he spoke as if he had been standing here for an entire century. A field ruled by the ley lines running through the ground. The directionality and intensity of the various forces arriving from the cardinal directions and from other heavenly bodies... The magic born on earth is bound to earth. And unfortunately, humans will fill in seas and shave down mountains to achieve their goals. Yes, the very same people who are affected by the many sparks. So I thought I might be able to achieve a ceremony worthy of my goal if I escaped the limited possibilities of the earth. I will admit I panicked somewhat when that space elevator got there ahead of me. That was the purpose of the powerful walls, fully-enclosed environment, and rocket boosters. And it did not matter if those conditions needed to escape the earth were destroyed. He had ignored Euclidean geometry to extend space, raise his tower in another dimension, and free himself from the bonds of the heavens. ...Is your battle still not over? It may never end. I used the life support system to prevent any traces of my life force from escaping into the outside world, but I also gave myself the difficult task of providing myself 1700 years of extra time. In other words, it is all part of the plan. No matter how many failures, defeats, losses, and setbacks I face, I can redo it all. Can I say something kind of mean that tramples over all that? Such as? ...Lilith may have died before she could learn to speak, but I doubt it was this look on your face that she loved. There was nothing more than that. Kamijou never thought this was someone who could be stopped with words. He knew Aleister had invited him deep into the Windowless Building for some reason. Besides, this was Academy City, where everything was set up to be resolved with a fist. So clenching his right fist here was not leaving the rails prepared by the Board Chairman even by a millimeter. But he did not care. In the end, this was all Kamijou Touma had. No matter how much he might have wished for it, he could not become a shogi player or cook in this instant. So he had to master the path he did have. Instead of worrying about the details and slamming on the brakes, he had to floor it, throw out the plans of this schemer, and grasp the results for himself. That was the only way he could accomplish anything. Lets do this. No words are necessary. We know each other better than that. Oddly, that turn of phrase brought a smile to Kamijous lips. This was truly his first time meeting this human. And yet Aleisters strange statement seemed so very appropriate. They must have been linked before he was born and they must have been enemies from the moment he was born. No matter what explanation they gave each other, their relationship was an inseparable one. So. This time, words truly were not necessary. The two of them kicked off the ground and ran forward. Part 2 Kamijou had seen that magic battle. And that was why he did not have to worry about being taken by surprise and killed. The human named Aleister held his right hand forward. He extended his thumb and forefinger in a handgun gesture. He aimed the imaginary muzzle toward Kamijous belly. And a few numbers scattered from his hand like sparks. 32, 30, 10. !? Several illusionary gunshots rang out in a row. It did not matter that the gun was flintlock. If these had been actual lead bullets, there would have been nothing Kamijou could do. But this was magic. That meant his surefire right hand would work against it. Having too perfect an image of something could be both a good thing and a bad thing. He deflected the bullets and moved right up to Aleister. Or he should have. Spray. Wha-? Kamijous confused voice did not actually leave his mouth as sound. Before it could, an unpleasant cracking sound stabbed into him from the side. He doubled over as an impact tore into his ribs. He had been running forward, but he was knocked sideways. Blood burst from his mouth as he breathed. Unable to cry out or scream, he rolled again and again across the invisible floor. Who are you looking at? The person standing here is the magician who has decided to live forever because he loathes the collisions between phases more than anyone else. Gah...bah!? Are you saying youve constructed a way to gather together the unpredictable sparks and spray so you can target and fire it!? Do not act so surprised by what is no more than a lightning rod. And it is limited to the magic that I launch myself. But if I had completed this spell 100 years earlier, I might have been able to show some kindness to an innocent baby. Kamijou could not just crawl around on the floor. Aleister had already changed his stance. He held out his right and gently grasped the empty air. The spark-like numbers scattered: 13, 5, 32. It was like inviting fire by scraping a lighters flint. Kamijou had rarely ever seen the real thing, but for some reason the sharp point of a fencing sword appeared in the back of his mind. Spiritual Tripping. This magic forcibly drove the desired image into the viewers mind. This spell gave the value of the real object to the pantomime. (Im going to be...stabbed!!) Kamijou immediately tried to roll away. But Aleister jabbed into empty air regardless. No. No!! The Blasting Rod. With that short warning, a pleasant sound stabbed into Kamijous right shoulder. A dark red hole as thick as his littler finger was opened there. An invisible blade had stabbed him. Even without an explanation, his instincts and the intense pain told him the answer. Ugwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? The range was clearly longer than the image in the back of his mind. Could it change this much just because it had no physical form? That was Kamijous guess, but something was not right. He had seen that conflict. Magic only appeared to have infinite possibilities to those who did not understand how it worked. He only had to recall the magicians from that Golden age. They had always followed some kind of rules to produce a limited power that they then used to decorate the world as they saw fit. Say you wanted to extend the length because the attack could not reach. To do so, there had to be rules or a theory that allowed it. The Blasting...Rod!! Is that what did it!? It amplifies the magics power to 10 times what the target thinks it is. That is the surest and simplest symbol of power that my one absolute master, Allan Bennett, specialized in. Although to avoid jealousy from foolish Westcott or Mathers, he disguised it as a trick that sent the targets refined magic power out of control to knock them unconscious without harming them. Kamijou did not have time to wonder if the initial attack that had hit him, Tsuchimikado, and the others had been amplified like that. 13, 5, 32. In other words, the sword again. He dodged based on the assumption that the length of the rapier would be 10 times the image he saw in his head, but a dark red hole was opened in his side. Gbh!? When you assume the length will be extended 10 times, the Blasting Rod uses that as the basis for the 10 times amplification. Thus, the blade is extended 100 times. At that length, the blade could slice across this entire space. He could not pull it out. To avoid being held in place by the imaginary blade skewering him, Kamijou grabbed it with his right hand. It shattered and vanished into the ether and he regained his freedom in exchange for losing the plug keeping the wound closed. If Aleister had intended to eliminate all magic, he must have planned to fight the Magic Gods on his own. Had he had any realistic chance of that without an exception like Kamisato Kakerus World Rejecter? Kamijou had his doubts, but this seemed to be the trick. If he could not do it as a human, he would draw out the destructive power from the Magic Gods themselves. Drawing out the power of a god and defeating a god while remaining human was the way a summoner thought. Instead of becoming a god, he would control them and rule them. Nothing could have been more arrogant, but that just showed how much hatred he had in his heart. However, that methodology actually showed some promise of working against full-power Othinus. How to mentally cut down a Magic God who had absolute confidence in their power was still a major question, but this still had far better odds than using any kind of human power against them. And... Do not think this is all there is. Aleister Crowley pointed toward the empty heavens. Why did I drive you on with the chain assassins and mountain devilishness which reaches for human karma and pushed you onward? Why did I have you climb the alternate-dimensional mountain of the third tree? Why did I have you pursue my past? Why did I reveal the Spiritual Tripping and the Blasting Rod? All things have a reason. If you do not know what that reason is, then it means you have not studied enough. ...? It is all a single ceremony, he announced. Then the spell user spoke a powerful name. Come forth, Aiwass. Use the chains that bind thoughts as guidance and complete my objective. Immediately afterwards, that temporary universe was filled with an explosion brighter than the sun. Part 3 In that instant, an entire city pulsated. Uuh...!? Still back in District 11, Shokuhou Misaki groaned at the eerie throbbing below her feet. Biological disgust ran down her back like the ground was covered in slugs, but the ground remained hard asphalt. If anything had changed, it was the girl herself. Her muscles relaxed, she could not gather any strength, and her feet grew unsteady. An unpleasant feeling different from pain rubbed at the organs inside her stomach like an invisible hand, so she doubled over and rubbed her inner thighs together. She held her head and worked to maintain her thoughts. (What...? My...power...) Some juvenile halls had systems installed that prevented espers from using their powers by obstructing their concentration with the stimuli of lights, sounds, and smells, but this was different. She could only describe it in an extremely abstract way. (...Its being...sucked out of me...???) Shokuhou Misaki did have a guess about this. Not counting the chairman, the Board of Directors had only 12 members. One of those was Yakumi Hisako. When she had enacted her Agitate Halation Project, she had been served by Rensa, an esper cyborg who could use any of the Level 5s powers. What kind of technology had she used? Yes, she had not created the powers herself. Hadnt she made her physical features match those of the existing Level 5s so she could remotely draw out their powers? (So did the Board Chairman use his authority to place artificial nerves and blood vessels across the entirety of Academy City? Does that let him forcibly link to every esper raised here and gather their powers in a single place???) It was quite the trick, but it had to be an extreme gamble on Aleisters part. After all, the heat wave that had recently attacked Academy City had been caused by a largescale microwave attack. He had won out in the end, but if things had gone just a little differently, the citys network of nerves might have been torn apart and failed to work. And. It was obvious where the powers of 80% of the citys 2.3 million people were being gathered. The Windowless...Building. Shokuhou felt incredible disgust as if she were being forced into a giant biological abdominal cavity. But...what for...? Part 4 He descended. Did this being even know what it meant to alter himself for the benefit of others? So it was not that the sunlight had weakened. Kamijous eyeballs must have been forced to adapt. Aiwass. The Holy Guardian Angel that Aleister Crowley summoned using his beloved wifes body. He had long, golden hair and radiant skin. But that skin was endlessly cold, so perhaps it should be described as a pale platinum. He seemed beautiful, but perhaps that was because he was such a distant being. He seemed like a jewel, but perhaps that was because he seemed so inorganic. A play at Thelema? You should have known from experience that someone would interfere even if you left England and built a temple. It can talk...? That alone was worthy of surprise. Kamijou had seen angels before. For example, he had seen the one known as Gabriel a few times. But they had never made their presence known quite so smoothly. In fact, they had seemed more like machines the closer he got to them. I see, I see. So my voice can reach you without distortion this time. That may mean the world had recalled the truth to some extent. Aiwasss shoulders shook in laughter, but no emotion was visible on his face. And is it that strange, boy? What...? Fuse Kazakiri was used as a model for me, but she managed to maintain her mind even in her final angelic form. He had been created from the ground up by human hands. From the earliest stages, he was different from a normal angel. So...what? Was that the correct answer? And this is no time to be concerned with such trivial matters. Something impossible happened. The angel smiled. This was the look of someone who had stumbled across a new hobby while bored out of their mind. At the moment, I am your natural enemy. It exploded. What did? Before Kamijous mind could catch up, he swung his fist forward and his right arm was bent at an odd angle from the shoulder. Not even the intense pain could keep up. Then something invisible burst from his shoulder and Aiwass grabbed it in his hand while still smiling. Ha ha!! It seems to have grown some, but it still has a long way to go. And its purity leaves much to be desired. Aleister, youve been making detours, havent you!? You talk too much. Very well. It happened in the span of a breath. It was just like with Magic God Othinus back in Baggage City. Aiwass squeezed his hand and easily crushed whatever-it-was to death. Ah...gah!? The pain finally caught up. Kamijou staggered back while holding his wobbling right shoulder. Ignorance truly is a frightening thing, said Aiwass. Are you really entrusting your life to three-dimensional distance in a miniature garden where Euclid never applied in the first place? Something was coming. Kamijou clenched his teeth, grabbed his destroyed shoulder, and mustered all of his strength to force the dislocated joint back into place. As soon as he swung his arm, his body somersaulted backwards. He had just forced his shoulder back into the socket in exchange for so much pain that his vision dimmed, but the joint was dislocated again just a few seconds later. Ighgghghghgh! Ghgghghghghghghgghh!? (Dammit!! I blocked it, but I still have no idea what happened!!) If he could at least learn what this attack was in exchange for the damage, he could come up with a plan concerning which way to dodge. But with no results, he could only continue to block the attack. This was the great treasure built up in order to overpower all of the Magic Gods, including full-power Othinus. That meant this battle would be just as...no, more hellish than that battle. And Aiwass was not the only one here. Aleister made an announcement as if whispering. The Blasting Rod. That support spell would amplify an attacks power to 10 times what the target thought it would be. It was now a solid wall. Holy Guardian Angel Aiwass had been amplified 10 times. Kamijou did not even have time to fix his dislocated shoulder. He grabbed his unreliably dangling right wrist with his left hand and forcibly pulled it forward just in time for the direct clash to hit. His feet rose from the floor. His body flew through the air and his back slammed into a colorless and invisible wall. G...bh!? Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? A dull sound he had never heard before burst from within his body. To be clear, this was what happened after Imagine Breaker negated everything it could. Even if the limits of what a human could imagine had been extended 10 times...this destructive power could only be described as unbelievably great. It gave credibility to Aleisters arrogant intent to declare war on the Magic Gods while remaining human. ...Pant...pant... Was it a hand or a wing? It was too large to imagine the overall form. And even after it moved away, Kamijou could not move for a while. He was pinned to the wall and could not even collapse to the floor. No, he even considered the possibility that he was squished to the wall like a crushed frog. Thats just like a transformation, said Aiwass. How childish. If I was not, I would not have continued falling for more than a century. True enough, I suppose. If you had any sense, you would have given up long ago and your soul would have withered away. What could he do? How could he punch them? Even when Kamijou turned his thoughts inward to escape the pain before his eyes, he could not find an answer. So when he moved, it was mostly on reflex. He grabbed his right shoulder with his left hand and forced the joint back in place. Having returned to his normal scale, Aiwass scoffed at the intent to continue fighting. And the angel almost seemed to be enjoying himself. Youre quite the hero, arent you? Are you that intent on refusing to let Aleister Crowley fall on his own? Yes, I can see why you were chosen. ...? Imagine Breaker chose you. Because no matter how much this man longed for it, he only ever met failure and setbacks. Kamijou did not have time to search for the true meaning of those words. The sun attacked him once more. Part 5 In that moment, a horrible chill ran down the back of 15cm Fairy Othinus who had lost her usual spot. Touma, Touma! Where are you!? She looked in an odd direction as she listened to the white nun continue to shout the boys name after he vanished into thin air while partway up the large spiral staircase. Aiwass... That name is appearing here? What? asked Fran who picked Othinus up so she would not be trampled underfoot. The sole surviving Magic God breathed from her nose. Tch!! The spiral staircase provided much greater footing. That eliminated the risk of falling, but it also allowed the gear and handcuff rings to become a threat once more as they appeared around Maika. Thanks to that, Tsuchimikado was forced to constantly fight back. The rainbow chain skeleton and transparent flesh and blood could not be defeated without Imagine Breaker, so he was continually beating them back barehanded. Fran seemed to move slowly, but she had joined the fight as the only one who could voluntarily use magic without any risk. Aleister had always used the term scientific in a positive way. He would say anything, be it spiritual or physical, was scientific as long as it was beautifully ordered and could be explained causally. Othinus was a big deal herself for continuing to speak with no change of tone with all this going on. And the peak of that theory was Aiwass. That name doesnt come from anywhere. It doesnt belong to any religious category. ...And this world is formed from the multiple magic side phases that have been placed on top of the physical laws. She put her hands on her hips and looked to the mountain devilishness. Aiwass is the angel of the bottommost layer...that is, of the world of pure physical laws. That is why he is Aleisters greatest treasure. If he establishes a means of controlling Aiwass and uses that tremendous power to destroy all of the filters other than Aiwass, only a magicless world will remain. ???? The hoodie bikini girl was part of the magic side, but not even she seemed to understand. The one who came to a stop was Index. Aiwass? But if that appears here while living up to the theoretical values... Yes, this would have been constructed in order to oppose Magic Gods such as myself. That human doesnt stand a chance of winning in a straight fight. Someone gulped. But surprisingly, the understander did not look all that frightened. Othinus continued: Every man and every woman is a star. Aleister Crowley? Yes. Its really only explaining that nothing in this world is meaningless and all things are intertwined. Although it adds that the individual people have not awoken to what is right so the current gears are rusted and jammed. Hm? Hmm??? What does that mean? You dont understand? Othinus was a god of magic, war, and deception. If there was even the smallest chance of victory, she would not give up. Then lets change how we look at this. What happens if we think about it in reverse? Part 6 Misaka Mikoto flew around the Windowless Building with the A.A.A. attached all across her body. She too was affected by the ominously throbbing city. Her connection was poor. Her control of her own powers was unstable and her flight had grown unsteady. Even so, she gave a roar. She seemed to be throwing her words toward the other girl who was not here. Bear with it! Shokuhou!! !? Im...trying!! What they had to do had not changed. They did not have any details about what the master of the Windowless Building was plotting. The noise was so bad that she could not read the thoughts of the person she was supposedly linked to through the A.A.A. But she only had to think about it. What was the most obvious choice that would cause his pre-established harmony to crumble away? He was holed up in the worlds strongest fortress. So if she was to do anything, shouldnt she tear away that armor and strip him bare? She did not have to know how it ended. She only had to stand on that stage and play a role in influencing the situation. So... Here goes!!!!! Here goes!!!!! Sound was blown away. The extraordinary attack of the Liquid Proof Railgun was released and stabbed randomly into the side of the Windowless Building. It was all to tear down that stronghold and push things even a millimeter away from the ideal envisioned in the Board Chairmans head. This would not defeat him. Even after using every last ounce of effort and shedding tears of blood, this would not deliver a finishing blow. So what? Im sick of waiting. If I was going to lose heart and give up here... ...I wouldnt have stood up in the first place!! Part 7 No matter what. There was simply no way that Kamijou Touma could dodge the attack launched by Holy Guardian Angel Aiwass. This was a wide open space with nothing to hide behind. The blue planet was visible below and it was the ultimate away game prepared by Aleister. But the boy did not die. He reflexively squeezed his eyes shut when a deafening roar exploded nearby, but the pain and impact never arrived. Once he slowly pried his convulsing eyelids back open, Kamijou regained his sense of sight. And he saw something in front of him. It was Mina Mathers. With her mourning clothes, cat ears, and tail, the Black Cat Witch looked horribly out of place as she stood in the way. What...? The first one to voice surprise was Aleister Crowley who had supposedly prepared all of this. The witch held a silver palette knife. It looked useless as far as attack power was concerned, but it was the ultimate source which had drawn, colored, and constructed the many cards and ceremonial tools used by the Golden cabal. Mina Mathers weapon was art. Perhaps that made her like Prometheus who had given fire to humanity. Her skill had given concrete form to the uncertain inspiration held by so many magicians. The rainbow line drawn in space by the palette knife was her everything. Was this really so far beyond your expectations? The palette knife gradually distorted, bent, and lost its form, but it still continued to hold back Aiwasss attack. Out of everyone from the Golden age, you chose me as your host. You could have chosen your wife Rose or your daughter Lilith, but you chose me, Mina Mathers. The wife of your bitter enemy is an extremely unstable position. So I can guess that you predicted this failure and some part of your heart hoped that I would take Kamijou Toumas side. What? The confusion finally reached Kamijou. He clenched his right fist again and his blank mind could not understand any of this. Why did you appear here? Werent you a part of those illusions!? Huh, but didnt my left hand touch you...and your breast was really soft...huh!? Instead of giving into confusion, please go over the information one piece at a time. First, a lifeless illusion cannot use magic. All magic must be powered by refined magic power and that requires a life force at its base. I see, spat out Aiwass in the tone of someone enjoying an accident. Aleister, it would seem you have failed yet again. Then what was this? She was not a created illusion. But it was unthinkable for the real human Mina Mathers to appear here. After all, she would have lost to Aleister in a magic battle long ago and she would have vanished into the shadows of history. Then who was this who had used magic and saved Kamijou? You most likely already know the answer. At least, you should now that you have seen so much of Aleister Crowley. ? I am the Reading Thoth 78 built into the Windowless Building. I am no more than a parallel processing device made to prove whether or not Administrator Aleister Crowleys adjustments to his plan are correct or not. Kamijou Touma was not the one to gasp. It was Aleister and this likely meant he had finally arrived at the answer. The core of my thoughts is made up of the 78 tarot cards constructed by my administrator himself. But that can also be seen as sorting them all into a single book. In other words... The being who borrowed the form of the Black Cat Witch gave the answer. I am also an original grimoire named the Thoth Tarot. Even if I cannot refine my own magic power as a living being can, the forbidden writings absorb power from my surroundings to automatically use magic for self-defense. A few rumbling noises burst out. The rainbow art deflected the heavenly tyranny. The distorted palette knife and Holy Guardian Angels wings collided, but the Black Cat Witch was still not defeated. They were both Aleister Crowleys greatest masterpieces. No... The Thoth Tarot is an alternative sorting derived from the official GD model and it contains the essence of Holy Guardian Angel Aiwass within it. The 20th card of the Major Arcana is named the Aeon. That card originally symbolized the final judgment, but you changed the arcana because you decided that judgment had already occurred when you contacted Aiwass in 1904. Meaning... Ha ha! This is just like Rensa. Does that grimoire contain text that can draw power from me!? That was why she was capable of striking back. Even if hers was only borrowed, both sides were wielding Aiwasss power. And the validity of the fundamental theory had already been proven by Aleister himself by using an esper cyborg to draw power out of the 7 Level 5s. But borrowed power is no more than that, warned Aiwass. It will not last forever. I do not mind. Even as he stands and watches here, Aleister Crowley is constantly falling. I only need to buy enough time for the conclusion to arrive. Was there more? Kamijou wondered that, but that was the wrong question. Why was the Black Cat Witch...no, the Thoth Tarot turning on Aleister, her master? Every man and every woman is a star. The mourning clothes and cat-ears lady whispered through her veil. My administrators ideology states that no one is unnecessary to the world so long as they behave as they should, but that also means that the entire music box will stop playing if even a single gear is missing. And, Aleister, you are already watching your house of cards crumble. A low rumbling reached them. But the source was far away. This was the sound of destruction in some other place. Aleister shouted the answer. An attack from outside... The A.A.A.s usurper!? With this, it will all collapse. I described it as a house of cards. Even slight damage will cause the whole to topple. Your failure will not stop at just one. Once it begins, it will trigger a chain reaction as more and more of your plan collapses. Just like you once lost the Temple of Thelema due to a single accident. Yes. Why did this innocent boy come here? The question naturally had an answer. Namely... To find a way to safely remove the magic sword stabbed into Tsuchimikado Maika. If you used it all to ensure the stability of Aiwasss summoning, then doesnt that seem like an important risk concerning the collapse of your plan? Part 8 The answer had been in front of their eyes the entire time. Othinus spoke while still held in Frans hands. Expand your perception. This was a mysterious space where Euclidean geometry did not apply. But that condition had partially collapsed at the moment. An attack from outside had cracked the wall, so the space was no longer enclosed like it was meant to be. In an amusement parks house of mirrors, breaking just one of the many mirrors would destroy its perfection. Focus on the scenery outside of the broken wall and use that to build up your picture of the whole. Yes, yes. Damn, we should have done this in the first place instead of letting those rainbow chains distract us. We entered the building through the giant hole created by the damage to the rocket boosters!! Once Fran looked at the world from the proper focal point, the fantastical scene was entirely gone. The entire scene was swept away like clearing fog and she saw a space of steel and rare metals that was lined with computers the size of industrial refrigerators and had countless thick cables crawling along the floor. What...is this...? We revealed the temple, but Touma didnt come back!! He went in too deep. If were going to have a chance to rescue him, we need to start by destroying the perfection of Aleister Crowleys structure. What did they need to do? Why had they risked so much to enter the Windowless Building? Pull out everything in storage. If theres a spell for safely removing the sword in this girls chest, that will be our greatest weapon. Every man and every woman is a star. If he used everything for this, then losing even one of the gears means to lose the entire world. So even if were here, were still fighting alongside Kamijou Touma. Pulling out the data was a task for Tsuchimikado and Fran who were good with machines. Data like this would normally have been protected by strange encryption or even stored in a format different from any known programming language, but they were surprised to find plain text that anyone could read. Almost as if someone had prepared it there for them. Gh!? Fran-chan, wait! Dont look at that!! The hoodie bikini girl groaned and Tsuchimikado wrinkled his brow behind his sunglasses. This was the infection of an original grimoires toxin. Only one of them could fight that. Its not so much the foundational theories of Magick as it is a dictionary or correspondence chart of symbols and numbers. Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, the Golden cabal...no, this goes beyond that. The manuscript before Liber 777 was released into the world. Is it just scribbled out notes? The 7 stars of Olympus, a conversion between the Eastern I Ching and the Western 4 great elements, unique tarot cards, Egyptian gods, how to create symbolic weapons... Oh, I see. A virginal magic sword!! Yes, this should work. But who was it that had drawn out all that knowledge? Grimoire Library Index. But he would have known that she lived in Academy City and had entered the Windowless Building. Which meant... It wasnt Aleister, said Othinus. He does not care if he succeeds or fails. So he will cast the die for real. It isnt like him to intentionally self-destruct by showing off how to defeat him. Then who? The information at hand was not enough to find the answer, but there was one thing they could say. This too must have been something Aleister Crowley had not expected. And Othinus spoke calmly to Tsuchimikado as he dealt with the rainbow chain beasts that glowed like LED suits or mountain devilishness that drew out human karma. Hey, bloody Onmyouji. Youre up. ...Seriously? You dont hold back. Theres a girl right there who can use magic without any side effects. Youre trading roles. Fran can handle the chain beasts. Yes, don''t whine even if the coloration change will cause your magic to go out of control. If we fail, that sword made from a combination of multiple meanings will shatter and a life will be lost. Well, I should be able to fight just fine as long as I use spells that dont involve a coloration. The hoodie bikini girl and Tsuchimikado Motoharu stood back to back and then spun around. They changed which way they were facing as if they were passing each other in a revolving door. I have no reason to feel concern for any human besides my understander. The 15cm god sighed. It may not be logical. Or efficient. ...But dont give someone else the job of saving your family. Got that? Tch. The sunglasses boys shoulders relaxed. And he spoke. Fine then. Its time for Onii-chan to show off just how cool he is. Part 9 Holy Guardian Angel Aiwass had looked so perfect, but an impurity had clearly entered him. Something ran through him like static and his outline wavered unpredictably. A small triangular prism could be seen in the center of his head. Heh heh. But he seemed to be enjoying it. Something in this world could still harm him. That should have been a bad thing for him, but he seemed to celebrate it. So it ends in failure this time too. Honestly, the world looks so simple, but it is a surprisingly large place. Isnt that right, Aleister? That was as far as he got. Like an unreliable candle being blown out, the supposedly strongest Aiwass entirely vanished. At the same time, the Thoth Tarot, which was using the Black Cat Witchs appearance, lost her greatest power since she had been borrowing it from him. Too great an attraction can distort even the flow of ones life force. But that ends now. A bullet or even a fist can reach you now. And hadnt Mina Mathers said she only had to buy enough time for the conclusion to arrive? Go get him, innocent boy. So. The one who stepped forward in the very, very end was the kind of normal high school boy one could find anywhere. The human here had sworn he would strike back against god in the very, very beginning and he had even betrayed the magic he believed in and relied on, but now his lips clearly moved. I will wipe clean this false scenery covered by the countless colored glasses of the phases. Aleister Crowley had experienced failure countless times. Even if he faced a crisis, his stance would never change. I will destroy all of the phases and correct this world that manipulates people without their knowledge! This goes beyond Liliths death! I will remake this world which buries those tragedies by saying they cant be helped!! And to do that...to do that, I will...!!!!!! Did you never stop to think that all that formless stuff might sometimes protect peoples happiness? This may not have been something Kamijou Touma was meant to say. He was a resident of the science side and this city tended to interpret legends and religions from a scientific perspective, so this argument may have been out of place coming from him. But who was it that had placed the division between the magic side and science side? And what had he been trying to accomplish by dividing the world in two? That was obvious. Aleister Crowley had intentionally restricted peoples freedom of thought for his own ends. Without any of them noticing, he had set up the entire world to criticize the thing he hated. Academy Citys way of thinking was formed by the rules that Aleister had decided on, so Kamijou was not obligated to follow them. He needed to spread the wings of imagination further than that. The collisions between phases bring about both meetings and partings, right? It can also become a power that supports your back when you need it most, right? Cant you think of it as the thing that lets you regain your strength and stand back up that one last time!? Nonsense... Are you going to applaud the meaninglessly biased world for giving you bits of fortune that do not even amount to scraps? Even when you know there are some who are trampled underfoot by it!? Then!! Kamijou Touma had no idea what was right. So he asked a question of the person who believed he was 100% right. What if I said innocent Liliths soul arrived safely in heaven and shes smiling there now!! Are you going to trample on and unconditionally reject that belief!? There was a definite gasp. He had lost his absolute correctness. So Kamijou Touma continued while stepping forward. Tell me, rejecter of the mystical. What happened to Lilith afterwards!? Do you just plug in all the scientific equations and say she rotted below the dirt as a mass of protein thats life functions had stopped!? Declining times when you have nothing to rely on and an age of equal misfortune cant be easy. But is it equal and fair to tell a dying child to crawl back up on her own? Even if fortune and misfortune are being manipulated by an outside force, cant we fill that gap if everyone shares their good fortune with those in need!? Well!!!??? This was what the avenger had lacked. He could be cold-hearted. He did not need to have great courage. But if he had believed that the vanished life was smiling in heaven, he most likely would not have had to resort to revenge. He would not have had to destroy the Golden cabal. He would not have had to kill his former friends and teachers. ...He may have seen no reason for those dreadful acts and been forgiven at some point. Thats all make-believe. Perhaps, admitted Kamijou. My thoughts are not so narrow that they can be shaken by something so uncertain!! But I have to believe its true!! I have to believe that your daughter went to heaven!! I have to believe that its wrong if people arent rewarded in the afterlife if they didnt do anything bad!! I dont know what a soul is. I cant explain where exactly heaven is. But I have to believe that it exists and that it mustnt be taken away by someone on the outside! And that those of us left here have to treat those lives with respect!! This alone I cant let anyone deny. Aleister Crowley, even if youre her father, I wont let you deny this!! There was no more need for words. 32, 30, 10. Aleister formed a handgun with his right hand and Kamijou Toumas right hand deflected the imaginary bullet. Then the magicians lips uttered a spell: the Blasting Rod. But before its power could take effect, the Black Cat Witch lightly threw her palette knife. It stabbed into something in the empty air and a twisted silver staff fell to the invisible floor. Here we have someone who cast aside his own beliefs to show concern for Lilith while he stays true to himself using only his fist. So why is the father fleeing to petty tricks out of fear of the answer? Kamijou Touma finally arrived right in front of Aleister. But the Board Chairman was not out of ammunition yet. While it was limited to the magic he used, he could wield a power similar to the sparks or spray created from the colliding phases and he could direct it toward a target. This was the same sort of power that had driven his beloved daughter to her death. It was a contradictory hidden technique covered in the same sin as those he so hated. What did it feel like to have that as his only option for a final trump card? Aleister Crowley was constantly failing. That was already well established, but Kamijou could not help but sense the irony of fate here. And Kamijou Touma never did think about dodging. This was nothing as clean as a cross counter. Both of their attacks stabbed mercilessly into the others body. Kamijou Toumas ribs cried out in protest. The invisible attack that dug into his side worked at destroying his flesh. Meanwhile, his fist definitely buried itself in the Board Chairmans face. He could feel something small breaking in that face. Did it last an instant or an eternity? After a short silence, movement returned. Why...? First, a voice was heard. This magician supposedly knew everything there was to know about the world, yet he asked a simple question. It was so simple that it was hard to know what he meant by it. But Kamijou Touma gave his answer. Theres only one reason you lost: At some point, you stopped standing on the side that protected the sanctity of Liliths soul. That was all. Aleister Crowleys body crumbled straight down. Volume 18, Epilogue: Bursting Malice - Devil_in_Evil. Volume 18, Epilogue: Bursting Malice C Devil_in_Evil. It was all over. When Kamijou gasped for breath and looked around, he found he was no longer in outer space. He was in an artificial space full of crude machines which was large but felt cramped. And the Black Cat Witch smiled thinly beyond her veil. After a quiet bow, she too slowly vanished. The Windowless Building had been destroyed and its master had stepped down from the stage. Had she known this would happen? Touma!! He heard a voice from surprisingly close by. He looked over in surprise and saw Index there. What? Where were you all this time? Thats my line!! Honestly, why did you have to go so deep inside!? ???? Kamijou did not know what exactly had happened, but he was glad they were together again. As for Tsuchimikado... Aleister was...knocked out? I cant believe it. Youre pretty damn bloody, you know? I risked my life to save my sister. His tone made it clear that was not a joke. He pointed his thumb back over his shoulder to show Kamijou where the condensed shadow sword was no longer in Tsuchimikado Maikas flat chest. Kamijou looked back over at the collapsed magician. I hope this will rid him of whatever was possessing him, but he was an exceptional case since he assumed defeat and failure. Just to be sure, it might be a good idea to have you and Fran meet up with the Anglicans outside the city. To see whats going on here. The impregnable Windowless Building was in ruins. Kamijou saw a middle school girl wearing a bulky mass of steel fly by outside. At any rate, this was over for the time being. And so they decided to search for some kind of exit. But just before they could, a far too light sound filled that space. Where did it come from? Kamijou Touma, Index, Othinus, Tsuchimikado Motoharu, Karasuma Fran, and Tsuchimikado Maika all turned toward it. It came from the human named Aleister Crowley. He lay collapsed on his back, but a thick blade appeared far too suddenly and mercilessly pierced the left side of his chest. The grimoire library spoke the name of that deadly weapon. The Sword of Damocles...? Immediately, light exploded from the wound and gravity seemed to vanish for Kamijous group. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hmmm Now that everyone was gone, someone appeared as if to view the magician whose heart had been skewered. She had incredibly long blonde hair. She wore beige vestments. She was the Anglican Archbishop who had snuck in while disguised as part of the recovery team positioned outside the city to assist with Karasuma Frans covert mission. She was Lola Stuart. This sword cautions the powerful who lack resolve. Originally, the legend was recreated as a test of courage for royalty and nobility to prove their worth, but if you choose the right target, you end up with this. A decent plan for the sword meant to fall on you, dont you think? No, not everyone else was gone. The man who had supposedly lost his heart opened his eyes. What is the meaning of this? Checkmate, she simply said. You seem to be just barely staying conscious with the blood remaining in your veins, but as the blood flow to your brain stagnates, it will only take a few minutes for your thoughts to grow muddy and ultimately stop altogether. At this point, I doubt you can even refine your life force into magic power. Nor can you maintain a quasi-immortal state by distorting the circulation of your life force using the attraction of an extremely great being like Westcott did. ... No one knows who Academy Citys Board Chairman is. No one will notice if the individual closed up in the Windowless Building changes. I will make good use of what you have built up: the science side. Half of the world. Once I have that, the power balance with the Roman Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church will be decisively overturned. The magic side and the science side. And the magic side had its own internal power struggles. ...Just how ugly was the human world? That was all Aleister Crowley could think. This woman did not even know why he had split the world in two. He almost smiled at the fact that she was several steps behind a mere high school boy. But then the holy woman said something the magician did not expect. Hey, Aleister. Didnt you find it odd? Find...what odd? My name. My. Name. Aleister was unsure what she meant, so the woman wagged her slender finger. You can whine about your daughter all you want, but arent you being a tad coldhearted? Aleister, I know youre well aware you were far from the sort of moral man who would wed only the one wife throughout his life. You married multiple times and you also had mistresses. And so Lilith was not your only daughter. Hm? Well? Do you still not recognize my name??? It...cant be. You look like you cant figure out how you never remembered it before now. Now, one more thing. Its time for a review. You absolutely detested Mathers. Not only was he an excellent magician, but he also called himself a highlander and hoped to restore an old royal house. So much so that it troubled the other cabal members. Now. Then. Which royal house was that? ...The House of Stuart... No, it cant be, no!! Well, reflecting his desires when choosing a temporary name was more of a special service for him. You seem to have thought you summoned me at a later date, but I was actually already summoned before that. Only one thing came to mind here. Memories of the desert came flooding back. After discovering an abyss which could not be passed even when binding the tarot cards with a path, he had summoned a demon to cross that abyss, but he had realized his own failure and commanded it to leave. In a way, that name was as meaningful as Holy Guardian Angel Aiwasss and perhaps even more so. ...Coron...zon...? I was given just the one command from Mathers: Pretend I had been summoned by you, Aleister Crowley, and then guide you to ruin. I hid within a mountain of papyrus to travel from northern Africa to England and manipulated the powerful historical side of the nation more than the mystical side, but while I was granting peoples wishes for fun, I was bound by a contract. Aleister, he is often overshadowed by you, but Mathers was quite skilled. It laughed with a mocking tone. But did it really point to the woman before his eyes? And that command did not vanish even after his death, so here I am still obediently following it. Well, I failed to hijack your body, so I ended up choosing a different avatar. Her family name of Stuart was borrowed from the true summoners obsession. Then what about the first name? Where had that come from? Yes, yes. Poor Lola. The second daughter bound by the threads of fate to a failure of a madman. Damn you... The blonde hair bound behind her head was so long that it fell to her hips even when folded over. Once she undid the pure gold clasp, it spread out like a glowing carpet and wriggled behind Lolas back. The devil resides in womens hair. This seemed to follow that old witch tradition. A giant and sinister demonic face appeared in the golden waterfall like a tattoo covering her entire back. She wrapped her arms tightly around the bewitching body contained inside the beige vestments and her back shook profanely as she laughed in mockery. This was the face a father least wanted to see. It was also the face that a beloved daughter would least have wanted him to see. And as if to divulge it all... She normally insulted you constantly, but in the end she was tearfully pleading for you: Father! Father!! Help me, father!!!!!! Damn yooooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!! Reality showed no mercy. From the beginning, Aleister Crowleys wish would never be granted. Because he had condemned himself to that fate. A sticky sound rang out. The sound moved inside the stabbed magician and the being known as Coronzon had a new avatar. The hole in the chest did not vanish, but that was a convenient location. As long as no one touched it from above the clothing, no one would notice it was there. And he stayed holed up in his fortress anyway, so there was little chance of that happening. He remained on his back and his sprawled out silver hair began moving on its own. It was not visible because he was lying on top of it, but there was likely a demonic face in that hair. Heh heh. And. This time, there truly was no one else in this cold space, so the demon contained in a beautiful woman laughed. Heh heh heh!! Hah hah!! Hee hee!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Coronzon had her own objective. But for a while, she felt enough joy to forget even that. She simply could not help but savor the delight of having carved out a fathers dignity using the hand of his beloved daughter. (Now, Ive finally cut my ties to that piece of shit Mathers. I no longer need to keep my good deeds and bad deeds in tune. And just as I hoped, Aleister raised an interesting toy. It was worth waiting this long.) Lola Stuart had always been known as someone who kept her good deeds and bad deeds balanced as if to keep the scales level. But that restriction had only been to provide an explanation and to calm the waves when she took an action that seemed out of character. But now that she had fulfilled her contract with Mathers, that restriction was gone. And a summoned being would not just disappear on its own. They would only leave once the spell user took responsibility and exorcised them. At that moment, a communication spell chirped and a voice reached Lolas ears from a remote location. Archbishop, its an emergency!! The giant face disappeared into the golden waterfall on her back and its roaring ceased. The beautiful leader picked up the gold hair accessory from the floor and almost seemed to be humming as she asked a question. What kind of emergency? After today, I wouldnt even be surprised to hear London had fallen. She made a joke on a whim. But the very next moment... You knew!? Word really does reach you fast!! ...Huh? A largescale attack is underway in Canada, Australia, and the other British Commonwealth nations! Britain itself has taken some damage. The knights are currently holding it back, but the outskirts of London have already fallen!! They say if the enemy constructs a base here, it could become a long-term battle!! W-wait, what, hold on! What exactly is happening over here!? I repeat: simultaneous largescale attacks are underway in the British Commonwe- bgyuh!? The transmission ended. No, someone else began speaking over the communication spell. ...Do you still not understand? It was an impossible voice. But Lola Stuart did not look toward the communication spell or toward the empty shell of an avatar pinned to the floor. She looked in a different direction. Someone stood where no one had been before. Her long, long blonde hair began to wickedly writhe once more. ...The Thoth Tarot? A grimoire that borrows peoples forms? Is that what you think, or what you hope? There was not just one person there. There was a man. There was a woman. There was an adult. There was a child. There was a saint. There was a sinner. Aleisters generic appearance had left those who saw him with a variety of impressions, but this very strange scene looked like each of those different faces had been isolated and brought to life. My soul shined with many colors. What was this? Lola Stuarts cheeks twitched as she made some guesses. That is because I had always sealed many different possibilities within my single body. But once I released multiple versions of myself into the world, it became apparent they would only clash and I could not expect them to work together. That is why I had to bind myself and contain every version of myself to a single coordinate. So as usual, I did not think it through and regretted my actions. The group spoke. Although when I punished Fiamma of the Right and other such times, a momentarily branched-off alternative version of myself would have been observable. I appear in an instant and disappear in an instant. And not through the use of teleportation. Yes, did you never think it could be explained using the obsolete concept of faxing? Wait a second. You mean...? This was bound to happen from the moment I left the life support device to resolve the Karasuma Fran and Kihara Yuiitsu problems. Even if Kamijou Touma and Lola Stuart had not appeared, I would have branched out almost endlessly. This will create every version of me born from the various ifs. Smiles surrounded her. And they undoubtedly belonged to the human named Aleister Crowley. If the number calculated out by the former Tree Diagram and proven by the Reading Thoth 78 is accurate, the number of options available to me and the number of branches to which those would lead are 1,083,092,867. In other words, that many Aleister Crowleys exist as those many possibilities. You have witnessed that moment. Yes, no matter what you do now, you have only witnessed it. As if you are watching fireworks being launched from this single spot. ... Now, now. How many times does it have to be said? Aleister Crowley does not care if he succeeds or fails. If I succeed, thats wonderful. If I fail, I use that to continue forward. That is the plan based on my Thelema. So why did you relax just because you had won? It is true I did not arrive at the truth of Lola and Coronzon. You can even say I failed from the moment I had to once more dirty my hands with that loathsome magic. But did you really think you could change the trend I had created just because I did not know the answer and you outwitted me??? .......................................................................................................................................................................................!? A wet sound burst out. But even though one of him was crushed and killed, the writhing whole declared war all the same. My plan has failed again. I will give you the alternatively-shaped temple known as Academy City. My plan has failed again. I will give you the alternatively-shaped temple known as Academy City. My plan has failed again. I will give you the alternatively-shaped temple known as Academy City. He said it far too readily. And he overturned everything. And instead, I believe I will take your toy: all of the nations belonging to the British Commonwealth...including the United Kingdom itself. And instead, I believe I will take your toy: all of the nations belonging to the British Commonwealth...including the United Kingdom itself. And instead, I believe I will take your toy: all of the nations belonging to the British Commonwealth...including the United Kingdom itself. Kamijou Touma was thrown out into the empty air. It took him a while to realize he had been tossed out through the damaged portion of the Windowless Buildings wall. Even after he began to fall, he did not immediately slam into the ground. Mikoto was flying through the air in the A.A.A. and collecting a few people from the air. But she could not arrive in time for the very last one: Kamijou. He did not even have time to scream. But his life was not crushed and lost. Even though Mikotos hand did not reach him, something did suddenly interrupt his fall. Gweh!? He felt intense resistance in his neck. Only a little later did he realize the tip of some kind of stick had caught on the back of his collar at several dozen meters above the ground. He heard a voice like a small bell. Do not swing your right hand at random. Destroy the broom now and I will have trouble ensuring either of our lives. ...Wha-? The voice was not at all similar. This one definitely belonged to a girl of middle or high school age. The citys core functions have been taken, but your Imagine Breaker and the #1 Accelerator are needed to contact Aiwasss core. We will also receive backup from Aneri, the version of the Reading Thoth 78, aka Mina Mathers, which I had spread throughout the city after lowering it to a consumer level. Lola...no, Coronzon seems to think she has reached checkmate, but there are plenty of holes in her encirclement. However, a completely different name appeared in the back of Kamijou Toumas mind. Yes, the name of that magician. Allow me to introduce myself again. The girl smiled. And that nemesis spoke like they were old acquaintances. I am Aleister Crowley. Or, one of his many possibilities. Volume 18, Afterword Volume 18, Afterword If youve been buying one volume at a time, welcome back. If you bought them all at once, welcome. This is Kamachi Kazuma. This will be the 18th volume since New Testament began. After biding his time, its Aleister Crowleys time to shine. But instead of the straightforward power of a Magic God, I focused on the strength he had built up as a human. After all, hes the leader of Academy City, so of course hell have some largescale gimmicks and I wanted to build up the one large stage that has been present throughout the series. Crowley is treated very differently depending on the book you are reading and some of them highlighted the more mischievous (can you really call it that?) stories introduced in this novel. People having a variety of facets depending on what part of them you look at is an important pillar of thought in this series, but I think Crowley is the greatest example of that. Whether he succeeds or fails, the result is always pointed in a single direction. Without letting his surface emotions get the better of him, he is always looking to his Thelema, the will hidden deep in his soul. Simply put, whether he wins or loses, his emotions remain unmoved and he continues calmly toward his goal at the exact same speed. That makes him a truly cruel enemy for a battle series and I also wanted to show the strength that symbolizes his life of setbacks. But what did you think? ...The Battle of Blythe Road that appeared in this book was an internal conflict in which the leaders of the worlds largest magic cabal fought for supremacy in the foggy city of London. It sounds full of romance when you look at that explanation, but the actual events and result were apparently a complete mess, so I changed things a bit to push it more toward the fictional side. (Not to mention that the real magic they used was not the kind that let them shoot fire or fly around on a broom.) I thought it would be best to shift the timeline and make the daughter the cause. If youre interested, it might be fun to look into the details for yourself, but I will say you might feel disillusioned after learning about that struggle for power. I give my thanks to my illustrator Haimura-san, to my editors Miki-san and Anan-san, and to Itou Tateki who I had work hard creating the overall image of the stage this time. With the stage and the enemies, I think there were a lot of fairly amorphous things in this one. That must have been extremely difficult to illustrate. Thank you for sticking with me. And I give my thanks to the readers. In a way, this volume returned to the basics and I tried to give it a structure that summed everything up with a battle in the end. I hope you enjoyed it. As reference material for the magic in this volume, Magick in Theory and Practice (by Aleister Crowley, translated by Shima Hiroyuki, Uematsu Yasuo, and Eguchi Koretaka) and Liber 777 (by Aleister Crowley, translated by Eguchi Koretaka) were very useful. Thank you for the excellent reference material. It is time to close the pages for now while praying that the pages of the next book will be opened. And I lay my pen down for now. Ive taken a liking to the double high-class ladies. Combining is the romance of men. Learn to appreciate it. -Kamachi Kazuma