Tohru: "I knew itanother human conspiracy!"
Mikoto Misaka: ""
At the moment, Mikoto wore an expression like she'd bitten into a bitter chocolate. It's mind-boggling that anyone could believe such a bogus claimutterly irrational! And apparently, the other side even has a 'Saint' or something. Her eyes suddenly narrowed, staring fixedly at the chat.
Rei Ao: "Listen, Mikoto."
Rei Ao: "You might already be wrapped up in something huge."
Mikoto Misaka: "Something huge?"
Rei Ao: "A war between the science side and the magic side."
Rei Ao: "From what I explained, you should see that Index is invaluable to the magic side."
At that, the chat erupted in discussion.
Frieren: "Wait, this setup sounds bad."
Erica: "That means two major factions may go to war over her."
Erica understood too well how battles between different forces begin. She'd just heard about a brewing conflict between the Bronze Black Cross and her own Crimson Black Cross.
Inori Yuzuriha: "Sounds troublesome"
Mikoto's face turned pale.
"So the higher-ups of Academy City know about this?"
Rei Ao: "They're not just aware of it."
Rei Ao let out a cold laugh.
"I'd bet all of this is part of Academy City Director Aleister's calculations."
Rei Ao: "That upside-down guy in the life-support machine is probably waiting for the magic side to step foot in Academy City."
Yukino walked over to Rei Ao, asking quietly, "Is it dangerous?"
She recalled him mentioning Aleister beforea powerful manipulator behind the scenes. Rei Ao didn't answer her directly but continued talking to Mikoto.
Rei Ao: "You have two choices now."
Rei Ao: "First: stop meddling in this."
Mikoto Misaka: "I'm not letting her go to those shady people!"
She refused without hesitation. Rei Ao smiled at the response.
Rei Ao: "I knew you'd say that, Mikotoexactly why I admire you."
Inori Yuzuriha: "Hehe, how cool."
Frieren: "Haha, definitely an admirable trait."
Suddenly embarrassed by the praise, Mikoto's cheeks flushed.
"Ah, shut it! Just tell me the second choice."
Rei Ao: "Second: let me handle it."
Tohru: "I get itthis is a trade, right?"
Mikoto's face stiffened a bit. She instinctively imagined something pervy. Her first reaction? Absolute mortification.
But remembering the scale of this problem, she realized she and Kuroko and the others might be in way over their headspotentially dragging them into deep trouble. Mikoto's lips trembled.
Mikoto Misaka: "Are you sure you want to get involved? You said it's dangerousthis could put you at risk too."
A faint, nearly imperceptible smile curved Rei Ao's lips.
Rei Ao: "Looks like my sweet Mikoto is starting to worry about me."
Mikoto Misaka: "Shut up!!!"
Rei Ao: "Haha, okay, okay."
Rei Ao: "If it was before, I might've hesitated. But now, I think there's a chance I can manage. So go onmake your choice."
Mikoto Misaka: "Hmph! Alright, but don't blame me if you get killed!"
Rei Ao: "No need to say that."
Rei Ao: "You know the old saying, 'If I must die under a peony, I'll still be charming as a ghost.' Mikoto, you've piqued my curiosity, you know~"
Mikoto Misaka: "Shut up! You perv! You creep! You jerk!"
She didn't just type it in the chatshe also shouted it out loud in real life, cheeks burning.
"???"
Kuroko and Shokuhou Misaki both stared in bewilderment.
Shokuhou Misaki: "What's gotten into you?"
Kuroko: "Onee-sama?!"
~~~
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Chapter 677: Secret Relationship, Shira Kuroko's Vigilance!
[Ding! Mikoto Misaka has initiated a trade request with you!]
[Trade Content: Help them deal with a huge problem.]
[Ding! Please select the trade condition!]
[Ding! Transaction has begun!]
[Trade Target: Mikoto Misaka]
[Trade Content: Help them deal with a huge problem.]
[Trade Condition]: "Electro-Master," "One-time right to use her body."
"Ah, looks like she's made up her mind."
Seeing how decisively Mikoto accepted the trade, Rei Ao couldn't help but smile wryly. The very person who'd once banded together with "Team Black Kitty" against him was now just about entirely on his side.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita had already changed into her going-out clothes and was trying to wake up Mabel.
"Do you want us to come too?" she asked, without a hint of hesitation in her voice.
Rei Ao shook his head.
"You guys just rest. That world has some things I need to test out. Even I'm not 100% sure how it'll go."
At Level 82 he could, in theory, destroy entire star systems with a wave of his hand, but if he ever had to face something like a "Magic God," there was no guarantee he'd come out unscathed. However, he did have the "True Demon's Form" at his disposal, so there might be a way.
Mabel, rubbing her eyes, sat up with a dazed expression.
"Huh? What's going on? Don't tell me we're doing that again?"
She flopped back dramatically in the bed, giving up all pretense of dignity.
"Whatever let's just get it over with. Will these miserable days never end? Boohoo~"
"Oh, hush."
Rei Ao gave her a light pat on the head, then turned to Yukinoshita.
"I'm off."
She nodded, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes.
"Be careful."
Rei Ao didn't respond. He stepped into a spatial rift, disappearing from the room in an instant.
At the same time, in the Windowless Building, where Academy City's Board of Directors convened, Aleistersuspended upside-down in his life-support systemsuddenly opened his eyes.
Crowley, did you sense that?
Aiwass's voice asked.
"How interesting,"
Aleister murmured, his tone as emotionless as an electronic synthesizer.
"A variable has appeared."
That "variable," as Aleister called it, was exactly Rei Ao.
In a "Talent Workshop" facility, Misaki Shokuhou and Kuroko Shirai were still baffled by Mikoto Misaka's flustered behaviorwatching her face turn red, seemingly making up her mind about something.
"...Onee-sama?"
Kuroko asked in concern.
All of a sudden, an unfamiliar spatial ripple spread out near them. Kuroko instinctively positioned herself in front of Mikoto, wary.
Shokuhou also retreated a step, finger hovering over her remote control.
The air shimmered like ripples on water. A tall figure appeared out of nowherea man in a simple black coat, black hair, black eyes, expression aloof. A certain aura of detachment surrounded him.
"Enemy attack!"
Kuroko instantly unleashed her Teleport ability, steel needles materializing in her hand. Shokuhou nearly pressed her remote.
"Wait!"
Mikoto hurriedly held Kuroko back.
"He's not an enemy!"
Shokuhou blinked but didn't lower her remote.
"Gorilla, who is this?"
Mikoto relaxed when she saw they hadn't attacked. She turned toward the black-clothed man.
"You came too suddenly! Couldn't you have given me a heads-up?"
Rei Ao gave a slight smile.
"When I got your trade request, I rushed here as soon as I could. Aren't you moved by my promptness?"
Just then, Mikoto remembered the chat exchange where he talked about "dying beneath the peony" or something, and her face turned red again.
Kuroko's eyes widened. Rei Ao's casual tone made her hackles rise, and she kept the steel needles ready in her hand.
"Onee-sama, who is this man?!"
"Ah, h-he's my friend. Rei Ao."
Mikoto introduced him awkwardly.
"He's on our side, so no need to be nervous."
"Friend?"
Kuroko's voice shot up several notches.
"When did Onee-sama get a male friend?! And such a such a"
She trailed off, flustered by how handsome and mysterious he seemed.
A wary glint flashed in Shokuhou's golden eyes.
"A Teleporter?"
"No," she mumbled, "that ripple earlier wasn't the same as Kuroko's power."
She turned to Mikoto.
"Mikoto, you mind explaining who this 'Rei Ao' is in detail? You brought an outsider onto my turf without permission."
Mikoto opened her mouth but had no idea where to begin. Sure, she knew Rei Ao, but how was she supposed to explain the chat group that connected countless worlds, or that he was its leader?
Rei Ao, sensing her discomfort, stepped forward.
"I'm Rei Ao, a very close friend of Mikoto's."
He emphasized "very close."
"What?!"
Kuroko instantly bristled, her pigtails practically standing on end.
"Impossible! I'm with Onee-sama nearly 24/7. I've never seen you oncewhy should I believe you?!"
A faint, unreadable smile hovered on Rei Ao's lips.
"We meet in private. I've also heard about you from Mikoto: Kuroko Shirai and Misaki Shokuhou, right? If you don't believe me, just ask Mikoto herself."
Mikoto bit back a groan. Given how often they interacted via the chat group, technically, what he said wasn't wrong. She sighed and nodded.
"Yes we do keep in touch privately. A lot."
"W-what?!"
Kuroko looked like she'd been struck by lightning, standing there frozen in place.
Countless images flashed through her mind.
"A s-secret relationship"
She muttered to herself, face turning ashen as though her soul had left her body. Shokuhou waved a hand in exasperation.
"Enough. I don't care about your private lives." She fixed her sharp gaze on Rei Ao.
"What I do care about is Mikoto bringing an outsider into my space without asking. If you don't have a good explanation, I may reconsider our partnership."
Facing her hostile question, Mikoto took a deep breath.
"I asked Rei Ao here to help us."
"Because we're caught up in a big problemso big that even a Level 5 can't handle it."
~~~
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(Bonus Chapter) Chapter 678: Rei Ao appearance! It's Time to Solve this Problem...
Mikoto Misaka: "We've run into a massive problem."
Shokuhou blinked, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. She might have a lofty attitude as the "Queen of Tokiwadai," but the word "problem" immediately made her recall their recent run-in with magicians. Indeed, her psychic abilities had proven inadequate against that unknown power. Still, she quickly recovered her proud demeanor.
"Oh? And why does he get to fix something we can't?"
She looked Rei Ao up and down.
"He just looks like some poser."
Rei Ao paid no mind to her provocation. Instead, he stared right back at her, quite intrigued, particularly by the "fuller" area compared to Mikoto. He mused that her ability must have stimulated certain parts of her body to grow.
"Level 5 Mental Out, Shokuhou Misaki. You could try using your ability on me if you want."
An unexpected flicker of surprise flashed in Shokuhou's eyes. He knew so much about herdid Mikoto tell him? She let out a cold laugh, though:
"If you're so eager"
She pressed a button on her remote. Stars shimmered in her golden irises as she unleashed a powerful mental assault aimed at Rei Ao's brainan attack that would devastate an average esper.
Yet it was like hurling a stone into a bottomless lake. There was no reaction whatsoever.
"Impossible"
Shokuhou stumbled back a step in disbelief. Since acquiring her ability, this was the second time in a single day she'd met someone who was totally immune to her power.
Rei Ao watched her calmly.
"Are you done? Then it's my turn."
He slowly raised his right hand. Suddenly, Shokuhou found herself unable to move. Not just physicallyher very thoughts were grinding to a halt. Horror dawned on her as she realized she was in serious trouble.
Mikoto noticed Shokuhou freeze.
"What's with her?"
"I stopped her time," Rei Ao explained casually.
"To her, it'll feel like an instant. But for us, it can last as long as we want. I can unfreeze her thoughts whenever."
He snapped his fingers. Shokuhou's awareness returned. Mikoto's eyes widened with curiosity. She walked over to poke Shokuhou's cheek.
"She's totally not reacting! Whoa"
She pressed and pinched those cheeks.
"I never get a chance to do this"
Kuroko, having somewhat recovered from her own shock, was once again stunned by the sight.
"T-time stop?! That's impossible! There's no record of an ability like that in Academy City!"
Rei Ao snapped his fingers again, and time resumed. Shokuhou stumbled backward, face pale. She remembered everything that happened during the time-stopincluding the conversation and Mikoto squishing her cheeks.
"Who what are you?"
Her voice trembled, something quite rare for her.
"That's not an esper power no way."
Rei Ao didn't answer directly; instead, he turned to Mikoto.
"That's not really the point right now. We're here to deal with your problemwhy I came to this world in the first place."
"Th-this world?"
Kuroko echoed, utterly confused.
Mikoto looked to Rei Ao, who nodded, then explained, "Rei Ao-kun's from another world."
"Another world?!"
Kuroko and Shokuhou both gasped in unison.
Rei Ao inclined his head.
"Simply put, I came from beyond this dimension to help Mikoto handle the crisis."
A complicated gleam flickered in Shokuhou's golden eyes.
"So, you have power surpassing Level 5 even the power to manipulate time?"
Kuroko suddenly rushed up, tilting her head back to glare at Rei Ao.
"I don't care who you are! If you try anything weird with Onee-sama, I won't let you off easy!"
Amusement flickered in Rei Ao's eyes as he looked down at the fierce twin-tailed girl.
"Relax. I'm just a friend of Mikoto right now."
"Really?" Kuroko eyed him warily.
"Really."
Flustered, Mikoto pressed down on Kuroko's shoulder.
"Hmph, we really are just friends."
Kuroko relaxed fractionally, though she still eyed Rei Ao suspiciously. Shokuhou resumed her queenly bearing:
"Fine then mysterious Rei Ao-san."
She shot a steely gaze at him.
"Since Mikoto trusts you, I'll accept your presence for now. But"
She narrowed her eyes.
"If you pull any funny business"
Rei Ao cut her off.
"No need for threats. I'm here to solve a problem."
At a casual wave of his hand, the sleeping nunIndexfloated from the sofa to Rei Ao's arms. Again, Shokuhou and Kuroko could only marvel at his abilities.
"Then let's go," he said, gently opening a portal in space.
Kuroko gaped.
"That's not Teleport you're creating space?!"
Even Shokuhou's expression grew grave.
"Looks like we really are dealing with someone extraordinary"
