Akame: "Probably because of the human experimentation thing."
Mikoto Misaka: "Yeah, I can't get it out of my mind."
Mikoto Misaka: "Shinoa, do you think the Seraph of the End experiment is still happening at all?"
Shinoa: "Oh, that. I can tell you for sure there won't be any more human experimentation. Plus, the Seraph of the End horn no longer exists."
Mikoto Misaka: "That's great!"
Shiba Miyuki: "That is wonderful news. Mikoto must feel more at ease now."
Mikoto Misaka: "Yes, I am."
While she was happy for Shinoa's world, she couldn't help feeling a bit disheartened about her own fate.
After teaming up with Misaki Shokuhou, Mikoto had finally accessed the research facility where the Misaka Sisters were being held and had destroyed that place, rescuing one of her sisters.
It should've been a good thing, but Mikoto couldn't find much joy in it. Because during the process, she saw how deranged those researchers really were. They didn't see lives as preciousnothing but test subjects, tools for their twisted experiments.
Even when she threatened them with her power, all she saw in their eyes was a terrifying, single-minded obsession. They were mad scientists, no doubt about iteveryone involved in "Project Sisters" was insane.
Saeko Busujima: "But I'm curious, Shinoahow exactly did you resolve the fundamental conflict between humans and vampires?"
Shinoa: "Ha, we used a pretty simple method."
Shinoa: "Just like Rei Ao said, we changed the very nature of how vampires exist."
Kasuga Hijiri: "!!! You really did it?"
Sui: "Wait, you turned all the vampires into humans?"
Shinoa: "That was my original plan, but Krul didn't agree. She chose to alter the rules so that vampires no longer need human blood, nor can they feed on humans at all."
Shinoa: "As for the psychos and schemers Mikoto was worried about, we took care of them."
Miko Yotsuya: "Uh, 'took care of'"
Megumi Kato: "I'm guessing that means you got rid of them."
Shinoa: "More or less."
Shinoa: "Anyway, we'll keep making direct decisions here to guide the world in the right direction."
Stella: "That's a huge job. Not like in our worlds, where even if we're gods, life's pretty easy, haha."
Sakurajima Mai: "Yeah, our worlds don't really need us to manage them."
Mikoto Misaka: "And Rei Ao, who caused all this big change, doesn't seem to be checking in at all."
Tohru: "Well, Rei Ao-kun's busy."
Mikoto Misaka: "Busy doing what?"
Tohru: "Messing around with Yukino and Mabel in the next room."
Mikoto Misaka: "?????"
Fubuki: "Strangely, I'm not surprised."
Bibi Dong: "Because it's Rei Ao."
Ai Hayasaka: ""
Stella: "Forget him. Let's talk about something funany good news from you guys lately?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Not really. Just worries, but never mind."
Saeko Busujima: "Nothing on our end either. Now that the undead have disappeared, the world is back on track. Saya and I have been leading quite a peaceful life."
Miko Yotsuya: "So jealousI still have to go to school every day."
Frieren: "Didn't you already get godhood status, Miko? You still go to school?"
Miko Yotsuya: "Well, it feels like something would be missing if I didn't go. I've got all the time in the world now, hehe."
Sui: "Being a deity means immortal life, which is amazing. But the difference in lifespans with your classmates can be hard to adjust toah, the troubles of long-lived races."
Sui: "But if your friends and family also have extended lifespans, it's no problem."
Miko Yotsuya: "Right Wait!"
Miko Yotsuya: "My mom!"
Mai Sakurajima: "What about your mother?"
Miko Yotsuya: "Um, my mom doesn't have a long lifespan yet. Should I talk to Rei Ao about it or?"
Thru: "What's the big deal? Why do you need Rei Ao for that? You're a god yourself, aren't you? Giving your mom a long life should be easy."
Miko Yotsuya: "Uh right, guess so."
Bibi Dong: "Looks like you still aren't fully used to being a goddess, Miko."
Miko Yotsuya: "Cough, guess not. I don't really use my powers every day, so my life isn't that different from beforeapart from having no evil spirits. I just don't feel much different, you know?"
Megumi Kato: "That's a pretty nice, peaceful way to live."
~~~
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Chapter 668: When Taking Risk is the only Safe Option...
In a pristine white neighboring realm
Yatogami Tohka was hovering within a pure white dimension. Around her, countless crystal fragments floated, reflecting an illusory glow.
Here, there was no concept of time, no sign of lifejust a silent, everlasting void.
She was curled up, purple hair cascading like a waterfall, covering half her face.
"A peaceful life"
Tohka murmured, her soft voice quickly swallowed by the emptiness. She raised her hand, summoning a semi-transparent screen in front of hera light interface from the chat group.
This chat window, displaying messages from various worlds, was her only way to communicate with the outside and the sole thread keeping her mind conscious and intact.
She scanned through all the conversations, her violet eyes especially stirred by Megumi Kato's remark about "a peaceful life."
"Peaceful"
Tohka repeated that word, absentmindedly tracing her fingers across the screen as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.
As a sealed Spirit, she existed in a crack between this adjacent dimension and the real world. Whenever a Spirit's powers manifested in the real world, it caused a "spacequake" with catastrophic consequences. Tohka didn't want to hurt anyone. Yet she was increasingly tormented by the loneliness of being trapped here in nothingness.
Especially after the chat group's appearance gave her a glimmer of awareness and a fleeting taste of freedomhaving briefly felt what it was like to "live," she now found this isolation almost unbearable.
"I really want to see the outside world"
Burying her face in her knees, Tohka's voice trembled. She longed for the bustling streets, the laughter of people, the warm sunlightall of which were forever out of reach in this empty space. But any urge to appear in the real world was crushed by the fear she might hurt someone.
"If I showed myself, would people get hurt"
She lifted her head, eyes flickering with inner conflict.
"Still I'm so lonely"
At that moment, a figure popped into her mindRei Ao. Though they'd only met a few times, Tohka felt a strange sense of trust toward him.
"If it were Rei Ao-kun"
A slight blush crossed her cheeks, and her fingers unconsciously tangled together.
"Would he understand how I feel? Would hehelp me?"
Once that thought took root, it grew like a seed in her heart. She found herself daydreaming about what would happen if Rei Ao came to her world. Would he take her by the hand and lead her out of this barren realm? Would he protect her from human hostility? Would hebe someone she could rely on?
"What am I even thinking"
Tohka quickly shook her head, trying to banish these embarrassing notions. Yet the tiny spark of hope refused to fade.
Meanwhile, in another world
Couronne sat on a large rock at the edge of a human village, gazing at the distant sky darkened by past wars, the dust and smoke slowly dissipating.
"A peaceful life"
She repeated the phrase from the chat group and clenched the rough surface of the rock with her fingers. In this world of sixteen races, humans were the weakestno magic, no special abilities, and mere survival was an everyday struggle. At any moment, conflicts among other races could spill over, forcing humans to flee once again.
Humans lived in constant fear and uncertainty.
"A peaceful life feels like a luxury we'll never afford," Couronne whispered, a hint of frustration glinting in her beautiful eyes.
She watched the villagers go about their day. Kids played in the dirt, women prepared meager meals, men stood guard, ever alert. This was the entire human racefragile yet stubbornly clinging to life.
"Couronne."
A familiar voice broke her train of thought. She turned to see her younger brother Riku approaching. Though still young, he bore the heavy responsibility of being the village leader. His short silver hair fluttered in the wind, red eyes filled with concern.
"You've been pretty distracted lately. Is something wrong?"
His tone was calm, but tinged with worry.
Couronne quickly closed her chat group screen, forcing a small smile.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking."
Riku studied her face for a moment, then sighed softly.
"You've never been good at lying."
Her shoulders slumped, but still, she couldn't reveal the existence of a "cross-world chat group." It was too bizarreand might burden Riku unnecessarily.
"Really, there's nothing. Maybe I'm just tired."
She tried to change the subject.
"How's the village holding up?"
Riku knew she was avoiding the question but didn't press. He simply answered, "Same as always. But the demon race seems restless."
A chill ran through Couronne. Even the slightest move by any other race could spell disaster for humansmaybe force them to abandon the settlement they'd struggled so hard to build. Humans were like leaves in the wind, never able to settle safely.
"Riku"
Couronne spoke up softly, almost inaudible.
"If there was an opportunity to save Imanityone that might carry unknown riskswhat would you do?"
Riku's body visibly tensed. He stared at her for a few seconds.
"I'd take that chance," he said, voice deep and resolute.
"Because we can't afford not to."
With that, he turned and left, leaving Couronne alone on the rock with swirling emotions.
"Take the chance"
She repeated under her breath, gazing again at the smoke-shrouded horizon. Her thoughts wandered back to the other members in the chat groupthose powerful beings from different worldsand to Rei Ao, the man they mentioned who had just helped save an entire world.
If if she asked him for help, could he really change Imanity's fate? Would the price be just her? She'd never cared about paying that price herselfher only fear was that it might all be in vain.
Couronne's heart wrestled with itself as never before: she yearned to change her people's future, but she feared the unknown. Riku's words resonated: in a hopeless situation, perhaps taking a risk was the only real choice.
Chapter 669: Then... Who am I, really? Toyohama Nodoka's Confusion...
At Rei Ao's place
A very tired Toyohama Nodoka pushed the door open.
"I'm back"
She dragged her exhausted body over to the sofa, buried her face in a cushion, and let out a long sigh.
"Why're you home so late?"
A familiar voice came from the kitchenher own voice, to be exact. Or more precisely, Mai Sakurajima, currently occupying Nodoka's original body.
Nodoka forced her head up to see "herself" walking over with a cup of warm milk in hand.
This bizarre situation had been going on for several days now, but she still hadn't gotten used to seeing her own face wearing that calm, mature expression.
Mai's sharp gaze fell on her. She was worried that Nodokawho was using Mai's bodyhad come back so late. After all, it was technically Mai's body.
"Sorry"
Nodoka rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.
"II just went back to my place by habit, then hurried back here."
It was just a reflex; she hadn't yet adjusted to living in Mai's body. Seeing that Nodoka's flustered look wasn't feigned, Mai let it slide.
"It's really late. I guess you'll just have to have this."
Mai set the milk on the table and sat across from her.
"So, how was today?"
Nodoka didn't answer right away. She slowly sat up, picked up the warm milk, and took a small sip. The gentle warmth sliding down her throat eased some of the tension that had built up all day.
"Tiring"
In the end, she could only muster that single word, heavy with exhaustion. Mai simply watched her quietly, not pressing for details. Her composed demeanor made Nodoka feel both envious and a little frustrated. How can this person remain so calm, no matter which body she's in?
"You know"
Nodoka set her cup down, her voice low.
"Today at school, the teachers asked me for help againand then some younger students were crowding around me, going, 'Mai-senpai this, Mai-senpai that' bombarding me with questions."
"I had no idea how to answer, but I couldn't say no either."
Her fingertips tapped nervously against the cup, producing a soft tink-tink sound. "All I wanted was some time alone."
All of this was because of Mai'sfame.
Mai nodded gently. She was used to this, though she usually had ways to avoid being noticed when necessary.
"Weren't you always saying how you envied my fame and lifestyle?"
Her words hit Nodoka like a needle. Indeed, before swapping bodies, she had envied Mai's popularity countless times. She herself had barely any name recognitionpractically no one knew Toyohama Nodoka. Even at school, she was just an ordinary student.
"That'snot the same!"
Nodoka suddenly raised her voice.
"I thoughtit'd be amazing to be liked by everyone."
"But in reality"
Her voice dropped again, subdued.
"They're all just looking at 'Mai Sakurajima.' Not me."
A moment of silence fell over the room. Nodoka slumped, hanging her head. She knew full well that this fame wasn't hersit was Mai's. It left her constantly wanting to run away.
"Well then"
Mai finally spoke, her voice almost unnaturally calm.
"Do you want to switch back now?"
"?"
Nodoka froze, her eyes wide. Switch back? Go back to being the old Toyohama Nodoka, living under her mom's strict demands, training every night, never feeling good enough? Her silence was practically an answer in itself.
Mai raised an eyebrow.
"So you'd rather keep living as the 'fake Mai Sakurajima'?"
"It's not like that!"
Nodoka denied it hastily.
" "
But she had no idea how to explain.
"I"
She ruffled her hair in frustrationbeautiful, chestnut-brown hair that belonged to Mai, now a tangled mess in her hands.
"It's justmy mom"
But the words wouldn't come out. How was she supposed to tell anyone that her own mother's love came with so many conditionsthat she only ever got a crumb of recognition if she performed perfectly, like the 'star' Toyohama Nodoka?
Seeing her expression, Mai's features softened.
"Nodoka, you know we'll have to switch back eventually, right?"
