Prologue

The Same Usual Every Day.

The_Beginning_of_The_End.

It was said that to understand someone, one just needed to look at their bookshelf.

“...A pile of manga.”

The date was August 8th. Kamijou Touma had looked around the room, and found that he could not find any book that wasn’t manga not only on his bookshelf, but also throughout the house. Thus, in order to save face, Kamijou Touma had decided to head to the train station of Academy City to buy some reference books.

...That was his intention.

“To think that one reference book costs 3,600 yen...”

Kamijou Touma muttered as if he just lost terribly in a great battle. And according to the shop attendant, all the reference books were sold at half price until yesterday in order to promote the summer exams.

(Such misfortune)

It was really unfortunate.

However, that was basically Kamijou Touma’s everyday life.

Besides, he was a very popular guy simply because his friends felt that with him around, he could absorb all of their bad luck like a lightning rod.

The problem was that it was a precarious situation right now.

No matter what, he must avoid the label of being a person with only manga on their bookshelves. Of course, that wasn’t normal; an ordinary person wouldn’t think about that unscientific sort of judgment.

However, Kamijou had a big reason why he had to care.

It was because Kamijou Touma had lost his memory.

Of course, it wasn’t like he had forgotten everything. He didn’t forget the meaning of the traffic lights, and he didn’t forget how to use a cell phone.

What he had lost were his memories; his knowledge was still present.

It meant that even though he remembered how to use a cell phone, his mind began to wonder about things like “Eh? Where did I put my cell phone?” or “Hold on, since when did I get a cell phone?”

His knowledge was like a dictionary.

For example, one’s knowledge may know that an apple was a fruit of the Rosaceae deciduous tree that bloomed in the spring and bore a ball-shaped fruit. However, one had to eat the fruit to decide whether it tasted good or not. That was because his brain didn’t have a diary-like memory stating that he ate a delicious apple on a certain day.

He was told that the reason was because the episodic memory part of his brain that governs recollection, rather than the semantic memory part that governs information, was destroyed. However, that was not the main issue.

The problem was that Kamijou Touma wanted to know what sort of person he was before he had lost his memory.

Even if he had to follow that baseless explanation of understanding himself by checking his bookshelf.

However, that didn’t mean that Kamijou’s expression was that of pain.

Besides, Kamijou wasn’t alone, and he hadn’t been thrown into some unknown world. He didn’t lack either food or clothes, and he did have friends that he could call “companions”.

“Touma!”

On the way back home in summer, a girl who was beside the half-dead Kamijou cried out in anger at facing that sudden shopping spree (basically, Kamijou used more than a thousand yen to go for what was called an “assault”).

She was about thirteen or fourteen years old, and one could tell that she was a foreigner. Her waist-length hair was silver, and her skin was as white as snow. Her eyes were green like emeralds.

However, what made one realize most easily that she was a foreigner was her outfit.

She wore a Christian nun’s habit that was uniquely white and with gold lacings. It seemed like the gold-outlined cups that upstarts enjoyed using.

The girl’s name was Index.

Of course, that wasn’t her real name, but it was the name everyone used to call her.

Kamijou met that girl in the hospital.

No, from Kamijou’s perspective, he met her at the hospital, but it seemed that he had already met her before he lost his memories. Even though Kamijou couldn’t think of anything related to the girl no matter how much he tried to recall, he didn’t really want to say that out loud.

On the day when he had first met the girl, she cried tears of happiness for Kamijou as she stared at him on the bed.

However, those tears were shed not for the current Kamijou, but for the pre-memory loss Kamijou.

Kamijou couldn’t bear to break the happiness in the girl’s heart. In order to protect the warmth in the girl, Kamijou Touma had to continue to act as if he had never lost his memories.

It was a complicated feeling...

It was as if Kamijou Touma had become two people.

However, the girl with the alias Index didn’t seem to notice the conflict within Kamijou’s heart (though to be fair, he didn’t want her to realize it). From a position lower than Kamijou by a head, she looked up and stared unhappily at Kamijou.

“Touma, what could we have done with 3,600 yen?”

“...Don’t say it.”

“What could we have done?”

The girl asked again. Just as Kamijou stuffed his ears and shut his eyes while shouting “Don’t say it!” to escape from reality, he suddenly realized that the girl who was walking beside him wasn’t looking at him.

Curious, Kamijou stared at where Index was looking at, and found that the shop sign of an ice cream shop was spinning in front of him.

It was August 8th, and since it was a hot summer afternoon, there was a heat wave floating above the floor, and Index’s habit was long-sleeved and was most likely hot...

“...I understand your feelings, but isn’t spending 3,600 yen too much?”

“Hmph.”

Index seemed to be unhappy with those words as she turned to look at Kamijou.

“Touma, I never said that I’m hot or that I’m about to get heatstroke. Of course I never thought of spending other people’s money to satisfy myself, so I never thought of eating ice cream at all.”

“...I know nuns don’t tell lies, but you don’t have to be so sweaty and give me those abandoned puppy eyes, right? Can’t you just tell me that you want to eat ice cream in an air-conditioned room? The weather’s so hot, yet you’re still wearing that nun’s habit that doesn’t even consider the impact of weather. You may get heatstroke like that.”

Though Kamijou sounded really generous, that was just him saving face. The amount of money in his wallet wasn’t going to change. Of course, it didn’t mean that he couldn’t even buy ice cream, but if he did that, he wouldn’t have enough money to take a ride back. Academy City was one-third the size of Tokyo, and to Kamijou, who had just recovered from a heavy injury, and the weak Index, it wasn’t a place that could be trekked easily. Though the term “weak girls” may be a bit sexist, there weren’t that many girls who could walk one-third the size of Tokyo.

However, Index seemed to be unhappy for some reason as she started to get even angrier.

She frowned and said, “Touma, this clothing is a materialization of God’s protection; I never thought about it being hard to wear, being hot, being troublesome, or whether there should be a summer or winter version.”

“...Right.”

Being righteous and being kind were two different models, and Kamijou Touma understood that cruel reality clearly.

And there was something really weird. Why were there safety pins all over that nun habit that had such an extravagant design?

“And besides, I’m still a nun-in-training. Besides cigarettes and wine, even coffee, red tea, fruits, sweets, iced items... I’m forbidden from taking any of these luxury items.”

“Oh, I see. At first, I thought about saying that eating ice cream is a good way to relieve the summer heat.”

If some people decided to implicate some religious reasons, it was impossible to force them to change their minds.

Kamijou again stared at the signboard of the ice cream shop.

“Since that’s the case, alright. It’s not like we need to eat it—”

Before Kamijou could finish speaking, a hand suddenly grabbed him at a sonic boom speed. Kamijou, unable to resist the huge force exerted by that girl’s fingers, had to turn his head around.

“It’s... it’s true that I’m still in training and that I’m forbidden from having any excessive stuff.”

“Then no way.”

“But since I’m still in training, it means that I can’t completely follow a saint’s standards, right? So, in this situation, there might be a case where some ice cream accidentally went into my mouth. Isn’t that right, Touma?”

“...”

Though Kamijou really wanted to lecture her badly, the force exerted by the girl’s fingers was becoming stronger, seemingly hinting him to not say any more. However, the naive Index didn’t know that silence may be even worse than talking back.

At that moment...

“Hey, sorry to disturb you all in this important conversation, but who’s that girl, Kami-yan?”

...A mysterious fake Kansai accent came from behind.

Looking behind, it was a weirdo whose voice was even weirder. He was 180 centimeters tall, and had blue hair and earrings... he was too weird to be a weirdo.

Did the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma really have such a friend?

Kamijou couldn’t help but think, (Even though I don’t know what I have with that person since I completely lost my memories, I should at least choose my friends better!)

Kamijou felt like he was lecturing others as he cursed himself.

“Hm, what’s up, Kami-yan? Why are you looking at me like you just saw a stranger? Did the summer heat cause you to lose your memories?”

“What...?”

Kamijou was shocked. Aogami Pierce, however, raised his hand and waved it about.

“I’m just joking, man~. This memory loss thing is a special privilege only to those unbelievable Denpa Otome¹, right?”

Then, Aogami Pierce put his hand on Kamijou’s shoulder (though it’s ridiculously hot).

“...Hey, Kami-yan, who’s that girl? How do you know such a small girl? Is she your cousin...? Doesn’t look like it. Her silver hair doesn’t look like it’s inherited from your genes!”

The biggest problem with that guy was that his whispering was so loud that it wasn’t even a whisper.

Kamijou broke out in cold sweat, worried about whether the girl beside him would go crazy because of the word “small”... but luckily, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“...From the way I see it, this girl should be only asking directions from you, right? But with your English still in country-isolation mode, that may be rather hard for you... Hold on, is that girl from an English-speaking country?”

Kamijou also didn’t know what he was talking about. And to Index, perhaps she was rather used to having others call her “small”. She seemed like she didn’t mind at all, only glaring viciously at the sun that was burning down. Maybe she was so hot that she didn’t want to say anything.

“...Speaking of which, Kami-yan, I don’t know where you met this girl, but don’t feel relaxed by this alone. Besides, you gained sixteen years of trust and good-man performances, so you should know that a simple meeting with a girl isn’t possible. Isn’t it like that in love comedies? The one with the crush is always someone like a young mother! Haha~ if such an event happens, all hope is gone! It’s really pitiful thinking about it.”

Kamijou heaved a sigh of relief. It was a good thing that this wasn’t the case in those old-fashioned dramas.

At that moment, Aogami Pierce said, “Hold on, is that a cross-dressing trap? Isn’t ‘her’ chest a little too small?”

Immediately, Kamijou seemed to hear the girl’s blood vessels explode.

Kamijou forced himself to not make a blood-curdling cry.

It seemed like though the girl could endure being called young, she couldn’t take being called a boy.

Kamijou seemed to hear her barely maintaining her smile as she gnashed her teeth.

(Such misfortune...!)

Just as Kamijou wanted to shout that...

“Hey, Kami-yan. How can real good men like us be good friends with a 3D girl? There’ll definitely be a Bad End. I can see it: just as Kami-yan takes off the final piece of clothing from the girl and goes into the R18 moment, you finally find out the truth, and roll off the bed in shock.”

“...You’re joking, right? Don’t tell me you really feel this way!”

“Eh? Is she really a girl? How uninteresting!” With a happy expression, Aogami Pierce said, “So your encounter must be abnormal, right? Kami-yan, though you’ve always been a good guy nobody loved, you can’t just kidnap a girl, you know? Such foolhardiness will get flamed on those image boards when you leave them there.”

“Idiot... stop making such a joke! Who’d do such a thing!?” Actually, Kamijou didn’t remember how he had met her. “This person right here is just a freeloader! Everything was done under negotiations on both sides, sergeant-dono!”

“Freeloader? Freeloader? Kami-yan, you just added a ‘just’ to an extremely precious ‘freeloader girl’? Kami-yan! You’re like an elementary school kid who just ate too many snacks and forgot the essence of rice!”

“Shut up! How can I express it except with a ‘just’!? Since when can those romantic scenes happen so often in real life!? Do you know how Kamijou’s finances are in a crisis because of this person right here!? Even a zashiki warashi is better than her...!”

Just when Kamijou was shouting out that conversation, he suddenly realized something.

Of course, the girl Index who was nearby had heard all of it.

“..................Ah.”

Kamijou looked back with an expression of terror.

Index was smiling. She was revealing a Virgin Mary-like smile, but her face was as green as a honey dew. This was bad. Not knowing what the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma did, he didn’t know if he could calm Index down in that situation.

(If I was able to, then the loss of my memory was really a pity,) Kamijou thought.

“Touma.”

Index spoke while revealing a perfect smile.

(It’s all over,) Kamijou thought, but he could barely respond.

“...What is it, sister-sama?”

“I’m a nun affiliated with the Anglican Church. Repent now or forever hold your peace.”

The nun drew a cross in front of her chest, and clasped her hands together.

As the smile was too perfect, one could tell that it was an act.

Kamijou unknowingly wanted to clutch his head and cry out.

This was a bomb—no, it was an unexploded bomb.

(If I handle this carelessly, it may explode, and this will be the end of my life!)

Kamijou’s instincts were telling him that.

(What should I do, what should I do? Ah! That’s it, ice cream! Use ice cream to distract her!)

Extremely confused now, Kamijou forgot how he should talk as he could only point crazily in the direction of the ice cream shop in front of him. Looking puzzled, Index looked in the direction Kamijou was pointing at, and then stopped. Then, she revealed a puzzled look.

Just as Kamijou heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that he had managed to divert her attention, he suddenly saw something.

There seemed to be a piece of paper on the automatic door.

The paper read:

To our customers, due to interior renovations, we will be suspending our business for the time being. We’re sorry for any inconvenience.

With his mind thinking of a Bad End, Kamijou slowly turned his head towards the girl beside him.

The girl’s smile instantly vanished.

Just as Kamijou shouted “Such misfortune!”, the savage beast-like Index pounced.

♦

In the end, they had a compromise and agreed on buying shakes from a cheap fast food restaurant.

Of course Index wouldn’t be satisfied by that, so Kamijou had tried to use the incentive of being able to enjoy the food in an air-conditioned room to please her. However, the shop was actually crammed full in the afternoon.

“..................”

Holding the tray with both hands, Index looked unhappy again and remained silent. There were three shakes on the tray, one vanilla, one chocolate, and one strawberry. Though Kamijou really wanted to shout “Are you that thirsty?”, he didn’t dare to retort out of fear that his life would be at risk.

(Such misfortune,) Kamijou thought.

Index, whose mood had improved somewhat after getting three shakes for herself, was currently facing a tough situation where the shop was completely filled with customers. However, the weather was so hot that they couldn’t just stay outside. They had finally managed to enter a shop with the air conditioning on, so who would want to go back to the streets to stand under the sun?

The nearby female high school students didn’t seem to realize Kamijou’s despair as they continued to talk about extremely ordinary topics.

“Yo, yo! I heard that Anzai used telepathy during the last exam! Is it true?”

“I heard that they even organized a teachers’ meeting because of that, so it should be true. But I also heard that everyone at the meeting agreed that psychic powers are a part of the curriculum, so it’s not considered cheating.”

“Uu, that’s despicable! Nyaaa!! Then I want to use my power as well!”

“...Isn’t your power Pyrokinesis?”

“Can’t I just set fire to the teacher’s back and force him to spill out the answers?”

...Perhaps to a lot of people, such a conversation may have been a bit too out of the ordinary. But this was Academy City, and that was a very common part of their everyday life. As the 2.3 million citizens of the city had some sort of power, it could be called a large-scale “power development group”.

In fact, Kamijou was an esper. He was the boy called the Imagine Breaker, with the right hand that had the ability to negate any supernatural power, even if it was a miracle of God.

“...Touma, I really want to sit down,” Index said in an emotionless tone.

(Scary.)

The expression of the nun was telling him that if he didn’t comply, she would again leap over and bite him.

Kamijou shouted “Affirmative!”, and rushed to a shop attendant who was sweeping the floor.

“Haa, if there is no other way then how about sharing a table?”

The shop attendant merely revealed a cruel, professional smile and pointed to a corner by the window.

Share a table? Kamijou looked over at where the finger was pointing.

“Uuu!?”

There was a four-seater table over there, and in that shop that was like a peak-hour train station, a huge space appeared between the crowd like a huge hole.

And over there...

On that table...

Was a shrine maiden.

The shrine maiden was sleeping with her face on the table.

There was shiny black hair that was like a jellyfish scattered all over, covering the shrine maiden’s face.

(Wha...)

(What’s with this scenario?) Kamijou cried out deep within.

(Not right, something’s not right.)

Kamijou’s misfortune radar was warning him.

(Don’t get involved with her, don’t get involved with her, you’ll definitely be unfortunate! When that happens, it won’t be something that’s going to be solved with a loss of memory!)

Of course, Kamijou Touma was an unlucky person, but it wasn’t like he wanted to be one.

He closed his eyes and made his decision.

(...Alright, let’s go home! I’d rather get bitten by Index than get involved with such a person.)

Having made that conclusion, Kamijou turned back to look, and found that both of them had already disappeared.

“...?”

Kamijou looked around.

“...Ack!”

As expected, under the suggestion of the other shop attendant, Index had already sat opposite that mysterious shrine maiden. That girl really lacked an awareness of danger. Or was she a philanthropist? As for Aogami Pierce who was beside them, his eyes were gleaming.

(Are nuns and shrine maidens really that attractive to you?)

He really wanted to run away.

But he couldn’t. If he turned his back on Index and ran away, Index may leap at him like a lion and swallow him whole. And seeing Aogami Pierce whose eyes were glittering, he felt that it was too dangerous to leave that girl alone.

But most importantly...

Index, who had a gulp of strawberry shake in her mouth, was happily waving him over. Kamijou had a thought that he shouldn’t wreck that expression.

Nonetheless, there was still a mysterious shrine maiden sleeping at the table.

Kamijou carefully approached the table. At that moment, the shrine maiden’s shoulders jerked.

“Sp—”

Her mouth moved. The shrine maiden’s mouth moved. Kamijou had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling. Why? Having lost his memories, Kamijou definitely couldn’t remember anything, but he had a feeling that he experienced something similar before.

Kamijou gulped down his saliva, waiting for the shrine maiden to say something.

The shrine maiden spoke.

“—Spent all my money on food and ruined myself.”

Chapter 1

A Tower of Glass.

The_Tower_of_BABEL.

1

It was a windowless room.

There were no doors, stairs, lifts, or corridors. For being part of a building, the room didn’t have any functions. There was no way to enter the building except via a Level 4’s Teleport ability. It could be said to be the strongest stronghold.

A single magician stood within the Calculate Fortress building that’s strength easily surpassed that of a nuclear shelter.

His name was Stiyl Magnus.

Stiyl, who was well-versed in runic magic, especially flame magic, was also an Anglican priest. It could be considered an exception to see a fourteen-year-old well-versed in magic that could kill other magicians.

Actually, he wasn’t supposed to be there.

That didn’t refer to the building, but to the city as a whole. He was one of the members of the 0th Parish of the Anglican Church, Necessarius, and the Academy City he was in was a purely scientific environment that rejected all ideas of the occult and produced espers through drugs, body manipulation, and hypnotism.

His current presence there was as unnatural as mixing a tarot card into a poker deck.

However, there was a reason for him to be there even though he shouldn’t be.

He was currently acting as a representative of the Anglican Church to negotiate with Academy City on equal standing. However, as a representative, he had some character flaws.

He was a man who would kill without hesitation.

He could order flames to swallow a living person without hesitation.

“…”

But even so, that sort of person was still unable to get used to the scene in front of him.

The space was too large to be called indoors, and there was supposedly no lighting, but the room seemed to be filled with starry-like lights. That was because the walls had been set up with numerous screens and flashing buttons. Equipment of all sizes, thousands of cables, and tubes were gathered at the center of the room like blood vessels on the floor.

There was a huge cylinder in the middle of the room.

It was four meters in diameter and over ten meters in height. The cylindrical container that was made of reinforced glass had red liquid filled inside it.

It was said that this color represented a weak alkaline recovery fluid. Of course, to the magician Stiyl, that scientific thing wasn’t part of his specialty, so he wouldn’t be able to understand even after listening to it.

Inside the beaker was a human wearing a green surgical cloak that was floating upside down.

There were no words to describe him except “human”. The silver-haired “human” looked masculine yet feminine, adult yet childlike, and saintly yet sinful.

Had he obtained all the possibilities that a human could only wish for? Or had he given up on all the possibilities that a human had?

Either way, one thing that could be certain was that only the word “human” could describe him.

“Everyone who came here would observe me and make the same response as you…”

The “human” in the cylinder spoke. He sounded masculine yet feminine, adult yet childlike, and saintly yet sinful.

“…But why let a human do this when machines can do so?”

In other words, that was how that “human” existed.

His own life could be maintained by machines, so it was meaningless for him to do anything. That “human” who seemed like he had extended his lifespan to 1,700 years was now right in front of Stiyl.

Stiyl felt fear.

He wasn’t afraid of Academy City’s scientific technology that could run a life for humans, but the way that “human” existed. As he could use machines to maintain his life, he could abandon his body of flesh without hesitation and leave himself to machines.

It was really terrifying to see a “human” who was twisted enough to live on like that.

“I suppose you should know why I called you here…” The board chairman of Academy City, the “human” Aleister who was floating upside-down, said with a stern tone, “The situation has become complicated right now.”

Seeing Aleister say that, Stiyl inadvertently frowned. That was because he couldn’t imagine that “human” in front of him actually saying something that showed weakness like “the situation has become complicated right now”.

“It’s regarding Deep Blood, am I correct?”

Stiyl, who normally neglected honorifics, used them with Aleister.

Of course, it wasn’t just because he was a representative of the Church, but also because he knew that once Aleister detected hostility from him, he would be diced up. It was not an overall issue of hostility; even if it were misunderstanding or misconception, if Aleister decided it, Stiyl’s life would end.

That was because he was in the main base of the enemy, the command center of 2.3 million espers.

“Fuu.” Noticing Stiyl trembling, Aleister said, “It wouldn’t be a problem if only espers were involved, because that’s one of the espers I ‘had’. As long as any citizen in this city creates a commotion, there are about 70,632 ways to deal with it and cover it up…”

“…”

On hearing that, Stiyl didn’t really have any special feeling about it. He wasn’t really interested in what emergency procedures Academy City had, since he didn’t really understand how the Science side worked.

“…What has complicated matters is that one of your people has taken part in this when he shouldn’t have.”

Thus, Stiyl was only thinking of that.

Deep Blood. It came not from Academy City’s Bank, but from a record in The British Library. From the wording, one could imagine that it was used to kill “a certain living thing” that may or may not exist. Nobody knew what kind of ability it was nor whether it was genuine. All that was known was that a girl had such an ability.

In particular, the girl with the Deep Blood ability was being held prisoner by a magician.

The situation was that simple.

“Fu. Since this enemy right now is from outside Academy City, this has gotten somewhat troublesome.” Aleister continued to remain upside down and said, “Of course, it’s not hard to send out 2.3 million espers to beat one or two magicians. But this isn’t the main issue. The main issue is that if we do this, it will mean that we scientists took down magicians.”

Academy City and Necessarius each controlled their own “world”.

Science and the occult… they were only able to have their standings today because each side controlled technologies that the other side didn’t have. If Academy City, which controlled espers, declared that they had defeated a magician, the people on the Magic side wouldn’t sit back and do nothing.

For example, if fighter jets with the latest technology crash-landed in enemy territory, the wreckage may reveal the secret technology.

“It seems like it would be difficult for you to send in reinforcements,” Stiyl said calmly.

Espers and magicians working together… such a thing may be too precarious. It was already a huge problem between the Science side and the Magic side when they wanted to decide who should lead the charge. That was because they could use the excuse of checking their side’s battle abilities to spy on the other side’s technology.

Thinking about that, Stiyl had a question. Two weeks ago, he had come to Academy City, and had a battle with an esper. Why had that battle been allowed silently? Perhaps without Stiyl knowing it, Academy City and the Anglican Church had an agreement. Or maybe because that boy was viewed as a Level 0 with very little importance.

The situation at the moment, however, was different.

Most of the espers and magicians involved in this were considered “important people”.

“I see. So that’s why you specially asked me, an ‘exception’, to be here.”

Stiyl’s expression didn’t change, seemingly only confirming something.

In other words, Stiyl Magnus was an exception. There would be problems if espers from the Science side defeated magicians from the Magic side. However, there wouldn’t be any problems if Stiyl, who was of the Magic side, defeated a magician. And Stiyl’s superior also felt that the magician must be defeated by a magician for the sake of cleaning house.

“This is the blueprint of the battlefield in question.”

It was unknown what technology was used as an image appeared in the darkness.

It was a wireframe-model seemed like it was drawn using computer graphics. Depicted was what seemed like an ordinary building. However, what popped up was a location diagram of the “battlefield”.

The words “Misawa Cram School” were written on the corner of the diagram.

“Through the initial building blueprints and all sorts of satellite images, we managed to analyze the interior layout.” Aleister’s voice didn’t have any cadence in it. “But we can’t see any magic equipment. Besides, it’s not like we understand anything about magic.”

“…”

“But this Misawa Cram School is somewhat unique.”

Aleister began to explain.

Actually, Academy City was an educational enterprise that was made of hundreds of schools of different sizes. Also, the Curriculum included some paranormal stuff like esper development.

It was said that the reason Misawa Cram School that had catered to all levels in the country would set up a school in Academy City was to learn the secrets of the esper development that was exclusive to Academy City. That had all the makings of a huge corporate spy incident.

However, the Misawa Cram School that didn’t know anything about esper powers development still had a weird feel to it. They were a form of Science Worship that used science and technology known only to them as a reason to say that they were chosen humans, and took people in using those juvenile ideas as a new religion.

A certain branch school in Academy City had even begun to run wild and ignore the Misawa Cram School Group’s orders and on top of all that, they imprisoned the girl referred to as Deep Blood in accordance to their teachings.

“But why did Misawa Cram School imprison the Deep Blood? Are they similar to a 16th century cult’s teachings where there is a dogma to submit themselves to Cain’s descendants with the aim of achieving immortality?”

“No. Misawa Cram School has no particular fixation in possessing Deep Blood. They simply desire a unique esper whose power cannot be duplicated so anyone would have done.”

“?”

“Levels in Academy City are decided by academic and supernatural ability. Thus, they wanted to take the Deep Blood and examine her. As long as they can say that they managed to duplicate a super rare ability, those students who lament that they have ordinary abilities or are Level 2 or 3 would be attracted by it… Good grief. Even with a brain transplant, it is impossible for them to change their developed power.”

However, that also sounded strange to Stiyl. Even if having a rare ability granted status in Academy City, how could anyone in this place covered with science believe in that “certain living thing” that belonged to the occult?

Just as Stiyl was thinking about that, Aleister already said out the answer casually.

“Anyway, things are more valuable when rare. As long as this basic logic exists, there can still be some talking points. There are many espers besides the Imagine Breaker with the truth behind their powers unknown. Some espers even have such tremendous power that nobody even seen them get serious before.”

Anyway, if it was just the Deep Blood being imprisoned, things were actually easy. Like what Aleister had said, if there were conflicts in that city, there were 70,632 ways to deal with it.

But that wasn’t the problem.

It was because before the problem was settled, a magician had come in from the outside world and entered Misawa Cram School. His aim was Misawa Cram School. Also, he didn’t even destroy Misawa Cram School, but controlled it. So things became that complicated.

“…”

Stiyl stared silently at the location diagram of the Misawa Cram School.

From the diagram, he couldn’t see anything that had been modified by magic. The tension that was like charging straight into the darkness struck Stiyl in the back. Though it was uncomfortable, Stiyl was already used to it. This time, it was a simple battle of life and death, nil or one.

However, he was rather happy that he was the only one in that city that had 2.3 million espers.

“Not quite,” Aleister said, seemingly seeing through what Stiyl was thinking.

Perhaps there was a device that could read people’s thoughts through temperature or blood flow.

“I do possess an esper who is a natural enemy of your people.”

Stiyl froze immediately.

Imagine Breaker. The boy who had fought a battle of life and death against Stiyl two weeks ago. Any supernatural power; not just magic, but esper powers and miracles from the territory of God, would be negated on contact with his right hand. That power could be considered an exception among exceptions.

“But didn’t you say that you can’t use espers to beat magicians?”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Aleister said in a tone as if he had memorized it.

“Firstly, he’s a Level 0, so he doesn’t carry any valuable information. Even if I let him go work with you, there’s no fear that he’ll leak information on our secrets.”

“…”

“Secondly, his brain isn’t so smart that he can understand the technology of the Magic side and duplicate it. Thus, even if he goes along with you, your technology won’t be understood by us.”

(That old fox…)

For the first time, Stiyl harbored some hatred for Aleister.

(What is that “human” in front of me thinking of?)

Stiyl really didn’t understand. No matter what, Imagine Breaker definitely shouldn’t be classified as a weak Level 0. Stiyl had experienced that in his battle.

It was true that the workings of Imagine Breaker wasn’t something that could be understood with just one or two looks, and he definitely couldn’t duplicate it and bring it back to the Church. However, it should be the same for Academy City. No, at least Stiyl hoped that it was the same for time. If Academy City had a way to duplicate that Imagine Breaker ability, the Church wouldn’t have any existence. Even sacred treasures from a millennium ago would be destroyed on contact with his right hand.

But Aleister didn’t seem to be treasuring that precious Imagine Breaker at all.

It was like he was giving a saint in training all sorts of trials.

It was like using a heavy hammer to strike a hot metal used to form a sharp powerful sword.

“…”

And more importantly, that boy had the knowledge of 103,000 grimoires with him. Was that really alright?

His inner thoughts were conflicting with his words. Though Stiyl was harboring such suspicions, he was not showing it on his face.

Also, he was careful not to show it. If it was regarding that girl, Stiyl didn’t want to raise any sort of issue.

“…Deep Blood.”

Stiyl muttered. His expression was like a scholar who had found something that he was unable to explain.

“Does Deep Blood really exists? If it does, that means—”

Stiyl was unable to continue on.

Deep Blood. If that existed, then that “certain living thing” that it must kill must also have existed. In other words, if he believed in the existence of Deep Blood, it meant that the existence of that “certain living thing” was a fact.

“Hm, the occult is not our specialty, but your people’s field. But, even your world has to admit that something that truly defies common sense exist, right?”

(Of course,) Stiyl cursed in his heart.

The magic power that magicians used could be described as something like gasoline. In other words, using their lifespan and mana, as “crude oil”, by regulating one’s breathing and the flowing of one’s blood and by meditating, it was refined into the easier-to-use “gasoline”.

Thus, magicians weren’t all powerful. No matter how they searched for even high-skilled magic, the amount of gasoline was finite.

However, that creature didn’t have such a limitation.

This certain creature had the ridiculous characteristic of being immortal, which meant that they had infinite magical power. Even if the earth’s resources would run out one day, the magical power of this certain creature would never run out.

Cain’s descendants—vampires.

They definitely weren’t the weak creatures depicted in the stories that could be dealt with using the cross and sunlight. Actually, one vampire was enough to cause a nuclear-level global calamity.

“Hm.”

In the huge container, the “human” was still floating upside down, staring dully at Stiyl.

“Speaking of which, do you know what we refer to when we say esper powers?”

“…No.”

Stiyl couldn’t possibly understand it, and neither did he think that Aleister would tell him. That was because the moment he knew the enemy’s secrets, it would mean that he would lose the chance to get out of there alive.

“Actually, it’s just a difference in knowledge,” Aleister said casually, “Have you heard of Schrödinger’s Cat? It’s the most famous animal abuse case in the world.”

“…?”

“I’ll omit the detailed account but in short, it seems that “this reality has the property of being distorted by those who see it.” Although, the microscopic and macroscopic laws of physics also differ so it is not possible say it is a rule.”

In this world, the laws of physics can be seen as microscopic and macroscopic. Which were called micros and which were called macros? It was said that those were also within Aleister’s range of research.

“…I don’t really get what you mean.”

“It’s alright, you don’t have to. If you do, I have to kill you right now,” Aleister nonchalantly said. “…Speaking of which, I’m the one who really doesn’t understand. Is there really a Deep Blood? And what’s the difference? It’s like the cat in the box.”

Aleister said that espers were changing like how litmus papers changed colors.

The main point wasn’t to marvel at how the litmus paper changed color from red to blue, but to consider why, what’s the reason behind it, and think if there was any way to manipulate that rule. Though Aleister controlled 2.3 million espers that were enough to declare war on the entire world, to him, that wasn’t the aim, but a mean.

Stiyl was trembling.

That “human” in front of him was something who believed that machines could replace all human actions.

To that human, which were “mechanical”?

To that human, which were “human”?

“However…”

The “human” spoke.

The “human” that looked masculine yet feminine, adult yet childlike, and saintly yet sinful made an expression which could be considered a smile, and said, “—If you say that Deep Blood proves the existence of vampires, just what on earth does the Imagine Breaker prove?”

2

Kamijou Touma was at a loss for words.

The no-smoking zone of the second level of the fast food restaurant was packed full with people. Kamijou Touma, Index, and Aogami Pierce were sitting at a four-seater table.

(Hm, so far so good.)

“—Spent all my money on food and ruined myself.”

(But why is there a shrine maiden lying on a table in such a crude shop and actually saying such ridiculous words!?)

The shrine maiden was about as old as Kamijou and was wearing a typical shrine maiden outfit. The waist-length hair made her look like a textbook example of a shrine maiden.

“…”

“…”

The heavy presence was like that in an elevator.

(What should I do?) Kamijou wondered.

At that moment, he suddenly noticed Index and Aogami Pierce staring at him.

“…W-what is it?”

“…Kami-yan, when someone talks to you, you should oblige and reply, right?”

“…That’s right that’s right! Touma, you can’t just back away on just seeing the appearance. You must follow God’s teachings and stretch out, amen!”

“...Wha, Bah! Are you joking!? We should at least settle this by rock, paper, scissors to make it fair! Or rather Index, you think that I’ll lose from the beginning aren’t you? Why you, don’t stopp making a cross over your heart with such a humble face!”

In the end, the trio had decided to play rock-paper-scissors to decide the martyr.

Rock, rock… and scissors. Kamijou lost.

In conclusion, Kamijou Touma really was misfortunate.

“Erm, hello?”

Kamijou, who was the only one that chose scissors and was all confused, could only talk to the shrine maiden. The shrine maiden’s shoulders jerked.

“Ah, erm… what did you mean when you said spent all your money and ruined yourself?”

(It’s best to maintain a natural conversation,) Kamijou thought. (Since that shrine maiden did say that, she’s probably hoping someone would ask her why.).

“As I had a lot of economical coupons, and a hamburger cost 580 yen—”

“Uh huh.”

For Kamijou, who had lost his memory, he had forgotten what a hamburger tasted like. However, he knew that hamburgers had only a meat patty and some rotten lettuce, and was a poor person’s bad friend.

“So I went ahead and ordered thirty of them.”

“You were being too economical, idiot.”

As Kamijou retorted on reflex, he had noticed the shrine maiden suddenly stopped moving. Because of her silence, one could tell that she gave off an aura of emotional hurt.

Awkward. He had not expected her to react to his perfectly honest words and because of that the atmosphere became super awkward.

“Ah, I didn’t mean it like that. I actually wanted to say ‘idiot, but why did you order so many?’ I just meant to make the conversation go smoothly. I might be blunt, but it’s a proof of my friendless, I don’t have bad intentions! And the sister and blue-haired dude behind us, don’t look over here with those eyes!!”

Unable to withstand the pressure, Kamijou started to shout crazily.

“Frustration meal.”

The corpse-like shrine maiden that had stopped moving suddenly spoke such words.

“Ha?”

“Train fare back home, four hundred yen.”

Facing those suspicious words from the shrine maiden, Kamijou could only swallow his saliva. Kamijou didn’t have any memories of taking a train, but he knew that taking a train or a bus in Academy City was extremely expensive.

“What has four hundred yen for a train ride back has to do with a frustration meal?”

“My total fortune, three hundred yen.”

“…And the reason is?”

“Overspending, lack of planning.”

“…”

“So that’s why I’m having a frustration meal.”

Kamijou barely managed to swallow the words ‘you idiot’ that was about to come out of his throat.

After careful consideration, he said, “But why don’t you use that three hundred yen for the train ride? If that’s the case, you can cut the distance until it’s just a hundred yen distance. If not, why can’t you just borrow a hundred yen from someone?”

“—That idea’s good.”

“Why are you staring at me like that? Or rather, don’t turn your expectant look to me!!”

Kamijou frantically let his body back away from the shrine maiden as much as possible. He had already spent 3,600 yen (meaninglessly just to buy a reference book), and even bought three shakes just to calm Index down, so even though it was just a hundred yen, it was a heavy burden to him.

Speaking of which…

The shrine maiden who then lifted her face up was unexpectedly beautiful.

She was a little different from the foreigner Index. She had skin that was as white as a Japanese person which was even more visible under the black eyes and hair. Though her eyes lacked emotion, it also meant that she was not aggressive. Even if she wanted someone to be with her, she gave the feeling of comfort. It could be said to be a tremendous encompassing power.

“……………”

Index scowled and glared at him.

“Y-you’re kidding. Kami-yan’s actually talking to a girl… to actually be talking to a girl he just met for the first time... it can’t be true!”

Aogami Pierce grumbled angrily, truly attempting to ruin Kamijou’s reputation.

“Shut up, Aogami Pierce! Gather at the back of the gym later, you business contact bastard! As for you, find a way to get a hundred yen by yourself and go home! Transmission complete!”

“What do you mean? Kami-yan, it’s strange to end the talk here! For a man who for sixteen years was in the group of dejected losers, how did you become acquaintances with girls of such unique attributes like a sister and a shrine maiden within two weeks!? What? What kind of galge is this, sensei?!”

Aogami Pierce cried out in confusion and Kamijou truly desired to reward him with a punch. However, as they sat diagonally, he could not do so. Just examining the positions of their seats was enough to see how misfortunate Kamijou was.

“One hundred yen please.”

The shrine maiden lifted her head and stared with a complicatedly pained expression. She continued.

“No good”

“No good. Don’t lend to those that don’t lend”

“…” The shrine maiden pondered for a while and said, “…So stingy. Won’t even lend a mere one hundred yen.”

“…Who’s the idiot who doesn’t even have a hundred yen!?”

Kamijou inadvertently retorted back.

“Kami-yaaan, how can you respond like that so naturally? As one who has the fate of being in the group of dejected losers, you should not be able to respond normally in front of a beauty!”

Aogami Pierce let out a voice that seemed like it was squeezed out from the bottom of hell.

“…Beauty.”

The shrine maiden’s eyes waved, causing one to wonder what she was thinking about.

“Lend me a hundred yen since I’m beautiful.”

“Geh! Shut up, you terrible woman! An ill-natured woman who sells her own looks to get money, isn’t a beauty at all! It was futile in the first place since I just bought three shakes so I don’t have any money to spare!”

“Th-thank goodness, Kami-yan. You still think that a beautiful girls’s heart must be pure, so you haven’t left the 2-D world?”

“...In other words, Touma. If you didn’t get me this shake you would have handed her 100 yen and settle the issue. That’s what you’re saying, right? Humph.”

The stares and cries of outrage began to surface and they far surpassed Kamijou’s computing abilities.

Kamijou grabbed his head, wondering which point he should settle first. At that point, Index, slurping the shake with a straw, was glaring at the shrine maiden with hostility.

“Humph. Seeing that you’re wearing red pants, I suppose you do divinations, right? So shrine maidens who do divinations will also sell their faces, right? I even heard that the term ‘shrine maiden was a hidden way of calling a ‘whore’ in the Heian period, right?”

Kamijou jumped up and shouted on hearing that, and Aogami Pierce was going crazy for some reason, shouting “Hahaha, a sister and a shrine maiden are going at it!”.

Just as Kamijou intended to force Aogami Pierce to shut up, the shrine maiden spoke.

“I’m not a shrine maiden.”

“What?”

The black-haired girl who looked exactly like a shrine maiden and whose photo could be used for an entry in an encyclopedia said such words, causing everyone to stare at her.

“Eh, if you’re not a shrine maiden, what are you?”

Kamijou, who became everyone’s representative for some reason, asked that.

“I’m a magic-user.”²

“………………”

Everyone sank into silence. The sounds of the cable broadcast in the shop seemed too far away. For some reason, though Kamijou had lost his memory, he had a strong feeling that he had experienced this before. But more importantly, why was Index trembling over there? Kamijou cried deep inside.

Index slammed onto the table with both hands.

Before the shakes on the tray could even jump up, Index roared.

What kind of magic-user? Kabbalah!? Enoch!? The School of Hermes, Mercurius’s Vision, or Modern Astrology!? Don’t just declare yourself something as vague as a magic-user and tell us your specialty, school, magic name and order name you idiot!”

“???”

“You can’t call yourself a magician without even knowing all of these! In the first place, since you’re a divination shrine maiden, you should at least brag about being an oriental astrologer from the Onmyoudou!”

“Okay. Well then, I’ll be that.”

“Well then!? Did you say ‘well then’ just now!?”

Index slammed both her hands on the table for a second and third time.

Kamijou sighed while he looked around him. Though the shop’s interior was bustling, it could be said that Index’s manner of heating up was a little too much. He had to quiet her soon.

“Haa, I’ve understood well that this shrine maiden isn’t a shrine maiden but a magic-user so quiet for a bit.”

“Wha-!? Touma, your attitude is clearly different from when you first met me!”

Ugaah!

Index glared in Kamijou’s direction and seemed like she would vigorously bite him at any moment. The reality was that the memoryless Kamijou had truly forgotten about his former days. However he couldn’t possibly tell her “sorry, I lied about my memories”.

“If she herself thinks that she’s a magic-user, let her be. Since she’s not trying to harm someone or trick someone, don’t mind it.”

“…Uu, when I wanted to prove that magic was real, my clothes got stripped off.”

“Ha?”

“Nothing! I didn’t say or think anything!!”

With a face that matched her grumbling noises, Index vigorously turned to look the other way. Things seemed fine but underneath the table, someone was repeatedly trampling Kamijou’s foot. Things were not fine. No matter how one thought about it, there could have only been one culprit.

“Ah.”

Index, who had turned her head aside, seemed to notice something.

Kamijou thought the shop attendants were unable to just watch the horseplay on display and felt like they would hand out a red card.

At that moment…

(Hm? …People?)

Feeling something was amiss, he realized that the table the four of them sat at was surrounded by about ten people.

“...”

Kamijou wondered why they didn’t notice them up until now.

Perhaps it was the same distance as the distance between the customers and the attendants who were asking for orders. The ten people stared over in their direction, looking like they wanted to surround the table. It was amazing that no one had noticed it.

Also, though shop was crowded, no one had noticed the anomaly. In other words, their presence had disappeared to such an extent that they looked like a troupe of assassins.

“…”

They were all dressed in the same suits and they were all in their twenties or thirties.

If they were in a train station during rush hour, they could make people basically fail to remember their faces and names. However, their expression didn’t carry any emotions at all, and because of that, they ended up being unable to mix into the surroundings.

(What emotionless expressions. Their eyes...?)

Kamijou wondered where he had seen that expression before. Then, he looked back around the table.

In front of his eyes was the shrine maiden whose name he didn’t know.

Her expression was still emotionless even with ten men surrounding them.

“One hundred yen more,” said the shrine maiden.

She spoke as she silently stood up. Her attitude was as casual as meeting someone for a planned arrangement, showing her unwariness of them.

One of them backed away and made a path. Another one respectfully handed over a one-hundred-yen coin on his palm to the shrine maiden without saying anything.

“Eh? Ah, so you know these people?” Kamijou said, not understanding the situation.

“…”

The shrine maiden looked around herself for a bit, seemingly pondering something.

“Mm, they’re cram school teachers.”

It was a nonchalant tone.

The shrine maiden walked to the first level. The ten men silently followed behind like shadows and bodyguards.

The familiar buzzing and wired music seemed to be heard from afar, as the volume was becoming softer.

When everyone had left, Aogami Pierce finally spoke.

“Hold on, why did salary men cram school teachers take care of her if she’s a pupil? They’re not elementary school disciplinary officers.”

3

It was a summer evening.

In order to forget about that mysterious shrine maiden and those men clad in suits, Kamijou and company decided to play hard and go back home like elementary school students after school and dispersed after 5PM.

Aogami Pierce said bye-bye like a child and disappeared into the evening streets. Aogami Pierce did not live in a student dormitory like Kamijou but was living the rare life in a boarding house at a bakery. It was said that he stayed there because the bakery uniform resembled a maid outfit.

Kamijou and Index were alone near a large department store along the main street in front of the station.

Kamijou sighed.

Just as the idea that both of them were alone had appeared in his mind, there was a numbing tension spreading throughout his entire body.

There was no need to mention why.

“What’s the matter, Touma?”

Facing a question with such an innocent smile, he could only answer that it was nothing. He carefully maneuvered to avoid being found out and sighed.

It was because they lived together.

And they were even secretly living in a boys dormitory.

And most importantly, the person acted just like a little girl.

It was several days since he had returned from the hospital and she slept beside Kamijou everyday as if it were normal. However, her sleeping habits were terrible. Perhaps it was because of her dislike of the heat that she would reveal her feet or bellybutton from her pajamas. There was no choice but to shut himself in the bathroom and lock the door in order to avoid an incident. Because of this, Kamijou Touma was recently sleep deprived.

“…Could it be that I am like one of those hopeless cases that gets reported on in the news?”

A completely exhausted Kamijou muttered to himself. How would the Kamijou Touma ‘before he lost his memories’ have viewed the situation? In fact, the source of the two of them living together was the Kamijou Touma ‘before he lost his memories’. What the heck were you doing without me knowing, Kamijou Touma! He roared in his heart.

“Ah!”

Walking halfway, Index suddenly stopped, seemingly seeing something.

“Eh?” Feeling depressed, Kamijou stared where Index’s gaze was directed. At the base of a windmill turbine sat a corrugated paper box with a kitten purring inside.

“Touma! Ca—”

“No way!”

Kamijou interrupted Index before she could finish.

“...Touma, I haven’t said anything yet!”

“We’re not raising it”

“Why why why why can’t we raise Sphinx?”

“Because our student dormitory doesn’t allow us to have pets and I don’t have any money! Also, don’t already give it a name! And what, Sphinx?! Don’t give that name to a Japanese calico cat!!”

“Why don’t you keep a cat! Do as you are told!”³

“???...Hah! Don’t think I’ll listen to you if keep on uttering English words!”

“No way! Kaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaukaauu!!”

“Even with such a strange Stand-like screaming attack⁴, no means no! Now look, didn’t the stray cat get scared and run into the alley!?”

“It’s all Touma’s fault!”

“Mine!?”

Gugyah!

The two shouted at each other in the summer evening.

Kamijou casually thought. ‘How did the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma treat this girl?’ was his question. There probably isn’t a sure answer to those feelings.

That was happiness.

But at the same time, it was slightly lonesome.

After all, the girl was not looking at the current Kamijou. What made her completely at ease and the person she wanted to show her extraordinary smile to was the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.

It was a painful thing to say.

Even so, Kamijou still intended to struggle on.

“Humph, the Japanese shamisen are made from torn off cat skins! Why must this country only do harsh things to cats!?”

“…Don’t overtly criticize other countries’ cultures, you idiot! In fact, don’t you English folks also love to gather together and chase down foxes, right!?”

“Wha... Fox hunting is the Great Britain’s tradition and pride——!”

Shouting halfway, Index suddenly noticed something and moved away.

“W-What? The cat? You’ve gone back to that cat from earlier!?”

Kamijou looked around. However, the shadow of the cat couldn’t be seen.

“…That’s strange, Touma it seems that a flow of magic power is being gathered nearby.”

Index stared at Kamijou and muttered.

“...The attribute is earth, color is green. This ritual... uses the earth as a medium to introduce magic power and acts through conscious intervention...”

It seemed like a monologue of the contents of her deep thought were leaving her mouth.

What the hell? As Kamijou examined the situation, Index spoke one word.

“...Runes?”

Spinning around and showing a sharp glint in her eyes reminiscent of the cutting edge of a knife, Index began to run vigorously towards the back alley of the gap between the buildings on the side of the road.

“W-, hey, Index!”

“It looks like someone has set up a magic circle. I’ll go investigate it Touma, so go back first!” As soon as she said that, Index’s figure disappeared into the interior of the back alley.

“She told me to go back first, but…”

Kamijou thought that she was quite the mysterious girl. He thought it but he could not simply leave her behind. This was because a girl went into a really shady back alley by herself. He thought her encounter rate with an incident was like in a mid-grade RPG of poor quality.

Misfortune reared its head again and Kamijou sighed.

He raised his foot to follow her into the alley. But, at the same instant, a voice came from behind him.

“It’s been a while, Kamijou Touma.”

His foot, about to step into the alley, stopped.

It was because he heard the words “It’s been a while”. For Kamijou, those were essentially taboo. He remembered ‘information’ like the Japanese language or first grade mathematics. However his recollections were different. He remembered nothing, not even the trivial from when he bought a game to the important like how he scored on his end-of term exams.

As he could not remember names and faces, hearing something like “It’s been a while” caused him to only give his most sincere false smile.

For the sake of protecting a certain girl’s ‘happiness,’ Kamijou Touma would never let others realize that he had lost his memories.

He turned to look behind him.

“Ah.”

As expected, Kamijou had no recollection of the man standing there.

He was more of a teenager than a man but for a man over two meters tall, the term teenager could have been a stretch. He wore a black priest’s robe and, like Index, he lacked the pale white skin of the Japanese.

Though he was a priest, the smell of perfume was overwhelming. His long hair was dyed red, his ears were pierced, every one of his fingers was decorated by rings and under his right eye was a barcode tattoo. This fallen impression he gave was like that of a depraved monk or even a heretic.

He couldn’t possibly recall him. Or rather, he didn’t want to recall this boy.

“Humph. Not even a greeting, even though we haven’t met for a while? Hm, that’s fine too. That’s how our relationship should be. We can’t just act like comrades after working together once.” The priest with the foul smelling perfume spoke earnestly.

(Just what is this guy...?)

While pondering the strange existence of the priest in front of his eyes, Kamijou felt more of a strong sense of discomfort towards the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma who was acquainted with this suspicious-looking human....

Kamijou glanced and ran towards the back alley in his line of sight. Index had jumped into that alley all by herself. He was too busy to waste any leisure time with this suspicious priest...

“Ah, don’t worry about that girl. I just used Opila runes over there so she probably just detected the flow of magic power and went to take a look.”

Kamijou was stunned.

Runic magic. A magical language that the Germanic people adopted in the second century A.D. Essentially, they were “words of power” such as “Kenaz”. With Kenaz on paper, flames would form over.

(…What’s going on?)

Kamijou’s throat couldn’t even make any voice.

It was not because of the priest in front of his eyes talking about some strange runic magic.

It was because such ridiculous knowledge flowed naturally from his own head without any sense of discomfort.

It was clearly abnormal. It was like running a rusted motorbike into the middle of a clear river, like a gaping-wide hole in a world devoid of abnormalities.

It had mixed into a world where green meant go and text messages cost money. The abnormality was mixing together with everyday life!

What kind of world did the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma live in?

For the first time, Kamijou Touma trembled at the true nature of his own self.

“Hm?”

The scented priest seemed to see something in Kamijou’s eyes and closed one eye and smiled.

Kamijou couldn’t understand what was going on. He couldn’t even afford to match a conversation with others. He could only ambiguously smile and suppress the nebulous feeling. As Kamijou smiled, the red-haired priest pulled out what appeared to be a card and spoke.

“Stop smiling all the time. Do you want me to kill you?”

The red-haired priest’s smile was like melted wax, as his face extended sideways.

A chill.

The knowledge that the pre-memory loss Kamijou had was telling him that there was danger.

Without having the time to think, Kamijou raised his right hand.

Quickly raising his right hand before his own eyes, as if he were blocking light shining into eyes, at the same instant, flames burst out of the priest’s right hand. As if gasoline was spewing out from within the priest’s hand, in that moment a shining crimson flame sword was produced.

The priest did not wait even one second.

Without any hesitation at all, without a shred of mercy—the flame sword was vigorously swung down towards Kamijou’s face.

The instant the flame sword clashed, it simultaneously swelled up and exploded like a balloon and the flames scattered all around. The atrocious sound of the flames absorbing oxygen echoed. The three thousand degrees Celsius flaming hell that formed a vortex that enveloped all nearby exhausted itself.

With a boom, the flames did not completely stop. They shined but, in an instant, extinguished as if freezing and then breaking.

“Ha… hah…”

Kamijou didn’t frantically lower the right hand that had protected his face as he continued with his heavy breathing.

Imagine Breaker.

The unusual power of unknown identity that dwelled in Kamijou’s right hand. Whether it was a supernatural power or even one of God’s miracles, it would be negated on contact.

“Hah… hah…!”

Seeing the stiff, trembling, and immobile Kamijou, the priest finally smiled.

“That’s it. That face. Shouldn’t the relationship between Kamijou Touma and Stiyl Magnus be like this? Don’t make me repeat myself, our relationship isn’t such that we could call each other comrade after working together once.”

The priest’s smile stretched larger as if it would rupture and melt.

However, Kamijou couldn’t respond. It was not that he feared the abnormal power that dwelled within him. Neither did he fear the priest named Stiyl Magnus. Indeed, there was but one issue.

What bothered him was that he could actually respond in time to block the attack, a flame sword at that without a thought. In other words, he feared his knowledge.

It was really scary.

“What... are you—”

Kamijou frantically took two or three steps back because the knowledge of the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma was telling him that his life was in danger.

Kamijou deduced that there was no spare time for him to be concerned with the enemy within. Right now, he had to do something about the enemy on the outside.

“—doing? You bastard!!”

Perhaps, as a result of the knowledge imprinted in his mind, Kamijou growled and entered a fighting stance of no particular style. He was in fact quite surprised he was accustomed to fighting.

On the other hand, the magician that looked like a priest chuckled.

“Hm? I just want to tell you a secret.”

(What nonsense are you spouting?)

Just as Kamijou was thinking that… Stiyl pulled out an envelope.

It felt like it had a lot of information.

(Is he really thinking of giving me secrets?) Kamijou frowned. (This guy just created one huge explosion on this one-direction three-lane road that as wide as a runway. And now he’s trying to tell me a secret?)

(…?)

Thinking about that, Kamijou suddenly realized something.

There was a huge explosion, and yet the surroundings hadn’t been involved in the commotion.

(…!?)

No. It was only now that Kamijou realized the truth.

Rather than a lack of commotion, there was a lack of people. On the said road as wide as a runway, there were department stores lined up on either side. But, giving it thought, there were no people or cars, only Kamijou and Stiyl.

The windmill turbines were still rattling, echoing through the empty street like a skeleton laughing.

Far away, he could hear the siren ringing from the empty crossing.

“I just said it before...”

Perhaps trying to break the silence of the night coast, Stiyl chuckled.

“...I used the Opila rune.”

“Ehwaz (Go),” Stiyl said and flicked the large fan-mail like envelope from his hand with his index finger. The thick envelope spun like a Frisbee and slowly landed on Kamijou’s hands.

There were mysterious characters on the envelope, looking like they wanted to seal the documents inside.

“Gebo (Receive).”

The moment Stiyl had muttered that, the words on the envelope started to glow. The seal opened right down the middle as if it was sliced apart by a knife.

“Do you know of a university prep school by the name of Misawa Cram School?”

Stiyl asked as if singing. A vast number of documents flew out of the envelope one by one, which likewise each seemingly having runes engraved on them, flew out of the envelope and, almost like a magic carpet, only the needed documents gently floated in front of Kamijou’s eyes.

“Misawa…?”

Kamijou Touma had memory loss.

Not having any memories, he had no choice but to scan the name through his own knowledge. However, he still had no impression of the name Misawa. It had seemed that the pre-memory loss him lacked interest in university entrance exams.

“It seemingly boasted to be the university prep school with the largest market share in this country, you know?”

Stiyl said with melancholy.

A university prep school, as the name may have implied, was tuition based. Repeat students who failed their university entrance exams gathered there to study.

However, the “university prep school” in Academy City had another meaning. It was to provide to those individuals who already had the potential to enter college but chose to spend a year to study.

A piece of paper floated in front of Kamijou.

It seemed that Misawa Cram School held not only “university prep schools” but “active prep schools” for those students yet to take an exam.

“...So, why are you telling me about this Misawa Cram School? Is there a discount offered when you introduce it to friends?”

Kamijou asked Stiyl with a look that obviously showed that he didn’t trust him.

That was because he couldn’t imagine any relationship that priest that reeked of cologne would have with a prep school.

“It’s like this,” Stiyl nonchalantly explained, “A girl was imprisoned there, and it’s my duty to save her.”

Stunned, Kamijou stared at Stiyl.

It wasn’t because of the scary word “imprisoned”, but because he was suspecting whether that man was serious. Of course, even if Stiyl was crazy, it was nothing to Kamijou. However, that guy could use flames like weapons, so it would be dangerous if he went berserk.

“Hm, I thought that you would understand if I showed you the information.”

Stiyl lifted his index finger up. The envelope that was in Kamijou’s hands let out printing paper that continued to fly around Kamijou like snowflakes.

—One of them was the rough sketch of Misawa Cram School.

However, apparently there was a discrepancy with the sketch of the drawing in regards to the exact size of the drawing when comparing measures with infrared and ultrasonic scans taken from the outside. It was obvious that there were irregular hidden rooms in several places as if the building was worm-eaten.

—The second was a chart of Misawa Cram School’s electricity bill.

However, after examining the charge for all of the rooms and all of the electrical goods, the charges did not match up. It was obvious that a large amount of electricity was being used in this building as if it was being hidden from human eyes.

—The next one was a checklist of people going in and out of Misawa Cram School.

However, it was clear that both students and teachers were purchasing large number of groceries. Some investigators pretending to be garbage collectors examined the interior of all of the garbage cans but the numbers there did not match up either. It was obvious that ‘someone’ in the building was living off the food being brought in.

—And the last sheet of paper was…

A report of a sighting a month ago, regarding a girl walking into the Misawa Cram School building.

According to the student dormitory manager, from then on the girl never returned to her room.

““As of now, it seems that Misawa Cram School has turned into a new religion that is centered on Science Worship,” Stiyl said nonchalantly.

Science Worship…? Kamijou frowned in surprise.

“You’re, talking about those things, right? Beliefs such as God’s true identity being that of an alien that came aboard a UFO or trying to make a clone using the DNA of a saint, right...?”

The idea that science and religion didn’t mix was rather shallow. In the western world, there were many doctors and scientists who were Christians.

However, if such a relationship were forced, it was a fact that there would be a lot of terrible things. Besides, it was common for those people that had the most advanced technology to produce poison gas and explosives.

Academy City, which was the leading power in scientific technology and also a learning and education hub, would normally be extremely careful with such science and religious stuff. Besides, if the places that were supposed to be for educational purposes had some problems, the place would immediately become a brainwashing plant.

“I don’t know what they’re teaching. Honestly, I’m not even going to pretend to know what kind of religious cult that Misawa Cram School has degenerated into. As of the current time, it has already been dissolved. “

“…?”

“To put it a bit more extreme,” Stiyl continued on, not looking like he cared much, “Misawa Cram School got taken over. The science-crazy, bogus religious group was consumed by a real, authentic magician—no, an alchemist of the Zurich school, to be precise.”

“An authentic one…?”

“Yeah, I know it sounds suspicious coming from me but... wait a minute.”

“What is it?”

“…Since when did you become so perspective? Are you basically ignoring me because you don’t understand at all?”

Kamijou was shocked.

It wasn’t like what Stiyl was saying was off-mark. He was truly listening to Stiyl and was trying to understand and respond to the unfamiliar terms.

But it was because he did so that Stiyl felt that something was amiss.

It was as if a certain person had realized that the current Kamijou Touma was somewhat different from the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.

(Don’t realize it, don’t realize it…!)

The current Kamijou didn’t know what relationship this magician had with that girl. But no matter how distant their relationships were, Kamijou didn’t want to let others know that he had lost his memories.

Kamijou saw it. He saw it in the hospital room. He saw the girl in the white nun’s habit crying. The tears of happiness for the boy who was treated as the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.

He could not allow that girl’s salvation to be destroyed.

For this reason, Kamijou would deceive the world. He would even deceive himself.

“What? You give me that just because I so happened to be listening attentively? Are you a masochist or something? Are you the type that wants others to interrupt your words left and right?”

But right now, the current Kamijou didn’t know how different he was from the pre-memory loss Kamijou. It was like walking while looking at a map; even though he knew he was walking the wrong way, if he looked around and found desert everywhere, he couldn’t tell where the right path was.

For a while, Stiyl stared suspiciously at Kamijou’s face.

“Fine, whatever. It’s not a problem that this conversation is going well anyway.”

Stiyl finally reverted back to the original conversation.

“The main point is the reasons why that alchemist took over Misawa Cram School. Of course, the simplest reason is that he probably feels that it’s convenient to just use Misawa Cram School as a base. Most of the students may not have realized that the principal of this prep school has changed.”

“However,” Stiyl then exhaled lightly and said, “The most important reason why the alchemist took over was Deep Blood who was captured Misawa Cram School.”

Deep Blood?

Kamijou had never heard of that name before, and neither did he have any such knowledge about that. However, the name itself already sounded terrifying.

“Originally, it seems that Misawa Cram School confined her to perform the duties of a shrine maiden. In actuality, their idea wasn’t wrong. It’s a viable method to use a shrine maiden as a sacrifice to summon higher level beings.”

“…”

“But this Deep Blood was already targeted by the alchemist, it’s just that Misawa Cram School took her away first. No, perhaps to him, it can’t be helped. His original plan should be to abduct the Deep Blood without anyone noticing and escape Academy City. However, because the Misawa Cram School blew things out of proportions, his plans were ruined.”

“So he forcefully took back what belongs to him from Misawa Cram School?”

It was like a master thief making all sorts of preparations to steal something from an art gallery, only for terrorists to occupy the building. The thief then stole the painting he had wanted to steal from those destructive maniacs who didn’t understand the value of those paintings, only to find that the art gallery had been packed with police. Unable to do anything, the master thief then had to build a barricade at the entrance of the art gallery and hide inside.

“That’s right. For the alchemist, the acquisition of that would be his dearest wish.... No. If I say that, in that case it would be better to say that it is the dearest wish for the entirety of magicians. Or maybe even all of humanity.”

“???”

Kamijou had no idea what he was talking about and made and revealed a puzzled face.

“It’s an ability that’s purpose is to kill a ‘certain living thing.’ No, not only that. It offers the only chance of capturing that certain creature alive to prove its existence.”

Kamijou still didn’t understand.

“Well, if I have to use Christian terminology, this certain creature is known as Cain’s descendant.” Stiyl chuckled, and then he said in a whisper, “Basically, they’re vampires.”

He finally said it.

“Are you kidding me?”

Hearing such words, that was the first response Kamijou gave.

Vampires. Kamijou didn’t know where the legend about them originally started. However, according to the depiction in games and manga…

Vampires were afraid of crosses and sunlight.

Vampires would die when they were hammered with a stake.

Vampires would be reduced to ash after they died.

Those bitten by vampires would become vampires.

...He only knew those facts. And, for some reason, the information that Kamijou knew were from manga and games (and fighting games at that). In reality, the cross was useless.

“…Those who can think that it’s a joke are considered lucky.”

Stiyl gnashed his teeth and looked away.

As of then, the flame manipulating magician seemed to fear something.

“Humph. Since Deep Blood exists in order to kill vampires, the talk can’t continue if there are no ‘vampires to be killed.’ It’s like how the bad guys exist for the sake of the ally of justice. It’s a vicious cycle but this is absolute. ...Well, if possible I don’t want to admit it.”

“...What do you mean? Do these fictional vampires actually exist?”

Kamijou’s heart was still denying it.

However, the man in front of him was still as stern as ever, making him unable to brush that off.

“Nobody has ever seen a vampire,” Stiyl Magnus looked like the embodiment of self-confidence as he said in a chant like tone, “Because everyone who saw one died.”

“…”

“Of course, I’m not going to believe in such things so easily. The troublesome thing is that nobody ever saw a vampire before, but the existence of Deep Blood confirms the existence of a vampire. Nobody knows how strong they are, nobody knows how many there are, nobody knows where they are, nobody knows nobody knows nobody knows… How can we deal with them when we don’t even know anything about them?”

Stiyl continued to chant on, but Kamijou, who still couldn’t accept the term “vampire”, still couldn’t understand anything about that. In the end, he could only think that it was like they were dealing with hidden terrorists all over the world.

“But on the other hand, it’s because no one knows about the truth behind them that there’s all sorts of unknown possibility.”

Stiyl sneered cynically.

“Kamijou Touma, have you heard of the Tree of Sephirot? …I suppose you haven’t, right?”

“…Do you think that you can ruin my pride like that?”

“Whatever. Anyways, the Tree of Sephirot depicts the ‘soul level’ of God, angels and humans on a class status diagram. To put it simply, humans can climb up the ranks by training, but at some point, they won’t be able to climb up any higher.”

“…You’re treating me like an idiot, aren’t you? What are you trying to say?”

“Is your pride hurt? What I’m trying to say is… there are some disciplines that humans can’t reach no matter how much they try. However, humans do want to continue their ascent no matter what. Magicians became magicians because they want to surpass a human’s limits. If so, what must humans do to surpass this limit?” Stiyl’s expression looked like he was about to rip his sneering expression apart. “It’s simple. They just need to borrow the power of anything other than humans.”

Kamijou couldn’t say anything.

“The so-called vampires are immortal. Even if you stab their gouged out hearts with a magic sword they can continue to live. When all’s said and done, I wonder if a living magic tool can still feel things?” Stiyl easily continued, “The authenticity of the words is not important. Even if there was a slight possibility, the scholar would test it.”

In other words, this was what Stiyl meant.

The existence of the vampires wasn’t important. What was important was that some people believed that they did exist and made a fuss out of it. Since someone blew things up, someone else would have to settle it. That was the crux of the situation.

“In other words, nobody knows whether vampires exist or not, right?”

It was common to see it in action films; a bunch of people fighting over some ancient treasure that nobody knew whether it existed or not. However, it was stupid for such things to happen in real life.

“That’s because, dealing with the ‘existences that we don’t know if they truly exist’ is originally our job.” Stiyl chuckled cynically. “It looks like both Misawa Cram School and the alchemist were serious. They seriously want to have discussions with a vampire. For that purpose, they needed the essential trump card called Deep Blood.”

“…”

“Even so do you know about Deep Blood’s past? It’s rumored that the girl originally used to live in a mountain village in Kyoto. But, one day, the village was annihilated. The last villager who reported on the case was seemingly in a state of disarray, saying that a monster would kill him. When the rescue arrived, all they found was an empty village, a single girl standing completely still and fiercely blowing white ash as if it were a blizzard seemingly covering the entire village, or so it was said.”

Ash.

It was said that vampires would turn into ash after they died.

“It’s true that vampires are ‘existences that we don’t know if they truly exist.’. But try to think about it more carefully. Deep Blood is the ‘power to kill vampires’. If that’s the case, Deep Blood must first encounter vampires in order to work. As for those who wish to encounter vampires by all possible means, the best way is to restrain Deep Blood But then, the big question is how to control the possessor of the ‘absolute power to kill vampires.’”

It was a completely supernatural discussion.

It was dangerous to listen on, Kamijou’s instincts were telling him. If he continued to listen to that person, his common sense would be twisted. And Kamijou had a premonition that if that kept up, it may end up in a state where he couldn’t reverse it.

In order to end that conversation, he clearly raised a suspicion.

“Alright, you told me so many secrets, what do you want to tell me now?”

“Ah, that’s right. We don’t have much time, so let’s end this quick.” Stiyl nodded twice and said, “…Basically, I have to charge into Misawa Cram School and save Deep Blood.”

Kamijou simply nodded in response.

“Don’t nod away like that. You’re coming with me.”

…………………..

“Huh!? Bastard, what did you just say!?”

“That was an accurate description of the situation. Also, the conversation just now was the briefing. Do you still remember everything? The papers are engraved with the Kenaz flame runes and are due to burn up after you see them so it’ll be bad if you forget.”

“Wai…!”

(Are you kidding me!?)

This Stiyl in front of him was a person whose power was most suited for killing and was a merciless killer. If he was going into some enemy alchemist’s stronghold, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get involved in a killer incident.

“Also, one more thing,” Stiyl casually replied, “I suppose you don’t have any rights to refuse. If you don’t obey, we’ll take away Index from you.”

“!”

For some reason, those words were etched deeply inside Kamijou.

The knowledge was afraid. The remnants of the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma seemed to be afraid of something.

“Necessarius has given you the role of being “shackles” for the purpose of preventing Index, whose “collar” has been removed, from betraying the organization. However, if in the case that you alone don’t abide by the will of the Church, your effectiveness cannot be anticipated. “ Stiyl sighed. “But well, if you become of no more use to the Church, personally it would be very good for me. I’d really thank you if you could do it. As there is no meaning in having useless ‘shackles’, I would also retrieve that girl without hesitation.”

That was a threat.

If he didn’t obey, they would take that girl away from him.

“…”

He was trembling. His heart was beating away like a wooden stake being hammered in. Kamijou Touma didn’t have any memories. The one who had met that girl was the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma, and it had nothing to do with the current him. The reason why his heart was beating so crazily and his brain was unable to think must have been because of the remains of the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma, and it had nothing to do with the current him.

But…

For some reason…

“…Bastard. Are you serious?”

Why did he believe so strongly that his anxiety was a correct response?

Kamijou wondered.

It was true that Index first met the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma, and the one Index trusted and smiled at wasn’t the Kamijou who was currently standing there

But even so, it was alright.

He once saw the girl in the white room, crying as she saw the battered and fatigued Kamijou.

In order not to make her cry.

Even if he had to fool the entire world, even himself, it was alright. Kamijou already swore to adhere to his own lie!

“…Humph.”

Stiyl nonchalantly looked away.

His expression was like an actor’s whose role got stolen; it was inexplicable.

“If you want to deal with me, wait until we deal with the alchemist hidden in Misawa Cram School first. Also, I forgot to mention it, Deep Blood’s real name is Himegami Aisa. There’s a photo here, and it’s best that you take a look. It’ll be bad if you can’t even remember the face of the person you’re going to save.”

A photo slipped out of the envelope.

The photo seemed to be powered by Stiyl’s runes as well as it danced in the air and stopped right in front of Kamijou.

Kamijou stared at the photo.

(Deep Blood. What kind of face does the esper that holds such a dangerous name have?)

There he found the face of the shrine maiden he had met during the day.

“Eh…?”

Kamijou’s breathing froze.

The person in the photo, which looked like it was and ID photo taken from a student handbook and then enlarged, was certainly Himegami Aisa—and the face of the shrine maiden he had met during the day.

Kamijou recalled what Stiyl had said.

“—Originally, it seems that Misawa Cram School confined her to perform the duties of a shrine maiden

He recalled what the girl had said during the day.

“—I’m not a shrine maiden.”

Kamijou recalled what the magician had said.

“—A girl was imprisoned there, and it’s my duty to save her.”

He had remembered Himegami Aisa’s words.

“—Mm, they’re cram school teachers.”

“…!”

(But why?)

Kamijou wondered. According to Stiyl’s explanation, Himegami Aisa should be imprisoned in Misawa Cram School. If that shrine maiden really was Deep Blood, why could she enter a fast food restaurant and eat hamburgers?

“—Train fare back home, four hundred yen.”

(Did she escape?)

The only possible reason why the imprisoned Himegami Aisa would be outside was because she had escaped from Misawa Cram School.

“—My total fortune, three hundred yen.”

If that was the case, it could explain why Himegami had so little money on her. Besides, if she had escaped without bringing much money then the money would gradually be less if she took trains and buses.

But why did she appear at a fast food restaurant, Kamijou wondered. Since she escaped from Misawa Cram School, how could she be standing around over there?

“—Frustration meal.”

“Ah!”

Suddenly, Kamijou recalled that.

What if, she couldn’t run any further because she ran out of money? When she couldn’t run any further, was she at least trying to make a final memory?

The girl wished for a hundred yen.

So if she just had a hundred yen more, she could escape from the control of Misawa Cram School?

In that case.

The girl’s one and only wish.

Who the hell was the idiot who refused her?

“—So that’s why I’m having a frustration meal.”

“Damn it…”

Also, Himegami didn’t resist when she was surrounded by the cram school teachers. Obviously, she must have wanted to resist. How could she be so willing to go back like that after escaping from Misawa Cram School?

Anyone else would have chosen to run away.

If she hadn’t been able to escape with her own power, she would have asked others for help.

However…

Asking for help would mean that, the people who were asked to help would get involved.

“Damn it all…!!”

Kamijou was extremely unhappy about it. He was so frustrated that he couldn’t think. He was outraged that Misawa Cram School didn’t treat that girl as a human and locked her up. He was revolted at the alchemist who had snatched the girl away. He was infuriated by Stiyl who had said that Deep Blood was the ace used to keep the vampires in check.

But the one that Kamijou was extremely vexed about was Himegami Aisa who had sacrificed herself to save Kamijou.

That’s because this was wrong. If Kamijou had just given her a hundred yen, he could have changed the girl’s fate. However, the girl was actually willing to sacrifice all the hard work she put in to escape from Misawa Cram School just to save a boy who sent her back into despair. That was wrong.

He did not know what type of “new religion” it was. But she was just a single girl. He could not imagine what sort of treatment someone confined to such a place would receive. He did not want to imagine it.

That pain was originally something Kamijou was supposed to taste.

(Don’t just involuntarily burden yourself—)

Kamijou bit his lips, and the taste of blood was felt on his canines.

(—with someone else’s misfortune!)

In reality, this was the root of Kamijou’s frustration, a fact that made his mind boil.

Kamijou didn’t have any memories.

However, how Himegami viewed herself was that she had always felt that it was alright even though everyone was treating her as a tool.

Ignoring her own pain to help others, and thinking that this was a form of happiness.

A girl who could still smile even after taking the pain from others.

In the past, Kamijou had seemed to meet such a girl before. Why couldn’t he remember? Kamijou was really vexed with himself.

He had to save her.

What should he say? Kamijou Touma wasn’t going to be able to relieve the anger in him if he didn’t punch that selfish and stubborn Himegami Aisa.

Between the Lines 1

—The girl was standing in the middle of the sea of ash.

It was a story of ten years ago.

One of the thirteen Knight Squads of England, 1st-Lancer, was assigned the mission of “gathering enemy information before any others.”

This time, the enemy territory was a mountain village located at Kyoto. They had to find the reason why the magical flow had become abnormally large, and eliminate any threatening things. That was their main aim.

—It had been over six hours since they lost contact with the village.

—It had been over three hours since the police who went there to investigate disappeared.

As every member of the squad could guess, the village in question was completely wrecked. However, that wasn’t something rare to them. England had the British Museum which was known as the Arsenal. That bloody altar contained spiritual treasures stolen from all over the world.

Compared to the raging soul of some ancient emperor that resided in some treasure, that mission wasn’t too dangerous.

In fact, the supplied equipment were also the usual Surgical Armor and cross-shaped spears; not even Longinus Replicas. Though the Surgical Armor were simply defenses possessing magical power that increased the bearer’s mobility by twenty-fold, they were still first class spiritual items that their superiors saw as more than enough.

However, there was something everyone was curious about.

The last survivor who called said something like this…

“Help… me... that’s not... human… that’s—”

Of course, nobody had believed him.

The higher-ups of the Church didn’t believe that, and didn’t give the knights proper equipment.

But the truth was, all of the members of the veteran 1st-Lancer were feeling an unpleasant pressure somewhere within them.

Though there were many remaining records in the British Museum, nobody had actually seen it before, and nobody caught that certain creature. As for this creature, it seemed to exist for some reason, it was a mystery as to why so many people wouldn’t admit its existence.

That was because if they had admitted that such a creature existed, the world would have been destroyed.

The terrifying thing wasn’t the power of this certain creature. If they couldn’t match its power, humans could use ways other than brute force to beat them. They could also create all sorts of tools and weapons to beat them.

The terrifying thing wasn’t the immortality of the certain creature. If they couldn’t even kill the enemy, they just had to find ways other than killing them to beat them. For example, they could just freeze them under the ice of Antarctica or dice the immortal flesh up into two hundred pieces and stuff them into bottles.

Those weren’t the problems.

The problem was the rumored vast amount of magic power those certain creatures had.

The magic power in magic was gasoline, to put it simply. By refining the crude oil in the body such as lifespan and life-force, one would produce the easy to use gasoline. For humans, who had limited lifespan from the very beginning, the differences between ‘strong’ and ‘weak’ magic were nothing more than differences between skillful and unskillful refining.

However, it was different for those certain creatures.

Fundamentally, the digits of the lifespan and life-force being used as crude oil was different. No, rather than a difference of digits, their life-force was literally ‘infinite’. Of course, this also lead to a difference in the amount of usable magic. A pistol with a limited number of bullets could not compete with an endless missile attack.

Thus, the members were just laughing at their insecurity, but they couldn’t get rid of it completely.

Just like that, he passed through mountains and reached that age-forgotten village. Just as they saw the scene over there, their hearts felt like they were squashed.

Pure white ash was spread all around.

That seemingly age-forgotten Eastern wasteland was covered by a layer of white ash like snow. The roofs of the huts, the earth in the fields, the narrow channels were all covered with a layer of ash.

Ash.

Was that the… remains of those certain creatures?

But that wasn’t what they were shocked by. If they were real corpses, the number definitely wouldn’t be limited to just ten or twenty. But looking at that amount of ash, the members were unable to believe their eyes.

In the middle of it all stood a girl.

She was an Eastern black-haired girl, about five or six years old. But on seeing that cute face of hers, the knights who specialized in eliminating radicals still couldn’t stop their hearts from beating wildly.

Because among the scene of dancing ash, where the remnants of the certain creature formed a living hell…

That girl still remained unharmed.

The wind started to blow, and the ash started to rise.

The ash that covered the entire wasteland scattered about, but only the area around the girl wasn’t affected by what seemed like a holy sanctuary. It felt like the dead ash was still afraid of her and was trying to avoid her.

“I…”

The girl spoke.

“I… killed again.”

It was like she was describing her everyday life.

Chapter 2

The Witch-Hunter Moves Along With the Flames.

By_The_Holy_Rood.

1

Kamijou stared at the expression of this girl called Index.

His knowledge was complaining. She had a perfect memory, which meant she wouldn’t forget anything she memorized. It was because of that that she was able to memorize 103,000 grimoires.

However, that ability could be a double-edged sword. If she couldn’t forget, it meant that she wouldn’t be able forget what she wanted to forget. All the meaningless memories, from a department store brochure three years ago to everyone’s face in a peak hour, would be stored in her brain, and she couldn’t “forget” to erase them.

Thus, she had to use magic to wipe her memories once every year. If she didn’t do that, she would die of the overwhelming burden in her brain. But right now, she was smiling in a carefree manner beside Kamijou.

According to her, the one who saved her from that predicament was Kamijou himself. However, Kamijou couldn’t remember what he had been thinking or what he did.

Then, Kamijou started to think.

He just said goodbye to Stiyl and brought Index back to the dorm. But next, Kamijou had to head to the battlefield called Misawa Cram School.

Of course, he definitely couldn’t bring Index along. If so, it was best that he not tell Index that he was going to the Misawa Cram School.

But if he couldn’t come up with a reason to get out of the house, Index may start to feel suspicious and perhaps even want to come along.

“Touma?”

His palms were sweaty.

It was a precarious situation. No matter what, he must never let Index come along.

“Hey, Touma?”

If so, it was obvious what he had to do.

Right now, Kamijou had to hide his insecurities, and launch a barrage of attacks.

“I’m going off to that Super High-Tech Primary Culture Institution for a bit. Eh? You want to go too? I don’t think so! You’re not good with machines and don’t know how to use the Super Magnetic Equation Cerebral Cortex Detector! You’ll get trapped by the door’s auto-lock! Since it’s Security Level 4, if they examine your Base and find an unregistered Exon, you’ll get Biri Biri’d. Biri Biri Minus Ion Beam!!”

“Gyawaah!”

As expected, under the bombardment of technobabble, Index’s head was letting out steam.

That was to be expected. Besides, Index, who didn’t have any knowledge of modern technology, may nod her head back in response when she would hear a vending machine at a train station say “welcome”.

“Then I’ll say this first. Dinner’s in the fridge, just microwave it and you can eat it. Don’t put the spoon in the microwave, or you’ll start a fire. And don’t you open the freezer door to cool yourself.”

“Eh? Ah, uu… I don’t seem to be really capable of using a microwave.”

Maybe one may suspect how one could misuse a microwave. However, Index did microwave a sauce pack of a convenience store bento, and it exploded. She also had tried to heat up a half-boiled egg, and it exploded. She had even microwaved a bento for too long, and it exploded. In the end, it seemed to her that no matter how she used the microwave oven, it would explode. Perhaps she thought that using a microwave was a sure-fire way for an explosion.

(…Seems like she’s not suspecting anything at all.)

Kamijou stared at Index, who was staring at the microwave and narrowing her wide eyes, giving the look that she wouldn’t fail again. He heaved a sigh of relief.

Then, he realized it.

“Hey! What’s hidden inside your clothes? More accurately, near the stomach!”

“Eh?”

Index froze.

She turned to Kamijou and said, “No, nothing at all!? I swear upon our Father in Heaven that sisters don’t tell lies!”

The moment she said finished, the abnormally large stomach let out a “mi—” cat cry.

“Guruahh! Was that all your piety was worth? Didn’t you just break the oath you made with all of your heart!? Hurry up and get that stray cat hidden in your clothes out!”

Perhaps it was because he was talking to Stiyl and was too nervous that he didn’t notice it. It was likely that the reason Index had stayed in the alley for so long wasn’t that she wanted to look for the source of the rune, but rather that she wanted to look for that stray cat.

“Uu! T-Touma, this piece of clothing is called the Walking Church, right?”

“So what?”

“And a church should open its arms without any conditions to any lost sheep! Therefore, I will protect Sphinx, who was lost on the streets, Amen.”

“…”

Kamijou’s lips seemed somewhat numb as he said, “…So, you mean that you’ll raise the cat inside the clothes, right? I understand! So the kitty litter and its excrement will be shoved down your collar, right?”

“…”

“…”

“Th-that’s fine! I’ve decided that Sphinx will be sheltered by the church!”

“Uwaah! To the person who thinks before she acts, at least consider the one being taken care of!”

“It’s all right as long as I treat it as family!”

“I don’t want to be treated like a dad by the cat!”

Though he really didn’t want to do it, Kamijou really felt like dumping the cat while heading to Misawa Cram School… No, he actually wanted to do it, but if he really did so, Index would want to get the cat back and would keep following Kamijou all the way.

“Idiot, Touma is an idiot! I’ll raise this child!”

“…Say that when you can earn money for yourself.”

“But don’t worry! Even though I called you an idiot, it was only in hiragana!”⁵

“Listen to me! Or rather, I have no idea what you’re saying!”

But on the other hand, if he agreed to it, Index would agree to him.

(…What can I say, such misfortune.)

Kamijou sighed. Calculating the funds needed to raise the cat, it seemed necessary to reduce the number of meals each day. Truly, why did Index choose this time to adopt a cat?

“………...Fine.”

“Hm? Touma? What did you say?”

“............Guess there’s no choice. Let’s keep it.”

But, well...

It seemed that those few words could make Index cry out tears of joy. It was worth it to be able to see Index show such an expression.

He thought so, however...

“Ahh, our Father in Heaven! Your warm light of love has finally reached the heartless, cruel, cold-blooded, snake-eyed Touma’s heart! Thank you for saving this stray cat’s innocent soul, I won’t forget this for the rest of my life.”

Something prevented Kamijou Touma from being fully satisfied.

2

After exiting the dormitory room, he saw Stiyl, who he had said goodbye to a while back, scattering card-like things all over the place.

“What are you doing?”

“As you can see, I am building a temple in this place by putting barrier.” Stiyl said as he worked. “While we are being occupied at Misawa Cram School, I can’t make a definite promise that some other magician won’t lay their hands on Index. Well, even though I think it is a mere consolation, I feel more optimistic leaving Innocentius behind in order to buy that girl enough time to run away.”

Innocentius.

Though Kamijou didn’t have any memory, his knowledge was telling him that that was a humanoid-shaped ultimate weapon made of three thousand degrees Celsius flames that had automatic tracking ability. The weakness was—

“It can only be used inside the barrier of scattered runes and will be unable to maintain its form if the runes are destroyed, is it?”

“…I’ll tell you this,” Upon his words, Stiyl’s ears twitched. “That does not mean my true strength is inferior to you in any way. It was only because by chance there was a geographical problem. If there were no sprinklers in that place then...”

“Eh? Did we fight before?”

Kamijou only had knowledge and no memories. Therefore, even though he knew how to beat Innocentius, he didn’t know where that knowledge came from.

“Ku… So you meant that that incident had no value in remembering?” Seemingly misunderstanding, Stiyl continued on, “Fine then, I won’t squabble with you over that. After I stick this rune up, the boundary will be complete, and we can head towards Misawa Cram School… How troublesome. I have to set up a boundary to keep off magicians, but I can’t make it too strong or else that girl will notice it.”

Despite muttering a complaint, Stiyl looked very happy somehow.

Thus, Kamijou somewhat realized something.

“Do you like Index?”

“Buh!?” Stiyl blushed as if his heart had stopped. “W-W-what are you suggesting all of a sudden!? Sh-She’s a target of protection and in n-no way an object of romantic interest—!”

Kamijou chuckled and ended the conversation.

That was because Kamijou felt that if he continued to delve deeper into that, he would be digging into his own grave. The main point wasn’t whether the current Kamijou Touma liked Index or not, but that the current Kamijou’s feelings mustn’t be any different from the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.

Kamijou didn’t know how the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma viewed Index nor how he had interacted with her.

If Kamijou said anything now that conflicted with the pre-memory loss him, Stiyl would realize that he had lost his memory.

(It’s like there are two of me…)

Kamijou sighed deeply in his heart. It wasn’t really accurate to say that there were two of him. It felt more like ridiculous joke where an imposter that had changed places and was desperately acting like the real one.

“Before we charge into Misawa Cram School, let’s talk about our enemy.”

Stiyl said that, perhaps trying to prevent Kamijou from asking on.

As they exited the student dormitory and walked on the night street, Kamijou listened to Stiyl’s description.

“The enemy’s name is Aureolus Izzard.”

Stiyl first introduced the enemy’s name.

“Speaking of Aureolus, there’s a person you’d think of… hm? What, are you surprised after hearing an excessively famous name? But he is simply a descendant and doesn’t have power to the extent that is heard in the legends.”

“? Who is this Aureolus?”

“...I see. You are completely unfamiliar with magic side. But even so, you have at least heard things about Paracelsus, right?”

“???”

“Ku... He’s the most famous alchemist in the world!” said Stiyl impatiently.

While walking down the evening street, Kamijou asked, “So, is this guy absurdly strong?”

The August sunset was burning. The large number of windows, windmill turbines, everything was dyed orange red. Kamijou thought that it looked just like a faded photograph. Perhaps that was because their conversation didn’t seem so realistic.

“That itself isn’t a big deal... But, what’s worrying is that he might possess ‘something’ to subjugate Deep Blood. I don’t want to consider it but... the worst case scenario is that he might be using Deep Blood to tame those certain creatures.”

More than Aureolus Izzard, it seemed like Stiyl was more mindful about those creatures.

But Kamijou couldn’t really understand. Even if the conditions were unique, he shouldn’t be treating the enemy’s ability as second priority.

“Oi, is that alright? I don’t know how irregular those vampires and Deep Blood are but shouldn’t we give priority to the enemy leader? When fighting in the scene of a fire, the opponent will give a hard blow if we only focus on the sea of flames.”

“Hm? Ahh, if that’s the case, there is no need to worry about it. Aureolus’ name may be first-class but their power has become weak. In the first place, there is no occupation of ‘alchemist’ in the magical world.” Stiyl spoke nonchalantly. “Divination, Alchemy, Summoning. These sound like your world’s Language, Mathematics and History. Language teachers wouldn’t try to abolish Mathematics, right? In order to call oneself a magician, the standard is to generally dabble in everything and afterwards discover a specialty that suits themselves.”

Stiyl also mentioned that the reason Aureolus Izzard had become an alchemist was because he wasn’t talented enough for the other roles.

“And also, alchemy is an incomplete field of research.”

“…”

Even if Stiyl said so, Kamijou didn’t have any idea of that at all. That was because to Kamijou, alchemy was only a fraud that was widespread in the sixteenth century and would come up with scams to fool royalty and other sorts of knowledge similar to a history calendar.

“Alchemy—especially the late Zurich branch of alchemy can be said to be a subset of the Hermes school. Normally speaking, the main motivations are to turn lead into gold and create an elixir of immortality, and so on—”

Stiyl sounded unmotivated, perhaps because it was out of his scope of expertise.

“Those were nothing more than experiments. They’re like what you’d call a scientist; always looking for… ‘theorems’ or… ‘laws’. Scientists don’t care about what they get from the test tube because it wasn’t their aim. It’s the same as that. The true nature of alchemists is not to “create” but to ‘know.’”

“...It’s like how Einstein was only researching on the Theory of Relativity, and the atomic bomb was just a by-product of the research?”

If one viewed it from that angle, scholars were really arrogant, never thinking of what their creations would do to society.

“That’s right. But, besides researching the formula and principle, alchemists have an ultimate goal.” Stiyl paused. “—To be able to simulate the entire world in one’s head.”

“...”

“If one can understand all the laws of the world, one can imagine the world in the brain. Of course, if even a single law is wrong, the simulated world in the brain will have flaws.”

“??? What do you mean by that? Are you talking about a Dummy Skill?”

It was said that on the primitive islands in the South Pacific like Fiji and Melanesia, one had to have the talent to be able to accurately predict the weather the next day with just a single glance to the sky in order to be a leader.

Though such weather forecast ability seemed esper-like, it was just a result of calculating wind currents, cloud shapes, temperatures and humidity’s in the brain. The island leaders never realized that their brains were calculating. Instead, they believed they listened to the voice of the wind to predict the weather.

What Stiyl meant was similar to that example in meaning.

It was true that in the leader’s mind, they may have completely simulated tomorrow’s weather. However, that imaginary world would be miles away from the actual one, if there was a tiniest error in their supposedly-perfect formula.

“...Hold on, but what can such an ability do? Are they trying to create some sort of calculator that can get everything in the future like a weather report?”

“No.”

Stiyl said nonchalantly.

“What if they can bring out what they thought of into the real world?”

That was really a shocking proclamation.

“For example, spells that involve ectoplasm, or spells that uses Telesma to summon angels; it’s not uncommon to see one pull the thoughts in the brain back to reality in the magic world.”

Stiyl folded his arms in front of his chest and said, “Thus, it’s important to have an ability to use the brain to accurately imagine the real world. Basically, with this power, one can control the world. Any gods or devils will bow down to that person.”

“...Hey.”

“Of course, it is very difficult to do this. The flow of the river; the flow of clouds; the flow of humans, the flow of blood—there is a vast number of laws in the world. Amongst them, if even one of them is incorrect it would not be possible to produce a world in the head. A distorted world is the same as a distorted pair of wings because they would immediately self-destruct and vanish.”

(That should be similar to a computer program.)

No matter how perfect the program was, if someone forgot to code a single line, there would be an error, and the program wouldn’t run.

“On the other hand, if he really somehow did it, wouldn’t no one be able to go against him? If he could alter the entire world, we would absolutely be unable to win.”

Perhaps, deep within him, Kamijou refused to believe it.

But he was right, humans couldn’t defeat the entire world. That didn’t mean that the gods or devils were strong or not; no, that wasn’t that case.

The point was that the entire world also included the people living in the world, including Kamijou himself.

A simplest example. There was a mysterious mirror that could reflect everything it showed into reality. In that situation, no matter how strong Kamijou was, once the opponent pulled out an identical Kamijou duplicate, the end result was that the duplicate would die off together with the real one.

But Stiyl didn’t look that anxious.

“I said it before, just relax. Alchemy is an incomplete field of research”.

“Huh?”

“Let me put it this way. If I want you to explain everything in the world, including every grain of sand on the beach or the stars in the night sky, how long are you going to take? I don’t think you can finish explaining after one or two hundred years, right?

“…”

“That’s the situation. The spell itself is completed. However, in order to complete the incantation a human’s lifespan is too short,” Stiyl continued as if spitting it out, “For that reason, it seems that they undertook various endeavors. For example, they tried shortening the spell a little by omitting the unnecessary parts; dividing the hundred part spell into tens then continuing the spell from parent to child with each generation casting a little bit of the spell at a time.”

But even so, there hadn’t been a case of success.

From the beginning, a completed incantation would have lacked any useless sections. From parent to child and child to grandchild... Passing down the incantations in such a manner would result in a distorted incantation like in a telephone game.

“However…” Saying up until there, Stiyl finally showed some battle intent and said, “…If those were living things that don’t have any limits in lifespan, they can recite finish the super long incantation. Perhaps it’s because of this, that certain creature is a rather huge threat to magicians.”

(Perhaps that was also an aim of why the enemy decided to get a vampire,) Kamijou thought.

To a scientist, it was painful when they knew an answer yet couldn’t prove it.

And if their bodies of flesh couldn’t fulfill it…

Couldn’t they just get some creature that could surpass a human’s limits?

“It’s true that this alchemy is still rather threatening, but right now, Aureolus Izzard shouldn’t be able to do this. The most he can do is to create a few things and turn this Misawa Cram School into a fortress, and then set up numerous traps to prevent outsiders from entering.”

“...?”

Kamijou felt that something was not right. Why was Stiyl so confident?

“Hey, do you know that Izzard guy?”

“Of course we do. We were from church organizations after all,” Stiyl casually said. “I belong to the Anglican Church, and he belonged to the Roman Catholic Church. We did meet each other before even though our sects were different. Of course, we aren’t friends.”

To Kamijou, it was really hard to imagine the terms “Church” and “magician” together.

Necessarius, the organization Stiyl and Index were affiliated to, was aimed at studying magic for the sake of killing magicians. However, they were heretics among the heretics. Even if the Anglican Church was recognized to have such an organization, the Roman Catholic Church of a different denomination couldn’t possibly have a similar organization...

After hearing Kamijou question that, Stiyl frowned and said, “Necessarius is an exception amongst exceptions, other Churches do not have similar organizations.”

Stiyl sighed and continued.

“But even if we’re exceptions amongst exceptions, the Cancellarius job he was tasked to do should be a unique example among unique examples. Basically, he writes grimoires in place of the church. Even though it’s a grimoire, the purpose is of the complete opposite. It’s like some teaching guide for which line in the Bible can be used to handle the spells those witches use.” Stiyl stretched his arm out and shook it about. “Of course, it’s not rare to see people of the church write grimoires as teaching guides, and those Pope Honorius III or the King James I’s grimoires are rather famous.”

“...I see. So that’s why you said that Aureolus Izzard’s power isn’t really much.”

“That’s right. He may be knowledgeable about this, but he can’t fight. It’s like a quiet social club member that’s not in a sports club. However, he’s another tough opponent. That’s because he’s one of the few Cancellarii of the Roman Catholic Church and had much power. The Roman Catholic Church is planning to fight hard against him in order to punish him for being a heretic.”

“No, I don’t mean that. I’m saying that that Aureolus should be something worth mentioning with the name of top religious people and kings, right? Are you jealous of him?”

“...I can treat that as a taunt, right?”

“I’m up for it if you want to fight me, but don’t mistake me as your opponent now.”

Kamijou stared forward and said, “We arrived at our battlefield.”

Kamijou and Stiyl stopped walking.

Under the seemingly flaming sunset, the building awaited them.

3

“I gotta say.”

Kamijou looked up at the building and muttered.

It could only be described as a strange building. The building itself was rectangular and nothing special. However, there were four of such twelve-story-tall buildings, each taking a corner of a cross junction and forming a square grid. Also, the linked pathways were actually overhead like an overhead bridge above a road as they linked the buildings.

(Such a building plan should defy the Land Area Planning Adjustment Project, right?) Kamijou thought as he looked up at the corridors in the sky.

Basically, the authority of the sky was of the land’s owner. In other words, the area above the roads should be a public area.

“Never mind, that’s not important.”

Kamijou muttered and again stared at the Misawa Cram School’s Academy City branch.

Examining the building, it was implausible for people to associate it with the term “Science Worship” that was outside of normal understanding. It truly seemed like an ordinary cram school: there were students walking in and out on occasion. It was nothing abnormal.

“Anyway, our initial target is the fifth level of the South Building—beside the restaurant. There seems to be a secret room over there,” Stiyl said casually.

The location diagram was incinerated after Kamijou read it. In that case, had he memorized the entire map?

“A secret room?”

“Yeah. It should be some trick that uses some illusion or distortion to make people unaware of this secret room’s existence. This building’s interior is like a kid’s toy blocks, there are many ‘spaces’.”

Stiyl stared at the building and said, “…I could find seventeen secret rooms just by looking at the location diagram. And the one beside the restaurant on the south building’s fifth level is the closest one to us.”

“…Oh, but that doesn’t look like those ninja houses that are booby-trapped.”

Kamijou muttered, and Stiyl muttered viciously.

“…Yeah, sure doesn’t look like it.”

“Eh?”

Kamijou turned his head to look back at Stiyl. Stiyl stared at the building that looked like it had penetrated the sky and the earth, and after a while, shook his head and sighed.

“Nothing. In fact, as an expert, I can’t find any abnormalities, nothing at all even after looking at it as an expert.”

Though Stiyl had said that, he wasn’t looking relaxed at all. The expression was that of a doctor who managed to spot something wrong through an X-ray, but was unable to spot the source of the illness.

“…”

It was suspicious, too suspicious. Though he didn’t know what was going on inside, it was way too suspicious.

Stiyl just said that he couldn’t find anything wrong inside; he never said that the building was safe. Inside that building, there may be numerous mines hidden, it was just that they never found out. Maybe there was really nothing. They couldn’t even confirm that, so they were basically staring at a black box.

To be honest, was it really safe to enter a building that a magic expert couldn’t even tell whether it was safe?

“Of course we shouldn’t.”

Stiyl replied without even dragging it on.

“But we can only go in, right? Our aim is to save people and not to kill. I would be really grateful if I could just burn everything from the outside.”

Stiyl’s words must be more than half serious.

“Hold on… What do you mean we can only go in? Are we going to go in through the main entrance like that? No tactics? Like no way to avoid being detected or beating the enemy safely?”

“What, don’t tell me you have some ideas?”

“…! Are you kidding me!? Are you really going to charge in like that? How is that any different from charging into a building that’s occupied by terrorist!? Even if it’s like cheap action film, can’t you think up a plan that could take out one or two enemies!?”

“…Hm, using a knife to carve an AnsuzGebo rune can hide a person’s presence.”

“Then do it! Hurry up and do it!”

“Listen to me!” Stiyl said with an irritated tone. “Even if we get rid of our presence or become invisible, I will leave a signal that says: Stiyl Magnus just used magic.”

“…What?”

“You have no concept of magic power at all. Seems like I have to explain it to you.” Stiyl sighed and said, “For example, what if there’s a painting that only has red coloring on it?”

“…Psychologically, I think that’s a bad omen.”

“Shut up and don’t butt in. This red coloring is an indication of Aureolus’ magic in the entire building. What if I color this painting with blue coloring?”

“…I don’t really understand, but you’re basically a walking transmitter, right?”

“That’s sort of correct, but it’s more than you think.”

Stiyl continued as Kamijou was about to ask why.

“Your Imagine Breaker is like an eraser that removes the red color. If one’s painting is being eaten into, anyone will realize that something’s amiss. I won’t be detected if I don’t use magic, but your ability is always active.”

“...Then what? Our situation is that we’re two people with transmitters hanging from our waists, so it doesn’t matter which plan we use and we might as well ring the doorbell of a building filled with terrorists first?”

“And that’s why you’re here. Unless you want to die, use your right hand to shield yourself from the beehive.”

“The hell, you’re acting like this is somebody else’s problem! Isn’t it because you’re completely useless that I have to do all of this!?”

“Ahahah, no need to be so nervous. It’s just alchemist’s magic. Your right hand that managed to block an attack from St. George’s Dragon should be able to handle it. And it’s useless to rely on me. I sent Innocentius to protect that child, and right now, I can only use a flame sword.”

“Waaaaahhh!! You really didn’t think this through!”

“Well then, what are you going to do? Are you just going to watch or are you going to go in?”

“...!”

Kamijou stared at the exit—the automatic doors weren’t looking abnormal.

In fact, Kamijou really didn’t want to enter that place. That was to be expected. Who wanted to enter a battlefield that the enemy booby-trapped and was waiting? Besides, it was a main stronghold of a fanatical religion that nobody knew the truth about.

However…

Because of that, they had to enter.

If men trembled before the sight of such a place, how could they allow a girl to remain inside simply because she was called Deep Blood?

“Let’s go,” The magician Stiyl Magnus said.

Without saying anything, Kamijou walked towards the automatic doors.

After entering through the glass doors, the scene inside was extremely normal.

There was a lobby made entirely of glass that brought in a large amount of sunlight. The lobby was considerably large, being three stories high. This was what the prep school called the exterior. Rather than facilities for the students, it was a place for attracting visitors who wanted to enroll so it was not unreasonable for decorations to be extravagant.

At the back of the lobby were four elevators lined side by side. Among them, the one at the end was used for bringing in large packages as it was slightly bigger than the rest. A little bit away from where the elevators were lined up was a staircase. As it wasn’t showing off, it must have accomplished the bare minimum of being an emergency staircase.

Perhaps because it was evening, it was currently a long and well deserved break time for ordinary schools. There were students that headed towards the outside in order to purchase food and were coming and going through the lobby.

Kamijou and Stiyl weren’t really attracting attention, perhaps because the manager hadn’t memorized every student’s appearance. And even if they were discovered to be outsiders, since they were just in the entrance hall, others would think that they were just transfer students who were there to settle the administration.

(…Forget about me, does this guy even look like a student?)

Kamijou sighed. Though the person beside him could be considered a teenager, he was a priest that smelled of cologne, had red-dyed hair, earrings, rings, and such a ridiculous build. But never mind, since a cram school was a service, they wouldn’t reject any customers.

Anyway, looking around, they couldn’t find anything wrong.

The people who were walking around seemed to be normal.

“Eh?”

Therefore, the only abnormality was extremely obvious.

At the four elevators, between the first and second from the right, there seemed to be some human-shaped robot lying there, or rather, placed there. The limbs were severely twisted, and it looked like a pile of scrap metal that made one think that it got into some serious traffic accident.

In terms of build, it was similar to a suit of Western armor. However, the figure was extremely modernistic like a fighter jet. It had quite an intrinsic design, and the texture that was reflecting a silver light didn’t seem to be of an ordinary metal hide.

There was an eighty centimeter long rod dropped nearby; perhaps it was a piece of equipment for the machine.

On the object’s right wrist was the word “Percival” that perhaps represented its name. At first glance, one could tell that the robot could not fulfill its original purpose.

The supposed limbs were severely twisted while a slick tar-like black oil oozed from the dysfunctional limbs.

The rusty smell in the air caused Kamijou to frown.

What in the world is that?

First of all, where did this robot come from? The security robots and cleaning robots in Academy City look like large metal cylinders. Kamijou had never heard of such humanoid machines in Academy City that simultaneously lacked mobility.

Second of all, why did this thing break down? Though Kamijou knew not how functional the machine was originally, it was akin to the aftermath of a traffic collision. There would have been no need for such force, correct? What had occurred in that cram school’s hall?

And finally…

(…Why hasn’t anyone nearby noticed it?)

The final point made Kamijou feel that something was amiss.

Everyone there didn’t even treat that robot as something that should be talked about, not even looking at it at all. That feeling didn’t feel like they deliberately refused to look or remember, but something that wasn’t necessary to be noticed like a stone on the road.

It was like…

That damaged robot just mixed into their everyday life.

“What? There’s nothing here. Anyway, either we find Himegami or beat Izzard. Wisdom is telling me that it’s better to move.” Stiyl said casually.

“Ah… oh.”

Kamijou finally managed to look away from the robot. That was because nobody other than himself noticed the robot, so Kamijou had a feeling that he just saw a phantom.

But that wasn’t a phantom.

That robot really existed in front of Kamijou’s eyes.

“What? Are you interested in that thing? Oh well, that’s true. It may be considered rare to you.”

Stiyl seemed to finally notice what Kamijou was looking at.

“W-well yeah… Eh? Hold on, robots should be something from our Science side, right?”

On hearing Kamijou’s words, Stiyl immediately frowned.

“What are you talking about? That’s just a corpse.”

“What…?”

Kamijou couldn’t understand at all.

“Divine protection granted by the Surgical Armor and a Heavenly Bow Replica. This here should be one of the thirteen Knights of the Roman Catholic Church. They’re probably here to execute the heretic but it looks like they were crushed. Really. Knights were an English specialty and these guys that just love to copy ended up like this.” Stiyl shook the cigarette in his mouth. “…Tch. Speaking of which, that man in formalin is too sneaky. There was already another Church helping out and he still made us enter separately. Was he deliberately trying to make us fail…? It’s true that the ones here to settle this mess are elites of the Church and it’d be good if he could get even one of them killed...”

Stiyl muttered angrily. But Kamijou didn’t understand what was going on, so he basically ignored it.

Kamijou chose to stare at the thing that was lying on the floor next to the elevator. The limbs were twisted, it was a pile of scrap metal that looked like it got into some sort of serious accident, the silver metal body was crushed, there was a reddish-black oil oozing out from it. The wreckage of a robot.

No.

What if that wasn’t reddish-black oil, but something even redder and blacker?

No…

What if that wasn’t a robot, but a human in armor?

“Why are you so surprised?” Stiyl said it as per normal. “This is a battlefield. What’s so strange about seeing one or two corpses on the way?”

“…”

Kamijou was speechless.

He already knew. He should have known. This was a battlefield where people killed each other. The enemy had already set up traps for intruders like Kamijou, and was waiting for them to walk in. Also, Kamijou and Stiyl had no intention on negotiating with a vicious enemy.

That’s right, they should have known it.

But even if they should have known it, Kamijou was still unable to ignore it.

“Damn it!”

Kamijou dashed forward. Though he didn’t know what he could do, maybe bandage up here and there, the amateur Kamijou didn’t even know the correct emergency procedure. Besides, with the armor severely damaged like that, he couldn’t tell whether the person was alive or not. Also, Kamijou couldn’t think of any ways to get that person out of the twisted armor.

Even so, there was no clear proof that the person inside the armor was dead.

If so, perhaps he could still save the person inside the armor if he worked quickly.

Kamijou spent only ten seconds to run from one end of the hall to the other. As the casualty’s face was completely covered by the helmet, Kamijou couldn’t see his expression. He could only hear the slight air flow between the gap of that metal-block like helmet.

(He’s still breathing!)

As Kamijou felt relieved, he realized that he could not move the body carelessly and considered calling for an ambulance until he heard the sound of the metal doors of an elevator sliding apart.

Many similar-aged teenagers walked out of the elevator, failing to notice that person at all. It’s like they just saw a normal scene as they continued to talk about things like how the food in the restaurant was expensive and so nauseating, and to go and get some from a convenience store’.

“You guys—!”

They should be saving the injured. Though he knew that, Kamijou was still unable to maintain his silence.

He inadvertently tried to grab a nearby student on the shoulder.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and call an ambula—!”

However, he stopped before he could finish.

That’s because Kamijou’s hand had been forcefully dragged forward.

No…

It wasn’t enough to describe it as a drag. It was like using a hand to grab a driver seat of a moving truck; it was of a completely different level of impact.

“Wha—!”

His arm was nearly dislocated.

But what really shocked Kamijou was that the student didn’t grab Kamijou’s hand at all. The hand that was placed on the shoulder felt like a balloon that was tied onto a car.

Also, the person didn’t even seem to notice that Kamijou had put his hand on his shoulder. Nobody in the hall had even reacted to Kamijou’s roar.

They were just like the twisted armor in front of them.

“What’s going on?”

Kamijou remembered the feeling on the hand.

While he expected the texture of soft fabric clothing, his hand felt like it passed through extremely hard glue. Forget the student’s shoulder, Kamijou could not reach the clothing.

“It should be this kind of a boundary, just like a front side and back side of a coin. The people on the front side of the coin are the students who don’t know anything, and can’t detect us people on the back side. And as for us people on the back side, the intruders from outside, we can’t interfere with the students on the front side who don’t know anything. Watch.”

Stiyl sounded like he was chanting as he raised his finger and pointed at a girl who walked out from the elevator.

On the floor, dark red blood was overflowing from the armor and spreading out like a puddle of water. The girl proceeded to walk on the puddles.

“...”

Kamijou’s eyes were following the girl’s back. Her feet weren’t soiled at all, and there was no reddish-black footprints. That pool of blood looked like one huge pile of hardened plastic.

“Hm.”

Stiyl nonchalantly removed the chewed cigarette from his mouth and pressed the burning red tip of the cigarette against the plastic elevator button.

However, the plastic button wasn’t even burned, let alone melted.

“I see, so the entire building’s on the front side of the coin? I guess that’s how it should be, since this is more suitable to be a fortress that protects against magic. Kamijou Touma, it seems that with our power alone, we may be unable to open even the single door, even the automatic entrance doors. We’re stuck.”

“…”

A boundary.

Though that term was really alien to Kamijou, who resided in the Science side, since it was a type of supernatural power, wasn’t that the chance for Kamijou Touma to step up?

Kamijou clenched his fist tightly.

Imagine Breaker. If a supernatural power came in contact with that right hand, it would have been negated, even a miracle of God. It was a unique power among unique powers.

Kamijou clenched his fist and raised it high up into the air.

He then slammed his fist hard onto the floor, wanting to smash the boundary into pieces—

—That’s right, he hammered it down, but he just let out a dull sound.

“Hah! Myaah! Aaaah!?”

“What are you doing?”

Seeing Kamijou roll about on the floor like that, Stiyl seemed like he couldn’t take it and sighed.

“It’s probably like my Innocentius. If we don’t destroy the core of the magic, we won’t be able to break out of this boundary. And most likely… the core should be safely placed outside the boundary. The people who are locked inside will then be unable to get out. Hmm, we have some trouble now.”

Kamijou was really somewhat puzzled about what they should do now, and said, “…Damn it, so what should we do? We got a casualty here and we can’t call a doctor nor send him out…”

“We don’t have to do anything. That person’s dead.”

“Don’t say stupid things! Check his pulse! He’s still alive!”

“Yeah. He’s definitely alive if we go by heartbeat. But, his fractured ribs punctured his lungs, his liver’s crushed, his pulse is faint… he can’t be saved in this situation. His name might as well be ‘corpse.’”

It was unknown whether he had found that out through the rune magic, but Stiyl’s words were as cold-hearted as a doctor declaring that a patient got a terminal illness.

“…!!”

“What’s with that expression? You knew that right from the start, right? Even if he’s breathing, he can’t be saved.”

Immediately, Kamijou pulled Stiyl’s chest up with both hands.

He couldn’t understand it. Kamijou couldn’t understand it. How could that person in front of him remain so calm? Why could he say such words even in front of a dying person?”

“Move aside! This person doesn’t have much—”

But Stiyl calmly pushed Kamijou aside.

“—We don’t have much time. I’ll let you cast, what you think is pity, on the dead. It’s a priest’s job to send the dead to heaven. You, amateur, shut up and watch.”

“...”

Releasing his hands, Kamijou finally realized. Stiyl, whose back was facing Kamijou and staring at the knight who was bordering on the edge of death, was…

(He’s… angry…?)

It was really hard to imagine that from his usual mockery, but it couldn’t be mistaken. Right now, Stiyl Magnus wasn’t a magician. His back seemed to bring about some static electricity, as everything that touched his back figure seemed to be deflected away. Yes, this was the back of the priest Stiyl Magnus.

Stiyl didn’t do any special ritual.

“…”

He just said something really intelligible. Kamijou didn’t understand what it meant as it was of a foreign language.

The words came out of the priest, and not a magician.

Though Kamijou didn’t know how much significance it was, but the knight who wasn’t able to move trembled as he raised his right hand and stretched it out at Stiyl like he wanted to capture something in the air.

“...”

The knight said something as well.

Stiyl nodded his head. Kamijou didn’t know what that nodding meant, but the knight’s body seemed to relax from the tension. It was like he handed over what he wanted to hand over… He didn’t have any worries left, relaxing as he let go in relief.

The knight’s right hand dropped.

The metallic right hand landed on the floor. It sounded like a knell.

“…”

As a priest, Stiyl Magnus finally drew a cross in front of his chest.

At the point of death, there was no difference between an Anglican and a Roman Catholic. The last rites were still the last rights.

And then, Kamijou finally realized something.

This was a real battlefield.

“Let’s go!”

Stiyl Magnus spoke once more as a magician rather than a priest.

“Seems like we have one more reason to fight.”

4

He was feeling really bad now.

Anyway, their initial goal was to look into the gaps all over the building—the secret rooms. And the nearest secret room was in this building—near the fifth level of the South block. Thus, both of them were moving up the stairs.

(Why do I feel like shit?)

Kamijou wondered as he climbed up the narrow emergency staircase. At first, he thought it was because of that knight. Then, he thought it was because that staircase was narrow and dark.

However, there was also another physical reason besides that psychological reason.

“My legs…”

Kamijou looked down at his legs that were showing fatigue for some reason.

The front and back sides of the coins—the magician who knew everything from the back side, yet couldn’t interfere with the citizens on the front side. Stiyl said before that this was the rule of the game. Also, that entire building was on the front side.

That meant that the impact caused by the stepping on the floor would be reflected back onto the feet.

Basically, it was like the difference between punching people and punching a concrete wall. As they were walking on an overly hard floor, the fatigue build-up was two to three times faster.

“We… can only… pray… that the… enemy is in… the same situation…”

Stiyl seemed to be bothered by the fatigue that arrived too early. Though Stiyl was really huge, it seemed like he hadn’t done much physical training and wasn’t used to physical activities.

“Che… if I had known, we should have taken the elevator.”

“We’re on the back side of the coin, how can we press the button that’s on the front side of the coin? If you can, teach me.”

“…”

“Suppose we do enter the elevator as the door opened. What would you do if students on the front used it? We’d be crushed if a lot of them walked in.”

The people on the back side of the coin couldn’t interfere with the people on the front side of the coin.

For example, even if a car on the back side of the coin slammed hard into a person on the front side of the coin, the car would be wrecked while the human would be completely fine.

If the elevator was crammed full of people…

It would be like a raw egg that was in a crammed train, it would be crushed.

(…Ugh, this is really getting more and more depressing.)

Kamijou lowered his head dejectedly. He was already tired, and with the dark and murky thoughts, he started to feel that he should give up.

Think about happy things, hurry up and think of something happy—Kamijou’s heart was in urgent need of rest.

Then he did.

“Oh yeah, what about phones?”

“What?”

“You just mentioned the front side of the coin and the back side of the coin, right? Will phones work?” Kamijou said as he pulled out the phone.

Though he had said that, Kamijou realized that this was just an excuse he made for himself. As too many abnormal things had happened, Kamijou had to do some normal things or he may go crazy.

As for who to call, Kamijou didn’t need to think at all.

His room—in other words, a girl who was in his room waiting for him. Just as Kamijou intended to call, he realized something.

“…Hold on, wouldn’t the enemy detect this call signal and attack us?”

“Who knows? But our existence may have been discovered. We did enter from the front door.”

“If so, why weren’t we attacked?”

“Who knows? Maybe that’s because they’re overconfident, or maybe they intend to destroy us in one move. That alchemist’s that kind of person. Right now, he should be preparing all sorts of means to prepare a counterattack.”

“…”

(In that case why was this guy so composed in this situation?)

However, since their whereabouts were likely exposed, there was no need to be careful. Kamijou decided to brazenly make the call.

The phone rang three times.

(So it won’t work…?)

The phone rang six times.

(…Looks like I’ll have to give up.)

The phone rang nine times.

(Hurry up and pick up!)

Though he was feeling impatient, Kamijou didn’t want to hang up the phone. While waiting, Kamijou had another thought. What if that wasn’t related to the front side of the coin or back side of the coin, but Index was unwilling to pick the phone up?

Or… what if it isn’t that she won’t but she can’t?

It couldn’t be that something happened to Index?

(In—!)

Just as a mysterious chill rose up Kamijou’s stomach...

The phone was picked up.

“Hya, Hyai! This is Index Libror—excuse me, I’m sorry. This is Kamijou speaking! Hello!?”

Index’s somewhat absurd voice could be heard.

“Hey, let me ask you,” Kamijou lethargically asked as if he had just tried a wrong method of slimming. “Is this the first time you’re picking up a call?”

“Uweeh!? This, this voice is Touma’s. Eh? Do all the voices in the phone sound the same?”

Then, a knocking sound could be heard.

It should be a puzzled Index tilting her head and knocking the receiver against the floor.

“Index! Stop knocking the machine whenever you feel that it has a problem! That’s what an old granny would do to fix something!”

“…That’s strange, the only one who should be saying such stupid words is Touma.”

Kamijou retorted deep inside.

That was to be expected. It should be Index’s first time picking up a phone (but it seemed that she had seen others pick up the phone before, judging from her greeting). It seemed like she was walking around frantically in front of the phone, but the phone continued to ring, so she had to pick up the phone.

The magic expert who had knowledge of 103,000 grimoires didn’t understand anything about science at all, and that amused Kamijou. However, he remembered something else. Kamijou’s knowledge was telling himself that Index didn’t have any memories since she only had one year’s worth of memories.

Such a funny action was actually a deficiency caused by the loss of memories. Thinking about that, it was really heart aching.

“Nyai? Touma? Why must you deliberately use such a troublesome, exaggerated and excessive and unfriendly thing to the phone? Did something serious happen?”

“Ah, nothing—”

It seemed like to Index, the telephone wasn’t something ordinary.

“Ah, is it because one of the two lasagnas in the refrigerator was Touma’s!?”

“You ate it? Oh well—”

Before Kamijou could continue, the voice could be heard again.

“Ah, there was pudding in the fridge…!”

“You ate it!? That was my pudding!”

“But there was only one!”

“Can’t you spare any thoughts for the master of the household! That’s black honey pudding! One costs seven hundred yen!” Kamijou cried. “Oh, oh well. Never mind, I almost went out of topic. Since the call connected, never mind.”

“Eh? Touma, are you looking for me for something?”

“Ar. I’m just testing if I could get to you through the phone. I’m hanging up.”

“???”

(Right now, Index should be tilting her head in confusion, right?)

“Ah, oh yeah. Did you know, Index? For every single minute you use the phone, your lifespan will be shortened by one day accordingly?”

“Waahhh!”

The phone line was cut. It seemed like the entire receiver dropped onto the floor.

“…Such a simple minded person.”

Having taken revenge for his pudding, he muttered to himself after hanging up the phone.

However…

“………………”

The magician beside him looked like he wanted to say something.

“W-what is it?”

“Nothing.” Stiyl sighed, and continued. “It’s just that I feel that you might be too relaxed. This is a battlefield, and yet you’re chatting away nonchalantly with a girl. I don’t really care if you die because of carelessness; in fact, I’ll be dancing in joy, but please don’t drag me down.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Gu… nuu…”

Stiyl remained silent, and it seemed like he burst about sixty percent of his blood vessels. Kamijou began to understand how he should handle the person in front of him.

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

The shock Stiyl’s words gave to Kamijou was even more than what he had expected.

Kamijou didn’t know why he was so affected.

However, Stiyl said, “…Don’t be mistaken. I’m not treating that child as a target of romance.”

Without looking at Kamijou’s face, Stiyl continued.

“You should know that up until now, that child had to erase her memories once every year or else she would die. If so, you can imagine how many people were in your position.”

“…”

“There were people that tried to become her father. There were people that tried to become her brother. There were people that tried to become her close friend. There were people that tried to become her teacher.” Stiyl elaborated. “It’s like that, just that simple. I failed in the past and you succeeded. That’s the only difference between you and me.”

Stiyl stared at Kamijou’s face.

It looked like he was facing an impossible future.

“However, I’ll be lying if I say that I don’t care.” Stiyl sighed, and continued. “Besides, I didn’t really get abandoned by Index, it’s just that she forgot. If she recovered her memories, she’d come running at me to hug me.”

Kamijou couldn’t say anything.

(If there’s a person, a very important person to me that lost her memory, not knowing anything, and somebody just steps in and accompanies her, how would I feel? Can I still remain calm?) Kamijou asked himself.

No, that wasn’t just a problem of somebody else standing beside her.

Wouldn’t he feel that he got betrayed by that important person?

But that person in front of him still believed in himself, thoroughly following his belief.

That was how strong he was.

Kamijou looked back at his phone. That meaningless five minute conversation; someone actually gave up everything he had to protect that person who was most important to him, even after knowing that he couldn’t turn back.

Those people’s hearts…

Were all crushed under his own feet. What right did the current Kamijou have to keep that girl all for himself?

(…I don’t know.)

If that were Index’s only wish, Kamijou would protect it until the end.

But the main point was that Index had merely forgotten. How could a girl who didn’t know that she had other options be expected to make decisions?

(I don’t know. But Kamijou Touma really saved Index.)

Yes. If that was the case, he had to take up the burden of saving her.

It was like giving cat food out of enthusiasm, but not bringing it back home even after knowing that it would die of hunger. Instead of giving it the hope that it may find a home, it was better to give her despair right from the beginning.

However…

(The one who saved her isn’t the current Kamijou Touma—)

In the end, they were back at the starting point.

(—What Index needs is the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.)

5

After climbing up to the fifth level, Kamijou and Stiyl arrived onto the corridor.

The location diagram of Misawa Cram School was memorized completely in Stiyl’s brain. There was a reason why they had come to that level. That was because from the parameters of the location diagram and the actual measurements done through the infrared and ultrasonic means, there were errors in the spaces.

In other words, could it be that there was a hidden room here?

“According to the diagram, it should be right here.”

While walking down the middle of the straight corridor, Stiyl lightly knocked on a wall that didn’t look abnormal.

“…Even if we’re here, if we can’t open it, we have to give up, right?”

“Yeah.”

Even if it wasn’t a secret room, to Kamijou and Stiyl, who were on the back side of the coin, they couldn’t even open a door on the front side. If they wanted to enter the room, they could still wait until a student on the front side of the coin opened the door and then slip in. However, if it was a secret room, there may not be students going in and out so often.

“But it’s best to check the situation out. No matter how strong the boundary is, the one who set it up is Aureolus. We can just force him to remove the boundary by threatening him—or by killing him.”

“…”

Kamijou inadvertently stared at Stiyl.

This is a battlefield, and Aureolus was the enemy they must beat; Kamijou understood that. Thinking about the imprisoned Himegami Aisa and the knight Aureolus had killed, one could imagine that the current situation was really precarious.

But even so, Kamijou still couldn’t just say things like “kill Aureolus”. It was because the way Aureolus had taken down that knight could also be considered proper self-defense.

However, the magician in front of him was different.

He said “kill him”, not “beat him” or “stop him”. He just said “kill him”, with no ambiguity in the words.

They headed down the closest wall closest to the secret room. Then, both of them arrived at a student cafeteria. It seemed like they were mixing the distances between the people in the wide room to hide the existence of that small secret room. That used an illusion, and there were no doors at the entrance of the student cafeteria.

Trying to prevent themselves from getting caught in the crowd, Kamijou and Stiyl walked into the cafeteria.

They concluded that it was a bad idea to stay in a place with lots of people.

This was because, the individuals on the back could not interfere with the people on the front. Boys fought for the few available seats and the girls carried trays of food and chatted away as they walked. People rushed about like bulls. Unlike a corridor, the movements in the wide cafeteria were unpredictable. Kamijou and Stiyl were carefully avoiding the crowd.

Since it was evening, many students were in the cafeteria.

It was actually a refreshing experience for others to be unable to see him. It was different from moving in a traffic jam. Those who had gone through that should realize that the surrounding people would consciously try to avoid them to prevent themselves from knocking into each other.

The hidden room contained a counter and behind it a small kitchen. The large freezer and utensils made the kitchen feel even more cramped, causing others to be ignorant of the space’s actual size.

“...Hm. It’s my first time actually seeing a scientific religion but it doesn’t look like much. It thought they’d at least put up the picture of some bishop.”

Stiyl looked around with a bored look.

“…It’s true that it doesn’t look dangerous.”

Kamijou looked around.

In the realm of science, there was an indicator of the level of religious fanaticism. For example, there was the level of taking in gold from the believers, the expansion level, when they forced new believers in, the absolute orders level, where believers would accept all orders even if they ended up having to self-destruct, the dangerous items creation level of creating poison gas or explosives, and so on. The religions with higher points would be counted as a more dangerous religious science.

From the science viewpoint, Misawa Cram School wouldn’t really be a dangerous religion. As the members were students, they couldn’t possibly take in too much money. And since it was a cram school, that place wasn’t suited to create any chemical weapons.

However…

“…No, this really is a deadly scientific religion.”

Kamijou said with disdain.

Though it was a cafeteria that had many students gathered there, the atmosphere was unexpectedly heavy as if they were taking an elevator. That was to be expected, Kamijou thought. That was because everyone there may be talking loudly, but the content of the conversations were anything but. They could only talk about things that belittled others, like how many people they beat in the last mock exam, how many marks they’ve increased, or about how they couldn’t understand how there were trash who wouldn’t study during exam time just to make themselves happy.

Kamijou looked at a poster on the wall of the cafeteria.

It was an extremely ordinary cram school poster. Written on it were two extremely different sentences, “If you study hard now, you will get into a good school and have a great future for yourself assured”, and “If you don’t study now, you’ll end up at the bottom and meet misfortune”.

(That’s not that different from chain mail.)

Chain mails were prank mails that promised good fortune or unhappiness with things like “If you send this mail to seven people within seven days you’ll be happy forever. If you don’t you’ll be unlucky.” Such threatening intents were no different from radical religions.

“Humph, the motto of this school should be something like ‘those who study here should be extremely smart’, right? Besides, the teachers must be brainwashing the students, telling them things like ‘this is something that will definitely be tested, I’ll tell you that, those who didn’t study here in the summer vacation are inferior people’ or something like that, right?” Kamijou muttered, infuriated.

Really, he felt disgusted.

Kamijou was really disgusted that he could actually slightly emphasize with them.

Exams tend to be involved in superstitions. Regardless of their sedulousness, students tended to attempt unscientific foods that increased concentration or would even bring to the exam hall talismans for becoming the top scorer.

It was a deficiency called anxiety.

The scientific religion of that Misawa Cram School used a knife and stabbed it into that gap.

“Hm, seems like you got caught by the fanatical poison gas, eh? But don’t forget our aim; we have to find where the secret entrance is.”

“Oh, okay okay! I got it!”

Kamijou took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

Then, he turned to look around the entire cafeteria.

Immediately, about eighty students in the cafeteria turned to stare at him.

At first, Kamijou thought that he spoke too loudly and ended up attracting everyone’s attention.

“Well, doesn’t look good here… is this the first safety?”

So even after hearing Stiyl’s serious voice, Kamijou was still unable to react.

“Ah, eh?”

“Haven’t you understood the situation? The people on the front side of the coin shouldn’t be able to see us on the back side of the coin. I see, so the area around the secret room has such an alarm system?”

“…”

Kamijou looked around.

About eighty students were definitely looking at Kamijou and Stiyl. The human looking action disappeared, and everyone was standing around blankly with glass-like eyes.

“D-don’t tell me—”

Kamijou looked around. It was true. Eighty students were now on the back side of the coin. And that meant…

“—Magician!”

Just as Kamijou shouted out meaninglessly, Stiyl abandoned Kamijou and jumped back.

However…

“The wings of the seraph shines brightly, and the bright light is a pure white color that reveals all sins—”

One of the students who were standing around started to mutter something ambiguous.

“The pure white color is the proof of purity, the mark is the result of one’s actions—”

Another voice overlapped the first one.

“The result is the future, the future is time is uniform—”

A second voice, a third, a fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen—!!

“Uniformity is all, all is created by the past, the past is the cause, cause is one. One is sin, sin are humans. Humans fear, fear is guilt. Guilt resides within oneself. If in oneself there is something one despises, the wings of the seraph shall reveal your sins and purge it from within—!”

An eighty-person chorus—no, rather, a verbal maelstrom of the battle that was created by the several thousand people in that building echoed throughout.

On every single student’s forehead was a ping-pong sized bluish-white glow. Maybe the things were starting to gather as they floated about in the air and landed on the floor beside Kamijou.

Then, like a strong acid fizzing and explosives giving off white smoke.

He would merely be burnt if he only touched one, but…

“Hey! Imagine Breaker! Time for you to step up!”

“What? …Hey!”

As soon as he looked back, Kamijou’s field of vision was completely filled by hundreds of bluish-white orbs that were closing in.

“U, wah—so many, how do I block them all anyway!?”

Kamijou chased after Stiyl and overtook him, dashing madly to the exit. Stiyl, who had thought that Kamijou would act as a shield, panicked somewhat as he dashed behind Kamijou and out of the cafeteria.

“W-what are you running away for!? You’re the shield! Your right hand was able to fend off Dragon Breath? And you’re not using your right hand ability while running away with your back exposed!? Are you crazy!?”

“What are you talking about!? I don’t want to hear that from someone using me as a shield!? This isn’t a case of quality but quantity! How can I fend them off with just a single right hand!?”

It was like fighting with someone that had four arms. Even if he guarded against two of them flawlessly, the other two could still wave at him. An individual power wasn’t going to match up to a group’s.

A large number of balls moved out of the entrance and then rushed out of the floodgates as if the cafeteria was filled completely with water. Kamijou and Stiyl could only run down the corridor.

“Che, but speaking of which, this may be a replica, but to be able to replicate the Gregorian Chant, it seems like I underestimated that Aureolus Izzard.”

“What’s with that Gregorian whatever?”

“Originally, it was the ultimate weapon, a grand spell that required 3,333 monks in a cathedral and gathered their prayers. It’s like focusing sunlight on a magnifying glass, and can magnify that power,” Stiyl gritted his teeth and said, “Though it’s a replica now and they have only about two thousand students, but as the saying goes in this country, ‘pile up sand and you can build a tower’. The power can’t be underestimated.”

Kamijou was stunned.

Even though he knew that he couldn’t understand what Stiyl had said, basically—didn’t it mean that he was fighting against two thousand people now?

This was a battlefield, and he was in the midst of the enemy’s camp. He could understand all that in his brain. But on thinking that this meant that he was fighting against two thousand people, he started to feel a sense of despair.

“Then there’s no way we can beat that head on! Though it’s big here, we’ll still get caught in this building if we’re going to play hide-and-seek with two thousand people!?”

“Not quite,” Stiyl said as he continued to look in front. “The main emphasis is the core. The Gregorian Chant requires the simultaneous control of two thousand people, or else it won’t work. If we can find the synchronization core of these two thousand people and destroy it, we can destroy the Gregorian Chant.”

Both of them continued to run down the long corridor, and finally arrived near the staircase. At that moment, they saw that there was a large number of bluish-white balls flooding in.

They were attacked on both sides.

“The stairs—move it!”

Kamijou and Stiyl frantically ducked under the stairs beside them. Kamijou intended to inquire whether they should go up and down the stairs, but he realized something was amiss.

“You… you’ve been looking so calm up until now. Do you have some sort of secret plan?”

That’s right. To someone who had finally managed to escape from the claws of death, Stiyl was really being too calm.

“Hm, I do have a secret plan. It’s just that I’m wondering whether I should use it now.”

“Are you kidding me!? If you have it, hurry up and use it!”

Stiyl happily looked at Kamijou’s face.

Facing that abnormal smile, Kamijou inadvertently held his breath, becoming even more alert.

At that moment though…

Stiyl pushed Kamijou down the stairs.

“Wha…”

Before Kamijou could react, he lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs. The numerous bits of pain surrounded him at the same time, and he couldn’t even let out a cry. It was like if he let out a voice, he would bite his tongue.

“Bad luck, scarecrow♪”

Stiyl’s happy voice could be heard from above. While dazed, Kamijou could see Stiyl running in the opposite direction, which was upstairs. Then, the flood of balls came over, splitting upstairs and downstairs, and like a water flow, it naturally moved down at Kamijou—!

“That bastard…!”

Kamijou barely dragged his body that was in pain and ran downstairs.

What Stiyl had said passed through his mind.

This was Aureolus’ hideout, it was filled with his magic power. It was like a picture that was only covered in red. If Stiyl’s blue coloring was used, the enemy would realize that something was not right.

But on the other hand, if Stiyl didn’t use magic, nobody would detect his presence.

However, Kamijou’s situation was different. His Imagine Breaker continued to erase the red coloring. Stiyl could decide when he wanted to use magic, but Kamijou was like a transmitter that was always working.

Basically, the reason Kamijou was brought there was to be a decoy that was to be abandoned.

He thought that Stiyl’s lack of planning was too rash, but to think that there was such a reason behind it.

(…Damn it! Eh, hold on, something doesn’t seem to be right.)

Kamijou’s heart was ringing an alarm. However, he didn’t know why that alarm was ringing, not at all.

Since it wasn’t something that Kamijou, who didn’t have any memories, could think of.

It meant that this was the pre-memory loss Kamijou, the knowledge part telling him something.

At that moment, another fresh set of footsteps interrupted Kamijou’s thoughts.

And it was coming from below, blocking off his getaway.

“…!”

The flood of ball-like things continued to close in, but Kamijou couldn’t possibly stop. He dashed down and peered downstairs.

There was a girl downstairs waiting for Kamijou. A girl he had never met before, one whose uniform he didn’t even have an impression on.

Perhaps she was a candidate who was older than Kamijou by one or two years. Black braids, round glasses, the girl looked like she couldn’t even fight, let alone use magic.

“The flames punish sin, Purgatory governs the flames. Purgatory was created to burn sinners, as the only violence God recognizes.”

But what came from her cute lips made him really unhappy. It was like the sound of rusted gears.

Every time she said something, the orb of bluish-white light between the girl’s eyebrows would increase in size bit by bit.

It seemed like the front and back sides of the coin were flipped around. The girl who should be on the front side of the coin was now a magician and standing on the back side of the coin. Perhaps every student in Misawa Cram School was the same now.

But on the other hand, Kamijou could easily knock the girl down now.

(I can win this…!)

Kamijou clenched his right fist. Though he definitely couldn’t beat numerous thousand people, one or two of those ball objects weren’t much of a threat. Kamijou clenched his fist even tighter, as if he was trying to confirm the existence of his Imagine Breaker.

Then, with a cracking sound…

The girl’s face exploded as if firecrackers were placed underneath her skin.

“What…?”

Just as Kamijou’s shocked, the girl’s fingers, nose, and the inside of her clothes let out mini explosions one after another. Though the explosions were so small that they only burned holes that were a few centimeters wide on the skin, but…

“Violence… is the affirmation of death. Affirmation, is... recognition. Re... cog… ni—”

Every time the girl said a single word, her body would start to crack. Her talking lips were cracking as well, and blood flowed out of her lips as it seemed like her insides were severely damaged. Even so, the girl continued to talk. No, it was more like she couldn’t talk. It felt like she was being controlled by a machine and yet also like a frog being electrocuted. Her leg muscles were twitching, ignoring the frog’s will.

(Don’t tell me…)

The anxiety rose up Kamijou’s stomach. His knowledge was telling him something. Not knowing where it was coming from, the ridiculous knowledge was telling him something.

Espers couldn’t use magic.

Though espers and magicians were similar in that they could use supernatural power, the concept was different.

The circuit in espers was different from that of an ordinary person. Even if they tried to imitate a magician, they couldn’t use magic.

However, this was Academy City.

All students there had undertaken the esper development Curriculum.

Then, assuming that…

What would happen when espers who couldn’t use magic tried to use magic?

“Stop… it—”

Kamijou muttered, forgetting his own situation now.

The circuits were different, his knowledge was telling him that. Kamijou didn’t know anything about the basis behind magic, but that feeling may be like a generator that was to be powered by batteries, and forcefully charged with alternating current.

Though the current flowed and the circuit worked, such a crazy method would end up burning the circuit.

“—Stop it! You should know that your own body is in trouble!!”

He even forgot to clench his fist. Right now, even though it felt like he was being pointed at with a gun at his head, he still dashed down the stairs without any care.

“…tion, re—st wit… thin. Within… refers… to—the world. Connect your inner self with the outside world.”

The girl that was muttering suddenly let out a deep voice, and went silent.

The bridge between her eyebrows exploded. The bluish-white orb that she had summoned disappeared, leaving behind a fresh red wound.

The voice just now may be a fatal wound. The girl’s body swayed about and tumbled towards the stairs.

Kamijou’s mind was telling him.

A human body was heavy. Even a petite girl could be really heavy if she was treated as luggage. If he carried that several kilograms of weight about, he definitely wouldn’t be able to avoid the flood of orbs.

Kamijou’s mind was telling him.

Also, that girl was an enemy. He couldn’t get any benefits even if he saved her, and he may even be attacked. If he considered his life as the biggest priority, he should just leave that enemy behind and run away.

Kamijou’s mind was telling him.

The most important thing was that a severely wounded person like her couldn’t possibly be saved. Anyone could tell that her wounds were fatal. Besides, her soul got poisoned by Science Worship.

(…)

Hearing the voices in his mind caused Kamijou to inadvertently gnash his teeth.

“Stop messing around!”

Even so, Kamijou still rushed down the stairs and reached his hand out to save the girl who was about to collapse on the stairs.

It was true that the girl was heavy. It was already hard for him to escape, and now that he was carrying someone, he definitely wouldn’t be able to escape the flood of balls. It was true that this girl was an enemy, he understood that clearly. It was true that the girl was severely wounded and was even more wounded emotionally. Kamijou understood that without anyone needing to tell him.

Even so…

Even then, there was no reason to abandon a girl who was wounded, to let her get involved in the flood of orbs that was coming in from behind. Even if he looked around the entire world, he couldn’t find a reason to allow that.

It was likely that this girl didn’t intend for that to happen.

She had probably thought that this would be just an ordinary cram school when she enrolled, and soon got brainwashed by religious science unknowingly, before being used as an abandoned pawn without knowing it.

Kamijou remembered the knight who had fallen in front of the elevator.

Any kind person couldn’t possibly leave him alone injured, even if he was an enemy.

“Guu… damn it!”

The girl that collapsed on Kamijou’s chest was a lot lighter than what he had expected. However, that was when she was viewed as a person. If she were viewed as luggage, she could be considered extremely heavy. Also as they were midway down the stairs, Kamijou couldn’t maintain his balance as he almost fell down.

Carrying the bloodied girl, Kamijou intended to continue running down the stairs as he looked behind.

At that moment…

(…)

The flood of orbs had already arrived in front of Kamijou’s nose like a landslide.

Kamijou frantically used his right hand to knock away the balls in front of him, while carrying the girl with his left hand and rushing down the final steps. However, an unconscious person was a lot heavier than what Kamijou had expected. It felt like a metal ball was tied to his feet as he swam.

He wanted to jump, but his body was tied up by the gravity.

Just that little lag caused the thousands of orbs to form a vortex around Kamijou.

“...Agh!”

Kamijou reflexively shut his eyes and began to think.

With the girl under his protection in mind, he could block a few orbs with his body, but it was impossible with thousands chasing them. Kamijou’s body would be eaten away by the orbs like metal in acid, devoured by uncountable worms.

“…Uh?”

—That didn’t happen. After a while, nothing happened.

There was a strange feeling that time had stopped. Kamijou didn’t dare open his eyes recklessly. He was in some strange fantasy that the moment he opened his eyes, time would start to flow again.

Even so, he had to open his eyes.

With a fearful feeling that was similar to someone removing the wires of a timed bomb, Kamijou carefully opened his eyes.

“…Ah?”

But even after opening his eyes, Kamijou still didn’t understand what was going on.

It felt like time had stopped. That was because the phenomenon now could only be explained by a time stoppage. The numerous orbs in front of his nose nearly swallowed him full. However, the vortex of orbs seemed to be paused in a record as they remained in mid-air.

After a while, the seemingly impatient orbs finally started to move.

However, they weren’t swallowing Kamijou whole, but dropping down onto the floor like an apple in the hand being dropped slowly. The orbs that landed on the floor then vanished as they sublimed.

Then, a set of footsteps could be heard.

Kamijou didn’t understand the situation. Even though he didn’t, he knew that the footsteps were coming from downstairs. Looking for the answer, Kamijou stared downstairs as he looked for the source of the footsteps.

The stairs were linked downstairs to the entrance of the corridor, and the sunset sun was shining on the dark emergency stairs.

Over there…

Deep Blood Himegami Aisa was looking up like she was watching from the bottom of a well.

6

At that moment, Stiyl Magnus was seeing the used-up flame sword vanish.

Rune cards scattered about in the air like sakura petals.

He was in a corridor that was a level above Kamijou. It was an ordinary long corridor, but Stiyl knew that the core of the Gregorian Chant was over there.

He was a magician. To him, detecting the flow of magic was his specialty, so it wasn’t difficult at all. Even though the magical power of the students there was extremely weak, with the power of two thousand people being managed at a single point, it was hard not to detect the core.

“…I see. So this is considered hidden, huh?”

Smoking casually, Stiyl muttered.

The hiding on the front side of the coin was considered an absolute defense to the people on the back side of the coin.

Thus, the people on the back side of the coin couldn’t even do anything to things on the front side of the coin, even if it was just removing a Christmas wrapper.

Thus, by putting a core into an ordinary wall, an absolute defense would be formed.

Even if the enemy magician found the place, as long as the enemy couldn’t touch the core, it should be safe.

“But first, I have to cover the core in this wall up first.”

Stiyl looked bored as he puffed out smoke. His flames didn’t have any shape. For example, if there were some slight distortions in the walls and windows that created a gap not even a millimeter wide, he could let his 3,000 degree Celsius flames flow through.

The knowledge on the front side of the coin wasn’t suited for the back side of the coin. If he wanted to create a perfect defense, the best option was to put the core into a plastic bag and tie the bag up.

Anyway, without even seeing the core, Stiyl destroyed it.

Thus, it seemed like he had managed to destroy the Gregorian Chant.

“…Speaking of which,” Stiyl shook the cigarette in his mouth and said, “Looking at this bloody path, it seems like even the alchemist has fallen after we haven’t met for so long. The real bloody road should be made with one’s own blood, right?”

An esper and a magician’s circuits were different. If espers even tried to use magic, the unstable magic power would rip through the blood vessels and nerves in his body.

In fact, there were many fallen students on that corridor—including the area around his feet. Some were still trembling, and some couldn’t move anymore. It was unknown where the thick smell of rust came from. Looking around in the rooms, there should be a hellish sight ten times worse than what he described.

Even Stiyl was amazed at his own bitterness; perhaps he still harbored some human feelings.

(…That guy really seems to believe in me.)

Recalling that esper boy, Stiyl looked like he couldn’t take it anymore.

At that moment, Stiyl could hear a very clear sound of footsteps coming over from the other side.

Not anxious, not intending to suppress the volume, not intending to hide the killing intent, and yet not intending to hide and make the killer blow.

If there was a need for an illustration, it was like facing an enemy and intending to attack, and yet knocking on his door; it was extremely daring and arrogant. Absolute confidence. It was a declaration of war with a firm belief that he would win, and also like a declaration of victory.

The owner of the footsteps said, “Naturally, it’s true that by using the fake Gregorian Chant, I can lure you to where the core is no matter where you’re hiding.”

The footsteps never stopped, and he continued.

“Certainly, there should be two intruders… where’s the other one? Clearly, was that familiar of yours swallowed by the Gregorian Chant?”

“I’ll be really happy if he really got swallowed,” Stiyl said. “But that guy has a longer life than what you expect. Also, he’s not such a cute thing like a familiar.”

Stiyl chuckled and turned to face the owner of the footsteps who was ten meters away.

His eyes were no longer smiling.

That set of footsteps came from a pair of Italian leather shoes. The long legs above the shoes and the two meter tall frame were wrapped in an expensive, white Western suit.

He was an eighteen year old male named Aureolus.

He had dyed green hair to symbolize his control of one of the five elements, earth, while the slicked hairstyle made the Caucasian male all the more unique.

Perhaps others would be laughed at if they wore such a ridiculous getup, but to the middle-aged looking man, his clothes were appropriate.

“What now? What do you intend to do luring me here when you aren’t good at fighting? You should know that you alone can’t stop me. Or rather, how many magical tools do you have on you? You Curio Dealer?”

“…”

Those words seemed to be taboo to Aureolus.

For an alchemist to step onto the front lines and fight, he had to equip himself with weapons and spiritual tools. Aureolus must use tens, even hundreds of magical tools just to match up against Stiyl.

“Idiot. Can’t you tell that I don’t have any magical tools on me?”

“I guess so. Besides, this entire building itself is like a sacred city—a huge magic tool in itself. Even if you don’t use any magical tools to protect yourself, the surrounding environment will automatically help you. Hm, the problem is, why did you come out? If you just stayed put, the sacred city would have fought for you. And even if you come out, you’re just relying on the power of the sacred city. So what are you doing here? Or rather, what can you do here?”

“Bastard…”

“You appear to have a face that is suddenly surging with motivation but, unfortunately I have no business with you. That’s all there is to it. After using children with somewhat swollen heads to hinder me, it can’t be helped if you get hurt, right? At any rate, a sin was carried out in this sanctuary, would it be too cruel of me to have you request your own punishment?

“You solemn bastard!”

Like a snake slithering out of a hole, swoosh, a cold knife shot out of Aureolus’ right sleeve.

(An arrowhead…?)

Stiyl frowned. Though it looked like an arrowhead, it was about the size of a dagger. Just as Stiyl thought that this was a hidden throwing weapon…

“Limen—”

Aureolus raised his right hand with a sway. As if he was raising a sickle shaped weapon, the point of the edged tool glared at Stiyl’s face...

“—Magna!!”

Immediately, the huge arrowhead flew out like a bullet at Stiyl’s eye with a golden chain attached at the end.

“...!?

Just before the projectile hit him, Stiyl instantly twisted his body in order to avoid it. If he had thought it was just a normal edged tool, then right now his skull would truly have been pierced through.

Indeed, the bottom of the gigantic arrowhead was furnished with a golden chain.

Stiyl bent his body downwards and the snake-like golden arrowhead flew overhead. A second golden chain flew out of Aureolus’ sleeve, ripped through the air and grazed Stiyl’s face.

“Tch.”

With the sound of a fruit being sliced open, the tip of the arrowhead stabbed into the back of one of the fallen students.

(…)

Stiyl wondered what to say.

(…?)

Like a knife piercing a balloon, the student’s body burst into bits and fluids.

It was as if someone just used a strong acid to corrode the huge body, but yet somewhat different. That was not an ordinary liquid, but shiny golden—

Pure gold that had melted due to high heat.

The chain rewound back with a swish, and the arrowhead flew back into Aureolus’ sleeve.

“Naturally, why would you be so shocked?”

Aureolus again raised his right hand and said, “I’m an alchemist, and I suppose, that you know how I got this name.”

Stiyl couldn’t reply.

The representative magic called alchemy, which was theorized to be able to convert lead into pure gold, truly existed.

However, if such a project was to be carried out using modern materials, it would take seven trillion yen and three years.

It could be said to be a spell with a hefty price.

However, Aureolus had actually managed to use that magic in less than a second.

It was incomparably fast, and it could be said that nobody could surpass that record.

“Anyone who gets touched by my Limen Magna will be forcefully converted into pure gold. It can’t be defended against nor avoided. Now, show me your ace, your Innocentius. I’m really interested in seeing whether the shapeless flames can be converted into gold.”

The gold dagger snuck out like a snake from the alchemist’s right sleeve.

“…”

But Stiyl didn’t say anything.

It’s like he couldn’t believe what was happening in front of him, completely rooted to the spot.

“Hm, Inevitably, it’s to be expected that you would be shocked after seeing my Limen Magna. But don’t get killed by me so easily. I’m not satisfied yet. That attitude of yours five seconds ago can’t be compensated even if you die ten thousand times.”

Surprised, Stiyl Magnus muttered like a child who just saw a ghost, “So, why must you do just a meaningless thing?”

“What…?”

The alchemist was shocked.

“What’s so surprising about these words? The main point of magic is to experiment, and not get results, isn’t it? Even if an expert can make a magic drug within five seconds, what’s the difference if the drug effects are the same?”

Looking like he just saw something really dumb, Stiyl sighed and said, “It’s the same with what you did. Limen Magna? How stupid. How is this any different from spraying strong acid on someone?”

“Just…”

“I know that you’re really trying hard, but it’s too much of an overkill to use Innocentius to beat this. Besides, it’s watching a house, and I have no need to use it here.”

“…Just shut up!!”

Trying to shut of the mockery, Aureolus let out the Limen Magna from his right sleeve. The arrowhead flew out, showing the alchemist’s rage. As the attack and rewinding speed were too fast, it looked like the afterimages of several gold lasers. At the barrage of ten attacks every second, the magician Stiyl’s body of flesh and blood couldn’t keep up to that speed at all. In the end, among ten shots, six of them stabbed through the face and the abdomen like a sewing machine head.

The rune cards owned by Stiyl danced about in the air.

However…

“And what’s with this? Haven’t you realized that you’re just a magic tool?”

His upper body got pierced through like a hive, and there was an arm-sized hole that could pass through the face. However, Stiyl Magnus’ extremely bored and unenthusiastic tone could still be heard.

“What… are you saying!?”

Extremely stunned, Aureolus continued to fire the Limen Magna. Stiyl’s tattered upper body continued to be pierced, and the lower body that was originally unhurt was now being pierced through as well.

However…

“Using basic materials and a Germanic cross to create a soul, it really does look like what the Roman Catholic priests would do. But I just want to look for the real Aureolus Izzard. Will the Aureolus Dummy please step aside?”

Stiyl’s body was swaying about in the air, gradually becoming transparent, looking as if it would disappear anytime soon. But even so, he continued to remain standing.

“What are you saying!? These words defy the basic premises! Obviously I created Limen Magna. Or else where would this power come from?”

“Of course it came from the real Aureolus Izzard. I believe you’re starting to feel that something’s wrong, right? Alright, let me ask you a question, Aureolus Dummy. Why did you start to learn alchemy?”

“…Do you need to ask that?” Aureolus raised the Limen Magna and said, “The aim of alchemy is only to seek the truth. And I specialize in humans. Maintaining a humane concept and seeing how high I can reach, this is the answer I seek.”

For example, by consuming belladonna, it was capable to accelerate the speed of assimilating and reciting incantations, even if it caused physical damage. Another example was the possibility to hibernate for thousands of years by entering the frozen mass of the South Pole.

But what Aureolus had wanted to know wasn’t that breakthrough that was made by sacrificing oneself for humanity. What he had wanted to know was how humans could maintain their form and pride, and how much it could be ascended to. That was his aim in alchemy.

Aureolus, who was the descendant of the famous so-called magician-doctor Paracelsus, had that as his goal in life. That was also what he was most proud of.

“If that’s the case, why do you want to get near vampires that are said to surpass human concept?”

But the magician’s words crushed all his belief.

“…”

“Humph. See, you don’t understand. You don’t understand anything at all. You don’t know what Aureolus Izzard is doing, and you don’t know what Aureolus Izzard is thinking of doing. You’re just a fake that only has his basic ideas in his mind, so you can’t understand why Aureolus Izzard would go against his initial beliefs and do all that.”

If he really didn’t know anything, how could he be the real Aureolus Izzard?

The magician that should be battered really badly was actually talking in an even more arrogant tone than the alchemist.

“Also, about that Limen Magna of yours, since magic exists for research, how can Aureolus Izzard be so proud that he completed such a spell? Only a kid will be happy about being cured after taking a flu medicine, right?”

“U… ah…”

There were too many points Aureolus could argue about.

However, Aureolus couldn’t stop himself from listening. That was because the words the magician had said were like a jigsaw puzzle that patched up all the deficiencies in his heart. Thus, he really couldn’t ignore it.

“I can say it as many times as you want. You’re a fake. I’m only looking for the real Aureolus Izzard and not you. Though it’s really too easy to destroy one or two of these security functions of yours, I’m not too willing since you have a familiar person’s face. Get away as far as you can.”

Aureolus Dummy couldn’t take it anymore.

It wasn’t about whether he was a fake. The main point was that he spent a lot of effort just to create that one and only spell. How could it originate from somebody else?

Aureolus Dummy intended to use his full power to crush the enemy in front of him, and raised his blade.

“Also, you should understand this clearly. How can the real Aureolus Izzard lose so easily?”

The voice came from behind.

At a moment, the warm stove-like air brushed past Aureolus Dummy’s face. Then, at a place that was empty, Stiyl Magnus appeared.

(A mirage…!?)

Aureolus Dummy immediately tried to back away.

That so-called mirage was a phenomenon that was caused by the expansion heat, causing a refraction of light. Thus, he could do things like letting his body seemingly melt into the air or let himself look like he was at a place where he really wasn’t at, just like a movie screening.

It was a fake image that was speared through many times by the Limen Magna. The real Stiyl had hid himself in the air and sneaked behind Aureolus Dummy.

Aureolus Dummy seemed to see through Stiyl’s tactic thoroughly in an instant.

It was through that he could avoid his attacks by moving about.

However…

The illusion that was speared by that Limen Magna seemed to cause a false sense in Aureolus Dummy’s mind—at that less than a second moment, the image overlapped with his body, and that was the biggest mistake.

If he stopped thinking, he would show fatal holes.

Just as Aureolus Dummy dragged his thoughts back to reality, the flame sword appeared on Stiyl’s right hand. The flame sword swung directly down and hacked Aureolus Dummy’s left hand and leg away.

The cut was extremely smooth like a hot knife cutting butter.

The parts that were sliced by the three thousand degrees Celsius flame weren’t even bleeding.

“U… ah.”

But what dominated Aureolus Dummy’s mind wasn’t the pain of the body.

“—Also, you should understand this clearly. How can the real Aureolus Izzard lose so easily?”

The magician’s words echoed in his mind, shaking his brain. That was right, Aureolus Izzard was definitely invincible and overwhelming. He had never known what failure was, what retreat was. He could only be called a perfect saint.

But what was with his ugly state now?

Right now, how was he any different from a frightened cat that used all sorts of tools to protect himself and trembled on taking every single attack?

“A-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Aureolus Dummy finally lost all sanity.

Even after losing a hand and a leg, Aureolus Dummy still used the Limen Magna.

“!?”

Stiyl remained wary of the golden arrowhead and raised his flame sword. However, the Limen Magna flew off in a completely unexpectedly place. The students who were gathered all over the floor were stabbed by the Limen Magna.

Immediately, the entire floor was filled with molten gold.

Then, Aureolus Dummy stabbed the Limen Magna into the molten gold and activated the Limen Magna. Perhaps the Limen Magna had the ability to manipulate pure gold like magnets attracting iron sand, as the molten gold splattered all over the place.

Of course, it included the area surrounding Stiyl Magnus.

“Tch!”

Stiyl casually blocked the splatters of molten gold. He then let his flame sword explode. Though the numerous droplets of gold couldn’t be blocked altogether, a storm could send them flying.

Stiyl again created a new flame sword and sliced the surrounding smoke apart.

He didn’t see any signs of Aureolus Dummy, who may have escaped during the explosion. Stiyl hesitated on whether he should chase after him, but decided to give up.

Right now, the corridor in front of him was covered completely with high temperature lava-like molten gold. It was five meters long, and he would be burned if he couldn’t jump over successfully.

It seemed like he could only make a detour. But luckily for him, Misawa Cram School was made of four buildings, and each building was linked through an overhead corridor.

(There’s no place I can’t get to as long as I don’t mind making detours.)

7

“It looks bad, but the injuries aren’t serious. Treatment will suffice.”

Deep Blood Himegami Aisa spoke calmly. Kamijou had dragged the Misawa student, the girl with braids, onto the corridor.

“B-but she’s covered in blood!”

Kamijou placed the girl on the floor, and couldn’t help but roar on seeing her. That unknown school’s summer uniform was already dyed fresh red. Her face, hands and other exposed parts of the skin were damaged and looked like a layer of plastic was wrapped over them.

“Only her skin that was damaged caused damage to the capillaries. Had her arteries ruptured, it would have been worse. The blood would gush out like a fountain.”

“How… do… you—”

(You’re not a doctor—and even if you’re are, you need to thoroughly check this. How can you make such a prognosis like that?)

“I’m more informed about the flow of blood than others.”

Kamijou was stunned and automatically recalled the name of Himegami Aisa’s ability.

“Help me.”

However, Himegami herself didn’t seem to notice Kamijou’s reaction, probably because she was giving emergency treatment. She began to undress the wounded girl in front of the boy.

“Uwah, hold on…”

“Don’t overreact. That would be too disrespectful to the injured.”

Though Kamijou was panicking about something else, but thinking about it, there was something wrong about thinking about a girl’s naked body at a time like that. It was like how a doctor who would get excited on seeing a patient’s naked body would get fired.

What Himegami did next could be compared to doctors and paramedics.

She first used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding thoroughly, and since she couldn’t stop the bleeding at the wrists with the cloth, she used Kamijou’s belt to tie them and stop the blood flow. The abdomen muscles that were ruptured were sewn together by the injured girl’s hair and some needles from a sewing box.

Kamijou couldn’t do anything. He could only follow Himegami’s directions and lift the hands higher than the heart or use the handkerchief to press the wound down. But doing that caused his hands to be stained in blood. It wasn’t because he hurt others, but because he was saving others, and that was a remarkable feeling in him.

“Anyway, she’s alright.”

Himegami, whose shrine maiden outfit had gotten stained in blood, said that as if it were nothing.

“We managed to stop the blood. It’ll take fifteen minutes for the blood to clot, and at that time, the wounds will patch up. However, the sterilization is incomplete. Even though there won’t be any danger in the next two hours, it’s better to send her to the hospital just to be safe.”

“…”

Kamijou again stared at the injured person on the floor. The girl was about as old as Kamijou, but her wounds were so serious that it was hard to imagine that. Psychologically, she shouldn’t be faring any better as well.

It’s true that he should be happy that they managed to save her life.

However, she lost everything, and that bothered Kamijou.

“We did what we could, now… we can only leave it to Academy City’s technology.”

Kamijou stared at the girl’s face as he said that, As the wounds were created from the inside, the damaged skin was stuck on her flesh like damaged plastic sheets.

“Only plastic surgery will be required. She just needs the skin on the arm.”

“…”

Himegami Aisa merely replied according to modern medicine knowledge. However, Kamijou still found it unbelievable that the skin from the arm could be used for the skin of the face.

“Speaking of which, you’re amazing just now. Are you a certain doctor that operates without a license?⁶“

“I’m not a doctor.”

Just as Kamijou was about to ask what she was, Himegami replied.

“I’m a magic-user.”

“…”

Kamijou recalled that she did say something like that, and said, “Eh, on what basis are you like a magic-user?”

“I have a magic wand.”

“H-hey, hold on! That’s a police baton!”

“New material.”

“Stop messing around!”

Kamijou, who was loudly criticizing such ridiculousness, finally realized that he could only do so because the injured person before him was safe.

Kamijou collapsed onto the floor.

Just that caused Kamijou’s remaining strength to be seemingly released. It was a really comfortable feeling, and one could even find it weird that nobody was crying.

In some unknown place that couldn’t be seen, lots of people were killed. Even if they had saved one or two people, that hellish sight that was even worse than what he saw now should be even trivial.

But no matter what, it was still something that was worth being happy over.

“If she needs a hospital…”

No matter what happened, they couldn’t let that injured person remain there. No matter how they intended to deal with Misawa Cram School and Aureolus Izzard, they had to call for an ambulance first.

“I’m going back. We can’t leave the wounded here. And it’s better to let the ambulance wait at the entrance.”

“Mm, that’s true. There’s not just one casualty. We can cut down on the time it takes to take them to the hospital by calling the ambulance here first.”

“…Stop talking about it like it doesn’t involve you.”

“?”

Himegami stared at Kamijou with an inexplicable look. Perhaps it was because she had been locked up for so long that her mind had no considered running away.

“Eh, what I mean is that you don’t have to be locked up over here. Let’s get out of here. In fact, we came here to save you.”

Himegami was unresponsive, and only revealed a frozen look of surprise.

“What is it? Did I say something weird?”

“…” Himegami said in a soft voice, “…Why?”

“What why? Do I need a reason to save others?”

“…”

Himegami was shocked again, remaining stiff.

And that time, it seemed like she blushed—or maybe that was just a feeling.

“But, I…”

Himegami Aisa seemed like she intended to say something.

But at that moment, there seemed to be the sound of something being dragged about as it interrupted Himegami. Then, there was a heavy breathing sound. Though he didn’t hear any talking, one could feel the negative feelings of hatred and anger in his breathing, and it seemed to echo in his mind.

“Damn it! Damn it! Absolutely, Why am I so injured! He’s supposed to be material, yet he’s dragging me down…kuku, hoho, dragging me down? Dragging me down? That’s interesting, isn’t it, Aureolus Izzard! You don’t even have any rear leg for others to pull! Kuku! Kukuku! You bastards looked down on me! Inevitably, I’m going to melt you all down…!”

An abnormally loud male voice could be heard, sounding like echoes that got blasted too loud.

Then with an extremely loud swoosh, with the sound of something being dragged, the sound of something being could be heard, and the man escaped down the stairs and made it to the corridor.

“U-…”

Kamijou was inadvertently stunned. That was a green-haired foreigner in white Western suit. However, his left hand and leg were sliced off on the joints, and there was a slanted golden stick attached to the damaged parts, one of which was used as a crutch. It should be painful, but the man didn’t look in pain at all. Perhaps he had a lot of anesthetic in him, as all the anger, hatred, happiness and craziness overwhelmed his pain. The sweaty face was obviously showing an exaggerated expression.

Also, the man’s right hand and the prosthetic left hand.

His hands looked like they were dragging rubbish, grabbing the collars of bloodied boys and girls. Three on each side, six altogether.

“Wha… what’s going on?”

The man stared at Kamijou with bloodshot eyes, and said, “Kid, what are you doing here? Only magicians are allowed to be here! Are you an intruder? That flame magician’s friend?

Three meters away, the man continued to let saliva fly, but Kamijou stood his ground.

“You… these people.”

“Naturally, these are just materials! Alchemy requires materials! Why are you looking at them? That’s too strange! Aureolus Izzard and his Limen Magna is standing before you. Why are you still looking at the materials!? I should be perfect!! Why are you so unhurried!? What am I lacking!?”

The name Aureolus Izzard shocked Kamijou, causing him to back away.

However, Himegami Aisa, who was beside him, maintained her expression.

“Poor thing… If you didn’t realize the truth, you could have continued being Aureolus Izzard.”

“Ku…!? Damn you!!”

As Aureolus Dummy growled, a large golden arrowhead flew out from the remaining right sleeve. It spun around the alchemist quickly, and the gold chain looked like a boundary.

—The arrowhead pierced through those bloody students that Aureolus Dummy was dragging around.

The six students that were stabbed through by the arrowhead were immediately melted into something golden. That wasn’t an ordinary fluid. The mercury-like metallic shine hissed, and the steaming sound that sounded like a beast breathing proved that this fluid was molten metal.

“What… Do you know what you’re doing, you bastard!?”

But on seeing that, Kamijou Touma was only worried about the students that were melted.

Facing Kamijou, who completely ignored his killer technique, Aureolus Dummy was as angry as ever.

“Of… course... Accept your fate!”

With that cry, the golden arrowhead and chain started to spin around the alchemist even faster, The surrounding golden dirt was flying in mid-air like a tornado. It looked like a wall, yet like a tsunami, and yet like a meteor landing on the sea. It whipped up waves around Aureolus Dummy and extended out to the ceiling.

At that moment, from the corner of his eye, he could see Himegami moving.

She silently bent down and carried the injured girl away before backing away. Though she was staggering back unsteadily, she wasn’t anxious at all. It was like she was clear about what she wanted to do, that if she backed away, she could get away from the attack range.

Luckily, the fluid formed by the molten metal wasn’t like water, but a sticky fluid that was like melted chocolate. Even if a tsunami crashed in, there wouldn’t be too much splash damage.

Kamijou followed Himegami, who was carrying the girl, and backed away.

But at that moment, a hole appeared in the golden tsunami from whence a golden arrowhead lunged with terrifying speed.

“…!?”

Though he wanted to dodge it, Kamijou was backing away and couldn’t obtain balance under such a situation. He could only choose to use his right hand to grab that attack that was flying at him.

The sound of muscles ripping could be heard in his hand.

The golden arrowhead wasn’t so easily caught. It backed away and returned back to the golden storm. The palm that got cut felt hot, like it got scalded on a hot metal plate.

After a while, the golden tsunami started to rise.

Kamijou jumped backwards and then rolled away, before finally avoiding that scalding molten metal attack.

The golden sea separated Kamijou and Aureolus Dummy, and the width was about three meters.

(…Damn it, I don’t have… any feeling in my hand—!)

Kamijou gritted his teeth. It was hard for him to clench his five fingers on the right hand. The right hand that could negate any miracle couldn’t even deal with a small knife.

“…What… what’s going on?”

But after the tsunami of gold subsided, Aureolus Dummy, who appeared again, seemed to be more anxious that Kamijou. One could even say that he was more than confused now.

The golden arrowhead in Aureolus Dummy’s hand started to disintegrate like it was made of sand.

The Imagine Breaker of Kamijou’s right hand started to work.

That arrowhead should be something that was imbued with some supernatural power, so it had gotten destroyed after Kamijou’s hand had touched it. The wound on Kamijou’s hand was caused by the blade just before it got destroyed.

“Naturally, What’s with your right hand? Certainly, Why can’t it change? Inevitably, My Limen Magna is the pinnacle of alchemy! It’s a miracle that two schools of thought, Bohemia and Vienna, gave up on after thinking that it couldn’t be fulfilled! This is unbelievable! Entirely, What did you use to negate my theory!?”

(Limen… Magna…?)

Kamijou felt that the wound was pulsating according to his heartbeat.

He inadvertently frowned.

(Was the change he talked about referring to that molten metal?)

“Ha, how satisfying! Haha! This is satisfying! You’re really interesting there, boy! What’s with that secret of the human body? Let me, the magic doctor, dissect your body and solve all the questions!!!”

Aureolus Dummy swung his right hand across, revealing a new arrowhead. It was aimed between Kamijou’s eyebrows, matching the killing intent in the alchemist’s eyes.

(It’s coming…!?)

Just as Kamijou frantically used his right hand to cover his face, the arrowhead almost touched Kamijou’s forehead. He quickly used his right hand to knock it aside, and the fist felt like it got sliced as a sharp pain can be felt.

“Tch!”

Aureolus Dummy wanted to use the gold chain to counterattack, but it got affected by Kamijou’s right hand before he could catch it, and it shattered like glass.

Another golden arrowhead appeared in Aureolus Dummy’s right sleeve.

As Kamijou was intending to dodge…

The golden arrowhead continued to fire out like a machine gun from Aureolus Dummy’s suit.

It was fast. The firing, the wrecking, the preparing of the next shot; All those actions took less than a fifth of a second. That wasn’t something that a human could handle anymore. However, he couldn’t choose to run away like that.

He couldn’t even turn his back on others, as the tiniest slip-up would allow the arrowhead to spear through his chest or other critical areas.

Luckily, though the arrowhead was moving fast, the trajectory was relatively simple. It would continue to shoot out in a straight line. It was a lot easier to predict the trajectory than against a boxer who could send in straight punches and hooks.

“Ku… ahh—!!”

So even though Kamijou knew that his right hand would get cut, he could only choose to use his right hand to deflect them. Seeing the arrowhead’s changing ability, it seemed like he would be melted into gold if he used anything other than his right hand to block it.

Thus, after a while, there were remains of arrowheads and chains all around Kamijou.

“Haha, hahahaha! Such an interesting human specimen! It’s not using a chant that absorbs the magic power, not the Lance of Longinus! It just used a bare hand to destroy all my Limen Magna!”

Seeing that he couldn’t kill the enemy no matter how many times he attacked, Aureolus Dummy still seemed really happy as he laughed. He was like an adventurer who had reached some mysterious place that no one entered before.

“It’s not enough! Haha! Boy! That’s not enough to test your limits!”

The golden arrowhead’s destruction and regeneration speed increased more than two times. It continued to rip the air and fly at Kamijou.

Kamijou’s right hand was already stained in blood, and he couldn’t even clench his fist.

(D-damn it! My fingers may be sliced!)

Just as Kamijou felt that scary thought invade his body, the golden arrowhead unexpectedly missed, and it flew past the slow moving Kamijou.

“The enemy missed” was much too optimistic a thought.

Standing behind Kamijou was Himegami Aisa, who was carrying that injured girl.

“Hime—!”

Kamijou turned his head about, trying to cry out. But facing the arrowhead that passed him, that was too slow. The golden arrowhead was aimed between Himegami’s eyebrows. Aureolus Dummy seemed like he got mentally confused, and couldn’t even show mercy on the Deep Blood he had worked so hard to get.

In front of him was a shocked look on Himegami Aisa’s face.

Just as Kamijou wanted to shout out, the arrowhead could be heard piercing flesh.

There was a cry of shock, and Kamijou wasn’t clear about whether he was the one who made it.

He couldn’t even tell, because the scene in front of him was too pitiful and unexpected.

The golden arrowhead didn’t hit Himegami Aisa.

The thoroughly injured girl that Himegami was carrying, the girl that couldn’t possibly move a finger, actually pulled her hand out to protect Himegami’s face.

The golden arrowhead landed deeply into her soft hand.

But the girl didn’t reveal a look of pain, instead using her other hand to gently push Himegami’s chest. Himegami’s body swayed and took a step back, separating from the girl.

The girl seemed to be muttering something. It was an extremely weak voice, and one couldn’t hear what she had said.

But the girl smiled.

That wasn’t a smile for herself. That was a feeble smile that was forced out to comfort others.

Then, just like that, the anonymous girl got transmuted into molten gold.

For that moment, Kamijou seemed to shout something.

Kamijou didn’t even know what he was shouting. He nearly burst his throat. The alchemist also seemed to be taken aback, probably due to luck or lack of it, and the golden chain stopped rewinding for a while.

Kamijou used his hand to grab the golden chain, not with the sure-kill right hand, but with the left hand.

Kamijou’s instincts were telling him that only the arrowhead could carry out the Limen Magna. The chained parts shouldn’t have any ability to carry out the Limen Magna. If the chain had a similar ability, the enemy wouldn’t have shot the arrowhead straight out but would instead swing the chain. That’s because if he did that, the attack range would obviously be wider.

“Ugh…!”

Aureolus Dummy naturally wanted to pull the chain back to himself. The chain was being held straight like a rope in a tug-of-war match. However, Kamijou used his foot to hold it tight.

Aureolus Dummy himself was the one who ended up being pulled.

And in front of him was the scalding molten gold that he created—!

“Guoaaaahhh!!”

Stepping into the golden fluid, Aureolus Dummy tried to back away, but he couldn’t do it. That was because the golden chain became a bind, causing him to be unable to move.

Aureolus Dummy roared and released the chain that was hidden in his suit. He finally managed to drag himself out from the molten gold. Although it was only two seconds, that caused smoke to come out from below his foot.

Perhaps knowing that he couldn’t use the chain as a bind, Kamijou’s bloodied hands let go of the chain.

Now, should he run, or should he attack?

Just as Aureolus Dummy was hesitating, he saw an unbelievable sight.

Kamijou bent his body down, looking like he wanted to increase his jumping ability to the maximum and jump over the golden stream to attack the alchemist opposite.

Letting go of the chain didn’t have anything to do with locking Aureolus in place.

As for the leaping distance, anyone could have told him it was impossible

The golden stream between Kamijou and Aureolus Dummy was three meters wide. He may be able to jump over it if he did a running start, but he definitely couldn’t do that without a running start.

Even so, Kamijou’s eyes didn’t have any hesitation.

It was like saying that it was alright even if he failed and jumped into the molten gold, that he must beat the enemy in front of him before his body got burnt.

That intense emotion that was unrestrained caused Aureolus Dummy to feel that he was in danger.

The next moment, Kamijou jumped without hesitation.

It seemed like a suicidal jump, but the direction wasn’t at Aureolus Dummy.

But at a window on the corridor that allowed the shining sunset in.

Kamijou’s foot landed on that slightly protruded platform and he then flew towards Aureolus Dummy!

“…!”

Just as Aureolus Dummy frantically tried to counterattack, Kamijou had already jumped—from a position much higher than the floor and above Aureolus Dummy.

Aureolus Dummy’s survival instincts were telling him to quickly attack back and use the golden arrowhead to shoot that guy down. But just as the alchemist frantically raised his Limen Magna, he realized something.

Kamijou Touma jumped over Aureolus Dummy’s head.

If he used the Limen Magna to shoot him down—the scalding hot molten gold would rain down on Aureolus Dummy!

“Apparently, I didn’t foresee that…!!”

The action, pride, and even the burn on his foot, he couldn’t even care about them now.

Aureolus Dummy frantically rolled back and avoided Kamijou’s attack, running away.

Compared to the shame of losing to an ordinary person who wasn’t even a magician, what Aureolus Dummy couldn’t take was a great fear.

He could only run with his battered legs in the darkness, crashing about as he ran.

8

Aureolus Dummy continued to tread through the corridor. It felt like that corridor was long, and that there was no end to it.

After the chain was grabbed by that boy, Limen Magna had lost all its power, but that wasn’t much. The golden arrowhead was just a tool that was materialized. Limen Magna’s actual identity was actually that of the entire Misawa Cram School base.

Even if the tool’s magic supply got cut of, as long as the main body was supplied with magic power and the shape of the tool was recreated, he could use it again.

Thus, that wasn’t the reason why Aureolus Dummy ran away.

The reason why he had run away was because of the power of that boy’s right hand. It seemed to be limitless. No matter how much he absorbed magic power from the main body and into the golden arrowhead, it still continued to get eroded by that boy’s right hand. If that kept up, the main body would have ran out of magic power. Such a crisis sent chills down Aureolus Dummy’s spine.

“Ku, damn…”

But Aureolus Dummy was still thinking of the next step. Whether it was Stiyl or that boy, even though Limen Magna was ineffective against them, they would still try to avoid the molten gold as much as they could.

“…In other words, if there’s so much gold that they can’t hide, they won’t be able to do anything. Ha, I have 1,982 materials beside me, naturally, that’s definitely more than enough to get rid of them!”

Though this place was huge, they were still within a building. If he poured out a large amount of gold like a dam bursting from the top level, he could easily flood all the corners below.

Just imagining it alone was fun. Just imagining it was enough to sweep aside all unhappy feelings.

“Haha! Destroy destroy! Destroy destroy destroy destroy! That’s right! I can’t die! There’s still Deep Blood and all sorts of research materials that’s incomplete! How can I die!? No, not just this! There are still fifty thousand human specimens in the world worth researching on! Haha! It’s only a pity for that boy, I have to kill him before I can even understand the secrets in his body!”

Luckily, he had summoned all the students in the cram school onto the back side of the coin, and now he just needed to gather these materials. At that point, he just needed to pierce the Limen Magna through them. But after thinking about it, the core of the Gregorian Chant replica that could manipulate all the students actions had been destroyed by Stiyl.

“Regardless of anything, these guys are against me…”

The anger ripped through the air like a hot blade.

But the sound of footsteps behind him sounded like a sharper blade.

“…!?”

Anyone could tell that Aureolus Dummy’s back seemed to shrink after hearing the footsteps.

Normally, ordinary people would choose to run away when they were afraid. That was normal. Everyone wanted to run away, they didn’t want to endure those irritating and painful events. If possible, they wouldn’t even want to look at it.

However, those footsteps didn’t even allow Aureolus Dummy to act on the primitive instincts that was so associated with ordinary people. That was because the footsteps contained killing intent, bringing a sense of despair. It seemed like if he looked away, his body would be diced into a hundred pieces.

Thus, Aureolus Dummy could only choose to turn back. His heart was telling him to run crazily without even looking, his mind was already unable to endure such pain anymore. But Aureolus Dummy could only turn back like a puppet being manipulated.

Over there, right over there.

Ten meters away, stood Kamijou Touma, looking like a savage beast that had just escaped from an experimental lab.

“Wh-what’s going—”

Aureolus Dummy didn’t understand. He was supposed to be perfect, so why could someone force him into such a state?

But in reality, Kamijou Touma was standing over there.

“...Enough screwing around, you bastard.”

Kamijou’s muttering caused Aureolus to frown. It was the voice of one standing in the midst of icy cold rain. Onlookers would have been confused as to who had pushed whom into despair.

Kamijou saw hell. He saw people die right in front of him, and he understood that some place where he couldn’t see, a lot of people must have died, but at least he managed to save an injured girl. However, that alchemist in front of him just took away the only saving grace in his heart.

But as for that, Kamijou didn’t say anything, and of course he didn’t have any views. That was because if he had the time to talk, he might as well do something else.

Kamijou’s eyes were glaring at the enemy.

His eyes were filled with burning iron-like killing intent.

“Hii-.”

Aureolus Dummy frantically raised the Limen Magna. That action wasn’t out of battle intent, but instead out of fear. However, that action caused Kamijou to be even more determined.

He didn’t say anything. Kamijou’s feet exploded with strength as he dashed at Aureolus Dummy.

Filled with fear and anxiety, Aureolus Dummy shot out the golden arrowhead at Kamijou’s face to prevent him from closing in. Kamijou crouched down like a spider and easily dodged it, even taking a step forward.

“!?”

Aureolus Dummy’s anxiety continued to increase. However, even if the anxiety caused the Limen Magna to be less effective, it could still regenerate six times within a second. Aureolus Dummy easily recovered the arrowhead into his hand, and shot it again at Kamijou’s face.

Having bent down, Kamijou had no other place to go.

However, Kamijou used his right fist to smash an uppercut at the abdomen. The golden arrowhead and chain immediately shattered. The perfect counterattack looked like it was predicted right from the beginning where the arrowhead would fly to.

Bending down his body was an act. If there was no way to retreat, and with that huge of an opening, the enemy would definitely attack there. A straight attack that was straightforward was way too easy as compared to fighting in the alleys where anything goes.

Ten meters distance, dodging the first attack alone wasn’t going to cover the distance. Thus, Kamijou had thought of that tactic. That was because if he could dodge the second attack, he could get near the enemy—!

“Agh!”

Stunned, Aureolus Dummy roared with a twisted expression and tried to fire the third attack. However, before that could happen, Kamijou’s right fist landed on his face. Then, without slowing down, and even though he was one head shorter than the enemy, Kamijou used his forehead to smash into the enemy’s jaw.

Having taken two direct hits in the head, Aureolus Dummy couldn’t help but tumble on the floor. He wanted to roll away to avoid the attack, but Kamijou wouldn’t allow him. He stomped hard onto the golden prosthetic and moved his foot to pull it out.

Like the sound of a fruit being crushed, the wound that was barely patched up let out a ripping sound.

“Gyyyyyaaaaahhhh!!”

Aureolus Dummy screamed out in pain and released the Limen Magna at Kamijou, who was intending to sit down on him. However, Kamijou actually used his left hand to grab the golden chain so as not to destroy it.

It seemed like he never thought that he would turn into gold if he made the slightest mistake.

Kamijou then twirled his left hand and tied the golden chain on his arm.

The Limen Magna attack was completely sealed. Then, Kamijou looked down at the alchemist’s face from above.

(Stupidly… if this keeps up, I’ll get killed)

Aureolus Dummy’s judgment was quick. He chose to cut the golden chain that was linked to the inside of his suit. Having maintained his balance with the resistance of the chain, Kamijou swayed. Using that opportunity, Aureolus Dummy rolled away and escaped from Kamijou’s clutches. Aureolus Dummy was crying out in his heart. The Limen Magna that he so believed in wasn’t destroyed, but abandoned under his own will. His own belief had been wrecked.

He expected that he should be able to save his life if he gave up everything. It could be said that it would be all for naught if that didn’t work. But in front, Aureolus Dummy couldn’t run away any further. That’s because his prosthetic leg had been ripped out, and he couldn’t even walk.

“…”

Kamijou raised the golden chain and whipped it on the crawling Aureolus Dummy like a whip. The heavy hit caused all the air in Aureolus Dummy’s lungs to be forced out, causing him to roll about on the floor in pain.

Kamijou silently closed in on the alchemist and stepped on his back, proceeding to wrap the chain around its former master’s neck. He could have then hanged him by pulling on the chain. What he could not do was break the neck because Kamijou was right-handed, not left.

Kamijou didn’t carry any emotions to his own actions. Or rather, he couldn’t. His mind and blank and hot, and reality was nothing to him.

“I… gya… sp-spare me.”

However, those words caused Kamijou’s brain to seem like it was dunked in cold water, causing him to lose all his anger.

It was an unreasonable request. How many people had that person killed? Thinking of it, one could tell that there was only one choice. Even in those superhero special effects movie that were shown to children, nobody would hesitate over killing such a person.

But Aureolus Dummy was inhuman.

He knew he couldn’t run, but he continued to reach his arm out and struggle.

Kamijou started to recall. The knight who was abandoned in the hall, the students who still continued with the incantations of the Gregorian Chant even with their bodies breaking, and the anonymous girl who had turned into molten gold while protecting Himegami.

He knew that there was only one choice.

Kamijou wordlessly tugged at the golden chain.

But in the end, he could only choose to let go.

♦

Aureolus Dummy continued to climb away on the floor. He could only escape from that person who had caused his downfall, wondering about the misfortune that happened around him, and relieved that he was still alive.

He was still a “human”. There was no way Kamijou could have killed him.

Aureolus Dummy didn’t even know what floor he was on.

Though he had managed to roll down a few levels, he didn’t even have any more strength to roll. There was no strength left in his body. His back was resting on the wall of the dark emergency staircase, and he was staring at the remaining hand.

Ever since he had gotten punched by that boy, he started to feel that the strength that was supporting him seemed to be taken away. That sense of powerlessness seemed like a certain magic source was cut off from him.

It was then that Aureolus Dummy truly realized.

He wasn’t a human. If the boundary wasn’t there to provide him with energy, he couldn’t even stand up.

It was like Limen Magna, a tool that was among numerous substitutes.

“Ahh…”

Aureolus Dummy sighed as the feeling in his fingers gradually faded, and yet he was feeling satisfied.

What is that? No matter whether it was Limen Magna or this body, magic would be negated on contact. What is that boy’s right hand? Thinking about that, Aureolus Dummy was like a teenager who was looking through a telescope, his eyes sparkling with the thirst for knowledge.

The greatest question in his heart was: How much can a person maintain and raise his form and pride?

Aureolus Dummy seemed like he had seen the answer. It wasn’t just because of that boy’s abnormal power. It was also because that even though the boy had such a power, he would get angry and feel sad like a human.

Thinking about it, it seemed like his tragic fate was nothing.

That was because a scholar who knew the answer didn’t need to live on and think.

Footsteps were heard.

Aureolus weakly looked up the stairs, and saw Stiyl standing there.

“Naturally, I can see… you haven’t gotten sick of killing me?” The alchemist mocked himself and said, “Even if you leave me alone, I’ll certainly die anyway, so why do you still want to kill me?”

“Yeah. It’s true that I have no interest in killing you. Besides, that child didn’t interact with you,” Stiyl said with an uninterested tone. “Speaking of which, there’s a member of the thirteen knights that was killed. I suppose you didn’t do that, right?”

Aureolus Dummy leaned on the wall and stared up at Stiyl.

Aureolus Dummy’s weapon was Limen Magna. Even though it could turn everything into gold, it can’t possibly turn the Surgical Armor of the knight in a vented shape like that.

“…Humph, speaking about that. Certainly I never killed any of them.”

“What?”

“Inevitably, since I lost, you can just go ahead and think of the reason.” Aureolus Dummy smirked and said, “Speaking of which, since you’re not interested in me, why are you here? Naturally, can’t I just die alone?”

“It’s the complete opposite, idiot. I’m here to send you off. Can you endure yourself dying off like that?”

“…”

For a while, Aureolus Dummy stared blankly at Stiyl’s face.

Then, he smiled.

It was a rarity for the man, but he smiled.

Though he was a fake, Aureolus Dummy was a scholar. And right now, he was extremely satisfied that he had managed to obtain the answer to a human’s biggest limit.

However, there was still some time until Aureolus Dummy died off.

Less than ten minutes.

Aureolus Dummy was a scholar. In that spare time, he would think of a new question to think about. They were research topics that were waiting for him to ponder about.

However, Aureolus Dummy didn’t have time to ponder about them.

To a scholar, it was hell to have a doubt yet be unable to research it before dying. That was definitely an unhappy feeling and regret that couldn’t be avoided.

That is why Stiyl had said that.

Before you find that sweet question and ponder hard into it, let me send you off while your mission is complete.

“Humph.” Aureolus Dummy smiled. “I can’t tell if you are an angel or the devil.”

“These are two beings of similar natures, the only difference is where they take their orders from.”

Stiyl slowly walked down the stairs.

“Fortis931 — I prove why my name is the strongest here.”

Stiyl’s black coat flipped out, and numerous rune cards scattered out like sakura petals.

“Magic name, huh?”

Seeing Stiyl walk down the stairs, Aureolus Dummy muttered to himself. If so, what was his magic name?

Aureolus Dummy began to recall.

“Oh, I remember.”

Honos628 — My honor is for the world.

Having finally remembered his name and purpose, Aureolus Dummy narrowed his eyes.

“Do I need to make a final prayer for you as a priest? alchemist?”

Walking down the stairs, Stiyl Magnus spoke as he arrived in front of the alchemist.

“Stop dragging this on. You’re just a mere magician.”

The moment Aureolus Dummy replied, Stiyl’s flames entered him through the mouth, quickly burning through the insides of his body.

The flames burst out from all the openings. The abdomen then started to break, splitting him into two parts. Large amounts of flames continued to spur out, causing Aureolus Dummy’s upper body to shoot out like a rocket.

9

At that moment, in a certain student dormitory, or rather, a certain student dormitory bathtub, the girl Index, who was watching the house, was exchanging looks with the stray cat Sphinx.

That calico cat seemed like it was a domestic cat, so it didn’t have a cute personality. It didn’t chase after a thrown ball of yarn, it continued to nest under a table even after its name was called, it would snatch other people’s food when eating. The last point was really a serious thing. To Index, who had a voracious appetite, it was significant that Kamijou Touma cooked for her.

It seemed like she had to train it. Having decided to stop giving the gentle treatment, she was now battling with the calico cat who was covered with bubbles. On a side note, Index read through Kamijou’s elaborate explanation on how to use the automatic hot water supply in the bathroom, and gingerly managed to work it out.

(…But, where did Touma go?)

There were a few questions in her mind. The first was what was said during the conversation. It wasn’t because Kamijou had said that he just wanted to test whether the phone could work, but that Kamijou actually said to forget it even after having his pudding eaten.

Speaking of which, it was the same for the shampoo-bubble covered cat whose fur was standing up.

Basically, Kamijou wouldn’t do anything he didn’t like.

Even if he knew that there was no other way, if he really didn’t want to do it, he would think of another way to solve it.

Such that Kamijou didn’t even pursue those two things that he didn’t agree with. That was really too weird.

Having made up her mind, Index nodded her head. She walked out of the bathroom and put on her nun habit called the Walking Church. At the corridor, before she even opened the door, she realized that even if she wanted to question Kamijou she had to know where he was. Of course, calling Kamijou was not an option. To be honest, Index didn’t know how the phone worked at all, and since the Kamijou residence phone had a fax function, there were so many buttons that Index didn’t know how to start using it.

Would she give up? Just as Index was about to return back to the room, she suddenly saw something.

There was something that looked like a tarot card stuck on the wall.

It was the rune card that the magician Stiyl Magnus used.

“…”

Index stared at the card with distrust.

Something was definitely going on. He had definitely left Index alone to deal with something alone.

Index recalled it. A few days ago, she met that teenager who didn’t have any feelings. The despair and anxiety Index felt caused her to be extremely restless.

Run. She could only run.

Luckily, Index had the knowledge of 103,000 grimoires in her mind. She knew the workings of Stiyl’s magic. The runes required magicians to continuously provide magic power and maintain it.

For example, when a soul was lost, there would be something thin string-like that linked the soul and the body. Though Index couldn’t use magic, she could trace the magic power, so she wouldn’t get lost.

Just like that, Index ran off to the battlefield without even locking the door.

She didn’t know that such an act would bring about the biggest trouble.

Chapter 3

The Master Has Shut Off the World Like a God.

DEUS_EX_MACHINA.

1

Stiyl Magnus was heading to the top level of the North block

Perhaps Kamijou, who he had sent out as bait was attracting a lot more enemies than what he had thought, as Stiyl practically faced no resistance. He hid himself completely, checking every entrance of the secret rooms, and grasped the situation inside.

It seemed Deep Blood Himegami Aisa wasn’t imprisoned inside.

Having checked all the dirt and magic traces left behind at the entrance, it seemed like whether it was the front side of the coin or the back side of the coin, it looked like nobody entered in.

There was nobody around, subordinates, soldiers or even Aureolus himself. Such an environment was definitely not going to watch a prisoner who may escape any time.

If that had happened, things were a lot more complicated. That meant that Himegami Aisa wasn’t imprisoned, but because she was willing to help out Aureolus Izzard. If that was the case, it seemed like he had to face that terrifying unknown ability of Deep Blood.

(…Damn it, why are espers so hard to handle?)

Thinking about it, Stiyl suddenly thought of that boy who was sent out as bait.

To Stiyl, it was painless even if that boy dies. From the beginning, Stiyl had told him that he wasn’t his ally, and he made it clear that he was using him as a shield.

But when that boy had been pushed down, he still looked like he was betrayed.

It was an expression that showed that he had been backstabbed.

“…”

Stiyl had definitely attacked him with the flame sword in their first meeting, and even after dragging him to this deadly battlefield, why did that boy see him as a comrade?

That caused Stiyl to be uneasy.

Though it was just a little prick, it was making Stiyl uneasy for some reason.

(…Damn it, why are espers so hard to handle—!?)

Stiyl started to dash down the narrow emergency staircase.

Though it was a meaningless thought—since he treated that boy as bait, he wouldn’t be able to convince himself if he didn’t have some level of accomplishment to it. What little humanity left in Stiyl was arguing.

“I don’t understand at all, what are you so anxious about?”

An icy voice could be heard from behind Stiyl.

“…”

Stiyl came to an abrupt stop.

He was running down the narrow emergency staircase. If anyone had brushed past him, he would have surely noticed it. If so, why was there someone behind him?

The man’s voice felt like somebody who had appeared out of thin air.

“…”

He slowly turned his head around. He knew what would happen if he let the enemy get behind him without him knowing.

Behind Stiyl Magnus stood…

♦

“Hm, so it’s over here?”

As the orange sunset mixed with the purple night, Index arrived in front of Misawa Cram School. Though it looked ordinary, that made it all the more strange. Index was tracking down the owner of the runes at the student dormitory. However, after the magic trail went behind the wall of that building, it got cut off.

Basically, that building was definitely abnormal, yet it was forced to look normal. The intentions were clear.

Like how people had magic power, this world had its own power.

In Christianity, it was known as “God’s Blessing”. In the magic cabal known as Stella Matutina which formed the model for modern Western magic, it was known as Telesma. But the concept with the most accurate nuance would be the ley lines in the Eastern feng shui ideology. As the name suggests, these were “lines” spread all across the world that distributed power like blood vessels distribute blood.

Of course, just as people’s magic power is similar to gasoline refined from their life force, the world’s “power” has little strength on its own. (Then again, its strength obviously far exceeds that of a human’s magic power because a planet’s lifespan is so much longer than a human’s lifespan.) But a temple or sanctuary could be used to convert it to the gasoline-like Ley which provides massive amounts of energy.

The power that filled this world was like air, ordinary people (including magicians) couldn’t feel it. Only those specially trained diviners or feng shui masters could feel the force.

However, there was no such force in that stack of four buildings in front of her.

Though the power of the world was normally undetectable like air, once it became a vacuum, breathing would be impossible. It was the same there, Index felt something strange that couldn’t be compared.

It was like some magic tower of death was sliced into cubes, becoming the largest tombstone in the world.

Perhaps that was to prevent the magic power from escaping within, but that was too extreme.

Though Kamijou’s right hand was capable of destroying the “power of the world”, it was not a large problem. If the power returned to the soil like falling leaves, it rejoined the cycle of life in the form of destruction, perfectly natural. Before Index realized the Walking Church’s destruction, she had not realized how harmonious the hand was with nature.

But the magic tower was different.

It was like a city of stone and steel formed after cutting down a forest through forced methods. It was an ugly representation of urbanization.

Why didn’t that runic magician realize it?

Perhaps that was because the rune magician himself was a walking refining machine of vast amounts of magic power. It was like people who were used to eating heavy tasting stuff, their tongues couldn’t differentiate the slightest changes in taste.

But Index couldn’t refine magic power. Thus, she could clearly feel that light change.

“This isn’t a boundary to prevent enemies from invading, but a boundary to prevent enemies from escaping. Hm, it’s like those Egyptian pyramids…”

The white nun muttered as she walked through the automatic doors.

She had no reason to head back.

It was because this was such an abnormal place that she had even more reason to bring that boy back.

The moment she stepped in, she felt that the atmosphere was different. It felt like moving from under a hot sun to a shop with a really strong air-conditioner. The lively and peaceful street was now a cold-blooded battlefield with the ominous presence of death permeating. And that wasn’t a false sense, for deep inside the wide room, at the wall near the lifts, was a dead knight who was wearing Roman Catholic tools.

Index cautiously approached the knight and observed him.

The knight’s Surgical Armor was imbued with magic that could absorb physical attacks. However, as the main emphasis was to focus on defense, the weakness of that equipment was that it was even more unable to withstand the magic attacks—but that enchanted armor was forcefully destroyed by a powerful physical attack, thus someone obviously ignored the defensive attribute.

(…Either someone doesn’t know anything about magic or he’s just really crazy.)

Of course, just looking at that building that looked like a pharaoh’s tomb that got flipped through, one could tell that the former couldn’t be true. If that was the case, this would be troublesome. Those who could destroy the enchanted Roman Catholic Church armor through physical force alone are either those who could summon archangels with Telesma or those who specialize in making metal golems.

In any case, this was not the kind of place that boy should be in. The smell of death here was too strong for an amateur who did not know the basics of magic to wander about.

At that moment, there seemed to be something clashing. Index turned around, and there was an entrance to a flight of emergency staircase beside the lift. There seemed to be the sound of something being dragged, and the sound of heavy breathing.

“Who’s—”

Before she could finish her question, the thing climbed out of the emergency staircase.

That thing couldn’t be called human, nor it could be called an object. That was because it was no longer a human. Its lower body had gotten ripped off, the left arm was blown off to nowhere, and the right side of the face was blown away. Even the remaining left side had been burned to chars—such a thing that could still move couldn’t possibly be called a human.

Only half of the face that was burned off was still moving.

Unbelievably, that looked like the thing was tilting his head and pondering about something—just as Index was thinking about something really unimportant, that thing used a hand to support itself and got ready to fly over.

“…!”

Without saying anything, the thing flew over immediately, and Index could only frantically backtrack. However, Index tipped over the knight and tumbled over. The thing that immediately lost its target fell off and looked like it was about to land on Index.

At that moment…

“Be crushed!”

A stern man’s voice could be heard in that icy space.

Suddenly, the wall at the elevators ripped apart like a paper door, and a man’s hand reached out from within. That large hand looked like it was catching a ball as it grabbed the head of that thing that was charred.

Then…

In front of Index, who was lying on the floor, that thing’s body exploded like what the man had declared.

It was like ash that was gathered together being crushed. That thing started to show three cracks on its body, and it started to break up into blocks. It then split up into snowflakes-like pieces, and before it landed on Index’s face, it disappeared into thin air.

“Open!”

Another voice could be heard. The elevator doors that were ripped out from the inside opened sideways. The twisted metal elevator that shouldn’t be open actually opened.

An ultimate magic that forced the surroundings to become reality based on one’s own words.

“It can’t be…”

Facing a puzzled and mumbling Index, a tall and lean man walked out of the lift, looking rather nonchalant. His green hair was combed back, and he was wearing a white Italian-made Western suit and high-classed leather shoes.

“Hm, it’s been a while, but I don’t think you remember me. Inevitably, you can’t remember the name Aureolus Izzard, but to me that should be somewhat lucky.”

The man who seemed to be talking casually had numerous marks on his forehead that looked like mosquito bites.

It was acupuncture, an Asian healing technique that seemed out of place with Westerners. In truth, this was false pretense. For example the founder of Stella Matutina, a Western magic organization, loved Buddhist concepts.

“But even if you don’t remember, I should say what I have to say. It’s been a while, Index. It seems like you forgot about me. I’m really happy that you haven’t changed.”

The man’s hand reached out at the lost Index, blocking her eyes.

It was the hand of a human or perhaps a monster that crushed the charred creature.

Index could not move as she responded.

I-it can’t be… Ars Magna?”

The man responded with a gentle smile.

2

“Let’s go back,” said Kamijou

Unable to get past the flowing gold, Kamijou could only make a detour through the four buildings and return to Himegami.

“That person called Aureolus was beaten. I didn’t kill him, but he’s done. He can’t fight. He’s wounded, and his heart’s dead. So, let’s go home.”

There was nothing left to protect. The students of the Gregorian Chant couldn’t be saved, and he dueled that alchemist. There was no reason for Kamijou to remain there. He just wanted to escape from that battlefield that was filled with death and go home.

He wanted to go home, he wanted to have dinner with Index. It was alright if he could just get away from there.

(As long as I can see her, I can go back to the normal world. Before I can’t leave the battlefield, before I get used to this world that’s full of killings and death, it’s over if I can’t get back to the original world.)

Kamijou thought blankly, but clearly.

However, an evil figure landed in Kamijou’s fragile heart.

First, according to Stiyl, Index had to have a memory wipe every year.

Second, according to Stiyl, Index had to find new partners every year.

Third, according to Stiyl, Index was ignorant of those facts.

That could be easily imagined. The Index who was smiling that year wasn’t the Index Kamijou was familiar with.

There were too many people around Index who needed her.

Though he didn’t say it, Stiyl Magnus did imply that when he said that.

“—Don’t be mistaken, that child doesn’t belong to you.”

“...Ugh”

A sudden groggy feeling caused Kamijou to use his hand to support himself off the world. He had a feeling that if he treated that child as nothing special, it seemed like he wouldn’t be able to return back to his ordinary world.

(…Such an ugly possessive attitude.)

Under such critical circumstances, any sense of self-defeat may become an impulse that would lead to self-sacrifice or suicidal actions. Kamijou took a deep breath to calm himself down, trying to force himself not to think about that. That was because he realized that if he continued to think on, his mind would crumble.

(Anyway, better get Himegami out of here.)

Kamijou sighed as he thought that.

“That Aureolus Izzard was definitely a fake.”

Himegami Aisa said that matter-of-factly.

“What?”

“A body double. I’ve seen the real person before, so I know that. The real one wouldn’t kill indiscriminately.”

Every word Himegami said etched into Kamijou’s mind.

That’s right; thinking about it carefully, something was amiss. The alchemist was definitely using Misawa Cram School as a hiding place, but still caused the students to self-destruct through the Gregorian Chant. If that was the case, wouldn’t he have lost his disguise?

But even so, Kamijou was still unwilling to believe reality. Right now, he couldn’t calm down and think. It was because he was about to go back that he could remain so calm. And now he was unable to accept the fact that he was going to step back onto the battlefield.

“Hold it, hold it right there…! What do you mean by that? I just beat Aureolus Izzard!”

“I said it before, that’s a fake,” Himegami said without hesitating. “The real body should have many needles with him to stab in. Those without needles are definitely fakes, and the real one isn’t so weak.”

Kamijou couldn’t admit it, and neither did he want to. Right now, all his thoughts were focused on going home, and right now, Kamijou couldn’t admit that another enemy existed.

“But the real one shouldn’t be interested in anything else other than what he wanted. I don’t think he will stop you if you want to go back.”

Himegami’s calming tone finally soothed Kamijou’s rampaging mood.

However, what Himegami had said seemed strange.

“Hold on, you’re coming along with me, aren’t you? Since he’s aiming for you, how can he let us go?”

“Why?”

“What why?”

“The question isn’t about ‘why can’t he let us go’, but ‘why must I go along with you’.”

“What?”

Kamijou was shocked, unable to say anything. Right now, even if they beat the enemies, Himegami still didn’t intend to escape from Misawa Cram School.

“Don’t be mistaken. I have my own aim. My aim doesn’t involve to escape from here. On the contrary, my goal can only be achieved here. No, I can say that without that alchemist, it is possible that it can’t be fulfilled.”

Himegami didn’t sound lost, and one may even think that she was Aureolus’ friend.

Kamijou wondered what was going on.

Those hostages who were imprisoned or watched may have some mysterious sympathy for the criminals. There were cases of such things in psychology. Was Himegami someone like that?

“But no matter what aims you have, that guy didn’t treat you as an ally, right? If you’re one, why are you imprisoned here?”

“I was imprisoned before he took control of Misawa Cram School.”

Himegami said without wavering.

“Do you really want to know how I was treated here? Do you want to know why are there so many secret rooms here? I don’t think you can handle the truth.”

“…”

“Ever since that alchemist came here, the secret rooms were never used again. I’m just staying here, and I don’t feel the need to go out. And if I randomly do so, I’ll attract ‘that’.”

Kamijou recalled what Stiyl had said to him before they entered Misawa Cram School.

Though this looked like an ordinary building, it had a perfectly disguised boundary.

Deep Blood.

It was even treated as a legend in the magic world. A girl who was said to have the ability to instantly kill vampires. Perhaps…

“Then what? Don’t tell me you hide here to avoid conflicts with them?”

“…My blood has the power to attract them with a sweet scent and also kill them. Lure them, kill them. I’m like a carnivorous plant; colorful and deadly. Such is my nature.”

Kamijou’s eyes widened.

Even when Stiyl had mentioned about vampires, he was filled with disgust and fear. And this Himegami Aisa actually had a powerful ability to kill vampires. However, when Himegami said that, it sounded lonely, like cold rain was pouring on her.

“Do you know what vampires are like?”

Being asked that, Kamijou couldn’t possibly know the answer. What he could think of were those evil vampires in storybooks who would attack others. In fact, the term “vampire” didn’t feel realistic to Kamijou.

“The same”

However, Himegami actually replied like that.

“They’re no different from us. They cry, smile, get angry, get happy, laugh for others, and act for others. All of these people—without exception—are killed.”

Himegami sounded like she was bleeding.

All her happy memories were shattered in front of her. Only those people who had experienced such hell could say such words.

“Academy City is a place to research on powers. I thought that I could come here to analyze the secrets of my powers. If I know the source of that power, I can get rid of it. However, I can’t find a way to remove it.”

Himegami said.

“I don’t want to kill anyone. I decided that I’d rather kill myself than to kill others.”

That was why…

The girl called Deep Blood complained in a lonely manner.

“But that…”

“Please don’t try and convince me. And it’s not a bad thing. Aureolus said before that he can create an even simpler boundary. It’s a boundary that takes the appearance of clothes, called a Walking Church. If I put it on, I can go about on the road and not be afraid of luring that creature.”

“…”

“I have my goals, Aureolus has his own goals. We need each other to fulfill our own goals. So it’s alright. Aureolus will fulfill his side of the bargain and not hurt me. I’ll explain it to Aureolus for you if you want to leave the battlefield alone.”

Kamijou couldn’t agree with it.

He couldn’t understand the burden on that girl. He didn’t know how to save the girl in front of him. He didn’t know what to do.

“…Tell me something.”

Because he didn’t know, he asked.

“Since you don’t want to attract vampires, why was it that you were eating outside when we first met?”

“It’s simple. Aureolus needs me because he wants a vampire. If I continue to stay inside the boundary, I can’t get one.”

“But isn’t that completely different from what you wanted? Don’t you not want to hurt vampires? If so, why would you accept that order—”

“Mm, but Aureolus promised me that he won’t hurt them even after he gets them. He just wanted their help.”

“…What. I thought that you worked so hard just to escape from Misawa Cram School.”

“…But even if I intended to escape, why are you here?”

“Of course I’m here to save you. Do I need a reason?”

Seeing Kamijou arguing like that, Himegami’s eyes widened.

It looked like she had forgotten that her birthday was today, yet she got a birthday present.

“Unbelievable. But don’t worry, I wasn’t imprisoned. You can relax and go back, there won’t be any problems.”

Himegami smiled.

“Aureolus said that he wanted to save someone, but he can’t do it with his own power, so he needs the power of a vampire, so I agreed to help him. This is the first time I agreed to use this power not to kill, but to save others.”

“...”

Were those words true? Even if Himegami wasn’t lying, it was unknown if Aureolus was lying to her. Besides, Aureolus was a killer, the mastermind who created that battlefield of killing. What Himegami had said was really too different from the current situation.

And even so—

Even if Aureolus Izzard was like what Himegami Aisa had said.

“...That won’t do.”

“Eh?”

“If Aureolus Izzard is just as what you said, that he hasn’t become a monster, that he’s still barely a human, you can’t let him continue on doing these wrong things. Though I don’t think that people can’t be saved when they do the wrong things, if Aureolus is to continue on like this, he’ll reach a point where he can’t turn back.”

Himegami remained silent.

Actually, she should have realized it. What Aureolus wanted was starting to be different from what ensued in reality. Just looking at that battlefield alone, it was a whole lot different from not hurting anyone.

“Necessarily, on what basis do you refute my ideas?”

A man’s voice could be heard, interrupting Kamijou’s thoughts.

The inexplicable ringing-like sound immediately interrupted Kamijou and Himegami’s conversation, causing everyone to become silent.

It sounded like a whisper to the ear, but the owner of the voice didn’t seem to have transferred that voice through physical means, not through air.

Footsteps could be heard from behind Himegami.

But that was a long corridor that was more than thirty meters away.

There shouldn’t be anyone there.

There shouldn’t be anyone there at all, but in the blink of an eye, Kamijou saw someone appear right in front of him.

There couldn’t possibly be any hiding spaces.

And the man seemed like he was never hiding in the first place.

“You...”

Kamijou started to suspect his own eyes.

The man that had appeared out of thin air should be the Aureolus Izzard that he beat down, but his limbs were intact, and there wasn’t even a single scratch on him.

(Did he use some special skill to heal himself?)

Kamijou wondered that, but that was illogical.

Even if he could heal his wounds, the personality wouldn’t change. Though the person in front of him looks the same, the atmosphere was completely different—like a twin brother with a completely different personality.

And the pressure.

Aureolus was definitely thirty meters away from him, and yet Kamijou could already feel such an overwhelming pressure. It was like the enemy had already stabbed into his ribs.

Despair. The only thing that could describe that person in front of him was that he was really strong.

(Dangerous!)

Kamijou’s instincts were telling him that.

(This person is dangerous!)

Inside that boundary, he was definitely someone that couldn’t be beaten! But because of that, Kamijou decided to step forward to protect Himegami. That was because from the beginning, there was never an option to save himself by sacrificing others.

However…

“Calmly, don’t interfere. I will come to you now.”

Before Kamijou could even step forward, Aureolus had already covered the thirty meter distance and appeared between Kamijou and Himegami.

“What…?”

Seeing Aureolus suddenly appear in front of him, Kamijou’s mind was unable to comprehend what just happened and froze. It wasn’t that the person was fast, but that he just went in from out of nowhere. To give an example, it was like editing a film.

“Naturally, you may be wondering about what just happened, but I have no obligation to answer,” The alchemist said calmly, “Himegami’s blood is something that’s very important, so I can’t hand her over to you. I’m here to reclaim her.”

The word “reclaim” started to spin around in Kamijou’s blank mind.

“...Damn it! You bastard!”

At that point, how could he run away? Anyway, he had to get close to the imprisoned Himegami and the mastermind Aureolus. Kamijou then started to rush forward, and his distance to Aureolus was about two meters.

However…

“In any event,” The alchemist calmly stated, “You shall not touch me.”

Immediately, there was a drastic change.

At first, it looked like nothing had changed. But it was because nothing seemed to change that something didn’t feel right. Kamijou was running at Aureolus with full force. However, the distance didn’t close up, and it felt like he was running at a setting sun at full speed. No matter how much he ran, he couldn’t close in on the distance in front of him.

It was like a corridor that was expanding infinitely, as Aureolus and Himegami seemed to be backtracking from him.

Kamijou started to feel anxious. He remembered the power of the Imagine Breaker ability in his right hand. Any supernatural power could be negated, even if it was God’s miracle. However...

(But—how am I going to make that effective!?)

“Certainly, Tell me,” Aureolus said with an emotionless voice, “Why would I be unable to turn back?”

Kamijou felt a chill and stopped, not daring to approach Aureolus. His body was even telling him that he would be in danger if he tried to close in.

Aureolus stared at Kamijou’s face without any emotion. That looked like a stuffed insect staring pins right at him.

Suddenly, Aureolus pulled out a thin needle that was as thick as a hair from his white Western suit. There was a faint smell of antiseptic from it. Aureolus used the needle to stab it into his neck, as if he was hypnotizing himself.

Such an action seemed to be declaring Kamijou’s death, causing him to back away.

However, Aureolus pulled out the needle, threw it away, and said, “Unfortunately, you’re boring, boy.”

Suddenly, Kamijou was shocked that he couldn’t pull away from Aureolus no matter how he tried to run away. In such a mysterious situation, it seemed like he couldn’t go forward or backwards.

Kamijou was unable to react to the enemy in front of him, causing his heart to almost burst. Aureolus silently reached his hand out at some place far away from Kamijou’s heart and looked like he was about to grab something. It’s like he was about to dig the heart out.

“Diss—”

Just as the stern alchemist was about to say something.

“—Wait!”

Himegami suddenly appeared between both of them and called out, interrupting them. Kamijou was stunned. Himegami actually dared to stand in front of Kamijou to protect him from the real alchemist who had such an overwhelming power.

(Idiot! Bastard...! Don’t joke with me!)

Kamijou frantically reached his hand out to push Himegami away, but he couldn’t even close up a centimeter of distance. It was like watching a child who didn’t know anything confront a robber armed with a machine gun. Kamijou was starting to tremble due to the danger.

However, Kamijou suddenly realized something, and that was Himegami Aisa’s title.

Deep Blood.

The vampires that even Stiyl so feared were killed by her. The legendary mysterious power. Over there, she could be called the biggest ace. With her power, perhaps they could turn the situation around.

(Is there a chance of victory...?)

Did she have a chance? If she didn’t, she shouldn’t be doing that.

However, Aureolus was merely looking uninterested at Kamijou, who was thinking.

He didn’t seem to care about the biggest ace, Deep Blood.

“Obviously, at this point, you might harbor a sense of hope, which is expected. However, Deep Blood is no match for me.” Aureolus said coldly. “Naturally, you might wonder how the name Deep Blood came to be. Hm. Yes. She certainly has the power to kill vampires… but have you ever wondered, considering it’s so powerful, why it’s limited to vampires? Why don’t they call her Overkiller?”

(…Don’t tell me.)

As his last hope got taken away, Kamijou’s thoughts started to narrow.

“Essentially, Deep Blood is an ability exclusively effective on vampires. The truth is none so extravagant. It’s simply a unique type of blood. Her sweet-smelling blood lures vampires to her and when they consume but a drop of her blood, they disintegrate. The terrifying thing is the fact that it lures each and every vampire. They drink her blood knowing they will die. It’s only effective against Cain’s descendants, vampires; not humans.”

Aureolus elaborated as he obtained another needle, stabbing this one as well into his neck. What was its effect? The rather emotionless alchemist seemed somewhat excited.

“Hm, are you going to argue by attacking me? But how are you any different from me? In the end, you’re still like me, you need the power of Deep Blood.”

Aureolus’ words etched mercilessly into Kamijou’s heart.

He knew that he had no hope left, but he still wanted to struggle even if the will in his heart extinguished.

However…

“That’s no such thing. That person doesn’t know the definition of Deep Blood, and doesn’t even know what vampires are like. He just came here today to save a stranger he just met today. We haven’t even been formally introduced, and yet he couldn’t leave me behind.”

The one who said that to Aureolus wasn’t Kamijou, but Himegami.

She opened her arms wide, acting as a shield to protect Kamijou from the verbal attack.

“Aureolus Izzard, what do you want?”

Hearing Himegami say that, Aureolus’ eyebrows twitched.

“Are you going to get ordinary people involved in this, people who aren’t magicians nor alchemists, and kill them on some ridiculous basis? Is that going to satisfy you? Is that your goal?”

“…”

“If that kind of meaningless act is your objective, then I shall quit. I know I can’t beat you, but I have the right of choosing to bite my own tongue to end my own life.”

Himegami’s eyes never wavered.

It was almost hard to tell who the king of that fortress was. A very honest expression of patience.

Aureolus again pulled out another needle and stabbed it into his neck.

“Necessarily. We can’t waste time on such things,” The alchemist said with a casual tone. “There’s a lot of things we need to deal with. What’s more troublesome than the intruder is how to deal with Index. It’s easy to beat others, but to be honest, I still can’t handle it well.”

Hearing Aureolus say that nonchalantly, Kamijou nearly stopped breathing.

(…Hold, hold it. Index? Don’t tell me, she came here—!?)

Kamijou wanted to grab Aureolus, he must change the situation no matter what. However, the distance between both of them couldn’t be closed up. The alchemist’s hand that was put down raised Kamijou again.

Himegami stepped forward at Aureolus, showing a defiant look.

However, the alchemist casually said, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill him.”

He pulled out the needle from his neck, and said, “Young man, as for what happened here—”

(Damn it, what kind of a sick joke is this! How can I back away now!)

The alchemist seemed to have seen through Kamijou’s heart and smiled.

He then said, “Forget about everything that happened here.”

3

The sun had set.

“?”

Kamijou got up from the seat and looked around. A seat? Looking around, he found that he was inside a student bus. Looking around, it didn’t seem to go past the dormitory Kamijou was staying in. The name of the last stop was “District 17: Before Misawa Cram School”.

Normally speaking, the last rides of the trains and buses were at dismissal time, 6:30PM. It was rare that this bus would go out at midnight. Perhaps it was a bus meant for the cram school.

“Misawa Cram School?”

Kamijou tilted his head. Was that the name of the cram school? Kamijou pondered, but couldn’t get the answer. He couldn’t possibly go to a cram school. Kamijou Touma couldn’t even write his holiday assignments, let alone prepare for exams.

In a moment, the term “memory loss” sent chills down Kamijou’s spine. He thought that he had just lost memory of what happened before, but as things stood, it may be worse than what he expected.

“…Better check it out at the hospital.”

Muttering to himself, Kamijou decided to first alight the bus. Besides, he didn’t know where the bus would go to. After he alighted at the nearest bus stop, he found that the surrounding scenery was still foreign to him.

He didn’t have any problems with his balance, and it wasn’t like he really wanted to sleep. On first glance, he seemed really healthy, but it was safer to do a check-up at the hospital since he did lose several hours of memories.

(If I want to go to the hospital, I will need a health insurance card. Better go home first. Is the hospital still open at this time? Do I need to call for emergency services? Hold on, how am I going to explain it to Index? Wouldn’t she feel weird that I would want to go to the hospital all of a sudden? And would she be angry that she hasn’t eaten dinner even at such a late time…?)

Thinking about it, Kamijou decided to walk back to the dormitory. However, there was no bus that went towards his dormitory.

(Such misfortune.)

Just as Kamijou was thinking about that…

—It felt like something was calling out to him.

“?”

Kamijou tilted his head, looking puzzled. That’s strange. Why was it that it seemed like he had forgotten something important? It was like not turning off the gas before going out on a holiday, a sense of danger that couldn’t be resolved. What was going on?

Kamijou thought about Misawa Cram School that he never went to before, and muttered, “Never mind. If I can’t remember, it’s probably not important.”

After making that conclusion, he continued to move forward.

Right now, the most important thing was how to calm down Index, who was angry that she had nothing to eat. Seemed like he could only calm her down with a black honey pudding that cost seven hundred yen. That unexpected cost really bothered Kamijou.

(I really shouldn’t have bought the 3,600 yen reference book.)

Kamijou sighed and scratched his head with his hand.

His right hand that could negate any supernatural powers, even a miracle of God.

With the sound of his skull breaking, the day’s memories rushed into Kamijou’s brain.

“…!”

Kamijou frantically turned around to look.

The scene was already covered by the darkness of night. As the station was far away from there, he couldn’t see Misawa Cram School from there. How long had it been since then? He couldn’t find Stiyl, Himegami, or even Aureolus—and of course, Index.

Aureolus had said “forget about everything”, and Kamijou really forgot about everything. He had forgotten about the Misawa Cram School that became a battlefield, he had forgotten about Himegami being taken away by Aureolus, and he had forgotten about what the alchemist said—something about taking Index away.

“Damn it!”

He didn’t know what had happened during the past few hours. It was okay for Stiyl to remain inside Misawa Cram School, right? Thinking about that, Kamijou started to run towards Misawa Cram School.

As he continued to run towards Misawa Cram School, Kamijou, whose brain was in a mess, completely missed something. Even though he continued to run forward, he wouldn’t end up meeting with other people. In fact, there was no one else on the road. Though it was night, it was a downtown area in Academy City, so it was really strange that he hadn’t met anyone yet.

(…What’s going on?)

Sensing that anomaly, Kamijou already saw Misawa Cram School that stood high in the night sky.

There was no one on what was supposed to be a busy street. Kamijou experienced that before. It was similar to the Opila runes that Stiyl had used in the evening.

But this time, it wasn’t that no one was around.

What surprised Kamijou the most was that there were people surrounding Misawa Cram School.

(…What the hell?)

Kamijou stopped and turned back to look. Slightly far away, he could see a few people around. However, it was impossible to tell if they were male or females, as they were completely covered skin-tight silver armor.

There was no one around, which made that even more suspicious looking. From that angle, he could see three people in armor. If they were surrounding the four buildings of Misawa Cram School, there should also be a few of their comrades.

(…What? Who are these strange guys…? Some people from the Church?)

Mindful of these people, Kamijou decided to approach one of them. Perhaps the situation had changed while Kamijou had lost his memory like an idiot.

“Hey, what are you people doing? Are you members of the Church?”

At that moment, Kamijou remembered the knight who had died in front of the elevator.

Those people were wearing similar armor to that dead knight.

One of them responded, shocked to hear the term “Church.”

“—I’m one of the members of the thirteen Knights of the Roman Catholic Church, Lancelot Vittorio Cassera.” He seemed rather impatient. “Oh, so you’re a survivor of the battlefield? We saw him walk out from here. You’re really lucky. If you don’t want to die, get further back.”

Kamijou wondered what nonsense that person was spouting as he checked the entire armor.

“We don’t wish to cause unnecessary damage. We’ll use the Gregorian Chant to carry out a holy incantation bombardment. This is a mean that we decided on after considering everything, in order not to increase the damages.”

Kamijou was shocked by those words.

The Gregorian Chant. The students in Misawa Cram School had used the same spell. According to Stiyl, that spell had originated from the Roman Catholic Church.

It was supposed to be the ultimate weapon of the Roman Catholic Church. 3,333 monks were to gather outside a cathedral and chant out that huge spell. It could multiply the power of that spell like sunlight being focused on a magnifying glass.

Stiyl’s words entered his mind again. The replica itself already had such power, so how much power would the original one have?

“Bombard… Are you kidding me!? How powerful is that thing!? How many people will be involved inside!? Are you going to blow the entire building up!?”

“You’re right. This holy spell that gathers 3,333 monks at the greatest holy place in the world, the Vatican Church can accurately turn anything in the world to dust. Besides, if we leave the tower of this heretic, it’ll be harmful to our pride.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!? There are countless innocent students inside! And Stiyl and Himegami are still inside! Even Aureolus—”

—Aureolus had just wanted to summon a vampire so that he could save someone.

“Besides, how big will the damage radius be, blowing up that huge building? Rubble will fly out like cannonballs in a six hundred meter radius!”

“As long as the goal is correct, the means are justified! The bloodshed of today shall be the foundation for tomorrow!”

Kamijou’s mind started to boil because of those words; he was unable to remain calm.

What that person had said just now was totally different from what he had said before. He told Kamijou to run away so as not to cause unnecessary deaths, yet he didn’t care about the lives of the people inside Misawa Cram School. That didn’t make sense at all.

“Are you kidding me! Isn’t your comrade inside there as well?”

“…Percival has martyred himself in another land. The blood he shed shall be created for a better tomorrow.”

Kamijou remembered the knight who had died beside the elevator.

The armored man whose words were intelligible and filled with madness. It seemed like he completely lost his ability to think calmly.

“Damn it, wait a minute! One hour, no thirty minutes will be fine!”

“We have no need to listen to your views! Begin the attack now!”

The fully-armored man who called himself Lancelot raised the large sword into the sky. The sword gave off a red glow, and Kamijou thought that it was like an antenna.

Just as Kamijou intended to stop him, the antenna was swung down.

“Revelation 8:7—”

So began the coordinated ritual.

“—The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down onto the earth!”

Perhaps due to the effects of magic, a horn could be heard from the glowing sword like a beast howling, echoing throughout the night.

Immediately, all the voices vanished.

All the clouds that were floating in the night sky were scattered away.

From far away, it looked like lightening. A huge pillar of light that descended from the sky. However, that pillar of light was red. It looked like thousands of fire arrows mixed together to form a huge spear as it struck one of the four buildings of Misawa Cram School.

The crimson pillar pierced the roof to the basement.

The tower was crushed to half of its original height like a squashed aluminum can. The glass shattered and interior decorations flew about in chaos.

It wasn’t over. Though one of the four buildings had been hit directly, the neighboring two buildings were also affected, pulled down by the overhead bridges, leaving the remaining unaffected building there like a tombstone.

Such an act of madness left Kamijou dumbstruck.

The building got twisted, cracks appeared on the walls, and people were falling through the gaps like dust patted off pants. A large number of rubble utterly devastated the surroundings like a meteor shower. The only silver lining was that there was no one else around because of the people clearing field.

“Shit, don’t screw with me...”

Kamijou gritted his teeth. There was Stiyl, Himegami, many students and teachers, Aureolus—and perhaps even Index inside.

“Don’t screw with me, you bastards!!”

Kamijou dashed forward like a cannon, but not at the person who was in armor. There was no time to bother about him. Kamijou wanted to check the bombardment site.

However, the storm of dust prevented Kamijou from moving forward. He couldn’t see anything in front, he couldn’t open his eyes. Even so, he continued to run forward. He just hoped that all that was just a joke.

But at that moment, something changed.

“?”

At first, what Kamijou felt was that all the dust that was blocking his sight was scattering. The large amount of dust flew forward like it got hit by a strong wind—to what was supposed to be the wreckage of Misawa Cram School.

“!?”

No, not just dust. Even the rubble that flew everything was floating in midair, and the crumbled walls flipped back up. The pieces started to come together like a jigsaw puzzle, looking completely smooth like it got renovated.

It was like a rewind of a show. The collapsed towers were standing back up, and the people who fell were re-absorbed back through the cracks. Most of the damage to the buildings were repaired, and soon, all the four buildings of Misawa Cram School looked like nothing had happened as they remained there. Even the neighboring buildings that had been hit by rubble reverted back to what they were before, making one wonder if his memory had gotten manipulated.

(Hold on. Reverting things to normal… Don’t tell me!)

Kamijou looked up at the sky. At that moment, the red lotus divine spear that was shot out from the sky to the roof of Misawa Cram School appeared there. Anyone could tell where the spear was aimed at. It really was an eye for an eye.

“Ah, ahh…”

Turning back to look, the person in full armor was moaning, his knees seemingly giving way as he collapsed onto the floor. It seemed like he should know how powerful a real Gregorian Chant could be.

What’s going on? Kamijou looked up at the night sky. Even the seven Level 5s in Academy City couldn’t possibly create such a miracle.

(That’s the enemy...)

Aureolus Izzard.

(That’s that guy’s real ability…)

Facing such a terrifying enemy, how were they going to fight him? Kamijou stood around blankly, his mind in a blank state.

“Shit!”

Kamijou got rid of all his fears and still dashed off to Misawa Cram School.

Arriving in front of the automatic doors, Kamijou hesitated to move on.

With fear and trepidation, Kamijou passed through the automatic doors and returned back to the battlefield.

The interior of Misawa Cram School hadn’t changed, and because of that, Kamijou started to have goose bumps. Not only that, all the students inside were unharmed as they continued to listen to the lessons.

The students should have been injured by the Gregorian Chant and melted by the Limen Magna, but it looked like nothing happened.

Passing through a certain classroom on the corridor, Kamijou saw something and stopped.

(That girl…!)

Sitting a seat in the very back of the wide classroom was a girl that Kamijou recognized. She had braided hair and glasses—she was the girl who was turn to gold by Aureolus’ Limen Magna when she protected Himegami.

She was over there.

It was like nothing had happened right from the start, that she was living in a very ordinary world.

“…!”

Such a peaceful scene struck fear in Kamijou. Under Aureolus’ magic, life and death, fortune or misfortune, normal and abnormal, all those were basically reshuffled.

Though Kamijou didn’t know where he should go at all.

After arriving at a straight corridor, Kamijou finally saw a familiar face.

“What? Why are you looking so panicky?”

The person who had betrayed him and used him as bait, and yet could smile so shamelessly; Stiyl Magnus, who he really loathed. But right now, it was really an incomparable relief to Kamijou.

“Hm. The fact that you’re here means... this place really is Japan? No wonder I’ve been seeing so many Asians this whole time, but what is this? This bizarre barrier structure seems to have a familiar smell of magic power but...”

Stiyl ignored Kamijou completely as he continued to mutter. It seemed like he had gotten his memory wiped like Kamijou. No, he may have forgotten the objective of Misawa Cram School as well. It seemed like his memory had been wiped more than Kamijou’s.

He could recover Stiyl’s memories by using his right hand to touch Stiyl’s head, but Kamijou was worried about something else. Wouldn’t he erase the fact that Stiyl got revived from the bombardment right now?

Though the right hand was completely ineffective when Aureolus had ordered that he shall not touch him, since this was something that involved Stiyl’s life, he couldn’t just casually leave it as it is.

“Hey! What block were you in?”

“What?”

“Just tell me!”

“??? Should be the North block. Why?”

Kamijou heaved a sigh of relief. Only the North block was untouched after the bombardment, meaning Stiyl had no need to be revived.

After confirming that, the rest was simple.

“Hey! Stiyl! Let me teach you a charm that’ll erase your doubts.”

“…I believe that Kanzaki is a specialist in Oriental charms.”

“Just do as what I say. It’s simple. Close your eyes and stick your tongue out!”

“???”

Stiyl looked rather suspicious, but still followed what Kamijou had instructed.

And then, Kamijou declared, “Congratulations☆ Here’s a souvenir for actually using me as bait and escaping by yourself! “

“…Eh?”

Then, Kamijou slammed an uppercut at Stiyl’s chin with his right hand.

The lost memories were back. At the same time, Stiyl bit his tongue and rolled on the floor.

4

Aureolus Izzard was standing at the highest level of the North block.

The highest level was called the principal’s office, and it was a large place that covered the whole level. As this was a cram school, it looked more like a director’s room than a principal’s office.

Aureolus ignored all the luxurious decorations inside the room.

He was facing outside the window, his back facing the glamorous room. However, the night scene below wasn’t in his eyes.

What Aureolus was looking at was his face that was reflected on the window.

(…The road taken was really long.)

He just needed one single sentence—just one single sentence like “Revert back to normal”—and the entire building would stand back up like a living thing. But having witnessed all that, Aureolus didn’t even twitch his eyebrows. He looked at the face and sunk into deep thought.

He wasn’t like that in the past.

Though he wasn’t really a person who could really express his own feelings well, he was still a human who could show emotions.

Right now, he wasn’t even showing any emotion. It wasn’t that he was calm or that he just ignored it. It was that he had no time to be bothered with it.

(It’s alright even if it became like this.)

Even if he knew about it right from the beginning, he couldn’t relax for a single second, for he had to fight against the entire world in order to achieve his goals.

Aureolus Izzard did all of that just to save a single girl.

On a black ebony table behind Aureolus, there lay a girl.

Index Librorum Prohibitorum—Index.

It had been three years since the time when he had first met that girl who didn’t even have her own basic name.

At that time, Aureolus Izzard was a Cancellarius of the Roman Catholic Church.

Though he was a member of the Church, he was in charge of writing grimoires, so his situation was rather unique among the special ones. His job was to decode the modern witchcraft, find ways to counter them and record them down in books. He believed that through this, he could protect ordinary innocent people from being hurt by those witches.

And in fact, the grimoires Aureolus had written did help a lot of people.

However, the Roman Catholic Church had used those grimoires as their trump cards. Pagan cults, and even other sects of Christianity like the Anglican Church and the Russian Orthodox Church didn’t even know about those trump cards. They had even warned others that they should convert to Roman Catholicism if they wanted to be protected from witches.

In the end, the alchemist did find a way to fight the witches, but there were many who couldn’t benefit from it, being harmed by them.

It was like how a patient could have been treated had he went through an operation, yet was left alone. It was unreasonable.

Aureolus couldn’t take that. He originally believed that the trump card he had created could save others.

After a while, Aureolus decided to smuggle the books that he wrote out.

He came to the country of England, the country of magic where witch rampancy was at its most serious. Aureolus was extremely careful about disguising himself and successfully managed to keep contact with the Anglican Church through underground means.

Over there, he met the girl that definitely could not be saved.

On first glance, he knew that. Even though he had set himself the task of saving the entire world, he could tell that the girl in front of him couldn’t be saved.

The girl possessed 103,000 grimoires from all over the world, and any ordinary person who read those grimoires would go crazy. However, that girl who possessed such evil grimoires still smiled on, even though she knew that she couldn’t be saved.

The reality was that girl couldn’t be saved. From the beginning, the human held the 103, 000 grimoires wasn’t strong. The girl’s body and mind were encroached by the poison of the grimoires’ wisdom and consciousness.

In order to extract the deadly poison, every year the girl’s memories needed to be erased.

At that point, the alchemist saw the limits of his knowledge.

The girl who always had misfortune forced onto herself yet could smile for others. If he couldn’t even save her, how could he even talk about saving the whole world?

The alchemist started to write grimoires just to save the girl, continuing to believe that he could save everyone in the world without exception. Every time he finished writing one, he would head back to the Anglican Church. Even after ten times, and even after twenty times, Aureolus still wouldn’t give up and continued to write grimoires.

Just as he had lost count of how many grimoires he had written, he suddenly realized. Why did he continue not to give up, why did he continue to write grimoires?

Thus, Aureolus realized it.

Actually, right from the beginning, he knew that this girl couldn’t be saved. Even so, Aureolus wouldn’t give up, only using the excuse that he was providing grimoires to visit that girl.

It was really an ordinary story.

The story of the alchemist who wanted to save the girl, but in the end had to be saved by the girl.

Understanding that, he was at his end. Aureolus couldn’t hold the pen anymore. Since he had realized that he couldn’t even save a girl, Aureolus lost all faith in his ability and confidence in writing.

Unable to save, unable to save—he was unable to save others like that.

Even so, he decided that he had to save that girl no matter what, and so he chose to walk down the path of darkness.

There was only one reason why he chose to fall into darkness.

If Aureolus could obtain power to save everything, why couldn’t he save that girl in front of him?

Thus, Aureolus chose to go against the Roman Catholic Church, Christianity, and the entire world. But even so, he couldn’t save that girl. Even if he had used up all the knowledge of the Hermes and Zurich schools of thought, he definitely wouldn’t be able to save that girl. He thought that he could just learn the complete anatomy of a human and cure every disease. He thought that he could just learn the makeups of the brain and cure every emotional scar. However, that girl couldn’t be saved.

He couldn’t even save that girl through faith or technology.

If so…

What was wrong with relying on the power of Cain’s descendants, those whose power surpassed all human understanding?

For that motive, he could betray anyone and make use of anything. Even Deep Blood.

Just like that, the alchemist went off the path of righteousness. The alchemist who had once wished to save others more than saving himself was now a pitiful shadow of what he was.

“...”

But Aureolus Izzard didn’t realize it.

There was a girl watching him from behind silently. The girl called Deep Blood was like him, just wanting to save someone as she chose to stand there. However, Aureolus Izzard didn’t realize it.

The story was not over

The savior hadn’t arrived yet.

♦

“Aureolus Izzard reflected the Gregorian Chant? …How is that possible?”

Just when Stiyl was having a game of tag with Kamijou through a flame sword, he was shocked by what he had heard from Kamijou.

“It’s true! It was like a video rewind! The damaged towers reverted back to normal!”

Kamijou spoke while running down the corridor.

Stiyl seemed to have gone further in than Kamijou, but before he could find Aureolus’ hiding place, he could only waver about in the building.

“If that’s the case, don’t tell me… but current alchemy can’t possibly go to that extent.”

Stiyl anxiously exhaled out the smoke of the cigarette and muttered.

“He even used chants like ‘you shall not touch me’ and ‘forget about everything that happened here’. Is magic really that all-powerful that you can say anything and it appears!?”

“…It can't be. Magic is proper field of knowledge with strict theories and laws. If there was something that ridiculous that went against the rules, no one would want to honestly research magic.”

“Then what did I just see? Everything really went as what he wanted.”

“As what he wanted; such an irritating term. Makes me think about Ars Magna.”

Frowning on hearing the term “as what he wanted”, Kamijou suddenly remembered something.

Didn’t Stiyl mention about using the world as a means to project one’s own thoughts—the final aim of alchemy that nobody could achieve yet?

“Hold, hold on. Then that guy already mastered the most powerful spell in alchemy?”

“That’s impossible!” Stiyl said in a rare violent tone. “I said before, Ars Magna isn’t something that can be achieved through human means. Though the incantation itself exists, it can’t be completed even with one or two hundred years of non-stop incantation. The incantation itself doesn’t seem to have any elements that can be cut short, and they can’t possibly hand it down one at a time. That’s because like a telephone game, the incantation will get even more twisted each time. Thus, humans with such a limited lifespan can’t possibly know that kind of magic!”

Stiyl’s rejection may seem logical to those who understood the logic of magic.

However, the magician was trembling. It’s like he just saw something really unbelievable.

“...You’re right.” Kamijou started to ponder from another perspective. “If he could really do anything as he pleased, we don’t have to be alive. He doesn’t need to use the Gregorian Replica or even a dummy. Couldn’t he have just told us to die?”

He didn’t even need the power of vampires or Deep Blood. If one was required, he could have just created a vampire. Besides, if everything he wanted could be projected into reality, why was there a need for vampires?

“Speaking of which, what’s the aim of that guy? I heard that he wanted to save someone, but he just ended up killing people mercilessly. Right now, even Index got involved in it… did the stress of blowing this case out of hand get to him?”

“What? That child too?”

“I just heard him talk about it, but I never actually saw her. Maybe he was just dreaming or something.”

Consolation—perhaps trying to console himself, Kamijou said that in an easygoing fashion.

But Stiyl’s expression was a lot more serious than before, seemingly bitter as he spat the cigarette away.

“Tch! I see what’s going on. He isolated himself for three years just to study alchemy, and now he has no understanding of current events.” Stiyl stuffed a new cigarette into his mouth, before continuing. “I know what he wants. It’s the Index.”

“What?”

Kamijou couldn’t understand that at all. This should be completely unrelated to Index.

“Listen, Kamijou Touma. Index had to have her memories erased every year. In order words, every year, her relationship with others would change, and she had to have new partners every year.”

“So… what about that?”

“This year, it’s you. It was me two years ago, and—”

Stiyl said rather vengefully.

“The partner three years ago was called Aureolus Izzard, and they were teacher and student.”

Kamijou was shocked.

“The fates of all the companions were the same. They tried to prevent Index’s mind from being erased, but would surely fail” Stiyl said with disdain, “Of course, he met the same fate—and it seems like he couldn’t accept it.”

“...What do you mean by that?”

“It’s simple. Us companions who were with her weren’t abandoned by Index. It’s just that she couldn’t remember. If that’s the case, they just needed to cure Index’s mind and make her remember them. Wouldn’t they be able to bring her back to themselves?”

Kamijou felt his heart being hammered in by a stake.

He didn’t know why he was so affected by it. It should be a good thing that Index’s mind was healed. It was an inexplicable and invisible impact. Just as Kamijou continued to think about it…

He remembered the smile.

The smile that was shown to others. Why did it carry such a heavy impact to him?

“...But it won’t happen.” Stiyl spoke quietly. “Just like how erasing someone’s memories is already a huge sin, changing memories is as well. He must know this or he’s completely lost his senses.”

Stiyl voice was much too soft.

As Kamijou turned around to face Stiyl and hear more clearly, Stiyl simply exhaled smoke and calmly shook his head.

“It’s nothing. I’m just saying that guy can’t save that child.”

“Why?”

Kamijou failed to make the connection, his mind focused on the idea of his omnipotence. If he could take away people’s memories or revive the dead, what could he possibly not do?

“The reason is simple. The one who ruined his goal was you.”

“?”

“Didn’t you save her already? How can someone who’s saved be saved again? It’s just that simple. There’s nothing more to it.”

Hearing that, Kamijou finally understood.

Aureolus Izzard was Index’s partner three years ago. Ever since he had lost Index, he never had any contact with her, so he didn’t understand the current situation.

In other words, Aureolus—

“We’re here. He even deliberately opened the door for us nicely.”

Stiyl looked forward.

The highest level of Misawa Cram School North block—the huge doors leading to the principal’s office were open, looking like they were inviting Kamijou and Stiyl in.

5

It was a wide space.

This used to be the room that the ex-branch principal of Misawa Cram School, who was also the founder of the religious science, stayed in. Though the room was luxurious, it still lacked class, reflecting those twisted desires. It was like walking into a restaurant that showed proper etiquette yet wouldn’t think for the clients; it was really annoying.

On seeing Kamijou walk into the room, Himegami seemed to be rather shocked. However, Aureolus didn’t show any reaction. He looked like he had expected that to happen.

There was a severe emptiness in the place, an emptiness that was like looking at an old and yellowish photograph.

This wasn’t the idea of the alchemist.

Perhaps to him, there was nothing in the world he couldn’t do.

But because of that, nothing seemed real to that man.

Like an esper with the Marionette ability, when he saw others smile, he felt no happiness. When he saw the perfect smile, it was as significant to him as the flick of a finger.

It was the same logic.

To someone who could create everything, what he created didn’t hold any significance.

That atmosphere didn’t feel like that of a battlefield.

Anywhere Aureolus Izzard appeared in would become an empty battlefield.

“Obviously, I can see that you have deduced my goal,” The alchemist said calmly, “If that’s the case, why do you want to stop me? Isn’t your runic magic meant to save Index?”

Aureolus glanced down.

On the luxurious table lay the sleeping silver-haired girl.

Kamijou wanted to dash forward, but was stopped by Stiyl’s long arm.

“It’s simple. This method won’t be able to save that child. It’s like seeing an operation that will definitely fail on her. However, this child isn’t that worthless.”

“Not necessarily. That’s just your envy. I can understand that. Though we were comrades who had the same dreams crushed, you are unhappy that I surpassed you. I don’t find that funny, however. I always had this feeling.”

Stiyl frowned.

That was because Aureolus Izzard had said it so naturally, without any hint of sarcasm.

“In the past, Index’s mind was overloaded with so much information that she had to have her memory erased every year. That was to be fated, something a human body can’t defy,” Aureolus sternly said, “However, by using a power other than that of humans, I can solve this problem. After I got this conclusion, I found it all the more unbelievable. Why is it that nobody suggested that we could borrow the power of vampires?”

“...”

“Vampires have the power of immortality. They can store infinite amounts of memories in the brain that’s similar to that of humans. However, I never heard of a vampire breaking his head due to information overload,” The alchemist said, “Necessarily, vampires really have such an attribute. No matter how much memories they hold, they won’t lose their wills.”

“Humph. I see. So you intend to interact with vampires and ask them to teach the method to you?” Stiyl shook the cigarette in his mouth and continued, “For safety sake, let me ask you first. If this method can’t be used on a human, what do you intend to do?”

“Clearly If a human body can’t do it—I’ll move the Forbidden Library outside a human body.”

Aureolus answered without any hesitation.

That meant—

“Turn her into a vampire? Che! Which Christian in the world will be happy about being a descendant of Cain? This is a common mistake we people have. If we want to save someone, the most important thing is that we have to remove our own thoughts and think from their viewpoint, right? I only learnt that recently.”

“...Absolutely ridiculous. Such thinking is merely fake kindness. This child once told me at the last moment that she definitely doesn’t want to forget me. Even if she defies the teachings, even if she’s willing to give up her life, she doesn’t wish to forget all these memories. She told me all these with her body unable to move at all, not even realizing that she was crying—all of this while holding a smile!”

Aureolus Izzard seemed to grit his teeth.

Of course, Kamijou didn’t know what he was thinking about or recalling.

“Seems like you don’t intend to change your mind no matter what. If that’s the case, though it’s a little cruel, I have to use my trump card.”

Stiyl suddenly turned to Kamijou and said, “Hey! Current partner! Tell him! Tell this wreck in front of you what kind of a fatal defect he has?”

“...What?”

Aureolus finally turned to look at Kamijou.

Kamijou couldn’t tell which part of what Stiyl had said angered Aureolus.

“Why are you stuck in the past?”

This time, Aureolus Izzard looked perplexed as he stared at Kamijou.

“That’s the case. Index got saved, not by you, not by me, but by the current partner. What you couldn’t achieve then was achieved by this guy,” Stiyl revealed a cruel smirk and said, “This only happened a week ago. Ah, it’s to be expected that you didn’t know. You were away from that child for three years, so you didn’t know that the child got saved.”

“That’s… impossible…”

“Yeah. I can understand that you can’t believe it. Besides, even I who witnessed it couldn’t believe it as well. No, I didn’t want to believe it as well. This is a declaration to myself, that child will never come back to me again.”

“Preposterous! This is impossible! How can there be a way to save Index! And it’s one that possesses a human body! And besides, this guy here isn’t a magician nor an alchemist. Just what can he possibly do?”

“As for that, since it involves Necessarius… no, since it concerns the pride of the Anglican Church, I’d rather not spread the tale. But I can only tell you this…” Stiyl exhaled the smoke cruelly and said, “This guy’s right hand has an ability called Imagine Breaker. Basically, it’s a terrifying ability that shouldn’t belong to any ordinary person.”

The alchemist was shocked.

He couldn’t remain calm. The alchemist stared at Kamijou.

“...Hold on a minute. That means…”

“That’s right. It’s been tough on you. I heard you betrayed the Roman Catholic Church and hid underground for three years? It seems like all these were a waste of time. Hm, I can understand the pain of not getting anything back in return. However, this child is living a happy life with her partner as you so wished.”

“Ha…”

The decisive sentence.

Everything that was supporting Aureolus Izzard crumbled. He started to laugh maniacally.

“Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahhahahahahaha!!!”

...That person had completely lost it.

Kamijou thought about that, blankly but definitely. But unexpectedly, the eyes started to let out a flow. That’s because in front of the alchemist—on the huge table, something moved. A girl, the sleeping Index started to regain her consciousness because of Aureolus’ mad laugh.

She was perhaps the last barrier for Aureolus’ mental sanity.

Index widened her eyes slightly, saying softly like a thread being held by a hand.

“...Touma?”

But what she saw wasn’t the Aureolus Izzard in front of her.

She didn’t care who, when, where, how she was taken there. She didn’t even care about her current state, and she wasn’t thinking about what had happened to her when she was unconscious.

She smiled. She was smiling happily.

It’s only because Kamijou Touma existed in her sights.

“Ah…”

Kamijou inadvertently backed away.

Kamijou was happy that Index was showing that attitude. Index didn’t care about anything else, only Kamijou’s expression. The act that was like a kitten opening its eyes made Kamijou feel that this was irreplaceable.

But that scene also brought a sharp cold.

Behind Index, the alchemist who was supposed to be the leading man got completely forgotten by the girl he had protected. His face was as stiff as though he just saw the end of the world.

Kamijou really couldn’t face that reality.

Aureolus Izzard was once the male protagonist. He had betrayed the Roman Catholic Church, renounced his beliefs and became an alchemist, all just to save that girl in front of him.

But what he got was the worst outcome.

Even if it was Kamijou Touma, had he taken just one wrong step, he may have faced a similar fate.

The girl in front of them was a pure holy girl that was beloved by people all over the world.

But because she was a holy girl, she could only love a male protagonist.

Such a simple purity that bordered on cruelty actually caused the most damage.

“—I should be perfect!! Why are you so unhurried!? What am I lacking!?”

Suddenly, Kamijou remembered the body double he had beaten.

So that wasn’t just a flimsily-made copy. In fact, that dummy actually portrayed the true character of the man Aureolus Izzard.

“Ugh—”

Aureolus Izzard couldn’t say anything.

He smiled a frozen, twisted smile as if he’d barfed air.

Right above Index, Aureolus raised his hand.

That looked like a blade of a guillotine, but even so, Index hadn’t left Kamijou. That caused the alchemist to be even more enraged, and the arm he raised seemed to insert even more force.

“Index…!”

Immediately, Kamijou thought of running towards Index, but because he was too anxious, he couldn’t decide on which foot he should step forward with first. The alchemist was laughing maniacally. Right now, Kamijou was the male protagonist to him.

Kamijou raised his right hand, but it was too late. He couldn’t make it in time. Just like that, the alchemist’s arm…

Never swung down.

Kamijou inadvertently stopped.

“Uu—”

Above Index’s head, Aureolus’ arm that was raising what looked like a guillotine was trembling.

“Uu… uuuuuu!”

But he couldn’t move.

He had lost everything. He became an alchemist, and even betrayed his past allies just to save a single girl. But that girl was already saved by a stranger he didn’t even know of, and she didn’t even look at the man who had given up everything just for her.

If it were Kamijou in that situation, could he still rely on Index?

Could he convince himself that he wasn’t betrayed?

Even so, Aureolus Izzard couldn’t bring himself to hurt Index.

To that alchemist, she was that important to him.

“...”

Kamijou couldn’t move.

Kamijou Touma didn’t have any memories. Though others had said that he had saved Index, he didn’t remember how he did it, and how he felt when he had saved her.

Just like that, Kamijou Touma earned the trust of others by saving someone when he had no recollection about it.

Seeing that man in front of him, Kamijou seriously wondered if he had the right to keep her for himself.

But Aureolus turned around and glared sharply at Kamijou.

That man could sentence anyone to death with just a single sentence. Kamijou knew that this was a death glare, but deep inside, he could understand his feelings. Right now, Aureolus was unable to calm himself down. It was just that he couldn’t bring himself to kill Index, and having lost all his sights, he was rampaging.

In such a situation, who would be the scapegoat, who?

Thinking about it logically, one could tell that this was naturally to be expected.

“Slam to the ground, intruders!!”

An angry roar that sounded like an explosion could be heard.

Immediately, Kamijou felt the weight of numerous heavy hands pushing down on him, like a bank robber who had his gun taken away and crushed onto the floor. The term “intruders” should also include Stiyl, and in the corner of his eye, the red-haired magician could be seen flattened on the floor as well.

“Uu… ugh…”

The feeling of almost having all the intestines flip inside made Kamijou feel like vomiting. He used the right hand that felt like it got sucked by a strong magnetic force and dragged it forcefully to his chest, bit by bit. If he could use his hand to touch his body, perhaps he could be released like how he got his memories back.

“Ha, haha, hahahaha! I won’t kill you so easily! Let me enjoy this a little more! I won’t do anything to Index, but I won’t be able to maintain my sanity if I don’t take it out on you guys!”

The alchemist pulled out a thin needle that was as slim as a hair, held it with trembling hands, and aimed it at his body. He then stabbed it in like he was pressing a button inside the body.

Then, he tossed the needle aside like he was scratching off a poisonous bug that was nibbling at his flesh.

Those actions were like signals to declare the commencement of an attack, as Aureolus again glared at Kamijou.

“Wait.”

At that moment, Himegami Aisa stood between them.

It was the same position when she had protected Kamijou, but there was a decisive difference that time. What Aureolus valued was not Himegami Aisa, but Deep Blood. Since his aim, which was Index, couldn’t ever be obtained, was there a reason to maintain such a simple mean—!

“Hime—”

But Kamijou was unable to say anything to stop her.

The image Himegami’s back presented was that she was really worried. Not just for Kamijou, but also for Aureolus, whose sanity was crumbling. Though she didn’t say it out, Kamijou could feel that she wanted Aureolus to calm down before he went down the road of destruction.

Facing that, who could state that cruel truth?

“Out of the way, woman—”

But that was the greatest failure.

Kamijou saw the eyes that looked like gun barrels. Those were serious-looking eyes. Kamijou moved his right hand, or rather, he tried to. If he didn’t step up, Himegami would definitely be killed. Slowly, bit by bit, inches by inches, he continued to drag that right hand that was stuck on the floor. He then used his teeth to touch that ace right hand like he was about to eat his own right hand’s index finger.

With the sound of the bones breaking, his body regained its freedom. It was a good chance! Kamijou frantically got up. Now he just needed to knock Himegami aside and shut Aureolus up.

“Die.”

At that moment, Aureolus Izzard said that, and time seemed to stop.

Assassinated, strangled, poisoned, shot, beheaded, slaughtered, hacked, beaten up, burned, nipped, crushed, ganged up, frozen, drowned. No one would be able to tell the method of how Himegami was killed.

No wounds, no bleeding, no illnesses.

She just died.

It was like a battery without power. If there was really a soul, the soul would be drawn from the flesh, leaving an empty shell.

Himegami didn’t even cry out.

She swayed about, her head tilted back as she collapsed back. In other words, Kamijou saw Himegami’s face when she fell. Slowly, slowly. Himegami’s face that couldn’t be seen was revealed in front of his eyes.

Her twisted face was still smiling.

She looked like she was about to cry, but she still held back her tears. All of that wasn’t because of surprise or shock. Himegami was already prepared. That expression was of regret, regret that she couldn’t fix something that was pre-determined.

Himegami Aisa had already known that she would end up like that when she blocked Aureolus.

Even so, she still held a single bit of hope and tried to stop him.

The girl no one needed was viewed as a simple object until the very end. Like how the alchemist had never understood how to be a protagonist, Himegami Aisa had failed to become a heroine till the bitter end. Like an unappreciated background, she was dead and worthless. Such was the fate of Deep Blood Himegami Aisa.

Seeing that, who could remain silent?

(Don’t—)

Kamijou’s eyes had completely ignored the existence of the alchemist. He just ran forward at Himegami Aisa, who was about to collapse onto the floor. There was no reason at all. He just had a feeling that if he let her fall onto the floor, that spell of death couldn’t be reverted back.

“—screw with me, you bastard!!”

Right before Himegami landed on the floor, Kamijou finally managed to carry her body with both hands. Himegami’s body was extremely light, so light that it was like something important was taken away from her.

In his arms, Himegami’s body was unbelievably soft.

But through the right hand that was carrying Himegami, a weak but definite beating of the heart could be sensed.

“Wha... my Ars Magna was negated by your right hand?” The alchemist’s expression froze. “Impossible. Certainly, Himegami Aisa’s death was already decided. Does that right hand contain some sanctuary’s secret art!?”

“…”

Kamijou didn’t reply.

That was enough. Those things weren’t important. It was like how he had somehow managed to get back the memories, why he could negate the order to die using his right hand, that wasn’t important at all.

The most important thing was that Kamijou definitely couldn’t forgive that man in front of him.

Though he could pity him, though he could feel his feelings, though he got hurt by Index yet couldn’t bring himself to hurt her, all those things that the man just did made Kamijou think that there was no reason to go against him.

But it was different now.

Even when he saw the most important person to him actually betray him, even when he saw the most important person to him get taken away from him, even when he couldn’t vent his anger out and even scold himself.

But on facing someone who really cared for him…

How could he just vent his own anger on her to satisfy himself? Kamijou definitely couldn’t agree with that.

Kamijou didn’t understand the pre-memory loss Kamijou Touma.

What kinds of memories he had, what kind of past he had, what kinds of ideas he had for the future. What he liked, what he hated, what he had protected in the past, what he wanted to protect in the future.

But there was one thing he could be sure of.

Kamijou Touma would never agree with what that alchemist, no, what that human did.

The two Kamijou Toumas who were on their own paths finally arrived at a common understanding.

“All right, Aureolus Izzard. If you think you can do anything you want...”

Kamijou Touma gently placed Himegami Aisa on the floor, and then stood up. He wasn’t making any sounds, but the static electricity-like anger on him felt like it would be deflected on a single touch.

Without holding back at all, he declared, “...then let me destroy that screwed up illusion of yours!”

It was nobody else’s voice. It was the voice of the Imagine Breaker, Kamijou Touma.

Between the Lines 2

—That’s why I wanted to be a magic-user.

It was a story of ten years ago. On a certain night, a mountain village at Kyoto was attacked by a vampire. It happened so suddenly, without warning, without a trace.

An ordinary village that didn’t even need a police station became a living hell at night. The young people who tried to fight off the vampires died off one by one, until they couldn’t even tell who was a vampire and who was a human. The companions who were supposed to be working together ended up in the mire of killing each other.

Before the sun rose, there were two kinds of people. The first were the dead, and the rest were vampires.

How? Why did I survive for so long? The girl thought in her young heart. Vampires were everywhere, the familiar aunts and uncles who had once said goodbye to her at night.

The vegetable uncle who once told her “it’s late, hurry up and go back” bit her neck.

—The moment the bite landed, the vampire turned into ash.

Yuzu, who once told her that “we will play together tomorrow”, bit her neck.

—The moment the bite landed, the vampire turned into ash.

Her mother, who once told her to run away, bit her neck.

—The moment the bite landed, the vampire turned into ash.

Thus, the vampires started to realize it. It was like a counter to the vampire, as long as they bit that girl’s neck, the vampires would die. That had nothing to do with the girl’s will. The girl’s blood was like acid; as long as it remained in their mouths, the vampires would melt off and die.

Even so, everyone couldn’t help but bite her neck.

The girl silently stared at the villagers who became ash that scattered in the wind.

Thus, what could she say?

“I’m sorry.”

Every vampire said that to her.

Some said that they didn’t want to become vampires, some said that didn’t want others to become vampires like them. They believed, that only by turning into ash, were they able to be redeemed.

The vampires turned into ash.

“Sorry. We shouldn’t have let you bear this sin.”

Until the end, they continued to weep, unable to reveal smiles, unable to be redeemed.

Unknowingly, the entire village got covered in ash.

The village was peaceful. As no one was around, it was peaceful. Even the vampire who instigated this didn’t exist. It was unknown when the vampire bit the girl, and now he got mixed into the ash.

The girl started to realize.

The vampire who had attacked the village was a victim as well. The girl whose ability could kill vampires in a single hit must have caused that vampire to be terrified. Trembling every day with nowhere to go, he could only choose to kill the girl, but he didn’t have the power to kill the girl.

Having exhausted all options, the vampire thought of turning the entire village into vampires to increase the forces.

However, even an entire village full of vampires were easily killed by the girl.

♦

(So, I wanted to be a magic-user.)

(I want to save those that can’t be saved. I want to save those who were abandoned. Whether they are victims or sinners, even if they died, I want to pull them out of hell. The only magic-users who could do these things that defy logic were those that appear in picture books.)

No matter what, she must become a magic-user. She always dreamed of being one. Her mind only thought about becoming one. Therefore, when she met the alchemist, the dream that was impossible to fulfill suddenly had a short-cut, making the girl excited. That night, she was so nervous that she couldn’t sleep. It was a comfortable form of tension.

But now, the alchemist stood in front of the girl.

“Out of the way, woman—”

The dream she always wanted got cruelly crushed by the mouth that twisted so much.

“Die.”

At that moment, she couldn’t even tell what she was thinking. The girl was unable to maintain her own consciousness. Under such circumstances when she couldn’t tell what was going on, the girl’s consciousness got dragged into the dark abyss.

But at that moment…

“—screw with me, you bastard!!”

She seemed to hear a boy roar.

It wasn’t that of the magician nor the alchemist. It was just that ordinary boy.

The boy was really angry.

Not because of what the alchemist did, but because of the girl’s death.

He looked really stunning to the girl.

For some reason, she seemed to feel that the dream she couldn’t fulfill was standing right there.

Chapter 4

The Deadly Seven.

Deadly_Sins.

1

Both of them were standing on the faded but extremely wide space.

“…”

Kamijou completely ignored the weakly breathing Himegami Aisa as he had no way to look down at her. There was no time. She had used all her strength, and even risked her life just to stop someone. Thus, if he really wanted to think for her, he should hurry up and stop him for her. And that person was right in front of Kamijou.

They were more than ten meters away from each other.

Facing a man who could turn whatever he said into reality, that was truly a distance that really sent despair into people.

“…”

Even so, Kamijou stepped forward.

There was no reason to stop walking, there was no reason to head back. It wasn’t because he had gotten involved in this that he could only choose to fight. Kamijou just followed what he wanted to do.

“…”

Thus, there was no need to talk, nor was there a need for signals.

The battle between the esper and the alchemist began. The goal was just to defeat each other.

“—Phew!”

Kamijou exhaled slightly and charged at Aureolus like he exploded. Aureolus didn’t do anything, and merely pulled out a needle and stabbed it into his neck.

The distance between both of them was only ten meters. If he dashed at full speed, he only needed four steps.

“Suffocate.”

But the moment Kamijou took the first step, he lost his momentum.

Kamijou felt that his neck got tied up by something that felt like steel wires, and inadvertently bent down. He felt like someone in pain after taking in poison, as Kamijou used the right hand to grab his throat.

He did use that method to get back the memories Aureolus took away from him. He also used that method to get back Himegami’s life after she was ordered to die.

But even now, Kamijou hadn’t regained his breathing.

It felt like something was stuck deep inside his throat, unable to breathe at all.

(Calm down, calm down!)

Kamijou released the right hand that was stuck on the neck, and heard his throat letting out a weird sound.

(What did he just say? Use a rope to tie the neck…? No wait! It’s more ambiguous… he told me to suffocate!)

Then, Kamijou used a finger of the right hand that was released and stuffed it into his mouth like he was trying to force himself to vomit out something he already ate. Just as the finger reached deep into the throat and as an urge to vomit rose up in him, the sound of glass breaking could be heard, and Kamijou regained his breathing.

All that took merely five seconds.

But, against Aureolus, who could turn any sentence into a weapon, they were five seconds of toying.

Aureolus stabbed the needle into his neck, and nonchalantly pulled it out and threw it away.

“Be electrocuted.”

The moment the alchemist finished speaking, bluish-white sparks surround Kamijou in all directions.

Before Kamijou could even feel his body freeze, the vortex of electric sparks burned the air and rushed at Kamijou.

(...!?)

Kamijou raised his right hand.

Of course, that action wasn’t planned by Kamijou.

But the only right hand that stretched out acted as a lightning rod, absorbing all the electric sparks.

The sparks that touched the right hand looked like a snake that had just swallowed poison as they trembled in the air and vanished silently.

(I can dispel it…)

But to Kamijou, the excitement far surpassed the tension, and his heart started to race.

On the other hand, the alchemist narrowed his eyes. He again pulled out the thin hair-strand-like needle and stabbed it into his neck.

“Be strangled and be crushed.”

For a movement, the floor waved up and down like the surface of the water, and then numerous ropes flew out from the floor, choking Kamijou’s neck hard. At the same time, a rusted car fell down from the ceiling that was waving up and down.

(I can dispel it…!)

But Kamijou merely waved his right hand, and the ropes that were tied around his neck broke off like a paper bag that was soaked. The rusted car turned into coarse sugar-like powder and disappeared into thin air.

Aureolus pulled out the needle on his neck like he was scratching off a poisonous bug.

(I can dispel it! That should be enough! My right hand dispels this guy’s attacks! If he attacks verbally, it means there’ll be an attack. It’s nothing if I deal with it calmly!)

Since Aureolus was the type of person who attacked through commands, it meant that one could guess the attack through what he said. It was like a few card games that tested responses. For example, once he heard the word “electrocuted”, he would be able to guess what kind of attack that was.

It didn’t take even a second to predict the attack.

But in normal fighting, there wasn’t even one second of space. To a boxer, it took only 0.3 seconds just to launch a punch. Though each hit Aureolus released was extremely terrifying, the speed wasn’t any different from an ordinary punch.

Knowing that, there was no fear of not knowing what attack would come. For example, it was like while children were fighting against each other, a kid delinquent just rushed in with a knife.

Aureolus seemed to have seen through the confidence that Kamijou was showing on the face and frowned.

“I see. Truthfully that right hand can even dispel my Ars Magna without exception.”

But the alchemist’s words didn’t seem to lose any confidence, and Kamijou started to feel puzzled.

“However for sure; that would mean that no negation effect would occur as long as it doesn’t come into contact with your right hand, hm?”

Hearing what Aureolus Izzard had said, Kamijou felt his body go numb.

“Form a pistol in my hand. Load with magic bullets. Application is firing. One will suffice”

The alchemist seemed rather happy as he stabbed the needle into his neck.

As Aureolus gently waved his hand, a sword appeared. At first impression, it was a rapier that a fairy tale prince would use, but was slightly different. Where the hilt should have been was a flintlock. It was a sort of gun with a strange projectile.

(The attack’s coming.)

Kamijou tensed up.

“Begin to fire at a speed that surpasses human motion recognition.”

Looking like he was trying to rip the air, Aureolus swung the rapier across. At that moment, a gunpowder explosion sound could be heard. The next moment, Kamijou felt that something just brushed past his face. After that, bluish-white bullets hit the wall behind him and exploded.

“...!”

It was actually nothing much. The musket trigger was merely fired. But how could a human eye capture a magic bullet that ripped through the air? Kamijou raised his right hand, unable to move. The destructiveness of the bullet was easier to understand, so it actually made one more nervous than some esper power or magic.

It was of a completely different speed from the Limen Magna the dummy had used.

It had nothing to do with magic or esper powers. A magic bullet couldn’t be dodged or defended against by a human flesh.

So it ended up being some sort of a killer blow.

Aureolus revealed a very satisfied look and pulled out the needle in his neck before tossing it away.

“Mass produce the previous process. Simulate firing with ten hidden rifles.”

After saying that, ten muskets appeared on Aureolus’ hands, five on each side. The metallic-fans like array were held in Aureolus’ hand.

If those guns were fired, Kamijou Touma would definitely be unable to avoid them or dodge them.

(Got to… run!)

So Kamijou decided to run away before the firing. Though he knew that it was a useless struggle, Kamijou still frantically tried to roll behind.

However, he suddenly realized something.

Behind Kamijou—at his feet, there was still Himegami who was barely breathing. Even further behind, Stiyl was unable to move at all as he remained lying over there.

“Idiot! Why are you standing still—!?” Stiyl roared out in shock.

“Preparations complete. Ten hidden rifles: fire simultaneously.”

After Aureolus gave the command, ten blazing bluish-white bullets hit Kamijou.

The metal knuckle like attacks covered Kamijou’s body.

The word “fire” failed to describe the speed. The high-speed sniping was untraceable while even editing a recording of it.

“U… argh…!”

Luckily, the magic bullets weren’t fatal. Kamijou got hit by the old-style bullets all over his body, and blood spilled out all over the place. He flew back, bouncing on the floor like some rubber ball and finally crashed into something before he finally stopped. Looking closely, it was actually Stiyl’s body, and Kamijou got pushed like seven meters away.

Though his body and bones were in such deep pain that it felt like it was broken, there weren’t any parts that were immobile.

Of course, that wasn’t because they were lucky. The alchemist had already warned that he wouldn’t kill him so easily.

Aureolus seemed to be rather happy with that outcome and raised his hand at Kamijou.

“…Che. What kind of joke is that? You seem like you really can distort reality with your words.”

But before Aureolus could say anything, Stiyl cut him off.

Having his attention diverted, the alchemist turned to look at Stiyl.

“Humph. Ars Magna is the pinnacle of alchemy. It may be hard to obtain, but if I continue to pursue it, naturally it will become something that can be obtained.”

“That’s impossible! Though Ars Magna is in theory completed, the incantation is way too long. It can’t be completed even with one or two hundred years! The incantation can’t be shortened, and the passing on method will become a telephone game that causes an error in the ritual itself…!”

Stiyl said and gave a look at Kamijou.

Kamijou nodded his head. He understood it. Since Aureolus’ method of attack was to turn everything he said into reality, they just needed to divert his attention and make him have no intention to attack in order to be safe.

Stiyl continued to distract Aureolus and gave some hints to Kamijou.

While I’m buying time for you, think of some ways to counter this!

“That’s actually a blind spot.” Aureolus didn’t realize it at all and continued, “Humph, I won’t be able to complete the ritual within one or two hundred years—that’s for one person to chant it, right? From father to son, from son to grandson, such a passing down method will end up with an error like a telephone game… that’s the logic, but there’s no need to pass it down, right?”

“…What?”

Stiyl frowned slightly.

At that moment, Index said dejectedly, “It’s the Gregorian Chant. By manipulating two thousand people to make them chant it at the same time, the speed of chanting it will be at least two thousand times. Even a ritual that takes four hundred years to complete can be finished in about seventy days.”

It wasn’t passed down in order, but chanted at the same time.

Kamijou stared at Index’s face. At first, he thought that she had said that based on the knowledge of the 103,000 grimoires in her brain… but then he realized: In the world when no one had ever managed to complete the Ars Magna, how could there be another who could write a book describing this? She just used the current knowledge she had to deduct that.

“In fact, I thought that there would be a multiplying effect in the spell that would cause it to drastically increase. But I only managed to increase it by 120 times, so it wasn’t really successful.”

Kamijou gathered the consciousness that was gradually slipping away and looked around.

He could still move his body, and he was only seven meters away from Aureolus—not too far away.

If he could dodge Aureolus’ attack, he could attack him anytime.

“120 times… you finished it in only half a day?”

Stiyl no longer sounded like he was acting around.

“But this is the main base of espers. If these people with different body structures use the Gregorian Chant, they should have exploded and died!”

Kamijou continued to look around.

However, there wasn’t anything that could be used as a weapon there. Kamijou rummaged through his pockets and felt something. Though he couldn’t use it as a suitable weapon, it was something hard and icy cold.

Two shots.

If he could just dodge two of Aureolus’ verbal attacks, he may be able to dash right in front of him.

“Why can’t you notice it?” Aureolus’ tilted his head and said, “Can’t I just repair spoiled items? Just like a collapsed building.”

For a moment, Kamijou stopped and stared at Aureolus.

Aureolus nonchalantly said, “Ah, didn’t I tell you? Today is not the first time those students died.”

“Bastard—”

Kamijou’s thoughts blanked due to anger.

“That’s right. I’m not so stupid as to not to realize my own sins… that’s right, I brought failure onto myself. But even so, I still believe that there’s someone I needed to save. In the end, I ended up with this unexpected outcome.”

Aureolus pulled out the needle and tossed it aside like he was drawing out poison.

“You bastard!”

Before Aureolus’ gave the order, Kamijou had already stood up.

He grabbed the hard thing in his pocket.

Naturally, Aureolus prepared to give the next command to crush Kamijou, who was standing up.

But before Aureolus could speak, Kamijou already grabbed the phone in his pocket and threw it at Aureolus.

“…Wha?”

For a moment, Aureolus was truly stunned. At that moment, Kamijou started to run.

A cell phone definitely couldn’t beat an alchemist.

That was a means to create time to close the distance. As expected, he got distracted by it.

“…Abort the throw, turn it into a meaningless thrown pebble!”

In such a short time, Kamijou closed in. The next hit, if he could defend against Aureolus’ next hit, there was a chance of turning this around—!

“Bring a pistol to my hand. Usage is shooting. Finish according to the preparations!”

But on the other hand, that meant that if he was unable to dodge this attack, it was over.

Aureolus released the ten musket swords. The empty weapons dropped onto the floor. Those sounded like some secret code as the alchemist had musket swords in his hands again.

Kamijou’s tense face was twitching. Just as Aureolus was about to say that crucial word…

“Innocentius!”

Stiyl’s roar stopped Aureolus.

Kamijou was stunned and turned to Stiyl. That was impossible, right? Wasn’t that thing to be used with the runes all over the room?

Besides, Innocentius should be stationed in the student dormitory in order to protect Index.

It seemed like that was a bluff.

A completely meaningless bluff that was meant to extend Kamijou’s life slightly.

Aureolus’ cannon-like eyes turned to glare at Stiyl.

“Float into the sky, Priest from London.”

Aureolus said softly as if it was a preparation for an execution. The moment he had finished saying that, Stiyl’s body floated into the air like it lost gravity until it reached near the ceiling. Kamijou inadvertently stopped. If he could use Imagine Breaker, he could negate Aureolus’ command. However, anyone could tell that Kamijou and Stiyl were too far away from each other.

“You idiot! It’s too easy for you to beat Aureolus! That guy’s weakness is the needle! You should be clear about that medical stuff—”

Stiyl growled as if he was trying to free the frozen Kamijou.

Aureolus glared at Stiyl with razor sharp eyes.

“Explode from the inside, runic magician.”

A mysterious yet awkward sound could be heard.

As what Aureolus had commanded, Stiyl’s body expanded like a balloon. Then, it quickly exploded from within. Blood, flesh, bones, internal organs and all were scattered all over the place.

At that moment, the blood and flesh were scattered all over the ceiling, revealing a large oval shape. The entire room was covered in flesh and blood, and it looked like some large observation museum. It could be said to be a piece of art that was created from the magician’s flesh and blood.

“…!”

And the most terrifying thing was that the blood vessels were still intact, and the heart wasn’t damaged. It looked just like a train map, as the naked heart sent out blood through the long blood vessels into all the internal organs, and then back into the heart again.

He wasn’t dead yet.

Even though he became like that, the man Stiyl Magnus was still alive.

Rune cards scattered about like sakura petals, which originated from the magician’s pockets.

Index, who was sitting on the table blankly, fainted as she saw that image that was too cruel.

“—D-damn it!”

Kamijou frantically tried to think as he tried to prevent that situation that was too terrifying from paralyzing him, trying to hold back the voice that was about to cry out. Until the end, Stiyl never asked Kamijou to save him, that man knew that he would end up like this, yet he chose to say those important words to Kamijou. Since that was such a huge hint, Kamijou must think this through thoroughly.

“—You idiot! It’s too easy for you to beat Aureolus! That guy’s weakness is the needle! You should be clear about that medical stuff—”

Kamijou tried to think through what Stiyl had said.

(Needles… medical stuff?)

Speaking of which, Aureolus had been using his hand to reach into his neck frantically.

He was stabbing the needles into his own neck. Was Stiyl referring to that?

Academy City, which used drugs as part of the esper development program, had vast pharmaceutical and medicinal knowledge that couldn’t be compared to the outside world. Like coming up with English words during an English mini-test, Kamijou’s mind was starting to think about what he knew about acupuncture.

If one viewed it from the acupuncture therapy standpoint of regulating breathing, mysterious Eastern medicine and other factors, basically, the effect was to stimulate the nerves and make them work to reduce pain or control the internal organ functions. In a time when there was no anesthesia, that could be said to be an important method of treatment that was similar to magic.

(…But, what about it?)

Kamijou tilted his head and wondered. In fact, from how modern operations didn’t use acupuncture, one could tell that acupuncture wasn’t really effective in humans and couldn’t stimulate the body and mind like anesthetic. The most it could do was stimulate Endorphin secretion to excite one, removing anxiety in people—

Anxiety?

“Change the contents. Stop shooting the hidden rifle. Use the bayonet to eliminate the intruder.”

Forgetting to run forward and standing around blankly, Kamijou heard Aureolus’ words and recovered. The musket swords that were aimed at Kamijou with a sign of death were spinning in the alchemist’s hand.

Even so, Kamijou started to feel suspicious about it and couldn’t ignore it. After one suspicion was formed, a chain reaction would occur, forming even more suspicions.

(That’s right. It’s too weird).

Himegami, Stiyl, either way, the alchemist had just said something like “die” or “explode” to kill them. If he could really can do anything he wanted, why couldn’t he just give an even simpler command to Kamijou like “the ability of the right hand is to disappear”?

(That’s right, something’s not right!)

And if he could really do anything he wants, why did he need vampires or Deep Blood? If he could really create anything, why couldn’t he create vampires using his own power?

(That’s right. There’s something wrong with that—!)

Also, if Aureolus Izzard could let anything he wanted happen, why didn’t Index turn to look at him?

If let’s say…

Aureolus Izzard’s almighty Ars Magna didn’t change reality through his words, but through his thoughts?

“D-don’t tell me, I see…”

No wonder Stiyl once said that it was too easy for him to beat Aureolus.

Because Aureolus understood the power of the Magic side, Stiyl, Index and Himegami were all familiar with Aureolus, so Aureolus understood those people’s power, and they couldn’t beat him.

But Kamijou was the only exception. They had just met today, and he didn’t know how strong that stranger was.

— Impossible. Certainly, Himegami Aisa’s death was already decided. Does that right hand contain some sanctuary’s secret art!?

Aureolus was certainly nervous at the time.

To someone who could do anything he wanted, the anxiety in his heart meant…

“I get it, so it’s like that…”

Kamijou blankly muttered. It was nothing impressive. It was simple after he knew the truth.

However…

“Humph, it seems that the source of your confidence is that mysterious right hand of yours.”

Aureolus nonchalantly stared at the spaced-out Kamijou and pulled out another needle.

He stabbed it into his neck, and said, “If that’s the case, I’ll start by cutting off your right hand. Hidden rifle, rotate-fire your blade!”

There was no sound at all.

The moment Aureolus swung the right hand, the musket sword spun and attacked Kamijou at a terrifying speed like a rotating electric fan blade. Kamijou was barely able to see the trail of the musket sword.

He couldn’t even see what flew over.

One moment earlier, the musket sword was on the alchemist’s hand.

One moment later, it severed Kamijou’s arm and stabbed into the wall behind.

It felt like a heated knife that sliced through butter, as Kamijou’s right arm was just sliced neatly down the shoulder.

His right arm was rotating in the air.

There was no pain, and he didn’t even feel hot. Kamijou just blankly stared at the right arm that got sliced off.

(My right hand’s been sliced off?)

Kamijou stared at his right arm that was spinning in the air.

(An omnipotent person who can crush my heart with a single sentence…)

His mind wasn’t distorted due to pain or fear, he just continued to think of a question.

(...chose to slice off my right hand?)

He compiled all those suspicions and formed an answer.

(He’s definitely someone who can do anything he wants…)

After a while, fresh blood finally gushed out of the sliced off part.

(...yet he can’t do anything to the power of my right hand?)

He still couldn’t feel pain. He still didn’t feel hot.

(He could only slice off my right hand to take away my Imagine Breaker ability?)

The arm that was spinning in the air hit something hard and dropped onto the floor.

After a while, he got belief though the answer that he got from all those suspicions.

After he knew what to do, the rest was simple.

Kamijou seemed to hear something flip in his mind.

2

“Ha... ha... hahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!”

For a moment, facing that completely unexpected response, Aureolus inadvertently backed away.

The boy who had his right arm sliced off was actually sneering.

(Did he go crazy due to pain and fear!? No, that’s not right.)

His smile was a confident one, a very natural smile that indicated the belief that he could win.

But to remain normal in that critical situation was the most abnormal thing.

(What... what’s going on...?)

Aureolus was feeling more unhappy than afraid.

Though he didn’t know what that boy was thinking about, the victor was already decided. If that was the case, there was no need to continue making himself unhappy.

Aureolus decided to kill him, and thus he impatiently threw away the needle on the neck and said, “Hidden rifle to appear in my hand, Load with magic bullets, One will be enough.”

He swung his right hand, and as according to his command, a Western sword with a rapid-fire musket pistol appeared in his hand.

Aureolus seemed rather satisfied with his perfect magic and then commanded, “Usage is crushing. Following the original design concept of the rifle, fire your blade to crush the prey’s head to pieces!”

Aureolus squeezed the trigger. The magic bullet that was compressed with gunpowder flew toward the eyeball of the maniacally laughing boy.

Though it was a low-velocity projectile, it would still pierce the brain if it hit the eyeball.

That wasn’t a speed that a human could dodge, and it wasn’t a power that humans could defend against.

The boy couldn’t do anything, just stare and watch his brain get splattered like a tomato.

But nothing happened.

“What...?”

Aureolus started to suspect his own eyes. The boy didn’t do anything, but the blue magic bullet that was shot precisely actually grazed past the boy’s face for some reason and hit the wall behind.

(Did I miscalculate the distance? No...)

Aureolus again commanded, “Repeat the previous command. Usage is strafe firing. Simultaneously fire ten hidden rifles!”

The ten hidden rifles that appeared out of thin air fired out bullets like a bouquet of flowers.

However...

What should be an accurate hit of ten magic bullets all grazed past the boy, leaving him without any damage.

(A misfire! How can that...!)

Aureolus was stunned as he stared at the boy who had escaped from death twice.

The boy’s shoulder was bleeding, an unbelievable amount of fresh blood was gushing out from the sliced off area. The blood splattered on the boy’s face, covering it with blood.

But the boy was still something.

It was as if the darkest part of the body was gushing out from the sliced off part of the arm.

The boy didn’t do anything except smile.

Aureolus decided to give the command for a third time and kill the enemy in front of him.

(But he didn’t do anything. He managed to evade Ars Magna’s attack twice!?)

As he was having doubts, the alchemist stopped what he was doing.

He knew the power of his spell the best. That wasn’t just an attack that could be evaded through luck.

(Don’t tell me he’s planning something that I didn’t foresee!?)

The boy seemed to be laughing from deep within, and he stuck his tongue out to lick the blood on his lips like it was sauce.

Even a fallen vampire would not have reveled in its own blood!

(What is that guy...!?)

Thus, Aureolus couldn’t stop the anxiety from forming within him.

(What on earth is this guy? He can still fight? With that body? Even without his right hand!? That’s impossible! That’s totally illogical! This guy will die just from the intense blood loss! It’s alright, there’s no problem! There should be no problem! There should be no problem. But—!)

That’s right, the moment anxiety was created in his own heart.

The boy had lost his right hand, and by right, should have lost all his powers. That pitiful image of him seemed to be muttering something. He was sneering, staring at the alchemist and laughing.

“Ku, ah. Ugh, Damn you... You can’t live under the watch of my Ars Magna! Deploy a countless number of guillotine blades and quickly dismantle that body!”

The moment he finished speaking, numerous huge guillotines appeared on the ceiling above the boy’s head like the cracking of the surface. Each one of them was an execution blade that weighed over a hundred kilograms. Facing those huge blades that would fall due to gravity, Kamijou just sneered, not intending to evade or defend.

(It’s alright! He can’t get away from this! It will hit! He’ll die when he’s hacked! I gave such an order! I gave an order, I gave an order, I gave an order! It should be alright! There’s no need to worry!)

Aureolus continued to repeat that in his heart over and over and over again. As long as things went according to what he thought, that boy would die. However, even though he would definitely die, the doubt continued to widen in his heart. It was like what he silently wished just now was just to cover up the huge anxiety in his heart.

In fact, like what Aureolus had wished for, the infinite number of huge guillotines appeared above Kamijou’s head.

This time, they hit with certainty.

However, as soon as they made contact, the guillotine blades broke and scattered into very small pieces as if they were crafted with sugar.

The boy laughed.

While looking at the distressed alchemist, he seemed to have fun ridiculing his compassion, cynicism, affection, disdain and happiness.

The boy was still laughing. His expression seemed to be stating that he had already seen through that attack’s weakness.

(Damn it, why...!?)

The alchemist had no hesitation as he glared at Kamijou like he wanted to pierce him through.

“Die, immediately b—”

—But before his roar stopped, a doubt crept into his mind.

(Can I really kill him with just that word?)

Using trembling hands, he tried to pull out the needle, but he caused the numerous thin needles to drop onto the floor.

However, the alchemist had no time to worry about that.

Aureolus Izzard was trembling as he stared at Kamijou. The once sharp look was now as blunt as a rusted blade. Unbelievably, both legs weren’t following his command as they backed away. He seemed to step onto something, and some of the numerous needles that were scattered on the floor got squashed.

Ars Magna could make any wish become a reality.

But on the other hand, once Aureolus thought that he couldn’t win or that he couldn’t beat that person, that would happen as well. It could be said to be a double-edged sword.

That was the reason why he couldn’t create vampires and Deep Blood as he so wished. Basically, it was because there was a doubt within his heart that he couldn’t create something like that, so he couldn’t create that in real life.

Every order that Aureolus gave was like a bullet. If he were to just think, there would be a lot of random thoughts mixed into it. Thus, the order may be ambiguous and may not happen.

Thus, he needed to say out the command to gather his concentration like he was firing a bullet. It was like how when memorizing English words, it was easier to recite it out.

His Ars Magna wasn’t some spell that turned anything he said into reality, but a spell that turned what he wished for into reality.

But right now, Aureolus Izzard lost control of his verbal ability. Before he could think the ambiguous thought into word, he instinctively created reality. It was like a handgun that fired on its own without the owner controlling it.

In order to prevent that situation, Aureolus prepared a countermeasure.

(Shit, where’s my needles? Why did they land on the floor!? I used that to cure my anxiety in order to prevent that! Without that—)

Shocked, Aureolus held his breath.

(If I don’t have that, what will happen? Stop? No! Stop thinking! If I continue to think, everything will become irreversible—!)

The more he thought of running away, the more his thoughts sank. He knew that, but Aureolus couldn’t stop it. If he stopped, it meant that he admitted everything. Like a rolling snowball, Aureolus’ doubts lost control, and lost all meaning.

The boy in front of him didn’t say anything.

He didn’t say anything as he silently walked towards Aureolus.

Such an act made Aureolus even more anxious.

He couldn’t stop that boy, he didn’t know what to do in order to stop the boy. That was why Aureolus couldn’t do anything except wait for the boy to close in like a scarecrow.

Next, he found that the boy was already in front of him.

Both of them were facing each other with the table in between, and Index was lying on it. Such an image was too much of an irony.

Even at that point, the alchemist seemed like he got glared at by a snake as he couldn’t move.

(That’s right! Stiyl, Index, Himegami Aisa. I know all these people! So I know their power and knew that they aren’t a match for my Ars Magna! Only this boy is different! I only met the boy for the first time, I don’t know his power, so I won’t know if Ars Magna is effective on him!”

“Hey!”

He suddenly heard the boy’s voice. Aureolus looked like a child being lectured as he trembled.

The boy said, “You didn’t think that you could get rid of my Imagine Breaker just by slicing off my right hand, did ya!?”

He bared his fangs, and his eyes seemed to have a reddish glow.

The boy seemed to have said that happily from deep within the bottom of his heart.

(W-wait! ...Stop thinking...! ...don’...anxiety...now I need...!)

Aureolus could only pray, but he still couldn’t stop his thoughts.

Immediately...

An abnormal change seemed to appear on the sliced off part on Kamijou’s right shoulder that was spurting out blood like a fountain. The blood flow started to increase, and it looked like a transparent glass statue had fresh blood spilled all over it, as an unbelievable object started to shape itself.

What rushed out from the severed part on Kamijou’s right arm wasn’t a human arm.

It was a jaw.

And it was a savage looking two-meter-large head that could only be seen in ancient legend—the head of a huge and almighty Dragon Strike.

The dragon head that should be transparent was dyed with blood. The boy raised it and swung it, and slowly opened the chin that had a row of saw-like teeth on it.

It was like it was saying that this was the real identity of the right hand.

The teeth were bared.

On first glance, it may look like nothing happened, but in aspects that were invisible, it was starting to change. The presence of the alchemist that once dominated the entire room disappeared. It felt like the lead was forcefully switched.

(What...!?)

Aureolus looked up. He saw the disgusting human constellation observatory that was formed by Stiyl Magnus’ flesh and blood start to gather from all over the room.

It felt like the explode command had gotten revoked.

(Don’t tell me, he’s reviving!? Like what happened to Himegami. The people who were destroyed can—!)

The moment Aureolus had thought of that, Stiyl shaped himself and landed on the floor unharmed.

Aureolus felt like his spine was stabbed by someone with an icy pillar.

Of course, Stiyl’s revival was caused by Aureolus’ own anxiety.

(Hold on... This is just... my... anxiety... Calm down... As long as I... remove my anxiety... I can definitely... let this ridiculous monster... disappear—!)

Trying hard to hold off the feat that was about to break through his heart, Aureolus tried to make his final resistance. That should be some monster that Aureolus had created from his anxiety. So as long as he calmed himself down and remove that anxiety, the mystical beast that resided in the boy’s body should disappear.

But the transparent Dragon King was silently glaring at Aureolus with both eyes.

Just like that, Aureolus’ vision started to fade due to fear.

(Impossible... the opponent will—)

The moment he had thought that, the jaw of the Dragon King widened to its maximum and completely swallowed the alchemist head first.

Epilogue

Deep Blood of Corruption.

Devil_or_God.

“I think this every single time but you have a comparatively fantasy-like body, you know?”

In the pure white hospital room, the middle-aged looking doctor who looked like a frog said that to Kamijou.

“...”

Kamijou didn’t know what to say as he could only lie on the bed, lowering his head as he looked at the arm that was held in plaster.

The right hand that was cleanly severed by Aureolus's Ars Magna was repaired neatly for likely the best. The cells near the sliced area were undamaged and, after a day of emergency treatment, the arm itself was successfully reattached.

“A pinky sliced off by a delinquent can be reattached,” was the type of information that Kamijou had. However, no one had imagined that such a major reassembly of the arm was possible. However, with such disgusting information in his mind, Kamijou truly did not understand what kind of person he was before he had lost his memories.

“On a side note, you’ve been hospitalized twice within ten days, and naturally, you became a topic for discussion among the nurses. Don’t tell me you have a nurse fetish?”

“...What are you talking about? I wouldn't have ended up on the operating table for dangerous thoughts like that.”

“Really? Pity, I thought I finally found a compatriot.”

Kamijou wordlessly stared at the frog-faced doctor.

(Did this guy choose to become a doctor because of such a reason?)

If that were the case, he really wanted to change doctors. Basically, he wanted to press the emergency call button.

“Hn? Please don’t be mistaken though. I prefer to do it than to be done. And I prefer the delivery platform to the operation table—”

“Shut up! Nobody wants to listen to the specifics! And stop demonstrating it to me, that’s disgusting! Why isn’t a nurse taking care of me!?”

Like that, Kamijou actually pressed the emergency call button.

The doctor gave a look of despair and said “I’m going then” before walking out of the patient’s room. What’s going on? Why did he look like he really found that to be a pity?

Immediately after the doctor left, another person walked in.

It was a man who couldn’t fit into the Japanese culture, Stiyl Magnus.

“Though I don’t want to get close to you or be friends with you at all, I came here out of courtesy.”

“...Let me ask you. Why are you jumping about as if nothing happened? Can you tell me why?”

Stiyl unhappily puffed his cheeks and chose not to say anything

If there was a need to compare them to see who should have more tact about injuries, there was none more than that patient.

All his flesh and bone got broken and scattered, and yet he didn’t even have a blood vessel broken. His organs were scattered all over the place, yet he could survive through blood circulation. Not everyone could have such a precious experience.

“I actually wanted to more or less thank you for this time... but thinking about it, there’s no need for that. What you did was basically just to let Aureolus self-destruct.”

“Humph, this is all thanks to this Kamijou Touma’s perfect acting skills!”

That’s right. Kamijou Touma didn’t have the power to beat Aureolus Izzard.

But the magic Aureolus used was able to change reality according to one’s thoughts. After that, it was easy; he just needed to make Aureolus himself think—

That Aureolus Izzard definitely couldn’t beat Kamijou Touma.

In order to achieve that, Kamijou called a bluff... No, speaking honestly, Kamijou didn’t even remember about the fact that he had lost his right arm. Though he thought that he should be acting somewhat properly, the actual scenario was more like his mind went blank due to sharp pain and shock. According to what some suicidal people would say, excessive blood loss would bring about ecstasy, which could probably explain that mysterious smile of his.

Of course, the truth couldn’t be detected. Since he had to act, he had to pull it up to eleven.

“Speaking of which, it’s really unbelievable that we were able to survive. I got my arm cut off, you became a human flesh planetarium. It feels like we again start to appreciate the value of life... Hey, why do you look like you’re about to laugh?”

“Nothing. Seeing your attitude, I just thought that you didn’t realize that I was secretly helping you.”

Seemingly looking down on others, Stiyl smirked.

“After your arm got sliced off, you managed to dodge Aureolus’ bullets without even dodging, remember? How do you think that happened?”

“...Huh?”

“Your acting did fool Aureolus. But at the beginning, Aureolus couldn’t have believed it right away, right? After your arm got sliced off and you started bluffing him, the main reason why he started to be fooled by your acting was because you managed to dodge his attack twice, wasn’t it?”

“Um...”

Kamijou stared blankly at Stiyl like a fool.

“You still don’t understand even after I said so much? Basically, the reason why Aureolus’ attacks failed the first two times was not because of your acting but because I used my magic to create an optical illusion on Aureolus.”

“What...?”

Kamijou stared at Stiyl’s face in surprise.

Stiyl merely said casually, “What’s so surprising about that? I specialize in fire magic. Using hot air to create a mirage and manipulating the refraction of light to create an optical error, that’s not hard for me.”

“...No way! I’m not surprised about that! At that time, weren’t you blown to pieces and floating in midair!? That human flesh planetarium! You were in such a condition but you could still use magic!?”

“Human flesh planetarium is an interesting description… but, this is none to strange, is it? I was alive the whole time so of course I could refine life force to create magic power. It’s a good thing my rune cards were scattered all over the floor when I exploded.”

Kamijou blankly stared at Stiyl’s Magnus’ face.

Though that incident involved vampires and Deep Blood, he was still the scariest one.

“But you don’t have to worry about that. I suppose you should know the sin you committed in this incident, right? I’m here today to talk about the developments after Misawa Cram School.”

Sin.

Kamijou turned to look at the right hand covered in plaster that had once housed a dragon's jaw. Though that was a self-destructive illusion caused by Aureolus’ own anxiety, the one who had forced Aureolus down the path of self-destruction was definitely Kamijou himself.

“Sigh, no need to show such an expression. What Aureolus imagined was a mental image of a Dragon King, not a physical one. It was just like a ghost. Though the body couldn’t touch it, something that will swallow a soul will be similar to that.”

“???”

“It simply means that you didn’t harm Aureolus physically but his spirit was broken.”

“...Is that something worth bragging about?”

“Of course it is. In terms of the conclusion, we just took away Aureolus Izzard’s memory and settled it. In this battle against the magician who defended so strongly, the final casualty was merely that one member of the thirteen Knights in front of the lift. In the two thousand year history of magic, this is the third time such a happy ending occurred.”

(Is this really something worth being happy?) Kamijou wondered.

He suddenly remembered something. The Gregorian Chant of the Roman Catholic Church should be safe, right? Perhaps Stiyl, who had his memory erased, couldn’t remember it.

“...And then? What happened to the memory-less Aureolus Izzard?”

(Is he in this hospital?) Kamijou wondered.

“Oh, is there a need to mention it? I killed him.”

He said so matter-of-factly that Kamijou suspected whether he had heard it incorrectly.

“What’s with the expression? Listen. Aureolus Izzard first betrayed the Catholic Church and became an alchemist. Then, he imprisoned Deep Blood and turned Misawa Cram into his fortress. He basically rebelled against the entirety of Academy City and the Christian sects that were wiped out trying to hunt him. He’s someone with a huge bounty on his head. Of course, Necessarius, which mostly carries out witch-hunts and includes me and Index, had a mission to kill him.”

Stiyl seemed rather impatient in the room that didn’t allow smoking.

“Look. Going against so many organizations in the world, can Aureolus Izzard who lost his memory even fight against them? To put it simply, since Aureolus Izzard doesn’t have any memories and doesn’t have anything to protect, does he have the will to go against the entire word?”

“...”

“Aureolus definitely won’t be simply killed off like that. The enemies will kill him through even cruel methods, and most importantly, Aureolus Izzard is the only magician in the world who managed to cast the Ars Magna spell. Of course, a lot of organizations in the world will interrogate Aureolus severely to get this secret skill. But the worst of all is that since Aureolus lost all his memories, he can’t even give a testimony,” Stiyl said reluctantly, “Thus Aureolus had only two options. One is death, and the other is a painful hell. If you ask me, I’ll definitely choose the former without hesitation at all.”

However, Kamijou still couldn’t accept it.

“I still can’t accept it. I still can’t. Even if this is the only path left, we can’t just treat taking away someone’s life as a good thing. If we didn’t bother about human lives, why did we charge into Misawa Cram School?”

That’s right. The motivation that made Kamijou fight was because there were so many things he couldn’t agree with. Deep Blood which had been treated as some sort of a trump card, the students who had been treated as sacrificial items because of the Gregorian Chant and the Limen Magna, and Aureolus who had killed Himegami in a fit of rage. Because of those people who didn’t respect the value of life, Kamijou chose to move forward and not away from the battlefield.

And until the end, if they accepted that somebody’s death was a good thing, Kamijou wouldn’t be able to accept the guilt that was brought about by his fists.

“...”

And even though Aureolus was somebody who was unforgivable, he wasn’t someone who was atrociously bad.

At that time, despite the fact he could do anything, Index had never returned to him.

Even if there were a possibility of rejection, he was unwilling to give her to command, proving the sliver of humanity in him.

“That’s why I said that you’re too naïve.” Stiyl Magnus looked away and said in a calm tone, “When I said that I killed him, I didn’t necessarily meant that I took his life away, right?”

Stunned, Kamijou stared at Stiyl’s face.

With a disinterested tone, Stiyl avoided Kamijou’s gaze and said, “Listen, Aureolus Izzard lost all his memories. If I can just reshape his face, wouldn’t it mean that his appearance and character are completely different? This person can’t be called Aureolus Izzard. Wouldn’t it mean to the world that Aureolus Izzard is dead?”

“............Are you actually a good guy?”

“What do you mean by that? I’m a priest of the Anglican Church after all. And since I specialize in flames, it’s not hard for me to burn the face and treat it to make another face.”

“............You’re really a great guy!”

“Hm? I'm really surprised by that response... What the hell!? Why are you suddenly hugging me!? Stop standing on your tiptoes and trying to forcibly stroke my head!!”

Just as Kamijou and Stiyl were tugging at each other in the room, the hospital room door opened, and Index walked in without knocking.

“Touma! They’re selling honeydew-flavored chips at the shops! It’s so interesting, I wanna buy it! But I don’t have money! ...Eh?”

Index stopped.

She saw the struggling magician and the truly touched Kamijou Touma as he tried to touch the magician’s head.

All three of them froze.

The world stopped.

“...Touma. Sorry for interrupting you.”

"W-wait. This is strange. Why are you looking away? Hey, don't just leave without responding!!”

Kamijou cried out as he tried to pull Index as she tried to leave the room. In that situation, he couldn’t say to the young girl, “Sorry Index, I’m interested in you but it would go against social norms!”

Kamijou wondered with confusion how he would settle the matter.

“...”

Stiyl Magnus watched the two of them.

Kamijou and Index, who were arguing with each other, seemed to be rather happy.

It was as if those two were in their natural environment.

Stiyl Magnus watched those two.

He didn’t feel envious, nor did he hate them. The reason he had chosen that path was because he had wanted to protect that smile on Index’s face. Stiyl looked satisfied at the face of the girl who he was protecting.

“Fu. Well, the next mission awaits me. I should be off now.”

Stiyl spoke with a bored voice but showed a somewhat satisfied face.

Index again stared at Stiyl’s face and frantically hid behind Kamijou’s back. She was just like a private investigator who was trailing others as she peeked at Stiyl’s face from behind.

Stiyl didn’t feel anything special about it, and raised his foot as he prepared to walk out of the room.

That was the consequence of what he had chosen.

“Erm.”

Just as Stiyl was about to step out of the room, Index spoke up.

Stiyl turned, expecting to find Index angry at him for dragging Kamijou Touma into the Misawa Cram School incident. There was no reason for her not to scold him.

"For the time being, I'll say this. Thank you."

Instead, Index thanked him.

“If Touma knew that it would be like that in the building, Touma will run in even if he was alone. So it’s great that you were around. And—eh? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

Stiyl chuckled as he said that.

Then, without saying anything again, Stiyl turned his back and silently walked out.

Kamijou felt like he just saw Stiyl smile for the first time.

“Touma.”

Kamijou turned away from the door and looked at Index. She seemed to be rather unhappy that Kamijou wasn’t focused on her, as Index puffed her cheeks and stared at Kamijou’s eyes.

Seeing Index like that, Kamijou inadvertently smiled.

The battlefield at Misawa Cram School was cruel but he still managed to survive.

However, Kamijou Touma had a realistic experience as he remembered a doubt he had left on the battlefield.

The Dragon King’s jaw that came out of the severed right arm.

It was supposed to be a monster created by Aureolus Izzard's anxiety due to his fear of Kamijou.

That was the logical analysis. But, in that situation, had Aureolus Izzard truly imagined that there was a transparent dragon head exploding out of Kamijou’s right shoulder?

Though the probability was low...

What if, just what if, that monster was unrelated to Aureolus’ power?

(...That’s impossible.)

However, Kamijou remembered Himegami Aisa. Deep Blood Himegami Aisa was a girl with a unique power that could only work on vampires.

Considering that her power capable of killing vampires had caused so many incidents to revolve around her, how valuable was Imagine Breaker, Kamijou’s right hand, that negated even miracles of God?

No, before all of that…

What on earth was Imagine Breaker?

“Touma! Honeydew-flavored potato chips!”

Index’s words caused Kamijou to snap back into reality.

“A-ahhh. Okay okay... since it’s honeydew-flavored, it should be sweet, right?”

Kamijou tried to match what Index was saying and answered ambiguously.

Things were fine for now. No matter how unexplainable that power was, so long as he could use it to protect the girl before him, there was little else to ask for.

That's why, things were fine for now.

For now.

♦

“Touma, Touma. Wasn’t there a girl called Himegami Aisa in that building?”

While walking down the corridor leading to the shops, Index suddenly asked that.

“Ah, that Denpa Kei⁷ who liked to pretend to be a magic-user? What about her? Hm? Index, what’s with you? You mentioned her, so why are you looking so unhappy?”

“...Touma, you fought for Aisa this time, right? Not for me, but for Aisa!”

“What?”

Stunned, Kamijou tilted his neck. For some reason, Index, who had said such ridiculous words, looked rather unhappy as she deliberately puffed her cheeks in front of Kamijou.

“Nothing. It’s nothing,” Index muttered some word, and then continued, “Ah, also, it seems like Aisa’s staying in this hospital. I just spoke to her.”

“Oh,” Kamijou merely responded passively.

(Oh yeah, what will happen to Himegami?)

She didn’t want to attract vampires again, but the boundary on Misawa Cram School shouldn’t exist now. Though it was apparently possible to replace it with a Walking Church like the one Index wore, the Aureolus Izzard that had promised to make one no longer existed.

“I talked to her for a long time, and decided to keep her in the Church.”

“...For some reason, I know what happens next but is it okay if I say it first?”

“Gah! Even though I went to the trouble being the storyteller! I’d actually prepared this for a long time but Touma is a complete drama killer! You really don't know how a script goes! If it was Shakespeare, he might have stabbed you!”

“Stop laughing while you talk about stabbing.”

Kamijou sighed, and then he said the answer that anyone could predict.

“You were only going to say, ‘the Walking Church is also a type of Church.’”

Afterword

To the readers who read the first volume, it’s been a while.

To the brave souls who read from the second volume, it’s nice to meet you.

I’m Kamachi Kazuma.

It’s now time for the afterword. According to some readers, the first thing they would read is the afterword. In other words, the afterword is the second synopsis. Anyway, please read the afterword, and if you like it, you may bring it to the counter to buy it.

However, please let me remind the readers who like to read the afterword first. The following content does include some plot details, so to the readers who haven’t read the main content, it’s best that you do not read it first.

The following content of the afterword is written to those readers who read the afterword at the end and the brave souls who don’t care about whether they know the content beforehand.

The main concept behind this volume is “bad end”.

To be direct, Aureolus Izzard is a failed version of Kamijou Touma. When I was writing, I thought that if Kamijou Touma failed in the first volume, he would have become such a person. The reason I created Himegami too was to create a tragic girl who can never be the female protagonist.

As the story went on, the killing atmosphere is extremely intense. However, what’s different is that in the first volume, even if they were enemies, at least they would listen to the main character before fighting. However, in this volume, even the second female protagonist doesn’t like to listen too much, let alone the big bad.

As for magic, the story revolves around the keywords “Ars Magna”.

Even though in the story, I made it to be the real essence of an alchemist, that was actually made up by me. In fact, it was said that the Bosnian sect of alchemy (who created the concept of turning lead into gold) appeared in the late Roman Empire time, but Ars Magna was created in the seventeenth century, so the time difference between them was really huge. The seventeenth century was the time when alchemy was widespread, and it was also the time when fake magicians used it to fool the nobles to get money. In other words, Ars Magna was like a new religion that rode the wave of alchemy.

In fact, the goal of Ars Magna wasn’t to create gold or make an immortal elixir. The concept was that “Humans are ‘incomplete’ gods. In other words, through training and making one ‘complete’, humans can become gods”. It really fits the standpoint of a new religion. From the term “God” that’s used now, one can find that such alchemy was mixed into Christian culture.

In the story itself, the spell Aureolus used to do whatever through the thoughts in his mind was closer to the Zurich alchemist sect. This sect mixed in some psychiatric views of Jung, and the goal was to ‘do alchemy in the mind’, which really sounded ambiguous.

Also, there’s another alchemist sect called Vienna, but this sect included some sexual magic rituals that were really erotic and shouldn’t be included in Dengeki Bunko (laughs).

One reason why alchemist sects were so abundant was said to be because the nature of alchemy itself was a mystery. But in fact, perhaps the commonly accepted reason what that ‘alchemist lied to the rich that they could turn lead into gold, but couldn’t make them and had to give all sorts of excuses to appease their anger’.

After writing so much, in the end, what did I want to say?

What I wanted to say was that after researching so much into alchemy, I really used very little information.

In order to increase Index’s role, I even wanted to add a kitchen alchemy trick plot. But I guess I shouldn’t include such a minor subplot.

Finally, I want to thank the related personnel in this story.

Miki-san, who’s in charge of editing, is someone really intimidating who forced me to write a story within seventeen days. He still followed me through until the end of this story that has loopholes all over it, and I’m really grateful for him.

As for Haimura-san, the illustrator, actually, I never met him once. A comrade I never met, though that sounds cool, I really want to meet him and thank him. Anyway, let me rehearse it on paper. Thank you, Haimura-san.

And to the readers who bought this book, thank you for your support. I hope that we can meet next time. At this point, let me put my pen down.

Misaka Mikoto didn’t even have a chance to appear in this volume (tears).

-Kamachi Kazuma

Notes

[←1]

デンパ少女 or Denpa Otome means “wave girl”. “Denpa” is a term to coin someone who has a really strange or eccentric behavior without any apparent reason, hence “the wave made me do it”; you might recognize the word as it is also the name of a novel, where the titular character is actually quite weird.

[←2]

The term used here is a generic word for anyone who can use magic rather than a proper magician.

[←3]

This was spoken in English.

[←4]

A reference to Jojo's Bizarre Adventure.

[←5]

This joke only makes sense when viewing the original Japanese text. Index calls Touma an idiot and is written in the text using hiragana as opposed to kanji. Index seems to think that it lessens her insult. Of course, there's no way Kamijou can know what she is talking about.

[←6]

Reference to the Black Jack manga.

[←7]

電波系 or Denpa Kei is similar to the term “Denpa Onna” used in the prologue, “kei” goes for someone who is an incredible fanatic of something, for example “Akiba-Kei” refers to someone who is in love with Akiba products (an otaku); in this case Denpa Kei means that Aisa loves to act strangely (denpa) with no apparent reason at all