"I don't care what she is!"
Mikoto Misaka cut her off.
"All I see is a girl who's been attacked, someone you people have hurteven tried to kill!"
At those words, Kanzaki Kaori's expression flickered with turmoil. The hand gripping her sword trembled slightly.
"We're trying to protect her."
"By killing her?" Mikoto let out a cold snort. "Touching way to protect someone."
Just then, police whistles sounded in the distance.
Realizing that the "Bystander Dispersal" effect had worn off and that attention was gathering, Kanzaki turned toward the source of the sound, then back to the three girls.
"This isn't over," she said in a low voice. "You've been caught up in a conflict far beyond your understanding."
Before her voice even faded, she vanished into the darkness, leaving only a few drifting leaves behind.
Stiyl took one last look at them and limped away.
Mikoto exhaled heavily, her legs nearly giving out. Kuroko quickly supported her.
"Onee-sama! Are you alright?"
"Just a bit drained."
Mikoto forced a smile. "That woman's speed was not human."
Misaki Shokuhou walked over, her face still pale.
"Who in the world did you provoke? My ability was completely ineffective on her."
"They'remagicians," Mikoto said, her voice low.
"Magicians?"
Both Kuroko and Shokuhou were momentarily at a loss. Their first reaction was disbeliefno way such a thing could exist. But nothing about Kanzaki Kaori's immense power fit any known science-side esper abilities.
Kuroko frowned.
"We should report to Judgment and Anti-Skill."
"No," Mikoto shook her head.
"It's not that simple."
She looked at Kuroko.
"Let's take that girl with us."
"Right!"
Kuroko teleported away and returned, cradling the unconscious nun.
Shokuhou Misaki narrowed her eyes.
"That's the girl who dragged you into this weird mess?"
"Mm," Mikoto nodded. "She was being hunted by that red-haired magician named Stiyl. Of course we had to help her."
"You"
Misaki began but trailed off, exasperated by Mikoto's righteous streak. At last, she sighed.
"Figures I'd end up cleaning up after you. Fine, let's get out of here."
Inside the Windowless Building
Aleister watched on the floating screens as the three girls dashed toward an abandoned research facility. His inscrutable gaze caught a faint glimmer.
[They'll die in the coming events,] Aiwass said bluntly.
[Facing a Saint from the magic side, even two Level 5s have no chance.]
"Death is data as well," Aleister said calmly.
"But I believe Misaka Mikoto will deliver some surprises."
[Crowley, what exactly are you hoping for?]
Aiwass asked.
Aleister was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly,
"When science reaches its zenith, and magic touches its sourceif the two should meet, the sparks might illuminate the path we've sought."
On the screens, Mikoto Misaka pushed open a rusty door, her figure resolute beneath the moonlight. A subtle, almost imperceptible smile curved Aleister's lips.
"Let's see what sort of 'miracle' the Railgun can create."
3:27 a.m.
Moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling window onto the rumpled sheets.
Yukinoshita Yukino lay with her face buried against Rei Ao's shoulder, her slender fingers tracing vague circles on his bare chest. A faint blush still lingered on her pale skin, her jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall over Rei Ao's arm.
"You're too much!"
Yukino's voice was a soft rasp. She lifted her head slightly, her obsidian eyes glistening with unshed tears as she glared at Rei Ao.
"Too much!"
Rei Ao chuckled in a low voice, twisting a lock of her hair around his finger. Under the moonlight, his features looked especially cool and sharp, with a stoic edge to his jawlineyet his eyes held an unusual warmth.
"Weren't you the one who wouldn't let me leave?"
He lowered his voice on purpose, his lips nearly brushing her earlobe.
"Yukinoshita, your acting could use a little work."
"You!"
Yukino's ears went bright red. She tried to thump his chest in anger, but her body was so drained that it looked more like a playful tap.
"Don't say that!"
"Mn enough mmm"
A soft, incoherent mumble came from the other side of the bed, drawing both their attention.
They turned to see Mabel curled in the messy sheets. Usually brimming with energy, she now slept like a small, curled-up kitten, although her brow was creased as if her dreams were troubled.
Yukino's expression turned even more forlorn. She reached out gently to smooth Mabel's furrowed brow and murmured, "Look what you did"
She couldn't help recalling that moment; she'd truly feared Mabel might die. And dying that way would be humiliating, wouldn't it?
"How is that my fault?"
Rei Ao shrugged helplessly. His gaze lingered on the marks on Mabel's exposed shoulder.
"Shouldn't you blame yourself, Yukino? After all, Mabel took everything on for youI remember it very clearly, she"
"Shut up!"
Yukino clapped a hand over Rei Ao's mouth, her cheeks burning.
"Don't you dare say that again"
She couldn't stand recalling those messy imagestoo many intense memories.
Just then, a special notification chimed in Rei Ao's mind. At once, his expression grew serious, the warmth in his eyes replaced by alertness.
"What is it?"
Sensing his shift, Yukino sat up at once, banishing her embarrassment.
"A distress call in the chat group."
Rei Ao gently pried Yukino's hand away. A flicker of blue light passed through his pupils. A translucent screen spread out before them both, and he and Yukino shared the view. Yukino immediately pulled on a robe from the side of the bed. She understood how important the chat group notifications were.
"It's Mikoto," Rei Ao said.
~~~
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Chapter 675: Walking Church, Index, etc...
Mikoto Misaka: "@Rei Ao, are you there?"
Rei Ao: "Mm, what's the matter that you're looking for me so late at night?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Sigh, it's because I ran into some trouble not long ago."
Akame: "Trouble?"
Mikoto Misaka: "I ran into the kind of magician from the magic sidethe ones Rei Ao mentioned before."
Frieren: "Oh dear, so you ended up on bad terms with these magicians?"
Mikoto Misaka: "You could say that, yeah."
Rei Ao narrowed his eyes. The fact that Mikoto was dealing with magicians definitely wasn't a simple matter.
Rei Ao: "Could you describe in detail what happened?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Sure."
Mikoto then explained how she acted to stop the Level 6 Shift plan by destroying a research facility, and also what happened just recently, sharing all the information.
Mikoto Misaka: "That's basically it. Kuroko and I rescued a girl in nun's clothing, and we had a fight with two magicians who popped up out of nowhere."
Thru: "Hmph, a magician vs. an esper?"
Inori: "Mikoto-san, are you hurt at all?"
Mikoto Misaka: "I'm fine."
Mikoto Misaka: "Their style of attack was so weird, but they suddenly left. The bigger issue now is this nun we saved."
A nun being chased by a male and female magician Rei Ao's eyebrows rose slightlyhe seemed to know who that might be.
"What's wrong? Did Mikoto say something suspicious?"
Yukinoshita noticed Rei Ao's odd expression.
"Yeah, it's a big problem from her perspective,"
Rei Ao responded, his gaze turning pensive. He gently pulled away the covers and stood up. Yukinoshita immediately offered him a black bathrobe, and as he tied the belt, he walked to the window. The moonlight outlined his tall, slender figure.
The fact that Mikoto saved Index was already a huge problem. He knew all about Aleister's goalsIndex, Mikoto, and the others were just pawns in his grand design. Normally, the "Imagine Breaker" user Kamijou Touma should have been the one to meet Index. But now, it was Mikoto who ended up saving Index. Rei Ao couldn't believe Aleister wasn't pulling the strings here.
Mikoto Misaka: "@Rei Ao, I want to know more about these magicians. From what they said before leaving, I doubt they'll just give up."
Rei Ao: "You're right; they'll definitely come back."
Mikoto Misaka: "!!!!"
Frieren: "They go this far just to hunt down that one girl? Seems like it's not so simple."
Bibi Dong: "I agree."
Rei Ao: "Because that girl is an important companion of theirs."
Akame: "Huh?"
Frieren: "Huh??"
Bibi Dong: "Wait, I'm a bit confused."
Thru: "Ehhh, I'm also fuzzy on this. Are you saying that nun they're hunting is actually an important comrade of those magicians?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Come on, I'm not stupid."
Rei Ao: "Heh, I've got no reason to lie to you."
Rei Ao: "Go take a look. That girl shouldn't have any real injuries on her."
Mikoto's eyes narrowed. Suddenly, she got up and walked over to the sleeping nun on the sofa, starting to undo her habit.
Seeing this, both Kuroko and Shokuhou Misaki were taken aback. Shokuhou immediately wore a look of disgust, as though she'd guessed Mikoto's intent.
"Hey, are you seriously being a pervert right now?"
"P-pervert?!"
Kuroko looked like she'd been struck by lightning, wearing a tragic expression.
"Ugh, Onee-sama, you already have meah~"
"Shut up!"
Mikoto snapped.
"I'm just checking to see if she's hurt anywhere."
She quickly examined the girl from front to backand discovered not a single wound.
"What is it?"
Kuroko and Shokuhou both picked up on Mikoto's changed expression and looked serious.
"She doesn't have any injuries. But she looks so helplesshow did she escape from those two powerful magicians?"
Kuroko and Shokuhou exchanged baffled looks, realizing something was off. But Shokuhou was more curious about a different matter.
"Hey, about those magicianswhat the hell is that supposed to mean? Feels like you're hiding something from me!"
"I'll tell you later."
Mikoto didn't rush to explain. She reopened the chat.
Mikoto Misaka: "@Rei Ao, I didn't find any injuries on her. But I have no clue how she escaped from those ridiculously strong magicians."
Rei Ao: "Her nun's habit is called the 'Walking Church.'"
Rei Ao then explained its function:
Index's Walking Church is a magical item (a "magical ecclesiastical outfit") that's extremely symbolic and practical. It's designed with religious symbolism plus powerful defensive capabilities.
Essentially, it's the result of referencing the spells of St. George's Cathedral in London, compressing all of the church's protective spells into a single garmentlike a mobile sacred sanctuary. It can fully defend against physical attacks (bullets, explosions) and magical attacks (including high-level magic), and reportedly even withstand nuclear-level strikes.
Its protective power comes from the religious concept that "the authority of the church is inviolable." Breaking it requires special conditions (e.g., unweaving the St. George's Cathedral barrier).
Frieren: "Wow, there's something that amazing?"
Akame: "If it's that powerful, it would indeed protect her from harm."
Mikoto Misaka: "That's?"
Even Mikoto was staring in a daze at the nun's habit on Index.
Mikoto Misaka: "But what does that have to do with the two people chasing her?"
She still couldn't connect the idea of them being her "comrades."
Bibi Dong: "I think Rei Ao's point is that those two magicians know about this magical outfit. So they were confident that even if their attacks looked brutal, they wouldn't actually harm her."
Mikoto Misaka: " "
It did sort of make sense.
Mikoto Misaka: "Butwhy would they do that?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "That's what I want to know, too."
Rei Ao: "Ah, it has to do with Index's identity, as well as how these magicians 'think.'"
He then gave a brief explanation of the situation.
~~~
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Chapter 676: If I must die under a peony, Ill still be charming as a ghost
First off, Index can be called the "Index Librorum ProhibiTohrum of magic."
Because she has a perfect memory, Index's brain holds the contents of 103,000 grimoires, encompassing forbidden knowledge of religion, mythology, and secret arts from around the world.
Normally, these grimoires can cause severe mental contaminationany ordinary person who reads them either goes insane or dies. But as a "container," Index can carry all of this knowledge safely. Consequently, in the eyes of the magic side, she's of immeasurable value.
As for Kanzaki Kaori and Stiyl: while Index was imprisoned by the Anglican Church and had her memories regularly erased, the two of them served as her watchers and protectors. Because Index's memories are wiped annually, they had to re-establish their relationship with her over and over againnaturally developing a kind of "family-like" bond with her.
At this point, some people felt something wasn't right.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Wait a secondfamily, but you're talking about memory erasure? That's a bizarre mix of terms."
Bibi Dong: "I agree, it's confusing."
Tohru: "Tch, sounds fishy to me, probably another one of those human schemes."
Rei Ao: "Tohru's actually got it right."
Rei Ao: "Basically, that big boss of the Anglican Church claimed Index's perfect memory could only safely store 103,000 grimoires. Adding everyday memories on top of that would cause her brain to 'overflow,' leading to self-destruction."
Rei Ao: "Also, they emphasized that the grimoire knowledge itself carried 'mental contamination.'"
Rei Ao: "If Index were to retain her personal memories, she might end up truly grasping all that content, go berserk, and threaten the entire world."
Rei Ao: "So they packaged memory erasure as a 'necessary maintenance,' like 'formatting' a computer, to keep her stable."
Akame: "Um I don't get it."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "????"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "The idea that her brain is overloaded with memory does that even make sense? What about subconscious memory?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Ha? That's obviously nonsense, right?"
Rei Ao: "Haha, yeah. It's obviously fake to you guys, but from the perspective of these magic-using folks who lack a decent 'scientific education,' they fully believe it."
Rei Ao: "The Anglican Church just wants Index to remain an unknowing tool, so they made up a flimsy lie."
